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What's Happening in Golden - Tuesday, Jan. 27th, 2026

News and events in Golden, Colorado. Tuesday, Jan. 27th, 2026

,   and  Barb Warden
11 min read
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After Sunset; Before M-rise

Photo by Chris Davell
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What's happening in Golden today?

Events for Tuesday, Jan. 27th

Golden History Tours
Team Trivia Tuesday

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

A Tree at Risk — Ponderosa Pine or (maybe) Rocky Mountain Yellow Pine

Figure 1. Left: Ponderosa pine in Clear Creek Canyon. Middle: Long slender needles and cones. Right: A tall tree that survived the Hayman Fire (2002) in southern Jefferson County.

By Tom Schweich

This winter, warm and dry as it might be, I have written about the evergreens, or plants that keep their leaves through the winter. Of the trees that are evergreen and native in or near Golden, we have previously reviewed the Rocky Mountain juniper — Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. — and the Douglas fir — Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco.

The third native evergreen tree found in Golden is the ponderosa pine — Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson & C. Lawson — found on the high places around Golden, including North Golden Hogback, Tin Cup Ridge, and Apex Park. There is one tree on top of North Table Mountain near the radio tower, although it is unclear whether it was planted.

The ponderosa pine was one of several trees that David Douglas (1799-1834) introduced into cultivation in England following his second expedition to the Pacific Northwest. Another of Douglas' introductions was the Douglas fir – Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco. Ponderosa pine was described by Peter Lawson and his son (Lawson & Son, 1836) from plants grown from Douglas’ seeds in pots at Lawson’s Agricultural Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland. This was supplemented by a larger specimen growing in the Caledonian Horticultural Society's Gardens, also in Edinburgh, Scotland. Lawson gave our tree the specific name ponderosa because of the density of the “… timber said to be so ponderous as almost to sink in water …(ibid.)”

Several varieties of P. ponderosa have been described, and those in Colorado are generally known as variety scopulorum Engelmann (Brewer, Watson, and A. Gray, 1880, vol. 2, pg. 126).  John G. Lemmon (1897), though, wrote that our Rocky Mountain tree was its own species and proposed the name Pinus scopulorum Lemmon.  Some recent genetic evidence supports Lemmon’s assertion (Willyard, et al., 2017).  In short, whether our Front Range trees are a variety of the ponderosa pine or a distinct species remains debated, but recent genetics support species status.

“Scopulorum” may sound familiar, in part because we recently wrote about our local large juniper – Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.  In a plant name, the Latin term “scopulorum” means "of the cliffs or rocks" or "of rocky places."  There are eleven plants that live in Colorado that have scopulorum in some part of their name (see list below).

If we treat our “ponderosa pine” as a separate species from the ponderosa pine of the Pacific northwest, what common name should we use for it?  As it happens, Lemmon (1897) had a suggestion, attaching the common name “Rocky Mountain yellow pine” to his scientific name of Pinus scopulorum Lemmon.

Regardless of the name we humans apply to our tree, the tree is host to the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae), a native insect whose outbreaks, often worsened by climate change, cause massive tree mortality by clogging the tree's vascular system with blue stain fungus (CSFS, 2025). Dry and stressed trees produce less resin, which is the natural defense to beetles. A lack of extreme cold periods in spring or fall has also allowed pine beetles to continue to spread. If Colorado experiences a relatively warm and dry winter followed by a warm, dry spring, the beetles will expand rapidly.

While eradication of the mountain pine beetles is unlikely, the state has formed a task force to address the beetles’ potential impact to watersheds, recreation and infrastructure. The recommendations will include wildfire risk-management strategies, assistance to help landowners pay for wildfire and beetle mitigation, expansion in the use of beetle-killed timber, and funding for research on beetles (Schmelzer, 2025).

References

Brewer, W. H., Sereno Watson, and Asa Gray. 1880. Botany. Geological Survey of California. Volume II. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/62964#page/147/ The cone-bearing trees were described by George Engelmann, M.D. in a chapter describing all the known western conifers.

CSFS (Colorado State Forest Service). 2025. Mountain Pine Beetle. https://csfs.colostate.edu/forest-management/common-forest-insects-diseases/mountain-pine-beetle/

Lawson, Peter & Son. 1836. The Agriculturalist's manual: being a familiar description of the agricultural plants cultivated in Europe, including practical observations respecting those suited to the climate of Great Britain, and forming a report of Lawson's Agricultural Museum in Edinburgh. Edinburgh: W. Blackwood, 1836. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/165048#page/374/

Lemmon, J. G. 1897. Three West-American Conifers. Garden and Forest; a Journal of Horticulture, Landscape Art and Forestry. 10: 183. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34643249#page/199/

Schmelzer, Elise. 2025. Pine beetles are poised to decimate Front Range forests: ‘Our ability to stop the spread is very limited.’ Denver Post.’ December 22, 2025.

Willyard, Ann, et al. 2021. Phylogenomics in the Hard Pines (Pinus subsection Ponderosae; Pinaceae) Confirms Paraphyly in Pinus ponderosa, and Places Pinus jeffreyi with the California Big Cone Pines. Systematic Botany. 46(3):538-561. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aspt/sb/2021/00000046/00000003/art00002

List of Colorado plants with “scopulorum” in their name.

  • Selaginella scopulorum Maxon. Rocky Mountain spikemoss.
  • Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Rocky Mountain juniper.
  • Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum Engelm. (=Pinus scopulorum Lemmon) Rocky Mountain yellow pine.
  • Conioselinum scopulorum (A. Gray) J. M. Coult. & Rose.  Rocky Mountain hemlock-parsley.
  • Artemisia scopulorum A. Gray. Alpine sagebrush.
  • Taraxacum scopulorum (A. Gray) Rydb. Harp dandelion.
  • Carex scopulorum Holm. Holm's Rocky Mountain sedge.
  • Astragalus convallarius Greene var. scopulorum Barneby. Lesser rushy milk-vetch.
  • Astragalus scopulorum Porter. Rocky Mountain milk-vetch.
  • Pedicularis sudetica Willd. subsp. scopulorum (A. Gray) Hultén. Rocky Mountain lousewort.
  • Calamagrostis scopulorum M. E. Jones. Ditch reed grass.
  • Delphinium scopulorum A. Gray. Rocky Mountain larkspur.
  • Viola canadensis L. var. scopulorum (A. Gray) House. Canadian white violet.

10-11:30AM Community Marketing Board Meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers

This meeting may be canceled: it still appears on the agenda page, but the overall City calendar says it's canceled. If it happens, these are the topics:

Strategic Plan
They will consider three proposals for developing a new strategic plan. Two of the proposals come from Denver firms and one from Washington D.C.

Goldens in Goldens
Goldens in Golden is scheduled for Saturday, February 7th. Expect thousands of dogs and their owners in downtown Golden. The board will review logistics: "(shuttles, volunteers, programming, etc.)".

A Warning
The packet includes a letter (p. 90) warning that the City owns the trademark to Goldens in Golden and that only YoColorado is licensed to use it on merchandise. It adds that next year, "enforcement will become more formal and firmer...with clearer expectations and stronger action taken when necessary to protect the event brand and our official partners"

Miscellaneous
The agenda mentions "Partnership Opportunities" with the Colorado Rockies, FC Summit (women's soccer), Ball Arena, Red Rocks, and Sundance Film Festival. It also mentions an RFP for media buying and creative (the services the two long-term consultants have been providing for several years).

Location:

City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street   (Map)

6:30-9PM City Council Regular Business Meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers

Visit Guiding Golden Council Comments for ideas, thoughts and information from council members pertinent to current and upcoming issues facing the community, as well as contact information.

Public Comment

The meeting begins with public comment. If you want to address Council, you will have three minutes to speak. Any public comments received by email before 3PM will be posted in the meeting packet after 3 (so check back then!).

Items on the Consent Agenda are considered non-controversial, not needing discussion. Everything in this section will be approved at once, with one vote. Any councilor wishing to discuss one of the issues can request that it be removed from the consent agenda and discussed and voted on separately.

Tonight's consent agenda includes an IGA between Golden, the West Metro Fire Protection District, and Pleasant View regarding mutual aid.

Proclamations

Executive Session

Council will go into Executive Session (no public, no camera) "to receive legal advice relating to wastewater and water negotiations with Coors."

Location:

City Hall Council Chambers
911 10th Street   (Map)

The Golden Word - 01/27/26

Play now.

Golden History: Golden's Water Supply

Excerpt from photo Z-12056, Denver Public Library Western History Collection – Water pumping station circled and magnified – enlarge
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For nearly a century, Golden’s water supply was a subject of constant concern and discussion. Sparkling clean when settlers first arrived in 1859, Clear Creek soon became polluted with effluent from upstream mining operations. The water pumped from the Creek into Golden homes was, at times, muddy, full of chemicals, and bacteriologically questionable.

Our water quality saw a huge improvement in 1904, when we established a “gravity fed” water supply with water piped over several miles from Beaver Brook. That water, which did not have upstream polluters, was called “sparkling clean” and considered “pure and wholesome.”

Unfortunately, in many years Beaver Brook ran low and our reservoir on Lookout Mountain went dry. Sometimes the pipes from the reservoir froze, leaving the town without running water. When that happened, our old pumping station was fired up, and we reluctantly turned back to using Clear Creek water.

88 Years Ago
The January 27, 1938 Colorado Transcript was providing decidedly mixed messages about the water available from Golden taps. This was 15 years before the water treatment plant was built, and the City was going through one of its frequent pumping-water-from-the-Creek periods.

The Transcript included an article with the headline “Tests Show Golden Water Pure and Safe.” In smaller type below, it added “Boiling Is Suggested By Council Only As Precaution.”

The State Sanitary Engineer had tested the water and pronounced it to be free of contamination, clear, and without odor. Nonetheless,

It has been suggested by the city council, as a matter of precaution, that all water used for drinking and cooking purposes be boiled during the period of the operation of the emergency pumping plant.

This cycle finally ended in 1953, when the City built a water treatment plant. The new plant included settling ponds, filters, and chemical water purification, and allowed us to use Clear Creek water and have excellent water quality.

Weather

Overnight's Weather

Overnight: Mostly cloudy. Low around 26, with temperatures rising to around 31 overnight. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.

Tuesday's Weather

Tuesday: Mostly sunny. High near 49, with temperatures falling to around 44 in the afternoon. West northwest wind around 12 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Tuesday Night's Weather

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Low around 28, with temperatures rising to around 30 overnight. West wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly Clear, 28°F

Wednesday: Partly Sunny, 52°F

Wednesday Night: Partly Cloudy, 31°F

Thursday: Mostly Sunny, 47°F

Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 29°F

Friday: Mostly Sunny, 48°F

Friday Night: Partly Cloudy, 30°F

Saturday: Mostly Sunny, 54°F

Saturday Night: Mostly Clear, 32°F

Sunday: Sunny, 57°F

Sunday Night: Partly Cloudy, 35°F

Monday: Partly Sunny, 58°F

News About Golden - January 27, 2026

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Harvey temporarily steps away as Golden police chief

By Corinne Westeman
Golden Transcript

Chief Joe Harvey has temporarily stepped away as Golden’s police chief, city officials announced Jan. 21.

Deputy Chief Mike Hendershot has been named interim chief... Read more...

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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:
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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, Vic DeMaria, and Joy Brandt

Supporters:
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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, Steve & M.L. Richardson, and Jeremy & Stephanie Keller

Members:
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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:
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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

Highlights