All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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At approximately 3:00 p.m. on April 14, a small single-engine Mooney M20C aircraft made an emergency landing on the southbound lanes of Highway 287 just north of Niwot Road. The airplane, originally identified as a Cessna, was traveling from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport and experienced mechanical issues resulting in the emergency landing. The pilot was identified by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office as a 36-year-old male who was the only person onboard the...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]@lhvc.com....
At approximately 3:00 p.m. on April 14, a small single-engine Mooney M20C aircraft made an emergency landing on the southbound lanes of Highway 287 just north of Niwot Road. The airplane, originally identified as a Cessna, was traveling from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport and experienced mechanical issues resulting in the emergency landing. The pilot was identified by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office as a 36-year-old male who was the only person onboard the...
The unimaginably tragic Marshall Fire at the end of 2021 alerted Coloradans to the increasing risks of natural disasters, not only in the mountains, but also in the flatlands. Earlier this month the windstorm in which 150,000 Front Range Xcel customers were without power for over 24 hours caused considerable damage to both businesses and homes. These events remind us of the importance of preventing or reducing the damage to our properties from wildfires, high winds, and heavy snowfalls which...
Keynes Chen came to Niwot High School in January of 2019 with 15 students across three different ensembles. By the end of the following school year, he had 85 students across three groups and has since added two more ensembles, with another in development. "That first year really energized me," said Chen. Niwot now offers three orchestras, a small ensemble, and a mariachi ensemble, and will be looking to add another mariachi group to the list of available courses due to the growing interest and...
The Boulder County Consortium of Cities met on April 3 to offer progress updates in developing a regional plan regarding minimum wage for incorporated towns and cities in Boulder County. Boulder County Ordinance 2023-4 became effective on Jan. 1, 2024, setting a minimum wage of $15.69 per hour for businesses in Niwot and other unincorporated areas of the county, 15% above Colorado’s 2023 minimum wage and $1.27 higher than that of surrounding incorporated towns and cities that currently pay $14.42. The ordinance also gradually increases the m...
The annual meeting of the Niwot Community Association (NCA) will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23 at the Left Hand Grange No. 9. The guest speaker will be Don Haddad, St. Vrain Valley School District Superintendent, and will include a question and answer session. There will also be a speaker on the topic of urban interface wildfire mitigation. The annual meeting is also the occasion for NCA board elections. The board is seeking nominations for Secretary and Area 6 Representative. Area 6 includes Gunbarrel Estates and the Homestead...
A new genre book was launched on Friday night, April 12, at the Winot Cafe in Niwot as Dr. William A. Liggett's new climate fiction thriller, "Panic Peak," was presented to an enthusiastic audience. At start time there were only a few open chairs, which soon were filled with many standing in the back of the room for the event. Over thirty people attended the presentation. Liggett first spoke about his story as an 18-year old who spent a summer at the Hoh River area in Washington state and Mount...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is spotlighting various local neighborhoods, their history, issues and general nature. This week, the Courier is spotlighting Cottonwood Park West. In the mid-20th century, Niwot began to grow from its origins as a small railroad town and farming community into a fully suburban community that provided housing, schools and amenities for families working in Boulder and Longmont. This was particularly true once IBM purchased land for its operations in the late 1950s,...
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Boulder County's Small Business Grant/Changing Economic Environment Program, spearheaded by Commissioner Marta Loachamin, is accepting applications for grant funding to support unincorporated Boulder County small businesses impacted by the costs (including labor costs) of doing business in the County's rapidly changing economic environment. The last day to apply is April 19, 2024, at 5 p.m.at https://coloradoenterprisefund.org/Boulder-County-SB-Grant. Grants of up to $5,000 per business will be...
Minimum wage, master plan, housing costs, Highway 119 underpass, key priorities. Those are the topics Niwot's Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) members hope to take up with the Boulder County Commissioners when the two boards meet at the Left Hand Grange on Thursday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m. The annual meeting between the three county commissioners, who govern Niwot as well as the rest of unincorporated Boulder County, and the members of Niwot's most active advisory board, all of...
To say that this past weekend's massive windstorm really blows is not only an excellent pun, but a bit of an understatement. Xcel Energy notified Niwot residents via email that starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, Xcel would preemptively be de-energizing power lines in Boulder County resulting in an outage that may continue through at least Sunday. However many areas felt the effects of the power outage long past that point. "Our top priority is ensuring the safety of our communities,...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is spotlighting various local neighborhoods, their history, issues and general nature. This week, the Courier is spotlighting The Cove residential neighborhood. Most Niwot residents are familiar with Somerset and Legend Ridge, but any mention of The Cove is usually met with raised eyebrows and puzzled looks. Small, lovely and secluded, the neighborhood was established in the early 1990s. You won't find The Cove unless you happen upon it while walking or are in the...
At a hearing on April 2, the Boulder County Commissioners conditionally approved Boulder Country Club’s (BCC) application to recognize the membership club as a Use of Community Significance. BCC has been designated as a “non-conforming use” since 1991 when Boulder County determined a membership club was non-conforming to the land’s “rural residential” zoning designation. The new designation as a Use of Community Significance will allow the club to make changes to its approximately 190-acre facility without a heightened approval process req...
Local musician Kevin Dooley was asked to perform at the dedication of a memorial bench outside of Niwot Market last December 16 in honor of Niwot Market owner Bert Steele. The guitarist singer-songwriter quickly accepted the invitation, and set to work writing a song in honor of his long-time friend, who passed away last August after a short illness. Six days later, Dooley performed the song, "Be More Like Bert," at the dedication, incorporating several of Steele's well-known words of wisdom,...
Bill Liggett, a native Coloradan and recent newcomer to the Niwot community, is presenting his new book, "Panic Peak," on Friday, April 12 in conjunction with Inkberry Books. "Panic Peak" investigates interesting potential geoengineering solutions in the format of a fictional thriller. The book launch and signing will be held at Winot Cafe at 7 p.m. The venue for the presentation was changed from Una Vida to Winot Coffee. Reservations can be made online. Dr. Liggett is something of a...
The call of the movie industry can be challenging to heed for a local kid, but for Daniel Gibb, well... let's just say the Force is strong with this one. "I was always a lover of film-making, the art of it," Gibb said, "and I always wanted to be involved in that." Gibb grew up in Boulder, and his parents, Meri and Paul Gibb, have lived in Niwot for many years. Meri Gibb says her son's passion for the entertainment industry started early. "When he was like, four, and he saw videos on MTV, he...
With the increase in commercial land use applications in Boulder County for the open areas around Niwot, it's not surprising that the latest proposed project is a private ski hill in the open space between Hwy 52 and the Somerset neighborhood. Funding has not yet been approved for the project, however, Vail Retorts has been looking to expand its reach closer to the Boulder area to attract more CU and CSU students to purchasing Epik passes over iKon. As of now, the closest ski area in proximity t...
Plans have been unveiled for the construction of innovative bike-accessible-only apartments in the median of CO 119 (the "Diagonal") at Niwot Road. Messer Development has applied for Special Use Review with the Boulder County Planning & Permitting & Pedaling Department to construct this new facility which it believes "will be a groundbreaking innovation to revitalize and enhance the community and Boulder County generally." The project, slated to take three years to complete, promises to...
In the tranquil town of Niwot, where sprawling prairies meet the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, residents are facing an unexpected challenge on their local tennis courts: prairie dogs. While these small, burrowing rodents are a common sight in the area, their recent presence on the tennis courts has sparked concern and curiosity among locals. Niwot, known for its scenic beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities, boasts several well-maintained tennis courts that are popular among...
In recent months there has been an increase in traffic on Lookout Road in Gunbarrel, which has affected traffic patterns. Increased wait times have fowled traffic and apparently caused objectionable delays. Some locals have taken exception to the decrease in traffic flow and have begun voicing their objection to cars that are gobbling up intersections. One observer suggested that these locals exhibited "bird-brained" aggression towards vehicles that had the misfortune to wait too long to move...
At her daughter-in-law's suggestion, Niwot's Amy Klein found a way to combine her love for kids with her love for baking. The result is the fastest growing chapter of Cake4Kids in the country. For her volunteer efforts, Klein is the April 2024 recipient of a Left Hand Laurel. "My daughter-in-law moved to California and told me about it four years ago," Klein recalled. The non-profit organization is based in California, but has chapters all over the country, but Klein discovered that Colorado...
As a teenager, Will Wernick didn't have one particular interest, wasn't a great student, and was late applying to college. Initially, he didn't get into CU Boulder, so after graduating from Niwot High School in 2001, he commuted to CU Denver for classes. But, he confesses, he wasn't in the right mindset. He said he did "horribly" and probably shouldn't have gone to college right away. He continued with his education though, taking evening classes in political science at CU Boulder, which he thor...
Thanks to the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID), the Grange building has been granted enough funds to allow the community center to complete three major improvements to the main floor hall. Watch for the rental space to be upgraded with paint and acoustic ceiling tiles by the end of April. New lighting fixtures will be installed in May. Each of these upgrades will go a long way in adding character and warmth to the venue's ambiance. The LID has approved funding half of the improvements of...
The City of Boulder, through its Open Space and Mountain Parks Department, announced an effort to seek public input on a collaborative land stewardship plan to be developed for the site of the former Fort Chambers near Boulder Creek, just east of 63rd Street and south of Jay Road in the Gunbarrel area. The city purchased the property in 2018. The city has recently worked with Arapaho and Cheyenne Tribal Representatives on a plan to use the land, now owned by the City of Boulder, to acknowledge...
With the creation of a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization on December 31, 2023, a new entity called Niwot Community Hall (NCH) now owns the building at 195 Second Avenue in Niwot which has long been the home of Left Hand Grange No. 9. As the name indicates, the intent of the new entity is to recognize the building as the community center it has become and for the organization to be able to accept tax-deductible contributions which will support improvements to the building. The Left Hand Grange No. 9, a fraternal organization, received its...
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....
Randy Bare can often be found sitting on a bench next to the community-built dog companion memorial with his dog, Mia, at Coot Lake in Gunbarrel. Many refer to him as "the mayor of Coot Lake." Bare knows most of the dogs that enjoy Coot Lake and many of their owners/guardians. Coot Lake and the trail surrounding it is well known as dog friendly, beautiful, and accessible. Located on 63rd Street between the Diagonal and Monarch Road across from IBM, it is enjoyed as a "dog playground." Bare, a...
Mountain View Fire Rescue recently announced that the full service fire department will be moving its headquarters from Longmont to Niwot. In anticipation of the move, Mountain View Fire Rescue acquired the office building located at 6328 Monarch Park Place near Niwot. The building has hosted offices for both Crocs and Lucky's Market in the past. Following renovations, the new headquarters will support the department's Administrative, Training, Wildland, Operations, Wellness and Logistics...
This past Saturday, March 23, the families of Niwot gathered together to eat breakfast, hunt for eggs, and enjoy a morning of fun in their community. Niwot has held a similar egg hunt event since 1981 close to Easter for local families to enjoy. Sponsored by the Niwot Community Connection (NCC), but specifically by Pat Murphy with The Niwot Group at Compass, Tara Littell and Ann Mills, it continues to be a fun community event hosted at Niwot High School. The Easter Egg Hunt is not just the hunt...
In the early 21st century, outreach from institutions to private citizens faced a number of hurdles due to the changing landscape of communication, technology, and society. Conversations are often absent from our society as digital communication compresses our language to fit inside the very small footprint of social media and digital communication. The hurdles can encompass information overload, communication preferences often dictated by one’s generation, a trust deficit in government institutions, unreliable internet access or digital l...
Welcome to the Niwot Transportation Update, your go-to source for all things related to transportation and mobility in our vibrant community. Highway 119 Underpass Discussions are underway regarding the proposed underpass linking the current RTD parking lot and downtown Niwot, involving the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) and Boulder County. Recently, the LID penned a letter to Stacey Proctor, Transportation Strategic Planning and Projects Manager for the CO 119...
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 Niwot Community Association (NCA) welcomed Abby Silver, Wildfire Partners Outreach Coordinator, at the March board meeting. Silver was invited by NCA Area Representative and wildfire protection specialist Neal Anderson. Anderson introduced Silver, pointing out that Niwot is the largest community in unincorporated Boulder County. Wildfire Partners provides Boulder County’s volunteer fire mitigation program, which has been in place for mountain communities for years. It helps homeowners clear fire fuels away from near their homes to lessen t...
On March 4, the owner and developers of the "Tennis Center of the Rockies" project requested that the Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting Department table their Special Use Review application to permit the construction of a tennis complex at N. 79th Street in Gunbarrel. Going forward, the applicants may update and resubmit their application or withdraw the application entirely. In a communication to the county planning group, the developers said, "We would officially like to...
On March 12, the Niwot Community Association (NCA) held a Subdivision Paving Summit at the Left Hand Grange in Niwot. The meeting was led by NCA President David Limbach and Liz Marr, NCA Board Member and member of the Subdivision Paving Coalition (SPC). Approximately 35 members of the community attended the spirited and collaborative session. The meeting had a number of objectives, including: • Review issue history and update the community on recent activities • Give Niwot neighborhoods a for...
Boulder County is partnering with Commuting Solutions on the CO 119 Branding & Wayfinding Project. The project will create a distinct brand identity for the Diagonal Highway corridor along the future Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route connecting Boulder and Longmont based on recommendations found in The Highway 119 First and Final Mile Study, completed by consultants Fehr & Peers in August 2021. Boulder County and Commuting Solutions are asking for community input to help create the branding of the CO 119 bus, car and bicycle corridor. Survey...
Fred Mosqueda, the Arapaho Language and Culture Program Outreach Specialist Coordinator for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, presented an overview of the culture and history of his people, the Southern Arapahos, to a packed audience at the Left Hand Grange Hall on March 13. The lecture was presented by the Niwot Historical Society as the first in the 2024 Now & Then Lecture Series. The presentation commenced with a three-minute Arapaho prayer, which Mosqueda explained typically...
Beginning March 11, 2024, when construction began on the new Vesper Trail, portions of the East Boulder-Gunbarrel Trail will be closed for use between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through June. The trail will be closed from the Boulderado Drive and Cambridge Street Access Point in the Heatherwood subdivision to a point approximately one mile east. According to a City of Boulder news release, the Vesper Trail will be "a new 1.5-mile trail section that will be built on Gunbarrel Hill near t...
The Niwot Business Association (NBA) took the show on the road to Niwot High School on March 12 for its monthly meeting. The meeting was hosted by the Niwot High School Education Foundation, and after a short business meeting, NBA members heard from the Superintendent of Schools for the St. Vrain Valley School District, Don Haddad, and Niwot High School Principal, Eric Rauschkolb. Haddad, former principal at Niwot High School, spoke of the success of the school district, "We have the highest...
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....
Work on the historic Frank Bader Home at 210 Franklin Street in Niwot has resumed, following a stop work order imposed by Boulder County designed to ensure that proper permitting by the site's owner, Nassar Development, was in place for the site at the corner of Second Avenue and Franklin Street. Work cessation took place when residents noticed that the scope of work appeared to exceed the limits allowed by the permitting. Denise Grimm, Principal Planner, Historic Preservation for Boulder...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) met March 5 at the Niwot Inn to consider funding requests from the Left Hand Grange No. 9 for improvements to the Grange Hall, now owned by Niwot Community Hall, a newly formed non-profit organization. The meeting began with an introduction of Carla Hunter, the newest member of the committee, who was appointed to fill the resident vacancy held by Lisa Rivard, who did not apply for reappointment. LEFT HAND GRANGE Left Hand Grange No....
Niwot became a hub for some early St. Patrick's Day celebrations on Saturday, March 9. Lucky Niwot Day brought crowds to Niwot to enjoy St. Patrick's Day-themed fun throughout town. In Cottonwood Square, Avoca Irish Dancers performed outside Blessings Day Spa, and later in the day, Ceili Irish social dancing lessons were in full swing at the Left Hand Grange. In Old Town, children, and some adults, had their faces painted at Cimmini's and then walked a couple doors down to Niwot Jewelry & Gifts...
The Niwot United Methodist Church has thrown open its doors for 26 years to invite the community for bowls of soup, salad, bread and fellowship. "Soup, Soup & More," held on Saturday, March 9, was open to the public free of charge. Most people attending contributed to a free-will offering, and donations are funneled to different local charities each year. According to Janet Gates, the event coordinator, 75% of the proceeds from the event this year will go to The Reentry Initiative, whose...
Niwot residents Amy Cramer and Skip Wehner are new members of the Eldora Mountain Safety Team (MST) this season. Their passion for skiing, desire to keep everyone safe, and delight in being part of the small nearby ski resort make their role, in Cramer's words, "the best job in the world." As the season enters its final weeks, they each shared their very different personal backgrounds, and their shared enthusiasm for their new roles, along with their overflowing joy of living in Niwot. Cramer...
A section of the LoBo Trail from Monarch Road north toward 79th Street is closed while repairs are being made to a deteriorating section of pathway along the creek. Heavy equipment is being used for the excavation and placing rocks to build the retaining wall. "In order to stabilize the creek bank, we will be constructing a wall that is approximately 33 feet long and 5 feet tall," Boulder County Trails Supervisor Andy Tyler explained. "We will be using large stones that are 3 feet wide, 1 foot...
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 heart of Niwot sits in District 12 of Colorado's House of Representatives. District 12 is represented at the Colorado capital by House Representative Kyle Brown, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Representative Tracey Bernett. Since Brown joined the state legislature on Feb. 1, 2023, he has been an active legislator focused on climate action, affordable housing, recovery from the Marshall Fire and health care. Despite joining the current legislative session...
