All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Nothing conjures up a deeper sense of patriotism and belonging to a community like a 4th of July parade, and Niwot's celebration has a way of elevating that hometown, apple pie feeling to the max. There are kids riding their streamer-adorned bikes, horse-mounted riders carrying flags, well-represented community organizations walking with their banners, all encased in a backdrop of majestic music. And of course there's the Grand Marshal riding in a spiffy convertible smiling and waving to the cro...
Nothing conjures up a deeper sense of patriotism and belonging to a community like a 4th of July parade, and Niwot's celebration has a way of elevating that hometown, apple pie feeling to the max. There are kids riding their streamer-adorned bikes, horse-mounted riders carrying flags, well-represented community organizations walking with their banners, all encased in a backdrop of majestic music. And of course there's the Grand Marshal riding in a spiffy convertible smiling and waving to the...
This is the first in a series of stories on the four artists painting walls in the Cottonwood Shopping Center-Jerry Sinor Building mural project. Artist, activist and author Danielle SeeWalker's mural is striking, colorful, compelling, and nearly the size of a standard billboard. It took SeeWalker four full days in 90+ degree heat, and additional hours here and there to complete the 495 square-foot mural she's named "What Once Was." It beautifies the southern exterior wall of Abo's Pizza, next...
The Niwot Community Association’s (NCA) monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 4, covered a multitude of timely issues and events ranging from the latest on the Boulder Library District to the organization’s array of upcoming events. Boulder Library District update The NCA has been keeping close tabs on the possibility that a Boulder Public Library District could potentially include Niwot in its scope. In late April, the Boulder City Council declared it saw “no path forward to reconcile with the Boulder County Commissioners on a library resol...
The Niwot Community Association’s annual meeting was held April 19 at Left Hand Grange No. 9, facilitated by Niwot Community Association (NCA) president, David Limbach. An in-person audience of nearly 30 people and live online viewers were provided with information regarding 2022 NCA board elections, a review of the NCA’s 2019 activities, and other plans for the present year. It was followed by a timely presentation about wildfires given by Sterling Folden, Deputy Fire Chief of Mountain Vie...
For 35 years Chuck Rodgers has delighted the community with his all-out dazzling holiday light display. Installing the magnificent light show that grows a bit each year, tending to it for weeks while it's open to drive-through viewing, and the couple of weeks it takes to gently dismantle and stow away the display never gets easier. But the legacy of the phenom that is Rodgers' holiday extravaganza just gets mightier and mightier each year, because of the generous financial impact it provides...
The first significant change to the planned mixed-use Palmos Development property (formerly Colterra Restaurant) on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Murray Street was the removal of a mature Silver Maple tree on the west side.The stump of the tree is seen in the foreground of the photo on the right. "As part of a permit application process with Boulder County for the new projects proposed for that property, the owner was required to do a tree inventory report from a certified arborist," according...
When a call for help goes out in Niwot, it seems as though Gil Pomeroy's hand shoots up faster than anyone else's. Oktoberfest, Rock & Rails, Niwot Jazz Festival, you name it, he's there. Pomeroy may be new-ish to town, but he quickly started giving his time and energy to make Niwot a better place. He's made loads of new friends and admirers along the way. That's why a long-time Niwot resident suggested we feature Pomeroy in our Familiar Face column and learn about his life. Left Hand Valley...
Taz Chaudry is full of life, full to the brim and then some. Chaudry's passion for helping others is undeniable in all that she does. Owing to her outpouring of positive energy, Niwotian Chaudry was selected as this month's Left Hand Laurel recipient, coming to the forefront in particular for her volunteering at the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center (CTRC). "I believe we're all here to help each other and my purpose of being...why I'm here, is to remind people of joyful being," Chaudry said....
Niwot's largest and most enchanting holiday display is officially switched on for the season. The annual eye-popping tradition that is Chuck Rodgers' yard atop the hill on 79th Street just south of Highway 52 will be glowing every night until Jan. 6. For over 30 years, the joyful and extravagant display has rung in the holiday season like none other in the area. It's also the perfect COVID-free, no-charge family holiday highpoint. Amongst the thousands of lights, hundreds of inflatable and...
More than 550 lions, tigers, bears, and other carnivores call 800 acres on The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS) just outside of Keenesburg their forever home. It's the first and longest operating facility of its kind in the world. Niwot, where Liz Stroh-Coughlin lives, is just 45 minutes from this incredible zoological non-profit facility. A Colorado native who lived in Los Gatos, Calif for 32 years, Stroh-Coughlin decided to make Niwot her family's home two-and-a-half years ago when she and her...
You're likely to have noticed this month's Familiar Face, Dr. Jess Johnson, DVM, eating at a local restaurant, browsing in local stores, riding her bike, and on the job at Left Hand Animal Hospital on Franklin Street. She's a quintessential Niwotian because she and her husband are raising their daughter in Niwot and she works in town too. The Courier asked Johnson a few questions to find out about her background and to get to know her better. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - Where are you from...
Victoria Keen, Deborah Read Fowler, and Dawn Server were busy bees getting together one humming hive of a festival on August 28th. The first ever Niwot Honey Bee Harvest Festival was buzzing with activities from a speaker series to a spelling bee, informational tables to retail booths, free bee antennas to candle making classes. All of the themed moving parts made for a fabulous new festival that will live on, and for that the Courier honors these three women's creativity and hard work with a...
Boulder County Sheriffs were summoned to 364 Franklin Street in Niwot to conduct a welfare check on Monday morning, Sept. 27. According to Sgt. Bill Crist, the official who first entered the house, the body of Steve Tubbs, age 70, was discovered. "We are not investigating for foul play," Crist said because the death appeared to be from natural causes. The Boulder County coroner's office is conducting an autopsy to confirm the cause of death and that process may take up to 10 or 12 weeks. Many...
If there's a Niwot event happening Joanne Neville is likely in attendance, especially if music is involved. Dressed in beautiful long skirts, with her long flowing hair, and a warm smile, Neville's love for shared joyful times shines through as naturally as sunshine. The Courier wanted to hear about this Niwotian's life – past, present, and future. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - Where are you from and what brought you to the area? Joanne Neville (JN) - I grew up on the East Coast, mostly i...
This month's Left Hand Laurel goes to Thom Lynch. Lynch moved to Niwot in September 2018 and decided the best way to meet folks and to make a difference was to jump in with both feet. So, the new guy in town joined the Rotary Club of Niwot and not long after became the president-elect of the organization. Lynch had been an active Rotarian for a year before he moved to Niwot, after being recruited to the organization by his then girlfriend who was the president of a chapter in Syracuse, NY "I...
Kristina Burgoon is the warm welcoming face at The Niwot Inn & Spa and she's also the face of Niwot through her creativity as the social media coordinator for the Niwot Business Association. The Courier reached out to discover a bit about Burgoon's history and her current life. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - Where did you grow up and what brought you to the area? Kristina Burgoon (KB) - I was born in Orange, California, and lived there until I was 10-years old. My family moved to Flemington,...
Sometimes you just have the music in you, and other times you just wanna get the music in you. Either way, the annual RISE Benefit Concert in Niwot will help satiate music lovers of all ages. The very danceable event returns Saturday, Sept. 11, for the fourth year following an obligatory COVID skip in 2020. This year the event will be held at Whistle Stop Park in Niwot at the corner of 1st Avenue and Murray Street, after the 2019 event was held at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. RISE stands for...
To a lay person, the new downtown Niwot parking lot on Murray Street may seem like one of the simplest of construction projects. But don't be fooled....it took a lot of planning, red tape, managing, and time to get it to this stage. Integral in that process was this month's Left Hand Laurel recipient, Chad Fletemeyer. In July, the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) was tapped for additional financial assistance owing to unforeseen expenses needed to comply with Boulder County mandates....
August is the month when gardens prove their worth. If produce, flowers, and pollinators are thriving, the tender of a garden is delighted. This first full summer of cultivating at Jack's Solar Garden is turning out to be excellent according to owner/manager Byron Kominek. In addition to providing solar energy to 300 homes, the garden is successfully growing squash, tomatoes, beans, and then some under and around its 3,200 solar panels. Two hundred pounds of fresh produce was recently donated to...
The burdensome wait to use the brand-spanking new restrooms at Left Hand Valley Grange Park is finally over. The two-stall building is officially open for your business. Originally scheduled to be ready for public use in June, the Courier reported last month that there was a hold up because Xcel Energy needed to establish an account with the county for that unit's address before throwing the power switch to the on position. If that had been the only reason for the delay, Brent Wheeler, Boulder...
Many residents in the area are well acquainted with Geof Sparks due to his passions, the genuine way he connects with others in conversations, and also because he works at a very popular retail store in Niwot. Here are a few tidbits about Sparks which give us insight into the man behind the familiar face. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) – How have you become a familiar face in Niwot? Geof Sparks (GS) - Most people know me as the evening face of Niwot Liquor where I've worked for over 16 y...
Gunbarrel-based nonprofit Cultivate is focused on meeting the needs of our community's seniors. How this plays out is by way of seven programs: Carry-out Caravan (shopping/delivery), Fix-It (home repairs and upgrades), VetsGo (medical appointment transportation), YardBusters (outdoor clean up), SnowBusters (shoveling), RSVP (AmeriCorps Retired Senior Volunteer Program), and File of Life (documents for emergency preparedness). In honor of his volunteerism with the organization, Cultivate wanted...
When the Courier first reported in March on the groundbreaking for new restrooms at Left Hand Valley Grange Park, completion was projected to be mid-June. A month past the anticipated grand opening of the toilets and an orange cautionary mesh across of the otherwise fine-looking building signals that it's not quite time for the doors to fling open. Brent Wheeler, Boulder County Recreation and Facilities Project Coordinator, who is responsible for overseeing the restroom installation, said,...
Niwot's walkability is one of its best features, and for those who regularly stroll, over time they're likely to repeatedly cross paths with folks doing their own version of movement in the great outdoors. Since her relocation here in January 2018, Sharon Blatchley has been one of those out and about regulars. Blatchley, in the company of her brown and white spaniel, always offers a friendly wave and smile. Instead of being passing ships, we asked Blatchley some questions to learn about her...
To paraphrase an old adage, "Man plans, the universe laughs." In Jim Eastman's life, at least two major events sent him off the expected path. Thankfully, the world is a better place, and Eastman would likely concur, that he's better as a result. A rollover car accident in 1990 caused Eastman to sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) which led to profound changes cognitively and, over time, physically as a result of stress. A decade later, he experienced another turning point - the discovery tha...
This month's recipient of the Left Hand Laurel is Shana Oehmke, uber-parent volunteer at Heatherwood Elementary School (HES). Living just three blocks away from the school for the last 15 years, the Oehmke children had an easy commute to HES; Henry is a third-grader this year, Charlotte is in seventh grade at Platt Middle School, and Amelia is a sophomore at Fairview High. HES school office manager Marlys Lietz wrote, "Shana has worked hard to keep our school finances in order and has been...
Whether it's first thing in the morning or a break later in the day, time with coffee in-hand is practically a ceremonial daily act. The emotional warmth of that ritual is nearly equal to the physical enjoyment it delivers. Part of that anticipated experience includes the kind people who provide that soul hugging treat such as Winot Coffee's manager Mary Jo Wysocki. The Courier wanted to learn more about the familiar face that is as uplifting as our daily cup of java. Left Hand Valley Courier...
Geologically prominent Haystack Mountain has long been in the midst of area history and now it will be marking another transition. Protruding several hundred feet over the Left Hand Creek Valley, the mountain served as an excellent vantage point to watch over buffalo and a sturdy weather barrier as Chief Niwot's Arapaho tribe spent winters in the valley until they were forced to move to Sand Creek in the 1860's. The US government sold a 240-acre parcel that included the mountain to local...
In 2006, Niwot resident Lyla Herman said yes to a friend in her women's hiking group when asked if anyone would like to join her in cooking meals for the kids at Attention Homes. That's how the Trekking Chefs came to be and how Herman became a committed volunteer at the youth safe haven, recently renamed TGTHR (pronounced as Together). Herman is this month's recipient of the Left Hand Laurel, because of her many years of dedicated community service at TGTHR. What was once a home kitchen has...
April is National Volunteer month, a moment when the US acknowledges and honors the impressive impact volunteers make by giving their time and energy. We can all make the world a better place by volunteering in big and small ways, and while pitching in, you're also bringing health and happiness to yourself. Here's a list of nearby organizations where volunteers make a huge difference. Note: For the past year, we've been told to stay socially distant during the pandemic, but many organizations...
Found either on a bike or working on one, Fernando Tapia is one of Niwot's most Familiar Faces. From the day the doors opened and through the relocation to its expanded space, Tapia has been part of Niwot Wheel Works bike shop and the new Wheel House Bar. With more than 35 years of experience, this master bike mechanic is the go-to person when it comes to bike maintenance. Niwot Wheel Works and Wheel House Bar owner Eric Bergeson said, "Fernando is the definition of a master in his trade. He is...
The poignant Shel Silverstein book, The Giving Tree, speaks to the gradual, but ultimate sacrifice a tree makes for a little boy. This month's Niwot Historical Society's lecture topic of Culturally Modified Trees (CMT) is close to that premise, but it displays more respect, and there's no unhappy ending. Archaeologist Marilyn Martorano has been studying the phenomenon of CMTs since the mid-1970s. Fresh out of college, Martorano was tasked with surveying in the Rio Grande Forest. She said she...
Habitat for Humanity of St. Vrain Valley (HFHSVV) hit a milestone of $1 million in contributions toward building homes around the world and has earned the local affiliate the Sam Mompongo Award. The contributions were raised as a result of one of the entity's foundational principles – a 10% tithing of unrestricted revenue toward partnering countries to fulfill the global organizations' goal of helping every person have an affordable and decent place to live. HFHSVV's unrestricted funds are g...
This time last year, Laurel Fox and Jessica Crider of Gunbarrel were preparing their annual fundraising yard sale for the organization they run - Cause4Paws (www.facebook.com/C4P.ARF). It was early in the pandemic and seemed reasonable to think the multi-day event would still be on, but might take place just a little later than usual as the world got its bearings. Through the large-scale yard sale, C4P whose motto is "It takes nothing from a human to be kind to an animal," has raised more than $...
Living in pandemic times we realize more than ever that our homes are our refuge. But for 45 years, Habitat for Humanity has been focused on just that - offering permanent affordable shelter to families around the globe. Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley (HFHSVV) makes local low-income families' dreams come true by paving the path for them to own a safe, well-maintained home. Located in Longmont, HFHSVV engages volunteers to work hands-on improving the living situations of well-deserv...
Spring is always a busy time for gardeners, and this year Jack's Solar Garden is finding the season to be super-charged with activity. Last March Jack's, the largest U.S. commercially active agrivoltaic system, was just preparing to have 3,200 solar panels installed. What a difference a year makes. By November 2020 the system was up and running, and now it's nearly 100% sold out, seeds for grasses and wildflowers have been spread, a unique 2021 Artist on the Farm has been selected, a grant for...
Niwot Historical Society president Kathy Koehler went for more than a year without a haircut and last week, Liz Edge, owner of Ivy and Thistle hair salon on Second Avenue, styled Koehler's hair so it could be donated to Hair We Share. The non-profit organization makes wigs and hairpieces and provides them at no cost to those suffering with hair loss due to a medical condition. Koehler and her two daughters have donated their long tresses in the past. Koehler said of her new hairdo, now more...
Railroad historian Larry Dorsey will open this year's Niwot Historical Society lectures series with a presentation highlighting the advent of the railroad and its impact on Colorado's history. The lecture is titled In the Footsteps of the Iron Horse – The Influence of the Railroad on Colorado History. The term Iron Horse refers to steam locomotives which came on the scene in the 1800s gradually replacing actual horses which had been the prominent means of transportation. Dorsey, a long-time r...
What a relief...Left Hand Valley Grange Park will soon have a proper replacement for the portable toilet that has been on sentry duty for a very long time. The new restrooms will be open to the public including park visitors and any passersby, such as those traveling the Longmont to Boulder (LoBo) trail. The original plans were for the installation of a prefabricated building equipped with plumbing and electricity but, what's presently in the works is a standard two-stall restroom.The toilets...
You're in the midst of Thomas Studholme's artwork when you shop and stroll in Niwot. Studholme's paintings are found throughout the Niwot Market and likely, Studholme himself is at the market, so mask aside, he's got a very recognizable face. For the last four years, he's painted holiday scenes on the windows of local businesses and won several awards as a result. We asked this Familiar Face some questions to get to know the man behind the art. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - How did life...
For seven years the Bowhaus in Gunbarrel has provided furry family members with daycare and boarding. While the pooches are playing with friends and relaxing in a safe environment, they're likely to spend time with two long-time employees, Klare Black and Suzi Hendrix. We wanted to learn more about these two familiar faces in the community. Left hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - Where did you grow up, and how did Colorado become your home? Klare Black (KB) - I'm the middle child of seven siblings,...
The adage, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going," typifies Niwot's Deborah Read Fowler. Read Fowler, owner of Deborah Read Fowler Real Estate (DRF), was already resolutely involved with the community when along came COVID-19, shifting her dynamism into overdrive. With her can-do attitude, optimistic outlook, and a keen sense of humor, Read Fowler simply gives her all to Niwot, which is why she is the recipient of this month's Left Hand Laurel. "What is new is my concern, and I'd say...
Niwot's Inkberry Books put out a call in December for artists ages 13 and under to participate in the store's first bookmark design contest. The challenge was built around the theme of how books and bookstores impact their feelings. "When we started this bookmark contest, we didn't realize there were so many talented, creative kids in the community, so we were really quite surprised with the entries we received," Inkberry Books co-owner, Gene Hayworth said. The resulting artwork spoke well to th...
Some folks string dainty lights on their Christmas trees, hang their ornaments and call it a wrap for their holiday decorations. And then there’s Chuck Rodgers’ 30+ years of making holiday magic happen with millions of lights and hundreds of inflatables and statues, all accompanied by a variety of musical serenades as cars drive through his yard atop 79th Street just south of Highway 52. For the past five years Rodgers has given spectators an opportunity to spread the joy they’re feeling in th...
Boulder County's first solar garden is an inherent composite of nature, community, and pure inspiration. Jack's Solar Garden, a 1.2 megawatt solar array on north 95th Street, switched on operations officially the first week of November 2020. The project's power is now flowing both literally and creatively. Called agrivoltaics because of the combination of agriculture and solar power, Jack's is the largest operation of its kind in the U.S. and from the start, founder Byron Kominek envisioned...
Diners attribute the quality of their eating out experience to the people they interact with – the front of house workers. For 17 years, Leslie Middleton has been the most noticeable front of house person at Gunbarrel’s Café Blue American Grill while her chef husband Kevin runs the kitchen. These days, because of COVID, Leslie isn’t just taking orders and bringing out delicious drinks and food to diners at the restaurant, she’s also driving freshly prepared meals to patrons’ homes. She’s doin...
Longmont based HOPE, short for Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement, cares for some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Founded in 2007, HOPE has supported the homeless community with the end goal being self-sufficiency. The organization exists to fill people's most basic needs of shelter and food, in addition to providing forward momentum resources such as one-on-one advocacy. Gunbarrel resident Erin Hofer-Shall is an angel of HOPE. While that sounds very ethereal, she and...
This wonderful Familiar Face suggestion was courtesy of co-owner of the Niwot Tavern, Tara Kpogoh-Narh. Kpogoh-Narh wrote, "Jennifer Morrison lives and breathes Niwot. She is a local who helps support everyone...small businesses in Boulder, Hygiene and Longmont. She's just amazing. She's always advertising for everyone. I'm sure you've seen her posts." The posts Kpogoh-Narh is referring to are on a public Facebook page called Nifty Niwot. Kpogoh-Narh added, "She brings Stacy [Szydlek, co-owner]...
Niwot's largest and most enchanting holiday display is now officially switched on. The annual jaw-dropping tradition that is Chuck Rodgers' yard atop the hill on 79th Street just south of Highway 52 will be glowing every night until Jan. 6. For more than 30 years, the joyful and extravagent display has rung in the holiday season like no other area spectacle. But, this year it's also the perfect COVID-free, no-charge family holiday highpoint. Amongst the thousands of lights, hundreds of inflatabl...
