Fine Fencing, Downtown Changes, Food Drive, Farm Labor, and War Gardens

*Golden Eye Candy – Robert Saieg – Golden at Night – click to enlarge*

COVID Updates

% of Jeffco residents (12+) who have received either one or both shots–source

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment: All Coloradans 12 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and all Coloradans 18 and older are eligible to receive the Moderna or Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.

Appointments to Get the COVID Vaccine
State of Colorado’s Find Out Where You Can Get Vaccinated page.
Jefferson County Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center: 303-239-7000 |
State Hotline to answer questions, including location of vaccine providers: 1-877-268-2926.

Golden Testing Sites
Mines COVID Testing | Jeffco Fairgrounds COVID Testing

JEFFERSON COUNTY RESCINDS THE MASK ORDER – VACCINATED PEOPLE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK, UNLESS A BUSINESS REQUIRES IT: Read the full order….

Virtual Events

6-6:55AM Virtual Dynamic Circuit
8:30-9:30AM Virtual Power Training
10AM – Foss Market @ 13^th and Arapahoe
10:15AM Spanish Story Time with the Library
11:40AM-12:30PM All Levels Yoga Virtual
2-3PM Active Minds Mondays – The Story of Salt
4-4:30PM Kids Martial Arts Class
5-6PM Young Readers Book Club – Other Lands

6:30PM Downtown Development Authority Meeting
A few months ago, City Council voted to allow downtown businesses to use the parking lanes as an extension of their businesses. So far, businesses are using a variety of fencing types to separate their customers from traffic. The DDA wants to use a single, better-looking style of fencing. They spent $20,000 on some more-attractive fencing last year. They’ve decided they like it, so they plan to buy more this year. The description in the meeting packet is complicated, but I think the bottom line is that they will spend an additional $195,000 on fencing this year. They hope to get a grant from the state to cover some of the cost.

*Extending the new “above ground” version of Kinney Run through the 1400 and 1500 blocks – click to enlarge*

Now that Coors is “above grounding” Kinney Run along Ford Street, the City is interested in doing the same for two blocks south of the Coors opening. The DDA paid for the design work, so they will review it tonight. City Council discussed this topic in Executive Session before last week’s regular business meeting.

*Proposed design view, Google satellite image, and the building missing from the rendering – click to enlarge*

After the business meeting, DDA will hold an Executive Session (no cameras, no public allowed) to “discuss a number of potential future redevelopment projects in the DDA area that may seek Tax Increment Financing participation by the DDA based upon extraordinary project costs, or achievement of DDA goals. The board may provide preliminary instructions to staff negotiators.”

Golden Community Food Drive

This is the second and final week of the Golden Community Food Drive. The food pantry will be accepting donations every day through Saturday from 10AM-4PM.

In the past, the National Post Masters hosted the National Postal Food Drive each May. An event that usually generates approximately 25,000 LBS of non-perishable food for the Golden Community! Due to COVID-19, however, this event has been cancelled for the second year in a row. This year, CAG teamed up with Calvary Food Shelf Pantry and BGoldN Fresh Food Pantry to host the Golden Community Food Drive. We’d appreciate your support to make this event a success!

Drop off food donations
Please drop off food donations at the CAG Food Pantry & Thrift Store at 1401 Ford Street (map). Food will be distributed among the three pantries.

• Monday to Friday, Week of May 10th to 14th as well as 17th to 21st: 10am to 4pm
• Saturday, May 22nd: 10am to 4pm

Golden History Moment

*Early Washington Avenue – Dan Abbott Collection – click to enlarge*

104 Years Ago
The May 17, 1917 Colorado Transcript was written during World War I. The United States had entered the war the previous month, and we were on the verge on instituting the draft.

This was going to put a strain on area farmers, as evidenced by the article, “Golden High School Boys Released From School Duties to Help With Crops.” At the request of President Wilson and Colorado Governor Gunter, all boys who chose to do farm work were to be dismissed early with full credit for the rest of the term. “Farmers who are in need of bright, husky young men should call up the Golden High School.”

A second article says that some of the boys from the Industrial school would also be permitted to work in the fields.

A third article mentions the “municipal gardeners” on the avenue. That year, the Fortnightly Club was organizing school kids to grow food in a couple of empty plots along Washington Avenue. Several adults were helping, with J.T. Williams furnishing fertilizer, others doing the hauling, and the City providing free water. The children were encouraged to grow food–a precursor to World War Two’s Victory Gardens. They sold produce that summer–one boy earning $10.

The Golden Transcript (originally called the Colorado Transcript) has been publishing since 1866. The Golden History Museum has been working on digitizing the historic issues. You’ll find old Transcripts online at coloradohistoricnewspapers.org