All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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November’s election will determine the next Boulder County Commissioner to serve a four-year term with incumbents Elise Jones and Deb Gardner. Each candidate must live in District 3 (Niwot, Gunbarrel, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, East Boulder, Erie), but is elected at-large and on each issue, acts on behalf of the entire county. Running for the office are Gary Cooper (R), Matt Jones (D), and Cliff Willmeng (G), one of whom will replace District 3 Commissioner Cindy Domenico in January 2... Full story
There’s a school in Kyengera, Uganda named Mwebaza. Two hundred students and six teachers spend their days learning and teaching there. More than 8,000 miles away, at Niwot Elementary School (NES), 450 students and 18 teachers spend their days doing the same thing. Dale Peterson is one of NES’s teachers and he has helped bring together the hearts, minds, and souls of the people of Mwebaza and NES. Peterson began his career as an educator 23 years ago as a student teacher at NES. As part of a w... Full story
It was Sept. 12, 2013, when rain from a stalled storm began to swell and overrun the banks of nearly every waterway in Boulder County, assaulting massive amounts of personal property, streets, bridges, rocks and vegetation, disrupting lives for what would be years to come. Left Hand Water District’s emergency response “I have to say one of my least favorite things is revisiting the flood,” Left Hand Water District (LHWD) Manager Christopher Smith said. “I like the fact that it’s behind us...
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 current setback is 90 feet. The restrooms are part of LoBo trail improvements and an expanded parking lot at Left Hand Valley Grange Park in Niwot. Jennifer Severson with the Boulder County Planning Department said that while the location is owned by Parks and Open Space, the variance request will...
At their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 4, members of the Niwot LID advisory committee considered just a single funding request, but members had plenty of new business on their minds, including funding alternatives for future capital projects and upcoming development projects in Old Town. Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin presented the monthly financials to lead off the meeting. As of Aug. 31, the LID has approved $155,105 in disbursements, about $22,000 over the budget, which is...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) announced at its September board meeting that all three candidates for the Boulder County Commissioners District 3 position have accepted an invitation to participate in a public candidate forum on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Left Hand Grange, 195 Second Avenue, Niwot. The election for the position being vacated by three-term commissioner Cindy Domenico is being held Nov. 6. Candidates hoping to replace Domenico are Matt Jones (D), Gary Cooper (R), and Cliff Wilmeng (G). Suggested questions for the candidates... Full story
Where in the World has hit the jackpot this week and it’s keeping the World staff very busy. Three very savvy families have found our mystery chair. First to thanks to Megan Nowak. Nowak writes, “The chair mentioned in the Aug. 29 edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier is in Whistlestop Park. Below is a photo of my daughter Savannah Nowak and friend Xander Ware at a Rock & Rails concert a couple of weeks ago.” Next there’s the intrepid Sascha. No hiding place in Niwot is safe with her eagle e... Full story
Lamya Deeb may look familiar because she and her family are longtime residents of the area. Shopping, running errands, or taking children to and from school, it is inevitable that we all cross paths many times over the years. But you might find Deeb out in nature too, facing a glorious scene she’s capturing on her canvas. Or you may have met Deeb while she worked at Osmosis Art Gallery on a First Friday Art Walk. In any of these settings, you’ll find Deeb appreciating a connection with the envir... Full story
While the days are soon to get cooler, many folks are currently up to their elbows in weeding, watering and hopefully harvesting. Those that have lush and bountiful gardens have probably been working hard since early March. Bounties are now being harvested and giant zucchini are being left on doorsteps under cover of darkness. No rest for the wicked. For those who want to keep that harvest going, or for the latecomers who couldn’t quite get their spring garden prepared in time, there’s always co...
Terry Olkin and Mike Ott, founders of Left Hand Robotics (LHR), are bringing the SnowBot to market and the name says it all. Unlike a human, this autonomous snow clearer doesn’t think twice about heading into the dark, frigid night to work tirelessly. “The genesis of the company is that I never had to deal with snow until I moved to Colorado,” Olkin said. “When I first moved here, I thought, yeah, I’ll get a snow remover and do my driveway. But after a short period of time, I realized this was...
Rosemary Allen Bruce, 87, of Niwot, CO, passed away in her home on Aug. 15, 2018. Rosemary was born on Sept. 28, 1931, in Bairdsford, PA. She graduated high school as valedictorian. She attended the University of Pittsburgh where she met and married George Bruce, “the love of her life.” After for 68 years together, George passed away in February this year. Rosemary was an energetic and involved member of the Niwot community. She was the President of the Left Hand Grange in Niwot. She att... Full story
The agenda may have been light, but the concerns were weighty at the Aug. 7 meeting of the Niwot LID Advisory Board. Facing a supplement budget allocation in order to continue funding activities for the remainder of the year, the board discussed its finances and, more broadly, setting priorities for upcoming expenditures. Board members also considered a funding proposal from the Niwot Business Association (NBA), and heard about some upcoming transportation projects slated for the area. Boulder...
A parade can’t organize itself. There are participants to approve, cars to be rerouted, decorations to be purchased, and the parade lineup had better not have any horses in front of a Girl Scout troop without a cleanup crew in between or it might get messy. Julie Breyer knows these things well because for the past five years she’s given a lot of thought to organizing Niwot’s Fourth of July parade. Breyer is a member of the Niwot Community Association’s (NCA) Fourth of July committee, which i... Full story
Tara Kpogoh-Narh is one of the welcoming faces you’ll see when you belly up to the bar at the Niwot Tavern. Her genuine caring and kindness along with her expertise in pouring the perfect draft brew or whipping up a well concocted cocktail hits on all the high notes for patrons of the pub. At her job, she offers hospitality, great drinks, excellent fare and a good ear. Learning about the people we regularly cross paths with is a way to find out what brought them to this place in their lives a... Full story
Taking the pulse of commercial leasing within Niwot and Gunbarrel, there was a general consensus among local experts that the business environment is in a robust state overall. The recurring themes were that vacancy rates are low, and that brick and mortar retail businesses are harder to attract than businesses in the service and food sectors. Some prominent spaces on the market or soon to be on the market include locations on Second Avenue in Niwot, and within Cottonwood Square and Gunbarrel... Full story
Former University of Colorado Head Football Coach Gary Barnett will be the guest of honor at the fifth annual Cougar Classic golf tournament, hosted by the Niwot Touchdown Club. Barnett, a friend of the Niwot football program and former Niwot resident now living in Gunbarrel, reached out to second-year head coach Jeremy Lanter late last year to offer advice for overcoming a winless season. In 1996, Barnett co-authored High Hopes: Taking the Purple to Pasadena, a memoir of his third season as...
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 guide us in that process and eventually became our editor. Although he lived in Kansas, Jesse brought a valuable perspective and years of journalistic excellence to the Courier. He mentored writers, traveled to Colorado to get to know the community, and wrote many outstanding articles for us. When our p...
Holly Owens notices when things need some of what she’s good at – adding a little sparkle. When she moved to Gunbarrel, she sensed Heatherwood Elementary School (HES) could blossom with her loving touch. Because of her enthusiasm and hard work, Owens has been selected as this month’s Left Hand Laurel. Owens had never heard of Gunbarrel when she lived in South Boulder. But when friends moved to the area and the Owens’ family was invited for a barbeque, they too were lured by the larger yards a... Full story
The Niwot U16 summer baseball team players who ended their season on July 15 with a narrow loss in their league tournament semi-finals probably might not recognize the squad that took the field back in May, according to Coach Mike Newton. “My biggest takeaway from this season is the improvement from where we started,” Newton said after the Cougars fell 6-4 to the Mead Mavericks, who were 11-3 during the regular season. “Understanding that we need to make a routine play, we need to pound the s... Full story
At a public hearing on July 12, owners of the Left Hand Animal Hospital received conditional approval from the Boulder County Commissioners to relocate their five-year-old veterinary clinic to the former site of the Neighborhood Learning Center of Niwot, a move that will allow the growing practice to remain an active part of the community, according to co-owner Dr. Nancy Bureau. “What I learned from this process is community voice matters,” she said. “Initially, the county told us our permit wou...
Dani Hemmat Dani Hemmat has worked as a freelance writer and reporter for nearly 20 years, both in Washington State and Montana. She has written for magazines, newspapers and online publications; co-hosted and produced an award-winning podcast; blogs occasionally; gives an Ignite™ talk every once in awhile, and teaches natural movement classes on the side. She resides in the Heatherwood neighborhood of Gunbarrel with her family and many dogs where she works on novels, practices her guitar and i... Full story
The Niwot LID Advisory Committee got a taste of winter at its July 3 meeting, and not just because it was a bracing 56 degrees in the conference room at the Mountain View Fire Station. Though Christmas is still half a year away, a twin bill of holiday-themed funding requests topped the evening’s agenda, giving the committee a preview of some changes in store for the traditional kick-off to the town’s holiday shopping season. Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin kicked off the meeting with a rec...
The Little Free Library at The Niwot Fire House Museum held its Grand Opening Wednesday, July 4 after Niwot's Independence Day parade. This Little Free Library is a model of the Fire House Museum building next to the Left Hand Grange. The library is officially registered (#60484) on Little Free Library's world map at www.littlefreelibrary.org. The newest library is provided and sponsored by the Niwot Historical Society (NHS). It was built and painted to match the historical society's Fire House... Full story
A proposal to turn the former site of the Neighborhood Learning Center of Niwot at 304 Franklin Street into a 6,405 square-foot veterinary clinic will go before the Boulder County Commissioners at a public hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 12 at the Boulder County Courthouse. Interested parties are invited to give their testimony before the three-member panel. At issue is whether the proposed new use of the property, which lies in the Niwot Rural Community District II (NRCDII),... Full story
When it’s springtime in the Rockies, the runoff from melting snow seems to supercharge the area’s waterways. Don’t let this flow fool you. The Drought.gov website states present conditions across Colorado indicate that 45 percent of the population is experiencing drought conditions. For the time being, Boulder County isn’t in one of those areas, but voluntary water reduction measures are highly recommended. By 2050, according to many sources, Colorado will house more than 8.5 million people....
Singer-songwriter Rebecca Folsom performs in exotic venues all over the world, but there is no place the long-time Rock & Rails favorite enjoys more than the bandstand at Whistle Stop Park in the summertime. “It’s my favorite of the whole year,” the Boulder native said about her upcoming show on July 5. “Coming home and playing for my Colorado people is where I’m very happy. It’s the sweet spot for me, to play for the hometown crowds. I’m in the heart of where I want to be.” Though Folsom i...
Sponsored by Fabulous Finds The work of a few who quietly and reliably give from their hearts becomes the powerful way in which people’s lives are touched and forever changed for the better. Jim Jones is one of those people - a humble, caring man who has joyfully provided Niwot with his energy and positivity in a whole host of ways for more than 25 years. Jim and his wife Pat, both originally from Michigan, moved to Minnesota after college where Jim began his professional career as a software e...
Plans to turn the former site of the Neighborhood Learning Center of Niwot into a 6,405 square-foot veterinary clinic cleared an important hurdle when the Boulder County Planning Commission gave its conditional approval to Left Hand Animal Hospital’s site development proposal at a public hearing on June 20. After hearing testimony from county planning staff and more than a two dozen supporters, the seven commissioners in attendance agreed that the proposed renovation at 304 Franklin Street is b...
Gadzooks – Our fair kingdom can boast about quest seekers worthy of Don Quixote himself. No windmills this time, but instead they have found Excalibur. Congratulations to knights extraordinaire Edward “Torque” Nowak and Robb Haas. Then there are our knights-in-training: Paxton Lavigne, whose mother Marcie Lavigne said, “Paxton went on a quest and found the sword.” And Ben and Jon Lenger, who wanted pictorial proof of their find. There are no damsels in distress for this quest. Hailey Noterman... Full story
A dedication to problem-solving on Niwot’s behalf is among the reasons Niwot Community Association board members chose former chair Dick Piland to serve as the 2018 Grand Marshal of the town’s July 4 parade. “I am honored to serve as Grand Marshal,” Piland said. “But frankly, I was very surprised to be nominated. I think there are several others more deserving than I am.” Piland’s willingness to pitch in is a strength others appreciate. “Dick jumps into projects without reserve,” said... Full story
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 Elementary School, specifically on Morton Road, Walker Avenue and Marathon Road. Dave Webster with the Boulder County Transportation Department led the meeting, which was attended by over 20 people. The project somewhat started with the asphalt bicycle and pedestrian track that was laid on Morton Road la...
Heatherwood Elementary School (HES) won the lottery when Carrie O’Boyle moved to Gunbarrel seven years ago. Her husband Patrick was starting a new job in the area, so after more than 20 years in Madison, WI, the couple and their two young children headed to Colorado. The O’Boyle boys are Finn, now 11 and attending Platt Middle School, and Cormac (Mac), 9, a fourth-grader at HES. “Carrie, a valued volunteer at Heatherwood Elementary, is always willing to pitch in where needed and lend a helpi... Full story
Baseball and softball games at Hangge Fields at Monarch Park were part of the Opening Day festivities for Niwot Youth Sports on Saturday May 5. The program, which has roots back to the Left Hand Men’s Club in 1969, provides baseball and softball programs for children in the Niwot-Gunbarrel area. According to Executive Director Pat Longseth, over 300 boys and girls are signed up for the baseball program, and approximately 120 girls are playing softball. . Longseth is himself a former player in th...
More than a dozen volunteers donated their time and energy to plant hundreds of perennials and spread wheelbarrows full of mulch at Left Hand Valley Grange Park on the corner of Niwot Road and 83rd Street, Saturday, April 28. Boulder County Parks and Open Space workers were on hand to assist and direct the community helpers. Beautiful warm weather and lightly cloudy skies provided a gorgeous day for the workers and a first-rate day for the plants to start to spread their root...
Longtime president of the Niwot Community Association (NCA), Dick Piland, presided over his final meeting, Wednesday, April 18, at the Left Hand Grange Hall. Piland announced at the January NCA board meeting that he would not seek re-election this year, marking the end of five years heading up the board. Voting for available board positions concluded at the annual meeting, signifying the conclusion of two-year terms for half of the board. Each nominee ran unopposed. The other half of the board...
Niwot’s Michelle Law has dedicated herself to the boys in her life and the community, earning her the Courier’s Left Hand Laurel. Law is the mother of three boys and also a long-time leader of Boy Scout Troop 161, holding different positions over the years, including serving as the troop’s Advancement Chair for the past two years. A resident of Niwot since 2000, she was a member of the Left Hand Grange when she learned the Grange, as the chartering organization for Troop 161’s Boy Scouts...
The Left Hand Valley Courier received its first ever editorial award in the 2017 Colorado Press Association Better Newspaper contest. Reporter Vicky Dorvee took second place in the category Best Health Enterprise/Health Feature for her story “The gift of a lifetime,” which tells the story of long-time Niwot resident Jim Eastman and his search for a kidney donor. “The story does a good job of merging the individual stories of the men involved. A very interesting read,” were one judge’s comments...
The Niwot Historical Society will present the second lecture of the 2018 series - Ghost Towns of the American West - on Wednesday, April 25, at the Left Hand Grange Hall. Award-winning writer-director, and self-proclaimed ghost town junkie, Ethan Knightchilde will regale on a topic which has enamored him since he was nine years old. Even as a youngster, Knightchilde carried his camera everywhere. But it wasn’t until he was an adult that he combined his fascination with ghost towns and his photog...
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP An Alzheimer’s support group will meet on the first Wednesday of every month. This class is free and open to the public, no registration required. The events are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Niwot United Methodist Church, 7405 Lookout Road, Gunbarrel. COMMUNITY DINNER The community is invited to attend the 22nd annual Soup, Soup and More dinner on April 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Niwot United Methodist Church, 7405 Lookout Road. Proceeds to benefit OUR Center of Longmont and to help send the choir to sing at Car...
On Tuesday April 3, the Niwot LID Advisory Committee held its first monthly meeting since the appointment of Scott Firle, Anne Postle, and Bruce Rabeler to the board by the Boulder County Commissioners late last month. On hand to welcome them were current members Bruce Warren, Jim Eastman, Harris Faberman, Carrie Wise, Jay Champion, and Laura Skaggs, who was also reappointed to board for a second five-year term. “It’s great to have new individuals and faces on the board,” Boulder County liais...
There’s an uninvited guest staying on the Schultz Family Farm. She’s pleasant though and no one is complaining. In fact, she’s drawing a great deal of attention to a small patch of land on the corner of Oxford Road and Highway 287, which Glen Schultz is hoping will become more familiar to the public. Two months ago, a lone female elk jumped into the pasture that holds two male oxen. And she’s stayed around to graze and lounge in the field with her good-natured horned friends, Chester and Cal...
Alzheimer’s support group An Alzheimer’s support group will meet on the first Wednesday of every month. This class is free and open to the public, no registration required. The events are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Niwot United Methodist Church, 7405 Lookout Road, Gunbarrel. Book signing Hear a presentation from author Katy Butler about her experience with dealing with end-of-life care for her parents and have a discussion with The Conversation Project, an organization that helps ease the burden on individuals and their families at the end of l... Full story
Niwot and Gunbarrel residents should be extra cautious about clearing out valuables and locking their vehicles along with making sure their garage doors are down, Boulder County Sheriff’s Department Commander Mike Wagner told Niwot Community Association board members at the board’s April 4 meeting. “We are seeing an uptick in vehicle thefts, along with crimes of opportunity,” Wagner said. “People are having their cars stolen, along with items from their unlocked vehicles or open garages.” Wagner said the sheriff’s department believes ther... Full story
Fellow Niwotions, Having just completed Margaret Coel’s “Chief Left Hand,” it seems those visiting the sculptures and historical markers may infer, incorrectly, that the photograph displayed is Chief Niwot. However, this is his cousin, “No-Ta-Nee” a less prominent Southern Arapaho Bosse. (Photograph UC library Western History Collection, Page 226-e of Coel’s book). Chief Left Hand’s brother, Neva is pictured as the ranking Southern Arapaho present. There are no known photographs of The Great Chief Niwot — perhaps was his plan as many Chiefs... Full story
Dear Editor, As a faithful reader of the Left Hand Valley Courier, I always look forward to your April Fool's edition. However, I am very disappointed that my favorite columnist, Warren Piece, did not write his yearly story. So, he may not be a Pulitzer prize winner but who was that Artie Fischel guy and how come he got the front page? Warren Piece is a legend in his own mind and I miss his column. Sincerely, Waiting for next year ***** Dear Waiting, Alas, certain matters arose which diverted my attention from the opportunity to add to your...
The Courier’s Little Guy (LG) , the former face and some say the brains behind the Left Hand Valley Courier, will be turning 21 on April 1. The Little Guy graced the banner of the Courier for 18 years before an early retirement. That said, on April 1 and throughout the entire month, the Courier is encouraging readers to toast to the Little Guy as they enjoy beverages. “I really do appreciate the cards, fan mail and flowers people have sent already,” LG said. “For future reference, don’t s...
When Niwot student Jackson Cloud’s eponymous band beat out Golden-based Thunder and Rain in the final round of the Oskar Blues Battle of the Bands contest last month, it is fair to say he was a little awestruck. At the tender age of 17, Cloud and his blues-infused classic rock combo band outplayed five other competitors to claim the 2018 crown and will perform on the Oskar Blues BolderBOULDER Expo Stage during the iconic race, which commemorates its 40th anniversary in May. “I was surprised jus... Full story
The abrupt closure of Powder Keg Brewing Company earlier this month may have been a shock to its Niwot neighbors, but industry insiders have seen the signs of a plateau in the craft beer market for a while. After years of red-hot growth in brewery openings and sales volume, the demand for new craft beer is leveling off and brewers are starting to feel the pinch as consumers increasingly spend their recreational dollars elsewhere. “Absolutely, the market is tightening,” Odyssey Beerwerks’ Jeff...
Local robotics Team 1619, based in Longmont, earned a significant honor this month at the Hub City Regional Competition in Lubbock, Texas - the Regional Chairman’s Award. Along with their alliance teams, the team also took first place out of 41 teams at the same event. Since the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) team was formed in 2004, and dubbed Up-A-Creek Robotics, membership and facilities have dramatically improved. Its beginnings were humble, with the first meeting in a t...
