North Jeffco
Westsider
North Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 49
December 14, 2012 A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Lighting ceremony dedicated to Jessica By Ashley Reimers areimers@ourcoloradonews. com At this year’s annual menorah lighting ceremony in Westminster, the tradition of lighting the lights for Chanukah, had more meaning than year’s past. The ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Jessica Ridgeway, the 10-year-old girl who was abducted and later killed in early October in Westminster.
Sara Ridgeway, Jessica’s mother was in attendance and lit the center candle. “We don’t stamp out darkness with a broom but rather by lighting a candle,” said Rabbi Benjy Brackman with the Chabad of NW Metro Denver, who also organized the event. “And therefore the message of the menorah is for each of to remember Jessica by becoming a beacon of light to those around you and to society at large.” Brackman said by dedicating
Sara Ridgeway lights the center candle of the menorah with Rabbi Benjy Brackman from the Chabad of NW Metro Denver during a menorah lighting ceremony on Sunday at The Orchard Town Center in Westminster dedicated to the memory of Jessica Ridgeway, Sara’s daughter.
the ceremony in Jessica’s memory, those feeling hurt and sadness because of her death will have the opportunity to remember beautiful memories of the little girl and feel strength during difficult times ahead. He said he hopes those who attended the ceremony will also do good deeds in her memory. “The soul lives on after a person has been deceased,” he said. “The way we nourish the soul is through good deeds.” Mayor Nancy McNally was in attendance and thanked the Ridgeway family for their ongoing strength during a tragic time. She said the ceremony is an opportunity for the community to come together and remember Jessica in a fun and positive way. “You are a strong family, what can I say,” she told the Ridgeway family. “You have nurtured this community and kept us strong at times where we haven’t known what to do. What an appropriate time tonight to remember Jessica with the lighting of the menorah.” This was the 10th year the Chabad of NW Metro Denver hosted a menorah lighting ceremony in Westminster. The event at Orchard Town Center featured music from Steve Brodsky and traditional Chanukah fare of latkes and donuts was served. For more information on the Chabad of NW Metro Denver, visit www.thechabadhouse.com.
HOMETOWN CELEBRATION
Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally, left, and Sara Ridgeway smile after embracing during a menorah lighting ceremony on Sunday at The Orchard Town Center in Westminster. The ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Jessica Ridgeway, Sara’s daughter. Photos by Ashley Reimers
‘The soul lives on after a person has been deceased. The way we nourish the soul is through good deeds.’
Budget cuts could hurt local projects By Darin Moriki
dmoriki@ourcoloradonews.com
Santa Claus waves at passing motorists while standing outside Iddle Bits of this & That during the Westminster Historical Society Hometown Christmas Dec. 6. Photo by Andy Carpenean
Rabbi Benjy Brackman
As the Jan. 1 deadline nears for a broad swath of projected tax increases and federal budget reductions, lawmakers and local officials remain optimistic that a bi-partisan deal will be reached. They, however, remain wary of how these spending cuts will affect a number of programs administered by individual cities and counties. If Congress fails to come up with an alternative budget reduction plan, proposed cuts call for an estimated $110 billion annual reduction to be evenly split between defense and non-defense discretionary spending from 2013 to 2022. Seventh Congressional District Rep. Ed Perlmutter said it is too early to speculate on how the proposed budget cuts could affect city and county administer programs statewide, but noted that the impact could be large. “I’m a pretty positive and optimistic guy, so I
think that there’s going to be a deal struck which will provide some additional revenue and reduce some expenses so we can start cutting down our deficit and ultimately our debt ...” he said. His communications and policy director Leslie Oliver said in an e-mail that automatic budget cuts could mean cuts in transportation grants like the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding for the north I-25 project. She said the cuts could also impact Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds, which are used to rehabilitate low and moderate income senior housing. “It’s hard to speculate what will happen,” said Adams County finance director Ben Dahlman. “If something were to happen, Adams County would have to adjust to that allocation.” The CDBG program is federally funded through
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program allows eligible government agencies to provide housing related services and complete housing related projects that target low- to moderate-income citizens through partnerships with nonprofits and housing service providers. Thornton has been receiving these funds since 1986 and new CDBG projects are approved each fall by City Council. The city receives approximately $400,000 to $500,000 each year to fund projects. Since 2010, the following activities have been funded: Public Services (homeless service providers, senior services); Public Facility improvements (medical and dental facilities); Housing Rehabilitation (single-family and multifamily); and Streetscape Improvements.
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