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What's Happening in Golden - Thursday, May. 8th, 2025

News and events in Golden, Colorado. Thursday, May. 8th, 2025

,   and  Barb Warden
11 min read
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Morning Sun on the Creek

Photo by Richard Luckin
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What's happening in Golden today?

Events for Thursday, May. 8th

TriceraTOTs @ Dinosaur Ridge
Golden History Tours
Baby Time - Registration Required

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

Understanding the Budget #6: 1% for Capital Improvements

This photo from 1982 shows 1106 Washington Avenue (map) prior to the Streetscape project. In addition to the "Quitting Business" signs, note the fact that the sidewalk height was so out of whack with the street that you needed two small stairs to get down to street level.

By Loretta Huff

While Loretta is a member of the Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC), these articles reflect Loretta's personal understanding and do not represent positions of the CBAC.

There is one last thing on Sales and Use Tax before we move on to Property Tax.

As described earlier, the City of Golden Sales and Use Tax rates are 3%.

The initial rate for the City was 2%, established on 8/1/1979.

In May 1991, The City of Golden took this ballot question to the citizens.

“Shall the City of Golden provide for capital improvements, including downtown improvements, a community center and other public improvements throughout the city, to be accomplished by increasing the city sales tax and use tax by an additional one cent (1¢) on the dollar or fraction thereof, effective July 1, 1991, the pledging of such tax increase specifically for such capital improvements and for no other purpose, and the creation of a sales tax and use tax capital improvement fund? “

The effect of this language was to increase the sales tax, use tax and building use tax from 2% to 3%.   The ballot question was approved by a vote of 1,149 in favor and 1,138 against – a margin of 11 votes.  The increase was enacted by Ordinance No. 1121 in June 1991, effective 7/1/1991. 

The Streetscape project raised the street level, fixed the curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, and added trees and flowers, making downtown a more appealing destination. - enlarge

The first two projects funded by the new 1% tax were the Downtown Golden Streetscape and the new Golden Community Center.

The new Streetscape was dedicated at the Olde Golden Christmas Kickoff in December 1992. The Golden Community Center had a formal dedication on October 8, 1994.

With such a close vote, there was pushback. Four lawsuits were filed related to the new tax. One challenged the election itself. Another challenged the use of bonds and the amount to be spent for the new community center. Another wanted the 1% to go away after the community center was built. Many articles and letters to the editor can be found in the Golden Transcript archives. None of the lawsuits were successful. The 1% tax remained in place to fund “other public improvements throughout the city….”

The "new" Golden Community Center, which opened in 1994, included two indoor pools, a weight room, indoor track, climbing wall, dance/yoga studio, meeting rooms, a senior center, childcare facility, and event spaces.

For example, in a 1992 article discussing sidewalks, curbs and gutters, it was recommended that the “… city look at ways of funding replacements and repairs with a portion of a 1% sales tax voters approved to pay for downtown street scape, the new community center and capital projects after the street scape and center are complete.”

The "extra" 1% sales and use tax that voters approved in 1991 goes into the City's Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Fund. Details about that fund can be found in the 2025 Budget Message, page 64. For 2025, the 1% tax is forecast to generate $11,348,500.

9-10:30AM Community Marketing Stakeholder Committee @ City Hall Council Chambers

The consultants who support this program will provide updates on PR and Social Media (Joy Meadows) and Digital Analytics (Kyle Blakely).

This committee, which was led by Golden business owners, will be shut down soon, to be replaced by a Council-appointed committee.

Location:

City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street   (Map)

When:

9-10:30AM on Thursday, May. 8th

Two VERY Busy Days Downtown!

In addition to Mines' graduation (today at 3PM and tomorrow at 9AM, 1PM, and 5PM), the Golden History Museum is a major event at the History Park, on 11th Street.

Golden Discovery Days attracts school children from all over the metro area so school buses will be arriving and disgorging lots of excited kids. They will have two sessions--one at 9:30-11AM and the other at 11:30AM-1PM.

2-4PM Painting Different Faces in Watercolor @ Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus

This fun six-week class will take your portraits to a new level.  Learn how to mix paints to create different skin and hair colors. Explore watercolor techniques for creating wrinkles of older people and the smooth skin of young children.  Eyeglasses, facial hair and different hair styles will also be covered.   

This workshop takes place on Thursdays. 8, 15, 22, 29 May and 5, 12 June from 2-4pm in person at Foothills Art Center Creative Campus with instructor Pam McLaughlin.

Register

Become a member

  

Location:

Foothills Art Center - Creative Campus
809 15th Street   (Map)

When:

2-4PM on Thursday, May. 8th

3PM Colorado School of Mines 2025 Graduate Spring Commencement @ Colorado School of Mines

Congratulations, Graduates!

For more information, go to commencement.mines.edu. 

Location:

Colorado School of Mines
Lockridge Arena   (Map)

When:

3PM on Thursday, May. 8th

5-6:30PM Burger Night @ American Legion Post 21

Plain Hamburger $9.00/with Fries          
Cheeseburger $10/with Fries          
Onion Rings $1/extra          
Dessert

Public Welcome www.goldenpost21.org

Location:

American Legion Post 21
500 9th Street   (Map)

When:

5-6:30PM on Thursday, May. 8th

6:30PM Economic Development Commission (EdComm) Meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers

Staff will recommend that EDComm the following:

  • $500 - A table at the School of Mines fall career fair, which they will share with up to three Golden businesses.
  • $645 - To sponsor memberships in the Clear Creek Makerspace in Wheat Ridge. "A makerspace is a shared workshop where individuals can learn, build, and create using resources such as 3D printers, woodworking tools, metalworking equipment, and fabrication labs."

    The leaders of the Wheat Ridge Makerspace would like to open a similar facility in Golden. You can learn more about them at the July Golden Beer Talk.

Staff will report on the Golden Fashion Show (which EDComm helped fund), the EDComm Small Business Grants, and any economic development activities of the past month.

Location:

City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street   (Map)

When:

6:30PM on Thursday, May. 8th

Live Music for Thursday, May. 8th

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For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar

Golden History: A Woman's Life in 1930

Advertisements from the May 8, 1930 Colorado Transcript
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95 Years Ago
A reader asked me to describe women’s lives in times past. I’ve been reading about 1930 lately, so I’ll start with that year. The weekly Society column detailed the many clubs and church groups that were active at the time, including the Delphian and Fortnightly study clubs, Women’s Relief Corps, Business & Professional Women, P.E.O., P.T.A., Embroidery Club, Vice Versa Club, Progressive Club, Alter Society, and Episcopal Guild. Bridge parties were very popular for woman who had the time to play. The Depression was on, so there wasn’t a lot of money for recreation, but the Golden Gem Theater was available for the occasional night out.

Most–not all–women worked at home, cooking, cleaning, sewing, and taking care of children. They worked on food production. Many raised poultry for meat and eggs, and some had cows, which had to be milked twice a day. Most had gardens and fruit trees, so they planted, weeded, harvested, and canned food. Things they couldn’t grow were available at any of several local grocery stores. Some of these stores took phone orders and delivered to homes.

Although automobiles were around in 1930, Golden was still very small–everything was within walking distance, so women walked to shop downtown, they walked to church, and their children walked to school. If they needed to visit Denver, they would walk to the Tramway depot at 13th and Washington.

Keeping a home was harder work in those days, because we had fewer appliances. Rugs were beaten in the backyard to remove dust. Clothes were hand washed and hung out to dry (or sent to a laundry service). Food was stored in an ice box, so ice was delivered several times a week during summer months, and the water left by melted ice had to be removed and poured out. Dishes were washed by hand. Gas and electric ranges were just coming into use, so many women still stoked a stove and cooked with coal or wood.

Colorado Central Power Company ads from 1930, showing various labor-saving appliances
Colorado Central Power Company ads from 1930, showing various labor-saving appliances – enlarge

Colorado Central Power Company was doing their best to drag us into the modern age. Their May 8, 1930 advertisement asked the rather bleak question, “How Long Should a Wife Live?” They quote a “well-known author and advertising man” as saying “not very long” in the old days.

Modern wives, by contrast, could extend their lives by owning washing machines, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, and other labor-saving devices. All of these items were conveniently for sale at the Colorado Central Power Company in downtown Golden. They offered installment plans, so appliance payments could be rolled into the monthly electric bill.

Weather

Overnight's Weather

Overnight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. West southwest wind around 5 mph.

Thursday's Weather

Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny. High near 65, with temperatures falling to around 63 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 2 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night's Weather

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy. Low around 46, with temperatures rising to around 48 overnight. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy, 46°F

Friday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 71°F

Friday Night: Partly Cloudy, 48°F

Saturday: Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 73°F

Saturday Night: Mostly Clear, 52°F

Sunday: Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 78°F

Sunday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 55°F

Monday: Mostly Sunny, 80°F

Monday Night: Partly Cloudy, 54°F

Tuesday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 81°F

Tuesday Night: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy, 53°F

Wednesday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 72°F

News About Golden - May 8, 2025

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City of Golden Weekly Digest

In this issue... Download PDF below.

Weekly Digest 050725
Weekly Digest 050725.pdf
11 MB
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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, Joy Brandt, Tom Reiley, Michael Mason, and the Colorado Railroad Museum

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, and Kurt & Janet Siegfried

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, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, 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

Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton, Kim Linton, Steve Stevens

Highlights