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PUBLIC NOTICE: Resumes and Letters of Interest sought for position on Custer County Tourism Board
The Board of Custer County Commissioners is accepting Letters of Interest for positions on the Custer County Tourism Board, starting in January 2020. We invite you to attend our board meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 9am at the Westcliffe Town Hall (Nov 12th and Dec 10th, 2019). Board Meeting Agendas can be found as a link in bottom banner of VisitCusterCounty.com.
You must be a full time resident of Custer County and have past or present experience in the following categories: Lodging, Attractions, Tourism-related retail, Recreation and Restaurants. Other categories will be considered depending upon experience, i.e.: Technology and Marketing, Please include a Letter of Interest and a Statement of Qualifications, resumes are accepted. Please email Cara at boccadmin@custercountygov.com by December 9, 2019 with documents. Thank you.
You must be a full time resident of Custer County and have past or present experience in the following categories: Lodging, Attractions, Tourism-related retail, Recreation and Restaurants. Other categories will be considered depending upon experience, i.e.: Technology and Marketing, Please include a Letter of Interest and a Statement of Qualifications, resumes are accepted. Please email Cara at boccadmin@custercountygov.com by December 9, 2019 with documents. Thank you.
WCCLD: A Reading of Charles Dickens
A Reading of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol”
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays and celebrate a classic tale at the West Custer County Library with a reading of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” Elanor Straight will perform the read- aloud on Thursday, December 19 at 1:30 p.m.
"A Christmas Carol" recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler person. This free event is open to the public, light refreshments will be served.
For more information on this free library event, please contact Cathy at 719-783-9138 or email cathy@westcusterlibrary.org.
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays and celebrate a classic tale at the West Custer County Library with a reading of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” Elanor Straight will perform the read- aloud on Thursday, December 19 at 1:30 p.m.
"A Christmas Carol" recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler person. This free event is open to the public, light refreshments will be served.
For more information on this free library event, please contact Cathy at 719-783-9138 or email cathy@westcusterlibrary.org.
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Town of Westcliffe approves 2020 budget in December meeting last week
Town of Westcliffe Meeting
December 5, 2019
by Lisa Frank
The meeting was called to order at 4 p.m. by Mayor Pro-Tem, Jim Bistodeau, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call was taken and all trustees were present except the mayor, Paul Wenke. There is also one vacant seat on the Town Board. Visitors were recognized.
The Consent Agenda was passed unanimously with no changes.
Old Business - None
New Business
Debbie Adams gave a presentation from the Tourism Board. Ms. Adams took the podium and spoke rather swiftly in order to update the town board and stay within the three-minute podium rule. At the town board’s request for the Tourism Board (TB) to consider extending the “tourism timeline” by adding events that would start earlier in the year and end later in the year, Adams reported that the TB is seeking grants to promote ‘Why Not Westcliffe?’, ‘Why Not Silver Cliff?’, ‘Why Not Custer County?’ She did not go into the details of the ‘Why?’ ideas, but continued on with the TB’s collaborating with Florence, CO on an Arts and Antiques program. The TB has begun to develop an asset list, itemizing everything the Wet Mountain Valley has to offer tourists and potential residents. They are also meeting to determine and define the exact market or markets they should target in order to maximize the dollar value of their budget. Additional ideas on the Tourism Board's agenda were a Paint the Night event that would take place on a full-moon evening when stargazing would be untenable, a Cemetery Walk in October around Halloween, and staging star-gazing events with the groups, Scenic Byways and Highway of Legends. The cemetery walk idea spurred many conversations about involving the local theater groups and high-school students to portray some of the personalities residing in the Valley’s many cemeteries. There were no questions for Ms. Adams from the Board of Trustees.
Consideration of request to approve Use by Special Review at 213 S. 3rd Street for a short-term rental.
Ms. Elizabeth Watson took the podium to explain that she and husband, John purchased the home on 3rd Street preparing for the future when they will not be able to negotiate the three-story home they currently reside in at Hillside. She suggested that they would use the 3rd St. home for family visits and offer it as an Airbnb (VRBO) as well. She stated that the home provided off-street parking for guests. The Use by Special Review was passed unanimously.
Consideration of appointing new Board Member to fill vacancy - Brian Clince sent a Letter of Intent to serve as a Trustee and he was voted in unanimously. He will be sworn in next week and it should be noted that Clince has served as a Town Trustee in prior years. He was heartily welcomed by the town board.
Consideration to approve a General Fund Reserve and a Capital Assets Planning and Reserve Policy -
These items were recently added after the Board’s workshop regarding the 2020 Budget and both were unanimously approved.
Consideration of request to approve a Capital Improvements Plan - Passed by unanimous vote.
PUBLIC HEARING - 2020 BUDGET – Mayor Pro-Tem Bistodeau took pains to provide information to the public in attendance and did his best to explain the board’s plan for the town’s future. There was no public comment.
Consideration to approve Ordinance 9-2019 Adopting the 2020 Budget - Passed unanimously.
Consideration to approve Ordinance 10-2019 Appropriation of Funds from 2020 Budget - Passed unanimously.
Consideration to approve Ordinance 11-2019 Set Mill Levy for 2020 Budget - Passed unanimously.
Consideration to approve Ordinance 12-2019 submitting a ballot question for the April, 2020 regular election - There was some discussion around this ordinance as it refers to the increase in the sales tax that the voters narrowly defeated in November. The ordinance was amended to read that there would be a sunset clause added to the increase for review by voters as to the efficiency and good use of the additional money for the betterment of Westcliffe. It was amended to read that the increase would terminate unless the voters determined it to be of value and voted to extend it at that time. The termination date would be July 1, 2024. Motion passed unanimously.
Additions to Agenda - None
The Staff and Committee reports were given.
There were no public comments and the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
- Guest Reporter, Lisa Frank
December 5, 2019
by Lisa Frank
The meeting was called to order at 4 p.m. by Mayor Pro-Tem, Jim Bistodeau, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Roll call was taken and all trustees were present except the mayor, Paul Wenke. There is also one vacant seat on the Town Board. Visitors were recognized.
The Consent Agenda was passed unanimously with no changes.
Old Business - None
New Business
Debbie Adams gave a presentation from the Tourism Board. Ms. Adams took the podium and spoke rather swiftly in order to update the town board and stay within the three-minute podium rule. At the town board’s request for the Tourism Board (TB) to consider extending the “tourism timeline” by adding events that would start earlier in the year and end later in the year, Adams reported that the TB is seeking grants to promote ‘Why Not Westcliffe?’, ‘Why Not Silver Cliff?’, ‘Why Not Custer County?’ She did not go into the details of the ‘Why?’ ideas, but continued on with the TB’s collaborating with Florence, CO on an Arts and Antiques program. The TB has begun to develop an asset list, itemizing everything the Wet Mountain Valley has to offer tourists and potential residents. They are also meeting to determine and define the exact market or markets they should target in order to maximize the dollar value of their budget. Additional ideas on the Tourism Board's agenda were a Paint the Night event that would take place on a full-moon evening when stargazing would be untenable, a Cemetery Walk in October around Halloween, and staging star-gazing events with the groups, Scenic Byways and Highway of Legends. The cemetery walk idea spurred many conversations about involving the local theater groups and high-school students to portray some of the personalities residing in the Valley’s many cemeteries. There were no questions for Ms. Adams from the Board of Trustees.
Consideration of request to approve Use by Special Review at 213 S. 3rd Street for a short-term rental.
Ms. Elizabeth Watson took the podium to explain that she and husband, John purchased the home on 3rd Street preparing for the future when they will not be able to negotiate the three-story home they currently reside in at Hillside. She suggested that they would use the 3rd St. home for family visits and offer it as an Airbnb (VRBO) as well. She stated that the home provided off-street parking for guests. The Use by Special Review was passed unanimously.
Consideration of appointing new Board Member to fill vacancy - Brian Clince sent a Letter of Intent to serve as a Trustee and he was voted in unanimously. He will be sworn in next week and it should be noted that Clince has served as a Town Trustee in prior years. He was heartily welcomed by the town board.
Consideration to approve a General Fund Reserve and a Capital Assets Planning and Reserve Policy -
These items were recently added after the Board’s workshop regarding the 2020 Budget and both were unanimously approved.
Consideration of request to approve a Capital Improvements Plan - Passed by unanimous vote.
PUBLIC HEARING - 2020 BUDGET – Mayor Pro-Tem Bistodeau took pains to provide information to the public in attendance and did his best to explain the board’s plan for the town’s future. There was no public comment.
Consideration to approve Ordinance 9-2019 Adopting the 2020 Budget - Passed unanimously.
Consideration to approve Ordinance 10-2019 Appropriation of Funds from 2020 Budget - Passed unanimously.
Consideration to approve Ordinance 11-2019 Set Mill Levy for 2020 Budget - Passed unanimously.
Consideration to approve Ordinance 12-2019 submitting a ballot question for the April, 2020 regular election - There was some discussion around this ordinance as it refers to the increase in the sales tax that the voters narrowly defeated in November. The ordinance was amended to read that there would be a sunset clause added to the increase for review by voters as to the efficiency and good use of the additional money for the betterment of Westcliffe. It was amended to read that the increase would terminate unless the voters determined it to be of value and voted to extend it at that time. The termination date would be July 1, 2024. Motion passed unanimously.
Additions to Agenda - None
The Staff and Committee reports were given.
There were no public comments and the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.
- Guest Reporter, Lisa Frank
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Let’s talk about a silent killer this week...High Blood Pressure A.K.A. Hypertension.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 75 million Americans have high blood pressure, or one out of every three. It is called the “silent killer” because most people will not even know they have it until it has done significant damage to your heart and arteries. Having high blood pressure increases your risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, and eye disease. What is considered having high blood pressure? A normal blood pressure reading is under 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Pre-hypertension refers to blood pressure that is raised enough to be a warning sign for developing hypertension. Anything above- normal up to 139/89 mmHg. is considered pre-hypertension Hypertension is 140/90 mmHg and above. Treatment is recommended if your blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg and above. In most cases, treatment includes lifestyle changes and/or medications. So what are the risk factors for getting high blood pressure? The following will increase your chances. Genetics, being overweight, living a sedentary lifestyle, age (your risk increases as you age), tobacco use, too much sodium consumption, too little potassium in your diet, too much alcohol consumption, stress, and diabetes. Did you notice how a lot of the risk factors are something that you can control? Now that we know the risk factors are there any symptoms we should be aware of? Here is the scary part, most people will have little to no symptoms even if it is dangerously high. Some symptoms of extremely high blood pressure may be headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath, but rarely will these symptoms ever show. This is why it is important to monitor your blood pressure. |
You can obtain a monitor for relatively little money that you can use at home. If you are seeing over the normal range on a consistent basis, see your doctor!!
If you have high blood pressure, what should you do? Lifestyle change is the most important. Notice I said lifestyle? It can’t be temporary. You have to change your behavior for the rest of your life. So what are the lifestyle changes you can make? Be proactive. Move more. Go for a walk, increase your activity level. Lose weight. That is the answer to so many health issues! Cut back on sugar and refined carbs, eat less processed foods, hmm, do you see a pattern here? Less sodium intake and more potassium. Stop smoking (you should anyway). Limit caffeine intake. You may be saying oh no, this seems impossible. Ease into it. You can do it. The ramifications of ignoring your high blood pressure can be deadly! Some foods with hidden sodium that you want to be extra careful of include: deli meat, frozen pizza, vegetable juices, canned soup, tomato products such as spaghetti sauce, ketchup, barbecue sauces, and salad dressings too can have high amounts of sodium. Cottage cheese is another food that is very high in sodium! Make label reading a habit, we have discussed this before, and hopefully you have already started doing this. Don’t take the mindset that you can’t give up these foods. It is not what you are giving up here, it is what you are gaining; a healthier life and more time to enjoy it! 
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