Events in Ned

Mayor Joe Gierlach at the
Grand Opening of Frozen Dead Guy Days

This is the second year I've been the ribbon cutter of the Grand Opening of Frozen Dead Guy Days. (The ribbon was actually duct tape.)

Frozen Carnival Barker:

As I stood next to Dave Felkley, I felt a bit like a 'carnival barker' which is becoming a dying art form through the Homogenization of America. As long as I have lived here, Dave "Bigfoot" Felkley (74) has emceed every parade and festival in town. His personality is infused in a tradition of announcing events consistently for over 20 years. After having heart surgery, he said to me, "Just wheel me in, and give me a microphone." I am grateful, that our town (with an authentically restored carousel) also has its own 'carnival barker'.

Nederland Energy Independence Day Shaping Up:

Last month, the Board of Trustees (BOT) determined that fireworks are unsustainable, both environmentally and financially. Facing potentially a major drought year, the BOT decided that if we are to adapt to climate change, we need to create a new way to celebrate Independence Day, and come up with a new tradition.

Mayor Gierlach, Katrina Harms, and Michelle Northrup
at the Peak to Peak Rotary Club meeting at Roy's Last Shot
photo by: Lynn Hirshman

Rotary Club Meeting:

Michelle Northrup pitched an idea, and the Peak to Peak Rotary Club is considering if it will act as the non-profit organization to accept donations and coordinate a Nederland Energy Independence Day parade of LED lights.

Here's an outline of the plan:

Traditional 4th of July Parade occurs at noon as usual. In the afternoon, enjoy a community-wide picnic at Guercio Park with local acoustic music. Public Tours of the new energy efficient Waste Water Treatment Plant. Booths set-up by vendors/artists illustrating energy independence. At dusk, a parade of LED lights which run on a fraction of the energy used in conventional lights.

If you are interested in this concept, please attend the Peak to Peak Rotary Club meeting in Nederland at the Black Forest TODAY on April 18 at 5:30pm.

Solar Greens Company:

Local start-up, Solar Greens Company has completed testing specialized LED grow lights that only utilize the parts of the light spectrum useful to plants (thus saving energy) for its My Terrace Farmer product line. They have agreed to make LED kits available for individuals and businesses wishing to participate in the Nederland Energy Independence Day parade of LED lights.

For ideas, a quick search of "LED Burning Man", "LED Dragon-Lions in Starlight Parade", "LED Jelly Fish People" should provide some examples of the possibilities.

Frozen Dead Guy Days Wrap-Up: 

(most of) The Frozen Dead Guy Days Team

I had the opportunity to join the Frozen Dead Guy Days Team at the Pioneer Inn for their recap meeting. There were great conversations about how to improve the event for our community, and a presentation of a complex algorithm to predict next year's weather, in this era of climate change.

You can see the Travel Channel's Monumental Mysteries segment here: Thinking Outside the Frozen Box.

BOT Special Events Work Session: 

The Board of Trustees will have a study session on Special Events in Nederland on Tuesday, April 23 6:00-9:00pm. This is an informational meeting for the BOT, so public comments need to be submitted in writing to town hall by TODAY. 

The Board of Trustees will be digesting a lot of information regarding special events, and their impacts and benefits to the community, with respect to our Envision 2020. Regular updates will be provided on the Town's website and the NederMayor blog as they become available.

The Daily Camera ran this story: Nederland wants to drop fireworks, create sustainable 4th of July event.


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