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A full house at Lincoln Hills for Central City Opera's Great American Composers concert on October 17, 2026.

American composers celebrated at Lincoln Hills

Central City Opera brings a variety of music to the mountains
A recently neutered dog, complete with a cone of shame, poses with his veterinarian.

A howlin' good time for Charlie’s Place

Costumes, dancing, and a successful auction raise money for shelter animals
Canyon Cares hosted a 20th anniversary celebration at the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association Hall.

Canyon Cares celebrates 20th anniversary

Thanking the community with dinner and music
A spooky scene fills the Gilpin County Exhibition Barn on October 23, 2026, with dust from the dirt floor adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Spooky Stroll brings out Gilpin’s ghouls

Community groups provide two nights of Halloween fun
Your Business. Your Story!
Community News
Gilpin County fifth graders eagerly raise their hands during a question-and-answer session with Central City Opera performers at Lincoln Hills.

Gilpin School fifth graders get a taste of opera

Local kids learn about music, and modern struggles

Farm to Table: Autumnal celebration

End of season celebration for Nederland Farmers Market

Your Business. Your Story!

Nederland featuring local businesses to celebrate 50 years in print

Forestry Sort Yards closing for the season

The Boulder County Community Forestry Sort Yards program is in its final days of operation for 2026
It's Your Turn

Looking for the Whole

Remind me what it is we're doing
Landline of mine.

The Day the Landline Died

Landlines used to make me smile
After the moose spent a few hours resting, our friendly neighborhood fox, aka Foxy, stopped by for a little visit!

Mighty moose and clever fox

Peacefully sharing the same space

Her Three Mirrors

A poetic meditation on nature, love, and sacred connection
Public urination meets tourism destination
Community Calendar
Events
 
Cracker Barrel
Explore local author talks, art, music, crafts and community events Oct. 29-Nov. 9
Music Listing
Live music and open mics across the mountain communities this week
Gilpin County Seniors
Enjoy weekly fitness, lunches, pickleball, social activities, field trips, and special events
Nederland Area Seniors
Wellness Wednesdays, folk dancing and more events for older adults for the week of November
Gilpin County Parks & Recreation
A variety of programs, activities and events throughout September
Government, Police & Fire
Government
Central City resident Jeff Aiken speaks out against the demolition of historic buildings at the Central City Council meeting on November 3, 2026.

Central approves demolition of historic homes

Council also discusses opera funding, property trades, and preservation

Police and Fire

Ned Fire negotiates for a home to hone

NFPD reviews Town agreement for a proposed local burn training facility

Golden Gate Fire Board reviews draft budget

Auxiliary Vice President resigns

A conversation with a Sheriff’s Office chief

Jason Oehlkers joins Boulder County ranks
School Zone

School Calendars

Gilpin and Nederland schools announce upcoming sports and community events

The newly elected officers to the Elementary School Student Council gave a presentation to the Board on October 19, 2026. From left to right: Treasurer Stella Lindemann, Secretary Katrina Mak, Vice President Marley Boydstun, and President Denver Paxton.

Gilpin Board reviews exit interview trends

Contract for iLead trainer approved

Senior athletes celebrated at NMSHS

High School honors fall sports seniors as soccer enters playoffs and cross country heads to State

Gilpin vs. Justice II

Gilpin Eagles dominate Justice 52-14 in senior night celebration
Mountain-Ear Media
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We cover news, events, and voices shaping the Boulder Valley — all in a tight, reliable package for people on the move.

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Culture & Leisure
Music of the Mountains
Left: Lena Rich (Photo by Gillian Wormood)Right: Emily Barnes (Photo by Angie Wilder)

Lena Rich and Emily Barnes

Singer-songwriters join forces to tell their stories

It's Your Turn
2026 Wildlife Photo Contest
BisonByron Myers

Shot in the wild: Meet the Winners

This year's winners showcase the wonder of wildlife through stunning photography

Cravings

I’ve had my period 114 times, and what do I have to show for it?
Arts & Entertainment
Funds to raise and murders to solve one evening behind library doors
Black Hawk's Fall Festival draws hundreds
All the beautiful colors on display
Food & Eating

Cinnamon Roll Butter Swim Biscuits

These are the easiest biscuits to make (and possibly the most delicious)

Some Words for the Week
Pets
The lone cat at the event receives a blessing from Karla Schapansky, a lay pastoral leader for the Episcopal Church, on October 4, 2026.

All creatures great and small

Pets join their people for a special Sunday service

The Someday Dogs: The rest of the pack

Save a life with adoption through Longmont Humane Society

Who are the Someday Dogs?

Change your life and a dog's life—adopt from a shelter
Pet of the Week
It’s all on you to come find Lulu, waiting for seasons to be found at the Longmont Humane Society
Lifestyles
Master fisherman Bob Gibson.

A Lake Michigan grand slam

Chinook, coho, brown, and rainbow

Local news for those with vision loss

Aftersight makes local news accessible to those with vision loss

Local Resources List

See our local resources

Business
Educational Services helps students build academic skills and independence
Wild Bear's new center collects good vibes
Local brewery embraces practicality in the face of pain
In this personal essay, reporter Christopher Kelley reflects covering the Lakeview Fire
Opinion
Letter to the Editor

Do your due diligence

Teresa Robertson - Last Tuesday October 19th, I was one of the 4 people who remained in the BOT meeting

Thank goodness for mail-in ballots

Bill Thibedeau - Study Colorado’s ballot carefully

Gilpin County Food Drive

Roxy Goss - There will be a food drive at Very Nice Brewery on November 7

Nederland, don't give up on Eldora yet

Daniel Vardamis - I've spent much of my life on skis. Racing, coaching, working in the ski industry

The best reason to vote

Kim and Frank Perhats - Sometimes, the best reason to vote has nothing to do with politics.

Vote, lives depend on it

Ellen V. Moore - Two related things, three really, happened today, that made me so happy
Peak Perspectives

Milestones, memories, and mountains of fun 

The Mountain-Ear marks another anniversary and looks ahead to new developments

Asking good questions for 50 years 

October 31, 2006, was my first day at this newspaper...
I have been thinking about this column for several days—pretty much since Friday
Majority of book challenges come from organized groups or governments
Saturday I had an exceptionally good day, guiding questions and listening to answers
The Mountain-Ear will host a Candidates Forum at the Old Central City courthouse
Cool community happenings, brought to you by your local paper
Last week, we held a lot of non-time-sensitive news
Special Publications
Studio Tour
Andrew Morse works at the pottery wheel at the Gilpin County Community Center.

Art around every corner in Gilpin

A trip through Gilpin County on the Peak to Peak Studio Tour

Aspens and art on local Studio Tour

Studio Tour featured 26 galleries and home studios

Studio Tour 2026: Canyon Coffee

Canyon Coffee in Coal Creek Canyon participates in Studio Tour 2026
Body Mind Spirit

Exploring the world of hot springs

Hot springs may offer health benefits, but they also come with risks that visitors should consider

Hot and cold… plunges

Hot and cold water therapy may benefit both body and mind
Visitor's Guide
Moments to rememberAs quintessential as campfires are to camping, one must obey all rules of camping in Colorado to avoid disastrous conditions for those who call the state home, including wildlife. 

Starry nights: Camping across the Peak to Peak

Camping in Colorado requires a special kind of person and skill.

Trotting through the Rockies

Trotting horses through the Rocky Mountains may be a dream for most, but here it can be a reality. Mountains, trees, lakes, and trails are calling your name.
Mountain Columns

The boys are back in town

A look at the separation of the sexes
Cozying up with the departed.

Dia de los Muertos

A celebration of life in Longmont

Scorpio

Scorpio is the most powerful sign of the zodiac

Northbound and down

Fort Collins continues to bet on itself

Mountain Folk Tale: Emma Berg, Gilpin storykeeper

CENTRAL CITY - At this year’s Cemetery Crawl at the Catholic Cemetery, Emma Berg stepped into the role of Ellen Flynn, telling Flynn’s story with a precision that comes from hours of research and practice.  The audience, huddled near a...

Sunscreen, snacks, and social skills

Wrap up summer and get back-to-school ready
Obituaries
Peggy Buck Mills
Peggy Jeanne Buck passed away on September 8, 2026
Joseph Anthony McCullough 
Joe McCullough, 72, of Gilpin County, Colorado, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on August 12, 2026
Dennis Dwight Duckett
Dennis Dwight Duckett passed away on July 15, 2026 at  his beautiful home in Ruidoso New Mexico
Mary Geneva Ramstetter
Mary Geneva Ramstetter, aged 91, a long time Golden resident
Robert (Bob) Dean Fowler
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Dean Fowler
Lakeview Fire
Many former tenants of the Caribou Village Shopping Center gathered at the Train Cars to commiserate over coffee for the first anniversary of the Lakeview Fire.

Lakeview Fire: One year later

Tebo unveils plans for new shopping center, promises to work with former tenants on comparable rent
Stephen Tebo spoke to the crowd at the rally, enthusiastic, and optimistic about rebuilding a new, better shopping center out of the ashes of the old one.

Tebo eyes rebuild, ATF silent on cause

Lakeview's past and future still in question

Donate to the Lakeview Fire victims

Help those afffected by the fire at Caribou Viallage UPDATE: Nearly $400k raised across verified fundraisers!

 

Kay O’Neil has reopened her stained glass studio after the Lakeview Fire
Tadasana Mountain Yoga finds strength after the Lakeview Fire
After the Lakeview Fire, artist Danielle Crouse found a new creative path
Around the Region
Allenspark
Community, crafts, art, music in Allenspark
Black Hawk
Stair climb marks 25 years since attacks
On Saturday, August 1, Gilpin Very Nice Brewing Company hosted their second annual Ales
Gold Hill
Music, food and community filled the Gold Hill Inn’s annual Labor Day party
Central City
G3 needing to 'remove or relocate' structures
Coal Creek Canyon
Expanded menu marks event supporting students
Gilpin County
A historic mountain retreat created as a place of freedom
Golden Gate Canyon
Golden Gate Canyon State Park gains significant recognition 
Nederland
Locals welcome fall at Harvest Festival