The View from Ptarmigan
Photo By: Andi Pearson
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Thursday, Nov. 14th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 9-10:30AM - Community Marketing Stakeholder Committee
- 9:15-9:45AM - Baby Time - Registration Required
- 10-10:30AM - Call In: Mid-Morning Meditation
- 3-4:30PM - POSTPONED: Ribbon Cutting - ProSource
- 3-4:30PM - Vaccine, License & Microchip Clinic
- 3-4PM - Golden StArt with Jesse Crock
- 4-5PM - Tween Scene: DIY Snow Globes
- 5-7PM - Golden American Legion Dinner
- 6PM - Run Club
- 6PM - Whiskey and War Stories
- 6-10PM - Wax N' Suds
- 6-9PM - 10th Annual Harvest Dinner
- 6:30PM - Economic Development Commission (EdComm) Meeting
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
Should the voters decide?
The City's long-range plan calls for demolishing most of the municipal center and building a new one on the former Coors headquarters property, east of Ford Street.
As I've mentioned in previous newsletters, a group of citizens have been studying the City's plans to demolish our City Hall, build a new one, and expand the recreational areas along Clear Creek. As I understand it, some of the group (but not all) oppose building a new City Hall. Some (but not all) are concerned that turning the current municipal center land into another park will attract even more visitors to Clear Creek.
The one thing they all believe is that such a major change and such a major expenditure should have voter approval. Normally, such major changes do go to the voters. This was true of the Golden Community Center, Fossil Trace Golf Club, the Splash water park, and the current municipal buildings. City staff has explained that if voters were asked to approve a new City Hall, "they might say no."
The Golden Residents Count group has concluded that voters deserve the chance to say either Yes or No on a $65 million project. Read their press release or visit their website to learn more about the group and their reasoning.
They will be gathering signatures on a petition to change the City Charter so that expenses over $20 million would require voter approval. The first two petition-signing events will be
- Tuesday, November 19 – 4:30-6:30pm at the Brick Room - 1112 Washington Ave (map)
- Friday, November 29 – 6:00-8:00pm at the Golden Hayride Outpost -
17695 South Golden Road (map)
You can also sign a petition by contacting any of the members of Golden Residents Count, as listed on their website.
Officer Dunn's Memorial
Golden's First Responders honoring Officer Evan Dunn
Officer Evan Dunn's memorial service was held yesterday. Many first responders from across the state lined the route in his honor
Please consider honoring Officer Dunn at Colorado Fallen Heroes Foundation through the MC-1 Foundation.
9-10:30AM Community Marketing Stakeholder Committee @ City Hall
- Meeting Agenda
- Watch the meeting streaming live starting 9AM
- Attend the meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers - 911 10th Street - (map)
The Community Marketing Committee is responsible for the Visit Golden program, which works to attract visitors. It has a budget of approximately $578K. Most of this is spent on consultants and digital advertising. They also print a yearly guide. In the past, they have mailed the Guide to every Golden household but now plan to make it available upon request.
The group will discuss their 2025 marketing plan. They have decided to discontinue marketing for group travel (such as conferences). They have also decided not to repeat Western Heritage Days, which they ran last January to attract Stock Show participants.
Their target market is front range communities from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. They would like to reach more Golden people, and propose doing so by including more information in the quarterly Informer and the City's weekly email. They hope to build a stronger relationship with Mines, to encourage campus visitors to dine, shop, and visit local attractions.
Their demographic target groups are
- Millennials (29-44 years old) - target them by describing Golden as "The Perfect Day."
- Families (25-54 years old) - perfect day trip with kids
- Empty Nesters (age 50 up to retirement age) - target them with the message "I found it in Golden."
3-4PM Golden StArt with Jesse Crock@ Foothills Art Center
Golden StArt is a joint one-hour coffee meetup program designed to bring artists in the area together with the Golden community to meet and talk about art. Come and join us for drinks and apps with local artist, Jesse Crock.
Foothills Art Center
809 15th Street (map)
(303) 279-3922
4-5PM Tween Scene: DIY Snow Globes @ Golden Library
Tweens in grades 4 to 6 are invited to visit the library for a monthly event just for them! There will be various crafts, activities and games for Tweens to enjoy on a regular basis.
Today’s Activity: DIY Snow Globes
Golden Library
1019 10th Street (map)
6-9PM 10th Annual Harvest Dinner (GoFarm) @ Buffalo Rose
Join us to celebrate 10 years of making healthy, local food affordable and accessible to all people, and training and supporting local farmers.
You will enjoy cocktail hour and a delicious 4-course dinner featuring produce from local farmers. Chef Chris will preserve, pickle, and prepare food from GoFarm's local farmer partners in many creative ways.
Gather with friends and community members, connect with local farmers, and support GoFarm's mission and impact. We hope you will join us for this amazing Harvest Dinner!
The event also features a silent and live auction as well as a paddle raise to raise funds for GoFarm's critical programming!
6:30PM Economic Development Commission @ City Hall
- Meeting Agenda
- Watch the meeting streaming live starting at 6:30PM
- Attend the meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers - 911 10th Street - (map)
- Send comments on any of the following topics to edcomm@cityofgolden.net
- Provide in-person comment during the meeting, at 6:30PM.
EDComm will evaluate progress on their 2024 goals, which were:
a. Grow and Retain Local Businesses
b. Adopt Rules of Procedure for Boards and Commissions
c. Cultivate Innovation and Entrepreneurialism
d. Support the Work Force of Today and the Future
They will also begin discussing their 2025 goals.
Staff will update the group on the Business Summit hosted by the Golden Chamber of Commerce on November 7th.
They will summarize the performance of their two digital tools. They have a custom-built B2B (business to business) website, which averages 40 visitors/month. They have paid $18,750 for this website in 2024 (to date).
They also have an email distribution program called Bludot, which they use to distribute surveys, "best practices," grant notices, power washing notices, general maintenance updates, and economic development news/information. This has cost $4,335 so far in 2024.
They have commissioned an Economic Contribution Study for $15,000.
The meeting packet includes the Sales, Use, and Lodging Tax reports for August.
Live Music for Thursday, Nov. 14th
- 5-8PM Tunes and Brew with Powder7
Kick off to Ski Season! Tunes and Brews with Powder7. Got your boards ready for ski season? Come to the Golden Mill and get a tune for $20 and a free beer from Brewdog. Live music from Shawn Eckels.
More information - 5-8PM Shawn Eckels @ Golden Mill
Golden Mill - More Live Music
6-9PM Oopen Mic Night @ Goosetown Station
6PM Moonshroom @ New Terrain Brewing
8PM Karaoke @ Rock Rest Lodge
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: Lighting the M
Modern lighted M - Photo by Chris Davell
Click to enlarge
94 Years Ago
The November 18, 1930 Oredigger (the School of Mines newspaper) led with the article “Construction of Lighted ‘M’ On Castle Rock Now Seems Likely.”
The “M” on Mount Zion had been built in 1908. According to the Mines website, it was designed as a descriptive geometry problem and built by students and faculty. In subsequent years, the M was repainted and the infiltrating weeds were pulled.
By 1930, students were interested in building a lighted emblem. Interestingly, they didn’t feel bound to use the existing M; they were strongly considering building a new one on Castle Rock.
The article described the solutions they were considering, which included pointing searchlights or floodlights at the M. This was found to be too expensive. They also looked at “reflectors with 300 watt lamps, much the same as used for billboard illumination.” They were very interested in neon–a blue letter on a steel background. Because there were functional limits to how large a neon letter could be, that would have been a much smaller letter–16 feet, as opposed to 104 feet.
They considered the problem for a year, decided to keep the M on Mount Zion, and did the first temporary lighting for Homecoming in 1931. According to the Transcript, they outlined the M with “a double row of electric lights. It seems to hang in space as it were, and look as tho it were suspended from the heavens.” The reaction was so favorable that students began a funds drive to install permanent light.
The first permanent lighting was installed in April, 1932. The Governor of Colorado came to ceremonially press the button and power up the lights. At about that time, the school realized that they didn’t own the land where the M had been built. Fortunately, they were able to purchase one acre of the hillside from owner Ernest Ramstetter.
Thank you to Wendy Weiman for sponsoring Golden History Moments for the month of November.
Weather
Overnight: Partly cloudy. Low around 37, with temperatures rising to around 41 overnight. West southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
Thursday: Sunny. High near 57, with temperatures falling to around 51 in the afternoon. West wind 2 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear. Low around 36, with temperatures rising to around 40 overnight. West southwest wind around 6 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly Clear, 36°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny, 58°F
Friday Night: Mostly Clear, 35°F
Saturday: Sunny, 51°F
Saturday Night: Partly Cloudy, 31°F
Sunday: Sunny, 51°F
Sunday Night: Partly Cloudy, 34°F
Monday: Mostly Sunny then Chance Rain And Snow, 51°F
Monday Night: Chance Rain And Snow, 30°F
Tuesday: Chance Light Snow, 38°F
Tuesday Night: Slight Chance Light Snow then Partly Cloudy, 25°F
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny, 43°F
News About Golden - November 14, 2024
City of Golden Weekly Digest
In this issue... Download PDF below.
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, Morris & Mae Market, Miners Saloon, Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden Hayride Outpost, Kona Bowls, Unite Fitness, Tom Reiley, and Michael Mason
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, and The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
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, AC Development, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, and Bud Rockhill
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, Casey & Gina Brown, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Carol Abel, 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, and Kermit Shields.
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser
