All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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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...
While most of Niwot was suffering below zero temperatures on Jan. 13 and 14, Niwot resident Pete Brandes was basking in the sunshine and 70+ degree temperatures in Hawai'i. But don't think he wasn't suffering too. Brandes was there to compete in the aptly named Hurt 100, an ultra-marathon on the island of Oahu. Brandes said the joke at the race was to be prepared for overnight temps to be five (degrees) below..."below 70 degrees that is." Brandes finished in an impressive 16th place with a...
With roots dating to 1875, Old Town Niwot, the area on 2nd Avenue between Niwot Road and Murray Street, has always been a mixture of the familiar and the new and is widely considered to be the historic heart of town. John Nelson, a local carpenter, is credited with building the first commercial structure on Second Avenue in 1905. Most of the remaining shops in the first block were completed by 1915 and include the home of the oldest operating Grange in Colorado. These buildings comprise 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...
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...
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...
On Friday, Sept. 1, the winners of the 12th annual Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show were announced at the September First Friday Art Walk. The ceremony took place in front of Osmosis Art and Architecture with an artist's reception following at the former Feed Store building across the street. Prior to the ceremony, the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band entertained the crowd in front of Niwot Jewelry & Gifts with tunes ranging from "Isn't She Lovely" and "Pictures at an Exhibition" to...
Although it feels like Rock & Rails just got started, the last concert of the season took place Thursday, Aug. 31. As the saying goes, "Time flies when you're having fun." And, as usual, the last concert pulled in a nice crowd to enjoy the music, the weather and to say goodbye to Niwot's long-running signature summer event. The evening kicked off at 5:00 p.m. with Nalani in a solo performance following last week's performance as the Rock & Rails headliner with The Nalani Effect. Nalani, also...
A beautiful evening greeted concert-goers at the penultimate Rock & Rails concert of the season on Aug. 24. Although gray skies threatened, nothing more than a brief dash of rain fell, making for a perfect summer evening. Rock & Rails veteran Wendy Woo opened the evening. A Boulder native, Woo's parents were founding faculty members at Naropa University in Boulder. Influential beat writers such as Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, and Ken Kesey would be regulars in the living room – a fact s...
If it's not one thing, it's another... Through much of June and July, rain, hail and thunderstorms were the Thursday night concern. But now that we're in August, high temperatures have finally come to roost. However, judging by the number of chairs set out to save a space at Rock & Rails, the heat wasn't about to put a dent in enthusiasm for the evening. Legitimate By Friday was Thursday's opening act. No strangers to the Rock & Rails stage, the band has performed six times at the event. Band...
A warm summer night, a tribute to Eagles founding member Randy Meisner who died the day before, and a record night for tips and alcohol sales highlighted the July 27 edition of Rock & Rails. The Strangebyrds, comprised of Cari Minor and Ray Smith, were Thursday's opening Rock & Rails act. No "strangers" to the Rock & Rails stage, the duo has been around since 2011, and have released five albums to date, with a musical style they describe as "blue collar folk Americana." The quality of Rock &...
Colorado's unusually wet summer weather caught up with Rock & Rails July 20, cutting short the performance by Rebecca Folsom and her band. The dark clouds and threat of rain held off until just after 7 p.m., when lightning strikes within two miles of the venue, accompanied by a downpour, interrupted the performance. Folsom and the band tried to wait out the storm as concert-goers huddled around the depot building and crowded under umbrellas, but when high winds came up and the rain did not...
Beautiful blue skies and high temperatures brought out a huge crowd to the July 13 edition of Rock & Rails. And the bands didn't disappoint. Award-winning songwriter Tim Ostdiek got the evening started and was joined by Jenny Balagna, bringing their upbeat mixture of folk originals and covers to the stage. Ostdiek and Balagna are both based in the Longmont area and perform around the Front Range, often with a full complement of band members, but Niwot was treated to an intimate performance by...
Two local acts, and first timers at Rock & Rails, got the crowd going at the weekly concert Thursday, July 6. Although rain threatened the event earlier in the day, the clouds parted just before the opening act, providing a perfect night for music, dancing and food. Dechen Hawk started the night with his indie soul ballads. Having moved to Boulder when he was five, the "adopted Colorado native" says he has always loved music. But when his father was diagnosed with brain cancer when Hawk was 14,...
Although storm clouds threatened and a few sprinkles danced their way through the early evening, the weather was no match for the well prepared and excited Rock & Rails crowd on Thursday, June 28, where two bands new to the event were ready to entertain the crowd. The night opened with the Teresa Storch Duo, made up of Storch and her husband Peter Lacis. No strangers to the stage, the Duo have toured internationally, performing at festivals in Scotland and Ireland. Their music focuses on...
The usual Thursday modus operandi of "rain, rain, and more rain" certainly held true on Thursday, June 22. But Mother Nature also seems to be a fan of Rock & Rails, and the weather only temporarily halted the fun at last week's Rock & Rails where it was all about the blues. Deborah Stafford and the Night Stalkers got the evening started at 5:00 p.m. Stafford has been a staple of the Colorado blues scene for several years but put the band together in its current form in 2021. Deborah Stafford and...
Given the weather over the last month, it seemed inevitable that rain would eventually crash a Thursday Rock & Rails party. And rain it did on Thursday night, June 15, halfway through the headline act. But that didn't stop the appreciative crowd from enjoying a country-themed evening, nor did it end the evening. Taylor Shae, a Colorado native who recently released the single, "Small Town America," started the music and happy hour off at 5:00 p.m. Shae, a singer and songwriter, has been...
When Lafayette, Colo., nurse Kara Plese traveled to St. Lucia for vacation in April, she assumed she'd come back with a few souvenirs. But she certainly never expected the one she actually brought home. On a walk near the resort where she was staying, Plese and her friends came across a small dog who looked scared and emaciated. "He was so skinny," she said. "He ran past us and almost got hit by a car. He was so mangy – I felt really bad for him." Plese wasn't sure she would see the dog again b...
Dark skies and the threat of rain didn't deter a large crowd from enjoying the second Rock & Rails concert of the season on Thursday, June 8. The music kicked off at 5:00 p.m. with Dean Himes, a local country artist. Himes wowed the crowd with a combination of his original songs and well-loved covers. Himes is no stranger to Niwot having played at the Niwot Tavern, First Friday Art Walks and Rock & Rails in the past. Himes was inducted into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022. Headli...
Five Niwot High School students have been named the first winners of the Kindness Counts Award, administered by The Peter Fund, a local non-profit. The students, Freddie Ambrose, Haylee Matney, Phoebe McLean, Henry Stauch, and Ellie Steele, were all nominated by NHS students and faculty. The Kindness Counts Award and The Peter Fund were developed by Eve Bonn and Dave Elchoness after they lost their son Peter, a NHS senior, suddenly in November 2022 to myocarditis. Peter was well known as a magne...
At a recent Boulder County Planning Commission meeting, Prairie Orchard LLC faced stiff opposition from area residents for their planned reception hall and vacation rental at 5114 Niwot Road. At the April 19 meeting, staff planner Pete L'Orange presented the staff report which included traffic studies and recommendations from other Boulder County agencies. L'Orange said that 115 letters in opposition to the project and four letters in support had been received, in addition to a petition against...
When Eve Bonn and Dave Elchoness lost their son Peter suddenly in November 2022 to myocarditis, they wanted to be sure they honored the person he was. A senior at Niwot High School at the time of his death, Peter Bonn-Elchoness was known to be a magnetic presence who made an impact on those around him. His father said stories about Peter's kindness were endless. "After he passed, we began receiving notes from people about all the kind things he had done. One woman told me Peter had befriended...
Prairie Orchard LLC has applied to Boulder County for approval to use the property located at 5114 Niwot Road as a reception hall venue, vacation rental and community gathering space. The property sits approximately one-half mile west of the intersection of Niwot Road and 55th Street. The project would use existing structures on a 3.6-acre lot. The site, zoned for agricultural use, contains a renovated farmhouse, a small cottage, a 120 square-foot studio, a renovated barn, and the site's...
February 2023 marked the return of Let's Wine About Winter and it made its return in spectacular fashion. Anne Postle, event founder and co-organizer, said more than 500 people attended the event on Feb. 11 and approximately $13,000 was raised that will go towards maintaining the Niwot Children's Park and Whistle Stop Park. "This was our most successful Wine About Winter to date," Postle said. "The beautiful weather and the event's hiatus for two years certainly helped add to the excitement."...
What started as a way for two friends to give back to the community ended up being the impetus for a new business: Plant Based Boulder. When the Marshall fire erupted in December 2021, Niwot area residents Amy Cramer and Miche Bacher knew what they could do to help. Both professional chefs and cookbook authors, Cramer said they realized, "Someone needs food. Someone needs us." And with that, the two got to work. Reaching out to the Boulder Jewish Community Center (JCC), they arranged to use the...
The Christmas shopping season is in full swing so what better way to shop than with food and beverages? On Thursday, Dec. 15, The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop (TWJ) hosted "Goodies for Grownups" at Cimmini's Italian restaurant in Niwot, featuring both food and books. TWJ assistant manager Alison Cave said the event was a great success and they hope to offer another book fair in the spring. "We were hoping to reignite the feeling of a book fair from elementary school," Cave said. "But for...
Niwot has always prided itself on being a true small town – no big box stores, parades for every occasion, and lots of "mom and pop" businesses. This all adds up to a perfect atmosphere in which local artists can shine. And local art is certainly thriving in Niwot this holiday season. The Open Studios Pop! Gallery celebrated a grand opening during Niwot's Enchanted Evening, Friday, Nov. 25. Twenty different artists working in numerous mediums are featured in the spruced-up space that p...
It's not too late to vote for your favorite Niwot holiday window. The annual window decorating contest deadline has been extended to Sunday, Dec. 11, to make sure everybody has time to admire all of the holiday-themed decor. If you haven't voted yet, just stop by one of the participating businesses and pick up your ballot. Make your way around town to see all the entries and have your ballot stamped by at least six businesses, then pick your favorite. Turn your ballot in to any of the...
Among its other wonderful holiday events, Niwot is also now home to an Open Studios Pop! Gallery. The gallery, located in the former Niwot Rental and Feed store at 291 2nd Avenue, will be open beginning Nov. 18, Thursday through Sunday, Noon to 6:00 p.m. through New Year's Eve. The grand opening will take place during the Enchanted Evening celebration Nov. 25. Managed through the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), the gallery will feature 20 artists from around Boulder County. Mary...
The building that formerly housed Niwot Rental and Feed is seeing new life...and bringing new life to the local arts scene. Open Studios, a visual arts non-profit organization based in Boulder, in conjunction with the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), will be hosting a holiday market in the building at 291 2nd Avenue. The market will feature 20 different artists and will be open Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 6:00 p.m., beginning Nov. 18th and running through the end of December. NCAA...
On Sunday, Nov. 6, approximately 100 members of the Niwot community came together in Cottonwood Square to honor military veterans at the fourth annual Veterans Banner ceremony. The event, jointly sponsored by the Niwot Community Association (NCA) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA) began at 1:30 p.m. with a patriotic concert by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band. The colors were presented by Niwot Boy Scout troop 161 followed by the National Anthem performed by the band....
As Niwot continues to honor veterans in the month of November, you'll find stories behind some of the banners displayed in Cottonwood Square and on 2nd Avenue. James Albert Zander, U.S. Navy, WWII - Born in Saginaw Michigan in 1915, Zander was a civilian flight instructor for the Army Air Corps before joining the Navy as a pilot. Stationed in Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and Hawaii, Zander spent most of his time in C-47s, F6F Hellcats, and Corsairs, transporting troops and supplies...
With a beautiful fall and another Great Pumpkin Party behind us, Niwot prepares to honor military veterans with banners along 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square and with a ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. Although "a picture is worth 1,000 words," the stories behind the banners are worth even more. They tell the stories of military men and women with Niwot connections serving all over the globe from World War I until present day. A few of their stories are below. Burton Gale Bergeson,...
A beautiful autumn day provided the perfect backdrop for Una Vida Meditation and Movement and Inkberry Books' joint celebration of the release of "Hidden Buddha: Lama Rinzen in the Hungry Ghost Realm." The novel by Boulder author Jim Ringel is the second in a series featuring Lama Rinzen, who must both learn a lesson and solve a crime. The free event took place Saturday, Oct. 22 at 3:00 p.m. and began with live music by Elizabeth Morrow on cello, Keith Waters on keyboards and Kevin Garry on guit...
When you buy a business, you expect a reasonable number of "hiccups." But owners, Tara Shaheen and Stacy Szydlek, who were part of Niwot Tavern restaurant staff, got more than they bargained for. "We bought the restaurant in January of 2020," said Shaheen. "In February, there was a fire in the kitchen and in March, well you know, everything shut down." But despite some tough going, the restaurant has not only survived, but thrived. Szydlek said that the former owners, Tony Santelli and Bob Russe...
Despite rain, hail and some chilly temperatures, Fritz Family Brewers' First Annual Fritztoberfest went off without a hitch on Saturday, Oct. 1. The event, which ran from 12 noon to 10:00 p.m., featured a stein-holding competition, an El Herradero food truck and a traditional German "oompah" band, Denver's Thirsty Five. Over one hundred people attended and sampled Fritz's numerous German-themed brews including Fritztoberfest Marzen Bier, brewed specially for the event....
For most people, a 10k would constitute a long run. But Niwot resident Pete Brandes has a different definition of "long." On Sept. 17th, Brandes, 30, completed the Run Rabbit Run 100-mile ultra-marathon in Steamboat Springs with a total time of 27 hours and 37 minutes. Brandes took 26th place out of a field of 315 dedicated runners. He logged 185,000 steps during the event. The course had 20,391 feet of total ascent and 20,391 feet of descent. Brandes said he started seriously thinking about an...
Proving the event has staying power, the Second Annual Niwot Jazz Festival wrapped up Saturday night, June 25, 2022. Approximately 650 people were in attendance throughout the afternoon and evening and enjoyed almost perfect weather and an even better jazz lineup. Keith Waters, the Jazz Festival's Musical Director, as well as CU Music Professor and Inkberry Books co-owner said, "We were really delighted with the way it turned out." Musicians from as far away as New York and Washington, DC,...
With comfortable temperatures and no threat of rain, Saturday evening June 18, 2022, was a perfect night for the second installment of Niwot's own House Blend Band. A large crowd gathered outside of The Old Oak Coffee House on a closed 2nd Avenue to enjoy the concert. The band was created in 2019 by Old Oak owners Michael Tomich and Patty Machen, and has continued to grow over time. Originally a three-piece band with Tomich, Machen and Tomich's daughter Paris Tomich, the band now consists of...
Now in its 11th year, the Niwot Cultural Arts Association’s 2022 Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show is just around the corner. All entries are due by Monday, June 13. Each entry must feature Niwot in some way and will be used by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) to market and show the uniqueness of Niwot. The cost to enter is $30, with $15 charged for a second entry. Anne Postle, owner of Osmosis Art and Architecture and originator of the event, said, “Entries have already started to come in. It’s going to be a really good year.” Recentl...
This time of year, a good spring cleaning is at the top of many people's list. So the annual Niwot Community Association (NCA) Cleanup Day is here just in time. The event takes place Saturday May 21st from 8:00 a.m. to noon or until the dumpsters are full. John Barto, NCA member and event organizer said that the event has been happening for more than 20 years. "Cleanup Day started as a couple dumpsters for trash and yard waste and a swap area. The event has grown every year since then with...
Although Colorado’s wildfire season typically spans May through September, extremely dry conditions paired with above average temperatures and high winds are changing the seasonal nature of fires. In the past month, there have been five fires in Boulder County which have prompted evacuation orders. As previously reported in the April 20th edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier, two fires, the Tally Ho fire and the Table Mountain fire, both in the Gunbarrel/Niwot area, occurred within a day of each other. The first fire on April 19, 2022, w...
Spring has sprung! And with it you're likely to be headed out on all the local trails the area has to offer. If you're a cyclist, now is the time to make sure your bike is ready to go, and you've brushed up on riding safety essentials. Maintenance Fernando Tapia, Master Mechanic at Niwot Wheel Works, says that if your bike hasn't been used over the winter, it's a good idea to get a tuneup. "Get air in the tires, lube on the chain and ensure that everything is in good working order." If this...
The Niwot Sculpture Park at 79th Street and Niwot Road is a temporary home to numerous sculptures on loan from local, regional, and international artists. One of those sculptures will soon be on permanent display. Through a competitive process, artists submit applications to the Sculpture Park Committee, which selects art to exhibit for at least 12 months. These pieces are for sale in the sculpture garden, with prices marked on small plaques near the sculptures. Currently, one piece has been...
