All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Meg Heitlinger moved here from Minneapolis in 2006 for the same reason many people come to Colorado--"the idea of living from snow to sunshine." Twelve years later, Heitlinger became the much beloved president of the Parent Teacher Organization at Heatherwood Elementary. "It seems that Meg is here at Heatherwood more days than she's not," said Mary Lietz, Principal's Assistant. "She is constantly pitching in, supporting our school and leading our PTO Crew. She is smart and eloquent and delivers...
Excel Electric's office has been located in Niwot for 35 years, so the sale of the building it's in and subsequent move to a newly constructed larger property in Longmont will be momentous. On Jan. 10, 2020, Harrington Stanko Construction closed on the purchase of the property owned by Related Investments Partners LLP, and occupied by Excel Electric (EE). "We're pretty excited to bring something really nice there for the town and the people to enjoy," Tim Harrington, partner at Harrington...
Doctors' offices as a rule are less fun than say...a walk in the park. It can oftentimes be worse for pets, for whom a confusing visit to the veterinarian's office may be an onslaught of scents, close quarters shared with bewildering beings, possible unpleasant associations, and the scary anticipation of what's going to happen next. Niwot's Left Hand Animal Hospital (LHAH) wanted to alleviate the stress pets go through, so they sought out expert advice on the subject and the entire practice...
Niwot residents are invited to attend a neighborhood meeting hosted by Terry Palmos to review and provide feedback on a preliminary plan for a project in the Niwot Rural Community District I on property formerly occupied by Colterra restaurant. Docket SPR-20-TBD: 210 Franklin, LLC Request: Residential/Commercial mixed-use Location: 210 Franklin, Niwot, CO Owner/Applicant: 210 Franklin, LLC The neighborhood meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at the Left Hand Grange #9 (...
FEMA will soon be implementing new floodplain maps for Boulder County. A move by the county last week to begin community review and appeals for the newly designated preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) from FEMA is just one step in an ongoing process to reevaluate and replace the old, outdated floodplain maps in Boulder County. In September 2019, the county came one step closer to approving new floodplain maps by adopting the preliminary FIRMS provided by FEMA. Those rate maps will be s...
Niwot's Little Bird is a symphony of good taste in every form - from art to jewelry, clothing to body care. Sonja Motley-Turman can be found amongst the treasures at Little Bird, offering customers her assistance. Her expertise in all things fashion and style won't come as a surprise to those who know her well. But for everyone else, here is some insight into Motley-Turman's life. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC): Where did you grow up and what brought you to Colorado? Sonja Motley-Turman (SMT):...
"We talk about turning the world into a garden. What if as we walked through neighborhoods and communities, everywhere you looked there were vegetables growing, fruits growing, mushroom logs, teenagers who knew their neighbors..." This is the vision outlined by Mara Rose, Co-Founder and CEO of Boundless Landscapes. And this innovative organization is in the process of making that vision a reality. Rose, Josh Tosteson, and Sep Kamvar co-founded Boundless Landscapes in 2019 to answer an important...
When Kate Johnson, author of "Tiny Goat, Big Cheese," started learning about goats and cheesemaking, she didn't realize she was ahead of the curve of a new hip trend sweeping the nation. When Gene Hayworth, owner of Niwot's Inkberry Books, started his own small-town bookstore and printing press, it was a big risk. "But if you don't try it, you'll never know what could happen," he said. Both Left Hand Valley locals are simply following their passions, and their work will be on display at an...
Following the 2013 flood, the state-funded Colorado Hazard Mapping Program (CHAMP) has been re-mapping the regulatory floodplain of the most affected waterways in Colorado. In 2017 and 2018, Boulder County adopted comprehensive zoning map amendments to the Floodplain Overlay Zoning District based on draft CHAMP mapping for unincorporated Boulder County. The draft data were also submitted to FEMA, which released Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for CHAMP-studied stream reaches in September 2019. Boulder County adopted the...
Retiree Kamilla Macar is anything but re-"tired." She's incredibly active, positive, outgoing, and caring. Each week, among the long list of other happenings keeping her busy, the 83 year-old will be found giving her time and energy to Cultivate, a nonprofit organization serving a variety of needs of local seniors. Macar is a person who loves to keep moving, and she's also an avid steward of the environment. For the past two years, twice a week, she's walked the mile each way between her house...
Our community knows a thing or two about how to throw a party. We may be small, but we are lively, as seen by the turn out at each Rock & Rails, First Friday or Dancing Under the Stars event. This New Year's Eve, close out the decade in style with friends, family, and neighbors by attending any of these awesome events around Boulder County. This Dec. 31, The Niwot Tavern will host a celebration unlike any other. Join beloved bartenders Tara and Stacy as they pour sparkling glasses of champagne...
Even Mrs. Claus couldn't resist partaking of the goodies offered during the annual Women's International Niwot Club (WINC) Holiday Fayre on Saturday, Dec. 14. Niwot's community center, the Left Hand Grange, was alight with holiday cheer as more than 500 visitors perused the booths of 23 local vendors. Shoppers bought presents for others, some items to keep for themselves, and quickly snatched up tantalizing baked goods to be enjoyed sooner rather than later. Art work, jewelry, candles, body...
Niwot's annual window decorating contest, sponsored by Left Hand Animal Hospital, drew an unprecedented number of participants at Enchanted Evening on Nov. 29. With 23 businesses included in Old Town and Cottonwood Square, those attending the festival saw a wide array of themes: Santa's welcome home living room, gnomes welcoming visitors to Gniwot, even miniature superheroes celebrating a tiny terrarium version of Hanukkah. New participants in the contest this year, Classic Looks and Abo's...
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Niwot's 2nd Avenue was temporarily transformed into Santa Claus Lane as the big guy himself made a return trip to town for the annual Holiday Parade. This year's procession featured a wide variety of scouts (cub, boy, brownie, and girl), as well as classic car clubs, elementary school students, horses, marching bands and much, much more. Santa led the festive procession from the bed of Longmont Rural's Old Engine No. 10, and then headed over to the Left Hand Grange to meet...
After a busy fall coordinating the Niwot Veterans Banner project and taking part in the Great Pumpkin Party and Enchanted Evening, Niwot Community Association board members turned their attention to helping spread holiday cheer in Niwot. At the Dec. 4 board meeting, NCA board members agreed to add to their decorations at the corner of Niwot Road and the Diagonal Highway. The area currently has some lighted wreaths and a holiday snowman courtesy of the NCA and the property owner, and board...
Their first names rhyme, so it is easy to see them as a matched set and their last name is emblematic of the brightening effect they have on the community. It's Jill and Bill Whitener - the vivacious, capable, and caring duo who have become very familiar faces in Niwot. We posed a few questions to find out what makes this generous couple tick and here is what we've learned. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC): Tell us a bit about your backgrounds. Jill & Bill (J&B): Jill grew up in Aspen. Her...
Deb Fowler understands how scary and difficult it can be with a newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a hospital. So when she learned about the organization Love for Lily, whose mission it is to help families with children in a NICU to thrive while in the hospital and when they go home, she was moved to support them. "It's a charity we chose because myself and Bonnie [Beam], who's on the team, were both NICU moms and we would have loved something like this." Fowler's son Oliver...
The conditions were decidedly seasonal at Niwot's annual Enchanted Evening celebration, held Nov. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. Hearty locals braved frigid temperatures and snowy sidewalks to enjoy musical performances, the holiday tree lighting, shopping deals, and a visit from the big man himself....
Medicine on a leash is how this month's Laurel recipient Jim Thomas refers to his faithful companion, Archie the fox red Labrador retriever. As part of the organization, Therapy Dog Boulder County (TDBC), 65-year-old Thomas and six-year-old Archie are weekly visitors at Superior Elementary School. All 76 pounds of the wagging pooch exudes love, so it's the perfect gig for him. His human partner is all about being there for others too. "My mom and dad brought us up to help people," Thomas said...
Climate Reality campaign organizer and Niwot High School graduate (2013) Natalie Negrelli, presented 24 Hours of Climate Reality, Truth in Action, a world-wide event discussing climate change and solutions. About 35 people were in attendance at the Left Hand Grange, including a contingent of Niwot High School's Environmental Club. Climate Reality is a global nonprofit organization focused on climate change advocacy and education which was founded by Nobel Laureate and former U.S. Vice President...
One hundred and fifty years ago, we weren't the only place named Niwot. Chief Niwot--or Left Hand--was an Arapaho chief. He was a skilled linguist, a visionary, and a constant advocate of peace. He made such an impression on the local settlers that a mine, an inn, and two towns claimed his name. The mine closed, the inn is gone, and the other Niwot changed its name to Altona to appease the postman. In the end, we are the only town that bears the name Niwot. So it is fitting that the first thing...
Thanks to the Niwot Historical Society archives, we get a glimpse into Niwot's bygone Thanksgiving celebrations. On Nov. 22, 1957 "The Niwot Tribune" reported an evening church service at the EUB Church, a middle school rendition of "Wildcat Willie Carves the Turkey," and advertisements from Curtis Confectionary encouraging readers to "Start Now with Your Christmas Lay-Away." First and second grade teacher Dora Chappell reported, "Last Friday we made many vegetables and fruits for our Horn of...
In 2011, Heather McCarthy and her daughter joined a friend on a trip to Thailand aimed at helping local children there. Overwhelmed by the love and gratitude from those she helped, she was inspired to do more. Her need to serve this community resulted in McCarthy and a few peers starting Charities Within Reach (CWR) and opened up the Promise Home in northern Thailand. What is unique about CWR is the organization is not supported by any major corporation. It is a self-identified grassroots group...
The Niwot Business Association (NBA) received word in June that a Boulder County Economic Vitality Grant it had applied for on behalf of Niwot's Left Hand Valley Grange had been approved. The grant is part of Boulder County's overall distribution of grant funds to one economic development organization in each municipality including Erie, Longmont, and Nederland. The fund was formerly called the Economic Development Grant. Boulder County's Economic Development website page reads, "In support of...
Just a few shows in and already Willowdale Live is taking root in Niwot. The live arts not-for-profit entertainment series has two more shows before the end of the year and 2020s early year talent lineup of Americana, bluegrass, and folk performers, along with artist-speakers, is nearly all booked. The shows take place once a month at Niwot's community gathering spot, the Left Hand Valley Grange. Willowdale Live's local co-founders Nick Dunbar and Andy Mann kicked off the inaugural show in...
Hot Rize band member Pete Wernick (aka Dr. Banjo) entertained and educated a full-house audience at the Left Hand Grange hall Wednesday night Oct. 23, during his lecture on the history of the banjo. Wernick, who calls Niwot home, shared the chronological path banjos have taken as well as his own musical journey as part of this season's Niwot Historical Society's lecture series....
A frustrating quest to find the ideal elegant, simple, and convertible bag led Ann Whitehill to the conclusion that she would need to create it herself. So Ann Whitehill Studio, maker of fine leather bags and portfolios was born in 2013. Her handmade bags are beautiful, functional, extremely durable, and meticulously crafted completely by hand. Because Whitehill loved traveling, commuting by bike and creating art, the bag needed to be large enough to hold a lot of gear and had to be incredibly...
Bring your alter-ego, your children and your parents, and a dog or two to Niwot's Great Pumpkin Party on Saturday, Oct. 26. The Niwot Business Association and Niwot Local Improvement District are hosting the 22nd annual masquerade party which includes door-to-door trick or treating at local businesses, a festive parade, and family-friendly entertainment from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Layered in crunchy orange and yellow leaves, stout pumpkins and scarecrows that make you do a double-take, 2nd Avenue bec...
In late 2017, Gunbarrel resident Kristin Bjornsen was at an impasse. Following a "spectacular loss" in her lawsuit against Boulder County over violations of Colorado's sunshine laws, the full-time mother-of-two was torn on whether to proceed with a costly and time-consuming appeal or whether to leave the legal battle for government transparency to more seasoned professionals. "On the one hand I felt like the issues were clear, and I felt like I had clarity if I could just clear away the muddle...
Brigadoon Glen residents Martin and Kim Magill want to set the record straight about what they term "the commercialization in our backyard." "We're not harassers," Martin Magill said. "Nothing could be further from the truth." For more than a dozen years, the pair have lived on Haystack Golf Course's eastern edge, and argue that the increase in noise and traffic from weddings at the 53-year old Niwot landmark have threatened to destroy "the peace and quiet of this beautiful area we live in."...
Lamp posts along 2nd Avenue in Niwot were decorated with banners for the first year of a project honoring our local veterans. Each of the 32 banners is a tribute to U.S. service men and women with a connection to Niwot. Honorees' photographs, names, their years of service and which branch they served in are printed on each commemorative banner. Chances are many last names on the banners will be familiar to our readers. Sheila Ray, who first brought the veterans' project idea to the Niwot...
Pete Wernick, aka Dr. Banjo, fell for the stringed instrument in his teens. What brought a banjo into the hands of a NYC kid? It was the legendary Earl Scruggs of Grand Ole Opry fame that first piqued Wernick's musical taste buds. Decades of picking and plucking have made Wernick a world-renowned musician, songwriter, and educator who calls Niwot, CO his home. Dr. Banjo has entertained audiences at Niwot's Left Hand Valley Grange more times than he can count. The next appearance at his hometown...
To the Editor: Thank you for highlighting the passion and dedication of local Niwot High School students in your recent article “Niwot High students strike for climate change awareness” (9/26/2019). It is gratifying and inspiring to see young people taking action in the face of climate change. The Global Climate Strike on September 20th was a massive manifestation of public understanding of the urgency of the current climate crisis, and our desire for solutions. The fact of human-caused climate change is undeniable. Multiple peer-reviewed stu...
The 2019-2020 Niwot Historical Lecture series begins with a bang – a bang on an ancient musical instrument that is. In the first of four planned lectures for the upcoming season, archaeologist Marilyn Martorano, will discuss the lithophone, one of the rarest prehistoric artifacts discovered in Colorado. "I always loved the archeology in the San Luis Valley, it's so diverse - from prehistoric times thousands of years ago to the historic period," Martorano said, "but I never thought I'd be s...
Niwot High's Paul Cordts, a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Cuxhaven Germany, hiked Rotary Peak on Sunday, July 8, with other rotary exchange students in Colorado's Rotary District 5450. Paul is shown with his host family, Julie and Scott Stockert of Longmont. Scott is Sergeant at Arms of the Niwot Rotary Club, which meets Thursday mornings at 7 for breakfast, at the Left Hand Grange Hall in Niwot. Guests welcome....
An email from Sarah Brown to the Courier read, "In May I started working at Lucky Pie in Niwot and have had the pleasure of working with Dylan, the general manager. We have a constant joke going at work about how he's the mayor of Niwot since he seems to know everyone that lives in the area. He's one of the kindest people I've ever known, let alone worked with. So, if you take suggestions for Familiar Faces, I'd love to see him in there! He really deserves all the recognition as he is a...
On Saturday, Sept. 28, Niwot's Left Hand Watershed Center is partnering with three other local watershed groups for Front Range Watershed Days, a day-long event to celebrate our area waterways and learn more about the efforts to restore and protect their health. "Watershed Days is really just to inspire people to connect to their watersheds and understand what the term is and that it's a resource that they should care about," LHWC Executive Director Jessie Olson said. Joining her group as co-hos...
The Left Hand Valley Courier has some talented readers, among them some knowledgeable gardeners. Reader Katy Bohn, whose garden was featured in the LHVC last summer, is also a member of the Boulder Valley Rose Society (BVRS), the group in charge of the Boulder Dushanbe Tea House rose garden. She and her fellow BVRS members all have home gardens that were also ravaged by the increased number of Japanese Beetles (JB) this past summer, and they were busy trying to protect the rose bushes at the...
Haystack Golf Course's website reads, "Since the 1800s, this land has been cherished for its beauty, bounty, adversity, and challenge." Fifty-three years since its inception those words continue to ring true. Julia Pirnack's mother and father, Lois and Bud Ebel purchased the 214-acre parcel of land on Niwot Road in 1963, including the volcano-shaped Haystack Mountain, after being smitten by its splendor. Originally a livestock and hay farm, the Ebels transformed it into a nine-hole golf course...
In the scheme of a community with a two block downtown, Left Hand Valley Grange No. 9 is almost a super structure. The austere corner building with a single third-story window at the peak makes for a big cream colored wall wrapping around the corner. A simple sign sits above the front door. The door is disproportionately small not just in comparison to the building's bulk, but because of all that has passed through it and what that entryway symbolizes. A 35-year resident of Niwot, Kellie Beran l...
Niwot’s Community Corner Sculpture Park at the crossroads of Niwot Road and 79th Street has imbued the town with creative inspiration. A meandering sidewalk bordered by ornamental shrubs and colorful perennials, metal benches, a whimsical Little Free Library, a pair of painted Left Hand chairs and nine captivating sculptures have resulted in a peaceful oasis to stroll through and a sanctuary to relax in. The Niwot Sculpture Park Committee is putting out a call to artists for more sculptures t...
The Niwot boys tennis team went 21-0 over its first three matches of 2019, but it was the narrow 4-3 victory over Class 5A powerhouse Fairview that head coach Miikka Keronen called his “favorite” of the still young season. “These are the kinds of matches we need,” Keronen said after the tense Sept. 5 bout with the Knights, who finished third at last year’s 5A state championships. “If you want to win the state title, you have to play this caliber of teams. ... People think winning 7-0 is good...
ABLE to Sail is a Longmont-based youth empowerment camp that seeks to help kids of all ages gain self-esteem, overcome feelings of isolation and inadequacy, and give them the confidence to navigate life, no matter which way the wind blows. Executive director Diane McKinney explained that at its very core, ABLE to Sail wants to teach lessons in sailing that apply to real life situations. “The basic premise being, to turn a boat left, you steer to the right, which requires a complete change in t...
The ultimate disposition of the NRCD Block 5 alley inched closer to resolution last week with a public meeting hosted by Boulder County land use and transportation staff to discuss the results of a recent traffic study in the area and the proposed design guidelines for any future improvements. Though some 2nd Avenue property owners expressed frustration with the potential restrictions and the county’s ongoing process, consensus emerged on at least one major outstanding issue—the driving surface...
There’s just nothing like the anticipation of opening a package, so everyone loves it when the big brown truck stops in front of their house. UPS driver Gabe Amaya is Niwot’s main guy in the brown uniform driving that brown truck. The Courier wanted more than just a friendly wave “hello” from the reliable person who makes hundreds of stops around town. So we asked Amaya some questions and learned that his ties to the town run deeper than his daily route. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) Gabe Amay...
In February, Colorado State University played host to the Medical Symposium on Health Effects of Oil & Gas Development in Colorado, which featured multiple speakers in the scientific, legal and health communities. On Sunday, Aug. 18, The Lookout Alliance, In partnership with the Colorado branch of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), showed video recordings of the symposium at the Boulder County Public Library. Presenters included Dr. Beth Ewaskowitz and Dr. Detlev Helmig. Last month,...
Niwot's Left Hand Grange No. 9 (195 2nd Ave.) has been a community gathering spot for more than seven decades, and now it's just a little more welcoming, thanks to Brandon Hult and the Boy Scouts of Niwot Troop 161. Earlier this month, the Eagle Scout candidate oversaw the construction of an outdoor seating area in the rear yard, so patrons will be able to enjoy the hall's many charms from a sunnier (or starrier) vantage point. "Members of the grange just wanted this area cleaned up a little bit...
Avid hiker Leslie Madsen used to march along to get to the top of a mountain and back down, treating it like a task to be completed. But retirement brought a more leisurely pace to her treks, allowing her to be in the moment and observant of her surroundings. That’s when she fell madly in love with the splendor of flora in the high country and wanted to bring it home with her by way of photos. Madsen’s talent for capturing the beauty of wildflowers is on display at Niwot’s Inkberry Books in Co...
The NRCD development moratorium and its repercussions dominated the discussion between the Niwot LID Advisory Committee and the Boulder County Commissioners at their annual joint meeting Aug. 6, but there were tentative signs that relations between the two boards might be on the mend. In concluding remarks, Commissioner Deb Gardner expressed remorse for the “acrimonious” process and pledged to work for improvements going forward. “We have some definite questions to bring to the land use depar...
Gunbarrel’s Emily Sewell, this month’s Left Hand Laurel, is a round-the-clock mother, with a full-time career. For the last eight years, she’s also given her time to Voices for Children as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), transforming the lives of abused and neglected children in Boulder County. Program Director Dana Walters said, “Emily has quietly worked to help victims of child abuse and neglect recover from trauma. She never seeks recognition and she doesn't require much directi...
