Jacqueline Hart, Peak to Peak. Nederland Veterinary Hospital hired veterinarian Susan Ornitz in January of last year, after Doc Joe retired. Susan is originally from Kentucky and Tennessee but relocated to Colorado following graduation from CSU. Susan says she has felt welcomed by staff and clients.
Wolves, Spartacus and Ashima, visited the Wild Bear Nature Center in Nederland, courtesy of the W.O.L.F. Sanctuary. The mission at the sanctuary is to educate the public about the value of wolves, and the dangers of keeping wolves and wolf-dog hybrids as pets.
On January 15, 2018, the monthly meeting of women entrepreneurs met at Hub-Ned. One of the primary missions of this group is professional development, with workshops offered quarterly to achieve that mission. The women who meet have varied professional paths, but most share the goal of molding their businesses to fit their choice to live in Nederland and the surrounding areas, and to be able to spend more time here. The meetings are free, the space is donated by Steve and Jen Karowe, who own Hub-Ned, and they meet every fourth Tuesday of each month.
In February, Eldora announced they would partner with Alterra Mountain Company, Copper Mountain, and Killington Resorts to offer the Ikon Pass for the 2018/19 ski season. Ikon Pass holders would have access to ski areas in the Rocky Mountains, Utah and California, so this move would likely bring more tourism through Nederland.
Dr. Annette and Tom Lambeth opened The Last Stand Tavern in Coal Creek Canyon on February 4, to immediate five-star reviews. The goal of the owners was to bring American pub-style food and a fun atmosphere to the area.
The Deli hosted soup and sandwich night to benefit the Aspen Grove Preschool in Nederland. For years Ross Alper, the owner of the Deli, has fed locals soup and sandwiches on Monday nights for donations only. But this night was for the kids.
The 17th Annual Frozen Dead Guy Days took over Nederland the weekend of March 9, bringing record breaking crowds to local business. Portions of the proceeds from the Snowy Human Foosball event went to the Nederland food pantry. The Fix a Frozen Flat contest was held on the patio of local restaurant Salto. Eldora even provided ice and snow for the coffin races.
In business news not centering around frozen corpses, Katie Miller, owner of Nederland Apothecary, held her grand opening in March. The greenhouse in the back of the store houses plants and herbs used in the products creating those amazing smells in the store. Katie reported the store’s opening realized a life-long dream for her.
On March 11, amid Frozen Dead Guy Days festivities, The Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center hosted Nature’s Educator’s, a non-profit educational wildlife program from Sedalia, Colorado. Nature’s Educators is a sanctuary for birds of prey, including raptors. Among the feathered guests were a burrow owl, a turkey vulture, a hedgehog, reptiles, a turtle and various scorpions. The event fit in nicely with the dark theme of the weekend and brought over 1,000 people to the center and surrounding businesses.
On April 7, Eldora held the 2nd Annual Trick Ditch Banked Slalom, presented by 10 Barrel Brewing Company and hosted by former professional snowboarder Eddie Wall. Trick Ditch is a snowboarding competition that’s both racing and freestyle. A share of $10,000 was awarded to the top finishers of the event. Eldora held its annual pondskim event prior to closing for the season on April 22. The event the previous year had great success, so Eldora added a second pond to the event for 2018.
The challenge is to ski down the hill and land across the pond, but participants were soaked! Luckily, NFPD was available to help skiers climb out of the water.
The First Annual Peak to Peak Business Conference, an event to help local small business succeed, was a hit. Areas of interest covered at the even included, marketing, legal advice and networking.
Downtown Colorado Inc. held a conference in Boulder on April 10, discussed redevelopment of Nederland including; creating a core block for an event street, moving the Pioneer Inn and using the roof on the building for roof top dining, workforce housing close to Nederland town center, and other affordable residential sites. Development of an entertainment district was discussed as well. Ron Mitchel, the organizer of the event stated the economic impact of the redevelopment plan would be an income increase of a million dollars or more.
Nederland Farmer’s Market opened for its first weekend on May 19.
Vendors sold fresh produce, honey and olive oil. Beauty products with natural ingredients were available as well. Late in the day it was still getting cold in Nederland, so hot coffee was available. The Farmer’s Market ran throughout the summer and through October.
The Farm Stand at Salto opened for its third year, offering fresh produce and farm products. A farmer on Magnolia Rd. brought fresh eggs and homemade bread. The Alpaca Poo vendor from Sugarloaf Mountain Farm brought sacks of alpaca poo fertilizer.
Whitewater wraps set up its food truck on 1st Street in Nederland for the weekends of summer. The vendors, Kyle Gohan and Elijah Harter, are committed to their business philosophy to make the world a kinder place through every interaction. There is no red meat served on the truck, but there are many other protein options.
Hair by Tracy committed to the Nederland location on 2nd Street full time, moving out of the spot above Mid County Liquors in Gilpin County, in May. The Nederland salon added the space vacated by the grooming salon’s move and Holly Philips came on board to expand services offered to include nails and pedicures. Stylist Michelle Poucet came on board soon after, covering Thursdays.
CR Smith celebrated 60 years in business this year, over three family generations.
In June, Nederland businesses hosted the Dine and Shop in Nederland event, to raise funds and awareness for Peak 2 Peak Forrest Watch. The Forrest Watch is a volunteer program supported by the US Forest Service, who trains and equips the volunteers to patrol campgrounds and local forests and helps reduce illegal camping and fires.
The Caribou Room in Nederland participated in Independent Venue Week from July 9 through July 15 to support new artists.
After ten years in Rollinsville, Mark Smith, owner of Medicine Springs Pharmacy, closed the doors to his business. Smith said he and his family will remain on the land attached to the Pharmacy and continue to explore and study the trees.
The Shop in Nederland, owned by Claudia Shauffler, moved two stores down and adjacent to Wild Bear. Claudia also accepted a position earlier in the year with a local organization that assists the homeless population.
The Branding Iron, formerly known as the Stage Stop, moved from Rollinsville to Nederland on July 18, 2018.
NedFest is the big event in August, and this year marked the 20-year anniversary for the music festival. Although questions regarding such issues as public marijuana smoke, open container alcohol consumption and noise levels threatened the fun prior to the festival, it was reported that 2018’s NedFest was the best one yet. The last night of the event included the band Electric Hot Tuna at the Caribou Room for the close of the show.
Max Yeager celebrated 30 years in business as a self-employed excavator in Gold Hill. Every year Max throws a party the day before Labor Day to celebrate his company and the local clients who keep him in business.
The Millsite restaurant in Ward, owned by Carol, Kirk and Scott Byers, regrettably closed its doors in September. Carol said she was looking forward to focusing on artwork but was saddened to have to let go.
For the first time in decades, Eldora ski resort opened ten days early this year, on November 7, due to heavier than usual snowfall. Opening week sales were the highest they’ve had at Eldora, helping to bring tourism to Nederland businesses a little earlier this year.
Hub-Ned hosted public speaking coach Johanna Walker on November 15. Walker gave her “Storytelling to Sell” presentation to an active audience.
Roy’s Last Shot celebrated Thanksgiving with a buffet attracting local customers and others who traveled for just the Thanksgiving event.
Local shops that often struggle through the winter months tried staying open more over the holidays this year. Mountain Heart Art Studio, formerly known as The Mountain Goat Gallery and the Gilpin County Arts Association, were among the local shops who stocked for gift buyers.
Gilpin Art Studio held its first ever Holiday Show this year, featuring gifts for every budget. Holiday Mountain Market, The Tommyknockers Festival, and Gilpin Winter Arts Festival also offered opportunities for local independently owned to showcase their products for holiday buyers.
December 2018 also marked the one-year Anniversary of locally owned Hub-Ned, a co-working space catering to the needs of remote and self-employed members of the community.
(Originally published in the January 10, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
