John Scarffe, Nederland. Congressman Joe Neguse toured Nederland on Saturday, August 31, 2019, and visited with local citizens, volunteers and businesses to learn more about the community. His tour, led by Mayor Kristopher Larsen, Mayor Pro-Tem Julie Gustafson and town staff, began at the Community Center at about 10:45 a.m. 

Congressman Joe Neguse represents Colorado’s Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to his first term in November 2018, becoming the first African American member of Congress in Colorado history. He serves as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, House Natural Resources Committee and the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, according to his website.

Before his election, he served in the Governor of Colorado’s Cabinet as the executive director of Colorado’s consumer protection agency. Previously Rep. Neguse was elected to represent Colorado’s Second District on the University of Colorado Board of Regents, where he served a six-year term. 

He received his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from the University of Colorado-Boulder, where he graduated summa cum laude, and received his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law. Rep. Neguse and his wife, Andrea, live in Lafayette, where they are raising their one-year-old daughter, Natalie.

 At the Community Center, a few interested Nederland residents joined the tour group, which also included the Congressman’s staff, to discuss Peak to Peak Human Services. First, they visited the Food Pantry, where they learned that the Pantry serves about 75 families per month, from Central City to Allenspark. 

In 2013, Nederland Human Services received support to bring Boulder County services closer. Neguse complimented the Food Pantry and thanked the volunteers for their work. Tim Dillon said, “It touches a lot of people.” 

Neguse was also advised to visit the Community Gardens, which can produce 25 pounds of food per lot. Reesa Lively Smith sat at a table in the hall at the entrance to the Food Pantry. 

Her job is to verify addresses. She also helped get grants to support the area, and she collects donations.

Larsen explained that Nederland is a statutory town, which makes a difference in how the town is governed. He pointed out that the Community Center also serves as a command center during an emergency response.

As the tour left the Community Center and headed downtown, group members discussed that Nederland has no medical facilities except one family physician, and the nearest hospital is in Boulder, so the most efficient transportation method is Flight for Life.

Neguse said he has introduced legislation to eliminate surprise billing for air ambulance services, often necessary in emergency medical situations in mountainous or rural areas. Surprise bills currently create large financial burdens to insured individuals who may have thought the care they received would be covered or who were facing emergency situations — such as an air rescue — that left them with no option but to access this care, regardless of its out-of-network status with their insurance company. 

The tour visited the Town Hall lawn and then shopped at the Rustic Moose, where Neguse bought a Boogie Toes and a bear for his one-year-old daughter. Gustafson said at peak times in the summer to late fall, no parking will be available, so the people just keep moving.

At Brightwood Music store, Doug Armitage said the store just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Gustafson said there is no better teacher than Armitage, who said the kids get a chance to learn an instrument.

Neguse said his wife plays the guitar and would like this shop. At Wild Bear Nature Center, they learned of a big event, the Enchanted Forest with magical animals, will take place on September 28, 2019.

The tour ended at the Carousel of Happiness, where they met Carousel creator, Scott Harrison. Charles Wood, president of the Carousel Board, told the story of the Carousel’s creation. 

At 19 years old, Harrison entered the Marine Corps. While overseas, his sister sent him a music box, and it reminded him of a carousel. He would envision a carousel in a mountain meadow. 

During a 30-year career with Amnesty International, he and his family moved to Nederland, and it reminded him of his vision, Wood said. Carousels are expensive, but mainly because the horses are collector’s items. 

Harrison found a carousel made by Charles Luke, who also built the carousel in Coney Island, which had been abandoned at a closed amusement park on Salt Lake, Wood said. The horses were already gone, so he paid the owner $2,000 for the mechanics and moved them to Nederland. 

During the next 26 years, Harrison carved the 34 animals for the Carousel. The community formed a non-profit organization and constructed the building. 

Wood said this is their ninth year of operation, and they estimate they will have cumulative visits of one million riders. The police chief said when they ask visitors why they are here the most frequent answer is the Carousel of Happiness.

After watching happy people ride the Carousel animals, Neguse and his party headed out of Nederland to another commitment. He suggested he might have a Town Hall meeting in Nederland in the future.

(Originally published in the September 12, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)