All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The famed Sundance Film Festival, previously held in Park City, Utah, for over four decades, will be moving to Boulder in 2027. A Niwot Sundance Task Force, a part of the Niwot Business Association, is being formed to involve Niwot businesses in the upcoming event. "I am very excited about this because of all of the attendance and revenue it will bring to Boulder County along with Denver and Estes Park during those ten days of the festival," said Sarah Cioni, owner of Niwot's Belle Terre Floral....
Dancing Under the Stars is back for another season of music, dance, and community. Starting Friday, June 20, Cottonwood Square will come alive with energy and rhythm as the outdoor dance series kicks off for the summer. Held every Friday night through September 19, the event promises a lively atmosphere where people of all skill levels can enjoy dancing under the Colorado sky. The season opens with a salsa night, led by Joseph Snowhawk. A fun, beginner-friendly lesson will kick off at 7 p.m., of...
The color purple and the sound of funk will be taking the Rock & Rails spotlight June 19 as Paizley Park makes its first appearance in the summer concert series. "This group seriously embodies the Prince vibe," said concert booking agent Satir DeMarco. "There'll be plenty of guitar licks, dancing, and a great stage presence. They are just amazing, world-class." Guests are asked to indulge in the spirit of the event by dressing in purple. Scarves, hats, feathers, sparkles, tights, and...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) approved funding for the 2025 Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show, now in its fourteenth year. The amount approved was $2,037, the same amount which was approved last year. The event is sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and Osmosis Gallery, and features Niwot-related artwork, which is displayed in participating Niwot businesses beginning in July 11 during July's First Friday Art Walk, which will be held on the second...
The weather was no match for the dedicated crowd at the first Rock & Rails concert of the season on Thursday, June 5. Despite the cool temperatures and persistent drizzle during the headliner, fans filled Whistle Stop Park to enjoy an unforgettable start of Niwot's beloved summer concert series. This was not a concert to miss. The night opened with Mark Oblinger, a renowned musician and Emmy-winning composer, who took the stage with Linda Lawson and two other award-winning musicians. Oblinger's... Full story
On Thursday, June 5, the Niwot Business Association Minimum Wage Task Force held its weekly meeting after several members spoke at the Boulder County Commissioners' monthly public comment session earlier that morning. On the agenda was the progress and challenges experienced by prospective new Niwot restaurants, particularly potential entrepreneurs interested in the former 1914 House building on Second Avenue and the former Farow space in Cottonwood Square. In addition, members discussed...
Niwot's annual Lobsterfest returned to Whistle Stop Park for the fifth year on the afternoon of Saturday, June 7. Despite the rainy week preceding the event, the weather on Saturday was clear and hot. The event sold more than 150 tickets and was organized by Deborah Fowler and Linda Kleuber and sponsored by the Niwot Business Association and many business sponsors. "It was so amazing to bring Lobsterfest back again," said Fowler. "This event is one of the highlights of my year, and a wonderful...
In the past, when local music fans wanted to listen to Niwot’s House Blend Band, they would head to the spaghetti-fueled summer concert series on Second Avenue. But this week, the Niwot favorites will be headlining at Rock & Rails. They’ll take the main stage at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 12. “The group was small when we first started, and the thought of ever headlining Rock & Rails wasn’t even a concept to me,” said Michael Tomich, the band’s co-founder. “By the time we realized that maybe we... Full story
This week, Rock & Rails kicks off the season with a Colorado Music Hall of Fame performer who has entertained audiences in Niwot every year since the series was founded. Chris Daniels and the Kings will be playing on Thursday, June 5 at 6:30 pm. The band will take the stage during what has been their 40th anniversary of performing in Colorado and worldwide. In the context of years of entertaining their fans, founder Chris Daniels described what it's like to play in Whistle Stop Park. "We love it...
Eight yard signs protesting mandated annual minimum wage increases in unincorporated Boulder County have gone missing. A $100 reward has been offered by a Niwot resident for information leading to recovery of the signs. Rural Boulder County's small shops, restaurants and area farmers are struggling to absorb minimum wage increases imposed by Boulder County which have led to the closure of once-thriving businesses in Niwot and elsewhere. The hourly rate, currently $16.57, is scheduled to...
On Thursday, May 29, the Niwot Business Association’s Minimum Wage Task Force, led by Niwot business owner Nicholas Little, gathered in Niwot Hall for a weekly meeting of Niwot area residents concerned about the minimum wage ordinance's effect on Boulder County’s unincorporated communities. Little’s task force represents over a dozen small business leaders, farmers, and concerned citizens who are organizing a campaign urging Boulder County Commissioners to pause the implementation of a multi-year minimum wage increase ordinance at the end o...
Lobsterfest, Niwot's annual community food festival will return to Whistle Stop Park on Saturday June 7 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The Niwot Business Association organizes this event to unite community members and visitors through food services and musical entertainment while supporting charitable activities. The event price includes adult access to the festival, a welcome Cape Codder cocktail and fresh Maine lobster, side dishes, designer cookies and ice cream for $95. Children's admission...
For her many volunteer activities that enhance the Niwot community, Denise Chamberlain is the Left Hand Valley Courier's May Left Hand Laurel. Chamberlain is a professional artist, and the creator of the large "Spirit of Niwot" mural on the west and north sides of the former Excel Electric building, along the railroad tracks near 2nd Avenue and Murray Street, and the "Bug's Eye View" mural on the former feed store property at 291 2nd Avenue. Chamberlain also had a hand as a volunteer, along...
It's not certain when the carpet on the stairs to the second floor of Niwot Hall was last addressed, but best guesses put it somewhere in the 1980s. Long overdue and much appreciated new carpeting was installed last week and it's another of those "small things can be a massive improvement" items checked off the to-do list. Take a look next time you're at the Hall. Niwot Native Art Market Sunday, June 1, 11 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Niwot Native Art Market highlights and celebrates the artistry and c...
On May 22, Niwot Hall president Jim Dorvee presented plans for a redesigned storage facility and a courtyard suitable for outdoor events as part of Niwot Hall's effort to make the site formerly known as Left Hand Grange an attractive community gathering place. Dorvee spoke to a gathering of 17 Niwot residents, which included board members of Niwot Hall, a non-profit corporation which owns the property at 195 Second Avenue in Niwot. The meeting was part of a land use process required by Boulder...
On Thursday, May 22, from 5 to 7 p.m., Niwot Hall will hold a public meeting to present plans to renovate the space currently occupied by the former Niwot Volunteer Fire Department Station on the organization’s premises. This plan, pending approval by Boulder County, seeks to modernize and improve the utility of the space. The plan forms a key part of the revised Niwot Master Plan, which received approval from the Local Improvement District (LID) last week. Niwot Hall is a key historical b...
Amid encouraging reports from February sales tax receipts, the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) recommended approval of funding for two signature events for Niwot – the Niwot Community Association's (NCA) 4th of July celebration and the Rock & Rails Summer Concert Series, co-sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA). 4th of July Celebration Kathy Koehler, a member of the NCA's board of directors, presented the 4th o...
The fence at the western entrance to Niwot on Niwot Road from Colorado Hwy. 119 was power washed and re-stained recently. The Niwot Community Association, Niwot Business Association, and the Niwot Local Improvement District funded the project in order to improve the appearance of the most utilized entry point to Niwot. In November 2024, weeds were scraped and rock mulch was laid along the same stretch....
In a contentious Earth Day meeting, Boulder County Commissioners voted to approve new Site Plan Review regulations limiting home sizes in unincorporated areas of the county, despite significant opposition from local architects, realtors, property owners and the unanimous rejection of the proposed changes by the Boulder County Planning Commission. The amendment, known as DC-24-0003, substantially limits increases in residential floor area for modifications to existing homes in unincorporated Boulder County, The new regulations will take effect...
Seth Steele was hard at work at Niwot Market on March 31 when a 10-member contingent of Niwot residents and business people entered the market, looking for him and his sister, Alison Steele. Seth greeted everyone, but wasn't sure where Alison was. Linda Vehrenkamp, proprietor of The Nook, one of several small businesses that operate out of the Niwot Market, left the group and tracked Alison down. At the same time, Carey Mason, who had been enjoying lunch at the market, joined the group. Mason...
Good weather graced the fifth anniversary of Niwot's Around the World celebration, which was sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA) with funding from the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID). More than 25 merchants welcomed community members with regionally specific food, entertainment, music, and smiles. Vendors included long-term businesses, new enterprises, and in one case, a combination of both as The Wheel House celebrated its first Niwot community event since it has been under...
Dr. Don Haddad, the highly respected and impactful superintendent of the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD), is embarking on a well-deserved retirement. He says he will not be completely stepping away, suggesting his invaluable experience and passion for education will continue to enrich the SVVSD as an emeritus superintendent. Emeritus status is an honorary title awarded to individuals, typically faculty or staff, who have retired from a specific position or organization, recognizing...
Niwot's fifth Around the World Celebration is coming up on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Second Avenue and in Cottonwood Square in Niwot. The event is sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA) and funded in part by the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID). The event invites businesses and the public to celebrate many countries and cultures through food, drinks, decor, and music throughout town. Around the World started in 2020 during the COVID epidemic as a way...
On Saturday, April 19, Niwot's annual pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt will be held at Niwot High School. The entire community is invited to celebrate the season. Bert's Pancake Breakfast, named in honor of the late Bert Steele of Niwot Market, begins at 7:30 a.m. and serves a hearty breakfast until 10:30 a.m. The price for the breakfast is $10 for adults and $5 for children five and older. Kids age four and younger are free. Proceeds go to the Niwot Community Connection, Live music and a...
Members of the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) met on April 1 at the Niwot Inn and unanimously approved five funding requests. The committee also unanimously approved a LID resolution urging the Boulder County Commissioners to implement a moratorium on the remaining unincorporated county wage increases. Among other business matters, the LID discussed the status of the Niwot Master Plan, the vice chair vacancy, a possible policy to extend the time to make decisions...
A steady stream of Niwotians, past and present, visited Niwot Hall on Sunday, March 30, 2025, for an open house celebrating Niwot's Sesquicentennial. The town plat was recorded with Boulder County 150 years earlier, on March 30, 1875. Niwot resident Laura Skaggs, who chaired the organizing committee, was more than pleased with the turnout. Young and old were mesmerized by the slide show which paired photos of buildings past with current photos of the same property. Pete Wernick on banjo, his...
For his enduring leadership and volunteerism for the Niwot community and advocacy for Niwot's businesses, Tony Santelli is the Left Hand Valley Courier's April Left Hand Laurel. As a former co-owner of the Niwot Tavern, a past president of the Niwot Business Association (NBA), and a current member of the community's minimum wage task force as well as the Niwot Future League (NFL), Santelli's leadership and dynamism is apparent when he discusses his love for the Niwot community. Niwot is the...
This is a monthly feature summarizing the activities of the Boulder County Commissioners. The Niwot Business Association will be sending you a request for your signature on a letter addressed to the Commissioners. This letter urges the Commissioners to amend the minimum wage ordinance to match the $14.81 rate of neighboring municipalities. Currently, Niwot's minimum wage is $16.57 per hour, and scheduled to rise to $25 per hour by 2030. Data from the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory...
As April ushers in the beautiful renewal of spring, Niwot Hall hosts a month of invigorating cultural events, lectures, dance, music, and opportunities to connect where all are welcome. Dance Classes with Lindy Bartruff Tuesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Beginning at 3:00 p.m. Participate in fun and fitness while dancing under the instruction of director-choreographer Lindy Bartruff. 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Aerobic Dance Do you love to dance and yearn for an easy, energizing outlet? Ignite your...
Mike Keffeler The Boulder County Commissioners appointed Niwot resident Mike Keffeler to the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) on March 11. Keffeler will become the Niwot Community Association (NCA) representative on the LID, taking over for Jeff Knight, who resigned due to a family move to Texas. Keffeler, who grew up in Niwot, has resided in the Morton Heights subdivision in Niwot for many years with his wife Kristin and 3 daughters.. He serves on the NCA board of...
The March 4, 2025 meeting of the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) began with Jim Ditzel, newly elected president of the Niwot Business Association, taking the place of long-time LID advisory committee member and former NBA president Eric Bergeson. LID Treasurer Mary Coonce reported that year-end sales tax revenues for 2024 were down 8.8% from 2023 at just under $250,000. The biggest losses came from the "Wholesale" (down 50%) and "Other" (down 24%) categories, in...
This is the inaugural installment of a monthly feature recapping the activities of the Boulder County Commissioners. Boulder County Commissioners background information: The Boulder County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) consists of three members: Claire Levy, Marta Loachamin, and Ashley Stolzmann. Each commissioner is elected at-large to a four-year term. They represent the entire county, which has a population of 330,758 according to the U.S. 2020 census. The BOCC is responsible for a...
Jim Ditzel is the new Niwot Business Association (NBA) president and is ready to continue the great work of Eric Bergeson, former NBA president and NBA board member. Ditzel said Bergeson and the board "did a great job, especially through Covid and the chaos that created. They provided support to the businesses, helping everyone." Ditzel is originally from the small town of Tipton, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Iowa. In 1983, he relocated to Boulder County to pursue a master's...
March is going to be a very energized and exciting time at the Hall. The month brings loads of art, music, literature, informational talks, dancing, all topped off by a huge celebration of Niwot's 150th birthday on March 30. Would you like to step into a gorgeous wedding scene? Don't miss the Micro-Wedding Open House. There's something for everyone at the Hall this month. Ollin Farms Food & Community Health Discussion - Who's Your Farmacist? Wednesday, March 5, 6:00 p.m. Ollin Farms is excited...
Niwot's premier summer concert series, Rock & Rails, will be here before long, and the organizing committee is hard at work. The season starts Thursday, June 5, and runs through Aug. 28, with 13 concerts. Opening acts start at 5 p.m. with the headliners taking the stage at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday night all summer long. The event, which won the Governor's Award for Best Downtown Event in its 2006 inaugural season, is managed by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association and the Niwot Business...
As Niwot's Sesquicentennial approaches on March 30, 2025, the ad hoc committee charged with coordinating a year-long celebration is hard at work on everything from lectures, to birthday parties, to puzzles, to time capsules. The committee, first suggested by the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee and Kathy Koehler of the Niwot Historical Society, is comprised of members representing Niwot's many non-profit organizations, including the Niwot Business Association, the Niwot...
In what was the last official meeting for Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) members Eric Bergeson and Jeff Knight, the LID approved three funding requests. Bergeson's term as the Niwot Business Association (NBA) representative expires at the end of February, and the county commissioners have already appointed newly elected NBA president Jim Ditzel as his replacement. Bergeson, who has served on the LID for five years, said, "It's been a privilege. I won't be a stranger."...
Changes are on the horizon for the Niwot Business Association (NBA) as several key officers prepare to step down, making way for new leadership in the spring of 2025. The term of current NBA President Eric Bergeson of The Wheel House will end and Bergeson has decided to step down from his leadership role. Jim Ditzel of Summit Commercial Real Estate will be the new president, having been elected after running unopposed for the position. Ditzel, a longtime NBA member, has already begun...
For her longstanding contributions and volunteer efforts in the Niwot Community, Anne Postle is the Courier's February Left Hand Laurel. "Niwot becomes your whole world when you move here," said Postle. "You have everything here - work, friends, shopping, dining, activities, and events. When I first moved to Niwot in 2012, I thought I would always be going back to Boulder for dinner, but I found I rarely go back because everything I want and need is right here." Postle, a senior partner at Osmos...
Dustin Wolf, son of Eddie Running Wolf, has been restoring his father's tree carvings, known as Spear Lodge Man, Cheyenne Holy Man, and Eagle Catcher, with assistance from Jeff Wolcott. Spear Lodge Man is now complete, and Wolf and Wolcott want to share the process and the progress with the community at an open house Feb. 15 at 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m. at Wolcott's residence at 9700 Niwot Road. The willow tree trunks carved by Eddie Running Wolf stood for years along Niwot Road, just west of 79th...
Whining about winter will be put on hold in favor of the wondrous world of wine at Let's Wine About Winter 2025 this Saturday Feb. 8, in the Niwot Business District. Starting at 1:00 p.m., businesses throughout downtown Niwot and Cottonwood Square will celebrate the Eighth Annual Let's Wine About Winter event, sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), with funding from the Niwot Local Improvement District. Anne Postle and Kristin Alger are coordinating the event again this year....
In a significant transition for one of Niwot's cornerstone businesses, Porchfront Homes announced new ownership effective Jan 1, 2025, as long-time project managers Brett Steury and Ben Beveridge took the reins from retiring owners Tim and Mary Coonce. The change in leadership marks the beginning of a new era for the well-established construction company while maintaining its deep roots in the community. Steury and Beveridge, who have each dedicated nearly two decades to Porchfront Homes, are...
As many residents of Niwot know, Dustin Wolf, son of Eddie Running Wolf, has been restoring his father's tree carvings, known as Spear Lodge Man, Cheyenne Holy Man, and Eagle Catcher, with assistance from Jeff Wolcott. Once restored, the tree carvings will be reinstalled in Niwot in an outdoor setting that protects them from the sun, wind, rain, ice, and snow in a location yet to be determined. One possible location, per the Niwot Master Plan commissioned by the Niwot Local Improvement District,...
So far in 2025, the Boulder County Commissioners have been silent regarding whether to pause minimum wage increases, despite requests from the Niwot Business Association (NBA), the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee, and community members. Gloria Handyside, Communications Director for the Boulder County Commissioners, stated in an email that there were no new developments regarding the commissioners' position on the minimum wage law. This response remains consistent with the...
Niwot business leaders have formed a task force to address growing concerns about the rising minimum wage in unincorporated Boulder County. The group consists of business leaders, with representatives from the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee, the Niwot Business Association, and Left Hand Grange No. 9, as well as area farmers. At a Jan. 23 meeting at The Wheel House in Niwot, committee members discussed how the minimum wage ordinance enacted by the Boulder County...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Katherine Cui has been complimented in many ways by Niwot High School staff and students, but the one thing that every person emphasizes is Cui's...
The Boulder County Commissioners appointed Jim Ditzel as the Niwot Business Association representative on the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee on Jan. 14. Ditzel, a long-time member of the Niwot Business Association (NBA), will replace NBA President Eric Bergeson, whose term ends in February. His application was approved unanimously by the board, and Ditzel's first LID meeting will be in March. Ditzel said he applied to the LID Advisory Committee partly because it is a...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) opened 2025 by approving several funding requests, including one for new street banners celebrating Niwot's first 150 years. LID members Scott Firle, Eric Bergeson, Mary Coonce, Carla Hunter, Heidi Storz, Cornelia Sawle, and Keith Waters were present, along with Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin. Jim Ditzel also attended the LID meeting. Ditzel, who is running unopposed for the position of president of the Niwot Business Association, was the only...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) held its first monthly meeting of 2025 on Jan. 8. With 2024 officially at an end, board members took the opportunity to reflect on their objectives, finances, and accomplishments from the past year as they look ahead to 2025. The NCA 2024 objectives included continuation of events, creating a new informational pamphlet, monitoring trails and open space, working with Wildfire Partners for wildfire mitigation, and creating a social media presence. It was reported that all objectives had been met. Treasurer Te...
The Niwot Annual Health & Wellness Fair at Niwot Hall on Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. offers a wide range of wellness products and services, with local vendors showcasing everything from fitness gear to organic wellness products. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore a variety of health services providers, including naturopaths, bodyworkers, nutritionists, acupuncturists, and more. The fair includes a day of hands-on learning, fitness classes, and personal wellness consultations aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle. Organized by...
