Articles written by Jesse Murphy
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Local church helps fund micro-loan program
For the last eight years, the Niwot United Methodist Church has been participating in a unique method of outreach - micro loans. The loans go through a nonprofit company called Kiva, formed in 2005,...
Boulder officials hear concerns on Gunbarrel preserve
A virtual town hall was held in late July regarding a concept proposal for a 268-unit development on Gunbarrel land currently zoned as light industrial. The 9.8-acre parcel in question is located just...
Boulder County holds virtual open house on short-term rentals
On July 30, officials with the Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting department held a town hall meeting to discuss proposed changes to short-term rentals, with the goal to clearly define and regulate these units for unincorporated parts...
Gunbarrel Community Alliance group formed
A new group has formed in Gunbarrel to go along with the decades-long conflicts between the City of Boulder and the inhabitants of the unincorporated areas to the north of the city itself. The Gunbarrel Community Alliance (GCA) started the process...
Niwot United Methodist welcomes new pastor
The Niwot United Methodist Church welcomed a new pastor earlier this month in Rev. Emily Kintzel, a Colorado native and experienced clergy member. She replaces Rev. Walter "Skip" Strickland, who came...
Niwot High School students win international award
Two Niwot High School students made their voices heard in an international competition with their performance of "I Am The One (reprise)." Soon-to-be NHS seniors Jazz Mueller and Grable Howie moved...
Candidate Profile: Ken Stickney (R)
Q: Please tell our readers a bit about yourself. A. I am a 34-year resident of Boulder, with 33 of those years spent in House District 10. I worked as a software engineer here for more than thirty yea...
Candidate Profile: Karen McCormick (D)
Q: Please tell the readers a bit about yourself. A: I grew up in a Navy family where my dad served our country for 30 years. Growing up in a military family I learned that service to others is my...
Candidate Profile: Mark Milliman (R)
Q: Please tell the readers a bit about yourself. A: I am running for the state assembly because, as an engineer, the decisions being made by the governor and other officials did not make factual sense to me. I am not running to make politics my...
Public comment open for trailhead restroom
The Boulder County Land Use department is accepting public comment on a requested land use variance for a restroom to be built on N. 83rd Street. The variance would allow for permanent restrooms to be built 71 feet from the roadway, while the...
Hanging up my hat
Managing Editor’s Note: When the Left Hand Valley Courier partnered with a Kansas newspaper almost four years ago to take the newspaper from a monthly to a weekly publication, we had the great good fortune to work with Jesse Murphy, who helped...
Boulder Rural Fire works with au pairs
For the last seven years, Cultural Care Au Pair has partnered with the Boulder Rural Fire Protection District for fire safety training for au pairs working in the U.S. that is required by the state.... Full story
Editorial: Happy Father's Day — Hug them tight, teach them right
Father’s Day has always been an odd holiday for me. I say this because when you get down to brass tacks, if you’re a father who is present in your children’s lives, every single day is Father...
Church looks into building habitat homes
The Niwot United Methodist Church has been looking for ways to utilize some of their land on Lookout Road and Mt. Evans Place in Gunbarrel, and Habitat for Humanity homes have been considered. A meeting was held in late May to discuss the... Full story
New Postmaster in Niwot
Linda Johnson began her duties as postmaster in Niwot on May 14. Johnson has been working for the United States Postal Service since 1992, mostly as a carrier supervisor. She started her career in...
Niwot Children’s Park named award winner
Last week the Colorado Lottery announced winners of the 2018 Starburst Awards, which recognize public projects that use lottery funds, and the Niwot Children’s Park was one of 11 winners chosen...
Girl Scouts help reservation school
Girl Scout Troop 3010 recently completed a drive that grew bigger than expected for its Bronze Award project. Troop Leader Julie Dye of Gunbarrel said that the award is for scouts at the Junior...
Meeting held on sidewalk project
A public meeting was held at the Left Hand Grange last week to discuss an upcoming project in the Morton Heights neighborhood of Niwot. The project will update and improve sidewalks around Niwot Eleme...
Local author visits RMCA
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Rocky Mountain Christian Academy (RMCA) had a special guest during their book fair last week. Children’s author Julie Danneberg of Boulder, came to speak to the students and their teachers, and...
Two NHS students head to FCCLA nationals
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a national organization, and two students from Niwot High School will be representing the state of Colorado at the national competition this summer. Juniors Ayesha Hayat and Hannahy Chacon...
Wine, Cheese and Chocolate tasting for Rotary
The Niwot Rotary Club will be having its eighth-annual Wine, Cheese and Chocolate tasting on May 4 at the Longmont Museum on Quail Road. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a silent auction to acco... Full story
Auction to benefit students at NHS
The Niwot High School Education Foundation will be holding an online auction this week with benefits set to go to a great cause — the students. With more than 100 items on the list ranging from gift certificates to many area restaurants, to... Full story
Morton Heights shows up for service project
When Sunset Middle School eighth-grader Sadie Connolly had a service project coming up, she knew exactly what she wanted to do, but wasn’t quite sure how well it would work. She found the... Full story
Recent thefts and break-ins in area
Residents in unincorporated Boulder County — specifically in the Niwot and Gunbarrel area — have been reporting a string of car thefts and break-ins recently. According to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department, there have been 10 motor... Full story
Soup, Soup and More this weekend
The Niwot United Methodist Church will be hosting the 22nd annual Soup, Soup and More community dinner and fundraiser event from 4 to 7 p.m. on April 21. Proceeds this year will not only help the Our...
New owner at Niwot Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Patrick Kalenzi took over Niwot Veterinary Clinic late last month following the retirement of Dr. Doug Courtley. Courtley had spent the last 32 years running the clinic, finishing off his total... Full story
Gunbarrel churches collaborate on project
Several Gunbarrel-area churches will be teaming up this coming summer to host a series of meetings about The Conversation Project. The Conversation Project started about six years ago on the East Coast and spread quickly, forming in Boulder County...
Centennial Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty
The Centennial State Ballet will be presenting The Sleeping Beauty at Niwot High School on April 21 and 22. This marks the 20th season for the ballet, so it’s going to be a big one. For the first ti...
Pest control season starts soon
Marshall Lipps, environmental health specialist for Boulder County, wants residents to know that they will soon start seeing mosquito traps and fogger trucks around the county. With nicer weather approaching, the county will be making the annual effo...
New appointments for Niwot Local Improvement District
The Boulder County Commissioners picked several new members for the Niwot Local Improvement District last week. Current Co-Chair Laura Skaggs was re-appointed as the Niwot Community Association representative for her second five-year term. Anne... Full story
Meals on Wheels in Niwot all week
Longmont’s Meals on Wheels program is now serving Niwot residents all week long. Karla Hale, executive director at the Longmont Senior Center, said that during her previous 16 years at the center,... Full story
In search of a kidney
Those heading south of Niwot on 79th Street have noticed a big banner sign that reads “Bob NEEDS A KIDNEY”, along with a website and a phone number. Calling that number will lead you straight to...
County places hold on incentive program
Boulder County Transportation Director George Gerstle announced last week that the county has suspended the subdivision paving incentive fund. The reason, he said, is due to issues with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Specifically the...
Open records case to appeals court
In a case that began last year, Gunbarrel resident Kristin Bjornsen is now taking her lawsuit against Boulder County to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Bjornsen’s suit alleges that the Boulder County Commissioners have violated the Colorado Open... Full story
Trail upgrades close to completion
Upgrades to local trails are a few steps closer to being ready for the upcoming warmer weather. Brent Wheeler, with Boulder County Parks and Open Space, said that the key component of the whole project is the Left Hand Valley Grange trailhead, which...
Gunbarrel PID suit moves to Appellate Court
A lawsuit filed against the Boulder County Board of Commissioners and the Boulder County Housing Authority by 10 Gunbarrel property owners will now go to the Colorado Court of Appeals. The suit concerns a 1993 ballot measure that created the...
NHS students charged following threats
Charges have been filed against two juveniles following a Feb. 16 “Safe 2 Tell” report at Niwot High School. Last month, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report, but the school has been unable to report the incident to... Full story
Mygatt enjoying retirement
Boulder Rural Fire Rescue Chief Bruce Mygatt retired earlier this year after 46 years with the department. Mygatt said that he’s most proud of where Boulder Rural is now compared to when he started as a volunteer in 1972. He went on to become the...
Pot luck to fill brains and bellies
Four Niwot neighbors and friends, Tina Eden, Patti Hoge, Liana Street and Dawn Server are hosting a pot luck dinner this weekend at The Left Hand Grange. The dinner is March 18 from 4:30 to 6:30. Bring a dish to share and place settings; beverages... Full story
Community input sought for animal hospital move
The neighborhood around 304 Franklin Street in Niwot recently received a referral packet regarding the Left Hand Animal Hospital’s proposed move to that location. Hospital co-owners Nancy Bureau and Katie Thomas are in the process of purchasing...
Beebe settling in as Mountain View chief
Dave Beebe got the news last month that he would officially be named Chief at Mountain View Fire and Rescue after 13 months serving as interim chief. “I essentially had a year-long job interview,” Beebe said. “I think the organization has been...
Road closures begin next week
The Boulder County Transportation Department announced the next round of closings for the 95th Street intersection improvement project. Beginning at 8 a.m. on March 12, the following closures will be in effect: 95th Street will be closed from north...
Powder Keg Brewery to close
Powder Keg Brewing Company, located at 101 Second Ave. in Niwot, will be closing its doors for good this weekend after almost four years of operation. The company announced via social media late last...
Judge dismisses TLAG lawsuit
Boulder County District Judge Nancy Salomone recently granted a motion to dismiss a lawsuit from the Twin Lakes Action Group against Boulder County regarding the purchase of open space as part of the Gunbarrel Public Improvement District (PID) that...
Priest in Charge settling in at St. Mary Magdalene
For over a year, Bruce Swinehart has been the Priest in Charge at St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Gunbarrel. In that time, the church has been working to grow the congregation, and it’s payin...
Three finalists for Mountain View Fire Chief
The Mountain View Fire Protection District is entering the final stages of selecting the next fire chief. The board has narrowed the field of 17 candidates down to three, Dave Beebe, Shelby Willis...
Inkberry Books to open in Cottonwood Square
Gene Hayworth, owner of Inkberry Books, will be holding a grand opening on Feb. 3 at the new location at 7960 Niwot Road, Suite B-3, in Cottonwood Square, the former location of HMK Jewelers. Inkberry...
Colterra to rebuild barn
Colterra restaurant at 121 Franklin Street in Niwot suffered severe interior damage in an October 2017 fire. News that Colterra was unable to provide assurances that it would be able to reopen in time for a scheduled September 2018 wedding led to...
Community choir taking new members
The Aria Singers of Gunbarrel are gearing up for their spring session and ready for people to join up. The group of women has been around for 10 years, and currently has 28 members. Julia Luerman is a relatively new member, but said that she is... Full story
Sheriff’s son victim of Denver-area shooting
Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance at 5:14 a.m. on Dec. 31 at the Copper Canyon apartments in Highlands Ranch, south of Denver, in what turned out to be a deadly encounter...
