CONNECTION A NEXUS OF NEWS, COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS AND CITY HAPPENINGS
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SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:
The Medusa Collective
Summer 2022
Pedaling for Parkinson’s 4
Summer events are back! 8
Water bills shrinking this summer 12
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CONTENTS 4 Pedaling for Parkinson’s 8 Summer events are back! 10 Small Business Spotlight: The Medusa Collective
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12 Westminster water bills shrinking this summer 14 Emergency and Essential Home Repair (EEHR) program builds hope 15 Neighborly advice
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CONNECTION A NEXUS OF NEWS, COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS AND CITY HAPPENINGS
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CONTACT INFORMATION
@WestminsterParksandRecreation
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CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Nancy McNally Mayor
nmcnally@ cityofwestminster.us
David DeMott Mayor Pro tem
ddemott@ cityofwestminster.us
Bruce Baker
Lindsey Emmons
Obi Ezeadi
Sarah Nurmela
Rich Seymour
bbaker@ cityofwestminster.us
lemmons@ cityofwestminster.us
oezeadi@ cityofwestminster.us
snurmela@ cityofwestminster.us
rseymour@ cityofwestminster.us
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PEDALING
F R PARKINSON’S A CITY PARK FITNESS CENTER PROGRAM 4
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PEDALING PEDALING
F F R PARKINSON’S PARKINSON’S
There is something special happening inside Studio 2
“I am so motivated by their positivity,” said fitness instructor Sunny Benedetti. “Sometimes they come in and they say it’s been a rough morning, their medication isn’t working, they
at Westminster’s City Park
hardly slept, and
Fitness Center. If you pass by
they still come in and
on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, you will see up to 20 people taking part in what
give it 100 percent.” The participants in this cycling class are different ages, come from different backgrounds,
may look like your average
and live different lifestyles, but they are all
cycling class. However, what’s
bonded together by one commonality.
happening inside this fitness studio is much more than just exercise.
I was officially diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2012,” Carmen Latimer remembered. “After that, I was still in denial. I couldn’t really accept it for about three years. Then I realized exercise was really important, and it motivated me to exercise as much as I could to keep [the Parkinson’s] from progressing. The Pedaling for Parkinson’s class is a place where Latimer and other Westminster residents who are battling the same neurodegenerative disorder cycle together with the goal of improving their mental and physical health and slowing the signs of Parkinson’s, which vary from tremors and muscular rigidity to slow and imprecise movement.
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“Riding at a set speed, three times a week can reduce
Stafford, who helped start the program at City Park
their symptoms by up to 35 percent,” explained
Fitness Center, understands the disease on a personal
Recreation Coordinator Becky Stafford. During each
level. “My dad actually has Parkinson’s,” said Stafford. “I
class, participants pedal away with the goal of riding
had learned a little bit about the program through my
between 70 and 90 repetitions per minute.
dad attending a similar class at a private health club in Boulder. It just so happened that Sunny [Benedetti]
For me, riding my bike, I forget I have Parkinson’s. “When I’m on my bike, I don’t think that I’m living with Parkinson’s, so it’s really crucial
came up to me one day and mentioned something about the program as well, so we got Sunny trained and once we had the room available, we started it!” The first class was held in October 2018 with a small handful of participants. It did not take long for word to spread fast, and soon after, nearly 20 people started attending regularly. Despite a pause on the program in 2020 due to COVID-19, the program quickly picked
for me and has really made a
up a year later and has been going strong under the
difference in my life,” said Steve
direction of Stafford and Benedetti, who has taught
Sterkel, a program participant and Westminster resident who’s attended every class since the very beginning.
every class from the beginning. “It caught my attention and my heart,” Benedetti remarked. “There’s no rhyme or reason why someone
Another key aspect of Pedaling for Parkinson’s is
gets Parkinson’s. It could be me. It could be you. It
strengthening cognitive ability through mental games.
could be our friends or neighbors.”
“They will go around the room and everyone has to say the name of a state alphabetically, for example,” Stafford said. “Things like this that can help improve their cognitive skills are very important as well.”
The cause of the disease is unknown and although there’s no cure yet, this group finds comfort in community. “This program means continuing a life of grace, movement, and compassion for one another,” said Sterkel. “I know what these people are going through. Just to get here is a major ordeal, getting dressed, getting everything together to get to class. I see each one of them making the effort, and that encourages me.”
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This is a sentiment shared by many others in class as well. “It can be really isolating,” Latimer said. “So, the great thing about the class is to be with people that have the same issue, and you don’t have to be embarrassed, and you can talk about medications and problems. It’s great to have other people that are in the same boat.
Clark shows daily support for her husband and the other program participants. She hosts frequent celebrations outside the studio, complete with a full spread of food and drinks to help encourage the group. “I decided I am going to give them a birthday party when it’s their birthday. I want them to think about
It’s so much emotional support for me. We were
the day they didn’t have Parkinson’s and let’s celebrate
looking at moving, but now I don’t think I want to
your one day.”
move away because I don’t want to lose the group. That’s how important this is to me.” While Latimer has a desire to stay in Westminster to take advantage of the program, similarly, other participants moved to our area specifically for the program. Walter and Cookie Clark lived in Denver before finally making the move up north to make it easier to access the program three days a week. Walter is not only battling Parkinson’s, but also dementia.
I truthfully don’t know where I’d be without this class,” said Walter’s wife, Cookie Clark. “I’m his caregiver, it’s 24/7, but when he comes to cycle Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I have a better day, because he has a better day.
Clark says she continues to see improvements in her husband’s symptoms as he attends the program, something staff notice in all of the participants. “We can see it in the way that they’re walking in,” Stafford mentioned. “If they weren’t riding, a lot of them would be using canes or walkers, so we see their positive progression. I’ve seen postural improvement with several of them, their general [walking] has improved, and their mood.” Although recreation center staff knew there was a need for this program, no one could have guessed the impact it would have nearly four years later. “I think this type of program allows me to step back and say ‘this is why I do what I do,” Stafford said. “I see what this group has created, and they’re a family. That’s what we strive to do in recreation, is create this. This program is just unique, they’ve taken it to a whole new level. This is totally my why.”
PEDALING PEDALING
F F R PARKINSON’S PARKINSON’S
Mon. | Wed. | Fri.
10-11 a.m. City Park Fitness Center
Registration is not necessary, and there is no additional cost to attend. Participants can pay the drop-in fee, use a recreation center pass, or a SilverSneakers© membership. For more information on fees, visit our website:
www.cityofwestminster.us/ParksRecreation
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We’ve already kicked off 2022 with some great special events–the Adult Easter Egg Hunt and Public Safety Open House in April, Health & Wellness Fest/Festival de Salud Y Bienestar in May, and our Summer Block Party in early June–and we have quite the line-up in store to fill up your summer! Check out the fun mix of fireworks, a craft brew fest, neighborhood movies in the park, and Westminster’s own unique street fair celebrating culture and cuisine. There’s something for everyone. Come connect with your community and get to know your neighbors!
Upcoming events 4th of July Celebration
July 4: 4-10 p.m. City Park
Westy Craft Brew Fest
July 30: GA 6-9 p.m. VIP 5-9 p.m. City Park Soccer Fields
Westminster History Tours
Movies in the Park
July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10
Aug. 6, Aug. 13, Aug. 26, Sept. 9
1870s Vintage Baseball Game
Around the World Street Fair
July 9: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wolff Run Park
Aug. 13: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 73rd and Bradburn
ony
Armed Forces Day Cerem
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Public Safety Op
en House WWW.CITY0FWESTMINSTER.US
Summer Reading Program Through July 31
Dive into “Oceans of Possibilities” with Westminster Public Library! Sign up for our Library Summer Readingand Program Summer Reading Program earn prizes by participating in weekly contests, reading, and attending library programs! FOR ALL AGES
Register Online
WWW.WESTMINSTERLIBRARY.ORG
Health & WElln ess Fest
nt Adult Easter Egg Hu
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The Medusa Collective Pictured: Gina Ilczyzyn (left) and Amanda Wolf (right)
We talked with the founders, Gina Ilczyzyn and Amanda Wolf, to
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
learn more about their creative vision, their collaborative styles, and how they want to contribute to the arts community in Westminster.
The Medusa Collective is a multifaceted creative space,
What are your backgrounds as artists?
located at 7140 Hooker Street
Gina Ilczyzyn: I’m originally from New York. Back home I attended
in Westminster – just a few
art classes, seminars, and workshops, focusing on oil painting and
blocks from the B Line
charcoal illustration. I then learned to tattoo professionally in 2012 on
commuter rail at Westminster Station. This unique, creative complex consists of three main components: art studios,
Long Island, New York, and eventually moved to Colorado to expand my art career. I was able to explore my painting abilities at a large scale by painting murals for local festivals and private commissions. Amanda Wolf: I moved from my hometown of Austin, Texas to Boulder, Colorado for school. [It’s] where I earned a marketing degree
an art gallery, and workshops.
and learned to balance my creative self with the more analytical,
Additionally, the Medusa
business-minded side of myself. I began working as a freelance artist,
Collective is supporting the
focusing on my mural work and paintings. At the same time, I offer
City’s Art-a-la-Carte mobile art studio by providing instruction for some of the offerings.
freelance creative marketing services which include graphic design, web design, marketing and branding. I came to understand that owning a business can, in and of itself, be a creative endeavor.
How did you two begin working together? GI: I had the opportunity to paint a wall with Amanda during the annual Babe Walls Mural Festival. We partnered on a mural and it was a wonderful collaborative experience that helped us understand how we work as individuals, and how we work together. We found that the areas where we differed were wonderful opportunities for growth and learning from one another.
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From that experience, you decided to open The Medusa Collective? GI: We wanted a place that would elevate artists, engage and build community, as well as encourage growth and creative collaboration. When artists work side-by-side, knowledge, inspiration and support are all shared in a magical symbiotic exchange. AW: The Medusa Collective is meant to be a safe, trusting, and inspired environment. We offer artist studios, as well as common creative co-working spaces. We provide workshops and classes for the community, and then we have our gallery—this is where the artists come together to celebrate and display all of their work. That’s why we encourage everyone to check our website often—something is always happening and being added. It’s ever evolving! The Medusa Collective received a $30,000 grant from the Westminster Station Area Business Development Assistance Program. The City uses this program to invest in businesses to help them grow and prosper in the Westminster Station Area.
themedusacollective.com
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Westminster water bills shrinking this summer
Westminster residents should see savings on their water bills this summer. In March, City Council voted to reduce water rates and increase the consumption limits of the City’s three-tier water rate structure for residential customers. The average resident will save $86 annually. The new rate structure was effective June 1, 2022, providing immediate financial relief for this summer’s irrigation season when residents typically receive their highest water bills.
Some residents are also saving water with ‘waterwise’ yards Westminster resident Tricia Arellano has a saying: “Once you go Xeric, you won’t go back.” Just a couple of summers ago Arellano replaced her front lawn with a ‘waterwise yard’ and now she looks forward to adding more plants, watching them grow—and her water bill shrink.
Follow Arellano’s progress on her Instagram page at: www.instagram. com/jelliscape
According to Resource Central—a non-profit dedicated to helping residents save water, reduce waste, and conserve energy—many lawns make up to half of a household’s water bill. Colorado along with other western states is facing a long-term water shortage and a low-water or ‘waterwise’ yard can help save water, create pollinator habitats, and even make our neighborhoods more beautiful. The City of Westminster is working with Resource Central again this year to offer several waterwise programs, including Garden in a Box, Lawn Replacement, and Slow the Flow sprinkler evaluations. Arellano is definitely a believer. She has documented her waterwise journey from start to finish on her Instagram page. “The first year when they said the plants “sleep”—they definitely do,” said Arellano. “Last year they were supposed to “creep” but my yard was “leaping!” “I can’t wait to see what year three brings. It was a bit of work at first, but so worth it. I have found plants I never knew about and now love!”
Find out more about the Garden in a Box Program, Lawn Replacement Program and more!
www.resourcecentral.org
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Theresa Judish uses her new wheelchair ramp.
Emergency and Essential Home Repair (EEHR) program builds hope When Westminster resident Theresa Judish wanted to leave her singlestory home, the way out to the street in her wheelchair was not as safe as she would have preferred. “I used to go right off the lawn, but then I got a cat and he kept following me out whenever I went to the store,” she said, pointing to the grass outside her front door. Earlier this year, after learning about a Westminster grant program that would pay for a wheelchair ramp to be installed in her home for free, Judish quickly applied. Within a few weeks of making the call, a contractor arrived at her home to widen her kitchen archway and installed a ramp, complete with a landing and non-slip grip, from her back door to street level through the garage. “So now I can go out to the store a better way. That ramp is just amazing,” she said.
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begins the application process. For emergency repairs, the City’s partners can prioritize work to begin within days if needed. Eligible repairs include plumbing, electrical, furnace and water heater repairs, as well as accessibility improvements like Judish was able to obtain in her home. “They just came out here and looked at it and when they came, they went right to work,” she said. “They were just amazing. They were polite and they did everything so well. They kept my home nice, too.” Judish says she now has much easier access to the street through her garage, where she can catch her RTD Access-a-Ride and run errands as needed. Her advice to other Westminster residents who could benefit from home repairs and upgrades is to use this invaluable resource. “I’ve known about this for years and I wish I would have done it sooner,” she said. “They did so good, and I haven’t gotten a thank you letter to them yet.”
Judish has been in her home for 16 years, but just recently utilized the City of Westminster’s Emergency and Essential Home Repair (EEHR) program to make life much easier.
For more information about the EEHR program or to apply for home repairs and upgrades, Westminster residents can call their county’s EEHR partners.
The EEHR program provides up to $5,000 in eligible home repairs to income-qualified, owner-occupied households in Westminster. From start to finish, repairs can be completed within weeks after a resident
ADAMS COUNTY RESIDENTS
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Brothers Redevelopment: 303-685-4225
JEFFERSON COUNTY RESIDENTS Foothills Regional Housing: 303-403-5423
Neighborly Advice
We’re here to help! For general inquiries and assistance, contact a Community Assistant.
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
303-658-2400 (then press “0” from the menu options)
Some of Westminster’s older homes that are adjacent to a stream or creek may be in a floodplain. Here’s how we can help keep our neighbor’s house safe and dry during a storm.
How to Keep Your Yard Green and Our Waterways Clean
Help reduce the impacts of flooding:
Just like in your garden, nutrients in waterbodies make plants grow. Over-application of fertilizers and pesticides can result in stormwater runoff that carries toxic levels of chemicals or excessive nutrients into our waterways that can cause toxic algae blooms. As algae decays, it consumes oxygen in the water and kills fish and other aquatic life.
So what can you do to help?
Fertilizing
Tips:
1
Use a slow-release, phosphorus-free product to reduce the frequency of application. Organic products release slowly and have less metals. Most of Colorado’s soil does not need additional phosphorus.
2
Don’t apply within 75 feet of waterways. Otherwise, fertilizer will most certainly end up in the waterway.
3
Don’t fertilize before a storm. It will most likely wash away.
4
Fertilize the lawn, not the sidewalk. Sweep up the excess on the sidewalk and in the gutters.
5
Don’t feed the storm drain. Excess pesticides, fertilizer, grass clippings, leaves, and other debris get carried directly into our waterways.
• • •
Do not dump anything in ditches or streams. Keep the banks clear of brush and debris. Check with the City’s building division before you build, alter, re-grade, or fill on your property. Determine if your house is located in a floodplain, and whether you need to implement floodproofing measures and/or obtain flood insurance.
Flood safety
• Don’t walk through flowing water. • Don’t drive through a flooded area. • Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. Report downed power lines to Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-1999. • Have your electricity turned off by Xcel Energy. • Don’t use electrical appliances that are wet. • Look out for animals that may have been flooded out of their homes. • Be alert for gas leaks. Don’t smoke or use candles, lanterns or open flames. If you have flooding on your property and need assistance, please contact the City's Engineering Division: engineering@cityofwestminster.us or 303-658-2120
Westminster is now using LookoutAlert to quickly notify people about large-scale disasters, evacuation or shelter-in-place orders, searches for missing children or dangerous subjects, and other incidents that require immediate public awareness. Receive alerts via text, email, and/or voice message.
Register: LookoutAlert.co LookoutAlert covers Westminster in both Adams and Jefferson Counties. WWW.CITY0FWESTMINSTER.US
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PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 32 Westminster, CO 80031
City of Westminster 4800 West 92nd Ave. Westminster CO, 80031
*********************************ECRWSS**********
POSTAL PATRON
Saturday, Aug 13 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 73rd and Bradburn
History 11-Sep 10 • 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tours Various locations
Every 2nd Saturday, June
1870S ViNtAgE BaSeBaLl GaMe
Saturday, July 9 • 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wolff Run Park, 4705 W. 76th Ave.
Various locations
HiStOrIc WeStMiNsTeR
PaRtNeR EvEnTs
2nd Saturday Art Walks • June 11-Aug 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 73rd Ave. between Lowell & Bradburn Summer Festival • July 9, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Iddle Bits of This & That Gallery 3969 W. 73rd Ave.