All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at editorial@lhvc.comeditorial@lhvc.com....
Don Haddad, the highly respected and impactful superintendent of the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD), is embarking on a well-deserved retirement after 40 years in education. As reported in the April 23 edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier, Haddad says he will not completely step away, hoping his experience and passion for education will continue supporting SVVSD as an emeritus superintendent. A key focus of Haddad's recent work has been his involvement with House Bill 21-1294, the...
On May 3, two Niwot residents, Mike Johnston and Terrie Clark, were awarded the Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Service Award, one of the nation's highest honors for volunteerism. The award recognizes Americans who contribute more than 4,000 hours of service over the course of their lifetime, a number far exceeded by both Johnston and Clark. Johnston and Clark have served the community as patrollers for the Bryan Mountain Nordic Ski Patrol (BMNSP) for decades. Johnston has served with BMNSP for...
Mark and Kena Guttridge, founders and stewards of Ollin Farms in Longmont, have been selected for induction into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame. They are being recognized not only for their thriving agricultural business, but for their deeply rooted commitment to land stewardship, education, and community-building. Nestled along 95th Street near Plateau Road, Ollin Farms has grown from a family dream into a beacon of regenerative agriculture and community resilience. Since 2005, when t...
For over seventeen years as the receptionist and bookkeeper for Classic Looks in Niwot, Anne Goncalves has been a very familiar face to clients of the salon. Beyond being the salon's friendly familiar face and its operational glue, Goncalves speaks of the personal touch and connection with the salon's customers as a favorite part of her role at Classic Looks. "We have repeat clientele and we get to know all about their lives, their families, and so we feel a personal connection to them,"...
The Boulder County Commissioners voted to postpone a decision on the controversial 63rd Street Subdivision proposal until July 10, following a three-hour hearing on May 6. Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann was absent from the May 6 hearing. Commissioners Claire Levy and Marta Loachamin heard extensive testimony about the proposal to create three additional lots at the southwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road. Levy noted for the record her familiarity with the case and surrounding controversy....
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 Niwot Community Association (NCA) will hold its annual Clean-Up Day event this Saturday, May 17, between 8:00 a.m. and noon at the Niwot High School upper parking lot. The event closes promptly at noon or when the dumpsters are full, whichever comes first. The NCA has requested that the last patron arrive at 11:45 a.m. so that the event can end on time. For over twenty years, the NCA has helped with the collection of yard debris and other large trash/recyclable items that would be otherwise...
The fence at the western entrance to Niwot on Niwot Road from Colorado Hwy. 119 was power washed and re-stained recently. The Niwot Community Association, Niwot Business Association, and the Niwot Local Improvement District funded the project in order to improve the appearance of the most utilized entry point to Niwot. In November 2024, weeds were scraped and rock mulch was laid along the same stretch....
The unofficial results of the Mountain View Fire Protection District (MVFPD) May 6 election show Tiffany Heisler and Mike Mrla, both of Erie, receiving the most votes for the District's two available board of directors positions. The District's firefighter union, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 3214 also supported the candidacies of Heisler and Mrla. The terms of current Board President, Laura McConnell, and Board Secretary, Cole Lathrop, will conclude this month....
CO 119/Diagonal Highway Traffic Update Now through Friday, May 16, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), as part of their traffic signal work, will be conducting various right shoulder closures on southbound Colorado Highway 119/Diagonal Highway, between Jay Road and Hover Street. According to CDOT’s weekly project update for Colorado Highway 119, the agency says they are aware of delays experienced by motorists at the intersection of Jay Road and CO 119/Diagonal Highway and are closely monitoring i...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at editorial@lhvc.comeditorial@lhvc.com....
Art and Debbi Stapp of Stapp Interstate Toyota were honored with induction into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame, recognizing the Stapp family's decades-long commitment to excellence and community involvement. The couple was nominated by longtime community leader Leona Stoecker, a testament to the impact the Stapps have made across Boulder County. "It is an incredible honor to be recognized by your peers for your life's work," said Debbi Stapp. "As new families move into our area, we...
In an impressive display of community action, local non-profit High Plains Permaculture - Niwot Homestead mobilized 100 volunteers Sunday, May 4, to plant 1,600 trees at Wild View Farm at 7705 N. 95th Street, transforming a long-degraded landscape into what organizers hope will become a thriving agroforestry system. The ambitious project aims to regenerate land that has remained largely barren for two decades after years of overgrazing. According to Amy Scanes-Wolfe, Program Manager with the...
A concerning trend has emerged in Niwot and Gunbarrel, with an increase in "porch piracy" and mail thefts. Criminal activity is targeting both residences and institutions, including Niwot United Methodist Church. A Niwot resident was walking his dog early in the morning of Tuesday, April 29, when he came upon seven Boulder County Sheriff's patrol cars. Deputies were responding to a call notifying them that a woman had passed out in a parked car on Greenwood Drive in Niwot. According to a...
Rhythm of the Horse, a Niwot-based nonprofit organization, focuses on equine-assisted services transcending basic horseback riding activities. People of various ages and abilities find empowerment and learning opportunities, together with healing services, on the backs of and around horses. Established in 2001, Rhythm of the Horse operates under CEO and therapist Justine Williams to deliver innovative programs with deep community involvement and compassionate care for people with diverse...
As new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump take effect across the U.S., small-town businesses, including those in Niwot and Gunbarrel, are bracing for ripple effects that may not make headlines, but will undoubtedly be felt behind local counters and in backroom supply chains. In recent months, the U.S. has implemented a new round of tariffs on goods imported from countries such as China, including materials such as aluminum, steel, electronics components, packaging, and some food products. While these measures are aimed at protecting...
The Niwot Historical Society's "Now & Then" lectures have proved to be popular, and the latest installment, with a focus on Walker Ranch, located off Flagstaff Road 19 miles outside of Niwot, was no exception. The April 30 lecture featured Laurie Bedford, Ph.D. a long-term volunteer at the ranch who was recently named Boulder County's Volunteer of the Year, and co-volunteer and ranch blacksmith, Tim Plumb. "In telling the story of James and Phoebe Walker, Bedford and Plumb shared the history,...
ROADS According to the CO 119 Mobility Safety and Bikeway project email and CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation website, the following road impacts have been listed for the week of May 4 to May 10: • The Niwot Road median, which was originally scheduled to re-open at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7, has now reopened as of Sunday evening, May 4, three days earlier than anticipated. The closure was required to install the bikeway underpass at that location. • The concurrent RTD bus stop clo...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at editorial@lhvc.comeditorial@lhvc.com....
In a contentious Earth Day meeting, Boulder County Commissioners voted to approve new Site Plan Review regulations limiting home sizes in unincorporated areas of the county, despite significant opposition from local architects, realtors, property owners and the unanimous rejection of the proposed changes by the Boulder County Planning Commission. The amendment, known as DC-24-0003, substantially limits increases in residential floor area for modifications to existing homes in unincorporated Boulder County, The new regulations will take effect...
Given all the ways Chris Crandell contributes to Niwot, you wouldn't guess he moved here just five years ago, and with a less-than-auspicious start. He described his first living situation here as "an apartment above a friend's barn, in the middle of a pandemic lockdown." "We lived there for a couple of weeks, with no internet, no cell phone service, and you can't go out shopping or anything because of COVID," he laughed, summing up that time. "For a couple of years, I wasn't getting plugged...
Seth Steele was hard at work at Niwot Market on March 31 when a 10-member contingent of Niwot residents and business people entered the market, looking for him and his sister, Alison Steele. Seth greeted everyone, but wasn't sure where Alison was. Linda Vehrenkamp, proprietor of The Nook, one of several small businesses that operate out of the Niwot Market, left the group and tracked Alison down. At the same time, Carey Mason, who had been enjoying lunch at the market, joined the group. Mason...
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...
The latest aesthetic update to Niwot Hall is the beautiful, handcrafted encasements of the three metal poles that run down the center of the main hall. These new columns, in keeping with the vintage style of the Hall, add a wonderful touch of class to the venue. Come by to see this small, but mighty improvement when you attend an event at the Hall. Breakfasts with the niwotrotary.org/" target="_bl...
This is a monthly feature summarizing the activities of the Boulder County Commissioners. Boulder County Commissioners background information: The Boulder County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is comprised of Claire Levy, Marta Loachamin, and Ashley Stolzmann. Each commissioner is elected at-large to a four-year term. They are elected by and represent the entire county with a population of 330,758 according to the U.S. 2020 census, but each comes from a different district. The BOCC is resp...
Good weather graced the fifth anniversary of Niwot's Around the World celebration, which was sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA) with funding from the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID). More than 25 merchants welcomed community members with regionally specific food, entertainment, music, and smiles. Vendors included long-term businesses, new enterprises, and in one case, a combination of both as The Wheel House celebrated its first Niwot community event since it has been under...
The Mountain View Fire Protection District (MVFPD) is conducting a mail-ballot election for two available director positions. The MVFPD is governed by a five person Board of Directors who must live in the District. Each director serves a four-year term with a maximum of two terms. Residents of the MVFPD should have received their ballots in the mail. Ballots are due by May 6. Mountain View Fire Protection District Background MVFPD was founded in 1961. At the time, the district was primarily...
Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOP) is offering an Agricultural Water Tour on May 17 exploring water use, irrigation, and storage, in Boulder County led by the Water Group of the Agricultural Resources Division. The Water Group will lead a tour of Braly and the Cottonwood Property. The tour will include post 2013 flood-constructed reservoirs, dams, outlet works, and measurement devices, and discuss how water is stored and the importance of storage. Discussions will cover irrigated...
ROADS As we have been warned, the median between the north and southbound lanes of CO 119 at Niwot Road is to be completely closed from Monday, April 28 at 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Wednesday May 7 in order to further the bikeway underpass construction. The accompanying map shows the recommended CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) detours, but there are also turn around opportunities at 83rd Street and Oxford Road in addition to the one shown at Airport Road. If you are considering taking...
The Left Hand Valley Courier, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, launched a fundraising campaign in November 2024 with the goal of raising $250,000 to pay reporters and vendors, print the newspaper weekly, upgrade printing quality, and support our educational mission. On April 28, the Courier hosted a "Thank You" event at The Wheel House to thank donors with games, prizes, and auction items. Bruce Warren, Maria Karagianis, Elise Marylander and Madison Shaw spoke to the crowd about the...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at editorial@lhvc.comeditorial@lhvc.com....
Community-wide Easter egg hunts were held on Saturday, April 19 at Niwot High School and on Sunday, April 20 at Niwot United Methodist Church. A Friday snowstorm did not deter youngsters from attending the events as the sun came out. The Niwot Community Connection assisted Pat Murphy and the Compass Real Estate team in putting on Bert's Pancake Breakfast at Niwot High before the Easter egg hunt began, while the youth group at the Niwot United Methodist Church served brunch before and during...
As the May 6 hearing before the Boulder County Commissioners approaches, tensions continue to mount over the proposed 63rd Street Subdivision at the southwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road. The hearing, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Boulder County Courthouse, will determine whether the development moves forward or is permanently blocked. "This does not deter us, we're energized," said community organizers Chris Ennis and Karen Mandery, who have helped coordinate opposition efforts....
The Left Hand Valley Courier will hold a Donor Appreciation Night on Monday, April 28, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. at The Wheel House in Niwot. The public is invited to attend. The event will celebrate the generosity of the Courier’s donors and advertisers with live music, games and prizes. Attendees may purchase local treasures at the silent auction. Eight tickets to a Colorado Rockies game will be up for bid at a live auction. All auction items were donated by local residents and businesses The Left Hand Valley Courier began a fundraising campaign...
In a move aimed at supporting local farmers and expanding access to locally grown produce, the Boulder County Commissioners have unanimously approved Docket DC-25-0001, Text Amendments to the Land Use Code related to Mobile Farm Stands, allowing mobile farm stands throughout unincorporated areas of the county. The decision, which came during the commissioners' regular meeting on April 15, amends the Land Use Code to permit mobile farm stands as part of accessory agricultural sales operations....
This week's familiar face is Hannah Valadez, a paralegal at the Niwot law offices of Warren, Carlson, & Moore, LLP. You might know her as the friendly person who greets you whether you are there for legal services, a Left Hand Valley Courier matter, volunteer efforts, or youth sports sign-ups. Valadez first moved to Longmont from Michigan during her junior year of high school and ended up in the new Skyline High School's second graduating class. "I thought my parents were horrible at the time be...
Leah (Saraceni) Messinger's personal and professional journey practically defines the phrase full-circle. Now a counselor at Niwot High School, she graduated from the school herself in 2010 and has long been connected to the Niwot community. Messinger was raised in Boulder County and attended Niwot Elementary School and Sunset Middle School before attending Niwot High School. She reflected, "When I came to high school, it took me a little bit to find my footing socially, but the place that I...
The burgundy and turquoise racing stripes that run the length of the crisp white wall inside the newly renovated space on Murray Avenue have already started to attract the attention of people passing by on their way to the post office or Whistle Stop Park to get a look at the new Wheel House Bike Shop adjacent to The Wheel House bar. "I should give credit to Eric," said Pete Brandes, the manager of The Wheel House, speaking of the bar and the former Wheel Works' prior owner Eric Bergeson. "Becau...
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 Historical Society will host a lecture titled "Walker Ranch: Where Colorado's Frontier Lives On" at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday April 30 at Niwot Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for light refreshments and socializing. The guest speaker, Laurie Bedford, is a volunteer with Boulder County Parks & Open Space's Cultural and Heritage Programs. Bedford has volunteered for three years with Boulder County's Cultural and Heritage Programs, where she participates in living history demonstrations and...
ROAD CLOSURES Monday, April 21, at 7 a.m. traffic signal work will cause various right shoulder closures on southbound CO 119 between Jay Road and Hover Street. These closures will continue until Friday, April 25 at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. asphalt work will cause single lane closures on southbound CO 119 between Monarch Road and IBM Drive until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23. Tuesday April 22 at 9 p.m. until April 23 at midnight, there will be a single lane closure on eastbound Niwot...
The Niwot Sanitation District has been conducting preventative maintenance of its pipe system as part of a three-year clean-out plan. The most recent area in Niwot to be cleaned was at the intersection of 83rd Street and Niwot Road. DRC Construction and C & L Water Solutions have been contracted to provide this service. Adrian Gibson, Operator at Niwot Sanitation District, explained that after the pipes are put in a bypass mode, “We have a Jetter truck first clean with a Jetter which is a specialized truck with a high-pressure water nozzle t...
Although last Friday's spring snowstorm made driving conditions less than ideal, it didn't deter residents from coming out to Cottonwood Square's Una Vida to hear author, journalist, and academic Christine M. Tracy mark the Niwot debut of her new book, "Just Trust Life." "Just Trust Life" focuses on how the work of Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin guided Tracy through a series of difficult life challenges, including infidelity, a house fire, addiction, and a near-death experience. "I paid...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at editorial@lhvc.comeditorial@lhvc.com....
Niwot's fifth Around the World Celebration is coming up on Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Second Avenue and in Cottonwood Square in Niwot. The event is sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA) and funded in part by the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID). The event invites businesses and the public to celebrate many countries and cultures through food, drinks, decor, and music throughout town. Around the World started in 2020 during the COVID epidemic as a way...
On Saturday, April 19, Niwot's annual pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt will be held at Niwot High School. The entire community is invited to celebrate the season. Bert's Pancake Breakfast, named in honor of the late Bert Steele of Niwot Market, begins at 7:30 a.m. and serves a hearty breakfast until 10:30 a.m. The price for the breakfast is $10 for adults and $5 for children five and older. Kids age four and younger are free. Proceeds go to the Niwot Community Connection, Live music and a...
Cottonwood Square Shopping Center, a central community hub in Niwot, has added a powerful new amenity for environmentally conscious shoppers with the installation of Level 3 fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. The charging infrastructure, activated in August 2024, represents a significant investment in sustainable transportation for the Boulder County community. The project was funded through a $100,000 grant from Charge Ahead Colorado, matched by nearly equal investment from Cottonwoo...
Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOP) has an amazing portfolio of 107,861 acres of open space. Boulder County protects 67,419 acres of public land owned or leased and 40,442 acres of protected private land known as conservation easements. Conservation easements are recorded legal agreements between the county and a landowner which usually restrict residential or commercial development on the property. There are currently 26,190 acres dedicated to agriculture. Boulder County's Agricultural...
ROAD CLOSURES AND IMPACTS At press time, the road closures and impacts for the week, 4/13/25–4/19/25, had yet to be posted by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) on the CDOT website or in their emailed newsletter. Niwot residents saw Niwot Road at the intersection with CO 119 closed to traffic on Saturday, April 12. It will close again beginning April 28 at 9 p.m. and continuing through May 7 at 5 a.m. If a commuter approaches this intersection on the east side of CO 119 during t...
