All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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A new genre book was launched on Friday night, April 12, at the Winot Cafe in Niwot as Dr. William A. Liggett's new climate fiction thriller, "Panic Peak," was presented to an enthusiastic audience. At start time there were only a few open chairs, which soon were filled with many standing in the back of the room for the event. Over thirty people attended the presentation. Liggett first spoke about his story as an 18-year old who spent a summer at the Hoh River area in Washington state and Mount...
Bill Liggett, a native Coloradan and recent newcomer to the Niwot community, is presenting his new book, "Panic Peak," on Friday, April 12 in conjunction with Inkberry Books. "Panic Peak" investigates interesting potential geoengineering solutions in the format of a fictional thriller. The book launch and signing will be held at Winot Cafe at 7 p.m. The venue for the presentation was changed from Una Vida to Winot Coffee. Reservations can be made online. Dr. Liggett is something of a...
Fortitude and resilience are two words that perfectly describe Sarah Magee. The office manager of a tax accounting firm with clients across the United States, Magee, the mother of two young men, is also owner of The Little Shop Niwot in Cottonwood Square. The Little Shop features lovely local art, gifts and children's toys and books, and sits next to Winot Coffee Company. Born in Denver and now living in Erie, Magee said, "I moved all around as a kid and went to 15 different schools. My past is...
Although Pawxatawney Phil has determined spring is right around the corner, based on last weekend's storm, winter seems determined to hang around. One upcoming event might offer some relief: Let's Wine About Winter in Niwot. Sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, the annual Let's Wine About Winter event is planned for Saturday, Feb. 24 to welcome community members in from the cold with wine, art, food and hospitality. Kristin Alger, who is co-chair of the event with Anne Postle,...
Jeff Server says he is a person who notices and appreciates details. He has applied these talents as a videographer and landscape photographer, as a gas industry accountant and as an active volunteer at Niwot events. He and his wife Dawn Reeb Server have lived at Meadow Lake Farm off of N. 79th Street for six years. Server, the second of four boys, grew up in Ames, Iowa. When he was 14 he joined a summer field crew of about 100 to 150 young men. They detasseled the corn in preparation for...
Voting is open for the 2023 Window Decorating Competition sponsored by the Niwot Business Association. Many participating Niwot businesses have decorated their windows for the holidays, adding to a festive holiday shopping experience. You can vote for your favorite festive window online through this form, or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zib9XbYN5L1gWzCQaPrLUbUGNHzYWPe1vNUFzB-rulA/viewform?edit_requested=true. Turn in your ballot online for a chance to win a prize. Participating businesses include: •2nd Nature Hair Lounge •Belle Ter...
Catherine McHale is the recipient of the Left Hand Valley Courier’s Left Hand Laurel for her volunteer work in Niwot, most notably establishing the popular event, “Dancing Under the Stars.” McHale owns Power & Purpose Marketing in Niwot, and has been a member of the Niwot community for about 13 years. She was Niwot’s Economic Development Director for a number of years, leading efforts to fill Niwot’s commercial spaces. She started getting involved in the community as a business owner. “After a...
Saturday Sept. 23 brought the return of Niwot's annual "Out & About," a day to celebrate the small businesses of Niwot. Sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA), this annual event brings out tents and stands featuring Niwot businesses and live music along Second Avenue and in Cottonwood Square. Out & About was started last year as a way to showcase the various goods and gifts from businesses in Niwot, and to bring support and awareness for Niwot's charming business community....
As we transition into autumn, one of the most popular events in Niwot is coming to a close – the weekly "Dancing Under the Stars" event. A free dance lesson of varying genres followed by a public dance takes place every Friday during the warm summer evenings from June to the end of September. Originally scheduled to end Sept. 22, a "rain date" has extended the season through Sept. 29 with contra dance. Dancing Under the Stars started out in Boulder at the University of Colorado, but when C...
The Niwot community turned out to honor the life and memory of Bert Steele Saturday, Aug. 26, in Cottonwood Square shopping center. What was originally planned to be a "thank you" to the Niwot community for supporting local retail businesses, and helping the merchants survive the pandemic shutdown, morphed into a tribute to the late Bert Steele, who brought The Niwot Market to life over 20 years ago. Stacy Szydiek, co-owner of The Niwot Tavern, spearheaded the effort to put the afternoon and eve...
At the start of Niwot's Flower Fest last Saturday, Aug. 5, a huge line trailed outside Fly Away Home Decor, going all the way to the gas station in Cottonwood Square at the end of the block. Some people arrived an hour before 10 a.m., the official start of the Flower Fest, in order to receive one of the free 75 baskets for the Flower Walk. "There were around two hundred people. We had to turn people away." said Sarah Cioni, owner of Belle Terre Floral, a florist shop specializing in bridal...
Grab your leashes and your best (four-legged) friend for the inaugural Pampered Pooch event in Niwot on Saturday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local businesses and fellow dog-lovers will have give-aways and canine-themed fun for your pet, including Good Boy Dog Beer, snuffle balls, pet food samples, pup-acinos, dog pool cooling area, stylish bandanas, Barkuterie! (Charcuterie for dogs) and other dog-friendly pooch-tivities and swag. You can pick up a map from one of Niwot's local businesses to follow the trail to pup fun and prizes. Four-foot...
Each month brings a fresh round of paintings to Winot Coffee Company and The Old Oak Coffeehouse in Niwot. March was no exception. Both venues have showcased area artists on their walls for the month, with the work of each artist available for sale. Winot featured Megan Gael McCarthy, a member of the Longmont Artists' Guild, Boulder Art Association, and Art Students League of Denver. McCarthy's work recreates emotion of a time and place. It also focuses on paint textures and the physical...
The current state of health in the United States looks dire. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) statistics state, "Six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease... Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in America, and they are also a leading driver of healthcare costs." In addition, the average lifespan of Americans is declining. In 2022, The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported the life expectancy at birth at its lowes...
Anyone looking to view beautiful nature artwork should be sure to visit The Old Oak Coffeehouse and Winot Coffee Company. Although there are only a few days left in the month, you will not want to miss the January art exhibits on display. The Old Oak Coffee House features work by its baker, Natalie Brey, whose paintings of sunflowers, mountains and other natural views are elegant and beautiful. Created using oil and cold wax on canvas as well as other mediums, the work on display includes a...
It's morning – the second Thursday in December – and about 50 Niwotians who are over 55 are drinking coffee, eating snacks, listening to two local musicians play their tunes, socializing and – later, playing trivia, at the Left Hand Grange. We're at the monthly meeting of the Niwot Community Connection. It really seems like a great way to connect as well as to build local community. Besides the monthly meet-ups – often with a guest speaker – at the Grange Hall, the group has organized smaller s...
With 16 Niwot businesses participating, the Niwot Business Association's inaugural Tannenbaum Charity Trail silent auction raised almost $2,000 for various charities. Each participating business decorated a miniature Christmas tree, and many included gift certificates to their business. The trees were displayed at Niwot Market from Dec. 3 to Dec. 10. A tree decorated and donated by Niwot Eye Care & Vision was the top fundraiser, with a winning bid of $300 to benefit the Humane Society. Belle...
It's not too late to vote for your favorite Niwot holiday window. The annual window decorating contest deadline has been extended to Sunday, Dec. 11, to make sure everybody has time to admire all of the holiday-themed decor. If you haven't voted yet, just stop by one of the participating businesses and pick up your ballot. Make your way around town to see all the entries and have your ballot stamped by at least six businesses, then pick your favorite. Turn your ballot in to any of the...
Niwot is filled with art for the holidays. This past Saturday, Open Studios Pop! Gallery at the former Niwot Rental and Feed store on 2nd Avenue was open to the public in a holiday showing. The space showcased between 20 and 30 artists in a variety of mediums, and artists with work on display are available, in turns, to speak to gallery visitors. Megan Morgan and Terri Ficken were two of the artists available for the weekend shift. Morgan showcased her work as a variety of subjects portrayed on...
Let the Holiday Fun Begin! Niwot’s Holiday Magic Celebration is kicking off with the 22nd Annual Enchanted Evening, followed by the coveted Holiday Parade, Small Business Saturday and two weekends of Holiday Markets and events around town. The details: Enchanted Evening It all began over 20 years ago when the town gathered around the evening following Thanksgiving to light the holiday tree and support our local shops by jump starting the holiday buying. Sarah Cioni, one of the originators of the event, says this year is no different. The tree l...
This year, The Courier asked local residents and visitors to share what they are thankful for. Below are their responses; each of them notable in their own way. Equally wonderful was the process of gathering responses. Most of the research occurred in the town's coffee shops and at first, getting responses was slow and awkward. But the tipping point was when some customers overheard others answering and asked to join the conversation. Ultimately, responses and ensuing conversation were full of...
November has brought new art to Winot Coffee Company in Cottonwood Square and The Old Oak Coffeehouse on 2nd Avenue. Winot Coffee Company is featuring art from Jacque Michelle, a local artist and art educator who specializes in colorful, expressive acrylic-based work. Her pieces typically depict lush landscapes and bright, floral arrangements, and she teaches her technique to others from her Boulder studio. She also takes students on trips to Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, New Mexico, and this...
All nine members of the Niwot Local Improvement District advisory committee (LID) were present for the Nov. 1 meeting at the Niwot Inn. Treasurer Bruce Rabeler reported that revenues continue to climb as collections through August are up over $26,000 from a year ago. He noted that with an approval of the loan funding request on the agenda, the LID would have approved over $222,000 in expenditures for 2022. The 2022 LID budget is only $170,000, but Rabeler reminded the committee that the budget is set at 80% of collections from two years ago....
People who looked forward to Friday evenings on the makeshift dance floor in Cottonwood Square will be looking for something else to do until next June. "The final Dancing Under the Stars (DUTS) event for 2022 saw record numbers," Catherine McHale said, referring to the Sept. 23 closing night. McHale is the organizer of DUTS and the director and owner of Power & Purpose Marketing. She is also Niwot's Economic Development Director and is focused on improving economic development and marketing...
Born in Kansas, educated at an Ivy League college in Massachusetts and having worked as a management consultant for 20 years at the Watergate Building in Washington, D.C., Leigh Suskin – owner of Farmers Insurance Agency in Cottonwood Square – is truly a Renaissance woman. Whether serving root beer floats at Niwot's "National Night Out" celebrating first responders, or studying for her Ph.D. in East/West psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, or raising her...
Abo's Pizza and nearby businesses are still recovering from the Aug. 6 fire that started in the early hours at Abo's. Fire investigator Doug Saba explained that fire personnel forced entry into Abo's Pizza to confirm the building did not have any victims. Thankfully, due to Mary Jo Wysocki's quick call to 911 upon arriving to open Winot Coffee on Aug.10th at 5:30 a.m., the damage to area businesses wasn't worse. As of press time, no official cause has been determined, and the fire investigation...
Mary Jo Wysocki, Manager of Winot Coffee in Cottonwood Square, just happened to arrive early to work at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, Aug. 6. She was opening the shop and was about to water the patio plants when she looked up to see smoke billowing from the recently mural-adorned external wall at Abo's Pizza. "It was just my intuition that told me to get in early. I knew I was the only one seeing the smoke and it was up to me to call 911 right away," she said. "I'd headed out of Winot late the...
Jazz fans, put on your fedora, because the Niwot Jazz Festival is happening on Saturday, June 25, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Janis Siegel, Grammy award-winner and band member of the Manhattan Transfer, is the featured performer of the day. All the entertainment will take place at Cottonwood Square. Six other individual artists and bands will be performing: Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra from 3-4:15 p.m.; Andres Orco (solo guitar) from 4:15-4:45 p.m.; Three Tenors with Rich Chiaraluce, Pete Lewis, and...
Niwot's historic connection to Native Americans will take on a new look with the installation of four murals in Cottonwood Square shopping center. The Niwot Local Improvement District advisory committee recommended approval of a funding request from the owners of Cottonwood Square and the Jerry Sinor Building that provides for the LID to cover 75% of the $12,900 cost of the murals. The request was approved June 7 by LID members Eric Bergeson, Mary Coonce, Jeff Knight and Scott Firle. The...
Niwot's "Around the World Day", on Saturday, May 14, integrated dozens of cultures at this special event, back for its second year after a Covid-inspired debut in 2021. Twenty-three countries were represented by 32 local businesses through live music, specialty food and drinks, crafts, and costumes. Pedestrians were charmed by the Vikings' weapons display in "Scandinavia" on Second Avenue; bands and solo artists performing with African drums, celtic instruments, accordions, Spanish guitars, and...
As of Feb. 18, Boulder County Public Health's two public health orders requiring masks in public indoor spaces expired. For the first time in months, no one was forced to wear face coverings inside, although they could if they wanted to. Some do. A careful eye in retail spaces around town indicates this. Many customers waiting in line for coffee in Cottonwood Square's Winot Coffee Company one morning were maskless on one recent morning. At one point, a single masked individual came in. "I'm...
On Feb. 26, the Italian restaurant Ciminini's (300 2nd Ave.) hosted a fundraising event for the Marshall Fire victims. Customers paid $25 per ticket to enjoy a lovely Saturday morning, while listening to a live cello performance. All food and drinks came with the ticket, which included the choice of pancakes, French toast, cottage cheese parfait with avocado toast, scrambled eggs, sausages and hams, a pastry basket, specialty coffee, and of course, hot cocoa. A silent auction was held at the...
The Niwot Gig held a grand opening Saturday, Feb. 19, at the newly remodeled space behind Fan's Chinese Restaurant in Cottonwood Square, with owners Martin Marks and Alana Marks on hand to welcome the community. They were joined by their soon-to-be 11-year-old daughter, Odette, an accomplished musician in her own right. Popcorn, pumpkin bread and poppy-seed bread were part of the celebration, along with coffee and hot chocolate from Winot Coffee to wash it down. Music director Martin Marks, who...
The Wandering Jellyfish (198 2nd Ave.) is hosting a writer's workshop on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event is part of the bookshop's series of local authors invited to share their books and their creative process. Next in line is Todd Mitchell, sharing his new book, "Breakthrough: How to Overcome Doubt, Fear and Resistance to Be Your Ultimate Creative Self." He is an award-winning author for his middle grade and YA novels, and is the director of the Beginning Creative...
The Niwot Community Connection is a new organization designed to help people ages 50 and over make new friends. The organization was founded by local residents Eve Lempriere, Pat Murphy and Dawn Server. They believed the community was in need of a social outlet due to the pandemic, with more people moving into town and many older adults struggling to make new friends after their kids have left the nest. The organization meets the second Thursday of the month at the Left Hand Grange in Niwot....
We're in the home stretch of the holiday shopping season, and for those of you with a few names left to check off your gift list, be sure to consider one of the dozens of unique items from the artists, growers and crafters that call Niwot and Gunbarrel home. Gas up and grab a gift When you fill 'er up at the Niwot Conoco in the Cottonwood Shopping Center, don't just drive off - go inside where you'll find a treasure trove of charming gifts for your loved ones. You'll be stunned by the corner of...
October 2021 marked the one year anniversary for the Little Shops at Niwot (7960 Niwot Rd., Suite D-15), a unique small business collaboration that began life last year as the Little Holiday Shops at Niwot. And though the storefront has rebranded and moved across the shopping center, the business, which functions as a type of co-op for local artists and vendors, has continued to see success. "When you think about it, there were a lot of pop-up vendors who lost their opportunity to do farmer's...
When it's time to purchase holiday gifts this year, you can always pull out your keyboard and order gifts from Amazon or purchase something from a chain retailer at the mall. But local stores here have a lot to offer. When you buy from area retailers you'll find gifts you can't get anywhere else in the world, and the money you spend stays in the community, something that's needed by many as they recover from the lingering impacts of the pandemic. Local food restaurants and purveyors Niwot and...
Children can bring home an enormous amount of candy after trick or treating on Halloween. Not only can it be more of a load than they can carry easily -- that much candy isn't healthy. Now anyone who is looking to save calories and keep that candy from hanging around for weeks, has an option for putting it to use. Operation Gratitude is Niwot's Halloween Candy give-back program. Extra candy can be dropped off between November 1st and November 6th at the DRF Realtors Office behind the Old Oak Cof...
"Take Us To The Stars," an original oil painting by Niwot artist Mary McClure, was named co-winner of the JFK Portrait Contest, a creative art competition inviting artists aged 14-26 to celebrate the legacy of John F. Kennedy using one of his core ideals of service, justice, freedom, courage, and gratitude as inspiration. "I've always associated him with the courage to go to space," McClure, 26, said of the contest's namesake. "I think space travel is incredible, and he was the first one to do...
The first Niwot Honey Bee Harvest Festival will take flight on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring hives of fun activity around town. Look for flyers posted with the schedule of the day's activities. Niwot Business Association vice-president Deb Fowler and Niwot resident Victoria Keen have been very "beesy" organizing the festival since early 2021. Honey bees are not native to the United States and were brought over by the pilgrims, but they have long been a part of the Niwot area....
"Service above self" is the motto of the Rotary Club International, and for Niwot Rotarian Thom Lynch, no one has embodied that more over the past 18 months than Tara Shaheen and Stacy Szydlek, co-owners of Niwot Tavern. On Aug. 5 at Rock & Rails, he presented the two with the club's third annual Community Achievement Award, given to members of the community "who have displayed a heart of service, dedication, and love for Niwot." "When they bought the Tavern in January 2020, they had big plans...
Ed Nuhfer has become a familiar face over his cumulative 17 years in Niwot thanks to everyday walks with Zion, his dog, and the time he regularly spends at local establishments such as Winot Coffee and Garden Gate Café doing work on his laptop. We wanted to hear a bit of Nuhfer's life story, so we asked him a few questions. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - Where are you from, and besides Niwot, where have you lived? Ed Nuhfer (EN) - I'm originally from a small town on the Ohio River,...
Niwot Around the World Day was on Saturday, May 15. Businesses throughout Cottonwood Square and along 2nd Avenue adopted a country for a day, with refreshments, costumes and decorations to reflect each business's country of choice. Musicians were on hand throughout the business district, including the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band and its travel-themed playlist at the Left Hand Corner parking lot....
Nancy Pitz, (left) Niwot Elementary School, happily accepts coffees for the teachers that Pat Murphy of Niwot Real Estate brought to the school May 6. Old Oak Coffeehouse and wiNot Coffee made the treats that Murphy brought to the school to show the teachers appreciation for all their hard work, which has been exceptionally challenging during Covid....
Whether it's first thing in the morning or a break later in the day, time with coffee in-hand is practically a ceremonial daily act. The emotional warmth of that ritual is nearly equal to the physical enjoyment it delivers. Part of that anticipated experience includes the kind people who provide that soul hugging treat such as Winot Coffee's manager Mary Jo Wysocki. The Courier wanted to learn more about the familiar face that is as uplifting as our daily cup of java. Left Hand Valley Courier...
For months, Niwot has been the site of a string of events to give residents a reason to safely gather during the pandemic and keep them in front of local businesses. These events have offered something to appeal to a wide range of interests. There have been fun runs, events for every holiday including St. Patrick's Day, scavenger hunts, window decorating contests, a whole-lifestyle approach to fitness in January, concerts, and sidewalk sales. But an event coming up May 15 might be the most...
Mild spring weather, friendly faces, and Irish themed-fun made for a perfectly charming afternoon at Lucky Niwot Day on Saturday, March 20. "I was so glad we changed the day," organizer Deborah Read Fowler said of the first-time celebration, which was postponed from March 13 due to the snow storm. "The weather was perfect and it was wonderful to see so many people having socially distanced fun." The town's salute to St. Patrick's day featured festivities for the whole family, and then some....
As we eagerly await the official start of spring, there's plenty to look forward to in Niwot during March. Starting March 1, and continuing all month, visitors to Niwot can participate in a St. Patrick's Day-inspired virtual scavenger hunt. This festive activity, sponsored by the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), will send players on a quest to find the lucky leprechauns hidden around town. Owner of Deborah Read Fowler Real Estate (DRF) and recent L...
