All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The Homestead Act of 1862 turned the American West into a promised land for religiously and socially repressed Swedish Lutherans, who were coming off three years of crop failure. Around 1.3 million Swedes immigrated to the United States between 1862 and the early 1900s. But not all Swedish immigrants in Longmont acquired their land through the Homestead Act; at least one earned it by gratitude. In 1870, August Nelson accepted a job in the Blackhawk smelter. With help from his two brothers,...
It has been a source of immense frustration to me for many years that I can't be a hunter-gatherer. And it all began with a degree in cultural anthropology. Wading back through the annals of our agrarian past, and studying the marginal hunter-gatherer groups that existed into the 1900s, I had a glimpse of the life humankind evolved to live. Did you know that most hunter-gatherers lived to about 70 years of age, ate approximately 2000 calories of nutrient dense food a day, avoided infectious...
Vicki Maurer's approach to life and volunteering is probably best put in her own words: "We do what we have to do and get it done." Maurer has been involved with many community organizations over the years, from Niwot Youth Sports to the Left Hand Valley Courier to the Niwot Cultural Arts Association. Appreciation for her efforts is widespread. "She's really easy to work with, enthusiastic about the town...and fantastic at what she does," said Michelle Henzel, treasurer of the NCAA. "Vicki is...
In 1859, gold drew 100,000 people into the Pike's Peak Region in pursuit of their fortune. Thirty-nine-year-old Alonzo N. Allen was among them, and he was quick to realize that prospecting was a hard way to make a living. The version of the story relayed by Dorothy Large ("Old Burlington") says Allen was actively seeking a place to homestead. The oral history from "They Came to Stay" places Allen on a hunting mission. Scouring the area for his dinner, Allen climbed to the top of a hill north of...
When a Channel 7 News crew showed up on Second Avenue on Saturday, January 28th, Kathy Koehler was ready to give them a tour of the Fire House Museum and an overview of Niwot's history. Little did she know they weren't there for the town--they were there for her. "I've volunteered with Kathy on the board of the Niwot Historical Society and Niwot Community Association," said Leonard Sitongia. "I think she volunteers with just about every organization in Niwot. Her volunteering is on a heroic...
When Hygiene-area local Hunter Lovins took the stage on a recent snowy evening in Boulder, it was clear this wasn't her first rodeo. She is a gifted orator with a very strong message: climate change has doomed us. But this message is delivered with a smile and a wink, and more than a few chuckles. Because she believes there are solutions to the climate crisis, and they are at our fingertips. Like many of us, Lovins isn't from Colorado, but she got here as quick as she could. "I am a Colorado...
Ryan Harris, an offensive tackle for the Denver Broncos Superbowl 50 Champion, retired from professional football in 2017. Since then, he has become a radio and stage presence, and on Thursday, February 13th, he stood on the stage of the Niwot High School Auditorium, holding out a $100 bill. "Who wants a hundred dollar bill?" he asked. It was the tail end of a talk on personal financial literacy. Historically, this subject has been tackled piecemeal by standards embedded in disparate units. But...
The first meeting of the season for the newly revived Niwot Garden Club was held at Botanical Interests seed packet company. It was led by Judy Seaborn, one of the company's owners. "I kind of joke that I was bred to do this," she said. Seaborn grew up in Los Gatos, California, with a mother and two sets of grandparents who all gardened. When she was a child, her parents once tried to punish her with weeding; she was thrilled. In fact, as someone who preferred dirt to books, it was finally a...
Morse Coffin. William Dickens. Porter M. Hinman, William Gould. Marcus Emery. Abel Cushman. Neva. Niwot. Do you recognize any of these names? The names of people connected to the Sand Creek Massacre of November 1864 adorn our streets, historic properties, ditches, and history books. Porter T. Hinman platted the town of Niwot with Ambrose Murray in 1875. He was a friend of Chief Niwot and reportedly never forgave his sons--Porter M. Hinman and Platte Hinman--for participating in the notorious...
It's ditch burning season in Boulder County. And that means Seth McKinney and Nick Stremel are starting to gear up. McKinney is a Fire Management Officer for the Boulder County Sheriff's office. Stremel is a Resource Specialist with Boulder County's Forestry department. And these two county branches team up to burn ditches. The sheriff's office has the equipment and experience, and Stremel acts as a liaison with Parks and Open Space. "He tells the knuckle-draggers the science," joked McKinney....
In a field dominated by men, two women make up Boulder County's entire urban forestry team--Cathy Thiltgen and Mary Tiernan. "We take a lot of pride in that," said Thiltgen. If you have walked the Niwot trails lately, you've probably noticed these two women hard at work. As Thiltgen explained, their main objective is "looking at trees that may impact the trail or trail users and pruning any potential safety issues." This mission is carried out in close collaboration with the county's wildlife...
Meg Heitlinger moved here from Minneapolis in 2006 for the same reason many people come to Colorado--"the idea of living from snow to sunshine." Twelve years later, Heitlinger became the much beloved president of the Parent Teacher Organization at Heatherwood Elementary. "It seems that Meg is here at Heatherwood more days than she's not," said Mary Lietz, Principal's Assistant. "She is constantly pitching in, supporting our school and leading our PTO Crew. She is smart and eloquent and delivers...
If you were walking the Niwot Loop Trail last Tuesday afternoon, you likely bumped into Kodi and his owner Jayne Zmijewski. Kodi may have looked like any other yellow lab, but he wasn't out for leisure; he was helping facilitate a training mission. His title--Search and Rescue Dog. "They're like family dogs," explained Zmijewski, "but when there's a mission, they know they have a job to do." Zmijewski retired from a long career teaching P.E. at Longmont Junior High School (nka Sunset Middle)....
Readers of last week's Courier won't be surprised to learn that FEMA will soon be implementing new floodplain maps for Boulder County. But what does that actually mean for the average homeowner? Some Niwot residents along Dry Creek have lived in a floodplain for years. They attended the county's Jan. 16 information session with one question--would they be required to make changes to their property in response to the new maps? The simple answer is "no." But Boulder County has received a federal...
Prairie dogs are a contentious issue in Boulder County, so it is no surprise that Jan. 7, Boulder County's Annual Public Meeting on Prairie Dog Management ran overtime. In fact, it was difficult to derail the lively conversation long enough to welcome an unexpected visitor. Despite several murmured protests, the crowd hushed when a representative from the Birds of Prey Foundation pulled out a live red-tailed hawk. The hawk was no doubt intended as a reminder of the integral role prairie dogs...
Last Thursday, Jan. 9, Niwot High alumni Oskar Wells and Sophia Jones stepped up to cut the ribbon. After months of construction, Niwot High School hosted a grand re-opening to show off its latest renovations. "Kids have always been proud to go to Niwot High School," said Principal Eric Rauschkolb, "but now the building reflects the pride they feel in their school." The funding for this project came from a 2016 bond issue in which voters approved $10 million for improvements and renovations. The...
"We talk about turning the world into a garden. What if as we walked through neighborhoods and communities, everywhere you looked there were vegetables growing, fruits growing, mushroom logs, teenagers who knew their neighbors..." This is the vision outlined by Mara Rose, Co-Founder and CEO of Boundless Landscapes. And this innovative organization is in the process of making that vision a reality. Rose, Josh Tosteson, and Sep Kamvar co-founded Boundless Landscapes in 2019 to answer an important...
In the fall of 2013, Sarah Echsner lost her younger brother to suicide. "No matter how much time goes by, it doesn't really change how deeply wounded I feel," said Echsner. "It's something that I carry with me all the time." Our community carries the collective grief for many who have chosen to take their own lives. We feel it, we think about it, but often, we don't talk about it. "Talking about him is helpful for me," said Echsner, "and I think a lot of people feel that way. Especially around...
Colorado state minimum wage is $11.10 an hour. But by various exemptions provided by law, many agricultural workers make only $7.25 per hour. That might be enough during the long days of summer, but for those whose livelihoods fluctuate with the seasons, winter can be an economically trying time. Casa de la Esperanza means House of Hope, and this local organization is dedicated to supporting agricultural workers and their families year-round. In 1993, the first migrant laborers moved into this...
Nothing came of last week's bomb threat at Niwot High School, except the arrest of a student believed to be responsible. Nothing, but rattled nerves and the question, when will this fear of school-based violence end? In the last 15 months, the Saint Vrain Valley School District held 24 meetings to solicit community input on our local education system. Understandably, one of the most pressing subjects was school safety. "This is a touchy subject, it's scary," said Paula Peairs, vice-president of...
Julea and Maedee Trank-Greene are twins and seniors at Niwot High School. They also have had a lifelong interest in helping the homeless. "It makes me very sad to see people living on the street," said Julea. Which is why, for their IB CAS project, the Trank-Greenes are collecting food and winter gear for the homeless through HOPE for Longmont. CAS stands for Creativity, Action, and Service, and it is one of the requirements to graduate from the International Baccalaureate program. Juniors and...
Marcus McCauley is the owner of a 40 acre diversified organic farm in Longmont. If you take a farm tour, McCauley will start by asking you an important question: what modern food crops are native to this region? The answer is none. "Perhaps raspberries," McCauley added. But McCauley noticed that there is one plant that is abundant in Colorado--grass. "How do you feed people from grass?" he asked. The answer is to use a ruminant. Or a pig or a chicken. Which is why McCauley raises all three....
One hundred and fifty years ago, we weren't the only place named Niwot. Chief Niwot--or Left Hand--was an Arapaho chief. He was a skilled linguist, a visionary, and a constant advocate of peace. He made such an impression on the local settlers that a mine, an inn, and two towns claimed his name. The mine closed, the inn is gone, and the other Niwot changed its name to Altona to appease the postman. In the end, we are the only town that bears the name Niwot. So it is fitting that the first thing...
Thanks to the Niwot Historical Society archives, we get a glimpse into Niwot's bygone Thanksgiving celebrations. On Nov. 22, 1957 "The Niwot Tribune" reported an evening church service at the EUB Church, a middle school rendition of "Wildcat Willie Carves the Turkey," and advertisements from Curtis Confectionary encouraging readers to "Start Now with Your Christmas Lay-Away." First and second grade teacher Dora Chappell reported, "Last Friday we made many vegetables and fruits for our Horn of...
There is probably only one place in Longmont you can shoot arrows at a dinosaur. High Altitude Archery. And though this archery school allows you to choose between many three dimensional targets-deer, leopard, crow, alligator, and jackalope, among others-hunting is a minor emphasis. According to staff-member "Coach Bob," the school seeks to create "more of an instructional, classroom environment." It prides itself on family-friendly atmosphere with knowledgeable instructors and space to learn....
In 1870, armed with a pad of census schedules, steel nib pens, and ink, P. D. McClanahan set out to single-handedly count Boulder County's citizens. He was not overly concerned about accuracy, but it is safe to say his approximation of 1,939 people living in Boulder County was not far off. One hundred and fifty years after its first census, our county's population has risen to over 320,000 residents. We may not run the risk of spilling our ink bottle over the records, but the 2020 census poses...
