Skip to content

Search the site
Sign In Subscribe

What's Happening in Golden - Monday, Feb. 23rd, 2026

News and events in Golden, Colorado. Monday, Feb. 23rd, 2026

,   and  Barb Warden
13 min read
Click to enlarge

North Table Mountain, Looking South

Photo by Liz Erickson
Click to enlarge

What's happening in Golden today?

Events for Monday, Feb. 23rd

Golden History Tours
Fit and Energize Exercise Class

For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar

Another Tree We Would Rather Not Have – Russian Olive

Figure 1. A: Russian olive along Heritage Road. B: Russian olive in central Idaho, duck in lower right for scale. C: Flowers of Russian olive. D: Parasol-shaped hairs on leaves, the best my microscope can image them. E: Fruit of Russian olive.

By Tom Schweich

Recently we wrote about Tree of Heaven, a tree we would rather not have in Golden. As it happens, there are two other trees we would rather not have. One of them is Russian olive — Elaeagnus angustifolia L.

At first glance, Russian olive can look like a good tree. Its narrow silvery leaves shimmer in the wind. It tolerates drought, cold, poor soil, and even salt. It grows quickly, flowers with a sweet fragrance, and produces small olive-like fruits that birds eagerly eat. But in Colorado’s riparian corridors and open spaces, Russian olive is now one of the most damaging invasive trees we have.

Russian olive is in the Oleaster family — Elaeagnaceae — a family of occasionally thorny shrubs and trees that are often silvery in appearance due to the presence of minute parasol-shaped hairs. Several members of this family especially prosper in valley bottoms where the soil surface remains dry, but the water table is not far below. Worldwide, there are 50 species, all native to the northern hemisphere.

The genus Elaeagnus was erected in 1754 by Carl Linnaeus, but there is agreement that the name is based on Theophrastus' (c. 371 - c. 287 BC) use of the Ancient Greek word ἐλαίαγνος (elaíagnos, latinized to elaeagnus) as the name of a shrub. The species name “angustifolia” refers to the leaves that are narrow in width.

Russian olive, though, is not native to North America. It comes from parts of southern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. It was brought to the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s and widely promoted in the Great Plains and the West as a windbreak tree, making a shelterbelt for farms and towns, and planted for erosion control and “wildlife habitat” (Zouhar, 2005).

In Colorado, Russian olive was planted around farmsteads, along irrigation ditches, and in towns. From there, birds and floodwaters spread the seeds into nearby creeks and rivers. The oldest record of Russian olive in Colorado was made at Berkeley Park, Denver (Huestis, 1914), although the tree was probably in Colorado well before that date. By the mid-1900s, Russian olive had become naturalized across much of the state. In Golden it can be found as a landscape tree, such as along Heritage Road, and in apartment complexes in north Golden. Russian olive is naturalized in every Golden Open Space and can be found in most of our gulches.

Russian olive does not simply “add another tree” to the landscape. It changes how ecosystems function (Collette & Pither, 2015). Russian olive is a nitrogen-fixing tree. That may sound beneficial, but in Colorado’s naturally low-nutrient riparian soils it is harmful (DeCant, 2008). A soil enriched with nitrogen favors weeds over native plants, alters soil microbes, and makes it harder for native grasses, shrubs, and wildflowers to return. Ultimately Russian olive and its associates will replace native cottonwood and willow forests.

Today Russian olive is a Colorado List B noxious weed (CDA, 2026) meaning that it is targeted for containment, suppression, or eradication to stop their spread. Control requirements for List B weeds are mandated by the state but implemented based on local, county-level plans. Golden is currently working on its Local Noxious Weed Management plan.

On the other hand, Russian olive has been the subject of some interesting research. The leaves are silvery because they are covered by complex hairs that look like tiny shields or parasols. Recent research from China showed how these hairs trap water and direct it into openings in the leaves (Bei, et al., 2023, Fig. 7), so that the tree can obtain water from the air in addition to the soil.

Interesting research aside, Russian olive is a reminder that good intentions do not always lead to good outcomes. We have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to repair that mistake.

What is the third tree we would rather not have in Golden? It is Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.), a List C noxious weed, and a topic for another time.

References

Bei, Zhanlin, Xin Zhang, and Xingjun Tian. 2023. The Mechanism by Which Umbrella-Shaped Rachet Trichomes on the Elaeagnus angustifolia Leaf Surface Collect Water and Reflect Light. Biology. 2023(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12071024

CDA (Colorado Department of Agriculture). 2026. Colorado Noxious Weed List (List A, B, and C). https://ag.colorado.gov/conservation/noxious-weeds/colorado-noxious-weed-list

Collette L. K. D., and J. Pither. 2015. Russian-olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) Biology and Ecology and its Potential to Invade Northern North American Riparian Ecosystems. Invasive Plant Science and Management. 2015;8(1):1-14. doi:10.1614/IPSM-D-14-00037.1

DeCant, Joseph P. 2008. Russian Olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Alters Patterns In Soil Nitrogen Pools Along The Rio Grande River, New Mexico, USA. Wetlands 28(4), 896-904, (1 December 2008). https://doi.org/10.1672/07-160.1

Huestis, Wm., 1914. Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Locality: United States, Colorado, Arapahoe, Berkeley Park, Denver. COLO297267. Biodiversity occurrence data published by: SEINet - AZ/NM Node. Accessed 6 February 2026. https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/individual/index.php?occid=13832611

Zouhar, Kris. 2005. Elaeagnus angustifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Accessed 6 February 2026. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/elaang/all.html

Two Weeks of Comedy in Golden!

The first-ever Comfort and Comedy Festival opens tonight. The incredibly busy and creative team at Miners Alley came up with this idea. They scouted the clubs in New York to find top-notch talent and invited them to visit the Rocky Mountains in February.

To complement this, Miners Alley is offering two comedies for adults and a funny children's show.

The Comedy Fest shows will be split between Miners Alley, Gnarly's, and the Buffalo Rose. See the full line-up here.

Opening night (tonight!) features Broadway's Next Hit Musical at Miners Alley.

Join us for a very special Opening Night! Come mix and mingle, see a sneak preview of all our Festival events, and then join us for our fabulous opening night headliner, Broadway's Next Hit Musical! “Improv, Stand-up Comedy & Live Music made up ON THE SPOT!”

The New York Times calls Broadway’s Next Hit Musical “Hilarious!” Time Out NY says “At last! A musical of, for, and by the people.”

Every song is fresh. Every scene is new. Every night is different. It’s all improvised, and it’s all funny. Broadway’s Next Hit Musical is the only unscripted theatrical awards show. We create spontaneous scenes and songs filled with great dancing, catchy melodies, and tons of laughter. The audience votes for their favorite song and watches as the cast turns that song into a full blown improvised musical – complete with memorable characters, witty dialogue, and plot twists galore.

BNHM has been seen recently throughout the United States and in New York City at The Triad Theater, The Tribeca Film Festival, and at The New York Musical Theater Festival, among many other locations. Under the direction of improv veterans Rob Schiffmann and Deb Rabbai, TheaterWeek hailed the show as “brilliant” and The New York Post called Broadway’s Next Hit Musical “remarkable.” Don’t miss the next great American musical – it could be written by YOU! 

Free grub from Abejas? Yes, please! Free beer & wine? You know it! Join us for the LOL-filled kickoff party of Golden's First Annual Comfort & Comedy Festival, featuring the hilarious BROADWAY'S NEXT from the Big Apple!

See the line-up for the rest of the week.

Location:

Miners Alley Performing Arts Center
1100 Miners Alley   (Map)

2-3PM Virtual: Active Minds Monday

Today’s theme: Malcom X

It has been 60 years since the death of Malcolm X. Join Active Minds for a review of the life and legacy of this controversial civil rights leader. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of Black people, but his detractors accused him of preaching racism and violence. We will examine how Malcolm X’s efforts impacted history and how his ideas continue to influence our society today.

Save your spot for this Zoom program.

5PM Improving Communication in District 1/Wards 1 & 2

Wrigley's - courtesy, Google Street Images

Mayor Pro Tem/District 1 Councilor Lisa Vitry, Ward 1 Councilor Emily Kurzinski, and Ward 2 Councilor Gerchard Pfau are meeting at Wrigley's tonight. The topic is how to improve neighborhood outreach/meeting organization. If you have some insights to share, you are welcome to attend.

If you're not sure of your ward or district, check here.

Location:

Wrigley's Chicago Bar & Grill
18200 W Colfax Ave (map)

5:30-7PM Downtown Development Authority Meeting (rescheduled) @ City Hall Council Chambers

Tonight's Topics:

Increased Subsidy for the Calvary Flats Affordable Housing Complex
In December, City Council approved a $2.25 million grant to help fund this new housing development on 14th Street. In addition, they agreed to provide another $500,000 as a matching grant, if the developers could find more contributors. The Downtown Development Authority has agreed to provide a significant part of that money. They were already planning to contribute $950,000 through tax increment financing. Now they've increased their contribution to "up to" $1,300,000.

The 40 units in this complex will be available for purchase by middle-income people. This is considered to be ~$98,000 for a single person or ~$140,000 for a four-person household.

These 40 homes are replacing a single house. Each unit will have one parking space.

Downtown Sustainability Update
The City's Sustainability Manager will describe energy conservation grants available to businesses in 2026. She will also discuss a new waste collection program to be offered by the City in the downtown area. Right now, downtown businesses choose their own commercial waste service. The City plans to offer a new option. The commercial haulers will continue, but the City's service will be another alternative. (See pp. 15-21 of the meeting packet.)

DDA Contributions to Various City Projects
The DDA has committed to contributing about $1,250,000 for various city projects. Most of that will go to city projects related to the new city hall/Heart of Golden projects, such as upgrades to Vanover and Parfet Parks.  (See pp 3-5 and 22-28 of the meeting packet.)

DDA's 2026 Work Plan (See pp 29-31 of the meeting packet.)

Staff Report

  • DDA expects to distribute about $140,000 in grants to downtown businesses and residents who suffered losses due to the Xcel power shutdown in December.
  • Approximately 16,000 people and 6,000 dogs attended Goldens in Golden. DDA funded the shuttles and security.

Location:

City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street   (Map)

The Golden Word - 02/23/26

Play now.

Golden History: A Woman with a Vision

Click to enlarge

Eugenia Mitchell moved to Golden in 1952. A few years later, her husband died of a snake bite. After that, she supported herself and her four children with a variety of jobs.

As a widow, Mitchell worked as a cleaning woman and caretaker. In her spare time, she quilted. Along with counterpanes, she created patchwork skirts, vests and shoes that never failed to fascinate onlookers. Her materials came almost exclusively from worn-out clothing and fabric discards, and what she found at thrift shops.

“She lived by her wits, knowing how to find bargains and how to make do,” said longtime friend Pat Moore.

Denver Post – December 22, 2006 – “Quilts told story of Eugenia Mitchell’s life“

Folk art began attracting attention in the 1960s, and in 1970 the then-fledgling Foothills Art Center presented a show of Mitchell’s quilts. The exhibit attracted a great deal of attention. Mrs. Mitchell began teaching quilting classes and entering regional art shows. In time she became a noted lecturer about the history and craft of quilting. She traveled with the Colorado Chatauqua society and had a show at the Denver Art Museum. She accumulated an impressive collection of antique quilts, in addition to the ones she made herself.

By the 1970s, she was running a quilting store in Golden. She began sharing her dream of founding a quilt museum. In 1981, a group of quilt enthusiasts set up as a non-profit organization and began soliciting funds to establish a museum. The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum opened in 1990, with 101 of Eugenia Mitchell’s quilts forming the nucleus of their collection.

Mrs. Mitchell died in 2006 at the age of 103. The museum that she founded is thriving, presenting four exhibits per year as well as classes, lectures, study groups, summer camps, and a gift shop. Their Sandra Dallas library contains more than 7,500 volumes on quilting.

Learn more about the history of the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum on their website.

The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum | 200 Violet Street, Suite 140 | map | 303-277-0377

Weather

Overnight's Weather

Overnight: Partly cloudy. Low around 31, with temperatures rising to around 34 overnight. West southwest wind around 8 mph.

Monday's Weather

Monday: Mostly sunny. High near 64, with temperatures falling to around 61 in the afternoon. Southwest wind around 7 mph.

Monday Night's Weather

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy. Low around 39, with temperatures rising to around 43 overnight. West southwest wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 39°F

Tuesday: Partly Sunny, 67°F

Tuesday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 47°F

Wednesday: Chance Rain Showers then Chance Rain And Snow, 65°F

Wednesday Night: Chance Rain And Snow, 38°F

Thursday: Slight Chance Rain And Snow then Sunny, 61°F

Thursday Night: Mostly Clear, 42°F

Friday: Mostly Sunny, 63°F

Friday Night: Partly Cloudy, 41°F

Saturday: Sunny then Slight Chance Rain And Snow, 61°F

Saturday Night: Slight Chance Rain And Snow, 34°F

Sunday: Chance Rain And Snow, 57°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 Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Miners Saloon, Golden Hayride Outpost, Unite Fitness, Clothilde Elingbow, Michael Mason, Goosetown Station, and Earth Sweet Boutique

Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $550/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Goozell Yogurt & Coffee Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Vic DeMaria, and Joy Brandt

Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $250/yr)
Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, The Golden Hotel, Kurt & Janet Siegfried, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Robert Thresher, Tonie Mattox, Centennial State Wealth Advisors, Steve & M.L. Richardson, and Jeremy & Stephanie Keller

Members:
($10-24.99/month or $110/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, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, 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 & KC Gilliland, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, Jim Garner, John and Carol McEncroe, the Golden Welcome Center, the Golden Transcript, Koshare Eagle, Ken and Colleen Krantz, Traci Neuman Lacey, Jo Barber, Jamie Cookinham, Kermit Shields, Meridee Cecil, Vicki Olson, Colleen & Michael Ramey, Nancy & Pete Torpey, Jax Baker, Simon Maybury, Rose McLaughlin, Cameron Chambers, Joyce Gravina, Patrick Klein, Barb Robie, Richard Caldwell, Janice Waring, Sam & Marilyn Baron, Carmen Johnson, Mary Eiberger, Kevin Nichols, Ed & Carol Freza, Laura and Curtis Moore, Ruth Hund, Shelley & Jerry Devitt, Eileen Masterson, Kate Olivier, Amy Korengut, Pam Logan, Clare Shier, Wendy Weiman, and Marge Frueh

Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Steve Stevens, Vicki Olson, Emily Kurzinski, Nanette Johnson, Peyton Gibson, Sally Berger, Kristen Morgan, Joyce Sutton, Mary Rains, Craig Champlin, Stan Swisher, Bill Way, and Chris Toney

Highlights