All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 1826 - 1875 of 2533
At age 13, Rumi Natanzi suffered a medical emergency that required years of recovery. She spent a lot of that time listening to original cast recordings of popular musicals, and by the time she was ready to enter ninth grade, she had found a new passion-one that eventually developed into a memorable four-year run on the Niwot High stage. A few weeks ago, Natanzi took her final bow as a Cougar, and said goodbye to the place that has allowed her to tell stories with her expression and voice. "I di...
Citing "concerns surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," the Colorado High School Activities Association has extended the moratorium on all sports and activities until at least April 18. Additionally, all CHSAA Music Events have been cancelled for 2020, and the CHSAA Hall of Fame event, scheduled for April 14, has been cancelled. "It turned very quickly," Niwot High assistant principal and athletic director Joe Brown said of the abrupt decision to suspend the season, originally announced on...
The 2019-20 Niwot girls basketball season is one that most of its participants would rather forget, but senior Lily Sieben will be taking at least a few happy memories with her. Among them is the resilience of her teammates, who kept fighting for wins even as the losses kept piling up. "Winning our last game made it easier to walk away from the season," Sieben said of the Cougars' 2-21 record, their worst in decades. "We had high expectations this year, and not reaching them, we were disappointe...
Fourth-year coach Ed Weaver has sky high expectations for the 2020 Niwot girls golf program, and it's not hard to see why. His projected varsity squad is loaded with state-tested veterans who are eager for another chance at the Class 4A title, and he's attracted a cohort of newcomers eager to make their marks. With 14 players total, both short-term and long-term prospects seem bright for Niwot girls golf, and Weaver can't wait to get the season started. "Our goal is to win state," Weaver said....
On Feb. 26, Scotland made global history by passing the Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill, officially making tampons and sanitary pads freely available to women in public places. There was no parliamentary opposition to this historic act, making it a "milestone moment for normalising menstruation in Scotland and sending out that real signal to people in this country about how seriously parliament takes gender equality," according to its creator, Monica Lennon. In the United States,...
Thirteenth place in giant slalom at State was music to the ears of freshman skier Jack Vincent, who posted a combined time of 2:18:63. He and two other Niwot High students were at Beaver Creek Feb. 27 and 28 for State slalom and giant slalom races. Vincent uses a music analogy to describe the two different types of racing. "Slalom, you can think of it like a country-rock song. It's a little bit faster pace," said Vincent. "Then GS is more like an opera. It's slow. You have to keep control...
A lot of students play basketball in high school, but few inhabit the sport the way Niwot's Cooper Sheldon does. The six-foot, four-inch senior became a serious student of the game after taking it up in middle school, and even now dedicates at least part of every day to training or studying film. It's evident on the court, where the veteran point guard commands the Cougars' offense, and often gets the best out of his teammates. It's also evident off the court, where he serves as the team's emoti...
Vicki Maurer's approach to life and volunteering is probably best put in her own words: "We do what we have to do and get it done." Maurer has been involved with many community organizations over the years, from Niwot Youth Sports to the Left Hand Valley Courier to the Niwot Cultural Arts Association. Appreciation for her efforts is widespread. "She's really easy to work with, enthusiastic about the town...and fantastic at what she does," said Michelle Henzel, treasurer of the NCAA. "Vicki is...
Niwot High's new head football coach, Nik Blume, doled out pizza and enthusiasm when he met with the players and their parents last week, sharing his "full tilt" approach to coaching. He won't officially be on staff until the end of the semester, but he's already laying the groundwork for next season. Blume told the players that weightlifting will start this spring. "That's non-negotiable for me. If you don't like weights, this might not be for you," he said. "You have to be physically prepared...
Niwot High School students are no strangers to helping the community. Whether it's individual teams having Breast Cancer Awareness Games for their sports or or other groups' fundraisers, students have plenty of opportunities for philanthropy. After being inspired by one student's personal involvement with the Make-A-Wish organization, as well as seeing other schools' participation, Niwot High School will have its very first "Wish Week." Starting on March 2, the student council will have a...
Over the years, speech and debate kids have often joked, "We don't cut up dead bodies, but we might quote them." First founded in Wisconsin in 1925, the National Speech & Debate Association, formally known as the National Forensics League, sought to motivate high school students to participate in speech and debate activities. Six years later, in 1931, the first tournament was held at Ripon College with 49 schools participating from across 17 states. Students are able to participate in a variety...
Retired Niwot High School teacher Jerry Dean Brooks died Feb. 14, 2020, in Las Animas Colo., at age 81. A graveside service will be held Friday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. at the Las Animas-Bent County Cemetery followed by a celebration of Jerry’s life at the John Rawlings Museum Grand Hall. There will also be a celebration of life reception on Sunday, March 1 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Howe Mortuary at 439 Coffman St. in Longmont. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Arkansas Valley Hospice in care of Horber Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box... Full story
Recently, three Niwot High students were recognized by the Rotary Club of Niwot for their outstanding achievements in and out of the classroom. The three were introduced at a recent Rotary Club breakfast by principal Eric Rauschkolb and received a plaque noting the award. They are now eligible for a scholarship from the RCN. Natalia Storz - December Natalia has excelled in the classroom, and she has also demonstrated many personality traits that have exemplified her selflessness and commitment...
Niwot seniors Jovani Lopez and Daniel Torres accomplished much more than they thought possible during their four-year high school wrestling careers, but in the immediate aftermath of grueling losses in the 2020 Class 4A state championships, it was hard for them to accept falling short of their ultimate goals. "It was a good experience," Lopez said, though without much conviction. Minutes before, he had lost a close third-round match in the heavyweight consolation bracket, putting him out of...
There weren't very many Cougars in the pool at the 2020 Class 4A swim and dive championships, but what the Niwot state squad lacked in competitors, it more than made up for in impressive swims. Chief among them were Mary Codevilla's stunning performances in 200- and 500-yard freestyle races, which brought the talented sophomore two individual state titles and helped catapult the youthful Cougars into ninth place overall. Afterwards, head coach Sarah Stamp said that she was "thrilled" with the...
When a Channel 7 News crew showed up on Second Avenue on Saturday, January 28th, Kathy Koehler was ready to give them a tour of the Fire House Museum and an overview of Niwot's history. Little did she know they weren't there for the town--they were there for her. "I've volunteered with Kathy on the board of the Niwot Historical Society and Niwot Community Association," said Leonard Sitongia. "I think she volunteers with just about every organization in Niwot. Her volunteering is on a heroic...
After 12 years, former Niwot Business Association President Tony Santelli, has stepped aside. Eric Bergeson, owner of Niwot Wheel Works, has stepped up to take his place and, on Feb. 11, was elected in an uncontested election as the new NBA president. Bergeson was inspired to run because of his love for this interesting town many call home. "Like most people I know in Niwot, I think this place is special," he said. "I am grateful to all the leaders who have made this place what it is and I want...
Niwot wrestler Daniel Torres was restless as he watched his lighter teammates take on their first opponents at the Class 4A Region 3 tournament, held at Windsor HS on Feb. 14-15. He was anxiously awaiting a mat assignment-his first since suffering an elbow injury on Jan. 11. The senior was worried that the six-week layoff had cost him too much strength and conditioning, and that his high school career might come to a premature end in the Wizards' gym. But those worries dimmed after an impressive...
Jovani Lopez got more than he bargained for when he joined the Niwot wrestling team as a ninth-grader, but the senior heavyweight isn't complaining. As he looks ahead to his second straight appearance in the Class 4A state wrestling championships, the soft-spoken Lopez said the sport has brought him more than just success on the mat. "The biggest reason I did wrestling was to lose weight," he said. "But I eventually found out that I love wrestling. I like winning and beating other people. I...
Ryan Harris, an offensive tackle for the Denver Broncos Superbowl 50 Champion, retired from professional football in 2017. Since then, he has become a radio and stage presence, and on Thursday, February 13th, he stood on the stage of the Niwot High School Auditorium, holding out a $100 bill. "Who wants a hundred dollar bill?" he asked. It was the tail end of a talk on personal financial literacy. Historically, this subject has been tackled piecemeal by standards embedded in disparate units. But...
"We seem to forget that if everyone wanted to be like Einstein, everyone would look at scientists the way they look at artists," said Cody Mowrey, a Niwot High school alum who's chasing his dreams of being on stage. Since Mowrey was a child, he has been singing and dancing, putting on performances for whomever would watch. Eventually, he found musical theater which combined his three passions, so when it came to choosing a major in college, it seemed to be the natural choice. In 2014, he chose...
Dear Editor I read the article called "Mwebaza Club at NHS Raises Money for Ugandan Boy" and was truly moved by Peter's situation. We are so fortunate in this country to have the educational opportunity that we do and to have such wonderful and local high school students committed to helping Peter. We need more young people like this and I want to ask anyone in Niwot that read the article to donate. I like to donate locally but sometimes find myself reluctant to donate internationally as I am not sure if the money will reach the recipient or...
When South Longmont resident Peter Bronski was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2007, the Italian-American author, who came from a New York family with a strong food background, didn't skip a beat. Peter Bronski and his wife Kelli Bronski, a graduate of Cornell University's prestigious School of Hotel Administration, with more than ten years of experience in the hospitality and restaurant business, started a gluten-free cooking blog, and shortly thereafter, published their first cookbook,...
The Niwot LID advisory committee held its monthly meeting on Feb. 4 Treasurer’s Report Bruce Rabeler led off with a report on current LID finances. The district collected $16,854 in sales tax revenue in November 2019, bringing the total for that year to $183,108, an 8.4 percent increase over the same period in 2018. The rise was most notable in the retail sector, which jumped 44%, to $8,070. On the expense side, the LID has approved $65,024.61 in funding requests so far in 2020, leaving just under $84,288.39 of its $149,313 budget. Rabeler e...
The drive to the Mountain View Aquatic Center in Loveland may have been a little frightful, but that didn't keep the Niwot girls swim and dive team from turning in a delightful performance at the Northern Conference championships on Feb. 7-8. With wins in six of the 12 events and a slew of personal-best swims, the Cougars easily captured a second straight team crown, and picked up another state qualifier to boot. Now head coach Sarah Stamp and her repeat league champions are looking ahead to nex...
In seventh grade, Austin Rathburn realized that his ultimate height was destined to be several derivations from the norm, so he set his sights on the sport that tends to favor those so gifted. Now several years and several growth spurts later, the even-keeled senior is the Niwot basketball team's starting center and, at a towering 6-feet 5-inches, one of the hardest players to defend in the Northern League. "In our conference, he's tied for double-doubles, and in the last game, he was [close...
When you're spreading the love to friends and family this Valentine's Day, don't forget another valuable member of your everyday life: the local community. There are a number of simple but thoughtful ways to show your appreciation for the people and organizations that help make the Left Hand Valley such a unique place to live. Replenish the books at Niwot and Gunbarrel's Little Free Libraries The Little Free Library neighborhood book exchange program got its start just over a decade ago, when a...
As a college graduate, Congressman Joe Neguse founded an organization called New Era Colorado, which strove to amplify voter engagement. In 2013, this group was able to convince the state legislator to pass a law to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. Arguably thanks to this law, 60% of young Colorado voters participated in elections compared to only 30% nationwide. Moreover, thanks to recent changes to legislation, not only are 16 and 17-year-olds able to register, but if a stude...
Youth leaders came together last weekend in Boulder for a summit on climate change, with a broad call to action on climate, social justice, and inclusivity. The Youth Summit on Climate Change at the Boulder Public Library, held on Saturday, Feb. 1, was organized by Sumanje Chigwenembe, a student at Boulder High School who serves on the City of Boulder's Youth Opportunities Advisory Board (YOAB). Dozens of students attended the event, which included foundation setting speeches as well as...
Last year, Niwot High School started the Mwebaza Club to turn shipping containers into classrooms for children in Uganda. The classrooms were a booming success and have greatly decreased the overcrowding at the school. After the classrooms were shipped to Uganda, the Mwebaza Club faded away. Now, Niwot High School has initiated the club again, this time to fund a young boy's education. In Uganda, people are required to pay for school, and many families cannot meet the high prices. So, the...
Daniel Torres didn't know much about wrestling when he reluctantly joined Niwot's team as a freshman, which makes his success in the years since all the more impressive. Thanks to quick wits and a penchant for hard work, the soft-spoken Torres has become one of the region's top wrestlers in the years since, and now he's on the cusp of a repeat bid to the Class 4A state championships at the Pepsi Center. As his high school career comes to a close, the senior is grateful to that once-shy ninth...
If you were walking the Niwot Loop Trail last Tuesday afternoon, you likely bumped into Kodi and his owner Jayne Zmijewski. Kodi may have looked like any other yellow lab, but he wasn't out for leisure; he was helping facilitate a training mission. His title--Search and Rescue Dog. "They're like family dogs," explained Zmijewski, "but when there's a mission, they know they have a job to do." Zmijewski retired from a long career teaching P.E. at Longmont Junior High School (nka Sunset Middle)....
Imagine this: it's baseball season for Colorado schools and ball fields across the state are filled with young boys, eager to play the game they love. But one such field in Arvada is a little different than the others--that's because many of the coaches are officers with the Arvada Police Department and they use their radar guns to measure pitch speeds. Boulder County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Underwood credits this early exposure to law enforcement for some of his initial interest in the profession...
When he's on the court "making it rain" for Niwot, shooting guard Misha Barrett looks like any other underclassman hustling for a chance to leave the 'D' team behind. It's only when you get a chance to talk to him that you realize that the hardworking three-point specialist has significant cognitive deficiencies, thanks to an anoxic brain trauma suffered at birth. But that hasn't stopped him from playing the game he loves, and now he's getting a chance to do it for the team he loves. "It feels g...
Passenger rail service from Fort Collins to Pueblo in Colorado could be a reality in seven to 10 years if the Southwest Chief and Front Range Passenger Rail Commission is successful. Cue the skepticism. But Randy Grauberger, project director for the rail commission, told Niwot Community Association Board members at their Jan. 8 meeting that this group has the potential to be successful. “This group has the legislative mandate behind it,” he said. “We are charged to build, not just study. And we have strong interest in making this happen from...
At some point in many children's lives, they want to be famous athletes, actors or rockstars. Most children don't fulfill those dreams, but 2015 Niwot graduate Bella Musser has done just that. "In high school, I was performing [solo] at open mics or coffee shops, and then on stage in musical theater," explained Musser. By the time she graduated high school, Musser had been performing for a number of years, so when it came to choosing a college and field of study, she knew what she wanted to do....
Three rival high schools came together this past holiday season to bring Christmas to their community. Representatives from Niwot, Longmont, and Silver Creek High Schools met to start a collaborative community project that was modeled after the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. NHS typically runs a food drive during the holidays, but it hasn't reached the level of impact that it was intended to. Needing a new idea, the student council revamped an old concept. Niwot Student Council's Ben Goff...
Spring is right around the corner, and Niwot Youth Sports is gearing up for its 51st season of fun and friendly competition on the diamond. Early-bird registration for recreational baseball is now underway at www.niwotyouthsports.org. Softball registration will open on Feb. 1. NYS Baseball is offering six divisions again this season; Bubblegum (T-ball for ages 4-5), Rookie (coach pitch/T-ball hybrid for ages 5-6), AA (coach pitch for ages 7-8), AAA (kid pitch for ages 9-10), Majors (kid pitch fo...
The Niwot girls swim team lost nearly 20 swimmers to last year's graduation, so heading into the 2019-20 season, head coach Sarah Stamp had some holes to fill in the lineup. Much to her delight, junior Emiley Yie has been willing and able to help fill more than a few of them. So far this season, the talented swimmer has qualified to compete for Niwot in all but one individual event at the upcoming Class 4A state championships, and she is hitting her fastest times as the post-season approaches....
Last Thursday, Jan. 9, Niwot High alumni Oskar Wells and Sophia Jones stepped up to cut the ribbon. After months of construction, Niwot High School hosted a grand re-opening to show off its latest renovations. "Kids have always been proud to go to Niwot High School," said Principal Eric Rauschkolb, "but now the building reflects the pride they feel in their school." The funding for this project came from a 2016 bond issue in which voters approved $10 million for improvements and renovations. The...
Kyle Reeves has been on the brink of a breakout game for Niwot all season, and when it finally came in the Cougars' 63-40 win over Northridge on January 7, the talented guard didn't hesitate to reveal the family secret behind his success. "I was actually playing for my grandmother," the senior said of his 19-point, five-steal performance, both bests as a Cougar. "She's a big part of my life, and I dedicated the game to her. She's taught me so much, and she's just my everything." Reeves has... Full story
"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...
The Niwot High gym was stacked to the rafters on Saturday, Jan. 4, as the largest field ever took to the mat for the eighth annual Gary Daum Classic. While more teams may have meant more problems for tournament host and Niwot head coach Bobby Matthews, he said it has been tremendously gratifying to see the competition named for the legendary Cougar coach grow into a can't miss event. "When I came here five years ago, one of my goals was to make this a really tough tournament. This year, our...
As graduation quickly approaches -136 days to be exact-life after high school seems not just scary, but scarily expensive, as paying for any higher education looms over graduating seniors and their parents. Colleges may offer up some money, but a full-ride is unlikely. For many families, the hunt for scholarships is on. There are thousands of scholarships large and small up for grabs across the country, and narrowing the field can be a trick for many students. Applying for scholarships tailored...
In the fall of 2013, Sarah Echsner lost her younger brother to suicide. "No matter how much time goes by, it doesn't really change how deeply wounded I feel," said Echsner. "It's something that I carry with me all the time." Our community carries the collective grief for many who have chosen to take their own lives. We feel it, we think about it, but often, we don't talk about it. "Talking about him is helpful for me," said Echsner, "and I think a lot of people feel that way. Especially around...
VOLLEYBALL Mackenzie Fidelak (Niwot) was part of Stanford's NCAA national championship team, which defeated Wisconsin Dec. 24 in the NCAA finals. Fidelak, a sophomore opposite hitter, played in six contests during the season, but did not see action in the NCAA tournament. Her most extensive action came against Arizona State in a 3-0 victory Oct. 13, where she played all three sets, recording 11 kills and only three errors. She had an attack percentage of .348 against Arizona State, and also...
Colorado state minimum wage is $11.10 an hour. But by various exemptions provided by law, many agricultural workers make only $7.25 per hour. That might be enough during the long days of summer, but for those whose livelihoods fluctuate with the seasons, winter can be an economically trying time. Casa de la Esperanza means House of Hope, and this local organization is dedicated to supporting agricultural workers and their families year-round. In 1993, the first migrant laborers moved into this...
The Niwot girls basketball team fell to 1-5 after dropping the home-opener to Erie 62-25 on Dec. 19. Afterwards, a clearly frustrated Coach Terri Ward had just one thing to say about her team's desultory performance: "We're ready for a break." The Cougars will get that break over the next two weeks for the winter holidays, and hopefully it will give them time to regroup. Currently on a four-game skid, Niwot has averaged just 25.3 points per game so far this season and is shooting 26% from the...
It wasn't quite a Christmas miracle, but Niwot's upset win over the 10th-ranked Erie Tigers on Dec. 19 certainly had fans rejoicing. Led by senior guard Cooper Sheldon, four Cougars scored in double-digits in the 61-48 victory, while an aggressive effort on defense held one of the highest scoring teams in Class 4A to their lowest point total of the season. For first year head coach Clay Wittrock, it was the breakout game he has been eagerly anticipating. "We finally found a way to calm down,...
Every year, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators holds contests for up and coming illustrators. In 2017, the Rocky Mountain Branch recognized then-Niwot High School senior Anya Berlova for her artwork and published it in their annual calendar. Drawing on her love for artwork and her interest in business, she knew she wanted to find a way to combine these passions. Thanks to the support of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, Berlova has created...
