Nicole Cavalino, Director, Nederland Area Seniors. On November 19, 1996, Nederland Area Seniors was established in the State of Colorado as a 501c(3) Non-Profit organization, under Board President Irene Smith and Secretary Joanne Chavez. Previous Board Members and past Presidents Gloria Frasier, Lois Harris, Betty Hunt, Jack Filer, Joanne Chavez, Betty and Dale Porter, Don Dexter, Frank and Susan Lutz, Marty Cheshes, Jim Elder, Jim Guertin and all others that have influenced the development of Nederland Area Seniors and its mission to enhance the lives of seniors through cherished dining and cultural events, pickleball and folk dancing groups, and enrichment programs such as the book and writing clubs.

For 25 years Nederland Area Seniors has been committed to serving the nutritional, fitness, and social needs of older adults living in small towns and isolated homesteads throughout the western mountains of Boulder County. 

Nederland Area Seniors is grateful to our community for the many years of continued encouragement, individual donations and volunteer support that allowed us to serve the community throughout the years. Whether it be fire, flood, water main breaks, extended power outages, heavy snowfall, canyon construction or a pandemic, mountain residents consistently prove their strength and resilience as a community when faced with challenges. 

During the scariest and most unsettling times of the Covid pandemic, the mountain communities came together to shelter, nourish, and console each other as we faced new challenges and fears.  All this while living under masks, without hugs, and in ever-changing levels of safety protocols. 

With dedicated volunteers and in coordination with fellow non-profit organizations, Nederland Area Seniors served 134 seniors over 15,000 meals in 2020. All meals were prepared at the Nederland Community Center, delivered by volunteers, and managed by part-time staff.

The Covid response meal delivery program continues to be funded by individual donations, local in-kind support of goods and Covid-relief grants from organizations including Mountain Forum for Peace, the Nederland Auxiliary, Boulder and Gilpin County Commissioners, Town of Nederland, Nederland Community Center, Eldora Ski Resort, The Mountain-Ear, Nederland Food Pantry, Boulder Community Foundation and Boulder County Area Agency on Aging. 

Senior meal delivery eligibility: You are 60 years or older, live in the mountain communities between Black Hawk and Jamestown and would like to receive delivered meals.

Eligible recipients receive meals at no cost. $5 donations suggested for each meal. To schedule meal delivery call: 303-258-0799.

Celebrating Mountain Community Resilience

In honor of our 25th anniversary as a non-profit organization and in celebration of our mountain community’s resilience, the Nederland Area Seniors is hosting an outdoor community BBQ the weekend of July 3-4, 2021, (pending Covid restrictions and weather) at the Nederland Community Center.  The event will follow Boulder County Public Health Covid safe guidelines and will offer live music, free food, and drinks, and summer fun activities in a family environment in celebration of our mountain resilience through the Covid pandemic. 

Nederland Area Seniors will be honoring past Board Presidents Jim Elder, Marty Cheshes and Jim Guertin for their great influence and dedication to the organization at the 25th anniversary event. Please join us in honoring their service. Additional event details coming soon. Visit us at www.MountainPeakLife.org.

Welcoming Our New Kitchen Team

Many dedicated community members have worked with Nederland Area Seniors over the years to make it the thriving organization it is today. In my nearly two years as Director of Nederland Area Seniors I have had the opportunity to work alongside talented, generous, and heart-led chefs and kitchen staff including Chastity Lamb, Trish Graves, Sue Leto, Jessica Pierce and Robby Stratford who will always be part of Nederland Area Seniors family and have a seat at our luncheon table. 

In December 2020, Nederland Area Seniors had the fortune of hiring our newest team members, Chef Dale & Kitchen Assistant Jeanette! The kitchen duo recently moved to Nederland. Jeanette brings generations of authentic Mexican cooking to Nederland Area Seniors creating delicious new menu items including red smothered burritos, carnitas and tamales. Chef Dale has over 35 years of experience preparing delicious meals in the restaurant industry as an owner and head chef throughout Louisiana and in Northern California’s wine country. His culinary skills encompass all levels of the dining experience from California fusion to his freshly baked whole grain breads, grilled shrimp and crab cakes, beef stew with locally harvested vegetables, hearty vegetarian soups and chilis, cheesy macaroni baked pastas and his New Orleans specialties including blacken catfish, seafood gumbo and jambalaya.

Chef Dale and Jeanette will be preparing the anniversary celebration BBQ from the Nederland Community Center kitchen. Board members Mark Stringfellow and Margaret Freeman are the event planners in coordination with the Nederland Community Center management.

For more information contact Nicole Cavalino, Director Nederland Area Seniors. Email: MountainPeakLife.Nicole@gmail.com. Website: www.MountainPeakLife.org.

(Originally published in the April 8, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)