What’s Happening in Golden Today?
9-9:55AM Silver Sneakers Classic (Virtual)
9:15-9:45AM Baby Time @ Golden Library
10AM Mother Goose @ Miners Alley Playhouse Children’s Theater
10-10:30AM Call In: Mid-Morning Meditation (Virtual)
10-10:55AM Chair Yoga (Virtual)
10-11:30PM Everything Dinosaur Lecture (Sauropods) @ Dinosaur Ridge Discovery Center
10:15-10:45AM Discovery Play @ Golden Library
10:15-10:45AM Toddler Time @ Golden Library
6PM Run Club @ Runners Roost
4PM Wild West Short Tour
5-7PM Golden Folks: Photography by Povy Kendal Atchison Opening @ Golden History Museum
6-8PM Besties, Blooms & Brews w/Middlemist @ Morris & Mae
6:30PM Economic Development Commission Meeting @ City Hall
EDComm will consider a $25,000 Economic Development Incentive Request by Connects Workspace. They will also consider a sponsorship request of up to $2400 for Morning Startup at Connects Workspace. They will review their accomplishments from 2022 and their work plan for 2023.
This year, they have a budget of $61,871:
Communications – $20,000 (up from $2,000 in 2022)
Sponsorships – $7,500
Traxion Mentoring – $7,200
Other – $5,000
Traxion Other – $4,800
Small Business Development Support – $3,000
Connects Workspace Scholarships – $2,500
Misc. – $2,000
Covid-19 Business Recovery Loans – $825
Networking events/small sponsorship – $500
Volunteer Website – $400
7PM CSM Wrestling – Orediggers vs Chadron State @ Steinhauer Fieldhouse
7:30PM The Great American Trailer Park Musical @ Miners Alley Playhouse
Live Music
5-8PM Carl Difederico @ Goosetown Station
5-8PM Teague Starbuck @ Mountain Toad
5-8PM Rat Steaks @ Over Yonder
6-9PM Derek Hall @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
6PM The Fuzzheads @ Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
6PM Earl Nelson and the Company @ New Terrain Brewing
8PM Karaoke @ Rock Rest Lodge
Golden History Moment
39 Years Ago
Golden turned 125 in 1984. It was a community in the midst of an identity crisis. Accustomed to existing as a stand-alone town, at a comfortable remove from its big-city neighbor, Denver, Golden was in danger of disappearing into the endless sea of post-war suburbia.
The residential sections of town were growing rapidly. Mesa Meadows was underway; Eagle Ridge had just been approved to build 1,050 new homes, and Coors was planning to develop 700 homes in Canyon Point.
The historic downtown was in a long, downward spiral. Shopping malls were attracting the customers who used to shop in Golden, and many downtown stores closed.
The City funded one economic development approach after after, beginning with a Local Development Company, followed by a Downtown Development Authority, then the Golden Urban Renewal Authority. Those organizations brought substantial changes to Golden’s downtown, and helped bring about its current prosperity.
Even more important was Golden’s long tradition of volunteering. The Chamber, the Kiwanis Club, the Lions, Jaycees, and Rotary Club, the Civic Foundation, D.A.R., P.T.A., Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts…those people built parks, conducted clean-ups, hosted community celebrations, raised funds, baked cookies, poured beer, attended committee meetings, staffed museums, marched in parades…whatever it took to keep Golden vital, connected, and FUN.
1984 saw the birth of two new civic organizations. Leadership Golden held its first class in the fall of that year. Its goal was “to help develop future leaders of the Golden area by educating participants about the area’s history, governments and challenges.” Thirty-nine years later, that group has graduated hundreds of community leaders.
The Golden Cultural Alliance was also founded in 1984. The dozens of volunteers who ran Foothills Art Center, the Golden Pioneer Museum, the Astor House, and the Jefferson Symphony knew that culture was an essential element for economic vitality. They banded together and began planning joint cultural events.
Beginning in January of 1985, they hosted a concert series, showcasing many area music groups. At each performance, they displayed some other art form–paintings, sculpture, quilts, etc. These concerts continued for several years.
Golden’s cultural scene has expanded greatly since that time. The Golden Cultural Alliance now has twenty members. It’s a rare day when Golden doesn’t offer at least half a dozen cultural events, and collectively, the organizations host about 700,000 visitors a year.
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!
