Summer Salad

First year for simultaneous garden lettuce and tomatoes

One definition of "salad" is "a varied mixture" and that's an apt description for this post. As usual, there's a lot of summer news.

Snack N Wagon Reveal at Farmers Market
While you're at the Farmers Market this Saturday (June 29) take a tour of the Snack-N-Wagon, the Golden Backpack Program's new mobile pantry. The group will launch its summer lunch program at two pilot locations in Golden, CO. Volunteers are welcome and needed. For further information see the program's Facebook page.

Independence Day Weekend
The Golden Lions Club is sponsoring its traditional event at Lions Park. This classic, small-town 4th of July celebration features live music, children's activities, raffle prizes, food vendors, and games. Though the fire danger has cancelled the fireworks display (and grilling in the park), the partying is unaffected.

Our First Friday street fair follows on the heels of the July 4th party. Come to Washington Avenue the evening of July 5th for specials, entertainment, extended hours, free horse-drawn carriage rides, street food, local beverages, and other attractions at downtown merchants.

Signing of City of Golden/CDOT agreement
At the July 11 City Council business meeting, Golden and CDOT Director Don Hunt will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to define future US 6 and SH 93 transportation improvements and document the joint commitment to Golden and the surrounding region. If you'd like to be present at this historic step toward achieving Golden's transportation goals, the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, with people starting to gather around 6:00 pm.

Downtown Streetscape
Downtown is everybody's neighborhood, so GURA is inviting all Golden residents, employees, and business owners to an open house to share ideas and reactions to some potential next-generation streetscape ideas. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate early in the process to help shape the future look of downtown Golden. The workshop will be held Monday, July 15 from 6-8:00 pm at the American Mountaineering Center. For questions, call GURA Executive Director Mark Heller, 303-279-4162 or email him at mark@gura.com.

Insider Information on Golden
Through a series of seminars, Leadership Golden has long educated emerging volunteers and leaders leaders about our town's opportunities, and challenges. Participants learn about the Golden community as it relates to government, education, the arts, and business. It's the way to engage with the many interesting people and opportunities in Golden. Over 90% of Leadership Golden graduates become active in the community. Applications for this year's program, which are due August 1,  can be found here.

Another great (and free) program will have its inaugural year. The "First Annual Citizen's Academy," presented by the Golden Public Works Department, will show you all you ever wanted to know about Golden's water system, street maintenance, mapping, road signs, and more. The Public Works Department is will show participants how things get done in Golden through presentations, activities, tours, and field trips. You can register until Friday, August 16 on the City's website.

Mayor's Awards of Excellence
Summer's in full swing, but it's not too early to begin thinking about who you will nominate for a Mayor's Award of Excellence, to be presented September 25th at the Mountaineering Center. Award winners are chosen for their outstanding contributions to our community based on criteria such as initiative, leadership, problem-solving and community values. More information will be coming out soon on how to nominate candidates and -- teaser alert -- about the internationally known speaker who will energize and inspire us with his ideas for fast, experimental, citizen-driven community design.