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All Local, All The Time
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TOP OF STOVE COOKIES Submitted by Alyson Varvel Bell My great grandmother used to make these and gift them inside the small General Mills Quaker quick oats round container with a bow on top. They are super quick and easy to make and my kids love them. My grandmother, her daughter-in-law, wrote the recipe down for me when I was in my early twenties. Ingredients: 1 stick of butter 2 cups sugar ½ cup milk 2 level tablespoons peanut butter 3 cups quick oats (quick is important) 2 Tbsp. cocoa...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA), in collaboration with the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID), conducted parallel surveys Dec. 2 - 16 to gather community input on the proposed underpass from the new Niwot Transit Center & Park-n-Ride in the median of CO 119 to downtown Niwot. The proposed underpass to Niwot is part of the CO 119 Safety, Mobility, and Bikeway Project. Initial design of the bikeway showed access to Niwot at the Niwot Road intersection with CO 119, at grade. The Niwot...
Ok. Are you stressing out about the holidays? Maybe you are someone who doesn't give the holidays much attention. Or you might be somewhere in the middle. The holidays bring a gamut of feelings and depending on where you are in life, the excitement, or in some cases, anxiety, changes over the years. The meaning of the holidays also transforms a bit. When you are very young Christmas is filled with excitement and anticipation. The most stressful thing you worry about is talking to Santa. I must...
The "Future of Local Journalism" series concludes with a reflection on the unique role the Left Hand Valley Courier (Courier) plays in supporting and enhancing our community. This final article recaps earlier insights and includes my personal perspectives as a Courier reporter on why the Niwot-Gunbarrel area is a more vibrant, friendly, and informed community due to the Courier than it otherwise would be. This article also encourages us all to help strengthen the Courier's financial footing and...
Ok. You have probably heard the phrase, "The power of the written word." Somehow putting words on paper packs a punch. The law clearly recognizes the impact of and the difference between the written word and the spoken word when they made "slander" (a spoken defamatory statement) and "libel" (a written defamatory statement) two distinct bad acts. Libel has historically been treated as the more egregious of the two, and it is not hard to see why. Writing something down gives it a bit of...
The heart of Niwot is once again aglow with festive spirit as the beloved Holiday Market returns for its annual celebration. The cherished tradition, taking place on two consecutive Saturdays, Dec. 7 and 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., transforms the historic business district into a winter wonderland. This year's Holiday Market, organized by the Niwot Business Association and supported by the Niwot Local Improvement District, spans both Second Avenue and Cottonwood Square, creating an enchanting...
Ok. Do you remember when you first learned about Thanksgiving? It probably included the tale of Pilgrims sailing to America and befriending some Indians, after which they had a turkey feast in thanks for the Indians’ help surviving the winter. Wow, that was a lot to unpack as a child. In a nutshell, this song, sung to the tune “We Gather Together,” I learned in first grade summed up all I knew about Thanksgiving: “The year 1620 the Pilgrims came over. The good ship Mayflower brought them ac...
In a decisive 6-1 vote following a nearly six-hour hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Boulder County Planning Commission supported the staff recommendation by the Boulder County Community Permitting & Planning Division and rejected a proposed Transferable Development Rights/Planned Unit Development (TDR/PUD) submitted by the owners of the 39.5 acre parcel located at the corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road. The commission's near-unanimous decision to deny the application reflects the...
Just in time for Thanksgiving! Let's start with the green bean casserole so many of us feel must be on the Thanksgiving table. Simply follow the recipe on the back of the French's Crispy Fried Onions can, or look at these options. GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE Submitted by Karen Sherlock Ingredients: 2 cups chicken broth 2 pounds frozen cut green beans, thawed 1 teaspoon celery salt Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups heavy cream...
Cranberry Concoctions What would Thanksgiving dinner look like without cranberry sauce and its progeny? Probably a little more peaceful since the debate between homemade cranberry sauce and the jellied kind from a can dominates the very important Thanksgiving cranberry decision. Go ahead, buy the canned kind, slice it into half-moons and enjoy. But here are a couple of alternatives. CRANBERRY SAUCE MADE FROM CRANBERRIES Basic cranberry sauce is almost as easy as opening a can. The bonus is that...
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...
Ok. Life can bring great joys and great disappointments. In the face of adversity, do you despair or embrace it? For example, last week, I was wearing sandals and a tank top. This week I was planning to hike Mt. Sanitas but instead found myself bundled in a sweater cuddling my electric blanket. By the way, it is only in the high thirties. By February the mid-thirties will seem downright balmy. Abrupt changes can be a jolt. But before long, we get used to the change and fluctuations in the...
With Halloween behind us, attention turns to Thanksgiving. The Courier Cookbook will count down to the big day with recipes perfect for any Thanksgiving meal. We start with stuffing. "Stuffing" is usually used to fill the turkey while the term "dressing" is used for similar dishes but served outside of the turkey. Either way, they are essential to the traditional Thanksgiving fare. Instead of buying it in a box or bag, try these. Next week we will focus on cranberry sauce and other fruit side...
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...
Ok. Was I the only one who thought "trunk-or-treat" was a typo? Seriously. I soon realized I saw the words too often together for "trunk" to be a typo. But I still didn't understand what trunk-or-treat meant for longer than I want to admit. What was happening here? And was there really an elephant involved? I figured it had to be a social distancing remnant of COVID. But after a little googling, I learned trunk-or-treating has been around for at least 10 years, well before COVID. Where have I...
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...
The third annual Niwot High School Fall Fest spilled from the front entrance of the school into the parking lot on Friday, Oct. 25. The NHS Student Council organized the event, which attracted many ghosts, goblins, and superheroes from throughout the community. High school clubs and organizations, as well as the Niwot High Boosters, manned themed booths and trunks with plenty of activities for all ages. Costumes, candy and activities ensured high energy. Children of every age participated in a...
Facing significant enrollment challenges, Heatherwood Elementary School has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform its educational offerings through a new Environmental STEAM program set to launch in the 2025-2026 school year. The school, which was designed to accommodate 500 students, is currently operating at just 40% capacity, a decline that began during the COVID pandemic. Current projections suggest enrollment could drop to approximately 200 students by 2028. When a school's enrollment...
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)...
The transformation of the former 1stBank building into the long-anticipated Gunbarrel branch of the Boulder Public Library District (BPLD) is underway. According to David Farnan, Director of the BPLD, the demolition phase was recently completed. The remaining steps are the design, permitting and construction phases. Emphasizing that the completion date is uncertain, Farnan shared the hope that the new branch will open in approximately June, 2025....
It is that time of year where everyone buys, carves, decorates, and cooks with pumpkins. Coffee shops are selling out of pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin bread. The Courier is sharing a few community favorites to reignite that pumpkin love. Next week, we will feature grains. Think rice, quinoa, their cousin the lentil, and their second cousin, orzo, which is actually a pasta. Today these traditional side dishes are front and center and add lots of flavor to any meal. Put some in your salad for...
Ok. Halloween is just around the corner. It is the only time of year when that much-maligned color, orange, is front and center. Orange somehow connotes "scary," doesn't it? When did orange get such a bad rap? After all, it is a completely natural color. Orange is found in pumpkins, oranges, flowers, and Tang. I am not talking about peach or coral. I am talking about straight-up orange. Yet, it is hard to find orange so predominant at any other time of year. Nowhere is this more obvious than in...
Ok. Back in my minivan days, my children would sit next to each other in the back seat. It was never long before I heard, "Stop touching me, Joey." This would be answered with, "I am not touching you." "Yes, you are!" "No, you are touching me!" Then, "Mommm, make Joey stop touching me." I would then usually reply, "Both of you, sit on your hands!" People feel strongly about their personal space. We have all instinctively taken one step back when someone talks too close to you. If someone sits...
Everyone needs a few go-to salad dressings, whether to ramp up a salad or top pasta, potatoes, or use as a sandwich condiment. Here are a few favorites from our community. CAESAR SALAD DRESSING Submitted by Alyson Varvel Bell Adapted from Once Upon A Chef by Jenn Segal "Super easy and flavorful - we love Caesar's and it's our new favorite dressing." Ingredients: 2 small garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon anchovy paste 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon 1 teaspoon Dijon...
Ok. Here comes the rain again. Who didn't love that sweet smelling, ground drenching rain that fell on Saturday night and into Sunday? Didn't we all sleep well under the sound of a soothing blanket of water falling gently on our homes and gardens? It wasn't a torrential downpour, and it wasn't accompanied by near hurricane force winds. It was just rain. What a relief! I love a rainy night. But you know what that means? The grass will once again be green, the flowers will perk up and we will...
When you think of "piccata" it is usually accompanied by "chicken" or "veal." That butter, capers, and lemon flavor is a favorite. If you like that flavor, try using it in salads, pasta, and of course chicken. Piccata sauce can go any which way. CHICKEN PICCATA Submitted by Elise Marylander Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts ½ cup heavy cream or milk 2 tsp. Maldon salt ½ cup cornstarch or flour 3 Tbsp. butter (or more) 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 yellow sweet onion, roughly chopped 2 tsp....
Ok. Remember when we used to read Time, Newsweek, TV Guide, People, and Rolling Stone? I am talking about magazines and newspapers made from paper. The kind you hold in your hands. My parents had the LA Times, the Sunday New York Times and the Wall Street Journal delivered to our front door. Reading the newspaper was a welcome ritual. They collected every issue of National Geographic. That magazine's stunning photos singlehandedly opened the world to small town America. We learned about African...
Ok. File this under "Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus." It is a big filing cabinet so make a little room for this. Men buy things. Women buy things. People buy everything from houses to rubberbands. Women tend to be the purchasers of items that fit into a bag. I am thinking about groceries, clothes, and household goods. This is why in many households, it seems men take for granted that certain household items simply appear. For example, tissues, food, toilet paper, underwear, and band...
Community members met on Sept. 7 to discuss the proposed development of three homes on the 39.5-acre rural residential zoned property at 6184 Niwot Road, located on the southwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road. One home and a barn are currently on the property. The Boulder County Land Use Code allows one home per 35 acres in the area. The community group "Stop 63rd Street Subdivision," organized by Chris Ennis and Karen Mandery, met to listen to and discuss the organizers' presentation...
Ok. I bet at some point on Labor Day you said, "It feels like a Sunday, doesn't it?" That happens all the time. And then Tuesday feels like a Monday and Wednesday feels like a Tuesday and so it goes, messing up your whole week. Except it isn't just Labor Day that might confuse your routine. Often a Saturday feels like Sunday and if Friday is a holiday, it can feel like a Saturday. The good news in that case is that you get two Saturdays in a row. First, let's address the obvious - days are just...
In July of 2023, Ifrain and Shannon Rodriguez, the owners of a 39.5-acre property at 6184 Niwot Road, located on the southwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road, submitted an application to Boulder County to construct nine new residential homes (for a total of 10 homes, including their own). This application was submitted using a Boulder County land use process involving Transferable Development Rights (TDRs), and is known as the Rodriguez TDR-PUD, docket number SD-23-0003. TDRs are a land de...
Everywhere you go this time of year you see Palisade peaches for sale. They are in season and delicious. The Niwot High School Instrumental Music is selling Palisade peaches through today. Order yours today here. Sometimes you buy a whole flat and wonder what to do with all those peaches. Here are a few ideas. CANNED PEACHES Submitted by Deborah Fowler Adapted from the Niwot Women's International Club Cookbook "My go-to is the regular canned peaches - I serve them on Christmas Day as a lighter...
Three writers for the Left Hand Valley Courier, Deborah Cameron, Vicky Dorvee, and Elise S. Marylander, were recognized at the Colorado Press Association (CPA) awards banquet for their articles from 2023 in the CPA's Better News Contest. Judging is conducted anonymously by journalists from another state, and awards are presented based upon size and type of publication. The Courier is a Class 5 publication as a weekly newspaper in a small community. Cameron, who writes for the Courier as well as...
Ok. We all love our phones. We don't go anywhere without them. We can hardly leave a room without taking our phones with us. We text, get our news, play games, share Instagram stories, and regularly go down the TikTok rabbit hole on our phones. Where we used to have an encyclopedia, now we have Wikipedia and all that Google has to offer. We take pictures and videos with abandon. You can just as easily make a hotel reservation in Tokyo as you can call your mom. We are all oddly attached to our...
Ok. Can we all take a deep breath after the first week of school? That first week is a little rough, don’t you think? All the fuss, anxiety, and logistical planning comes to head with the start of school. Whether you are a parent of a student or the student, it’s a tumultuous time. In the blink of an eye, the lazy days of summer end and the regimen of school begins. I am also sure you are familiar with the sleepy, whiny, anxiety that permeates the house around the start of school. Yes, it com...
Rock & Rail's penultimate summer concert welcomes back Niwot native Nalani DeMarco Clisset and her band, The Nalani Effect. Nalani, a bassist and vocalist, is a Niwot High School graduate and has deep roots in the Niwot community. "Rock & Rails is my home," Nalani said. "I remember when they built the gazebo and feeling that it was an anchor point for a community space. I just stood up on it, with my arms wide open, and wondered what the space would be like with the crowd, vendors, and...
Ok. My daughter once told me that to make friends, you should always say "yes" to invitations and overtures. I thought that was very good advice. And it is. Of course, until it isn't. Saying "yes" is something many of us do constantly. Do you want to have lunch? Will you stay late after work? Will you work this weekend? Will you join the parent teacher organization at school? Will you be the president? At some point, you must have some boundaries. They must be clear and respected. But first you...
Summer barbeques require side dishes, and coleslaw and macaroni salad are two favorites. Coleslaw is all about crunch and color, whether it be creamy or vinegary. So throw in the carrots, purple cabbage, radishes, throw on a yummy sauce and you have a side dish. Macaroni salad can be any pasta of course but it is also a cool creamy or vinegary, contrast to those hot ribs you are serving up. Add some corn, carrots and tomatoes and it becomes a fresh colorful side. TRADITIONAL COLESLAW...
Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting is inviting residents and cyclists to participate in a survey aimed at gathering input on the proposed N. 63rd Street Bikeway Overpass. Initial design of the bikeway called for an underpass in the median between the northbound and southbound lanes of CO 119 where the bikeway crosses N. 63rd Street. But planners discovered that a large water main under the highway would be very costly to relocate if an underpass were to be constructed, and opted...
Osmosis Gallery, a local art gallery at 290 2nd Avenue in Niwot, was born in an architectural firm known as Osmosis Architecture, which has been around for thirty years, the last 20 years in the Niwot location. The current location, a renovated and remodeled former church building which had been converted to residential use before Postle acquired it in 2004, houses both the architectural firm and the art gallery. "The architecture firm has been around since 1994 and we were in this location in...
The Colorado Press Association announced that three Left Hand Valley Courier journalists have been honored with 2023 Colorado Better New Media Contest awards. Deborah Cameron, Vicky Dorvee, and Elise S. Marylander are the recipients of awards recognizing excellence in local journalism. Awards are made by class based on newspaper circulation and are judged by out-of-state journalists. The winning articles, placement, and categories will be announced at the awards ceremony during the Colorado...
Ok. Do you remember when you believed that consuming anything with fat was bad for you? How about when eggs were "the perfect food?" And we all had a friend who wouldn't give up their Blackberry because it was superior to anything else on the market. And don't get me started on Betamax. Well, we all know what happened to those beliefs. Fat became a necessary part of nutrition. It turns out eggs have a lot of cholesterol (well, the yolk anyway). And those Blackberry users now have iPhones. I...
Ok. Remember watching "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie" on television? Remember Aunt Bea on "The Andy Griffith Show?" I couldn't get enough of any of those shows back in the day. Samantha, a witch, could clean the house with a twitch of her nose. She could transport to Paris, call her parents, call Doctor Bombay, and turn people into animals in a snap. Jeannie, a genie, just had to blink and anything she wished for appeared. How great was that? They were the most powerful women on TV in the...
Niwot's annual Fourth of July celebration was packed with fun activities from start to finish, thanks to the continued efforts of the Niwot Community Association (NCA) which sponsors the event, with financial support from the Niwot Local Improvement District. Starting the morning off at 7:30 a.m. was the "Bert Steele Pancake Breakfast" served in front of the Niwot Market. Net proceeds from this year's ticket sales went towards purchasing another grill for the breakfast to help cover the increasi...
Ok. You know how they say color influences your mood? Stores are decorated in colors that apparently make you want to buy. Casinos are decorated to make you gamble. School walls are a color that is supposed to help concentration. You catch my drift. So, when it comes to decorating your house, you have to think about your goals. Serenity? Cozy? Creative? A friend of mine who recently moved to Niwot told me she is struggling to decorate her home. No kidding! It's difficult and fraught with...
Ok. Although summer may have just officially begun, with the 4th of July upon us, it feels like we are smack in the middle of summer. Which makes me think of summer camp. Maybe you went to summer camp, or your children went or are going to summer camp. No matter your perspective, you probably have an opinion about the experience. Some people loved going to camp as a child, some loved having their children go. Others, like me, felt going to summer camp was a miserable experience, and I have never...
Meatballs are a delicious bundle of flavor. Eat them alone, on a hoagie roll smothered in tomato sauce or barbeque sauce for your 4th of July BBQ, add them to ramen, cook them in tomato sauce or serve them with toothpicks as an appetizer. They take on any flavor you like. The key is keeping them in a ball which is best done with bread or cracker crumbs, and often with an egg for binding. BEANIE'S MAGICAL MEATBALLS Submitted by Joe Maddon, former manager of the Chicago Cubs, the California...
Ok. Was that the summer solstice that just passed by? June 20 was the day when the sun hit its northernmost spot in the sky. You know what that means? It is just a slow downhill ride to winter. We are told the longest day of the year was just a week ago. Are we to believe that today is shorter than yesterday? Let's just pause right there and remind ourselves there are always 24 hours in a day. So, days aren't really getting longer or shorter at all. Are they? That is one of those concepts that...
Potato salad is a summertime barbeque staple. Whether mayonnaise based, vinegar based or mixed with cheese, potato salad is a fixture on most picnic tables. Here we explore the two main varieties but the variations are endless. CLASSIC POTATO SALAD Submitted by Karen Sherlock Adapted from New York Times Cooking "I have made this salad several times and it's always a big hit." Ingredients: 3 pounds russet, Yukon Gold or Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes Kosher salt and black...
Ok. Let's talk a little bit about ice. Ice? Yes, ice. Ice is one of those love 'em/hate 'em items that we take for granted. Here is what I mean. We love our ice. We love it in our summertime lemonade and iced tea, in our coolers, in a bag held against a sprain. If you have ever had a party, you understand the cry of "Did you get ice?" Followed by "Go back and get another bag!" If you have ever traveled to Europe, you know that ice is just not a thing there. There will be no ice in your Diet...
