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Boulder County Commissioners voted 2-1 in favor of a transition plan for phasing out the growing of GMO crops on public county land, with commissioners Deb Gardner and Elise Jones voting for, and commissioner Cindy Domenico voting against. The vote was decided at the conclusion of a nearly 4-hour public hearing on Wednesday Nov. 30, and marks the end of a year-long, highly contentious debate in regards to the past, present and future of land-use policy and agriculture in Boulder County. Currently there are two GMO crops being grown on public...
Colorado Native Christmas Trees (CNCT), located in Gunnison with a tree lot in Boulder, has teamed up with Vinelife Church to offer free Christmas trees to disabled military veterans or to anyone who served in Afghanistan or Iraq. For the past seven years CNCT has also offered a 50 percent discount for native trees up to eight-feet tall to all veterans. The Christmas tree lot, which is open to all, is located in the parking lot of Vinelife Church at 7845 Lookout Road in Gunbarrel. In the next...
When former Denver Bronco Matt McChesney shows up at your high school, people tend to notice. McChesney, a former lineman for the Denver Broncos among other pro teams, returned to Niwot High School, his alma mater, to announce the selection of NHS senior Alex Oelsner to the Blue-Grey High School All-American football squad Dec. 2. McChesney, a 2000 NHS grad, now owns and operates Six Zero Strength and Fitness in Denver, a gym that caters to high school and college athletes who want to play at...
Pizza lovers rejoice. Proto’s Pizzeria Napoletana opened in the Gunbarrel Center on Wednesday, Nov. 30. According to owner Pam Proto, “It’s been a long time coming. We’re so excited to be in this neighborhood.” The Gunbarrel shop is the sixth Proto’s. Besides appetizers and fresh salads, the restaurant features a wide variety of Napoletana style pizzas as well as a gluten free pie. You can dine in or take out. Proto’s is located at 5378 Gunbarrel Center Court, suite 1, Boulder. Hours are Sun...
On Nov. 1, the Niwot cheerleading squad traveled to Northridge High School in Greeley to compete in the 2016 Tri-Valley/Northern League Spirit Competition. The Cougars’ all-girl squad placed second at the meet, ahead of local rivals Longmont and Silver Creek. Thompson Valley, a perennial championship contender who took 5th overall in 4A in 2015, was the meet’s all-girl squad overall winner. With a second place at regionals under their belt, the Cougar cheerleaders turned their attention to pre...
When longtime Gunbarrel resident Lyn Mead closed her small business four years ago, she noticed her schedule became less rigid so she wasted no time filling her days. Now a mentor for Montessori teachers, Mead is also active in numerous organizations including EFAA food bank and Harvest of Hope Pantry, both in Boulder. November and December is a high need time for folks who frequent the food banks and Mead is astonished at the quantity of food that passes in and out the door this time of year....
The Boulder County transportation department is starting a series of public meetings regarding Quiet Zones along the Highway 119 corridor between Independence Road in Boulder and 83rd Street just north of Niwot. Niwot Elementary School at 8778 Morton Road will be the site of the Dec. 7 meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Note that the regular Niwot Community Association board meeting is cancelled for that evening. Andrew Barth, communications director for the county transportation department, said this...
Left Hand Animal Hospital’s Dr. Katie Thomas has been named a finalist for the Pet’s Best “My Vet’s the Best” contest. She was nominated by Diana Leiker, and now has a one in eight chance of winning $1,000 for the clinic. Thomas grew up on a small farm just outside of Erie, Pennsylvania, and always loved animals. “Some of my family had careers in human medicine,” Thomas said. “While I loved math and science growing up, I knew I didn’t want to enter human health care. “After high school, I went...
The Boulder County transportation department is starting a series of public meetings regarding “quiet zones” along the Highway 119 corridor between Independence Road in Boulder and 83rd Street just north of Niwot. Niwot Elementary School at 8778 Morton Road will be the site of the December 7 meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Note that the regular Niwot Community Association board meeting is cancelled for that evening. Andrew Barth, Communications Director for the county transportation department, sai...
Niwot-based Outdoor Craftsmen has been awarded a Landscape Award of Excellence – Grand Award for Landscape Design-Build by the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Sophisticated, modern, and sustainable best describe this renovation. The natural pool and sculptural fire feature are striking elements, and the garden was designed for all seasons though the use of sculptural plantings and boulders. Xeric principals were applied to every aspect of installation. A subsurface drainage system combined with swales help redirect water away f...
There is no one living today who remembers that December night in 1916 when thieves broke into the Niwot State Bank and stole the contents of its safe deposit boxes. But as its 100th anniversary approaches, the story remains one of Niwot’s more notable events. On December 19, 1916, three burglars broke into Niwot’s bank despite its imposing brick construction and highly visible location at the intersection of Second Avenue and Murray Street. It was its proximity to the Colorado & Southern railroad tracks just a half block away, however, tha...
When God said, “Be fruitful and multiply,” He was talking about human beings, not holiday catalogs. I gave up counting the daily arrivals. It is easier to weigh them. Each day since September our mailbox is stuffed with three or four pounds of catalogs. It started innocently enough when we moved into our house. My children were small, we moved in January, and I knew no one in the neighborhood. Under those conditions, daily mail delivery takes on great significance. I happened to be by the mailbox one afternoon when our mail lady arrived. Bes...
Niwot's 16th annual Enchanted Evening on Friday, Nov. 25, delighted locals and visitors despite chilly, 30-degree temperatures. Children got some needed face time with Santa, and families gathered to sing holiday songs, enjoy egg nog, hot cocoa and other holiday cheer while they shopped, dined and visited with old-and-new friends and loved ones. “My goal this year was to get attendees to visit both Cottonwood [Square Shopping Center] and Old Town--that has always been a challenge,” said eve...
A panel discussion on sexual health was held Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the Painted Primrose in Cottonwood Square. Facilitated by local sex therapist Auburn Meisner, topics for the evening focused on physical and emotional barriers to intimacy within the context of healthy relationships. Practitioners on the panel discussed how treatments in their areas of expertise—including chiropractic and acupuncture care, as well as physical and talk therapies—can achieve lasting benefits in the quality of liv...
State Representative Jonathan Singer held on to his seat in District 11 by a margin of just under 8,000 votes in the election Nov. 8 election. Singer is now in his third elected term after finishing out that of current Boulder County Commissioner Deb Gardner. Following the results from both national and local races, Singer said that the state has “held up to its true form” by not being predominately red or blue. “I think Colorado has shown itself to be an independent-minded state,” Singer said. “What we are seeing now is a trend towards p...
Since October of 2013, Kristy Grubb has been the proud owner of Niwot Florist, which specializes in beautiful arrangements and bouquets. Along with special orders daily and arrangements available for customers on the run, the store offers many gift ideas and party supplies to the community. Recently Grubb has announced that she will be selling the store due to personal life opportunities with her fiancé. In 2013, Grubb had just finished a semester of teaching when she realized she wasn’t qu...
The November 8 election has sent Boulder County commissioners back to the drawing board after ballot issue 1A failed with 94,960 against and 80,589 in favor of the Road and Bridge mill levy increase. The tax was proposed by commissioners to solve the ongoing issue concerning the county’s responsibility to pave and maintain roads in the un-incorporated subdivisions of the county. Vince Hirsch, co-chair of the steering committee for BoCoFIRM, said that they are pleased with the results. “My take on 1A is that it was the wrong thing to do,” Hirsc...
In preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday, students in the second grade at Niwot Elementary wrote about what they are thankful for. Below are excerpts from some of their paragraphs. Mrs. Tagley’s Class Dennie—I am thankful for my family. Savannah—I am thankful for my 97-year-old grandma Annalee—I am thankful for what the tooth fairy gives me when I lose a tooth. EJ—I am thankful for my house because it is shelter. Tahlia—I am thankful for my dog Birdie because she makes me happy when I’m sa...
County staff presented plans for the repaving project to the public at the Left Hand Grange Nov. 9, including drawings and plans for upgrades. Neva Road will stay pretty much the same, and only minor changes will be made to 83rd Street according to Boulder County Transportation Department personnel. Original plans presented to local residents for comment included narrowing Neva Road, but the response from local residents who live along and drive on it convinced the staff to keep the road at its current width and to forego the thought of...
Third grade students at Boulder Country Day School are stepping forward as champions of positive school climate by running a school-wide election with respect and enthusiasm. The candidates are two guinea pigs. Before you dismiss this exercise as silly, think of how much students can learn. From creating posters, t-shirts, promotional videos, voter registration booths, polling centers, and all kinds of other initiatives critical to the electoral process to ensuring that only registered voters...
Niwot Community Association (NCA) board members agreed at the Nov. 2 meeting on a 2017 budget that shows the group finishing the year in the red, but approved it with the understanding that membership revenues are being conservatively estimated for the budget. The group estimates that 2017 operating revenues could be about $14,475 while expenses could total $16,420, leaving the group about $1,945 short. However, stronger membership numbers could make up that shortfall, NCA President Dick Piland said. The NCA also has “healthy” financial res...
A new stone with a permanent plaque was erected recently honoring Chief Left Hand, or Chief Niwot, by Ni-wot Prairie Productions. The plaque was placed near near the tree carvings on the south side of Niwot Road, across from the Second Avenue intersection and includes a memorial to Elizabeth Darling, who passed away last December. Mike Anfinson, president of the non-profit organization Ni-wot Prairie Productions, said Darling, who was his wife, was instrumental in working with Native American ar...
The joint meeting of the Boulder City Council and the Boulder Planning Board scheduled for Nov. 10 concerning changes to the land use designation of property in Twin Lakes has been postponed due to the Boulder County Planning Commission’s decision to revisit its approval of the proposed change. Boulder County Commissioners have approved the change, but approval of the County Planning Commission is also required, as well as approval by both City of Boulder boards. The City of Boulder meeting will likely be held after the County Planning C...
Third grade students at Boulder Country Day School are stepping forward as champions of positive school climate by running a school-wide election with respect and enthusiasm. The candidates are two guinea pigs. Before you dismiss this exercise as silly, think of how much students can learn. From creating posters, t-shirts, promotional videos, voter registration booths, polling centers, and all kinds of other initiatives critical to the electoral process to ensuring that only registered voters...
Editor’s note: Boulder County Commissioners Deb Gardner and Elise Jones were both reelected on Tuesday. In response to questions, they opted to send one letter representing their stance on issues that face the area. Following is their combined response. They say that running for public office is the toughest job interview you’ll ever have, which makes running for re-election the most rigorous personnel evaluation you’ll ever go through. So we were thrilled and humbled that you, the voters of Boulder County, chose by overwhelming margins to gi...
Two important education items on the Nov. 8 ballot were the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) bond issue for capital improvements and the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) mill levy override for operational expenses. Both were approved by voters. The SVVSD $260 million bond measure, which passed 61.88 percent to 38.12 percent by district voters in Boulder County, will address critical student and school needs. It includes various renovations throughout the district, additions to existing schools and building of new schools. A...
A new stone with a permanent plaque was erected recently honoring Chief Left Hand, or Chief Niwot, by Ni-wot Prairie Productions. The plaque was placed near near the tree carvings on the south side of Niwot Road, across from the Second Avenue intersection and includes a memorial to Elizabeth Darling, who passed away last December. Mike Anfinson, president of the non-profit organization Ni-wot Prairie Productions, said Darling, who was his wife, was instrumental in working with Native American ar...
Niwot’s 16th annual Enchanted Evening event on Friday, Nov. 25 will kick off this year’s season of light with plenty of fan favorites and a few added enticements. Promising a night of nostalgia, the event gathers together the old and the young for the singing of traditional yuletide songs, a tree lighting ceremony, a visit with a certain red-suited northerner, and a chance to check off some of the “naughty or nice” people on this year’s holiday shopping list. While hammers are busy pounding...
Niwot’s 16th annual Enchanted Evening event on Friday, Nov. 25 will kick off this year’s season of light with plenty of fan favorites and a few added enticements. Promising a night of nostalgia, the event gathers together the old and the young for the singing of traditional yuletide songs, a tree lighting ceremony, a visit with a certain red-suited northerner, and a chance to check off some of the “naughty or nice” people on this year’s holiday shopping list. While hammers are busy pounding...
Editor’s note: Boulder County Commissioners Deb Gardner and Elise Jones were both reelected on Tuesday. In response to questions, they opted to send one letter representing their stance on issues that face the area. Following is their combined response. They say that running for public office is the toughest job interview you’ll ever have, which makes running for re-election the most rigorous personnel evaluation you’ll ever go through. So we were thrilled and humbled that you, the voters of Boulder County, chose by overwhelming margins to gi...
Rumors that a student had brought a gun to Niwot High School this morning caused a lockdown and lockout. The district has since reported that ALL students are SAFE in their classrooms and that the building has been secured. Boulder County Sheriff's Cmdr. Mike Wagner said the following in a statement: "At this point we have no credible threat and no confirmation that the rumor is true, but out of an abundance of caution, we are treating the information as being potentially real until we can rule out or determine that the rumor is untrue,"...
Two important education items on the Nov. 8 ballot were the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) bond issue for capital improvements and the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) mill levy override for operational expenses. Both were approved by voters. The SVVSD $260 million bond measure, which passed 61.88 percent to 38.12 percent by district voters in Boulder County, will address critical student and school needs. It includes various renovations throughout the district, additions to existing schools and building of new schools. A...
On Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4, Sunset Middle School welcomed its long-awaited Verification Visit from the IB (International Baccalaureate). The purpose of this visit was to celebrate the work done by staff and students to implement the IB’s Programme standards and practices. The staff has collectively spent almost 900 hours training to become IB teachers. During the visit, the IB team met with all Sunset staff, a group of students, a group of parents and the IB Leadership t...
Niwot Community Association (NCA) board members agreed at the Nov. 2 meeting on a 2017 budget that shows the group finishing the year in the red, but approved it with the understanding that membership revenues are being conservatively estimated for the budget. The group estimates that 2017 operating revenues could be about $14,475 while expenses could total $16,420, leaving the group about $1,945 short. However, stronger membership numbers could make up that shortfall, NCA President Dick Piland said. The NCA also has “healthy” financial res...
Several transportation projects are on tap for the Niwot area in 2017, and additional downtown parking may be one step closer to reality. That’s what the Advisory Committee to the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) heard from George Gerstle, Boulder County’s Director of Transportation, who spoke at the Committee’s Nov. 1 meeting. The LID also approved funding for two projects, got an update on negotiations with BNSF, and finalized details of an upcoming Strategic Plan Update meeting sched...
The Mountain View Fire Rescue is launching a new program this year to thank veterans and deployed soldiers from the district who will not be able to make it home this holiday season. They are currently collecting names to be placed on a banner that will be on their engines for all holiday parades. Amy Tallent, one of the organizers of the new program, said that the idea came about recently after a discussion about troops who won’t be able to be with their families. “Mountain View has had a few programs in the past where we really like to rec...
Steve and Leslie Kaczeus have added to their list of awards for their brewery in Niwot. Steve, owner and chief brewer of Bootstrap Brewing, along with Leslie, “Chief of Stuff,” won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival for their Stick’s Pale Ale, and yet another gold for Wreak Havoc, an Imperial Ale. Stick’s Pale Ale was in the American Pale category, and rose to the top of 157 entries across the country. “It’s a highly drinkable pale ale,” Leslie Kaczeus said. “It’s got a n...
On Nov. 4, Niwot High School head football coach Dylan Hollingsworth, 43, was arrested for assaulting a student during a weight lifting class the prior week. According to a media release from the Boulder County Sheriff’s office, Hollingsworth turned himself in to the Boulder County jail last Friday morning, and was booked on charges of second degree assault, a class four felony, and third degree assault, a class one misdemeanor. He was subsequently released on bond, and faces a hearing in B...
On Wednesday, Nov. 2, over 20 people gathered at the Lefthand Valley Grange Park in Niwot to celebrate the dedication of benches as part of Zhou Ming “Ming Ming” Sun’s Eagle Scout project. Those in attendance were from Boulder County Parks and Open Space, Left Hand Grange No.9, Niwot Boy Scouts of America Pack 161, Niwot Historical Society, Niwot Community Association and other community members. Stan Snyder, a landscape architect with Boulder County Parks and Open Space, was in charge of the p...
Twenty-nine immigrants from 16 countries took the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens on Wednesday, Oct 26 at Twin Peaks Charter Academy in Longmont. The countries include Argentina, Canada, People’s Republic of China, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Turkey and Venezuela. Twin Peaks Principal David Yu spoke at the ceremony. Scott Koenigsberg, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Denver Field Office supervisory i...
New teachers often inherit a treasure from their predecessors -a desk, a set of text books, maybe a syllabus. This fall Niwot High School (NHS) vocal music teacher Laura Marshall inherited an entire musical, the fall production of the popular Sondheim musical, “Into the Woods.” And she’s loving it. “The students auditioned back in the spring,” Erin Anderson, the play’s musical director said. Kimberly Watkins, who moved to Altona Middle School this fall, helped select the cast. “The studen...
The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee (POSAC) held a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 27 to discuss the transition plan for genetically-engineered crops (GE) on county open space. The discussion started with an overview from staff member and Agricultural Resources Manager Jeff Moline, who said the meeting was the first presentation of the plan to phase out genetically-modified crops (GMO). Moline said the county’s goal is to keep farmers growing food, remain stewards of open space, encompass sustainability, and provide economic s...
As of November 1, the Left Hand Valley Courier is going virtual. The Courier will no longer maintain the office at 6800 N. 79th Street, Suite 103A, in Cottonwood Square. Communicate with us by email at: editorial@lhvc.com advertising@lhvc.com on the web at www.lhvc.com by phone at 303-845-3077 by mail at PO Box 652, Niwot, CO 80544-0652...
Editor’s note: Due to several reader requests, the Left Hand Valley Courier asked a follow-up question to Boulder County Commissioner candidates about the proposed affordable housing project in Gunbarrel. Here are their responses. Q “Do you support the proposed location for affordable housing in the Twin Lakes area? Why or why not? Do you think other options should be considered, and if so, where and why?” Paul Danish A I do not support the Twin Lakes project. It is difficult to imagine a more inappropriate place to build a major public housi...
On Wednesday, Oct. 26, the Niwot Historical Society (NHS) held a lecture at the Left Hand Grange, featuring the Boulder County Latino History Project. Presenters included Marjorie McIntosh, a distinguished professor of History Emerita at the University of Colorado-Boulder; and Linda Arroyo-Holmstrom, a Boulder native, retired educator in the local public schools and a committee member of the Boulder County Latino History Project. NHS President Kathy Koehler said the two speakers centered their...
On Saturday, Oct. 29, Niwot celebrated Halloween with another parade during the Great Pumpkin Party. Hundreds of children came dressed in costumes from super heroes, princesses and pirates, to Harry Potter characters. Parents also came in costume and some families dressed up in matching costumes. Excited children ran from business to business in downtown Niwot and Cottonwood Square to trick-or-treat for candy, as well as visiting the animals at the petting zoo and walking in the parade....
Through an anonymous parent grant, Boulder Country Day School (BCD) is partnering with the I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County to form a combined First Lego League team. The collaboration brings together technology and STEM with BCD’s goal of inspiring students to reach their full potential. During an eight-week period, two teams composed of BCD students and Dreamers ages 9-14 work together to solve a problem in preparation for the Regional Qualifier Tournament to be held on Saturday, N...
Boulder County Sheriff's Office On October 29, at around 1:40 a.m., a lone individual broke through a set of glass doors at Niwot High School, and caused damage inside the school to two interior windows, and a vending machine. The individual then exited the school and broke into three cars parked overnight in the parking lot, by smashing driver side windows on each car. All three cars appeared to have been rummaged through. A fourth vehicle showed signs of an attempt at entry by the suspect, but he was unsuccessful at getting inside. St. Vrain...
Editor’s note: Due to several reader requests, the Left Hand Valley Courier asked a follow-up question to Boulder County Commissioner candidates about the proposed affordable housing project in Gunbarrel. Here are their responses. As of press time, Paul Danish and Deb Gardner had not responded. Q “Do you support the proposed location for affordable housing in the Twin Lakes area? Why or Why not? Do you think other options should be considered, and if so, where and why? Elise Jones A Boulder County has an affordable housing crisis. Over 40,...
At the Boulder County Planning Commission’s Wednesday, Oct. 19 meeting, members decided in a 5-1 vote to reconsider their original decision to approve the medium-density residential land-use designation for the Twin Lakes parcels. The change in zoning for 20 acres of vacant land on both sides of the 6000 block of Twin Lakes Road in Gunbarrel, which are owned by the Boulder County Housing Authority and Boulder Valley School District, will be up for reconsideration at another hearing not yet s...
