Gold Hill, Colorado

Gold Hill Pride Parade will be this Sunday, June 26. Meet at noon at the Store and wear your Loud and Proud gear! Allies are encouraged. Come out and support all our community. Mike will be mixing up special Pride cocktails!

Questions, email Mary Claire at mcmulligan@nullme.com.

Thanks!

Mary Claire Mulligan
mcmulligan@nullme.com

GOLD HILL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

June 21, 2022

7:00 PM

NOTE: MEETING WILL BE IN THE FIRE BARN

CALL TO ORDER

ATTENDANCE

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

FIRE CHIEF’S MINUTES        EMAIL LIST OF VOLUNTEERS.           

CALLS:   

Type of call

Initial response

Number of volunteers who arrived.

Who took command and transfer (if any)?

Equipment used.

Other Departments who arrived.

Lessons learned.

TRAINING: 

                      Training team members

                      Past training

                      Upcoming training

         New volunteers

MAINTENANCE: 
         Vehicles 

                     Equipment

EQUIPMENT: 

                     Inventory

                     Condition

OTHER BUSINESS 

         MITIGATION:

Four-District CWPP Proposal Update:  Chris D,  Kent

UTV: Review bids

Red Flag:  Religious exemption clarification

Grants: Kris G, Jessica  bunker gear, etc.

Fire ban signs:

Mowing/Weed Whacking: Boyd

EDUCATION:

Mill Levy Campaign: 

         OTHER TOPICS:

This event has been postponed until September 3.  We are very excited about our community outreach event this summer. Please mark your calendars for Friday, July 1 beginning at 5:30 pm with a cocktail party on the south lawn of the museum.  This year, we’ll begin to learn about Gold Hill before the miners arrived—the history of Indigenous Americans in this area. We’ll also learn about our town’s connection to The Sand Creek massacre—a more somber, but nonetheless important, piece of our collective history.  As usual, this is a private event for local residents, offered by Historic Gold Hill, Inc. as our gift to you. If you happen to have family or friends in town they are welcome, as well.  We will be indoors for the presentation so masking is optional. We hope to see all of you there for what promises to be a rich and impactful event. Light appetizers and beverages will be served.

Deb Yeager   deb@nullmountainvisions.net

From: Boulder County Sheriff <BoulderCountySheriff@nullpublic.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2022 4:40 PM
Subject: Boulder County enacting Level 1 Fire Restrictions

We have to cancel the music scheduled for Thursday evening.  We will try again later in the summer.

“An Evening of Music Performed by Haiden Davis, Violin Virtuoso”

Rick and Breida Geesaman

303-444-7756

Gold Hill Town Meeting

Monday, 7:00 p.m. June 13th, 2022

____________________________________________________________________________

Zoom Virtual Meeting

Topic: Gold Hill Town Meeting

Time: Jun 13, 2022 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86764200849?pwd=eWg5MkFQeTIvbFM1V2NqWjNHZEFsUT09

Meeting ID: 867 6420 0849

Passcode: 496938

One tap mobile

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Meeting ID: 867 6420 0849

Passcode: 496938

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbnyftcOft

____________________________________________________________

Review of Previous Minutes (additions or corrections)

Treasurer’s Report

Committee Reports

Mountain Stewards 

Forestry and Forest Management

Gold Hill School

IMA

Museum 

Community Planning and Fundraising 

Cemetery

Community Center

SafeLink/NeighborLink 

Emergency Preparedness/Communications

AirLink 

Weed Management

Historical Zoning

Fire Department

Other Town News: 

MARSEG

No Town Clean Up this year

Upcoming Meetings/Event

____________________________________________________________________________

Next Gold Hill Town Meeting: ELECTIONS! August 8th, 7:00 pm

____________________________________________________________

Thank you Gold Hill Community for your participation in Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (May 7 & 8). It was a big success with lots of education, action, and burritos!

SLASH DUMPSTERS

Total slash and lumber – 4 X 30 yards!

Lefthand dumpster was there only one day due to location. CMR was full in one day. Horsefal filled one dumpster and then made pile to fill second dumpster on Monday (thank you Dan M.).

Thank you to the 20 households for doing their part with 1 or more loads each to reduce fuel in our community.  And, we appreciate Stephen S, Steve A, Leslie F, Jim S, Marie B, Emily R,

Mike W, and Julien B for providing monitoring.  All slash and lumber sent to Western will become compost or be chipped.

GOLD HILL STORE INFO TABLES

Around 35 neighbors from Lefthand to Four Mile, subdivision to out west stopped by the GH Store to eat fresh-made GH Store burritos, sip coffee, visit with each other, discuss fire mitigation,

and learn new aspects of mitigation, forest ecology, and watershed management.  Thank you to Dina E. for helping out with the burritos! We had participation from the 

Gold Hill Fire Protection District (Jess B/Rich L), Boulder Watershed Collective (Julien B/Cat P), Wildfire Partners (Abby), and the Colo State Forest Service (Ben P).

SURPRISE VISIT!

Smokey the Bear! – Thank you Luke F. and his Firefighting Team

TOURS

20 people attend. Thank you Nick M, Gold Hill School, Emily R, Kris G for sharing their

properties and Ben P for a well-rounded and fact-filled event.

NEWS

Steam Weeding is now available in Gold Hill! https://www.edaphicsolutions.com/  – great idea, Shelby K!

Planning Committee: Maya MacHamer, Marcus Moench, Leslie Finn, Julien Blundell, Virginia Schultz

Virginia

Virginia Schultz

AUDITIONS FOR THE GOLD HILL MELODRAMA

NEIGHBORLINK – Emergency Preparedness

There are four things to remember:

1                     Make friends with one or two families that you like who are nearby.  These people are your lifeline.  Make sure you share your needs with them regarding children (are they at school, etc.), pets (are they in the house), medicines, computers, and items in your house that you will need, or anything you can think of to grab in case you cannot get back to Gold Hill or you need to evacuate quickly.  If evacuated, be sure you know where they have gone and let them know where you are going.

2                     Have your TO GO BAG ready for each member of your family and your pets so you can grab it quickly

3                     Call, text, and/or put a note on your door with your phone number when you leave. Be ready to speak about your safety and the safety of your group of friends.

4                     Let Gretchen (303-947-9477), Dina (303-517-0010), or Debra (303 881 7665) know that you are out of Gold Hill, and your safe location and number.  We will stay in touch with you and update you on all we know.

Deb Yeager

deb@nullmountainvisions.net

Some of our local foragers might enjoy reading this post on edible and chemical weed control written by one of my favorite forager writers, Wild Food Girl, who lives and forages in Fairplay (Summit County). With a few photos from Boulder. Once you click on the link, scroll down to page 33 for the article.

There’s a discussion on scentless chamomile and oxeye daisy also

Enjoy,

Pam

pamsher123@nullgmail.com

Hello Neighbors!

SAVE THE DATE for our 7^th annual Community Outreach event and cocktail party for 2022.  This year the Gold Hill museum date is Friday evening, July 1, at the museum.  More information to come!

Deb

deb@nullmountainvisions.net

Maggie Simms and ‘Til Death Do Us Party Productions are trying to round up some actors to play in the Gold Hill Melodrama this summer.

MELODRAMA AUDITIONS

SATURDAY, MAY 21^ST AT 10 AM  Postponed to May 24, 7:00 pm

BLUEBIRD LODGE

REHEARSALS:  MON/TUES AT 7 PM: 

JUNE 20, 27, 28 * JULY  11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26.

***

SHOWS:  12 NOON   JULY 30/31 AND AUG 13/14

STILL NEED:

DANCEHALL GIRLS, MA AND PA GOODMAN, BESS WESTERN (THE VILLAINESS,) AND VARIOUS CRUSTY MINERS AND CARD-CARRYING CARD CARRIERS.

FUN SHOW

CALL FOR DETAILS:  303.473.0811

(AND I DO MEAN CALL – THIS PHONE DOES NOT ACCEPT TEXTS)

MAGGIE SIMMS

GOLD HILL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

May 17, 2022

7:00 PM

NOTE: MEETING WILL BE IN THE FIRE BARN

CALL TO ORDER

ATTENDANCE

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

FIRE CHIEF’S MINUTES                 

CALLS:   

Type of call

Initial response

Number of volunteers who arrived.

Who took command and transfer (if any)?

Equipment used.

Other Departments who arrived.

Lessons learned.

TRAINING: 

                      Training team members

                      Past training

                      Upcoming training

         New volunteers

MAINTENANCE: 
         Vehicles 

                     Equipment

EQUIPMENT: 

                     Inventory

                     Condition

OTHER BUSINESS 

         MITIGATION:

Gold Hill Wildfire Community Preparedness Day May 7: Report  Virginia, Jessica, Leslie and Rich

Four-District CWPP Proposal Update:  Chris D  Kent

Grants: Kris G, Jessica  bunker gear, etc.

Grass mowing around Gold Hill: Boyd

UTV: submit bid request

EDUCATION:

Mill Levy Campaign: 

         OTHER TOPICS:

May 13, 2022

Hello All,

         The GHFPD Board of Directors is writing to the community in response to emails written to volunteers by an officer of the GHFPD regarding rumors about the upcoming mill levy. The GHFPD Board of Directors appreciate and recognize the officer’s service to the community and understand their passion. We are all members of this community, and all have the same things at stake as mountain residents. We believe that everyone, fire department officers, volunteers, fire board members, and all community members have the same end goals and same values at heart. Values focused on how to protect our families, our homes, and our community. It’s important for us to have open dialogues about our community’s protection and how we provide that. These dialogues should be conducted professionally, allow for conversation, and be based on facts. The emails sent out to GHFPD volunteers yesterday from an officer of the department were not professional and not the right platform for expressing opinions. It’s unfortunate that this was how that individual decided to vent her opinions and beliefs, which appear to be based on secondhand conversation with a community member. Additionally, in a follow-up email by this individual, they themselves confirmed that what they were reporting were rumors.

        Your fire board is a group of unpaid volunteer community members, some of whom have lived here their whole life. When volunteers approach members of the board and express opinions, we listen. When things are brought up in meetings, we do our best to address and create safe spaces for people to voice their concerns and wishes. There are many other avenues available for expressing concerns or opinions that allow for both sides to have a say and possibly rectify miscommunications or clarify incorrect information. The fire board was not included in the email that was sent nor did we have access to who it was sent. Hopefully, all who were included in her email are receiving this response. Based on the concerns brought up in the email we will provide these facts from the fire board. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out directly to board members or attend the upcoming fire board meeting to ask questions.

       The motivation for an increase in the mill levy came about after a discussion with Lefthand Fire regarding how they were able to gain funds for creation of their new station. Mill levies were discussed publicly at this meeting and the board decided that an increase should be discussed further. The GHFPD operates on a very small budget and much of our equipment and hose are outdated. The prospect of a new or updated fire station is inconceivable with our current budget, hence the conversation with Lefthand on how they were successful. There are other factors that played into that success for them but an increase in the mill levy was an integral one. More conversations were had with other departments regarding their mill levy’s, populations, funds generated, and how they were used. Fourmile, being a close neighboring department who responds to many of our calls, was consulted about what an appropriate levy increase might look like. As with Lefthand Fire, Foumile has made great strides with their department over the past 15 years. Using mill levy funds, paired with vision and support of their Chief, volunteers, and community, they have an admirable fire program. Discussions were had about the purpose of a mill levy increase for GHFPD and what our goals were. In addition, a conversation was had regarding how Gold Hill and Fourmile could improve their partnership for better response times, higher levels of service, etc. In terms of this partnership, the history of both departments’ attempts at mergers were brought up and conversations were had about whether or not a merger in the future would make sense. An informal conversation was had to gain an understanding of what could be gained or lost if such a merger were to occur. Inevitably, both departments agreed that improved communication and partnership were more relevant and important for protection of both districts and that efforts like collaboration on CWPP’s, training, mitigation, and grants were most important. The GHFPD’s current mill levy was discussed, and Fourmile recommended that if we were interested in building our department that we should look at an increase. As a fire board we made our own decision regarding the projected mill levy increase outside of any recommendation made by Fourmile. The fire board’s decision to increase the mill levy was to assist with generating funds to more rapidly modernize and increase preparation for threats to the community. Reports of a mill levy increase for the purpose of a merger are dramatic rumors that unfortunately distract us from getting work done as a community. If a merger were being seriously considered it would be brought up in a fire board meeting and it would be more widely publicized. In addition, citizens and volunteers would have an opportunity to discuss this in a public setting that allowed for a debate. That is the complete story. The mill levy is not inspired to make Gold Hill more desirable to be ‘absorbed’ by other departments, it is inspired to help us build for the future. The larger mill levy is due to our low population and ability to generate funds. If incorrect information was disseminated regarding neighboring departments’ mill levies, then that is purely accidental.

        Last weekend two fireboard members sat in front of the Gold Hill General Store to have open conversations with community members about a mill levy increase. Information as to why we are looking for an increase was made public. One opportunity for use of increased mill levy funds was the possibility of hiring a full-time employee to assist with grants, inventory, mitigation, and operations. Creation of such a position would take time to build and to hire for and at this moment we don’t know what that would look like. As a department we are in a position where our Chief has provided many years of valuable service to this community, and we have been looking for volunteers to continue in his footsteps as officers and future Chiefs. Change of leadership is a common practice in the volunteer fire service and Chief Finn is aware that we’ve been looking for the past few years to find someone he can pass his knowledge to. We do have some volunteers who have been able to provide time to take on officer positions, but we currently have no volunteers able to commit to a Chief position. With that being said, if the opportunity arises that a permanent employee could be hired to act in a Chiefs role then the board would be open to that. Regardless, the funds are not earmarked for this purpose.

      The board’s primary focus is on community protection. The health, wellbeing, and prosperity of our community are integral. As a small mountain fire department our issues are not unique. We are facing a future of larger and faster growing wildfires, underfunding, older equipment, and less volunteers, paired with long response times from surrounding departments. To protect each other and our community we need to work together to cut through the drama and fake news and focus on the things we can control to find solutions together. We are saddened by the divisive rhetoric in the email that was sent. Overreactions and antagonism towards other volunteers, community members, and other departments, make us weaker, not wiser or stronger. We appreciate your time and attention to our response and encourage anyone reading to share our response and attend the upcoming board meeting which will be posted on the town website.

Thank you,

Rich Lopez, President, Gold Hill Fire Protection District Board of Directors

OBITUARY

Matthew Winfield Finn

JUNE 19, 1957 – APRIL 24, 2022

IN THE CARE OF

Howe Mortuary & Crematory

MATTHEW WINFIELD FINN

June 19, 1957 – April 24, 2022

The community of Gold Hill, Colorado, is mourning the loss of Matt Finn, who died peacefully Sunday morning, April 24th in Gold Hill, surrounded by family following a lifelong battle with heart disease.

Matt was born in Boulder and raised in Gold Hill, the third child of Frank and Barbara Finn. He attended Gold Hill Elementary School, Casey Jr High, and Boulder H S/Vo Tech, and lived for five years in Key West, Florida, where he lived the carefree life of youth as an oyster shucker at the Half-Shell Raw Bar, among other fleeting endeavors, before moving on. A summertime guy, Matt returned to Colorado briefly and relocated to Maui, where he spent the 1980s immersed inhorticulture and landscaping.

Since the 1990s Matt was settled again in Gold Hill. By this time, he was becoming known for his devotion to the plants and animals in his care, plus his earnest loyalty to the people in his life– from his loving relationship with Nana, through his unswerving attention and care to his father, Frank Finn, during the end of his life, to lifetime friendship with his Gold Hill schoolteacher, Edie Eliender, still living today, whom he visited weekly. A quiet man who loved walking in the local woods with his dogs, Beckett, Sadie and Indy, Matt also loved sitting in the greenhouse in the rays of sunlight with his cat, Spooky-Boo, on his lap while tending and nurturing the plants and koi fish in the pond. Kind and approachable wherever he was, Matt always took time to talk with folks. He could be found tending the door on concert nights at the Gold Hill Inn, always welcoming patrons with a friendly smile and twirling Nana on the dance floor — they continued dancing up to his very last days. His failing heart never obscured the twinkling eyes that accompanied his dry one-liner wit, and he kept that sense of humor to the very end.

Matt is survived by his partner the love of his life Nana Will; sister Debbie Millennor (Gary); brothers Chris Finn (Leslie) and Brian Finn (Marilyn); nieces Shivaun Hoyl (Emmit), Amy Bishop, Katie Finn (Nick Sorensen); nephew Luke Finn; grand-nephews Wade and Briggs Hoyl; his beloved dogs Beckett, Sadie, Indy, cat Spooky-Boo and koi fish.

Friends are invited to a memorial celebration to honor Matt on June 21st, 3:00 pm at the Gold Hill Inn Beer Garden. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Matt’s name to TRU Community Care, 2594 Trailridge Dr E, Lafayette, CO 80026. Heartfelt thanks to Anita Sturtz and TRU Community Care Hospice Team for the compassionate care and support they provided that allowed Matt to live out his life in Gold Hill.