GoldenInformer OCTOBER 2020
TOUR THE CREEK & Help Plan GOLDEN'S FUTURE SAFE Trick or Treating YOUR VOTE COUNTS
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.
IN T H IS ISS U E
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.
Cover: Andrew Terrill www.andrewterrillphotography.com
3 Jeffco’s Used Book Sale 5 Voting Information 5 Branch Drop-off 8 PAYT Fall Yard Waste dates 9 Halloween Drive-In Movie 10 Adopt a Street 10 Snow Plowing Reminders 10 Ambulance Service Changing 11 Fire Prevention Week 12 S afe Trick or Treating 14 R emnants of a Forgotten City
6-7 TOUR THE CREEK
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SHOP LOCAL
E GOOD TO B
Golden
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 | October 2020
HEADS UP: Important Upcoming Items
ENGAGE in Our Community!
Downtown Lights and Olde Golden Christmas If it seems like the holiday lights are going up extra early this year, you are right! In a continued effort to make downtown inviting for diners, strollers and shoppers, the white lights on the trees and in the planters on Washington Avenue are brightening up the nights. We will save the multi-colored lights that line the creek, the bridge, and Parfet Park for later in the year. We hope the bright lights of Washington Avenue entice visitors and residents to spend time and money supporting the downtown businesses and restaurants. The lights are provided by the Downtown Development Authority in their efforts to create a festive atmosphere to help support our local businesses.
GuidingGolden.com
Whale of a Used Book Sale Colorado’s largest and most popular used book sale is back at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds from Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 14 – 18. To ensure social distancing, no more than 50 shoppers will be allowed entry at the top of each hour, and shoppers have 50 minutes to shop before they are required to check out so that another 50 shoppers can come in. To guarantee entry at a time of your choosing, you’re encouraged to register in advance online for $5/person. Each paid registration includes one complimentary book of your choosing (a few exceptions apply). Register at www.WhaleSale.org.
Whale Sale Volunteers Needed Each year, the Whale of a Used Book Sale helps to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the Jefferson County Public Library system. Volunteers are needed to help run the event in October. They are looking for volunteers to help set up the books on Oct. 13 – 14 before the sale begins; to cashier during the event; other duties as assigned. Volunteers will receive two free books or electronic media items for every 4-hour shift worked. Questions? Call the Jeffco Library Foundation at 303-403-5075 or email the event coordinator at Deborah@DeborahDeal.org.
Virtual Coffee with a Councilor Meet up with your District One and District Two City Councilors for a casual chat online. This is a great way to get your questions answered about all things Golden and bring up any items you wish to discuss. This opportunity happens on the first Saturday of every month. Join online at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. For login information, visit www.cityofgolden.net/calendar and click on Coffee with Councilors on Oct. 3. Questions? Email Councilor Casey Brown at cbrown@cityofgolden.net.
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.
Oct. 8
Regular business meeting
Oct. 15
Study session
Oct. 22
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. October 2020 | 3
MAYOR’S MESSAGE By Mayor
Laura Weinberg
The Ease of Our Elections Process
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everal months ago, I was on a call with mayors from around the country. We had an informal conversation on topics such as local public health measures, budget battles, and elections. I was surprised to learn that many cities, similar to states and school districts, operate on a fiscal year of July 1 – June 30. Those cities had to adopt budgets this past June during a time of tremendous uncertainty and unrest. I am thankful that Golden operates on a calendar year and therefore has had more time to understand the impacts of the pandemic on our finances before needing to adopt a new budget. Council began our budget discussions in September and will continue discussions and public hearings until formal adoption in December. Visit the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Process page on GuidingGolden.com for details and share your thoughts or ideas about the budget with City Council. The other big eye-opener for me on the call was the conversation about elections. I know that Colorado has its fair share of challenges that other states seem to address better. We’ve seen public schools and higher education supported less and less each year, and there never is sufficient funding to address our crowded transportation and infrastructure problems. But we do get something right that other states are woefully behind on improving - elections. I shared our election process with the other mayors. They were surprised and had so many questions about how it works. I certainly didn’t have all of the answers, but since that meeting, there has been a lot of news reporting about elections. Colorado is a shining example for other states. As a voter, I think the voting process is seamless. I receive a text when the county has mailed my ballot, another when they receive my returned ballot, and yet another after it has been processed and counted. If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend taking the tour of the county elections division. I love “behind the scenes” tours and learned so much about the election process. The Jeffco process is efficient and safe. Results are available soon after polls close on election day because most voters return their ballots early. Ballots can be processed upon receipt and included in the first numbers released on election night. In a state that makes it convenient to register to vote, receive a ballot, return the ballot, and track your ballot for assurance, shouldn’t everyone vote? In fact, most people do. Colorado has some of the highest voter turnout rates in the country. Visit VoteJeffco.com to check your registration and sign up for ballot tracking (there is also more information on the next page). The 2020 ballot is long and the candidate races and issues to decide are many. Take some time to learn about all items because it isn’t enough to vote just at the top of the ballot. Every race matters and every ballot item can affect our future. Make your voice heard and vote.
4 | October 2020
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Your Vote Matters
f you think your vote won’t make a difference, think again. There have been some very close elections nationally, and right here in Golden. In 2000, the Presidential election came down to a recount in Florida, where George W. Bush won over Al Gore by .009 percent, or 537 votes. Had 600 more pro-Gore voters gone to the polls in Florida that year, our President from 2000-2008 may not have been the same. Closer to home, a voter-approved sales tax increase of one cent in Golden in 1991, passed by a mere 11 votes. That one cent decision created the City’s Capital Improvement Fund and led to vast improvements in downtown Golden as well as the building of the Golden Community Center. Both endeavors have proven to drastically increase the quality of life in our city. Now, it’s time to vote again. The mail ballot election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3. It’s important to make sure you Suite 1100, to register. You can also register on Election Day are properly registered to vote. Here’s what you need to know. and receive your ballot. More information can be found at www.jeffco.us/elections. REGISTRATION DEADLINES: To be eligible to register to vote in this election you must be The last day to register to vote or change the address on a a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, a voter registration is now determined by the method voters resident of Colorado and at your present address for 22 days prior to the election. choose to submit their registration. If your Jefferson County voter registration is current and Receive a mail ballot by registering eight days (Oct. 26) you live within the city limits of Golden, further registration before Election Day. is not necessary. If you are not sure if you are registered • O nline at GoVoteColorado.com at your current residence you can check by going to • B y Mail - Colorado Voter Registration Form www.govotecolorado.com. (Must be received by Oct. 30) The week of Oct. 12 all registered voters will be mailed a • T hrough a Voter Registration Agency ballot from Jefferson County. Your ballot must be returned to • A t a Local Driver's License Examination Facility Jefferson County or placed in a ballot drop-off box no later ANYTIME IN PERSON - INCLUDING ELECTION DAY than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov 3. Golden City Hall will have Appearing in person at any Voter Service Center or the a drop-off box or you may drop off your ballot at Jefferson Jefferson County Elections Division, 3500 Illinois St., County Elections, 3500 Illinois St., Suite 1100, Golden.
Resident Yard Waste Drop-off
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any City of Golden residents look forward to the opportunity to drop off their unwanted junk for free during Community Pride Days each year. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic the event was cancelled for this year. However, not all is lost in 2020. The City Parks staff will host a special event for the community to drop off organic material to assist residents with their yard clean-up. The event is for City of Golden residents only. A state issued ID is required.
Acceptable material: Stem, trunk, branches from pruning or removal work Material NOT accepted: Grass, root balls, bags of leaves, anything containing rocks, dirt, or nails, and any processed construction wood (i.e. left over 2x4's) FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCT. 16 & 17 • 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. Location cross streets: Hwy 93 & Golden Gate. Turn left on Golden Gate and follow the signs. Right hand turn approximately 462 ft. after turning onto Golden Gate from Hwy 93. October 2020 | 5
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New Ways to Engage
eeting in person has many met online with Golden elected official challenges these days. That’s “alumni” to get their input, hosted a why City of Golden staff have similar meeting for Golden’s culturals, worked hard to think outside the box and hosted one in-person event – the to find creative ways to gather your Heart of Golden Walking Tour. input on the Heart of Golden 2020 The walking tour allowed people to project. This endeavor is a chance for walk along the creek to four stations all of us, as a community, to re-think where staff were available to explain the spaces and uses along Clear Creek the potential for each area. This went and ultimately come up with a plan as far east as the building at 311 10th St. that meets the majority of our needs and desires. and west to Parfet Park, City Hall, and along the creek on the In September, we were very busy collecting feedback in Billy Drew Bridge. A steady flow of people visited either one or a variety of ways. We held virtual neighborhood meetings, all of the stations and took part in the exercises.
TAKE A WALK ALONG THE CREEK If you missed the walking tour in September, don’t worry. You can take a self-guided tour to the same locations that are shown on the map. When you are there, you will find QR codes like the one you see here. Use your phone’s camera to look at the QR code which will take you to videos with the same presentations that were given during the walking tour. Then give us your feedback at https://www.guidinggolden.com/heart-of-golden-refining.
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UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS Watch for additional community meetings in November! Tune in to these virtual meetings for more Heart of Golden conversations: Oct. 1 – Public Art Commission Oct. 5 – Historic Preservation Board Oct. 7 – Planning Commission Oct. 12 – Golden Urban Renewal Authority Oct. 13 – Economic Development Commission
Oct. 19 – Downtown Development Authority Oct. 20 – Parks, Recreation and Museums Advisory Board Oct. 21 – Citizens Budget Advisory Committee Oct. 27 – Mobility Transportation Advisory Board Oct. 28 – Community Sustainability Advisory Board
Find all these meetings and agendas at www.cityofgolden.net/Agendas.
COMMUNITY YARD SALE OCT. 10 When the City of Golden bought the old Coors building at 311 10th St., we were left with a lot of extra furniture! Since we plan to demolish the building, we need to get rid of everything inside; and we want our community to get first pick! Stop by the building from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 for a community yard sale. Items for sale include office chairs, small and mediumsized filing cabinets, bookcases, office tables, café tables and chairs, and more. The first several customers will also receive a free white board with their purchase. If you would rather do your yard sale shopping online, we have items posted on GovDeals: www.govdeals.com. Just search for Golden, CO.
GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK ONLINE: DESIGN-YOUR-OWN CORRIDOR Use GuidingGolden.com to select certain places for uses along Clear Creek, and at the end you get your own version of the corridor to submit as feedback. The image on this page is an example of what a section of your corridor version might look like, with icons in the locations you select. You will also be able to write in details of what you’d like to see or not see on the corridor. In this current time, we will have plenty of opportunities for the community to share ideas. We aim to stay flexible and adapt to the world around us, and we commit to checking in regularly and adjusting accordingly. But most importantly, we want to maintain excitement and gather input for this unique legacy project!
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2020 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 (PAYT) program, take note. The semi-annual fall collection is scheduled for the week of Nov. 9 - 13. Yard waste should be placed at or near where your trash is collected by 7 a.m. on your weekly service day. Material may be placed in reusable containers of your choice or in compostable bags available for purchase at Meyer Hardware, The Home Depot and other home improvement stores. Yard waste for this collection includes grass clippings, pine needles, leaves, weeds, branches, sawdust, ground and chipped wood.
FALL YARD WASTE COLLECTION GUIDELINES • B ranches must be less than 4 inches in diameter and bundled than 4 inches in diameter, ashes, animal waste, treated with natural fiber string, yarn or rope such as cotton or sisal. lumber, logs, old garden hoses or broken flower pots. - Do not use wires, nylon, polyethylene, or other synthetic - No construction material is allowed for this service. Plastic materials for bundling. bags are also not allowed. - Bundles should be 4 feet in length or less, and no more • Material that is not bundled, not in reusable containers or in than 2 feet in diameter. non-compostable plastic bags will not be picked up. • Yard waste will be limited to 3 cubic yards per resident which is equivalent to: - an area that is approximately 4 feet x 4 feet x 4 feet.; or - 21 compostable 30 gallon bags. • T his yard waste will be composted! Please do not contaminate material with any of the following: - NO plastics, dirt, cactus, tree stumps, branches greater
• L ook for this label on products that can be commercially composted! For more information, please contact Alpine Waste and Recycling at 303-277-8727, golden@alpinewaste.com, or visit Alpine’s website at http://alpinewaste.com/city-of-golden/.
Weathering the Storms with your Trash and Recycling
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olorado’s winter storms are unpredictable and often create hazardous driving conditions for garbage trucks. Sometimes it is just too dangerous for large waste and recycling vehicles to service customers during a storm. For those who subscribe to the City of Golden’s waste and recycling program, your provider is Alpine Waste and Recycling. When storms hit and force a delay in service, Alpine will continue right where they left off when the roads are passable. When this happens, all remaining service days are delayed a day just like a holiday schedule. So please leave your carts out at the curb until they are serviced! Even if it’s bright and sunny later in the week, a storm on Monday may delay service the rest of the week. So, remember to leave your cart out an extra day or two to make sure your carts are not missed! For more information during or after a storm, visit www.cityofgolden. net/trash or call Alpine at 303-277-8727 for more information.
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FOR MORE INOFRMATION Please contact Alpine Waste & Recycling: Phone: 303-277-TRASH (8727) Email: golden@alpinewaste.com Web: http://alpinewaste.com/ city-of-golden/
Golden Civic Foundation Celebrates 50 Years
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or the past 50 years, the Golden Civic Foundation (GCF) has been instrumental to our community by responding to immediate needs and anticipating future challenges. Founded in 1970, the Foundation’s primary focus includes civic development, communityoriented small business loans and an annual Community & Special Grants Program that has provided more than $6.4 million of funding to charitable organizations, public schools, government, museums, and cultural centers in the greater Golden area. The main source of funds given out by the GCF come from its annual gala and auction. This year, despite the pandemic, the auction will take place in a “hybrid” way. That means you can participate either in-person or online. Guests will be spread out amongst 10 inperson and virtual/take-out restaurant partner locations. In-person guests can dine out at seven local restaurants in groups of 20-50 per location for a cocktail hour and special dinner menu. Virtual guests can order from a custom take-out menu from three local restaurants to enjoy at home. All guests will have access to online silent and live auctions and a livestream program broadcast to all restaurant locations and for viewing at home. The event will take you back in time to 1970 to celebrate “50 Groovy Years”. So, dig out your old tie-dye or flashy disco suit! The Hybrid Gala & Auction will start at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7. For complete details and ticket information, visit www.goldencivicfoundation.org/gala-auction/.
SPECIAL HALLOWEEN
Drive-In Movie
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e have a special treat for kids and adults for Halloween night! Join us for Movies & Music in the Parking Lot on Saturday, Oct. 31 (weather permitting). We had two very successful drive-in movies in August and September, and we want to give you one last opportunity to experience this free event; especially since we cannot have our traditional trick-or-treat street on Washington Avenue this year for the kids. The movie feature is Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. Sunset is expected around 6 p.m. on that night. Gates will open approximately one hour before the movie begins. The location is the lower parking lot at the former Heritage Square. The movie is free, but space is limited, and you must have a reserved spot to enter. Tickets will be up for grabs beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23. ONLY ONE TICKET NEEDED PER VEHICLE. Find details and the sign-up link at www.cityofgolden.net/Movies&Music. October 2020 | 9
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Golden’s Ambulance Service is Changing
he term of the present Emergency Medical Service (EMS) agreement with American Medical Response (AMR) expires on Nov. 9, 2020. The Golden City Council unanimously voted to enter into a new EMS ambulance agreement with Stadium Medical beginning Nov. 10, 2020. The new EMS agreement is in partnership with Golden Fire Department, Fairmount Fire Protection District, Golden Gate Fire Protection District, and Pleasant View Metropolitan District. Moving to Stadium Medical is in the best interest of the City of Golden to facilitate the highest quality of emergency medical services delivery. Look for more information in next month’s Informer and at www.cityofgolden.net/Fire.
Adopt a Golden Street
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e are fortunate to enjoy a beautiful city. One of the ways it stays that way is through volunteers who participate in Golden’s Adopt-a-Street Program. Consistent with Golden’s core values of a clean city and volunteerism, several organizations and individuals have adopted streets since the program began in 2001. You will see the signs throughout town showing the generous donors. City staff assist these groups by providing safety vests and as many orange bags as they need to clean up trash on their adopted roads. If you are interested, there are streets up for adoption! Contact Steve Kurtz at 303-384-8160 or skurtz@cityofgolden.net.
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PLOWING THROUGH WINTER
s we enter the winter months, take comfort in knowing that keeping our streets drivable and safe is a top priority for the Golden Streets Division. We are one of the only cities in the metro area that actually plows primary, secondary and residential streets curb-to-curb. When winter storms hit the Golden area, our snowplows will first concentrate on primary streets such as South Golden Road, Johnson Road, Washington Avenue, Ford Street and 19th Street. These are the areas with higher traffic volume and the main roads needed for emergency vehicles to access different parts of town. Once all primary streets have had sufficient maintenance and deemed driveable, City crews move on to secondary streets and then on to residential. Please be patient. There are six routes and one plow assigned to each route. As all streets are completed within a route, plows are dispatched to assist other plows for the completion of all routes. As a reminder, City of Golden Municipal Code 5.01 Nuisance Abatement makes it unlawful to deposit snow from private property on to the street, other than the curb line. Although crews work very hard to clear the roads, some of the residual snow from the plow may pile up at the end of your driveway. Please help remove this snow just as you do for the rest of your driveway. The Streets Department appreciates your cooperation and patience as they work hard day and night to ensure safe roads this winter season. To view the City of Golden’s entire Snow and Ice Control Plan, visit www.cityofgolden. net/streets and scroll down to Snow/Ice Plan.
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Fire History Prompts Fire Safety
round 9 p.m. on October 8, 1871, a fire began in what was believed to be Patrick and Katherine O’Leary’s cow barn in Chicago, IL. It is rumored, although never confirmed, that the fire began when Katherine’s cow kicked over an oil lamp. The fire burned throughout the night consuming everything including the city’s waterworks, cutting off the supply of water to fight the fire. The fire raged for two days, killing 250 people and destroying more than 17,000 buildings. This devastating fire is now known as the Great Chicago Fire. Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week is observed annually during the week of October 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire. Golden Fire Department is proud to participate in its annual campaign. The campaign for 2020 is “Serve up Fire Safety in the
Kitchen”. This year, the Golden Fire WHY COOKING SAFETY MATTERS Department’s Annual Safety Day will • Unattended cooking is the leading be virtual! Be sure to follow our social cause of fires in the kitchen. media platforms to learn more about • Scald burns are the second leading safety in the kitchen and much more cause of all burn injuries. Hot liquids fire and life safety information. Contact from coffee and even microwaved Inspector Jonathan Priestly at 303-2158886 for more information. soup can cause devastating injuries.
Your active participation is helping to shape the future of Golden at GuidingGolden.com Territorial Capital Era Study - The Historic Preservation Board (HPB) identified 31 structures in Golden built prior to 1868 that were important to the City’s status as the Territorial Capital or were present during that time. Planning Staff is working with the HPB on next steps with how to appropriately preserve and recognize the Territorial Capital Era properties and are looking for public feedback.
understand there is still work to do. Give us your ideas on what we’re doing right and how we can do better. Zoning Code Update – The results of recent surveys will be posted this month and new feedback opportunities will be made available sometime in October.
The Future of the Astor House – Two community-based Lubahn Trail – Your Opinion Matters: The Lubahn Trail, proposals for the lease of the Astor House were submitted as it is currently configured, is not sustainable. Before in September and are under consideration by City Council. deciding what steps to take next, we need to understand South Golden Plan – We are seeking feedback on a how the community uses the trail. neighborhood plan update focused on potential new Striving for Racial Equity - While the City of Golden strives development along West Colfax. We are also exploring the to be a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community, we redevelopment of West Colfax as a complete street. October 2020 | 11
Halloween will no doubt be different this year. Masks are now part of our every day lives and not just for costumes. Jefferson County Public Health has the following information to help you keep festivities safer this year. Like all activities away from home, some Halloween events are riskier than others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information on risk levels for various activities and ways to lower your risk at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html.
TIPS FOR A SAFE AND FUN HALLOWEEN DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC With Halloween right around the corner, many families are wondering how it will look in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As you sort out your Halloween activities this year, it’s important to make a plan for your family that keeps everyone as safe as possible. Here are some tips and ideas from Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) for fun ways to make trick-or-treating, handing out candy and staying in safer as we continue to work to slow the spread of COVID-19. If You're Trick-or-Treating or Attending Halloween Activities: Make a cloth face mask part of your family’s costumes. Remind your kids to avoid touching their mask. Take hand sanitizer with you and use it frequently. If you’re going in a group, keep the group small and make a limit of how many houses you’ll visit. Consider going with another family you’re already spending time with, or only go to homes of those who are already in your social circle. Make it fun by making a treasure map of the houses you plan to visit for candy! Always stay outside — don’t go inside other homes to get your treats. Stay at least six feet away from other people not in your group. Before eating Halloween candy, go through it to make sure everything is sealed, and throw away anything that has been opened. Wash your hands before and after eating candy. Go on a drive-by parade to visit friends and family to show off your costumes. Avoid indoor trick-or-treating settings or events that typically draw larger crowds where it could be hard to physically distance, such as Trick-or-Treat Streets. If you’re going to Halloween activities, like farms, pumpkin patches or corn mazes, call ahead to check their COVID-19 precautions before you go. If You're Handing Out Candy: Wear a mask — it can be part of a costume or not, but either way it will make everyone feel safer! Avoid contact as much as possible. For example, put out individual treat bags that are easy to grab so kids don’t have to rummage through candy bowls. You can also use a mug to scoop candy to avoid touching, or put out a tray with candy that is sanitized between groups. Wash your hands before and after preparing treat bags or trays. Greet trick-or-treaters from at least six feet away. Use tape to mark six foot spots for families to stand in while picking up their candy. Only use pre-packaged candy — this is always a good precaution for Halloween and especially important this year! If You're Staying in for Halloween: Talk with your family about what your plan is for Halloween and how this year will look a little different. Transform your back yard or home into a Halloween wonderland. Hide candy all around for a treasure hunt and decorate different areas/rooms into Halloween themes or games. Use decorating as a way to get the whole family involved! Host a virtual Halloween celebration, like a pumpkin carving contest or trivia night. Play Halloween games or watch spooky movies as a family. Make a Halloween-themed dinner or special dessert. Work together to make a Halloween playlist that you can jam to all month long! If you invite others who do not live in your home over, keep it small and with people with whom you already spend time.
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Social, Economic & Environmental Issues 5 Ways to Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency for Under $200
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heck out Community Sustainability Advisory Board member Bill Lucas-Brown’s favorite ways to lower energy use for under $200: 4. 1. Check your air filters regularly and ensure your system has a well-fitting, properly-sized filter. A good rule of thumb to follow with a MERV 8 filter is that it is good for one month, per inch of filter. For example a 1 inch filter is efficient at removing particles for one month, 2 inch filter for two months, etc. 5. 2. Receive a home energy audit. This service can reveal information about your system that would be hard or impossible to know without professional testing. Xcel offers rebates from $120-$200, visit www.xcelenergy/rebates to find out more. The identified energy savings from your auditor may just offset the whole cost. 3. T urn down your water heater. It’s free and setting your water heater to 120 degrees instead of 140 degrees can
save 20% on your water heating cost. Check out www. energy.gov/energysaver to get started. ake the switch to LED lights. Most folks have heard this, M but the switch is so easy and you’ll notice the difference, not only in your home’s energy use, but also in the brightness and color of your home. LEDs are now available in different colors with adjustable brightness, and for every kind of light fixture. Install a smart thermostat. The prices on this energy saving technology might be cheaper than you think, and you guessed it- Xcel has a rebate for that. Smart thermostats are not only manually programmable, but can self-program to your preferences. Like to be cooler when you sleep? They can learn from your adjustments to keep the heating minimal at night. Remember, a one-degree temperature difference over an eight-hour period represents roughly 1% of your furnace’s energy use.
CITY OF GOLDEN WASTE AND RECYCLING PROGRAM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM Stay up to date about holiday and weather delays by signing up for the City’s Waste and Recycling Program notification system at www.cityofgolden.net/waste. You’ll receive email reminders about one day delays for holiday weeks and severe weather notifications so you know to keep your carts out. This new service is free and only requires an email address, but is only for City of Golden program customers.
Golden Launches Laundry-to-Landscape Water Conservation/Reuse Program
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ast month, Golden’s City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2841 to create the Laundry-to-Landscape (L2L) graywater program. Single-family residences that choose to participate in the L2L program will now have the ability to recycle water from laundry machines to irrigate non-edible outdoor plants. This will replace some of the potable water currently used for irrigation. The L2L systems are relatively inexpensive and easy to install and they do not require water pumps or filters.
of this ordinance, Golden became the 4th Colorado city/county to permit graywater systems since graywater was legalized in the State of Colorado in 2015. Golden’s ordinance is the first in the state to focus exclusively on L2L systems and is expected to be a model for other communities looking to permit graywater technology. To learn more about graywater Even a 5 percent adoption rate among Golden’s single-family homeowners reuse, permitting processes, and once the program is implemented would applying to participate as a graywater result in a potential savings of about pilot property, visit www.cityofgolden. 514,000 gallons annually. With adoption net/graywater. October 2020 | 13
Arapahoe City - Jefferson County’s First City
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rapahoe City was located north of Clear Creek, west of present-day McIntyre Street approximately two miles east of Golden. Initially a mining district and the earliest city in Jefferson County, it was founded on November 28, 1858. Members of the Arapahoe Town Company included Marshal Cook, President, George B. Allen, Secretary, and Thomas Golden, Treasurer. Since these early mining settlements appeared Jonas Wannemaker alongside his wife Elizabeth and one of their daughters outside of their first (or second) virtually overnight, conflicts log cabin in Arapahoe City, about 1859-60. Golden History Museum, City of Golden Collection. sometimes ensued between which offered transportation to and from Wisconsin. Informally referred to as the the “new” white settlers and native bands Denver every Monday and Saturday. Fox Mayor of Arapahoe, Jonas filed the first of Arapahoe Indians already inhabiting Diefendorf was the Assistant Marshal irrigation claim on Clear Creek in 1859 the land. Thomas Golden recounted the after hand-digging an irrigation ditch naming of the town in his 1859 account and there was even a post office. The first still known as the Wannemaker Ditch. published in a Missouri newspaper: official census of the Colorado Territory By 1863 the town and most of its "We have laid out a town by the name of from 1860 recorded 80 people living in Arapahoe City scattered throughout inhabitants were gone. In the 1890s Arapahoe City after the aborigines." mining resumed periodically in the The town grew quickly. An advertise- 21 “residences.” form of dredging and hydraulic mining. The Wannemakers were one prominent ment in the April 1859 Rocky Mountain However, the area quickly evolved into News publicized the Arapahoe Express and influential family to settle here from an agricultural community known as Fairmount. In 1901, historian Jerome Interested in learning more on the topic? Smiley noted, “The rise and prosperity of Golden caused the decline and fall • Arapahoe City to Fairmount: From a Ghost Town to a Community of Arapahoe.” Nothing remains today of by Joyce A. Manley Arapahoe City except for a small stone • Ghost City-Arapahoe City by Edna Witt monument and a dedication plaque installed in 1946. (It’s located on the • M anuscript, Marshall Cook Early Colorado Pioneer south side of 44th near the intersection • Historically Jeffco, 2008, “The Sesquicentennial of Arapahoe City,” of McIntyre, close to a power grid.) by Richard Gardner - 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.
14 | October 2020
SHOP LOCAL
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GOOD TO B
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Shop Local & Help Golden Businesses Weather the Pandemic
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ith a global pandemic upon us, Golden businesses are struggling. Especially hard hit are the merchants, restaurants, hotels and attractions that rely on the 1.2 million visitors who typically visit Golden each year. Tours of the Coors Brewery, which usually bring the bulk of visitors, have been suspended; popular events, like Buffalo Bill Days, the Golden Fine Arts Festival and the 2020 Red Rocks concert season, were cancelled. Longtime Golden business Avenue Gifts recently closed shop. Owner Donna Owen told the Golden Transcript that she closed largely because of the recent drop in tourism, with the loss of the tours being a significant part of that. Other popular businesses that have closed since the pandemic include The Clothes Mine, Mountain Lux Candles, and South Philly Cheese Steak. “Many locals think downtown is doing well, but that’s simply not the case,” said Visit Golden Marketing Coordinator Megan Pinson. “Most restaurants and shops are down considerably, some more than 50 percent. Our Golden merchants rely heavily on a strong summer; and now with winter coming, even more businesses may not survive.” Now more than ever, it’s important to support local businesses. Let’s come together to be #GoldenStrong. These are uncertain times, but you can choose where to spend your hard-earned dollars. Support your neighbors, keep our town vibrant and remember why it’s Good to Be Golden by shopping locally.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP: Commit to eating out in Golden at least once a week. Schedule a weekly date night. Invite a friend to lunch. Try a new restaurant. Pick up take-out. This is the easiest – and tastiest – way to support Golden.
Buy it with a smile instead of a click. Vow to buy as much in person, in Golden, as possible. A whopping 69 percent of Americans shop online. Diverting online purchases to in-person will have a profound impact on Golden businesses and tax revenues. Many Golden merchants offer online shopping so if you can’t shop inperson, check their websites and shop directly. Celebrate – and share - why it’s Good to be Golden. Check out the City’s Shop Local website, www.GoodtobeGolden.com. Sign up for the newsletter, follow on social media, learn about deals and discounts, and get to know your Golden neighbors invested in our community. Golden field trip. Give your kids a break from remote learning with an educational and fun visit to one of Golden’s many museums and cultural attractions. Zoom to Golden. Work from a Golden coffee shop or Wi-Fi hot spot instead of your usual home office. Order a latte or lunch and be a part of Golden’s weekday scene.
Holiday shop in Autumn. Beat the rush and holiday shop this fall in Golden. Enjoy a lovely autumn day for stress-free shopping and help out merchants who will appreciate the support during this traditionally slow period.
Be a tourist in our hometown. When is the last time you checked out the Golden History Museum & Park or Foothills Art Center? Ever booked a staycation in a Golden hotel? Have you always meant to see what the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum is all about? Now is the time!
Stop into the Golden Visitors Center for Local Love promotion items. Stop by the Golden Visitors Center to pick up an exclusive resident bag filled with local coupons, information and Golden swag.
For more information, visit www.GoodtobeGoldenCo.com! October 2020 | 15
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