Golden's Waterworld
Photo by Brad Miller
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Monday, Aug. 5th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- 7-9AM - Clear Creek Corridor Cleanup
- 10:15-10:45AM - Let's Dance
- 12-12:30PM - Mondays with the Mayor
- 2-3PM - Virtual: Active Minds Monday
- 5-8PM - Monday Market
- 5:30-6:30PM - POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST 20TH: Compressed Workweek Update - One Year
- 6-9PM - Teach Me to Play! Mondays
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
What’s Blooming in the High Country? Dandelions!
Figure 1. Left: The Northern Dandelion among many other blooming plants in a subalpine meadow. Right: The Northern Dandelion – Taraxacum ceratophorum (Lebed.) DC. Inset: The Common Dandelion leaf with “lion’s teeth” on the margins.
By Tom Schweich
Since it is still hot and dry around Golden, indulge me, please, if I stay in the high country for another episode of “What’s Blooming …”.
Most of us are familiar with dandelions, especially the non-native Common Dandelion we have in Golden – Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg Both the common name of “dandelion” and its first scientific name Leontodon refer to the lobes on the leaves that resemble lion’s teeth. See the inset above. “Dandelion” or “lion’s teeth” comes from the French “dent de lion” and Leontodon means the same, except in in Greek.
Dandelions are found world-wide and there are over 250 species of dandelion in the Netherlands, a country much smaller than our state of Colorado. Meanwhile we have three species of native dandelions in Colorado.
I was in the subalpine areas of Lake County last week. “Subalpine” refers to the landscape just below the tree line at elevations of 9,000 to 11,000 feet. In two separate meadows crowded with many different plants in bloom, I found one of our native dandelions – Taraxacum ceratophorum (Lebed.) DC., commonly called the “Northern Dandelion.” One meadow was along the North Fork of Lake Creek by Colorado Highway 82. The other meadow was at the mouth of a small unnamed gulch just north of Leadville.
Our plant is called the Northern Dandelion because it is found around the world at northern latitudes. In fact, it was first described from plants found in the Altai Mountains of Kazakhstan by Carl von Ledebour (1829), in his 5-volume book called Icons [illustrations] of new or incompletely known plants illustrating the Russian flora, especially the Altaic.
It is easy to dismiss our native Northern Dandelions as non-native common ones unless you get down on your hands and knees and look carefully at the flowerheads and leaves. The Northern Dandelion has a bulkier flowerhead and leaves without the lion’s teeth.
Last Day to Buy Tickets to the Miners Alley Gala at Early Bird Prices
The annual gala for Miners Alley Performing Arts Center is set for September 20th. This year's theme is Rock & Roll Through the Ages. This event--always a blast--includes dinner cocktails, special performances, a live auction, and MORE!
Buy individual tickets, a whole table, or--if you can't make it--sponsor a ticket for the of the designers, crew members, or actors.
Early bird pricing ends tonight at midnight, so BUY NOW.
Bidding Now Open!
The annual Unframed Gala for Foothills Arts Center takes place this Friday.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of art, creativity, and community on Friday, August 9, 2024. This year’s Gala will feature incredible music by Ricardo Pena Jazz Quartet and an incredible selection of silent auction items. Tickets are limited, so be sure to grab yours before we sell out! We can’t wait to see you and celebrate an incredible year together. Learn more and purchase your tickets!
You don't have to wait to start bidding on their auction items. Online bidding is now open. Bid now and win original art, private painting classes, weekend getaways, knives from Spyderco, drinks,meals, jewelry, nights on the town, and much more! Register here.
2-3PM Virtual: Active Minds Monday - Hawaii
First settled by Polynesian sailors 1000 years ago, the Hawaiian Islands developed a unique culture that flourished in relative isolation for centuries. British explorer James Cook’s landing in 1778 put the Islands on a path to colonization and eventual incorporation in to the Unites States when Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959. Hawaii has most recently been in the news with erupting volcanoes and devastating wildfires. Join Active Minds as we explore the history and culture of the United States’ Pacific paradise.
Learn more and register for this program.
Compressed Workweek Meeting Postponed
Tonight's meeting has been postponed until August 20th to give the City more time to prepare their metrics and displays.
"Compressed Workweek" refers to the plan to move City workers from 40 hours a week to 32, with no cut in pay or benefits. They began this process a year ago, with the police department. We haven't heard much about it since then, but they did announce that they planned to start moving other departments in that direction.
They published a Space Needs Analysis in February, which gave some early indications as to which departments were using the Compressed Workweek. It also noted the percentage of employees who worked at home, full or part-time.
The survey results begin on p. 24. The Public Works, Police, Fire, and Parks Departments were not included in the survey. Among the results:
- Given a choice between spending 3 or 4 days a week in the office, 60% of employees would prefer 3.
- Given a choice as to where they would like to work, 40% said "at home, while 20% (for each response) said "shared office," "workstation," or "private office."
- The City Manager's Department shows 40% of his employees on a compressed workweek and 30% fully remote. DAYS IN THE OFFICE: 3X/WEEK.
- The Finance Department shows 33% of the employees using a flexible schedule and 66% occasional remote work, but none at this time using the compressed workweek. "Most of the department is in the office most of the week and each need dedicated work space." DAYS IN THE OFFICE: 4X/WEEK.
- The Community Development (Planning) Department reports that "Most of the department is in the office Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and work from home Thursday and Friday." DAYS IN THE OFFICE: 3X/WEEK.
- The Innovation and Technology Group reports 40% of their staff on the compressed workweek. DAYS IN THE OFFICE: 2X/WEEK.
See the Space Needs Analysis document for the full set of data, and wait till August 20th to learn more about the results-to-date of the Compressed Workweek project.
Golden History: 8th Street and the Railroad
Excerpt from the 1882 Birdseye View Map of Golden
Click to enlarge
From 1870 until 1941, the Colorado Central Railroad (later called the Colorado & Southern) rolled along 8th Street on its journey to the mountain towns. Several Golden industries clustered along 8th Street to be near the railroad, including a paper mill, a grist mill, and brickworks.
In 1896, the passenger depot was moved from the Goosetown neighborhood (east of Ford Street) to Washington Avenue and 8th Street. When the depot was built, a 33,000 gallon water tank was added on the opposite side of 8th Street. Steam locomotives needed to refill their water tanks frequently, so the railroad took advantage of the passenger stop to tank up.
The railroad discontinued service into the mountains in 1941, so they removed all rails and equipment through Clear Creek Canyon and all the way back to Goosetown. I haven’t found a specific reference to removal of the water tank, but I assume it was taken down at the same time.
8th Street has spruced up considerably over the past 75 years, but it’s interesting to remember its original use as a railroad route.
Many thanks to Esther Kettering for sponsoring Golden History Moments for the month of August.
Weather
Overnight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind around 8 mph.
Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny. High near 92, with temperatures falling to around 86 in the afternoon. North northeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. West wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy, 68°F
Tuesday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 92°F
Tuesday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 70°F
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 94°F
Wednesday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 64°F
Thursday: Showers And Thunderstorms, 79°F
Thursday Night: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 61°F
Friday: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 78°F
Friday Night: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 61°F
Saturday: Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 81°F
Saturday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 62°F
Sunday: Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 85°F
Supporters
Many thanks to the people and organizations who support What’s Happening in Golden? If you would like to support local news, please CLICK HERE!
Sponsors:
($100/month and up)
Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden City Brewery, Golden Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Morris & Mae Market, Miners Saloon, Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden Hayride Outpost, Kona Bowls, Unite Fitness, Tom Reiley, Michael Mason, and Esther Kettering
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $500/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Goozell Yogurt & Coffee Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Beth Bidwell, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, and Joy Brandt
Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $250/yr)
Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, AC Development, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer
Members:
($10-24.99/month or $100/yr)
Brad Miller & Julie Bartos, Holly Thomas, Jim and LouAnne Dale, Ann Pattison, Thomas Hoffman, Carol Abel, Brian Quarnstrom, Sandra Curran, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Kathy Smith, Karen Smith, Carlos & Nancy Bernal, Robert Storrs, Michele Sannes, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, E Tom Hughes, Crystal M Culbert, Patrick A. Madison, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Deb Goeldner, Christopher Ball, 6th Chair Home Services, Dot & Eric Brownson, Rosemary Coffman, Emeline Paulson, Casey & Gina Brown, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Carol Abel, Frani R Bickart, Jennings and Litz, Bill Sedgeley, Nancy Hughes, Justin L Wade, Kathi Eggers, Traci Case, Donna Owen, Leslie D Lutz, Karen Oxman, Catherine Skokan, Ross Fraser, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, Jim Garner, John and Carol McEncroe, and the Golden Transcript
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser
