All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 151 - 200 of 398
The Niwot High School Education Foundation is gearing up for its annual online auction, and thanks to robust support from sponsors, it should be an exciting one for potential bidders, according to the group's president Mako Shimoda. "This year, everybody's been so generous, knowing that we've been unable to do our normal fundraising," she said, noting that there are donations from businesses in Niwot, Longmont, and Boulder. "So we have a fair amount of items-lots of various restaurant gift...
Spring is always a busy time for gardeners, and this year Jack's Solar Garden is finding the season to be super-charged with activity. Last March Jack's, the largest U.S. commercially active agrivoltaic system, was just preparing to have 3,200 solar panels installed. What a difference a year makes. By November 2020 the system was up and running, and now it's nearly 100% sold out, seeds for grasses and wildflowers have been spread, a unique 2021 Artist on the Farm has been selected, a grant for...
It seems the old Chinese adage (curse?), "May you be born in interesting times," continues to play on from 2020 into 2021. Atop Covid-19, business pivots from farmers markets and foodservice accounts to increased CSA and online sales. Working outdoors in very smoky conditions last summer/fall, and doing their best to keep farm workers safe from both, Boulder County farmers are now staring down a 2021 snowpack in the Indian Peaks portion of the South Platte River watershed that varies from...
This year, there are more prairie dogs where Boulder County wants them and fewer acres where they don't. The recent annual management review of the county's open space properties took stock of last year's efforts that see-saw between killing and nurturing, depending on where the animals live. There are fewer acres with prairie dogs on agricultural open space, which are generally classified as No Prairie Dog acres or NPD. In 2020, prairie dogs lived on 2.5% of NPD acres, down from 4.1% in 2019....
The Niwot girls swim team extended its streak of dominating dual victories to three with a 151-35 win over the brand-new team from Frederick High on Feb. 11. Along the way, Cougar swimmers posted a slew of season-best times and solidified their case as one of the top contenders for the Class 4A title in 2021. "That's one of our strengths at Niwot, the versatility of our swimmers," first-year coach Kyle Bachrodt said following the meet at Carbon Valley Recreation Center. "They can really swim...
Eli Earl Buzas, 70, of Arvada, Colorado, lost his battle with COVID-19 on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. He is remembered by his mother Saveta Buzas, loving wife Christine Brott Buzas, sister Elizabeth "Betty" Buzas, brother George Buzas married to Kim Buzas, daughter Melinda Holt married to Don Holt residing in Arvada, son Matthew Buzas married to Sandra Buzas residing in Evergreen, and Joseph Lonn married to Anthony Lonn residing in Sydney, Australia, and grandchildren Thomas and Natalie...
The adage, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going," typifies Niwot's Deborah Read Fowler. Read Fowler, owner of Deborah Read Fowler Real Estate (DRF), was already resolutely involved with the community when along came COVID-19, shifting her dynamism into overdrive. With her can-do attitude, optimistic outlook, and a keen sense of humor, Read Fowler simply gives her all to Niwot, which is why she is the recipient of this month's Left Hand Laurel. "What is new is my concern, and I'd say...
Eli Earl Buzas, 70, of Arvada, Colorado, lost his battle with COVID-19 on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. He is remembered by his mother Saveta Buzas, loving wife Christine Brott Buzas, sister Elizabeth "Betty" Buzas, brother George Buzas married to Kim Buzas, daughter Melinda Holt married to Don Holt residing in Arvada, son Matthew Buzas married to Sandra Buzas residing in Evergreen, and Joseph Lonn married to Anthony Lonn residing in Sydney, Australia, and grandchildren Thomas and Natalie...
In a year full of challenges, educators have gone above and beyond to support their students. Teachers have been placed in situations they didn't ask for and had to quickly build new skills to reach learners who were often on the other side of a screen. Now, the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation and the St. Vrain Valley School District are asking those who know of someone who has gone to lengths to help their student, to nominate them for 2021's Teacher of the Year award....
Gardening with native plants is not a new concept. There are people who have been doing it for a long time, but it's not what I would call, mainstream. It is, however, gaining in popularity as people discover that a native plant garden provides much more than just water savings. Gardeners of all types from patio planters to commercial properties can play an important role in helping to increase pollinator and wildlife habitat and bolster biodiversity. Our urban and suburban landscapes can serve...
On Aug. 27, 2020, the Veterans Community Project (VCP) broke ground on a two-acre site in Longmont, the beginning of the much-anticipated construction of a tiny home village for homeless veterans. Governor Jared Polis and Niwot resident Kevin Mulshine of HMS Development were among the speakers who oversaw the groundbreaking ceremonies. The joint venture between VCP, the City of Longmont, and HMS Development is in the process of transforming the property into a tiny home village to serve...
Boulder County's first solar garden is an inherent composite of nature, community, and pure inspiration. Jack's Solar Garden, a 1.2 megawatt solar array on north 95th Street, switched on operations officially the first week of November 2020. The project's power is now flowing both literally and creatively. Called agrivoltaics because of the combination of agriculture and solar power, Jack's is the largest operation of its kind in the U.S. and from the start, founder Byron Kominek envisioned...
Diners attribute the quality of their eating out experience to the people they interact with – the front of house workers. For 17 years, Leslie Middleton has been the most noticeable front of house person at Gunbarrel’s Café Blue American Grill while her chef husband Kevin runs the kitchen. These days, because of COVID, Leslie isn’t just taking orders and bringing out delicious drinks and food to diners at the restaurant, she’s also driving freshly prepared meals to patrons’ homes. She’s doin...
Longmont based HOPE, short for Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement, cares for some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Founded in 2007, HOPE has supported the homeless community with the end goal being self-sufficiency. The organization exists to fill people's most basic needs of shelter and food, in addition to providing forward momentum resources such as one-on-one advocacy. Gunbarrel resident Erin Hofer-Shall is an angel of HOPE. While that sounds very ethereal, she and...
In an age when a forgotten video clip can lead to the withdrawal of a scholarship offer, it's more important than ever for student-athletes to think twice before taking their thoughts to TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram. That's the message of Niwot junior Sydney Rothstein, whose comments during a recent leadership training course are now being highlighted by the Positive Coaching Alliance, a national organization that is dedicated to cultivating a positive youth sports culture. "Sometimes it's...
The COVID-19 pandemic turned life upside down for most of us over the past 12 months, but it was especially hard on the local non-profit community, which saw its donations dry up as traditional fundraising events and activities were postponed or canceled. Fortunately, there's still time to help balance the scales as we count down the final hours of 2020. Among the many provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) passed back in March, was a change to an IRS rule...
In 1928, Earl Blank, a Wyoming teacher, suggested that his school celebrate the achievements of high school theater students. One year and many meetings later, the first charter was granted to Mr. Blank's school and the National Thespians (later to be renamed International Thespian Society) were created. Membership grew quickly, and 91 years later, there have been 2.3 million thespians inducted, with programs in 5,000 schools, and charters in every state, plus 13 countries. Next June, five...
On Wednesday, Dec. 16 the St. Vrain Valley School District Board of Education held a special meeting to discuss the return to school in 2021 and on Friday, Dec. 18, sent out an email to all parents, including a roadmap to in-person learning. Don Haddad, the superintendent of SVVSD, along with the counsel of many others, has created a plan to get students back in-person and ready to learn. In short, the plan is to have elementary students to be fully in-person starting Wednesday, Jan. 6, but...
A recently published book is an ideal gift for local history lovers to find under their tree. Erik Mason, Curator of Research at the Longmont Museum, has published the coffee table book, "Longmont: The First 150 years." The book, Mason's first, includes both carefully researched text and nearly 300 images. Many of the photos were made available when the museum received custody of the Longmont Times Call's photo archives in 2015. Compiling the book took time. Mason began his research and writing...
For Niwot first-year coach Nikolas Blume, the 2020 football season will be memorable for many things, and not all of them pleasant. But one pleasant memory he will have is of senior Charlie Herring, a newcomer like himself, whose "work ethic and dedication to his teammates," helped the coach nudge the program in a promising direction. "Charlie was a first year starter and a great leader for us this season," Blume wrote in an email interview. "You won't find a young man more dedicated to...
Lawson and Suzanne Drinkard of Niwot put their energy into making sure members of Recovery Café are wrapped in the warmth of connection with others. Built upon the premise that recovery from challenges with addiction, homelessness, and mental health is made possible through a sense of belonging and being valued, Recovery Café Longmont (RCL) opened its doors a little over a year ago and the Drinkards were committed to support the impactful organization from the start. "Being a part of a caring c...
In 2018, the EPA reported the total generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the United States was 292.4 million tons or 4.9 pounds per person per day. Of the total MSW, 25 million tons were composted. This included approximately 22.3 million tons of yard trimmings and 2.6 million tons of food waste across the United States. At a local level, Boulder County estimates that almost 20% of the waste stream in Boulder County is plant trimmings and fruit and vegetable scraps that could be recycled as compost. As part of Boulder County’s o...
In 1975, the Lutheran Medical Center Foundation was created as a way to support a nonprofit hospital in West Denver. Since then, it has been renamed the "Community First Foundation" (CFF) and has sought to create change beyond just the Denver Metro. Then, CFF became involved with ColoradoGives.org, an online tool that is a way to connect with and support nearly 3,000 nonprofits around the state. In 2010, CFF and ColoradoGives.org kicked off Colorado Gives Day, which has garnered $355 million in...
In time for Thanksgiving and in the spirit of helping others, Flagstaff Academy, Longmont's pre- K through eighth grade public charter school, is launching a nonperishable food drive to benefit the OUR Center of Longmont. The community service project is a collaborative effort between the school's National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and the PBIS team (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) and part of Flagstaff Academy's Dragon PRIDE Core Virtue and Character Education program. Dragon PR...
Jane Leland Langdon's art expresses what's in her heart - a genuine love for life and others. You've seen Langdon's oil and watercolor paintings in Niwot and Boulder County businesses and homes. She's the Niwotian you just can't help but notice because of her lovely large smile and easy laugh. I met Langdon years ago waiting in the check-out line at the grocery store where she struck up a conversation and I was thrilled that we continued to cross paths again and again. This Familiar Face column...
In Boulder County, a program called Farm to Early Care & Education (Farm to ECE) is helping change how some of our littlest citizens view new and strange fresh fruits and vegetables. The program, begun in 2015, serves the highest need and lowest income children across Boulder County by providing nutrition education and local produce to care centers for children from two-and-a-half to six years old. To qualify for the Farm to ECE program, child care centers must have some element of subsidized...
Whether you read the Nov. 4 issue of the Left Hand Valley Courier on our website or in our print edition, you will notice some big changes. While the pandemic had forced us to stop weekly printing for several months, we recognized that we needed to enhance the Courier's website to attract new subscribers to help us through this crisis. We were fortunate enough to receive a Facebook Journalism Grant that recognized the importance of community journalism. These funds helped us subsidize advertisin...
Married for 51 years, Gunbarrel residents Mike and Becky Fellows are partners in life and community service. As a couple, they deliver meals to seniors and those who aren't able to shop for food and prepare meals on their own through the non-profit organization Meals on Wheels Boulder (MOWB). Lisa Hughes, MOWB manager of volunteer services, said, "Mike and Becky are such great volunteers. They deliver meals for us every week to Gunbarrel and often substitute drive as well. They are very...
The craft beer business hasn't been immune to 2020. Even the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) was forced to evolve into a virtual version of itself, with the event's highly regarded awards program, now in its 34th year, revealing winners online. Among all of the changes at GABF, one Boulder County brewery with Gunbarrel roots stood tall. Wibby Brewing beat out 110 other entries in the American amber lager category to win a gold medal for its Volksbier Vienna Lager. A slightly crisp but malty...
The CalWood and the Lefthand Canyon Fires have impacted our community. I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to those who have lost their homes and have been evacuated. I also want to thank our first responders who have stepped up to keep us safe. The immediate and long-term impacts of these fires are significant. Both fires are burning close to the creeks that provide us with safe drinking water. As soon as the fires are out, we need to begin post-fire recovery work to ensure our water supplies continue to be clean and reliable. Protecting...
Earlier this summer I wrote about June being Colorado Pollinator Month. The City of Boulder celebrates Pollinator Appreciation Month in September. More and more people are becoming aware of the important role these insects (and birds and mammals) play in everything from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear. Pollinator gardens are being planted in neighborhoods and researchers spend their careers learning about every facet of these fascinating creatures. Whether you are already immersed in thi...
Drought and high winds continued to create havoc in Boulder County. On Saturday, Oct. 17, a fire broke out near the CalWood Education Center in Jamestown. The fire quickly spread, and within the first 24 hours, became the biggest fire in Boulder County history. Evacuations were immediate. But within the chaos caused by the fire, there are those who want to help. Lefty's Pizza in Niwot donated pizzas to the Hygiene Fire Department. A quick look on Nextdoor also revealed those who were ready to...
Special to the Courier Trees are beginning to lose their leaves, your garden plants are done and if you don't have access to commercial composting pickup, you may want to try composting them in your yard. Composting is not as difficult or as time consuming as you think. Composting provides organic material to improve soil and reduce wastes that reach landfills by 20- to 30% or more. You do not need a fancy compost bin unless your homeowner's association has a covenant requiring one. A simple...
For five years, Niwotian Rich Anderson has brought nurturing and nutrition to homebound community members through Longmont Meals on Wheels (LMOW). The organization's motto is Delivering Hope One Meal at a Time, and Anderson does that in batches of 12 to 16 deliveries per shift, each one providing greatly appreciated smiles and sustenance. "Being retired," Anderson said, "I felt I needed something besides the activities in life I normally get engaged in. I just can't sit around the house. I...
September 8 marked the beginning of a new chapter at Niwot Vision Center. Dr. Amy Chang, OD, FAAO, FCOVD, joined the staff there and will assume ownership of the practice as of the new year. Dr. Rebecca Hutchins OD, FCOVD will retain ownership until then and plans to see patients on a part-time basis after the transition. Chang not only is new to the practice, she's new to Niwot and to Colorado. She, her husband, and their two French bulldogs moved to the area from Minnesota where she was on...
The spike in COVID-19 cases tied to the University of Colorado last month is troubling, but those who have recovered have the opportunity to play a critical role in saving lives, improving health outcomes, and understanding immune response to the novel coronavirus. Vitalant Blood Donation, formerly the Bonfils Blood Center, is collecting plasma from people who've recovered from the virus. It's being used for a number of scientific studies and medical uses, including convalescent plasma for patie...
Do you feel frazzled, irritable, preoccupied, angry, reactive, or just plain tired? Christine Ruth, M.Div., MS, LMFT, owner of Niwot Counseling Center says you are not alone. In her over 20-years of experience as a social worker, hospice grief counselor, spouse, and marriage and family therapist, Ruth has specialized in helping people work through loss and grief. And while you might not know it, these feelings are a normal response to what Ruth calls the “confusing emotional roller-coaster” of...
Have you recently stepped outside to the smell of a campfire? Or been surprised to find your car covered in white ash? Or been shocked by the size of the setting orange sun? It's not the apocalypse, although the orange light does seem a bit eerie. It's simply the end of a hot, dry summer in Colorado. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as the summer of 2020 comes to a close, the entire state of Colorado is currently experiencing drought conditions. For the first time since 2013, 100% of the...
With the COVID-19 pandemic making in-person voting a health risk for many, the 2020 election will be conducted by mail-in voting on a wider scale than ever before. After recent mail-in primaries in New York and Florida that took weeks to count, officials in both presidential campaigns have raised doubts about the entire process and suggest the system is ripe for potential fraud, particularly from non-citizens. Evidence to date shows those fears might be unfounded, problems in the aforementioned...
Amidst the current global pandemic, physical health is often at the forefront of many people's minds. But one facet of health and wellness that people may be neglecting is their mental health. The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. But in a year with unprecede...
The old adage advises that when life presents us with lemons, we should make lemonade! This positive attitude has certainly been the case at Flagstaff Academy, which has had a successful start to the 2020-21 school year, and is moving into a hybrid model for the second quarter. Celebrating its 16th year, Flagstaff Academy has provided an all student remote learning environment for the first quarter of school, with onsite Remote Learning Support from Dragon Flight, the school's before and...
Spontaneity is so 2019. In 2020, you have to plan ahead, especially if you want to visit Rocky Mountain National Park this fall to see aspen trees shimmering with gold coins or listen to the primal bugle of bull elk during mating season, which begins now and continues until about mid-October. Because of the pandemic, reservations are required and can be hard to get if you suddenly decide to spend a weekend day in the park or want to enter in the morning so that you can enjoy a full day. When...
Area schools received a boost to help high school students on their path to tech career readiness. The National Science Foundation awarded the Saint Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) and Front Range Community College (FRCC) a $494,175 grant to open a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program in cybersecurity. This will be the SVVSD's, third P-TECH program, with the other programs focused on biomedical sciences at Frederick High School and computer information systems...
For over 35 years, the Firehouse Art Center has been the leading contemporary art center in Longmont, featuring national and local artists with over a dozen exhibitions a year. Founded in 1986, the center has been a cornerstone of the Longmont Creative District where it was started by local artists to create a space for artists to create as well as exhibit their work. "Our mission is to bring arts and culture to our community through education, exhibits and cultural events," said Elaine...
In a time of great uncertainty, the recent interactions between the Colorado High School Athletics Association (CHSAA) and Gov. Jared Polis have not yielded much clarity. The rollercoaster of events began in early August when CHSAA restructured its fall sports slate; golf, softball, cross country and boys tennis were permitted while football, volleyball and boys soccer were pushed to 2021. Hope for a change in heart was minimal until Sept. 7 when it was reported that CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green would be meeting with Gov. Polis and...
Leonard Sitongia is an essential worker, or more fittingly, an essential volunteer for the Niwot community. Even before Leonard and his wife Christine moved to their Niwot home in 2014, while waiting for their North Boulder house to sell, he stepped up to be an area representative for the Niwot Community Association (NCA). For the past three years, he's also been the organization's secretary. Hearing about his history, it's clear that connecting through community engagement is Sitongia's modus...
It took just three innings for Niwot softball to roll past Thompson Valley, 17-0, on Thursday, Sept. 3. The Cougars cranked out 14 hits and freshman Anne Booth left the Eagles hitless at Centennial Park in Loveland. Niwot, which improved to 3-4, has won three of its last four games after starting the season 0-3 and being outscored 39-5. Head coach Bobby Matthews applauded his team for applying the fundamentals learned in practice to the big stage. "It's especially nice when they do the things...
As summer winds down, you might be looking for a few last outdoor adventures. And you wouldn't be alone. Labor Day weekend is prime time for outdoor recreation, as many families take one last trip before school gets going in full swing. But don't expect to find too much peace and quiet on your next outing, whether you are sticking local to Boulder County or heading somewhere else in the state. Colorado, and Boulder County specifically, is known as an outdoor recreation mecca. As the state's...
The Boulder Symphony recently announced a socially distanced concert to be held Sunday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center at 6007 Oreg Ave. in Boulder. The hour-long performance will feature the Takács Quartet, a grammy-award winning string quartet. The Boulder-based group is made up of violinists Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes, violist Richard O'Neill, and cellist András Fejér. Executive Director of the Boulder Symphony Andrew Krimm said he looks forward to hosting the qu...
I wish I were a painter. I think the immediate effects of that creative energy would be very rewarding. Sometimes that's what I pretend I'm doing when I garden, but in extreme slow motion, especially in spring when the entire vegetable patch is a blank palate. I delude myself that with patience, my subliminal artwork will mature into a beautiful, bountiful 3D canvas of produce first reaching for the sun and then gracing our kitchen. I've had nearly three decades of planting, watering, weeding, a...
