John Scarffe, Gilpin County. Gilpin County seniors and supporters enjoyed a Lasagna, salad and breadsticks dinner on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the Gilpin County Schools cafeteria and auditorium. Hosted by Gilpin County Senior Living, the fifth annual fundraiser for the nonprofit corporation also included a silent auction and talent show.

As the event opened, guests could bid on silent auction items on display. They included jewelry by Nature’s Elementals such as a Amazonite and Zebra Jasper necklaces and earrings, a book on Black Hawk and Central City history, antique china, stainless steel martini glasses and several gift baskets.

Andretta Robertson, secretary of the Gilpin County Senior Living Board, said she organized the event with lots of volunteers, as she has since 2015. The menu has been the same every year except they switched to breadsticks this year.

The proceeds from the fundraiser go to into the Board’s general fund to build housing for Gilpin County senior residents. The Board has seven members, including acting president Rob Sawyer.

Sawyer said he became president, because no one else wanted to do it. The Gilpin County Senior Living Board began in January 2014 as a 501 (c) 3 organization, although a committee worked for three years to form the organization, Sawyer said. 

According to a 1998 survey, Gilpin County needed 20 units of affordable, senior housing, Sawyer said. By 2020, the County will need 35 units. Right now, the Board plans to build 17 units for residents and one for a manager. 

The housing will be affordable, which means residents will not have to pay more than 30 percent of their income to rent a unit, according to federal standards, Sawyer said. “This goal will be tough to meet,” Sawyer said. “The cost of housing keeps going up.”

Last week, Gilpin County Senior Living received notification that the organization has received a grant from the Colorado Health Foundation. It will fund a technical assistant for six months and $15,000 to be used as needed, Sawyer said. “It is part of the Governor’s pledge for affordable housing.”

After dinner, guests attended a talent show in the auditorium. Performers included the Caroline Younger Dancers with “Hot Honey Rag” from “Chicago”, a duet by Adele Fisher and Ben Hunt with “My New Philosophy” from “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” Dog tricks by Aubrey Allen and Dakota, a guitar solo by Niiya Nolting with “Out on the Rio Frio” and “4 Girls & a Fair Kiss.” LA’s Cardio Dance Class performed “No Excuses,” before intermission.

During intermission, guests enjoyed deserts and browsed the silent auction. The Gilpin Academy of Martial Arts demonstrated their skills after the intermission, followed by Lauryn Parkhurst with “Coal Miner’s Daughter, LA Dysart with “Singing in the Rain/Umbrella,” a Jimmy Stewart accordion medley and concluding with 50 ways, J.D. Paschke.

After the talent show, bidders on the silent auction items returned to find out which items they won and to take home their winnings. Robertson said results of the fund raising will be available next week.

The Board thanks County Commissioner Ron Engels for being an amazing emcee, Dr. David MacKenzie and the Gilpin County School staff for their assistance, High Country Fire Auxiliary for the use of the sandwich boards and the many volunteers.

(Originally published in the November 14, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)