Monica LaSalle, Nederland.   It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

The year started off with celebration of course, with many people attending the Anders Osbourne show at the Caribou Room. Also happening around the first of the year was NedRINK finally opening, after a rough beginning to winter.

January

In the first week of January, wolves visit Nederland at Wild Bear Nature Center from W.O.L.F. Sanctuary Mission.

A new veterinarian starts at Nederland Veterinary Hospital to replace a retiring Doc Joe, Dr. Susan Omitz.

The month ends with a significant snow storm, dumping a foot of snow over the region.

February

The month starts with a winter wildfire south of Nederland, a quarter mile off of Highway 119, when duff began smoldering under the snow and is spotted by a hiker and her dog. USFS firefighter Ed LeBlanc, Ned Fire’s Dave Femmer and Ryan Roberts, members of Ned PD and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office respond to assist and extinguish.

March

Cold Springs Fire starters Jimmy Suggs and Zachary Kuykendall plead guilty to fourth-degree felony arson and are both sentenced to four years of probation, concurrent with two years of work release as well as to pay $1,364,000 in restitution between them. They must also participate in the Restorative Justice Program.

The 17th annual Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival breaks attendance records with over 20,000 people in attendance. Nederland Area Seniors fed 600 people over the weekend with their pancake breakfasts.

Manitou Springs Fossils win first place in the Coffin Race, Josh Copeland wins the Rocky Mountain Oyster Eating Contest for the sixth time, Ed Tarleton wins the Salmon Toss with 47 feet, Esther Winner wins the women’s competition with 28.6 feet, and Ethan Johnson wins the kids’ competition with 23.11 feet.

A water main break appears on the Friday of FDGD weekend, causing a partial closure at the traffic circle, and several homes north and west of town are without water until the busy festival clears the town and allows Public Works to perform repairs. The water main is repaired, and the traffic circle is opened by Thursday of that week.

Nederland and Gilpin Schools participate in the Parkland Shooting “walk out” to show support for victims’ families and take a stand against bullying and violence in schools.

April

BVSD Board of Education appoints Dr. Rob Anderson as the new superintendent of schools.

A new business, The Apothecary, opens with spaces for workshops and events as well as a medicinal greenhouse.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Department is commissioned to take over night time duties in Nederland due to an inability to attract candidates to fill 2 positions.

NPFD asks the public to continue the Mill levy for crucial upgrades. The money was originally allocated to build the new station in 1998 and will now go to replacing the 1982 ladder truck, among other things.

The Peak to Peak Business Conference is a huge success. Katrina Harms wins the Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence, “Downtowner of the Year,” by Downtown Colorado Incorporated for her years of service to the Nederland Community.

Nederland Middle Senior High School wins the Support Music Merit Award for the fifth year in a row from the National Association of Music Merchants, a foundation honoring outstanding commitment to music education. Specifically, they are honored for leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, which replaced No Child Left Behind).

May

Nederland residents retain bond for Mill revenue to fund NPFD.

The first annual Nederland Prom for Adults is held by Mike Foster and friends, featuring dinner at Ned’s with a Champagne buffet followed by the dance at Stage Stop, in Rollinsville, where a King and Queen are voted in. A traditional style photo booth, etc. is featured.

USFS, Peak to Peak Forest Watch and local volunteers dismantle illegal and overbuilt campfire pits and rebuild them to be safer at West Magnolia Campground.

The Nederland Farmer’s Market opens for the season.

Bond construction is delayed at NMSHS due to too much work for too few subcontractors.

Long time physical education teacher at NES, Mary Joyce, retires after 16 years of teaching.

June

USFS, Timberline Fire, Rocky Mountain Fire Protection District and Coal Creek Canyon Fire Department collaborate to subdue a fire started on the west side of Gross Reservoir. Starting at one-tenth of an acre, it is contained two hours later.

A tuber is stranded in Boulder Creek near Four Mile after being dumped into the creek while tubing. He manages to get up on a rock, but the water is too rough for him to attempt reaching shore. Rocky Mountain Rescue, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder City Police, Boulder Fire and Rescue, Boulder Emergency Services, Sunshine Fire Department, Four Mile Fire Department and AMR ambulance service all participate in the two- hour rescue operation.

Boulder County and Gilpin County are put on Stage 1 Fire Restriction.

Claudia Schauffler is hired as the summer homeless advocate for the Residential Encampments Program.

Deborah DePinto is found unconscious in her home in North Boulder Mobile Home Park, and later perishes of injuries sustained during a domestic violence attack from her husband, Scott Beaumont Jones.

The High Peaks Art Festival has another successful year with the first-time awarding of the John Burnett Memorial Award going to Rocky Stiers, the Dave Felkey Memorial Award to Mike Moore, and the Best of Show to Carmel Walden.

July

Switzerland Trail & Sugarloaf Road Fire occurs. It is only a quarter of an acre when the smoke is originally spotted and called in. Forty-five minutes later it spreads to one acre. Pre-evacuations are issued all along Sugarloaf Road. Air support is called in and successfully puts out the blaze with the help of USFS and Sugarloaf Fire.

Medicine Springs Pharmacy closes its doors after 25 years, due to owner Mark Smith moving back to WV to care for his mother.

The Stage Stop closes its doors and proceeds to move to Nederland to become part of resurrecting the Branding Iron.

A man standing next to his tent in Ruby Gulch is struck by lightning and survives.

A man falls 20-30 feet to the base of Navajo Gulch in Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, perishing from his injuries.

A 62-year-old man is found unconscious near Camp Dick, approximately 10 minutes up Middle Saint Vrain Trail. CPR could not revive him. He perishes from a medical condition.

A stage 2 Fire Ban is enacted for both counties by the USFS.

A 1924 Obenchain-Boyer Chemical Engine is gifted to Timberline Fire to honor all the past, present and future men and women volunteer fire fighters in Boulder and Gilpin Counties, along with their families.

The West Magnolia trail system receives much needed upgrades all month as NATO collaborates with Teens, Inc.’s Youth Corp to perform work.

August

A truck catches fire on lower Magnolia Road. It burns so hot that it melts the pavement before crews can extinguish the flames.

Nederland Police and Fire participate in National Night Out. They demonstrate how the Jaws of Life work and show off a new Ladder truck, with participants climbing, harnessed, as high as they dared.

Nederland Community Library appoints a new director, Elektra Greer.

Another fire sparks on Sugarloaf, started by a lightning strike. Sugarloaf Fire and Ned Fire respond to extinguish it.

At the end of the month, 20th Anniversary NedFest entertains hundreds with Melvin Seals and JGB, Electric Hot Tuna with Steve Kimock, Jack and Jorma and Sweet Lilies and Vince Herman all headlining the event.

September

NedNed is walked and run to benefit Teens, Inc.

The historic, iconic Millsite Tavern closes its doors after over 30 years of serving the Peak to Peak region.

The Mountain Strong Families Series comes to Nederland.

October

Seventy Rise Against Hunger volunteers pack over 10,000 meals to be delivered around the country.

A very early snow storm hits mid-month, with 8 inches of snow.

November

Beloved long time Mountain-Ear reporter Barbara Lawlor passes after battling illness for months.

The Caribou Village bomber suspect sentence progresses with a 30-day deadline issued to determine whether or not Ansberry should be tried as a terrorist. Sentencing is expected in January 2019, based on this decision.

Eldora Mountain Resort opens early for the first time in years with a November 7 opening aided by the early snow storm in October.

Affordable housing progresses in Nederland with the first of three modular homes installed by Stringfellow on Conger Street development.

Local fire fighters head to California to help fight Camp Fire.

The 9 News Health Fair is held in collaboration with Health Services Fair, sponsored by Peak to Peak Alliance.

The Community Thanksgiving Dinner is held with great success, under new management by Danielle Knollenberg.

New Veterinarian Dr. Pam Scudder starts at Nederland Veterinarian Hospital.

An Old Town house fire is quickly extinguished by Ned Fire. It is speculated to be caused by an insecure heating source within the home.

Hub-Ned hosts “Storytelling to Sell,” with storytelling expert Johanna Walker, a seasoned TedTalks presenter.

The 2nd Annual Nederland Film Festival is held at the Nederland Community Center and Back Door Theater.

December

The Holiday Mountain Market is held at the Community Center, with many locals selling their wares to kick off the holiday shopping season.

A driver is rescued from her car after she lost control around a curve, hit a rock and landed in the creek in Boulder Canyon. The driver was uninjured.

A CU student was skiing a late day at Eldora when he lost control and hit a tree. He was not wearing a helmet and despite being life flown to the hospital, his injuries were too numerous and severe for recovery.

(Originally published in the January 3, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)