By Mandy
Editor’s
Note: In keeping with the spirit of our 100-year-old Grange Hall, this article
is written in the style of those times.
Wednesday, May 2nd saw many of NiWot’s
most active and familiar community members gathered at the Left Hand Grange for
the formalities launching The Year of The Grange. As is oft the case at this
time of year, a mighty, strong wind was blowing, forcing the gathering inside.
Mrs. Beran introduced Grange
secretary, Mrs. Joseph Dembroski, who reviewed the
laudable history of the Grange, referencing proudly that it is the second
oldest active Grange in
The NiWot Weekly News spoke of the
Grange in its first issue on April 19, 1912 saying, “The Left Hand Grange have
their own hall in NiWot and it is one of the
strongest Granges in the state.”
Mrs. Dembroski talked of the
lamentable state of the building and the already lengthy list of repairs, which
will, for certain, grow longer as more investigation is undertaken. The list
includes dry rot, rotting windows and no insulation.
Mrs. John Dyni, the keeper of our
local history, said the Left Hand Grange had endured flooding, concert crowds
and dancing lessons over the years. “It’s literally being loved to death by the
people who love it,” said Mrs. Dyni. “I can’t even
imagine what life would be like without this building. It needs our help
today.”
Niwot Business Association president, Mr. Bruce Warren, who
was wearing his baseball uniform having left the game he was coaching in the
eighth inning to attend the function, said, “I’ve been in Niwot for over 30
years and I’ve been coming to the Grange for 30 years. It’s the one thing in
Niwot that pulls the community together.”
Mr. Warren reminisced that one of his first introductions to
the Grange came in 1978 when he was fulfilling his duties as a volunteer fireman
and was out on a call with the fire department. Having attended to the grass
fire, the thankful homeowner said, “By the way, my band is playing at the
Grange tonight and I’ll put you on the guest list.”
The homeowner was NiWot’s own Pete
Wernick and his band was Hot Rize.
Mrs. George Bruce shared with townsfolk that the height of
the Left Hand Grange was the standard against which all other building heights
were measured and that it was and remains the tallest building in NiWot.
Everyone, including the band, then
moved outside where Mr. Timothy Wise unveiled the thermometer attached to the
outside of the building. The thermometer will be updated to show how much funds
have been raised.
From November 2006 to April 1st, $10,000 was raised. Between
April 1st and May 1st an additional $12,200 was raised. It is anticipated that
at least $100,000 will be needed to adequately repair and preserve our
treasured building.
Mrs. Larry Murphy served punch and light refreshments
including some delicious fresh homemade brownies and other baked goods.
Supporters may make a tax-deductible donation to help save
the Left Hand Grange Hall by sending a check payable to “P.I.C.K.” with “Left
Hand Grange” in the memo space on the check, to Left Hand Grange, P.O. Box 301,
Niwot, CO, 80544.
P.I.C.K. (People Improving Communities and Kids) is a 501-(c)(3) corporation set up by the Colorado State Grange to
receive donations recognized as tax deductible by the IRS.
Left Hand
Laurel Dorinda Dembroski
By Kathy Raczkowski
If you’ve ever attended any community event, festival or
fundraiser in Niwot, especially at the Grange Hall, chances are that you’ve met
or at least seen Dorinda Dembroski,
this month’s Left Hand Laurel. The bespectacled dynamo is the driving force
behind keeping the Grange an active center for community activity, a task which
has become more challenging with time.
Not only
does Dembroski act as the facility rental agent and
secretary for the Left Hand Grange here in Niwot, she is also active with the
state and national Grange societies and has been for many years. She’s an
officer for the State Grange and functions as the State Grange Deputy for
Dembroski joined her first Grange in 1959 in
She explained that in the rural farming area where she was
raised, the Granges were the center of community activity and the one place
that everyone could gather to socialize. Her local chapter hall had a free
jukebox and hosted social dances every Saturday night. It was definitely the
place to be.
As the years went on, Dembroski
and her husband, Joe, became more and more active in their local Grange. When
IBM transferred Dorinda to
“She’s probably the hardest worker in town when it comes to
Grange activity,” said Neal Anderson, a fellow Granger and president of the
Niwot Community Association. “She’s been involved forever. She manages
bookings, reports to the State Grange, runs book sales.
She picks up several tons of books herself every year for those sales. Amazing.”
The book
sales are just one of the fundraisers Dembroski
manages to raise money to keep the Grange afloat. Traditionally, Grangers raise
money to support various community efforts and keep the rural community
connected, protected, and represented in society and government.
These days, with our town becoming less and less rural, our
local Grange has shifted its focus to creating and maintaining a community
center that it can make available to local groups for little or no charge. That
center is our Grange Hall on
When it came to the attention of the Grangers that the
102-year-old building that they call home was in need of much more than
cosmetic repairs, Dembroski took the bull by the
horns and started researching grants. She found several possible sources for
funds but none of them would loosen their purse strings without a struggle.
Dembroski learned all about navigating red
tape and jumping through political and bureaucratic hoops, securing the first
of a series of grants needed to address the issues of rehabilitating the
decaying structure.
Now she’s in the process of generating public awareness and
the massive donations necessary even to qualify to apply for matching historic
building grants before any work can begin on the structure. It promises to be a
long and hard-won battle to get the Grange Hall the help it needs. Fortunately,
Dembroski is up to the challenge.
“She seems to like it, which is odd,” said fellow Granger
Kellie Beran, noting that Dembroski
never seems to tire of the massive amount of work involved in keeping the
Grange a vital force in the community. “She’s taken retirement to a whole
different level.”The Left Hand Grange is not her only
focus. The mother of two and grandmother of three continues
to be involved in other charitable activities as well.
In
It seems
her retirement has only served to give her more time to focus on helping the
community she loves. It may be a glamourless job, but
it’s not a thankless one.
Dorinda Dembroski
is making a difference in our society. And she’s securing a future for our
community center and all the groups that benefit from its existence. We thank
her for all the wonderful work that she does. She’s one of a kind.
Photo by
Kathy Raczkowski
Dorinda Dembroski points to a depiction of the Left Hand Grange
Hall on the Niwot Quilt, fashioned in 2004 by several of Niwot’s avid quilters, including Emily DeCillis.
By Donna
Currie
From the outside looking in, a farmers’ market doesn’t seem
that complicated – you take an open piece of property, invite some vendors who
bring their own booths, and tell the public when to appear. And the second
year, it should just get easier, right?
Not always.
Last year, Niwot hosted a farmers’ market and concert series
in Whistle Stop Park, and the event seemed to be a slam-dunk for this year,
until a few pesky details reared their ugly heads and threatened the event with
government intervention.
Whistle Stop Park already had an approved site plan that
allowed 12 events per year, and according to Niwot Business Association (NBA)
President Bruce Warren, when the farmers’ market was proposed in October of
2005, Land Use Director Graham Billingsley told Warren that the county would
support a farmers’ market, and the site plan approval could probably be
administratively amended to add a farmers’ market to the 12 community events
already allowed.
It wasn’t until April of 2006 that
When the NBA sent a letter formally requesting the amendment
in April 2006, the county staff responded that the Special Use Review process
would be required for approval.
The NBA, Boulder Creek Events and Bank of the West filed an
application for Special Use Review in June, 2006, and the farmers’ market was
allowed for the summer of 2006 while the application was pending.
In September 2006, the county staff asked for more
information concerning parking, traffic, layout of the site, and noise.
Boulder Creek Events and the NBA responded in March, and
thought they were on track for approval. It wasn’t until a May 9 phone call
from Boulder County Staff Planner David Callahan to
The legal process required reams of paperwork and plans,
which could be expected. But given Niwot’s enthusiasm
for the event – from both the business community and residents alike – it was
hard to believe that the approval wouldn’t slide through. After all, the event
was a success last year. What could be a problem?
Callahan found problems with the application, and the staff
recommended denial of the request. Sticking points were parking, sanitation,
noise and traffic. The staff recommendation indicated that an adjacent lot
owned by Idell Leinweber
was not zoned for parking, the market required permanent restroom facilities,
and the staff requested assurances that emergency vehicles would have access
and wanted noise restrictions imposed on the concerts.
According
to
At a May 16 public meeting of the Boulder County Planning
Commission, Callahan said, “Staff thinks this is the right concept,” but went
on to explain that there were “life and safety issues” that made the concept
unworkable as it was proposed.
Parking and traffic issues were discussed. Warren and
several members of the Niwot community in attendance at the meeting pointed out
that many of the people attending the market would walk or bike from their
homes, thus the number of attendees was not a good indicator of the number of
cars.
Noise from the event was discussed, and Warren noted that
Boulder Creek Events had already talked to two local residents who had
complained the previous year, and as a result, the concerts were scheduled to
end earlier this year, and crews who were doing clean-up afterward were no
longer allowed to play music while they worked.
There was also an issue as to whether the park property was
in fact residential, and whether the ordinances even applied to the area.
While several members of the planning commission noted that
the plan didn’t seem as well-formed as it should be,
In the end, Gerald Caplan of the
planning board noted, “There is an inclination to help you through this,” and
the vote reflected that, with 4-2 in favor of approval, with one member recused.
The recommendation to accept the plan, with nine additional
conditions that
While the Commissioners don’t have to abide by the Planning
Commission’s recommendations, there was a sigh of relief from the audience when
the final vote was cast. The market is now one step closer to approval.
Photo by
Curtis Jones
Tim Wise
double-checks his notes while Rachel Snyder (left), Idell
Leinweber (center) and other Niwot supporters wait
for the Planning Commission to begin discussing the fate of the Niwot Farmers’
Market.
Criterium
Bike Race Returns To Niwot
By Mandy
After a five-year break, the Niwot Criterium
bike race is scheduled to return on Saturday, Aug. 11. The race, organized by
GS Boulder Cycling Team, will take place over a one-mile, figure-8 course with
two chicanes in downtown and has 14 different entrance categories.
“People really liked this route, because the sharp corners
make it tactically and technically challenging,” said Keith Nordstrom,
president of GS Boulder.
Nordstrom told the Niwot Business Association he would
expect between 500 to 600 entrants, which could translate to as many as 2,000
people visiting Niwot.
“The very
first time I came to Niwot I came to see the Criterium
and I fell in love with Niwot,” said Robin Abb, owner
of Rockin’ Robins on
There is a children’s race for those under eight and for
this event, almost any mode of non-motorized transportation would be allowed,
including being pulled in a wagon.
Race organizers presented the proposal at the NBA meeting on
May 8 and asked business owners to identify their concerns. The course location
and the number of race categories would mean that downtown would be closed to
traffic that day except during the planned two-hour lunch.
The primary concerns voiced by business owners were parking
and how businesses such as Niwot Feed and Rental would operate. Race organizers
said they would have plenty of marshals to help guide visitors and they were
also looking into running a shuttle from
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Orlando Chinea
at Niwot Cycles. “It’s very technical, very fast. The sharp turns take a lot of
skill.” Chinea rode in the last Criterium,
but will be unable to enter this one since he is a representative with Blue
Competition Cycles, which is also sponsoring the event.
For more information and race registration see GS Boulder
Cycling Team at www.gsboulder.com or contact Mike Groaning, race director at
303-775-5618.
Map Courtesy of GS Boulder Cycling
The proposed course for the Niwot Criterium is a one-mile, figure-8 loop beginning at the
Niwot Inn. The race is a timed event with the winner being the cyclist who
completes the most laps.
By Mary Wolbach Lopert
If all goes well, the first of three tree carvings for the
willows on
Boulder
The budget for the carving is $5,500. Atwood said that
$3,600 of that sum was raised through a grant from the Longmont Council for the
Arts. An additional $1.600 was raised at last year’s 4th of July Pancake
Breakfast.
Tim Wise stated to date the Niwot Business Association has
spent $450 trimming branches and cleaning up the growth at the base of the
trees.
If you
would like to make a donation for the tree carvings, call Tim Wise at
303-652-2888.
Tree carving.jpg
Photo by Donna Currie
Artist Eddie Running
Wolf begins the carving of a Native American mounted on a horse. The condition
of the tree ultimately will determine how the carving is completed.
Tree drawing.jpg
Drawing courtesy of
Eddie Running Wolf
Eddie Running Wolf’s
proposed rendering depends on the condition of the tree.
Local
Produce Abounds At Area Markets
By Donna
Currie
All of the produce you buy from the
Farmers from other local counties may be allowed on a
case-by-case basis, but you aren’t going see any produce from foreign locations
like
Besides being locally grown, much of the produce is organic,
which means that the farm has
been
certified by the State of
Besides being diversified in growing methods, the size of
the farms varies from small garden plots to larger commercial farms. The
variety of produce is astonishing, with heirloom varieties vying for your
attention right next to interesting new hybrids.
In
This market was started by a group of farmers in the fall of
1986, and became a nonprofit organization in 1987. Since then, the market has
grown to include more vendors and has used its profits from fees and a
percentage of sales to fund a variety of other nonprofit organizations
including 4H and an at-risk teen gardening project.
The Boulder County Farmers market is open on Saturdays,
April 7 to Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays, May 2 to Oct. 3, from
4 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, see www.boulderfarmers.org, email
information@boulderfarmers.org or call 303-910-2236.
In
A nonprofit since 1990, the market began with eight farmers,
and has grown to include as many as 40 different vendors during the season,
including Western Slope fruit growers, and some very familiar local faces.
The
lfm-manager@boulderfarmers.org
.
One of the
charms of a farmers’ market is buying from the people who grew the produce.
Getting to know individual farmers can be educational as they offer cooking
tips, storage methods and even special deals on particular produce items.
While most of the produced at the markets is displayed for
sale in small quantities, many of the farmers are ready and willing to sell in
bulk to folks who want to cook, can or freeze large quantities. And if there’s
not enough available at the market, many of the vendors will invite you to the
farm to pick up that 50-lb. burlap sack of potatoes that you need.
One vendor in common to the Niwot,
For more information on Miller Farms, see
www.millerfarms.net, call 970.785.6133 or email MillerFarms80651@aol.com
Photo by Donna Currie
Besides local produce,
you can buy food to eat on-the-spot or spice up your life with fresh or dried
herbs at the
Photo by Donna Currie
The
Niwot’s
Whistle Stop Sunday Market
New Name –
New Focus – New Tradition
By Donna
Currie
The farmers’ market in Niwot re-opens June 17, with a new
name and a new focus. Now called Niwot’s Whistle Stop
Sunday Market, according to Meg Denbow from Boulder
Creek Events, “It’s not just produce. We’re trying to make it our own thing.”
Denbow said the market will cater to
families and children even more than before, with an area where children can
play while the parents shop.
Along with produce vendors will be food and crafts. Already
signed up are Miller Farms, The Eye Opener, Pearl Street Grill, The Giggling
Greek, Ollin Farms, and Styria
Bakery. You’ll also find soy candles, jewelry and hot dogs. “I’m sure we’ll be
getting more,” she added.
Besides regular vendors, Denbow
said, “Once a month or even twice a month we want to do something a little
special.” Ideas so far include a community yard sale, safety demonstrations,
and a pet expo.
Vendors may appreciate the new, flexible schedule offered.
The “Seven Sundays” schedule allows vendors to sign up for any seven Sundays,
so they can work around their own summer schedules. “We’re hoping to get some
new flavor – new people,” Denbow said. Other special
scheduling requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
The Thursday night concert series, dubbed Rhythm on the
Rails, will be back as well. The concerts will begin on June 14, with Face,
followed by The Johnny O Band and Onda.
The schedule for the rest of the season hasn’t been
finalized, but negotiations are in the works. The schedule will be kept updated
on the Boulder Creek Events website throughout the season.
Denbow said that Boulder Creek Events was
happy with last year’s market and concert series. “It worked great for a
first-year event,” she said. “We were thrilled with the outcome.”
The only downside was “the season dragged on a lot.” Denbow said even some of the vendors seemed to get burned
out with the length of the season, so it was decided to start later this year.
She said this year will be “shorter, sweeter, better” than before.
Niwot’s Whistle Stop Sunday Market will run
from June 17 through Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rhythm on the Rails will
run from June 14 through Sept. 20 from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
For updated information, see www. bouldercreekevents.com,
call 303-652-4942 or email info@bouldercreek.com.
Photo by Donna Currie
Vine-ripened tomatoes
are one of the things people look forward to at local farmers’ markets.
It’s a
Laughing Matter
Competitive
Parenting™
By Mary Wolbach Lopert
Ok ladies, we’re back. I want to thank
you for tuning into the first interactive radio broadcast for über Competitive Parenting™. Not that any of us have to
worry, because in the world of parenting, my audience is always at the top of
the parenting food chain.
I have to say that I did find some inspiration in an article
I read while perusing USA Today, as I was also making some killer stock trades.
According to the interview, competitive parent and self described Alpha Mom
Constance Van Flandern confirmed, “I’m at my
Alpha-Mommy-est when I have the most balls in the
air. It’s multitasking to the nth degree. It’s like training for the Olympics.
Most of all, it’s fun.” (
y, March 7) These
are words we should all live by.
Before I was pulled away to handle a crisis at one of my
other businesses of creating a real rival to Wikipedia,
which will be closed-source so I, and only I, will make corrections, my last
caller was concerned about trying to keep her house immaculate while
simultaneously potty training her 10-month-old and house breaking her purebred
English bulldog puppy.
It just so happens that I’m in the process of developing and
marketing my own trademarked Tattered Towel™. These towels have been used to
excess by me and my family and I can tell you, you won’t find a better used
towel anywhere for those potentially messy disasters.
Washed and
rewashed to a frayed, threadbare elegance by my legal household staff (and I do
make most of their social security payments) while under my strict supervision,
Tattered Towel™ is guaranteed not to leave nasty airborne lint flying, because
most of the fibers have been used on my family.
Tattered Towel™ brings a new standard to pre-used fabrics,
because there’s just enough left to clean up the better part of those unsightly
messes. Just remember you’ll be using something that has been in my own
personal possession, which is status enough.
Best of
all, after a few more washings for added fraying,
Tattered Wash Cloth™ and Tattered Hand Towel™ will be ready for purchase.
Now, for our next caller. You’re on the air.
Caller: Hi, I wanted to run my competitive parenting idea by you.
CP: Go ahead.
Caller: Well, I call it super goo, and it’s a
combination of milk…
CP: Let me guess, milk and corn flakes or rice crisp
cereal.
Caller: Why, yes, I discovered it when…
CP: Caller, just hang up now. Listeners, this is hardly
worth talking about, because I know she got this idea when her toddler started
flinging cold cereal around and some got stuck to her furniture. It’s an old
story. One I hear often from all those Competitive Parent™ wannabes.
My audience knows that I have the patented recipe for Super Goo®. It’s my own special blend of water and cornstarch for
a fast quick hold on any household item. Some might call it paper maché, but with a little school glue thrown in, who’s going
to know?
Now, for another fabulous invention. While it’s not one of mine, it’s
still worth a mention. It’s palapa-bot and if you
don’t know what a palapa is you have no right
listening to this show.
Developed by a Competitive Parent™ who was concurrently
earning her PhD at MIT in mechanical engineering and an MD at Stanford in
infectious diseases, all the while caring for her own three children plus
raising a nest of spotted owls, which had been abandoned by their own mother, palapa-bot is a true miracle.
Suppose you’re on that well-earned vacation and want that
prime spot on the beach in
There’s also been a bit of nasty TV coverage about saving
these places with a book or a towel while we’re off playing a quick 18 holes.
Well, thanks to palapa-bot, you
can have an easy-to-program robot, which will save your prime location. Just
use the preset times for as early as 4 a.m. and p-bot
will navigate its way to the beach or pool with the same night vision
technology used by our valiant armed forces, and secure your rightful eminent
domain.
Best of all, it’s programmed to speak French, Spanish,
German, Italian and Portuguese and will notify any interloper who tries to remove
your possessions to step away from the palapa. Palapa-bot will discharge a medium electrical shock if
touched by anyone other than its owner.
Well, listeners, we’re just about out of time, but be sure
to tune in tomorrow for a fascinating look at my latest patent-pending item,
Magic Shovel™ for doggy doodles and the enthralling call-in topic “Landscaping:
Trees vs. Fencing – Which is better for keeping the riffraff out of YOUR open
space.”
And remember, to emulate me, never leave the house without well-ironed
jeans, fresh manies and pedies
and my complete line of makeup.
And
remember, if you’re not über you’re a goober.
SMS
Spartans Excel in Track & Field
By Curtis
Jones
The St. Vrain Valley School District
track meet started on a cold and dreary day, but ended warm and sunny for
The meet started with victories for
Sunset in the hurdle races; Kate Judge won the 75 M Low Hurdles for the girls
and Mitch Eutsler won the 75 M High Hurdles for the
boys. In a very fast 100 M field, Hunter Pickett finished fifth for the boys.
Both 4 x 200 relay teams placed – the girls tied for fourth and the boys, Chris
Whitney, Ben Walters, Tanner Smith, and Erik Bengston,
snagged a third place. In the shot put, Justin Traxinger
came in second with a throw 2 feet longer than third place.
Sunset was impressive in the 4 x 100
relays – both teams, with no top-four finishers in the 100 M,
put together great handoffs and speedy individual performances to finish
second. The girls led off with Catherine Jones, followed by Megan Mast, Amy Keschl, and Casey McPherson as anchor. The boys’ team
included Eutsler, Justin Medina, Walters, and
Pickett.
Sunset also did very well in the
Long Jump. Judge got another first place finish and is the district champion
for the girls while Pickett came in second for the boys. In the 400 M, Smith placed
sixth for the boys, less than a second behind third place. In the High Jump,
Judge placed fifth for the girls while Marcus Lively placed fourth for the
Spartans.
The Spartans ruled the Triple Jump;
Katy Hedlund is the new district champion and broke
the Sunset Middle School record while Keschl placed
second only 6 inches behind Hedlund, also exceeding
the old school record. Eutsler tied for first and is
the co-district champion in the Triple Jump for the boys, also breaking the
school record. Smith, after having run the 4 x 200 relay, the 4 x 100 relay,
and the 400 M, placed third in the 800 M. After switching from the 100 M to the
200 M this year, Jones placed an impressive third in the district in that event
for the girls.