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All Local, All The Time
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In just a few short weeks, including the holiday season rush, Niwot's Sesquicentennial Committee is quickly making plans to celebrate the platting of Niwot 150 years ago. Under the leadership of Laura Skaggs, the committee is working to "put a ribbon on every event in Niwot," said Skaggs. To that end, Angie Miltersen of Few of a Kind Vintage and Mercantile quickly designed a banner that can be used by every organization in Niwot to promote its events throughout the year. The banner has already...
Students at Niwot High School were suddenly summoned to the main gym at 9:13 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, but no one, save for school administrators and a few invited guests, knew what the occasion was. Pep band members received a cryptic message from Band Director Wade Hendricks the day before – "Emergency Pep Band during Cougar CORE!...[G]et your instrument quickly and head [to] the gym as soon as humanly possible." Drumline Instructor Scott Barto followed with a message the next morning at 9...
When The Wheel House real estate was sold in 2024, locals questioned the future of Niwot's popular gathering spot, renowned for its eclectic crowd and vibrant atmosphere. On some evenings a small band might be playing in a corner while guests cheered their favorite sports teams competing on the screen across the room at the bar, with patrons enjoying food from La Musette food truck. On Thursday evenings in the summer, amped up locals and visitors stop by after Rock & Rails concerts in Whistle...
The Left Hand Valley Courier, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, launched a fundraising campaign in November 2024 with the goal of raising $250,000 to pay reporters and vendors, print the newspaper weekly, upgrade our printing quality and support our educational mission. Your generosity has been overwhelming. To date, we have raised $44,958.00 to date because of the outpouring of local support from you, our loyal readers. We are in the process of applying for grants to supplement our local fundraising efforts. Several of you have also pledged...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) opened 2025 by approving several funding requests, including one for new street banners celebrating Niwot's first 150 years. LID members Scott Firle, Eric Bergeson, Mary Coonce, Carla Hunter, Heidi Storz, Cornelia Sawle, and Keith Waters were present, along with Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin. Jim Ditzel also attended the LID meeting. Ditzel, who is running unopposed for the position of president of the Niwot Business Association, was the only...
After six years in Niwot's Cottonwood Square, Fly Away Home is now closed. Owner Kathy Trauner announced to her loyal customers that Fly Away Home, a home decor boutique, would close on Dec. 24. The shop was a favorite of local shoppers, along with out of town visitors, for its unique home decorating items. Trauner carried a wide variety of goods, such as baby outfits with clever sayings, including a baby girl onesie that says, "I'm not allowed to date. Ever." The store also featured art and...
More than 200 wrestlers competing across 14 weight classes from 20 schools across Colorado converged on Niwot High School Saturday, Jan. 4 for the Niwot Invitational wrestling tournament. The tournament, which has become a significant mid-season test for Colorado prep wrestlers, featured weight classes ranging from 106 to 285 pounds. Niwot fielded competitors in ten of the fourteen weight classes, showing the program's growing depth under new Head Coach Michael DeCamillis. The host Cougars made...
It was quite a year for the Niwot High School boys cross country team. Winning a state title in Class 5A, Niwot's first experience in the highest state classification, with a dominant team effort began the run of honors for Coach Kelly Christensen's runners. That was followed by a second-place team finish at the Nike Cross Regionals in Arizona, which also qualified the team to run at the Nike Cross Nationals. The Cougars surprised quite a few people at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland,...
With the new year, many of us resolve to change something in our lives. Small changes can make a difference. Whether it is to eliminate a behavior or add a behavior or perhaps treat yourself to a new experience, there are many good reasons to start the year with a “clean slate” and resolve to make 2025 a better year. The Left Hand Valley Courier staff shares some of their New Year’s resolutions below. Now that you have gotten to know us better, maybe their resolutions might inspire you to make your own. Scott Barto - • Get back into the hab...
David Bote, son of longtime Niwot High School baseball coach Bob Bote, signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers Dec. 14, with an invitation to major league spring training camp. Other than the Dodgers' starting infield, the only other utility infielder on the major league roster is 35-year old Miguel Rojas. Bote, who grew up in Longmont and played for Niwot Youth Sports teams, signed with the Chicago Cubs out of Neosho County Community College in Kansas in 2012 as an 18th...
The Niwot High School wrestling program is preparing to host the annual Invitational meet on Saturday, Jan. 4, the first under new head coach Michael DeCamillis. For years, the meet was organized by longtime NHS coach Gary Daum, and then later by his successor, Bobby Matthews, who stepped down after last season to concentrate on softball and baseball coaching. DeCamillis wrestled and played football at Broomfield High School before continuing his football career as a center at Chadron State...
Following a review of survey results and responses at a community meeting in Niwot Dec. 2, the Boulder County Commissioners on Dec. 16 instructed county staff to obtain cost estimates for the Option 4 design of an underpass into Niwot from the bikeway under construction in the median of CO 119, also known as the Diagonal Highway. Mark Ruzzin, Boulder County liaison to the LID, wrote in an email, “At the Monday meeting, the commissioners directed Community Planning & Permitting staff to ask the county’s engineering firm (Muller) for an est...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) held a community meeting Monday, Dec. 2, at The Wheel House in Niwot, with approximately 60 people in attendance, including Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy. Niwot Business Association President Eric Bergeson welcomed the crowd, then turned the presentation over to Dave Lee and Chad Fletemeyer of Fletemeyer & Lee Associates, a Niwot architectural firm hired by the LID to create a long-term vision to guide future development in Niwot, especially...
I love people who read newspapers. They are the ones who show up for community meetings, pay attention to what’s going on, hold public officials accountable, and participate in processes that bring meaningful and positive change to their communities. Their input and opinions deserve our respect. Those who don’t are at the mercy of those who do. Fortunately, the ones who do tend to be involved in their community, and their vision is guided by what they consider best for the community. Those who don’t tend to complain that “no one asked me.” Th...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) has made significant progress in its long time effort to bring more directional signage to the LoBo Trail. Vicky Dorvee, NCA Director assigned to Trails and Open Space, completed an inventory of existing wayfinding signs along the Longmont to Boulder bike and pedestrian trail, better known as the LoBo Trail, last fall. The LoBo Trail extends from Longmont to Boulder, with a few gaps in the Gunbarrel area, and provides a popular off-road trail between the...
St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) superintendent Don Haddad and several staff members met with approximately 15 Niwot residents, primarily from the Morton Heights subdivision, to present the district's plans for completing a stadium for use by football, soccer, track and other activities at Niwot High School (NHS). The district added lights to the existing football field a few years ago, and also installed artificial turf to replace the sod field, with the goal of creating a full stadium...
Niwot High School boys basketball opened the second season of coach Walker Bounds’ career by winning their first game against Montbello, 54-35, on Dec. 4. Bounds, a Niwot alum, took his team to the Niwot Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 30, in an effort to garner community support. On Friday, Dec. 6, the Cougars travelled to Northglenn High School, suffering a 60-56 loss in a hard-fought contest. They followed with a 57-53 win over Thornton High School on Saturday, Dec. 7. Statistics for the opening week’s games were not available at press tim...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) met at the Niwot Inn on Nov. 12 to consider funding requests and other issues related to Niwot's business district. Landscape Project Improvement in the appearance of the west entrance to Niwot on Niwot Road has long been a topic of discussion. Several Eagle Scout projects over the years have improved the appearance for a time, especially on the north side, including installation of a "Welcome to Niwot" stone sign completed last...
How did the Left Hand Valley Courier get here? The Left Hand Valley Courier was founded in November 1996, by seven residents of Niwot and Gunbarrel, who each contributed $50 toward start-up costs. With little journalism experience, the founders sought to fill a growing lack of coverage of happenings in Niwot and Gunbarrel by the daily newspapers in Boulder and Longmont. It took four months to create the first Courier issue, which was published on April 1, 1997, by Karen Copperberg, Ron Goodman,...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) has scheduled a community meeting for Monday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. at The Wheel House in Niwot as the final step in getting feedback on the draft Master Plan for Niwot. The Master Plan is a working document commissioned by the LID to guide future development and community projects in Niwot, created by Dave Lee and Chad Fletemeyer of Fletemeyer Lee & Associates (FLA), a Niwot architectural firm. Throughout the past year, meetings have...
A water main break at Walker Drive and Marathon Road in Morton Heights on Wednesday, Nov. 13, cut off water to approximately 15 homes in the Morton Heights subdivision in Niwot. Left Hand Water District discovered the break around 6 p.m. Wednesday night, according to resident John Thornbury. Homes between Niwot Road and Comanche Road were affected, but Niwot Elementary School, which is connected to a Morton Road water main, did not suffer a loss of service. "Our water was restored about noon on...
The plat of Niwot was recorded on March 30, 1875 by Ambrose Murray and Porter Hinman laying out the streets, alleys and lots of what is now known as Old Town Niwot. March 30, 2025, will mark 150 years since the founding of the community, and the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) has asked community organizations to begin planning a year-long celebration of the community's first 150 years. Sparked by a discussion in October of plans by the Niwot Historical Society to publish a book...
For the past two years, the Left Hand Valley Courier found a way to survive, barely, by borrowing money to pay the bills, with several key staff members deferring any compensation for 10-hour-plus work weeks. In an era of news deserts in Colorado and across the nation—areas without any local newspapers—newspapers must adapt, or die. Like other small businesses struggling to survive, the Courier owners decided to create a non-profit educational corporation, and donated the newspaper to the non-profit. The transfer took effect January 1, 202...
The Left Hand Valley Courier (Courier), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dealing with the same issues that the journalism industry, particularly local journalism, is grappling with across the country. This article is the third in a series of reports on the current journalism business climate, the history and contributions of the Courier, why local journalism remains an important asset in community-building, and ways in which its business model can be strengthened. The Left Hand Valley...
Mary Coonce is a cherished figure in Niwot widely known for her role as co-owner of Porchfront Homes, which has been involved in many community projects, and her own extensive community involvement. For her volunteer efforts in the community, Coonce is the November Left Hand Laurel recipient. Coonce's dedication to Niwot includes service as the Niwot Business Association (NBA) treasurer for seven of the 11 years she has been a member. She also serves as the treasurer for the Local Improvement...
Nine months came and went. The Left Hand Valley Courier became a non-profit corporation in late 2023, and filed an application with the IRS to be recognized as a Section 501(c)(3) charitable education organization, on January 31, 2024, and waited. Finally, after months of waiting, on Oct. 29, 2024 the IRS approval letter, dated Oct. 11, 2024, arrived, granting the Left Hand Valley Courier the ability to seek tax deductible donations and grants from organizations devoted to preserving local journalism. The IRS determination letter allows the...
Entering last weekend, the Niwot High School girls volleyball team had a 16-3 record, and was cruising through the Granite Peaks 5A/4A League in first place, with a record of 12-1. As is the custom for Coach Tony Engel, the Cougars participated in the Cheyenne Mountain Tournament, held at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs. The event is annually the top tournament in the state, held just before playoffs begin, and the Cougars won at least one match in every set, but came away with...
Social media was buzzing with reports of an attempted burglary in a Niwot subdivision adjacent to open space near Highway 52 on Halloween night. According to reports, five men attempting to enter a home on the second floor from nearby open space were caught on a security camera. The would-be thieves were shown in a video lifting one member of the group to the second floor balcony, but the homeowners reportedly turned on the lights at that point, and the group quickly ran. The Boulder County...
In the early morning hours, shortly after midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 5, the siren at the former Niwot Volunteer Fire Department building next to the Left Hand Grange building in Niwot, went off, waking residents of Old Town and beyond. Worried neighbors who called law enforcement were informed that it was not an emergency, and that the siren had simply malfunctioned. Before members of Left Hand Grange No. 9 could respond to the scene, the Boulder County Sheriff's Department responded and pried...
The Great Pumpkin Party began Oct. 26 with an impressive vocal performance by Niwot Elementary School students in the Left Hand Corner parking lot, a fitting prelude to the presentation of the Curtis Lizakowski Golden Hammer Award for outstanding volunteerism to longtime Niwot resident Neal Anderson. Niwot resident and realtor Pat Murphy, who helped create the award many years ago, made the presentation to Anderson, explaining that the award honors often unsung volunteers who make things happen...
The Great Pumpkin Party kicked off its 27th year in Niwot with an immense crowd on Saturday, Oct. 26, with hundreds of trick-or-treaters in costume roaming the Niwot business district from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Local businesses, with owners and staff dressed in costumes themselves, gave out candy to the trick-or-treaters. The Left Hand Grange provided children's movies for youngsters who needed a short break from trick-or-treating. The Niwot High School Key Club created another very popular...
Click on the names to see what makes Courier reporters anything but dull. All work and no play makes Biff a dull boy. All work and no play makes Elise a dull girl. All work and no play makes Alyson a dull girl. All work and no play makes Vicki a dull girl. All work and no play makes Scott a dull boy. All work and no play makes Vicky a dull girl. All work and no play makes Jack (Carlough) a dull boy. All work and no play makes Anne a dull girl. All work and no play makes Deborah a dull girl. All work and no play makes Ryan a dull boy. All work...
When Curt and Marianne Bruner decided to downsize after 31 years in Niwot, they bought a lot at 364 Franklin Street in Niwot's Old Town area next to Left Hand Animal Hospital. The previous home at that location had fallen into disrepair and had been scraped by a developer after the death of the owner. The Bruners engaged Niwot architect Anne Postle of Osmosis Architecture to design a one-story home of approximately 2,275 square feet at ground level with a height of just under 29 feet, an...
Inkberry Books in Niwot's Cottonwood Square shopping center hosted local author Peggy Cline Friday, Oct. 25, who read excerpts from her recently published book, "Trout Farming in the People's Republic of Boulder." Cline and her late husband Steve had a trout farm on the edge of Boulder, off of Valmont Road near 55th Street on the edge of Boulder. The book is a tribute to Steve Cline and the memorable moments they created in the foothills of Boulder. That wasn't the only trout farm the Cline...
The Left Hand Valley Courier, a nonprofit organization, is dealing with the same issues that the journalism industry, particularly local journalism, is grappling with across the country. This article is the second in a series of reports on the current journalism business climate, the history and contributions of the Courier, why local journalism remains an important asset in community-building, and ways in which its business model can be strengthened. The Left Hand Valley Courier (Courier)...
A crowd of approximately 50 attended the Grand Opening of Inner Space Healing, located in the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center in the former Niwot Veterinary Clinic offices, on Sunday, Oct. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. The celebration began with Chuck Roberts introducing therapists Patti Ashley, Jules Radu, and Elaan Brudno, who offer three separate healing practices that operate out of Inner Space Healing. Ashley is a psychotherapist who practices Heart-Centered Psychotherapy and Shame-Informed...
It shouldn’t take a research paper to figure out that the reason the cost of living is driving workers and young families out of Boulder County is one thing. It’s not the cost of food, or clothing, or utilities, or other essentials of living that makes it unaffordable to live here. It is the cost of housing. Yet the governing bodies in Boulder County have taken only token steps to address the shortage of affordable, attainable and workforce housing their own policies have created. It’s much too little, and too late. A recent study concl...
The Left Hand Valley Courier (Courier), a nonprofit organization, is dealing with the same issues that the journalism industry, particularly local journalism, is grappling with across the country. This article is the first in a series of reports on the current journalism business climate, the history and contributions of the Courier, why local journalism remains an important asset in community-building, and ways in which its business model can be strengthened. There was a time when cities and co...
REVENUE Revenues from the 1% sales tax in the Niwot Local Improvement District is down 8.8% compared to a year ago through July, but the percentage of decrease actually dropped a full percentage point, from 9.8%, since June. LID Treasurer Mary Coonce reported that retail sales are down 7.4%, while accommodations and food are up 6.7% year-to-date compared to 2023. The largest percentage decrease is in a category of "Other and Wholesale," which is down 35% year-to-date. Four funding requests were...
Niwot High School Student Council will be hosting the third annual Fall Fest on Friday, Oct. 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fall Fest is a celebration of the season for the entire Niwot community, not just the high school. This event will feature various games, activities, and a trunk-or-treat for our students, feeder schools, and the community in the parking lot in the front of the high school. Niwot's various clubs and sports will be hosting booths with quintessential fall-themed games such as Potat...
The 2024 baseball season was mostly a lost year for Niwot High School grad Skye Messinger, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last December. Messinger, a third baseman in the Colorado Rockies' organization, injured his arm while working out in the offseason. The recovery time for the surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm is seven to nine months at a minimum before a return to competition for non-pitchers. As a result, Messinger missed all of spring...
When the nights begin to cool and feel like fall, the league kicks off for Niwot boys soccer, and competitive games start in earnest. This year, the Cougars' league includes several nearby rivals, including Skyline High School, Silver Creek High School, and Longmont High School. Longmont was the Cougars' first local opponent of the season last Thursday, Oct. 3. Longmont entered the match undefeated, fielding a cohesive, experienced team. They had scored an impressive 29 goals so far this season...
