Week of May 7, 2025
Week of May 7, 2025
A concerning trend has emerged in Niwot and Gunbarrel, with an increase in "porch piracy" and mail thefts. Criminal activity is targeting both residences and institutions, including Niwot United Methodist Church. A Niwot resident was walking his dog early in the morning of Tuesday, April 29, when he came upon seven Boulder County Sheriff's patrol cars. Deputies were responding to a call notifying them that a woman had passed out in a parked car on Greenwood Drive in Niwot. According to a...
Art and Debbi Stapp of Stapp Interstate Toyota were honored with induction into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame, recognizing the Stapp family's decades-long commitment to excellence and community involvement. The couple was nominated by longtime community leader Leona Stoecker, a testament to the impact the Stapps have made across Boulder County. "It is an incredible honor to be recognized by your peers for your life's work," said Debbi Stapp. "As new families move into our area, we...
Rhythm of the Horse, a Niwot-based nonprofit organization, focuses on equine-assisted services transcending basic horseback riding activities. People of various ages and abilities find empowerment and learning opportunities, together with healing services, on the backs of and around horses. Established in 2001, Rhythm of the Horse operates under CEO and therapist Justine Williams to deliver innovative programs with deep community involvement and compassionate care for people with diverse...
In an impressive display of community action, local non-profit High Plains Permaculture - Niwot Homestead mobilized 100 volunteers Sunday, May 4, to plant 1,600 trees at Wild View Farm at 7705 N. 95th Street, transforming a long-degraded landscape into what organizers hope will become a thriving agroforestry system. The ambitious project aims to regenerate land that has remained largely barren for two decades after years of overgrazing. According to Amy Scanes-Wolfe, Program Manager with the...
As new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump take effect across the U.S., small-town businesses, including those in Niwot and Gunbarrel, are bracing for ripple effects that may not make headlines, but will undoubtedly be felt behind local counters and in backroom supply chains. In recent months, the U.S. has implemented a new round of tariffs on goods imported from countries such as China, including materials such as aluminum, steel, electronics components, packaging, and some food products. While these measures are aimed at protecting...
ROADS According to the CO 119 Mobility Safety and Bikeway project email and CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation website, the following road impacts have been listed for the week of May 4 to May 10: • The Niwot Road median, which was originally scheduled to re-open at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7, has now reopened as of Sunday evening, May 4, three days earlier than anticipated. The closure was required to install the bikeway underpass at that location. • The concurrent RTD bus stop...
The Niwot Historical Society's "Now & Then" lectures have proved to be popular, and the latest installment, with a focus on Walker Ranch, located off Flagstaff Road 19 miles outside of Niwot, was no exception. The April 30 lecture featured Laurie Bedford, Ph.D. a long-term volunteer at the ranch who was recently named Boulder County's Volunteer of the Year, and co-volunteer and ranch blacksmith, Tim Plumb. "In telling the story of James and Phoebe Walker, Bedford and Plumb shared the history,...
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The Niwot High School boys volleyball team is headed to the state tournament after a strong showing at regionals, winning both of their matches on May 3 and extending their dominant streak in the postseason. The Cougars kicked off the past week with a sweep over Riverdale Ridge High School on April 29, winning by a commanding 3-0 match. Niwot claimed each set with scores of 25-16, 25-17, and 25-22, setting the tone with aggressive serving and solid net play. Senior Jenu Ngialah led the charge...
The Niwot High School track and field teams swept the Granite Peaks Conference Championships this past weekend, May 2 and 3. Both the boys and girls teams took first place with dominant performances across the board. Longmont and Erie High Schools followed in second and third place, but the Cougars were clearly in a league of their own. Friday, May 2, consisted mostly of preliminary runs, but some events held finals. On the girls side, senior Jade West continued to impress by winning the discus...
Laura Loomis has been hired as the new head coach of the Niwot High School girls basketball team. Loomis replaces Todd Trobaugh, who served as head coach for the past two years. Trobaugh resigned shortly after the end of the 2024-25 season. Loomis served as JV coach and assistant varsity coach at Niwot High last year. Her daughter, Alaina Loomis, was a freshman on the varsity basketball squad, and saw considerable playing time, averaging 9.3 points per game, second highest on the team. "With my...
Senior Kate Schmidthuber has made a name for herself on the track, not just for her individual achievements, but also for the way she thrives as part of a team. As a key member of the Niwot High School track and field team, she helped lead the 4x200-meter relay to a 2024 state championship and earned All-State and All-Conference honors along the way. Now, as her senior year winds down, Schmidthuber is focused on finishing strong and reaching new personal records. Schmidthuber first started...
The Niwot High School baseball team showed tremendous grit this past week, rebounding from a tough loss to claim back-to-back victories, ending a 7-game losing streak in the process. The Cougars faced a challenging matchup Tuesday, April 29, at Holy Family High School, falling 9-2 despite some bright moments at the plate. Arlo Richards, Drew Stapp, Charlie Shaw, and Kaige Kennedy each collected one hit for Niwot in the game. Kennedy, Haden Shaw, Matis Castro, and Nico Castro showed patience at...
The Niwot girls soccer team closed out its 2025 season with a mix of celebration and reflection, capped off by a 3-0 home loss to Mead High School on Thursday, May 1. Although the result was not what the Cougars hoped for on Senior Night, the evening was a meaningful send-off for five dedicated seniors. Just two days earlier, Niwot secured its most decisive victory in weeks with a 3-1 road win over Frederick High School. Sophomore Diya Mehta led the charge with two goals, while freshman Tori...
The Niwot High School girls tennis players showcased their exceptional talent and determination at last week's regional championships, with five of their seven positions claiming regional titles. The impressive showing took place on Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday, May 1, with the Cougars overpowering competitors from several area schools. Junior Saha Kolli, competing at No. 1 Singles, delivered a commanding performance against a Standley Lake High School opponent, winning 6-0, 6-1, followed by a win over Centaurus High School’s No. 1,...
Grace DeRose, a senior at Niwot High School, has been reminiscing about her full theater experience during her time at school. She has been in eight productions at Niwot High, including "Peter and the Starcatcher," "Mamma Mia," "Noises Off" where she appeared as Tim Allgood, "Beauty and the Beast," "Puffs," "Shrek" where she played Gingy, "Murder on the Orient Express" where she played Countess Andrenyi, and, most recently, "Footloose" where she performed as Cowboy Bobby and served as the...
Katelin VonFeldt, a junior at Niwot High School, and Kayla Evans, a senior at Erie High School, were invited to present their project at NASA's HUNCH final design showcase in April at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The showcase focused on biomedical research related to human spaceflight. VonFeldt and Evans' project uses virtual reality and sensory-based memory triggers to address the isolation and stress astronauts experience in space. Nationally recognized as one of the top 20 high...
Niwot High School senior Samantha Zacky is not only a major player on the Niwot girls tennis team but she is also the founder of the Jewish Together Club which was established during her junior year. The mission of Jewish Together remains rooted in two primary values: creating a safe, welcoming environment for Jewish students and increasing education across the student body. Zacky said she started the club because she "felt there was really a need in the community, seeing as there was not a...
Niwot High School hosted its annual Music Awards Night on Thursday, May 1, recognizing student musicians across band, choir, orchestra, jazz, and mariachi for their achievements throughout the year. The evening began with the presentation of academic letters, awarded by grade level to students who demonstrated consistent excellence and commitment in their music groups. After letters were distributed, directors introduced a series of individual awards, highlighting students’ leadership, musicianship, and growth. “Music Awards Night is one...
ACROSS 2. West 7. Calderon 8. Loomis 12. five 13. porch 14. seven DOWN 1. game 3. tariffs 4. Henriques 5. Walker 6. Kolli 9. Stapp 10. trees 11....
Peanut butter is a versatile ingredient that can bring to life a sweet dessert or a savory main course. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is always a reliable American staple but try that rich, often salty, spread in some of these recipes. Peanut allergies? Substitute almond butter or other nut butter you can tolerate. CHOCOLATE COVERED PEANUT BUTTER EGGS Adapted from allrecipes.com Ingredients: 4 cups sifted powdered sugar 1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter ½ cup unsalted softened...
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...
