All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of Saint James, is a historic network of pilgrimage trails that have been walked for over a thousand years. These routes lead to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great, situated in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. The pilgrimage offers various starting points, including Portugal, France, and Ireland. Tammy Gentry, one of Niwot's beloved community members, recently completed the 160-mile Camino Portugués pilgrimage...
The first in a three-part series on artificial intelligence (AI) and local school systems. In March 2024, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was held up as a trailblazer for its embrace of artificial intelligence (AI) when it unveiled a custom-designed chatbot called Ed for the students. The intent was for Ed to be a personalized assistant who would personalize academic plans. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho called the tool a “game changer” that would “accelerate learn...
Eloise Shehan, an alumna of the Dawson School and a former Niwot Elementary School student, recently secured an internship with The Mwebaza Foundation, a Niwot-based nonprofit organization started by retired Niwot Elementary School (NES) teacher Dale Peterson in 2008. The Mwebaza Foundation began as an avenue for penpal friendships between Niwot and Ugandan school children and became a larger cause. Uganda is beautiful, with fertile soils, high biodiversity, rich vegetation, and abundant water...
On Oct. 14, the Left Hand Valley Courier emailed Gloria Handyside, Communications Director for the Boulder County Commissioners, inquiring whether the Commissioners planned to amend Boulder County's minimum wage ordinance, in light of the recent breakdown of the Consortium of Cities (COC) regional approach to establishing a county-wide minimum wage. The ordinance sets the minimum wage in unincorporated Boulder County at a higher rate than incorporated areas in the county. Handyside responded on...
Belle Terre Floral opened a new location in Niwot, taking over the space in Cottonwood Square previously occupied by Blessings Day Spa, which moved to 2nd Avenue. To celebrate this milestone, owner Sarah Cioni hosted a grand opening event last Thursday, Oct. 24, which saw an impressive turnout. Cioni said, "Sales have never been better. Our revenue has doubled, making this our highest-earning year yet!" The move to the new location was driven by a need for more space due to the growing business,...
Tyler Eggers, arrested for causing a crash near Niwot High School after a high speed chase last Valentine’s Day, was sentenced to four years in prison after accepting a plea bargain. Although the defense requested Eggers spend five years in community corrections, the prosecution requested he serve time in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Eggers, 31, was accused of leading law enforcement officers on a car chase through Longmont, which ended in a collision at Niwot High School on Feb. 14, 2024. He was initially charged with reckless drivi...
The City of Boulder, a Consortium of Cities (COC) member, recently voted to increase its minimum wage, as shown in the table below. The increase is less than unincorporated Boulder County's minimum wage ordinance. In contrast, the remaining COC members, including the cities of Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, and the town of Erie, have either chosen not to pursue this matter, placed it on hold until 2025, or are still in deliberations. In the summer of 2023, the five members of the COC-an...
In the summer of 2023, five members of the Boulder County Consortium of Cities (COC)—an organization that fosters interaction and communication among local governments in Boulder County and now includes non-voting representatives from Niwot—directed the Regional Minimum Wage working group of the COC 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 analy...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission website, https://puc.colorado.gov/, states that Xcel Energy conducted a public safety power shutoff for the first time in Colorado over the April 6-7, 2024, weekend. Colorado experienced a weather event that brought wind gusts in excess of 100 mph in some areas of the state and sustained high winds throughout the weekend which precipitated the shut off. Will a power shut off happen again? It looks like Xcel Energy is planning on it. According to Xcel...
Strong headwinds are blowing against the success of small businesses in unincorporated Boulder County, including Niwot. In the last year, small businesses have incurred losses due to a power shutdown and significant increases in sanitation fees, property taxes, food costs, and insurance. Small businesses now face the impact of the recent Boulder County minimum wage increase, with Niwot, Hygiene, and other businesses in unincorporated Boulder County required to pay a minimum wage of $15.69 per ho...
Discussions have been underway since March between Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting and the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) regarding the location and alignment of the proposed underpass linking the planned bikeway in the median of the Diagonal and the RTD park-n-ride parking lot with downtown Niwot. The original plans for the bikeway did not include an underpass on the northbound lanes of the Diagonal Highway, but the LID and the Niwot Business...
The Boulder County Commissioners have introduced a new hourly minimum wage, a development extensively covered in the Left Hand Valley Courier. This wage change will have a significant and concerning impact on unincorporated communities, and local farmers, a group that is distinct from the incorporated cities or towns and which therefore faces unique challenges. Michael Moss, owner of Kilt Farm, is the President of the Community Farmers Alliance (COFA) and is deeply concerned about the new...
The Niwot Garden Club is an informal group of enthusiastic gardeners who share a love for gardening, flowers, and trees. The club's mission is to enhance the beauty of their yards and the community, promote sustainable gardening practices, and provide educational opportunities related to horticulture. Members enjoy getting down and dirty with the earth, planting and weeding, feeding, watering, and nurturing plant life. In the evenings, they often indulge in a leisurely "walkabout," perhaps with...
Boulder County's Transportation Planning Division is working on a Feasibility Study for the US 36/North Foothills Bikeway, an eleven-mile corridor spanning from the intersection of Broadway and US 36 in Boulder to the intersection of US 36 and CO 66 in Lyons. The study is motivated by injury-fatality pedestrian and bicycle crashes along this corridor. For more information, sign up for e-news at County E-News. The purpose of the bikeway is to improve safety and comfort for cyclists. All severe...
In the wake of 1914 House’s announcement that it will close as of July 7, 2024, Tony Santelli, a respected business professional and former president of the Niwot Business Association, has voiced his concerns about Boulder County's Minimum Wage Ordinance 2023-4. Santelli, who is a former site manager of IBM’s Boulder facility and a former owner of the Niwot Tavern, fears that this ordinance, if not addressed, could lead to significant financial strain on small businesses in Niwot and other areas of unincorporated Boulder County. Niwot's cur...
Steve Durian, Boulder County's Director of Public Works since August 2023, plays a crucial role in overseeing the county's infrastructure projects. Durian's expertise and passion for his work are evident, as he was excited to interview for the position when it was advertised. With prior experience at the City of Boulder from 2000 to 2006 and continued ties to the area through property ownership and other connections, Durian is excited to navigate the intricacies of Boulder County's...
Commuting Solutions, a Louisville-based transportation management organization (TMO), is partnering with Boulder County on the CO 119 Safety, Mobility, and Bikeway Project. As a partner, they are leveraging their expertise to create a distinct identity for the Diagonal Highway corridor. This includes designing wayfinding signs, bus station architecture, and other elements along the new Bus Rapid Transit route. Audrey DeBarros, the Executive Director of Commuting Solutions, and Kelly...
In 2008, the St. Vrain Valley School District's (SVVSD) overall graduation rate was approximately 75%, with the Hispanic graduation rate at approximately 55%. Over 16 years, the district has seen significant progress. As of 2024, the overall district graduation rate has risen to an impressive 93.3%, and the Hispanic student graduation rate has also seen a substantial increase, now at 87.7%. According to Don Haddad, Superintendent of SVVSD, these improvements were achieved despite the district's...
The CO 119 Safety, Mobility, and Bikeway Project, a crucial initiative to enhance safety, mobility, and add a bikeway along the CO 119 corridor from Longmont to Boulder, is set to start construction on the bikeway portion in the fall of 2024, with updates provided late summer 2024 according to a Boulder County news release. The entire project is scheduled from fall 2023 through spring 2027. CO 119, unfortunately, holds the second-highest crash corridor for bicyclists in Boulder County. From 2015 through 2019, there were 17 bicycle crashes,...
Danny O'Connor, Senior Transportation Planner for the City of Boulder, presented an update about the proposed Gunbarrel shuttle at the Commuting Solutions membership meeting held on April 24. The proposed Gunbarrel shuttle would utilize microtransit, a new concept within the transportation world. This service would provide on-demand, point-to-point service within a fixed zone using vans or shuttles. The routing and scheduling provided by this service will supplement the existing transit network...
Part three of a three-part series covering RTD regarding TABOR's Impact, RTD Northwest Rail and Front Range Passenger Rail, with an update on key state legislation. Commuting Solutions, a Louisville-based organization dedicated to finding innovative transportation options, held a membership meeting on April 24, providing a comprehensive update on the CO 119 Safety, Mobility, and Bikeway from Longmont to Boulder. Representatives from the Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) Chrissy Breit, Chief of...
Part two of a three-part series covering RTD regarding TABOR's impact, RTD Northwest Rail and Front Range Passenger Rail, and an update on key state legislation. Commuting Solutions, a Louisville based organization dedicated to finding innovative transportation options connecting commuters to their workplaces, has strongly advocated for the CO 119 Safety, Mobility, and Bikeway Project. It held a membership meeting on April 24, providing a comprehensive update on the project, including its team,...
Part one of a three-part series covering RTD regarding TABOR's Impact, RTD Northwest Rail and Front Range Passenger Rail, and an update on key state legislation. On April 24, Commuting Solutions hosted a meeting with updates on RTD, the CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project, and the Front Range Passenger Rail. Commuting Solutions is a service organization that advocates for its members and the communities it serves for multimodal improvements and the funding needed to implement them. Lynn...
Kathleen Bracke, Deputy Director of Community Planning and Permitting, Transportation Planning, and Kristine Obendorf, Deputy Director of Engineering at the Boulder County Public Works Department, presented on April 3 to the Boulder County Consortium of Cities regarding an overview of the Boulder County transportation sales tax and ballot initiative 1C. In 2001, Boulder County voters passed a ballot initiative that allowed for a 0.1 percent (one cent on a $10 purchase) countywide transportation...
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...
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...
In the February 5, 2020 edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier, an article was published about a young Ugandan boy named Peter Kamuhanda, who was a recipient of the Mwebaza Foundation's scholarship program. This program provided for his schooling, whereas in Uganda, insufficient funding for schools forces citizens to fill the financial gaps. Tragically, Kamuhanda was orphaned as a child and vulnerable to losing his scholarship. His current guardian had planned to send him to live with his grand...
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...
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...
The Boulder County Commissioners announced a new hourly minimum wage within the geographic boundaries of Boulder County’s jurisdiction, impacting unincorporated towns, communities, and outlying areas while excluding incorporated cities or towns. Ordinance 2023-4 became effective Jan. 1, 2024 with a $15.69 per hour minimum wage which is 15% above Colorado’s 2023 minimum wage and $1.27 higher than surrounding incorporated towns and cities. The minimum wage for unincorporated Boulder County will increase yearly, reaching $25 per hour by 2030, and...
Niwot's newest hair salon, 2nd Nature Hair Lounge, located at 300 2nd Avenue, is owned by Amanda Jensen, who originally hails from Rhode Island. Jensen said her salon specializes in unique services that include French Haircutting, balayage, and a special hair product line called Oribe. Jensen has been in the salon industry since 2004 and had no vision of being a salon owner until Liz Edge, the owner of Ivy and Thistle, the salon formerly at the same location, asked if she wanted to take over...
The Niwot Historical Society will present the "Arapaho Culture" as part of its Now & Then Lecture Series Wednesday, March 13, at 1 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.) at the Left Hand Grange No. 9 with Fred Mosqueda. As an Arapaho speaker, Mosqueda supports his tribe in preserving its culture, language, and traditional practices and ceremonies. Mosqueda is the Arapaho Language and Culture Program Outreach Specialist Coordinator for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. Mosqueda also...
Welcome to the Niwot Transportation Update, your go-to source for all things related to transportation and mobility in our vibrant community. This monthly column will provide information regarding road and bicycle construction zone updates, maintenance projects such as the annual Boulder County chip seal program, major construction activities including the N. 95th St. (Valmont Road to Lookout Road) Reconstruction Project projected for 2024, RTD and CDOT Colorado 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project, and the Front Range Passenger Rail...
Bill Campbell has been a ditch rider, formally titled "water superintendent," for Boulder & White Rock Ditch & Reservoir Company (BWRD) since 2016. Campbell said, "They call me a water superintendent, but I call myself a ditch rider because, in the old days, the person in charge of providing water from the ditch to the shareholders would ride their horses along the ditch to monitor the flows." During the irrigation season, a ditch rider controls and maintains ditches with the goal of...
Niwot has a rich tradition of farming dating to the late 19th century. Many farm families still work their great-grandparents' farms and pass the tradition forward. The Courier plans to focus periodically on some of our local farm families. If you know a farm family in the Niwot-Gunbarrel area we should feature, please contact us at [email protected]@lhvc.com. Jill Belue is a fourth generation farmer and the water records manager for Boulder & White Rock Ditch & Reservoir Company...
Your neighbor, Sean Tufts, his wife Orly Ripmaster, and their two sons live just east of Niwot on a 48-acre farm. Tufts is the managing partner of Optiv, a cybersecurity consulting company focusing on critical infrastructure installations. Tufts is also well-known for his football career as a middle linebacker for the University of Colorado Buffaloes (2000-2003) and then for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. Tufts was born in 1982 in south Denver near County Line Road, where subdivisions once...
Seed swaps are events where gardeners and farmers exchange seeds to help people garden inexpensively and reduce seed waste. The swap also provides a networking opportunity to build community, share local gardening information, and dispense education from experts such as CSU Master Gardeners and Growing Gardens. The swap works locally to keep plants for future generations. The Second Annual Boulder County Seed Swap was held on Jan. 27 at the Niwot United Methodist Church on Lookout Road. The swap...
