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 [email protected]@lhvc.com....
The Colorado Press Association announced that three Left Hand Valley Courier journalists have been honored with 2023 Colorado Better New Media Contest awards. Deborah Cameron, Vicky Dorvee, and Elise S. Marylander are the recipients of awards recognizing excellence in local journalism. Awards are made by class based on newspaper circulation and are judged by out-of-state journalists. The winning articles, placement, and categories will be announced at the awards ceremony during the Colorado...
Strong headwinds are blowing against the success of small businesses in unincorporated Boulder County, including Niwot. In the last year, small businesses have incurred losses due to a power shutdown and significant increases in sanitation fees, property taxes, food costs, and insurance. Small businesses now face the impact of the recent Boulder County minimum wage increase, with Niwot, Hygiene, and other businesses in unincorporated Boulder County required to pay a minimum wage of $15.69 per ho...
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...
Summer is in full swing at the Grange and August offers opportunities for the community to relish art, education, and social gatherings. Bondi Art Show Friday, August 2, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Saturday, August 3, 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Michael Bondi's annual art show returns to the Grange. Bondi's original watercolors and prints need to be seen in person to fully appreciate the essence of each setting. His technique and choice of colors elicit a warm sense of fully being in these lovely European...
Nick Bierbrodt's journey through professional baseball is nothing short of extraordinary. As the first-ever draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1996, he quickly established himself as a promising young talent. Yet his story is not just about his accomplishments on the mound, but also about his resilience, adaptability, and eventual transition to a life as a firefighter and a mentor to young athletes. Bierbrodt, now a Niwot resident, recalled being drafted right out of high school fondly....
There are so many familiar faces around Niwot, especially for weekly regulars who attend Rock & Rails. Some faces are most familiar when they belong to those who have spent a majority of their life in Niwot and are continuously involved in the community. Colleen Beebe is one such familiar face. Beebe moved to Colorado in 1975 after her father, who annually visited this beautiful state to ski, fulfilled a dream of living here. Unfortunately, he passed away only 16 months after the family moved...
Last week, the Courier reported that the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) underpass along the Diagonal Highway at Four-mile Creek Trail represents a significant improvement for bikers and pedestrians using the trail between Niwot and Boulder. According to the Boulder County press release, the "Four-mile Creek Bikeway Project will create a continuous, safe bikeway along SH119 between Boulder, Gunbarrel, Niwot and Longmont." However, despite their excitement for this development, local area...
Through the years, the Courier has documented a range of unexpected animal encounters in our area. Roaming wild turkeys, pet goats being walked, and the ongoing presence of lynx, coyotes, snakes, prairie dogs and foxes have intrigued and delighted residents. In recent weeks, however, bears appear to be getting more habituated to our community. Visits (and suspected visits) by bears is a popular topic of conversation in the area. Front door cameras record bear activity regularly in the Niwot area...
Joie Kennedy, a sophomore at Niwot High School, has made a name for herself in the world of pageantry. Recently, she was a semi-finalist in the 2024 Miss Colorado Teen USA competition and was named Most Photogenic. Kennedy's journey in pageantry began relatively recently. "I've only done two pageants so far," she shared. Her inspiration came from watching Madison Marsh win Miss Colorado. "It was really fun to see her win and then go on to win Miss America," she said. Competing in Miss Colorado...
National Night Out is a nationwide community-building event held on the first Tuesday of August in communities across the country to promote awareness and cooperation between police and first responders, on one hand, with local residents. “[The event] enhances the relationship between (the community) and law enforcement…,” according to their website. The social setting of National Night Out is meant to create camaraderie in an informal setting to make communities safer. This year the event will be held on Aug. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Murra...
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 [email protected]@lhvc.com....
Discussions have been underway since March between Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting and the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) regarding the location and alignment of the proposed underpass linking the planned bikeway in the median of the Diagonal and the RTD park-n-ride parking lot with downtown Niwot. The original plans for the bikeway did not include an underpass on the northbound lanes of the Diagonal Highway, but the LID and the Niwot Business...
Rock & Rails summer concerts continue on Thursday, July 18, with the opening act starting at 5 p.m. and the headliner lighting up the stage at 6:30 p.m. This week's opener, Mark Oblinger, a five-time Emmy winning and Grammy nominated composer/producer, will be treating the crowd to his unique blend of original music with tones of folk and pop. His vocal-forward arrangements are an inspiring and interesting way to start the night. Oblinger is joined on tour by Linda Lawson, Christian Teele,...
The Old Oak Coffeehouse is hosting another House Blend Band concert on Saturday, July 20, organized by Micheal Tomich and Patty Machen, Old Oak owners and band members. Tomich promises the band will perform at least four songs by the band Chicago, three songs by Elton John, four or five Motown songs, and a few other selections from the 1970s. This month's concert will feature Tomich's granddaughter Evelyn singing with the band. At 10 years old, Evelyn has been singing with the House Blend Band...
Mountain View Fire Rescue reported on Instagram that just before 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, Boulder County Dispatch received a call reporting a potential grass fire near Niwot High School. When Battalion 2260 arrived on the scene, they found a grass fire on the east side of Cougar Trail, next to the Boulder and Left Hand Ditch, between the football field and tennis courts. The flames were in an area approximately 100 feet by 8 feet and about 5 feet high. The Cougar Trail is frequented by...
With one of Niwot's favorite summer concert series, Rock & Rails, in full swing, regular concert goers are beginning to recognize some regular volunteers behind the bar at the alcohol building known as The Depot. Many of these volunteers have been returning over the years and have become Familiar Faces to the Niwot community. Lori Shrader has been volunteering at Rock & Rails for the past nine years. Always serving beverages with a smile and having fun with her fellow volunteers behind the bar,... Full story
For nearly a year, Niwot residents and regular visitors have been watching the progress of the restoration of the Frank Bader Home at 210 Franklin Street. The property is currently in the process of being redeveloped by Nassar Development, a company known for other historically focused restorations. The latest update from the company's founder, Larry Nassar, confirms what many can see with their eyes-that progress on the exterior is nearly complete. "Once the exteriors are completely finished, w...
The Boulder County Commissioners have introduced a new hourly minimum wage, a development extensively covered in the Left Hand Valley Courier. This wage change will have a significant and concerning impact on unincorporated communities, and local farmers, a group that is distinct from the incorporated cities or towns and which therefore faces unique challenges. Michael Moss, owner of Kilt Farm, is the President of the Community Farmers Alliance (COFA) and is deeply concerned about the new...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) approved funding for three items at its July 9, 2024 meeting. Flower Fest Kathy Trauner of Fly Away Home Decor presented an application from the Niwot Business Association (NBA) for the second annual Flower Fest event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the application, Trauner wrote, "Flower Fest is designed to delight visitors and bring new customers to area businesses." "[W]e offer a 'Flower Journey' in which the first 150...
A request for $997,785 in funding for the Boulder County Public Works Four-Mile BNSF Underpass Construction Project was approved at the Boulder County Commissioners meeting last week. The underpass is part of the Four-Mile Creek Bikeway Project and will connect the Cottonwood Trail to the Four-Mile Creek Trail. With this approval, the project has been assigned to Coal Creek Excavation which is slated to break ground in late August to early September. Construction is estimated to be on-going...
Renovation of the former FirstBank building and property at 6500 Lookout Road in Gunbarrel is set to begin this summer to create a new branch of the Boulder Public Library District (BPLD). The project is being funded by community taxpayers through the passage of the 2022 Boulder Public Library District Ballot Issue 6C, establishing the BPLD. David Farnan, Director of the Boulder Public Library District, said, "One of the unique features of this location is the safe, due to it being a former...
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 [email protected]@lhvc.com....
Niwot's annual Fourth of July celebration was packed with fun activities from start to finish, thanks to the continued efforts of the Niwot Community Association (NCA) which sponsors the event, with financial support from the Niwot Local Improvement District. Starting the morning off at 7:30 a.m. was the "Bert Steele Pancake Breakfast" served in front of the Niwot Market. Net proceeds from this year's ticket sales went towards purchasing another grill for the breakfast to help cover the increasi...
A crowd of 30 gathered July 5 during Niwot's First Friday Art Walk to celebrate and dedicate two donations by Jim and Anne Postle. The sculptures, "Of One Heart" and "Courtship Flight" by world-renowned artist George Carlson, were added to the permanent collection of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) on the corner of Niwot Road and 79th Street after the death of Jim Postle in 2021. Anne Postle, wife of the late Jim Postle, spoke on behalf of the Postle family, including daughter-in-law...
The Long Run, Colorado's Eagles tribute band, has made its share of memories playing summer Thursday nights at Whistle Stop Park. Last year, the band's performance took place just a day after Randy Meisner, a founding member of The Eagles, passed away. Rock & Rails is the only concert on their schedule where the group plays from a gazebo. One of the things the band appreciates most about performing in Niwot is the enthusiastic crowds, ready to sing along and move, that come out to see them....
Gargoyles are hard-working students, incredible team players, great friends, and an integral piece of the Niwot community over the summer at Lobsterfest and Rock & Rails. They assist in keeping events at Whistle Stop Park zero-waste. The Courier is spotlighting some of these friendly, essential volunteers. Francesca Fowler has been volunteering as a Gargoyle for three years. She is an active member of the Niwot community. Through volunteering around town to being a part of the Scout Troop 161, Fowler has been a constant figure in the Niwot...
Amy Scanes-Wolfe, Niwot resident and the founder and director of High Plains Permaculture, is passionate about connecting people to their food systems. Even as a child, Scanes-Wolfe was set on becoming a farmer and has opened her community-based farm, the Niwot Homestead, which aims to feed people a local and well-rounded diet, ultimately connecting them back to the source of their food. Born in South Africa, Scanes-Wolfe moved to Longmont when she was four and later graduated from Niwot High...
The Niwot Garden Club is an informal group of enthusiastic gardeners who share a love for gardening, flowers, and trees. The club's mission is to enhance the beauty of their yards and the community, promote sustainable gardening practices, and provide educational opportunities related to horticulture. Members enjoy getting down and dirty with the earth, planting and weeding, feeding, watering, and nurturing plant life. In the evenings, they often indulge in a leisurely "walkabout," perhaps with...
"About six months before I joined hospice, I had a grandmother who passed away," Lillian Osborne-Durst said. "She was diagnosed with dementia...towards the last few months of her life, there were multiple hospitalizations... At the last hospitalization, somebody mentioned hospice... I'll never forget the nurse, I'll never forget the day." Grieving comes in many shapes and forms. The process has plenty of ups and downs, with some days feeling wonderful, and others feeling abysmal. For many, the...
According to the city of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP), the northernmost portion of the East Boulder Trail –- White Rocks Trail — is again open after a temporary closure for the past two weeks. According to the OSMP, the closure was due to petroleum field operations in the area. An abandoned well was capped. The State of Colorado is working to be sure abandoned wells are capped as they are known to potentially leak hydrocarbons into the air and ground. The Orphaned Wells Ent...
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 [email protected]@lhvc.com....
Flags are in place, the parade lineup is set, bands are rehearsing, the road crew is organizing, volunteers are lined up, and the grand marshals are ready. The Niwot Community Associations's (NCA) signature event, the annual July 4th celebration in Niwot, is straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Hundreds are expected to turn out for a pancake breakfast, now named in honor of the late Niwot Market proprietor Bert Steele, in Cottonwood Square. But before it all starts, NCA volunteers and...
Soon after the conclusion of Niwot High School girls basketball's 2023-24 season, the Denver office of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received a claim accusing the program of violating Title IX regulations. Enacted in 1972, Title IX prohibits any educational institution that receives federal funding from discriminating on the basis of sex. The law covers all programs and activities, but it has commonly been associated with ensuring equal treatment of male and...
Ron Ivory and his band, One on One, kept everyone dancing and singing along to a never-ending stream of Motown hits, from The Temptations, to Diana Ross, to The Four Tops. One on One has become a staple of the Thursday night concert series, with a good crowd attending the event, in spite of gale-force winds. In spite of a threat of rain, which spared the Niwot area June 27, the concert went on uninterrupted. Jack Hadley opened for One on One, with original blues songs mixed with familiar covers...
Anyone who attended the Niwot Jazz Festival in Niwot last week might recall the music of Keith Waters, the co-organizer of the event for the Niwot Cultural Arts Association who played piano with The Keith Waters Trio to accompany renowned jazz vocalist Dominique Eade. Waters, a Niwot resident and co-owner of Inkberry Books, has played jazz most of his life. Waters said, "I started playing jazz as a kid. I started doing it professionally pretty early on... Then I went to New England Conservatory...
Gargoyles are hard-working students, incredible team players, great friends, and an integral piece of the Niwot community over the summer at events such as Lobsterfest and Rock & Rails. They assist in keeping events at Whistle Stop Park zero-waste. The Courier is spotlighting some of these friendly, essential volunteers. Sam Popma has volunteered with the Gargoyles for three years. Popma is an incoming junior at Niwot High School and is an active member of the Niwot community. Popma is known to...
Justin Hirshfield is the well-loved head chef at 1914 House restaurant. As the upscale eatery in Niwot prepares to close, Hirschfield expressed his gratitude for people who helped him become the chef he is today and reflected on his tenure at the popular dinner venue. He shared thoughts on his future inside and outside of the kitchen. Hirshfield is the kind of person who treats you like a friend the moment you are introduced. He shares his life story freely and finds joy in his relationships....
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 [email protected]@lhvc.com....
Alison and Seth Steele, owners and operators of the Niwot Market, have been named as the Grand Marshals for the upcoming 4th of July Parade in Niwot. Not only do they continue to manage the Niwot Market, but they have been active volunteers for different community events as they carry on the legacy of their father, Bert Steele. "Their Niwot heritage and being involved in activities reflects over a century of families serving the Niwot community," said Kathy Koehler, one of the organizers of the...
First Friday Art Walks have been reoccurring in Niwot for 12 years to help support local artists and businesses. The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) along with Osmosis Art and Architecture are major sponsors of the event, which is set to take place again on Friday, July 5 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Niwot's business district. Visitors can stroll around town and meet artists while viewing the local art scene in Niwot, often enjoying live music flowing through the streets. First Friday A...
Merrick Blondeau has been a member of the Niwot Community for all 18 years of his life. Over the years he has become a familiar attendee and volunteer at events around the town. For his volunteer efforts over the years throughout Niwot, Blondeau is the June 2024 recipient of the Left Hand Valley Courier's Left Hand Laurel. Blondeau recently graduated from Niwot High School with the class of 2024. From the NHS drumline to choir and musical theater, to various clubs, Blondeau has been involved in...
The main hall of Niwot Community Hall, the home of Left Hand Grange No. 9, is all alight with beautiful new features: suspended light fixtures on the ceiling and sconces on the walls. More improvements are in the works for the main hall. In the next month, the mirrored wall and curtains will be removed and that section will be repaired and painted, and wainscoting will be installed to match the rest of the room. Thanks to the time, effort, and generosity of Niwot Business Association...
Ashley Niles is a dentist and business owner, an athlete, a wife and a mother of three young children. She admirably manages her very busy life with an aura of kindness and calmness that would be difficult for most of us with her schedule to match. She credits her background in team sports for much of her determination and many of her values. Niles grew up in Geneva, Illinois, a rural Swedish American community west of Chicago. She is from a medical family. Her father was an OB-GYN and her...
Boulder County's Transportation Planning Division is working on a Feasibility Study for the US 36/North Foothills Bikeway, an eleven-mile corridor spanning from the intersection of Broadway and US 36 in Boulder to the intersection of US 36 and CO 66 in Lyons. The study is motivated by injury-fatality pedestrian and bicycle crashes along this corridor. For more information, sign up for e-news at County E-News. The purpose of the bikeway is to improve safety and comfort for cyclists. All severe...
It has been almost seven years since Niwot resident Jim Eastman received a kidney from Loveland resident Scott La Point, and both men are doing very well. The two men, still friends, talked about the excitement of the original procedure. La Point said, "I called up Jim and asked him what he was doing a week from Thursday." Eastman cut in, "I thought he just wanted to meet up for coffee or something else." La Point continued, "I said, 'no I don't want to get coffee or go for a bike ride, we have...
A class entitled "Awakening Democracy: What is it, Who's part of it, How we shape it" was offered on June 17 by School of Statesmanship, Service and Stewardship, a Longmont non-profit created by community members Michael Butler, Carol Beth Engel-Enright, Charlene Santala Gearing, Stephanie G. Rossi, William H. Shirley, Chris D. Treharne, and Wein-Pin Yeh in June, 2022. According to its Articles of Incorporation, the specific purpose of the organization is "creating a learning environment which a...
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 [email protected]@lhvc.com....
