Golden Informer - November 2020

GoldenInformer NOVEMBER 2020

Vibrant Future for the Historic

ASTOR HOUSE

CANDLELIGHT NIGHTS BRIGHTEN HOLIDAY SEASON

2020 Golden City Council

Laura Weinberg Mayor

JJ Trout District One

Rob Reed Ward One

Paul Haseman Ward Two

Casey Brown Mayor Pro Tem District Two

Jim Dale Ward Three

Bill Fisher Ward Four

303-384-8179 E-mail: lweinberg @cityofgolden.net

720-880-5084 E-mail: jtrout @cityofgolden.net

303-431-9891 E-mail: rreed @cityofgolden.net

303-513-2310 E-mail: phaseman @cityofgolden.net

303-900-2003 E-mail: cbrown @cityofgolden.net

303-916-0810 E-mail: jdale @cityofgolden.net

303-588-3389 E-mail: bfisher @cityofgolden.net

To contact the entire City Council, e-mail citycouncil@cityofgolden.net.

The Golden Informer is produced and published monthly by the Golden City Manager’s Office and mailed as a source of news and information to all residences and businesses inside the City limits. Comments on The Informer are welcome.

Please write to: City of Golden 911 10th St., Golden, CO 80401 Attn: Karlyn Tilley Call 303-384-8132 or e-mail ktilley@cityofgolden.net.

IN T H IS ISS U E Cover photo: Courtesy of Golden History Museum by Scott Dressel-Martin.

3 Upcoming Events 11 Small Business Saturday 5 Step Forward for the Astor House 12 R otary Toy Drive 13 Mapping the Past 5 Help Mines Students Help You 14 M anage Stress with Gratitude 6 Zoning Code Rewrite Update 15 A Different Plan for Olde 6 South Golden Plan Moving Along Golden Christmas Activities 7 Heart of Golden Engagement Efforts 8 New Ambulance Service for Golden 8 Fall Yard Waste Collection 9 Golden Fire Wants YOU 9 Staying Safe and Warm 14 11 Expanded Hours and Activities at GCC City of Golden Department Managers

Jason Slowinski City Manager

Carly Lorentz Deputy City Manager

Dan Hartman Public Works

Rick Muriby Monica Mendoza Interim Comm.

City Clerk & Econ. Dev.

Rod Tarullo Parks and Recreation

Bill Kilpatrick Police

Alicia Welch Fire Chief

Jeff Hansen Finance

Teresa Reilly Human Resources

Karlyn Tilley Communications

Jiles McCoy Innovation and Technology

303-384-8012 303-384-8098 303-384-8063 303-384-8150 303-384-8014 303-384-8120 303-384-8033 303-384-8090 303-384-8020 303-384-8017 303-384-8132 303-384-8010 clorentz@ rmuriby@ jmccoy@ dhartman@ mmendoza@ rtarullo@ bkilpatrick@ awelch@ jhansen@ treilly@ ktilley@ jslowinski@ cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net cityofgolden.net

2 | November 2020

HEADS UP: Important Upcoming Items

ENGAGE in Our Community!

Don’t Forget to Vote Golden City Hall will be open to the public as a Voter Service & Polling Center:

Monday, Nov. 2 - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Election Day – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Services on those days: You will be able to vote in person, register to vote, update your registration, get a replacement ballot, vote on ADA accessible equipment, and drop off your ballot. For additional election information, visit www.jeffco.us/Elections.

Note: Golden Police and Mines Police will provide law enforcement assistance on Election night at the ballot boxes at Golden City Hall and on the School of Mines campus. They will stay there until Jefferson County Elections removes the ballots.

GuidingGolden.com

Coffee with Councilors

Grab a cup of coffee and join your District One and District Two city councilors online for a virtual chat. These take place on the first Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. through the Zoom platform. Councilors Casey Brown and JJ Trout will be on hand to listen, answer questions, and exchange ideas. You can find the link to the Zoom meeting at www.cityofgolden.net/Calendar.

Look for the listing on the first Saturday of each month.

Flu Vaccination Events

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is hosting flu vaccination clinics throughout the remainder of the year. While it’s important to get your flu shot every season, 2020 is an especially important year to get vaccinated to protect from the compounding health problems of flu and COVID-19. According to JCPH, having the flu and COVID-19 at the same time could make you more susceptible to serious complications. For the complete list of JCPH vaccination clinics, visit www.jeffco.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1388. You can also contact your healthcare provider’s office or find local vaccine providers at Vaccinefinder.org.

No Tree Sale This Year

The Golden Optimists have cancelled the annual fundraising Christmas Tree Sale for this year due to concerns about operating a safe event with the volunteers, Boy Scouts, families and customers. Additionally, there were tree supply issues. They hope to be back for the holidays in 2021.

Virtual Kindergarten Open House for Shelton Elementary

Two opportunities: Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. OR Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.

Shelton Elementary is excited to invite parents of future kindergartners to its virtual open house for the 2021-2022 school year, “Class of 2034”. The Open House will be enabled via a Zoom link when parents can meet the Principal, teachers and other staff members. A brief video will allow parents to see the Shelton campus and classrooms. Please call 303-982-5686 to make a reservation.

City Holiday Hours

The City of Golden’s administrative offices will be closed on Nov. 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving.

Offices will return to regular hours with scheduled in-person appointments only on Monday, Nov. 30. The Golden Community Center will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day and will reopen for regular business hours on Friday, Nov. 27 by reservation only.

For resources to help during the COVID 19 crisis, visit www.HelpGoldenNow.org.

As of this writing, Council meetings are being held virtually instead of in-person.

Please check the online council calendars for the very latest meeting information at www.cityofgolden.net/agendas.

Nov. 5 Regular business meeting

Nov. 12 Regular business meeting Council’s upcoming agendas, packets and meeting minutes are available online under the City Council link at www.CityofGolden.net.

Public comment is welcome on the agenda at all regular business meetings.

November 2020 | 3

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

By Mayor

Laura Weinberg

Giving Thanks

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hanksgiving is absolutely my favorite holiday. It is hard not to love a day centered around food, family, and gratitude.

This has been an incredibly difficult year for many people, so even more than in years prior, I will be taking a moment to consider all the reasons I have to be thankful.

My personal journey since last Thanksgiving has certainly been a roller coaster. From the excitement of winning the election last November to the reality of being Mayor during a worldwide pandemic and economic downturn. In addition, our family excitedly opened a new business last November only to have to close the doors completely in March for three months with tremendous uncertainty for what happens next. Also, like so many of you, our children began learning online from home and struggling through the challenges of isolation and inactivity. We have also felt the strain of concern for our older parents who are in the vulnerable population and only able to have limited in-person contact.

Through all of the challenges, I know how fortunate I am to have family, housing, health, and safety. So this year, as I watch health guidelines closely, I still hope to host my family Thanksgiving dinner even if it means moving ourselves out of the dining room and putting together an extra-long table so we can gather safely. We will share a meal and share our gratitude that we are able to be together.

I will give my thanks for the opportunity to be the Mayor of Golden during this time; thanks for amazing City staff who have worked so hard on timely communications, closure decisions, and the daily business of keeping our city running and safe; and thanks for a terrific group of city councilors I get to work with during these crises. We could not find more true leadership, compassion, and selflessness for our community.

I will also give thanks for the community members of Golden. For all of the differing opinions about masks, creek usage, business operations, or public anti-racism displays, we are a community that can disagree and still work positively for the betterment of all. Our mask usage is high, our creek closure caused inconveniences but not harm, our businesses are supported by local residents and public funding, and our banner display sparked an important conversation. Even when the work is hard and the volume of emails is overwhelming, I am thankful for this work for our city.

Perhaps in another letter I’ll reflect back on 2020 a bit more specifically and talk about all of the work to be done and the future of Golden. For now, I am going to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast and a day of gratitude with my family. I hope that you can all do the same. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Future of Astor House Moves Forward with Community Partner

n July 2020, Golden City Council decided that they would accept community-based proposals for lease of the historic Astor House at 12th and Arapahoe Streets. Council was not interested in a sale of the property and wanted to emphasize community benefit in the proposals. Proposals were submitted from two great organizations in Golden, the Foothills Art Center and the Golden Civic Foundation. “They are both winners and I don’t think we can lose with either of the two proposals,” said Councilor Casey Brown during their October 8 meeting. “To me, the biggest difference really comes down to what is the use and the programming that happens inside that building.”

In summary, the Civic Foundation proposed using the Astor House as a community hub, office space, and places for local non-profits to meet. The Foothills Art Center proposal focused on art-related activities and programs for residents and visitors to Golden. Ultimately, the Foothills Art Center proposal was selected to move forward. “It is something that would welcome in our visitors to come to downtown,” said Mayor Laura Weinberg. “…an art corner not just for Golden but for artists and visitors to Golden.”

Councilor Bill Fisher added that although their October 8 conversation to accept a bid was brief, it comes on the heels of weeks, months, years, and decades of thought from the community, past city councils, and staff about the best use and preservation of the 150-year old Astor House. For details on this process, the full proposals and more, visit www.GuidingGolden.com/astor-house-future.

Mines Students Want Your Engineering Design Projects

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ach semester, students at the Colorado School of Mines go beyond the textbook to solve open-ended, experience-based design problems sponsored by industry, community, non-profit, government, and social organizations. Do you have a design project that a Mines student team could tackle over the course of one or two semesters?

Categories for open-ended design challenge projects: • P roduct (physical item or assembly often with prototype) • P rocess (system, procedure, flow, traffic, etc.)

• P lan (layout, site plan, building plan, Project example: Mines students are currently working to convert a 1979 Volkswagen bus from gas to electric. etc.)

Mines students receive credit for working on your challenge. The goal is to provide clients with innovative design solutions and practical recommendations. Clients/sponsors will gain as much as they give to Mines students: new ideas and fresh solutions to existing challenges; meaningful outreach and mentorship opportunities; additional recruiting opportunities; and enhanced recognition of your organization on campus. For complete details on this program, visit https://eds.mines.edu/project-sponsorship/.

November 2020 | 5

Zoning Code Rewrite Update

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he City of Golden Zoning Code Rewrite will soon reach its first milestone. Over the summer, the City’s consultant team from PenOna, Peter J. Park, LLC, and Metta Urban Design met regularly with the Zoning Rewrite Task Force (ZRTF) to discuss concepts and develop new code alternatives. Early this month, the first rough draft of the zoning code rewrite is expected to be complete!

The ZRTF consists of several individuals from the Golden community including City Council, Planning Commission, Golden residents, developers, and professional service providers (e.g. architects, engineers).

In addition to the meetings, the Planning Division hosted two public online engagement opportunities on www.GuidingGolden.com. These included surveys related to future community development preferences as well as the “Golden Building Blocks” project that allowed members of the community to take photos of the buildings around town that they feel contribute to Golden’s character. The results were provided to the consultant team and incorporated into the new code draft.

In late October, the Planning Division also hosted a virtual community meeting where the consultants discussed with the public the proposed approach, scope, and schedule for the zoning update. Participants had the opportunity to comment and provide feedback. If you missed the virtual community meeting, a recording is available on Guiding Golden for viewing. The initial draft of the code rewrite is expected soon. Staff from various divisions within the City of Golden will work to ensure that the draft is polished for public viewing before we have an official unveiling likely in the early part of 2021. You will have the opportunity to look over that ‘first’ draft on Guiding Golden and engage with us in upcoming community events. Thank you to all who have participated in the process so far. We look forward to additional conversations with you in the near future.

South Neighborhoods Plan Moving Along

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hank you to all who participated in our summer outreach effort for the South Neighborhoods Plan 2020 update. We had over 100 individuals provide a response to one or more of our surveys, and we received great feedback!

For those unaware, the Planning Division is working to update the South Neighborhoods Plan through a recommendation from the Planning Commission. We want to now share with you the feedback that we received from the initial survey engagement process. Then, please join the City of Golden Planning Division for a Virtual Community Meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19 to discuss the plan update and explore some of the topics covered in our surveys, in more depth. Join us via WebEx for a chance to provide feedback during the meeting. Pre-registration is necessary, and a link to register will be on the Guiding Golden South Neighborhoods page as soon as it is available. If you do not find the link, email Cory at cmiller@cityofgolden.net and we can pre-register for you. If you cannot attend the meeting, don’t worry! A recording of the meeting will be on Guiding Golden, along with places to give us your thoughts and ideas. We look forward to hearing from you!

For project details past, present and future, visit www.guidinggolden.com/south-golden-neighborhood-update.

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Heart of Golden 2020 Creating This Legacy Together

eptember and October were very busy months for City staff working on the Heart of Golden 2020 project.

We created a walking tour along the Clear Creek Corridor to allow passersby to get a sense of the spaces and potential functions of each location. We continued to ask you to go online to see various options and provide your feedback at GuidingGolden.com. Now the engagement continues! We will host a citywide feedback session online at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 19.

Additionally, staff conducted many virtual neighborhood meetings where we had conversations with the community about what options best suited their vision for the corridor.

We met with stakeholder groups including a group of people interested in cultural amenities in the project, and a group of people who previously worked on City Council or Boards and Commissions and who have done much of the ground work that has led to this point in the project.

Deputy City Manager Carly Lorentz met the neighborhood groups and with each board and commission to gather their feedback as well. “During a time when meeting together and discussing ideas is more difficult than usual, we have been

able to have really great conversations with the community about the questions they have and listen to their feedback,” said Lorentz. “One of the reasons we are staying especially flexible with this project is that we see this as a legacy project for Golden and an opportunity to have the creek corridor be an even more beautiful and treasured heart of our community.

Listening to community ideas and hopes for the project are helping create that legacy.”

As we start wrapping up gathering feedback on the current concepts, we will collect the data and show you everything we heard. Then, over the Winter/Spring we plan on moving into two projects that will help inform the Heart of Golden project moving forward: first is a task force made up of stakeholders specific to the Creek Corridor management issues, and the second is a Cultural Center Feasibility Study. We hope to keep building on the excitement and energy of this project and continue the informative community dialog we’ve been having together. Thank you all for the time you have spent talking with us about this project and keep sharing your thoughts with us at www.GuidingGolden.com.

Your active participation is helping to shape the future of Golden at GuidingGolden.com Territorial Capital Era Study - Planning Staff is working with the Historic Preservation Board on next steps with how to appropriately preserve and recognize Territorial Capital Era properties built before 1868, and are looking for public feedback (more details on p. 12).

Sustainability Citizen Task Forces - A series of sustainability task force meetings were held, each focused on one of three sustainability goal areas: Water, Waste, or Energy. Read their findings and give us your feedback.

More virtual meetings for the task forces are planned throughout November.

Striving for Racial Equity - While the City of Golden strives to be a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community, we understand there is still work to do. Give us your ideas on what we’re doing right and how we can do better.

COVID-19 – As we try to mitigate spread of the Coronavirus in our community while recovering our local economy, we’ll continue to update Guiding Golden with the most upto-date information available.

November 2020 | 7

Golden Fire Partners with Stadium Medical

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he Golden Fire Department (GFD), in partnership with the Pleasant View Metropolitan District, Fairmount and Golden Gate Protection Districts, contracted with Stadium Medical for its ambulance service needs.

For the past 12 years, GFD used American Medical Response (AMR) for emergency medical services. In that time, call volumes have increased dramatically – from 1,372 calls for service in 2012 to 2,262 calls in 2019. The increase in call volume likely comes from a variety of factors including increases in population, number of visitors, student enrollment at CSM, and a result of moving to the Jefferson County Communications Dispatch Center (Jeffcom).

In the past, we were guaranteed two ambulances to cover our area. However, when those ambulances were tied up on calls, the next closest ambulances responded from Denver or Boulder, which negatively impacted response times to Golden customers. GFD knew we needed more.

Our contract with Stadium Medical will improve service to the community. Stadium Medical has agreed to provide three ambulances to cover the four districts. They will also

Starting on Nov. 10, you will see Stadium Medical ambulances around town and responding to help the Golden community.

provide increased EMS coverage during Golden special events like CSM E-Days, Fourth of July, Buffalo Bill Days, the Colorado Classic and the Candlelight Walk. Stadium Medical will not draw from the three-ambulance model, rather will add standalone coverage for the high participant events. More details at www.cityofgolden.net/Fire.

Fall PAYT Yard Waste Collection Week of Nov. 9

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or residents who participate in the City’s Pay as You Throw is equivalent to: (PAYT) program, take note. The semi-annual fall collection - an area that is approximately 4 feet x 4 feet x 4 feet.; or is scheduled for the week of Nov. 9 - 13. Yard waste should - 21 compostable 30 gallon bags. be placed at or near where your trash is collected by 7 a.m. on • This yard waste will be composted! Please do not contaminate your weekly service day. Material may be placed in reusable material with any of the following: containers of your choice or in compostable bags available - NO plastics, dirt, cactus, tree stumps, branches greater for purchase at Meyers Hardware, The Home Depot and other than 4 inches in diameter, ashes, animal waste, treated home improvement stores. Yard waste for this collection lumber, logs, old garden hoses or broken flower pots. includes grass clippings, pine needles, leaves, weeds, branches, - No construction material is allowed for this service. Plastic sawdust, ground and chipped wood. bags are also not allowed.

FALL YARD WASTE COLLECTION GUIDELINES

• Material that is not bundled, not in reusable containers or in • B ranches must be less than 4 inches in diameter and bundled non-compostable plastic bags will not be picked up. with natural fiber string, yarn or rope such as cotton or sisal.

• Look for this label on products that can - Do not use wires, nylon, polyethylene, or other synthetic be commercially composted! materials for bundling.

- Bundles should be 4 feet in length or less, and no more For more information, please contact Alpine Waste and than 2 feet in diameter.

Recycling at 303-277-8727, golden@alpinewaste.com, or visit • Yard waste will be limited to 3 cubic yards per resident which Alpine’s website at http://alpinewaste.com/city-of-golden/.

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Golden Fire Department

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS! Benefits: • Shift Stipend Program •W ellness Program/Recreation Center Membership • Length

of Service Award Program – LOSAP • Trainings & Certification Courses • Mileage & On-shift Meal Reimbursement

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• 2 4-hr Accidental Death and Dismemberment • Uniform Program

How To Apply: Go to CityofGolden.net/Fire or call 303-215-8888. The application process for the volunteer firefighter recruit academy and lateral firefighter process will open on Nov. 1, 2020.

Join GFD: CityofGolden.net/Fire • 303-215-8888

Safe Ways to Warm Up

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y now, it’s likely you’ve turned on your home furnace as we embark on the winter weather season. If you haven’t already done so, this is a good time to make sure your Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors are in good working condition.

Carbon Monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can be deadly.

Place CO alarms in central locations outside sleeping areas on every level of the home. Make sure the CO alarm’s batteries are fresh. CO poisoning symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, light-headedness, and shortness of breath. If your CO alarm sounds, move to a fresh-air location

outdoors and call the fire department.

Additionally, there is a lot of holiday cooking going on in the next two months. Unfortunately, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. So here are some tips to make sure you have a safe kitchen environment.

Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you to regularly check on the food. Stay in the kitchen while you are

frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.

If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol and/or certain medications don’t use the stove or stovetop.

Burns require immediate attention.

Run the area under cool water for 3–5 minutes. Cover with a clean, dry cloth.

If the burn is bigger than your fist, or if you have questions about caring for the injury, get medical help right away. If you have a cooking fire, when in doubt, just get out of the home and call the fire department. The Golden Fire Department wishes you a safe holiday season.

November 2020 | 9

Social, Economic & Environmental Issues

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CSAB Needs Your Input

he Community Sustainability Advisory Board (CSAB) needs your input on new residential sustainable building standards at their regular meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The Board will discuss possible new standards and solutions, as well as the role that efficient homes will play in our community’s efforts to achieve 100% renewable energy for electricity, reduce consumption of electricity by 15%, reduce consumption of natural gas by 15%, and reduce per capita total water use in Golden by at least 15%. All by 2030! Please email your comments and questions by 5 p.m. on Nov. 18 to goldensustainability@cityofgolden. net. Please indicate your name, address, and your input in your email, which will be read into the meeting minutes during the public comment period.

Molson Coors Cleans Clear Creek

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arlier this Fall, Molson Coors celebrated Great Water Month with an employee event for cleanup and restoration work along Clear Creek. Volunteers reseeded worn areas behind fencing and picked up more than 45 bags of trash. Thanks to the volunteers for their hard work! Thanks also to the City’s Sustainability, Public Works, and Parks departments for a team effort in facilitating this annual event.

10 | November 2020

CASH REBATES FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES AND BUSINESSES Through the end of 2020, homeowners and business owners can apply for energy efficiency and waste diversion rebates offered by the Community Sustainability Advisory Board. Now is a great time to add insulation to your home or consider a new heat pump if you’re in the market for a new furnace. The City is matching Xcel Energy rebates to double the benefit to you. Golden businesses are welcome to apply for these rebates, as well as incentives to purchase compostable takeout containers. Help Golden become a more sustainable community by lowering your energy bills and reducing waste.

Apply at www.cityofgolden.net/ sustainabilityrebates.

Check Out What’s NEW at the Golden Community Center!

Check out our NEW interactive water play features and meet our new friend Marty The Miner!

• N EW expanded hours! Now open at 5:30 a.m. Advanced reservations are required: rec.cityofgolden.net.

• Walking track now available • Open swim in the Leisure Pool (Kid Pool) • Arthritis Foundation Aqua Aerobics class • Thanksgiving Break Day Camps now accepting registrations • Classes for all ages including CPR / First Aid, Soccer, Jump Bunch, Dance, Pottery and more • Hours and availability based on the latest COVID-19 regulations. Visit rec.cityofgolden.net for details and

registration

SHOP SMALL

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GOOD TO B

Golden

Shop Small in Golden for Small Business Saturday Support the places you love this holiday season

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ick-off the holiday season during Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28. Shop and dine in Golden to support our local businesses.

Golden has hundreds of businesses to fulfill your every need, from gift shops to gourmet food markets to spas to awardwinning restaurants and everything in between. Patronizing local establishments makes a positive impact on Golden. Not only does it help boost the local economy, it also helps to employ other residents, reduces negative environmental impacts from shipping products, and gives you the opportunity to support local entrepreneurs. Stake your claim in Golden by shifting your holiday shopping to small local businesses to ensure that Golden stays the vibrant town that we all know and love.

Stop by Visit Golden’s Shop Small Welcome Station

from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 28 to pick up a tote bag, kids holiday art activity, and beverage coupon to a local coffee shop before experiencing all of Golden’s five shopping areas. The Welcome Station will be located at the Golden Visitors Center, 1010 Washington Ave., and will be marked by balloons. Also, don’t miss the roaming Christmas tree and live entertainment along Washington Avenue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (weather permitting).

Shopping local on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday shopping season is a perfect chance to support our community and help Golden thrive while also finding great unique gifts for your friends and family. Small businesses are counting on all of us – let's show them how much they mean to our community.

Learn more at www.goodtobegoldenco.com.

For more information, visit www.GoodtobeGoldenco.com!

November 2020 | 11

Territorial Capital Era Study

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here the West started. The Historic Preservation Board has been investigating preservation of structures associated with the time when Golden was the Territorial Capital of Colorado, from 1862 to 1867. Over the past three years, the City studied 31 structures in and around downtown Golden, including notable buildings such as the Astor House, Calvary Church, and many homes of Golden’s first settlers. These buildings represent some of Golden’s earliest history and fortunately, are still with us today among modern Golden.

The Territorial legislature met in a number of buildings most notably, the Loveland Block. Most impressively, these structures were all built prior to the railroad coming to Golden, so the materials for the structures, such as lumber, stone and brick, were local - as was the labor and design. Architectural styles include folk and rustic interpretations of popular styles of the times including Craftsman, Victorian, Italianate, and various Colonial revival styles.

After an extensive survey of the 31 structures, it has been determined that many of the structures have not maintained

enough architectural integrity over the years for a new local historic district. However, the Historic Preservation Board would still like to commemorate this notable period in the City’s history. Ideas for interpretation include a walking tour web app, property markers, and informative media. For more details about the historic structures, a map and a resident survey, please visit www.guidinggolden.com/territorialcapital-era-study.

MIRACLE TOY SHOP DRIVE-THRU TOY DRIVE

Saturday, Dec. 5 • 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (East side of Parfet Park)

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his holiday season will be a difficult one for many families already struggling to meet their basic needs. If you are one of the fortunate, for whom the global pandemic has not taken a huge toll, consider brightening up the holidays for those less fortunate. The Rotary Club of Golden is hosting a toy drive to help stock the shelves at the Miracle Shop. The Miracle Shop is a ‘pop-up’ toy store, located this year at Calvary Church, that is open to families struggling financially. Parents are invited to shop at the store for holiday toys for their children. Toys are priced at garage sale prices and parents are asked to pay whatever they can. This model is designed to allow parents to choose the gifts to give to their children and instills dignity and respect.

The Toy Drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 in Parfet Park.

The goal is to fill the outline of a snowman with toys. Drive up to the east side of Parfet Park with your donated toys in the trunk and a Rotarian volunteer will unload and place them in the snowman. A contact-less way to help and you don’t even have to get out of your car!

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12 | November 2020

Exciting New Addition

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olden History Museum & Park (GHM&P) recently acquired several rare artifacts from the Ben H. Parker Jr. estate in Golden. The Ben H. Parker Student Center at the Colorado School of Mines is named after his father. Notable finds include a signed 1896 second edition imprint of "Prospecting for Gold and Silver in North America" by onetime Colorado School of Mines professor Arthur Lakes, and this stunning “Bird's Eye View Map of Golden, County Seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, 1882”.

Published by Joseph John Stoner in Madison, Wisconsin, panoramic maps like this saw their heyday in Colorado in the 1870-90s. The year 1882 saw Stoner publish maps of other contemporary Colorado cities, notably a partial series of other county seats including Buena Vista, Colorado Springs, and Trinidad.

The development of lithography in the 1800s made the creation of these maps relatively easy and affordable.

Map makers would sell advance copies to interested residents and local business in hopes of covering their costs. Designed to promote civic pride, these maps are works of art and not necessarily accurate. Field crews were sent out to locations around the country with engineers and surveyors, who often laid out the basic perspectives before turning them over to artists. Indexes at the bottom often list important government, educational, commercial, and transportation amenities.

Reproductions of this map are common online (GHM&P currently has two), so I

Detail of 1882 map. Photo by Justin LeVett Photography. Golden History Museum, City of Golden Collection.

took extra steps to ensure it was the real deal before committing to buy. I spoke with Denver map guru Chris Lane (you may know his name from the PBS series Antiques Roadshow), my favorite paper conservator, Karen Jones, and curatorial staff from the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Texas, who owns one of

the two documented originals known to exist (the Library of Congress owns the other original). Needless to say, our due diligence paid off. This wonderful piece will complement our other panoramic map, “Bird's-Eye view of Golden, Colorado, 1873” by O.D. Morse.

- Mark Dodge, Curator

Golden History Museum & Park • 923 10th St. • 303-278-3557 Check GoldenHistory.org for hours of operation, calendar of programs, and special event details.

November 2020 | 13

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Managing Holiday Stress with Gratitude

n overwhelming amount of people (42% according to American Psychology Association) say they aren’t doing enough to manage their stress. When we are stressed, we often feel there’s a lack of control in our lives, a lack of meaning in what we are doing, and an unrealistic demand on our resources. We’ve all felt it.

How can gratitude help with these things? Gratitude shifts attention away from stressors and helps focus on the positive aspects of life. And much like other healthy habits, the more you practice, the more grateful you are and the more natural it becomes.

As humans, we actually have the ability to rewire our brain. The amazing skill is called neuroplasticity. This means we can change a bad habit or think of a situation in a whole new light.

So, this Thanksgiving when the topic of gratitude comes up with friends or family, share the good moments of your day and maybe even encourage others to begin their own gratitude practice as well!

- Excerpts from an article by Jefferson Center Director Shannon Gwash

Take Care of Yourself The holiday season can be one of the most joyous times of the year and yet also a difficult time for many. Remember to take care of yourself, keep things simple and reach out to friends and family to keep the holidays happy. Find this information and much more about mental health at www.jcmh.org.

1. MODERATE YOUR MERRIMENT Try to eat and drink in moderation. Don’t berate yourself if you get off your normal schedule. Just acknowledge you’re human and get back on track and move on from there.

Try meditation. Attend a spiritual service or take a yoga class, or volunteer for a cause you support — a good way to feed your mind and spirit and help you relax.

5. HIBERNATE AS NEEDED Getting enough sleep is critical 2. MOVE IT! Physical activity is a great anti-stressor and for our physical, spiritual and emotional health. it releases those great feel-good endorphins into your 6. AVOID OVER-SPENDING It is important to set a budget system. Be active — move, stretch, take a walk, get out in that you can afford – without excessive debt – and stick to the fresh air. Just 15 minutes can make a big difference. it. Consider homemade gifts and/or gift exchanges. These 3. GET REAL Be honest and realistic with expectations. are good options that can cut down on the cost.

Enjoy what you can as it comes. Also, make a list of the If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed this holiday things you can be thankful for—even the small ones. season, remember that Jefferson Center is here to help.

4. TAKE TIME FOR YOU Find a serene place of your We provide a continuum of programs and services for our own, even if it’s just a comfortable chair in a corner. community. Call us 303-425-0300.

H

CIVIC FOUNDATION HYBRID GALA EVENT NOV. 7

elp the Golden Civic Foundation celebrate 50 years of serving the Golden Community, by supporting its biggest fundraiser of the year. Instead of one big in-person event, the GCF will host several socially-distanced events with 10 “in-person” and “virtual” downtown restaurant partners.

The hybrid gala and auction will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7. The 1970’s themed event will take guests back five decades to the year that the GCF was established.

Whether you come to one of the in-person events or get takeout and watch from home, all guests will be part of the silent and live auctions.

The GCF has invested $6.4 million in funds raised from this event back into the Golden community to benefit charitable organizations, public schools, museums, and cultural centers in Golden. Tickets are now on sale at www.goldencivicfoundation.org.

14 | November 2020

OLDE GOLDEN

CHRISTMAS

®

presents

“Candlelight Nights 2020” S

adly, the traditional Candlelight Walk and Olde Golden Christmas parades are not possible due to limitations on large gatherings. But… just because we can’t gather in the usual ways, doesn’t mean we can’t be festive and merry this holiday season!

The committee that plans and puts on these events every year is a partnership between many organizations: City of Golden, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden Visitor Center, Visit Golden, downtown merchants and many others. Together we’ve been brainstorming new and festive ways to come together as a community, and we think you’ll be happy with the plans!

Introducing Candlelight Nights 2020. The month-long celebration will kick off with the lighting of all the holiday lights downtown and along the creek on Friday, Dec. 6.

(More details to come).

Next, you light YOUR lights! Remember when we were under Stay-At-Home orders and each night there was a collective “howl” at a certain time each night? That howl not only celebrated essential workers… it was a way for us to remember we are all still in this together. In that same spirit, we’re asking you to “Be Merry, Be Bright, and Share your Golden Light”. Every December night at 7 p.m., we encourage you to set a nonflammable holiday candle or light in your front window and make Golden glow with holiday cheer.

Our elves will be working hard to make downtown a fun and festive place to be every day and night this holiday season. The lights will go up early and stay on later. Decorative banners with holiday messages will festoon the street poles. Glistening ice sculptures will be placed around the downtown for the month of December. Strolling Saturdays on the Avenue will feature holiday characters mingling with downtown visitors. There may even be an appearance by everyone’s favorite jolly man in a red suit. There will be a Holiday Story Stroll – a treasure hunt of sorts taking you on a journey celebrating multicultural holiday traditions from around the world.

These are just some of the fun festivities we have in store for you. Watch for more details in next month’s Golden Informer and stay up to date at VisitGolden.com, for the very latest updates on holiday celebrations in our beautiful city.

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