CVCRNov22

“Dressed in a flannel shirt and jeans, tears streaming down my face, I walked through the doors desperately needing the comfort of Jesus. I was greeted and embraced by kind women, accepted and welcome,” said Kelly Martindale.

That was in 2006, when Pastor Brian Thompson become the Senior Pastor of Prairie Community Church. Over the next 16 years, Prairie (which changed its name to Purpose Church in the fall of 2016) rented space from Coal Ridge Middle school. While renting, the congregation paid off the debt on the land and saved enough money in a building fund to plan for a permanent building. They then applied for and received grant monies from the John C. Lasko Foundation Trust.

COVID19 greatly impacted the progress of the project. The congregation had to leave the school permanently because of meeting restrictions. The church continued to meet via video streaming. When the weather was favorable, the

congregation worshiped for several weeks outdoors on their property. In July 2020 they leased with a church in the community and had services on Saturday evenings.

Though they broke ground on May 31, 2020, and building materials arrived in June, they were not able to begin construction until October of 2020. Construction virtually stopped several times due to shutdowns, workforce shortages, and broken supply chains. With much perseverance they held their first service in the building on July 31, 2022!

Many of their neighbors said that they were encouraged and excited about the developments on our property. They believe that the church building is beautiful and is a great addition to the Firestone community. These comments, plus many people in the community letting them know they plan to visit the church when it was finished, helped keep them encouraged.

The impact of having a building has affected the attendance: From July 2020 to July 2022, while they rented a church and hosted Saturday evening services, the average attendance was 92 people; When they opened the new church July 31, 2022, the attendance was 144 people;

Since the Grand Opening Pancake/sausage Breakfast with the community on October 2, they average 156. An additional 130 people attended the event. Photos courtesy of Corey Charlick unless noted otherwise.

The youth and children’s ministries are growing. In September the Women’s ministry held a retreat in the building. There is no question their building is helping them reach the community! This is something they are deeply grateful for as they strive to make the most of every opportunity as people are welcomed into our facility and encounter the love and light of Jesus.

The church facility offers people a place funerals, and other gatherings vital to host weddings, funerals, and other

to church and community life. Their new building represents a place where people can go to seek God and spiritual assistance - in person, with a person - as they face the daily concerns of life. They strive to meet many needs through their ministries.

During the pandemic Purpose Church started a garden on the property. For the past three years they’ve given all the produce away for free, and much of it to non-church members in the area and beyond. Many needy families, seniors as well, are receiving fresh produce from June into October.

Their other ministries include Vacation Bible School, a Community Easter Egg Hunt, Men’s and Ladies groups. Having a church home provides a location where people are welcomed after these events and to find other people to walk through life with while seeking God’s face.

Purpose Church holds Worship Service Sunday @ 10:30 am with nursery available at 9993 Weld County Road 11, Firestone, Colorado 80504. For more info visit www.purpose.church or call 303.651.1640.

Pastor Brian with his wife, Kimberly

Norma McCleary, Pastor Brian, and Aleta McDaniel at the Grand Opening.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Heath

“The constant whining of Martindale about how tough her life has been and continues to be, is tedious. Where is her god that she constantly touts?”

A reader asked in an email I received.

I share the difficult struggles of my life because there are others in our community who suffer also. Some of those people need to know they are not alone in their sorrows, tragedies, and loneliness. Sometimes, reading my column gives a person hope. At the very least, it helps an individual know they are not alone, they can call me, and I’ll listen.

Because God uses my difficult experiences, I’ve had the privilege of helping:

• a woman needing brain surgery;

• grieving parents;

• college students;

• people with addictions;

• those struggling to forgive;

• even one man who was going to commit suicide.

These occurrences happen because of my own heartaches. Without the traumas I’ve lived through, I wouldn’t be able to understand these hurting people.

Life on earth is tough. Being a believer in Jesus Christ doesn’t put a bubble around me. In fact, the Bible states that in this life we will have trials. It goes on to express we can have hope that Jesus conquers the evil in the world, and He makes something good out of the bad.

That is what my God does for me. He’s taken every brokenhearted moment of my life and used it to help someone else. My pain is not in vain.

My God is the breath in my lungs. He goes ahead of me and surrounds me. He is in me. He never leaves me. He walks with me in the fires of my life, and I do not perish.

I hope to have many more years on this planet but I cannot do it without Jesus. He guides me and He sustains me. He comforts me. My God is my best friend.

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Deuteronomy 31:8

Corrie ten Boom used to say, “He puts our sin in the deepest ocean and then put up a ‘No Fishing’ sign.” I love that. He forgets and doesn’t bring it up again.

Serving SW Weld County: Firestone, Frederick, Dacono, E. Erie, E. Longmont & Mead (22,000)!

The ONLY Colorado publication to reach Consumers in our area every month via print and most social media platforms!

For Display Advertising or to have a feature written or to send press releases or classifieds, e-mail carbonvalley@gmail.com or call 303.833.5997.

Deadlines: 15th of each prior month.

Classified Ads: FREE up to 30 words Locally Owned & Operated Since 1999: Kelly J Martindale

Sales: Kelly Martindale  Jennifer Holsclaw

Production: Kelly Martindale

Writers: Kelly Fordyce Martindale  Betty Heath You can read past issues at https://issuu.com/consumerreport

The CVCR is a member of the Carbon Valley, Erie and Mead Area Chambers of Commerce

The opinions expressed in features, columns, press releases, letters to the editor, etc. are not necessarily those of the Owner and publisher of

Visit online: www.stvrainhabitat.org www.facebook.com/ stvrainhabitat

Phone: 303-682-2485

ReStore Location: 1351 Sherman Drive, Longmont, CO, 80501

in the Park is December 3 at Town Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Growth: Oz Architecture is under contract with the Town of Mead to develop a master plan for municipal facilities. The overall site plan will evaluate our needs including police and fire facilities, a potential branch of High Plains Library District, and various recreational applications. The master plan will be

 Happy November, Frederickians!

 Are you ready to help shape the Town’s future? Get involved today by applying for a Town Board, Commission, or Committee position! The Town of Frederick Board of Trustees invites residents to participate in helping guide the community in planning, public art, historic preservation, and parks and open space. The Board of Trustees appoints positions, and the commission structure provides an excellent opportunity to gain community input in

Committed to offering unparalleled personal service.

All Voters Can Help Clean Up the Voter Rolls and Cut the Costs of Mailing Ballots

Many voters do not know that they can play a key role in keeping the voter rolls up to date. One of the simple things to do is to report if you received a ballot at your address for a person you do not recognize or no longer lives at your address. This can happen for several reasons. There is significant benefit to removing these names from the active mailing list as soon as possible. The average mail-in ballot costs about $1.50 and leaving a voter who has moved on the voter rolls may result several mailings. So, if you did receive an extra ballot in the recent election, you can take steps to expedite the removal of that person from the mailing list.

If you still have the ballot, do not destroy it. Mark it “return to sender –undeliverable” then return it to the post office. You can also take a picture of it so it can be checked for any follow up research needed to have the active mailing list updated. You can email that picture to: weldregistrationchk@proton.me . If you destroyed the ballot, you could still help by checking the people registered at your address. Unfortunately, this cannot be done on the Secretary of State website. To check who is registered at your address, there are a few options. Some websites offer voter information like VoterRecords.com

Everyone should understand that this information is public. This is why some websites have information about you regarding registration and party affiliation. It is a very good thing for you to look up voters registered at your address, especially if you are getting extra ballots. An extra ballot or undeliverable ballot is a ballot sent to your address and a resident does not recognize the person as living at that address.

You can even request this information via a Colorado Open Records Request by sending the request to the County Clerk.

New in Weld County, you can also send a request for the list of voters at your address by sending an email to: weldregistrationchk@proton.me. This email address has volunteers that will look up your address and provide a list of the names registered at your address.

It is not affiliated with any government agency, just volunteers who want to clean up the voter rolls. All information is based on public records from the state’s registration data base for Weld County.

attend meetings

brought to the Board of Trustees for consideration later this year.

 Reliable Infrastructure: The future site of the Mead Community Center has been fenced off, as salvage, deconstruction, and demolition proceeds. Orion Environmental is contracted to salvage multiple items to be used in new construction. They are disassembling a metal building for use at the new Public Works Facility and must recycle and divert 70% of the remaining materials. Deconstruction and demolition are expected to last until December; new construction is anticipated for spring of 2023.

 Public Safety: On August 8, WCR 34 bridge over I-25 was severely damaged in a collision. Colorado Department of Transportation conducted substantial repairs during August and October, including reinforcing the internal steel structure and pouring concrete to reconstruct portions of the bridge girders damaged by the impact. On October 11, CDOT completed

policy-making for the Town of Frederick. See the Town Boards, Commissions, and Committees list and apply online today at FrederickCO.gov/Commissions

 Introducing the One Stop Development Center! All development-related services are now in one area for convenience. A One Stop Development Center will increase efficiency and customer experiences in response to the community’s growing needs. Located inside Frederick’s Town Hall (401 Locust St.), the One Stop Development Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Development services include building permits, inspections, contractor licensing, planning and zoning, GIS (mapping), and economic development. While these services remain available online, having a centralized physical presence is critical to ensure consistent service for walk-in traffic.

 Art Map Carving Challenge! Many ask, “Where are the masterpiece carvings from the Chainsaws & Chuckwagons event?” We have placed the carvings from the 2022 event around Town and challenge you to find them using our Art In Public Places map! Use the map to go on a scavenger hunt to find the carvings. Take a selfie with the carving and submit your picture

repairs and reopened the bridge to all traffic. Stay up to date on all road work by visiting: https://bit.ly/meadroadwork



Fiscal Stability: The Board of Trustees are currently reviewing the 2023 draft budget. We expect to see a decrease in residential building, steady commercial development, and an increase in sales tax revenue. The Public Hearing to adopt the final budget is scheduled for December 12.



Connected Community: Winter youth basketball for children grades 1-8 is accepting registrations until December 11. This youth program fosters good sportsmanship and teamwork while teaching the rules and fundamentals of the game. New to Mead?? Check out our Resident Information webpage and don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly Mead Messenger and email notifications: https://bit.ly/2St4Ye7

through the online form. You have the whole month of November to explore! Submit your selfies with the new carvings and win a “Frederick event ready” prize pack! Details at FrederickCO.

gov/Chainsaws

 Public Budget hearings! The Board of Trustees will hold public hearings for the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget on Tuesday, November 8, and Tuesday, December 13, at 7 pm in the Board Chambers at Town Hall (401 Locust St.). The purpose of these meetings is to be transparent and receive community input. Residents are encouraged to attend and express their views! Frederick is a fiscally responsible town, and we are so proud of our finance team, FRED staff, and community for sharing this value at the forefront of all that we do. FrederickCO.gov/Budget

 Snow & Ice Control – Winter is coming, so now is a great time to get familiar with the Town’s snow plow process – we have a tiered approach to snow control. What does this mean to residents? What are the tiers? What roads are never plowed? Get all your answers, prepare for winter and view the map to find out what tier your street is on at

FREDERICK MAYOR, TRACIE CRITES

is a drama based on a true story about a desperate Marine veteran who holds people hostage in a bank with the hopes of recovering money he believes owed him from the Bureau of Veteran Affairs. BREAKING is well-produced, with an outstanding performance by John Boyega as the Marine veteran and some references to the veteran’s Christian faith and reliance on the Bible for strength, but it has a Romantic, politically correct worldview that blames “systemic racism” for the veteran’s plight, plus some violence, and strong foul language.

has high-quality cinematography with excellent, interesting camera angles and scene transitions. John Boyega, who plays Brian, charms viewers into rooting for a positive outcome. www.movieguide.org

Volunteer Opportunity to Help Veterans

Qualified Listeners, a Coloradobased Veteran & Family Resource Hub, needs additional volunteer drivers. Your availability, your area, your way to give back.

Transportation needs continue to increase. We do our best to accommodate all requests, but the reality is we cannot. We are asked to handle overflow from the VA, DAV, and other Veteran organizations, in addition to the Veterans we’ve been serving for years.

If you have extra time to have a huge impact in helping Veterans,

call 720-600-0860 or email

Great Opportunity to Volunteer

Qualified Listeners, a Colorado-based Veteran

Family Resource Hub, is

the

Resource Administrator – 10

Funding Administrator – 10 hours per

Outreach Administrator – 15 hours

For details on these positions, please call 720-600-0860. You can have a huge impact on serving Veterans and a way to give back to those who have given so much. Volunteering is

Carbon Valley Rotary Club

Carbon Valley Rotary Club presented a $2,000 check on Oct. 18, 2022 to support Suicide Education and Support Services (SESS) provided by North Range Behavioral Health. This is the third year in a row the Club has supported the program which provides Community outreach to reduces the stigma that keeps people from getting help when they are thinking about suicide. The SAFE:Teen program is designed to provide resources, help, and hope to middle/high school aged students. The students learn warning signs and walk away feeling empowered to reach out for support.

Pictured from left to right: Tom Wilber, Club Mental Health Champion: Bev Mendel, Club President; Allyce Torres, SESS Program Director; Logan Shaw, SESS Program Coordinator; and Giovanna Castro, SESS Intern.

Get a Head Start on Your Holiday Shopping at the 19th Annual Holiday Marketplace

Carbon Valley Parks and Recreation District’s Holiday Marketplace will take place Sunday, November 13 from 9 am – 2 pm at the Carbon Valley Recreation Center, 701 5th Street, Frederick.

The Marketplace will feature more than 60 vendors plus a coffee and food truck. Shoppers will find an array of items, the majority of which are handcrafted, including jewelry, candles, home and holiday decor, bath bombs, art, and much more. It’s the perfect place to find something special for everyone on your gift list while supporting local businesses. Admission and parking are free. To view a list of vendors and for more information visit www.cvprd.com.

Resistance: 1942

United Power Releases

Fee Calculations for All Tri-State Members’ Use

Dynamic Calculators Included in Recent FERC Exceptions Filing

United Power has filed two exit fee calculators in conjunction with its response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) initial decision by Administrative Law Judge Renee Terry. These calculators may be used to assist FERC and others as they evaluate the impact of (1) United Power’s proposed balance sheet approach (BSA) incorporating the most recent available data and (2) certain modifications to the BSA proposed by FERC trial staff and adopted by the initial decision.

The tools allow all 42 utility members to assess their exit fees from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (Tri-State) under (1) United Power’s as-filed BSA (“Appendix A”) and (2) the BSA implementing certain adjustments adopted in the initial decision (“Appendix B”). Working copies of the calculator tools, definitions, and descriptions can be found at www.unitedpower.com/powersupply.

The Appendix B fees are modeled based on FERC staff ’s exemplary calculations previewed during the hearing process that were adopted in the initial decision, as well as publicly available data, such as Tri-State’s annual financial reports. Each of the 42 utility members can enter a desired departure date and select variables implementing the exit options available under the initial decision. The Appendix B model also calculates alternatives proposed by United Power in its concurrently filed exceptions brief (e.g., a principled 10-year revenue averaging option and transmission revenue adjustment that United Power describes in the brief). These alternatives improve upon the calculations reflecting the initial decision’s overarching principle that the exit fees should be based on the net costs Tri-State incurred to serve the exiting member.

“We appreciate the hard work by FERC staff in proposing solutions for departure from our power supplier that are in most respects aligned with what United Power has consistently advocated as a fair outcome,” said Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “By following United Power’s balance sheet approach, everyone can calculate their actual cost to depart. This is critical for future planning for our current power supplier and its utility members. Though the initial decision modifications present implementation questions and other obstacles that we challenge in our exceptions brief, we believe the decision’s principles chart a course toward members’ fair transition to competitive supply and open access.”

United Power has formally indicated its departure from Tri-State, effective May 1, 2024. Learn more about United Power’s departure plan at www.unitedpower.com/powersupply.

RESISTANCE: 1942 is a well-crafted, captivating story of faith and perseverance set in Nazi-occupied France. Jacques is a French pastor using a radio to give messages of hope to the Resistance. He and his teenage daughter, Juliet, are hiding in an attic from the Nazis with several people, including a Jewish couple. However, the Nazis discover their hiding place, and they’re forced to run. A wealthy banker protects them at his villa, where they pose as his servants. Pastor Jacques continues to broadcast from the villa. However, the Germans are closing in, and everyone’s life is on the line. Tensions rise when the new commandant joins them for dinner, unannounced.

RESISTANCE: 1942 is a exciting World War II movie. The jeopardy is intense. The set design is extremely authentic, and the direction is powerful. Also, the movie presents a positive, hopeful view of the Gospel in the face of National Socialist, atheist malevolence. It reveals the darkness of mankind and the hope of Jesus Christ. RESISTANCE: 1942 is a very entertaining, powerful movie. Caution is advised for children because of the movie’s intensity.

CONTENT: (CCC, BBB, ACACAC, VV, A, D, M): Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements: Very strong Christian, moral worldview fighting against National Socialist atheist evil; Foul Language: No foul language; Violence: Some intense scenes of violence, several characters are shot, wounded, stabbed and killed, men are tortured for information; Sex: No sex; Nudity: No nudity; Alcohol Use/Abuse: Alcohol use but no drunkenness; Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse: Smoking, but no drugs; Miscellaneous Immorality: Covert activity, trying to mislead Nazis without lying, Nazi cruelty, German commandant talks about the superiority of Germans, German doctor talks about experiments to remove or improve lesser humans.

Help Families in Need for Thanksgiving

Town

Thanksgiving Dinner In A Box community

Frederick, Frederick High School Student Council, Carbon Valley

Church, and the Weld County Food Bank partner to provide dinner to those in need. We aim to donate a complete “Thanksgiving Dinner in a Box” to at least one hundred families in the Carbon Valley.

How can you help? Nominate a family in need, drop off specific food items from the list or donate money for pumpkin pies, butter, and rolls. We need food donations of canned yams/sweet potatoes, instant mashed potatoes, salt & pepper in shakers, gravy mix, french fried onions, canned cranberry sauce, brown sugar, and canned corn.

Please drop off food items at Bella Rosa Golf Course (5830 Bella Rosa Pkwy.). Donate and receive a 20% off coupon to eat at the Back 9 at Bella Rosa.

For English Application See https://frederickco.gov/FormCenter/CommunityRelations-9/Thanksgiving-Dinner-in-a-Box-2022-Englis-254

For Spanish Application https://frederickco.gov/FormCenter/CommunityRelations-9/El-programa-de-Cena-de-Accin-de-Gracias--255

Holidays!

FREE ADMISSION

Frederick Festival Of Lights

In light of the changing real estate market and the economy, some homeowners have been running into problems paying their mortgage. Some lenders have programs for forbearance or deferment of payments. These may help, but typically they just delay payments, which still have to be paid.

Even though the number of foreclosed homes is fairly low right now, some people still face the problem of getting behind in their mortgage payments. With the market being strong the last few years and prices rising, you may have enough equity to sell the house and make up the back payments and get out whatever equity you have. If you don’t have equity, or want to try to stay in the home, a free hotline provides an easy way for those who may be in danger of foreclosure to talk directly with a trained, professional housing counselor. Counselors can offer free assistance in helping homeowners navigate the foreclosure process and can act as a facilitator between homeowners and their mortgage lenders. The Foreclosure Prevention Hotline is 1-877-601-HOPE (4673).

The Foreclosure Hotline is the first of its kind in the United States. It is the first statewide Hotline - tailored specifically to the legal realities of Colorado - and it is the first to

connect borrowers with local counselors in communities throughout the state.

The Hotline is the product of a consortium of private-sector and government organizations, including the Colorado Association of Realtors, that have come together to address the high foreclosure rate in Colorado.

The Colorado Foreclosure Hotline connects borrowers with non-profit housing counselors who can provide information on a borrower’s options when facing foreclosure. Counselors can also act as facilitators for communication between lenders and borrowers.

All assistance is provided to homeowners free of charge.

We encourage any borrowers (homeowners) in the following situations to call the hotline:

1) Borrowers who have not yet missed a mortgage payment but are concerned they may miss future payments.

2) Borrowers who are already behind on the payments.

3) Borrowers who have received a notice of foreclosure.

4) Borrowers having trouble communicating with their mortgage lenders.

The hotline, 1-877-601-HOPE (4673), is expected to help at least an estimated 40,000 homeowners in some stage of foreclosure in Colorado by providing about 60 counselors from about 30 different agencies across the country.

There are often more options available than you may think there are, when you are having difficulty with your mortgage payments. Take advantage of this resource to help you get the best information possible.

November

Carbon Valley Library 7 Park Ave Firestone, CO 80504

November

Carbon Valley Library 7 Park Ave Firestone, CO 80504

Home Cooking Fires Worse on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average. According to the NFPA, in 2019, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,400 homecooking fires on Thanksgiving, the peak day for such fires. Unattended cooking was the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. Cooking caused half (49 percent) of all reported home fires and more than two of every five (42 percent) home fire injuries, and it is the second leading cause of home fire deaths (20 percent) in 2015-2019.

Here are some safety tips from NFPA to help prevent kitchen fires! Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while the food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking. Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, or curtains — away from your stovetop.

If you have a cooking fire…get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave. If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear way out. Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled. If you have an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. For more information visit https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Top-fire-causes

Carbon Valley Santa Cops

The Carbon Valley Santa Cop program is now accepting referrals for families in need for the upcoming holiday season. If your family needs assistance this year or you know of a family in need, please read the informational letter and fill out the application online at www.fi restoneco.gov/SantaCops . Forms may also be picked up from the Firestone Police Department. Referral forms are due by Friday, November 18, 2022. Please note, not all applicants will be accepted, as space is limited, income qualifications apply.

More information about the annual giving tree and ways to sponsor a family will be shared in early November.

About Carbon Valley Santa Cops:

The Carbon Valley Santa Cops program is an annual event in which the Firestone, Frederick and Dacono Police Departments provide a gift, warm winter clothing and necessities to underrepresented children in the Carbon Valley area during the holiday season.

The Nutcracker Tea Party: En Face Annual Event

En Face Studios cordially invites you to the The Nutcracker Tea Party on Saturday, December 3rd. Children and adults alike will enjoy the opportunity to join the characters of the Nutcracker for an afternoon filled with magic and beauty. Enjoy tea, an assortment of scrumptious tea time treats, story time with the Sugar Plum Fairy, dancing, and more. In addition, every child pre-registered for this event will receive a tutu or play sword and a craft activity to take home.

The Nutcracker Tea Party will take place at En Face Studios, located at 7073 Colorado Blvd in Frederick, on Saturday, December 3rd at 3:00pm.

Take advantage of the early registration rate of $25 per person. Price will increase to $30 per person on November 19th.

Spaces are limited so register today!

FREE Birthday Announcements. Send high resolution photo with birthday message in subject line to carbonvalley@gmail.com by the 15th of each month.

Celebrating November 4th Wishing our not so little guy Jace a Happy 9th Birthday. You sure make our lives an adventure. You are beyond wise for your years and have a smile that lights up a room. We love you kiddo!

Love, Dad, Mom, Steve, Duke and Bandit

MISSING DOG

I can’t imagine life without you in it, Robert. You complete this family. I’m so grateful for November 14th, the day of your precious birth. You bless each one of us and you are an incredible son, brother, uncle, grandson, nephew, friend, and man. You are loved beyond measure.

Happy Birthday, Robert.

Little Launch Christian Preschool in Erie

The Little Launch Christian Preschool is a ministry of Impact Rock Church. Their vision is to optimize the early years as ‘seed planting time’ launching hearts and minds through the brilliance of Jesus. The mission is to help children and their families to love and follow Jesus, believing that every child is a unique reflection of God’s love.

The goal is to present the highest quality of care by guiding children with a whole child approach in a Christian environment. Children will be offered ways for spiritual growth through prayers, Bible verses and stories. Chapel services are also provided.

Little Launch Preschool class (ages 3-4) meet T/W/Th from 8am-11am. Your child must be 3 yrs of age before October 1st to enroll in the Preschool class.

Pre-K Class (ages 4-5) meet T/W/Th 12 noon-3pm. Your child must be 4 yrs of age before October 1st to enroll in the Pre-K class.

Registration fee is $125.

For further information or to schedule a tour you can call Lead Pastor, Mark Harper or Preschool Director, Kara Harper at 303-808-7292. Located at Impact Rock Church, 710 Austin Avenue – Suite 200, Erie, Colorado

Aims Community College Awarded Colorado Aviation Education Grant

Aims Community College was awarded $50,000 from the Colorado Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics. This funding supports the creation of a mobile aviation lab with industry equipment to promote careers in aviation and aerospace among Colorado K-12 students. The project is designed to encourage, empower and educate anyone interested in aviation and aerospace.

The state developed the Colorado Aviation Education Grant to increase workforce development and support the expected growth in aviation and aerospace. The funding also looks to foster more diversity in people entering this field. With the establishment of the mobile aviation lab, Aims can conduct outreach to communities that might not have been previously exposed to aviation.

“We will have educational activities within the trailer to emphasize the importance of STEM-based classes and hopefully spark inspiration.” Said Sara Bauermeister, an Aims flight instructor and the President of the Aims Women in Aviation Chapter. “As a female, I was not exposed to aviation and didn’t consider it as an option growing up. We hope to change this and show kids the various paths in aviation and how to pursue them.”

The features of this lab include the following: virtual reality flight simulators, air traffic control simulation, unmanned aircraft simulators, drones, STEM-related activities.

Aims anticipates this project will be ready to launch in the late spring or early summer of 2023.

Visit aims.co/aviation for more information about Aims Aviation programs.

Prayers for e Family & Friends ofYve e te Velde

Feedback Needed! Firestone Dog Park Relocation Options

This spring, Town Staff presented to the Board of Trustees that there was a need to relocate the dog parks in the Oak Meadows (Settlers Park) and St. Vrain Ranch (Aisiks Dog Park) subdivisions.

The Town of Firestone’s stormwater permit issued by the State of Colorado requires the Town to identify sources of stormwater pollution that may discharge from our storm sewer system into local rivers and streams. Pet waste is one pollutant source containing high levels of bacteria that can impair our local waterways, making them unsafe for fishing and recreation. When it rains, pet waste and the harmful pathogens it contains runoff from the dog parks in Settlers Park and at Aisiks Dog Park, and enter into our storm sewer system before ultimately being discharged to our waterbodies untreated. To address these major sources of stormwater pollution and ensure the Town maintains compliance with our stormwater permit, the dog parks located near our stormwater infrastructure and within detention ponds must be relocated.

Town staff has identified areas within existing parks to be modified into specific dog parks and wants to hear the community’s feedback on these locations. In these proposed Dog Parks, the following amenities will be included: fenced areas, shade shelters, sitting benches, shade trees, trash cans, dog bag dispensers, and, depending on locations, water stations.

Settlers Dog Park Relocation Options

In Settlers Park, there are 2 areas identified that can be modified to become dog parks. Option #1 is on the north side of the playground, and east of the main shelter. Option #2 is east of the tennis courts, closer to Viewpoint Avenue.

Aisik’s Dog Park Relocation Options

To replace the Aisik’s Dog Park, 2 locations have been identified as possible locations. Option #1 is in Harney Park, on the west side of the Firestone Trail. Option #2 is east of Stoneridge Park (view map here), along the trail that connects Bowersox Parkway and Cascade Street.

NEW Dog Park! Hart Park

In the 2022 budget, the Town of Firestone identified that the dog park relocation project was necessary. Within that, it was identified that a new Dog Park was going to be built in Hart Park, north of the ballfields, near Grant Avenue.

Santa Cops Dacono

Santa Cops is accepting new toy donations as well as monetary donations. People interested in the program or needing help can come to the police department starting November 1st to get the forms. Forms need to be returned by December 1st with ALL of the required paperwork or they will not be excepted. Please join this fantastic cause and send in donations for families in need! Visit https://www.cityofdacono. com/999/SantaCops for further detail.

If you have any questions about this or are interested in participating, please contact Lyndsey Steele with Dacono PD at lsteele@ cityofdacono. com

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31, 32 NASB).

A disciple is a constant learner, an observer, and importantly… a doer. In the context of Christianity, we are dealing with the lifelong pursuit of putting on the mind of Christ, of taking on the nature, thinking, and habits of our Savior. As Romans 8:29 informs us, we our destined to be conformed into the image of Jesus. This is the end goal of discipleship, to be like Jesus in the world. That….and to participate in the spread of God’s Kingdom making other disciples of Jesus.

A great many people today claim to love Jesus, but do their lives reflect the heart and thinking of Jesus? Is there fruit in their lives born of the transforming Spirit in them? Is there obedience to Jesus’ teachings and to the teachings of those who were sent by Jesus? Sometimes children in a home complain about having

to do chores, to work and serve the family. When this happens in my home, I attempt to show that there is a desire for the privileges of the family without any effort or work. This is not right. Everyone in the family needs to be taught and encouraged to do their part to serve and contribute, after all, everyone in the family reaps the benefits of being in the family.

Discipleship is a wildly important topic and I wonder if it has not been emphasized enough in the churches of America. Leaders are wondering how it is that so many church-goers are content to be consumers and not contributors and servants. Few are willing to do their part, pull their own weight (let alone the weight of another), to contribute, but interestingly ALL want the benefits of being in the family of God. I wonder what is made of Jesus’ words in Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple?” Did Jesus really say this? Jesus the accepting, tolerant, forgiving Son of God….how could He have said something so harsh? Folks, there is a

cost to following Jesus and in that passage of scripture, Jesus taught people to count the cost of discipleship. He really wants to know if you are committed because if any earthly relationship comes before or between you and your relationship with Jesus, then you cannot be a disciple. How could you be a disciple of Jesus, if the voice of someone on earth speaks louder and more importantly to you than the voice of Jesus? How can anyone say they love Jesus if they are not willing to do what He says (See Luke 6:46-49).

In order to become a disciple, I need to die to myself, to give up living for ME, and follow closely behind Jesus. I don’t know the origin of this metaphor, but a disciple is one who is covered in the dust of their teacher’s feet. A disciple so closely follows the Teacher that the dust kicked up while walking clings to your clothes because you are following so closely behind listening, absorbing everything coming from the Teacher’s words and actions.

“And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow

Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34, 35).

Deny self. Take up one’s own cross. Follow Jesus.

Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments,” (John 14:15), not “If you love me…have some grace.” Grace is wonderfully powerful and amazing, but a disciple is a servant and Jesus has plenty for His followers to do doing. Are you continuing in the Words of Jesus?

Clayton Johnson is the minister and evangelist for the Carbon Valley Church of Christ, now meeting at Thunder Valley K-8. Questions/ Comments? claypj@gmail. com God Bless You

Three C’s to Change

We’re approaching the time of year where many Americans set New Year Resolutions, especially around their health. Some of the most common resolutions include losing weight, getting fit, feeling better, having more energy, getting more and better sleep and in general, taking better care of themself. Most people fail. Sorry. That’s the reality. Change is hard and it’s especially hard to do by yourself. Here are what I consider the 3 C’s of Change.

Curiosity – be curious about everything, even if you think you know a lot about something. If you approach the same thing with a beginners eye, you see new and different things. Being curious opens you up to change by learning new things but most importantly, learning and creating awareness about yourself.

Courage – one definition of courage is “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.” I love this definition because, yes, change is hard. It is difficult. It is scary or fearful. But it is worth it! It could literally save your life. Taking the step towards change takes courage. Be proud of yourself!

Compassion – be kind to yourself during the journey of change. Your beliefs, what you eat, how you move, sleep, deal with stress are habits that probably took years to develop. It’s the rare individual that can change overnight. The bigger the change, the longer it will take to change so give yourself some grace and kindness.

As healthy and vibrant as we want to be for ourselves and for others, it can be overwhelming to understand “why” and therefore difficult to make changes. As a Health Coach, I view myself as a “change agent”. I have helped people with any number of health challenges and goals, from restarting an exercise regimen to reducing stress, managing diabetes losing weight or attaining time management skills. I provide a safe space to explore, listen deeply, and help my clients narrow in on what’s really going on and why it matters. From there, I help identify strategies for making change, provide support, encouragement, accountability and celebrates progress along the way.

Don’t wait until later to start your health journey. Reach out for your free consultation.

A Vision For Weld County’s Future From The New United Way President And Ceo

In my time at United Way of Weld County, I have been inspired by the vision that its board of directors and the community has for the organization. I intend to take this

make it a reality, and lead United Way into the future.

I began working with United Way of Weld County in 2014. Given a desire to serve those in more challenging circumstances, I applied for an AmeriCorps opening at United Way, was offered the position and moved to Colorado. After becoming a full-time United Way employee, I facilitated the community-wide conversation that became Weld’s Way Home, Weld County’s first strategic plan to address homelessness.

Now, eight years later, I am the new United Way of Weld County president and CEO. While much has been accomplished, there are still too many Weld County children that can’t read sufficiently by the beginning of 4th Grade, youth that aren’t connected with a caring adult, households that are unstable or experiencing homelessness and older adults that age in isolation and loneliness. There is work yet to be done.

From my time so far with United Way, I offer these learnings that will guide me as its leader.

GO BIG. United Way is seeking community-wide improvement in four areas: early childhood development (Reading Great by 8), youth success (Thrive by 25), household stability (Weld’s Way Home) and healthy aging (Aging Well). If we aren’t including all of our more vulnerable neighbors in each of these initiatives then we are picking and choosing who will be provided more opportunity for success.

SLOVE THE CALLENGE. Can we imagine a day when we have solved these challenges? When every child is reading to learn by the start of 4th Grade? When every youth has an adult to whom they can go when in a tough spot? When every household is stable? When every older adult has what they need to age with meaning? Can we imagine?

MAKE A PLAN. As my experience with Weld’s Way Home taught me, without a community-wide plan to guide community-wide efforts we will not get communitywide results. No business makes money without a plan. No school district increases high school graduation rates without a plan. No family gets to a vacation destination without a plan. We will not get the community-wide results that we want without a shared and actionable plan.

MEASURE IT. Solving a challenge first requires measuring it. All of us—nonprofit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, businesses and more— can choose a lead indicator for each of our areas of shared work to know if we are succeeding or failing.

FOCUSED INVESTING. For years United Ways have been investing money in a fragmented way, hoping that funding alone will solve community challenges. We invest money in well-meaning though too disconnected efforts and then hope that the results will be greater than the sum of their parts. This method helps some individuals and families but it doesn’t solve challenges.

INCREASE GENEROSITY. Weld County is an amazingly productive community with enough wealth to bring about ample opportunity for all of our neighbors. I hope to encourage us all to be more generous for solving our greatest challenges.

HOPING AND DREAMING. While the specifics of each United Way initiative is different, the hopes and dreams can be quite similar: bringing about a community that creates more opportunity for us all; getting to that day when Weld County works for everyone. This is the direction that United Way is headed. Will you join us?

Melanie Woolman is the recently appointed United Way of Weld County president and CEO. Contact her at MWoolman@UnitedWayWeld.org or 970-353-4300 to find out how you can get more involved in this vision for Weld County.

Alternative Medicine: The Middle

Let your mind wander…

If you were a recipe, which ingredients would you choose? What do the ingredients smell like? What do they look and feel like?

Where is the kitchen and what does it look like? Try to picture every detail inside the kitchen, and the kitchen itself. What are the walls made of, what color and what is the view outside the window? What does the kitchen smell like as you begin to cook, how does the smell change as the ingredients come together and finish cooking? Since you and the recipe are the same, how does the recipe feel inside your mouth, is it warm or cold, gooey or crunchy? How does it feel inside after swallowing?

It is mid-autumn, the time of year we tend to bake more often and cook more soups and stews. And just because it’s colder outside doesn’t mean we can’t make ice cream. The purpose of this article is to love and emphasize the center, our physical middle. Here are more ideas:

A wonderful exercise in doing nothing :

Find a comfortable place to lie down, placing pillows where you like, such as under the knees and head. Place the back of all four fingers together, knuckles to knuckles (leaving the thumbs out) and let your hands rest over the belly button (pillows under the elbows might be nice too!). You do not need to do anything with your touch, simply be there completely present through the touch of your fingers. While doing nothing, it is remarkable how much change can occur in a short time.

Another comfortable exercise for the abdomen involves using castor oil. No, we do not need to drink castor oil. Simply rub the oil clockwise around the umbilicus, cover with a thin cloth, then heating pad. This is safe for all ages, newborn to 150, (with the exception of pregnancy) and encourages gentle blood movement and detoxification. Scroll to the end of the article for more details : http://daisylear.com/inflammation/

All three of these exercises can be done together. And if the kids come in and wonder what you’re not doing, they may want to join you.

Daisy Lear, MSOM, Dipl.Ac., L.Ac., practices Chinese medicine & acupuncture at 19411 Ute Hwy | Longmont, CO 80503. Her phone number is 303.587.3557, her email is daisylear@gmail.com or visit website at daisylear.com. She is a Healthcare Provider for CIGNA and Aetna. She is the Director of Acupuncture for Veterans and their Families also and you can learn more at www.daisylear.com

Recycle your eBike battery at Small Planet eBikes

Your eBike battery will likely near end of life (80% or less of rated capacity) when it is 5-7yrs old.* Most eBike batteries can be rebuilt with fresh cells and the original case and battery management system. However, eBikes have improved significantly in recent years, so you might prefer to upgrade. No matter where you bought your eBike, Small Planet eBikes will be happy to recycle your eBike battery responsibly.

Small Planet eBikes is an eBike battery drop-off center in the Call2Recycle network. Even if you did not buy your eBike from us, you can drop off your end-of-life lithium-ion eBike battery and we’ll ship it to a recycler at no cost to you.

If you’d like to recycle your bike’s frame and components, we can do that, too.

Recycling your old eBike is an essential part of closing the loop and making electric bikes a truly sustainable form of transportation. At Small Planet eBikes, sustainability is at the heart of what we do. Let’s work together to close the loop and keep recyclable materials out landfills.

*Battery lifespans can vary. Large batteries tend to live longer because they experience fewer deep discharge cycles. As long as your battery does what you need it to do, please keep using it!

Some symptoms that might indicate a battery is starting to decline include:

• Less power climbing hills

• Lower range/miles per charge

• Battery won’t charge

• Electric motor doesn’t work

Small Planet eBikes 724 Main St, Longmont, CO 80501 [303 532 2879] https://www.smallplanetebikes.com

Many of us live far away from parents and grandparents, and will be planning visits back home for the holidays. While these are great chances to catch up, connect and create memories, they serve as opportunities to make sure our aging loved ones are happy, healthy, safe and thriving.

In between the moments of family celebration, take time to check in with family members to truly gauge how they are doing.

Sometimes it can be hard to admit that our parents are aging, and they may be unable or unwilling to admit that they need a little extra assistance.. A quick look into these 3 key areas may enable you to get a clearer picture of how you can help. Is their home safe? Check for fall hazards like throw rugs, and clutter. Are the hallways welllit, as well as outdoor areas? Are bathrooms equipped with grab-bars and

Fit This Fall, Classes & Mobile Personal Training

It can be hard to stay fit, stick to your goals, and maintain a healthy diet with the fall weather getting cooler and holidays approaching. I want to give you a few easy ways to help keep you on track.

Workouts are usually the first to be crossed off the list when your schedule gets busy, but this is the most important thing to keep on the list. Stick to your fitness goals as there are many added benefits to improving your health. Working out helps to decrease stress, keeps your immune system strong, and keeps your metabolism going so you can burn more calories and fat.

The other part that suffers when you get busy is your nutrition and water intake. Try to plan one day a week where you pre-make your healthy meals and avoid processed foods as much as possible. You can freeze these meals and they’ll be ready to heat and serve on busy nights. Shoot to gradually increase your water intake to half of your body weight in ounces,

this will help your cells function at their best. Don’t let the hard work you did earlier in the year go to waste now. Get outside to work out and enjoy the cooler temperatures. Ladies, join us for my Time For Change Fitness Group Classes (Strength/ Interval Training, and CoreFirst Trainer) offered four times per week, or check out my Mobile Personal Training where I come to you. This is a great option for convenience, for those not wanting to go to the gym, and I check in with you for accountability.

Hopefully, some of these simple tips will help you stay on track this fall season. For information on my Fitness Classes and Mobile Personal Training contact Tracy Rewerts, NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Arthritis Fitness Specialist at 303-828-2856 or visit www.

TimeForChangePersonalTraining.com for details.

onySeniorReferrals

Service “We care because we’ve been there”

care because we've been there"

Helping seniors age in place.

walk-in showers? As Winter sets in, what other safety measures can be taken?

Are they staying healthy? Many older adults tire of cooking for themselves and resort to microwave meals and snacking. Nutritious food is essential for healing and strength. Engage the help of a local senior meal delivery service, or if they still cook, assist with online ordering and grocery delivery service to make things easier.

Are they thriving? When all the family leaves to head home, it’s easy for loneliness to set in. What community connections are available to help them keep from being too isolated? Many communities have seniors available to help support other seniors, not only with household needs but with companionship. Oftentimes this is a blessing to both parties.

Don’t miss the opportunity that family gatherings can bring, to truly check-in with those you love, and to get them the support they need to remain safely and happily at home.

Lindsay Adams is a Senior Advisor with Assisted Living Locators of N. Colorado. She can be reached at 303-775-6312 or ladams@ assistedlivinglocators.com

PACE is right for you or a loved one. 303.926.4745 • (TTY 800.659.2656) Or make a referral at pace@trucare.org

Myth 2: Children are placed in foster care because they are juvenile delinquents.

The 2022 U.S. Adoption and Foster Care Attitudes Survey revealed that more than half (51%) of Americans incorrectly believe that children are placed in foster care because they have done something wrong. The idea that these children are “bad” or worse “unadoptable” could not be further from the truth. Children are placed in foster care, through no fault of their own, because of abuse or neglect, and frequently experience countless layers of trauma. The unfortunate reality is that many of these children are not returning to their family of origin because it is not safe.

The foster care system is being stretched beyond its capacity, which has far-reaching impacts on children. Every year, more than 20,000 youth turned 18 or 21 and aged out of care without a permanent home. With nowhere to turn for support, many of these young people are at a higher risk of negative outcomes, such as homelessness and unemployment. No child is unadoptable, they just aren’t adopted. Every child needs and deserves the support of a family and caring adults to address the issues they experienced going into care, while they were waiting to be adopted and after the adoption is finalized.

To learn more, read this Today.com article about the costs associated with various types of adoption.

https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/five-myths-about-foster-care-adoption/

Weld County Launches Therapeutic Foster Care Program

For children and youth who’ve experienced traumatic events, a special kind of care is required to help them heal. That’s why the Weld County Department of Human Services has launched a therapeutic foster care program and is currently recruiting for individuals who have specialized skills and training and are interested in fostering.

These individuals include:

Nurses | Social workers | Counselors | Teachers | Others who have worked in the education, medical, or counseling fields | Those with foster, adoptive, and/or special needs experience

As a therapeutic foster parent, you will use your skills in a new way by serving as a critical steppingstone for young people as they journey from past trauma toward permanent placements.

“Knowing each child has unique needs, the therapeutic foster care program offers a different entry point to care that pairs high-needs youth with adults who have the capability and understanding to foster them toward healing,” said Kristy DeAnda, foster care recruiter for Weld County.

Therapeutic foster care is a distinct, powerful, and unique model of care that combines a nurturing family environment with active therapy and treatment. Children with emotional, behavioral, and medical issues are treated with integrated services and key interventions from foster parents who are trained, supervised, and supported.

Sometimes, when people hear the word “therapeutic,” they think it refers to medical foster care. While some of the children in therapeutic care may have medical needs, typically, the kids in these types of homes have significant emotional and behavioral challenges.

Many of these young people live in group homes or residential treatment facilities where they receive the behavioral support they need to stabilize from trauma. While this type of environment is helpful for many, research has shown that a secure, family-like environment coupled with clinical support and therapy also creates a positive pathway to healing and permanent placement.

For more information about foster care in Weld County, visit https://www.weldgov. com/Government/Departments/Human-Services/Foster-Care

In Crisis?

If you are in crisis or know someone else who is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

The Winnie-the-Pooh Project

Making Pooh Accessible to Children Who Are Blind, Deaf, or Learning Challenged. Check this out https://www. kickstarter.com/projects/richardrieman/the-winnie-thepooh-project

Pet Sitting

Hello Im Donna Calabrese with A BREEZE PET FRIENDS ..I do Daily Dog walking...drop ins...Overnight Pet sitting in your home ...I also do extended stay pet sitting...I administer medications etc......I care for Farm animals also....I have been in business for 12 years...I am Fully Insured..Bonded and I am CPR pet certified...Would Love to care for your furkids...Please give me a call 720 879 1423 or text me at abreezepets@yahoo and we can set up a free meet and greet to see if I am a good fit...at that time I will provide you with a copy of my papers and a list of references...Have a great day I look forward to meeting you Donna Calabrese 720-879-1423 abreezepets@ yahoo.com

Beef for Sale

Mallory Mini Farm is a small family farm located in Frederick. We raise cattle and feed them grass grown on our farm. We sell by the 1/8 and 1/4 share and have some retail cuts available. Please call Angela at 970-308-5860 for availability, prices and any questions you may have. I am happy to help you. Thank you for supporting your local small businesses!

Holiday Craft Show

Holiday Craft Show is on Nov 12th, 10a to 4pm, @ Josephine Commons 455 N Burlington Ave, Lafayette 80026. Located next to Coal Creek Meals on Wheels.

Prairie Greens Christmas Bazaar

Prairie Greens Christmas Bazaar Hosted by Bubbie’s Sweet Booth with 14 plus vendors. Please come and join us on Saturday December 3rd from 10am to 4pm at 7781 Mountain view Dr. Frederick, Co 80530...There will be a potato bar and drinks available for a small fee.

Looking for crafters, bakers, candy makers, ETC....FREE ENTRY

Mobile Personal Training and Fitness Group Classes!

Ladies, join us for Time For Change Fitness Group Classes. Interval/Strength Training Mondays at 8:30am, Tuesdays at 9:30am, Weds at 7pm; CoreFirst Trainer Class Fridays at 9:30am. See website for details on how to sign up. Mobile Personal Training where I come to you! Also, use your HSA/FSA for Personal Training For Arthritis. Contact Tracy Rewerts, NASM Certified Personal Trainer & Arthritis Fitness Specialist at www.TimeForChangePersonalTraining.com or call 303.828.2856.

Nat’l Adoption Day

Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022

Due to COVID-19 protocols, many National Adoption Day events are virtual or in a hybrid format. We are so grateful to the many courts that held celebrations over the past two years and those that plan to hold celebrations this year.

National Adoption Day is a collective effort to raise awareness of the more than 115,000 children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States. A coalition of national partners — the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Alliance for Children’s Rights and Children’s Action Network — founded National Adoption Day. https://amzn.to/3xYhRhw

On November 18, 2000, the coalition and the Freddie Mac Foundation encouraged nine cities to open their courts on or around the Saturday before Thanksgiving to finalize and celebrate adoptions from foster care.

The first National Adoption Day was inspired by the innovative efforts of Michael Nash, a former presiding judge of Los Angeles County’s Juvenile Court. He opened the court on Saturdays, engaged the volunteer efforts of court personnel and finalized adoptions to reduce the backlog of one of the busiest courts in the nation.

BEST 2022

Forster Abbott Kao USA Inc.

Policymakers, practitioners and advocates have collaborated to plan these annual events in 400 cities across the United States. To date, the dreams of more than 75,000 children in foster care have come true as part of National Adoption Day. Get the book: https://amzn. to/3xYhRhw

Day.

UNUM Group Hasbro, Inc. Hilton Grand Vacations VMLY&R

PeoplesBank Next PR E. & J. Gallo Winery AMC Networks Inc.

American Century Investments Blackbaud, Inc.

Duke Realty Eli Lilly and Company

General Electric Company

Western Union The Fetzer Institute Boston Scientific Robins & Morton National Futures Association Protiviti MetLife, Inc.

Novo Nordisk Inc.

QBE North America

Yale University Farmers Insurance adidas America 3M Company

Daniel J. Edelman Holdings, Inc.

Franklin International Barilla America, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group Marriott International, Inc.

Aster Brands America’s Christian Credit Union First Reliance Bank UScellular First Horizon Corporation TCG, Inc.

Qualtrics LLC Baker Tilly US, LLP T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Passaic County CASA for Children Wellstar Health System Analog Devices, Inc.

NewYork-Presbyterian Jockey International, Inc.

Baylor University

AARP

Lexmark International Park Community Credit Union Arbitration Forums Inc. New York University

Methodology

The Foundation partnered with RTI International to survey employers across the United States and score participants based on three criteria: financial reimbursement (45%), paid leave (45%) and the percentage of employees eligible for those benefits (10%).

Colorado

CO

833-5933

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Chamber Upcoming Activities

NEW DATE FOR CHAMBER CASINO NIGHT FUNDRAISER

The Carbon Valley Chamber announced that their Casino Night fundraiser, which will benefit the Carbon Valley Help Center, has moved to a new night: Saturday, January 21st, 2023 from 6:00-10:00pm. The event will take place at the Carbon Valley Rec Center in Frederick, and tickets include heavy appetizers from local restaurants, two drink tickets, and $200 in “casino fun money” for the game tables including Craps, Roulette, Blackjack, and Texas Hold’em. Prizes will be awarded for winners, and door prize drawings will be held throughout the evening. Make it a date night in your own neighborhood, or grab a group of friends for this fun night out on the town. Tickets can be purchased online at bit. ly/CVCasinoNight; must be 21 to attend. Theme is “Classic Hollywood” (think: Ocean’s 11) and participants are encouraged to dress to impress. Tickets are $50 individual/$90 couple before December 21, 2022 (prices will increase in January) and you do not need to be a chamber member to attend. Contact the chamber office with any questions, 303833-5933 or info@carbonvalleychamber.com

Obituaries and Memorials

Obituaries, Memorial Messages & photos are always FREE in our publications~ Please tell the funeral home or e-mail to carbonvalley@gmail.com. Because we are a monthly paper, most funeral dates will be past. You may post funeral service information at www.facebook.com/CarbonValleyConsumerReport and we will share with the community.

Yvette Kristin teVelde

Dec. 15, 1972 – Oct. 20, 2022

Incredible mom, wife, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and business woman. Yvette touched so many lives, lived large, lived generously, and lit up every room she was in.

Services were held Thursday October 27, 2022 at 11 am at Life Bridge Church, followed by lunch in the fellowship hall. 10345 Ute Highway Longmont, CO 80504

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations in Yvette’s name to Flutterby which she was a proud and hardworking board member.

Flutterby is a board of 100% volunteers that raise money host events to support other non-profits and people in need. It is a 501c3 non profit that has donated over $400,000 to local charities and those in need

DIY Holiday Memorial Ornament

Holidays can be a time to reflect on our memories of loved ones who have passed on but who are not forgotten. Join us in our workshop to help keep their memory alive by creating a personalized DIY memorial ornament to take home and decorate your tree as a loving reminder about all the happy times. Memorial ornaments provide a keepsake to pass down so future generations can cherish them on their Christmas trees and every day after. During the workshop, you will find the comfort and support of others experiencing similar losses while gaining helpful information through shared discussion facilitated by our licensed therapist on coping with grief during the holidays. No talent or skill is required!

The cost is $35 per participant and includes most supplies. Class size is limited to 10. November 5, 2022 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Other programs, grief support, & counseling at www.richardlambertfoundation.org

211 Colorado has connected Coloradans to needed resources for 20 years

Founded in 2002, 211 Colorado has helped Coloradans connect to the resources that they need to keep their housing, jobs, health and more for 20 years.

“Every day Hilltop Community Resources receives dozens of contacts from Western Slope Coloradans needing help making rent, caring for a loved one, connecting to health care resources and more,” shared Sue Conry, director of the Hilltop Family Resource Center at Hilltop Community Resources in Grand Junction and chair of the 211 Colorado Collaborative governing board. “If it weren’t for 211 Colorado and the connection to human services that it provides there would be more workers that would lose their jobs, more older adults that would remain lonely and isolated and more children living with families that have begun experiencing homelessness.”

211 Colorado is a comprehensive information and referral service that connects users to an exhaustive listing of more than 8,000 services throughout Colorado. It streamlines access to nonprofit and governmental assistance by providing one central location where Coloradans can get connected to opportunities for keeping their lives on track. Trained 211 Colorado resource navigators assist individuals, families and service providers who are seeking community services in times of need such as rent and utility support, help finding food resources, adult and child day care options, legal and tax assistance and more. The service is available in English, Spanish and other languages.

Marsha’s experience represents a common 211 user. While she did well living alone since her husband passed away, Marsha eventually became overwhelmed trying to take care of everything that her lifelong partner used to do. Frustrated and discouraged, she called 211. Her friendly resource navigator guided Marsha in problem solving for solutions, gave her a list of resources with contact information, made a direct connection for the most critical needs and assisted Marsha in getting essential support for living independently as an older adult. With a resource database that is updated daily, anyone can make use of 211 Colorado via phone (dial 211), text (send zip code to 898-211) or at the www.211Colorado.org website.

In 2002, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved a plan for integrating a system of then independent information and referral services and provided it with the 211 dial code. 211 Colorado was born. Today, 20 years later, 211 Colorado has assisted over 3 million Colorado households and provides border-to-border coverage, serving all of Colorado’s 64 counties. 211 Colorado offering organizations include Hilltop Community Resources, Mile High United Way, Pikes Peak United Way, Senior Resource Development Agency in Pueblo, United Way of Larimer County, United Way of Southwest Colorado and United Way of Weld County.

“211 Colorado is a critical resource for Colorado families, be they facing an everyday disaster like job loss or accident or illness or if they are caught up in a natural disaster like a flood, fire or global pandemic,” noted Lyle SmithGraybeal, vice president of Community Development with United Way of Weld County and the 211 Colorado Collaborative vice-chair. “211 Colorado works with emergency operation centers statewide so that in times of disaster our neighbors can get to a safer place for protecting life and property. 211 Colorado is an essential complement to 911 call centers and emergency operations throughout Colorado.”

With an average 10,000 contacts received statewide each month, 211 Colorado volume increased significantly during 2020 and 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; some months exceeded 20,000 contacts. With each call, 211 Colorado resource navigators helped callers to better understand what they were facing, the resources that were available, and what would be the next best steps to take. The most typical presenting needs of callers in any season include food and housing support, rent payment and utility assistance and emergency shelter.

Visit www.211Colorado.org or contact Kayla McIlvaine, 211 Colorado program specialist at Mile High United Way, at kayla.mcilvaine@unitedwaydenver.org to find out more.

Edward C. Wellman Jr

Jan. 18, 1951 to Oct. 11, 2022

Edward C. Wellman Jr, 71, of Firestone, CO passed away on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Mr. Wellman was born on January 18, 1951 in New York City to Edward and Georgina Dwyer Wellman. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Alice Mattson.

Ed, also known as Ted by his oldest and dearest friends, grew up in central Kansas on the Wellman Ranch outside of Sterling. He attended Wichita State University, earning his degree in Electrical Engineering. He was employed by Western Electric, AT&T, Lucent and Avaya prior to his retirement.

Mr. Wellman is survived by his wife Anne of Firestone and his son, Edward C. Wellman III of Longmont, numerous nieces and nephews and the Westenberger, Albers and Vespa families of Springfield, IL and Atlanta, GA.

Ed was a strong advocate for music education in our public schools. He volunteered his retirement time to support that cause. Tax deductible memorial contributions may be made to FHS Music Foundation % Christopher Thomas 5690 Tipple Pkwy, Frederick CO 80504

Cyberattacks On Government Websites Increase

The change is so subtle to the user, you probably didn’t even realize it happened. But in the early morning hours of October 5, 2022, the Weld County Government website shifted from the URL weldgov.com to weld.gov

“The public can still type in weldgov.com,” said Weld County’s Chief Information Officer Ryan Rose, “as it will redirect the user to our more secure weld.gov site. It seems like a minor change to some, but it’s a change that makes our website more secure and provides visitors to our site the assurance that they are on a genuine government website.”

Perhaps equally as good of news to users of the website and members of the public who communicate with county employees over email – no change on the user-end is needed.

“This change to a .gov website and email is for security reasons, but we will continue to have the weldgov.com website address and email addresses usable. You will just end up at the weld.gov site,” said Rose.

Moving to a .gov site improves security and searchability of our online presence, ensures you are in fact on the official Weld County Government website (.coms can be purchased by anyone; .gov domains are limited to qualified government agencies), and it requires a secure HTTPS connection, among other security improvements.

So why didn’t we start with a .gov in the first place?

“It’s a good question,” said Rose. “Originally the .gov domain was expensive for governments to purchase and somewhat complicated to obtain. In 2021, there was a change in how .gov domains could be obtained as the program moved under the Federal Department of Homeland Security and the high fees were eliminated.

Over the years, as technology has improved and increased in our daily use, people looking to commit online fraud have become more sophisticated. Government at all levels understand the importance of keeping their systems and information safe, and this is just one more way Weld County is doing just that.”

New Driver Handbook Available as Audiobook

Option for First-Time Ever; Print, Digital Versions Available in English, Spanish

Coloradans now have more options than ever before in how they get road ready with the latest edition of the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Driver Handbook.

The latest edition of the Driver Handbook is out now as an English audiobook for the first time ever, and is also available in print and digital versions in English and Spanish.

The Driver Handbook is a manual the DMV publishes to help soon-to-be-motorists learn how to drive safely and lawfully on Colorado roadways.

Although the Driver Handbook has been available in English and Spanish traditionally, the English audiobook is a great new option for Coloradans who have learning or reading disabilities or just learn better by listening to information, and is intended to better prepare more soon-to-be-motorists.

“We want to empower Coloradans to get the Driver Handbook in whichever format works best for them,” Driver License Director Lori Daigle said. “The DMV is committed to serve all Coloradans and by providing the handbook in various formats allows us to do just that.”

It’s the DMV’s hope that providing more options will better prepare and educate soon-to-be-motorists on the rules of the road, making it safer to travel for all Coloradans, especially during October which is National Pedestrian Safety Month.

The handbook can be downloaded online at the DMV’s website in English or Spanish, or can be listened to as an audiobook on YouTube, Amazon and Podbean. From the comfort of home, Coloradans can also print the 32-page handbook if they prefer having a physical copy.

As an added learning tool, the DMV also offers the Colorado Driver Handbook Practice Quiz. This 30-question quiz focuses on many elements found in the written driver license test, which Coloradans must successfully complete to be eligible for an instruction permit. The online practice quiz is part of the Division’s commitment to ensuring Colorado motorists are road ready.

Coloradans can access the Driver Handbook anywhere as long as they have an internet-connected phone, tablet or computer; or they can download it and access all of its great content later regardless of internet connectivity.

For more information, please visit DMV. Colorado.gov/DriverEducation

The DMV is committed to providing services for all Coloradans where they are needed most, whether it’s in-office, online or on the go. Visit DMV. Colorado.gov/Anywhere to find out how you can DMV anywhere. Yes, anywhere.