The mountain area’s newspaper since 1958
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 20, 2025
VOLUME 66 | ISSUE 14
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Morrison dissolves planning commission BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Seniors4Wellness volunteer Nancy Tzeng talks with Lily Andrade during a recent Friday Cafe, one of three regular events the organization hosts each month. COURTESY OF SENIORS4WELLNESS
From dream to thriving reality Founder of Seniors4Wellness saw a need after former center closed BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When the former Seniors Resource Center closed its doors in Evergreen five years ago, Vince Ventimiglia decided to step up and fill the void it left behind. Ventimiglia, who’d worked at SRC for 10 years, founded the nonprofit Seniors4Wellness in 2021. He had no idea about the
work it would entail. “I had a dream, but I had no appreciation for what it takes when you start from zero with a nonprofit,” said the organization’s founder and executive director. “We had no website, no board of directors, no 501(c)3 status or all that goes into preparing that document. And just the time to give it exposure and market it. “But I was prepared to do it because I knew the need was there. And I suppose part of it was selfish. Being an older adult myself, I wanted to make sure I had a place to go with friends.” SRC served foothills-area seniors for 40 years, operating in a building on Highway 73 known
HAPPENINGS: 7 | VOICES: 10 | SPORTS: 16 | PUZZLES: 19
as the Yellow House. Ventimiglia was right about the need. Despite SRC’s closure and without a home base, Seniors4Wellness has thrived, meeting in floating locations since its founding. Today, as Seniors4Wellness prepares to move into a permanent space at Buchanan Recreation Center, Ventimiglia says the work he and others put into the organization has more than paid off. “It’s absolutely been worth it,” he said. “We’ve got a healthy board of directors and we just keep expanding.” That included the November 2023 addition of well-known Evergreen resident Janice Kaup as the group’s program admin-
istrator — the first paid position within the organization. Kaup works as a part-time independent contractor. With her help, Seniors4Wellness hosts three events a month at public spaces in the community, including wellness classes, games days and its popular monthly Friday Café. The Friday lunch event, held at Christ the King church, regularly draws 75 attendees. Throughout 2024, over 700 guests attended 34 of the organization’s events. “We’re really proud of the things we’ve accomplished,” President Mary Tribby said. “It’s SEE SENIORS, P9
The Morrison Town Board voted Feb. 4 to do away with its planning commission, and create a non-governmental community action committee. The new committee is intended to be an ear and a voice between the town’s residents and the board on issues of all kinds. Trustees who supported the idea said dissolving the commission will streamline the town’s approval process, and that the seven-member commission — which SEE PLANNING, P5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS SET
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CHILDREN THRIVE IN HIGH LIFE
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2025
VOTING STARTS
MARCH 1!
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