Starry Night Over North Table Mountain
Photo by Derek Lee
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Sunday, Jan. 4th
- Golden History Tours
- Golden Sports
- Church Services
- 10AM-3PM - Brunch at the Rose
- 5-9PM - Board Game Night
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
2025 Retrospective: September
- The Arts & Culture Commission discussed how they should distribute the Arts & Culture grants.
- Foothills Art Center held a Figure Drawing class.
- The Planning Commission considered Form Zone Overlays which would support great density in Golen. This was a response to the July 8th Council meeting, in which some Councilors supported scraping existing single-family homes to build multi-family homes and/or eliminating RE (large lot) zoning.
- The Buffalo Rose hosted the Devil INXSide Suicide Prevention Show.
- Golden High School Stage Right Productions presented Tinker Bell.
- Foothills Art Center held a Member Reception to unveil the exhibition by Jesse Mathes + Sarah Tenney & Jenna Annunziato.
- New public art was dedicated in DeLong Park.
- The Buffalo Bill Museum hosted Shakespeare in the Parking Lot.
- The Pleasant View community held a public meeting to discuss the proposal to scrap the GLO Park in favor of marketing rate high rise housing.
- City Council discussed changed to the Historic Preservation Code and how to provide shelter for Golden's unhoused population.
- The Chamber held a member appreciation party at the Welcome Center.
- The Historic Preservation Board discussed changing the municipal code so that staff could approve more changes without recourse to the board.
- South Golden neighbors met in the triangle park to discuss Xcel's plan to cut down trees in the neighborhood.
- Golden City Brewery hosted their annual Golden Fest Fund-Raiser to benefit the Fire Department.
- Miners Alley Children's Theater opened Snow White and the Seven Martians.
- The City held Community Clean-Up Days (previously called Golden Pride Days).
- The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum hosted the Legendary Ladies.
- The DDA discussed several grant requests and the proposal to turn one of the parking lots into a "Cultural Plaza."
- Golden Beer Talks at the Buffalo Rose learned about efforts to Save Local News.
- The Local Licensing Authority held a public hearing for a tavern license for a new business at 1224 Washington Avenue.
- Best-Selling Author Sandra Dallas read from her latest books (Tough Luck) and signed copies of her many novels at the Front Porch.
- Calvary Church hosted a session about Protecting Immigrant Rights.
- The Planning Commission continued working their way through the new version of the Comprehensive Plan.
- Alpha Graphics celebrated their new location with a Chamber Ribbon-Cutting.
- The Mount Lookout Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated the 238th anniversary of the signing of the U. S. Constitution by ringing the bell at the Golden Welcome Center.
- The Parks & Rec Board learned about forestry, open space, and fire mitigation.
- The Library celebrated International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
- The City hosted Movies & Music in Parfet Park.
- Jeffco Open Space offered a class on cold weather hiking.
- Golden High School celebrated homecoming with a parade downtown.
- Golden History Museum offered a parfleche class.
- The Golden Concert Choir began their fall session.
- Golden Schools Foundation held the Golden Gallop.
- Pat Klein captured early construction work on South Golden Road.
- Foothills Art Center hosted Golden StArt with Rick Souders.
- Planning staff offered tours of our three Historic Districts.
- The Chamber held a ribbon-cutting for Golden Laser Aesthetics.
- Foothills Art Center offered a Cherokee Basketweaving workshop.
- The League of Women Voters held a school board candidate forum.
- Mayor Weinberg hosted a Mayoral Town Hall.
- The Chamber held a ribbon-cutting at Old Crows Antiques.
- The League of Women Voters held a city council candidate forum.
- The last Golden Bike Cruise of the year featured zombie costumes.
Cedar Waxwings by the Millstone Condos
Catherine Walters
Cathie Walters was kind enough to send this stunning photo of a Cedar Waxwing.
This seems like a good time to explain my criteria for "Golden Eye Candy." They have to be of high enough resolution so that people can "Click to enlarge." They also have to be recognizably in Golden. That's why you see so many Castle Rocks, Clear Creeks, Welcome Arches, etc. Flora and fauna photos often don't include a landmark that indicates they are "Golden" Eye Candy.
Thanks, Cathie, for the beautiful photo!
The Golden Word - 01/04/26
Live Music for Sunday, Jan. 4th
- 7PM Jason Eady and King Margo @ Buffalo Rose (main venue)
- More Live Music
4-7PM Chuck Grossman @ Columbine Cafe
8PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: Local Boys Shot
The slopes of North Table Mountain - Photo by Nancy Torpey
Click to enlarge
86 Years Ago
The January 4, 1940 Colorado Transcript included an article about an ongoing legal dispute. The previous September, three high school boys had been hunting rabbits on North Table Mountain. They encountered Calvin Phillips, a local “hermit” (as the Transcript termed him), who shot twice at them and attempted a third shot. One of the boys was shot through the wrist and one received a bullet in the base of his spine. Phillips aimed at the third boy, but his gun failed to fire. He collected the boys’ hunting rifles and left.
Calvin Phillips was a local figure of dread. It was well-known that he had been found guilty of murdering his father-in-law in 1908 and had served time in the penitentiary. Settling afterwards on North Table Mountain, he was famous for threatening to shoot picnickers and rock-hunting geology students.
The boy with the wrist wound ran to 44th Street to flag down help. The unwounded boy carried his unconscious companion down the mountain. A passing motorist drove them to Golden, where a doctor rendered first aid and sent them to St. Anthony’s Hospital.
The Sheriff was called. He determined that the boys had not, and had never been, on Phillips’ property. Phillips was arrested and charged with assault for shooting the boy with the wrist wound. A jury found him guilty and the judge sentenced him to six months in the county jail.
The Sheriff’s Department delayed making charges regarding the boy shot near his spine. The severity of the charges would depend on whether he was permanently injured.
Investigators determined that the same bullet had injured both boys–first passing through a wrist, then lodging in the other boy’s hip. Phillips’ lawyer filed a motion that he could not be charged for the second wound. Since both were caused by the same bullet, and he had already been tried for that shot, he claimed that would be double jeopardy. The court agreed, so Phillips escaped punishment for the more severe crime.
The Transcript had particular interest in this case, because the boy who was shot through the wrist was Fleet Parsons, Jr.–the son of the Editor and step-son of the Publisher/Owner.
Doctors were never able to remove the other boy’s bullet because it was lodged too near his spine. He suffered continual pain. Three years later, while visiting at the Parsons’ house, he killed himself with a bullet through the head. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Calvin Phillips, the man who shot him, lived until 1960 and is buried in the Golden Cemetery.
Weather
Overnight: Partly cloudy. Low around 44, with temperatures rising to around 46 overnight. West southwest wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Sunday: Sunny. High near 66, with temperatures falling to around 55 in the afternoon. West wind 7 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy. Low around 39, with temperatures rising to around 43 overnight. West southwest wind around 9 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly Cloudy, 39°F
Monday: Sunny, 59°F
Monday Night: Partly Cloudy, 37°F
Tuesday: Sunny, 56°F
Tuesday Night: Mostly Clear, 34°F
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny, 54°F
Wednesday Night: Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Snow, 28°F
Thursday: Chance Light Snow, 42°F
Thursday Night: Chance Light Snow, 22°F
Friday: Slight Chance Light Snow, 34°F
Friday Night: Slight Chance Light Snow then Mostly Cloudy, 19°F
Saturday: Mostly Sunny, 38°F
News About Golden - January 4, 2026
Mexican restaurant in Golden is looking for a new home
CBS News
Management at Xicamiti La Taqueria Bistro say they closed before the holidays because their landlord didn't renew their lease... Watch video...
Colorado Mexican restaurant on Yelp Top 100 list closes after landlord does not renew lease
By Christa Swanson
CBS News
A popular Mexican restaurant in Colorado, which was included in Yelp's Top 100 places to eat in the U.S. in 2019, has closed its doors.
Xicamiti La Taquería Bistro in Golden ranked eighth nationally, only 16 months after opening... Read more...
AG Weiser brews up answers to Goldenites’ un-beer-lievable questions
By Corinne Westeman
Golden Transcript
A litmus test people sometimes use for current or prospective politicians is whether they’re “the kind of person you could sit down and have a beer with.”
Goldenites had a chance to put Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser to a modified version of that test Dec. 16 at the Golden Beer Talks... Read more...
Mines winter athletic teams starting 2026 with new fervor
By Corinne Westeman
Golden Transcript
One year ends, and another year begins.
But for dozens of Colorado School of Mines athletes on the winter sports teams, New Year’s marks roughly the one-third mark of their season... Read more...
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, 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, 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
