BLACK HAWK - Some weeks are harder than others to say things I feel may need to be said in our mountain community. This week I have so much I want to share, so bear with me.
One thing I want to mention is the “Great Colorado Payback.” This is happening right now. Here is a portion of the press release we received. I wouldn’t include this, except I went onto the site and found out I had money due to me. A small amount, but worth taking the time to fill out the form and request the money, right?
“Given today’s tight economy, we all could use some extra cash for groceries, gas, and other necessities,” said Treasurer Young. “I am thrilled to continue modernizing our claims process so we can reunite more Coloradans with billions in missing money.”
More than 12,000 claims have been preapproved for payment due to streamlined verification processes. Eligible claimants in Colorado will receive checks in the coming weeks and can cash them immediately without additional documentation.
Each year, companies transfer millions in assets to the Colorado Department of the Treasury when they cannot locate the original owners, including individuals, companies, nonprofit organizations, schools, and other entities. The Great Colorado Payback currently holds over $2 billion in unclaimed property owed to more than 15 million individuals and entities. Since its launch in 1987, the program has returned $765 million to owners and their heirs, including nearly $78 million last year alone. An estimated one in ten Coloradans has unclaimed property with the state.
To search for missing money, visit GreatCOPayback.com.
Next, I want to talk about something that has been on my mind a lot. Last year, my youngest child graduated from Nederland High School. After being part of the NMSHS and BVSD school system, I felt like a very long, complicated journey had come to an end. I had been part of the district as a student, then a parent, for almost 40 years. During that time, we went through at least a few dozen principals, vice-principals, administrators, teachers, coaches, volunteers, and more. Not to mention all of the support staff and bus drivers. It’s a lot of people. I have always felt like we were the forgotten school system, up here on the mountain. We get fewer resources, less consideration, less money.
And in that time I have heard dozens of times the idea that the Nederland schools would be closed and families would be sending their kids down the hill to Boulder someday for school. Now, with the latest move from BVSD, to have one principal for two schools, at two different locations, across town from each other, I fear that is exactly where we are headed.
Here is the announcement from BVSD that was printed in The Mountain-Ear.
https://www.themtnear.com/stories/letter-to-nmshs-parents-from-bvsd,33298?
And here is one of the meeting reports we have of a Nederland meeting, which was the first meeting of the community, with no prior input from parents or community members on this decision.
https://www.themtnear.com/stories/bvsd-meets-with-parents-over-school-decision,36515?
Friends, teachers, parents, please continue to express your own concerns about the situation. Send your letters to the editor here: https://www.themtnear.com/forms/letters/ and send them to the school district here: superintendent@bvsd.org
Okay, on a different note, I’d like to recognize the hundreds of thousands of protestors that took to the streets around the entire country on April 5, 2025. I keep seeing people saying the media isn’t covering this. As a small independent media company, we are covering this. We are covering it from a local standpoint, in Nederland, Boulder, Denver and beyond. Send in your photos and a bit of info about the protest you were part of, and we will post to our online gallery. Submit here: https://www.themtnear.com/forms/its-your-turn/
As well, I want to recognize April as National Poetry Month and we have our annual poetry contest happening right now. You submit your original poetry here: https://www.themtnear.com/forms/its-your-turn/ or by emailing it to frontdesk@themountainer.com.
And we certainly can’t skip World Art Day, which is April 15. This is a reminder to me that we need to get dates selected for our 2025 Studio Tour. It’s always in September and we will make an announcement soon about days and times. If you’d like to participate, send me an email at info@themountainear.com.
And make sure to watch for our new poll, asking you what you like, dislike, want to see and think about our publications. We value your opinion and will be posting the poll this week! We will also be posting our “Best of the Peak to Peak contest,” on Sunday, April 13.
We are launching our ad sales for our 2025 Visitor’s Guide this week. And our 2025 media kit for all advertising options is online. You can find out more by checking out this link: https://themtnear.com/advertise/ or by calling Amanda at 720-960-2900 or by email at adsales@themountainear.com.
Check out our Body, Mind, Spirit Guide here: https://www.themtnear.com/stories/body-mind-spirit-2025,36678
our 2024 Visitor’s Guide here: https://www.themtnear.com/stories/peak-to-peak-visitors-guide-2024,19824 and our 2024 Studio Tour Guide here: https://www.themtnear.com/stories/studio-tour-2024,16212
As always, The Mountain-Ear is YOUR community source for news. It is created by locals, for locals. We have been covering everything you need to know in the entire Peak to Peak region, since 1977. Subscribe here: https://mountainear.creativecirclemedia.com/subscribe/ and use promo code SPRING for a discount on your in-state print/online subscription. Questions? Call us at 303-810-5409 or email info@themountainear.com.
Thanks for reading!
