All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The large crowd assembled in the parking lot at Left Hand Corner Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. was treated to a concert of holiday tunes by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band in anticipation of the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. The warm evening brought several hundred parents and children to downtown Niwot for the annual Enchanted Evening gathering, and the lighting of the community Christmas Tree in the Niwot Sculpture Park. Just before Santa's arrival, the crowd was treated to an appear...
Holiday markets, bake sales, and here comes Santa Claus again Saturdays, Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. December brings two more chances for children to spend time with Santa at the Grange. In addition to Father Christmas' presence, there will be fabulous festive gifts for sale from a multitude of artists and vendors, and bake sales to enhance your holiday table. Holiday treats handmade by members of WINC (Women's International Niwot Club) include British mince pies, large cakes, scones,...
Construction has begun on the Monarch Improvement Project, which will bring a permanent building to Hangge Fields at Monarch Park for the first time in the 35 years the ballfields have been in use. The project was launched by Niwot Youth Sports (NYS) to build a permanent structure to house the concession stand, provide a storage facility, and replace the port-a-potties with real bathrooms. NYS officials believe these improvements will be a great addition to the community, as the non-profit provi...
It's beginning to feel a lot like it's time for Niwot's annual Holiday Parade. In fact, the parade is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 at 11 a.m. The parade will proceed down 2nd Avenue starting at Murray Street and ending in the Left Hand Corner parking lot at Niwot Road. The event is sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA). Linda Klueber, the NBA coordinator for this event, said, "Not only [are] Niwot's Holiday Magic Events intended to recognize the holidays, they are an opportunity...
The Left Hand Grange is an integral ingredient to Niwot's holiday cheer during the frosty festivities. Community organizations welcome old and young alike to gather at the Grange to enjoy its warmth while listening to music, tasting delicious holiday fare, and meeting special once-a-year guests. Santa Visits at the Grange Friday, Nov. 25, from 6-9 pm. and Saturday, Nov. 26, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The end of November brings a couple of opportunities for the little ones to meet Santa in person at the G...
Let the Holiday Fun Begin! Niwot’s Holiday Magic Celebration is kicking off with the 22nd Annual Enchanted Evening, followed by the coveted Holiday Parade, Small Business Saturday and two weekends of Holiday Markets and events around town. The details: Enchanted Evening It all began over 20 years ago when the town gathered around the evening following Thanksgiving to light the holiday tree and support our local shops by jump starting the holiday buying. Sarah Cioni, one of the originators of the event, says this year is no different. The tree l...
The Niwot Business Association meeting at the Niwot United Methodist Church on Nov. 8 focused on saving energy, reducing costs and recycling. Pastor Emily Kintzel welcomed the NBA members and she and Janet Gates provided a brief history of the church, which was founded in 1870, and formerly occupied the building which is now the offices of Left Hand Animal Hospital in Niwot. Jim Dorvee, President of Left Hand Grange No. 9, was the featured speaker, sharing his experience trying to maximize energy savings for the Grange building in Niwot....
Upcoming Grange Events Niwot Community Connection monthly meeting Thursday, Nov. 10, 10-11:30 a.m. This month's guest speaker will be Laurie Algar who will present "Growing Up Disney," an engaging look at her father's 4-plus decade career with Walt Disney. Algar's presentation is filled with vintage photos from her Disney childhood, original animation sheets, memos from Walt Disney, and more. In addition to the traditional catch-up on group activities, announcements, and other news, the NCC will...
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,...
Upcoming events at the Left Hand Grange No. 9 Senior Health and Recreation classes on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to noon Bo Fan, also known as Mala, continues to share her medical knowledge with seniors at the Grange on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Fan, former owner of Niwot's Fan's Chinese Cuisine and the Niwot Conoco Gas Station, studied at a medical college for 6 years and has been a licensed practical nurse for 20 years. Through her fun and informative presentations, Fan's goal is to impart her expertise...
Upcoming Events at the Grange Niwot Community Connection Beginning Oct. 13, the Niwot Community Connection (NCC) will meet at the Grange on the second Thursday of each month. Meetings will be held from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. The organization's mission is "to provide a forum for individuals over 50 years of age in the Niwot area to help build a sense of community and promote opportunities for connection and learning." In addition to updates about the variety of activity groups the NCC offers, the Oct...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) held its monthly board meeting Oct. 5 in the Mountain View Fire Rescue Niwot Station conference room. The board welcomed two new members. Vicky Dorvee will join the board as the director for Trails and Open Space. Dorvee is often seen on the trails around Niwot, with her husband Jim Dorvee, as they walk their dogs. Jeff Server is the new Area 4 representative. Area 4 is bounded by Niwot Road on the north, State Highway 52 on the south, 79th Street on the west and 95th Street on the east. Server and his...
Upcoming Events at the Grange Open Stage community music If you enjoy folk, country, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and light rock, the Left Hand Grange's Open Stage is the place for you. Be an audience member or perform for the community. Feel free to use the musical instrument of your choice (your voice, harmonica, guitar, or banjo, for instance) and present your original music or a cover of someone else's. All are welcome. Sound equipment, microphones, and a piano are provided. Open Stage will be...
Niwot Historical Society President Kathy Koehler presented the second lecture in the current season of the "Niwot Now & Then" series at the Left Hand Grange on Oct. 2. The presentation, "The History & Story of the Haystack Mountain Golf Course," was created by Koehler through a massive effort to gather interviews, photographs, drone video, documents and artifacts related to the well-known local golf course, which closed last year. Asked why she did this work, Koehler responded in a way...
Upcoming Events at the Grange Niwot Historical Society Documentary on Haystack Mountain Golf Course The Niwot Historical Society will present its second Then & Now fall lecture titled, "Haystack Mountain Golf Course," on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. This documentary shares the history of the property, the golf course, and events that were hosted by the Ebel family over their 55 years of ownership. The film was created by the Niwot Historical Society and marks the anniversary of the...
Scout Troop 161 held a Court of Honor on Sept. 12 where both Boy and Girl Scouts were awarded merit badges for their badge work over the summer and rank advancements. Many of the scouts had attended the week-long Camp Cris Dobbins at Peaceful Valley in the early summer. They quickly learned camp evacuation procedures as forest fires raged around the camp. As a result of this experience, each scout who attended the camp received an additional fire evacuation badge. Additional skills acq...
Niwot attorney, co-founder of the Left Hand Valley Courier, longtime Niwot resident and (extremely) active community member, Bruce "Biff" Warren, received yet another honor this week. Partner and founding attorney at Warren, Carson & Moore LLP, Warren was inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame. "A couple of people showed up in my office one morning, without an appointment," Warren said. "It was Dennis Paul, who is president of the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame, and Jeff...
Niwot’s Left Hand Grange No. 9 was founded in 1873 and is now the oldest active Grange in Colorado. In 1945, Left Hand Grange, Inc., a non-profit corporation, purchased the present building at 195 Second Avenue, formerly Nelson Hall, for $750, and it has served as the home of Left Hand Grange No. 9 ever since. While initially providing an outlet for farmers and country folks to interact socially, to share ideas and resources, and to stay in touch with local politics, these days Left Hand G...
The Niwot Historical Society (NHS) held its first public lecture with a live audience since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sept. 18 in the Left Hand Grange No. 9. The lecturer was Larry Dorsey, well-known railroad historian, trustee of the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden and past chair of the Superior Historical Commission. Dorsey gave one of the first lectures to the Society in 2011. In total, he has given six lectures about Colorado railroading. Two are presently viewable on the...
Railroads are like the veins going to and from the heart of the country. In years past, they were numerous, a near constant; today, they almost seem like something from the past. Similarly, as there are increasingly more talks about sustainable energy, conversations about the use of coal seem to be on the decline. Local historian Larry Dorsey is coming to Niwot’s Left Hand Grange on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the rich history of the area, especially as it relates to coal mining and railroads. His upcoming lecture, entitled “Black...
The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band was on hand to provide a musical backdrop to the 2022 Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show awards ceremony Sept. 2 in front of Osmosis Art & Architecture. The art contest, now in its 11th year, featured 36 entries in the Niwot Cultural Arts Association's annual contest featuring art about Niwot. The 24-member band directed by Debbie Benson, which is also sponsored by the NCAA and Left Hand Grange No. 9, added a bit of color to the evening with...
Niwot was buzzing with energy on Saturday, August 27th. Tents featuring mead tastings, kettlecorn, honey, hives, artwork, confections, live music and a costume contest lined Second Avenue. The Annual Honey Bee Harvest Festival drew crowds of all ages who swarmed the scheduled activities and displays. Many emerged from visiting Colorado Landmark Realtors in the true honey bee spirit, sporting bee antennas and yellow rubber bracelets. "Most of the kids came in groups", said Aubrie Cook, honey bee...
A sweet Saturday is on tap as the Honey Bee Harvest Festival brings swarms of family-friendly activities, goodies and know-how to Niwot. The second-annual event expands on last year's festivities with a full schedule from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. downtown and in Cottonwood Square. "Seems like there are so many topics to share," co-organizer Victoria Keen said. "The more I learned, the more I was amazed." The fascinating story of bees will be shared through a speaker series at the Left Hand Grange....
On Wednesday, August 10, the Niwot Design Review Committee held a virtual public meeting to review the proposed deconstruction of the current structure and new build of a dental office at 364 2nd Avenue.The purpose of this meeting was to provide feedback to the applicant in advance, explained Andrea Vaughn, Planner for Boulder County. "This committee serves as a referral agency for the site plan review." The presenter of the proposed plan for the new Niles Family Dentistry building, Katherine...
The Rock & Rails concert opener Aug.11 was the high energy sound of All About the Brass, a Longmont-based group. The band played favorites from a wide variety of genres, ranging from James Brown's "I Got You" to "You and Me and the Bottle Makes 3" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy to "Smooth" by Santana. Other tunes included Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper" with "more cowbell" from Niwot native Katie Warren, Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," and Vance Joy's "Riptide," with the...
The August meeting of the Niwot Business Association was held Aug. 9 at Niwot Market, with 34 members attending. The timely topic of fire prevention, emergency preparations, and insurance coverage gave members useful information in the wake of the Aug. 6 Abo’s Pizza fire in Niwot. Although the topic had been planned early in July, the presentation by representatives of Mountain View Fire Rescue, Leigh Suskin and Lindsay Cumberland of Farmers Insurance in Niwot was especially timely. Mountain View Fire Rescue community outreach officers e...
I hope you’re a fan of Jerry Seinfeld, co-writer and co-producer of “Bee Movie,” because Saturday, Aug. 27, is Niwot’s 2nd Annual Honeybee Harvest Festival. Go to downtown Niwot for live music, bee-friendly activities for children, horse-drawn carriage rides, pop-up vendors, mead tasting, bee-loving advocates’ presentations, artwork, and a farmer’s market. Drop by anytime between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and you won’t be disappointed. This festival this year will honor the memory of Tom Theobald, who spoke at the inaugural festival last summer i...
A large crowd came early to the July 21 Rock & Rails concert, and were treated to an opening performance by "Dr. Banjo and Nurse Banjo," otherwise known as Pete and Joan Wernick, who have made their home just across the Diagonal Highway on Oxford Road since 1976. Pete played banjo, and his wife Joan accompanied him on the guitar, with both contributing vocals. Pete and Joan have a unique progressive bluegrass, country music style. Joan also has a wonderful voice she shared, singing some of the...
A dog on hind legs peeks longingly into the window of Niwot Rental and Feed, a red guitar bursts from the stage at Whistlestop Park as children dance, a golfer tees off with Haystack Mountain in the distance. These are just a few of the iconic images of Niwot and the surrounding area that are on display around town for this year's annual art exhibition, "Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show. Thirty-five pieces have been entered by 16 artists who submitted up to three works each. A panel of judges...
Last week we wrote about Niwot native Royce Johnson and how in 1974 he made land available to the Gunbarrel Lefthand Valley Boys Baseball, Inc., a non-profit organization now known as Niwot Youth Sports, as a site for "temporary" ballfields. The "temporary" Johnson Fields were used continuously for over 20 years until homes were built on Christopher Court in the Johnson Valley Subdivision in 1994. Ultimately, land that Johnson had donated to Boulder County for a park known as Left Hand Valley...
By the middle of the 19th century, Sweden was in the throes of a national population crisis-the small country's population had doubled from 1750 to 1850, and was still growing. Tillable land became more scarce, and famine swept the nation. Emigration regulations were eased, and the 1860s saw a massive movement of Swedes fleeing their homeland; between 1861 and 1881, 150,000 traveled to the United States. The majority of these immigrants quickly made their way to the new states and territories...
On Monday, July 4, the Niwot Historical Society welcomed Fourth of July parade-goers to take a self-guided tour of the Niwot Fire House Museum as part of their patriotic revels. The Niwot Fire House, which was built in 1910 to house the Niwot area firefighting equipment, now is a tiny museum packed with local historic items, including classic school desks, an old anvil, old post office boxes, and other Niwot artifacts. Attendees young and old enjoyed a stop-off at the museum for a self-paced...
Niwot's annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast was back to pre-pandemic size this year, with long lines waiting to be served by volunteers and staff from the Niwot Market. The Pancake Breakfast is more than just pancakes - servings included pancakes, sausage, eggs, and Bert Steele's famous chile, with coffee and orange juice on the side. The net proceeds of the breakfast after costs are covered were donated to the Niwot Youth Sports Monarch Improvement Project. Tip jars were also available with...
The Fourth of July Parade in Niwot is always a joyous and lighthearted celebration of the birth of our nation. This year, slight changes to the lineup area (now on Meadowdale Drive) suggest an even better and more organized approach to the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. and will head west on Niwot road, then northwest on 2nd Avenue, ending at Murray Street. Parade Grand Marshal Sheriff Joe Pelle and his wife, Stephanie, will host an exciting lineup this year, starting with the Honor Guard, Boy...
With the Fourth of July fast approaching, it seems a fortuitous time to talk about the history of the Niwot firehouse. In 1910, concern about fire protection prompted Niwot citizens to acquire a firehose handcart and build a simple frame shed to house it. The firehouse was erected close to the street, on an undeveloped lot between the Niwot State Bank (now Porchfront Homes) and the Livingston Hotel (now Wise Buys Antiques) on Second Avenue. It was a simple 8' x 14' wooden frame structure with...
The Rotary Club of Niwot, through its grant program, was able to make a generous donation of $2,000 to the Niwot Cultural Arts Association to assist in the purchase of the "Kore That Awakening" sculpture in Niwot Sculpture Park. The donation will ultimately be money sent directly to the sculptor Egor Zigora, who along with his family and studio, fled Ukraine at the beginning of the attack by Russia. The sculpture park is located at the Community Corner of Niwot, on the southwest corner of Niwot...
Not unlike other local businesses and attractions, Chief Niwot is the namesake for the Left Hand Grange as the Arapaho word for "left-hand" is Ni-wot. What is interesting about the building known as the Left Hand Grange Hall is its rich history. The local Grange organization, known as Left Hand Grange No. 9, initially operated out of the Batchelder School House southwest of Niwot, and received its charter on January 24, 1874. It is currently the oldest active Grange in Colorado. The Granger...
Three Niwot Youth Sports players practiced their swings early Saturday morning at Left Hand Valley Grange Park to beat the afternoon heat. Julianna, Wesley, and Burke Deens were there taking some batting practice with their dad and coach just in time for Father's Day. Julianna is a pitcher and first baseman on the Wildcats 10U softball team, and when asked about how the team's season was going she said, "Our team is doing really well, and our hitting has really improved so far." Her dad, Jeremy...
The BSA Troop 161 Boys Troop has been operating out of Niwot for over 50 years. In April of 2021, the Left Hand Grange approved the BSA 161G troop, which started with 6 female scouts from the surrounding areas. Two to three times a year, troops hold a Court of Honor where they award their scouts with merit badges earned, rank advancements and other awards which have been worked on throughout the year. On June 6th, the BSA 161G troop held their second court of honor, recognizing eight female...
Thomas Cross Theobald Dec. 18, 1942 - Nov. 10, 2021 A Celebration of Life for Tom Theobald will be held on Saturday, June 11th at 1:00 pm at the Left Hand Grange in Niwot. Tom died Nov. 10, 2021, after a long-time illness. His family invites the Niwot community to attend and to bring stories of Tom to share. For more information on Tom’s contributions to the Niwot community, please see Tom’s full obituary in the Dec. 15, 2021 issue of the Left Hand Valley Courier....
Rock & Rails is a well-loved, much-attended community event in Niwot's very own Whistle Stop Park. As the recipient of the 2006 Governor's Award for Downtown Excellence for Best Promotional Event, Rock & Rails benefits many who volunteer to make all the magic happen. The free summer concert series takes the stage at Niwot's Whistle Stop Park at 1st Avenue and Murray Street in historic downtown Niwot, Colorado, and is produced by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association in conjunction with the Niwot...
When The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop moved into its downtown Niwot home last year, it breathed new life into one of Niwot's most iconic spaces. Owners Carissa Mina and Jerilyn Patterson brought their colorful, curated selection of books, toys and gifts to the northwest corner of 2nd Avenue and Franklin Street, and now laugh together about ways their building's history keeps making itself known. "So many people come in here and are like, 'I used to have a business in this building,' said...
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop 161B held its Court of Honor ceremony to award the rank of Eagle Scout to Wyatt Boyd and Cole Robinson May 16 at the Left Hand Grange No. 9. Boyd and Robinson are the 97th and 98th young men to be honored with the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 161 in less than 50 years since the troop's formation. Bruce Grinnell was the first to earn the rank of Eagle Scout from Troop 161, and was a member of the first graduating class at Niwot High School in 1974. The names of...
It's a service we take for granted today - our local fire department. But until the late 1960s, Niwot's fire protection came from Longmont, which at the time had only one truck assigned to cover rural calls. All of that changed in 1968, however, when the Left Hand Men's Club formed Niwot's volunteer fire department. Only Mike Holubec and Pete Plantiga had any previous experience, so they were chosen to conduct a training program. "We had training sessions at the Left Hand Water office," Holubec...
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop 161B held its Court of Honor ceremony to award the rank of Eagle Scout to Wyatt Boyd and Cole Robinson May 16 at the Left Hand Grange No. 9. Boyd and Robinson are the 97th and 98th young men to be honored with the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 161 in less than 50 years since the troop's formation. Bruce Grinnell was the first to earn the rank of Eagle Scout from Troop 161, and was a member of the first graduating class at Niwot High School in 1974. The names of...
Niwot will host the next Five Kingdoms dinner to benefit the newly re-formed Slow Food chapter in Boulder. Brandon Pitcher launched 5 Kingdom dinners over 15 years ago to highlight a new approach to food, by focussing on protozoa, algae, plants, animals and fungi. Pitcher’s philosophy is that by eating these five food groups, we are creating an ecosystem of sustainable food on earth, which is better for the planet, and better for our health. Pitcher hosts regular dinners with an educational focus and to also benefit non–profit org...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) approved five funding requests at its regular meeting May 3, including funding for three popular community events. Scott Firle chaired the meeting, with advisory board members Lisa Rivard, Cornelia Sawle, Bruce Rabeler, Jeff Knight, Heidi Storz and Keith Waters also in attendance, along with Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin. The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), co-managers of the Rock & Rails summer...
The Niwot Community Association’s (NCA) monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 4, covered a multitude of timely issues and events ranging from the latest on the Boulder Library District to the organization’s array of upcoming events. Boulder Library District update The NCA has been keeping close tabs on the possibility that a Boulder Public Library District could potentially include Niwot in its scope. In late April, the Boulder City Council declared it saw “no path forward to reconcile with the Boulder County Commissioners on a library resol...
The Niwot Community Association’s annual meeting was held April 19 at Left Hand Grange No. 9, facilitated by Niwot Community Association (NCA) president, David Limbach. An in-person audience of nearly 30 people and live online viewers were provided with information regarding 2022 NCA board elections, a review of the NCA’s 2019 activities, and other plans for the present year. It was followed by a timely presentation about wildfires given by Sterling Folden, Deputy Fire Chief of Mountain Vie...
