Golden Transcript 1106

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November 6, 2014 VOLU M E 1 4 8 | I S S UE 48 | 5 0 ¢

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Goodbye Golden Tea Time Bistro to close after almost 20 years By Amy Woodward

awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com It’s business as usual at Golden Tea Time as a large party waits to be served. “My favorite is waiting on the people,” said Linda Russomanno, a server at Golden Tea Time. “The people are so amazing.” It will be what she misses most about the tiny tea café at 908 Washington Ave. — guests who have become like family. Most of this year has been filled with long goodbyes after owner Jackie Kowal announced that Golden Tea Time will be closing its doors on Sunday, Dec. 21, after nearly 20 years of serving hot tea and homemade food in the community. “Most of our customers have been longtime friends,” Kowal said. Golden Tea Time began operating in April of 1995 on a handshake between Kowal, her business partner Pat Austen and the late owner of the small home turned café, Joe Divigil. Austen and Kowal had been renting the old home from Divigil, but after his passing almost six years ago, his daughter decided she would like a chance at owning the property which was given to her by her father. “It’s been my passion and my dream,”

Kowal said about Golden Tea Time. “I met my second husband here.” Pat Austen, who moved to Washington State some time ago, spent the last few weeks in Colorado to reconnect with familiar faces at Golden Tea Time. “I think it’s sad,” Austen said. “We had a lot of fun.” The café serves not only as a place for friends and family to meet, but also operates as a bistro, with a unique menu designed by Austen and her flare for the culinary arts. The salmon loaf with dill sauce will be missed, along with homemade meatloaf, salsa and a side of potato slices. As Kowal stated before, most of Golden Tea Time’s customers are returning guests who have come to the café since its opening. Since that time, Kowal, Austen and Russomanno have photographed their treasured guests turned friends with pictures that hang on the café’s main wall in the dining room. Some of the friends displayed on the wall have since passed away, but happy memories linger for not only the gregarious women who have created a homey atmosphere, but for customers who have their own special memories. “It’s just been a place of enjoyment; the food, the friendship the company,” said Becky Cisneros, a long-time patron at Golden Tea Time. Cisneros began taking her mother to Golden Tea Time “many, many years ago” and has never ceased to

The inside of Tea Time is renowned for it’s decor that fits perfectly with the small cafe’s cozy feel. On a shelf, a porcelain tea pot sits on display, with one of many framed photos of guests, families and friends who have stopped in for tea for almost 20 years. Photo by Amy Woodward come in for hot tea and a bite to eat since then. “This is where I always want to come for my birthday,” she said. “Tea Time has brought my family many precious memories.” Reservations are required to get a table at Golden Tea Time, and with the pending closure, dates are filling up fast. Kowal intends to be out of the café by the first of the year. When asked if there are

any plans to open up Golden Tea Time at a new location, Kowal simply said no. “I hope they remember it as a cozy place that they were able to come and visit with their friends or family or to celebrate their special occasions,” Kowal said. “And treated with kindness and love,” Austen added. “I’m going to miss everybody,” Russomanno said. Undoubtedly, a mutual feeling.

Jeffco open space talks trails, apps Workgroup in the works for single-use trails By Amy Woodward POSTAL ADDRESS

GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)

OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. GE T SOCIAL WITH US

P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY

awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Jeffco Park and Open Space trail specialists are busy constructing, maintaining and cleaning up trails around the county. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the department held a trail talks forum to update the public on its updates at the American Mountaineering Center. Flood recovery efforts have been one of the primary focuses for Jeffco Open Space, and with the help of dedicated volunteers who have pitched in with trail repairs, majority of the work has been completed, reported David Davenport, outdoor recreation management coordinator for Jeffco Open Space. But it hasn’t been an easy year, and three trails remain closed off from the public after financial assistance from FEMA took longer than expected. “Anytime you take money from federal government, you are then subject to federal procedures and federal regulations,” Davenport said. “Anything that we were going to apply for FEMA funding with, we had to go through a fairly long and involved process that would result in what is called an environmental assessment.” Jeffco Open Space requested $375,000 from FEMA last year. In early October of this year, the nearly 50 page environmental assessment was approved, and trail specialists can now move ahead on repair work for Mustang Trail, Mesa Top and Wranglers. The rest of Apex park is expected to open on Sunday, Nov. 26, pending weather conditions. The re-routing of Pick ‘n Sledge is

A photo taken of flood waters gushing down the sides at North Table Mountain Park during the September Floods last year. The Mesa Top loop at the park is one of three trails remaining that are in need of repairs and are closed off to the public. Courtesy photo being pushed until Spring 2015, but trail specialists said nothing is planned but getting trails open. The North Folk Trail opened on Oct. 11. The 9.3 mile trail connects to Reynolds Park, Pike National Forest and Pine Valley Ranch Park creating a 36.2 mile pathway of smooth cement. “There’s a number of ways you could use the trail,” said Tom Hoby, director at Jeffco Parks and Open Space. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback.” Serious runners have taken to the trail and were able to complete it in under three hours, Davenport said. The department announced they are working on new interac-

tive maps for the website that will also be mobile compatible. “You will be able to get a lot more information and be able to plan routes and trips much better,” Davenport said. “Instead of the world just ending at our park boundaries you’ll actually be able to see connecting properties with Denver mountain parks, with other conservation easements.” Open Space is starting discussions again on single use trails — i.e., only bicycles, or only hikers — and will be taking applications for those wanting to be part of a workgroup on the subject. Staff compared and contrasted the 2011 Citizen Survey with a live survey taken at the trail talks forum,

which showed conflict in opinions between users of Jeffco’s parks and trails, primarily between mountain bikers and hikers. According to Hoby there was a time when multi-use trails was a solution but after speaking with several residents and users of the county’s trails it is clear that experiences on the trail have degraded. When the audience of different trail users began arguing for their side, Hoby replied, “If we start to fragment and say well this user group does more than this user group for economic development — that will erode very quickly,” he said. “I really caution the whole mentality of us against them, we’re all in this together.”


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