Virtual Events
6-6:55AM Virtual HIIT
8:30-9:30AM Virtual Power Training
9-9:55AM Strength and Cardio
11AM-12PM Kimodo for Balance
1-1:55PM Chair Yoga
ODYSSEE-Days @ Colorado School of Mines
I asked Matthew Russell, E-Days Chair, which E-Days events are open to the public. Here’s the answer:
Friday
12PM and 2PM Tesla Coil Demonstrations
Saturday
9AM Cardboard Boat Races on Clear Creek
12-3PM Carnival
There will also be fireworks on Saturday night, visible from many parts of town.
Real World Events
10AM-4PM Slide Show Quilt @ Golden Quilt Company
10:15-10:45AM Toddler Time @ Golden Library
12-1PM Concert in the (Arthur Lakes) Library
Today: Delta Sound
Concerts in the Library are sponsored and organized by Arthur Lakes Library. All performances start at noon and take place in the Boettcher Room. Performances are free and open to the public. We encourage you to bring your lunch, sit back, relax, and enjoy music, poetry, theater, and other fine entertainments!
1-2PM The Friday Tour – Today’s Topic: The Locomotive: Steam & Diesel @ Colorado Railroad Museum
3PM Vaccine, License & Microchip Clinic @ Foothills Animal Shelter
4PM Earth Day Celebration @ The Golden Mill
5-9 Bike Night – Vegas or Bust @ Avalanche Harley
5-6PM Ribbon Cutting: Golden Mercantile and Cooperative (map)
Join the Chamber in celebrating the newest addition to Downtown Golden with an exciting Earth Day Ribbon cutting.
6-11PM Western on Washington: A Saloon Stroll on Washington Avenue
Don your Wild West best, stroll among Golden’s finest saloons, and finish the night with a boot-scootin’ concert at the Buffalo Rose! Concert performed by Gnarbillys.
We look forward to being together again this year for the annual Mitchell Elementary PTA fundraiser, Western on Washington (WOW), when we can enjoy strolling the Washington “saloons,” dancing to a Colorado band at the Buffalo Rose, and bidding on unique auction items.
Proceeds go to the Mitchell Elementary PTA to support the school’s amazing teachers. This is a whole Golden event, so please help us spread the word! Although it’s a fund-raiser, the emphasis will be on the FUN!
Tickets on sale NOW at www.WesternOnWashington.com
Bid in the ONLINE AUCTION
7:30PM Blue Ridge @ Miners Alley Playhouse
Live Music
5-8PM The Green House Band @ Goosetown Station
6PM The Sugar Ridge Band @ Dirty Dogs Roadhouse
7-10PM David Henning @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
7-11PM Karaoke @ Wrigley’s
9PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern
COVID Update
Last week, there was a sudden negative change in the number of COVID deaths in Jeffco–negative 122 deaths. I asked the Health Department for an explanation.
Q: Can you explain why the deaths dropped by more than 100 this week?
March 3: 1,391
March 24: 1,533
March 31st: 1,540
April 7th: 1,543
April 14th: 1,421
A: From Jeffco Public Health’s Epidemiology team – CDPHE had multiple data issues in March. One of those data errors caused COVID cases who passed away, but whose cause of death was not COVID to be counted as COVID deaths. With all the other data issues occurring that we were trying to fix and understand, this one fell through the cracks, despite all of our data checks to prevent things like this from happening.
Vaccinations
The data problems persist, and there are no updates on vaccination status this week.
Jefferson County Case Summary:
Cases in Jeffco – April 15th: 123,647 | April 22nd: 124,590 (+943)
Deaths in Jeffco – April 15th: 1,421 | April 22nd: 1,424 (+3)
Recovered – April 15th: 121,864 | April 22nd: 122,677 (+813)
Currently Hospitalized – April 15th: 7 | April 22nd: 6 (-1)
Known Cases in Golden – April 15th: 4,976 | April 22nd: 5,025 (+49)
Golden Testing Sites
Mines COVID Testing | Jeffco Fairgrounds COVID Testing
More Public Health References
Sign up for exposure notifications | CDC | Colorado | Jefferson County | City of Golden
Where to get vaccinated – Jefferson County
(Not a) Golden History Moment
After 25 months of writing about Golden history every day, my collection of history columns is approaching 800! I think it’s time for a change of pace. I’m hoping that some of my readers are interested in sharing some topics of interest to them. I have some ideas. Please let me know if you would be interested in writing SHORT pieces about any of these topics:
ARTS
Reviews of new museum exhibits
Reviews of lectures or classes at the museums
Reviews of plays
Reviews of (or articles ahead of) concerts by the symphony and/or Golden Concert Choir
NATURE
Articles about different trails around town?
Articles about different playgrounds?
Articles about local geology
Articles about local plants
MINES
Construction plans at Mines
FYI, I still plan to write about Golden History several times a week; I just want some other topics to add to the mix.
(Also Not a Golden History Moment)
Blue Ridge at Miners Alley Playhouse
by Andi Pearson
You might be lulled into easing back into your seat and zoning out a little bit during the early easy part of Act 1 of Blue Ridge at Miner’s Alley Playhouse. But don’t get too comfortable because anger and intensity are about to explode just before intermission and you’ll be jolted into an upright position.
As the play opens, Alison, who’s wound tighter than a grandfather clock, finds herself at a Christian rehab center located in the beautiful Blue Ridge area of North Carolina. She doesn’t have a drug or alcohol problem and makes fun of the 12 step program so why is she here? Anger seems to be Alison’s strongest emotion and she put it into play when she used a hatchet on the car of Blue Ridge High’s principal where she was a teacher. Really, a hatchet on his car? What is going on, you ask yourself. But the other participants, Cherie and Wade, seem to be comfortable and at ease in the center which is run by lesbian social worker Grace who encourages Alison to share.
As Alison tells her story, Grace asks if she has a Bible scripture to enhance her tale. Alison is surprised and replies that she didn’t realize she’d need a scripture passage so she substitutes Carrie Underwood’s Jesus Take the Wheel. “Jesus, take the wheel. Take it from my hands. ‘Cause I can’t do it on my own.” Fellow rehabbers join in and pretty soon they are all smiling and singing and bonding over the lyrics and shared camaraderie.
But human dynamics are never simple and straightforward as we are about to find out. Alison begins to express anger at Pastor Hern, director of the center, and his calm and seemingly cool aloofness get under her skin. Grace tries to mediate and fellow resident Wade strums his guitar to soothe – but the undercurrent is intensifying. And in Act 11, an inappropriate relationship is exposed, a heart is wretched and the group is further stirred up by a new addition, Cole, who helps Alison unmask her deep-seated feelings.
Abby Rosebrock is New York-based playwright and actress from South Carolina. She taught writing on a literature fellowship and earned a doctorate in medieval English from Columbia University. Blue Ridge was first performed in New York City in January 2019.
This production is brilliantly directed by Len Matheo and presented at Miner’s Alley Playhouse through June 5. Shows are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinee. Get a ticket on the website now because once word gets out, this play will be a sell-out.
Andi Pearson savors local art, music, history and live theatre and all the wonderful enrichment experiences that make for a rich, entertaining life in Golden.
