By Mary Wolbach Lopert 

The runway at Vance Brand Airport in southwest Longmont would be expanded under a proposal from the Airport Planning Commission (APC), but only to address safety concerns according to airport Manager Tim Barth.  The possible expansion is part of the City of Longmont’s update to the airport master plan.  

According to the city’s website, <http://204.133.-207.2/airport/master_plan/mpquestions.htm>, “The Airport Master Plan is a document the City uses to help plan and prepare for the future of the City’s airport.”
In response to area residents’ concerns, the possible expansion of the runways has been limited.  The original proposal called for four options:

• Increase the runway by 2060 feet
• Increase the runway by 1560 feet
• Increase the runway by 850 feet
• Leave the runway at its current 4800 feet

 The decision to either limit the expansion or do nothing came after several community meetings where area residents strongly opposed the expansion.  “The community doesn’t want to see those two longer options,” Barth stated.

 According to Barth, the increased runway would add extra safety to business jets that already use the airport.  “The extra feet won’t change the category of the airport or allow bigger jets,” Barth said, “but it will give extra feet to allow an aircraft to stop (in case of an emergency).”

 Chris Martinson and Mark McNally of the Boulder Hills subdivision feel that there is more to the expansion than just safety measures.  Boulder Hills is one of three residential areas that would be directly affected by an increase in the type or amount of air traffic from the airport.  
In a telephone interview Martinson stated, “Longmont said the extension will not affect the number of flights at the airport.  This isn’t true.  The FAA offered to build the expansion and pay for 90 percent of it.  Their charter is to promote aviation…  Once the FAA has paid for the runway they get to say what type of aircraft can fly in.”  According to Martinson, this could include air cargo and passenger planes.  

McNally concurs.  “The FAA provides the money so they get to say what kind of aircraft will land.  We will lose local control,” McNally stated.  “If FAA has control, the public can’t limit hours of operations nor the noise levels.  Several neighborhoods will be in the impact zone.  (We are) concerned about the quality of life and property values.”

At a neighborhood meeting on June 12, Connie Brooks, of Brooks and Schluter, Attorneys-At-Law, spoke about her efforts on behalf of Greenwood Village to stop commercial passenger flights into Centennial airport.  McNally said Brooks’ message was “to start early, get organized and get some political clout.  Do your research, get your fact straight.  Find out what the airport commission is telling you is true or not.  Find out the long-term impact and get that information to Longmont City Council and Boulder County Commissioners.”

Barth stated that since a proposed runway length has been established, a noise impact study will be done.  This study should be complete by the end of July or the beginning of August.  The APC will then makes its recommendations to the Longmont city council.

 Meetings: Airport Master Plan Schedule
All dates are tentative.  Call 303-651-8431 for confirmation.

July 11 -  Airport Advisory Meeting at Public Works Maintenance Facility 375 Airport Rd. at 6 p.m.
TBA -  Final public meeting  
Sept. TBA -  Longmont City Council Meeting and public hearing.  City of        Longmont, City Council Chambers, 350 Kimbark  St. 7 p.m.

Photo by Ron Goodman  

The Airport Planning Commission is developing a master plan for Vance Brand Municipal Airport.  Area residents are concerned about runway expansion bringing in more and larger jet aircraft.
 
 

By Joyce Halling

 Rosemary Bruce of Niwot, a member of the Niwot Senior Advisory Council for the past ten years, is an active advocate for senior services. The council consists of 15 volunteer board members who meet once a month to discuss the needs of the seniors of the Niwot community.  

 One of Bruce’s fundraising ideas really blossomed. "Most senior groups write grants for funds," she said. Instead, Bruce suggested selling perennial plants as a fundraiser, and that plant sale has been a great success for many years.

 Niwot Senior Advisory Council members bring in plants from they’ve grown at home, then they plant them in a good potting soil and offer them for sale. A typical sale raises close to $3,000. Afterward, the council decides how to spend the money to benefit area seniors. "This is a good group of seniors making decisions on how the money will be spent," Bruce said.

 The council plans four day trips each year to places seniors would find interesting. They pay admission fees and arrange transportation for these great outings. Another annual event is the holiday potluck, where more than 100 seniors attend.

 The council also donates to other organizations that assist seniors, including the local fire department, Meals on Wheels, and the Left Hand Grange.  It also has a “local loan closet” to assist seniors who may need a walker, wheel chair, or shower bench.  The area "telephone tree" helps seniors with doctor appointments and other transportation needs.

 Senior Coffees are held the fourth Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. at the Eagle Place Community Room.  The council chooses guest speakers whose topics are of interest to the senior audience. Besides providing valuable information, these monthly coffees are also a great time for socializing.  
 Besides the council, Bruce is involved with the Left Hand Grange and RSVP of Longmont, and she is on the board of Niwot Community Association (NCA).  

 The Boulder County commissioners have designated the NCA as the official liaison between the county and the community.  The NCA reviews Boulder County items of public interest and provides input to the people of Niwot.  The organization also hosts town meetings, and recently was involved in the transportation issues and road construction changes that impacted the area. Bruce believes the NCA is a valuable asset to the community because the NCA can get answers directly from the commissioners and can help coordinate any necessary compromises.

 Bruce was born and raised on a 100 acre farm in Pennsylvania, but she has lived in Niwot for the past 26 years. The community has changed considerably. "When I arrived here, there were no large subdivisions,” Bruce said. “There was a country store with three shelves, two of which had tractor belts, chains and motor oil."

 Growing up in a large family where children were expected to help out, Bruce learned at an early age how to help the family pull together to provide for their needs. Now she enjoys working within the community and with different organizations. "I get involved with Niwot activities from Easter Egg Hunts to the Christmas Parade by helping the organizations that sponsor those activities. We try not to compete against each other, but coordinate with each other to contribute," Bruce said. "I believe the community sees that Niwot seniors are an active part of the area as volunteers."

 For more information on how seniors help each other as well as the community, or to see the large assortment of perennial plants still available sale, you can contact Rosemary Bruce at 303-652-2249.
 

Photo by Joyce Halling

Rosematy Bruce helps each year with the plant sale fundraiser for seniors.
 

By Mary Wolbach Lopert 

 It is back to the drawing board for the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD).    After the November, 2001 defeat of the proposed $353 million, 10-year bond issue, the district set up a seven member Community Bond Review Committee, with each member representing one of the district’s high schools.  The Niwot area representative is Debbie Lammers.

According to Lammers, the committee will “advise the school board on the size, scope and duration of the next school bond proposal.”  Lammers continued, “We are actually coming up with the details of the next bond proposal. …  We have been meeting weekly since April for the purpose of gathering various kinds of information about the district.”  This includes enrollment projections, facility costs, renovation expenses, technical needs and expenses. 

 In June, the committee met with the board of education and conducted public meetings.  The committee presented a final bond proposal package for the school board’s consideration on June 28.  The school board will adopt the final ballot question language and set a bond amount in August.  

 At the June 8 meeting the committee recommended a $218 million bond issue, subject to revision after public input.  According to Lammers, “It would cover enrollment projections over the next five year period.”  For area homeowners, the projected rise in property taxes would be $45.75 per $100,000 of market value.
These figure are derived from a formula:

$100,000 x 9.15% = assessed value
Assessed value x .005 mil levy = property tax

 In terms of enrollment, the Niwot High attendance area is in fairly good shape.  The district’s projected enrollment, measured in percent of capacity, for the next five years is within 10% of capacity

The $65 million balance will go to renovations, remodels, upgrades and repairs.  Burlington Elementary School would be slated for a new roof and electrical improvements.  Since Indian Peaks Elementary was originally built as an open classroom school, it would have its temporary walls replaced with permanent ones.  Burlington would also add a new IMC with the existing IMC being turned into classrooms.  

Niwot High School would have its heating and cooling system upgraded.  “The school has its original boiler,” Lammers stated.  There would also be repairs to the athletic facilities and the new athletic fields’ drainage problem would be corrected.  

 What will not be in this bond are funds for a new stadium or swimming pool.  Lammers stated, “After the last bond failed, the district has viewed more than 100 hours of presentations on why it failed.  The opposition said that it (the bond issue) was the largest and longest in Colorado history.  That fact really hit home.  People just didn’t want to set this type of precedent.…  Also clear is that after 9/11, people couldn’t think that far ahead.”

 If the bond passes, as it exists now, construction would most likely immediately start on one elementary school in both Tri-Town and East Longmont, one middle school each in Tri-Town and Mead-east Longmont/western Weld County and the high school in southeast Erie.

 Both Lammers and Searls stress that this bond represents a community effort.  “Each feeder system was represented.  All had a voice,” Searls said.  “In the past people have said we value education for all of our kids and across our district.”

 The school board will make their final recommendation by the Aug. 28 meeting.  The bond will be on the Nov. 5 ballot.

In sep. boxes:

New Contruction Projects

West Erie –   1 Elementary School
Southeast Erie –   1 High School
Tri-Town area –   2 Elementary Schools
    1 Middle School
Southwest Longmont - 1 Elementary School
    1 Middle School
Mead-East Longmont/ 1 Senior High School
Western Weld Cnty  1 Elementary School
    1 Middle School 

     Current 2005
Niwot Elementary  85%  95%
Burlington Elementary       99%  107%
Indian Peaks Elementary 98%  95%
Sunset Middle School  88%  96%
Niwot High School  106%  91%
 

By Ron Goodman  

      On June 9, three men and a brush truck from Mountain View Fire District’s Wildland Team were sent to assist with the firefighting efforts in the Lake George Area.  The crew is led by career firefighters Cole Lathrop (engine boss) and Paul Gransee.  Richard Palentro, a volunteer firefighter, is the third member of the crew.

 Each crewmember is Red Card certified by the U.S. Forest Service as a forest firefighter.  Certification involves a 40-hour class.  Crewmembers must be re-certified every year by passing a physical ability test. 

    The brush truck is a pick-up style vehicle equipped with a tank, a pump, and hand tools for fire fighting.
 
 

By Bruce Warren

 If you hang around sports long enough, and especially youth sports, you come across two distinct kinds of people:   

Adults who try to participate vicariously through their children characterize the first category.  They are often overly concerned with winning.  They see their children as extensions of themselves rather than as unique individuals.  Lack of ability and poor performance by their children are seen as reflecting poorly on themselves.  They are quick to argue with umpires and referees, as every slight to their child is perceived as a personal attack.  

Their loyalty to a team, a program or a community extends only as far as “what have you done for my child (or me) lately?”  They are always “program shopping” whether it’s youth, high school or college sports.  They will sacrifice their son or daughter’s desire to play with friends for an imagined fast track to a college scholarship.   
As coaches, they focus on their own children, often neglecting less skilled players on their team.  A player who is not a star often drops out of the sport after a season with this coach.  And sometimes the kid who drops out is the coach’s own son or daughter, when the player realizes he or she can never quite live up to expectations.   

As fans, they are quick to criticize their children’s coaches, and even the other players on the team, especially when the team is losing. They don’t appreciate a good play or the exceptional skill of a player on the other team because they are too wrapped up in promoting their own child.   

The first type can’t be counted on for long-term support of a program because they may not be here tomorrow.  You may get their short term support, but usually with an implied quid pro quo of an advantage to their athlete, such as more playing time, a favorite position or a higher spot in the batting order.  Once the grass seems greener in another program, they are gone.  When a local program needs help or improvement, they can’t be counted upon because their solution is to go to the next program down the road.  

A long-time sport administrator once described a father who arranged extra tennis court time at his country club for the team, then was upset when his daughter was slated to play doubles instead of singles.  He complained to the coach, saying, “I gave you all the extra court time, why isn’t my daughter playing singles?”   The coach responded quickly, saying, “I didn’t know it was a bribe!”  Of course the parent backed off, denying that it was, but most certainly the coach hit the nail on the head.   

With the emphasis on competitive sports at younger and younger ages, this first type of parent seems to be proliferating.  An unfortunate side effect is that recreational programs and development of all young athletes suffer.  Examples are everywhere.  
This year, Longmont Fast Pitch, a long-time member of the Indian Peaks Girls Softball Association, turned the program over to the City of Longmont to run.  The volunteers who had run it for years had less and less help, and finally gave up.  It’s no coincidence that Longmont High was unable to field a JV softball team last year, and may have to combine with Skyline to even have a program this fall.  

Niwot and Gunbarrel have had the good fortune to have many more of the second category of parents.  But their ranks have been greatly diminished by the loss of Ed Hauck, who died unexpectedly in early June.  (See obituary on page 26.)  

Ed Hauck was the epitome of the parent who was in it for the good of all kids. He ran the Niwot Youth Sports Basketball program for several years, and participated as coach, commissioner and coordinator for a many years prior to becoming the director.  He continued as director for a year after his children no longer played, and served as a mentor to his successors after “retiring” in 2000.   

Ed took his position very seriously and always looked out for the little guy.  He ensured that the spirit as well as the letter of the rules was followed when it came to balancing teams, or making sure all players were involved in the action.  He had no tolerance for adults who were more concerned with winning, or with their son or daughter’s status as a star player, if it came at the expense of the program and the development of all of the players.  

He never sought the limelight, or even the credit he deserved for running an extremely successful program, with some 400 plus children participating each year.  And he never backed down from confronting problems when they occurred. He was always firm but fair, and he refused to ignore the behavior of adults who were out of line. He had the respect of players, coaches, league officials and referees alike.   

Ed was committed to maintaining a basketball program for the Niwot and Gunbarrel community that served the needs of all youth, whether they were destined to be star players, or were simply learning to play the game and have some fun.  

His activities didn’t end there.  He became the NYS webmaster, creating the first NYS web page, and maintaining it long after he retired.  When his sons played football, baseball or swam, he could be counted on to help, but he never interfered with their participation.  When he disagreed with a coaching decision or thought an official’s call went the wrong way, he never complained.  He knew it was part of the game and let his sons handle it, learn from it and go on.  

Ed leaves a legacy to the community, which includes a basketball program for all youth, from those just learning to play to the athletically gifted.  He leaves his sons, Todd, Chris and Jeremy, who reflect his character and his values.  In case you missed it, Ed’s oldest son Todd graduated from CSU a few weeks before Ed died.  Ed and his wife Debbie were able to attend.  Only when they arrived did they learn that Todd had been chosen by the CSU student body to be a commencement speaker. 

Ed will be missed, not only for what he did, but also for what he stood for.  Let’s hope that others learn from his example.  We need more people like Ed, people who are in it for all of the kids.  
 
 

By Ron Goodman and Bruce Warren 

The County recently purchased a conservation easement on a 73-acre site on the east side of North 95th Street, owned by Howard L Morton Sr. The current Niwot Area Sending and Receiving Site Map shows this parcel as a receiving site.  That map designation would have allowed a developer to purchase  TDR’s, (Transferable Development Rights) from mapped sending sites in the Niwot area and construct forty homes in this location.  
Because development of the property is no longer allowed by the conservation easement, the county held a public hearing before the Planning Commission to change the designation of the property from a receiving site to a sending site.  The owner has agreed to sell the three “As of Right” development rights of the site (TDR’s) to Michael Markel, who is developing the adjacent site to the north.   Purchasing a conservation easement and allowing the owner to sell the number of homes that could be built on the property  “As of Right” lowers the purchase cost for the county and allows it to buy more conservation easements. The map change was approved by the Planning Commission.  Final approval by the County Commissioners is required.

Michael Markel, the applicant for Niwot Hills Subdivision, also appeared before the Planning Commission with a final plat for Phase 1 of his proposed development.  Located at 9300 Niwot Road at the south- west corner of N. 95th Street, the 156 acre site was previously approved for a total of 46 lots in the Sketch Plan application.
For this first phase of 17 homes, three are “As of Right,” three are TDR’s from the adjacent Morton Property and the remaining TDR’s will be purchased from mapped sending sites in the Niwot Area.  

David Callahan of the Land Use Department said,  in answer to a question from 
a planning commissioner, “Of the 93 TDR’s that Niwot agreed to accept, 65 have thus far been approved, including the 14 for this project.”  The final plat was approved and will be before the County Commissioners in about 45 days.

A preliminary plan, for the Spencer PUD, was also approved by the Planning Commissioners.  The 26.10 acre parcel is in the northeast corner of the Diagonal Highway and Monarch Road.  No TDR’s are involved; the 26 residential sites proposed are “As of Right.”  The major concern with this site was its close proximity to the railroad.  A report prepared by an Environmental Noise Consultant stated in summary that, “...the site is not greatly impacted by noise from the railroad.”

A member of the Planning Commission disagreed and played a recording made in a Peppertree subdivision living room of a passing train.  The remaining Commissioners demurred and approved the preliminary plan. There was one abstention.
 
 

 Colorado Outdoor Sports, Inc. is partnering with the Swift Cycling Team of Boulder to present the return of the ever-popular Niwot Criterium.  Back by popular demand, The Niwot Criterium, a 1-mile race loop and fomerly a USCF National Calendar race, is Currently slotted on the American Cycling Racing Calendar for July 21, 2002. This race is sure to be a big racer and spectator draw for its fast paced, tight corner course located in historical downtown Niwot. 

 The course will begin on 2nd Avenue and head south to Niwot Road, turn right to Franklin Street, a quick turn onto 1st Avenue and another quick turn onto Murray Street.   Racers will proceed to 5th Avenue, turn right onto Franklin and a final turn onto 2nd Avenue, back to the Start-Finish area. 

 A community focused event, the Niwot Criterium will include a Kids Fun Ride for ages 10 and Under, vendor booths along the course, and a summer day full of small town charm. The Kids Fun Ride will begin at 12:40 pm race a single lap and the winner will receive a prize.

 Benefiting from the Niwot Criterium is Niwot Youth Sports, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing a positive sports experience for children and the opportunity to participate in organized sports activities on a year-round basis   

 To find out more about the Niwot Criterium, other Colorado Outdoor Sports Events,  or to volunteer please email info@cosports-.net or call 303.473.1997
 
 

By Mary Wolbach Lopert 

 You couldn’t exactly say that Anna Mahorski’s goose is cooked, but it certainly is painted.  Mahorski, a long time Courier reporter, is a member of the Longmont Council for the Arts and submitted her design for Longmont’s Geese Galore.  The event raises funds for art student scholarships in the St. Vrain Valley School District and for the art associations in Longmont.

 “The project started with these little goose decoys for the kids in the St. Vrain Valley School District to paint.  The project hoped to join the communities together,” Mahorski stated.  From there the concept grew to the seven-foot tall goose Mahorski is decorating.

 “These geese will be painted; mosaic and sculptures added on,” Mahorski said.  As for her personal goose, “My husband John and I were going over names and came up with a really cute one, Little Deuce Goose.  The goose really has nothing to do with cars, but instead will be snowboarding.”  Little Deuce Goose will be faux painted.  “I’m painting over that with different designs with solid paints.”

 Mahorski stated, “I am mostly self-taught, but have had a bit of ‘formal’ training at childhood classes at the Art Institute in Chicago.  I’ve also taken art classes from independent instructors around the Boulder area in the last 10 years.  I’ve painted furniture and murals and have done various beading projects.”

 As far as her participation, Mahoski said, “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Longmont art community. I’m glad that the money raised from this event will be going to art scholarships for area students.”

 The public is encouraged to flock to Longmont for this unique flight of geese.  These glorious geese will be displayed at the new Longmont Museum, Rose Park, Isaac Walton Park and other locations.  All this art and you don’t have to watch where you step.

 Geese Galore is sponsored by the Old Firehouse Art Center in collaboration with the Longmont Council for the Arts, the Longmont Theatre Co., the Longmont Museum and Art in Public Places.  The project kicks off on July 19 in conjunction with the July ArtWalk.  The geese will be auctioned off on Oct. 11 at the Longmont Museum.  For more information go to www.geesegalore.com.
 
 

By Ted Benning

The Niwot Cougars 13 year old competitive baseball team came back after losing its first game to win the North Jeffco Tournament on Memorial Day weekend.  The Niwot Youth Sports sponsored team came back to win the next 4 games, including the championship game.  

The players showed up for the championship game fired up to play and hit against the best pitcher the team had faced all year.  The Cougar’s pitchers, combined with the best defensive effort in the field all season,  contributed to the team’s success.

The team was awarded individual medals and a team trophy which is on display at Sunset Middle School.
 

Photo courtesy of Frankie Benning

front-row (l to r): Joe Rice, Evan Perlman, James Rigg, Stephan Anderson, Jonathan Schwartz, Ryan Meske. Back row: Matt Boren, Reggie Anderson, Coach Joel Perlman, Teddy Deere, Coach Ted Benning, Michael Beck, Tommy Benning, David Etter and Coach Kurt Etter.
 
 
 

By Steve Jones

 The annual Niwot Baseball Tournament, sponsored by Niwot Youth Sports, was held June 14-16 at the Nimbus Baseball Complex near Left Hand Creek.   A total of 20 teams from three different age brackets played in the 3-day event at Hagen Field, Ritz Field and Columbine Field.  

 In the U10 age group the Louisville Buffs took first place by defeating the Boulder Panthers. In the U13 age group, the Thornton Mustangs defeated their cross town rival Thornton Junior Rebels Red to capture the title.

In the U12 age bracket the title was captured by the hometown Niwot Cougars. This is the second consecutive year this team has taken first. Last year the team, managed by Roger Lahman, took first in the U11 bracket.. Lahman is looking for a three-peat next year. 

 After a heartbreaking loss to rival Longmont by a score of  3-2 in the opening round, the young Cougars won the next four games to earn another chance at Longmont in the semi-finals.  This time the Cougars easily defeated them, 9-4. Niwot then topped the Thornton Storm in the finals by a score of 7-6 to capture the crown. Timely hitting and great pitching during the tournament brought the title to the Cougars, who are 18 - 9

 Niwot Youth Sports extended a special thanks to all who made the tournament a success: 

• Roger Lahman: Tournament Director
• Dick Piland: For furnishing, hosting, and entertaining all of the umpires and for his generous contribution to NYS
• Mark Lamach: President Niwot Youth Sports Baseball
• Pat & Guynna Manley: For handling the concessions
• Gregg Hangge: Fields
• Vicki Maurer: Insurance and Facility arrangements
• Left Hand Water District: For making the fields available
• Nimbus Field Neighbors: For tolerating the traffic, dust and noise for the weekend
• And for everyone else who worked on the fields and helped in the concession stand, thank you to you all.

Photo by: www.thsphoto.com/denver

The NYS U12 Cougars 1st Place Team. Front Row (l to r): Bat Boy Andrew Bremner, Colton Corpman, Evan Jacobsen, Bat Boy Eric Klacik Middle Row: Coach Mike Klacik, Cody Lahman, Luke Lahman, Andrew Klacik, Parker Jones Back Row: Coach Steve Jones, Chris Harris, David Bremner, Erik Christianson, Ben Packard, Alec Ryan, Jamie Friedlander, Manager Roger Lahman, Coach Dave Friedlander