Why Rainbow Music Stays: A Story About Community, Transparency, and What We Value
By the President, Historic Colfax Downtown Association, highlighting the vibrancy and charm of Downtown Colfax businesses.
Last night’s City Council meeting reminded us of something simple but profound: music has always been central to the Colfax community.
The room was filled to capacity in support of Rainbow Music—a 40-year tenant in the historic train car downtown. What could have been a routine lease renewal became a heartfelt demonstration of how deeply the community wants Rainbow Music to remain in Colfax
A Legacy of Music in Colfax
For generations, Rob and Christine Bonner have taught music to Colfax’s children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren. At $30 a month, their lessons have made music accessible to families of all means. They’ve taught students through illness, organized benefit concerts for struggling local businesses, and shared their talents at celebrations of life and community events.
Rainbow Music isn’t just a business—it’s part of Colfax’s cultural fabric. In a town with limited arts education in our schools, they’ve provided a creative outlet for local youth and a steady, welcoming presence downtown.
Speaker after speaker shared stories that painted a picture of remarkable dedication:
Elderly residents for whom these twice-weekly lessons are a vital connection to community
- Multi-generational families where parents, children, and grandchildren have all learned from the Bonners
- Students who performed at their grandfather’s celebration of life, prepared and coached by Rob and Christine
- Children with serious illnesses who received in-home lessons when they couldn’t travel
- Benefit concerts organized to support local businesses during difficult times
What This Moment Revealed
Last night wasn’t really about a lease—it was about recognition. The outpouring of support showed that Rainbow Music is not a relic of the past but a living symbol of what Colfax values most: community, creativity, and continuity.
Council Member Larry Hillberg captured something important when he noted that Rainbow Music is a “destination business”—people come to Colfax specifically for their services, then support other local establishments. These businesses are economic multipliers, but more importantly, they’re the reasons people identify with and invest in our town.
My Own Learning Moment
I spoke during public comment, and I want to share something personal:
I’ve been in Colfax for about six years. For the first few years, I admittedly didn’t connect deeply with the community. But when I started engaging and we created the Downtown Association, I became passionate about telling Colfax’s story—attracting opportunities and showcasing what makes us special.
What I realized last night is that we had clearly missed one of our best stories.
Sitting in that meeting, listening to testimony after testimony about the legacy the Bonners have created—the lives touched, the music brought to our town for four decades—it gave me goosebumps. They’ve been building Colfax’s reputation as a music-friendly community since 1985, long before our current branding initiatives even existed.
When I first moved to town I was instantly drawn to the historic train car, I’ve thought, “That’s the coolest building. What’s in there?” Well, it’s the home to exactly the kind of authentic, community-centered business that makes Colfax special.
This experience reinforced something crucial: sometimes the best stories are already here, already being lived. We need to listen, look around, and lift up what’s working rather than only chasing what’s new.
As the Historic Colfax Downtown Association, we’re committed to telling the Bonners’ story at a high level—because that’s our job. But more importantly, this situation reminded all of us to recognize and protect the authentic community assets we already have.
The Power of Showing Up
What happened last night demonstrates something powerful about local democracy: when community members engage thoughtfully and officials listen with open minds, we reach better outcomes.
The Council made a pivotal choice to move the discussion from closed session to open dialogue. That transparency mattered. It allowed the community to be heard, enabled Council members to understand the full impact of their decision, and resulted in a unanimous vote to extend Rainbow Music’s lease for 12 months with month-to-month continuation and 90-day notice provisions.
This wasn’t just good process—it was Colfax at its best.
Why It Matters for Our Future
As the Historic Colfax Downtown Association continues its work to strengthen the arts and downtown vitality, it’s clear that our strongest stories are already here. For forty years, Rainbow Music has quietly helped define Colfax’s identity as a place where the arts matter.
We’re currently pursuing opportunities like the Levitt Amp Music Series grant—an initiative we undertook independently to bring free outdoor concerts to our community. But as we work to tell the story of Colfax as a music-friendly town, we cannot separate that narrative from the 40-year legacy of music education happening right downtown.
Keeping Rainbow Music downtown sends a clear message to visitors, businesses, and funding partners: Colfax values its legacy, supports the arts, and stands behind the people who make this a thriving community.
Every town needs anchors—people and places that hold its stories. For Colfax, Rainbow Music is one of them.
What We All Can Do
The Council’s decision gives Rainbow Music security and time to plan for their future. Now it’s our turn to keep showing up:
For all of us as community members:
- Support Rainbow Music through enrollments and referrals
- Recognize that legacy businesses like this deserve our active patronage
- Show up to City Council meetings when things matter
- Celebrate what makes Colfax authentic rather than only seeking what’s new
As the Downtown Association:
- We’ll advocate for proactive communication between City leadership and long-term business partners
- We’re committed to helping tell Rainbow Music’s story more widely
- We’ll work with them to expand their online presence and visibility
- We’ll continue partnering with the City on initiatives that strengthen our downtown
The Colfax Way
When we work together—with transparency, respect, and shared purpose—we strengthen the foundation of our community.
That’s what happened last night: the community spoke, the City Council listened, and Rainbow Music continues to teach and inspire.
But this moment taught us something bigger: We’re a community where a 40-year music educator is valued, where citizens engage meaningfully, where officials respond with openness, and where we’re willing to recognize and protect what makes us special.
This is the Colfax story worth telling.
As we pursue economic development, seek grants for arts programming, and work to revitalize our downtown, we do so knowing that our greatest assets are already here: engaged citizens, businesses that span generations, a willingness to have honest conversations, and shared values about what matters most.
Last night reminded us that the best brand isn’t something you create in a marketing campaign—it’s something you live every day through how you treat people, honor commitments, and show up for each other.
That’s not just good governance or smart economic development. That’s the foundation for everything else we’re trying to build.