All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 101 - 137 of 137
The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdowns have taken a steep toll on Niwot businesses, and the path to recovery is still uncertain. But Eric Bergeson and the Niwot Business Association are working to get their members started on that path and hopefully back to a thriving downtown commercial district. "The NBA Executive Committee has been trying to respond to this and provide whatever assistance we can," said Bergeson, who was elected to his first term as NBA president in February. "We're...
By the time she reached high school, senior keeper Quinn Gossett thought her soccer playing days were well behind her, but an impulsive decision to try out for the Niwot girls team as a ninth-grader resurrected a long buried passion for the game, even if it took a few days to surface. "I stopped playing in fourth grade, and I really don't know why," Gossett said, recalling her return to the sport at the invitation of former Cougar junior varsity coach Jeremy Drake. "On that first day of tryouts...
It's tempting to start waging war on those early dandelions, but before you dig in, keep in mind that bees are counting on the yellow morsels. They don't have a lot of dining choices this time of year and their honey pantries are a little bare coming out of winter. "Right now it's a little tough, because everything is on the cusp of being ready to bloom," said Niwot native Dawn Server who owns Meadow Lake Honey in Niwot with her husband, Jeff. Maple trees and daffodils are other early sources...
When Lorne Jenkins was eight years old and his sister was five, they were constantly asking their mom, Ellen Ross, if they could eat out for dinner. "She just got fed up with it, so she posted on the refrigerator a job opening for son and for daughter," said Jenkins. They had to interview for the jobs, and Ross even called their references. Fortunately, Jenkins said, "We got the jobs and then we got a salary every week." They had to pay for rent, transportation, and for bills. Eating out on any...
They call her Mama G., but students and teachers at Flagstaff Academy can now refer to their middle school principal as Colorado Charter School Leader of the Year. "I was very excited and totally humbled when I found out about all the nominations and the kind things people had to say," said Katie Gustafson, 39, who has been an administrator at the school for five years and a teacher for five years before that. The award from the Colorado League of Charter Schools recognized Gustafson for...
Grable Howie isn't used to writing songs on command, but when the talented junior was tapped to represent Niwot High in the CU College of Music's Centennial Song competition, he found that inspiration was easy to come by in his home state. "I was tasked with writing a song about the spirit of Colorado," Howie said of the contest, held to commemorate the College of Music's 100th anniversary. "It was a little difficult to do this, because I was only able to have five tracks, and I had a slightly...
As the economic impacts of the coronavirus shutdowns continue to accumulate, more and more families are seeking supplemental food assistance from state and county agencies. To help fill the growing demand in Boulder County, Kilt Farm of Niwot will be distributing fresh, organic produce to more than 40 local families on a weekly basis starting in June. "My mission as a farmer is to improve my community through the food I grow and the neediest amongst us deserve to have access to the best food,"...
In light of social distancing, numerous businesses have limited operations or closed entirely. However, this means more than simply missing out on shopping and dining opportunities; for some, it also means unemployment. However, even if you still have a job, someone else's unemployment can still affect you. Maybe it's your favorite restaurant that gets closed, or the auto-shop had to lay off employees and you can't get your car serviced. It's important to have a financial plan in your pocket,...
Can you imagine how we would all be feeling if this had happened in the '80s? The question came up in a friendly Zoom conference happy hour recently. How would we have coped in the pre-internet era? How would we have spent our time? How would we have connected with each other? One thing is certain: we would have had many fewer options for entertainment. As media giants such as Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, and others are offering new or exclusive options, some for free, what if what we are...
He was number 1,200 in the cue for the Small Business Administration helpline. Two and a half hours later, Michael Tomich got through to a real person who pointed him to a specific loan application to get a lifeline for his business, The Old Oak Coffeehouse in Niwot. It was a different form than the one he initially found on the SBA website, making it worth the time and patience he needed to spend hours on hold. "This is stressful and I'm spending huge amounts of time on it," said Tomich who is...
The stay-at-home order for Colorado due to the coronavirus has put the Niwot Community Association’s plans on hold. The group met April 1 by teleconference to discuss what should be done about the April annual meeting, the May Clean Up Day and the July 4 parade. The April annual meeting is cancelled. NCA members had proposed holding a live-streamed meeting, but the group decided that it was impractical. “The limitations of an online meeting would make it really difficult for many members to participate,” said NCA President David Limbach. “The...
For more information concerning the pandemic response at the local, state, and federal level, visit the following sites: Boulder County Boulder County coronavirus homepage Resources for Those Affected by COVID-19 Boulder County COVID-19 Illness & Recovery Summary State of Colorado Information on the Outbreak of COVID-19 Colorado case summary Governor's Public Health Order (updated April 11) Federal Federal resources on Coronavirus Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Federal Emergency...
He can't be here in person due to the coronavirus, but the star of the movie, "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," is sending his blessing to Niwot residents as they add Ron to the name of the Burgundy Park neighborhood. "It's about time," said Will Ferrett, who played Ron Burgundy in the 2004 film. He recalled a line from the movie that explains why he thinks it is 16 years late. "I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal. People know me. I'm very important. I have many...
While spending more time at home soaking in the ambiance of your space, have you experienced niggling feelings that some of those things you're sitting amongst no longer suit you? Maybe you'd like to find a new home for them. Perfect. Here's something you can do about it right now while serving a higher purpose – dogs. For the fifth year, Cause4Paws (C4P), a not for profit organization (www.facebook.com/C4P.ARF) started by Gunbarrel's Laurel Fox, will be holding a fundraising yard sale that far...
An unusual number of bears are showing up in local neighborhoods this spring. Desperate measures are being taken as families enlist their children to hunt a variety of species such as Teddy, Panda and Pooh. The fuzzy ursine have emerged from numerous human dens, pressing their plastic noses against windows, signaling the start of "hunting" season. It began after a social media post on Nextdoor by Amanda Dean, who shared the idea that was inspired by a children's book, "We're Going on a Bear...
Two pieces of blue-floral cotton, thread, elastic, experienced hands and a caring heart. That may be all that separates sickness from health and life from death for cancer patients and workers at a hospital in Maryland. "These are very, very sick patients. We don't want to spread anything to them," said Sandy Rozzelle, whose job is to get medicine for cancer patients. "We want them to be safe, as well as us too." Rozzelle wouldn't normally wear a protective mask for her job at Frederick Health...
It seems like everywhere you look there are articles about maximizing your experience during this COVID quarantine. But when you’re not usually working from home and trying to maintain some semblance of your formerly busy life, boredom is sure to settle. Being cooped up in your house is sure to become overwhelming after a few days; that’s why there are so many memes about it on the internet right now. When that sense of boredom strikes, you don’t always want to maximize that time; sometimes you just want to distract yourself. Those distr...
The empty parking lot at Niwot High School is more than the result of a much-needed Spring Break. School closures have forced sports, clubs and all extracurriculars to hit the pause button for the sake of public health in light of COVID-19. While time off from classes may seem like every high schooler's dream, these cancellations have caused upset among students who have been working hard all year. Among these cancellations are the Band Spectacle concert, Choir/Orchestra concerts, Mock Trial...
Former Niwot High School baseball player Caleb Martinez was shocked when he learned his sophomore season at Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho would be canceled due to the coronavirus. "It was just unreal," he said. Martinez pitched for Niwot High from 2017-18 and pitched for the Boulder Collegians this past summer, and he was looking to make an impression after redshirting his freshman season. The coronavirus caught him and his teammates off guard. "On Monday, we were getting ready for the...
New measures by Boulder County to enforce prairie dog social distancing are facing blazing criticism from scientists and citizens alike. The county commissioners last week announced the new decree, aimed at "helping the small creatures in our county show solidarity with the humans who have been enduring increasingly extreme social distancing and stay-at-home measures," according to Boulder County Manager Barbara "Red" Taype. The measure, which calls for a $10,000 budget to build walls in county...
An emergency coronavirus response measure that Colorado Governor Jared Polis rolled out this week has an unexpected loophole, and local businesses are rushing to be the first to corner a new market. The initial "stay at home" order by Denver's mayor Michael Hancock, which went into effect on March 24, at 5 p.m., caused a panic and rush to liquor and pot stores, which were initially set to be closed under the order. Governor Polis extended the order to the entire state on Thursday, March 26, at...
With virtually all area economic activity at a halt due to coronavirus restrictions, Jim and Mary Good of Good Find Antique Store in Niwot (666 2nd Ave.) said they are now having second thoughts about selling a cursed monkey's paw to a group of local high school students, who told the pair they needed the mummified relic for "research purposes." "They said they wanted to examine the ugly thing as part of some video project or something or other," Mary Good said about the shriveled, disembodied...
Just a few short weeks ago, the long-term closure of schools seemed unthinkable, but the coronavirus pandemic has abruptly forced the world into adopting different ways of thinking about everyday life. For parents, students, and educators, that has meant confronting the reality of full-time "remote learning," and adjusting to unfamiliar roles and responsibilities in the education environment. At Dawson School in Lafayette, the community is embracing the new paradigm with optimism, togetherness,...
It takes a village to raise a child. The popular Igbo proverb takes on more meaning today as our entire community is affected by the shuttering of schools, businesses, and stores. Pundits are predicting that we'll see the ripple effect of this echo through our lives for months, with hunger and need for basic necessities likely to increase. In short, the whole village needs each other. How can gardeners help? Elizabeth Black, member of the Boulder Culinary Gardeners group, sent a thoughtful note...
In small towns, churches are much more than simply places of worship to gather on Sunday mornings. They provide a space for neighbors to socialize, for newcomers to meet people, and for those without company to have some, if even just for a few hours. With the closing of most public and private businesses and gatherings limited to no more than 10 individuals, churches in Niwot and Gunbarrel are forced to figure out other ways of bringing the community together. Pastor Janet Kettering of...
It's not the way Leland Oxley expected to launch his Gunbarrel restaurant, Motherlode. In less than two weeks he opened the new restaurant, closed down the dining room, started a carryout and delivery business and began room service for all of five guests staying at the nearby Hampton Suites hotel. "At some point you just say it is what it is and make the best of it," said Oxley. Motherlode isn't the only restaurant suffering after the coronavirus forced Gov. Jared Polis to limit all...
On March 12, escalating efforts by state and school officials to stop the spread of COVID-19 touched off a "panic buying" spree at Niwot Market that left several shelves bare and sent some longtime customers away in frustration. But owners Bert and Alison Steele are seeing hopeful signs that the initial shock has abated and operations at the town's 18-year-old independent grocery store will soon be back to normal-or whatever passes for that these days. "The question I'm always getting is, are...
Niwot businesses are staying nimble as each day brings new developments in the fight against the coronavirus. A new page on the business community's website, Niwot.com/COVID-19, has the latest information on when shops and restaurants are open and what services they are providing. The idea is to support the local economy by keeping potential customers in the loop, according to the town's economic development director, Catherine McHale. "I think we all have to get a little bit clever about how...
It turns out having a big birthday during a global pandemic is a bit of a bummer. March 20, 2020, was a milestone birthday for me: 40. I had been planning to celebrate at a nice restaurant perched on a mountain overlooking town, with most of my immediate family: my mom, daughter, sister, and brother-in-law. My dad was going to drive out to Niwot from his home in Omaha, Nebraska, to join us. Best laid plans did not go well. At least we hadn't booked a cruise! The coronavirus hit Colorado in...
The gym and personal fitness industry sees an annual increase in participation around the new year. But in light of the coronavirus and the associated restrictions on personal space and public gathering sizes, taking fitness classes has become that much more difficult. Niwot High alum and local gym owner Kristy Neary shared some tips on how to stay active, even while quarantined. "Anyone can do this, now is a great time to get started because you have the extra time on your hands." Neary has a...
In what has been a difficult time for baseball fans, the Boulder Collegians are hoping their 2020 season won't contribute to the list of disappointments. Owner and General Manager Matt Jensen, a former assistant coach at Niwot High School and head coach at Monarch High, is hopeful but prepared for the worst as their summer season nears. Fortunately for the Collegians, they have the luxury of time compared to the not-so-fortunate spring programs across the country. High school teams in Colorado w...
Who needs help? That's what some community members are asking, providing a bright spot amid the fear and uncertainty around the coronavirus. A Gunbarrel woman has offered to go grocery shopping or run errands for free for people who are older, have underlying illnesses or are afraid to go out in public for other reasons. "No judgment if someone is too scared to go shopping," said Rachel Isaacs, who posted her offer on Nextdoor, the social network that connects people with their neighbors and...
Reports of empty store shelves have been racking the nation almost as much as all the other COVID-19 updates. Some of the stockpiling comes from people being generally anxious and proactive, but it's also a result of various organizations mandating employees to self-quarantine. "How I behave affects your health," said Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Cuomo Prime Time. "And how you behave affects mine. On the Friday night program, he encouraged people to practice social distancing and also stockpiling, but...
The COVID-19 coronavirus has prompted Mountain View Fire Rescue district to close all its stations to members of the public until further notice to protect firefighters and first responders. In light of MVFR’s decision, the Niwot Community Association board is expecting to videoconference its April 1 meeting, which is normally held in the fire station’s community room. Community members will not be able to attend the meeting, but NCA board members are asking that any comments or questions from the community be sent by email to the board at info...
Left Hand Water Effective March 16, 2020, the Left Hand Water District has closed its administrative office building to the public through March 29. The District will continue to provide services to customers, with staff rotating work schedules or working remotely or in the field. Payments can be made over the phone or online through Xpress Bill Pay; customers are strongly encouraged to make payments via these methods. The District's water remains safe to drink; as all drinking water...
Local businesses and residents are feeling the impacts of COVID-19. The Niwot Inn took a big hit when a group of international business travelers canceled their gathering for later this month. The group of CEOs come from Europe, India and across the U.S., booking the entire Inn a couple of times a year for three to four days, according to co-owner Carissa Brandes. “Thousands of dollars, it’s very tough,” said Brandes. “We’ve noticed this March has been one of the slowest months we’ve had...
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken over the news, especially recently in Boulder County after a substitute teacher at Centaurus High School reported a suspected exposure. Upon learning that other passengers of his cruise ship tested positive, the teacher has chosen to undergo a self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms. Similarly, two University of Colorado Boulder employees have undergone testing for the virus. One of those tests has already come back negative, but the other test is still...
