Guess Who Has a Generator?
Atomic Cowboy, that's who! - Photo by Chris Davell
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Saturday, Dec. 20th
Most of today's events are dependent Xcel and/or the business's ability to get a generator.
- Golden History Tours
- Golden Sports
- 8AM - Saturday Morning Run and Social Walk
- 10AM-3PM - Brunch at the Rose
- 10AM-5PM - Foothills Art Center - Holiday Art Market
- 10:15-10:45AM - Family Time - Registration Required
- 10:30AM-3PM - Sewing Bee
- CANCELED - Jingle on the Avenue - A Holiday Character Mingle
- 11AM-3PM - Photos with Santa and the Elves
- 12-2:30PM - Walk With a Geologist
- 1-3PM - Golden City Dance Spectacular
- 2PM - It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
- 2-6PM - Golden Holiday Community Pub Crawl
- 3PM - Holiday Cookie Exchange
- 5-6:30PM - Golden American Legion Dinner
- 6:30-7:30PM - Soundbath
- 7:30PM - Stocking Stuffers
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
Another Strange, Unsettling Experience
Photo by Jen Rutter
This power outage has kind of reminded me of the early days of the pandemic. Events are canceled. We're not sure when the crisis will end. Based on the conversations I'm seeing on social media, some people are angry, looking for someone to blame, while others are pointing out the inherent dangers of power lines during a windstorm, reminding us of the Marshall Fire.
Driving in such darkness is unnerving. With no streetlights and no stoplights, it's easy to overlook an intersection where we should stop. I watched more than one car blast through a dark intersection last night. I'm grateful for modern headlights.
I'm also grateful for the City's water and wastewater workers. Our water is cold (on-demand electric water heater), but it's still flowing, and our drains still work.
Most of us can wait this out at home, huddling under blankets and depending on battery-powered devices. The downtown merchants aren't so fortunate. Most of them will say that they rely on December sales to carry them through the rest of the year, and an involuntary shut-down the weekend before Christmas is catastrophic. Whenever they're able to re-open—today, tomorrow, or Monday—I hope you can do some last-minute shopping, eat a meal, have a drink, see a play at Miners Alley or enjoy a comedy set at Gnarly's.
Have a nice Golden Colorado Saturday, and let's hope for the return of electric lighting to complement tomorrow's winter solstice.
News About the Power Outage
Message from the City:
Xcel Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) City Update 8:00 p.m.
They will post another at 8AM Saturday: https://www.cityofgolden.gov/alert_detail.php
Xcel Process and Timelines
Xcel’s Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is the period when storm conditions make it unsafe for Xcel Energy crews to work. When the PSPS ends, power does not return immediately—it allows crews to begin assessing damage. Xcel initially expected the PSPS to end around 10:00 p.m. tonight, but strong gusts forecasted could lengthen the end of the PSPS.
Once conditions are safe, crews will begin assessments during daylight hours. Power restoration is now estimated to return for a majority of Xcel customers on Sunday at noon and may extend into Monday for some.
City Services & Facilities
The Golden Community Center is expected to remain closed tomorrow. City staff will reopen facilities if and when power is restored and it is safe to do so.
All City of Golden water treatment and distribution systems are operating on backup generators. Staff have been monitoring water operations and fueling the generators to ensure our water plant and distribution are able to operate normally. In addition, critical City services remain active, including wastewater, Fire, Police, Public Works, Parks maintenance, Emergency Management, and Communications.
Important Contacts
For general questions about the PSPS, call the Jefferson County information line at 303-271-8911.
To report downed power lines, contact Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-1999.
Safety Reminders
Use generators outdoors only and never in homes or garages. Install carbon monoxide alarms and call 911 if alarms sound or symptoms occur.
Dress in layers to stay warm and use approved, vented heaters only. Avoid open flames indoors. Check on neighbors who may need help, and use local emergency shelters if your home becomes unsafe.
This will be the last update from the City this evening.
Jingle on the Avenue is Canceled
Message from the City:
Due to ongoing Public Safety Power Shutoffs and continued uncertainty around power restoration, Jingle on the Avenue scheduled for Saturday, December 20, has been cancelled.
The Olde Golden Holiday Committee is disappointed to make this decision, but safety must come first. Power outages are still impacting many local businesses, and we encourage everyone—once the lights are back on—to get out and support Golden by shopping and dining locally.
Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. We hope you take the holiday spirit traditions into your own homes to bright them with love.
1-3PM Golden City Dance Spectacular @ Colorado School of Mines
The School of Mines campus has power, so this event is still on!
Virtuosity Dance Centre presents a holiday dance spectacular full of all your favorite holiday songs and the classic characters you love. Follow Clara as she travels with the Sugarplum Fairy around the world meeting dancers from every part of the globe and then through story books to meet some of your favorite holiday characters! Information and tickets
Location:
Colorado School of Mines
Green Center (Map)
The Golden Word - 12/20/25
Golden History: Phone Company Ads of Yore
Mountain State T&T Ad – Colorado Transcript – December 20, 1916
Click to enlarge
The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company (later Mountain Bell, later US West, later QWEST, currently Century Link) ran a series of advertisements in the mid-19-teens. I always enjoy both the artwork and the text. Most of the ads are describing the expense of maintaining a large, far-flung utility and maintaining reliable service levels. During World War I, many of the ads explained that the company prioritized military needs over private requests for service.
They often used seasonal themes, such as the Christmas ad shown above. They show many “types”–a businessman, a cowboy, a young couple, and “the old folks at home.” I like the two men wearing their smoking jackets–so Edwardian! The text reminds people that the phone company is still on duty, even when everyone else is celebrating the holiday.
Some of the other ads in the series appear below.
Weather
Overnight: A chance of rain showers after 4am. Partly cloudy. Low around 47, with temperatures rising to around 52 overnight. West wind 26 to 31 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday: A chance of rain showers before 2pm. Mostly sunny. High near 58, with temperatures falling to around 48 in the afternoon. West northwest wind 8 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Low around 36, with temperatures rising to around 38 overnight. West southwest wind around 7 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly Cloudy, 36°F
Sunday: Mostly Sunny, 59°F
Sunday Night: Partly Cloudy, 45°F
Monday: Sunny, 69°F
Monday Night: Partly Cloudy, 42°F
Tuesday: Partly Sunny, 64°F
Tuesday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 43°F
Wednesday: Sunny, 66°F
Wednesday Night: Partly Cloudy, 46°F
Christmas Day: Mostly Sunny, 64°F
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 42°F
Friday: Slight Chance Rain Showers, 60°F
News About Golden - December 20, 2025
Local chess tournaments growing in popularity for all ages
By Christopher Koeberl
Golden Transcript
Some were ranked, others were just starting out but chess players of every age, ethnic background and income bracket showed up to a tournament supported by the Summit School of Chess.
Chess master and Director of the Summit School Jesse Cohen set the brackets and set up the matches as at least 90 people sat across from each other and started the first of five games to be played on Dec.13 in Golden... Read more...
Golden without power — again — as Front Range faces Friday windstorm
By Corinne Westeman
Golden Transcript
After a brief reprieve Thursday afternoon and evening, many Goldenites lost power again Friday morning amid dangerously dry and windy conditions. Now, community members are rallying to help each other and make the best of a very bad situation... Read more...
Golden, Colorado prepares for extended power outage as Xcel confirms another shutoff Friday
By Tori Mason
CBS News
Residents and businesses in Golden are bracing for a prolonged power outage after Xcel Energy confirmed a Public Safety Power Shutoff will begin Friday at 5 a.m., driven by what city officials say is a worsening and potentially dangerous wind event... Read more...
Supporters
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($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, 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, Robert Thresher, Tonie Mattox, Centennial State Wealth Advisors, and Steve & M.L. Richardson
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, and Wendy Weiman
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
