Week of July 24, 2024
Week of July 24, 2024
Strong headwinds are blowing against the success of small businesses in unincorporated Boulder County, including Niwot. In the last year, small businesses have incurred losses due to a power shutdown and significant increases in sanitation fees, property taxes, food costs, and insurance. Small businesses now face the impact of the recent Boulder County minimum wage increase, with Niwot, Hygiene, and other businesses in unincorporated Boulder County required to pay a minimum wage of $15.69 per...
Through the years, the Courier has documented a range of unexpected animal encounters in our area. Roaming wild turkeys, pet goats being walked, and the ongoing presence of lynx, coyotes, snakes, prairie dogs and foxes have intrigued and delighted residents. In recent weeks, however, bears appear to be getting more habituated to our community. Visits (and suspected visits) by bears is a popular topic of conversation in the area. Front door cameras record bear activity regularly in the Niwot...
There are so many familiar faces around Niwot, especially for weekly regulars who attend Rock & Rails. Some faces are most familiar when they belong to those who have spent a majority of their life in Niwot and are continuously involved in the community. Colleen Beebe is one such familiar face. Beebe moved to Colorado in 1975 after her father, who annually visited this beautiful state to ski, fulfilled a dream of living here. Unfortunately, he passed away only 16 months after the family moved...
Rock & Rails summer concerts continue on Thursday, July 25, with the opening act starting at 5 p.m. and the headliner lighting up the stage at 6:30 p.m. The Wendy Woo Band returns to Rock & Rails to start the night off with an energetic and enjoyable performance. The Wendy Woo Band is a self-described "poly-ethnic, power pop, song-rock, 6-piece band with sweet vocal harmonies and shuddering grooves." Wendy Woo is an inductee into the Westword Hall of Fame as a result of being named...
Joie Kennedy, a sophomore at Niwot High School, has made a name for herself in the world of pageantry. Recently, she was a semi-finalist in the 2024 Miss Colorado Teen USA competition and was named Most Photogenic. Kennedy's journey in pageantry began relatively recently. "I've only done two pageants so far," she shared. Her inspiration came from watching Madison Marsh win Miss Colorado. "It was really fun to see her win and then go on to win Miss America," she said. Competing in Miss Colorado...
Last week, the Courier reported that the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) underpass along the Diagonal Highway at Four-mile Creek Trail represents a significant improvement for bikers and pedestrians using the trail between Niwot and Boulder. According to the Boulder County press release, the "Four-mile Creek Bikeway Project will create a continuous, safe bikeway along SH119 between Boulder, Gunbarrel, Niwot and Longmont." However, despite their excitement for this development, local area...
The Colorado Press Association announced that three Left Hand Valley Courier journalists have been honored with 2023 Colorado Better New Media Contest awards. Deborah Cameron, Vicky Dorvee, and Elise S. Marylander are the recipients of awards recognizing excellence in local journalism. Awards are made by class based on newspaper circulation and are judged by out-of-state journalists. The winning articles, placement, and categories will be announced at the awards ceremony during the Colorado...
Nick Bierbrodt's journey through professional baseball is nothing short of extraordinary. As the first-ever draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1996, he quickly established himself as a promising young talent. Yet his story is not just about his accomplishments on the mound, but also about his resilience, adaptability, and eventual transition to a life as a firefighter and a mentor to young athletes. Bierbrodt, now a Niwot resident, recalled being drafted right out of high school fondly....
National Night Out is a nationwide community-building event held on the first Tuesday of August in communities across the country to promote awareness and cooperation between police and first responders, on one hand, with local residents. “[The event] enhances the relationship between (the community) and law enforcement…,” according to their website. The social setting of National Night Out is meant to create camaraderie in an informal setting to make communities safer. This year the event will be held on Aug. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on...
Kaiya Brown has been a member of the Niwot community for several years, during which she has become a familiar face and volunteer at events around Niwot. For her volunteer efforts throughout Niwot, Brown is the July 2024 recipient of the Left Hand Valley Courier's Left Hand Laurel. Brown has been volunteering as a Gargoyle at the local summer concert series Rock & Rails for three years, helping keep the event "zero-waste." As a middle schooler, Brown joined her school's "ECO Club." She would...
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Summer is in full swing at the Grange and August offers opportunities for the community to relish art, education, and social gatherings. Bondi Art Show Friday, August 2, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Saturday, August 3, 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Michael Bondi's annual art show returns to the Grange. Bondi's original watercolors and prints need to be seen in person to fully appreciate the essence of each setting. His technique and choice of colors elicit a warm sense of fully being in these lovely European...
Rising senior Gabe Bandera has dedicated his final high school summer to improving all aspects of his tennis game, both mental and physical. During his first varsity season last year, the Niwot standout reached the state tournament at No. 4 doubles but was admittedly overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed. Instead of shying away, he turned that experience into motivation and has been impressing head coach Aimee Hites throughout summer workouts. "I've been getting better," Bandera said. "I've...
Niwot High School graduate and traditional salutatorian Violet Oliver made NHS history in her four years as a Niwot student. Not only did she earn her high school diploma with flying colors, she also received an Associate's Degree in Engineering at the same time. During her senior year, Oliver took all of her classes at Front Range Community College, which will result in a reduction of over a year of school towards getting her bachelor's degree. Apart from Oliver's impressive achievement of...
On Friday, July 19 dancers of all skill levels gathered at Dancing Under the Stars to learn how to Lindy Hop under the tutelage of Lorne Fultonberg from Boulder Swing Dance. Fultonberg focused on Lindy Hop, a swing-style dance that originated in Harlem, New York, in the 1920s and '30s. It developed in response to the Black jazz music of the Swing Era. Around 150 people squeezed onto the makeshift dance floor in Cottonwood Square and were introduced to the art form. Toward the end of the dance...
Ok. Do you remember when you believed that consuming anything with fat was bad for you? How about when eggs were "the perfect food?" And we all had a friend who wouldn't give up their Blackberry because it was superior to anything else on the market. And don't get me started on Betamax. Well, we all know what happened to those beliefs. Fat became a necessary part of nutrition. It turns out eggs have a lot of cholesterol (well, the yolk anyway). And those Blackberry users now have iPhones. I...
On July 18, Rock & Rails continued its summer concert series with performances that showcased seasoned talent. The evening kicked off with Mark Oblinger, a five-time Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated composer/producer. Oblinger, accompanied by Linda Lawson, invited e-Town's Christian Teele, Eric Moon, and the night's headliner, Chris Daniels on stage with him. They treated the crowd to a unique blend of original music as concertgoers walked in, set down their fold-up chairs, and grabbed food...
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]@lhvc.com in high resolution. • Please include a caption describing the photo, your name, email...
"For me, I'm doing what I've been doing since I was 14 years old, and that's going into a rehearsal place with a song idea, teaching it to the different instrument players until it's ready to perform, and making sure it's a fun, respectful, and encouraging environment," said Martin Marks, owner and Music Director of https://theniwotgig.com/" target="_blank">The Niwot GigThe Niwot Gig music school. "You need to be in a place where you are going to be supported and you can feel free to make all...
We are sad to share that Dallas Plese passed away at home on May 14, 2024. A rare Colorado native, Dallas was born July 17, 1941, in Pueblo, Colorado, to Theodore and Christine Plese. Christine died shortly after childbirth and Theodore died two years later during training for WWII. Dallas was then adopted by an aunt and uncle in Pueblo where he grew up with two sisters, numerous cousins, and lifelong friends. Dallas attended Pueblo Catholic High School (PCH) where he was the definitive Big Man...
James A. Cooke November 17, 1951 – June 7, 2024 James A. ("Jim") Cooke died at his home in Niwot, Colorado, on June 7, 2024 as the result of complications of Type 1 diabetes. It is impossible to fully capture a life in a few paragraphs but certain things were essentially and authentically Jim and will be mourned and missed by all. Jim lived life exuberantly, always willing to open his heart, home and office to friends and those in need. Whether tending his garden, cooking for friends and...
Barbara Comstock Died June 29, 2024 A former resident of Boulder and later a resident of Niwot, Barbara Comstock, age 72, died on June 29 after a courageous battle with Glioblastoma. Barbara retired in April 2019 after a 36-year career as a Physicians Assistant in the OB/GYN department at Kaiser Permanente. She was a trusted and revered PA by her colleagues, patients and work family. Her smile and laughter will long be remembered by all, especially her many close and dedicated friends in the...
Long-time Niwot resident, Phyllis Marie Terrones, age 88, died at her home on July 12, 2024 from complications of interstitial lung disease. A Celebration of Life will be held August 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the New Creation Church, 737 Bross St., Longmont. Memorial contributions can be made to charities that provide for those in...
