Gunbarrel Property Rezoning Approved
Gunbarrel residents and commuters traveling along Lookout Road and 63rd Street are likely to see changes coming to the long vacant property at the northeast corner of the intersection. The former Hugh M. Woods site at 6333 Lookout Rd. has been empty since its parent company, Payless Cashways, Inc., filed bankruptcy in 2001. The site had previously been zoned for general industrial use. An application request to change the zoning to business community was approved during a public hearing held by the City of Boulder’s Planning Board on Oct. 5, 2006. The business community designation allows the property to be used for retail. Erik Swanson of Rose Property Management, which manages the nearly six acre site, said that although the building is being considered for lease or purchase, no firm offers have been made. “We’re really not ready to make an announcement yet.” The rezoning follows the direction outlined in the Gunbarrel Community Center Plan adopted in April 2004. The plan provides a blueprint for the Gunbarrel area, mixing retail, residential and commercial use. Given the parcel’s close proximity to the anticipated FasTracks transit station, it is expected that the rezoning will support both residential and retail use.
Niwot Holiday Parade A Winter Wonderland
By Mary Wolbach Lopert
If there was ever a day for a holiday parade, Saturday, Dec. 2 was the date. There was fresh snow on the ground and more was falling; there was a real nip in the air so participants and spectators were in a great holiday mood. With 11 groups and floats, there was plenty of cheer to go around. Santa’s arrival was announced by flashing lights and sirens sounding on a Mountain View Fire Protection District fire engine. He then transferred to the Niwot Niftie’s 4-H float. As in past years, Santa and Mrs. Claus (and this time with an elf named Sniffly) spent some quality time at Left Hand Grange Hall listening to all the requests from good boys and girls. According to Niwot Community Association President Neal Anderson, “The parade this year was a great success. Lots of 4H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other Niwot groups welcomed Santa to Niwot. … There was a good crowd along the Second Avenue parade route.” As for Sniffly, he lived up to his name because he had a small cold. “Lots of people asked about my nose.” he said. “And yes, it’s real.” As for the festivities, Sniffly gave the inside scoop. “The Grange was packed. Girl Scouts were selling hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies. The Niwot Nifties were painting faces and doing tattoos. Most of the parents wanted the kids to wait for the face painting until after they’ve sat on Santa’s lap.” In addition to Sniffly, a big thank you goes to the elves from Dragonfly Martial Arts and Tim Thompson for helping out with the mad rush to see Santa. And the day wouldn’t have been complete without Bill Nielsen’s photographic skills, sponsored by Beth Hoskin of Metro Brokers.
Photo by Curtis Jones
Santa makes his annual appearance at the Dec. 2 Holiday Parade in Niwot.
By J. Svendsen Delaney
According to a number of Niwot residents, the town would be lost without Anne Dyni. If not personally, then Niwot’s history would not be as meticulously chronicled, and unique artifacts might not have been preserved. For these reasons and more, Dyni has been chosen as this month’s Left Hand Laurel. “Anne deserves this honor for many reasons, but her real forte is that she is a dedicated and knowledgeable historian and an advocate for historical preservation,” said Bonnie Nelson, Niwot Historical Society Board member. Dyni, president of the board, initiated a project to digitize historic photos of Niwot. “She knows how to apply for available country grants to landmark historical items, such as the old chemical cart,” Nelson added. The Buffalo #21 chemical cart sits in front of the old fire house next to the Grange building complete with instructions for its use. Dyni’s commitment to preservation grew from gathering historical information for county projects while serving as a cultural history volunteer for the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department (BCPOS). Dyni also credits her early years. “I grew up in a landmark home and learned to appreciate the history of the place.” Her childhood residence was built by John C. Cochrane, who also designed Cook County Hospital and the Illinois State Capitol. Originally from Illinois, Dyni and her husband, John, moved to Lakewood, Colo. in 1956. Dyni taught middle school science, and later worked part time for homebound and teen mother programs in Jefferson County. The Dynis arrived in the Longmont/Boulder area in 1978 and, in the early 1980’s, purchased the Boulder County Grange (then called Pleasant View Grange) with the intention of saving it. “Boulder County did not have a historic preservation program at the time,” said Dyni, She appealed to the national registry, and the building was designated a historic site. “I kind of wish we would have waited until Boulder had a program,” Dyni said, explaining that the county’s rules are far more stringent regarding protection and preservation than the national program. In the 1980’s, Niwot business owners formed a feasibility study group with the County Transportation Department to attend to street improvement, especially the issue of drainage. “Niwot is flat,” Dyni said. “When the Hinman Ditch overflowed in the 1950’s, the water was up to the shop doors. Eventually, the ditch was buried and, at the urging of Chris Finger, the feasibility group morphed into the current Niwot Business Association (NBA). Dyni acted as secretary for the organization for 10 years. “She has a very broad perspective of what Niwot is and what she visualizes Niwot to be – past, present, and future.” said Euvaldo Valdez, fellow charter NBA member. “We look up to her for leadership: The whole community benefits from her participation.” Ron Stewart, director of BCPOS, said, “Anne took oral histories of the descendants of pioneer families to chronicle what life was like and she was instrumental in the Wall Street Assay Office project.” Fellow county park volunteer Diane Karash said, “Anne amazes me with her historical knowledge.” Dyni gained her extensive experience while sitting on several museum boards. “I kept my eyes open to see how the big boys did it,” she said. Dyni has served on the board of directors for the Boulder History Museum and Lafayette Historical Society. She was a citizen member of POSAC, and sat on the Historic Preservation Advisory Board. She also volunteers for the Carnegie Branch Library for local history. In recent years Dyni has gathered over 100 oral histories. “Oral history has come into its own as a valid resource,” she said. “It adds the color, because history by itself can be fairly dry.” While Dyni may be a historical expert, she is also friendly and accessible. Close friend and fellow volunteer Judy Wainer described her as “helpful and cooperative; a pleasant person to have around.” Dyni is in the process of writing a
script for a video for Niwot High School that will portray the history of Niwot
– a place to be remembered for many years to come thanks to one woman in
particular: Anne Quinby Dyni.
Photo by J. Svendsen Delaney
Biggest Lesson Learned In 2006
Editor’s note: There’s an old adage that states, “You’re never too old to learn.” With that in mind, the New Year’s question posed to the Courier staff this year was, “What’s the biggest lesson(s) you learned in 2006?” Judging from the responses, I can say, with some authority, that everyone on the staff has learned the fine art of procrastination and that they’ve probably learned it from the very best.
From everyone at the Left Hand Valley Courier, we wish you nothing but good lessons for 2007.
Karen Copperberg - The biggest lesson I learned is (You mean to tell me I only learned this last year?) that I should never try to fix something that is not broken.
Anne Dyni - As a historian, I am obligated to say that the biggest lesson I have learned is “to learn from the past.”
Mary Wolbach Lopert – I’ve learned that no matter how hard you diet it won’t make you taller. I’ve also learned that it’s useless to buy expensive prescription dog food when the dog does just fine with a diet of socks, underwear, toothbrushes and disposable razors.
Selene Hall – I’ve learned the true value and meaning of a three-day conference and the fact that grandchildren are the reward for not killing your teenager.
Louise Alderson – Learning that individuals can find pleasure in life no matter how old they are.
Jennifer Svendsen Delaney - I learned: 1. Never to stand behind a yearling unless you want to end up with a horseshoe print on your palm. 2. Never to date a guy whose specialty is comedy improvisation because he will feel compelled to wear a clown nose during dinner 3. Never to cook a meal in a new pan without removing the label from the bottom. 4. Never to try and set up anything made in Asia based on the incomprehensible directions supposedly in English. And, the biggest and most recent thing I learned is... 5. Never to put up my outdoor Christmas lights before a snowstorm because when the snow melts it will short out all the lights.
Heather Rogers - I learned weddings are a lot of work for a six-hour party. I also learned writing for a newspaper is a lot different than writing for stage and film.
Biff Warren – I learned 1. Never underestimate the power of kindness. 2. If you think someone has done you wrong, the best thing to say is, “That’s so unlike you.” 3. Steve Goodman was right. Editor’s Note - This is such an obscure and obtuse reference, even for those of us who were born in Chicago, that I feel compelled to note title and link for the more curious reader. “A Dying Cubs Fan’s Last Request” http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_cubs.shtml
Mandy Sutyak - It’s really not a good idea to use your thumb to test how hot your hair straightener is, even if it is unplugged but...It is a really good idea to look behind you when reversing out the garage to see if the other car is parked there even if it isn’t usually and… A $5 fee for unscheduled trips to Sunset Middle School really helps your child’s memory.
Kathy Raczkowski - My sense of time does not always line up with that of the clock or calendar.
Shari Phiel - No matter what plans I make, life follows its own path. Try to adapt, stay flexible and don’t get attached to expectations.
Susan Wientzen - After I have my carpets professionally cleaned, my dog throws up on them. I’m guessing he likes the more lived-in look.
Marge Smith - You can never get it all done, so just learn to enjoy what makes you feel good. And let all the rest go.
Curtis Jones - Time seems to exponentially speed up as I fast approach 50. My theory? I seem to forget so much lately that I probably just forget time went by.
Donna Currie - It is not impolite to refuse to answer an impolite question. It is, however, much more fun to make up an outrageous lie in answer to an impolite question. Yes, I am, in fact 21 years old.
Vicki Maurer – Life can hand you enough curves, you don’t need to park on one.
Photo by Vanessa Slepicka
Pictured are some of the 70 stuffies donated to the Niwot Nifties, the local 4-H chapter, which will be used for prizes during the spring carnival to be held on March 10. According to Marsha Slepicka, “The 4-H members very much appreciate the donation. We could use more and will keep trying to collect them up until the carnival.” If you have good, clean stuffed animals, beanie babies or any stuffed items, drop them off at the Slepicka house, at 6675 N. 79th Street in Niwot. Proceeds from the carnival help the Niwot Nifties with community service projects in and around Niwot. If you have any questions please call 303-652-2263.
Joey Baum – A Young Man To Watch
By Kathy Raczkowski
“You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” That was the challenge that Joey Baum’s mother threw down last year when the young man had one of those “You know what they should do?” moments regarding the wasteful use of environmentally damaging plastic shopping bags. Always one to be concerned about the environment, as well as being a natural problem solver, Baum accepted the challenge and set out to find a way to make a difference, rather than just talking about it. The result? The Joey Pouch: a reusable, flat-bottomed, non-woven polypropylene shopping bag that sells for $3 to $4, holds almost four times as much as a plastic grocery bag, and has earned Baum a Young Entrepreneur award and the opportunity to work with a top-notch mentor to help him take his new business, JB Pouches, LLC, to even greater heights. And he’s only 17. A senior at Boulder High School who also takes three classes at CU, Baum is a young man with a vision for a brighter future and the audacity to do whatever it takes to make things happen. Baum modeled his Joey Pouch after a similar design he’d seen in Australia. The wide, flat bottom and lightweight material made more sense to him than the traditional, smaller, pointy-bottomed, expensive canvas bags. But he knew nothing of bag manufacturing. So he turned to Google and commenced his research, eventually contracting with a company in Singapore to manufacture and ship the bags to the US. Then he had to learn about customs and shipping regulations. He had to learn about marketing and distribution. He had to learn a lot about business. And he did. But he’s only just begun his business education. With the help of Jean Galloway, president and CEO of the Galloway Group, a marketing, branding and community investment group, Joey stands to learn a lot more and to make a huge impact with his bags on a global level. “It has been such a great opportunity to work with Jean,” Baum said “She has been so generous with her support and advice. Getting Jean as a mentor is the best part about winning the award.” Galloway taught Baum about networking and giving back to the community, showing him how helping others ultimately benefits everyone, including one’s business. Together they have come up with ways to help non-profits and environmental groups fundraise through the use of the bags. Corporations can order specially-made bags with their own logos on the back to promote their businesses while supporting efforts to clean up the environment. Local clubs and organizations can raise money and environmental awareness at the same time with the Joey Pouch. There’s no limit to the potential benefits associated with this bag. So what’s next for Baum? He plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania to pursue degrees in biochemistry and business. Then he’ll further his environmental efforts through other businesses he’ll establish that have a positive impact on the earth, its resources, and its citizens. Baum’s parents taught him that giving back to the community was a life affirming activity. He knows that to be true. He vows to make a difference through his efforts, and he already has with the Joey Pouch. Learn more about the Joey Pouch at www.jbpouches.com. For more information about the Young Americans Center for Financial Education see www.yacenter.org. And look into Jean Galloway’s company at www.gallowaygroup.com.
Photo by Kathy Raczkowski
Saving the planet one bag at a time. The Joey Pouch is available at Niwot Market, Lucky’s, Planetary Solutions and Middle Fish in Boulder.
When Good Programs Go Bad
By Donna Currie
If you’re having problems with your computer, it’s one of two things: hardware or software. If it’s software, it’s either something written to cause problems (viruses or spyware), or it’s a good program that’s gone bad. Programs that are bad to begin with are like splinters. You remove it and patch the hole. Good programs gone bad are like toothaches. You want the ache to go away, but you’d prefer to keep the whole set of teeth. I’ve seen word processing programs eat files, and I’ve seen accounting programs refuse access to data without a password, even though no password was ever set. The worst are security programs that get overzealous and refuse to let anything in or out. No more email or internet, and forget about installing any new programs. And while it can be annoying to lose a few files when a normal program goes bad, when security programs go bad, they can affect everything on the computer. And lately, I’ve seen a lot of issues with a lot of different security programs. One common problem with security programs is when they get caught in an update loop. While it’s good for the programs to check for updates, if that’s all they’re doing, and if they’re doing it constantly, it can bog the computer down to the point where it’s almost unusable. Sometimes these update loops occur when the program’s subscription has run out. The program goes online to look for updates, and gets refused because the subscription has expired. The program checks again. Same result. And again and again and again. Hundreds or thousands of times an hour. The solution can be relatively simple. Uninstall the program, or pay to renew the subscription so the update can complete. Sometimes, though, a program will get stuck in that same sort of loop even though it hasn’t expired. It might be a particular update that it can’t access or install, or it might be a connection setting that’s keeping the program from getting to the update website. Whatever the reason, the first part of the solution is to get all of the backlogged updates manually downloaded and installed, and then see if current updates will proceed at a more reasonable pace. If the updates are still constant, the second part of the solution is to turn off the automatic update feature. The problem with that is that the program will have to be updated manually, and few computer users are diligent enough to update software daily, leaving them vulnerable to all sorts of other interesting bugs. Sometimes the problem isn’t the program that’s gone bad. Sometimes it’s a firewall issue. A firewall filters information that goes into the computer from the Internet, but it should allow a free flow of the things that are needed, like email and software updates. Sometimes a firewall will get a little too aggressive, or a user will accidentally change some filter settings, and then the good information, like access to your banking information, gets blocked along with the bad. Unfortunately, when some people suspect the firewall has gone buggy, the first reaction is to uninstall it. While that sounds logical, the problem is that some firewalls will peacefully uninstall, but they won’t reset the system back to normal before they say good-bye. The result is that the settings that are blocking everything are still in place, but the software to configure the settings is gone. Other system utility programs can also make things worse instead of better when they go bad. Lately I’ve seen a few cases where Norton GoBack has GoneBad and it reports that an error has occurred, but can’t fix the error and refuses to start Windows until the error is fixed, The problem is compounded by the fact that GoBack changes the way other programs see the hard drive. If it was any other Windows startup error, it would be a simple matter to put that hard drive in another computer to retrieve the owner’s data. But with GoBack on the drive, other computers can’t “see” the drive, making data recovery more complicated. I’m not against having utility programs on a computer. In fact, I’m a big advocate of having antivirus and anti-spyware programs installed, updated and running at all times. I’ve just never found one that’s foolproof, and when they sometimes go bad, it can take the computer equivalent of a root canal to get the computer running happily again. Donna Currie owns B.C. Computer, a repair service and more. For repairs, just drop your computer off at Longmont Printing, 628 S. Sunset. Longmont. For more information call 303-651-7433 or email donna@computertoyz.com. Got a technical question? Just send an email. No charge, no obligation
Niwot 5th Graders Win
Flag Football Championship
Special to the Courier
The Niwot Elementary School based 5th grade Vikings won the league championship at the Longmont NFL Flag Football 2006 Superbowl Dec. 17. The championship game was played against the 6th grade Altona Middle School based Dolphins in the bitter cold, leaving both teams with 10 wins and 1 loss for the season. The Vikings got off to a quick start scoring on a 75 yard pass from Jimmy Fuhrman to Alex Kinnison on the second play of the game, the first of 3 touchdowns for Kinnison. Furhman would finish the game completing 17 of 27 passes for 352 yards. Graham Gansar caught 7 of those passes for 108 yards as the Vikings rolled to a 28-13 victory. Defense turned out to be key for the Vikings as they allowed the Dolphins, who averaged almost 60 points per game during the regular season, to score only two touchdowns. Kenny Ellis paralyzed the usually prolific Dolphin offense with a smothering rush and made an end zone tackle for a safety. Mason Douillard accounted for two interceptions, one of which ended an eight-play goal line stand. Jesse Slepicka batted down a sure touchdown pass at the goal line, Elijah Noterman played solidly on both sides of the ball, and Brandon Slepicka made a crucial 40-yard grab on third and 30 to keep a key Vikings’ drive going. Even Tanner Kirkpatrick’s illness could not keep him out of the game as he contributed mightily on defense. This
is the third championship in a row for this Niwot team, and the fourth in the
last five seasons. Vikings head coach Gary Gansar was named Coach of the Year.
After the game, Gansar credited defensive mastermind and assistant coach David
Ellis for the victory.
|
