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The "Pride of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band and Silver Creek High School Marching Band once again marched and performed together in the Longmont Lights Parade on Dec. 14 as the re-formed "Ni-Creek-Wot" combined marching band. Band members refer to this particular parade as their "crossover episode" as students from both schools make new friends, see old friends, and dress up in outrageous holiday lights with ugly sweaters. Together they performed "Feliz Navidad" down Main Street in Longmont....
Community Food Share (CFS) is a food bank on a mission to eliminate hunger in Boulder and Broomfield Counties. CFS was established in 1981, and operated out of the Boulder Tech Center near Niwot for many years. These days, CFS operates out of a 55,000-square-foot facility located in Louisville. According to the website, CFS provided over 8 million meals in 2022, valued at more $18M. Boulder Country Day School (BCD) students have been supporting the work of CFS this year through their...
On Halloween, seniors from the Niwot High School marching band and football team were recognized for their final home game presentations of their dedication this fall as well as throughout their tenure at NHS. Marching band seniors were presented with a rose and escorted down the sideline by their family members prior to the start of the game. Seniors recognized were Kennah Brackett, Nathan Cowan, Karlien Dang-Lee, Grace Fisher, Sanjana Kaushik, Angel Kho, Samantha Kintzel, Yaretzi Martinez...
In addition to performing halftime shows at football games and marching in parades, the Niwot High School Marching Band is also largely about fostering camaraderie and building student leaders. On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Sunset Middle School advanced band had the opportunity to march and perform with the Niwot High School Cougar Marching Band. The two programs joined forces to march in the annual Longmont Halloween parade down Main Street in the midst of lots of music, candy, and festivities. The...
The "Pride Of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band has once again been hard at work this season to put on yet another exceptional halftime show performance. The band has had many opportunities to perform its show, "Night at the Movies," primarily at home football games. The band also had the opportunity to perform at the non-competitive event known as St. Vrain Band Night Oct. 9. This halftime show has featured a medley of Disney-Pixar songs, an arrangement of recognizable tunes from "Pirates of the...
The Niwot Trot, a fundraising race for Niwot Elementary School, was a huge success on Sunday, Oct. 6, raising over $10,000 for the school. "We had a record number of over 700 participants, surpassing our numbers by 100 racers," organizer Aimee Morin said. "It was a perfectly cool, sunny morning and everyone brought happy smiles and great energy, making it a memorable and successful event for our community." The event sent runners of all ages through a new route through the streets of Niwot,...
The annual St. Vrain Valley School District's Band Night was held on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at Longmont High School. Every high school marching band in SVVSD met to build comradery and perform their halftime shows for the other bands. St. Vrain high schools that performed included Lyons (performing "Ex's and Oh's" with the Unified Drumline), Skyline (the music of Santana), Silver Creek (Jackson 5 music), Frederick ("The Macabre"), Mead (Michael Jackson hits), Longmont ("Night of the Living...
Judges and fans of the 2024 "Why Not Niwot?" Juried Art Show agreed - "Why Not Bert?" The awards ceremony for the Niwot Cultural Arts Association's (NCAA) signature art event, now in its 13th year, was held at the Former Feed Store at 291 Second Avenue in Niwot on Friday, Sept. 6. And when it came time to announce the awards, the first award and the last award both went to artist Karin Antoni, for her colored pencil drawing titled, "Keep It Running," depicting the late Bert Steele in front of...
Niwot High School's Cougar Marching Band (#PrideOfNiwot) completed its 2024 summer band camp on Aug. 6, accomplishing a tremendous amount of work. Thanks to the dedication of students and flexibility with some unexpected heat and smoke, there is no doubt that the marching band at NHS will have another successful season. This year's halftime field show is "Night at the Movies" where the band will be performing three pieces - "Pixar Favorites" (a medley of famous songs from Disney-Pixar movies...
Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) is without a doubt a great program for youth in our country to learn survival skills, earn merit badges, and gain leadership experiences. However, it could be very difficult to succeed in scouting without support from parental figures along the way. Parents are often the ones who help drive them to and from camps, provide encouragement and guidance, and even supply some, if not all, equipment for the scouts. Scouts develop bonds with each other...
NCA Clean-Up Day is sponsored by the Niwot Community Association and is one of Niwot's biggest events every year. One of the NCA's board members has always spearheaded the event since its conception over twenty years ago. One NCA board member has been involved with the program for over 10 years, and has served as the lead program manager for the past four years. For his volunteer efforts in managing and coordinating Niwot's Clean-Up Day, this month's Left Hand Laurel is awarded to John Barto. Ba...
Volunteers from the Niwot Cultural Arts Association and the Niwot Business Association gathered at Whistle Stop Park on Saturday, May 18, to clean out the Depot building, wash down the beer trailer, hang sponsors' banners and make sure the park is ready for the 18th season of Rock & Rails. The popular summer concert series kicks off on Thursday, May 30 at 5 p.m. when The Delta Sonics take the stage to open for Deb Stafford & The Night Stalkers. Co-Managers Vicki Maurer, Dan Hawk and Biff Warren...
Sales tax revenues for 2024 in Niwot continue to decline, based on data through February, with revenues down by 11% over the same period in 2023. Several funding requests were approved by the LID Advisory Committee (LID). Rock & Rails The 18th year of Rock & Rails, Niwot’s summer concert series, begins on Thursday, May 30, this year. The event takes place in Whistle Stop Park every Thursday night in June, July (except July 4th) and August, with 13 concerts total. Biff Warren, one of the three co-managers of the event, presented the funding r...
Niwot Elementary School presented Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing on Friday, May 10, at Collyer Park in Longmont. The St. Vrain Valley School District celebrated the return of its Shakespeare in the Park Festival, with fifth-grade students from the gifted and talented programs at eight elementary schools participating. Niwot students first learned about Shakespeare's life and read shortened versions of sixteen plays. Much Ado About Nothing won a class poll, and during their reading class...
Niwot High School's Production of "Shrek The Musical" closed recently after six shows over the course of two weekends. Under the direction of Amanda Foust and technical director Jason Watkins, the show ran seamlessly. The high energy from the cast made this show one of a kind. Along with its appeal to children, this musical is enjoyable for people of all ages. The underlying message of embracing uniqueness, inner beauty, and the importance of community create a beautiful story about various...
Departing on Saturday, March 16, and returning home on Wednesday, March 20, the Niwot High School Symphonic Band ventured down to Orlando, Florida, to experience the "Most Magical Place on Earth." Forty-two students, two directors, and eight chaperones got to experience Disney magic in ways not many people do as a part of their Disney vacations. Saturday morning, students and chaperones met behind Niwot High School at 3:30 a.m. to catch a bus to Denver International Airport for a flight...
On Wednesday March 6, 2024, the Niwot High School Advanced Symphonic Band attended the Colorado Bandmasters Association (CBA) festival at Fort Collins High School. The CBA is made up of active and retired band directors in Colorado. One of the primary purposes of the CBA is to host events for band students of all levels and ages throughout the year, including marching band competitions in the fall, All-State Band and All-State Jazz Band events throughout winter and spring, and middle-high...
Carson Lyle, Editor-in-Chief of "The Green and Black," and a NHS senior with hopes of attending Northeastern University to study journalism contributed to this article. "The Green and Black" is Niwot High School's entirely student-run newspaper which reports on issues and events in the St. Vrain Valley School District that students might find interesting. Its reporters also tap into opinion writing and share their voices on policies regarding their education, or whatever they feel passionate...
Bert Steele was a beloved member of the Niwot community for over twenty years as the face of the Niwot Market in the Cottonwood Square shopping center. Steele, who died last summer after a short illness, was known for his friendly down-home demeanor, and made friends wherever he went. Steele and his family turned the Niwot Market into a successful business that also hosts several other small businesses within its doors. Steele was also involved in most of Niwot's many community events,...
As of January 1, 2024, the Left Hand Valley Courier will be owned and published by a Colorado nonprofit corporation. In an effort to continue to bring local news to residents and businesses of the Niwot-Gunbarrel area, the owners of Lefthand Valley Publishing, LLC, publisher of the Left Hand Valley Courier newspaper for over 26 years, have made plans to transfer the newspaper to a newly formed nonprofit corporation known as Left Hand Valley Courier. The new format will allow the Courier to seek public support from readers who realize the...
The annual Longmont Lights Parade was held on Saturday, Dec. 9, on Main Street in Longmont. Niwot High School and Silver Creek High School have both been participating in this parade for many years but in 2014, the two schools started to team up as a super-band for this particular parade. The increase in cross-school band cohesion among St. Vrain Valley schools has been remarkable. "Since we are a combined band and don't wear our typical marching uniforms," said Wade Hendricks, Director of...
The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band performed a set of holiday tunes at The Wheel House as part of the Niwot Holiday Market event Saturday, Dec. 9, then took the show on the road to the Denver Christkindlmarket on Sunday, Dec. 10. "A Can-Can Christmas" and "Conga Line Christmas Parade" brought out young dancers at both performances....
Niwot High School's "Pride of Niwot" Marching Band has been making tremendous strides in recent years, taking on more advanced halftime shows and attending more events and performances than before the pandemic. Band members celebrated their success at the second annual band banquet on Nov. 13. Band directors and parents helped organize the banquet, which was filled with awards, videos, a slideshow presentation, and a catered pasta dinner. Students and staff dressed up formally for the event and...
In an uncertain world, Niwot's annual Holiday Magic events provide traditions, nostalgia and hope for the future. Holiday Magic in Niwot is comprised of four main events: Enchanted Evening on Nov. 24, the Friday after Thanksgiving; the Holiday Parade on the following day, Nov. 25; and then two Holiday Market days at the Left Hand Grange on the first two Saturdays in December, Dec. 2 and 9. During this magical time, there are several opportunities for children to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the...
Elise Marylander, who has served as Assistant Editor of the Left Hand Valley Courier since July 2022, has dropped "Assistant" from her title, and is now the Editor of the Courier. Bruce Warren, who had served in dual roles of Managing Editor and Editor of the Courier since April 2022 when former editor Jocelyn Rowley left to take a full-time position with a Loveland newspaper, will continue to serve as Managing Editor of the Courier. Marylander's duties as Editor include determining content for...
The Niwot community was shocked and saddened by the death of Niwot Market owner Bert Steele following a short illness last summer. A wrestling scholarship at Niwot High School was established in his memory at the request of his family, but many in the community looked for an opportunity to create a permanent visual memorial to beloved businessman and philanthropist, who for over 20 years, quietly got to know his customers and supported every event and project in Niwot, with little to no...
All around the country, we honor and thank United States Veterans for their military service on November 11. This originated after World War I to commemorate the armistice reached during the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Every year in honor of Veterans Day, the Niwot High School "Pride of Niwot" Marching Band marches in full uniform down Main Street in downtown Longmont playing, and singing the lyrics, to "The Army Song" (also known as "The Caissons Go Rolling...
Niwot's Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID), made up of nine community members appointed by the Boulder County Commissioners, unveiled a Master Plan for Niwot, focusing primarily on the business district, at a meeting of Niwot's primary community non-profit organizations Nov. 6. The first meeting of Niwot organizations took place in the fall of 2021, when each organization had an opportunity to describe its mission and planned projects. The Nov. 6 meeting was a followup to the...
Thursday Nov. 2 was the final football game for the Niwot Cougars' 2023 season. However, it wasn't just the final game for seniors on the football team; senior members of the cheerleading squad and marching band also had their last experience as students performing on Everly-Montgomery Field that night. Throughout the season, and for many, the past four years, students have dedicated hours of practice outside of school and performing at various sporting events and exhibitions. "I calculated the...
For the first time since 2018, the "Pride of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band attended the Greeley Invitational Marching Festival on Saturday Oct. 21. High schools from Greeley, Loveland, Longmont, and the towns in between were invited to come perform their halftime shows. Marching bands who attend the Greeley Invitational receive a score between one and one hundred. Scores are based on musical ability, marching performance, and a general effect category. However, bands do not compete against each...
The Sunset Middle School seventh and eighth-graders in Advanced Band joined the Niwot High School Marching Band in the Longmont Halloween Parade on Oct. 28. The event provides middle school students an almost immediate connection and sense of community with their high school colleagues. It also provides a unique opportunity for Sunset students to get a taste of what marching band will be like when they join the high school marching band - a very different experience than concert band. "My...
By the time Finn Murphy made an offer of $1.2 million for 36 acres of irrigated pasture land a few miles north of Boulder, he had already read that it was possible to earn $100,000 an acre growing and selling hemp, and he had learned that there were at least 49,991 different uses for the plant. Through research, he had also learned what such a crop costs from seed to harvest, and he quickly formed a network of other growers he could turn to for advice. He decided to follow his Great American...
The Niwot Business Association is excited to sponsor the Niwot Pumpkin Walk for the third year in a row. The concept is simple - participants will check in to pick up a Pumpkin Passport and swag bag, (one per household), at DRF Real Estate - Slifer Smith & Frampton, located in Suite E behind The Old Oak Coffeehouse in downtown Niwot. The swag bag will contain the Pumpkin Passport as well as vouchers for discounted drinks and food donated by local restaurants, good through the month of October. D...
The third annual Niwot Honey Bee Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 16, has something for everyone. Just a sampling of festival features are listed here....be sure to visit www.Niwot.com to view the complete festival schedule. The festival includes over 50 vendors both downtown on 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square Shopping Center. In addition to honey and apiary products, festival visitors can purchase artisan jewelry, pottery made by a couple from Ukraine, Colorado-made skin care products,...
The second annual “Out and About” in Niwot is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Out and About, sponsored by the Niwot Business Association, is designed to raise local awareness of what is available in the Niwot business community, including Old Town and Cottonwood Square, according to Kate Head of Pebble Art Jewelry, one of the organizers. Local shops, restaurants and service businesses will be showcasing what makes their Niwot business unique throughout the day. Start the day at one of several restaurants that serve wee...
The 3rd Annual Niwot Honey Bee Harvest Festival is a family friendly community event that celebrates the crucial role played by honey bees, the 900-plus species of Colorado native bees, and other pollinators' role in pollinating crops and maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The event is sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA) with additional funding provided by the Niwot Local Improvement District. Event co-planners are Niwot residents Victoria Keen, Dawn Server of Meadowlake Honey, and D...
At Boulder Country Day, a commitment to helping each student discover their unique excellence underlies our entire approach — beginning with our firm belief in the benefits of a preschool-through-eighth grade community. While a student body ranging from age 2 ½ to age 14 is certainly a diverse group, we have observed first-hand, year after year, the positive impact of an educational environment that promotes growth and maturity, while also encouraging children to remain connected to the wonder of childhood for as long as possible. Balancing in...
Twenty-six members of the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, under the direction of Debbie Benson, performed the National Anthem at the Colorado Rockies game against the New York Yankees on Friday, July 14. Band members gathered in the parking lot before the game to warm up with "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," "Don't Stop Believin'," "Sweet Caroline," and "Celebration," which seemed to work as the Rockies beat the Yankees, 7-2, in the first regular season game after the All-Star...
First Friday Art Walk in Niwot saw a good crowd out and about. Open Studios, in the former Niwot Feed Store, along with Osmosis Gallery and Niwot Jewelry & Gifts had many visitors as the Niwot Cultural Arts Association's Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show kicked off. The entries in this year's art contest, featuring art connected to Niwot, are now on display at the many participating businesses. Patrons completing a passport showing visits to all of the businesses are eligible for a drawing of a...
Grab your leashes and your best (four-legged) friend for the inaugural Pampered Pooch event in Niwot on Saturday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local businesses and fellow dog-lovers will have give-aways and canine-themed fun for your pet, including Good Boy Dog Beer, snuffle balls, pet food samples, pup-acinos, dog pool cooling area, stylish bandanas, Barkuterie! (Charcuterie for dogs) and other dog-friendly pooch-tivities and swag. You can pick up a map from one of Niwot's local businesses to follow the trail to pup fun and prizes. Four-foot...
Jeff and Cindy Wolcott hosted approximately 40 visitors on Friday, July 7, at their home just east of Niwot where Jeff Wolcott has been working with Dustin Wolf to restore the iconic tree carving, Spear Lodge Man. The sculpture, also known as Biitoheinen in the Arapaho language, was carved by Dustin's late father, Eddie Running Wolf, from the stump of a willow tree along Niwot Road near its intersection with 2nd Avenue. Although the willow tree died when the Hinman Ditch no longer ran next to...
Spear Lodge Man, the iconic tree carving by the late artist Eddie Running Wolf, has been almost completely restored to its former glory by his son, Dustin Wolf, and the community is invited to the workshop of Niwot's Jeff Wolcott to see the result. Wolcott, who has assisted Dustin Wolf in the restoration process and provided a workspace for the project since 2021, is hosting an open house as part of Niwot's First Friday Art Walk on July 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at his workshop at 9700 Niwot Road....
The June meeting of the Niwot Business Association, held Tuesday, June 13 outside of the former feed store at 291 Second Avenue in Niwot, was sponsored by Osmosis Art & Architecture. Owner and architect Anne Postle greeted members and introduced Tucker Huey of her staff. Postle has been instrumental in working with John Fischer, owner of the former feed store, and the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, to arrange for Open Studios artists to use the space until early July to display art by local...
Approximately 35 people attended the Scout Troop 161 Fundraiser Trivia Night at The Wheel House in Niwot on Monday, June 12. The event was a fundraiser for Niwot's Scout Troops 161-B and 161-G. "We raised $2,465 through the ticket sales and silent auction," Scout Kyrie Moorman said. "We thank all of our silent auction donors, The Wheel House, Niwot Market, and of course Deb Fowler for setting everything up." The event brought together a diverse group of participants of all ages who were ready...
Members of the Niwot Community Connection gathered June 11 to weed and mulch the Niwot Gateway sign on Highway 119. "Josh Morin provided mulch and had We Love Trees employees mulch around the perimeter of the sign," said Tim Wise, who organized the event. "Alvaro Madrigal at Western Cut provided mulch that was placed among the catmint on the sign berm by volunteers." The Niwot Community Connection is an organization that helps Niwotians 50 and over connect with each other, and perform community...
After 35 years as an award-winning Boulder-based architect, Bob West retired in 2015, and bought a Wyoming ranch to raise Scottish Highland cattle. His memoir, "Twenty Miles of Fence: Blueprint of a Cowboy," co-written with Janet Fogg, describes the-at times-bumpy transition to life as a rancher along the North Laramie River. Accompanied by his family and trading what he called the "yuppie haven" of Boulder for the Devil's Washtub Ranch, West learned, sometimes the hard way, the joys and...
On Feb. 21, Niwot Youth Sports basketball welcomed special guest Frank Ryder to practice at Flagstaff Academy. Ryder, a Boulder native and former Colorado Buffaloes center, stopped by NYS Coach Jason Christopoulos's practice to share his collegiate and professional basketball insight and experiences with local boys and girls. Ryder spent two years playing for the University of Colorado under coach Tad Boyle before transferring his senior year to the University of Denver. Following his...
On Aug. 2, Gene Hayworth, Executive Director of the Niwot Jazz Festival, gave a wrap-up report to the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID), which provided funding for over half the cost of the free festival. The event, sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, marked its second year of bringing live jazz to Niwot. To measure the success of the festival, volunteers conducted an hourly attendance count and handed out surveys to gather information about those attending. Everyone who compl...
Special to the Courier from Boulder Country Day School At Boulder Country Day, a commitment to helping each student discover their unique excellence underlies our entire approach — beginning with our firm belief in the benefits of a preschool-through-eighth grade community. While a student body ranging from age 2 ½ to age 14 is certainly a diverse group, we have observed first-hand, year after year, the positive impact of an educational environment that promotes growth and maturity, while also encouraging children to remain connected to the wo...