All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 1 - 50 of 446
Like a reverse mullet, Chuck Rodgers' property on 79th Street is all party in the front and all business in the back. At the end of 2023, Rodgers said he was probably done with the huge amount of work it takes to put on his annual holiday display. He was hoping he and his wife Heidi would be in a warmer climate during the 2024 Christmas season. But, they were at home, and Rodgers looked at their dark yard and said, "I couldn't stand it." Then a call from Longmont Meals on Wheels (LMOW) asking if...
Holiday Markets and Time with Santa Saturday, Dec. 14, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Niwot Business Association and Women's International Niwot Club, this year's Holiday Market event promises to be more elaborate than ever before. In addition to Father Christmas' presence, there will be fabulous festive gifts available from a multitude of artists and vendors, along with delectable baked goods to enhance your holiday table. Bring the kids to spend time with Santa and Mrs. Claus from...
Landscaping improvements along the Niwot Road entryway from the Diagonal Highway began on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The Niwot Business Association and the Niwot Community Association working together planned the project, applied for Boulder County right-of-way upgrading approval, and secured Niwot Local Improvement District funding in order to clean up the unkempt area along the north side of Niwot Road from the Diagonal to Franklin Street. The project includes removal of weeds and debris, laying...
Event venue Niwot Hall is making its holiday debut with new signage on the building at 195 Second Avenue in Old Town Niwot. Niwotian Bert Cashman of Cashman Sign Company began installing the letters and logo he created on the front of the building on Nov. 21. Additional signage will be put up on the Franklin Street side of the building. The project included removing the former sign that read "Left Hand Grange No. 9," which Cashman had also made and installed in 2009. That sign will be...
Boulder County worked with a ditch company and engineers to come up with a fix to repair bridge abutments along Hidden Star Trail that were being undercut by water. According to Boulder County Trails Supervisor Andy Tyler, "We will be using grouted riprap to stabilize the embankment. We initially thought we weren't going to be able to get in there until January, but the ditch company told us there is a window from late October through December first where there won't be any water running in the...
Just in time for the holidays, it's official, Niwot Hall is the new name of the Grange building. The community will be flowing in and out of the Hall to socialize, learn, shop, listen to music, and dance. Professional Holiday Portraits Nov. 23, 24, 25, and Dec. 10 Professional photographer Noah Katz of NJK Photography will be taking holiday portraits in the beautifully decorated setting of Niwot Hall. Each session is $135 and includes 15 minutes with the photographer and one fully edited image...
A big change is coming to an historic building in downtown Niwot. What has been known as "The Grange" for nearly 80 years will now be known as "Niwot Hall." It's not the first time the building has been renamed. Originally, the building at 195 Second Ave. was known as Nelson Hall, named after John Nelson, who built it and ran a mercantile business at the location. It is believed to be the first commercial building in Niwot and was home to several different businesses and meeting rooms. Left...
Music at the Grange Sunday, Nov. 10 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. This special afternoon of tunes features up to 11 talented local artists performing their renditions of familiar songs with some original pieces sprinkled in. Performers are by invitation only and the community is welcome to listen and enjoy free of charge. Complimentary refreshments are always provided. Niwot Community Connection Thursday, Nov. 14 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. In addition to covering community news and discussing upcoming...
Niwot Historical Society's Now & Then Lecture Series' latest speaker was Gunbarrel resident Tom Myer, an activist and expert on Native American culture. Before an audience of 40 people at the Left Hand Grange on Oct. 10, Myer introduced his lecture called "What is a Powwow?" accompanied by "hand talk," a form of Plains Indian sign language. Myer's information-packed and enthusiastic presentation wove together the tragic history of how American Indians have been treated as a way to elucidate why...
Community Dance Classes Wednesdays, Sept. 18 and 25 and Oct. 2, 16 and 23 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Community dance classes at the Grange are all the rage. Under the direction of instructor-choreographer Lindy Bartruff, there are several opportunities for the community to feel completely joyful while learning new dance steps and being active. Class level and content are matched to the participants of each class. 5:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m. Tap Dance Classes will focus on technique and routines which are...
The Grange main floor hall has had another wonderful update. After many years of a mirror lurking behind curtains, there is now a beautiful continuous wall on the first floor. This update was transformative resulting in the hall feeling larger and warmer. Stop by for one of September's community events listed below and enjoy the new ambiance. Niwot Historical Society Then & Now Lecture Series Wednesday, Aug. 21, 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) "The Arapaho in Boulder County and Northern...
Summer is in full swing at the Grange and August offers opportunities for the community to relish art, education, and social gatherings. Bondi Art Show Friday, August 2, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Saturday, August 3, 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Michael Bondi's annual art show returns to the Grange. Bondi's original watercolors and prints need to be seen in person to fully appreciate the essence of each setting. His technique and choice of colors elicit a warm sense of fully being in these lovely European...
The main hall of Niwot Community Hall, the home of Left Hand Grange No. 9, is all alight with beautiful new features: suspended light fixtures on the ceiling and sconces on the walls. More improvements are in the works for the main hall. In the next month, the mirrored wall and curtains will be removed and that section will be repaired and painted, and wainscoting will be installed to match the rest of the room. Thanks to the time, effort, and generosity of Niwot Business Association...
The main hall of Left Hand Grange No. 9 is in the midst of getting a big update. Improvements to the gathering space over the past year are now officially from floor to ceiling. In May, newly installed ceiling tiles and freshly painted walls renewed and greatly improved the space's ambiance. Both bathrooms have also been updated with new fixtures and paint. Next up, literally, will be new lighting fixtures. The Grange invites the public to stop in and to peer through the windows to get a good lo...
A tribute song written by local musician Kevin Dooley for Bert Steele is now available online in video format. Recorded on Feb. 7, 2024, at the Left Hand Grange, the video is a montage created by Niwot's Social Media Coordinator Kristina Rugg using content from the recording session and photos provided by the Steele family. Niwot Market owner Bert Steele passed away on August 7, 2023. In December 2023, Dooley composed a song in his honor to be played at the dedication of Steele's memorial bench...
Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea at the Grange Sunday, May 5, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Hosted by WINC (Women's International Niwot Club), this Alice-themed tea is open to the public to enjoy the whimsy of Wonderland. In addition to the delicious tea and treats, there will be a drawing and silent auction. Funds raised at the event will be donated to local charities. Tea is provided by Luminous Tea and music is sponsored by DRF Real Estate, Slifer Smith & Frampton. Purchase tickets by visiting Mad...
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...
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...
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...
The Left Hand Grange became a recording studio Feb. 17 when local musician-songwriter Kevin Dooley along with a group of fellow musicians performed Dooley's original song titled "Be More Like Bert." The result is a joyful earworm of a tune with a very specific and also completely universal message. The song was inspired by Bert Steele, owner of the Niwot Market, whose kind heart and great wisdom touched many lives in the community. Steele's passing in August of 2023 has left a big hole in the...
March's lineup of lectures, music, and dancing at the Left Hand Grange offers the public many ways to connect to others in the local community both in the past and present. Also, watch for more news soon, but for now here's a tease to let Home on the Grange readers know that more aesthetic upgrades to the Grange are in the making. Lucky Niwot Day at the Grange Free Irish Folk Dance Session Saturday, March 9, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Celebrate Lucky Niwot Day at the Grange with a fun and free drop-in...
February at the Left Hand Grange gives the public opportunities to be part of a number of social interactions that are unique to this community. Whether you're ready to get up and dance, or like to sit and listen to music, be amongst a vibrant group of your neighbors, or learn about the soil your food is grown in, this month's activities at the Grange will bring you happiness and gratification. Community Dance Sessions Wednesdays, Feb. 7, 21 and 28, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Teacher and choreographer...
Local musician Kevin Dooley was asked to perform six days before the Bert Steele memorial bench dedication ceremony. He responded, "I would be honored to do that. Bert was a dear friend and it would mean a lot to me to be there." Steele, the owner of Niwot Market and beloved community supporter, passed away suddenly last August after a short illness. A special bench surrounded by flagstones with many of Steele's philosophical sayings was unveiled at the memorial dedication in front of the...
The inaugural New Year’s Eve party at the Left Hand Grange went off without a hitch. Close to 40 attendees started the night with cocktails while listening to the music of local musician John Shepherd. International appetizers and entrees were provided by Anam Soul Food, and the rousing tunes of Niwot’s own House Blend Band chimed in the rest of the evening as folks danced their way into 2024. The Grange’s new audio-visual system featuring a large television and new speakers allowed party...
Nearly four decades of holiday joy and delight came to an end Jan. 6 when Chuck Rodgers switched off his holiday lights for the last time. For all of its challenges, Rodgers’ light display for charity at the top of the hill on 79th Street between Lookout Road and Highway 52 has continued to be a labor of love, and this final year, at the culmination of its colossal size, it also hit a record amount of donations for Longmont Meals on Wheels (LMOW). Donations of $32,400 and 277 pounds of food were...
Left Hand Grange's December agenda is loaded with community forums and community festivities. Holiday-themed windows painted by Niwot's own Denise Chamberlain are making the Grange extra merry and bright. Also, the Grange has announced some exciting news...new A/V technology is being installed, which will significantly enhance the Grange experience auditorily and visually. The new A/V system will make its first public appearance during the Grange's New Year's Eve party, and more information...
Professional Holiday Portraits Sunday, Dec. 10, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Professional photographer Noah Katz of NJK Photography will be providing holiday portrait sessions in a beautifully decorated setting at the Left Hand Grange. Each session is $135 and includes 15 minutes with the photographer and one fully edited image of your choice from the session delivered digitally. NJK Photography is generously donating 15% of all fees to the Grange. To schedule your session, visit https:/...
This year promises to be the largest of Chuck Rodgers' massive Niwot holiday light displays and is likely the final year for Rodgers' immense annual gift to the community. The enchanting, incomparable project that takes weeks to set up, and several weeks to take down, requires constant caretaking for the six weeks it is switched on each holiday season. The unique and well-known display on 79th Street, just south of Highway 52, brings in a non-stop flow of drive-thru gawkers, but 2023 may be its...
Santa visits the Left Hand Grange Friday, Nov. 24, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 25, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The end of November brings two opportunities for the little ones to meet Santa in person at the Grange to tell him all about their holiday wish lists. Following Niwot's Enchanted Evening tree lighting event on Nov. 24 at 6 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will be meeting with children in the exquisitely decorated downstairs hall of the Grange. The next day, Saturday, Nov. 25, Santa will...
The weather may be cooling off, but community events at the Left Hand Grange are heating up. There's so much for the entire family to enjoy throughout the month. Music is front and center, dancing is highly encouraged, and nostalgic heartwarming feelings that only small town holiday festivities can evoke will be happening inside the historic building that is The Grange. Andy Mann - album release concert Sunday, Nov. 5, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The Grange is proud to present an epic night of music with...
In his professional life as an award-winning National Geographic photographer/film director and co-founder of the non-profit SeaLegacy, Niwotian Andy Mann is on the road and in the water 200 days a year. His time away is a mix of adventurous photography expeditions, public speaking, and marine conservation efforts. The things he has seen and done are big - life-altering and world-changing - like being at this year's United Nations General Assembly where he was part of a team that compelled 68...
If you tread on Niwot trails regularly, this year you're likely to have frequently sighted some fun small critters – crayfish and Woodhouse's toads. The word "fish" in "crayfish" speaks volumes as to why they drew the most attention when whatever body of water they crawled out from wasn't even in sight. Media reports of the "invasive Rusty Crayfish" in Colorado hit the headlines just as the numbers of Niwot crayfish sightings hit a high. Boulder County Senior Wildlife Biologist Mac Kobza e...
What's on tap for October at The Grange? There will be local music, group dancing, engrossing tales about the haunted West, and more. Music at The Grange Sunday, Oct. 1, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., performer sign-ups begin at 1:15 p.m. Back for the twelfth season, Music at The Grange will start the month off with a variety of local artists performing their own renditions of classics and originals. If you enjoy pop, soft rock, blues, country and folk, you're in for a treat as up to 11 artists perform t...
Do you ever wonder how to look up obscure information collected before there was the gold mine that is the internet? Historian, genealogist, and coordinator of the Boulder Pioneers Project Dina Carson is an expert at digging up loads of important data collected prior to "Googling" becoming a part of our vernacular. Discovering and deciphering piles of archive materials in repositories is Carson's super-power and she's going to share the fascinating material she has uncovered about folks who...
The beginning of autumn is a time of celebration at The Grange. The community will come together to revel in the season's harvest and the joy of dancing, singing, and learning together. Community Dance Lessons Tuesdays, September 5 through December 12, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Teacher-choreographer Lindy Bartruff invites all ages and levels to the Lindybdance Fall Celebration featuring line dance classes and social dance workshops for $10/person or $15/couple. Join in fun and free dance samplers and be...
August's cultural events at The Grange feature enriching experiences centered on art, history, and education. Each of these events offers an opportunity for the public to enjoy historic Niwot in a community setting. Bondi Art Show Friday, August 4, 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, August 5, 11 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Michael Bondi's annual art show returns to The Grange. Both original watercolors and prints will be available for purchase in a variety of sizes. You'll be enthralled by Bondi's evocative,...
The community is invited to enjoy an array of unique entertainment, education, and other opportunities at the Left Hand Grange throughout July. George Ray Russell Sunday, July 9, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. The Grange is proud to present George Ray Russell, the Wrangler of Rhymes, in an afternoon performance of cowboy poetry and song. Award-winning Russell travels extensively bringing his love of the history and culture of cowboys. His original works are songs of adoration for the horses, hard times, humor...
Womens' Investment Group Tuesday, June 13, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Several motivated women in the real estate industry - lenders, real estate agents, and investors - are offering the opportunity to help others learn how to make money through real estate investments. The meeting is free of charge. To RSVP and learn more, write to [email protected]. To learn more about the Left Hand Grange No. 9 and to rent the venue, visit www.lefthandgrange.org....
Members of the Left Hand Grange, Inc., board of directors and Niwot Business Association (NBA) President Eric Bergeson were present for a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on Saturday, May 20, to mark the official unveiling of the new Grange flooring. Jim Dorvee, President of Left Hand Grange, Inc., and Left Hand Grange No. 9, spoke to a gathered crowd about Left Hand Grange No. 9 in Niwot being the oldest active state-chartered grange organization in Colorado and explained that the buildin...
Ribbon Cutting for the Grange's new flooring Saturday, May 20, 5:45 p.m. - 8 p.m. With great pride and excitement, the Left Hand Grange No. 9 will celebrate its new main level flooring with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony. Join in the fun and be treated to complimentary food and wine. The celebration will continue throughout the evening with the first edition of the 2nd Avenue Concert Series featuring the House Blend Band. The Grange venue is rented by the community for meetings, dance...
Was your house at one time in the middle of a cornfield? Some of Niwot's most interesting history happened as recently as the 1980's and 90's when the downtown streets were just dirt. Shopping meant you were headed to the feed store, and Rev. Taylor's was the place to go for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And yes, many of our houses were just starting to be built on what was once had been farmland. Niwot Historical Society president, Kathy Koehler said, "There were very few trees except for the...
Open Stage - a musical community event Sunday, April 16, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Performer sign up begins at 1:15 p.m. This free heartwarming, foot tapping, hum-along entertainment is certain to touch your heart and soul all courtesy of our community's abundant homegrown talent. Enjoy Open Stage as an audience member or perform for the community. Everyone is welcome. Play a cover piece or an original – folk, bluegrass, rock, pop or jazz. Bring a musical instrument; a harmonica, guitar, banjo and y...
The Left Hand Grange is all about April showers bringing flowers, music, nostalgia, and dancing. Niwot Community Connection Monthly Meeting Thursday, April 13, 10- 11:30 a.m. Local gardener extraordinaire Cathy McCall will give a presentation during April's Niwot Community Connection monthly meeting on how to beautify our area with water-wise pocket gardens on small plots around town. Join the group for this special presentation as well as updates on what the many other NCC groups are up to....
Niwot Historical Society's "Now and Then" lecture Wednesday, March 8, 7 p.m. Laura Algar Adams, daughter of Disney legend James Algar, will display her inherited talent for telling stories during her presentation, "Growing up Disney." Algar will narrate her father's passage from being an animator at Disney to becoming the director of "Bambi," "Fantasia," and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," as well as other Disney favorites. James Algar also produced, wrote, and directed the acclaimed Disney nature...
The new flooring at the Grange will be unveiled in March to enhance folks' opportunities to enjoy many forms of entertainment and education. Niwot Historical Society’s “Now and Then” lecture Wednesday, March 8, 7 p.m. Laura Algar Adams, daughter of Disney legend James Algar, will display her inherited talent for telling stories during her presentation, “Growing up Disney.” Algar will narrate her father’s passage from being an animator at Disney to becoming the director of “Bambi,” “Fantasia,” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” as well as...
Setting up a massive number of light strings, blow-up characters, and complicated displays is always a monumental task for the annual Christmas light display in Chuck Rodgers' yard. It takes weeks of physical labor, resourcefulness, and organization, but that's just the obvious part of the project. Whatever Mother Nature brings on while the display is up reveals an added layer of devotion to his creation. This winter has been brutish, and Rodgers' efforts were a match to that intensity....
Public input is being requested by Boulder County Parks & Open Space as the department prepares a management plan for the East Boulder Creek Site. The survey is an opportunity for the community to assist with shaping the future of the site, including how to prioritize conservation and community access. The area totals 1,377 acres and the location is described on the website as "[Sharing] a border with Weld County at East County Line Road, and is also bounded by State Highway 52 on the north, US...
Open Stage - a musical community event Sunday, Jan. 15, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Performer sign up begins at 1:15 p.m. The New Year brings the sound of music to the Grange. Enjoy the first 2023 Open Stage as an audience member or perform for the community. Everyone is welcome. Play an original piece or a cover. Bring a musical instrument: your voice, harmonica, guitar, or a banjo for instance. Sound equipment, mics, and a piano are on-hand. Enjoy FREE heartwarming, foot tapping entertainment...you're...
