Congratulations to the winners of the Town of Firestone George E. Heath Scholarship Awards –

May, 2023

Words from Betty Heath to the scholarship recipients.

George had a stubborn streak in him, but when I would tell him he was stubborn he would say no, I’m determined.

If you are not willing to learn no one can help you;

If you are determined to learn no one can stop you

Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determination

There may be times that you will want to scream. That’s o.k.

You’re allowed to scream; You’re allowed to cry;

But the one thing you aren’t ever allowed to do is to give up.

Education is the one thing that no one can ever take away from you.

Knowledge and wisdom are two words that can be used interchangeably.

But there is an important difference between the two.

Knowledge is about the accumulation of facts and information. Wisdom is about knowing how to use the information that you have acquired. You don’t want to store up knowledge in a silo and not use it. Knowledge is more of a head-thing. Wisdom, on the other hand is more of a heart thing than a head thing. Wisdom uses the knowledge you’ve learned to live out the facts and information you have acquired.

If George sensed I was struggling with something he would always say: “It’s o.k. everything will be better tomorrow, Bet.” And you know what? He was right.

Never doubt yourself: Always remember and hold on to the things that make you strong; If you ever fall down don’t wallow in the mud hole. Self-pity will get you nowhere. Pick yourself up; dust yourself off and say, “It’s o.k. everything will be better tomorrow.”

Wherever you go; whatever you do I encourage you to always keep hope in your pocket and faith in your heart.

Frederick Mosquito Control

We love the spring weather and much-needed rain! But the moisture brings more than green lawns. Soon the mosquitos will be here, and we have joined forces with Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) to control this annual pest. VDCI’s trained technicians work in Frederick, conducting larval inspections, setting traps, and applying ground and fog treatments. Please do your part in the battle against mosquitos by eliminating sources of standing water, containers that collect and hold water, maintaining gutters, and changing pet dishes and birdbath water every two days. For additional information, please visit our mosquito control page!

Town of Mead to spray for mosquitoes

Mosquitoes

June 22, 2023--Due to an increase of West Nile virus activity in Northern Colorado and the high levels of mosquitoes trapped this week, the Town of Mead hopes to decrease the risk of human West Nile virus (WNV) infection by spraying for adult mosquitoes.

The Town’s contractor, Vector Disease Control International, will use a permethrinbased product (AquaKontrol3030) and truck equipment to perform town wide spraying on Sunday June 25, weather permitting. The application will begin immediately after sunset and be completed before sunrise the next morning. Products utilized in these adult mosquito control applications is considered safe for humans and pets. Residents interested in minimizing their exposure are encouraged to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed for 30 to 60 minutes after spraying. Residents can further minimize pesticide exposure by covering organic gardens, ponds, and water features with a cloth sheet or tarp.

In addition to community control efforts, residents can reduce water where mosquitoes can breed and spray for adult mosquitoes. Individuals should remember to use the 4 D’s to help prevent West Nile virus disease: DEET or other effective mosquito repellent - Use a mosquito repellent that has been proven to be effective against West Nile Virus-carrying mosquitoes. DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (also called p-menthane-3,8-diol or PMD) and IR3535 are recommended.

Dusk to Dawn - Avoid exposure during peak mosquito feeding times, from dusk through dawn.

Dress - Wear long sleeves and pants to keep mosquitoes from biting.

Drain – Remove standing water in your yard or garden to minimize mosquito breeding areas

For more tips on what you can do to prevent West Nile virus, visit www.VDCI.net/ Colorado. For more info from Mead website go to bit.ly/3NKDXws0

United Power Announces 2023 Scholarship Recipients

Brighton, CO – United Power proudly announces its scholarship recipients for 2023. Each year, the cooperative awards more than $20,000 in scholarships to outstanding students in its service territory. The United Power Scholarship Committee selected 20 high school seniors based on grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and a written essay. Applications are made available by December each year.

2023 scholarship recipients: z Kaden Rademacher, Mead High School, United Power Colorado College Scholarship, $2,000 z Gavin Walker, Prairie View High School, United Power Colorado College Scholarship, $2,000 z Lauren Brown, Frederick High School, United Power Youth Leadership Scholarship, $1,500 z Hayley Howell, Frederick High School, Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship, $1,000 z Gwendolyn Hanks, Frederick High School, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Scholarship, $1,000 z Otis Kindvall, Frederick High School, Lois Lesser Education Scholarship, $1,000 z Dylan Leonard, Brighton High School, Bill Berens Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 z Jolene Her, Prairie View High School, United Power Community College Scholarship, $1,000

Additionally, United Power dedicates a book scholarship to each high school within its service territory, provided students from those schools submit applications. This year, United Power distributed 12 of these $1,000 scholarships, including four “at-large” selections. Dedicated book scholarships for 2023 were awarded to Brooklyn Yates, Brighton High School; Megan Derby, Eagle Ridge Academy; Cullen Aasmund-Williams, Frederick High School; Trisha Hammen, Fort Lupton High School; Gabriel Pemberton, Mead High School; Margaret Anne McEldowney, Prairie View High School; Jaden Atencio, Riverdale Ridge High School; Zayne Blair, Cherokee Trail High School; Grace Finnegan, Holy Family High School; Andrew Sawyer, Stargate Academy; Austin Hane, Northglenn High School; and Bailey Chess, Colorado Early Colleges Fort Collins High School.

More information about United Power’s 2023 scholarship recipients can be found in the co-op’s monthly newsletter to members.

Firestone Police Complete Advanced Training

The Firestone Police Department has recently completed the last training cohort for all sworn members of the department in Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT). ICAT was developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), an independent research organization that focuses on critical issues in policing. All members of the Firestone Police Department at every rank attended this training, including the Chief.

In January, members of the Firestone Police Department traveled to San Diego to attend PERF’s annual ICAT conference and a train-the-trainer course to become certified instructors. Since then, the department has conducted multiple trainings for all sworn officers.

ICAT is more than de-escalation training – it is a training program that provides firstresponding police officers with the tools, skills, and options they need to successfully and safely defuse a range of critical incidents. Promising scientific evidence has emerged, demonstrating that ICAT implementation was associated with statistically significant declines in use-of-force incidents, citizen injuries, and officer injuries.

The program consists of two days of training that includes lectures, case studies, and scenario-based exercises where actors were used to allow each officer to demonstrate what they learned to defuse various situations.

Training is a key component of the Firestone Police Department’s Strategic Plan. The leadership within the department recognizes the importance of continuing education, and with training like this, the Firestone Police Department continues to show its commitment to providing the highest level of safety services to the Town of Firestone.

Firestone’s 2023 Mosquito Management Program

The Town of Firestone has contracted with Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) to provide the Town with mosquito management: larval (water treatments), adult mosquito surveillance and trapping, and fogging for the 2023 season. Trapping will begin the week of June 5th, and any management needed based on the trapping information will start thereafter.

Weekly Trapping & Management

Mosquito traps are set strategically throughout the Town of Firestone to determine mosquito type and population. Adult mosquito control spraying is only conducted when necessary and after designated thresholds are met. When the need for adult mosquito control occurs, all the products utilized by VDCI are EPA and State of Colorado approved for public health applications. Spray events may be canceled or postponed, all or in part, without notice. Notice of rescheduled spray events will be posted on VDCI’s spray schedule (look under Weld County).

View a map of the zones where traps and fogging occurs here.

Which Days are Designated for Mosquito Spraying?

VDCI will set traps on Monday nights and collect them on Tuesday morning. They will count and identify the traps that day and use that information to determine where spraying is needed on Tuesday evenings. Adult mosquito control spraying is only conducted when necessary and after designated thresholds are met. VDCI will generally spray between sunset and midnight on Tuesdays (weather permitting) at the height of mosquito activity to eliminate a larger population of mosquitoes. Spraying may also occur on other days, but only if there are weather or other delays, or if requested directly by the Town for events.

Communication

Vector Disease Control provides the Town of Firestone with general information on the weekly trap and spray activities within neighborhoods. Residents who wish to be notified directly and in advance of spraying should complete the Spray Notification & Shut-Off Requests form from VDCI.

More Information

Visit www.firestoneco.gov/MosquitoControl for more information, including a tollfree 24-hour mosquito hotline, weekly reports and educational resources.

The New Town of Frederick App

Your all-in-one guide is available now! No more searching through multiple websites or making countless phone calls to find information about our amazing Town. With the Town of Frederick App, everything you need is just a tap away. See something in Town that needs attention? Take a pic and Submit a Report in seconds from your phone. Read the Town’s social feeds without getting on each media platform. Watch fun and informational videos such as the Board meetings on YouTube. Get ready to explore, engage, and experience our Town like never before. Learn more and download the Town of Frederick App NOW from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store!

Happy #12 Addie

You are smart, athletic, funny, and genuine. We are so proud of who you are!

♥ Mom, Dad, & Bode

Happy 13th birthday, Blakey!

You are so creative, funny, and generous. Mom & Dad are proud of you, and love you so much!

Drive Smart Weld County Has Positive Impact On Thousands Of Young Drivers

For years, the DRIVE SMART Weld County program, which was created to reduce vehicle injuries and deaths among teens, has worked to make positive changes in young drivers. Those changes, according to the 2022 Weld County Community Health Survey, are resulting in less risky behaviors, which translates to safer roads.

“According to the 2022 health survey, more than 92% of Weld County drivers reported always wearing their seatbelt,” said Weld County Health Department Director Jason Chessher. “That number is up from 89.9% in 2019. That’s certainly good news for everyone!”

The survey also revealed fewer Weld County drivers reported they participated in risky driving behaviors such as texting, emailing, or talking on the phone while driving compared to 2019 (the time of the last survey).

“Changing behaviors in people can take time,” said Kelly Martinez, Weld County’s Coordinator for the DRIVE SMART Weld County Program. “This program has a long and consistent tradition –over 20 years – of working with high schools countywide to educate young drivers on safe driving.”

In fact, in 2022 alone, the program reached approximately 16,500 Weld County students through educational programming that addresses the dangers of unsafe driving. “This program works with first responders, law enforcement officers, semitrailer drivers and others to talk honestly and frankly about the perils of unsafe driving,” said Martinez. State Farm, a longtime supporter of the program, recently awarded the DRIVE SMART program a $10,000 grant in the form of their “2023 Good Neighbor Citizenship Award.” Funds from this grant will help ensure the program continues into the next year and further helps teach teens about safe driving.

“State Farm has awarded this grant to Weld County for the past 20 years,” said Martinez. “They are a great partner that has donated more than $165,000 to the DRIVE SMART programs over that time. We truly appreciate their commitment to this cause.”

To learn more about the DRIVE SMART Weld County program and how your teen driver can participate, please visit drivesmartweldcounty.org or call (970) 400-2325.

Golden Conversations

As an empty nester, I’m truly enjoying this chapter of life. Reconnecting with my husband, having more time with friends, and traveling are all part of the perks. A common thread that seems to weave its way into many of the conversations I am having with others at this same stage of life, is the challenges of their aging parents.

Many of us are walking a similar path of seeing our parents age, and doing our best to help them navigate through all of the next steps. Whether it’s accompanying them to doctor visits, helping maintain their home, setting up their medications, or simply finding ways to help them remain engaged in the things they enjoy, supporting your parents can become a full-time job.

Oftentimes, the bigger issues at play include dealing with dementia, or possibly helping support the parent that is currently the caregiver so that they don’t suffer burnout or a health crisis themselves.

This is all part of the circle of life. Our parents cared for us, and now it’s our turn to care for them. That doesn’t mean it’s easy though, and we then need to be mindful of our own health and that of our immediate families.

Enter “Golden Conversations”, a conversation group for adult children of those looking to connect with others who are walking a similar path to help their aging parents to thrive in their next chapter. Here you can visit with others, hear similar stories, share your struggles, and even find resources that could benefit you and your family. “Golden Conversations” was born from a need to provide a safe space for adult children to share the journey of helping their parents to age well.

We meet monthly (off for the summer, but picking back up in September) at various locations.

Each gathering is 1 ½ hours and is a combination of education and supportive sharing and conversation. For more information, or to be included in our email list, please reach out to Lindsay Adams at ladams@assistedlivinglocators.com

Lindsay Adams is a Senior Advisor with Assisted Living Locators. She offers a no-cost service to help with the search for senior living and care. She can be reached at (303) 775-6312.

Calling All Artists 50+

The 2023 Golden Gallery Art Show is set for it’s 5th year coming this September! The Golden Gallery Arts Show promotes the art of Weld County 50+ residents and their wonderful artistic abilities. The opening reception and show are free and open to the public. If you or someone you know is a Weld County artist, age 50 or older, show off your talents and enter the Golden Gallery Art Show to have your art on display at the new Library Innovation Center (LINC) this September. For more information and an application to enter, contact the Greeley Active Adult Center located at 1010 6th St Greeley CO 80631; email Sheri Lobmeyer at Sheri.Lobmeyer@GreeleyGov.com, or call 970-350-9437.

Beef for Sale

Mallory Mini Farm is a small, local, family owned and operated farm in Frederick. We raise cattle and sell our beef. We have grass finished and grain finished and sell the beef by the 1/8 and 1/4 share, individual retail cuts and ground beef. Please call or text Angela at 970-308-5860 for more information.

Local Churches

Abundant Life Church 4380 CO-66 | Longmont 80504 970.535.0311

Pastor Jim Coleman www.alcworshipwarriors.org

New Horizons Christian Church 701 Carbondale St. | Dacono 303.833.3013

Pastor Rob Thomas

St. Brigit Episcopal Church 110 Johnson Street | Frederick 720.208.0280 www.stbrigit.org

L.I.F.E. Fellowship Frederick 451 Oak Street | Frederick 303.304.1159

Pastor Brady Thornton www.lifefrederick.org

Rocky Mountain Christian Church 5860 Majestic Street | Frederick 303.652.2211 www.rmcc.org

RINN United Methodist Church 3783 Bella Rosa Pkwy | Frederick 303.776.1578 www.rinnumc.org

Destiny Church 307 S Fulton Avenue | Ft Lupton

Pastor Rob Rocca www.yourdestinychurch.org

Purpose Church 9993 Cty Rd 11 | Firestone 303.651.1640

Pastor Brian Thompson www.purpose.church

Carbon Valley Church 600 5th Street | Frederick 720.438.5430

Pastor Clayton Johnson www.carbonvalley.church

Calvary Carbon Valley 701 Fifth Street | Frederick 720.201.3337

Pastor Joe Kitto www.calvarycarbonvalley.church