Brandy Hale, Gilpin County. Gilpin Public School held its annual spaghetti dinner and silent auction on Friday, May 11, 2018. It was a much bigger event than in previous years. According to Kayla Carlson and board member Sarah Swanson, past events were organized by the Montessori Parent Group to benefit the school’s Montessori students, with funds going to supplies and professional development of Montessori teachers. This year, however, the funds will benefit Gilpin Elementary.

The event has doubled the number of sponsors, nearly all of which were from local businesses and professionals, ranging in value from around $20 to hundreds. Local hand-crafted jewelry, family photo sessions, handmade pottery, locally roasted coffee, paintings and certificates for hotel stays at casinos, goodies from cafes and subscriptions to publications were on the blocks. Three donations, one from the Peak to Peak Players theater group, one from Z Casinos and another from the Gilpin County Education Fund, were valued at $500 each. A flashy new kid’s bike and a custom-made puzzle table were also highlights of the spread.

After taking a gander at the items available and placing their bids, families headed to the cafeteria where several parents and volunteers had been hard at work preparing the spaghetti dinner. Erin Trumble, a Montessori parent, pointed out that the sauce was made from scratch by Sarah and John Bushey, with 20lbs of Nebraska beef donated by Canyon Carlson’s grandfather. In addition, salad and cookies for desert, were accompanied by garlic bread donated by Rudi’s Bakery in Boulder. Thanks to a parent who works for them. In all, over 200 plates were expected to be served.

Board member Sarah Swanson, who has helped organize the event for 6 years, said that this year was the biggest by far. In past years, the event would raise a maximum of $3,000, but this year they had hopes for $5,000. They had to create two placemats to display the logos and names of all the sponsors this year, when normally one would have sufficed.

At the ‘boys’ table’ in the cafeteria where food was being scarfed and conversation excitedly exchanged, the consensus was that the food was a success, with Aiden Zeilbeck and Paul Ferrante voting “spaghetti!” as the best part, and Ben Bushey voting for “the sauce!” which he may have helped make. Their enthusiasm was apparently shared by the school’s parents, who bid early and often for their desired items, raising $6,100 and exceeding all expectations.  The bread was from Rudi’s Bakery in Boulder.