All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Bert Steele doesn't consider himself a "car guy," but he definitely appreciates the classics. So when the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled many of Niwot's traditional summer events, including his famed Friday night dinners at the Market, he partnered with Pat Murphy and the Niwot Tavern to bring a socially distanced alternative to town, and the new tradition of Friday night car shows was born. Fast-forward a year and the cars and crowds are still coming to Niwot Market's parking lot in Cottonwood...
Everyone knows about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which provides getaways to critically ill patients, but Broomfield mom Ann Townsend realized that caregivers of those patients face challenges of their own. So in 2018 she founded the Grant-A-Dream Foundation and started helping families across Colorado refresh and reconnect. "Even if caregivers get time to take a vacation, they're exhausted, they don't want to put the time into even putting it together, or they don't know how to do it. And,...
Changes mandated by Boulder County and rising material costs led to approximately $30,000 in unanticipated expenses during construction of the downtown parking lot, according to Chuck Klueber of the Niwot Business Association. Appearing on behalf of the group at the July 6 virtual meeting of the Niwot Local Improvement District advisory committee, he requested the additional funding for the project and explained how the original estimate missed the mark by so much. "We did as best we could to...
Summer in Niwot hasn't been quite the same since Lobster Bash left 2nd Avenue, but the late, lamented community feast is making a comeback. On July 31, the Niwot Business Association is hosting the inaugural Lobster Fest, which "takes it up a notch," according to NBA treasurer Mary Coonce, one of the event's organizers. "Lobster Bash was my first exposure to Niwot," she said. "I was living in Boulder, and used to ride my bike out here, and I would go every year. It's what made me want to live...
It's not an "extreme" makeover, but Niwot High is having a little work done before the 2021-22 school year begins. Last month, construction began on the final phase of the school's 2016 bond construction project, which will bring an updated look to the exterior and help newcomers find their way around. "People that come here that aren't familiar with our setup, a lot of times they'll ring the doorbell at the front and ask, 'Is this the gymnasium or where's the baseball field?', or there are gran...
To say that Niwot's track and field teams turned in a historically dominating performance at the 2021 Colorado Class 4A championships is technically true, yet also understates the magnitude of the accomplishment. From Lucca Fulkerson's unbeatable kick in the 3200 meter race on opening morning, to the boys' stirring second-place finish in the 4x400m relay to close out the three-day meet, the Cougars won state titles in 14 events, the runner-up title in six events, and set two new Class 4A state...
After being delayed during much of March, April, and May due to permitting issues at Boulder County, construction of a public parking lot west of downtown Niwot is moving forward, and could be completed by the end of June, according to representatives from the Niwot Business Association. "By the end of the month, it all should be pretty well wrapped up," Chuck Klueber, head of NBA's streetscapes committee said. "We just have a few more things to get done, and it shouldn't take very long."...
While touring Blessings Day Spa (7960 Niwot Road, B9) during its grand opening celebration on June 19, more than once I found myself fantasizing about undergoing a treatment in one of its sumptuous rooms, my anxieties abandoned for a few hours at least. That's how welcoming the surroundings are at Niwot's newest oasis of relaxation, tucked into a cozy corner of Cottonwood Square. A big part of that is owner Julie Stenz, a 14-year Niwot resident and registered aesthetician, who played a very...
It wasn't easy for Niwot girls soccer coach Jenna Machado to find the positives after the Cougars' 7-0 loss to Windsor in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs on June 16, but she did see opportunities for growth and predicts a bright future for a team that is highly talented, but still learning the ropes of high school soccer. "We're not there yet, competition-wise," the second-year coach said after addressing her emotional team. "This young group is really strong, but they definitely need...
The Niwot girls golf team didn't win any titles at the 2021 Class 4A state championships, but after a resilient performance during the grueling tournament at Common Ground golf course in Aurora, head coach Ed Weaver sees a bright future ahead for the youthful squad. "It's a tough two days," he said after his team's 10th-place finish in the two-day event, held June 21-22. "It's long, emotional, and there are highs and lows. But we had a lot of fun, and the learning that happened, especially for...
Decorated Niwot athlete Emily Creek called it a career at the Class 4A state tennis tournament on June 12, but not before adding one more trophy to her impressive collection. With a 7-5, 6-3 win over freshman Taylor Stadjuhar of Cheyenne Mountain, the senior claimed the championship at No. 3 singles, and led the Cougars to third place overall in the team standings, an ending that seemed out of reach a few short weeks ago. "Everyone's really motivated," Creek said of the upstart Cougars, who...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee held its latest monthly meeting virtually on June 1. The meeting was chaired by newly elected vice-chair Eric Bergeson in the absence of new chair Scott Firle. Treasurer's Report LID treasurer Bruce Rabeler was also not present, but submitted a written report of the district's current finances to board members in advance. In March, the Niwot LID earned $19,348, down from February ($20,935), but up 22% from March 2020 (12,639), and 18% from...
Ed Nuhfer has become a familiar face over his cumulative 17 years in Niwot thanks to everyday walks with Zion, his dog, and the time he regularly spends at local establishments such as Winot Coffee and Garden Gate Café doing work on his laptop. We wanted to hear a bit of Nuhfer's life story, so we asked him a few questions. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - Where are you from, and besides Niwot, where have you lived? Ed Nuhfer (EN) - I'm originally from a small town on the Ohio River,...
The Niwot girls tennis team is heading back to the Class 4A state championships after a dominating performance at the Region 5 tournament, held on the home courts, June 1-2. Led by sophomore Alys Pop at No. 1 Singles, Niwot finished first or second in six of seven lines to capture the Region 5 title as well as six spots at the upcoming state tournament in Pueblo's City Park, June 11-12. For head coach Aimee Keronen, seeing her once "unsure" team develop into a regional champion and a top...
Battling high temperatures and pesky tree-lined fairways, the Niwot girls golf team held on for second place at the 2021 Region 3 tournament, and qualified as a team for the upcoming Class 4A state championships in the process. For Cougar head coach Ed Weaver, the hardest part of challenging for the 2021 state title is now behind them, at least from one perspective. "It's harder to get to state because the regional is a one-day event, and if you don't play well, you go home," he said after the J...
Not even the hottest temperatures of the year could keep the Niwot track and field team from yet another record-breaking* performance, this time at the 44th annual Boulder County Championships, held June 5 at Everly-Montgomery Field in Longmont. Under an unrelenting sun, the Cougars set a total of six new meet records*, set several new top times in Class 4A, and claimed both the boys and girls 2021 team titles with room to spare. Afterwards, Niwot senior Taylor James, sophomore Kimora Northrup...
Like Goldilocks, it took recent Niwot graduate Halie Ostrom a few tries before she found the sport that checked all the right boxes. "I did gymnastics until fifth grade, and then I did swimming until fifth grade too, and I think I played a little soccer," she recalled of her early athletic endeavors. "With swimming, the water was too cold, so I didn't really enjoy getting in and out of the pool all of the time. Gymnastics was just really expensive, and it took up a lot of time. It took like...
Niwot's popular summer concert series Rock & Rails kicks off its 15th season on Thursday, June 3, with local duo Pacheco & Bower at 5 p.m. followed by headliner Mojomama at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, and gates open at 4 p.m., but before you fold up your camping chair and head to Whistle Stop Park, organizers from the Niwot Cultural Arts Association are asking guests to be courteous and exercise reasonable COVID safety precautions. "We're strongly encouraging people to be safe," NCAA officer...
After a school year filled with upended routines, unprecedented challenges, and, above all, uncertainty, 270 students from Niwot High came together on May 29 to mark the end of their high school journeys. For IB programme valedictorian Carter Kruse, graduation was also a chance to reflect on the positives that emerged during the pandemic year, and the importance of connectivity beyond Webex and Zoom. "Without question, our senior year was a memorable one," the future Dartmouth student said...
Carter Kruse didn't set out to get the top grade point average in Niwot High's International Baccalaureate programme this year, but his penchant for hard work and precocious talent for advanced math made that outcome literally inevitable. Nonetheless, he was humbled by the honor, even though it seemed more a function of statistics than anything else. "I am fortunate to be up there simply just because of some of the classes that I took," he said of being named IB valedictorian for 2021. "I took a...
Not many high school students relish the idea of delivering an important speech in front of a large crowd of strangers, but Victoria Isuani isn't like many high school students. When the Niwot senior learned she would have an extra responsibility at the 2021 graduation ceremony, she quickly went to work crafting a message that was "inspirational, but still lighthearted." "The day that my principal told me that I was going to be valedictorian, right away, I started coming up with ideas and I was...
When Niwot High School principal Eric Rauschkolb told senior Isobel Tuck she was salutatorian, it was a surprise. "I didn't expect it at all," she said. "It was a really big shock, but I was really excited." Tuck has had a fruitful high school career. She laughed saying her freshman year that she was intense about her grades, adding that she wished she had chilled out a little. "Relax...trust the process," she advises current and future students. "One of the things that made me successful was...
Eighth grade graduation is already a celebratory occasion, but for the 93 members of Flagstaff Academy's class of 2021, the May 26 ceremony was also one last chance to celebrate together, after being kept apart for so much of the past year. For co-valedictorian Olivia DeRose, it was also a chance to reflect on some of the unexpected lessons she learned in and out of the classroom. "This year has taught us many things," the future Niwot Cougar said in a speech to her classmates. "Some of these...
Technical-minded Siddartha Bushan never gave much thought to his grades during his four years as a student in Niwot's competitive International Baccalaureate program, so he was mostly surprised but also a little relieved when he learned that he was named the 2021 IB salutatorian. The Courier caught up with him shortly before graduation to hear his thoughts on his four years at Niwot High and what the next four-years has in-store. LHVC: Did you know your class ranking before the announcement?...
By his own admission, Niwot class of 2021 salutatorian James Magee doesn't have the best sense of time management, but he managed to overcome that shortcoming in high school with a good mindset toward his work, his classes, and his school experience in general. The Courier caught up with him on graduation eve to talk about his time as a Cougar and what the next four years have in store as he heads to the University of British Columbia to study math or computer science. LHVC: Obviously, you've...
The Niwot girls soccer team faced its first test of the 2021 season when they traveled to Northridge for a match against the undefeated Grizzlies, one of the Cougars' opponents in the new Class 4A Longs Peak League. Unfortunately, the Niwot girls couldn't keep up with Northridge's attack, and went home on the wrong side of the 3-1 final score for the first time all season. Afterwards, Niwot head coach Jenna Machado said her young team has a lot more to learn about winning. "It's really hard...
The Niwot girls golf team learned some painful lessons about their short games at the Longs Peak League event at Thornton's Todd Creek Golf Course on May 27. Bedeviled by lightning-fast greens and what were described as "challenging pin placements," the Cougars gave up some strokes where they normally don't, and that was reflected in their higher than average final scores. Unfortunately, it was also reflected in the mood of the players, who weren't much for chit-chat between shots. Luckily, it...
A combination of familiar favorites and new sounds will be making their way to the Whistle Stop Park gazebo this summer when Niwot’s popular weekly summer concert series Rock & Rails returns to the stage on Thursday, June 3. From blues-inspired rock, to Afro-style reggae, the 2021 lineup has a little bit of something for all music fans and even a few surprises along the way, according to longtime talent manager Satir DeMarco. “I wanted to create a combination of ‘comfort food’, to honor the fol...
Behind a high-scoring offense, the Niwot girls soccer team improved to 5-0 on the year with lopsided wins against three league opponents during the week of May 20. Twelve Cougars found the net at least once, led by seniors and co-captains Maddie Borncamp (4) and Kiera Flanagan (6), who combined for 10 of Niwot's 24 goals during the stretch. But along the way, Niwot's newly configured defense faced its first rough patch, and the team's youthful skew was evident at times. For second-year coach...
It was another record-setting weekend for the Niwot girls track team, as they competed in back-to-back meets at Roosevelt and Longmont on May 21 and 22. Along the way, the Cougars posted a slew of personal bests, three top Class 4A marks, and one of the fastest 800-meter times in state history. Now heading into the second half of the 2021 season, longtime Niwot track coach Maurice Henriques has just one goal for his team. "It's just to keep working hard and stay healthy," he said following the...
Anna Enssle is a freshman at Niwot High, but has taken on some challenges that are normally confronted by older students. In an email, Niwot choir Director Laura Walters said that Enssle is an "amazing leader," and has made choir "an incredible place this year." "Anna Enssle is a freshman in Sedalia, one of our auditioned choirs...She is very confident learning and singing her music, has an amazingly positive attitude, and goes above and beyond wherever we need her in class. She has a lovely...
With 10 goals and 2 assists in five games, speedy senior Kiera Flanagan has led the Niwot girls soccer team to a 5-0 start to the 2021 season, and a 36-4 scoring advantage over its opponents. In three of her starts, the fourth-year varsity forward and captain has scored multiple goals, including four at Roosevelt on May 13. At mid-way through the short season, she is the leading scorer in the Longs Peak League, and sixth overall in Class 4A. For second-year head coach Jenna Machado, Flanagan is...
A slow start gave way to an avalanche of scoring, as the Niwot girls soccer team cruised to a 9-0 victory over Roosevelt on May 13. The Cougars were led by senior Kiera Flanagan and her four goals, but several newcomers also contributed to the lopsided win, which second-year coach Jenna Machado took as a promising sign for the youthful team. "I was very happy with that," Machado said of the effort from the freshmen and sophomores in her team's second win of the season. "I'm very excited because...
Alex Williams joined the Niwot High theater tech crew as a freshman, hoping to learn more about stage lighting and design. Four years later, not only has "Goose" become a lighting "wizard," according to faculty stage manager Jason Watkins, but also an indispensable member of the crew who won't be easy to replace. "I have known Goose for three years, and it has been extremely wonderful to see him progress in that time," Watkins said in an email. "He is my right hand man this year. Being an...
When Joaquin Herrera enrolls at Adams State University in August, he will become the first student in his family to attend college, a goal that seemed out of reach when he entered high school. But late in his freshman year, the affable Herrera made a decision that seemed straightforward at the time, but would end up having life-changing ramifications. "I played soccer in the fall, and then during the spring, I went out for track just to get faster, and just to sprint," he said. As it turned...
Niwot's summer calendar will look more like its pre-pandemic norm, after the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee voted to provide funding for three familiar events at its monthly meeting on May 4. The board also elected new officers, and discussed its financial priorities for the rest of 2021. Officer Elections In the first order of business, the NLIDAC unanimously elected member Scott Firle as chair, replacing Laura Skaggs, who is leaving her seat on the committee in January...
For Niwot High band director Wade Hendricks, students like Jacob Pennington don't come around very often. Both a talented musician and gifted student, the junior is both a role model to his fellow bandmates and a delight to have in class. "[Jacob] has lent his abilities to our groups on both trumpet and piano, jumping in and doing whatever is asked of him," Hendricks said in an email. "He is a fantastic soloist and has a great ear, analyzing chords and harmonies before I can figure them...
The Niwot girls tennis team found itself on both sides of a 4-3 final score during the opening week of the 2021 season, which was not entirely unexpected by longtime coach Aimee Keronen. A short preseason and an infusion of newcomers to the Cougars' 2021 lineup made a shaky debut performance almost inevitable, she said. "We have a lot of freshmen this year, which is good," she said. "We're hoping we can get them in the right direction. It's a short season so it's tough, but we're going to do the...
The past year has been challenging for prospective college athletes, particularly those who missed their junior seasons of competition in the spring of 2020. But for 15 Niwot High athletes, the arduous journey through the virtual recruiting process came to a satisfying end at the school's Letter of Intent signing ceremony on May 3. "This is probably the hardest year in the history of college athletics to have an opportunity to play at the collegiate level," Niwot High athletics and activities...
Junior Nguyen Pham is a talented student in Niwot High's IB art program who prefers to let her artistry do the talking. She is currently enrolled in a 3-D design course at the school, where she has worked with everything from metal and plaster, to wood and clay. Last month, one of her sculptures was featured in St. Vrain Unframed student art show, a virtual showcase of the most interesting student artwork from schools around the district. Pham's submission resulted from an assignment to create...
Niwot fans were in high spirits as the players took the court at the Class 4A Region 7 volleyball tournament on May 1, eager to see the number-10 seed Cougars battle their way back to the state championships. But levity turned to concern as Niwot's first match against No. 18 seed Erie progressed, and momentum never seemed to stay with the Cougars long before an error or foul call would intervene. That made it impossible for the offense to find its rhythm, and Erie took advantage of a team on...
Senior forward Ismael Dominguez didn't earn the nickname "Big Game Ish" by accident. His penchant for being in the right place at the right time has turned the tide for Niwot more than once, most recently in the final minute of the Class 4A state soccer quarterfinals against Regis Groff on April 24. With the seconds ticking away and the score tied 1-1, Dominguez remembered some timeless advice from his father, turning what came next into an "amazing experience" for the third-year varsity attacke...
Niwot freshman Juliette Molina has been appearing on stage since age seven, but when the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled live performances in 2020, the accomplished singer and actor decided to broaden her creative horizons. Over the past several months, she has been writing, directing, and starring in a one-woman film called "Passion Project," about a student who is struggling to choose a path in life. "My character is in high school, and all of her friends know what they want to do for college,...
On April 24, the fast-paced 2021 gymnastics season wrapped up at the Class 4A state championships with a familiar name on top of the all-around standings. With top-five scores in each rotation, Niwot gymnast Mia Curry successfully defended her state all-around title, and led her team to third place overall in the process. Afterwards, Cougar head coach Marisa Purcell called the junior's performance "phenomenal," especially after such a challenging year. "She did a great job," Purcell said. "She...
Ever since joining the varsity squad as a freshman, Keegan Stobbe has energized Niwot soccer's attack with his speed and intensity, not to mention his scoring average of nearly two points per game. But midway through the 2021 season, the senior took his talents to Niwot's back line and put his energy into preventing scoring chances rather than creating them. So far, it's been a winning trade-off for both Stobbe and the Cougars, who are a serious contender for this year's Class 4A state soccer...
Teyha Laughlin has excelled in Niwot High's visual arts classes, but was hoping to expand her creative horizons during her senior year. So under the mentorship of art teacher Beth Collier, she has pursued an independent study that has taken her art in exciting new directions. "Teyha is a senior now, and she has been in one or another of my art classes every year since she was a freshman," Collier wrote about the talented portrait artist. "She is creative, funny, and such a hardworking student. I...
It's been nearly two years since the Niwot girls golf team played its last round, but head coach Ed Weaver isn't mourning the lost 2020 season. With two proven veterans and some promising new prospects in 2021, he's focused on picking up right where the Cougars left off-with a Class 4A state title in their sights. "What I'm trying to do is just business as usual," he said about how his team weathered the long layoff. "Not looking backwards and just looking to today and forward and trying to...
With a score of 169.375, the Niwot gymnastics team claimed first place at the Class 4A Region 3 meet, held April 15 at Overland High School in Aurora. The Cougars were led on the day by Mia Curry, who scored 35.800 to place first in the individual all-around standings. The junior, whose home school is Silver Creek, posted top scores in floor (9.3) and bars (8.925), and took second overall in vault (8.75) and beam (8.825). Joining her as all-around competitors for the Cougars were veterans Ava...
A brand new event is coming to town this summer, and organizers from the Niwot Business Association are as busy as its namesake putting it all together. On April 6, they crossed off an important item on their to-do list after the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee voted to approve funding for the Honey Bee Harvest Festival, a full-day celebration of pollinators and their important role in our community. "There's really lots of elements to it," NBA Vice President Deborah Read...
The Niwot volleyball team seemed well on the way to victory over defending league champions Thompson Valley after an energetic first set win, powered by almost error-free blocking from the Cougars' "Great Wall" of Morgan Daughtery, and Mackenzie and Grace Demmel. But the momentum started to take a turn mid-way through the second set, when Niwot's errors started outpacing their points, and a talented Eagles' squad was able to take advantage. The Cougars went on to drop that set, plus the next...
