All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 1 - 50 of 392
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...
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...
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...
In just a few weeks, Rock & Rails returns to Whistle Stop Park on Thursday nights with the same positive audience energy that has persuaded some of Colorado's best bands to return year after year. As always, there will be dancing, food trucks, beverages, a 5 p.m. happy hour, volunteers who make guests feel at home, and "Gargoyles" enthusiastically offering helpful recycling and composting guidance. The 2025 series is also starting strong with perennial crowd favorite, Chris Daniels and the...
Troop 161 Scout Texas Thomas continued his journey to Eagle Scout on May 18, coordinating and executing a plan to construct a new, extended fence in Niwot Children's Park. The fence aims to improve the park's safety, which borders several Niwot residents' properties. The surrounding residential fences have taken damage over the years, and the previous border left no demarcation for the ten-foot alley that runs between those properties and the park. The fence extension installed by Thomas and...
The House Blend Band kicked off this year's season of concerts in Niwot with a performance on 2nd Avenue Saturday, May 17. The closed-off street was filled with a cheerful audience sitting in a semi-circle around the stage in folding camp chairs, clapping and cheering on the band members. This was the first concert of many scheduled for this summer, with Rock & Rails opening June 5. The band, led by Old Oak Coffeehouse owners Michael Tomich and Patty Machen, was just one spectacle of the night,...
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 first concert in the 2025 House Blend Band Summer Concert Series will return to Niwot in front of The Old Oak Coffeehouse at 136 2nd Avenue on Saturday, May 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. The free event will close 2nd Avenue from Murray Street to Franklin Street that evening. It is recommended that patrons bring their own chairs as seating is limited. The Old Oak Coffeehouse’s famous spaghetti and meatballs will be available to purchase. Patrons will order at the door and pick up at the window for efficiency. The Old Oak Coffeehouse was originally op...
Third in a series of articles highlighting Niwot's 150-year history. If you've ever wondered why the streets of Niwot's old town are laid out as they are, consider that what we now know as Niwot was originally just a section house along the railroad tracks that ran from Longmont to Boulder. The railroad was extremely important to early area farmers, who by then were producing crops on land served by water from a series of irrigation ditches, most dug by hand. Before the railroad, the only way...
Later this spring, fishing flies will be flying off the racks of the Cottonwood Square location that previously housed the well-loved boutique, Fly Away Home. In welcome news to local anglers, Niwot resident Nick Wilson is opening a brick-and-mortar retail space for Togens Fly Shop, selling a wide range of flies, fly-tying supplies, and other equipment. The fly shop will be the first in Niwot since a fly tying shop in Cottonwood Square owned by Richard and Kay Laatt, known as Rocky Mountain Fly...
The Niwot Patriotic Cookie Moms are gearing up to send out the next round of Passover/Easter boxes of cookies on April 7 to deployed troops serving the United States. Each troop has members from the local community as well as from other states. An informal group of women interested in supporting U.S. troops far away from home was first formed in 2010 by local realtor Pat Murphy along with Patty Strecker and Karen Copperberg. They officially incorporated as a non-profit organization in March...
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...
When The Wheel House real estate was sold in 2024, locals questioned the future of Niwot's popular gathering spot, renowned for its eclectic crowd and vibrant atmosphere. On some evenings a small band might be playing in a corner while guests cheered their favorite sports teams competing on the screen across the room at the bar, with patrons enjoying food from La Musette food truck. On Thursday evenings in the summer, amped up locals and visitors stop by after Rock & Rails concerts in Whistle...
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...
After six years in Niwot's Cottonwood Square, Fly Away Home is now closed. Owner Kathy Trauner announced to her loyal customers that Fly Away Home, a home decor boutique, would close on Dec. 24. The shop was a favorite of local shoppers, along with out of town visitors, for its unique home decorating items. Trauner carried a wide variety of goods, such as baby outfits with clever sayings, including a baby girl onesie that says, "I'm not allowed to date. Ever." The store also featured art and...
The Left Hand Valley Courier has been fortunate to have devoted staff members who bring you the news every week. We profiled many of our staff members a year ago, and have had some new valuable additions this year, and thought you might want to know who is reporting what you like to read. Madison Shaw Hi, I'm Madison Shaw! I was born and raised in Colorado, graduated from Dawson School, and am now a student at CU Boulder. Sko Buffs! Growing up, I was an avid reader and imagined a career in journ...
Niwot High School junior Sam Popma has always been interested in art, but what has inspired him has changed over time. Currently, Popma enjoys working with metals and making music. "I think it's living in Colorado--the mountains are so beautiful," he said. "I incorporate designs into my work a lot. So having inspiration like that is helpful." Art has been a part of Popma's life from an early age. He remembers visiting the Crackpots ceramics studio in Longmont with his parents when he was young,...
Janet Gates' wide range of volunteer efforts benefiting the Niwot, Gunbarrel, and surrounding communities have earned her the December Left Hand Laurel. Gates grew up in Gunbarrel, graduated from Niwot High School in 1984, moved out of state, then returned 13 years ago as a single mother with two small children. Immediately in need of a path to support herself and her family, her father suggested that she might start by cleaning people's homes. That led her to start her current business,...
The restaurants of Niwot have always played a vital role in the town's culture. From small businesses to the people who own them, every restaurant has its own unique personality that makes it stand out from the rest. La Musette, a farm-to-table food truck located next to The Wheel House, is one of Niwot's restaurant staples. Popular among locals, bikers, and tourists, the restaurant attracts people of all kinds. One common denominator among everyone who eats there is that they always want to...
The Left Hand Valley Courier (Courier), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dealing with the same issues that the journalism industry, particularly local journalism, is grappling with across the country. This article is the third in a series of reports on the current journalism business climate, the history and contributions of the Courier, why local journalism remains an important asset in community-building, and ways in which its business model can be strengthened. The Left Hand Valley...
Mary Coonce is a cherished figure in Niwot widely known for her role as co-owner of Porchfront Homes, which has been involved in many community projects, and her own extensive community involvement. For her volunteer efforts in the community, Coonce is the November Left Hand Laurel recipient. Coonce's dedication to Niwot includes service as the Niwot Business Association (NBA) treasurer for seven of the 11 years she has been a member. She also serves as the treasurer for the Local Improvement...
As I reflect on the last 10 years as a dentist here in Niwot, I come back to my favorite and most gratifying detail - being a part of the community. The relationships that have been cultivated out of a shadow of a common phrase, “I’m scared of the dentist,” have made me feel that this life and the connections to our community are just as important as the technical skill of my career. Whether at Rock & Rails, our kids’ Niwot flag football game, or a Saturday morning coffee hello, I feel grateful for our small-town, big-hearted communi...
The International Blues Challenge (IBC), the world's largest and most prestigious blues music competition, will once again bring together hundreds of talented musicians from around the globe. Hosted on the iconic Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, the competition will run from Jan. 7 to 11, 2025. Among those set to compete is Niwot resident Joe Pacheco, bassist and backup vocalist of the blues band George Street and the Drive, who, along with his bandmates, earned the chance to perform in...
Susan Odiseos has been an active volunteer in the Niwot community since she moved here in December 2018, including organizing food drives, participating with the Niwot Patriotic Cookie Moms, working at Rock & Rails, and being an active member of the Niwot Community Connection (NCC). Odiseos has had a lifetime of community involvement that has changed lives. Odiseos originally lived in Connecticut, and assisted several charity and volunteer organizations there before she moved to Santa Fe around...
As I began to reflect on the last 10 years as a dentist here in Niwot, I kept coming back to my favorite and most gratifying detail - being a part of the community. The relationships that have been cultivated out of a shadow of a common phrase, “I’m scared of the dentist,” have made me feel that this life and the connections to our community are just as important as the technical skill of my career. Whether at Rock & Rails, our kids’ Niwot flag football games, or a Saturday morning coffee hello, I feel the need to express my sincere gratitu...
The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) received a $25,000 grant from the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation last week to support the restoration and installation of three iconic tree carvings by the late artist Eddie Running Wolf. The grant was applied for at the suggestion of Brent Wheeler, Boulder County's liaison for the project. "Brent had mentioned the grant opportunity when we met with County Commissioner Marta Loachamin and Walt Pourier of the Lakota tribe, who was a good...
Anybody who has been to a Rock & Rails concert is well aware of the hard work that goes into making sure as much waste as possible is recycled or composted, and the park is kept neat and tidy. And with a goal of zero waste, the Rock & Rails organizing committee, administered by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), is utilizing help behind the scenes to make this goal a reality in every aspect of the event. As the Rock & Rails zero waste...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee met on a zoom call Sept. 3 to consider a funding request from the Niwot Business Association (NBA) for holiday lighting, and discuss the planned underpass on CO 119 as part of the planned bikeway, as well as declining LID revenues. Holiday Lighting Angela Hudgins, NBA administrative coordinator, presented the lighting request for funding. In the application requesting funding of $8,607, Hudgins wrote, "Niwot would like to repeat the...
If you have been keeping up with the Left Hand Valley Courier's Familiar Face features throughout the 2024 Rock & Rails season, you may have noticed a certain "photo-bomber" in the background of a few photos. While Rock & Rails came to a close this past Thursday, Aug. 29, with Hazel Miller's closing performance, that "photo-bomber" is a dedicated volunteer who deserves recognition. Tony Maurer has been a weekly regular behind the bar in the Depot for more than 10 years. He first got involved...
On August 29, Hazel Miller & the Collective, along with Nalani Clisset (stage name Nalani) performed the final show of the 2024 Rock & Rails season at Whistle Stop Park. As Nalani was setting up for her opening set, headliner Hazel Miller was standing by the performance gazebo greeting arriving concertgoers like old friends. Energized and radiating joy, Miller promised them that they "were in for a great evening and plenty of dancing." Miller's band members were fired up for their set. Lead...
Hazel Miller and The Collective will wrap up the 2024 Rock and Rails (R&R) series this Thursday evening, Aug. 29, at Whistle Stop Park. Inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2023, Miller and her band will perform their mix of jazz, blues, soul and popular music. Miller is one of the most sought-after performers in Colorado and has also performed elsewhere in North America, as well as in Europe, the Far East, Middle East and Central America. R&R booking manager Satir DeMarco said that...
After a few drops of rain fell early at the Rock & Rails concert Aug. 22, the evening cooled off and the crowd came out to hear hometown girl Nalani Clisset and her band, The Nalani Effect, entertain the crowd with a mix of blues, funk and soul standards. Joined by Regi Wooten on guitar and Adam Wooten on drums, from the renowned Wooten Brothers, Nalani, her stage name, poured out her heart and soul on vocals while playing bass. Tunes included Chaka Khan's "Tell Me Something Good" as well as a...
While Rock & Rails may be coming to a close soon, the free music will continue for one more week with the annual Remember in September (RISE) Benefit Concert for the Jared Music Foundation. The concert will take place on Thursday, Sept. 5, at Whistle Stop Park from 5 to 9 p.m. This concert is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) or the Niwot Business Association (NBA), but has sometimes been referred to as the "unofficial Rock & Rails victory lap"...
While there may be only a couple of Rock & Rails concerts left this season, there is an unlimited amount of friendliness that comes from its volunteers. This week's Familiar Face behind the Rock & Rails bar on Thursdays is Kristin Alger. Alger first got involved with Rock & Rails seven years ago. Bill and Jill Whitener used to manage the site at Whistle Stop Park and because Alger and the Whiteners were friends, she would help with pre-concert set-up during the first year. She soon got promoted...
Rock & Rail's penultimate summer concert welcomes back Niwot native Nalani DeMarco Clisset and her band, The Nalani Effect. Nalani, a bassist and vocalist, is a Niwot High School graduate and has deep roots in the Niwot community. "Rock & Rails is my home," Nalani said. "I remember when they built the gazebo and feeling that it was an anchor point for a community space. I just stood up on it, with my arms wide open, and wondered what the space would be like with the crowd, vendors, and...
Rock & Rails drew a large crowd on Aug.15 to see the opening act, Charted Territory, followed by the headliner, FACE Vocal Band. "FACE always draws a large crowd, including many fans from out of town," said Biff Warren, co-manager of Rock & Rails. "Many came early to set up chairs near the stage, and were treated to music from Charted Territory, the opening band, which included Mike Pierce and Katie Warren, who performed earlier this summer at Rock & Rails with the Niwot Community Semi-Marching...
Rock & Rails kicks off again this Thursday, Aug. 15 with Charted Territory entertaining Niwot with a variety of pieces that range from heavy guitar-driven classics to dance tunes. Formerly known as All About the Brass, this seven-piece group has evolved throughout the years since its creation in 2015. Various decades of music are represented during Charted Territory's performances, giving room for everybody to enjoy the feelings of nostalgia that music provides. The band includes Niwot High...
There are so many who volunteer behind the bar at Rock & Rails every week during the summer, but one particular volunteer stands out. This week's Familiar Face is Mary Coonce, well-known through her work at Porchfront Homes in Niwot. In fact, Porchfront Homes built the Whistle Stop Park building where Coonce serves adult beverages, known as The Depot, in 2020. Prior to that, alcohol was served from a tent known as the "beer tent," which required set-up and take-down every Thursday night during...
With only three concerts left after Aug. 8, Rock & Rails fans were determined to attend Thursday's concert despite the weather. A chilly and rainy day set the stage for the evening, with mist and cool temperatures persisting throughout the entire concert, limiting the crowd size. The evening kicked off with Gunbarrel resident and country music artist Dean Himes. A 2022 inductee into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Himes brought a mix of heartfelt originals as well as well-loved covers to the...
Osmosis Gallery, a local art gallery at 290 2nd Avenue in Niwot, was born in an architectural firm known as Osmosis Architecture, which has been around for thirty years, the last 20 years in the Niwot location. The current location, a renovated and remodeled former church building which had been converted to residential use before Postle acquired it in 2004, houses both the architectural firm and the art gallery. "The architecture firm has been around since 1994 and we were in this location in...
Rock & Rails summer concerts continue on Thursday, Aug. 8, with the opening act starting at 5 p.m. and the headliner lighting up the stage at 6:30 p.m. Starting the night off right, Gunbarrel resident and country music artist Dean Himes will play a set of original songs with relatable and beautiful lyrics written by Himes. As a 2022 inductee into The Colorado County Music Hall of Fame, Himes regularly wows his crowds, whether they be fans or first-time listeners. Headlining this week will be My...
On Thursday, Aug. 1, Rock & Rails continued its summer concert series with two standout performances that delighted the crowd. The evening began with Strangebyrds, a folk/rock and Americana duo of Cari Minor and Ray Smith. With six award-winning releases under their belt, they kicked off the hot evening with a captivating mix of music. Their set consisted of covers and originals from all seven of their albums, including their self-proclaimed theme song "Strangebyrds," which sounds vaguely...
Rock & Rails summer concerts continue on Thursday, Aug. 1, with the opening act starting at 5 p.m. and the headliner lighting up the stage at 6:30 p.m. This week Strangebyrds will be starting off the night right with folk/rock and Americana style music. With six award-winning releases, they're sure to wow the crowd. Band members Cari Minor and Ray Smith have worked together since 2011 with their first release, the self-titled "Strangebyrds." They have since produced and released six more excelle...
On a hazy Thursday evening, Ain't No Mountain High Enough with Dzirae Gold took the stage at Whistle Stop Park for an unforgettable Rock & Rails performance. The July 25 night kicked off with Wendy Woo, an inductee into Westword Magazine's Hall of Fame and a five-time "Singer/Songwriter of the Year" Westword Magazine award winner. Highlights from her set included heartfelt renditions of "Closer to Fine" by the Indigo Girls, "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics, and "Son of a Preacher Man" by Dusty...
Niwot loves its live music. Events and venues such as Rock & Rails, The House Blend Band, Dancing Under the Stars, and The Wheel House make Niwot a music destination. Although most of Niwot's live music and events are planned ahead and publicized on business websites and social media, now and then a spontaneous concert pops up. One such impromptu event occurred at The Wheel House on Friday, July 19, with less than 24 hours planning. The Heart Collectors, an Australian-based band from New South...
Kaiya Brown has been a member of the Niwot community for several years, during which she has become a familiar face and volunteer at events around Niwot. For her volunteer efforts throughout Niwot, Brown is the July 2024 recipient of the Left Hand Valley Courier's Left Hand Laurel. Brown has been volunteering as a Gargoyle at the local summer concert series Rock & Rails for three years, helping keep the event "zero-waste." As a middle schooler, Brown joined her school's "ECO Club." She would...
Rock & Rails summer concerts continue on Thursday, July 25, with the opening act starting at 5 p.m. and the headliner lighting up the stage at 6:30 p.m. The Wendy Woo Band returns to Rock & Rails to start the night off with an energetic and enjoyable performance. The Wendy Woo Band is a self-described "poly-ethnic, power pop, song-rock, 6-piece band with sweet vocal harmonies and shuddering grooves." Wendy Woo is an inductee into the Westword Hall of Fame as a result of being named...
