Week of November 6, 2024
Week of November 6, 2024
Social media was buzzing with reports of an attempted burglary in a Niwot subdivision adjacent to open space near Highway 52 on Halloween night. According to reports, five men attempting to enter a home on the second floor from nearby open space were caught on a security camera. The would-be thieves were shown in a video lifting one member of the group to the second floor balcony, but the homeowners reportedly turned on the lights at that point, and the group quickly ran. The Boulder County...
In the early morning hours, shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 5, the siren at the former Niwot Volunteer Fire Department building next to the Left Hand Grange building in Niwot, went off, waking residents of Old Town and beyond. Worried neighbors who called law enforcement were informed that it was not an emergency, and that the siren had simply malfunctioned. Before members of Left Hand Grange No. 9 could respond to the scene, the Boulder County Sheriff's Department responded and pried...
Boulder Open Space and Parks Management (OSPM) announced that two local trails will be closed. A news release regarding the Heatherwood Trail connection to Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat states: "A portion of the Heatherwood Trail at Walden Ponds will be closed for about one month beginning Monday, Nov. 4, for a City of Boulder sewer line project. Visitors will not be able to connect between Heatherwood Trail and the trails at Walden Ponds. #boco_trails" Please see the accompanying map of the...
Effective immediately, 71st Street, on the west side of CO 119 (the "Diagonal") from Monarch Road to CO 119, is closed to all modes of transportation through May 2025. See the accompanying map for detour information or visit the CDOT website). This closure is required for the safety of crews working to tie in new southbound CO 119 to existing CO 119 infrastructure as part of the CO 119 Safety, Mobility & Bikeway Improvements Project. Travel delays due to the new configuration at Jay Road and...
On Oct. 14, the Left Hand Valley Courier emailed Gloria Handyside, Communications Director for the Boulder County Commissioners, inquiring whether the Commissioners planned to amend Boulder County's minimum wage ordinance, in light of the recent breakdown of the Consortium of Cities (COC) regional approach to establishing a county-wide minimum wage. The ordinance sets the minimum wage in unincorporated Boulder County at a higher rate than incorporated areas in the county. Handyside responded...
Gillian Marie Finnell, a well known local illustrator, has been a Niwot resident for 17 years having moved from Seattle. Her mother taught Finnell and her siblings how to draw when she was very young, and she has been drawing her whole life. Finnell was an art teacher for quite a while in Colorado before she started doing her own illustrations and went back to school to study scientific illustration at California State University Monterey Bay. You might know her best as simply "Gillian Marie,"...
Nine months came and went. The Left Hand Valley Courier became a non-profit corporation in late 2023, and filed an application with the IRS to be recognized as a Section 501(c)(3) charitable education organization, on January 31, 2024, and waited. Finally, after months of waiting, on Oct. 29, 2024 the IRS approval letter, dated Oct. 11, 2024, arrived, granting the Left Hand Valley Courier the ability to seek tax deductible donations and grants from organizations devoted to preserving local journalism. The IRS determination letter allows the...
The https://nhsorchestra.squarespace.com/" target="_blank">Niwot High School OrchestraNiwot High School Orchestra has been invited to compete in New York City at the national Orchestra Cup. This annual event is a nationwide competition held at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, where only fifteen of the top orchestras in the nation are invited to attend. This event could be considered the "Super Bowl" of orchestra competitions. Under the direction of Keynes Chen, NHS Orchestra and...
Banners adorn the streets of Niwot displaying photos, names and service descriptions of military veterans with connections to the community. The banners, as part of Niwot's https://niwot.org/veterans/" target="_blank">Veterans Banner ProjectVeterans Banner Project, have been displayed annually since 2019 by the Niwot Community Association (NCA) in conjunction with the Niwot Business Association (NBA) during this time of year for families in the Niwot area to honor their loved ones' service to...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]...
In a commanding performance that showcased both offensive firepower and defensive prowess, the Niwot High School boys soccer team secured their spot in the second round of the Class 4A Boys Soccer State Tournament with a 2-0 victory over Wheat Ridge High School. The Cougars wasted no time establishing their dominance, striking early in the game when midfielder Leo Broteland won a crucial tackle in the middle of the field. With precise vision, Broteland threaded a pass through the Wheat Ridge...
Entering last weekend, the Niwot High School girls volleyball team had a 16-3 record, and was cruising through the Granite Peaks 5A/4A League in first place, with a record of 12-1. As is the custom for Coach Tony Engel, the Cougars participated in the Cheyenne Mountain Tournament, held at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs. The event is annually the top tournament in the state, held just before playoffs begin, and the Cougars won at least one match in every set, but came away with...
In a landmark season for Niwot High School's cross country program, the Cougars made an unforgettable debut at the Class 5A state level, securing a state title for the boys team and delivering impressive individual performances on the girls team. The championship race took place at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, where Niwot's runners faced fierce competition and challenging terrain. For the second consecutive year, Niwot's boys claimed a state cross country title, marking...
Competing in the state championships was a well-deserved ending to Eleanor Ottem's high school cross country career. After spending last year on junior varsity, the Niwot senior landed a varsity spot this fall and ultimately earned herself a trip to Colorado Springs for the Class 5A state meet on Saturday, Nov. 2. As the only senior on Niwot's girls team, she placed 60th (19 minutes, 37 seconds) at the challenging Norris Penrose Event Center course. Filled with emotion, Ottem expressed her...
The Niwot Cougars fell 58-14 to the Northridge High School Grizzlies on Thursday, Oct. 31, in their last home football game of the season, which doubled as Senior Night. Despite a challenging game against Northridge, Niwot fought to put points on the board in the second half. Northridge opened with a touchdown just minutes into the game, taking a 6-0 lead after a failed extra-point attempt. Sophomore quarterback Wyatt Volf aimed to rally the Cougars, but an early interception by the Grizzlies,...
In an era when American politics often divide communities, one local school has found an innovative-and furry-way to teach students about democracy. Boulder Country Day School (BCD) is engaging its students in the electoral process through a guinea pig presidential election. The candidates are two classroom pets named Sneffels and Belford, whose campaigns have captured the imagination of the entire school community while delivering powerful lessons about civic engagement and democratic values....
On Halloween, seniors from the Niwot High School marching band and football team were recognized for their final home game presentations of their dedication this fall as well as throughout their tenure at NHS. Marching band seniors were presented with a rose and escorted down the sideline by their family members prior to the start of the game. Seniors recognized were Kennah Brackett, Nathan Cowan, Karlien Dang-Lee, Grace Fisher, Sanjana Kaushik, Angel Kho, Samantha Kintzel, Yaretzi Martinez...
With Halloween behind us, attention turns to Thanksgiving. The Courier Cookbook will count down to the big day with recipes perfect for any Thanksgiving meal. We start with stuffing. "Stuffing" is usually used to fill the turkey while the term "dressing" is used for similar dishes but served outside of the turkey. Either way, they are essential to the traditional Thanksgiving fare. Instead of buying it in a box or bag, try these. Next week we will focus on cranberry sauce and other fruit side...
ACROSS 1. seniors 4. wage 6. Ottem 9. Lincoln 10. four 11. soccer 13. roads DOWN 2. election 3. one 5. banners 7. midfield 8. wolf 12....
Calling all photographers, intentional or accidental! The Left Hand Valley Courier’s Photo of the Week feature is open to any area resident who personally photographs Niwot-Gunbarrel area sights, including people (with permission, of course), buildings, animals, birds, plants, flowers, events, or anything else. Naturally, there are a few rules to follow: • The photograph must be submitted in jpg format via email to [email protected] in high resolution. • Please include a caption describing the photo, your name, email address and phone...
Former Niwot resident Duane Hilmas, age 86, died Oct. 24, 2024. Duane moved to Niwot in 1991 while he was employed at EG&G Rocky Flats as Health Effects Director. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Calvary Bible Church in Erie, CO. Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Erie with full military honors accorded by the U.S. Army. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Kidney Fund at...
