Jeffco to Host Brainstorming Session on Possible Reductions at Fairgrounds (updated)

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Jeffco Fairgrounds - roping & riding

It takes money to operate County services, and the Jeffco Fairgrounds is indeed a County service. Unfortunately, during last year’s voting season, the residents of Jefferson County failed to approve Ballot Initiative 1A, and now the County is strapped for cash. As a result, most County services have had their budgets reduced, and the Fairgrounds is on the chopping block.

Jeffco County is holding a meeting tonight, Tuesday January 28th, at the Fairgrounds, from 6-7:30PM, to identify and consider potential options to preserve those types of activities at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The meeting is open to the public for interested parties to attend and listen. PLAN Jeffco got 36-hour notice of the meeting so if you haven’t heard about this, you’re not alone.

If you or your group have an interest in the continued operation of the Jeffco Fairgrounds, please plan to attend. PLAN Jeffco will try to monitor the situation and keep informed.

For more about the county’s budget situation, please visit the Jefferson County website at www.jeffco.us and click on the link for the Financial Realities page.

Update 1/31/2020: the Jeffco Fairgrounds Brainstorming Session (1/28/2020), less the first 10 minutes of the meeting, can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2OjlmIF, Don Davis, County Manager and Tom Hoby, Director Open Space, moderating. The 2-hour meeting was very well-attended, with lots of input from all stakeholder groups. The end result — four options, which will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their weekly morning (8AM) meeting on 2/4/2020. Both Don Davis and Tom Hoby will be presenting to the BCC.

Option 1: maintain status quo (most likely not possible, given the County’s budget situation)

Option 2: more budget cuts (would mean reducing staff and services)

Option 3: close the Fairgrounds (no one wants this)

Option 4: explore a partnership with Open Space (how to do this without violating the Enabling Resolution?)

Follow the BCC meeting at https://bit.ly/2OiMV4Z. Click Video to listen to the meeting and view agenda documents, or Agenda or Minutes to see just the documents.

Great Blue Heron at Crown Hill OS Park

Reminder: Seasonal Wildlife Closures at OS Parks Begins Feb 1

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Great Blue Heron at Crown Hill OS Park, In Plein Sight 2016

Great Blue Heron at Crown Hill OS Park, In Plein Sight 2016

We all love our Jeffco Open Space parks, but we can’t forget that these places are home for any number of wild critters. And, during certain times of the year, parts of the parks have to be off-limits to humans, so that these furred, feathered and finned colleagues can carry on with their life activities.

Jeffco OS posted a full listing of upcoming closures for 2020 at https://www.jeffco.us/civicalerts.aspx?AID=395. But, as a reminder:

Centennial Cone Park  
Elk Range Trail at Centennial Cone Park, including the interior of the park, is closed from February 1 through mid-June to protect elk during their calving season.

Clear Creek Canyon Park 
Portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park near Mile Marker 270 are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Bumbling Stock, Stumbling Block, Skinny Legs, Blonde Formation, and Ghost Crag. The Fault Caves are also included in this closure.

Portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park, near Tunnel 2, are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Highlander, Evil Area, and Tetanus Garden.

Deer Creek Canyon Park/Hildebrand Ranch Park
The entirety of Black Bear Trail, which connects Deer Creek Canyon Park and Hildebrand Ranch Park, is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory.

North Table Mountain Park
Rim Rock Trail at North Table Mountain Park is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory and ground-nesting bird habitat.

South Table Mountain Park
Lava Loop Trail at South Table Mountain Park is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory and ground-nesting bird habitat.

Cathedral Spires Park
The entirety of Cathedral Spires Park is closed from March 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory.

Crown Hill Park
The Crown Hill Park Wildlife Sanctuary is closed from March 1 through June 30 to protect nesting and brooding waterfowl.

For more information on these closures and restrictions, plus what a violation might cost you in fines, etc, go to the Jeffco Civic Alerts page.

Bottom line, if your favorite trail/hike/area will be closed after 1 February, hike/bike/visit it NOW. Then kick back and chill until it’s open again.

Happy hiking/biking/riding!!!

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Not everything we post is about Jefferson County Open Space. For instance, the 2019 Pollinator Summit is an event you may want to check out if you have an interest in wildscaping your neighborhood.

Yes, even if you live in the city, you can enjoy the benefits of a wildscaped environment in your own back yard! Come and find out how it’s done!

Fourth Annual Colorado Pollinator Summit
Friday, Nov 1, 2019, 8 am-4:30 pm; $45

Sustainability, Energy, & Environment Center
CU Boulder East Campus, 4001 Discovery Drive
Boulder, CO 80303

Morning talks and panels will feature the theme of “Protecting Colorado’s Biodiversity” through

models for wildscaping urban neighborhoods, landscaping for biodiversity, and regenerating land through holistic farming-all with a Colorado focus. Kate Greenberg, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture, will give opening remarks.

The afternoon will include a participatory format and short inspiring talks to spur breakthrough thinking and action.

Register now. Past summits have sold out in advance. Registration includes lunch and refreshments. Discount rates available for students.

https://tickets.butterflies.org/DateSelection.aspx?item=491

UN Biodiversity Report Says One Million Species are at Risk of Extinction

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Andrew DuBois

Overpopulation, Biodiversity, and Climate Change. It is all linked together and none of it is going in the right direction. That was my take-home message from the United Nations’ Report on Biodiversity released last week.

The report, a three-year effort produced by 150 expert authors representing 50 countries, estimated that over one million species – about one in four – may go extinct in the next several decades unless transformative change happens in human society.

According to the report, the five leading causes of this stark decline in biodiversity are habitat loss, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution and invasive species. The bottom line is that human populations are ever-growing (as are human appetites for stuff) such that humans are gobbling up native ecosystems to meet expanding needs (and wants). For instance, 75% of the earth’s land surface has been significantly altered (think wild lands are now crop lands), 66% of the oceans are affected (think warmer temperatures, plastic pollution), and more than 85% of wetlands area is lost (think bulldozers).

Besides the fact that destroying a million species that co-inhabit this planet seems morally reprehensible, major biodiversity declines affect human sustainability and welfare in all sorts of ways. For instance, without the buffering capacity of natural ecosystems our food and water supplies are vulnerable. Reduced genetic diversity leaves our croplands vulnerable to disease, drought, or other stressors. Major damage to wetlands and oceans, ecosystems on which many of our food species depend, may leave us without sustainable food sources. “The biosphere, upon which humanity as a whole depends, is being altered to an unparalleled degree across all spatial scales.”

It also turns out that, just as the case with climate change impacts, the impacts of biodiversity losses will be felt disproportionately by the world’s indigenous peoples and the world’s poorest peoples, both of whom are the least responsible for this mess.

Over the past 50 years, human population has doubled and the global economy has grown over four-fold, driving up demands for energy and materials and driving down biodiversity. The only way to break this cycle is to institute transformative changes to our society that will result in sustainable use of resources. This means, for instance, rethinking definitions of success and related incentive structure: stop measuring success by GDP and start measuring it by ecological footprint; provide incentives for biodiversity friendly agricultural practices and habitat restoration and remove incentives for extracting fossil fuels and cutting down forests.

Boiling it down, it means that we need to stem population growth and start recognizing the immense value of natural lands and waters to human life and global sustainability. We need to stop thinking that technology will solve this problem and begin listening to (and replicating) indigenous peoples whose lands are generally in better condition and lifestyles are more sustainable overall than ours. And we better hurry.

Pixie Glore, In Plein Sight® 2018

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Jitterbug Fall by Pixie Glore

PIXIE GLORE, INDIAN HILLS CO

Beautiful contemporary landscapes and portraits done with palette knife, luscious color and lots of texture.

“The world is infinite to the eye of an artist.  Hopefully I can give the viewer a small taste of the immense beauty I see in the world and in my travels.  I love color and happy paintings that lift the spirit of us all to a higher threshold.  I look for beauty in everything from the smallest seashell to an expansive landscape, from the bends of a flower petal to the line of a delicate figure.  Adventure travel and art combine in my work, producing a new narrative in step with our times, yet timeless.”

Pixie earned a degree in Fine Arts from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, then went on to study under various Master Artists, earning multiple awards and participating in

Cottonwood Gold by Pixie Glore

juried and solo/group exhibits in the US and abroad. After spending years abroad, living and traveling around the world, Pixie now calls her mountain cabin in Colorado home.

For more about Pixie, visit https://pixieglore.artspan.com/home.

Pixie’s field schedule:

Monday 9/10 – Lair O’ the Bear Park, 22550 State Highway 74, Idledale

Tuesday 9/11 – Artists are on their own as we set up the Gallery

Wednesday 9/12 – Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west trailhead, 5136 South Le Masters Road, Evergreen

Thursday 9/13 – Elk Meadow Park, Lewis Ridge trailhead, 2855 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen

Friday 9/14 – Centennial Cone Park, Ralph Schell (north) trailhead, 3956 Camino Perdido, Golden

Saturday 9/15 – Clear Creek in Golden (the booth will be opposite the Community Center and adjacent to the trail, at 10th Street and a small parking lot)

The works that Pixie creates will be on display and available for purchase at the In Plein Sight 2018 Gallery, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room (2nd floor), 1470 10th Street.

Gallery hours:

Wednesday 9/12 – 2 to 8 PM

Thursday 9/13 – 2  to 8 PM

Friday 9/14 – 2 to 6 PM (building closes at 6 PM)

Saturday 9/15 – 10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday 9/16 – 10 AM to 4 PM

Make plans now to join us for In Plein Sight 2018, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our Jefferson County Open Space Parks.

Kathleen Lanzoni, In Plein Sight® 2018

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Fishing Dock by Kathleen Lanzoni

KATHLEEN LANZONI, BOULDER CO

Kathleen is an award-winning artist with a passion for watercolor painting. Painting in the studio as well as Plein Air (on location outdoors), Kathleen immerses herself in the fluidity and unpredictable qualities of watercolor paint.

Kathleen paints in a realistic painterly style, bringing the effect of changing light and color that describes the atmosphere, context and shape of the scene to the paper. Kathleen’s artwork is in the collection of many private collectors, medical facilities, offices and schools.

Kathleen grew up in both Montreal and California, and for over 26 years has enjoyed the endless subjects that living in Boulder, Colorado, offers. Kathleen was formally trained at the Art Institute of Boston and at the Massachusetts College of Art, graduating from both schools with a BFA.

Winter Runoff by Kathleen Lanzoni

For more information, visit www.kathleenlanzoni.com.

Kathleen will be painting in the Open Space Parks as part of In Plein Sight 2018. Come and watch as she creates her lovely renderings of Jefferson County’s public parks, some of the finest in the country.

Kathleen’s field schedule:

Monday 9/10 – Lair O’ the Bear Park, 22550 State Highway 74, Idledale

Tuesday 9/11 – Artists are on their own as we set up the Gallery

Wednesday 9/12 – Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west trailhead, 5136 South Le Masters Road, Evergreen

Thursday 9/13 – Elk Meadow Park, Lewis Ridge trailhead, 2855 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen

Friday 9/14 – Centennial Cone Park, Ralph Schell (north) trailhead, 3956 Camino Perdido, Golden

Saturday 9/15 – Clear Creek in Golden (the booth will be opposite the Community Center and adjacent to the trail, at 10th Street and a small parking lot)

The works that Kathleen creates will be on display and available for purchase at the In Plein Sight 2018 Gallery, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room (2nd floor), 1470 10th Street.

Gallery hours:

Wednesday 9/12 – 2 to 8 PM

Thursday 9/13 – 2  to 8 PM

Friday 9/14 – 2 to 6 PM (building closes at 6 PM)

Saturday 9/15 – 10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday 9/16 – 10 AM to 4 PM

Make plans now to join us for In Plein Sight 2018, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our Jefferson County Open Space Parks.

Tom Ward, In Plein Sight® 2018

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Twin Sisters by Tom Ward

TOM WARD, DENVER CO

Over the past 10 years, Tom has painted a dozen large mural projects in the Denver metro area, and participated in many art exhibitions.

A graduate of the California College of the Arts, Tom’s fine art has appeared in galleries including Abend, AUM, Wildflowers and Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts. Travel, and experiencing nature are what inspires his work the most.

Tom feels fortunate to have received instruction, and feedback from many great artists including Quang Ho, Dave Santillanes, Ramon Kelley, Craig Pursley, and Lawrence Argent.

Blue On Blue Refraction by Tom Ward

For more information, visit www.tomwardart.com.

Tom will be painting in the Open Space Parks as part of In Plein Sight 2018. Come and watch as he creates his lovely renderings of Jefferson County’s public parks, some of the finest in the country.

Tom’s field schedule:

Monday 9/10 – Lair O’ the Bear Park, 22550 State Highway 74, Idledale

Tuesday 9/11 – Artists are on their own as we set up the Gallery

Wednesday 9/12 – Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west trailhead, 5136 South Le Masters Road, Evergreen

Thursday 9/13 – Elk Meadow Park, Lewis Ridge trailhead, 2855 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen

Friday 9/14 – Centennial Cone Park, Ralph Schell (north) trailhead, 3956 Camino Perdido, Golden

Saturday 9/15 – Clear Creek in Golden (the booth will be opposite the Community Center and adjacent to the trail, at 10th Street and a small parking lot)

The works that Tom creates will be on display and available for purchase at the In Plein Sight 2018 Gallery, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room (2nd floor), 1470 10th Street.

Gallery hours:

Wednesday 9/12 – 2 to 8 PM

Thursday 9/13 – 2  to 8 PM

Friday 9/14 – 2 to 6 PM (building closes at 6 PM)

Saturday 9/15 – 10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday 9/16 – 10 AM to 4 PM

Make plans now to join us for In Plein Sight 2018, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our Jefferson County Open Space Parks.

Theresa Beck, In Plein Sight® 2018

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Alpine Aspens by Theresa Beck

Theresa Beck, Boulder CO

Theresa Beck has resided in Boulder, Colorado for the past 25 years, where she finds herself constantly drawn to be out in the mountains hiking and painting.

Theresa feels her paintings are a visual narrative; they tell a story as a field journal, that chronicle how she relates to the world.

Magnolia Road Lake by Theresa Beck

For more information, visit www.theresambeck.com.

Theresa will be painting in the Open Space Parks as part of In Plein Sight 2018. Come and watch as she creates her lovely renderings of Jefferson County’s public parks, some of the finest in the country.

Theresa’s field schedule:

Monday 9/10 – Lair O’ the Bear Park, 22550 State Highway 74, Idledale

Tuesday 9/11 – Artists are on their own as we set up the Gallery

Wednesday 9/12 – Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west trailhead, 5136 South Le Masters Road, Evergreen

Thursday 9/13 – Elk Meadow Park, Lewis Ridge trailhead, 2855 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen

Friday 9/14 – Centennial Cone Park, Ralph Schell (north) trailhead, 3956 Camino Perdido, Golden

Saturday 9/15 – Clear Creek in Golden (the booth will be opposite the Community Center and adjacent to the trail, at 10th Street and a small parking lot)

The works that Theresa creates will be on display and available for purchase at the In Plein Sight 2018 Gallery, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room (2nd floor), 1470 10th Street.

Gallery hours:

Wednesday 9/12 – 2 to 8 PM

Thursday 9/13 – 2  to 8 PM

Friday 9/14 – 2 to 6 PM (building closes at 6 PM)

Saturday 9/15 – 10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday 9/16 – 10 AM to 4 PM

Make plans now to join us for In Plein Sight 2018, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our Jefferson County Open Space Parks.

Judith Gilman, In Plein Sight® 2018

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Barelegged #3 by Judith Gilman

JUDITH GILMAN, DENVER CO

Taking an art class in 2009 started Judith Gilman on her retirement journey through painting. It was a love affair as she studied about, thought about, talked about, and learned about art by doing.

Starting with her first show in 2010, Judith has displayed her work in both open and juried shows, one woman shows, and at Judith Gilman Studio. She continues to be recognized through sales and awards including several “Best of Show” honors.

We Brighten the Porch by Judith Gilman

Judith’s oil and watercolor paintings interpret the beauty of scenic views through color and strong brush strokes, sometimes adhering to the reality of the scene and sometimes using it as a springboard to her imagination.

For more information, visit www.judithgilmanstudio-gpddesigns.com.

Judith will be painting in the Open Space Parks as part of In Plein Sight 2018. Come and watch as she creates her lovely renderings of Jefferson County’s public parks, some of the finest in the country.

Judith’s field schedule:

Monday 9/10 – Lair O’ the Bear Park, 22550 State Highway 74, Idledale

Tuesday 9/11 – Artists are on their own as we set up the Gallery

Wednesday 9/12 – Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west trailhead, 5136 South Le Masters Road, Evergreen

Thursday 9/13 – Elk Meadow Park, Lewis Ridge trailhead, 2855 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen

Friday 9/14 – Centennial Cone Park, Ralph Schell (north) trailhead, 3956 Camino Perdido, Golden

Saturday 9/15 – Clear Creek in Golden (the booth will be opposite the Community Center and adjacent to the trail, at 10th Street and a small parking lot)

The works that Judith creates will be on display and available for purchase at the In Plein Sight 2018 Gallery, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room (2nd floor), 1470 10th Street.

Gallery hours:

Wednesday 9/12 – 2 to 8 PM

Thursday 9/13 – 2  to 8 PM

Friday 9/14 – 2 to 6 PM (building closes at 6 PM)

Saturday 9/15 – 10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday 9/16 – 10 AM to 4 PM

Make plans now to join us for In Plein Sight 2018, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our Jefferson County Open Space Parks.

Sheila Marie, In Plein Sight® 2018

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Last Day in May by Sheila Littlehorn

Sheila Marie, Littleton CO

At the beginning of her career, Sheila owned a stained-glass studio, teaching, designing and creating commissions for custom home builders and individuals.

After spending 25 years as the Director of Operations at a start-up company in which she developed, designed and patented baby products, Sheila returned to devoting herself full time to her fine art practices once again in 2014, this time working primarily in oil.  Sheila’s desire is to unite brilliant color, exciting brush strokes and thoughtful design to produce a work that reflects reality, but is clearly a painting.

Signs of Summer Coming, Sheila Littlehorn

For more information, visit www.sheilamariestudio.com.

Sheila will be painting in the Open Space Parks as part of In Plein Sight 2018. Come and watch as she creates her lovely renderings of Jefferson County’s public parks, some of the finest in the country.

Sheila’s field schedule:

Monday 9/10 – Lair O’ the Bear Park, 22550 State Highway 74, Idledale

Tuesday 9/11 – Artists are on their own as we set up the Gallery

Wednesday 9/12 – Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west trailhead, 5136 South Le Masters Road, Evergreen

Thursday 9/13 – Elk Meadow Park, Lewis Ridge trailhead, 2855 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen

Friday 9/14 – Centennial Cone Park, Ralph Schell (north) trailhead, 3956 Camino Perdido, Golden

Saturday 9/15 – Clear Creek in Golden (the booth will be opposite the Community Center and adjacent to the trail, at 10th Street and a small parking lot)

The works that Sheila creates will be on display and available for purchase at the In Plein Sight 2018 Gallery, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room (2nd floor), 1470 10th Street.

Gallery hours:

Wednesday 9/12 – 2 to 8 PM

Thursday 9/13 – 2  to 8 PM

Friday 9/14 – 2 to 6 PM (building closes at 6 PM)

Saturday 9/15 – 10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday 9/16 – 10 AM to 4 PM

Make plans now to join us for In Plein Sight 2018, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our Jefferson County Open Space Parks.