Tree
Dedication Showcases Arapaho Language And Culture
By Liz
Emmett-Mattox
If you look at the official history of Niwot, most accounts
begin when the town was platted in 1875 after the expansion of the Colorado
Central Railroad. But anyone who knows how Niwot got its name knows that the
history of this place extends much further back. 
Many local residents know that Niwot is named for Chief
Niwot, leader of the Arapaho tribe that once inhabited this area. Niwot means
“left hand” in Arapaho.
At Nostalgia Day, a ceremoney was
held to dedicate the first of the willow tree carvings along Niwot Road. The
ceremony revealed the name of the sculpture and offered a sampling of Northern
Arapaho culture.
Alonzo Moss, Sr., member of the Northern Arapaho Language
and Culture Commission, chose the name Biitoheinen
(pronounced bee-tah-hey-nen), which means Spear Lodge
Man. As Moss explained, all Arapaho men belonged to age-based societies. The
spear carriers were the protectors of the tribe, responsible for policing the
camp, supervising communal hunts and enforcing the decisions of the chiefs.
When Boulder artist Eddie Running Wolf, who has been
creating the likeness from one of the three willows along Niwot Road, heard the
name, he was pleased. “I did some research and found a picture in a book of a
spear carrier, so to have them recognize what it was was
pretty neat.”
Running Wolf said he was honored to be part of bringing the
Arapaho back to Niwot. “The trouble with the past is that you can’t go back and
change it. But going forward, you can involve both cultures.”
Recognizing the Native Americans who once inhabited the area
was central, said Liz Darling. Darling is part of the planning committee that
first conceived the idea of having the trees carved.
The spirit of bridging cultures was evident as present-day
inhabitants experienced the language, songs, dances and prayers of the people
who consider this place an ancestral homeland.
Merle Haas, director of Sky People Higher Education and one
of the organizers of the event said, “For us to come here was really a
spiritual journey. We came to pay homage to our Arapaho ancestors.”
Hass and other members of the Northern Arapaho delegation
expressed appreciation at the warm welcome they received, and said they would
like to return, and would certainly be involved as the next trees are carved.
For Hass, the connection between cultures and time is clear.
“Niwot isn’t just a town on the map,” she said. “Some of us consider it home.”
If you would like to contribute to the tree carving fund,
send your donations to Ni-Wot Prairie Productions,
P.O. Box 1053, Niwot, CO 80544.
Photo by
Curtis Jones
Native
American Nelson White speaks at the Sept. 8 the dedication of the tree carving
by Eddie Running Wolf honoring the long connection between Native Americans of
the Arapaho tribe and the area we call the Left Hand Valley.
By Liz
Emmett-Mattox
If you have children in the St. Vrain schools, chances are
their education has been affected for the better by this month’s Left Hand
Laurel, Danette Tye.
According to those who have worked with her, Tye has
been a tireless volunteer from the time her children (now at Niwot High) were
much younger.
Tye’s involvement with the schools began
innocently enough, on the hospitality committee at Niwot Elementary School.
But, ever since her kids started school, Tye would
show up at meetings. She was engaged and involved from the beginning, according
to Darryl Mcreer.
When Mercer was president of the Niwot Elementary PTA, he
wanted someone he could rely on to be the secretary, so he recruited Tye. The position demanded someone reliable and
conscientious, and Mercer said he knew she was the one for the job.
From there, Tye’s involvement in
the school system grew. She held various positions in the Niwot Elementary PTA,
including president.
As her children entered Sunset
Middle School and then Niwot High, the story was the same. Sometimes she even
volunteered at a school her children did not attend.
Mercer said that a few years ago, when he was on the board
of the Niwot High School Education Foundation, the board needed a new member.
Even though Tye wouldn’t have a high schooler for another year, it didn’t stop Mercer from
recruiting her.
According to Tye, she was at the
first meeting, not really knowing what was going on
and taking furious notes. Mercer looked around for a secretary, and she got the
job because she was the only one at the table with a pen.
Tye’s current role with the Education
Foundation is to organize the Gala which she has done for the last three years.
Dennis Daly, principal of Niwot High, said, “She rolls her sleeves up and gets
the job done. Everything from the entertainment, to the menu, you know with Danette every detail will be handled.”
Daly said he appreciates the way Tye
can communicate parents’ concerns to teachers, counselors and administrators.
“She’s a great sounding board,” he said.
Daly isn’t the only one who appreciates Tye’s
perspective as a parent. Dr. Randy Zila,
Superintendent of the St. Vrain Valley School District said that as the chair
of the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee, Tye
offers a strong parents’ perspective on district matters.
In addition to her work at the district level, Tye has also been involved with the mill levy override
elections. Zila says that without Tye,
“a lot of stuff wouldn’t get done.”
What people enjoy most about Tye is
not only that she’s willing to roll up her sleeves and get to work, but that
she does it with such joy and warmth.
Zila
said, “She’ll always have time to giggle.”
Nancy Herbert, community relations manager for St. Vrain
School District agreed. “Danette is warm and
kind-hearted. She has sparkling eyes and a great hug, and then she gets down to
work. She makes any kind of project fun.”
One of Tye’s goals has been to
empower her own kids to know that they can make a difference, and it would seem
the message has gotten through.
Tye says one of her proudest moments
was when her daughter was in middle school and came home wanting to help a
classmate raise enough money to pay for surgery on his ear. Tye
organized the students of Sunset Middle School who were able to raise about
$10,000 in a single night to help pay for the surgery, and help others in the
district with hearing impairments.
Tye said, “I like
finding a project and making it succeed.”
One of the projects she has helped make succeed is the installation
of “smart classrooms” at Niwot High. Funds raised by the Education Foundation
have gone to purchase computers and other equipment to enable students and
teachers to write on “smart boards.” The notes or drawings can then be
downloaded and students who were absent, or who have difficulty taking notes
can get them.
When asked what motivates her, Tye
said, “I just want to make the world a better place. I think our children are
our greatest treasures and I want to do anything I can to support them.”
Photo by
Liz Emmett-Mattox
Danette Tye
Drivers
Play Role In Setting Speed Limits
Liz
Emmett-Mattox
Did you ever wonder why the speed limit on the Diagonal
Highway goes from 45 miles per hour in Boulder to 55 miles per hour near Niwot
and then to 65 miles per hour north of Niwot?
According to Larry Haas, Traffic Operations Engineer with
the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), ordinary drivers have a lot
to do with determining the posted speed limits.
To determine what the appropriate speed limit is for a
section of road, CDOT conducts a Traffic Engineering Study, which examines
several features.
One of these features is the accident history on the road.
Another is the roadway geometrics or how wide the road is, whether the road is
straight or has lots of curves, and the width of the shoulders.
The access points or potential conflict areas also are
examined. These include stoplights, intersections, and other entrances and
exits along the road.
One of the most important factors in determining the legal
speed limit is the actual speed of traffic on the road. Traffic engineers
assume that most drivers are reasonable and drive at a speed that is
comfortable for them and suitable for the existing conditions. The speed at or
below which 85 percent of the cars are traveling (the 85th percentile) is what
engineers use to determine the speed that CDOT will use as the legal limit.
The actual speed of traffic is important in the posted limit
because the primary purpose of speed limits is to enhance safety.
One of the most effective ways speed limits reduce accidents
is by reducing the speed differential on the roads.
Contrary to what you may think, especially if you’ve received
a speeding ticket, traffic engineers don’t try to set up speed traps. Besides
creating antagonism towards law enforcement, setting a limit that is too far
below the average speed of traffic is bad for public safety because it can
result in some cars traveling much faster than others, causing more accidents.
According to Haas, the reason the speed limit on the
Diagonal goes from 65 mph north of Niwot to 55 mph at Niwot Road is that
because of the spacing of the signal lights. Cars can’t get up to 65 mph before
they stop at the next light.
So next time you’re traveling south on the Diagonal, relax
and go with the flow. Chances are you’ll be safer and less likely to get a
ticket.
Nostalgia
Day Around The Clock
By Mary Wolbach Lopert
Photos by
Curtis Jones
The 2007, edition of Niwot Nostalgia Day kicked off with a
parade, which featured among other things, llamas and horses and ducks (oh my).
With 51 entries there was something for everyone. Best of all, Niwot’s own Bert Steele was honored as Grand Marshal.
Niwot’s Second Avenue was turned into a
cavalcade of tents, featuring a wide variety of products and services. You
could buy jewelry, sample pizza or hot dogs, support Niwot High School with a purchase
of Cougar wear, get free legal advice, learn about various school projects or
adopt a duck for the First Annual LHVC Duck Race to benefit the Grange.
Niwot Community Assoc-iation
President Neal Anderson said, “In Niwot we build our sense of community from
within. Each year Nostalgia Day gets a little better thanks to the hard work of
the NCA Board, dozens of volunteers, and the contributions of our sponsors.
“This year the many events really complemented each other
and offered something for everyone. In particular, the Tree Dedication Ceremony
honoring the Native Americans that wintered in the Niwot area was a special
addition.”
The day also marked the fifth anniversary of the Nostalgia
Day Quilt Display. “It was spectacular,” said event organizer Emily De Cillis. “There were different designs that hadn’t been seen
before, all done by local people. There were 116 pieces displayed - some large
some small.” She added that she wanted to thank the Courier for its support
over the years.
“I’m looking forward to another quilt display next year,” De
Cillis said. She already has two people who want to
sign up to display their quilts next year.
As for the evening’s activities, Anderson summed it up: “The
evening dance with Awkward Silence and the Nacho Men was attended by the
biggest crowd ever, something over 1200 people. I don’t think I have ever been
to a town festival where hundreds of people, including entire families, dance
from the first to the last song. Nostalgia
Day continues to be a great way to end the summer.”
By Bruce
Warren
The First Annual Dry Creek Duck
Race, sponsored by the Courier, raised over $1,900 for
the Left Hand Grange Renovation Project, with approximately 40 spectators on
hand for the contest. The race was
conducted on Niwot Nostalgia Day, with almost 400 plastic ducks floating down a
stretch of Dry Creek to the underpass on Niwot Road. 
Ducks could be adopted for a suggested donation to the Grange of
$5. The winning duck was adopted by
Kellie Beran of Niwot, Left Hand Grange member and
past president of the Niwot Historical Society. When she took the call informing her she had
won a catered duck dinner for two by Chef Dale Lamb, Beran
exclaimed, “I’m so excited we won that prize!
We never win anything! We really
appreciate it and we love Dale’s cooking.”
Second place winner Justin Zarecki of Niwot
was present when his duck crossed the finish line. He won an MP3 player for his donation. Niwot’s Rachel
Snyder was happy that she won third place and a copy of the Marx Brothers’
movie, Duck Soup. Dorinda
Dembroski from Left Hand Grange was on hand to
announce the winners.
Courier Senior Editor Mary Lopert served as the starter, dumping the ducks into the
water from high above the banks of Dry Creek.
Brian Lopert and Phil Ludwig served as duck wranglers, wading in the water to make sure the stream was
cleared of debris and that ducks did not get hung up under the banks. Alex
Maurer and Kirsten Maurer were waiting at the finish line to round up the
winning ducks as well as the 383 also-rans.
One duck tried to escape downstream but was caught by Alex Maurer after
some tense moments and a quick dash down the slippery underpass. Vicki Maurer was on hand to record the
winning numbers. The Courier plans to
make the race an annual event to benefit local causes.
Photo by
Curtis Jones
386 ducks
dive into Dry Creek
By Bruce
Warren
The Boulder County Department of
Transportation and the Niwot Community Association held a neighborhood meeting
at the Niwot Inn Aug. 27 to examine speeding and traffic issues on 83rd Street
in Niwot.
New Transportation Director George Gerstle was present but left the presentation to staff
members Mike Thomas and Lesley Swirhum.
Many of those attending noted
problems with speeding on 83rd Street, particularly during times that students
are going to and from Niwot High School.
They noted that the narrow road is used by cars, bikers, and pedestrians, and that lack of shoulders posed a safety
hazard.
County staff reported that 27 of 35
survey respondents indicated that speeding on 83rd Street was a concern. Several suspected students and parents of
students trying to get to school on time, or off to a short lunch break.
Possible solutions discussed were
speed bumps, dips such as those on Monarch Road, roundabouts as seen in the
City of Boulder, additional stop signs, realignment of the road similar to the
79th Street intersection with Monarch Road, and more frequent law
enforcement.
Others noted that the 35 mph speed
limit on 83rd Street between Dry Creek and the Diagonal was too low, resulting
in drivers who did not respect the speed limit in the residential area as
well. County staff noted that according
to the “85th percentile” standard, the speed limit should be raised north of
Dry Creek to 40 or 45 mph. They also noted that approximately $250,000 is
available in the 83rd Street Road Fund to address the problems.
Commander Sloan of the Boulder
County Sheriff’s Department also attended, noting that enforcement went hand in
hand with infrastructure improvements and a sense of personal responsibility by
citizens to make the road safe.
One resident suggested a “Welcome to
Niwot” sign coming off of the Diagonal Highway as a means of reminding people
to slow down.
County officials agreed to take the
suggestions and come back with possible proposals and cost estimates for further
discussion.
Parks And Open Space: Future Trails
By Natalie
Clarke
At a public meeting held in the Niwot Grange Sept. 19, Ron
Stewart gave a slide presentation that illustrated an overview of current,
future and past projects that the Department of Parks and Open Space is
responsible for.
Stewart outlined the six goals, the first of which is to
preserve rural land. Additional goals are to preserve and restore natural
resources, provide public outreach/volunteer opportunities, protect and restore
historical sites, provide quality recreational experiences and promote and
provide sustainable agriculture in Boulder County.
To this end, of the 450,000 acres in Boulder County, 20 percent
of that land – about 90,000 acres – is dedicated open space. Stewart said
additional lands are being looked at by Boulder County and there are several
properties currently under negotiation.
Tim Swope spoke about the Longmont Boulder (LOBO) Trail system,
a planned six-mile trail that will eventually connect the trail systems from
Boulder to Longmont. The Niwot Community Trail Loop would be an integral part
of the system.
Swope, who is the alternative transportation coordinator for
the Planning Division of the Boulder County Transportation Depart-ment, said that funding is in place. There are still
engineering and planning issues to be resolved. One of the main impediments may
be the acquisition of land for the trails.
While significant progress has been made, the ultimate goal
of a continuous system of trails through Gunbarrel and Niwot may still be a
ways off. The department expects to receive proposals for consultants over the
next two to three months, but construction isn’t expected to begin until summer
of 2008.
The Niwot Loop Trailhead parking lot and the recycle center
on Hwy. 52 on the east side of North 79th St. have been completed and are open
to the public. The improvements include creation of a new recycling drop off
area, and creation of a link providing better trail access from the lot.
Also speaking at the meeting was Brent Wheeler, Parks
Operations Division Manager.
Wheeler
described several volunteer opportunities within the parks. Volunteers have
great flexibility, and can be involved in the Boulder County Youth Corps
program, as well as wildlife studies and educational programs.
For a more
information see www.co.boulder.co.us/openspace
Photo by
Jason Himick
Improvements
to Niwot Loop Trailhead parking lot and recycling area were completed as part
of the ongoing Parks and Open Space projects.
By Donna
Currie
What do you do if there’s something wrong with your
computer, but it’s out of warranty? Do you try to fix it yourself? Do you call
technical support lines manned by people whose only computer experience is
reading the suggestions they see on their screen?
Do you throw the computer out a window and buy a new one? Or
do you (gasp!) pay for repair service?
While I make money from doing computer repairs, I hate to
see people spend more than they should. Presenting a reasonable bill for expert
services makes customers more likely to come back.
To minimize your repair costs, here are my top 10 tips, no
matter who does the work.
Back up.
Knowing that your data is safe gives you more options in terms of repairs, and
if you always have current backups, you save the expense of data recovery if your hard drive dies.
Also, you should know where your
important files are on the computer, and know what they are named. That makes
it faster and easier for someone else to find the files and back them up for
you, if necessary.
Passwords, please. To fix your computer, someone has
to access it. If there are multiple users, provide all the passwords. If your
problem is related to email or internet access, provide those passwords as
well.
Where’s the disk? You should keep all the software for your
computer, and serial numbers for that software, in a safe place. The technician
may need the software for the repair.
Bug check. Scan regularly for viruses and spyware,
using updated software. While no antivirus or antispyware
product is foolproof, if you’ve kept up with getting rid of the easy bugs, it’s
one less thing that needs to be done to your computer while it’s in the shop.
If you see that there’s a particular bug that you can’t get rid of, tell the
tech.
Be very clear, part one. Explain exactly what you want done. If you can
explain what the problem is, it’s easier to get it fixed. Some problems may
only occur if you use certain programs.
Describing symptoms is much better than guessing what may be
the cause. If you say, “I have a virus,” I’ll look for viruses, but if you say,
“a message pops up whenever I open Word,” I’ll open Word and see what the
message is. It might be a virus, or it might be something else.
Particularly with older computers, it can be useful for me
to know what your plans are for the computer. I’ll take different approaches on
computers if owners tell me, “I’ve already ordered a new one – it only has to
work long enough so I can transfer what I need,” or if they say, “I’m giving it
away, and I want it running well for the new owner.”
Be very clear, part two. If there’s anything you don’t want done, tell the
technician. You may have certain programs that can’t be removed, or you may not
want specific updates done.
You may want specific tasks done (backing up files to DVDs,
for example), but you don’t care about viruses or the fact that the fans are
exceedingly noisy.
The fewer phone calls made, the faster and possibly cheaper
the repair will be. If you say, “Do whatever you have to,” some unscrupulous
places may take advantage of you.
Fess up. If you called technical support and tried your own repairs, document
what was done and the results.
Min/Max. Make good use of minimum charges,
and be clear about the maximum you’re willing to spend. Most places will charge
a minimum, and if there are extra things you’d like done if time allows, list
those things in the order of importance. If a shop bills in hourly increments,
you may be paying for unused time – you might as well get the full hour’s
worth.
You may be better off asking for a diagnostic and an
estimate first, then deciding whether to proceed with the full repair. But keep
in mind that some places will charge a flat rate for the diagnostic, and then
start hourly rates for the actual repair.
In some cases, as with some software repairs, finding the
problem is the same thing as fixing it, so it’s not possible to do a separate
diagnostic.
For here or to go? Understand the differences between
in-house service and taking your computer into a shop for repair, and choose
wisely. Some repairs are better off done in a shop, while others can only be
done onsite.
Virus scanning can take a long time, and having a technician
sit in your house watching the scan is a waste of money. Better to have that
service done in a shop where you should only be charged for the technician’s
time and not the entire time the computer is running.
If your problems are hardware related (the computer doesn’t
start at all) it may be best to bring the computer to the shop. A technician
who comes to your house is unlikely to transport every possible spare part and
testing tool needed for a good repair.
If you need help with your network, that probably has to be
done at your location.
Bring all
the parts. If the repair involves problems with peripheral hardware (mouse,
printer, etc.) find out if you need to bring in that hardware with the
computer. If the issue is with something large (like a big printer) it may be
better to schedule onsite service.
Confirm the possibilities. Make sure the company you choose can and will do
the repairs you need. If you aren’t sure if a shop does the work you need, call
first.
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.