Cinnamon Rolls & City Budgets
A Mayor Like No Other
Neighborly Advice
Winter Events Guide
Holidays at the Firehouse 10
12
Celebrating 40 Years of Open Space
4 6 7 8 14
The Height of Holiday Spirit Westminster's record-breaking tree Miss Colorado’s Teen From Westminster to the National Stage
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Nancy McNally Mayor nmcnally@ westminsterco.gov
Sarah Nurmela Mayor Pro tem snurmela@ westminsterco.gov
Claire Carmelia ccarmeli@ westminsterco.gov
David DeMott ddemott@ westminsterco.gov
Obi Ezeadi oezeadi@ westminsterco.gov
Your digital news hub for articles, photos, videos, and more at westy.news. Visit The Westy Online
Amber Hott ahott@ westminsterco.gov
Kristine Ireland kireland@ westminsterco.gov
After more than three decades of public service, Mayor Nancy McNally is preparing to close the final chapter of her remarkable story leading Westminster. Her final day on the dais is December 1, 2025, as she ends her last term. However, her legacy in our community is anything but finished. It lives on in the parks, policies, and people she’s influenced along the way.
Mayor McNally and her husband Larry have called Westminster home for decades, raising three children and a parade of pugs and bulldogs in the same home for the past 45 years.
McNally’s creativity and compassion have always extended beyond her front door. She runs multiple small businesses, including a commercial peanut brittle operation so successful she had to renovate her kitchen to keep up with demand.
Alongside building and sustaining multiple home businesses, Mayor McNally built a strong foundation of public service. She served on Jefferson County’s school board from 1989 to 1997, including two years as board chair. She was first elected to Westminster City Council in 2001, became mayor pro tem in 2003, and was elected mayor in 2004. She served on City Council until 2013, then returned to the mayor’s office in 2021 for her current term.
Former Mayor Ed Moss (2002-2004), who served alongside her, recalled her deep understanding of intergovernmental cooperation and finance shining through when she was first elected.
From championing open space and trail systems to supporting major infrastructure projects like the new drinking water facility and municipal courthouse that broke ground this year, Mayor McNally has always taken the long view when it comes to building a better Westminster.
"You have to look at where the city's going and what is it that you want it to be," Moss said. "She came with a lot of background about government... and she still uses it. Downtown Westminster should have her name on a plaque somewhere."
McNally’s return to office in 2021 brought renewed energy and institutional knowledge to a city facing complex challenges.
She played a key role in guiding the City through economic recovery. Former Councillor Rich Seymour, who served from 2019 to 2023, credited McNally’s experience during the 2009 recession with helping the City maintain strong reserves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were able to keep our city moving forward when other cities were cutting back,” he said.
A key part of Mayor McNally’s leadership style is including multiple, sometimes dissenting, voices at the table. While it may have been more onerous at the time, McNally firmly believed in the value of taking the time to hear everyone out.
“Everybody gets a voice, and we will take the amount of time necessary to make sure that
everybody gets heard,” Seymour said. “She really was going to wait until everyone had an opinion… and that always gives better results in the long run.”
That inclusive leadership style was especially evident in her work with Westminster’s Youth Advisory Panel, whom she affectionately referred to as the “YAP-pers.” McNally championed the teens’ involvement in civic life and made sure their voices were heard at the highest levels of their city’s government.
McNally’s passion for Westminster’s past is just as strong as her vision for its future. As a board member of the Westminster Historical Society (WHS), she helped secure a formal partnership between the society and the City.
“She brings the knowledge of how we can work together with the City,” said WHS board member Kathy Pascoe. “She’s a big advocate for us working with other people… and she shares her knowledge freely. She’s really more like a friend than just a mayor.”
Throughout her final term, McNally has faced a personal battle with cancer. Rather than keep her diagnosis private, she chose to share health updates openly with her colleagues during pre-council meetings. On good days and bad, she continued to show up, attending nearly every City event, ribbon cutting, and engagement opportunity. Her presence never wavered, even when her energy did.
45 years as a Westminster resident
20+ years in elected office
3 terms as Mayor (2005–2013, 2021–2025)
Countless cinnamon rolls, peanut brittle bags, & crocheted gifts shared with staff and residents
1 elk statue with hand-knit leg warmers
Her selflessness even during hard times was exemplified in the form of her legendary homemade cinnamon rolls, which she would bake from scratch — often waking up before 4 am to have them warm and ready as employees walked into City Hall.
"She's a good friend that's just there for people. She has a big heart for this community," said City Councillor David DeMott. “Our organization treats people with heart and empathy. That's because of leaders like Nancy McNally."
And now as she prepares to step away from the dais, the Westminster community shares a message of gratitude to a Mayor who gave us her all — and then some.
To hear more about Mayor McNally's legacy in Westminster, scan the QR code and watch the video.
We ’re here to help! For general inquiries and assistance, contact a Community Assistant.
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The City’s snow removal team is tasked with plowing more than 1,100 lane miles of road to keep residents safe during winter storms. After City-owned primary and secondary streets are cleared, priority is given to streets adjacent to hospitals, police and fire stations, schools, RTD bus routes, busy intersections, hills, and curves.
If a storm leaves behind more than eight inches of snow, the City will also plow residential streets. Please note that to ensure all residential roads can be plowed in a timely manner, crews will make a single pass on the street to make it accessible for vehicles. We recognize that snow may be pushed near or onto sidewalks, and we appreciate the community’s understanding as our teams work as quickly as possible to plow 2,152 residential streets.
Before you head out, visit our live snowplow tracker to see where plows are currently located. Scan the QR code for the map, and for questions please contact the Streets Division at 303-658-2501.
Snow removal is a shared responsibility. Residents are required to clear snow from sidewalks in front of their homes within 24 hours after a storm ends. If you notice a neighbor is not shoveling their sidewalk, you can call Code Enforcement at 303-658-4432.
Residents who need assistance shoveling their sidewalks can register for our Snowbusters program to be paired up with volunteers who will shovel snow. You can learn more and register online by scanning the QR code or visiting westminsterco.gov/ volunteerwestminster.
As for City-owned sidewalks, our Parks, Recreation & Libraries Department is responsible for shoveling those. You can report areas of concern by calling 303-658-2192.
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 our fleet this winter, joining last year’s winners, Sno Nix and Plowabunga.
www.westminsterco.gov/events
Partner Event: Home Town Christmas in Historic Westminster
Friday, December 5 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Russell Park Honoring Firefighters 7290 Bradburn Blvd.
Presented by Westminster Historical Society
November 28 – December 24
Purchase discounted recreation & golf passes at westminsterco.gov
(Ages 14+) Saturday, December 6 9:30 – 11 am
City Hall Plaza 4800 W. 92nd Ave.
Register at: bit.ly/westyprograms
Saturday, December 6 5:30 – 8 pm
City Hall 4800 W. 92nd Ave.
Presented by Intermountain Health
Santa Visits
Hosted by the WestminsterDepartmentFire
Sunday, December 7 6:30 – 8 pm
City Hall Parking Lot 4800 W. 92nd Ave.
Register at: westminsterco.gov/santa
December 19, 22, 23, 29 & 30
January 2 & 5
7 am – 5:45 pm
City Park Recreation Center 10455 Sheridan Blvd.
Register at: bit.ly/westyprograms
Community-Wide Reading Program
January – April
westminsterco.gov/ onebookwestminster
Associate Sponsor: Rodeo Dental
January 1 – 7
Free access to recreation centers & fitness classes
Presented by Intermountain Health
The City of Westminster has a lot of bragging rights — nearly 3,800 acres of open space, more than 100 miles of trails, our very own Big Ben of the West, and scenic paddleboarding at Standley Lake. What you might not know is that we also have the tallest living decorated Christmas tree in the state!
It stands proudly in front of Fire Station 1 off 73rd Avenue and Bradburn Boulevard in Historic Westminster. When last measured, our tree was over 64 feet tall, but that was several years ago, so it has surely grown since then. If you’d like to see it in all its lit-up glory, you can do so on Friday, December 5 during the annual Home Town Christmas in Historic Westminster, presented by the Westminster Historical Society. The tree lighting ceremony itself is a tradition that goes back over 100 years.
In 1923, Doc and Laura Shipman brought a Colorado Blue Spruce tree down from Coal Creek Canyon and planted it in Russell Park as a living Christmas tree. Back then, our magnificent tree was more of a Charlie Brown
tree standing at just five feet tall. That first year, residents decorated it with strings of popcorn and cranberries.
Since then, the decorations have come a long way, with thousands of bright lights, bows, and painted handmade ornaments crafted by local artists. City firefighters now team up with other staff and the Westminster Historical Society to put on a fun, family-friendly lighting ceremony each holiday season.
Westminster Battalion Chief Jake Lieser has been a part of it for 20 years. “I love the sense of community the ceremony brings,” Lieser reflected. “It’s great that the fire department is part of something that’s so special to the neighborhood.”
Gather your friends and family and come check out the tree lighting! Besides the festive cheer and camaraderie, you can also meet the guest of honor: Santa Claus. He will make his grand entrance on a fire truck, and you won’t want to miss it!
On a winter night while many homes in Westminster glow with twinkling lights and the scent of holiday dinners, the City’s fire stations are just as alive with warmth, laughter, and the occasional call for emergency response. At Station 2 (9150 Lowell Blvd.), the largest firehouse in Westminster, the holidays are a blend of tradition, teamwork, and tireless service.
“We live pretty much one third of our life, especially our career life, at the firehouse,” said engineer Brian White, who’s been with the Westminster Fire Department for a decade. “So since we're there for 48-hour shifts, it's always been something special to me to make it feel as homey as you can.”
White, known affectionately as “Buddy the Elf” by his crew, leads the charge on transforming Station 2 into a holiday haven each year. The holiday spirit runs deep in his family, and he intends to keep the family tradition going.
“My mom has always been big into decorating,” White said. “Our house was in the newspaper list of addresses for people to drive by and see the lights for 25-plus years. That’s where I got the Christmas spirit from.”
The station’s decorations include gutter lights, inflatables, and a handcrafted Station 2 logo outlined in Christmas lights, made with help from White’s parents.
But the holidays at Station 2 are about more than just lights. They’re about both the fire family and the families they serve.
“If it's Thanksgiving, Christmas, those are the two biggest holidays that we probably celebrate at the firehouse,” White said. “Since we can't be at home or with our families, it's a good time to bring our families to the firehouse.”
On those days, the station swells with 20 to 35 people, including firefighters, spouses, kids, and sometimes even police officers or public works crews who stop by for a plate.
“We’ve invited the police department, streets team, dispatch, anyone working that day. We’ve offered to bring them plates or have them come eat with us,” White said. “It’s not just about us. It’s about community — our fire family, our actual families, and the people we serve.”
Meals are a highlight. Crews pitch in their own money to shop and cook, often days in advance.
“We do a Cajun-injected fried turkey, prime rib, ham, you name it,” White said. “We’ve got some incredible cooks on staff. Joe DiTirro, anything he cooks, you want to be there for. Homemade red sauce, Italian dishes. It’s better than any place you go.”
Even with the festivities, the work never stops, with firefighters always prepared to spring into action around the clock.
“We’re still responding to calls. We’re not out of service,” White said. “If we get a call, it’s the next crew up. And if we’re all gone, someone’s family member will just step up and make sure the meal is still salvageable, hopefully, by the time we get back.”
After dinner, if there’s time, the crew might gather to watch a holiday movie. “Christmas Vacation” is a favorite, and there’s a spirited debate over whether or not “Die Hard” counts as a Christmas movie.
“We do have a selection of movies that we try to get through during the holiday season,” White said. “But that’s after dinner, after all of our chores and everything else is done.”
Whether it’s decorating a vintage fire truck for the Visits with Santa program, sharing a meal with dispatchers, or responding to a call mid-dinner, Westminster’s firefighters and their fellow public servants are always on duty, making sure the holidays are safe and bright for all Westminster residents.
Firefighter Jesse Molinar shared a family favorite recipe for homemade chicken noodle soup . Scan the QR code for the full recipe and learn how to make this classic with "magic rising noodles" for your loved ones this season!
As you take a wintry walk around Westminster, you may encounter some furry friends, native neighbors, or pretty plumage. In our Front Range grassland prairie ecosystem, sightings are plentiful thanks to one crucial decision made by the residents of Westminster back in 1985. That decision was to designate large parcels of undeveloped land throughout the city as Open Space and include it in the City’s municipal code to protect that land.
“The objective of the Open Space program is to promote quality of life for citizens of Westminster through the preservation and protection of the quality of the natural environment that has given Westminster much of its character.”
– Westminster Municipal Code, 13-5-1.
Westminster’s Open Space Superintendent Joe Reale cited the community’s value for the outdoors as the most important reason why Westminster’s Open Space program has become such a rare gem in Colorado. “Our Open Space is woven into the community. Virtually every resident can walk from their front door and be in a park or open space within 15 minutes.”
Reale emphasized that historically, residents have not only fought to protect Open Space with their words, but their dollars as well.
“In 1985 the residents voted to tax themselves, imposing a quarter-of-a-percent sales tax dedicated solely to the acquisition of Open Space Properties. Today we refer to that same tax as the POST [Parks, Open Space, & Trails] tax,” he explained.
With the implementation of the POST tax, Westminster was able to make its initial land purchase to acquire Westminster Hills Open Space (10499 Simms Street), The Ranch Open Space (11899 Tejon Steet), and Ketner Lake (10200 Countryside Drive).
Forty years have passed since that purchase, and Westminster’s Open Space program, the second to be established in Colorado, continues to bring enjoyment to its residents and visitors. Reale reported that Open Space also increases property values, aids in carbon sequestration, and preserves native plant and animal habitats.
To date, Westminster has protected nearly 3,800 acres of Open Space, accounting for roughly 15 percent of the City’s land, and including over 120 miles of trails. There are numerous legal protections in place for Open Space land including strict guidelines for how the land can be used. Only City Council can approve a change to the use of Open Space, and only after meeting legal requirements.
Reale said these vast spaces are managed by only 12 dedicated staff members who work to clean, maintain, and protect them year-round. Pride stretches across his face when he concludes: “I can't emphasize enough the foresight of those people, of the community, our city managers, and City Council at that time to say this is something we want to do, not necessarily for us. It's for the generations that come.”
To honor the highly regarded decision to protect Open Space, the program introduced a new logo for the 40th anniversary. Open Space staff also collected resident submissions for an anniversary photo contest. Scan the QR code below to view the winners.
At just 17 years old, Westminster’s own Madelynn 'Mady' Nackerud has already carved out space for herself in the spotlight. This year, the senior at Flatirons Academy was crowned Miss Colorado’s Teen 2025. After securing her victory among strong competition, she went on to represent our community and state in the national Miss America’s Teen pageant held a couple months ago.
While it may not be as flashy as the stage, Mady is just as comfortable in the quiet corners of College Hill Library, one of her favorite spots in Westminster. That’s where we met up with her to chat about her pageant journey.
Even offstage, her confidence and grace are unmistakable. Mady’s connection to Westminster runs deep, and as Miss Colorado’s Teen, she is proud to represent the city she loves. Before earning her statewide title, Mady held the crown as Miss Westminster, a role she described as deeply rooted in connection.
“Representing Westminster means representing the true definition of community,” she said. “Even though Westminster is large, it’s still really close-knit.”
During her reign, she became a familiar face at local events, forging relationships with residents from every corner of the city. That experience laid the foundation for the next chapter.
Now, as a titleholder, Mady serves as a voice for all of Colorado. Ask Mady what she loves most about our great state, and her answer is immediate: “I love both our nature and diversity. I think we’re a state that makes people feel seen in a variety of ways. Nobody feels like the odd one out.” Her appreciation for Colorado’s inclusive spirit mirrors her own values.
Mady’s community service initiative, Connection is Protection: School Incident Prevention, is more than a platform — it's a personal calling. The idea was born from a family legacy. Her father survived the Columbine school shooting, and her grandfather served in law enforcement. “It’s an issue that’s relevant to all high school students,” she stated. This history drives her mission to create a safer, more supportive environment for students not only in Colorado, but nationwide.
Her work with the Westminster Police Department (WPD) has been a cornerstone of her advocacy. "WPD is one of the most caring and open police departments that I have interacted with,” she said.
While police interactions can be intimidating, Mady credits WPD for their kindness and approachability. She encourages other young people to get involved, no matter how small.
As Miss Colorado's Teen, Mady’s duties include
acting as an ambassador, promoting her community service initiative, competing in Miss America's Teen pageant, honing her talent skills, and pursuing personal and educational goals.
Mady said everything came full circle when she was crowned Miss Colorado’s Teen, calling it a “rainbow moment.”
“Everything came together, and the storms were worth it,” she reflected. “It felt good to know that something I worked for had paid off. Especially while I was able to talk about my dad’s story, which fuels my community service.” It was a moment of triumph, not just for her, but for the mission she carries.
Forget the outdated stereotypes. Through her community involvement, leadership, and unwavering dedication to positive change,
Mady Nackerud isn't just a pageant titleholder — she is a role model, inspiring others to make a difference while staying true to themselves. As she continues to grow in her role, there is no doubt Mady will have a lasting impact on our community and beyond. Good luck, Mady! Westminster is rooting for you.
Community service initiative focuses on school safety & incident prevention
She's a High Honor Roll student at Flatirons Academy
Her talent for the pageant was lyrical dance
She is a bass guitar shredder
She worked as an actor in the "Terror in the Corn" haunted attraction
THE NOVEMBER 2025 ELECTION, Westminster residents voted for a new Mayor, City Councillors, and decided on Ballot Measure 3H.