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All Local, All The Time
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I don't typically gravitate toward Western books, nor do I usually select collected works, but I was pleasantly surprised by Wallace Stegner's "Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs." Notably, this was also Inkberry Books' book of the month for November. It's not a particularly long book-it clocks in at just under 230 pages-but somehow it still feels a bit heavy. Divided into three parts, "Where the Bluebird Sings" is a collection of sixteen essays, many of which have been previously...
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....
In an uncertain world, Niwot's annual Holiday Magic events provide traditions, nostalgia and hope for the future. Holiday Magic in Niwot is comprised of four main events: Enchanted Evening on Nov. 24, the Friday after Thanksgiving; the Holiday Parade on the following day, Nov. 25; and then two Holiday Market days at the Left Hand Grange on the first two Saturdays in December, Dec. 2 and 9. During this magical time, there are several opportunities for children to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the...
Blue skies and unseasonably warm temperatures set the stage for Niwot's November 11th tribute to military veterans. The ceremony began at 11:00 after The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band played several patriotic songs as the crowd gathered, including John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever," and "America." The colors were presented by Niwot Scout Troop 161, followed by the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner." This is the fifth year for the event and the veterans banner...
Elise Marylander, who has served as Assistant Editor of the Left Hand Valley Courier since July 2022, has dropped "Assistant" from her title, and is now the Editor of the Courier. Bruce Warren, who had served in dual roles of Managing Editor and Editor of the Courier since April 2022 when former editor Jocelyn Rowley left to take a full-time position with a Loveland newspaper, will continue to serve as Managing Editor of the Courier. Marylander's duties as Editor include determining content for...
Catherine McHale is the recipient of the Left Hand Valley Courier’s Left Hand Laurel for her volunteer work in Niwot, most notably establishing the popular event, “Dancing Under the Stars.” McHale owns Power & Purpose Marketing in Niwot, and has been a member of the Niwot community for about 13 years. She was Niwot’s Economic Development Director for a number of years, leading efforts to fill Niwot’s commercial spaces. She started getting involved in the community as a business owner. “After a...
Santa visits the Left Hand Grange Friday, Nov. 24, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 25, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The end of November brings two opportunities for the little ones to meet Santa in person at the Grange to tell him all about their holiday wish lists. Following Niwot's Enchanted Evening tree lighting event on Nov. 24 at 6 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will be meeting with children in the exquisitely decorated downstairs hall of the Grange. The next day, Saturday, Nov. 25, Santa will...
Donna Guerra has been the cheerful face behind the counter at Boulder Cleaners in the Jerry Sinor building on 79th Street in Niwot's Cottonwood Square shopping center for 32 years. Guerra began working at the shop in 1991 when it was owned by Rozanne Penka, and known as Sew-Clean Shoppe. Although Penka sold the business several years later, Guerra continued to work at the shop for the new owners. Penka, who was a familiar face in the cleaners business for many years, continues to do alterations...
Visitors to Niwot's Sculpture Park at the southwest corner of 79th Street and Niwot Road may assume that all of the sculptures are on permanent display. In fact, the Niwot Cultural Arts Association owns only five of the sculptures, as the rest are on loan from the artists, including the iconic and imposing "Peacemaker" bronze sculpture, which greets visitors who enter the park from the east side. Of the five permanent sculptures, four have been donated to the NCAA, and the fifth, "Kore That...
The Niwot community was shocked and saddened by the death of Niwot Market owner Bert Steele following a short illness last summer. A wrestling scholarship at Niwot High School was established in his memory at the request of his family, but many in the community looked for an opportunity to create a permanent visual memorial to beloved businessman and philanthropist, who for over 20 years, quietly got to know his customers and supported every event and project in Niwot, with little to no...
The tree carvings by the late artist Eddie Running Wolf, which lined the south side of Niwot Road near the intersection with 79th Street in Niwot, have come to symbolize the community of Niwot and its connection to the Arapaho people who historically occupied the Left Hand Valley. The first of those tree carvings, Spear Lodge Man, was removed for restoration two years ago, and is almost complete, thanks to the work of Running Wolf's son, Dustin Wolf, and Niwot resident Jeff Wolcott. Wolf has...
Historically in the United States, a wooden nickel was not typically legal tender, but instead more of a novelty coin often issued by merchants as part of a promotion. Wooden nickels became popular in the 1930s, though they may date back to the 1880s. Niwot has had its own share of wooden nickels through the years, issued by local businesses. Thanks to local Niwotians such as Adam Robinson and Tim and Carrie Wise, the idea of re-introducing a new wooden Niwot Nickel was born. The Niwot Business...
The Niwot Pumpkin Walk which took place during the month of October was a big success. Shoppers picked up a Pumpkin Pass from Deborah Fowler Real Estate, and then visited Niwot shops to get them stamped. After making at legends ast four purchases, participants were entered into a grand drawing to receive gift cards from Niwot businesses. The event was sponsored by Deborah Read Fowler Real Estate-Slifer Smith & Frampton, and the Niwot Business Association, with additional funding provided by the...
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Niwot's Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID), made up of nine community members appointed by the Boulder County Commissioners, unveiled a Master Plan for Niwot, focusing primarily on the business district, at a meeting of Niwot's primary community non-profit organizations Nov. 6. The first meeting of Niwot organizations took place in the fall of 2021, when each organization had an opportunity to describe its mission and planned projects. The Nov. 6 meeting was a followup to the...
Galleries and other small businesses opened their doors to art-loving community members during November's First Friday Art Walk, Nov. 3. But in the middle of a successful event, one of the organizers, Anne Postle of Osmosis Gallery, announced some news. The schedule for First Friday Art Walks in 2024 will be different. There would be a total of six First Friday Art Walks in 2024 which will be held in March, June, July, August, September and December. "We want to allow more of our businesses,...
On Saturday, Nov. 11, Niwot residents will have the opportunity to honor United States military veterans, and especially those with a community connection. The fifth annual veterans banner ceremony will be held in front of the Left Hand Grange at 11:00 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, marking what was originally known as Armistice Day at the end of World War I in 1918. The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band will be on hand beginning at 10:30 a.m. to perform music as the...
Lulu LaFortune, a Niwot High School graduate, is conquering the world of design by making a name for herself as a furniture, textile, and interior designer in Los Angeles with her company "Lulu LaFortune Limited" brand. LaFortune graduated from Niwot High School in 2014, and went to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Furniture Design and Manufacturing, as well as minors in Textile Design and Interior Design. Though she initially...
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]....
Snow came early on Saturday, Oct. 28, but it did not deter the hundreds of costumed children (and adults) who gathered in Niwot for the annual Great Pumpkin Party. Pat Murphy, who has been the champion and chief sponsor of the event for over 25 years, was on hand to welcome the children and their parents. "Such a great turnout," she said, in spite of the weather. Murphy's The Niwot Group at Compass Realtors offered treats and hosted a petting zoo for the children. The Niwot Business Association...
One of the highlights of the annual Great Pumpkin Party in Niwot is the presentation of the Curtis Lizakowski Golden Hammer Award. This year, event organizer Pat Murphy made the presentation on Oct. 28, just before the Halloween parade down 2nd Avenue, to long-time Scoutmaster Bill O'Donnell, and Niwot Nifties 4-H leaders Jerry and Marsha Slepicka. Murphy explained that the award is designed to recognize volunteers who devote countless hours to the betterment of the community, and often receive...
A full house listened to Ethan Knightchilde tell ghost stories of the old west at the Left Hand Grange Oct. 25. The presentation, titled "Tales of the Haunted West," was part of the 5-part Now & Then Lecture Series, sponsored by the Niwot Historical Society, and was the last presentation of the 2023 series. Knightchilde recounted his exploration of various ghost towns in Colorado, Oregon, Arizona and beyond, reading excerpts from his book, "Ghosts of the West: Tales and Legends from the Bonanza...
There will be more art in Niwot this holiday season. Open Studios is returning to the former Feed Store on 2nd Avenue to showcase work by local artists in their Holiday Pop Up Art and Gift Gallery. The Niwot Cultural Arts Association has worked with property owner John Fischer to provide an art venue in Niwot. The gallery is opening Friday, Nov. 24, and will close on Dec. 31. During that time, it will be open every weekend from Thursday to Sunday, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Hours will be expanded...
Boulder County announced that the first phase of the safety improvements on Colorado Highway 119, also known as the Diagonal Highway, will begin on Nov. 1. Rumble strips will be installed on the outside of the shoulder line from approximately Hover Street in Longmont to Foothills Parkway in Boulder. According to a press release, "Rumble strips provide an audible and vibration warning to drivers who may be leaving the roadway. The strips will be installed along the edge line of the outside should...
Carolyn Bradley will be showcasing her art at the Niwot First Friday Art Walk on Nov. 3, at Inkberry Books. A Niwot resident, Bradley's oil paintings express the beauty and wonder of the natural world. They include landscapes, floral designs and often include the mountains she loves. Bradley was the third-place winner of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association's September 2020 Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show. The reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Inkberry Books in Cottonwood...
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A fire at Colterra, a French restaurant at 210 Franklin Street in Niwot, led to the closure of the popular high-end restaurant in October, 2018. Now, five years later, the iconic property is finally being redeveloped. Restaurateur Bradford Heap, who transformed the previous restaurant known as Le Chantecler into Colterra, faced with the prospect of bringing the damaged building up to current code, ended up selling the property to Boulder developer Terry Palmos for $625,000 in September 2019,...
Ah, Halloween in the Left Hand Valley! Trick-or-treaters, haunted houses, maybe a surprise blizzard… it’s a spookily festive time. But as you prepare to revel beneath your Barbie wig or Cousin It’s hair, be forewarned: this is the Season of the Witch. And the Left Hand Valley Courier has learned that sorcery may lurk in the local DNA. Go ahead; laugh it up. The proof lies in prominent family trees. “I’m a researcher. People who know me know about my research.” Donlyn Arbuthnot is a passionate historian, especially in the area of ancestral r...
The Great Pumpkin Party is one of Niwot's most beloved traditions, with costumed children of all ages, often accompanied by pets dressed up as well, going trick-or-treating at Niwot businesses in Old Town and Cottonwood Square. This year, the event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. And as is customary, 2nd Avenue will be closed briefly at 11:30 a.m. for a children's parade. The 2-block affair kicks off with a choral performance by students from Niwot Elementary School in...
On Oct. 4, Boulder County Library District Board of Trustees President Joni Teter announced that the 2024 library budget will be presented at public board hearings at the main library at 1001 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on Oct. 10 and 24 at 6 p.m. An Oct. 6 memo from David Farnan, Library Director, and Jennifer Phares, Director of Administration, to the Boulder Library District Board of Trustees, stated, “The recommended 2024 library district budget is $38,619,172. The simplest explanation of this amount is that the inaugural 2024 budget s...
An informal committee met with Alison Steele and Seth Steele last week to plan a memorial to their late father, Bert Steele, Niwot Market owner who died last summer after a short illness. The committee was organized by Vicky Dorvee, and included Selene Luna, Deb Fowler, Karen Edwards, Kamla Chopra, and Biff Warren. Everyone was in agreement that a proposed memorial bench with a red Chevrolet tailgate would be an appropriate remembrance of the man who was a beloved fixture in the community for the past 20 years. Steele was known for driving a...
The Boulder County Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday, Oct. 18, to advance a plan for revising the county’s land use code related to the regulation of Short-Term and Vacation Rentals. The commissioners agreed on recommending several changes to the County Planning and Permitting (CPP) staff’s draft proposal. It will now fall on to the County Commissioners to put the final touches on any revisions to the code. CPP staff will incorporate the planning commission’s recommendations into its draft plan and present the results to the C...
All nine members of the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee were present Oct. 17 in the downstairs conference room of the Niwot Inn & Spa for a preview of a master plan commissioned by the LID. David Lee and Chad Fletemeyer of the Niwot architectural firm Fletemeyer, Lee & Associates were on hand to give a preview of a master plan for Niwot being developed to assist the LID and the Niwot community in planning for the future. The LID’s first effort at creating a master plan was completed in 2012 when several community members a...
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It took 10 years for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and other governmental agencies to secure a $25M federal RAISE grant to improve safety on the Diagonal Highway (CO 119) and add a multi-modal bike lane in the center median from Longmont to Boulder. And though the grant was ultimately obtained, with increased funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill which was passed as part of President Joe Biden's Investing in America agenda, it came too late for the family of Magnus...
The owners of a 39-acre property located at the southwest corner of Niwot Road and 63rd Street chose to indefinitely table their application to create a total of ten residential lots on their property, including the existing residence. The application indicated that Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) would be purchased from Boulder County Parks and Open Space for the additional lots. The property is located within Boulder County’s Rural Residential zoning district and has a number of significant designations in the Boulder County C...
Niwot resident Art Stapp supported many causes during his lifetime, and at the top of his list was the St. Vrain Valley School District, and specifically, Niwot High School. Stapp died suddenly July 19, 2023 at the age of 74 of a heart ailment. Stapp was best known for Stapp Interstate Toyota, a business he and his father started in 1974 as Longmont Toyota. Stapp never sought recognition for his many charitable efforts in Niwot and beyond, but it is hard to find someone who has not been touched...
The weather may be cooling off, but community events at the Left Hand Grange are heating up. There's so much for the entire family to enjoy throughout the month. Music is front and center, dancing is highly encouraged, and nostalgic heartwarming feelings that only small town holiday festivities can evoke will be happening inside the historic building that is The Grange. Andy Mann - album release concert Sunday, Nov. 5, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The Grange is proud to present an epic night of music with...
Three enterprising and compassionate high school students from the St. Vrain Valley School District are this week's Left Hand Laurel recipients for their creative – and highly successful efforts – to raise money for Ukrainian relief. They are Murray Avila, Tomas Dabove and Zach Rojo. In February 2022, Dabove, a sophomore in high school at the time, started obsessing about the terrible news of Russia bombing Ukraine with thousands of innocent people – adults and children – being killed. So he cam...
The Niwot Historical Society's Then & Now Lecture Series will feature award-winning cinematographer, director, writer, and lecturer Ethan "E.S." Knightchilde who will tell stories of the haunted Old West, both real and folklore, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Left Hand Grange. Knightchilde is an author, film maker and lecturer on old western towns and mining settlements. His award-winning film, "Ghosts of the West: The End of the Bonanza Trail," was praised as the highest rated,...
In years past, when the Boulder County Commissioners came to Niwot for a town hall meeting, a wide range of local issues were addressed. This year, the commissioners specifically asked for input on their decision to raise the minimum wage for workers in Boulder County above the statewide current minimum wage of $13.65 per hour. The commissioners have already voted to establish a $15.69 per hour minimum wage effective Jan. 1, 2024, for all workers in the unincorporated areas of Boulder County,...
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Earlier this summer, Ifrain and Shannon Rodriguez submitted an application to create a new subdivision on their land at the corner of 63rd and Niwot Road. The application asks to allow them to build nine new houses on the land, eight of which would be along the east side of 63rd. The application is Rodriguez TDR/PUD, Docket Number SD-23-0003. The proposal would use Transferable Development Rights, or TDRs, to allow the additional homes to be built on the 39.5 acre parcel. The TDR program was dev...
The sun is setting earlier now and this past First Friday Art Walk seemed to be a little more subdued than usual. It may have been the drop in temperatures, but in the early evening, midway through the event, art lovers seemed to be heading indoors rather than lingering on sidewalks. Regardless, the quality of the work remains high, with plenty of variety for participants to view as they take part in the event. The hub of the evening’s art shows was at Osmosis Art and Architecture, on 2nd Avenue. Linda Hufferd greeted patrons as they e...
By the time Finn Murphy made an offer of $1.2 million for 36 acres of irrigated pasture land a few miles north of Boulder, he had already read that it was possible to earn $100,000 an acre growing and selling hemp, and he had learned that there were at least 49,991 different uses for the plant. Through research, he had also learned what such a crop costs from seed to harvest, and he quickly formed a network of other growers he could turn to for advice. He decided to follow his Great American...
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The Niwot Trot returned to the streets of Niwot Oct. 1 with a 5K course winding through residential areas and looping back to the starting line, and finishing line, at Whistle Stop Park. Hundreds of runners and walkers participated, raising money for the school’s PTAC to support salaries for paraeducators. Some students manned aid stations along the route, providing water as well as encouragement to the participants....
After a two-year hiatus, Oktoberfest returned to Cottonwood Square on Saturday, Sept. 30. The festivities kicked off at 11 a.m. with a Nerf Animal Shooting Gallery for kids and adults alike. The inflatable animals included bears, deer and wild boar that could be "shot at" with a Nerf bow and arrow. The shooting gallery was run by the Niwot Rotary Club. Music started at 12:30 p.m. with the aptly named Wurst Case Scenario playing some fun German themed "Weird Al Yankovic" style music. The...
If you tread on Niwot trails regularly, this year you're likely to have frequently sighted some fun small critters – crayfish and Woodhouse's toads. The word "fish" in "crayfish" speaks volumes as to why they drew the most attention when whatever body of water they crawled out from wasn't even in sight. Media reports of the "invasive Rusty Crayfish" in Colorado hit the headlines just as the numbers of Niwot crayfish sightings hit a high. Boulder County Senior Wildlife Biologist Mac Kobza e...
Niwot and Gunbarrel-connected brewers were well represented in the slate of this year's medal winners at the Great American Beer Festival. Out of the 40 medals that Colorado brewers took home this year, 11 winners came from Boulder County. No brewer in the state won bigger this year than Wibby Brewing, whose founder and brewmaster, Ryan Wibby, grew up in Gunbarrel. Wibby Brewing was named Brewery of the Year in the 5,001 - 15,000 barrels per year category. The brewer also received a gold medal...
