Week of April 23, 2025
Week of April 23, 2025
In a move aimed at supporting local farmers and expanding access to locally grown produce, the Boulder County Commissioners have unanimously approved Docket DC-25-0001, Text Amendments to the Land Use Code related to Mobile Farm Stands, allowing mobile farm stands throughout unincorporated areas of the county. The decision, which came during the commissioners' regular meeting on April 15, amends the Land Use Code to permit mobile farm stands as part of accessory agricultural sales operations....
As the May 6 hearing before the Boulder County Commissioners approaches, tensions continue to mount over the proposed 63rd Street Subdivision at the southwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road. The hearing, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Boulder County Courthouse, will determine whether the development moves forward or is permanently blocked. "This does not deter us, we're energized," said community organizers Chris Ennis and Karen Mandery, who have helped coordinate opposition efforts....
Although last Friday's spring snowstorm made driving conditions less than ideal, it didn't deter residents from coming out to Cottonwood Square's Una Vida to hear author, journalist, and academic Christine M. Tracy mark the Niwot debut of her new book, "Just Trust Life." "Just Trust Life" focuses on how the work of Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin guided Tracy through a series of difficult life challenges, including infidelity, a house fire, addiction, and a near-death experience. "I paid...
The burgundy and turquoise racing stripes that run the length of the crisp white wall inside the newly renovated space on Murray Avenue have already started to attract the attention of people passing by on their way to the post office or Whistle Stop Park to get a look at the new Wheel House Bike Shop adjacent to The Wheel House bar. "I should give credit to Eric," said Pete Brandes, the manager of The Wheel House, speaking of the bar and the former Wheel Works' prior owner Eric Bergeson....
Later this spring, fishing flies will be flying off the racks of the Cottonwood Square location that previously housed the well-loved boutique, Fly Away Home. In welcome news to local anglers, Niwot resident Nick Wilson is opening a brick-and-mortar retail space for Togens Fly Shop, selling a wide range of flies, fly-tying supplies, and other equipment. The fly shop will be the first in Niwot since a fly tying shop in Cottonwood Square owned by Richard and Kay Laatt, known as Rocky Mountain...
Community-wide Easter egg hunts were held on Saturday, April 19 at Niwot High School and on Sunday, April 20 at Niwot United Methodist Church. A Friday snowstorm did not deter youngsters from attending the events as the sun came out. The Niwot Community Connection assisted Pat Murphy and the Compass Real Estate team in putting on Bert's Pancake Breakfast at Niwot High before the Easter egg hunt began, while the youth group at the Niwot United Methodist Church...
Leah (Saraceni) Messinger's personal and professional journey practically defines the phrase full-circle. Now a counselor at Niwot High School, she graduated from the school herself in 2010 and has long been connected to the Niwot community. Messinger was raised in Boulder County and attended Niwot Elementary School and Sunset Middle School before attending Niwot High School. She reflected, "When I came to high school, it took me a little bit to find my footing socially, but the place that I... Full story
The Niwot Historical Society will host a lecture titled "Walker Ranch: Where Colorado's Frontier Lives On" at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday April 30 at Niwot Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for light refreshments and socializing. The guest speaker, Laurie Bedford, is a volunteer with Boulder County Parks & Open Space's Cultural and Heritage Programs. Bedford has volunteered for three years with Boulder County's Cultural and Heritage Programs, where she participates in living history demonstrations and...
The Niwot Sanitation District has been conducting preventative maintenance of its pipe system as part of a three-year clean-out plan. The most recent area in Niwot to be cleaned was at the intersection of 83rd Street and Niwot Road. DRC Construction and C & L Water Solutions have been contracted to provide this service. Adrian Gibson, Operator at Niwot Sanitation District, explained that after the pipes are put in a bypass mode, “We have a Jetter truck first clean with a Jetter which is a specialized truck with a high-pressure water nozzle... Full story
ROAD CLOSURES Monday, April 21, at 7 a.m. traffic signal work will cause various right shoulder closures on southbound CO 119 between Jay Road and Hover Street. These closures will continue until Friday, April 25 at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. asphalt work will cause single lane closures on southbound CO 119 between Monarch Road and IBM Drive until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23. Tuesday April 22 at 9 p.m. until April 23 at midnight, there will be a single lane closure on eastbound Niwot...
This week's familiar face is Hannah Valadez, a paralegal at the Niwot law offices of Warren, Carlson, & Moore, LLP. You might know her as the friendly person who greets you whether you are there for legal services, a Left Hand Valley Courier matter, volunteer efforts, or youth sports sign-ups. Valadez first moved to Longmont from Michigan during her junior year of high school and ended up in the new Skyline High School's second graduating class. "I thought my parents were horrible at the time... Full story
The Left Hand Valley Courier will hold a Donor Appreciation Night on Monday, April 28, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at The Wheel House in Niwot. The public is invited to attend. The event will celebrate the generosity of the Courier’s donors and advertisers with live music, games and prizes. Attendees may purchase local treasures at the silent auction. Eight tickets to a Colorado Rockies game will be up for bid at a live auction. All auction items were donated by local residents and businesses The Left Hand Valley Courier began a fundraising...
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 editorial@lhvc.co...
For Niwot High School senior Ayla Schatz, this golf season has been one to enjoy. "It's more fun this year and a lot less stressful," Schatz said. "It's felt very calm." Schatz has been a part of the girls golf program since her freshman year, but she has been swinging a club for much longer. She started playing when she was about 11 or 12 years old, encouraged by her dad to give it a try. "My dad was the reason I got started," she said. "He really wanted me to play." Over the years, golf...
The Niwot High School girls varsity golf team competed in the Granite Peaks League tournament on Wednesday, April 16, placing seventh overall with a team score of 389. While the day brought early challenges, the Cougars fought through with determination, and several athletes finished their rounds on a high note. Leading the team was sophomore Wendy Cheruiyot, who continued to establish herself as one of Niwot's top competitors with a score of 81. Cheruiyot had a difficult start to the...
The Niwot High School boys volleyball team is on a roll this spring, stacking up five wins in the last six matches, including dominant performances against Boulder High School, Arvada West High School, Ponderosa High School, Douglas County High School and Denver East High School. The Cougars currently hold a 13-7 overall record and are 5-1 in league play. On April 15, Niwot won its match against Boulder, winning 25-10, 25-12, 25-12. Junior Ethan Husk led with a .900 hitting percentage, senior...
The Silver Creek district-wide boys swim and dive team, which includes Niwot High School swimmers, has shown both strength and resilience as the season hits its stride, with swimmers and divers competing in a new conference and continuing to improve in the pool. With several standout performances already under their belt, veteran coach Debbie Stewart’s team has balanced individual growth and team unity while adjusting to the heightened competition. Silver Creek and Longmont are the only boys swim and dive teams in the St. Vrain Valley...
Niwot High track and field had a strong showing at the Centaurus Twilight meet on Thursday, April 17. Despite the cancellation of the Dakota Ridge Invitational due to weather on Saturday, April 19, the Cougars made sure they got their racing in. For the boys at Centaurus, it was clear that depth is one of Niwot's biggest strengths. In the 400-meter dash, senior Weston Domich placed third with a time of 50.93, just ahead of junior Townes Bernstein in fourth and sophomore Quinn Sullivan in fifth....
Niwot High School's girls tennis team had a strong showing at the Granite Peaks League Tournament, held at home on April 15 and 16. The Cougars showcased both seasoned talent and rising stars, with deep runs, close battles, and hard-earned wins across all lines of play. Niwot finished an impressive fifth out of 15 teams in the tournament, marking a solid performance across all divisions. Junior Saha Kolli had a strong start in No. 1 singles with a hard-fought victory in the first round against...
The Niwot High School baseball team endured a challenging week, dropping consecutive games to local rivals Monarch High School and Fairview High School. In Tuesday's matchup on April 15, the Cougars fell to Monarch 9-1 in a game that gradually slipped away from the visiting Niwot squad. Monarch broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with a double that brought home the game's first run. The home team maintained control and delivered the decisive blow in the sixth inning, when they exploded...
The Left Hand Valley Courier has featured each of the nine Niwot High School students who signed National Letters of Intent on the Nov. 13, 2024 fall signing day to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. From soccer to track and field, these athletes represent a diverse array of sports and dreams fulfilled. This is the final profile in the fall series. Eliana Henriques has been around track and field for as long as she can remember. With her dad, Maurice "Coach...
The score lines were not pretty, but Niwot soccer stayed spirited through a challenging two-game week at home. On Tuesday, April 15, the Cougars hosted Fairview High School and were handed a tough 7-0 loss. The Knights struck early, breaking through in the 13th minute and adding two more goals before halftime to take a 3-0 lead. Fairview did not let up in the second half, tacking on goals in the 56th, 59th, 66th, and 75th minutes. Two days later, the Cougars returned to the pitch for their...
Dr. Don Haddad, the highly respected and impactful superintendent of the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD), is embarking on a well-deserved retirement. He says he will not be completely stepping away, suggesting his invaluable experience and passion for education will continue to enrich the SVVSD as an emeritus superintendent. Emeritus status is an honorary title awarded to individuals, typically faculty or staff, who have retired from a specific position or organization, recognizing...
The St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) held its annual student art show at the Boulder County Fairgrounds from April 15 to April 20 with artwork featured from students attending Niwot Elementary School and Niwot High School. The district-wide student showcase included the mediums of ceramics, digital art/photography, drawing, jewelry making, metalwork, mixed media, painting, and printmaking. On Thursday evening, April 17, many students from the district's 55 schools, along with their art...
Lately, Niwot High School has seen an increase in acts of kindness, specifically those towards staff members. Throughout this past semester students have taken initiative in showing staff appreciation by purchasing coffee for teachers, counselors, and other staff members. Whether it be an iced coffee from the popular Longmont spot Ziggi's Coffee, or a hot tea from WiNot Coffee Company, the impact of these students has not gone unnoticed. These small acts can make a staff member's day and...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Mira Clayborn has excelled in her studies throughout the past four years while simultaneously committing a large portion of her life to her passion,...
Niwot High School junior Ollie O'Brien developed an affinity for the footlights at an early age. When they were only six, O'Brien attended the School of Rock in Boulder, joining in with other musicians to perform rock songs. "There was one time where the School of Rock in Broomfield was hosting a Beatles versus The Rolling Stones concert and they needed a singer," O'Brien said. "They called the School of Rock in Boulder to ask if there was a singer available, and they said, 'We have a...
Nothing says Easter like an Easter ham. Now that the holiday is over, what do you do with the leftover ham? Ham sandwiches only take you so far. Take a look at some inventive uses for that succulent piece of tasty protein. QUICHE LORRAINE Adapted from themodernproper.com Quiche Lorraine typically has cooked bacon as a main ingredient but ham works just as well and sounds fancier than "Ham and Cheese Quiche." Ingredients: 1 unbaked pie crust 1 Tbsp. salted butter ½ medium chopped yellow...
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 editorial@lhvc.comeditorial@lhvc.com in high resolution. • Please include a caption describing the photo, your name, email...
ACROSS 2. fifth 4. Clemson 6. Haddad 8. Footloose 11. three 12. Clayborn 13. mobile 15. life 17. bike DOWN 1. Bedford 3. West 5. Fairview 7. Donovan 9. owl 10. sing 12. ceramics 14. fly 16.... Full story
