All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Zachary Scott Swanson April 7, 1984 - February 10, 2024 At 39, our beloved Zack left us far too early. He was born in Niwot, Colorado, and spent his school days at Niwot public schools, graduating in 2002. He received an Associate Degree in Automotive Technology from Front Range Community College in Fort Collins in 2012. He added many automotive technology certificates and achieved Master Mechanic status. Zack had an amazing ability to stay level-headed, even-keeled, and calm throughout life....
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) welcomed Abby Silver, Wildfire Partners Outreach Coordinator, at the March board meeting. Silver was invited by NCA Area Representative and wildfire protection specialist Neal Anderson. Anderson introduced Silver, pointing out that Niwot is the largest community in unincorporated Boulder County. Wildfire Partners provides Boulder County’s volunteer fire mitigation program, which has been in place for mountain communities for years. It helps homeowners clear fire fuels away from near their homes to lessen t...
Rod Archer smiles modestly when he says, "if I were looking for a job now I would say two words, 'Stanford' and 'Apple.'" Indeed, his story includes his success in combining his mechanical engineering training at a prestigious university with his ability to work with developing technologies at one of the world's most innovative companies. Archer grew up in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota, with his parents, a younger sister and a younger brother. He says he was "a good, quiet kid." He chose to...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) set goals for 2024 during its December board meeting. The NCA serves as a local advocacy group with representatives from eight residential service areas that interfaces with local government to provide input and provide a forum for Niwot citizens to learn about issues and voice their opinions.The January monthly meeting saw the NCA board launch projects that board members volunteered to champion. Boulder County’s land use policies and actions are an important topic for NCA attention. Examples of d...
Elise Marylander, who has served as Assistant Editor of the Left Hand Valley Courier since July 2022, has dropped "Assistant" from her title, and is now the Editor of the Courier. Bruce Warren, who had served in dual roles of Managing Editor and Editor of the Courier since April 2022 when former editor Jocelyn Rowley left to take a full-time position with a Loveland newspaper, will continue to serve as Managing Editor of the Courier. Marylander's duties as Editor include determining content for...
On Oct. 4, Boulder County Library District Board of Trustees President Joni Teter announced that the 2024 library budget will be presented at public board hearings at the main library at 1001 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on Oct. 10 and 24 at 6 p.m. An Oct. 6 memo from David Farnan, Library Director, and Jennifer Phares, Director of Administration, to the Boulder Library District Board of Trustees, stated, “The recommended 2024 library district budget is $38,619,172. The simplest explanation of this amount is that the inaugural 2024 budget s...
In years past, when the Boulder County Commissioners came to Niwot for a town hall meeting, a wide range of local issues were addressed. This year, the commissioners specifically asked for input on their decision to raise the minimum wage for workers in Boulder County above the statewide current minimum wage of $13.65 per hour. The commissioners have already voted to establish a $15.69 per hour minimum wage effective Jan. 1, 2024, for all workers in the unincorporated areas of Boulder County,...
It seems anytime you look at a map of the area, you see a reference to "Farmers Ditch." Farmers Ditch basically travels from Boulder Creek, meanders by Lake Valley Estates off of Niwot Road, and ends at the west shore of Boulder Reservoir. It was constructed in 1862 and is managed by The Farmers Ditch Company. There are several other ditches carved into the county which all have water supply and farming irrigation as their impetus. There is Star Ditch, Johnson Ditch, Hinman Ditch, Boulder &...
Niwot is no stranger to wildlife occasionally roaming into this neck of the woods every now and then. There have been recent sightings of lynx, bobcats, foxes, deer, raccoons, snakes, prairie dogs, and even bears. While this is not the first instance of a bear making its way into Niwot, it surely is the furthest east that we know of. There have been several bear sightings in the Lake Valley area, closer to the foothills. And there was a bear on the railroad tracks across from IBM during daylight...
Now out of contention in the Class 4A team state tournament, Niwot High School girls tennis is focused on qualifying its lines for the individual championships. Fellow Region 5 schools, Centaurus, Erie, Northridge, Silver Creek, Skyline, Standley Lake and Thornton, will be at Niwot High May 3-4 to compete for Individual State Tournament spots in the Regional Tournament. The top two lines earn a ticket to the State Tournament in each of the seven Regional events (1 through 3 singles and 1...
One of the most popular and effective forms of self-care is getting outdoors for physical activity. Incorporating nature into a self-care routine doesn’t have to cost anything (maybe except for investing in a new pair of sneakers), which makes this form of self-care available to just about everyone. Its impact on health and well-being depends on the amount and quality of exposure to nature. Exercise is essential for a healthy body and mind, and current CDC recommendations are at least 150 minutes per week for adults and one hour per day for c...
The current state of health in the United States looks dire. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) statistics state, "Six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease... Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in America, and they are also a leading driver of healthcare costs." In addition, the average lifespan of Americans is declining. In 2022, The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported the life expectancy at birth at its lowes...
People packed Cottonwood Square and Second Avenue last Saturday for the Let's Wine About Winter event, sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association with partial funding provided by the Niwot Local Improvement District. After a two-year hiatus, the tasting event attracted more than 30 shops, businesses and restaurants who participated in the event, as well as over 400 participants. "We haven't had it since 2019, and we just love the event," business owner Holly D'apolito said. "It brings...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) held its monthly board meeting Jan. 4 in the Mountain View Fire Rescue Niwot Station conference room. The board approved the budget proposed for 2023. Costs have increased for many of the NCA's events and activities, but there are no plans to increase the annual membership fee. It was reported that membership in the NCA has increased to 364 members. The board followed up on the presentation made to the board last month about a possible affordable housing...
A third generation Coloradoan, I was born in Longmont and grew up in Southmoor Park where my parents (Courier carriers Otto and Arlene Ahlgrim) reside today. Graduating from Niwot High School in the 1980s, I saw Niwot as a sleepy farming community with a few subdivisions housing mostly IBM employees. In November of 1980, I was hired at the only law firm in town, the Law Office of Bruce W. Warren, and have been fortunate enough that even though the firm has evolved to Warren, Carlson & Moore,...
It's morning – the second Thursday in December – and about 50 Niwotians who are over 55 are drinking coffee, eating snacks, listening to two local musicians play their tunes, socializing and – later, playing trivia, at the Left Hand Grange. We're at the monthly meeting of the Niwot Community Connection. It really seems like a great way to connect as well as to build local community. Besides the monthly meet-ups – often with a guest speaker – at the Grange Hall, the group has organized smaller s...
Monte Comer was a kid with a lot of friends. He was a fixture on his baseball team in the Gunbarrel Lefthand Valley Recreation Association, or GLVRA as it was known (now Niwot Youth Sports). He had buddies on his basketball team, his Boy Scout troop, his class at Niwot Elementary School and everywhere else. “Back then I don’t think they had the Pee Wee Football they have now,” said Monte’s sister, Jamie Comer Smith. “I believe he would have played football.” That was the mid-1970’s,...
With a beautiful fall and another Great Pumpkin Party behind us, Niwot prepares to honor military veterans with banners along 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square and with a ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. Although "a picture is worth 1,000 words," the stories behind the banners are worth even more. They tell the stories of military men and women with Niwot connections serving all over the globe from World War I until present day. A few of their stories are below. Burton Gale Bergeson,...
We regularly celebrate our town's namesake, Chief Niwot (Left-Hand in Arapaho), for his peace-oriented beliefs and actions. In fact, the stories of his leadership and subsequent betrayal by Col. John Chivington and his troops at Sand Creek have been documented in many books, including Boulder author Margaret Coel's "Chief Left Hand." Chief Niwot banded together with other tribal leaders in a commitment to finding peaceful relationships with white settlers. They included Niwot's brother, Neva,...
The Dodd Water Treatment Plant of the Left Hand Water District and Dodd Reservoir are named in honor of the Dodd family, which has contributed much to the history and development of the Niwot area. Alva M. Dodd came to the Niwot area in the 1860s, and married Della Gould, a member of the pioneering Gould family. They had 10 children, nine of whom remained in the area after they became adults. One son, Hugh Dodd, lived in the small house on the northwest corner of the intersection of Niwot Road...
A tractor stuck in the mud at Little Gaynor Lake has residents in the surrounding neighborhood asking questions. See more in an upcoming edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier....
Jenna Kate Olschlager Williams (37) passed away peacefully with family by her side on December 11, 2021, in Aurora, CO, from complications of multiple autoimmune diseases. Jenna was born on March 7, 1984, in Harvey, ND, to Terry and Sandra (Wittenberg) Olschlager. She grew up on a farm near Fessenden, ND, and graduated from Fessenden-Bowdon High School in 2002. She earned a degree in Music Education from North Dakota State University and a Master of Music Education degree from Colorado State...
We're in the home stretch of the holiday shopping season, and for those of you with a few names left to check off your gift list, be sure to consider one of the dozens of unique items from the artists, growers and crafters that call Niwot and Gunbarrel home. Gas up and grab a gift When you fill 'er up at the Niwot Conoco in the Cottonwood Shopping Center, don't just drive off - go inside where you'll find a treasure trove of charming gifts for your loved ones. You'll be stunned by the corner of...
On Dec. 7, Boulder County Commissioners approved the budget to fund 23 of 32 proposed Boulder County Parks & Open Space projects. The $1.5 million line item for the proposed Capital & Stewardship plan is funded by the county open space sales tax, money that is designated to support the acquisition of open space and pay for programs that help preserve habitat, provide educational and recreational programs and create and maintain trails. In addition to the sales tax funding, the county will utiliz...
As the Christmas carol goes, it's beginning to look a lot like ... well ... not exactly Christmas. Or at least not a wintery December, as Niwot has yet to see any significant snow accumulation this season.. That, along with unseasonably warm temperatures, has residents wondering if winter will ever show up. And while Colorado's warm weather and dry conditions could easily change at the drop of a hat (as the saying goes, if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes) the longer-term consequenc...
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...
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...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) began as a reaction to a regional shopping center proposed by an out-of-town developer in the early 1980s. The concept put forth was that the property kitty-corner from the IBM site on the Diagonal Highway would be developed into a regional shopping center as part of a plan to incorporate the town of Niwot, with a sales tax providing all the revenue the newly incorporated town would ever need. At the time the City of Boulder had not yet annexed the IBM site or the would-be shopping center property and Twin...
Eli Buzas brought the idea of forming an education foundation to Niwot High School from Florida when he moved to Colorado in 1991. Buzas, who died earlier this year of COVID-19 complications, envisioned a foundation that did more than provide scholarships to students. Other school foundations in the school district raised money for scholarships, but Buzas had in mind a foundation that could fund current projects as well as develop a long-range funding program. Through his leadership while workin...
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...
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...
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...
We're in the home stretch of the holiday shopping season, and for those of you with a few names left to check off your gift list, be sure to consider one of the dozens of unique items from the artists, authors and crafters that call Niwot and Gunbarrel home. Niwot in watercolor Niwot's historic downtown is a frequent subject of resident and renowned artist Jane Langdon, whose graceful style evokes warmth and nostalgia. Recently, her wintry depiction of 2nd Avenue was featured on the Niwot...
In the closing line of the poem First Things First, W.H. Auden writes, "Thousands have lived without love, but not one without water." Water is the topic of author and retired water resource manager Bob Crifasi's lecture for the Niwot Historical Society's latest Now & Then lecture series set to be released on Nov. 18. Crifasi's lecture, "From Desert To Oasis, A Land Made From Water," will be available for the public to watch on the Niwot Historical Society's YouTube channel. Crifasi worked for...
For five years, Niwotian Rich Anderson has brought nurturing and nutrition to homebound community members through Longmont Meals on Wheels (LMOW). The organization's motto is Delivering Hope One Meal at a Time, and Anderson does that in batches of 12 to 16 deliveries per shift, each one providing greatly appreciated smiles and sustenance. "Being retired," Anderson said, "I felt I needed something besides the activities in life I normally get engaged in. I just can't sit around the house. I...
The ability to travel during COVID-19 may feel sidelined, but time travel is still possible thanks to the Niwot Historical Society's lecture series. Unfortunately, the annual NHS lecture series can't take place in person at the Left Hand Grange, so the organization has come up with another venue in which to immerse the public in local history. The first of three speakers will take to the internet in September with a lecture titled, "The Switzerland Trail, a Boulder County Railroad," presented...
GOLF Kelsey Webster (Fairview) of Gunbarrel was named to the Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar for the 2019-2020 season. Webster, a sophomore psychology major at the University of Colorado, posted a 77.58 stroke norm for 12 rounds. To be eligible for WGCA Golf All-American Scholar status, a golfer must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.0 scale) and must have played in 50 percent of the college's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the...
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...
There weren't very many Cougars in the pool at the 2020 Class 4A swim and dive championships, but what the Niwot state squad lacked in competitors, it more than made up for in impressive swims. Chief among them were Mary Codevilla's stunning performances in 200- and 500-yard freestyle races, which brought the talented sophomore two individual state titles and helped catapult the youthful Cougars into ninth place overall. Afterwards, head coach Sarah Stamp said that she was "thrilled" with the...
Niwot Community Association board members agreed at their June 5 meeting to try a different approach with Boulder County Commissioners to find a solution for fixing subdivision roads. County officials are in the process of adding a public health element to the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan. The proposed element includes a goal of “transportation pathways that are safe and accessible for all residents regardless of geography or transportation mode….” “I think we can approach transportation sa...
All eyes in Jeffco Stadium were on Niwot junior Jack Kenkel as he and Durango's Aidan Fitzgerald raced neck-and-neck down the stretch in the final leg of the 4×400 meter relay, the last event of the Class 4A state track and field championships. Down by four points in the team standings, the Cougar relay team of Kenkel, Jensen Douillard, Milo Ostwald and Nolan Johan needed a fifth place or better finish to surpass Pueblo East and claim their first ever team title. The crowd held its collective br...
Niwot residents will soon be seeing reminders to renew their Niwot Community Association memberships in their mailboxes, email in-boxes and along Niwot Road. The membership drive will kick off the week of Feb. 17, with an email message to current members and posting of the “Burma Shave” style signs along Niwot Road, NCA President David Limbach told board members at their March 13 meeting. Currently Niwot residents can join the NCA by paying with a check or through PayPal. NCA board members are exploring adding Venmo by PayPal, a mobile payment...
Head coach Ed Weaver has high expectations for the 2018 Niwot boys golf team, and he makes a convincing case for them. On paper, his projected varsity squad is almost an embarrassment of riches. He is returning all three state qualifiers from last season, and expects to pick up a talented incoming freshman. Add in a handful of rapidly improving juniors and sophomores behind them, and Weaver anticipates having enough depth to vie not just for event titles, but eventually the conference and...
Even though their team fell short of its ultimate goal, seniors Alex Herman and Oskar Wells consider Niwot’s 18th-place finish at this year’s Class 4A state track and field championships a fitting coda to the boys’ most successful season in years. After scoring just 4 points total in their last four state appearances, this year’s squad racked up a total of 21 points at the three-day event, thanks mostly to Wells, who medaled twice, first for his fifth-place finish in the 800M and again with th...
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 timeliness, frequency and amounts of reimbursements the county will receive as a result of the 2013 flood. “Until we have a better handle on how we’ll be reimbursed we want to make sure we’re not over-committing the county budget,” Gerstle said. “We’re trying to be conservative and make sure we’re not g...
