Westy Connection Winter 2022

CONNECTION A NEXUS OF NEWS, COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS AND CITY HAPPENINGS

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Wintry Mix

prepare for snow season with our award-winning snow removal team

Winter 2022

Free Accessible Transportation for Residents 6

Winter Holiday Events Guide 5

Mayor McNally’s Holiday Recipes 12

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5 CONTENTS

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4 Letter from City Manager Mark Freitag 5 Winter Holiday Events Guide 6 Viva Via Ride along for a grocery run with the City’s new free ride service

9 Neighborly Advice

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10 Help and Hope Westminster’s victim advocates offer compassion and connection for those affected by crime

12 Mayor McNally’s Holiday Recipes

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14 Wintry Mix Our snow removal team offers tips and their favorite tunes for driving safely this winter

CONNECTION A NEXUS OF NEWS, COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS AND CITY HAPPENINGS

Connect with Us VISIT www.cityofwestminster.us CALL 303-658-2400

CONTACT INFORMATION Emergency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911

FOLLOW US

Non-Emergency Dispatch . . . . 303-658-4360

@CityofWestminsterColorado @WestminsterParksandRecreation @WestminsterFireDepartmentCO @WestminsterPolice @WestminsterLibrary @StandleyLakeRegionalPark westminster.colorado @westminsterco @WestminsterPD @WestyFire

City Hall (General Inquiries). . . 303-658-2400 City Manager’s Office . . . . . . . . . 303-658-2006 Economic Development . . . . . . 303-658-2108 Golf (Legacy Ridge). . . . . . . . . . . . 303-438-8997 Golf (Walnut Creek). . . . . . . . . . . . 303-469-2974 Libraries (College Hill). . . . . . . . . 303-658-2601

Get Connected with the westy Word Blog Your hub for City happenings, stories, and neighborly advice at www.cityofwestminster.us/ TheWestyWord

Libraries (Irving Street). . . . . . . . 303-658-2301 Municipal Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-658-2250 Parks/Recreation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-658-2192 Standley Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-425-1097 Water/Sewer Breaks (24/7). . . . 303-658-2500

City Council Members

Nancy McNally Mayor

nmcnally@ cityofwestminster.us

David DeMott Mayor Pro tem

ddemott@ cityofwestminster.us

Bruce Baker

Lindsey Emmons

Obi Ezeadi

Sarah Nurmela

Rich Seymour

bbaker@ cityofwestminster.us

lemmons@ cityofwestminster.us

oezeadi@ cityofwestminster.us

snurmela@ cityofwestminster.us

rseymour@ cityofwestminster.us

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Dear Westminster Community Members, Thank you for welcoming me into your beautiful community! For the past two months, I have anxiously awaited the move from Wisconsin to Colorado and my first day on the job as your City Manager.

Letter from City Manager Mark Freitag

My first few weeks at City Hall have been informative, illuminating, and affirming. I’ve learned about the great services, programs, and activities our City offers its residents and businesses to keep them safe, engaged, and active. The dozens of parks, miles of trails, and acres of open space show me just how much this community values preserving nature and outdoor living. After observing the dedication and professionalism of City staff firsthand, and the passion our City Council has for the place we call home, I feel encouraged about what the future holds for us all.

While my office is in City Hall, you will see me out and about, enjoying long walks on Big Dry Creek Trail and enjoying the pools and gyms at our recreation centers. You’ll see me holiday shopping throughout Westminster, supporting the small businesses that contribute so greatly to our economy and Westminster lifestyle. Although it’s easy to understand why I wanted to serve and live in Westminster, I am excited to continue to help build upon our City’s great foundation and history. I’ll be a leader who puts our community first and focuses on finding solutions that bring our community together.

Again, I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve you, and I look forward to meeting you in and around our wonderful community!

With great respect and admiration,

Mark Freitag Mark Freitag City Manager

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Winter Events Thank you for joining us at our family events this fall! Approximately 30,000 residents joined in the spooky celebration at Westy Fest, our festival in Downtown Westminster. Now as the seasons change, we’re gearing up for the most wonderful time of the year. From visits with Santa to the biggest holiday lighting celebration in the city, there will be no shortage of holiday spirit this December. Make sure to check out our holiday events schedule, and we hope to see you at one of our many family-friendly gatherings this winter!

Partner Event: Hometown Christmas in Historic Westminster Hosted by Westminster Historical Society Dec. 2, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Fireman’s Park 7290 Bradburn Blvd

Santa on the Plaza

Hosted by Westminster 7:10 Rotary Club Holiday Lighting Ceremony Presented by SCL Health Dec. 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

City Hall Plaza

Stocking Stuffers Discounted passes for recreation centers and golf courses on sale Nov. 25-Dec. 24 www.cityofwestminster.us/HolidayGiftGuide

Dec. 10 & 17 5-7 p.m.

City Hall Plaza

Free Fitness Week Free access to recreation centers and fitness classes Jan. 1-7 www.cityofwestminster.us/freefitnessweek

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Viva Via Outside the front entrance of the Residences at Panorama Pointe — a 62-and-older living community in Westminster — two women stand next to their collapsible two-wheeled carts.

Both are ready for their midday outing, which would be much more difficult or even impossible without the help of the City’s newest transportation service.

Gayle Byron, 80, has on a red floral top and light amber sunglasses, while Dolores Wolfe, 86, has a thin sweater at the ready.

Their styles differ, but both are wearing comfortable sneakers as they await the arrival of the white bus that will carry them to their destination: King Soopers on 104th & Federal Boulevard.

Gayle and Dolores are making the most of Westminster’s new partnership with Via Mobility Services, a program that offers Westminster residents a free ride within 15 miles of their homes.

Residents age 60 and older, or residents experiencing short- or long-term disabilities are eligible for the program, and can take trips for almost any purpose, including doctor’s appointments, recreational activities, seeing friends, or in Gayle and Dolores’ case, a grocery run.

“It’s also a social thing for us,” Gayle says. “We prefer the stores that have a Starbucks in them so we can sit and socialize after shopping.”

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Riding Along with Westminster’s New Free Transportation Service

The Pickup The white bus with Via branding pulls up, and a woman wearing a blue branded polo shirt opens the doors and steps outside. Mary Mendez has been driving for eight years and loves that she can provide a much-needed service to the community.

“I took care of my mom, so I saw firsthand how difficult it was,” she says. “I didn’t know about mobility transportation like this, so when I took my mother to doctor’s appointments, it was really difficult because she was not mobile.”

Mary helps the women step onto the bus, then grabs their folding carts and places them toward the back. The bus is equipped with a lift that can be used for wheelchairs, scooters, or anything else that is too bulky to carry up steps.

“That lift is a godsend,” Mary says. She mentions how she had to use her personal vehicle to take care of her mother, and would have loved having a lift back then.

The Arrival The ride to the store is smooth and quick, and upon arrival Mary helps Gayle and Dolores step down off the bus and unfolds their rolling carts for them.

Helping with groceries and carts is a prime example of the extra service and care that separates Via from more limited transportation services for seniors and those with disabilities.

“What’s different about Via is they provide door-through-door service,” said Debra Baskett, senior transportation and mobility planner for Westminster. “Instead of just pulling up to the curb or the driveway, they know if their customer needs assistance to get the door locked, put their coat on, or when they return home they can help bring groceries in.

They are trained to go that extra mile.” Gayle and Dolores have a little under two hours to do their shopping. They don’t need all two hours, but intentionally booked a later pickup to have time for socializing.

Once their shopping is done, the women are sitting at a small table in the Starbucks area near the produce section. Their rolling carts are full of groceries to take back to the Residences, and Gayle is happy to be sipping on her favorite – a grande latte.

They chat about Dolores’ daughter who lives in France, and how her frequent visits to France have made Dolores a bit of a wine connoisseur. They talk about Gayle having graduated from high school in Westminster and seeing how much the place has changed over the years. They start to discuss a recent documentary about cowboys when the Via bus arrives a couple minutes early.

“It’s nice to have something so reliable that you can depend on,” Gayle says.

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The Return Once the women make their exit, Mary uses the lift to load the full carts onto the bus. On the way back, both Gayle and Dolores say they want to see more people utilizing the service. They look forward to doing more trips with Via, hopefully to restaurants in the near future.

After dropping off Gayle and Dolores and their groceries, Mary explains how she feels fulfilled after every trip.

“It’s great to see them happy and get them to come out,” she says. “It’s a good service. Sometimes someone will say ‘Mary, I wish I could just ride around with you all day.’”

This free transportation service is part of a one-year pilot program and operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding holidays.

To learn more about the City of Westminster’s partnership with Via and how to register for a ride visit: www.cityofwestminster.us/AccessibleTransportation.

You may also book a ride by phone by contacting Via Mobility Services directly at (303) 444-3043.

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Neighborly Advice Join the Westy Snowbusters!

Offer a helping hand to seniors and residents with disabilities this winter! Sign up now to volunteer with the Westy Snowbusters, and shovel snow from public walkways in front of the homes of residents who need assistance.

Snowbusters will be matched with a resident who lives within a two-mile radius of their home. If desired, Snowbusters can be matched with residents who live farther away.

Snowbusters must complete snow removal within 24 hours after measurable snowfall, not including light dustings.

Snowbusters are only expected to shovel the sidewalks, but they can choose to further assist residents by shoveling driveways and or the walk to the front door.

This is a great service opportunity for students, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church organizations, and individuals! Please note that children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult while participating. All adult volunteers are subject to a background check.

How to Sign Up Apply online at www. cityofwestminster.us/ VolunteerWestminster, or by scanning the QR code, by phone at 303-658-2150 or email Volunteer@CityofWestminster.us

We’re here to help!

For general inquiries and assistance, contact a Community Assistant.

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

303-658-2400 (then press “0” from the menu options)

How to prevent frozen water pipes Cold temperatures can freeze the water in your pipes causing the pipes to burst and leak. Take steps in your home today to prevent your pipes from freezing.

Locate your water shut-off. If a pipe does freeze and burst, you want to locate your water service shut-off valve to immediately turn off the water in your home and minimize damage. This valve is often located in your basement or crawl space where your water line comes into your home.

Monitor areas most vulnerable to cold. Check rooms that are not insulated, rooms without access to heat, and openings in doors and windows. Basements and rooms open to the elements are most vulnerable to frozen pipes.

Eliminate access to cold air by repairing broken windows, isulating exterior walls, and sealing any cracks or openings near windows and doors.

Protect any exposed pipes by wrapping them in insulation. This can be found at most home improvement stores.

Prepare your outdoor faucets by removing

any hoses that are attached to faucets. Also, remember to shut off inside valves that supply these outside faucets, and leave faucets open.

Blocking is for football!

Prevent sewer backups by disposing of your cooking grease properly Every holiday season, we see an increase in sewer backups caused by cooking grease, oils, and fats being poured down a sink drain. Help us prevent backups by following these year-round tips Can Your Grease: Take leftover grease and pour it into an empty soup can or other heat-resistant container. For oil, pour into a container with a cap.

Once the grease cools and turns solid, throw it in your trash. If it’s still liquid, make sure you close the container to prevent messes.

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Drew Hogan (left) and Emina Acosta (right) offer support and resources to victims of crime.

Help & Hope

Westminster’s Victim Advocates Provide Compassion When Needed Most “We all talk about our first call, how fearful it was,” remembered Drew Hogan, victim

services coordinator with the City of Westminster.

“The first call I did was a bank robbery... I was sitting there working with a girl who had been confronted with a gun during the robbery and she was very tearful. Behind me there were three FBI agents taking notes. What they wanted to hear was, through an emotional conversation, any new information that might come out and help the case.”

When a crime occurs in Westminster, officers from the Westminster Police Department answer the call.

When victims of crime need support, Westminster’s

“

Having us at the crime scene starts the support for the victim immediately.

People who have support through trauma heal faster.

Drew Hogan

Victim Services Coordinator

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Victim Services Unit responds. This crucial service provides guidance and resources to victims of certain crimes who are dealing with trauma or whose safety may be in jeopardy.

Victim advocates work as partners with law enforcement, taking a victim-centered approach.

They help get information about cases and provide services such as sourcing financial assistance, finding victims safe places to stay, and guiding them through investigations and court proceedings.

Much of the support offered by advocates comes from federal funding, as well as donations and efforts from volunteers. Westminster is one of just a few cities along the Front Range with a dedicated victim advocacy team housed within the police department.

“Outside of Colorado a lot of police departments rely on nonprofit agencies,” Hogan said. “It’s really just Colorado and a couple other states that start the victim advocacy at the police level. Even here in Colorado some may have a single victim advocate that works with the police department, and then they still have to rely on a lot of volunteers.”

While Westminster’s Victim Services Unit is comprised of a handful of staff victim advocates, welltrained volunteers provide over 10,000 hours of night

and weekend coverage. Their work enables the unit to connect victims with services 24/7.

Hogan said having a dedicated team of advocates within the police department benefits the community greatly by streamlining the process of helping people when time is critical.

“Having us at the crime scene starts the support for the victim immediately,” she said. “People who have support through trauma heal faster, and actually have an opportunity for healing resources that they might not have if you wait for a victim’s rights case to get filed through the district attorney’s office. That can take months.”

Emina Acosta has been a staff victim advocate for five years. She said she finds the job incredibly rewarding and encourages other people who are interested in this type of work to take the leap.

“I serve victims of crime. I serve a vulnerable population, and I find great pride and joy in being a voice for those who need it most,” Acosta said. “People are overwhelmed with the support, empathy, and understanding that they can get from this unit as well as all the other services like resources, guidance and day-to-day support until they get on their feet.”

The volunteers who choose to work with the Victim Services Unit receive intensive training and are certified in victim advocacy before they take their first call. While volunteers come from all walks of life, Acosta said she sees a common thread.

“Our volunteers are kind people,” she said. “People that can express and provide empathy, people who are understanding and want to give. What they have in common is that they are kind people who want to help.”

P R E S E N TS

Holiday Lighting ASSOCIATE SPONSOR:

CEREMONY

DEC 3

5:30-8:30 P.M. WESTMINSTER CITY HALL

SANTA | HOLIDAY MUSIC | CARNIVAL GAMES | FOOD VENDORS

www.cityofwestminster.us/specialevents

VOLUNTEER WITH US

If you are interested in joining Westminster’s Victim Services Unit as a volunteer, please call 303-658-4210.

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r o y a M

y s ’ l l a N c M HAVE MUNCHIES ST U M

HOLIDAY

Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally is happy to share some of her favorite family recipes so you can treat all your loved ones to a happy holiday season.

Follow along with her helpful tips and tricks and be sure to make enough of these holiday treats to share.

Cranberry Loaf 2 cups flour 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 cup butter 3/4 cup water 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 1/2 cup cranberries 1/2 cup walnuts (optional)

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Grease loaf pans. (Can use full-size loaf pan if desired, but using smaller pans for gift-sized loaves is preferred.)

Combine ingredients and fill small loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 45 min.

(70 min. for full-size loaf) Use a toothpick to test; if it comes out clean, the loaf is baked.

This pumpkin roll is a real hit with the grandkids!

Pumpkin Cake Roll Roll

Use a thin kitchen towel to avoid sticking.

No fuzz means No fuss!

3 eggs 1 cup sugar 2/3 cup pumpkin 1 tsp lemon juice 3/4 cup flour 1 tsp baking powder 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger 1/2 tsp nutmeg Pinch of salt

Beat eggs on high speed in mixer for 5 minutes; gradually beat in sugar. Stir in pumpkin and lemon juice. Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Fold into pumpkin roll mixture. Spread batter onto 9”x13” baking sheet with 1-inch sides, lined with parchment. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Flip onto towel. Roll towel and cake together. Cool thoroughly. Unroll. For filling, combine and beat smooth. Spread over unrolled cake, then roll and serve chilled.

Filling 1 cup powdered sugar 2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese 4 Tbsp margarine or butter 1/2 tsp vanilla

Bucket Bread Makes 2 small loaves each baked in a 1-lb coffee can or crock

1 pkg. active yeast 1/2 cup warm water 1/8 tsp ginger 3 Tbsp sugar 1 (13 oz.) can evaporated milk 1 tsp salt 2 Tbsp vegetable oil 4 cups flour

Dissolve yeast and ginger and 1 Tbsp sugar in water; set in warm area until bubbly, about 15 minutes (will look like a pancake ready to turn). Mix in other ingredients, spoon into well-greased 1-lb coffee cans or crocks. Dough will be sticky. Let rise and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Remove from container while still warm.

Don't be a grinch! Share with your neighbors, friends and family!

Sliced bucket bread is so versatile! serve it with butter for dinner or toast it with jam for breakfast!

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Wintry Mix

Our award-winning snow removal team is here to help you prepare for the season with some great tunes and helpful tips for driving safely this winter

"electric worry" by clutch Brad Bettale

"wherever i roam"

by J. Balvin and Metallica Colin Greer

"Mr. Brightside" by the Killers Barett Howell

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Scan here

to check out our snowplow playlist, hand-picked by our roadway rOCkstars!

There’s ‘Snow’ Place Like Home The City of Westminster’s snow removal team works around the clock to keep roadways safe for residents The first measurable snowfall in Westminster may be hard to predict, but City staff is well prepared for whenever the flakes start to fly!

Westminster’s Public Works and Utilities Department (PWU) is tasked with plowing over 1,100 lane miles of road and keeping residents safe during winter storms. The City prioritizes snow removal based on the severity and timing of the snow to ensure main roads are open and accessible for emergency services.

Westminster’s priority during any snowstorm is keeping primary and secondary streets open and safe for the public. In addition, priority is given to streets adjacent to hospitals, police and fire stations, schools, RTD bus routes, and busy intersections, hills and curves on residential streets. Please remember that residential streets only receive service if snow accumulations are greater than eight inches and after the above priorities are addressed.

The City partners closely with the Colorado Department of Transportation to ensure roads are plowed promptly. While CDOT plows the region’s state highways such as US 36, Federal Boulevard, 120th Avenue, and Wadsworth Parkway, the City handles its main roads within city limits such as 104th Avenue, Lowell Boulevard, and Church Ranch Boulevard.

Plowing Sheridan Boulevard is a combined effort with designated areas for the City and CDOT. “Our primary objective when we deploy our snow removal team is to improve driving conditions during inclement weather, not to remove all snow

and ice from the road surface,” said Kurt Muehlemeyer, street operations manager. “Drivers still need to be prepared for snowy, icy, and slushy conditions, have a working vehicle with proper tire tread, drive defensively and most importantly slow down. Also, please give our snowplows room to operate and be patient as they plow and de-ice the roadway.”

When a storm rolls into Westminster, it’s not just PWU that jumps into action. Many other City staff members put their usual work on hold to sit behind the wheel of a snowplow.

In addition to city streets, there are also trails, sidewalks and City facilities that require special attention to ensure residents can safely access services and amenities. To get the job done, more than 60 people from the City’s parks and open space team, including staff from Standley Lake and even golf course personnel, are called in to help during snow events.

They focus on clearing parking lots and sidewalks at all recreation centers, Irving Street Library, fire stations, and City Hall. Once those areas are cleared, the focus shifts to removing snow from City-maintained sidewalks and dozens of miles of trails.

questions? Call 303-658-2400

scan here to view the interactive snowplow route map

Name a Snowplow!

Scan the QR code to submit your punniest name for a snowplow and follow us on social media to vote for your favorites.

The two winning names will be added to to our fleet this winter!

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PRSRT STD

U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 32 Westminster, CO 80031

City of Westminster 4800 West 92nd Ave. Westminster, CO 80031

T H E S E A SO S I N ‘T

For aMAZING dEALS on

www.cityofwestminster.us/holidaygiftguide