Yesterday's Rain
Photo by Bud Rockhill
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Monday, Jun. 9th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 7-9AM - Clear Creek Corridor Cleanup
- 8AM - Municipal Court Criminal Arraignments
- 10:15-10:45AM - Let's Dance - Registration Required
- 12-12:30PM - Mondays with the Mayor
- 1-2PM - Paper Circuits: Light Up Your World! - FULL
- 2-3PM - Virtual: Active Minds Monday
- 5PM - GURA Bus Tour @ City Hall
- 5:30-6:30PM - Heart of Golden Community Meeting
- 5:30-7:30PM - The Fundamental Principles of Art
- 6-7:30PM - Golden Comprehensive Plan Public Meeting
- 6-9PM - Teach Me to Play! Mondays
- 6-7:30PM - Sight Singing Class
- 6:30PM - Movement Monday Running Club
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
What’s Blooming Along Golden’s Trails? Monument Plant!
Figure 1. Left: Monument plant – Frasera speciosa Griseb. – in the author’s garden, Center top: a domestic honey bee visits flowers in my garden. Center bottom: a bumblebee visits flowers. Right: Monument plant along Salt Creek in Park County.
By Tom Schweich
Well … almost … along Golden’s trails. Monument plant grows in the gulches of Windy Saddle Park, just above Golden, but not quite as low as Golden itself.
This is Monument Plant – Frasera speciosa Griseb. – sometimes also called Elkweed, Green Gentian, Deer Tongue, and Deer’s Ears. The latter two are because of the long strap-shaped leaves at the base of the plant. The common name “monument plant” refers to the tall, narrow shape of the flowering plant, resembling a survey monument.
In Jefferson County, our plant is also found at Rocky Flats, Ranson/Edwards, and Lippincott Ranch, at slightly higher elevations than Golden. Most Colorado collections are in the mountains west of the Front Range. Its native range is from Washington south to northern Mexico, and from Colorado west to California.
Monument plant is a member of the gentian family (Gentianaceae, pronounced “jen-CHAY-uh-NAY-see-ee”) a diverse group of flowering plants known for their vibrant, often blue or purple, trumpet-shaped flowers. The family includes over 1600 species, with many cultivated for their beauty, such as lisianthus and Persian violet. Some of Colorado’s prettiest alpine flowers are in the gentian family.
Monument plant is monocarpic (if you prefer Greek), or semelparous (if you prefer Latin). The term describes a perennial plant that flowers and bears fruit only once in its lifetime, after which it dies. Other monocarpic plants include long-lived perennials like some bamboos and century plants. In my garden, monument plant grows as a rosette of large strap-shaped leaves for three to five years, then flowers, makes seeds, and dies.
While many bees and flies visit monument plant flowers to sip nectar from their large nectaries, bumblebees are the primary pollinators of monument plant. I think that might be because only their bodies are large enough to span the widely separated reproductive parts.
Our plant was described in Sir William J. Hooker’s (1834) Flora boreali-americana, or, the botany of the northern parts of British America, at a time when it was not so clear whether Oregon Territory was to be American or British. The chapter about the Gentian family was authored by Dr. Grisebach from a manuscript written by David Douglas. Douglas wrote that he found it “… on the low hills near Spokan (sic) and Salmon Rivers and subalpine parts of the Blue Mountains, near the Kooskooska River.” The Kooskooska River we now call the Clearwater River of Idaho.
David Douglas (1799 – 1834) was a Scottish botanist, best known as the namesake of the Douglas fir. He worked as a gardener, and explored the Scottish Highlands, North America, and Hawaii. Douglas died under mysterious circumstances while climbing Mauna Kea in Hawaii at the age of 35 in 1834.
References
Hooker, Sir William Jackson. 1829-1840. Flora Boreali-Americana; or the Botany of the Northern Parts of British America. Published at various dates from September 1829 to July 1840. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/13840#page/69/
2-3PM Virtual: Active Minds Monday
At Jefferson County Public Library, we foster continuous learning and connections. Keep your minds engaged every Monday! Be sure to explore our website for additional weekly event options, including call-ins and livestreams.
Today’s theme: The Year 1963
1963 is considered a definitive year in the history of the civil rights movement. It also saw the peak of the Cold War, the seeds of the feminist movement, the rise of the youth culture, and the tragic assassination of John F. Kennedy. Join Active Minds as we travel back in time to this key year in history to explore these and other important events. Register
When:
2-3PM on Monday, Jun. 9th
5PM GURA Bus Tour @ City Hall
Current Golden Urban Renewal Areas: Parfet-Briarwood (top, green), Central Neighborhoods (middle, red), and West Colfax (bottom, outlined in blue)
The June meeting for GURA will be a bus tour around the City to examine potential new Plan Areas. The Golden Urban Renewal Authority (GURA) implements urban renewal projects consistent with community values. To view agendas, minutes and webcasts for GURA meetings, visit our Public Meetings page.
Note: GoldenToday is concerned about the propriety—and lack of transparency—of an unrecorded public meeting in which areas targeted for urban renewal will be discussed. For that reason, we asked to accompany the board on the bus tour. Staff's reply was:
You’re more than welcome to drive alongside the bus and meet us at each stop. I’ll be publishing the full route and estimated arrival times later today. Since it wouldn’t be equitable to offer transportation to only some members of the public, we’re instead providing the itinerary so that anyone interested can join us at the various locations.
This does not resolve the problem of discussions that take place on the bus.
In case you want to "drive alongside the bus," the planned route is as follows:
- City Hall (911 10th Street)
▪ Depart at 5:00 - Golden Church of the Nazarene (17455 W 16th Ave.)
▪ Estimated arrival time: 5:15
▪ Deboard the bus to look at the site and discuss. - Drive along S. Golden Rd to Moss St.
- Stop at Miners Haus (17200 West Colfax)
▪ Estimated arrival time: 5:45
▪ Deboard the bus to look at the site and discuss
▪ Viewpoint/stop will be by the Petco in Interplaza West - Stop at the Junction (5079 HWY 93)
▪ Estimated arrival time: 6:30 - Concluded at City Hall
▪ Estimated arrival time: 7:00
Location:
The bus trip will start at City Hall
911 10th Street (Map)
When:
5PM on Monday, Jun. 9th
5:30-6:30PM Heart of Golden Community Meeting @ Golden Community Center
Photo by Joyce Davell
The Heart of Golden project aims to make the Clear Creek Corridor more usable and desirable for residents while providing needed space for Police and City services. This meeting will focus on the East Creek Corridor and Lions Park.
Learn more on Guiding Golden.
Location:
Golden Community Center
1470 10th Street (Map)
When:
5:30-6:30PM on Monday, Jun. 9th
6-7:30PM Golden Comprehensive Plan Public Meeting
Photo by Keith Yoder
Join the Planning Department to learn more about the Comprehensive Plan Update and provide feedback.
What is a "Comprehensive Plan"?
A Comprehensive Plan is a policy document adopted by City Council, with input from the community, to guide long-term decisions for the City. The plan is implemented through land-use decisions like rezonings, infrastructure investments, and programming choices. It serves as both the process and the documentation for creating a long-term vision for future land uses and the built environment. It lays the foundation for zoning codes, which are the legal means for implementing the vision of the future contained in the Plan.
Why is the Comprehensive Plan Update Important?
- Future Development: Comprehensive Plans guides growth, development and redevelopment decisions by directing public and private investments which are evaluated against the plan.
- Housing Policies: They create housing policies, which includes affordable housing policies that focus on keeping people in their existing homes as well as provide support for external partners looking to develop affordable housing.
- Capital Improvement Prioritization: Comprehensive Plans coordinate and prioritize city capital improvement projects among various departments.
- New Opportunities & Programs: They provide an opportunity to create new funding opportunities or programmatic efforts and apply for grants.
Location:
City Streets Facility
1300 Catamount Drive (map)
6-7:30PM Sight Singing Class @ Golden Library
Photo by Richard Luckin
A generous grant from the Golden Civic Foundation is allowing the Golden Concert Choir to offer a Sight Singing class, led by David Bell, Director for free to adults who would like to learn to read music for rhythm and pitch before they have heard it performed. This is a huge help in singing, but has application to instrumental music as well.
The course begins on June 9, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Golden Library. Classes will be every Monday for the next 9 weeks, with one week off (to be determined) for a total of 8 class sessions. To reserve your place, please text 720-934-8082, or email scrberger@gmail.com. To sign up, come to the June 9 class.
Location:
Golden Library
1019 10th Street (Map)
When:
6-7:30PM on Monday, Jun. 9th
Golden History: Gangs of Golden
North and South Side – excerpted from photo X-9826, Denver Public Library Western History Collection – enlarge
Click to enlarge
The late Bill Coors (1916-2018), who attended elementary school in Golden, used to attend Leadership Golden sessions, telling stories of Golden in the late ‘teens and early ‘twenties. He talked about the social rift between kids who lived on the south side of Clear Creek and the tougher kids who lived on the north side. He said it wasn’t safe for a south sider (like him) to be caught on the north side of town.
Neil West Kimball shared similar reminiscences in 1929. He was the grandson of Transcript founders George and Eliza West. He was born in approximately 1894 and graduated from Golden High School in 1912. Neil, too, had a lot to say about the tough kids.
The Tucker gulch gang, with “Tight” Smith as the leader, was the most fearsome of those organizations. “Tucker gulch, the farther you go the tougher you get, and we live in the last house,” was the motto of this organization. And it made life pretty miserable for other gangs, such as the Dog Town gang, with Paul Hobsen and Fred Gow as members, the Garrison street gang with Alvah Moody, Don Baird, the Parshall boys and others in the membership.
There was lots of class consciousness in those days. If you were a South Sider you were supposed to remain one and woe betide you if you wandered out of your own bailiwick without sufficient protection. The “toughest break” in my career was when my family moved from the South Side to the North Side and as a consequence, I changed schools and became a North Sider, in flesh if not in spirit. And how that flesh did suffer.
Regularly every evening I was chased from the school yard by the North Siders who considered me too effeminate for them. Pete Read, he with only three fingers, was, as I remember, the acknowledged leader of my tormentors. Luckily, I had a pretty fleet pair of legs in those days and they generally carried me to safety. About the only joy in my life in those days was when Pete turned his chasing activities to Earle (Bridget) Develon and gave me an opportunity to regain my wind.
But enough of gangs or you’ll think Golden was a miniature Chicago.
Reprinted from the November 14, 1929 Colorado Transcript
Weather
Overnight: Partly cloudy. Low around 51, with temperatures rising to around 53 overnight. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Sunny. High near 76, with temperatures falling to around 74 in the afternoon. East southeast wind 3 to 7 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. South southwest wind around 7 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly Clear, 56°F
Tuesday: Sunny, 83°F
Tuesday Night: Partly Cloudy, 60°F
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 84°F
Wednesday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 60°F
Thursday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 84°F
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 59°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 85°F
Friday Night: Partly Cloudy, 60°F
Saturday: Mostly Sunny, 87°F
Saturday Night: Partly Cloudy, 61°F
Sunday: Mostly Sunny, 88°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, Miners Saloon, Golden Hayride Outpost, Unite Fitness, Tom Reiley, Michael Mason, Colorado Railroad Museum, and Goosetown Station
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, Beth Bidwell, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, and Vic DeMaria
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, and Robert Thresher.
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, and Mary Rains, Richard Caldwell, Janice Waring, Sam & Marilyn Baron, Carmen Johnson, and Cherryln Parker
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Kim Linton, Steve Stevens
