All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Last Saturday, Gunbarrel's Beyond the Mountain Brewing Company celebrated its fourth anniversary. The brewery, known for a love of both craft beer and music, had both on site for the event with a pair of performances by Danny Evans and jam band The Jauntee. In honor of the milestone and in keeping with the cooler season, the taproom brewed and served a S'mores Stout as a special release Anniversary Ale. It was smooth, with flavors of chocolate, creamy marshmallow, and graham cracker nuttiness. E...
Grief is a difficult thing. On one hand, we're often told to go through the stages, heal and move on. But on the other hand, it's not clear how long those stages "should" last, and we can be pressured to feel as though the healing is complete before we're ready. What I love about Niwot resident Ellen Haswell's book, "A Little Book of Words for Those Who Grieve,'' is that the whole book takes you through the process, and while it's a short read, it feels like you can take your time. With only 59...
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...
The seasonal festivities continued in Niwot on Dec. 4-5, with the first of two weekends of the Niwot Holiday Market, a shopping fair with more than 30 pop-up vendors in Cottonwood Square and on 2nd Avenue. Items on sale ranged from homemade lotions, to specialty foods, to clothing, and more. The fun continues on Dec. 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit niwot.com/events....
In 2020, charitable giving rose to an all-time high in the U.S., even as many Americans struggled with uncertainty and disruptions. While that is good news for the nation's non-profit organizations, the unfortunate reality is that much of the bounty went to high profile causes and groups, leaving small and locally-focused charities scrambling to make up for lost fundraising opportunities. As 2021 comes to a close, many of those groups could still use some help to balance the scales. "There are a... Full story
The weather may not have been very Christmas-like, but there was nonetheless plenty of holiday cheer at Niwot's annual holiday parade on Saturday, Nov. 26. This year's procession featured Elsa from the popular Frozen movie franchise, a menagerie of animals, classic cars, singing elementary school students, a Chinese dragon, and much, much more. Santa arrived riding on the bed of Longmont Rural's Old Engine No. 10, and then held court at Left Hand Grange. Roving carolers and the Niwot Community...
Let the merriment begin! On Friday, Nov. 26, the 2021 holiday season officially got underway in Niwot with the 21st annual Enchanted Evening. Hundreds of revelers packed 2nd Avenue and Cottonwood Square, looking for bargains or just some festive fun. Click here to see more photos from Niwot's Enchanted Evening...
Since 1993, the Niwot Historical Society has been on a mission to collect, preserve, and share memories from the town's rich and storied past, which stretches back nearly 150 years. Starting Saturday, Nov. 27, you can help support that mission and check an item off of your holiday to-do list with the purchase of a limited edition Niwot greeting card, featuring original artwork and a short lesson in local history. "The original watercolor paintings of a Niwot location have been donated for our...
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...
The 2021 holiday shopping season is just around the corner and, conveniently, you don't have to go much farther than that to start it off right. On Friday, Nov. 26, the Niwot Business association kicks off three weekends of downtown festivities with the 21st edition of Enchanted Evening, featuring Christmas traditions gone-by. "Niwot really comes alive during the holidays," NBA Vice President and event co-organizer Deborah Read Fowler said. "We're so excited for the tree lighting, Santa, the par...
As part of the effort to update the town's five-year strategic plan, the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee invited leaders from more than a dozen local community organizations to a round table discussion at the Left Hand Grange on Nov. 2 to discuss how to prioritize tax revenues over the coming years and encourage cooperation among the groups on community projects. Among the groups represented were the Niwot Business Association, Niwot Community Association, the Rotary Club of...
A crowd of almost 100 gathered at the intersection of Franklin Street and Second Avenue on Sunday, Nov. 7, to honor veterans of the U.S. armed forces, including some 44 veterans with local connections featured on banners hung throughout the Niwot business district. The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, under the direction of Debbie Benson, began with a selection of John Philip Sousa marches and other tunes, including Yankee Doodle Boy, Respect, The Thunderer, America, Stars &...
Niwot got a little spooky last Saturday, as costumed revelers of all ages flocked to Cottonwood Square and then filled 2nd Avenue for the town's Annual Great Pumpkin Party. Although nearby Longmont held its own parade at the same time, locals were eager to enjoy the local celebration, and did so with perfect weather. Moderate temperatures and blue skies set the tone with large red, gold and brown leaves still on many of Niwot's enormous trees or crunching underfoot. Beginning at the parking lot...
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...
What has thousands of legs and puts on a disguise to invade downtown Niwot each October? The annual Great Pumpkin Party and Parade, a family-friendly celebration of all things fall and Halloween. "The people make it good," longtime Niwot realtor and event sponsor Pat Murphy said. "Seeing all of the costumes that everyone comes up with and working with all of the volunteers is my favorite part." The free festivities, sponsored by the Niwot Business Association with support from the Niwot Local...
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...
A windy Saturday didn't dampen Niwot's Oktoberfest spirits. The weather did, however, cause tossed signs, fallen chairs outside of The Wheel House, and fewer people participating in outdoor activities during the Oct. 9 event. "It's been rough," said Eric Bergeson, owner of Wheel Works, The Wheel House, and the food truck La Musette. "Normally, Oktoberfest has a tent. We did our best. This morning at 8:30 a.m. we tried to put a tent out in front of our place and it just obviously wasn't working....
If you're a frequent driver on Highway 52 you have probably noticed a new farm stand, Lazy J. The "J" is for John Scaggs, who is anything but lazy. Scaggs raises pigs, which he's been doing since 2015. "I run a unique, pretty exotic set of genetics," Scaggs said. The backbone of his herd is the Mangalitsa breed, which is from Hungary. These pigs are very well adapted to the Front Range. They are all dark colored pigs with woolly coats that take about 50% longer than commercial pigs to get to...
Work on a proposal to create a community garden space in Niwot is starting, Niwot Community Association board member Diane Zimmermann told NCA members at the Oct. 6 meeting. "The first step is to survey our NCA members to gauge interest and gather ideas, and then put together a community group made up of Niwot residents and NCA members interested in getting this project started," Zimmermann said. "We see so many Niwot residents with beautiful gardens and we could use their expert advice and...
First Hole A hawk whistles as it lands on the giant cottonwood just behind the first tee. It's an appropriate send-off as I begin my final round at Haystack Mountain Golf Course. As always, there is something that takes my attention away from the little white ball when I'm here, whether it is the wildlife, peach and purple sunsets, stately trees or the tawny slopes of the odd bump on the horizon, Haystack Mountain itself. This late summer day is the last time I'll play the nine-hole course off...
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...
After a five-hour meeting to review its five-year strategic plan, the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee decided that the best course of action would be to host the leadership of all of the non-profit organizations serving the Niwot community at a roundtable discussion. The purpose of the meeting will be to give each organization, including the LID, a better understanding of each organization’s purpose and short-term goals, as well as start a conversation about how best to share resources. Eight of the nine LID committee member...
Blood Orange Kolsch, brewed by Crystal Springs Brewing Company in nearby Louisville, took home gold at the recent Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony, held earlier this month in Denver. Often served, and appreciated, during the Rock & Rails concert series, it's the second craft beer with a Niwot connection to take home top prizes in its category. The other medal winner was Bootstrap Brewing's Sticks Pale Ale, another crowd favorite at Rock & Rails. This was the first GABF win and first...
Silence and Respect. Thus reads the first trail sign greeting visitors at the Sand Creek Massacre National HIstoric Site. Thirty Niwot-area residents, both young and old, traveled to the site on Saturday, Sept. 25, by bus exactly 17 months after the original excursion was derailed by the pandemic. What originally started as two busloads of Niwotians dwindled to a little more than half a bus, due to COVID concerns and the difficulty of finding a rescheduled date that fit everyone's schedule, but...
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,...
On Saturday, Aug. 28, the Niwot community celebrated bees for their contribution to our world--without them, flowers would have fewer pollinators and we certainly wouldn't have honey without them. In recognition of bees, the Niwot Business Association and event champions Deborah Read Fowler and Victoria Keen hosted the Honey Bee Harvest Festival. The celebration included a panel of speakers throughout the day, live music, family activities and more, all throughout Niwot. Niwot resident Jerry...
Who says that the past has to be confined to the pages of a book? Last weekend, history was on a field and in attendees' living memories. After a year-long hiatus due to COVID-19, Longmont's Dougherty Museum held the Yesteryear Farm Show. Judging by the packed parking lot and early morning crowds, the community welcomed the return of the three-day event. Katherine Eskridhe from Broomfield was there with her young daughter Jo. "My dad is friends with the Doughertys who own the museum and we've...
Niwot Boy Scout pack 161 resumed in-person meetings on Monday, Aug. 23 at Whistle Stop Park. The boys, leadership, and parents were pleased to conduct their meetings in real life rather than online. Meetings will continue to take place in person as much as possible, either at Whistle Stop Park or inside at the Left Hand Grange building....
Though Niwot can lay claim to fame as the original home of major craft brewing talent, a different beverage, mead, had its chance to shine during last weekend's Honey Bee Harvest Festival. Bartenders at The Wheel House served it to crowds of customers throughout Saturday afternoon. Drinkers could choose from three mead varieties and eight mead-based cocktails, all featuring offerings from Boulder-based Redstone Meadery. The tasting spectrum for mead samples ranged from lighter to more intense an...
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....
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...
The first Niwot Honey Bee Harvest Festival will take flight on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring hives of fun activity around town. Look for flyers posted with the schedule of the day's activities. Niwot Business Association vice-president Deb Fowler and Niwot resident Victoria Keen have been very "beesy" organizing the festival since early 2021. Honey bees are not native to the United States and were brought over by the pilgrims, but they have long been a part of the Niwot area....
After a long year of weekly Zoom meetings and modified events, the Rotary Club of Niwot is back on more familiar footing in 2021, and newly elected president Kerrin Reichen is looking forward to a busy year of giving back to the community. "Our motto is 'Service above Self,' and we want to get out and get our hands dirty, so to speak," she said. "There are so many things in the community we support, and the money we raise goes straight to them." Reichen assumed the presidency as of July 1, and...
Some of the most dramatic pieces of public art in Niwot are three works created by the gifted artist Eddie Running Wolf, who passed away last summer. Unfortunately the tree carvings aren't holding up well to the weather and other ongoing natural elements. Now, an effort is underway to preserve them and potentially reinstall them indoors. Work will start this week on the piece known as Spear Lodge Man. "I think Spear Lodge Man was the first carving that was done and it's been an iconic display...
"Service above self" is the motto of the Rotary Club International, and for Niwot Rotarian Thom Lynch, no one has embodied that more over the past 18 months than Tara Shaheen and Stacy Szydlek, co-owners of Niwot Tavern. On Aug. 5 at Rock & Rails, he presented the two with the club's third annual Community Achievement Award, given to members of the community "who have displayed a heart of service, dedication, and love for Niwot." "When they bought the Tavern in January 2020, they had big plans...
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...
The Niwot track and field program has produced its fair share of talented athletes, most notably Elise Cranny, who will be representing the U.S. in the 5000-meter Olympic race on Friday, July 30. But Taylor James stands out even in that elite group. During a storied track and cross country career at Niwot, the versatile performer earned seven individual state track titles, a handful of relay titles, a runner-up title in cross-country, and set at least two Class 4A records. For longtime Niwot tra...
Since her college days, local seamstress and designer Allie Olson has loved to sew her own clothes. Her mother taught her the craft as a child, and it is something that has always stuck with her. "I've been working in the sewing world for 10 years," Olson said. "Sewing tends to be a very introverted hobby... I'm surprised by how social it is." After graduating from the University of Colorado, Olson and a small team opened a business that sold indie sewing patterns. "They're not like your grandma...
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...
Early farmers in the Niwot area relied upon wells and cisterns for a domestic water supply, as did the residents of Old Town Niwot. In 1960, as Colorado's population began to increase, they looked for a better system to supply potable water to the area. Because Niwot was unincorporated, there was no municipal water system, so farmers and residents formed the Left Hand Domestic Water Users Association, an unincorporated association and sought a $1.25 million loan from the FHA to finance the...
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...
Fire protection in Niwot goes back at least 100 years, as evidenced by the Firehouse Museum next to the Left Hand Grange in Niwot. An early cart used to put out fires with a chemical mixture rests outside the museum, a relic from early days of firefighting efforts. Today, fire protection and rescue services are provided by Mountain View Fire and Rescue, a sprawling special district that was originally established in 1961 as the Longmont Rural Fire District to provide professional fire...
After a quiet summer in 2020, Niwotians were up early and ready for a festive Independence Day. The first post-pandemic fourth featured a fun run starting at Niwot High, a pancake breakfast at Niwot Market, a concert by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, and a patriotic motorcade led by Grand Marshal Chuck Klueber. See additional photos on page 6....
May 23, 1938 - May 20, 2021 James Grey Postle of Niwot, Colorado passed away on May 20, 2021 peacefully at home after a lengthy illness. His crystal-clear blue eyes, positive outlook, infectious smile, and dry sense of humor will be missed by all who loved him. "Jimmy" was born on May 23, 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio to William and Evelyn Postle. He grew up in Southern California and graduated from Dorsey High School. His beloved mother died at the young age of 44, leaving Jim heartbroken, but... Full story
Boulder County Parks and Open Space recently completed several planting projects to offset canopy loss on open space property caused by the emerald ash borer. County staff and volunteers planted 52 new trees at four trailheads throughout the county, including at the Niwot Loop and Lefthand Valley Grange Trailheads. Funding for the project was provided, in part, by a $1,500 grant that Boulder County received from the Colorado Tree Coalition (CTC), a nonprofit that works with commercial and munici...
On June 7, Niwot Boy Scout troop 161 held its spring 2021 Court of Honor ceremony at Whistle Stop Park, where they awarded merit badges, inducted six new Eagle Scouts, and recognized longtime scout leader Bill O’Donnell. “Bill loved all the young men he mentored over 28 years,” wrote Kathy Koehler of the Niwot Historical Society of the ceremony. “If you needed anything scout-related you contacted Bill for so many years - such a proud part of our Niwot community.” According to Koehler, Bruce Gri...
