VVooll..3393NNoo. .117 cccm ounta inmessenger.co m NoMveamrbcehr 202152
FLOODPL AINS What’s Brewing at
Coal Creek Coffee...
CCCWP PUBLIC WORKSHOP Holiday
November 12th, 5:30pm at CCCIA 20 Shopping Game Night
See page Get yEouvrengtreen on and join us
Sat., November 14th
March 12th Nov. 14th
for a fun Irish cSeleee bpargaet2i3on! See page 15
5pmP-as7toprm’s Pantr y
See page 27
Every Wednesday, 3:00pm to 5:00pm Holiday Food DriveSYeoeupacgaen2p0articipate by donating
Whispering Pines Church
Mountain Artisans GuildHoliday Arts & Crafts SaleMeet the Candidate canned and packaged food page 6
Tuesday, March See
Forum @ CCCIA
22| 7:30 Ca.omal Creek K-8 See page 3
Friday Nov. 20th 6pm - 9pm See page 9
*New The Conductor’s DispatchSaturday Nov. 21st 10am - 4pm
Evergreens Fundraiser
Taking orders now through November 29th
See page 25
See page 12
Last Stand Tavern
live music & EventsThursday, November 26th, noon – 2:00pmMa,rkCYCouCrICAaleHndaarl:l
See page 15 April 9th - Eggstravaganza for pcaangeyo13n kids
See
iNSIDE THIS ISSUE...
3 Coal Creek Canyon Sk y Watchers 19 WildAware - of Ringtail! PO BOX 7351, Crescent Branch
Golden CO, 80403
By Barbara David and John Williams By Jan Waddington and Chris McAllister
303.642.0067 please leave a message
5 ADVICE FROM THE GEEK: 20 CC Quick Quiz #16 email: [email protected]
Sophisticated (and subtle) phishing Submitted by Ruth Rodgers Website: www.cccmountainmessenger.com
By Geek for Hire Inc.
22 Tea Leaves or Scripture Produced, Designed and Printed monthly by
7 It Takes a Canyon! By Glor y Fletcher The Coal Creek Canyon Mountain Messenger, LLC
By Dave Pence and Linda Mar tin 23 Homelessness in Colorado To advertise email: [email protected]
or call 303.642.0067 & please leave a message
12 The Conductor’s Dispatch By John Jantsch
Contact The Mountain Messenger, LLC by the
By Brad Swartzwelter 25 March Crossword 20th of the month regarding news you feel Canyon
residents and businesses would like to know and
15 Pancake Breakfast Thank you By Tony Thorpe would enjoy reading. If you have recently moved to
the canyon, had a new baby, wedding, write stories,
By Bruce Goodwin 26 Sur vivors in Chaos articles, or poems, climb mountains, run in races
etc. We would appreciate it if you would give us a
16 Earthwatch By MB Reith call, mail or email the information. All letters must
include your name, address, telephone number
By Jody Dickson 27 March Saws & Slaws News and/or email address. We will not print anonymous
letters.
17 Powers of Attorney By Jody Dickson
The Coal Creek Canyon Mountain Messenger,
By Tamra K. Waltemath Spring LLC is published the 1st week of each month or
thereabouts. Advertisers need to provide a digital
18 What’s Brewing at Coal Creek Coffee advertisement by the deadline; or arrange for the
By Mallorie Knight advertisement’s design and preparation by The Coal
Creek Canyon Mountain Messenger, LLC.
CHURCH & COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
Facebook: Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado All advertising, articles or letters presented to The
Coal Creek Canyon Mountain Messenger, LLC is
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Every Wednesday, 7:00 pm at United Power Fire District Board Mtg. - Second Monday each month 7 PM at CCCFPD subject to managements approval. The policy for
Station #1 (30579 Hwy. 72) All meetings open to the public this publication is to run advertisements until the
Canyon Cares - Serving our community by providing resources to help care for advertiser notifies management to cancel it. If errors
the necessities and urgent needs of our neighbors! Call 720-515-1129 JEWISH HAVURAH - call 258-7971 or omissions in advertising occur management will
print a correction in the next issue of the publication
CHAPEL IN THE HILLS - Office: 303-642-3130, NA meeting, Mondays - 7pm. Nederland Community Presbyterian Church after the advertiser notifies the publication of
Pastor Todd W. Fletcher 720-401-6471, Adult Sunday School: 9AM Nederland, CO the error or omission. Submissions are to be
Sunday Morning Worship: 10AM informational and cannot be confrontational,
THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP (TEG) 1ST Tues. each month 5:30 pm see threatening or intolerant. If the article is advertising
Coal Creek Canyon Park and Recreation District EarthWatch article for location an event, service or product, a print ad should be
www.cccparkandrec.org/ submitted in addition to the article.
Saws and Slaws - www.sawsandslaws.com
CCCIA BOARD MEETING & other information. Second Tuesday of each Advertisements in this publication do not constitute
month 7 pm at the Hall. All meetings open to the public. To have items added Sky Watchers - https://sky-watchers.co an endorsement of the publication, management
to the agenda, please call 642-1540. For Hall rental/info contact Hall Manager or staff. Every advertisement is published with the
at 642-7300. For membership, Molly Fisher 642-3955. 31528 Highway 72, Spirit of the Mountain Lutheran Church agreement that the advertiser indemnifies and holds
coalcreekcanyon.org Contact Steve Hauser: 720-490-6826, Sunday Worship 11:00 am at the CCCIA Hall the The Coal Creek Canyon Mountain Messenger,
LLC, management and staff unaccountable from
CCC K-8 C3AC & PTSA - www.ccck8ptsa.org WHISPERING PINES CHURCH, 73 Gross Dam Rd (behind United Power) any loss claims or suits arising out of publication of
www.whispering-pines-church.org, Office: 303-642-3201, their advertisements. Submission of photographs
Cub Scout Pack 51 - For more info contact Tom 303-642-0309. Meetings are Pastor Nate Roschen, Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30AM or other material is done at the risk of the sender;
scheduled for the 1st Tues. of each month. The Mountain Messenger cannot accept liability
To be added to the directory email: [email protected] for loss or damage. Letters or articles to The
Coal Creek Canyon Mountain Messenger, LLC,
do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the
publication, management, staff or advertisers;
we reserve the right to edit content and length.
Cover Photograph © Dave Schemel,
Quantum Photography, [email protected]
*~*~* Coal Creek Canyon Sky Watchers! *~*~*
▪ By Barbara David & John Williams
Credit John Williams
Don’t miss our next Sky Watchers Zoom meeting on academic partnerships. The tools for
Saturday, March 26th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM! Join us exploration include telerobotics where
for a great presentation by Dr. Jack Burns from the Uni- astronauts aboard NASA’s future Lunar
versity of Colorado at Boulder, on future exploration and Gateway in orbit around the Moon will
technology on the Moon. operate rovers and deploy telescopes
on the lunar surface in a new synergy
Jack is a Professor in the Department of Astrophysical and between robots and humans.
Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Jack’s degrees are in Astrophysics and Astronomy. His teach- Jack helped create a new NASA-
ing and research focus on extragalactic astronomy and cosmol- funded planetarium show entitled “Forward! To the Moon” that
ogy, space science and space exploration, and science policy. he will be talking about in his Sky Watchers Zoom presentation.
It is now showing at CU Boulder’s Fiske Planetarium as well
Jack’s talk will focus on the future of human and robotic as nationwide. The show also highlights CU Boulder research
exploration of the Moon and beyond. Since the end of the and new scientific instruments that Burns and his colleagues
Apollo program, the justification for the human space program helped design. They will touch down on the Moon in the near
has proven elusive. Borrowing a page from the Silicon Valley future. For more information and tickets, here’s the link –
computer and commercial space companies, he will highlight https://www.colorado.edu/fiske/showtimes/fulldome-films-star-shows/fulldome-film-forward-moon
an inspirational approach using new tools and technologies for
the next phase of exploration. Local Sky Watcher Leonard David will also give us brief
updates on international space missions. To be on our email list,
Jack’s presentation will tell you about NASA’s Orion and send your email to – [email protected] During the
Space Launch Systems along with new rockets and landers week before our meeting, we send out an email reminder and the
being developed by private companies such as SpaceX and Zoom link. We’ll also email you the day of the meeting with the
Blue Origin. He will make the case that both the Moon and link so you have it handy. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Mars can be explored through a combination of governmental
programs, international partnerships, and public-private- Continued on page 4
cccmountainmessenger.com March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 3
CCC Sky Watchers Continued from page 3 Mercury and Jupiter are lost in the glare of the Sun this
month. Venus and Mars ride together in the brightening skies
MARCH NIGHT SKIES – Follow the Arc of morning followed by Saturn as it rises higher and higher
By John Williams each morning. New Moon occurs on March 2nd. The Full
Worm Moon rises March 18th. The Worm Moon refers to the
This month, let’s play a game of follow the stars. This will earthworms that appear in the soil in the Spring in some warmer
help us identify a few spring constellations. Find the Big Dipper climates than ours. An alternative explanation is that worm-like
and let your eyes wander along the bend of the handle into the larvae begin to emerge from thawing bark of trees. Other names
center of the sky to a bright yellowish star. This is Arcturus, are Eagle Moon, Goose Moon, Crow Comes Back Moon, Sugar
the fourth brightest star in the night sky. It is the brightest star Moon, Wind Strong Moon, and Sore Eyes Moon.
in the constellation Bootes, the Herdsman. “Follow the Arc to
Arcturus.” And for those who track the position of the Sun, March
equinox or Spring equinox for the northern hemisphere arrives
Straightening the arc, speed on to Spica. It is among the at 9:32 AM on Sunday, March 20th here in Coal Creek Canyon.
brightest stars in the sky. It is a blue giant and is the brightest The Sun rises almost directly in the east that morning. Day and
star in the Zodiacal constellation of Virgo. night are about the same length.
Arcturus shows us what may happen to our own Sun one day. OUR FEBRUARY MEETING
Our Sun is about 4.5 billion years old; about halfway through We had 35 people at our February 19th Zoom meeting for
its life. Arcturus, at 7.1 billion years old, on the other hand, is
nearing the end of its life. Arcturus has about the same mass as an inspiring presentation from Dr. Seth Shostak of the SETI
our Sun, but it has expanded to about 25 times larger than the Institute. Seth earned his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the
Sun and is 110 times brighter. It is bright not only because of California Institute of Technology, and a B.A. in Physics from
its size but also because it is just 40 light years away. The light Princeton University. With a later degree in radio astronomy,
reaching our eyes from Arcturus left 40 years ago. Or another he is now Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute – and an
way to think about it is we are looking at Arcturus, not as it is enthusiastic participant in the Institute’s SETI observing
today but as it was 40 years ago. Looking at the night sky is programs.
like using a time machine. Arcturus is also moving very fast. Learn more about Seth and his books, articles and scientific
In 500,000 years or so, it will be more than 800 light years papers at – https://sethshostak.com To listen to his weekly
from Earth.
Arrow Drilling Company
Water Well Drilling
40+ years in the Drilling Industry
Licensed, Bonded, Insured
303-421-8766
www.arrowdrilling.biz
Peter R. Berglund Lic. #1215
5800 West 60th Ave.
Arvada, CO 80003
Arr ow Drilling Co. has be en the pr emier family owned and operated well drilling service for
the city of Denver and its surr ounding ar eas. We ar e a second-generation business dedicated to
pr oviding excellent services and high quality pr oducts for our valued customers.
4 © Mountain Messenger March 2022 cccmountainmessenger.com
science radio show, go to – http://www.bigpicturescience.org Thanks so much to John Williams for our website, hosting
For the SETI Institute’s website, go to – https://www.seti.org most of our Zoom meetings, and being the co-director
of Sky Watchers. Thanks to Carolyn Collins Petersen
STUDENTS, TEACHERS & PARENTS! OUR WEBSITE for our Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/
HAS GREAT SCIENCE EDUCATION RESOURCES! CoalCreekCanyonSkyWatchers We’re grateful for our sponsors
– CCC Park & Recreation District.
Find links to astronomy and space exploration topics at –
https://sky-watchers.co Our members are glad to help students Cheers! ~ Barb & Leonard David and John Williams
with their science projects via Zoom.
ADVICE FROM THE GEEK: ▪ By Geek for Hire Inc.
Sophisticated (and subtle) phishing
Phishing emails are getting way more sophisticated and Everything else about the message looked fine. Here’s a
harder to detect. We need to be extra careful with each email side-by-side comparison of this email and a legitimate email
we receive to make sure it’s not a phishing attempt. from PayPal:
What happened:
This week I received an email from “PayPal” that looks
exactly like all the other emails I receive from the real company.
“You sent a payment of $27.98, Thank you.” I was about the
clink on the link because I haven’t purchased anything recently
using PayPal.
Then, a little voice in my head said:
“Wait one second! What do you always tell your
readers? DON’T click on links in ANY email!”
Then I noticed the email address. It started with
“pzjtm363im95svn” and ended with “emaildl.att-mail.com”.
Continued on page 6
cccmountainmessenger.com March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 5
Geek For Hire Continued from page 5 down arrow that shows all the message details. Is the sender
address legitimate? Is it from [email protected], or
Notice that the Phishing message wants me to click on a link if I from [email protected]?
have a problem. PayPal asks me to contact them. The rest of the
message is simply a copy/paste from a real message with two 3. Does the link take you to where you think it says it will?
very subtle differences. First, all the blue text in the phishing With your mouse, hover over each link. If you look in the
email are not real links. They don’t go anywhere. The only real bottom left-hand corner of the window, you’ll see where that
link is the “Cancel the Payment” button. Secondly, they have link takes you. Is it really “Paypal.com” or is it “Paypall.ru”?
made the font larger and easier to read. (Did you notice the extra “L” in the URL?
What next: 4. Reach out to the real company to let them know about the
So, I logged into my PayPal account from the URL I have phishing attempt. When I tweeted about this and tagged @
saved. I just wanted to be sure. As I suspected, there was no new Paypal, they asked me to forward the email to [email protected].
activity on my account. This was a phishing attempt to get me
to reveal my username and password. If the phishers/scammers/ 5. Read any warnings from your email provider. This email
bad guys had been successful, they would have access to my came to my Gmail account. They warned that this email
checking account which is linked to PayPal. would have gone to my Spam folder if I had not set up a
“Rule” to send the message to my inbox. They also wanted
Lessons learned: to know if I wanted to read the message in “Afrikaans”.
1. It doesn’t matter who you think the email is from. When
Conclusion:
you get any email with clickable links, go to the website or Never trust. Never assume. Be hyper-vigilant! An email may
URL that you already know for that company. Who cares seem benign, but with more sophisticated hackers out there,
that Bank of America sends you an email every month with it’s best not to click on any link in ANY email. Don’t let your
your balance or payment due. That exact same information guard down!
will be available if you go to your account independently
and don’t click on the link in the email. INFORMATION ABOUT GEEK FOR HIRE, INC.
Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has provided computer service
2. Carefully look at the actual email address, not just the to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PCs for the past
Display Text (who they want you to think the message nineteen years. Angie’s List and the BBB rate Geek For Hire very
came from). Most email providers provide a button or
6 © Mountain Messenger March 2022 cccmountainmessenger.com
highly. You can find more on our website or give us a call at 303- Our Covid Policy can be found here: https://geekforhireinc.com/
618-0154. covid19-policy. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier
Gail Eddy writes most of these articles. She’s the manager of Geek 3 support) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area and remote
For Hire and is who you’ll likely talk to when you call for an service throughout North America.
appointment.
It Takes a Canyon! ▪ By Dave Pence and Linda Mar tin
Welcome to the March edition of It Takes A Canyon! This use of low-embodied concrete. Fly ash lowers the embodied
month, we continue with part two of the interview with Todd energy consumption for concrete production. We expect to
Hartman, media director with Denver Water. cut our cement need in half by using fly ash replacement in
the concrete.
ITAC!: Cement manufacturing is highly energy and emissions • We will pay Boulder County an offset amount for use in a
intensive because of the extreme heat required to produce it. • climate innovation/impact fund. Funding may be used for
Producing a ton of cement requires 4.7 million BTUs of energy, projects that responsibly and sustainably pull carbon dioxide
equivalent to about 400 pounds of coal, and generates nearly from the atmosphere or other local restoration and climate
a ton of CO2. Given its high emissions and critical importance to stabilization projects.
society, cement is an obvious place to look to reduce greenhouse Denver Water is committed to stewarding our environment and
gas emissions. How will Denver Water offset/limit the CO2 output mitigating emissions from its operations. We are continuing to
with the production of cement used for raising the dam? increase our sustainability efforts and striving towards reduced
energy use in our new facilities. We routinely feature our many
Denver Water: sustainability efforts on our TAP news site (denverwater.org/
• In the settlement agreement with Boulder County, we agreed tap). Some examples:
o Denver Water’s From Forests to Faucets Program, a
to work with the county to develop a pilot program aimed partnership with state and federal forestry agencies, has
at minimizing the carbon impact of forest ‘waste’ from the revegetated over 300 acres and accomplished over 100,000
project, along with a monetary contribution to Boulder County acres of forest treatments since 2010.
for use in implementation of the pilot project or other possible
methods. Continued on page 8
• We will undertake an analysis of opportunities to reduce
impacts in the creation of concrete for the project, such as the
cccmountainmessenger.com Your local family owned and operated high
speed internet service provider.
We serve Gilpin County, Boulder County
and Coal Creek Canyon.
WE NOW OFFER FIBER OPTIC
FOR MUCH OF COAL CREEK CANYON
AND WE ARE STILL BUILDING OUT.
For availability, please call us at
303-642-3858 or check us out at
www.mtnbb.com for more details.
March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 7
It Takes A Canyon! Cont’d from page 7 • Denver Water was among the first water utilities in the West to
institutionalize summer restrictions with permanent three-day
o Denver Water is a registered participant with the Climate watering rules after the 2002 drought.
Registry, a nonprofit collaboration among North American
entities that sets consistent standards to calculate, verify • The utility uses recycled water for parks, golf courses, schools
and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions into a single and power plants.
registry.
o Denver Water obtained LEED certification for its recent • We require that people who use more water than typical
Operations Complex Redevelopment project. households pay a higher rate for that additional water.
o In 2020, Denver Water produced more emissions-free
energy from hydropower and solar than its total energy • And there’s always this important piece of context, as
consumption, effectively achieving net-zero energy usage referenced earlier: Denver Water serves one-quarter of
for 2020. Colorado’s population using less than 2% of the water used
o Denver Water is recognized by the CDPHE as a Gold in the state. And Denver Water wants to see its customers use
Partner for reducing waste at our water treatment plants. that water as efficiently as they can.
o The Gross expansion itself will result in increased
hydropower generation at Gross Dam, which will allow Xcel • Denver Water’s focus has shifted from the marketing
Energy to offset approximately 2,823 tons/year of carbon campaign to more targeted customer outreach that promotes
emissions. water efficiency. The emphasis on efficiency also involves
reducing water use and then finding the appropriate source
ITAC!: Denver Water does encourage water conservation in a of water (using non - potable water where appropriate). The
number of ways (water conservation tips, rebates on efficient utility’s conservation and efficiency team focuses on increasing
toilets/appliances, partnership with ReSource Central in Boulder customer adoption of traditional conservation tactics (such
etc). You state that, on average, a family of four uses 50 gallons as low flow fixtures and water-efficient landscapes) and
of indoor water on a daily basis. Denver Water would like that alternative water sources (such as municipal recycled water
amount of usage to fall to 40 gallons per family of four. How do and grey water).
you plan to further motivate/encourage/require your customers
to use less water? Would you mind sharing the Denver Water • There is far more to Denver Water’s conservation and efficiency
annual advertising strategy and budget for the water conservation work. A more detailed overview is contained in a recent
campaign to “use only what you need”? publication on Denver Water’s TAP news site (denverwater.
org/tap). Search for “All the ways we save.”
Denver Water: There are a few things many customers might
know about Denver Water’s efforts to use water efficiently. ITAC! - The Denver Water website talks about a pilot “biochar”
program to reduce carbon emissions related to tree removal at
• The 10-year “Use Only What You Need” campaign that you Gross Res. Would you please explain how the trees will be removed
reference cut per-person water use by 22%. and how the wood will be used or disposed of? “Biochar” seems
to relate to burning wood. Will CCC residents and CCCFD need
to be more aware and concerned over evacuation in the event
of a wildfire due to this method of tree removal? Roughly how
many trees will be cut down? What will happen to the millions of
Loftin Construction, LLC 303-642-3853 • 303-885-8965 (Cell)
[email protected]
New Construction, Remodeling
Handyman Services cccmountainmessenger.com
Drawer 7391 [email protected]
Golden, CO 80403 Working Throughout The Foothills
and Canyons Between Golden
And Boulder
Tom Loftin
Owner/Craftsman (970) 389-5914
8 © Mountain Messenger March 2022
board feet of potentially usable lumber and firewood? Will logs be ultimately merchantable, dependent on market conditions,
transported down the canyon via Rt. 72? Where can CCC residents which may change. Denver Water will evaluate economic
find a copy of the wildfire management and response plan for the conditions and production sources in making final decisions
Gross Dam project? about the marketable use of the trees.
Denver Water: o A Tree Removal Plan has been prepared, reviewed by
• Biochar is one potential option to process trees once removed agencies, and submitted to FERC for approval. This plan
includes the location and number of trees to be removed,
from areas surrounding Gross Reservoir. Typical biochar possible disposal methods, and transportation routes
methods include use of slow-pyrolysis technology (slow associated with tree removal activities.
burning/cooking in an enclosed kiln) resulting in stable, solid o Denver Water is currently developing a post-project
material that effectively captures carbon and locks it into the Fire Management and Response plan as required by its
soil. FERC license. We anticipate having this plan completed
• Biochar was evaluated in the Tree Removal Plan for the project, by summer 2023. The plan will focus on fire management
but the lengthy time horizon required, the volumes produced, response for Gross Reservoir post-project. Fire management
and amount of hauling required limits its practicality. The and response currently and through the construction period
biochar process also produces a substantial amount of dust. is handled through the existing agreements with local fire
• In the settlement agreement with Boulder County, Denver districts.
Water committed to working with Boulder County to develop a
pilot program aimed at minimizing the carbon impact of forest ITAC!: The Denver Water website states that sand and gravel
‘waste’ from the project, along with a monetary contribution will be used from the onsite concrete plant, thus reducing the
to Boulder County for use in implementation of the pilot number of truck trips by 75%. While this is commendable, many
project or other possible methods. Boulder County may use CCC residents feel there is a strong safety concern with trucking
the pilot project funds to investigate options including biochar fly ash (a component of concrete) and other construction
in restoration or other projects. materials/machinery to the site via the narrow, two lane Rt. 72
• The Tree Removal Plan evaluated a variety of options for and through CCC neighborhoods. When I inquired about a
trees removed at the site. We intend to select a mix of options possible transportation option with a Denver Water representative,
to reduce impacts to the environment and provide options using the railroad system (off-loading at the siding near the
to use community resources (such as local lumber yards) or railroad crossing on Gross Dam Rd) as a safer alternative to
provide cordwood to neighbors, but these measures also have trucking (2019 conversation at Coal Creek Coffee), I was told
practical limits. the rail transport method of shipping raw materials etc. was
• Denver Water plans to fully use all marketable lumber, though too costly. Is Denver Water prioritizing cost over public safety?
estimates indicate that roughly 15% of all timber removed is
Continued on page 11
First Time Service Need a little extra help?
Call $54.95
Whispering Pines Church’s
cccmountainmessenger.com Food Pantry
Open every Thursday
from 4-6pm.
March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 9
St. Paddy's Day Celebration
Sat�rday, March 12th 45PPMM--67PPMM
CCCIA Hall 31528 Hwy 72
UNDER CONTRACT
$906,000 $602,000 $749,000 Wondervu Café
33492 Coal Creek Canyon Dr
922 Camp Eden Rd 105 Ponderosa Way 11965 Vonnie Claire Rd Canyon’s Fav Mexican Restaurant
Impeccably Maintained Stone & Stucco Magical Storybook Home Log Home - Views Views - Solar
2 BD /1 BA - 1103 Sq Ft - 2.43 Ac 3 BD /3 BA - 1808 Sq Ft - 1.74 Ac
3 BD / 3 BA - 2641 Sq Ft
NEW LISTING !
$1,000,100 $125,000 $920,000 $600,000
1545 Ithaca Drive, Boulder TBD Sandau Lane 14251 W 91st - Arvada 126 Signal Rock
Incredible Opportunity in S. Boulder Wonderful Sunny Vacant Lot Elegant Home w/ Flatiron Views Storybook Cottage - Beautiful Views
4 BD/ 2 BA - 1828 SqFt. - $899,000
Gilpin County - .99 Ac 5 BD / 3 BA - 4786 Sq Ft 2 BD / 3 BA - 2024 Sq Ft
UNDER CONTRACT
$730,000 $639,000 $715,000 $475,000
31927 Sylvan Rd 11017 Circle Dr 968 Divide View Dr 32077 Sylvan Rd
RV Garage & Workshop Remodeled Home w/Greeenhouse Breathtaking Views Lovely Home - Views
3 BD / 2 BA - 1865 Sq Ft - 5.32 Ac 3 BD / 2 BA - 2420 Sq Ft - 1.7 Ac 3 BD / 2 BA - 1627 Sq Ft - 1+Ac
2 BD / 3 BA - 2400 SqFt - 1.95 Ac
NEW LISTING ! Compass is a licensed real estate broker in
Colorado and abides by Equal Housing Oppor-
$370,000 $425,000 $470,000 tunity laws. All material presented herein is
intended for informational purposes only.
2874 S Beaver Creek Rd 31040 Coal Creek Canyon Dr 213 Rudi Ln Information is compiled from sources deemed
Updated & Furnished w/ Bunk House Lovely Updated Mountain Cottage Oversized 2-Car Garage + Shop reliable but is subject to errors, omissions,
2 BD / 1 BA - 1007 SqFt - .39 Ac 2 BD / 2 BA - 1385 Sq Ft - 1.5 Ac changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal
2 BD / 1 BA - 588 SqFt without notice. No statement is made as to
accuracy of any description. All measurements
and square footages are approximate. This is not
intended to solicit property already listed.
Nothing herein shall be construed as legal,
accounting or other professional advice outside
the realm of real estate brokerage.
Kathy Keating Janet Ingvaldsen
CRS, ABR, GRI Broker Associate
EcoBroker Realtor
Broker Associate
720.600.9006
303.642.1133 303.642.2222
www.kathykeating.com
[email protected] [email protected]
10 © Mountain Messenger March 2022 cccmountainmessenger.com
It Takes a Canyon Cont’d from page 9 • As work ramps up, we will also utilize more social media
channels, including Denver Water’s Twitter, Instagram and
Would you mind sharing with us the breakdown of projected costs Facebook pages. The utility will also post updates on the
of rail vs. trucking of fly ash and other construction materials/ NextDoor site.
equipment? Please talk about the type of license, certification,
driving experience, cyclist awareness/avoidance and hazardous • We work closely with public safety groups through regular
conditions training your truck drivers will be required to have. meetings, and plan on continuing those critical conversations
to provide timely updates and information to EMS and
Denver Water: response agencies.
• There are several factors that make rail difficult. Cost was one
• As part of the settlement agreement with Boulder County,
factor but was not the primary or only factor. During multiple we are committed to working with the County Sheriff as well
discussions with Union Pacific Railroad, it became clear that as local fire response agencies to provide additional funding
the siding in the area has several issues including schedule and support to address impacts on their agencies’ response
conflicts (and possible delays), topographic challenges which services.
would require train engines idling in the area as well as
impacts to open space lands adjacent to the railroad siding. ITAC! - Todd, how can CCC residents get in touch with you or
With all these factors in mind, Denver Water could not pursue others at Denver Water if they have specific concerns/questions
transporting materials via rail for the expansion project. about the Gross Dam Expansion Project?
• Denver Water will require all haulers, shuttle drivers and
other frequent drivers to the site to complete a bike awareness • A project representative can be reached multiple ways via
training to increase safety for those in the area. A staging area phone (303-628-6348), email ([email protected])
near the intersection of Highway 93 and Highway 72 will also and through virtual office hours (booked at grossreservoir.
help with traffic management. org/contact).
• There will be several “truck free” days each year for cyclists Authors’ notes: As always, Linda and I say “thanks CCC
and other road users except during the dam raise portion of residents!” for your support, questions and ideas. Stay informed,
the project. ask challenging questions, be vigilant....help out your CCC
ITAC!: Is there more information that residents/EMS providers neighbors and friends. “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise
in CCC need to know about the Gross Dam Expansion Project? and get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble.” John Lewis.
Where can we find out more information, trucking schedules and
updates? Dave Pence <[email protected]>, Linda Martin <[email protected]>
Denver Water: Dave Pence is a retired Boulder Valley Schools teacher, former
• There is considerable information related to the Gross W-EMT, former National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
instructor and a 30+ years resident of Coal Creek Canyon.
Reservoir Expansion Project on the project website,
grossreservoir.org. This website was launched in 2017 and has Linda Martin is a Volunteer Coordinator for Saws & Slaws, past
been a great resource for stakeholders throughout the project Board member of CCCIA, CCCPRD, and past owner of Wee
so far. The Denver Water news site TAP (denverwater.org/tap) Creekers Child Care.
also provides informative stories on the expansion project and
will continue to cover the project as it proceeds.
Spirit of the
Mountain
Lutheran Church
Coal Creek Canyon
Sunday Services
11:00 a.m.
at the CCCIA Hall
We ask that anyone coming
to church wear a mask and
social distance.
Contact person
Steve Hauser
720-490-6826
cccmountainmessenger.com Come Join Us
March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 11
The Conductor’s Dispatch ▪ By Brad Swar t zwelter
Trains on the Moffat line are part of our vibe here in Coal are 27 tunnels – more tunnels per mile than any other rail line
Creek Canyon and South Boulder Creek. Yet, very few of
us who live here know much about this major player helping in the world.
to shape our world. There are so many stories to tell. There
are many aspects of the railroad which are interesting for us In relative terms, “our” Moffat line is new. David Haliday
to know. That is why I am writing to you, my neighbors. To
entertain, inform, answer questions, and enlighten the residents Moffat, the wealthiest man in Colorado in the first years of
of our beautiful Canyon regarding all aspects of the Moffat
Subdivision, railroading, Amtrak, and more. the 20th Century, was considered “old”. He was in his early
My name is Brad Swartzwelter, and I am a 27 year veteran of 60’s. Most men of wealth at that age would recline to a life of
the rails. However, my roots go deeper than that. I was raised in
Boulder. Our home had a view of the Rattlesnake Gulch above leisure. Not Moffat! He chose instead to use his twilight years
Eldorado Canyon State Park, and the East Portal of Tunnel no.
11. My first ride on the Zephyr (the passenger train that runs to undertake the massive project of financing and building a
daily through our region) was in 1966. Trains, specifically
trains running through the Rockies, have been my passion ever standard gauge steam powered railway through (or over) the
since. Currently, I am a Conductor with seniority working on
the Moffat Route through Colorado. mountains, not around them. By then, the trans-continental
In this series of articles, I will talk about the joy and appeal Union Pacific Railroad in Wyoming was already 35 years old.
of railroading. In my opinion, there is no more inspirational
line than ours! In the 50 miles of track between Denver Union The Stanley Steamer automobile was running regularly to Estes
Station and the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel, we have the
most majestic scenery seen from any train, anywhere. The Park from Denver. Trails and wagon roads were becoming
defining feature of the line are our hard-rock tunnels. There
highways. Even then the future viability of railways was in
no way assured.
The Moffat Road was the last great rail line built in Colorado.
Had Moffat waited just a few years longer before starting to
blast out his right of way, the route probably never would have
been constructed at all. His most important move was to hire
the brilliant civil engineer A.J. Sumner to survey the line. To
this day it is nearly miraculous that Sumner sighted a nearly
perfect 2% grade from Denver all the way to Tolland! It was
Sumner who made our line the most scenic in the nation, and
among the grandest in the world. Continued on page 14
> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC
Feeling like you paid too
much in taxes this year?
&RQWDFW \RXU ¿QDQFLDO DGYLVRU WRGD\ WR OHDUQ DERXW
LQYHVWLQJ VWUDWHJLHV WKDW FRXOG EHQH¿W \RX
12 © Mountain Messenger March 2022 Tyler S Oglesby cccmountainmessenger.com
Financial Advisor
710 Golden Ridge Rd #118
Golden, CO 80401
303-273-9818
FAP-1942N-A-AD
eldora ski
resort is hiring!
come work at ; Free Ski Pass
your favorite ($599 Value)
mountain!
; Dependent discounts
Join our team and get your free ; Free skiing/riding
Eldora ski pass and access to many
other resorts! Working at Eldora is at other resorts
the best way to spend your winter! ; 40% off in our Tune
It doesn’t get much better than
working in the sunshine! and Retail Shops
; 50% off food at
Eldora’s restaurants
; Free & discounted
RTD tickets
; Free group beginner
ski & ride lessons
; 401k eligibility
cccmountainmessenger.com view jobs and apply
at eldora.com/jobs
March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 13
The Conductor’s Dispatch Continued from page 12 of those days is “rugged courage!” Thinking of those people
makes me feel like I am somehow cheating as I ride in climate
The vital piece of infrastructure that makes the railroad controlled Superliner coaches.
indispensable today is the 6.2 mile long Moffat tunnel above
Rollinsville. But that tunnel was not completed until 1928 – One reason so few of us in the Canyon know much about
seventeen years after Moffat’s death. Technology and money the railroad is that there are no stops for any passenger train
for such a tunnel did not exist in 1904 when the rails reached west of Denver on our side of the Continental Divide. However,
mile post 50 (today’s Rogers Pass Trailhead). Moffat instructed there is a group in the State Legislature actively working to add
Mr. Sumner to run the line over the top of the Divide on what a station stop east of the intersection of CO Hwys 93 and 72.
would be known as Rollins Pass. Today we can enjoy Sumner's Some of you may remember the days when the old Rio Grande
efforts on Rollins Pass via a 4x4 drive, snowmobile excursion, or Ski Train would stop for skiers down there. Another idea is to
mountain bike journey up the now abandoned railroad right-of- start “The Colorado Zephyr”. This thought, initiated by Coal
way. Mechanized travel ends at the Forest Lakes parking area. Creek Canyon resident Bob Brewster, would add two or three
Beyond that it is possible to hike around Needles Eye Tunnel, trains a day over the Moffat line with local stops across the
Devil's Slide Trestles and on to Corona Summit at 11,662 ft. western part of the State, including Rollinsville. From those
above sea level. When I trek up there, I always like to imagine local stops Bus service would connect nearby communities. It
massive thundering steam belching locomotives struggling to would be like the train was a spine, with bus connections being
haul dozens of train cars up its 4% grades and navigating 12 the ribs. Buses from the Rollinsville train station would go north
degree curves. To railfans and historians, Rollins Pass is called to Nederland, Ward, Allens Park and Estes. The South bound
by the term the railroaders used in those early days. We call it buses would journey to Blackhawk and Idaho Springs. The
simply “The Hill”. exciting part of Bob’s idea is that the mountainous part of our
state, including Coal Creek Canyon, would finally have viable
I think about the firemen in the cabs shoveling coal as fast town-to-town mass transportation that completely avoids the
as they could in the rarefied air above treeline to keep the debacle of Interstate 70. Admittedly, the Colorado Zephyr idea
behemoths chugging ever higher. I consider the challenge of is a long shot, but it has substantial advantageous attributes.
keeping the line open in the face of hurricane-force winds, snow
drifts 30 feet deep, avalanches, and 1,000 ft drop-offs waiting Until the day comes when we have better access to trains on
for the poor soul that slips at the wrong moment. The best way the Moffat line via a new station or two west of Denver, you
I have found to describe my railroad predecessors' outlook can still make your way to Denver Union Station for a trip on
Amtrak’s California Zephyr or Winter Park Express ski train.
Give your home 303.642.7312
the protection
it deserves. At Mastercraft Electric, we specialize in new
construction, additions, remodels service
Mitch Davis, Agent Your home is where you make upgrades and custom lighting
5275 Marshall Street Suite 103 some of your best memories,
and that’s worth protecting. Wiring for hot tubs, landscape lighting and
Arvada, CO 80002 I’m here to help. water features
Bus: 303-424-4895 LET’S TALK TODAY.
[email protected] Underground fault location and repair
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL Harold Borden, Master Electrician
State Farm Florida Insurance Company, Winter Haven, FL Licensed & Insured
State Farm Lloyds, Richardson, TX
1708136 Serving Boulder, Nederland, Coal Creek,
Black Hawk & Central City
14 © Mountain Messenger March 2022
www.MastercraftElectric.com
SEE THE DIFFERENCE A CRAFTSMAN CAN MAKE
cccmountainmessenger.com
Parking is expensive downtown, so I usually park at the Ward return from Winter Park resort the same day or on a later date
Rd. Wheatridge RTD station and ride the G line into Denver. at 4:30 PM. For all Amtrak reservations (sell-outs are common,
The Zephyr departs west bound every day at 8:05 AM for stops so call early!) go to Amtrak.com, or call 1-800-872-7245 (USA-
at Fraser, Granby, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Salt Lake RAIL).
City, Reno, San Francisco, and intermediate points (7:10 PM
departures east bound towards Chicago). Feel free to ask questions or leave comments.
The Ski Train operates Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until All Aboard!
the first week of April this season. That train departs Denver
at 7:00 AM for a non-stop run to Winter Park resort. You can See you on the rails,
Conductor Brad
Valentine Pancake Breakfast Thank you
▪ By Bruce Goodwin
Thank you to all who braved the cold and shoveled the mound except for the 4th of July celebration. A special thanks goes
of snow at the end of your driveway to attend the Valentine’s out to the volunteers that gave up their Saturday morning and
Day Pancake Breakfast. Despite the conditions we still had personal time to make the breakfast a success. Tony Carmeli,
a good turnout. 100% of the proceeds from the breakfast go Kim and Carone Huffman, Tricia and Ben Logan, Ashley
directly to the scholarship fund. It continues to thrive and grow Roberts, William McNamara, Norma Cassin, Chris Passarelli,
thanks to the support of the Coal Creek community and to all the Suzy Schemel, Dave Christian, Teddy and Bernie Schaffer and
volunteers that make it possible. The Valentine’s Day pancake Jasiah Serna.
breakfast is just one of the four breakfasts that contribute to
the scholarship fund. There will also be a pancake breakfast Again, thank you for all your support of our canyon and all
for the 4th of July celebration, third week in September for the of it’s events. See you at the Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast,
fall colors and for Mother’s Day, all on the Saturday before, May 7th.
Drywall repairs, Texture, Paint
Ceramic Tile/Slate/Travertine
Windows, Skylights, Roof Windows
Interior wood stain and varnish
RoofingInColorado.com
303-495-4828
cccmountainmessenger.com March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 15
EARTHWATCH By Jody Dickson
Cultured Meat
Many of us have seen and tried meat substitutes that are make this meat are very expensive and inefficient still, so to
made from plants, but have you heard of ‘lab-grown’ or purchase cultured meat is very expensive. While available
‘cultured’ meat that, just like it sounds, is grown in a lab from for purchase in some areas of the world, the FDA and the
animal cells? It can be made from any type of animal that has USDA are currently evaluating it for its safety for human
muscle-specific stem cells. Those cells are harvested and then consumption as well as the processes these meats are grown.
replicated outside of an animal. Consequently, it is real meat, It is also currently unknown about the nutritional impacts or
but it doesn’t require slaughtering of real animals. (Some opportunities associated with lab-grown meats. Clearly there
companies’ processes for harvesting the stems cells do require is a long way to go before cultured meat becomes a viable
the death of the animal, but obviously not as many animals mainstream product, but the research and effort can be one
would die as they do today to produce the amount of meat more potential solution for climate change as well as end the
humans eat. Other companies do not slaughter the animal at all suffering of hundreds of thousands of animals that happens as
in order to harvest the cells.) As another benefit, the cultured a result of factory farming practices.
meat is less likely to become contaminated with the bacteria -------------------------------------------------------------------------
that can make us sick when we eat contaminated meat. We are listening …
A podcast episode from “The United States of Anxiety”
This new technology is being thought of as one potential called “Nothing You Do Alone Will Save the Climate” It is
climate change solution since livestock agriculture is so an interview of Bill McKibben who is thought of one of the
resource intensive. Around 30% of the earth’s surface is being first authors to write about climate change (in the late 1980s)
used for livestock farming including the land used for growing for the general public. He is still advocating and encouraging
the plants that livestock eat. By growing our meat in labs, it our behavior that will influence the changes we need to see to
could preserve forests that are being destroyed to make range affect climate change. As he says in the podcast, “It isn’t easy,
available for livestock as well as save water that goes into but it is simple.” In the podcast, he also takes some listener
meat production. Cultured meat could also reduce the methane questions which I thought were really interesting too. It is
emissions that come from livestock grown for meat. However, available on the web or in your favorite podcast-listening app.
cultured meats currently require energy to be made, so they -------------------------------------------------------------------------
are not without environmental impacts. As producers refine We are ALSO reading …
their processes, they are hoping to reduce those impacts. The NEW TEG website!! With our change in focus and
priority, we’ve updated our website. Find out more about us,
This technology is new and thus there are a lot of issues our history and current activity at tegcolorado.org. Let us
to work out. Companies are working on how to make enough know what you think!
volume quickly to satisfy demand while still delivering the
experience people want when eating meat. The processes to
30509 Hwy 72 cccmountainmessenger.com
PO Box 7457
Golden, CO 80403
303-642-1900
[email protected]
coalcreekcoffeeshop.com
16 © Mountain Messenger March 2022
Participate in the future of TEG attend, please contact us for information. Please visit our
Are you looking for a way to monitor environmental activity *new* website for more info: tegcolorado.org or on Facebook
in Coal Creek Canyon? TEG is the perfect place to be. Find at fb.com/tegcolorado
your passion and some purpose by reaching out to us at -------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected] or to me personally, jody@dickson. Get Involved!
org We always want to be working on what is important to Why should you become a member of TEG?
the people in this community, and our future depends on you By being a member of TEG, you can vote for
helping us to know what is important to you today! members of the board and/or BE a member
------------------------------------------------------------------------- of the board which directs the priorities of
Calendar of Events: the group. To join, go to our *new* website:
Mar 8 – TEG Board Meeting - 6 pm – Our board meetings tegcolorado.org
are on a conference call. All are welcome. If you want to
Powers of Attorney ▪ By Tamra K. Waltemath
APower of Attorney is a document in which you may name your agent the authority to talk to your doctors about medical
a person or entity to act for you. There are many types of concerns and they can make medical decisions for you, if your
Powers of Attorney. A FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY, doctor thinks you are unable to make decisions for yourself.
also known as a General Power of Attorney, gives your agent There are also LIMITED POWERS OF ATTORNEY which
authority to mange your finances. For example, the agent may are used for a specific event, like selling real estate. You may
deposit money into your bank accounts, withdraw money name an agent to handle a real estate closing if you are unable
from your bank accounts and discuss your finances with third to attend. Powers of Attorney may be durable. A DURABLE
parties like accountants and attorneys. Your agent may NOT POWERS OF ATTORNEY allows an agent to make decisions
override your wishes and if they do you can revoke (cancel) for you if you become incapacitated. Both the Medical Power of
their authority. A MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY gives
Continued on page 18
cccmountainmessenger.com 1957 - 2022
March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 17
Power of Attorney Cont’d from page 17 agent, and you must know that you are giving the agent powers
to act for you. If you create a Power of Attorney, you are giving
Attorney and the Financial Power of Attorney may be Durable if someone else the right to help you, you are not giving up total
they have specific language which states that they are effective control of your rights to make decisions. The agent is required
upon your incapacity or disability. A power of attorney may be to act in your best interest and follow your wishes. You should
effective either now, or upon your incapacity or disability. It talk to the person you want to name as agent, before naming
is your choice on who you want to name as your agent, when them as your agent in a power of attorney. No one must act as
you want your power of attorney effective and what powers your agent and your agent may resign.
you wish to give to your agent. An agent has important responsibilities. Your agent
There is a common misconception that a power must keep good records of all financial records and they must
of attorney may be used by the agent after the death of the share the records with you or other interested persons. Your
principal. ALL POWERS OF ATTORNEY EXPIRE UPON agent should never commingle their funds with yours. An agent
THE DEATH OF THE PERSON WHO GAVE THE POWER must act for you in good faith and if they do not they can be
OF ATTORNEY, or the principal. The agent may not use the held personally liable.
power of attorney after the death of the principal. A Power of Attorney is an important legal document.
A Power of Attorney may be created by any person over You should consult with an attorney when creating such a
the age of 18 who understands what they are doing. You must document.
know the name of the person(s) that you want to name as your
This article was written by Tamra K Waltemath of Tamra K. Waltemath, P.C. This information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute
legal advice. For specific questions, you should consult a qualified attorney. Tamra K. Waltemath is an elder law attorney focusing on wills, trusts, estate and
trust administration, probate and non-probate transfers, guardianships and conservatorships. She can be contacted at: Tamra K. Waltemath, P.C., 3843 West
73rd Avenue, Westminster, CO 80030; 303-657-0360; or visit her website at: www.WaltemathLawOffice.com.
What’s Brewing at Coal Creek Coffee
Hey there! Have you ever dreamed of owning a small-town be interested in! She’s the person who answers messages on
coffee shop? Well, have we got news for you! After 13 our Facebook page, or you can shoot her an email at
years of owning and loving the shop, we are ready to pass the [email protected] She’s looking forward
torch. This decision did not come easily, but it’s time. So, please to hearing from you!
reach out to Mallorie if buying the shop is something you might
Not interested in buying the coffee shop? Guess what! We
Top have news for you too! You can still buy your coffee from us!
Coverage Come and see us in the morning! We’ll have breakfast and
Roofing coffee ready for ya!
Affordable FEBRUARY ANSWERS: ACROSS: 1. Valentine’s Day 9. IOC 10. Naught y 12. Dazed
Long Lasting 14. IA 16. VE 17. Inspirational 22. Should 23. Bi 24. Lois 26. OLC 27. Ben 28. Loom
29. Cava 32. Roll 34. Ebonics 37. Read 39. Oak 41. AK 42. Rasputin 44. RIP
%HDXWLIXO 46. Al 47. NR 48. Antelope 49. Look ANSWERS: DOWN: 1. Von Miller 2. Louisville
Metal Roofing 3. NIH 4. Toterhome 5. Icy 6. End 7. Dozen 8. Yodeling 11. Gap 13. AVOD
15. Stucco 18. Is 19. AOL 20. IL 21. Abe 25. Solar 27. Bacon 30. Anita 31. Vi
30+ YEARS All Types of Repairs, 33. Orkin 35. Bepop 36. SA 38. Daal 40. Kirk 41. Ara
OF DEPENDABLE Architectural Dimensional
Shingles, Bitumen, EPDM
Rubber Roofing, Rigid Insulation
EXPERT SERVICE
Hundreds of
Satisfied Customers
Licensed & Insured 303-258-9322
FREE • WRITTEN WARRANTIES
Owner
Jerry Deges
22) ,6 )25 7+( 6XPPHU a )DOO ,668(
� APPROVED AS SHOWN (Construction - Ten Yard & Twelve Yard Size)
� APPROVED WITH NOTED CHANGES
18 © Mountain Messenger March 2022
cccmountainmessenger.com
photos, ads and graphics provided by The Mountain Pages cannot be used in any other publication without written permission.
WildAware - of Ringtail! ▪ By Jan Waddington and Chris McAllister
Yes, a Ringtail was seen by a reliable observer about 300 Small Mule Deer herds are here and there, across the canyon.
yards west of Duwaik. This is quite close to the area When a herd of five, becomes a herd of four, we wonder if there
where our only other report of a ringtail was seen. The Ringtail is a lion cache nearby. One deer with a strange shaped antler
(Bassariscus astutus) “is about the size of a housecat with the was on Twin Spruce. Another deer was seen wading through
head of a fox, the body of a squirrel, and a long showy tail, a step deep snow in a meadow.
beyond the raccoon’s” (Armstrong-1987). It’s closest relative is A Fox was on Sylvan Rd., and one was on Ranch Elsie. Others
the raccoon. With trailcams becoming so popular we may have may be so common they are not reported.
more reports, as it is very nocturnal and rarely seen. At least one Chickeree, aka Pine Squirrel, was out and about
Mountain Lions were seen, and reported 11 times in the past on Nob Way. Chickeree middens are buried so deep in the snow,
month. One was seen by several people just off Twin Spruce, they may go looking for bird feeders. Chipmunks also come
near Sylvan Rd. One described as “huge” was near Eagle Dirt, out in winter, but not the Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel. It
and another was on West Ranch Elsie. One tried to access is a serious hibernater.
chickens in a chicken coop. Four! lions were on Hilltop, and a Keep watching and report to CCCWildlife, CCSpeak, or call
lion with triplets was on Fish Creek over the Wondervu Ridge. Jan at 303-642-0926.
Tracks of two different sizes, showed at least two lions were
on Warren’s Rd. Another lion was on Spruce Canyon Drive, Here’s Chris with the Bird Report.
and on Spruce Canyon Circle. On Nob Way lion tracks showed This past month there have been numerous reports of large
it was chasing a rabbit right by the back door of a house, but
the rabbit escaped under a low deck. So, the main story is that flocks of Pine Siskins and Cassin’s Finches – members reported
Mountain Lions have had a very successful year and everyone seeing 75-100 at a time at their feeders! One video showed
with small pets had best keep them inside and perhaps plan the feisty little Pine Siskins trying to intimidate Dark-eyed
necessary outdoor trips while it’s still daylight. Juncos. Other reports included Clark’s Nutcrackers; White-
Bobcat - A bobcat was off Twin Spruce at Burke. breasted, Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches; Downy & Hairy
Moose - Three adult moose with one yearling were on Woodpeckers; Mountain Chickadees; Steller’s Jays; Magpies;
Skyline near Gap Rd. Two were seen on Gap Rd. near Hwy. Ravens; a Red-shafted Flicker and two Wild Turkey hens.
119. A female with a calf was on Spruce Canyon Circle. The
only males noted this month, were two that were hanging-out The birdie highlights this month included Common Redpolls
together. Two female moose were on Copperdale Ln., on Ranch near Rollinsville – only the 3rd ever report on eBird for Gilpin
Elsie, and Lillis Lane. Were these the same two? Who knows? County! One of our members also had them in her yard not
They didn’t have name tags. far from there! Other highlights included a cool birdie snow
angel (maybe an Owl or Raven), Pine Grosbeaks and a Bald
Eagle at the Rollinsville Osprey Nest.
Continued on page 20
APOLLO 17120 Hwy 72
SELF STOR AGE
Water Division 303.420.9915 Mon - Fri
8:30am-4:30pm
Now delivering Family owned for over 25 years
bulk water to: Serving local & Coal Creek Canyon Saturday 10 - 2
communities Gates
Coal Creek Canyon
Boulder/Nederland 6am - 9pm (7 days)
Evergreen/Conifer
Metro Area
Competitive prices
Randy Harrington Customer Service Is
Owner/Operator Our Top Priority!
303.809.1029 ASK ABOUT OUR GREAT MOVE-IN SPECIALS!
303.428.6706 (leave message) March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 19
cccmountainmessenger.com
WildAware Cont’d from page 19 Members have been discussing the type of flowers to plant for
them. I’ve been stocking up on sugar and have my feeders
Several of our members participated in the Great Backyard all ready. Join us in the Coal Creek Canyon Birds Facebook
Bird Count the weekend of February 19th and reported their group – our hummingbird contest starts soon (with more ways
sightings in Coal Creek Canyon! to win this year). You won’t want to miss it!
Get your feeders ready!!! We are so excited that the return Thanks! Chris
of our Broad-tailed Hummingbirds is only about a month away!
* * * Coal Creek Quick Quiz #16 * * *
Get to Know Coal Creek Canyon - - Round Sixteen - - March 2022 Submit ted by Ruth Rodgers
Submit your answers to earn a PRIZE!
Send to: [email protected]
CONGRATULATIONS to BONNIE TAYLOR who submitted correct responses
for ALL 5 items in the February Mountain Messenger!
1 - - What are the dates for this year’s Spring Break for CCC 5 - - Who Am I? - - [Each month, you’ll find a photo of a canyon resident,
K-8 School and all of Jefferson County Public Schools?
past or present, someone prominent, influential, well-known, interesting, and/
2 - - The February Mountain Messenger included the obituary
for David Carl Houlton, who lived in the canyon in the 50s & or accomplished, OR some other related image for you to identify. Can you
60s. Who were his notable parents who were very involved in
many canyon activities and service efforts in the canyon? identify the individual for this sixteenth round’s photo?]
3 - - What is the non-emergency contact phone number for the
Coal Creek Protection District?
4 - - Tunnel Number One, near the Coal Creek trestle at the
mouth of the canyon, is the first of how many tunnels needed
for the railroad tracks to reach the Continental Divide?
Coal Creek Canyon March
2022
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
www. coalcreekcanyon.org │ 31528 HWY. 72 │ [email protected]
March 12th Get your green on and join us CCCIA IS AWARDING
5pm - 7pm
for a fun Irish celebration! SCHOLARSHIP MONEY
Menu: Corned Beef & Cabbage, Colcannon, Soda Bread, Drinks. for high school seniors
$10 members │ $12 non-members │ $6 children (12 & under) living in Coal Creek
Canyon. Scholarship
Contact Chris Passarelli at [email protected] applications are due
April 25, 2022. See
*Presented by United Power
www.coalcreekcanyon.org
for guidelines and online
application.
Mark Your Calendar: April 9, Eggstravaganza for canyon kids
20 © Mountain Messenger March 2022 cccmountainmessenger.com
Answers to the February Quiz Questions - - Kathy had attended the University of Washington, then
came to Denver in 1963 to work as an RN at Colorado General.
1 - - Tom Drouillard She and Al met at the Timberline Club in 1964, married later
2 - - The CCCIA Community Hall that year, and moved into the house up on the Axton Ranch.
3 - - The Last Stand Tavern However, she had told Al they weren’t getting married until
4 - - The Coal Creek & Black Hawk Wagon Road and the there was running water in the house and a septic system. Kathy
had been raised on a farm, and her father was a vocational
Ramboz Wagon Road agriculture teacher who ran FFA clubs, so she was used to hard
5 - - Kathy Axton work, but sure knew where to draw the line. She and Al raised
their two children there: Alan (b. 1965) and Annette (b. 1967).
Kathy Axton - 8-2020 Kathy Axton - 2015 Through the years, the Axtons were involved in the Church of
Credit Murva Ann Rodgers Source: Kathy Axton’s FB page the Open Door, 4-H, the school, and the Boy Scouts, among
other canyon organizations.
Kathy is well known as an avid hiker and a lover of
wild flowers and maps. She currently spends her winters in
Arizona.
Kathy Axton’s home has been at the top of Camp Eden Road Kathy displaying a sale flyer Some of the mule team and road building
near the base of Mt. Thorodin since 1964. Kathy’s husband, Al from 1923 (G.B. Axton - - memorabilia and history in the Axton collection
(d. 2014), and his father, Guy B. Axton, purchased 160 acres mules, cows, farm implements, photo by Ruth Rodgers, 9/21
of the Bertard property, near the former Starr Ranch at the base harnesses, and more) photo by
of Mt. Thorodin, in an estate sale. Al and his father were in the Ruth Rodgers, 9/21
construction business, and needed enough room for all of their
equipment, horses, and mules, in a time of transition to more
mechanized equipment. Al started building their house in the
late 50s. Part of their land where the house is located is on the
original 80 acres purchased from S.E. Carter in the early 50s.
Byers & Sellers Mountain Properties, LLC
“Real Estate on Higher Ground” Est. 1997
Denise Byers SOLD
Broker/Owner
(303) 642.7951 OFFICE
(720) 302.3636 MOBILE
[email protected]
25 acre ~ Gilpin SOLD 1071 High Point Circle
Coming Soon Top of Dory Lakes, private
location. Main level master
and mini-master. Mother in law in
lower level. Detached Heated
garage. 4910sqft, 4/4/8car $985k
Serving the rural mountains of Boulder, Jefferson Randall Byers
and Gilpin Counties. Black Hawk and Central City. Associate Broker
Residential - Land - Cabins - Commercial (303) 642.7951 OFFICE
(303) 718.1943 MOBILE
www.byers-sellers.com [email protected]
cccmountainmessenger.com March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 21
Tea Leaves or Scripture ▪ By Glor y Fletcher
One of the more suspenseful weeks in my life happened and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for
when Todd fasted over whether or not to marry me. He training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
was hoping for some miraculous sign from God that I was equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
definitely the woman for him. At the end of the week, we were
both severely disappointed. No lightning bolt from Heaven had What about decisions that are not be specifically forbidden
struck him with a certainty of God’s will. in Scripture, though? When making decisions, we must also
learn what is pleasing to God. David didn’t trust his own
Todd and I didn’t have an ideal understanding of how to desires, but prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart!
determine God’s will in those days. I’m thankful to look back Try me and know my thoughts! See if there is any grievous
now and see that God got Todd to the place where he trusted way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” When we
that we were made for each other. If Todd could go back now seek to please the Lord, the Holy Spirit works in us to remind
and counsel his younger self, he would point to the wisdom us of Scripture and to convict us of sin and righteousness. He
principles found in Scripture for discerning God’s will. He causes us to delight in what is right and to feel uncomfortable
would ask himself four questions: with what is not. Scripture tells us to “delight ourselves in the
Lord, and He will give us the desires of our hearts” because He
Is it permissible? will order the consecrated heart to love His ways. And this is
Does it please God? for our good as well. Wisdom’s “ways are pleasant ways, and
Is it practical? all her paths are peace.”
Is there provision for it?
God has given us Scripture as the definitive guideline for But there are many things that are both permissible and
discerning His will. God’s practical will for our lives will never pleasing to God. How can we discern the good things to which
contradict Scripture, because God is not a man that He should God has called us individually? Peter and John exemplified a
lie or change His mind (Numbers 23:19). As Todd sought to practical obedience when they met a lame man at the temple.
know God’s will concerning marriage, Proverbs 18:22 or 2 They saw his need and gave what they had to offer. “I have no
Corinthians 6:14-15 would have been sufficient to reveal God’s silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name
permissible will for us. “All Scripture is breathed out by God of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” When visiting
GROSS RESERVOIR EXPANSION PROJECT
Google My Map Access changes coming for Gross Reservoir recreation
Email Sign up
Recreation at Gross Reservoir will remain open during construction; however, some
recreation areas will be closed or relocated in March 2022 and will remain closed through
the end of construction. Changes include:
Relocating public boat launch access from Osprey Point to the North Shore peninsula.
Closing some on-water areas near the dam and quarry (located at Osprey Point).
Closing access to the south side of the reservoir and the scenic overlook.
Winiger Ridge camp areas will remain open with intermittent closures from 2022 through 2026.
The North Shore and South Boulder Creek Trail (below the dam) will remain open to the public.
For more information on site closures, roadway work and recreation access, scan the email
signup or Google My Map QR code.
You can always reach us at [email protected] or at 303-628-6348.
22 © Mountain Messenger March 2022 cccmountainmessenger.com
a sick friend, we don’t offer to entertain them through song Finally, God makes His will known to us through His
and dance. They need medicine and compassion. In the same provision. He alone can make “a way in the wilderness and
way, God’s will becomes mercifully simple to those who do rivers in the desert” or “block our way so that we cannot pass”
not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in (Isaiah 43:19, Job 19:8). Those who put their trust in the Lord
their power to give it (Proverbs 3:27). Rather, we are to do good can rest upon the truth that “God’s work done in God’s way
for others according to the need of the moment, so that it will will never lack God’s supply” (Hudson Taylor).
give grace to those who receive it (Ephesians 4:28-29). God
will make His will practical in our lives as we respond in love If we are familiar with the counsel of Scripture, discerning
to the need of each moment with what He has equipped us to God’s will doesn’t need to feel like a practice in reading the tea
give. His whole law is fulfilled when we love Him with all our leaves. Todd was wise to fast and pray as he sought the Lord’s
hearts, souls, and minds, and our neighbors as ourselves. will, but his expectation was misdirected. God’s divine power
has already granted us all we need for life and godliness through
the knowledge of Him as He has revealed it in Scripture.
Homelessness in Colorado ▪ By John Jantsch
The pandemic, now entering year three, has taken its toll in greatest need from the resources that are in place and available
many visible ways. The number of people living without to fight these issues.
homes or shelter in Colorado is accelerating.
The surge in homeless populations has overwhelmed many
A recent nationwide study conducted by Security.org shelters, strained the entire network of services set up to help
shows Colorado has the No. 11 highest rate of homelessness in unsheltered populations, and created tension among small
America and saw a nearly 2% annual increase in its homeless communities as temporary encampments sprout up in remote
population. pockets.
Denver has the No. 38 highest homeless rate among U.S. The vicious cycle then puts some of society’s most
cities. vulnerable persons at odds with the residents of the communities
they inhabit.
While some may see this as an urban challenge, surging
poverty brought on by the disruption of COVID-19 has created a Official response
mounting crisis of hunger, homelessness, and other emergencies Fortunately, some Front Range communities are beginning to
that destabilize families everywhere, including many mountain address this challenge from a multi-departmental approach that
communities. includes law enforcement, community service, public health,
and housing services.
A growing concern
Living in extreme poverty and, in some cases, without proper Continued on page 24
IDs or permanent addresses further strangles those with the
We Make
Recycling
EASY…
Green Girl &
Green Mountain
Recycling Services
303.442.7535
Residential (Mountain Pickups)
Commercial (Small & Large)
Restaurants
Offices
Data Destruction Services
Specialty Pick-Ups
Bridget Johnson
[email protected] www.greengirlrecycling.com
email website
cccmountainmessenger.com March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 23
Homelessness in Colorado Continued from page 23 NICHE
The Nederland Inter-agency Council for Homeless
For example, Boulder County launched Homeless Solutions
for Boulder County (HSBC) in October of 2017. Encampments (NICHE) is a partnership guided by the
Nederland Community Presbyterian Church and supported by
This approach is organized around the “Housing First” model, several government offices, law enforcement agencies, human
an approach to homelessness that prioritizes getting people services organizations, and other groups affected by issues
housed over sobriety or workforce programs. regarding homeless camping in the mountains.
Council Leader: Paula Gipp NCPC Mission Elder gipp.paula@
A Housing First community in North Boulder, Colorado, gmail.com 303-328-5863
called Lee Hill, allows the city to rent all the units to people Outreach Advocate Henry Schliff [email protected] 720-
who have been chronically homeless. 355-9490
Http://nederlandcpc.org/niche/
The Housing First approach is gaining momentum on a
national scale. It is considered the best model for addressing Mountain Health Collaborative
homelessness in the future.
The Mountain Health Collaborative is comprised of local
“I would say that a lot of homelessness has more to do health professional members who volunteer during disasters
with luck than with choice,” said Lindell Ellingson, a resident in the Peak to Peak Region to meet immediate health needs,
coordinator for Boulder Housing Partners. “It turns out that with the overall community goals of increasing resilience and
when people aren’t living on the streets, getting exposed to more accelerating the post-disaster recovery rate. To join the Mountain
trauma every day, they can make big shifts in their lives. And Health Collaborative, contact richard@peaktopeakcounseling.
as a community, you can save money.” com or call 303-258-7454 extension 2.
Community Advocacy Resources You can find a more comprehensive list of essential services
Several community organizations are working on coordinated on the Peak to Peak Housing and Human Services Alliance
found here - https://www.p2phhs.org/where-to-get-help-guide-
efforts to address and prioritize the challenges of homelessness english.
in the area.
John Jantsch is a board member of Canyon Cares and a resident
P eak to Peak Housing and Human Services Alliance of Coal Creek Canyon.
A group of human service organizations and agencies that
meet once a month to share information and expand services to
mountain residents.
303-578-8033
[email protected]
Wondervu Consulting Services Airways Electric
Since 1979
Visit us at www.wondervu-consulting.com
Rick Hunton
Computer, Network and Web Services and Support
for your home and business. Master Electrician
Wireless or Wired Network setup 303-995-4935
High Speed Internet Access Expert
Computer repair, upgrades, virus removal 15400 W. 64th Ave, Unit E9-174
Web site design, development and optimization
Arvada, CO 80007
Michele Barone 303-642-0433
[email protected] cccmountainmessenger.com
24 © Mountain Messenger March 2022
March Crossword 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
▪ By Tony Thorpe
9 10
QUESTIONS: ACROSS: 11 12
1. Played with his Dad Tiger in the PNC
Championship (7,5) 13 14
9. Extreme anger (5) 15 16 17 18
11. Has Elk Meadow Open Space Park (9)
12. Member of the wheat tribe (3) 19 20
13. Spanish actress Expósito (5) 21 22 23 24
15. King of the Gypsies actor (4,7)
19. Bell’s disorder not whiskey (5) 25 26 27
20. East of IN (2 28 29 30
21. Biblical boat or DNA lab according to
Ancient Aliens! (5,3) 31 32 33
23. Popular way of communicating on social 34 35 36 37 38
media (4)
25. On backwards (2) 39 40 41
26. Dipping without clothes (6) 42 43
28. Website template (7)
30. Home made bomb (3) 20. Ethiopian news channel in Minneapolis (3)
31. Rocky Mountain National Park Lake (6) 22. I jump for a pancake (3)
34. Total points football wager (4,5) 24. Must find a way to make these meet (4)
37. West of LA (2) 27. British Labour leader, Starmer (4)
39. Dollar General ticker symbol (2) 29. Founder of modern sculpture (5)
40. Id est (2) 32. Of Trust, for a property purchase (4)
41. Between the heel and the ball of the foot 33. Polymer company (4)
35. Video graphics array connector (3)
(4) 36. Meme generator (3)
42. Poisonous Tiger in Colorado (10) 38. Reserved (3)
43. 1980 Punk music (2) 41. Augmented reality (2)
DOWN:
1. Tiger’s golfing niece (8,5)
2. Don McLean song (8,3)
3. Sam Adams makes a Boston variety (5)
4. The night before (3)
5. Extended title coverage (6)
6. Portland State (2)
7. Cliff Lazarenko was good at this (5)
8. Painful red bump on eyelid edge (4)
10. Chocolate kisses (8)
14. Used to be allowed in golf (7)
16. Rapids Ghanaian player Kofi (5)
17. Where attorneys pass the drinks (3)
18. BPOE (4)
BUILDING, LAND
AND BUSINESS
FOR SALE
(303) 642-7144 (303)278-20/20 2301 Ford Street
cccmountainmessenger.com March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 25
SURVIVORS IN CHAOS
BEFORE? AF TER? ▪ By MB Reith
Anymore, since I am retired, I spend too much of my the Covid started messing with our lives? That part pre March
month wondering what the subject of this column might 13, 2020 wasn’t so bad at all. I was 70 that year. I had no
be. Wondering what the subject of the rest of my life might be plans to retire. I loved my job. And my life. And family and
- to tell the truth. When one is forced to make decisions based friends. Then the pandamit hit. So my BEFORE? Might be
upon outside sources, beyond their control? One certainly has different from your BEFORE. All’s I know, is after years of
to stop and re-evaluate. Which to be fair? I have been spouting kinda knowing what was happening in my immediate life and
similar advice for quite some time. You can only control what the world, enough to stay on a satisfactory pathway? For me?
YOU are doing—no one else! And more, truth be told: not all The map got ripped up and scattered. I know some who didn’t
of us can control what we are doing all the time. Sometimes we even blink an eye—just have carried on like they always have.
just get “OUT OF CONTROL!” They don’t know what I mean by BEFORE or my discussion
on the AFTER.
Think that’s a statement made famous by one or more
well-known personalities. Before? The current situation. I know this much: sandwiched in between MY BEFORE
Before the pandamit (as I call it) - we have to think back more AND AFTER? I have my boxes that still need attention. I
than 2 years. I remember the lockdown that occurred in my have lists upon lists. Some of the lists have got to be taken
memory—MARCH 13th, 2020. Things were starting to get care of BEFORE I can accomplish things on those lists.. My
wonky earlier in ‘20 after a seemingly nice fall 2019. That’s very efficient sister says take one box a day. Didn’t I say that
where my BEFORE was. The 2000s have had their moments myself last month? I now don’t want to talk to her cuz she is
for sure. But some folks will find themselves thinking the going to ask me how many boxes have I taken care of? She
BEFORE times were long before 2000. So AFTER could be a says stuff to me like: ‘Take control of your life!’ Where have
different point of view for each of us. Some of us don’t know I heard that before?
if the AFTER has arrived—yet!
Oh, yeah, in my own brain.
For those younger, and especially born since 2000s started - I think first of all? One needs to get over the BEFORE.
they have NO IDEA of the BEFORE. And those of us who do? Another way of letting go of the past that might be controlling
They say the memory is the first thing to go. Who says that? I you. You can control yourself, but you have to want to. Like
am not sure. As I am entering my 70s—middle babyboomer— quitting any of your habits that you want to get rid of? YOU
many things are not working as well as they did last century. HAVE TO WANT TO.
My spouse and I compare notes on a daily basis. Between the If you want things to be like they were BEFORE something
two of us we almost make one functioning person. happened? Review it first. Decide IF you do want something
like it used to be? Then control your actions to make it so.
Another BEFORE of significance is BEFORE the pandamit. I know, I know it is easier said than done. But things have
Challenging and different as the 2000s have been? BEFORE
In an emergency cccmountainmessenger.com
Dial
9-1-1
Coal Creek Canyon
Fire Protection District
P.O. Box 7187
Crescent Branch
Golden, CO 80403
Non-Emergency Contact
Phone Number:
(303)642-3121
Non-Emergency Contact Email:
[email protected]
www.coalcreekcanyonfd.org
26 © Mountain Messenger March 2022
more value in your life if you decide to change something that What you hope for is a lot of good memories of the
you can change… and you do it. Everyone of us has the same BEFORE times. Life pretty much helps you remember those
capabilities of changing. times. IF the memories aren’t pleasant? Then don’t dwell on
those things! I have been saying lately: practice remembering -
Before and after. In my mind I have many before times in especially those good things. You can’t change what has gone
my life… in the history of my life. And the subsequent afters. BEFORE but you can change what can happen AFTER. Work
Happens when you are lucky enough to live into your 70s. But with love in your heart. Try to help others. I heard recently:
truthfully, we all have many opportunities to think about the Love is stronger than death. Go easy with before and after. Be
BEFORE this time and BEFORE this event. And events and here now... Peace...
time periods which came AFTER.
March Saws & Slaws News
Get ting ready for a full season!! ▪ By Jody Dickson
Icannot believe it is already March which means our season a reminder, the application process is a process… we are
of events is only a couple months away! We are busy getting
our events scheduled and finalized, so we can deliver on a just trying to evaluate where homeowners are in the process
season full of improving forest health, improving our resilience
through a wildfire event, and building our amazing community. and where we can be the most help. Don’t feel like you have
We can all make this place a better and safer place to be and
enjoy ourselves while we do it! I also enjoy the sense of to be 100% ready before we have a conversation about the
accomplishment at the end of every Saws & Slaws events. It is
absolutely something to celebrate every time, even when things opportunity!
don’t always go to plan!
We are also planning our Chainsaw Skills & Safety course
We have a few spots left in the season, so if you are interested
in hosting an event just reach out to us using the application which will likely happen in April or May. This course (or its
available on our website sawsandslaws.org or email us at
[email protected] or call us at (720) 326-7739. As equivalent) is required if you want to be a sawyer at one of our
events, but even if you just want to take it for personal use it
is well worth the time. We’ve had very experience sawyers
come out of the class saying that they still learned a lot! If
you are interested in taking this course, please contact us at
[email protected] We’ll keep you updated as dates
get finalized. Continued on page 29
Brian Hard Interior car pentr y
Fuels reduction specialist
(303)718-1990
[email protected]
Improving your home’s defensible space one tree at a time.
cccmountainmessenger.com P(3um0p3)Sa6le9s7&-S8e3rv3ic5e
Water Wells Complete Pump Service Wells-Tested For Loans
Solar Pump Systems
March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 27
28 © Mountain Messenger March 2022 cccmountainmessenger.com
Saws and Slaws Cont’d from page 27 What’s the best thing you’ve eaten at the Potluck? .
I think Jake’s favorite at the potlucks were the pulled pork
Featured Volunteer – Nancy Gerecht sandwiches and all desserts. My favorite was any homemade
This month we are featuring Nancy salad whether that was potato or macaroni.
Gerecht who has been volunteering with What’s your favorite thing about Coal Creek Canyon?
Saws & Slaws since 2014 and has OVER Coal Creek Canyon is home for us. I love the wildlife and the
128 hours of service at Saws & Slaws. She storms. The temp inversions are fun when I can tell my town
is not afraid of working in the cold weather! friends how “warm” it is up here. Also the sea of clouds is
When I was looking for a picture of her fascinating. The flood of ‘13 brought an outpouring of love
for this feature, most of the ones I found and caring. We were all in this together. I was overjoyed when
were of her hard at work over the splitter hwy 72 reopened. Oh and who could forget the 7 feet of snow
in snow!! We are grateful for dedicated and in ‘03? Again community is what I treasure.
diligent work!
Thank you, Nancy!
What’s your favorite Tree? My -------------------------------------------------------------------------
favorite trees are the aspens. I love them for Upcoming Events:
the shade that they provide, the white bark
and of course the colors in the fall. ***Copperdale and Camp Eden neighbors***
You should have received an email from us, but to continue
What neighborhood do you live in?
Coal Creek Heights is where I live, but I the conversation we started in November we have two virtual
consider all of this canyon my neighborhood. events scheduled for March.
If you had to evacuate right now what would you grab?
I would grab our cat, Spooky. Spooky came to us as a stray, but Thursday, March 8th – 7:00 pm – Coal Creek Canyon
he is such a love bug despite not being a lap cat. Fire Department will talk about the roles and responsibilities
How did you find out about Saws & Slaws? The Mountain of the fire department, how fire response and evacuations work
Messenger is how I first heard of S&S. My high school son and some of the strengths and challenges of CCCFPD.
Jake was looking for volunteer opportunities. The potluck lunch
lured him easily. Thursday, March 31st – 4:00 pm – Boulder Valley
What motivates you to devote your time to fire mitigation Conservation District will talk about forest and wildfire
with Saws & Slaws? The sense of community was key. What
better way to meet people than working in the woods? We got Continued on page 30
to see other areas of the canyon too.
Massage Therapist
and Esthetics
303-503-6068
Coal Creek Canyon
and Arvada
Massage Facials Chemical Peels Cupping
Waxing Massage for Equines and Canines
Shelly Peters-Schaller, CMT, CCMT, CEMT, CME
handshoofsandpaws.com
cccmountainmessenger.com March 2022 © Mountain Messenger 29
Saws and Slaws Cont’d from page 29 Safety Tip of the Month: Make a non-combustible perimeter
around your structures. Ideally for the 3-5 ft next to your home
ecology, including the specific forest types in our neighborhoods, make sure that there is nothing that could burn. At the very least
how fire is part of the ecology, how the forests have changed, remove the plants that grow there are the leaves and pine needles
and why forestry is one tool for mitigating increasing wildfire that blow into that area. To help with ongoing maintenance,
risk. you can put a fabric cover and/or lots of rocks to prevent new
plants from growing there. As extra protection, you can put
Both of these sessions are in response to questions that metal flashing against the house to help prevent accumulating
came up in our November session. Check your email for more embers from starting a structure fire. If you have a deck be
information. We will record the sessions if you are not able to sure to include around the footings and any area that would be
attend, but there will be opportunities for Q&A in both so it’ll under an upper level of the deck. As noted, it is important to
be best to attend the live event!
keep up with keeping the area clear from combustibles, but it
If you live in this area but weren’t able to attend the November
event, it isn’t too late to be part of this effort. Contact Jody i-s--a--n--i-m--p--o-r-t-a-n--t-s-t-e--p--t-o--k-e--e-p--in--g--y--o-u--r-s--tr-u--c-t-u--r-e-s--s-a-f-e--r-!---(--[---F--O-XVLYH
Dickson, [email protected]/303-588-6639, or Chris Reichard,
[email protected] 303-642-3433 or Maya MacHamer .DWK\ .HDWLQSaws and Slaws is a 501(c)3 organization committed to Building
[email protected] to join us.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stronger Communities Through A Healthier Forest. Find out more
at http://sawsandslaws.org and Join Us!
Daylight Saving Time begins
Sunday, March 13th
Spring begins Sunday, March 20th
$
6SHFLDO RIIHU IRU &&&
3$<6
)RUPHU &DQ\RQ UHVLGHQWV
-HII DQG 6DPPLH .LQGHU LQYLWH \RX WR ),567 0217+
RXU EUDQG QHZ VWDWH RI WKH DUW VWRUH 0HQWLRQ 3URPR &RGH &DQ\RQ
:H RIIHUV UHVLGHQWLDO DQG EXVLQHVV
FXVWRPHUV WKH EHVW VWRUDJH YDOXH 7R UHGHHP WKLV RIIHU FDOO RU
:H KDYH FOLPDWH FRQWURO DQG VWRS E\ RXU QHZ VWRUDJH FHQWHU
FRQYHQLHQW GULYH XS XQLWV ER[HV
SDFNLQJ VXSSOLHV DQG IULHQGO\
KDVVOH IUHH VHUYLFH DW DIIRUGDEOH UDWHV +:< $UYDGD
ZZZ DGYDQWDJHVWRUDJH FRP
/LPLWHG WLPH RQO\ 1RW JRRG ZLWK RWKHU RIIHUV 1HZ FXVWRPHUV RQO\ 1R FDVK YDOXH 6XEMHFW WR DYDLODELOLW\
30 © Mountain Messenger March 2022 cccmountainmessenger.com
Power Update March
2022
Democracy at the Cooperative
United Power members have the unique online account. Although directors live in a specific Hybrid Annual Meeting
opportunity to have a say in the future of their geographic district, they represent all members & Director Election
electric cooperative. Each year our members’ and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis.
votes in the director election determine who will This means members may cast a vote for a Wednesday, April 13, 2022
represent them on the co-op’s Board of Directors. director in each district and not just their own.
As an electric utility, your participation in the annual Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure The 2022 Annual Meeting will be held as
election is critical to helping the co-op better serve adequate accessibility for members and to provide a hybrid event. Members may participate
its members. a representative cross-section of United Power’s online or attend in-person.
member base in their leadership role. VIRTUAL MEETING:
Every Vote Matters Equally To learn more about a director candidate, consider www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting
attending one of our Meet the Candidate events. IN-PERSON MEETING:
United Power is a not-for-profit cooperative owned Candidate statements are also available online at Riverdale Regional Park & Fairgrounds
and controlled by the members it serves. When www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting. 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton 80601
you become a member, you automatically receive
the benefits all other members share, including 2022 Director Election Event Schedule:
the right to vote for board representation. As a
member, your vote carries equal weight as any The director candidates for the 2022 Director 4:30 p.m. | Registration, Dinner &
other member’s vote, regardless of what kind Election have been announced. Three positions on Entertainment
of account they have or how large it is. This is the cooperative’s board are up for election, one in 6:30 p.m. | Meeting, Election Results,
a cooperative principle known as “democratic the East, South and West Districts. Prizes
member control.” Director candidates must also live The director candidates are Steven “Steve”
within United Power’s service territory, so you know Douglas, Naptali A. Lucks and Elizabeth “Beth” United Power is monitoring COVID-19 restrictions,
you’ll be voting for someone who understands your A. Martin in the East District; Keith Alquist in the and in the event conditions do not permit an
community’s needs. South District; and Ursula J. Morgan in the West in-person event, the virtual format will still be
District. available. More information is available at
Voting in the Election Information about the 2022 Annual Meeting & www.unitedpower.com/annual-meeting.
Director Election and how to vote your ballot is
The cooperative mails director ballots in March available online at www.unitedpower.com. www.unitedpower.com
and encourages all members to cast votes in the
election. This year, members may also participate 2/14/2022 1:19:09 PM
in the director election electronically though their
Candidate Forums
United Power will host the following Meet the Candidate Forums where members can learn
more about each of the candidates vying to serve on the Board of Directors. The following
events are free to members. Light refreshments will be served. RSVPs are not required.
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022 | 7:30 a.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022 | 7:30 a.m.
Coal Creek Canyon Community Center Fort Lupton Recreation Center, Multipurpose 3
3158 Highway 72 203 S. Harrison Avenue
Golden, CO 80403 Fort Lupton, CO 80621
MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2022 | 6:30 p.m. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 | 6:30 p.m.
Riverdale Regional Park, Waymire Dome United Power Carbon Valley Service Center
9755 Henderson Road 9586 E I-25 Frontage Road
Brighton, CO 80601 Longmont, CO 80504
Hybrid Event: Livestream at www.unitedpower.com
*Dates and locations may be subject to change or cancellation.
Member Services: 303-637-1300 Coal Creek Office: 303-642-7921
UPAd_Mar_2022.indd 1
Useful Numbers/Websites ECRWSS
PRSRT STD
Fire Dept. & Ambulance 911 POSTAL CUSTOMER U S POSTAGE PAID
Coal Creek Non Emergency 303-642-3121 GOLDEN, CO
High County FD Non Emer. 303-582-5768 Employment PERMIT NO 118
Jeffco Sheriff 303-277-0211 Eldora eldora.com/jobs pg. 13
Boulder Co. Sheriff 303-441-4444 Excavating Recycle
Gilpin Co. Sheriff 303-582-5500 Jake of all Trades pg. 23 303-808-4490 Green Girl pg. 16 303-442-7535
We Can Dig it pg. 8 303-642-3853 Remodeling
Canyon Cares 720-515-1129 Financial Advisor RoofingInColorado.com pg. 15 303-495-4828
Tyler S Oglesby pg 12 303-273-9818 Third and Long pg. 29 303-642-1314
Coal Creek K - 8 303-982-3409 Firewood Restaurant & Libation
High Timber pg. 16 303-258-7942 Last Stand Tavern pg. 15 303-642-3180
Colorado Parks and Wildlife 303-291-7227 Foundations Roofing
Jake of All Trades pg. 23 303-808-4490 RoofingInColorado.com pg. 15 303-495-4828
Drake Middle School 303-982-1510 Gifts Top Coverage pg. 18 303-258-9322
Coal Creek Coffee pg. 16 303-642-1900 Rock/Retaining Walls
Ralston Valley Sr High 303-982-5600 Handyman Benchmark Land Care pg. 25 303-485-1001
Tom/Loftin Const. pg. 8 970-389-5914 Jake of All Trades pg. 23 303-808-4490
Golden Sr. High 303-982-4200 Hauling Septic Services Columbia pg. 18 303-526-5370
Benchmark Land Care pg. 25 303-485-1001 Storage
Attendance 303-982-4260 Big D Dumpsters pg. 18 303-642-7995 Advantage pg. 30 720-734-7971
High Country Rubbish pg. 6 303-642-0303 Apollo pg. 19 303-420-9915
Nederland Jr. & Sr. 303-447-1010 Heating & A/C Tax Preparation
Efficient Comfort pg. 3 720-299-8745 Karen Schwimmer, CPA pg. 24 303-642-0628
Nederland Elementary 720-561-4800 Paul Accetura pg. 29 303-642-0886 Toilet/Portable
Instrument Sales & Service Air-O-Pure pg. 5 303-258-3597
Kwik Mart 303-642-3061 Brightwood Music pg. 28 303-258-8863 Columbia pg. 18 303-526-5370
Insurance Trash/Rubbish Service
P.O. Coal Creek (Crescent) 303-642-0119 Mitch Davis, State Farm pg. 14 303-424-4895 High Country Rubbish pg. 6 303-642-0303
Internet Network Setup Tree Service
Pinecliffe Post Office 303-642-7358 Wondervu Consulting pg. 24 303-642-0433 Lumberjake-Brian Hard pg. 27 303-718-1990
Internet Provider High Timber pg. 16 303-258-7942
Wildlife Sightings 303-642-0926 Mountain Broadband pg. 7 303-642-3858 Jake of All Trades pg. 23 303-808-4490
Land Clearing Trucking
CCCIA Web site: coalcreekcanyon.org Benchmark Land Care pg. 25 303-485-1001 Jake of All Trades pg. 23 303-808-4490
Jake of All Trades pg. 23 303- 808-4490 We Can Dig it pg. 8 303-642-3853
Facebook: Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado Massage United Power pg. 31 Inside back cover 303-642-7921
Bruno Treves pg. 11 310-741-0791 Veterinary
Advertisers Hands Hoofs & Paws pg. 29 303-503-6068 CC Animal Clinic pg. 29 303-642-3468
Directory Kathy Kelly pg. 8 303-642-8285 after hours 303-279-1701
Masonry Vision
Accounting Treu Accounting pg. 9 720-730-4838 Third and Long pg. 29 303-642-1314 Golden Vision pg. 5 & 25 303-278-2020
Animal Services Motorcycle Repair Water Delivery
Power Cycle & Marine pg. 12 720-863-1001 Bulk Water Runner pg. 7 303-946-9026
Hands Hoofs & Paws pg. 29 303-503-6068 Newspaper Harrington pg. 19 303-809-1029
Rabbit House Society 303-469-3240 The Mountain Ear pg. 28 303-810-5409 Water Purification
Architect Sunique pg. 24 303-642-0474 Mountain Messenger 303-642-0067 Doctor Water pg. 9 303-438-6669
Art Coal Creek Coffee pg. 16 303-642-1900 Odd Jobs Water Wells
Attorney Tom/Loftin Construction pg. 8 970-389-5914 Arrow Drilling pg. 4 303-421-8766
Tamra Waltemath, P.C. pg. 27 303-657-0360 We Can Dig it pg. 8 303-642-3853 Aspen Well Drilling pg. 27 303-697-8335
Automotive - Repair, Sales Painting/Staining Doctor Water Well pg. 9 303-438-6669
Carl’s Corner pg. 25 303-642-7144 Jake of All Trades pg. 23 303-808-4490 James Drilling pg. 17 303-420-5181
Peak to Peak Imports pg. 8 303-258-0635 Loftin Construction pg. 8 970-389-5914 Website Design
Power Cycle pg. 12 720-863-1001 Personal Training Wondervu Consulting. pg. 24 303-642-0433
Carpentry Bruno Treves pg. 11 310-741-0791
Scott C. Cooper pg. 27 720-666-4356 Pump Repair
Third and Long pg. 29 303-642-1314 Doctor Water Well pg. 9 303-438-6669
CCCIA pg. 20 303-642-7300 Real Estate
Church Byers & Sellers pg. 21 303-642-7951
Spirit of the Mtn. pg. 11 720-490-6826 Carl’s Corner For Sale pg 25 303-642-7144
Coffee Shop pg. 16 303-642-1900 Compass pg. 10 303-642-1133
Computer Service Tony Thorpe pg. 26 720-552-2127
Geek for Hire pg. 5 303-618-0154
Wondervu Consulting pg. 24 303-642-0433
Construction
Jake of All Trades pg. 23 303-808-4490
Loftin Construction pg. 8 970-389-5914
We Can Dig it pg. 8 303-642-3853
Denver Water/Gross Res pg. 22 303-628-6348
Directories gogilpin.com 303-582-3101
Driveways
Benchmark Land Care pg. 25 303-485-1001
Jake of All Trades pg. 23 303-808-4490
We Can Dig it pg. 8 303-642-3853
Electrical
Airways Electric pg. 24 303-995-4935
Mastercraft pg. 4 303-642-7312
Raceway Electric pg. 9 303-880-5752
Please tell our advertisers you saw them in the MM.