windsor GUIDING YOU THROUGH THE BEST OF WINDSOR
GETTING BACK TO BASICS
Windsor town board gets back to basics in wake of pandemic
LIVING WITH LIVESTOCK
What you need to know about keeping and raising livestock within Windsor’s city limits
How are coaches dealing with postponed fall sports seasons SEPTEMBER 2020 | mywindsor | 1
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Windsor’s town board shifts their priorities during the Covid-19 Pandemic . Read more on page 10.
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contents
| SEPTEMBER 2020
04 | EDUCATION
Students return to school in Windsor, then some quickly return home
06 | EDUCATION
Windsor students adapt to mask-wearing as part of their new normal
08 | EDUCATION
8
POSTPONED
How coaches are dealing with the fall sports season amid a pandemic
12 | LOCAL IMPACT Downtown small businesses weather the storm with ingenuity and help
Windsor fall prep sports coaches rolling with the gut punch of a postponed season
10 | AROUND TOWN
Windsor town board gets back to basics in wake of pandemic
18
14 | EVENT CALENDAR Fall is a great time to explore Windsor — Even with social distancing requirements
18 | AT HOME
Chickens, horses and bees... Oh my!
21 | AT HOME Reenergize your home this fall
22 | CAR BUYING
COVID-19 has impacted just about every aspect of our lives, even the purchase of a new car or truck.
23 | FINAL THOUGHT Prep sports postponed
SEPTEMBER 2020 | mywindsor | 3
education | BACK TO SCHOOL
Students return to school in Windsor, then some quickly return home. BY ANNE DELANEY
S
chool returned in a brand-new fashion this August, as COVID-19 case numbers in U.S. continue to rage, with more than 5.4 million as of Aug. 18 according to data from Johns Hopkins. But the Weld County statistics proved to be more friendly for area school leaders, allowing them to give the goahead on a return to in-school learning in some form. According to Weld County health department data updated late Tuesday afternoon, there were 17 new cases of COVID-19 reported Tuesday — in a county with a population of more than 300,000. The two-week average positive test rate is 4.2%. The percent of total positive cases per population is conservatively estimated to be 1.19%. As of Tuesday, there were 26 people with COVID-19 in Weld County Regional Hospitals. There have been two COVID-19 deaths in the county since Aug. 1, according to the county health department website. Early that first Tuesday morning, as Windsor High School principal Michelle Scallon joined several staff members near an entrance waiting for a second new group of students to arrive, the sentiments were positive. In a high school with 1,167 students, approximately 55%, or 640 students, had their first day Monday, Aug. 17. The rest were expected for Day 1 on Tuesday.
“It went great,” said Scallon of Monday. “The kids and staff did an amazing job. We never had to do this before, but it felt good because I know the district was well planned.” Students in Weld RE-4 opting for a fully online schedule began classes that same Monday. Scallon said only two students needed hand-out masks through the entire day Monday. One was necessary because of a bloody nose; the other was a replacement for a broken band. But, by the end of the week, the tune had changed a bit for Windsor students. Thirty-seven students and seven teachers at Windsor Middle School are currently in quarantine after a student tested positive for COVID-19 the first week. Weld RE-4 spokeswoman Lisa Relou said that first Friday morning that the student’s test came back positive Thursday, leading to the two-week quarantine of the students, the teachers and four paraprofessionals in the seventh-grade cohort. Relou said the district was notified of the student’s positive test Thursday afternoon by the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment. The student was in school on Thursday. The students and teachers will all revert to remote learning until they are cleared to return to school. The teachers will return to school Sept. 4. The students, who are all participating in a hybrid model of learning this year because of the pandemic, will return on Sept. 10.
4 | mywindsor | SEPTEMBER 2020
This was the third known positive test at the second Weld County school within the first week of the new school year. A fourth, at Highland High School in Ault, came before the middle of week two. Relou said the Windsor Middle School staff met Friday morning in a video conference call to discuss the ramifications of the quarantine. Relou said the district will require substitute teachers for the quarantined educators, to serve as proctors for students who remain at school. There are 678 students at Windsor Middle School. “I think maybe there’s less fear about catching the virus and more concern that everyone is prepared to transition to teaching remotely and turning on a dime,” Relou said. “They’ve been preparing for this. Because this is the first time this is happening, they’re pioneers and they’ll get all of the support they need. Looking into the next 14 days, we’re going to keep adjusting and that will be the case for the students and teachers as well.” The school and district sent four letters via email to Windsor Middle School and district families Thursday night. One of the letters came from middle school principal Elizabeth Urich, notifying families their student was identified as a “close contact” of a student who tested positive. Among the other information in Urich’s letter was the revelation meals from nutrition services will be available for students while
they are learning off campus. Additional information will be shared with families on Aug. 24. Two other letters also went out; one notifying families their student’s teacher is in quarantine and the in-school class will then be managed by a district substitute; and another letter alerting families of the on-going health investigation in progress as a result of the positive test. The fourth letter was sent to all district families, notifying them of the positive test and quarantine at the middle school. The district-wide message also included an alert that if a family is waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test, the student must remain at home until the results are received. “This is now included in the scope of Weld RE-4 district policy JKD/JKE-E (grounds for suspension/expulsion) as indicated in red,” according to the district-wide letter. “We will be applying this to any instance where: (1) a student comes to school in-person aware that he/she has tested positive for COVID-19 and does not disclose that information to the district and/or (2) a student comes to school in-person while awaiting COVID-19 test results and/or after being advised by a medical professional not to attend school for reasons related to COVID-19 and does not disclose that information to the district. We will consider this behavior as detrimental to the welfare, health, or safety of other students and staff.”
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education | BACK TO SCHOOL
Back-to-School: Windsor students adapt to mask-wearing as part of their new normal
Alexis Swigert chose a butterfly mask for her first day of fifth grade at Range View Elementary in Severance. Her mom, Katie Swigert, decorated plain masks with decals to help with easy identification. (Photo courtesy: Katie Swigert)
BY EMILY KEMME MARKETING FEATURE
A
lexis Swigert hates spending school days wearing a mask. She can’t breathe, it’s hard to hear people, and the mask pulls on her ears. The Range View Elementary fifthgrader attends class five days a week in Severance this fall. Her brother Noah, a Windsor High junior, wears a double-folded gaiter for his two weekly in-class days. The Swigert children’s
mom, Katie, said Alexis adjusted to mask-wearing partly because she can choose among a number of solid-colored masks Katie decorated with decals to help identify which masks are her daughter’s. There’s a butterfly, an owl, and one has a button in the corner. Dr. Nathan Swisher, a licensed clinical psychologist at Pathways Family Wellness in Greeley, said his three school-aged children have responded to mask-wearing with complaints, even though
6 | mywindsor | SEPTEMBER 2020
Swisher and his wife 5th grader, Deonna, one acclimated them to masks of Alexis Swigert’s friends. before school started. The program, Inspire 4, “Care providers can can integrate kids if they emphasize areas of personal need to be pulled out of control, especially when in-class learning for any our environment feels out reason. Deonna prefers the of control,” Swisher said. online method because even “Let your kids share their though her daily lessons preferences for mask types take eight hours, she gets and the fabric.” more breaks. Jarrett, a Other domains to network engineer, currently help kids feel more in works from home and control include schedules, oversees Deonna’s learning, routines, physical health, including coaching her and engaging in social computer literacy. interactions, Swisher noted. But COVID19-era stress He works with families is inevitable, Swisher said. to facilitate a healthy “It comes from demands back-to-school process, of juggling work at home, acknowledging this topic online learning, financial hits close to home. One burdens, and decisionreason his family chose in-person learning was for social interaction. “My daughter was glad to be in class and see other kids again after the spring lockdowns and long summer.” Conversely, Jarrett Arnett chose Alexis Swigert participates in a virtual dance Windsor’s class to keep up with her dance and stretching online during the COVID-19 pandemic. learning for his (Photo courtesy: Katie Swigert)
Alexis Swigert multi-tasks while studying at home. (Photo courtesy: Katie Swigert)
making between two options that are far from ideal. Children and their parents report significant anxiety and mental health problems.” Swisher’s caseload has nearly doubled with therapy requests for all ages. High schoolers worry about quality of AP online instruction and how it will unfold when they apply for college. Confined in the house, families are reevaluating ways to spend quality time together; others with previous problems are having more contact than they would like. All this impacts learning. “Stress affects cognitive abilities, challenging concentration and memory recall that can compromise learning skills because of
preoccupation with other problems,” he said. Licensed professional counselor Sandi Squicquero finds that parents and children are frustrated about the inconsistency of learning across Colorado, with some districts open for classroom training and others in hybrid mode with partial at-home learning. Child-care issues contribute to stress, as does the fact of exposure to COVID-19. “Change is always difficult,” the Windsorbased counselor said. “Kids go through the normal beginning school year anxiety, with new grades, new friends. Now there’s the fear of COVID, mask wearing, and the simple fact you can’t eat lunch outside the classroom.”
Counseling both children and adults, Squicquero finds patients struggling with isolation, depression, increased anxiety, agitation, and anger. “Some patients who began with school or relationship problems have evolved into a dual diagnosis.” Swisher advises finding time to communicate with your child through mindful parenting to see COVIDrelated changes through your child’s perspective in a creative, playful way. Use emotion coaching to validate feelings, and engage in storytelling to help children work through difficult circumstances. Review your child’s day and share stories. Squicquero recommends communicating about stress and seeking help. Get involved in a hobby, safely distanced sports, reading, and listen to music. Limiting social media, practicing deep breathing — take a belly breath and hold for four seconds before
Katie Swigert hand-decorated her daughter Alexis’ masks for easy identification — and to allow Alexis some control over which mask she wants to wear that day. (Photo courtesy: Katie Swigert)
releasing — and imagining you are in a relaxing place all help. “With kids, help them realize they have control over their thoughts. Find joy somewhere, while understanding stress is part of life.” Both Swigert children agree that the year is off to a better start than their lockdown experience. The hybrid format’s flexibility allows Noah to work up to 20 hours a week for his dad, a garage door technician. He and Alexis accept that school these days requires attention to community hygiene. Getting COVID-19 doesn’t worry them. As long as school is well-organized so learning can continue, they’re resigned to the new normal.
SEPTEMBER 2020 | mywindsor | 7
education | SPORTS
Windsor fall prep sports coaches rolling with the gut punch of a postponed season
ALEX MCINTYRE BY JADYN WATSON-FISHER
W
indsor High School fall sports coaches must handle the changes caused by COVID-19 like anyone else. They, similar to other Weld County coaches, expressed relief that a plan was put in place to help every sport have a season. LaVerne Huston, head volleyball coach, and Chris Jones, head football coach, weren’t particularly shocked when the Colorado High School Activities Association announced its plan to shift the sports schedule and postpone most fall events until the spring. Huston figured the season would be delayed or postponed after seeing how youth and recreational sports were cut this summer.
“I think we have to be realistic with what the situation is right now and, collectively as a sport, coaches and athletes, we have to be pleased and stay positive that at least it looks like we will have a season,” Huston said. “(We need to) make the best out of the season we were given and get out and compete when we’re able to.” Jones shared a similar message. Sure, it’s disappointing that the team has to wait, but he thinks the postponement will give teams the best chance at finishing their seasons. He worried what would happen if schools started seasons and kids contracted COVID-19. If CHSAA had to cancel the season, teams wouldn’t get to make up games. Hopefully this won’t be an issue with the altered
8 | mywindsor | SEPTEMBER 2020
schedule. The postponement will also give Jones and his staff more time with the players, particularly the seniors. “In the past, we’d finish up our season in November or December. Then you never really see these seniors again,” Jones said. “When they graduate, they don’t come by and spend as much time with you. To me, it felt like a special opportunity to spend more time with our kids before they graduate and leave.” Windsor will spend the next several months recording different plays they want to use against each opponent and fundamental drills for each position. The coaches plan to put these videos online for the players to work on. Each player will film videos of themselves performing the applicable
activities and receive feedback from coaches. The volleyball team is also adapting to the schedule change. Huston plans to work with her athletes on agility and weight training over the course of several weeks but will hold off on other activities. Many of the players will begin training with their club teams later this year. Huston said some club teams moved their seasons to the fall to prevent some of the expected conflicts. Despite having players who participate on a club team, she doesn’t expect to face many issues. Getting back on a regular schedule One concern raised with the fall schedule changes is the impact on the players’ bodies. Is it too much to expect the
students to play in the spring of the 2020-21 school year and then in the fall for the 2021-22 academic session? Huston said she doesn’t think the postponement will have a big impact on the players. Because of the club circuit, many players are participating in some sort of competition year-round. Teams will finish a season in the fall, then players jump into another season shortly after. They then play until late spring and start training with their high schools again. Football teams, however, could face more challenges. If the football season takes place from March until May, will they be able to hold the annual two-week camp
that next month? How does Jones run practices if he’s also coaching the track team through the end of June? There are a lot of questions. Jones said players have, what he calls, a seven-week fuel cell. They can handle roughly seven weeks of intense practices or competition before needing a plateau week — one focused on flexibility, yoga or other light exercises — and one rest week. This process can then begin again. With the seasons
scheduled so closely together and the expectation of resuming a normal schedule during the 2021-22 academic year, he understands the importance of carefully planning activities to keep kids from burnout. “We’re going to have to be really cognizant with what we do with practice and how physical we want to be in that time period, so we can be successful on Friday nights,” Jones said. “We’re going to have to really think
“(We need to) make the best out of the season we were given and get out and compete when we’re able to.”
about the athletes and what they’ve done in the last 18 weeks and what they’ve done prior to us getting started (for next fall).” Season “C,” during which volleyball and football are set to play, will begin games on March 4. The season has been condensed to roughly seven weeks and will end at the beginning of May. “I think this will give us the best chance to work together as communities statewide to control what we can to slow down this virus, and (it will) give us a good chance to compete and work with our kids,” Jones said.
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around town | PANDEMIC
ALEX MCINTYRE
Windsor town board gets back to basics in wake of pandemic
“Priorities like transportation infrastructure and water come to the fore.”
BY CUYLER MEADE
F
or Windsor’s new town board, which includes a new mayor and a few new members, the first four months after being sworn in April 27 have been bizarre. Priorities during campaigns went out the
10 | mywindsor | SEPTEMBER 2020
window as the COVID-19 pandemic overtook daily life and the economy, and Windsor, which turned out to shielded from some aspects of the pandemic’s power, was not entirely exempt. “Because of COVID, our strategic planning, that we do every two years, that retreat got put off into the
summer,” said first-term mayor Paul Rennemeyer, previously a town board member himself. “We got sworn in, and it ended up being about two months, into late June, when we did strategic planning.” Rennemeyer said the board still meets “quasivirtually” even today, as some meetings take place
in chambers but others are still held online. “One thing I did coming in was start meeting with each town board member individually,” Rennemeyer said. “Unscripted, no agenda, just where are they in life, what’s going on? It can roll over into decisions, impatience, whatever, depending on what’s going on. That’s something I think the town board has been grateful for; they feel they have a voice straight to the mayor on what they’re feeling. We can have conversations, what they like and don’t like, what they see on the horizon, and they can pick my brain on something or throw out new ideas.”
Rennemeyer said the new priorities were largely unexciting. The board has chosen to be quite conservative with its funds, even relative to its typical approach, thanks to uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and the economy. But there are still important items under discussion. Among them, perhaps least importantly but most excitingly, is a river walk on Windsor’s Cache de la Poudre River front. “The reason we can move forward with a river walk, as we’re calling it, by Eastman Park, is because the funds for that project come out of a park fund
that can only be spent to expand our parks and natural spaces and trails,” Rennemeyer said. “That fund is already there, so it doesn’t affect our general fund.” Outside of that, it’s back to basics. Priorities like transportation infrastructure and water come to the fore, Rennemeyer said. “We’re working with CDOT on our truck traffic issues in the downtown area,” the mayor said. “And if we have any options CDOT would work with us on if it comes to a truck bypass around our community. We really want to explore those
options and start working toward whatever we can accomplish.” Further, Rennemeyer said, it is the town’s intention to move forward with the NISP water project, should it get approved by the county later this year. “Transportation, water and critical infrastructure,” Rennemery quipped. “Nothing too sexy, but until we know we’re behind this and getting life back to what it was like before March, we don’t want to overcommit to spending a lot of money and we end up hurting.”
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local impact | MAIN STREET
Downtown small businesses weather the storm with ingenuity and help BY BOBBY FERNANDEZ
ALEX MCINTYRE
12 | mywindsor | SEPTEMBER 2020
A
sk any smallbusiness owner, this isn’t really the easiest or most fruitful time to be running a small local shop. The COVID-19 pandemic has made sure of that. But there are several degrees of hardship for small-business entrepreneurs during this pandemic. There are those who are simply finding it impossible to continue to operate their businesses during these severely difficult economic times. And then there are those who are just getting by — being as adaptive and resourceful as possible, and benefitting immensely from the support of their surrounding communities to assure the survival of the businesses they built from the ground up. Thanks to the town government and the community itself, all but a handful of Windsor small businesses are falling into that first category. The town government has hosted regular Zoom meetings with local business owners and has responded with a variety of programs to help these businesses keep their doors open. The owners of local businesses that line Windsor’s Main Street have further strengthened their preexisting fraternity amongst each other during the pandemic.
ALEX MCINTYRE
And the town’s residents have responded, by ordering takeout, buying gift cards and, more recently, repopulating those downtown streets, donning protective masks on their faces. “Our downtown business owners are heroic in their efforts right now, trying to address such a challenging situation,” said Matt Ashby, the executive director of the Windsor Downtown Development Authority. “They have adapted their business models. They’ve changed how they’ve been operating and have been super creative in coming up with new ideas. I certainly do tip my hat to them.” The town of Windsor, Chamber of Commerce and DDA have been aggressive with their support of the 1,000-plus local small businesses. They have done things like offering a minimarketing grant program, conducting training workshops, deferring
“THERE ARE DEFINITELY A LOT MORE PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT; IT’S DEFINITELY PICKING UP.” property tax payments for small business owners and providing hand sanitizer, “Open” flags and “Shop smart, safe, local” window clings, encouraging customers to return to these businesses who are adopting proper safety measures during the pandemic. The town has also leant patio barriers and tables from local parks to provide extra outdoor seating for downtown restaurants. “The town has stepped up immensely for us; they’ve been a great help,” said Andrew Higa, coowner of Okole Maluna Hawaiian Grill. “Town officials periodically have been in touch with us via Zoom meetings. They would come down and
meet with us. Definitely, I feel their presence has been a huge benefit for us.” Okole Maluna Hawaiian Grill (431 Main St.), Hearth Restaurant and Pub (205 1/2 4th St.) and Hearth’s sister restaurant, Chimney Park Restaurant & Bar (406 Main St.) have helped pioneer Windsor’s budding downtown restaurant scene in recent years. As of late August, Okole Maluna had kept its dining room closed for the time being, largely because of staffing challenges. Hearth and Chimney Park have reopened their dining rooms, while also having patio dining. Their owners — Andrew and Juliet Higa of Okole Maluna and Jason Shaeffer of Chimney Park/Hearth — are part of a community of tightly-knit business owners in Windsor who have supported one another by sharing information and purchasing necessary supplies and consumer products from one another.
But a crucial supplement to the support these businesses have provided each other is the vast support Windsor’s rapidly growing population of more than 33,000 has provided. Ever since Colorado Gov. Jared Polis allowed restaurants and other businesses to begin reopening their doors in late May and early June with the Safer at Home order, downtown Windsor’s Main Street has slowly begun to come back alive with residents wearing masks and supporting their local businesses. “There are definitely a lot more people out and about; it’s definitely picking up,” Shaeffer said. “Business seems a little more robust and people are coming out more now.”
SEPTEMBER 2020 | mywindsor | 13
event calendar | FALL HAPPENINGS
EXPLORE
WINDSOR
The schedule: • Sept. 11 - Aberdour Park, 6600 Aberdour Circle
FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO EXPLORE WINDSOR — EVEN WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS
• Sept. 18 - Coyote Gulch Park, 7005 Aladar Drive • Sept. 25 - Poudre Heights Park, 1670 Green River Drive
BY LUANNE KADLUB MARKETING FEATURE
A
re you ready to leave the confines of “safer at home” and venture out into the real world? Do you have visitors — from near or afar — and wonder what there is to do that could be fun? Thanks to the town of Windsor and others, Windsor has fall activities that should appeal to young and old alike. Keep in mind that social distancing and other COVID-19 restrictions are still in place. Windsor Farmers Market Celebrate fall harvest on Sept. 12 with one last trip to Windsor Farmers Market at Boardwalk Park, 110 5th St. You’ll find locally sourced end-of-season produce and goods sans samples and demonstrations. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Movies in the Park “Hotel Transyvania” will culminate Windsor’s Movies in the Park at 8 p.m. Sept. 18 at Boardwalk Park, 110 5th St. The computer-generated movie features the voices of Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler and Selena Gomez. Don’t forget your chairs and the mosquito spray! Although the movie is free, preregistration is required, visit (recreationliveshere.com/ 217/movies-in-the-park).
• Oct. 2 - Northern Lights, 550 Saratoga Way • Oct. 9 - Windshire Park, 1520 Dartford Drive • Oct. 16 - Main Park, 300 Locust St.
Windsor Farmers Market. (Photo courtesy: Town of Windsor).
Family Game Night in the Park If you’d like to play yard games somewhere besides your own backyard this fall, be sure to check out one or more Family Game Nights in the Park.
Families are invited to come out to a different neighborhood park each week for fun and games. Equipment is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Hours are 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Guided Tours of Windsor Historical Museum A trip to Windsor History Museum should be on your to-do list anytime of year. The museum features historic Windsor-area buildings from 1882 to the 1920s that tell the story of Windsor’s origins, from the completion of the Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific Railroad through the sugar beet boom of the early 20th
Family Game Night in the Park. SEPTEMBER 2020 | mywindsor | 15
century. In-person guided and virtual tours are available. Contact Katherine Mericier at 970.674.3532 for more information. The Windsor History Museum, 100 N. 5th St., is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free. Feeling ‘Unsettled’ The coronavirus pandemic is not only a historic event but a trying time for many. To mark this time in history, the Art and Heritage Center, 116 5th St., will host a community art show titled “Unsettled” with works depicting how COVID-19 has affected local residents. “We’re asking people to submit artwork about things that make them unsettled. It can be as simple as a leaky faucet or a smoke alarm battery beeping, or larger world issues,” said Laura Browarny, cultural supervisor for the town. “Some might be funny, some might be intense.” If interested in entering artwork, due Sept. 15, check out the Collecting COVID-19 form on the town’s online activity guide. The show can be viewed from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 15 through Jan. 10.
Windsor Food Truck Rally. (Photo courtesy: Town of Windsor).
Twilight in the Cemetery Want to learn more about Windsor’s history? Join a costumed tour guide as they take you on a twilight tour of Windsor’s cemetery, telling stories from Windsor’s past and featuring some of Windsor’s most intriguing personalities. Tours are set for 5:30 and 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 16 through Oct. 30. Register online recreationliveshere.com/ RecReg. Pumpkin Plunge How would your young ones, ages 2 to 12, like to dive (or jump) for pumpkins? If so, mark Friday, Oct. 30, on your calendar and reserve their spaces now so they can participate in Pumpkin Plunge. After finding the perfect pumpkin in the pool, kids can decorate their gourds to take home. Register online at recreationliveshere.com/
Windsor Museum. (Photo courtesy: Town of Windsor). 16 | mywindsor | SEPTEMBER 2020
RecReg or call 970.674.3500. Food Truck Rally If you’re tired of cooking (and who isn’t?), Boardwalk Park, 305 11th St., will be the backdrop for Windsor’s first Food Truck Rally set for the third Thursday in October through November. Hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 17 and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and Nov. 19. A variety of food trucks will serve up a variety of delectable bites. Attendees must pre-register for the event at windsorprojectconnect.com/ windsor-food-truck-rally. Family Bike Rides Explore different parts of Windsor and surrounding trails with fellow cyclists from 8:45 to 10:30 a.m. Sundays in September and October. Ages 5 and up are welcome to join in. Registration (recreationliveshere.com/ RecReg) is required and fee is $8 per person. NoCo Parade of Homes Maybe you’re shopping for a new home, looking for remodeling ideas or simply like to see what’s new and different in today’s homes. Whatever the case, the Northern Colorado Parade of Homes, recognized by the National Home Builders Association as the best home
parade of its size in 2019, is your chance to tour homes for first-time buyers all the way up to custom-built million dollar homes. Nikki Giordano, executive director of the Northern Colorado Home Builders Association, said 26 new construction homes and three showrooms — including the new Bath and Kitchen Idea Center in Windsor — will be on the tour with COVID-19 precautions in place. If you don’t feel like venturing out, a few home builders will offer virtual tours. To learn more about the homes on the tour, visit nocohba.com/paradeofhomes or call 970.686.2798 to find out where you can pick up a booklet. Booklets will also be available at the homes on tour. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown If like Charlie Brown you are in search of the perfect pumpkin, you’ll need to go no further than Hometown Harvest Pumpkin Patch at 7710 WCR 62 (Crossroads just west of the round-about). The pumpkin patch is geared toward families and features a one-acre mini corn maze, festive games, fall photos and, of course, lots and lots of pumpkins. Hometown Harvest will be open all of October. Hours are: 12 noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Halloween Carnival On Halloween, which conveniently falls on a Saturday, the lawn in front of the Windsor Historical Museum will be transformed into a decorated trick-or treat path with several candy
Halloween Carnival. (Photo courtesy: Town of Windsor).
stations. The carnival “lets kids get more bang for their buck,” said Laura Browarny, cultural supervisor for Windsor. “It will be a little more spread out of course, with timed entry to keep the numbers down.” And, she added, masks will be required but since it’ll be Halloween, that’s a no-brainer. To ensure a safe experience, families are asked to sign up for a time in advance at recreationliveshere.com/ culture. Way Back Windsor Town of Windsor Museum Educator Katherine Mercier uses original photographs and firsthand accounts to bring Windsor’s past to life in a series of monthly lectures throughout December. The free lectures take place at 1 p.m. at the Active Adult Lounge at the Windsor Community Recreation Center. Registration is required. The schedule: • Stories from the Past, Sept. 17 • If These Walls Could Talk, Oct. 15
• Preserving Your Past, Nov. 19 • Toys and Games of Christmases Past, Dec. 17 Check out Windsor trails By now you’ve probably biked or walked many portions of the Poudre Trail, which winds its way along the Poudre River from Island Grove Park in Greeley to River Bluffs trail head to the west and beyond. And you’ve probably taken guests for a stroll around Windsor Lake and stopped to photograph the pelicans. But have you checked out the newest addition to Windsor’s trail system? Kyger Open Space, 555 Weld County Road 13 (between Colo. 392 and Jacoby Road), opened this summer and features about a mile and a half loop around the reservoir where wildlife sightings and scenic viewings are top-notch. Watercraft and fishing is not allowed at this time, however. You might also not be aware of Belmont Ridge Open Space and its 2.5 mile natural surface trail. Some say it’s like hiking
in the foothills without the drive to get there. Access point is at Coyote Ridge Park, 7005 Aladar Drive. Stepping Up for Hope Footsteps to Hope cancer support 5K run/walk and silent action is going virtual
this year. The annual event provides five ways for the community to support the nonprofit: Faith Up, Step Up, Lift Up, Speak Up and Love Up. For more information on how you can get involved, visit footstepstohope.com.
SEPTEMBER 2020 | mywindsor | 17
at home
| BACKYARD LIVESTOCK
Chickens, horses and bees... oh my! BY EMILY BAUDOT MARKETING FEATURE
H
umans have kept pets for thousands of years. The reasons are plentiful: labor, aid, companionship, YouTube content. And of course, caring for living creatures fulfills the soul. Though often forgotten, domesticated livestock provide their own myriad rewards. In addition to the above, livestock offer transportation, food and other resources. And the best part is you don’t need a farm to experience it. We’ve compiled the rules for private livestock ownership and tips on how to raise each animal. Read
on — you may find one that suits you! Personal livestock in Windsor Larimer County defines personal livestock as farm animals kept legally on land smaller than three acres. For Windsor, the local ordinances reflect the town mission. The plan focuses on infrastructure, public land development and general economic growth. Consequently, the last decade’s zoning laws limit personal agricultural practices in residential areas. Several swathes of land are only zoned for residential and mixed-use development. In fact, keeping unlawful animals in the town is
18 | mywindsor | SEPTEMBER 2020
punishable with a fine up to $2,650. Town plans and limitations aside, homeowners can still keep personal livestock. We cover the rules in more detail below. But of course, neighborhood HOAs have the final say as to what owners can use their land for. That being said, a crucial part of using your land to the fullest lies in personal research. It would behoove any homeowner to learn Windsor’s ordinances for their zone. To find out which district you live in, check out this interactive map at gis. windsorgov.com/maps. Just type in your address in the search bar.
Some points to consider As mentioned before, raising livestock can be as rewarding as owning a pet. And just like keeping pets, it’s important to understand the responsibility of keeping farm animals. Most farm animals require special structures, niche veterinary care and specialized food and equipment. Investing in them can cost quite a bit. We strongly encourage budgeting before shopping. This will reduce the likelihood of having to surrender animals down the road. Money isn’t the only concern. Caring for some livestock requires performing manual labor. If you aren’t able-bodied
(and prepared), this adventure might not be for you. Even gym rats may not want to put in the level of day-to-day work livestock can require. Carefully consider your willingness and ability to care for these creatures. Remember, once you own an animal, they rely on you to live. Finally, Northern Colorado’s beautiful landscape makes it seem ideal for farm life. But the arid climate, local flora and rough terrain can be dangerous for certain animals. As you prepare your property for personal livestock, contact Weld County’s Colorado State University Extension, weldgov.com/departments/ csu_extension, to keep everyone safe. Now let’s get to the good stuff!
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Every farm animal has unique needs and personalities. Below, we outline how to care for the livestock and what Windsor requires for each critter. Keeping chickens These little birdies are a top pick for first-time farmers. Chickens come in a variety of breeds, each with its own temperament, quirks and egg-laying schedule. We don’t need to tell you fresh eggs are notoriously delicious and healthy. And once they stop laying eggs, home-raised chickens are delicious to eat. Most anyone in Windsor can keep chickens in their backyard. However, there are a few requirements: • The coop must be legal under local HOA requirements.
• Those interested must fill out a permit application before building the coop. • If there are multiple dwelling units on the land, all adult residents need to consent to the enclosure in writing. • If the pen’s near the property line, the adjacent property owners need to agree to the coop in writing. • The chickens can’t interact with waterfowl. • The chickens must stay in their coop at night. Arguably, that last bullet is most important. Chickens are ill-equipped to fight off cats, foxes and raccoons. A predator-proof
shelter will keep them safe at night. A good chicken coop is secure and weather-proof, with enough space for a feeder, a heated water source and nesting boxes. Pre-built coops are handy, with a wide price range depending on size and quality. And building your own coop also makes for a great pastime. Whatever you go with, make sure it’s secure. Windsor has authorized officials to dispose of escaped fowl without trying to find the owner. So make sure your feathery friends are locked up tight! Caring for chickens fits easily into most daily routines. You should let them out of the coop each morning and pen them up every evening, per town ordinances.
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Large pasture mammals Finally, we come to our largest animal friends. Only horses, ponies, mules, donkeys and llamas are allowed in Windsor as per the municipal code. And these animals need to graze, so before starting this process, survey your land and determine whether there’s sufficient grass. Poultry feed (a specialized mix of nutritional grain and digestive grit) and mealworms make up most of their diet. Their feces and nesting materials need clearing out once every few days. (Be prepared — it does stink a bit.) But those fresh eggs are worth it! Beekeeping There’s another well-earned farming boon in beehives. Though more labor-intensive than chickens, honey’s remarkable health benefits are well worth it. Moreover, beekeepers are environmental stewards. Keeping an apiary prevents the extinction of a crucial species. After learning whether their HOA will allow beekeeping, landowners should examine their land and plan where to put their hive. Bees need a clear flight path from their home to their food source. Once you know where the hive will go, start gathering supplies and equipment. Windsor beekeepers should keep these municipal guidelines in mind while they build: • Keep bees in Langstroth
hives labeled with your name and near a water source. • Only keep as many hives as is allowed based on land size. • If a hive is in 25’ of a property line, the landowner should install a solid flyaway barrier — a wall to force the bees to fly overhead. • Clear away excess comb and honey to prevent scavenging animals. • Keep your neighbors in mind and avoid causing them a nuisance. Once your hives are set up and your bees are settled in, caring for these unique insects becomes a way to mark the calendar. The chores to keep them healthy change seasonally and include harvesting honey, feeding them, checking on the queen, and making hive repairs. Beekeeping is a beautiful labor of love. Of course, those with allergies may disagree. Check out the Colorado Beekeepers’ Association for more info at coloradobeekeepers.org.
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Other requirements include: • The land must be within an Estate Residential E-1 District. • Structures for these animals can’t be within 35’ of the property line. • There should be one acre (including the improvements) for every animal kept. • Residents need to fill out a
building permit relevant to their animal’s needs Though each of the allowed animals has a slightly different diet, most of their other needs are similar. They require regular hoof maintenance and a covered barn to sleep in. All need to be groomed, but llamas specifically need regular shearing. These animals are hardy with strong personalities. Fair warning, caring for them is also incredibly laborintensive. But they’ll reward your care with labor and, in the case of llamas, with wool. Do any of these animals strike your fancy? Start planning your personal menagerie today!
at home
| HOME IMPROVEMENT
Reenergize Your Home this Fall BY DARIAN ARMER MARKETING FEATURE
O
ur homes have become more important than ever
before. We’ve transformed them into offices, shared work spaces, classrooms and daycares. Staying at home has left us spending more time in the shared spaces of our homes, especially kitchens and bathrooms. “Ever since COVID hit there’s been a big upswing in people wanting to improve their homes,” says Pat Osiecki, owner of Pro Marble Installation in LaSalle. “People have been spending more time at home and noticing areas they want remodeled.” With a need for form and function, remodeling is taking on a new meaning and now is the best time to do it. “You’re getting ready to be cooped up in your house for winter,” says Osiecki. “You don’t want to have to work on things while you’re cooped up and it’s cold.” Beyond improving the function of your home for whatever new role it has to play this crazy COVID year, you finally have a reason to make your home look the way you want. “It’s a convenient time to make things the way you want it, change colors,” says Osiecki. And best of all, making improvements can only improve the value of your home. The two best places
Remodeling the bathroom or kitchen are the two best places you can spend your money on your home. (Photo courtesy: Pro Marble Installation).
to make improvements? The bathroom and the kitchen. “Remodeling the bathroom or kitchen are the two best places you can spend your money on your home. If you sell your house down the line you get the most bang for your buck. You get the majority of your money back if not more,” says Osiecki. One of the biggest changes Osiecki says he’s seen recently is a tub to shower conversion. “We all get older and it gets harder and harder to step in and out of the bathtub. We’ve been taking a lot of bathtubs out and turning them into showers,” says Osiecki. “We use an engineered granite or marble so each wall is one large slab of material. The only place you have a seam is in the corner and around the bottom
of the base. It’s a lot easier to take care of and keep clean. We use a fungicide silicone to color match that won’t mold or mildew.” Break up the monotony of your morning bathroom routine and add his and hers sinks. An added bonus might be fewer fights between siblings and spouses about who got to the bathroom first. “We can also add seats and soap dishes to a tub or shower,” says Osiecki. “The material is also easy to cut around a window and wrap all the way around. Our onyx or cultured marble is great for bathroom use. I’ve been doing this for 34 years now. It’s a great material. You really can’t beat it. It’s so easy to take care of.” The same granite and marble material used in the
shower can be used to redo countertops in the bathroom or kitchen. When it comes to the kitchen, counterspace is crucial. School projects, family dinners and your work laptop can all fight for space. In this case, there will be crying over spilt milk when one of the above mentioned is ruined. With a trained eye, find space for everyone. Create a desk area out of an unused corner, add unexpected seating to a kitchen island or maybe break down and finally just add that wine fridge you’ve had your eye on. Regardless of the plans you have for your home, now is the time to make the changes to your home you’ve been thinking about.
SEPTEMBER 2020 | mywindsor | 21
auto | CONSUMER PURCHASING
BUYING A CAR DURING THIS PANDEMIC? YOU HAVE OPTIONS BY KATHLEEN DUFF MARKETING FEATURE
C
OVID-19 has impacted just about every aspect of our lives, even the purchase of a new car or truck. While using the Internet to research vehicles is not necessarily new, the coronavirus showed consumers it's possible to buy a vehicle without stepping foot into a dealership. When the Pedersen Toyota showroom in Fort Collins shut down in March due to COVID-19, just as all dealerships did in Colorado, prospective buyers didn't necessarily stop looking for new cars or trucks, said Mike Croce, general manager. Instead, they fired up their laptops or smart phones and searched virtually. And Pedersen, which has been in business for more than 50 years, was ready to adjust to the changes. "Initially, when things shut down in March and April, we saw a 100 percent shift to online, and and we had to do everything virtually," he said. That included answering questions remotely from customers, building relationships without meeting in person and providing financing information. Even arranging test drives evolved.
"We can do a number of different things. Our customers determine the timeframe, and we are happy to bring the vehicles to them and pick them up when they are done," Croce said. Salespeople no longer accompany customers on test drives because of the virus. Still, representatives are readily available to answer all questions. Some customers who choose to buy are able to keep the vehicles and complete the paperwork online or with a brief visit from a representative to their homes. Because so many vehicles come with updated technology, though, Croce said it remains beneficial for buyers to meet with dealership staff to understand how to best operate their new purchases. "We do whatever works best for customers' situations," he said. Although customers leaned on the Internet during the shutdown, many found that some elements of the car-buying experience just couldn't be replicated online. Most have returned to the showroom, but armed with knowledge they found virtually - a hybrid of sorts. "No question, there was a lot of thought that our sales would change permanently to an online model, and that would be okay. But what we really saw after the shutdown
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is that more of our customers have come back full circle to the dealership to see vehicles side-by-side with sales staff. Buying a vehicle is an emotional experience - it's likely the second-biggest financial purchase for many people. And people want to fit their personality with their car. They want to feel the vehicles," he said. Upfront pricing is more common for most dealers, but negotiating price face to face is part of the buying experience, as well. And yes, that new-car smell in dealerships is important, too. As customers return to inperson shopping, Pedersen Toyota has made adjustments due to COVID-19. The dealership has transitioned its model to balance staffing and limit the number of people working at the dealership. Some sales people are working from home to answer questions on issues such as trade values, pricing and financing. "It's a healthy shift. We're happy to provide all the information we can to customers and make them as comfortable as possible," Croce said. According to GeoMarketing.com, 86 percent of car buyers conduct some form of online research prior visiting dealerships. Whether customers choose to visit
the showroom or conduct business online, Croce does offer some helpful tips for using the Internet as part of the car-buying experience. "First, try to understand what sort of vehicle they are interested in. We will point customers to different websites, including our dealership website, PedersenToyota. com, and Toyota.com so they can see as many options as possible." Another source is the Kelley Blue Book, www.kbb.com, for trade-in and consumer information. Information is available online to help customers obtain financing and figure out exact payments. "There is tons of information online from dealerships and manufacturers. The beauty of online is that you can get as much information as you need. It helps us to have an educated consumer come in. It makes it better for all of us, and the process is faster and easier." He added, "The world is changing; sales is changing a bit, too. We strive to give customers options," he said. "We are not going to tell you how you should buy a car, but we are going to give you options."
final thought
Prep Sports Postponed
LOCKED BALL FIELDS ARE A SIGN OF THE TIMES AS FALL APPROACHES. WINDSOR COACHES AND ATHLETES MUST HANDLE THE CHANGES CAUSED BY COVID-19 LIKE ANYONE ELSE. ALEX MCINTYRE
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