All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Niwot's new ice cream shop, Love Ice Cream, held its Grand Opening on Sept. 21. The first 100 lucky customers received a complimentary scoop of ice cream of their choice from the new family-owned venture. The Grand Opening extended out into the parking lot in front of Love Ice Cream, located at 240 Second Avenue in the space formerly occupied by Seven Wealth. Cute flower-bedecked tables outside of the ice cream shop and a festoon of colorful, bubble-like balloons climbing the building like ivy...
Dr. Jessie Slepicka grew up on a chicken and sheep farm in Niwot, Colorado, and his experiences growing up ultimately led to a doctoral degree and a position as a professor in the Sociology and Criminology Department at the University of Montana. His parents, Jerry and Marsha Slepicka, moved to Niwot in 1990, where they built their log home on 79th Street. The Slepicka family was active in Niwot Nifties (the oldest 4-H club in Boulder County), school clubs, athletics, and honor society, where Je...
On Sept. 9, 2013, a severe flood started along Colorado's Front Range, particularly impacting Boulder County. The flood continued through Sept. 15, 2024, causing widespread damage. The flood was triggered by an unusual amount of rainfall, surpassing what is expected in a 500-year flood event. A 500-year flood event means there is a 0.2% chance of such a flood happening in any given year. The 0.2% chance is a statistical term that describes the recurrence interval of floods, not a timeline that i...
The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) received a $25,000 grant from the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation last week to support the restoration and installation of three iconic tree carvings by the late artist Eddie Running Wolf. The grant was applied for at the suggestion of Brent Wheeler, Boulder County's liaison for the project. "Brent had mentioned the grant opportunity when we met with County Commissioner Marta Loachamin and Walt Pourier of the Lakota tribe, who was a good...
A marathon race scheduled for next weekend will result in road closures in rural Boulder County. Niwot and Gunbarrel residents should note that due to the Boulderthon race on Sunday, Sept 29, there will be several road closures that will vary between the hours of 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. These include: • Jay Road, westbound between 63rd and 75th Streets 7:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. • 75th Street, southbound between Jay and Lookout Roads 7:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. • Lookout Road, westbound between 95th and 75th S...
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....
Calling all photographers, intentional or accidental! The Left Hand Valley Courier’s Photo of the Week feature is open to any area resident who personally photographs Niwot-Gunbarrel area sights, including people (with permission, of course), buildings, animals, birds, plants, flowers, events, or anything else. Naturally, there are a few rules to follow: • The photograph must be submitted in jpg format via email to editorial@lhvc.comeditorial@lhvc.com in high resolution. • Please include a caption describing the photo, your name, email addre...
Niwot High School’s annual homecoming festivities began Monday, Sept. 9, with the highly anticipated pep rally. For the first time, the class of 2025 won the iconic Spirit Stick by being the loudest during the high pressure competition between grade levels. It was a close call between the seniors and sophomores this year. The first day of homecoming events ended with “The Kickoff,” Niwot High School’s Flag Football Tournament, an evening team event attended by students, staff, friends, and fam...
The Boulder County Commissioners have scheduled a public meeting for Sept. 17 to discuss a staff proposal for a potential moratorium to halt the processing of applications for new projects that exceed the median residential floor area in designated neighborhoods within unincorporated Boulder County. For decades, the Boulder County Commissioners have expressed concern about how increasing home sizes negatively affect the county's rural character, sustainability, and affordability. The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan’s Sustainability Element s...
Anybody who has been to a Rock & Rails concert is well aware of the hard work that goes into making sure as much waste as possible is recycled or composted, and the park is kept neat and tidy. And with a goal of zero waste, the Rock & Rails organizing committee, administered by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), is utilizing help behind the scenes to make this goal a reality in every aspect of the event. As the Rock & Rails zero waste...
On Aug. 7 at a special meeting, the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) Board of Education unanimously approved placement of a Bond Referendum Question on the Nov. 5, 2024 Ballot in the amount of $739.8 million “to improve safety and security, preserve capital assets, enhance educational space, and address the increase in enrollment” in the district. The district worked hard to ensure that property taxes will not go up if the bond issue passes. How does this happen? The district’s website anticipates the question, and the answer provi...
During lunchtime in Niwot, hungry high school students, residents, business people, and even Courier staff who are looking for a sandwich might head to the local Subway in Cottonwood Square. If they've done so over the last few years, they've likely been served by Emma Osckel, well known for her friendly, fun demeanor when taking orders and assembling sandwiches. Osckel is a regional native who has lived in Northern Colorado since the late 1990s. She came to Longmont when her son started middle...
Community Dance Classes Wednesdays, Sept. 18 and 25 and Oct. 2, 16 and 23 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Community dance classes at the Grange are all the rage. Under the direction of instructor-choreographer Lindy Bartruff, there are several opportunities for the community to feel completely joyful while learning new dance steps and being active. Class level and content are matched to the participants of each class. 5:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m. Tap Dance Classes will focus on technique and routines which are...
Boulder County citizens gathered at an open house to review and provide feedback on the 63rd Street overpass planned for the CO 119 Bikeway Design Project. The open house also featured presentations about branded wayfinding concept alternatives for the CO 119 bikeway, and the Gunbarrel Shuttle projects. The CO 119 Safety, Mobility & Bikeway Project starts in north Boulder at the intersection of CO 157, also known as Foothills Parkway, and ends in south Longmont at the intersection of CO 119 and...
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....
Judges and fans of the 2024 "Why Not Niwot?" Juried Art Show agreed - "Why Not Bert?" The awards ceremony for the Niwot Cultural Arts Association's (NCAA) signature art event, now in its 13th year, was held at the Former Feed Store at 291 Second Avenue in Niwot on Friday, Sept. 6. And when it came time to announce the awards, the first award and the last award both went to artist Karin Antoni, for her colored pencil drawing titled, "Keep It Running," depicting the late Bert Steele in front of...
In the summer of 2023, the Consortium of Cities (COC)-an organization that fosters interaction and communication among local governments-directed the Regional Minimum Wage working group to study Boulder County's regional economy, engage the community regarding a potential minimum wage increase, and work with ECOnorthwest, a consultant hired by the COC to prepare an economic analysis. This directive came from elected officials representing the cities of Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, a...
After being closed for two years, the long-awaited reopening of Abo's Pizza in Cottonwood Square has finally come to fruition. As of Aug. 5 Abo's has been back and getting their grounding as they reintroduced their pies to the community. Aug. 5 is two years to the day since the popular Niwot pizza restaurant closed down due to a fire. According to Jeff Riegel, owner at Abo's, "No cause was ever determined by any fire inspectors who came through." However, since reopening, the community has...
The 8th Sustainable Transportation Summit met on Aug. 27 to address the question of how to make a rail system from Pueblo to Fort Collins a reality. The Summit was hosted and delivered by Commuting Solutions. Part 1 of this 2-part series addressed the vision of Colorado's leaders for a functional rail system. Part 2 addresses the Summit's discussion of a similar system that is in place in Washington state. As part of the Summit, Katie Drewel, Government and Community Relations Acting Director...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee met on a zoom call Sept. 3 to consider a funding request from the Niwot Business Association (NBA) for holiday lighting, and discuss the planned underpass on CO 119 as part of the planned bikeway, as well as declining LID revenues. Holiday Lighting Angela Hudgins, NBA administrative coordinator, presented the lighting request for funding. In the application requesting funding of $8,607, Hudgins wrote, "Niwot would like to repeat the...
Community members met on Sept. 7 to discuss the proposed development of three homes on the 39.5-acre rural residential zoned property at 6184 Niwot Road, located on the southwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road. One home and a barn are currently on the property. The Boulder County Land Use Code allows one home per 35 acres in the area. The community group "Stop 63rd Street Subdivision," organized by Chris Ennis and Karen Mandery, met to listen to and discuss the organizers' presentation...
The draft plan for the new Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT) is now available for public review and comment until Sept. 26. According to the BERT website, its aim is to establish a multi-use trail connecting Boulder and Erie. To meet this goal, the Boulder County's Community Planning & Permitting Department is working with major stakeholders that include Boulder County Public Works (BOCO PW), Boulder County Parks & Open Space (BOCO POS), City of Boulder Transportation & Mobility, City of...
The St. Vrain for the Brain 5k will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. at Niwot High School to benefit the National Brain Tumor Society. The St. Vrain for the Brain 5k encourages participants of all levels, either in person or virtually. Participants can register as a team, or as an individual, or simply donate to support another participant or team. So far, $4,100 has been raised toward the fundraising goal of $5,000 with a week and a half left before the race. The 5k race runs along the b...
Niwot United Methodist Church celebrated the 30th anniversary of the installation of a stained glass window in its sanctuary on Sept. 8. The stained glass was designed and created by current church member Gayle Weiss and former member Patti Dahlem, now living in Colorado Springs, who volunteered for the project after out-sourced bids to other artists came in too high for the congregation to afford. They met once a week to painstakingly create the window art. After completion, the stained glass...
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....
The Niwot Cultural Arts Association's (NCAA) annual Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show will present awards at the First Friday Art Walk on Friday, Sept. 6, at Osmosis Gallery, 290 Second Avenue, in Niwot, with an artist's reception following at the former Feed Store across the street. Osmosis Gallery has sponsored the NCAA event since its inception 12 years ago, the brainchild of Osmosis owner Anne Postle. The three judges who make up the jury have selected a first, second and third-place winner...
Residents of The Homestead subdivision in Gunbarrel filed a petition with Boulder County to form a Public Improvement District, a taxing entity for repaving the roads within the District. On Aug. 27 the Boulder County Commissioners attended a staff presentation concerning the petition submitted to the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners proposing a Public Improvement District to be called the Homestead Public Improvement District of Boulder County. The purpose of a Public Improvement...
Joe Chrisman's journey from a three-sport athlete at Longmont High School to a successful business owner in Boulder County is a testament to the lasting influence of sports on his life. Growing up in Longmont, Colorado, during the 1980s and 1990s, Chrisman was shaped by a close-knit community that instilled strong values and a passion for athletics. Chrisman spent his early years in northwest Longmont and went to elementary school in Hygiene, an area that reminds him of the small-town feel of...
If you have been keeping up with the Left Hand Valley Courier's Familiar Face features throughout the 2024 Rock & Rails season, you may have noticed a certain "photo-bomber" in the background of a few photos. While Rock & Rails came to a close this past Thursday, Aug. 29, with Hazel Miller's closing performance, that "photo-bomber" is a dedicated volunteer who deserves recognition. Tony Maurer has been a weekly regular behind the bar in the Depot for more than 10 years. He first got involved...
The 8th Sustainable Transportation Summit met on Aug. 27 to address the question of how to finally make a rail system from Pueblo to Fort Fort Collin a reality. The Summit was hosted and delivered by Commuting Solutions. During the course of speaker presentations and round table discussion, in addition to a statewide rail system, it was suggested that a real regional transportation solution must include travel from Raton, New Mexico through Colorado to Cheyenne, Wyoming. A rail system...
In July of 2023, Ifrain and Shannon Rodriguez, the owners of a 39.5-acre property at 6184 Niwot Road, located on the southwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road, submitted an application to Boulder County to construct nine new residential homes (for a total of 10 homes, including their own). This application was submitted using a Boulder County land use process involving Transferable Development Rights (TDRs), and is known as the Rodriguez TDR-PUD, docket number SD-23-0003. TDRs are a land de...
In 2013-2014, the Northwest Area Mobility Study (NAMS) identified several highways that were prime for transit expansion or enhancements, one being the CO 119 corridor between Longmont and Boulder, also known as the Diagonal Highway. According to highway safety records, CO 119 is the highest crash corridor for motorists and the second highest for bicyclists in Boulder County. By 2040, the stretch of the Diagonal Highway between Boulder and Longmont is expected to see an increase in vehicle...
As part of the 28th Annual Shelby American Collection Museum Car Show and Party on Saturday, Aug. 31, a brand new 2022 Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition with 760 HP, hand painted with "Over-the-Top" white stripes plus blue pinstripes, customized by Ford Performance and equipped with the Carbon Fiber Track Package, GT4 track wing and Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 tires, plus a $25,000 cash bonus, was awarded to the winning ticket holder, James Lenihan, of Illinois. Two hundred people were in attendance...
On Sept. 8, Niwot United Methodist Church, located at 7405 Lookout Road in Gunbarrel, will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the installation of a stained glass window with the two artists who created it for the sanctuary where they were members at the time. The service of celebration will begin at 10:20 a.m. and is open to the public. Gayle Weiss and Patti Dahlem really didn't understand what they were getting into when they volunteered to undertake the project in 1994. It required 600 hours...
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, internationally acclaimed author Peter Heller spoke to an audience of more than 50 people at Inkberry Books in Niwot. The temperature reached 91 degrees outside before cloud cover cooled things down, and it turned out to be a perfect summer evening to hear Heller read from his new novel, "Burn." He began the reading with the opening scene from the book, a novel about two lifelong friends who emerge from the woods of rural Maine to a dystopian country wracked by v...
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....
Three writers for the Left Hand Valley Courier, Deborah Cameron, Vicky Dorvee, and Elise S. Marylander, were recognized at the Colorado Press Association (CPA) awards banquet for their articles from 2023 in the CPA's Better News Contest. Judging is conducted anonymously by journalists from another state, and awards are presented based upon size and type of publication. The Courier is a Class 5 publication as a weekly newspaper in a small community. Cameron, who writes for the Courier as well as...
Hazel Miller and The Collective will wrap up the 2024 Rock and Rails (R&R) series this Thursday evening, Aug. 29, at Whistle Stop Park. Inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2023, Miller and her band will perform their mix of jazz, blues, soul and popular music. Miller is one of the most sought-after performers in Colorado and has also performed elsewhere in North America, as well as in Europe, the Far East, Middle East and Central America. R&R booking manager Satir DeMarco said that...
Phase 2 of the North 95th Street Reconstruction and Flood Resiliency Improvements Project began on Monday, Aug. 26. Expect closures in both directions 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 95th Street between Lookout Road and Valmont Road. The construction zone will prohibit motor vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians from entering. Residents living along 95th Street will need to access their homes from Lookout Road if living north of Boulder Creek, and from Valmont Road if living south of Boulder...
The Boulder City Council met on Aug. 22 to discuss the feasibility of implementing a higher minimum wage to address concerns about wage equity from community members. Colorado’s statewide minimum wage currently sits at $14.42, a wage that the cities and towns in Boulder County adhere to for its minimum wage workers. Unincorporated Boulder County’s minimum wage, however, is $15.69 an hour, and is scheduled to increase to $25 per hour by 2030. The Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), a non-profit focused on helping out struggling fam...
University of Colorado Professor of Linguistics Andrew Cowell spoke to a crowd of over 40 at the Grange Hall in Niwot Aug. 21 as part of the Niwot Historical Society's Now & Then Lecture Series. Cowell has focused his research on Native American languages, and especially the Arapaho language, which he speaks, as well as efforts to preserve it. He described how anthropologists learn about historic travels of indigenous peoples, in part by comparing languages of the Arapaho Cheyenne and other...
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....
All nine members of the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) met with Boulder County Commissioners Claire Levy and Marta Loachamin on Aug. 12 at the Left Hand Grange building in Niwot. The meeting, which had been rescheduled several times, is an annual affair in which LID members can give an update on the state of Niwot and hear directly from the commissioners about their priorities. County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann, who is the elected representative from an area which...
The Niwot community and many of its events are made possible only through the efforts of community volunteers, people who dedicate their personal, unpaid time to make this town fun, eventful, and engaging. One such volunteer is Terry Larsen, treasurer and board member of the Niwot Community Association (NCA), an organization whose board is made up entirely of volunteers. For her volunteer efforts, Larsen is this month's Left Hand Laurel. Larsen has been a Niwot resident since December of 1999....
While Rock & Rails may be coming to a close soon, the free music will continue for one more week with the annual Remember in September (RISE) Benefit Concert for the Jared Music Foundation. The concert will take place on Thursday, Sept. 5, at Whistle Stop Park from 5 to 9 p.m. This concert is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) or the Niwot Business Association (NBA), but has sometimes been referred to as the "unofficial Rock & Rails victory lap"...
While there may be only a couple of Rock & Rails concerts left this season, there is an unlimited amount of friendliness that comes from its volunteers. This week's Familiar Face behind the Rock & Rails bar on Thursdays is Kristin Alger. Alger first got involved with Rock & Rails seven years ago. Bill and Jill Whitener used to manage the site at Whistle Stop Park and because Alger and the Whiteners were friends, she would help with pre-concert set-up during the first year. She soon got promoted...
The Grange main floor hall has had another wonderful update. After many years of a mirror lurking behind curtains, there is now a beautiful continuous wall on the first floor. This update was transformative resulting in the hall feeling larger and warmer. Stop by for one of September's community events listed below and enjoy the new ambiance. Niwot Historical Society Then & Now Lecture Series Wednesday, Aug. 21, 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) "The Arapaho in Boulder County and Northern...
On Aug. 13, the Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting Department hosted a webinar to provide detailed updates on various CO 119 (the "Diagonal") intersections and design options for the 63rd Street bike/pedestrian overpass. The intersections discussed included both unsignalized and signalized locations. The unsignalized intersections covered were 55th Street, Monarch Road, Oxford Road, 83rd Street, and Fordham Street, while the signalized intersections included Airport Road, Niwot...
