SEPTEMBER 2-4 | HARVEST FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 23 | OKTOBERFEST
Hello Windsor City Lifestyle Family.
As our warmer weather months begin to wind down and we start trading in the late summer evenings for busier schedules and earlier nights, I find myself trying to soak up and hold onto every last bit of the longer days and carefree atmosphere of our sweet summer. It seems as we get older, time flies by much faster than it used to.
In our August issue, we shine a spotlight on our kids and pets, two things that bring the most joy and laughter into our lives. They bring more into our lives than we realize, offering us a different perspective, one less jaded by time and experience. There is a lot we can learn from them, including how to love, treat others and how to treat ourselves. So, in honor of that, I invite you all to show yourself the same care you would show a small child or animal... Feed yourself healthy food, make sure you spend time outside getting enough sunshine, get exercise, and put yourself to bed early. Let yourself take naps. Don't say mean things to yourself or others, don't put yourself in danger, be always eager to learn. Let yourself still feel awe at the universe, nature, and learning new things. Let your imagination run wild, offer a helping hand and smile (or a tail wag) to everyone you meet. Choose love and forgiveness first and honestly just dance like no one in the world is watching.
We hope you enjoy each and every issue as much as we enjoy putting them together for you!
Until next time,
August 2023
PUBLISHER
Misty Dockins | misty.dockins@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Desiree Gustafson | desiree.gustafson@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Desiree Gustafson
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
David Grossman with Colorado Photography, Don Waltman, Photos By Diandra @photosbydiandra
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein
CONTROLLER Gary Johnson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
Proverbs 3:5-6
Where neighbors can see and be seen.
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F R E S H S T A R T S F R E S H S T A R T S
A R E N ' T J U S T A R E N ' T J U S T
F O R S C H O O L . F O R S C H O O L .
T O D A Y T O T O D A Y T O
P L A N Y O U R P L A N Y O U R
N E X T M O V E ! N E X T M O V E !
A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.
Megan Slusser, Executive Director, joined the 55 Resort team with over fifteen years of experience in senior living. Megan served as Chair for the Weld County Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and in 2020 was a Northern Colorado Forty Under 40 Honoree. Megan enjoys supporting and encouraging residents to live a life to the fullest, at any age. She is excited to join the 55 Resort team and experience a new aspect of active adult lifestyles.
Scan to read more.
Dementia Together was honored as the recipient of the nonprofit 2023 BBB Torch Award for Ethics. Dementia Together is a nonprofit organization in Windsor, CO, providing education, enrichment, and hope for those living with dementia, their care partners, and our communities. Teaching the Contented Dementia approach, also known as the SPECAL method (pronounced “speckle”), Dementia Together offers simple, practical, and positive ways to make living well with dementia the expectation, not the exception.
Ridgehill Tavern is family owned by twenty-year plus Windsor residents. The menu is simple, fresh and thoughtfully inspired by the owners’ childhood favorites, as a nod to their Chicago upbringing. Rounding out the housemade menu is a sophisticated wine list, allocated whiskey, handcrafted cocktails, finishing with unexpected signature desserts. Located at CR17/7th Street and Crossroads in Windsor. Ridgehill’s lively, airy yet upscale atmosphere makes for the perfect golf cart accessible destination!
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The best places and things to do in our area.
Grab the kids, pack your bags and hit the town for some end of summer fun. Use Jessic’s list for some family-friendly adventures that will do everything from raising your heart rate, excite the little ones, and create lasting memories together.
BOARDWALK PARK: There is so much to do with the kids; playing at the beach, the playground, and Summer Concerts in the Park. 100 North 5th St, Windsor, CO
HARVEST FESTIVAL: You don't want to miss this! Mark your calendars for September 2-4 2023. You will love the Hot Air Balloons and much more! 7th and Eastman Park Dr, Windsor, CO
FUTURE LEGENDS: Hailstorm Games: With a soccer fan in the house, we love cheering on the Hailstorm Team when they play at the Future Legends Stadium 1111 Diamond Valley Dr, Windsor, CO
TED'S SWEETWATER GRILL: The Market at Windsor at Teds Sweetwater Grill on Wednesdays. Very kid-friendly and has so many vendors and kids eat free in the Restaurant. 2191 Covered Bridge Pkwy, Windsor, CO
MAIN EVENT WINDSOR: The Main Event: If you love bowling, arcade games, and Laser tag this is the place to enjoy a fun night out with the family. 4455 N Fairgrounds Ave, Windsor, CO
Scan for more photos and the full list.
Future Legends
MEET THIS MONTH’S CURATOR
Jessica Serna | @windsorchamberco
I’m native to Northern Colorado. My imagination and love for dressing up as a little girl was just a preview of my future career as the Events & Marketing Coordinator for the Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce. My experience in Customer Service, event planning, and administrative skills prepared me for the career I am building with the Chamber. I am a well-known, appreciated public figure. My biggest accomplishment and joy are my four children. As a single parent, I balance my driven nature with an amazing sense of humor and an abundance of positive energy. Often you will find me attending charity and social events. I love Windsor, and serving this community fills my cup.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS... SO IS YOUR BEST CLIENT.
2 OUT OF 3 of our readers regularly purchase from our ads.
A R P E T
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I I C C C e r t i f e d f i r m a n d t e c h n i c i a n s
I I C R C C e r t i f i e d f i r m a n d t e c h n i c i a n s
R U G S
M o s t a d v a n c e d e q u i p m e n t a n d t e c h n i q u e
M o s t a d v a n c e d e q u i p m e n t a n d t e c h n i q u e
This year The Windsor Harvest Festival celebrates its 101st year. A unique celebration full of community, charm, allure, and picture-perfect moments; the annual celebration has evolved over the years, featuring northern Colorado’s biggest parade, a farmer’s market full of local vendors, sidewalk art, concerts, fireworks, and last but certainly not least, hot air balloons.
For the last 16 of those 101 years, the festival has featured hot air balloon launches on its list of festivities. Crowds gather early to witness the tradition, skill, and enchantment of watching the pilots and crews prepare for launching their balloons to take flight and rise above the town of Windsor, but few know the story of how this tradition came to the Windsor Harvest Festival and the incredible humans behind it.
We are lucky to introduce to you Debbi and Don Waltman, the couple responsible for not only bringing hot air balloons to The Windsor Harvest Festival, but for organizing and growing the event each year to make it bigger and better. A labor of love and passion has transformed into a scenic event for thousands to enjoy and learn about.
Debbi & Crew
Debbi Waltman was raised on the east coast in Baltimore and her husband Don was raised on the west coast, they got married in Baltimore and visited Colorado for their honeymoon. After falling in love with the blue sky, the mountains, and the rain that comes in and goes out on the same day, they began talking about moving and one year later, they started to call Colorado home. While living in the Denver Metro area, Debbi observed a balloon flying over their house and was fascinated by them, she kept chasing them and finding them until she would meet someone that could teach her how to fly.
For 50 of their almost 51-year marriage, they have created and built their life here, in Colorado. Don was a schoolteacher and Debbi raised their three boys; also doing infant foster care and taking care of 40 foster babies until they were placed in new homes. As the boys grew, Debbie started working doing school fundraising and through that fundraising, she ran into someone that flew balloons and she began to get balloon flying lessons and learned to fly.
The Waltmans then moved to Windsor in 2005 and heard about The Harvest Festival. The following year they attended the event and an idea sparked inside of Debbi. She spoke to the event’s organizer at the time and suggested that “the harvest looked like it was a lot of fun, but it needed something pretty” sharing her idea of bringing hot air balloons to the event, and that’s how it all began. At that point, Debbi had been a pilot for around 13 years or more and became involved with The Harvest Festival in 2007.
Known as the “Balloon Meister”, Debbi Waltman, along with her husband, crew chief, and photographer (all photos are taken by him) Don, have been flying together for over 30 years and they are now responsible for inviting all the pilots that do come to the festival and working with the organizers to get the visiting pilots each a sponsor and housing for the event, as they come from all over the country. The sponsors pay for the balloons to be here, they then organize dozens of crew people to help each balloon and pilot launch. They organize and put together a little dinner for visiting pilots, a pilot thank you gift, and they
Reflections
help organize which sponsors are assigned to which balloon to try and coordinate everything out on the field. They have an announcer who is a retired balloon pilot, who does the on field announcing and tells people who have come out to watch what’s going on. The Waltmans and balloon pilots fly Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, creating a picturesque and beautiful sight, with onlookers watching the balloons float across the sky and soar over the landscape of Windsor and northern Colorado.
Owning their own balloons, the Waltmans have flown balloons all over the country and the world, including Mexico, France, and Italy, where they spent 10 days flying over vineyards and sunflower fields. In a normal season they fly 3 or 4 times a week beginning in the early spring through late fall, giving them around 60-80 flights a year. In the winter months they prefer Arizona and Nevada for the warmth, although you can still fly in Colorado year-round.
Ending each flight with a little ceremony and a tailgate, they have snacks and a traditional champagne toast and enjoy visiting with their passengers. Waltman's favorite part about flying is being able to share the joy of flying and the beauty of the area with their passengers. Sharing that peaceful and serene beauty is really the most fun part for them.
“Every flight is completely different, and it is based on the weather, the direction we are going, the scenery that is available that day. Every day is a different view. The reward we get from watching other people enjoy the experience really is what makes it for us, very much so.” shares Debbi.
As they begin to wind down over the last few years, what is the most memorable and exciting for them is the legacy they feel like they have left Windsor, something that wasn’t here before the Waltmans arrived. That freedom and beauty has become a tradition for The Windsor Harvest Festival and put Windsor on the map for other balloonists to enjoy the serene and speechless beauty of the landscapes northern Colorado has to offer. We hope their legacy continues to grow and become a deeper part of Windsor.
ARTICLE BY DESIREE GUSTAFSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID GROSSMAN OF COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHY
Life always has a way of surprising us and sometimes, the things that we are seeking have a way of finding us when we least expect it. Such is the case for Shana and Christian Morgan and the century old homestead that they now get to make their own. For over 20 years, Shana has worked in various sectors of real estate, finally finding her niche as a land broker selling farm and ranch real estate. Through this, she had the opportunity to list the almost 200-acre property that their now homestead sits on. Having already been looking to purchase land themselves for quite a while, she and her husband Christian had been on the property many times, falling in love with its history and charm, never dreaming they would
have the chance to set down roots there. As fate would have it, her client purchased the property and when they were walking out of closing, he turned to them both and asked, “Do you guys want to buy the homestead?” Without hesitation, and in perfect unison, the Morgans said yes! They then went through the process of separating the homestead property from the rest of the acreage, finally closing on their dream in February of 2020.
They then spent the next 3 months giving the 1889 Benjamin Eaton home on the property a cosmetic update, hoping to do a more extensive update later down the line. After selling their property in town, Shana and Christian moved to the homestead in June of that year. With several other buildings on the
land, they have spent most of their free time working to give many of the lodges a facelift. Christian, being a very gifted carpenter and sort of jack of all trades, has completed 99.9% of the work on the farm and home renovations himself, making the end result all the sweeter for the Morgan Family. “It is pretty amazing to look around and see what we have accomplished in three years mostly by his hand, it is pretty special for us” shares Shana.
All the livestock and animals the Morgans now have came after their move to the homestead. They now own their own black angus cattle, goats, chickens for eggs, barn cats, their dogs, and for a time, pigs. The ownership and care for these animals have
changed their perspective and given them a new outlook on life and food, because of their move to the homestead. From raising and processing their own animals to growing their own crops, the Morgans have found an appreciation, a bittersweetness, and a new labor of love for being able to provide for their own family.
Among the animals they have come to respect and love are the Morgan’s three dogs Bear, Raya, and Patty Cakes and their barn cat Mr. Shelby. All three of their dogs, and even their cat are rescues of sorts, each with a different and unique story as to how they came into the Morgan’s life and each with an
equally particular and wonderful personality to match. The love and respect that they show to every one of their animals is apparent in the happiness and affection their animals are eager to share with anyone that visits the homestead.
The best part of this new chapter in their journey is the ability to share this experience with their family, which has proven to be one of the greatest gifts. Being able to witness their grandkids interacting with the animals and experiencing firsthand the cycle of life and where their food comes from has given meaning to all their hard work.
“We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.”
Even while working full time and managing their farm, the Morgans are able to find peace and tranquility within the work that helps bring a serenity to their every day and a meaning to their goals. Within the homestead, they have the infrastructure to do quite a bit more and they are already thinking about which animals, crops, and homemaking skills they are wanting to tackle and add to their space next.
Shana says “We love waking up in the morning having our coffee, while looking out over the eastern fields and watching the sunrise. Getting to look down at our chicken coop and our
cows and our goats and know that we have created every part of it gives us immense joy. We see it as a real gift that we get to live here and have the ability to grow our own food.”
One of Shana’s favorite quotes is by Winston Churchill
“We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.”
It is clear that the Morgans are paving their own path and creating traditions to share with all generations of their family. Their journey is an example and labor of love that will grow to give others a story to believe in and aspire to.
A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.
AUGUST 2ND
JAMMIN’ Trivia
@ Betta Gumbo
BETTA GUMBO, 526 MAIN
STREET, WINDSOR, CO | 6:00 PM
Think you’re smart? Like Southern Food and a good vibe? Come join us for epic food and an awesome time for JAMMIN’ Trivia! We have prizes for the top 3 teams! Get your think on!
AUGUST 4TH
Free Music Fridays at Pelican Lakes
1600 PELICAN LAKES POINT, WINDSOR, CO | 7:00 PM
Enjoy free music every Friday at Pelican Lakes Resort & Golf from 7-10 p.m. Please bring chairs as seating is limited. August 4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th
AUGUST 4TH
Movies in the Park
BOARDWALK PARK 100 N 5TH ST WINDSOR | 8:30 PM
Bring your lawn chair and lounge out at our Windsor Parks while enjoying a movie with family and friends. Please note movie ratings. Movies are free, locations vary weekly. All movies start at 8:30 p.m. except for the September 3 movie which starts at 8 p.m. Go to recreationliveshere. com for more information.
PECULIER ALES, 301 MAIN STREET, WINDSOR, CO | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
We are excited to announce our upcoming fundraiser in support of our local first responders, who dedicate their lives to keeping our community safe. All proceeds go to Revital, a non-profit organization that provides support and encouragement through a variety of services that revitalize the mind, body, and spirit of our Frontline. We can’t wait to see you there!
AUGUST 12TH
WATER VALLEY PARKWAY
SHOPPING CENTER 1365
WATER VALLEY PARKWAY
WINDSOR CO 80550 | 3:00 PM
- 6:00 PM
Join us for a vibrant block party, where the shopping center comes alive with music, food, and fun! Discover a lively marketplace showcasing our business in the area and vendors, offering unique crafts and products. With games, face painting, and petting zoo, there’s something for everyone at this unforgettable community celebration.
AUGUST 17TH
BOARDWALK PARK 110 5TH ST., WINDSOR | 6:30 PM
Join the Windsor Arts Commission for the 2023 Art LIVE! series! during the Summer Concert Series at Boardwalk Park from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. We are bringing professional artists to some of Windsor’s biggest events and creating some new events all about art. Art LIVE! showcases regional professional artists who bring the creative process to the community. Come watch artwork being created in real-time!
AUGUST 18TH
COMMUNITY RECREATION
CENTER 250 N. 11TH STREET
WINDSOR, CO 80550 | 10:00 AM
Windsor residents and business owners are invited to enjoy coffee and discuss their questions, concerns or ideas with Mayor Paul Rennemeyer during a monthly Coffee with the Mayor event. Unless noted otherwise, the event is held every third Friday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Community Recreation Center. Coffee is provided.
AUGUST 18TH
NOCO Unify Suitcase Party
5017 LINDBERGH DR LOVELAND | 6:00 PM
This premier fundraising event offers live music, dancing, auctions, and a raffle where 2 lucky individuals will win a 3-night trip, and take off on a private jet that same night! Get more detail and tickets at nocounify.org
AUGUST 19TH
Walk like MADD Northern Colorado
BOARDWALK PARK 100 NORTH 5TH ST WINDSOR | 9:00 AM
Please register at the link below for the annual Mothers Against Drunk Driving(MADD) walk that starts at Boardwalk Park and goes around Windsor Lake. Julie and Don Legg are organizing “Kris’s Crew” in memory of Senior Airman Kristopher Mansfield. walklikemadd.org/ index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive. team&teamID=20091
*DOM = number of days until property went under contract
Information generated from IRES, the MLS system used by our office. All reported sales were not necessarily listed or sold by the reporting broker. Windsor Residential only. The data is intended to show only trends in the area.
AUGUST 19TH
MAIN PARK, 300 LOCUST
STREET, WINDSOR | 11:00 AM
This Wine Festival will feature over 35 Colorado Wineries, 50 Retail Vendors, Food Vendors and Live Music. General Admission Tickets include a commemorative wine glass, wine tote and unlimited tastings. VIP includes VIP Wine Glass, Wine Tote, Unlimited tastings and VIP Tent with catered food and wine bar. NO RE-ENTRY. NO PETS. Bring your own chairs and picnic baskets. frontrangewinefestival.com
AUGUST 25TH
Yappy Hour
EASTMAN PARK > POUDRE
POOCH PARK 7025 EASTMAN PARK DRIVE WINDSOR, CO 80550 | 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Bring your best friend (dog or human) down to Poudre Pooch Park for Friday Yappy Hours. We’ll have adult beverages for sale from local breweries for our 21+ and older guests, food, music, and a special off-leash area for pooches to socialize. All beverage proceeds will benefit the local Big Bones Canine Rescue.
AUGUST 26TH
Karaoke Night
1600 PELICAN LAKES POINT, WINDSOR, CO | 7:00 PM
Last Saturday of the month 7-10 pm! Free fun for the whole family at The Sand Bar at Pelican Lakes
Want to be featured?
Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Windsor
