All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) welcomed its newest member, Sarah Cioni of Belle Terre, to the March 7 meeting. Cioni was appointed to fill the business position vacated by Bruce Raberler, who did not seek reappointment. Cioni said, "Speaking as a business member, the LID is such a gift to us." Mary Coonce was selected to serve as treasurer of the LID, a position Rabeler previously held. A reception to honor Rabeler and recognize his contributions is planned for a f...
The current state of health in the United States looks dire. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) statistics state, "Six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease... Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in America, and they are also a leading driver of healthcare costs." In addition, the average lifespan of Americans is declining. In 2022, The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reported the life expectancy at birth at its lowes...
February 2023 marked the return of Let's Wine About Winter and it made its return in spectacular fashion. Anne Postle, event founder and co-organizer, said more than 500 people attended the event on Feb. 11 and approximately $13,000 was raised that will go towards maintaining the Niwot Children's Park and Whistle Stop Park. "This was our most successful Wine About Winter to date," Postle said. "The beautiful weather and the event's hiatus for two years certainly helped add to the excitement."...
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Let's Wine About Winter, sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), returns Feb. 11 after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The walk-about event begins at 1 p.m. and runs until 5 p.m., with businesses offering beverage samples, refreshments, and live music for participants in Cottonwood Square and the downtown business district. Several businesses are pairing up for the event, with a total of 31 shops, restaurants and offices participating. To purchase a ticket and become a me...
Gene Parker was in his late thirties when he and his wife Denise bought a spanking new home in Gunbarrel's Heatherwood subdivision. The year was 1967, and most of Heatherwood was still a twinkle in its developers' eyes. A short walk from the Parkers' new home were a couple of acres of open space with a clear view of the mountains. The site was designated as a future park, but as time passed, the future never seemed to arrive. "The actual space was designated for a park, but it was never...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) advisory committee approved a $10,000 expenditure for connectivity planning, accepting a proposal from Niwot architectural firm Fletemeyer & Lee Associates, Inc., to create a plan for better access to Niwot from the planned bikeway-pedestrian path in the median of the Diagonal Highway from Longmont to Boulder. The proposal was presented by Mary Coonce on behalf of the Niwot Business Association (NBA). Coonce is a LID member, and also serves as...
The 2022 Rock & Rails summer concert season has long been over, but offseason work continues. Co-managers Vicki Maurer and Dan Hawk organized a crew of 11 to meet up at Whistle Stop Park Jan. 7 to clean and reorganize the Depot building for the offseason. Chris Teta, who handles set-up and break-down on concert nights, Tom Smathers, who coordinates the food vendors, and Satir DeMarco, who books all of the bands, were joined by regular beer tent volunteers Tony Maurer, Maureen Miller, Doug...
I am a father of one girl and three boys, all of whom played high school sports. Julia and Andrew are Niwot and CU graduates, while Matt is a senior at CU and Callan is taking a snowboarding-focused gap year. I have lived in or around Niwot since moving here from Boulder to save $100/month on rent while a CU undergrad in 1988. I used to brag about rent at the one-bedroom Countryside condo being under $400/month back then. I belonged to the local gym, known as Cottonwood Health & Racquet Club,...
Jason Champion was awarded the prestigious Eagle Scout rank at a ceremony at the Left Hand Grange Dec. 12. Champion, a member of Troop 161 B of the Boy Scouts of America, has been involved in scouting for the past six years. His Eagle Scout project was to make improvements to Whistle Stop Park in Niwot, where Champion has volunteered for several years as a member of the Gargoyles, who man the recycle and compost stations at the Rock & Rails summer concert series and retrieve traffic control devi...
Monte Comer was a kid with a lot of friends. He was a fixture on his baseball team in the Gunbarrel Lefthand Valley Recreation Association, or GLVRA as it was known (now Niwot Youth Sports). He had buddies on his basketball team, his Boy Scout troop, his class at Niwot Elementary School and everywhere else. “Back then I don’t think they had the Pee Wee Football they have now,” said Monte’s sister, Jamie Comer Smith. “I believe he would have played football.” That was the mid-1970’s,...
All nine members of the Niwot Local Improvement District advisory committee (LID) were present for the Nov. 1 meeting at the Niwot Inn. Treasurer Bruce Rabeler reported that revenues continue to climb as collections through August are up over $26,000 from a year ago. He noted that with an approval of the loan funding request on the agenda, the LID would have approved over $222,000 in expenditures for 2022. The 2022 LID budget is only $170,000, but Rabeler reminded the committee that the budget is set at 80% of collections from two years ago....
After a three year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, downtown Niwot hosted a packed and fast crowd of runners, joggers and walkers for the 15th annual Niwot Trot 5K on Sunday, Oct. 2. The starting horn blared at 9 a.m. sharp and a sea of elementary school children sprinted down Murray Street from the starting line just in front of the Niwot Post office. The course is a flat and fast 3.1 miles, which winds runners down Murray, then curving around east on Neva Road before sending them north on to...
The Niwot Trot 5k run/walk is back for its 15th year following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This family-friendly race annually draws over 500 participants, both from Niwot Elementary School families and the community-at-large. The race is a unique celebration of Niwot's community investment in being healthy and active across all generations. The 5km (3.1mile) race starts and finishes at Whistle Stop Park in downtown Niwot and will be held this year at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, Oct....
Niwot attorney, co-founder of the Left Hand Valley Courier, longtime Niwot resident and (extremely) active community member, Bruce "Biff" Warren, received yet another honor this week. Partner and founding attorney at Warren, Carson & Moore LLP, Warren was inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame. "A couple of people showed up in my office one morning, without an appointment," Warren said. "It was Dennis Paul, who is president of the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame, and Jeff...
Rock & Rails' second complete season following pandemic interruptions was a notable success. A full slate of musical acts played each Thursday between Jun. 2 and Aug. 25 and included 26 musical groups split between main stage and opening acts. Talent included long time performers who return each year, new performers, Colorado Music Hall of Fame members and newly appointed Colorado Country Music Hall of Famer, Gunbarrel resident Dean Himes. Business numbers also point to a strong season....
On Saturday, September 3, Niwot said farewell to summer in its traditional style–festive and focused, with an eye towards helping others. Lobster Fest was better than ever–the lobster (flown in from Maine) sweeter, the butter richer, the music delightful, and every detail carefully orchestrated from the kids' favors to the sand-filled Mason jar centerpieces. Tim Stiles & The House Blend Band entertained guests and volunteers alike with songs by Steely Dan, John Denver, David Gray and Chi...
The first Thursday night after Rock & Rails will feature a "bonus" concert, sponsored by the JARED Foundation. Anyone looking for one last night of the summer concert season will have a chance to support a local Niwot charity and enjoy live music and refreshments on Thursday, Sept. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Whistle Stop Park. The Jared Foundation, founded by Surinder and Renee Dahiya in memory of their son, Jared Lizakowski, provides music lessons and scholarships for children who are unable to...
The last concert of the Rock & Rails 2022 season opened with the amazing blues sound of Nalani playing the upright bass. Her throaty vocals, accompanied by her bass, made folks want to get up and dance. Nalani's giant smile and big voice kept the crowd's enthusiastic attention as rain threatened to dampen the event. Nalani, also known as Nalani DeMarco Clisset, grew up on Third Avenue in Niwot, and is a graduate of Niwot High School. Her mother, Satir DeMarco, books all of the music for Rock &...
The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band opened Rock & Rails Thursday night, Aug. 18, at the Whistle Stop Park with a set list ranging from “Stairway to Heaven” to “In Heaven There Is No Beer.” The band, under the direction of Debbie Benson, featured 24 of the approximately 30 local musicians who perform with the band. The band was formed on July 4, 2005, to perform at the dedication of the Whistle Stop Park bandstand, and returned to its roots to open for Quemando at Rock & Rails. The band performs at local events, with approxi...
The August meeting of the Niwot Business Association was held Aug. 9 at Niwot Market, with 34 members attending. The timely topic of fire prevention, emergency preparations, and insurance coverage gave members useful information in the wake of the Aug. 6 Abo’s Pizza fire in Niwot. Although the topic had been planned early in July, the presentation by representatives of Mountain View Fire Rescue, Leigh Suskin and Lindsay Cumberland of Farmers Insurance in Niwot was especially timely. Mountain View Fire Rescue community outreach officers e...
Downtown Niwot's National Night Out event on Aug. 2 was a huge success, with many community members enjoying hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks, courtesy of the Boulder County Sheriff's office. The annual community-driven campaign promotes first responders and community partnerships to foster neighborhood camaraderie and, ultimately, make our communities better places to live. Several community honors were awarded at the annual event. The Niwot Group at Compass real estate agency awarded their...
The opener at Rock & Rails Thursday night Aug. 4 was the band "Good Music Medicine," featuring Niwot resident Joe Pacheco, and Thomas Dow. The duo played a great mix of folk and blues music. Pacheco, who plays with a number of bands in the area, plays amazing bass while mixing in the vocals, with Dow playing the guitar and singing. Other members of the Boulder-based band include Scott Wright on percussion and vocals, and Kit Sawyer on guitar and vocals, but Pacheco and Dow were the only ones...
Revenues of the Niwot Local Improvement District keep climbing, with the latest report showing $24,878.21 collected in May from the LID’s 1% sales tax, which was more than 25% higher than May 2021 collections. Overall, the year-to-date collections are up by 18.29% over the same period a year ago. Treasurer Bruce Rabeler reported that the LID’s reserve fund at the end of 2021 was estimated to be $307,356. By previous resolution, the LID has a policy of keeping a reserve amount of at least $60,000 to guard against a downturn in the economy. The f...
The Small Town Big Heart Marshall Fire Fund is into its last group of events in an effort to get to the $100,000 finish line. Headed by Niwot Business Association President Deb Fowler, the effort began shortly after the first of the year to show victims of the fire that other communities cared. "I couldn't be more delighted," Fowler said. "The support from the local businesses, some Niwot clubs and residents joining in, has been overwhelming and the next few events are going to be so much fun."...
This Friday, July 29, the Colorado Rockies face the LA Dodgers at Coors Field in Denver, and the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band is scheduled to perform the National Anthem to open the game. Since its founding on July 4, 2005, at the dedication of the bandstand at Whistle Stop Park, the band has always had its collective eye on interesting local venues. The band is a regular at Niwot events, including the 4th of July celebration, the "Why Not Niwot?" Juried Art Show, Enchanted...
The race for Boulder County Commissioner in the Democratic primary election had to wait until all corrected and absentee ballots were counted before the results were certain. Ashley Stolzmann, Louisville mayor, had a 42-vote lead over Ealaina Shively, an attorney with the Boulder County District Attorney’s office, after over 55,000 votes were counted. When the last of the corrected ballots were in, her lead increased to 68 votes, with a total of 27,870 votes for her, compared to 27,802 votes for Shively. Though the margin of victory triggers an...
This past week's Rock & Rails concert had a unique opening performance by the talented Derek DeMuth. Despite the threatening weather, many came to enjoy this young artist's great music. Derek plays his guitar in a unique fashion creating a kaleidoscope of musical color and sounds encompassing the spectrum. Derek uses his hands to tap the guitar in a percussive manner giving the illusion of full band accompaniment. When Derek is playing his guitar, he seems to wrap himself around the instrument...
It's a special moment when a local musician can take the stage at Rock & Rails. That's what will happen this Thursday as Tierro Band with Bridget Law headlines. The group is helmed by guitarist, founder and area resident Tierro Lee, who is excited to once again play for friends and neighbors. As an additional treat, he's planning to have his son take the stage with him in a musical debut. Tierro Band has been lauded by a number of industry-leading musicians including Michael Travis of String...
Last Thursday night at Rock & Rails Concert, the crowd was entertained during the opening by the gifted and talented pair known as the Strangebyrds. At 5 p.m. they started their set with a song titled "Angeline's" from their CD "Highway Islands." The Strangebyrds, Cari Minor and Ray Smith, have been together for several years, both personally and professionally. Their harmonies and guitar playing were appreciated by the audience. Their music is primarily original compositions. Besides the...
The weekend of June 25-26, BikeMS Colorado will take place to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. MS is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information to the brain, and between the brain and body. Nearly 1 million people are living with MS in the United States, according to a study funded by the MS Society. Bike MS is the largest fundraising cycling series in the world. Each year, nearly 75,000 cyclists and more than 6,000 t...
Mojomama is no stranger to the Rock & Rails stage and each year the award-winning rhythm and blues band is pleased to return. Jessica Rogalski, the band's co-founder and soloist, talked to us about Mojomama, why they appreciate the chance to return each year, standout memories from past performances, and what it's been like to found a band with her husband. . Q: So this isn't your first time performing at Rock & Rails? JR: No. I think this might be the fifth time, fourth or fifth time. Q: So...
This year's Rock & Rails season kicked off–appropriately–with the high-energy funk music of Funkiphino. Niwot's free summer concert series runs every Thursday night, June through August, in Whistle Stop Park. As the recipient of the 2006 Governor's Award for Downtown Excellence for Best Promotional Event, Rock & Rails is well-attended, and much loved. Rock & Rails is sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association and the Niwot Business Association, with funding from the Niwot Local Imp...
Rock & Rails is a well-loved, much-attended community event in Niwot's very own Whistle Stop Park. As the recipient of the 2006 Governor's Award for Downtown Excellence for Best Promotional Event, Rock & Rails benefits many who volunteer to make all the magic happen. The free summer concert series takes the stage at Niwot's Whistle Stop Park at 1st Avenue and Murray Street in historic downtown Niwot, Colorado, and is produced by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association in conjunction with the Niwot...
Rock & Rails, Niwot's signature summer concert series, kicks off the 2022 season on June 2 with popular local guitarist Kevin Dooley opening for Funkiphino at Whistle Stop Park, located at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Murray Street. Satir DeMarco, who has booked the bands for Niwot's summer concert series since its start in 2006, announced the lineup. Funkiphino is a 13-member band, based out of Longmont, which performed in Washington, D.C. for the 55th Presidential Inaugural Ball in...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) approved five funding requests at its regular meeting May 3, including funding for three popular community events. Scott Firle chaired the meeting, with advisory board members Lisa Rivard, Cornelia Sawle, Bruce Rabeler, Jeff Knight, Heidi Storz and Keith Waters also in attendance, along with Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin. The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), co-managers of the Rock & Rails summer...
Jeff Knight, a Niwot resident since 2005, was appointed to the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) by the Boulder County Commissioners. Knight was designated by the Niwot Community Association (NCA) as its nominee for the NCA representative position on the nine-member committee, which considers funding requests for sales tax dollars for projects and events which benefit the business district in Niwot. Knight, who resides in the Burgundy Park subdivision, also serves on the...
Do you like Rock & Rails? Have you ever ridden the Winter Park Ski Train? A summer version of that train may be coming to Niwot on Thursday evenings for our town's summer concert series. The word is out on Rock & Rails, and Denver music lovers are tuned in. At the moment, plans are still a bit up in the air, but the SBNF (Simply Beautiful Niwot Fun) rail plan is in the works, and it has the NACC's (Niwot Activity Community Club) basic approval. "The plan works on so many levels." one NACC...
Left Hand Grange is going to be helping the community get to know local growers this season by hosting a series of farm-related mini-talks. The lead two events in the series will be a pair of interactive presentations by Ollin Farmson March 1, and March 11, each from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The talks are free of charge. Ollin Farms' participation in the Grange talks is meaningful to the farm owners, who consider Niwot a core part of their origin story. "It's the 15th growing season for the farm,...
Damage to the fence on the east side of Whistle Stop Park was discovered recently. It appears that a vehicle crashed into the fence, breaking off two sections of the rail fence sometime before Feb. 5. Representatives of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, which owns the park, indicated the fence would be repaired before the Rock & Rails summer concert series begins. Anyone with information concerning the damage is asked to contact NCAA President Bruce Warren at 303-652-2433....
The popular weekly concert series Rock & Rails is returning to Niwot's Whistle Stop Park for 13 shows in 2022, and organizers are gearing up for another great summer of live music and family fun on Thursday nights. "We're looking forward to another successful season," co-manager Bruce Warren of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association said. "We're adding some new local talent for opening acts along with the return of popular favorites." Along with Warren, Dan Hawk of Edward Jones and Vicki Maurer of...
Like it or not, 2022 is just around the corner, and if your plans for the new year involve bettering the world, there's no better place to start than your own community. The Left Hand Valley is home to dozens of non-profit organizations that are making a difference, and they need engaged volunteers to help them do it. No experience is necessary; there's a position for you. By volunteering, not only are you helping your community, you'll also reap the benefits from connecting with others, learnin...
In 2020, charitable giving rose to an all-time high in the U.S., even as many Americans struggled with uncertainty and disruptions. While that is good news for the nation's non-profit organizations, the unfortunate reality is that much of the bounty went to high profile causes and groups, leaving small and locally-focused charities scrambling to make up for lost fundraising opportunities. As 2021 comes to a close, many of those groups could still use some help to balance the scales. "There are a...
Since 1993, the Niwot Historical Society has been on a mission to collect, preserve, and share memories from the town's rich and storied past, which stretches back nearly 150 years. Starting Saturday, Nov. 27, you can help support that mission and check an item off of your holiday to-do list with the purchase of a limited edition Niwot greeting card, featuring original artwork and a short lesson in local history. "The original watercolor paintings of a Niwot location have been donated for our...
As part of the effort to update the town's five-year strategic plan, the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee invited leaders from more than a dozen local community organizations to a round table discussion at the Left Hand Grange on Nov. 2 to discuss how to prioritize tax revenues over the coming years and encourage cooperation among the groups on community projects. Among the groups represented were the Niwot Business Association, Niwot Community Association, the Rotary Club of...
Niwot realtor Pat Murphy presented the 2021 Golden Hammer Award to long-time Niwot volunteer Julie Breyer at the Great Pumpkin Party Oct. 30. In presenting the award, Murphy noted that Breyer was first employed as a waitress at Rev Taylor's Restaurant shortly after moving to Niwot in 1986. She later became a third-grade teacher at Niwot Elementary School, where she currently teaches. Breyer has also been a volunteer for many organizations in Niwot, including the Niwot Community Association,...
Volunteers from Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Niwot came out on a brisk fall Saturday morning Oct. 23 to clean up the Niwot Children's Park after a busy summer. The crew, young and old, picked up apples from the ground, trash and tumbleweeds, and gathered up a few lost items as well. A few trees were trimmed, and a new load of wood chips delivered on Friday was spread around the play structures. The crew (l to r): Suzanne Johnson, Nathan Brix, Nora Swedberg, Anna Swedberg, Brett Swedberg,...
What has thousands of legs and puts on a disguise to invade downtown Niwot each October? The annual Great Pumpkin Party and Parade, a family-friendly celebration of all things fall and Halloween. "The people make it good," longtime Niwot realtor and event sponsor Pat Murphy said. "Seeing all of the costumes that everyone comes up with and working with all of the volunteers is my favorite part." The free festivities, sponsored by the Niwot Business Association with support from the Niwot Local...
In its first face-to-face meeting since March 2020, the Niwot Local Improvement District advisory committee heard a request to fund Niwot Holiday Magic, discussed the recent strategic planning meeting, and got an update on the public parking lot. It was also the first meeting for new business representative Keith Waters, who was appointed to a five-year term by the Boulder County Board of Commissioners last month. Waters is a professor at the CU College of Music and co-owner of Inkberry Books...
Sometimes you just have the music in you, and other times you just wanna get the music in you. Either way, the annual RISE Benefit Concert in Niwot will help satiate music lovers of all ages. The very danceable event returns Saturday, Sept. 11, for the fourth year following an obligatory COVID skip in 2020. This year the event will be held at Whistle Stop Park in Niwot at the corner of 1st Avenue and Murray Street, after the 2019 event was held at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. RISE stands for...
