What’s Happening in Golden Today?
6-6:55AM Dynamic Circuit (Virtual)
8:30-9:30AM Power Training (Virtual)
10-10:55AM All Levels Yoga (Virtual)
10:15-10:45AM Let’s Dance @ Golden Library
11:15-11:45AM Let’s Dance @ Golden Library
12-12:30PM Mondays with Mayor Weinberg (Virtual)
1PM Wild West Walking History Tour
1 and 4PM Wild West Short Tour
2-3PM Active Minds Mondays – Origins of Jazz with the Library (Virtual)
4-4:30PM Kids Martial Arts Class (Virtual)
6-9PM Dine Back Night: Golden High School Baseball @ Golden Mill
6:30PM Golden Anti-Racism Collective Policy & Policing
6:30PM GURA Board Meeting @ City Hall
GURA staff will discuss the proposed bike safety improvement to Jackson Street by the Golden High School. This may be the precursor to making South Golden Road a “complete street.” The board will review the South Neighborhoods plan, which was last updated in 2017. That part of town includes their largest Urban Renewal Area–West Colfax–and they anticipate many changes and projects over the next few years. The regular meeting will be followed by an Executive Session (no public, no cameras) “…to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations…relating to real properties located near Zeta St. and West Colfax Avenue.” (map)
Trivia
7-8PM Colorado Trivia League @ Morris & Mae
Golden History Moment
3 Years Ago – The First 2-1/2 Weeks
On March 13, 2020, the daily What’s Happening in Golden post showed us teetering on the brink of the Covid shut-down. The public schools were closed for at least the coming week. Mines had canceled in-person classes. The Buffalo Rose had closed their events venue for the next week. Miners Alley Playhouse had postponed their production of Moon Over Buffalo. City and County meetings were still being held.
March 14th – City meetings were canceled. The Community Center, Foothills Art Center, Golden History Museum, Golden Visitors Center, and Coors Tours closed. The Golden Backpack Program began a food drive. The Health Department reported 6 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 15th – The Library closed. The Mines Geology Museum closed. The Health Department reported 8 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 16th – The Christian Action Guild began a food drive. The Health Department reported 12 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 17th – The Governor suspended all dine-in service for restaurants in the state. The Railroad Museum, Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Dinosaur Ridge, and Buffalo Bill Museum all closed. City Hall closed, but the water treatment plant remained staffed and the police and fire departments were ready to respond to calls. The Mayor and City Manager held an online public meeting using Facebook Live, the public access cable station, and gco.tv. The Health Department reported 16 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 18th – The County offices closed. The Golden Hotel closed. The Health Department reported 19 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 19th – The City Manager signed “a declaration of local disaster emergency for the City of Golden in response to the COVID-19 crisis.” This allowed us to request state and federal aid for help in dealing with the crisis. City Council met, spread out around Council Chambers. They enacted a new rule that would enable them to participate remotely. Many Golden restaurants created special to-go menus. GoldenToday updated our restaurants page to include links to the new menus. The Health Department reported 24 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 20th – Baby Does Clothing closed. The Governor mandated that hair and nail salons, spas, tattoo and massage parlors shut down until the end of April. CBS News Denver did a very nice segment on the employees at our Golden Safeway. The Health Department reported 26 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County. They broke it down as follows: 1 teen | 3 in their 20s | 5 in their 30s | 4 in their 40s | 3 in their 50s | 5 in their 60s | 4 in their 70s. The School of Mines had their first on-campus case.
March 21st – Earth Sweet Botanicals began offering curbside service, with employees wearing gloves and masks bringing purchases to customers’ cars. The Golden Backpack Program stopped asking for food donations but welcomed cash contributions through their website. The Civic Foundation set up a fund to provide quick grants to local non-profits who were supporting affected community members. The Golden Chamber announced that the SBA was offering disaster relief loans. The City was offering to defer sales tax payments. The Health Department reported 38 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 22nd – Several churches offered online services. Many local organizations began posting online content, to entertain people confined to the house. The Colorado Environmental Film Festival made several of their film available for online viewing. Foothills Art Center poster interviews with artist from the current show. Jeffco schools offered online craft projects. The Jeffco libraries had downloadable ebooks, audio books, movies, newspapers and magazines. The Health Department reported 49 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 23rd – Governor Polis issued an executive order “…directing all of Colorado’s non-critical employers to reduce their in-person workforce by 50 percent.” Golden History Museum presented an online lecture by Dennis Potter. Council Trout suggested that we all go outside at 5PM and greet our neighbors, maintaining a 10′ distance. The Health Department reported 55 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 24th – BGoldN partnered with several local organizations and restaurants to begin offering 2 meals/day to locals who were affected by the crisis and shutdown. The meals were provided at drive-up locations. Golden United began a series of talks designed to keep Golden people entertained. I was their first lecturer, speaking about the gold rush era in Golden. The Health Department reported 71 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 25th – History Museum Director Nathan Richie hosted an online baking show, via Facebook Live. The Health Department reported 73 cases of Coronavirus in Jefferson County.
March 26th – The Governor issued a Stay-at-Home Order, lasting until April 11, 2020. The City began broadcasting online fitness classes. The Downtown Development Authority met to discuss a proposal to provide emergency rent relief to downtown businesses. Foothills Art Center broadcast an online watercolor painting class with Janet Nunn. The Health Department reported 130 cases “confirmed, probably, or suspected” in Jefferson County. There had been 4 deaths and 17 were hospitalized. There are 9 known cases in Golden.
March 27th – The Golden Civic Foundation was accepting donations to be distributed to the Golden Backpack Program, the Christian Action Guild, and the Neighborhood Rehab Project. Holidaily Brewing founder Karen Hertz hosted a virtual happy hour. State-38 Distillery owner Sean Smiley hosted an online cocktail hour. The Health Department reported 152 cases “confirmed, probably, or suspected” in Jefferson County.
March 28th – The Golden City Brewery was offering 4 packs including your choice of 10 beers, plus flights to go, with a selection of 5 beers. Grateful Bread was doing their Saturday retail day with a new take-a-number and wait outside system. The Buffalo Rose was offering curbside service. The Health Department reported 180 cases “confirmed, probably, or suspected” in Jefferson County.
March 29th – People were putting teddy bears in their windows so kids could do bear hunts on walks around the neighborhood. In response to a widespread shortage of hand sanitizer, Golden-based Spinster Sisters began manufacturing and selling it. The Health Department reported 213 cases “confirmed, probably, or suspected” in Jefferson County.
March 30th – With Spring Break over, Jeffco Public Schools began providing Grab & Go meals for anyone 18 and younger. Curbside pickup at Welchester Elementary School. BGoldN, the Golden Backpack Program, the City, the Civic Foundation, and 10 local restaurants were offering breakfasts and lunches at a drive-through line at Bell Middle School. The Health Department reported 245 cases “confirmed, probably, or suspected” in Jefferson County.
March 31st – The government declared hardware stores to be an essential business, so Meyer Hardware was open for the duration. The Health Department reported 297 cases “confirmed, probably, or suspected” in Jefferson County. There had been 5 deaths and 52 were hospitalized. There are 27 known cases in Golden.
I shared this coronavirus meme from Facebook, adding that I own a hoop skirt and was seriously considering wearing it to Safeway.
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!
