Gold Hill, Colorado gretchen - Gold Hill, Colorado

Author Archive

Lickskillet

TRUCKS ARE GETTING STUCK ON LICKSKILLET, BLOCKING TRAFFIC!
Many of you who are new in Gold Hill need to know that if you’re ordering
delivery to GH, you must inform the deliverer to come via Sunshine Canyon or Fourmile Canyon and NEVER via Lefthand Canyon.
Google maps will often direct people up Lefthand because there is less dirt road, not taking into account the reality of Lickskillet.

GHFPD Board Meeting, Tuesday, 2-23-21

GOLD HILL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & PENSION BOARD ZOOM AGENDA
FEBRUARY 23, 2021 7:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81305640603?pwd=TWdwZG1kanh1OUJkRHJXdnhDdWJTZz09

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
MAINTENANCE:
Vehicles
Equipment
EQUIPMENT:
Inventory
Condition

OTHER BUSINESS

Forest Restoration Projects:
● Update on project timeline Maya MacHamer
● Possible webinar/zoom call on large scale forest projects.

Grants:
● Kris Gibson, Update and confirmation of SAM.gov and next steps.
● Marcus Moench, Urban Sustainability Directors Network, Partners in Places program https://www.fundersnetwork.org/partners-for-places/

Wi-Fi for Fire Barn:
● Installation and operations. Jessica, Chief Finn.

Arc Gis:
● Arc GIS, structure protection pending meeting with Fourmile project team. Dirolf,
● Grant applications for IPads update.

Campers west of town:
• Campers and campfires will return. Proactive steps and protocols should be developed that provide a safe and speedy alternative to waiting for a Sheriff to arrive hours later. Vrba’s practice of leaving water containers at campsite is one option. The board has discussed the possible use of a drone to scout a campsite.

ADJORN AND RECONVENE AS THE GOLD HILL FIRE PENSION BOARD.

Update and review.

Town Communication

In an effort to streamline and improve our town communication with regards to town news, events, and emergency notifications, we are asking that all residents complete this communication survey so our NeighborLink committee can do their best to serve the needs of residents. To gather these communication preferences from the town, we have created a survey that can be found here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYdP4hvsQ8OY-elTY2IunHynaBUv8a5pVniAxGniCkV0Ngbw/viewform
During our most recent evacuation, community members provided feedback that they were not informed and were not fully aware of how to be informed of an evacuation. This wasn’t the case for all residents. The survey securely collects information per household that will be used to inform preferences on communications going out to the community. In addition, it provides connection to valuable communication resources, like the OEM’s Everbridge notifications and the Gold Hill Town email list. Furthermore, this survey will be used to ensure access to future participation in any and all community efforts. This does not take the place of reporting emergencies to 911, nor does it take the place of information from emergency personnel.

We will have paper copies of the survey available at the Gold Hill Store soon or you can contact Gretchen at gretchend.com or call me at 303-442-3847.

Wildfire Summit

From: Congressman Joe Neguse <CongressmanJoeNeguse@mail.house.gov>
Date: Mon, Feb 8, 2021 at 4:21 PM
Subject: How Have Colorado’s Wildfires Impacted You?

Dear Neighbor,

In 2020, Colorado battled one of the most devastating and brutal wildfire seasons we’ve ever seen. In the span of just a few months, our state experienced three of the five largest wildfires in state history, including the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires, which impacted communities in our district. These wildfires forced countless evacuations, threatened air and water quality and destroyed homes and businesses.

Have you been impacted by this year’s wildfires?

Yes

Submit survey to sign up for updates on my work in Congress.*

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

On February 18th, my office is hosting a wildfire summit to hear from Coloradans about their experiences this wildfire season. Join me, Governor Jared Polis, Senator Michael Bennet and Senator John Hickenlooper from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a public conversation about wildfire mitigation and future wildfire prevention. Visit Neguse2021.com for more information and to register.

Wildfire Summit

Click here to register

Over the last few months, we’ve partnered with local firefighters, state and local officials to help our communities weather these fires and recover.

HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON:
We helped ensure first responders and firefighters are prioritized for COVID-19 testing,
We helped secure a disaster declaration for Colorado’s wildfires to bring in needed federal resources for our state;
We worked to bring in FEMA funding for the Cameron Peak, East Troublesome and Calwood Fires and introduced the Wildfire Recovery Act to boost the federal cost share so our local communities carry less of the burden,
We introduced legislation to make major investments in wildfire mitigation and resiliency programs,
and we launched the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus in Congress to highlight these issues.
We will continue to utilize every mechanism at our disposal to provide needed resources to protect our communities from catastrophic fires.

Thank you for sharing your feedback!

All the best,

Office Locations
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
1419 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2161
BOULDER OFFICE
2503 Walnut St
Suite 300
Boulder, CO 80302
Phone: (303) 335-1045
FORT COLLINS OFFICE
1220 South College Ave
Unit 100A
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: (970) 372-3971

GHFPD Board Meeting postponed to Feb. 23

Due to Covid, Board meetings are being conducted by ZOOM until further notice.
Please check back here at goldhillfire.org before the meeting date to access the Zoom Link for the meeting. You will also find minutes of previous meetings as well as other Fire Department information

CANCELLED – Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 – 7:00pm – Via ZOOM LINK
RESCHEDULED – Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021 – 7:00pm – VIA ZOOM LINK

Notice with the Zoom Link will follow

Nederland Community COVID Vaccine Clinic – Coming Soon

Please note: DATE TBD!
Dates and times dependent on the availability of vaccine!
If you are already scheduled for an appointment somewhere else, you may not waitlist here
If you are registered elsewhere but not scheduled, and are a resident of Boulder County, you may register.
See flier for further information
Thank you to Boulder County for advocating on behalf of mountain residents!
Please share widely, Dawn

Dawn Baumhover
Community Center Manager
Town of Nederland
dawnb@nullnederlandco.org
(303)258-9721

Fentanyl Laced Street Drugs in Boulder

Please keep your teenagers informed about fentanyl laced street-drugs. Another child died this week. BOULDER EMERGENCY: Another teenager has died from a fentanyl overdose. There is an influx of street-drug pills being sold as Xanax or Oxycodone (30mg), that are laced with Fentanyl. The sellers are targeting teenagers. If you have a teenager, please tell tell them to stay away from all pills and to know what to do in case they are around anyone that is (Narcan is available at the following places: BoulderCountyNarcan.org.): https://www.bouldercounty.org/news/street-drugs-in-boulder-county-found-to-contain-fentanyl-2/
Chris Finn
Gold Hill Inn

Mountain Anti-Racist Self-Education Group

Mountain Anti-Racist Self-Education Group (MARSEG) is starting a new book February 25!

MARSEG is a great group of neighbors who meet on Google meet 6-7:30 pm every other Thursday to study anti-racist books and consider actions based on what we are learning.

We are beginning a new book February 25! Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson https://www.tatteredcover.com/book/9780593230251 This NEW book is getting lots of rave reviews and even our community’s most seasoned anti-racists will find something to learn here!

Please don’t hesitate to join us at any time — this is an OPEN group! If you have met with us in the past, please rejoin us. We miss you!

If you haven’t had a chance to read, come anyway and we will start with a brief synopsis. To RSVP and receive the Google meet link by email, please contact Cat by email at wildcat.russell@nullgmail.com. (Those who have already sent an email or PM on Nextdoor are on the list so you don’t need to send a second message.)

Thanks!

Cat Russell wildcat.russell@nullgmail.com

Let’s Talk Wildfire Mitigation!

Wildfire Partners

Let’s Talk Mitigation!

You’ve got questions.

We’ve got answers!

Please join us for our virtual Let’s Talk Mitigation event! Wildfire Partners staff members, Abby Silver and Leslie Brodhead will be available to answer your questions and discuss wildfire mitigation.

This month we’ll be discussing the East Troublesome Fire and how it showed mitigation works!

Date: Wednesday, February 10
Time: 7 – 8 p.m.

Join via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81466075732?pwd=WDAyaTRyNU5LNTFFMGk5eVBlVjNvdz09

Meeting ID: 814 6607 5732
Passcode: 201467

You can email questions ahead of time to info@nullwildfirepartners.org.

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Wildfire Partners
2045 13th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
www.wildfirepartners.org
303-441-1420
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Wildfire Partners · PO Box 471 · Boulder · Colorado · 80306
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This email was sent to gretchend@nullmac.com.
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Educational Opportunities on Post Fire Restoration

Forwarded by Pam Sherman

Attached are two educational opportunities

Post Fire Restoration
Two webinars are being offered to assist landowners affected by the 2020 wildfire season in Colorado.

February 18, 2021, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. – Reseeding Following Wildfire. John Giordanengo, AloTerra Restoration Services. Topics: The goals of seeding after a fire; reseeding methods; recommended seed mix; where seeding is not necessary; soil amendments are rarely needed after a fire; soil surface protection (mulch, erosion control blankets and other erosion control methods); and erosion control measures for gullies, swales, and very steep slopes.

February 25, 2021, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. – Trees & Forest Health: Considerations for Planting Seedling Trees after Wildfire. Mike Hughes, Colorado State Forest Service. Topic: Is my scorched tree dead? Where, what and when to plant seedling trees.

Free to attend, but registration is required. After registering, you will receive a link to join the webinar. Registration link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwuc-iqrDwoGNO1UPpruiOf_BGM_FVre_IK

Invasives 101
Learn about invasive species and their management in this four part series.

Thank you,
Sharon Bokan
Small Acreage Coordinator
Colorado State University Extension Boulder County
9595 Nelson Rd. Box B
Longmont, CO 80501
Work phone 303-678-6176
Cell 720-202-1969
Fax 303-678-6281
sbokan@nullbouldercounty.org

CSU Extension programs are available to all without discrimination

InvasiveSpecies101

Post-Wildfire Restoration.2021

Boulder County Public Health’s Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership

Boulder County Public Health’s Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (TEPP) program requests the input of business owners and community members of Gold Hill on a proposed smoke-free policy update. The goal is to bring this policy in-line with the state law (Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act) and neighboring communities in Boulder County. Unincorporated Boulder County communities, including Gold Hill, do not have the same protections from secondhand smoke as incorporated communities, this update would ensure smoke-free protections and equity across Boulder County.
Existing code can be viewed here: https://assets.bouldercounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ordinance-smoking.pdf

Proposed updates include:
– Updating language and definitions (in-line with the state law)
– Not allowing smoking or vaping within 25 feet of businesses (in line with state law)
– Update language to include electronic vaping devices and protection from secondhand vaping aerosol (in line with the state law)
– Not allowing smoking or vaping on bar and restaurant patios (in-line with many Boulder County communities)
– Adding protections from secondhand smoke and vapor in some parks and recreation spaces
– Adding protections from secondhand smoke and vapor in service areas (bus stops, public transportation)

We will review these changes in more detail in the meeting and hope to gain insights from business owners and community members on these proposed changes. There will also be a public hearing on this ordinance with the Board of County Commissioners.

If you have any questions before the time of the meeting or are unable to attend, you can email Gretchen Smith at gsmith@nullbouldercounty.org.

Join us on Monday, March 1st from 6-7pm. We look forward to seeing you and hearing your feedback!

Zoom information:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83490754095?pwd=M1gxdS9aSzJWSVlWdnYvZzZzcnBhZz09
Meeting ID: 834 9075 4095
Passcode: 796158

We’d love to get feedback from community members of Gold Hill either at that meeting on Monday, March 1st at 6pm, or they are free to email me any input and feedback as well. All the information, as well as my contact information is in the word documents attached.
Gretchen Smith, MSW

she/her/hers

Community Health Specialist

Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (TEPP)

Boulder County Public Health

3482 Broadway | Boulder, CO 80304
Office:303.413.7524 | Cell phone for use during COVID:303-834-2158
www.BoulderCountyTobaccoFree.org

Boulder County Area Agency on Aging – February Edition – Aging Well Newsletter

Check out these upcoming programs!
Subscribe | AAA Home | Contact Us | Community Resources | Facebook

Issue 64 | “Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there.”
Learn more about how to make font size bigger or smaller on your screen by following this link.
Hero’s Journey of the Caregiver
caregiver
The Boulder County Area Agency on Aging invites interested caregivers to participate in the upcoming class, “Hero’s Journey of the Caregiver.” This program is a ten-hour weekly course spanning five weeks and will begin this March. The course is intended for informal and family caregivers of older adults and will focus on providing participants with tools to help ensure that they thrive, not just survive, during caregiving.

The “Hero’s Journey of the Caregiver” course is inspired by the work of Joseph Campbell, a scholar who popularized various theories on hero myth narratives. Using a multi-media approach (video clips, art, poetry, self-reflection, and discussion), the course will offer opportunities for the inner hero to show up in caregiving and ultimately move through obstacles on this journey. These classes span five weeks for two hours each, except for the opening day starting thirty minutes earlier (and ending at the same time as other classes) in order to assure ease with the online format. Registrants should be available to attend all five classes.

What: Hero’s Journey of the Caregiver

When: Tuesdays, March 16 to April 13 from 10 a.m.- noon (March 16, 9:30-noon)

Where: Virtually on Zoom

This program is open to Boulder County residents providing care for a relative, partner, or friend who is age 60 or over, or of any age if the person has dementia. There is no charge for the course, but donations are appreciated.

For more information or to register for the course, please contact Program Manager Rebekah Van Sweden at rvansweden@nullbouldercounty.org or by calling 303-441-3945. Participants will be required to provide additional eligibility details and to complete a registration form to participate.

An optional materials pick-up (masked, drive by) will be available before class. Date TBD.

Vaccine Information
vax pic
Do you have questions about the vaccine?

Check out the Vaccine FAQ from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Curious about vaccine locations or how to sign up?

Check out Boulder County Public Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility and Locations page.

Note that individuals 65-69 years of age are eligible to sign up starting on Monday, Feb. 8 along with other priority groups.

Questions on when you can get your vaccine?

Check out the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s webpage on vaccine distribution phases.

bcaaa
We will continue to provide online and phone services for clients. Our staff is available to answer calls and emails from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The Boulder County Area Agency on Aging (BCAAA) responds to the needs of older adults (60+) and their family and informal caregivers in our community through advocacy, funding, direct service, planning, and education. The BCAAA works with public and private partners to respond to the unique needs in our community. The BCAAA is currently offering remote services including:

Information, Referral, or Resources
Financial Assistance
Healthy Aging Programs
Medicare Counseling
Caregiver Programs
Veterans Services
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Nutrition Resources
Boulder County residents can connect with BCAAA resources by email at infoADRC@nullbouldercounty.org, by phone at 303-441-1617, or online at bouldercountyhelp.org.

Updates and information will continue to be shared through our Facebook page.

Find us on Facebook
Service Connection in the Mountains
Mountain Communities

Email: infoADRC@nullbouldercounty.org

Phone – English or Spanish: 303-441-1617

Website: www.bouldercountyhelp.org

Join us for a Virtual Medicare Basics Class
medicare
Boulder County Area Agency on Aging’s Medicare Counseling program offers live virtual Medicare Basis Classes. These lively and entertaining classes are designed to provide the necessary information to older adults, and those caring for older adults, when getting ready to apply for Medicare. Participants will learn about how and when to enroll, the different parts of Medicare, what is covered and what is not, Medicare fraud, and much more!

Interested participants will need internet; a computer, tablet, or phone; and the appropriate application for the class. Please click on any one of the class times below to register. Once registered, participants will receive instruction on how to join the class. This online course uses Zoom.

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 18, 1:30-3 p.m.
Tuesday, March 2, 10-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, March 10, 6-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 18, 1:30-3 p.m.
Check out our website for more information.

For more information, or to set up an appointment, please call 303-441-1546.

La Agencia de Servicios para Adultos Mayores presenta “Medicare Cafecitos” ofrecidos por medio del programa de Medicare del Condado de Boulder.

El “Medicare Cafecito” en línea usará la plataforma de equipos de Microsoft (MS Teams) y por la línea de conferencia. El Cafecito ofrece información imparcial y actualizada.

Acompáñenos para conversar sobre sus preguntas del Medicare. Todos son bienvenidos – beneficiarios, familiares, empleados/proveedores de servicios, y miembros de la comunidad.

El próximo Medicare Cafecito se reunirá el martes 16 de febrero a la 1:00pm.

Estas sesiones se realizan mensualmente. Revise las sesiones para el 2021 en nuestro sitio web a continuación.

Para registrarse: https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/seniors/services/medicare-counseling/

Para información en español llame a Karen Herrera 303 678 6113 o mande un correo electrónico a kherrera@nullbouldercounty.org

Upcoming Healthy Aging Programs!
Check our Healthy Aging webpage to keep up to date on upcoming classes from our Healthy Aging team.

ha photo
Diabetes Support and Education Group

The ongoing Diabetes Support and Education Group will meet Monday, Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to noon for this month’s topic, “Balanced Eating for Diabetes.” This program is conducted by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator. Please email infohealthyaging@nullbouldercounty.org for more information about this virtual group.

Fresh Conversations

Fresh Conversations is an evidence-based nutrition education program, occurring the second Monday of each month, focused on timely nutrition topics. Fresh Conversations is led by our own, Patti Murphy, RDN. This program kicks off on Monday, Feb. 8 from 1-2 p.m. Register here. To learn more, email infohealthyaging@nullbouldercounty.org.

AAA Wellness Social Hour

The AAA Wellness Social Hour is a platform that encourages social engagement and ongoing learning that is open to past, current and future wellness program participants. Participants can share experiences, support, and continue expanding on the skills learned in the programs. New or incoming participants connect with the community and meet the Wellness Programs team. The next AAA Wellness Social Hour will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register here. To learn more, email infohealthyaging@nullbouldercounty.org.

Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)

This year-long program, developed by the Centers for Disease Control, supports people diagnosed with pre-diabetes avoid or delay developing Type 2 diabetes. During this year long program participants work to:

lose 5 to 7% of their body weight,
accumulate at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week, and
adopt a healthier more active lifestyle
Participants must have a prediabetes diagnosis or be at-risk for developing Type-2 Diabetes. If you don’t know, you can take the risk test at bouldercountydpp.org. A DPP leader will call you to confirm your registration and talk to you about the program. If you have questions, feel free to call us at 303-441-4710 or email us at infohealthyaging@nullbouldercounty.org.

This program begins on Feb. 22, and meets weekly on Mondays from 4-5 p.m.

The deadline to register is Feb. 14 or when the maximum of 12 participants is reached.

Nutrition Counseling

Individualized counseling and coaching from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist are available for Boulder County residents. Call 303-678-6115 (English) or 720-930-9002 (en español) with contact information.

Heart Health
patti feb article
Click the image above for an enhanced view!

As your heart ages it works harder to do the same work as it did when you were younger. The natural changes of aging alone generally don’t cause heart disease. But when these changes are combined with lifestyle risk factors—including smoking, stress, inactivity and obesity—your risk of serious disease increases. However, by maintaining healthy habits you can keep your heart healthy.

Eating a diet that is low in saturated fat, trans fat and salt, and that is high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains protects your heart by lowering risk of:

High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Weight gain
The source of your fat is important to maintaining a healthy heart. Eating too much saturated fat can cause your cholesterol to increase, which in turn increases risk for heart attack and stroke. Saturated fat is found mainly in animal products, and coconut and palm oil. It should be limited to 5-7% of overall calories a day. For someone eating 2,000 calories a day this would be approximately 11-13 grams of saturated fat a day.

Trans fats are a type of fat to avoid as much as possible as just a small amount of trans fats can raise your risk of heart disease. This type of fat, which has now been banned in the United States is being phased out although some foods you see on the shelf may still contain trans fats. Look for partially hydrogenated oil or hydrogenated oil on the ingredient list to see if a food contains trans fats.

Unsaturated fats don’t have a negative impact on your health the way that saturated and trans fats do. This type of fat is found in seeds, nuts, avocados, and coldwater fish. Omega-3’s are a specific type of fat found in fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, and trout, that offer protective benefits to your heart. Aim for at least two 3.5 oz. servings of fatty fish a week to keep the full benefit.

Keeping sodium levels low can help lower blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends consuming less than 1500 mg of sodium a day. Even if you don’t use the saltshaker, many packaged and processed foods have a lot of sodium. In fact, around 75% of the average person’s sodium intake comes from packaged and processed foods. Dried or fresh herbs, spices, onions, ginger, citrus, and vinegar can be used to flavor food without adding fat or many calories.

For more information on nutrition for heart health or other nutrition questions, please feel free to reach out to Patricia Murphy, BCAAA Registered Dietitian at pamurphy@nullbouldercounty.org or 303-441-4710.

BCAAA Ombudsmen Are Here to Serve
If you or a loved one lives in an assisted living or nursing home, you know that COVID-19 has dramatically impacted these homes, the people who live there, and their loved ones. Those of us who live in long term care are much more isolated. The BCAAA Long Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) program is still active and serve as a resource to residents and loved ones of residents in long-term care. While LTCO are not physically in nursing homes and assisted livings, we are maintaining regular contact with those we serve, following all orders and regulations in place.

Know your rights – LTCO help residents resolve problems and ensure quality care and services. You can reach email us or give us a call at 303-441-1173 with any questions or concerns.

Grow Food at Home!
As part of the Grow & Give Project, Boulder County Extension is offering a limited number of vegetable garden seed packets free to families or individuals who will use them. They’ve chosen 10 of their favorite and most reliable vegetable varieties and put them together with planting instructions in both English and Spanish. Volunteers will be making contactless delivery in late February.

These packets are intended to support the members of our community who have been economically impacted the most during the COVID-19 pandemic or have historically struggled with affording fresh-grown food.

If you would like to be able to grow vegetables in your own garden – even in flowerpots on the porch – but need help getting started, sign up to get your seed-kit at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CPQDBLC.

For more information about growing your own food, go to growandgivecolorado.org.

Classes and Updates from Our Partners
==

City of Longmont Senior Services
longmont
Longmont Senior Services staff are responding to emails and phone calls Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Email: senior@nulllongmontcolorado.gov

Phone: 303-651-8411

Sign up for biweekly email updates by visiting Longmont Senior Services or emailing Deanne.Kear@nulllongmontcolorado.gov.

Upcoming Classes from LSC

All programs from the Longmont Senior Center are hosted via Zoom, and you can register in advance by calling 303-651-8411. Please reference LSC’s GO Catalog here to see costs, if any, for programs as well as a full listing of programs.

Navigating Change in Community Living

Thursday, Feb. 18, 10-11:30 a.m.

Making changes in how and where you live in community can be a daunting process, and having some information about your options can help this process be less difficult. Join three professionals in the field, Kym Hansler, Marnie Biln from All About Seniors, and our Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Erica Corson, to discuss how to navigate these changes with confidence. We will help you explore your values and questions you want to ask in order to find the right fit in an assisted living, skilled nursing facility, or memory care. You do not have to be considering a move right now in order to participate.

Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research

Monday, Feb. 22, 3-4:30 p.m.

For centuries, we’ve known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science is able to provide insights into how to optimize our physical and cognitive health as we age. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity, and social engagement. We will use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. Presented by the Alzheimer’s Association.

City of Boulder Older Adult Services
Client Services Coordinators with City of Boulder Older Adult Services assist residents of the City of Boulder 60+ and their caregivers with referrals to community resources, counseling on available options, and financial support for eligible clients. Coordinators are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 303-441-4388 (English/español).

Click here for up-to-date City of Boulder information and resources around COVID-19.

boulder
feb guide cob
City of Boulder Online Programs

Register by clicking the title of the programs listed below or call 303-441-3148 for more information or to register by phone. Before the day of the program you will receive a link to join online or a phone number if you prefer to call in to participate.

Featured programs in Feb. 2021

Brain emPower™ course

Tuesday, Feb. 16 – Mar. 23, 10:30 a.m. – noon

Valentines Card Making

Thursday, Feb. 11, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Travel Discussion Group

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Undoing Loneliness: Cultivating Social Connection

Thursday, Feb. 18, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

How to Handle Household Hazardous Materials

Thursday, Feb. 18, 11:00 a.m. – noon

Shifting from Surviving to Thriving

Thursday, Feb. 25, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Photography Club Introduction

Thursday, Feb. 25, 11:00 a.m. – noon

2021 Scams and Fraud

Thursday, Feb. 25, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

What is Leaky Gut?

Friday, Feb. 26, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Visit the City of Boulder’s website and sign up for weekly email updates at City of Boulder Older Adult Services.

Click here for up-to-date City of Boulder information and resources around COVID-19.

Town of Erie, Parks & Recreation – Active Adults
erie
Erie Active Adults staff are responding to emails and phone calls, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Email: chickman@nullerieco.gov

Phone: 303-926-2795

The Town of Erie’s Active Adults program is providing a curbside meal service at the Erie Community Center.

Reservations are required by calling 303-926-2795 or emailing chickman@nullerieco.gov prior to the meal date.

Zoom Happy Hour – Rocky’s West Side Story

Join the Zoom meeting at this link. Meeting ID: 880 0594 9133 Passcode: HappyHour

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Join for a virtual history program of Rocky’s West Side Story. Do you ever wish you had lived in the pioneer days? Imagine crossing Ute trails over the mountains to camp on the shores of Colorado’s largest lake, or living in a cave on the side of a mountain while digging a ditch by hand to divert water out of the Grand River. In this program, you will explore all of these experiences and more! Presented by Lively Tours and Talks.

Movies Together – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Friday, Feb. 19, 1 p.m. (Register by Monday, Feb. 15)

Come to the Erie Community Center and watch a movie in a small group setting. Packaged drinks and snacks will be included in your registration fee.

Sunset Strolls

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 5-6 p.m., Clayton Park

Stroll the trails of Erie as the sun is setting! Enjoy the peace and serenity of this beautiful community and maybe see an animal or two. Join staff members for an evening stroll and explore the wonder and beauty. Please dress for the weather and bring water.

GHTM Agenda, Monday, Febg. 8, 7:00 p.m.

Gold Hill Town Meeting
Monday, 7:00 p.m. February 8th, 2020
____________________________________________________________________________
Zoom Virtual Meeting

Topic: Gold Hill Town Meeting
Time: Feb 8, 2021 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

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Review of Previous Minutes (any additions or corrections)
Treasurer’s Report
Committee Reports
Mountain Stewards
Bee Safe Neighborhood – reminder
Register online at: https://www.thepeoplesbees.com/pledge
Coordinator: Chrissy Maedke

Update from Mountain Stewards – Virginia

Forestry and Forest Management
Maya McHamer to answer questions about Gold Hill mitigation project
Gold Hill School
Museum
Community Planning and Fundraising
Cemetery
Community Center
Call for volunteers who will participate on the Gold Hill Community Center Committee. The Gold Hill Town Meeting Board is interested in community members who would be willing to participate in an evaluation of community center functions and roles, potential site locations, and links with other community needs. Ideally this would have representation from the Gold Hill Town Meeting Board, Friends of Gold Hill Community Center, Fire Department, and other Gold Hill institutions. The ideas that have emerged and the potential opportunity to gain a key asset are very exciting, but we do need to evaluate what is attainable in real detail. This group, made up of 7 community members will support a visioning process along with the practical steps required to make decisions. Please contact Mari at marielle.sidell@nullgmail.com if you would like to participate!

SafeLink/NeighborLink
Food Pantry
Emergency Preparedness/Communications
Survey Intro – Sarah
AirLink
Weed Management
Historical Zoning
Fire Department
Other Town News:
Community Resources
Mental Health Vouchers from the Boulder Community Foundation
Additional info – contact Kelly Viet at 847-903-3396 or veit.kelly@nullgmail.com
https://www.bouldercounty.org/news/announcing-the-launch-of-a-new-wildfire-mental-health-program/
Community Concerns
Speeding in Gold Hill – County has no additional solutions, but is developing a Speed Study. If there is interest, we can sign up when it is complete.
Upcoming Meetings/Events

____________________________________________________________________________

Next Gold Hill Town Meeting: April 12th, 7:00 pm
____________________________________________________________

Questions on 900 Pine Street as a Community Space

Questions on 900 Pine

Introduction 1
Why is a community space needed and what might be the functions? 2
Uses not under consideration 4
Size of the Community Space 4
Zoning 5
Water and Septic 5
Parking 6
Housing Stock 6
Historical Rebuild 7
Relationship with the Fire Barn 7
Cost and Financing ideas for the Community Space 7
Financing the Purchase and initial repairs 8
Running Costs 8
Purchase of 900 Pine and group involved 9
Questions moving forward 9
How the community wants to proceed 9

Introduction

We want to emphasize that the Friends of Gold Hill Community Center (we’ll call ourselves the “Friends group” for simplicity here) would have loved to explore and resolve many of the questions that have come up well in advance of any purchase. We would also have loved to talk with neighbors and the community as a whole. However, with the speed that real estate transactions have been occurring recently and the Frank and Jennie Justin Corporation’s desire to close the sale before the end of 2020, if we wanted to create the opportunity for the community, we had to move quickly. The Friends group only found out that 900 Pine was actually available and offers could be accepted in early December. Getting a group together, making commitments and the logistics of actually buying the place over the holidays simply didn’t allow time for wider conversation.

This document contains preliminary responses to some of the questions that came up during the special GHTM meeting held on 1/25/2021. It’s intended as a “work in progress” rather than a definitive set of answers. The Friends group (owners of 900 Pine) anticipates that many of the questions will be answered collaboratively over the coming months. Many of the more detailed responses depend after all on how the GHTM decides it would like to proceed with regard to a community space and how that fits (or doesn’t fit) with the offer the Friends are making to sell 900 Pine to the GHTM. That’s a process that depends on the community. The Friends are more than happy to support and, as community members, weigh in where appropriate – but we’re not the decision makers.

The Friends group sees itself as creating a very simple opportunity for the community. By purchasing 900 Pine and offering to hold it for up to two years, we are giving the community the chance to have tangible discussions with neighbors and make real decisions regarding the needs for a community space and how that fits with the objectives of other community institutions. The time will also allow the community to evaluate the specific characteristics of 900 Pine and, if the community decides to do so, with our help raise the necessary funds to purchase it. Furthermore, if the community decides not to move forward, the Friends group expects to sell 900 Pine. Whether it serves community functions or is restored as a private residence, the community benefits!

Finally, on the questions that emerged at the recent special meeting, many (particularly those on parking, size, water and septic) would require a detailed evaluation of options along with development of a long-term vision and planning for the site. The process of more detailed site evaluation and option development needs to occur collaboratively. As a result, the Friends support undertaking this type of evaluation through a committee of the GHTM. The process is likely to take some time and would probably occur over the spring should the GHTM make a decision in principle to go ahead.

Why is a community space needed and what might be the functions?

Discussions around developing a community space (we’re calling it a “space” rather than “center” because the latter term implies something much larger) have been going on for decades with different functions being central at different times and among different groups. As a result, the “friends” group took as one of its starting points the perspective that we shouldn’t define the functions ourselves but that those should emerge and be defined through wider discussions within the community. Ultimately the uses would be defined by the GHTM (assuming it is the owner) and any agreement they reach with neighbors and other community members. Where the “Friends” group is concerned, we saw our role as providing an opportunity rather than defining (or being wedded to) any particular outcome.

The above said, the needs that have emerged most frequently in our own thinking and discussions with many others tend to require a relatively small physical space. The types of uses that have emerged at different points and are listed below should be taken as indicative since the GHTM would be the ultimate deciding body. They include:

1. A space for meetings of various types. These would range from the larger GHTM types of meetings to smaller planning or project meetings where groups of 3-5 people might join for several hours and need desk or table space to lay out maps, designs or larger documents.
2. A location to store things: This would include tables, chairs, heaters and other equipment owned by the GHTM, food for the food bank, and refrigerator freezer space
3. A place to test and demonstrate sustainability technologies: It’s seen as a potential place to, for example, develop a net-zero building by heating it with a mini-split, providing solar with battery backup, demonstrating fire resilience building and landscaping techniques, testing the viability of composting toilets, doing roof-top water harvesting and having a rain-fed community garden and/or other plants. The idea is to test and demonstrate things that reduce energy demand, reduce water demand and reduce pollution while sustaining and enhancing the natural environment. This is where a location near the school is seen as advantageous so that children could be easily involved.
4. A place for community organization and connection during the types of emergencies and disaster recovery processes when evacuation orders aren’t in place. It’s seen as a location where people could come to access WiFi and other communication systems reliably even when the power grid is down and where they could meet neighbors without getting in the way of emergency and recovery personnel who need to use the fire station. It’s not seen as a location for “shelter in place” during wildfire events.
5. A potential location for the delivery of support services to the elderly and others who need them: Several people have brought up the idea of having a visiting nurse come in monthly to deliver vaccinations or other checkup needs to elderly residents who find it difficult to get to Boulder. Similar ideas for non-medical needs such as technology support, Medicaid enrolment and insurance advice have also emerged at times.
6. A potential small co-working space: The idea has been to provide a small space where parents with kids at home (or others who need to get away) could “escape to” for a few hours work. This is particularly important for some families here because of the small size of many houses in Gold Hill coupled with the growth of remote work.
7. A location for group cooking: A location that community members could book when they want to cook as a group or have cooking classes.

Beyond these, other activities that have been discussed at times (yoga, talks, etc.) would require a larger facility.

Aside from the types of uses outlined above, one could see the “need” for a community space in much the same way that we “need” the other institutions that help to create a sense of commonality and community in Gold Hill. Many of our residents don’t use the school but the school is a central feature pulling young couples in and helping define the community. The same could be said of the Gold Hill Store or the Gold Hill Inn: some people don’t use them, others do…but almost everyone recognizes them as fundamental elements of the community. A community space would be much the same. A place where people could gather for community projects, meet people during periods of crisis, enable other community activities such as the food bank to function, access services, work together and so on. It’s much more than just a room for occasional meetings (which is what we have access to now in the Fire Barn). It’s also very different from the Inn or the Store where small meetings are possible but spreading out papers and talking for several hours would block space and undermine the business. Furthermore, at present there is no location where community project documents could be left out as long as needed (days, weeks, etc…) or where energy, water efficiency and that type of demonstration activity could take place. In sum, many of the needs a community space could address are not possible to meet with what is already in place.

Uses not under consideration

Two potential uses were mentioned at the special meeting that, as far as the Friends are aware of, have never been discussed in relation to 900 Pine or any other potential community space. These are:

1. Not for Sheltering in Place: The space would not be used to “shelter in place” during emergencies, such as major fires, when a mandatory evacuation order has been issued. The main disaster related uses that might occur would be for recovery coordination or, for example, if severe snow or flooding blocked roads.
2. Not for as a public water source: We’ve never heard serious discussions of using the space as a location for residents to meet their regular water needs.

Overall, we think it’s important to avoid general assumptions regarding what the property would and would not be used for. Assuming a committee of the GHTM is set up, uses would be worked out through broad-based community discussion.

Size of the Community Space

At present, the house at 900 Pine is small and that would fundamentally limit the type and scale of activities undertaken there. Since any additions on the site would require discussion in the community, extensive fund raising, and regulatory/historical approval, they are not likely to occur in the near future if at all. This has significant advantages in that it would give the community time to identify, discuss and agree on potential activities well before those actually occur. As a result, any additions whether to the existing building or in the form of new structures would provide opportunities for input by neighbors and the wider community.

Currently, the space at 900 Pine would be sufficient, in a limited way, for the set of activities that have been identified as potential priorities in the preceding section. It would not be sufficient for any requiring a larger amount space. As a result, the amount of space available would limit the types of activities at 900 Pine and thus, the traffic, parking, septic load, water demand and number of people using the site.

Zoning

The platted area of the town is zoned as historical. Virtually all of the potential uses identified are small scale, would involve only community members, and would not be classified as “commercial.”

In relation to other uses of public, non-residential properties in the same section of town (i.e. west of the area that is understood as available for more commercial applications), use would be much lower than the school but somewhat higher and more continuous than the museum.

Water and Septic

Where water use is concerned, it’s important to recognize that most of the demand from community uses of the space would probably be lower than for typical residential users.

In most residences, bathing, daily kitchen activities and laundry are, in addition to toilets, the dominant indoor uses of water. Elimination of showers, laundry and daily dishwashing would substantially reduce water use in comparison to typical residential patterns. Overall, as a result, even if toilet demand for water increased, there should still be a net reduction in water extraction and disposal in comparison to residential use.

Where septic is concerned, the small size of 900 Pine would limit requirements. While day-time use of the septic might be higher (if the building was occupied full time), night and morning uses – which typically place the largest demands on toilets — would be much lower than for residences. As a result, the net impact on septic use and water quality would probably be no different than if the location were used for residential purposes. In addition, one of the core ideas that has emerged in discussions is for the space to become a location for testing and demonstration of sustainable technologies. As a result, rather than expanding water and septic needs, use of 900 Pine as a community space might reduce water use and septic needs further below those that would occur in a residence.

Where septic location and size are concerned, possibilities would take further investigation for any detailed response and would depend on the GHTM’s longer-term vision for the site. As a result, specific size and location aren’t possible to specify until completion of a detailed site plan.

Where the well itself is concerned, if it dries out seasonally or has limited water, that could be addressed by installing a large cistern (possibly in conjunction with a new septic) and/or, as new residential owners would in any case do, by drilling a new well. Installation of a large cistern could benefit neighbors if it were fitted with the connection required for use by the Fire Department.

Where quality is concerned, if after testing and filtration that remains a concern, water for human consumption could be supplied, as in many residences, from bottles filled at the Ward spring or other clean sources.

Overall, the core point is that water availability and quality concerns should be relatively easy to address and would probably be lower than if the site were used as a residence.

Parking

Allocation of places for parking would depend on development of a detailed site plan by the GHTM with input from the wider community. There is substantial space in the back of the lot and potentially also in the front. In any case, given the large lot size it would be possible to develop a limited number of parking spaces without contributing to additional congestion on Pine Street.
Housing Stock

Use of 900 Pine as a “community space” would remove one residential building from the overall housing stock in Gold Hill. If, at some point in the future, community space functions moved to another location, 900 Pine could return to residential use.

Historical Rebuild

A core value to the “friends” group with regard to 900 Pine is its historical character. The current building is a classic example of the small wood frame houses constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As such it would probably be possible to access funding for historical restoration from the county and similar sources.

Relationship with the Fire Barn

Several questions came in on the relationship with the fire barn and why a separate community space is required.

The core reason for a separate community space is that, with the exception of the occasional meeting, the current fire barn serves relatively few of the uses people have identified as needed. More specifically, while the fire department occupies the current building, there is no place that can be set up permanently to serve community functions such as on-going planning processes, co-working, equipment and food storage, and so on. It’s also not the type of place where sustainability projects (water harvesting, solar, rain gardens, etc.,) could be installed and demonstrated. In addition, aside from vaults, the fire barn doesn’t have water, septic or other sanitation system. Without these, any form of sustained use is difficult.

The above core reasons are amplified by the difficulty in coordinating and approving functions. The fire department has it’s own training and other uses for the single available room. This makes it difficult for community functions to utilize that room for anything much more than the occasional meeting. Insurance issues have also presented a constraint. Finally, physical access to the space is difficult for anyone with mobility challenges, particularly during winter months.

While it might be possible to address the above issues in the future by constructing a new building with spaces that are specifically dedicated for fire department and community uses, that depends on what we believe would be a much longer process of identifying a site, developing plans, obtaining approvals and large scale fund raising. This is something that could be explored in depth by the GHTM committee and others involved.

Cost and Financing ideas for the Community Space

The “Friends group” is offering to sell 900 Pine to the GHTM over the coming two years at a price that incorporates all the costs the group has incurred for the purchase, maintenance and repair plus a return of 2% annually. The price we paid was $255,00 and the assessed valuation in its current condition is $300,000. All expenses and original purchase costs will be fully documented with receipts should the GHTM decide to move forward.

Costs for urgent repairs (the roof, porch and some electrical) and the septic will be estimated as soon as possible. Given the extensive training he’s had, the Friends group has full confidence in the inspection undertaken by Dan Maedke prior to our purchase. We also have pictures that Denver took documenting repairs in less accessible locations. Beyond this we anticipate obtaining an additional evaluation regarding structural conditions including the foundation. Estimates for the costs associated with these will be communicated to the GHTM as they become available.

Financing the Purchase and initial repairs

Financing purchase of 900 Pine by the GHTM should be possible to achieve over a two-year period from the following types of sources:

1. Tax-deductible donations to the GHTM by community members and other individuals who love Gold Hill;
2. Grants from county and state sources including, given the historic nature of the building, sources targeted for historic preservation.
3. If larger purposes related to climate and resilience or similar issues can be well articulated, grants from private foundations;
4. Donations from businesses;
5. Fundraising events organized by the GHTM, “friends” and wider community;
6. If appropriate, volunteer contributions toward specific repair or improvement needs.

Experience with fundraising suggests that if the community is solidly behind the project, the unique character of Gold Hill would make fundraising fairly easy. Boulder County is wealthy and Gold Hill is well loved by both the county and many residents and businesses. Efforts to maintain the unique characteristics of Gold Hill while also improving its viability as a community, its environmental sustainability and its resilience to disaster would receive widespread support and with that the possibility of significant financing.

Running Costs

Where running costs are concerned, the most common way of covering those is through user fees. Anyone wishing to use the community space for a personal use (work space, musical event, etc…) would pay a small fee. In addition, any projects implemented by the GHTM that use the community space could charge a small overhead fee that would go toward running costs. Finally, the users could host annual fundraising events such as those held by the Museum and school. Since the community space would be owned by the GHTM, it would not have to pay property tax. As a result, the main costs would be insurance, power, heat and on-going maintenance.

Purchase of 900 Pine and group involved

Where the original purchase of 900 Pine by the Friends group is concerned, as discussed at the recent special meeting, the process was relatively straightforward.

Several of us heard through word of mouth that the property was for sale and that offers could be accepted. Since three or four of us had already thought about joining together to purchase some property for community use (and had actually looked at 601 Main Street when that went up for sale a few months ago), we reached out to others who might be interested in joining in the purchase effort. We also reached out to Rich Lopez and engaged him as our lawyer to help on the purchase.

Ultimately a group of 10 people (Marcus Moench, Elisabeth Caspari, Jessica Brookhart, Todd Swift, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Michael Albes, Erich Gundlach, Lacey Story, Mark Elder and Dina Elder) committed sufficient funding to make an offer. Four other individuals also indicated willingness to contribute but ultimately didn’t join since the group already had sufficient funding committed for the purchase. Since the Frank and Jennie Justin Corporation (the sellers) wanted to close before the end of the year, the Friends group had an inspection done and made an offer of $255,000, slightly above their asking price. That offer was accepted and the deal closed.
Questions moving forward

How the community wants to proceed

The main question going forward seems to be how the community would like to proceed.

Establishment of an active committee of the GHTM to evaluate community space requirements, look at the role 900 Pine could play and answer the many questions involved with it (or any other site) would be a logical next step. If the GHTM decides to do that, the Friends group would happily support the process. If not, the Friends group would, as private owners, make it’s own decision on how to proceed with the property. In any case, the current tenant has a lease that extends through April. As a result, while estimates are being collected for important for essential repairs and renovations, no major work or other changes regarding the property are likely to occur before then.

Gold Hill Community Center Committee – call for volunteers

Call for volunteers who will participate on the Gold Hill Community Center Committee. The Gold Hill Town Meeting Board is interested in community members who would be willing to participate in an evaluation of community center functions and roles, potential site locations, and links with other community needs. Ideally this would have representation from the Gold Hill Town Meeting Board, Friends of Gold Hill Community Center, Fire Department, and other Gold Hill institutions. The ideas that have emerged and the potential opportunity to gain a key asset are very exciting, but we do need to evaluate what is attainable in real detail. This group, made up of 7 community members will support a visioning process along with the practical steps required to make decisions. Please contact Mari at marielle.sidell@nullgmail.com if you would like to participate!

Thanks!

Best,

Emma M Dirolf
emma.dirolf@nullgmail.com
513.259.1532

Wildfire Partners News

Colorado’s Drought
Worst Drought Since 2002

How low can it go?

It doesn’t look like a lake anymore. The image that comes to mind is a dried up mud puddle, thirsting for water.

Boulder County community task-force-brochure

As a longtime resident to Nederland, Barker Reservoir is a fixture. It’s the first thing you see as you crest the hill driving up from Boulder Canyon. The scene is a beautiful one with the snow capped Indian Peaks in the background, sunlight glinting off the water.

The dried up reservoir is just a symptom of a larger problem — Colorado is in severe drought.
Read More
Getting Rid of Slash in Winter

With the lack of snow and the increase in winds, you might find yourself with a lot of downed limbs and trees. You’re pilling things into slash piles, but with slash burning limited by the dry conditions, what can you do with it?

Though the county sort yards are closed, Western Disposal does accept slash from Boulder County residents at a discounted rate. They charge $2.50/100 pounds of slash, or 50 cents/20 pounds for lighter loads. Branches must be less than 12 inches in diameter.

Western Disposal is located at 5880 Butte Mill Road in Boulder and they are open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Pull out that chainsaw and get cutting!

Short Term Rentals

Do you own a Short Term Rental property? Do you know someone who owns a Short Term Rental? More information about applying for a STR license can be found on the county website.

Effective February 7, 2021, Boulder County has updated their code and is now requiring homeowners applying for Short Term Rental licenses to get a Wildfire Partners assessment. More information will be available on our website in March.

Let’s Talk Mitigation!
Wednesday evening

You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers!

This month, we’ll be talking about Colorado’s drought and what it means for wildfires this summer. Did you know this is the worst drought we’ve had since 2002?

Grab a cup of hot cocoa, and join Wildfire Partners staff members, Abby Silver and Leslie Brodhead, to answer any mitigation questions you have.

Wednesday, February 10 at 7 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting
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Recorded Webinars on Wildfire Preparedness

Fire Ecology and Behavior

Defensible Space and Home Hardening

Fire Resistant Landscapes

Evacuation Preparedness and Animal Evacuation

Webinar Schedule:Click here to register for these free events
Feb 2 – Historic Forest/Fire Management and Policy: Tony Cheng, Professor of Forestry, CSU
Feb 9 – Fire Effects on Ecosystem Services: Mike Caggiano, Research Associate, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, CSU; Richard Thorp, Fort Collins City Utilities
Feb 16 – Colorado Climate Change: Russ Schumacher, Associate Professor of Meteorology, Colorado State Climatologist
March 2 -Cameron Peak & East Troublesome Fire: Operations:Brad White, Grand County Fire Chief (Additional speakers pending confirmation)
March 9 – Cameron Peak & East Troublesome Fire: Sub-alpine Ecology/Historical Perspective: Jason Sibold, Assistant Professor of Geography, CSU
March 16 – Cameron Peak & East Troublesome Fires: Montane Fire History: Peter Brown, Director, Rocky Mountain Tree Ring Research, Inc.
March 23 – Cameron Peak & East Troublesome Fires: Short-term Post-fire Land Management: Jennifer Kovecses, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (Additional speakers pending confirmation)
March 30 – Cameron Peak & East Troublesome Fires: Long-term Post-fire Land Management: Laura Marshall, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, CSU
April 6 – Cameron Peak & East Troublesome Fires: Post-fire Recovery & Resilience: Long-term Outlook: Marin Chambers, Research Associate, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute; Chuck Rhoades, Biogeochemist, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station
April 20 – Future Fire Policy: Courtney Schultz, Associate Professor of Forest and Natural Resource Policy, CSU

Click here to register
*All webinars will be recorded and posted to the Southern Rockies Fire Science Network YouTube channel.

Minutes of the Special Gold Hill Town Meeting, January 25,2021

Text of the announcement for the meeting:
Serious efforts have been made over the years to create an accessible community center in Gold Hill that meets the range of functions the community would like support. Whether it be in discussions around the recent energy study or the personal conversations we’ve all had, many people in town think a community center would be a great addition. It could complement the store and inn, serve as a base for responding to emergencies/disasters, enable community events, provide a location for yoga, childcare or remote work. The possibilities are endless. The main problem in actualizing this has been the absence of a piece of land and space that could really work.
In order to reinvigorate this, a group of Gold Hill residents (for convenience we’re calling ourselves the “Friends of Gold Hill Community Center.”) have purchased the historical house at 900 Pine Street with the hope that it can ultimately be bought by the town as a community center. This was a spontaneous response to the opportunity. We found out it was available and that, if we could buy it before the end of the year, we could purchase it for a little under its assessed valuation. We managed to put it together quickly because it seemed to offer many possibilities to the town. Plus, if the town chose not to pursue acquiring this property, it seemed a safe bet that we could put it in better condition and sell it. Either way Gold Hill would be better off! We are not interested in making a profit from the town, but just to cover our investment.
We look forward to discussions with the Gold Hill Town Meeting and anyone else who is interested over the coming months around the community center opportunity! We envision a number of ways that the town could raise sufficient funds to purchase the place and we’re more than happy to assist through innovative financing arrangements and fundraising efforts! That said, there is no obligation for the town and all the details involved in any possible purchase by the town remain to be worked out.
We look forward to this special meeting on January 25 where we’ll be able to present more information, ideas, and details, answer questions, and begin to explore if there is sufficient interest to pursue this property for Gold Hill.
Looking forward to discussing this opportunity! We hope everyone finds it as exciting as we do!

Chair Emma Dirolf called this Special GHTM to order. Over 60 people signed on – amazing participation! – names included at the end.

Emma announced that this would be an hour meeting to discuss the latest community center idea. She began by calling on Gretchen to present some historical background of community centers in Gold Hill. Gretchen reported that when she first came to Gold Hill in 1966, the town owned the school. The town had built it and we owned it. We had town meetings there and potlucks, our Christmas Party and then, somehow, the school district took quiet title to it. We created a real uproar, but it was a done deal and it did seem more or less ok for a while and then there were more and more rules and restrictions. This was sometime in the early 70s, I think, and Gold Hill was small enough that most of us just did everything – the Fire Department, the Town Meeting, the PTO, played softball up at Rock Stadium. The Fire Department was not a tax district then and the GHTM was not incorporated. Well, we realized that we really needed a Firebarn (we just had the Walter garage and one small old truck) and community center, too. The Regniers generously volunteered to donate land to us in the perfect spot. The whole town got behind it – Bob Gibson donated the cement floor, Frank had a jar at the Inn and hit up patrons to donate, a bunch of us went to the brickyard and sorted through the rejects for useable bricks for the foundation, and local architects and carpenters all worked on it. It was a fantastic community effort. We had wonderful gatherings and parties there – pulled out the trucks and had Halloween parties and our local J.B. Stetson Sweatband played. We have lots of pictures. Later, the Town Meeting got CETA grants and Michael and others worked on finishing the upstairs for our meeting space, and John Rankin built the barn doors. But eventually the Fire Department, which now had the deed to the building, needed more space for Fire Department stuff. And so the town has again been talking for some time about figuring out our own community center (CC) space once more. Several years ago John Sand got a bunch of students in Boulder to inventory the historical buildings in Gold Hill and they designed a CC for Sinner’s yard, and later Peter Swift again got some students in a Design Center in Denver to imagine buildings that would meet our amazing list of desires for a possible CC – million-dollar wonderful ideal solutions that realistically we would never be able to afford, but were really inspiring. Then, in December, as you have heard, Marcus found out about the old Justin house being for sale from Denver, that the family loved the idea of it’s being a community gathering place, and that, if we could raise the money by the end of the year, we could get it for a little less than it was appraised for. Which 10 of us jumped in and did. So now we’re here to look at the possibilities of 900 Pine Street for the town to consider.
Next Marcus spoke and reported that he and Elisabeth came in contact with the GHTM over their remodel of the old Weaver place. They became aware of discussions around needing a community center when Peter Swift was the chair and got the students in Denver working on those beautiful designs. So, talk of a CC has come up again and again. Later, the Sustainability group worked on the major energy study and the need for the CC again came up as important for Gold Hill. They actually looked at the place across from their house, but it sold immediately. They realized we are in a bit of a chicken and egg situation. In the absence of a specific site to purchase, the town can’t raise the funds to buy it, but when something comes available it sells before the town can respond. Without both at once (almost impossible) it might be hard to ever make it happen. When Denver said the Justin family wanted to sell, Marcus thought that unless we could make an offer, we’d be in the same chicken and egg situation again. Our ad hoc committee, the Friends of the Gold Hill Community Center (FGHCC), formed because Marcus started talking to people in the community who might be interested and able to put up the money to purchase and hold the building for long enough to give the community time to decide if it could meet our needs. And, if not, it should be easy to sell to someone to live there. We agreed internally to hold it for two years and would like to make around 2% on the purchase price to cover the investment. If the GHTM reached an agreement and signed a letter of intent, the FGGCC could help work out loans/grants, etc. and work on fundraising, how to incorporate volunteers and so on. It is important to state again that there is no demand on the GHTM to pursue this. It’s a good structure, pretty solid, although it obviously needs a new roof, porch and septic. Dan, who is a certified building inspector, has inspected it and has given us a detailed assessment. It has a significantly large flat lot. We know there is a concern for business activities to be mainly on Main Street, but this would not be a business or anything in constant use. And there should be a lot of potential synergies with the Inn, the Store, and the School. It could possibly help provide space and off-street wood storage for the mitigation project on the north side of town if needed. It cost $255,000 plus legal and closing fees and has been appraised at $300,000.

Emma replied that she supports the idea of the Community Center and this great effort – thinks it could be a benefit for all. Dan echoed that – he supports the effort and thinks it could work well. He thanked the folks who have put in this effort to remove the cycle of the chicken and egg, and because of the gradual shift with the Firebarn being needed more and more by the Fire Department, the need for a community center has grown. With the most recent fire and evacuation, it seems we need the space, heat, WiFi, and phone a community center could provide and not be in the way of the Fire Department. The Firebarn stairs and sometimes icy walkway can also be obstacles to ADA access. Mari added that it seems exciting that we could use it and not have to build a new building and she likes the idea of turning an old building into something good for the community. Gretchen said that it’s appealing to preserve an old building. It could be added onto or, given the large lot, we could possibly use the present building for smaller uses and build a larger meeting space in back – like a barn maybe. Marcus added that, as an historical community building, preservation would be a positive for fund raising from the County. When they presented the energy study to the County Commissioners, which included community support for a CC, the County Commissioners said come back to us.

Emma said that there were several questions in the chat about the structure. Marcus reported that Dan did a basic residential inspection. It has a 40 foot hand dug well. The foundation directly under the house and the floor trusses are solid.

Joanne questioned if the Museum could double as a CC. Deb pointed out that it has no heat, no insulation, no water, no bathroom and no other place for exhibits. When they have community outreach events, it takes about 10 people to move things around and protect the exhibits. Also, no food is allowed in the museum. The Museum is its own 501(c)3 owned by Historic Gold Hill. Board members are Boyd, Joan Few, Jane Maslanka, Jay Clark, Ania Poisson, Deb, and Norm Skarstad.

Emily pointed out that when the Museum evolved, she was concerned about parking and traffic. Pine Street is residential and not part of a business district. Our community is not growing due to limited space available and she is concerned about any development in this small community, many places now don’t have adequate water supply or septic systems and something like this proposed new use would be a big impact and concerns her greatly. This is an historic zone and that ambience is part of why we’re here. She doesn’t agree with turning the Museum into a CC either.

Emma, looking at the chats, asked about zoning. Boyd thinks there would have to be a change of use and that there are a lot of realistic concerns. He’d suggest having the building looked at by certified contractors to evaluate the costs for the necessary improvements – he’s not sure the building is sound. He added that the Museum is 1250 square feet and 900 Pine Street is 700. He thinks there are a huge amount of things to look at: well and septic, code upgrades, wiring, fire protection, outside lighting, parking, and he agrees with Emily about potential traffic, parking and heavy impact on the neighborhood. Back in the 70s there were major discussions about cottage industries and the town felt that from the Store to the crossroads should be our business zone.

Bear pointed out that Leslie’s comment in the chat was the first he’d heard about a new Firebarn and wondered about how much the Fire Department had looked into that. Boyd replied that they have been talking about it for several years – possible designs and locations. Part of the issue has been fundraising and now they have new people knowledgeable about grants and grant-writing. Lefthand has just started the process and have gone through several iterations, so we’re observing them. The current location doesn’t accommodate what we need – we need a different space. He knows that when the land was deeded to the Fire Department, it created some hard feelings because the town had put so much effort into the building for both the fire department and the community center. Marcus responded that Boyd’s points are really good and there are a lot of questions to be addressed and the 900 Pine building is small. It seems that, if the Fire Department is looking at fundraising for a new building, they would have to use the present building as collateral or for matching funds. There are many different options to explore.

Greg Buis chimed in with wondering where are we going now and Emma responded that there is a lot to discuss. We can collect questions and start looking at answers. Marcus suggested that there needs to be a lot more community discussion and that we need to make an effort to collect questions, ideas, key challenges and get more tangible information to see if we get to the point where the town wants to pursue the possibilities of 900 Pine.

Emma outlined our direction as 1. Collecting questions and answers as we know them and getting information out and 2. Eventually taking a vote of the town on what direction to go. Probably can’t happen by the February GHTM. It was decided to put out a Google survey to get more town input. She added that we had over 50 participants in this meeting, which indicates a great deal of interest, and thanked everyone.

List of attendees – includes people not fully identified, so if you are one of the people with question marks, let me know and I can correct the list:

Participants list for Special GHTM 1-26-21

Emma Diorolf, Mari Sidell, Bear Carlson, Poppy Copeland, Erin Vanek, Deb Yeager, Dan Meadke, Chrissy Meadke, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Breida Geesaman, Rick Geesaman, Heidi Kessler, Richard Roth, Kelly Viet, Mike – Partner of Kelly Veit, Norm Skarstad, Bill Patterson, Marcus Moench, Elisabeth Caspari, Val Crist, Dina Elder, Mark Elder, Rebecca Wilder, Yanos Wilder, Kris Gibson, Chris Finn, Leslie Finn, Boyd Brown , Johanna Gangemi, Danielle Maida, Rick Sinner, David Umberger, Virginia Shultz, Dwight Debroux, Laura (?), Matt Connery + 2 civic kids, Lacey Storey, Adwoa Lemieux, Cat Russell, Nick Martin, Michael Wollard, Joanne Cole, Mireille Brown, Tyrus ?, Luzie Mason, Richard Lopez, Karen (?), Steffi Wilson, Dave Wilson, Greg Buis, Rick Sinner, Jojo Morrison, Jessica Brookhart, Todd Swift, Brian (?), Thomas Woodson, Rick Sheingold, Max Yeager, Amy Connery, Chris Dirolf, Ipad(4) – (?), Ian Morlock, Emily Rose, Sarah O’Brian, Sam (Not O’Brian), Jenna Gann, Juliet (?), Joey Schusler

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary

Special Town Meeting tonight

Topic: Special Town Meeting: Community Center
Time: Jan 25, 2021 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Just to highlight – we do have a dial in option now that we have the Town Zoom account! Those who can’t video chat can call in. Let your neighbors know who do not have internet

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81912512782?pwd=Q1hkSFVMZnVVanFESXpTSENjV0s0QT09

Meeting ID: 819 1251 2782
Passcode: 883568
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,81912512782#,,,,*883568# US (San Jose)
+12532158782,,81912512782#,,,,*883568# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
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Meeting ID: 819 1251 2782
Passcode: 883568
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kddWsp4o2P

Best,

Emma M Dirolf
emma.dirolf@nullgmail.com
513.259.1532

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER
Minutes of the December 14, 2020 Town Meeting by Zoom

Next Regular Town Meeting will be Monday February 8, 7:00 P.M. by Zoom

The meeting was called to order by Chair Emma Dirolf. Thirteen people (if I missed anyone, please let me know) checked in: Emma, Deb Yeager, Val Crist, Marcus Moench, Elisabeth Caspari, Sarah Davis of S.R.D. Consulting, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Dick Cole, Leslie Finn, Emily Rose, Vice-Chair Mari Sidell, Virginia Schultz, Chris Dirolf

Emma then introduced Sarah Davis, our Boulder County Consultant, to present the summary of the Resilient Renewal Design Initiative (https://www.resilientgoldhill.com/feasibility-study), the study conducted for Gold Hill with our Technical Advisory Committee composed of Marcus, Elisabeth, Dina and Mark Elder, Bob Mazurkiewicz, Paul Melamed, Virginia, Cat Russell, Heidi Kessler and Richard Roth. The goal of the study was to evaluate the technical, economic, social and environmental feasibility of providing the community with renewable energy. It kicked off in Feb. 2020 and met monthly looking at solution brainstorming, feasibility, and prioritization. The most feasible solutions seem to be for individual households: energy efficiency, rooftop solar installations, and home battery back-up systems. Other areas of consideration are a Community Center Solar Microgrid although there are regulatory challenges with Exel Energy. Other considerations: local water supply, communication issues, electrical vehicle charging, mobile battery storage trailer, neighborhood hubs. They looked at the technical feasibility, financial feasibility and regulatory feasibility of all the solutions considered, and the possible path forward – the need to create a non-profit quasi-governmental entity, benchmarks and system tracking progress. Phase 1 – Funding for bulk purchasing for solar systems, battery storage systems, etc., before the end of 2021. Phase 2 – Finding space for a Community Center – new or retrofit. Phase 3 – Future possibilities, including wind energy and geothermal energy.
Addressing energy efficiency, Virginia added the EnergySmart link: https://energysmartyes.cfom / and Cat Russell has a renewable energy survey we can all fill out at https://www.climateactionmaps.org/challenges
For more information, the study is full of amazing information and there will be hard copies at the Store. You can also contact one of our Gold Hill members of the committee: Dina Elder: dina.elder@nullgmail.com, Marcus Moench: marcus.moench@nullgmail.com, Cat Russell: wildcat.russell@nullgmail.com, Virginia Schultz: virginia.schultz@nullcolorado.edu They are looking at grants for funding from the State and the County. Reliable communication is top of the list. DOLA is revamping their funding. Virginia added that the USDA has all kinds of grants for conservation. Even FEMA is thinking of funding things before disasters strike vs. after.

Minutes of the October GHTM were approved as published

Treasurer’s Report – Martha emailed her report
Gold Hill Town Meeting Treasurer’s Report Summary: 12/14/2020
At the previous regular Town Meeting in August 2020 our bank balance was $17,999.74. Our current total cash assets are $17,297.10.
Revenue Summary: Cemetery Fund donations $100, General Fund additions $243.15 from pint glass sales totaling $217 and bank safe deposit box refund $26.15.
Expense Summary: Cemetery miscellaneous expense $60.44; Liability insurance policy renewal $303 from the General Fund; and $682.35 food bank expense from the COVID-19 Response Fund.
Fund transfers: $300 from General Fund to Community Planning/Fundraising for t-shirt/pint glass expenses.
Current fund totals: General Fund $3676.86; Cemetery $3,105.21; Safe Link (combined fundsfor SafeSite, AirLink, NeighborLink projects) $2,466.79; Community Planning/Fundraising $300; Forest Management $0 (zero;) Community Relief $2,375.20; COVID-19 Response Fund $1,373.04; Water Harvesting/Ag Education Grant $4,000.
Anticipated expenses for remainder of 2020: General Fund $50.00 for porta-potty maintenance.

Prepared by
Martha Knapp, Treasurer Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc. 12/14/2020
We do still have money in the COVID relief fund to help people in need in this time of COVID – loss of income, jobs, medical needs. For information and the application form, https://goldhilltown.com/ghtm-community-relief-fund/ Quite a bit of money has gone to help support the Gold Hill Food Bank also, which serves the community on Mondays at 3:00 p.m. in front of the Gold Hill Hotel and Inn.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mountain Stewards – Email from Chrissy Maedke – How to sign up to be a Bee Safe Neighborhood – This program is now being sponsored through The People’s Bees https://www.thepeoplesbees.com

The idea is that you try to get at least 75 addresses to commit to either:
• Level One Pledge: I will not use any insecticide products that include neonicotinoids or systemic poisons on my property.
• Level Two Pledge: I will not use any insecticide products whatsoever on my property.
• Level Three Pledge: I will not use any insecticide products whatsoever on my property, and will plant nectar- and pollen-rich flowers to feed the local bees.
They register online at: https://www.thepeoplesbees.com/pledge
When a person registers, the neighborhood is Gold Hill, and I am the coordinator: Chrissy Maedke. (PS, I am doing this as a citizen, not as a teacher.)

Forestry and Forest Management – Virginia reports that there are big Wildfire Mitigation projects in the works. Maya MacHamer at fourmilewatershed@nullgmail.com is working with us and the Fire Department on plans for the north side of Gold Hill including the Ashley property and the Ashram. The old mitigation efforts will be re-mitigated and improved. We will have to burn slash piles and possibly do prescriptive burns as well. Chris Dirolf has participated in prescriptive burns and every little bit helps to thin trees and open the landscape. There is nice data on how much the mitigation work that had been done helped in our last fire. Emily spoke about the cutting that was done on the north side in the past and the slash was left. She had questions about how this will be dealt with. Virginia replied that this is a big project and there will be a full report and maps. The work on the top can be done with hand crews, but the lower, steeper parts will probably require big equipment. There will be opportunities for local input to make sure our concerns are addressed. Mari added that Maya is very available and willing to come to the GHTM and do community outreach. Chris Dirolf said that Tuesday, Dec. 15 is the Fire Board Meeting and they will be looking at this project and touching base with Maya on Thursday. Emma is happy to invite Maya to come to our February and April GHTMs so we can tell her our concerns and find out about the plans.
Gold Hill School – no report

Gold Hill Museum – Deb reports that they are finishing up the year and there are still things available for sale: towels, t-shirts, etc. Call Deb at 303- 449-0454.

Community Planning – no report, Cemetery – no report, Community Center – no report

Food Pantry – Deb reports that the Foot Pantry is still distributing food on Mondays in front of the Gold Hill Hotel and Inn at 3:00 p.m. They are working on getting the refrigerator and freezer used for storage wired – they’re temporarily hooked up with extension cords at the Firebarn now.

SafeLink/NeighborLink/AirLink/Emergency Preparedness/Communications –
Deb reports that NeighborLink, our glorified phone tree, is still getting updated and we’re working on how to get information to everyone in emergencies, how to reach new people and let them know about how to get connected to make sure they hear about evacuation orders, and get signed up with the Office of Emergency Management (boulderoem.com) for Everbridge (the County’s reverse 9-1-1) www.boco911alert.com. We’re working on a survey to find out how everyone wants to be contacted, who all lives in each house, their email address, etc. Virginia added that OEM is coming out with a new hazard mitigation plan as well. More revised information will be included in Welcome Buckets.

Weed Management – Marcus noted extensive leafy spurge outbreaks that will need to be addressed.

Historical Zoning – no report

Fire Department – Leslie reported that COVID vaccinations are now happening and how soon the GHFPD gets them is still unknown.

Non Discrimination Statement – Marcus said that we need a non-discrimination statement in the bylaws, specifically to apply for grants. Here is what we came up with at our last meeting:
The Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc., does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender expression, age, citizenship status, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, election of Town Council members, participation by any members of the Town Meeting area, selection of volunteers or vendors, or potential hiring and firing of any staff. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the Gold Hill Town Meeting, Inc., its partners, guests and attendees, volunteers, subcontractors and vendors.
Gretchen moved that we approve this statement and add it to the bylaws and the motion carried.

Zoom for the GHTM – Virginia moved that we approve purchase of a professional Zoom account for town meetings and affiliated educational events. Mari seconded and the motion passed.

Emma will reach out to Maya MacHamer and see if she can attend our next meeting to discuss the Wildfire Mitigation planning for Gold Hill, and to Pam Sherman about weed management. Someone suggested getting a town goat.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary

Community feedback requested on Peak Ride Volunteer Driver Plan Draft

From: Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting <bouldercounty@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2021 2:46 PM
Subject: Community feedback requested on Peak Ride Volunteer Driver Plan Draft

Draft plan is open for public comment until February 5, 2021

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
boulder county news and information banner
January 22, 2021
Contact
Richard Hackett, 720-564-2605
Community feedback requested on Mobility for All Program Peak Ride Volunteer Driver Plan Draft
Draft plan is open for public comment until February 5, 2021
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting Department Mobility for All (M4A) Program invites community members to comment on the draft Peak Ride Volunteer Driver Plan. The inclusive planning effort assessed the feasibility of a volunteer driver program for Bolder County’s mountain communities.

The draft plan can be found at boco.org/M4APeakRidePlan.

A volunteer driver program would help expand personal mobility for all mountain residents. The plan will serve as a guide for community partners to create a viable, locally derived, volunteer driver program while meeting funding reporting criteria.

The plan was created with the help of mountain residents and Transportation Community Relations Consultant Tamara Whinston. The Peak Ride planning process prioritized community involvement, with residents of the mountains being the driving force behind the planning effort.

A 20-member Peak Ride Planning group was formed, including older adults, caregivers, individuals with disabilities, human services organizations, and transportation providers. The Peak to Peak Housing & Human Services Alliance and the Town of Lyons Housing & Human Services Commission were instrumental partners throughout the planning process.

Outreach and focus groups took part from across the Peak to Peak region including:

Allenspark
Coal Creek Canyon
Gold Hill
Jamestown
Lyons
Nederland
Ward
Key Findings
The mountain community has very strong social bonds, with residents wanting to help one another.
The core clients for the service will be older adults, adults with disabilities and low-income individuals. All three groups are at risk of becoming isolated due to limited mobility options in the region.
The unmet travel needs of mountain residents extends beyond just Boulder County and into Gilpin, Larimer and Grand Counties.
There are multiple funding streams that volunteer driver programs can tap into.
The Peak Ride Volunteer Driver Plan will serve as a roadmap for the creation of a volunteer driver program for the mountain communities. This program would provide door-through-door transportation service for seniors, persons with disabilities and low-income residents of the mountains.

Feedback and recommendations from mountain residents will lead to the best plan possible. The plan will be open for comments until February 5, 2021.

For more information, contact mobilityforall@nullbouldercounty.org, or call 720-564-2218.

CPP Peak Ride Driver Program

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County Sheriffs of Colorado scholarship program

From: Boulder County Sheriff <BoulderCountySheriff@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2021 9:10 AM
Subject: County Sheriffs of Colorado scholarship program open to Boulder County students

Applications are due on Feb. 26, 2021.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
BoCoSheriff
For Immediate Release
Jan. 21, 2021
Media Contact
Public Information Unit, 303-441-1500
County Sheriffs of Colorado scholarship program open to Boulder County students
Boulder County, Colo. – The County Sheriffs of Colorado, Inc. (CSOC), the state sheriffs’ association, will award a $500 scholarship to a deserving Boulder County student to be used for the fall 2021 or spring 2022 semester.

Scholarship announcements have been mailed to all high school offices in the eligible counties and to all Colorado higher education institutions. Applications are also available online at: www.coloradosheriffs.org/scholarships, or on the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office website. Applications are due on Feb. 26, 2021.

Applications will be reviewed by a local committee appointed by the sheriff, and a selection will be made on the basis of criteria established by CSOC. This criterion includes leadership, merit, character, involvement and career purpose.

Any resident of Boulder County enrolled in, or applying to, a vocational training program or institution of higher learning in the state of Colorado as a full or part-time student is eligible to apply. There are no restrictions as to the course of study or training which may be pursued, and no restrictions are placed upon applications by reason of race, creed, age, sex or national origin.

The County Sheriffs of Colorado has made such scholarships available since 1978. A scholarship will be awarded in more than 30 Colorado counties this year.

For more information, contact your local high school, college, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office or County Sheriffs of Colorado.

Visit us at: www.BoulderSheriff.org

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Community Supported Agriculture

It’s that time again to decide if you’re wanting to be a part of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)! This year we’re going with Aspen Moon Farm CSA. This one is handled differently than how Black Cat Farms handled theirs, and this past season offered many weeks of plentiful produce along with the ability to choose which veggies you will receive each week.

I’m Liz Wiig and live on Main Street in the old Sand home. I’m your new coordinator for this CSA and will organize the pickup and distribution of the shares. Debra Yeager and I have decided to go in this direction and I will be handling all of the elements of this opportunity for us so Debra will be free to focus on the Food Pantry and other community programs.

Aspen Moon Farm is located near Longmont and grows a large variety of organic and biodynamic produce. In addition to their 18- or 22-week summer CSA, you can add on a flower share (grown on their farm), fruit share (from Ela Family Farm), or bread share (from Moxie Bakery), with an option to sign up for their extended Fall CSA.

If you would like to sign up, please follow the instructions below and SEND ME AN EMAIL once you have done so. You are welcome to team up with others to split shares or purchase one just for your household. They will likely sell out of shares so I’d recommend doing so sooner than later!

**Please mark “Boulder” as your pickup location and write that you are with the Gold Hill group in the notes section at check-out.

Remember to send me (lizwiig@nullgmail.com) and email letting me know that you have signed up!**

2021 Aspen Moon Farm CSA Shares

CLICK HERE to sign up for the CSA through Harvie (their CSA software). Below are the 2021 season details for you to review (all of this info is also in the Harvie software when you click the above link):

3 share sizes are available! You may choose between:

SMALL($25/week), REGULAR($35/week), or LARGE($45/week)

The 22-week Summer share will be the weeks of May 18th-Oct 26th
The 18-week Summer share will be the weeks of June 15th-Oct 26th
You may choose between a weekly or bi-weekly share
Pickup location for Gold Hill group:

Boulder Weds 2pm-6pm (exact location TBD). **One person will pick up everyone’s shares and deliver them to Gold Hill.
Fall share is available as well. The Fall share will be a weekly share from the week of 11/3 to the week of 12/14 for $35/week (1 size only for Fall share). You may signup for this share at a later date as well.

The flower add-on ($15/week) is currently available for signup.
The fruit and bread add-ons will be available for signup in the Spring.
Flexible Payment Plans We know paying up front for a share can be tough on the budget. With our shares, you’ll have two different payment options. We’ll review them here:
1. Pay in Full at the time of sign-up
2. Payment Plan
a. You’ll pay 25% down at sign-up
b. You’ll pay an additional 25% + 1st share the first week of CSA
c. Then, the additional 50% balance will be split evenly throughout the
remainder of the season. This will be charged to your card on file.

Once your order has been completed and your card has been charged, you will receive an email series that will provide you with info about how to use your Harvie account for Aspen Moon CSA. *If you prefer to pay by check, please email us directly at info@nullaspenmoonfarm.com.

We now offer CUSTOMIZABLE shares through Harvie, our online farm share management software. Once you sign up for a share, you’ll be asked to rate all the products we have to offer on a scale of “not for me” to “I love it.” Your share will be built based on those preferences and what we have available in season at the time. Don’t like zucchini? Rate them a “not for me” and you won’t ever see them! Love carrots? Give them an “I love it” and we’ll try to get that to you every time they are available!

Read about preferences here.

Swap your veggies! Prior to your delivery, you’ll have the option to swap out items if you want! Already have enough greens this week? Just swap them out for something else we have available that week.

And don’t worry, if you love the surprise of not knowing what is in your share, you can simply skip setting preferences and customizing and we’ll pack a regular ‘ole awesome share for you to pick up!

Read about how to swap items here.

Going on vacation? Traveling? No problem. Harvie has a built in tool that will allow you to place your share on “hold” or reschedule it for a future date within your season.

Read about how to reschedule or hold your share here.

Join us this season and we’ll provide shares of farm-fresh produce customized to your personal preferences!

JOIN NOW

If you have any questions, give me a call or send a text at 209-352-8849, or email me at: lizwiig@nullgmail.com, and don’t forget to let me know if you sign up!

Happy harvest!

Liz

Landscaping with CO Native Plants Conference

If you are interested in supporting our little pollinator friends, there is an online conference you might be interested in on February 27.
2021 Landscaping with CO Native Plants Conference
You can learn more about it and sign up here:

https://pheedloop.com/EVEMSJHPTZKRI/site/home/

– Sustainability Tip from Gold Hill Mountain Stewards
Dina Elder dina.elder@nullgmail.com

County Sheriffs of Colorado scholarship program

From: Boulder County Sheriff <BoulderCountySheriff@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2021 9:10 AM
To: cfinn@nullcenturylink.net
Subject: County Sheriffs of Colorado scholarship program open to Boulder County students

Applications are due on Feb. 26, 2021.

The County Sheriffs of Colorado has made such scholarships available since 1978. A scholarship will be awarded in more than 30 Colorado counties this year.

For more information, contact your local high school, college, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office or County Sheriffs of Colorado.

Visit us at: www.BoulderSheriff.org

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Boulder County Colorado · 1325 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302
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Gold Hill, Colorado

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Lickskillet

GHFPD Board Meeting, Tuesday, 2-23-21

Town Communication

Wildfire Summit

GHFPD Board Meeting postponed to Feb. 23

Nederland Community COVID Vaccine Clinic – Coming Soon

Fentanyl Laced Street Drugs in Boulder

Mountain Anti-Racist Self-Education Group

Let’s Talk Wildfire Mitigation!

Educational Opportunities on Post Fire Restoration

Boulder County Public Health’s Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership

Boulder County Area Agency on Aging – February Edition – Aging Well Newsletter

GHTM Agenda, Monday, Febg. 8, 7:00 p.m.

Questions on 900 Pine Street as a Community Space

Gold Hill Community Center Committee – call for volunteers

Wildfire Partners News

Recorded Webinars on Wildfire Preparedness

Minutes of the Special Gold Hill Town Meeting, January 25,2021

Special Town Meeting tonight

GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING NEWSLETTER

Community feedback requested on Peak Ride Volunteer Driver Plan Draft

County Sheriffs of Colorado scholarship program

Community Supported Agriculture

Landscaping with CO Native Plants Conference

County Sheriffs of Colorado scholarship program