All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Alleging unfair labor practices and violations of a collective bargaining agreement, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 voted to strike at King Soopers locations along Colorado's front range, including the Gunbarrel location at 6550 Lookout Rd. Starting at 5 a.m. on Jan. 12., meat workers at Boulder stores will walk off the job for three weeks, until Feb. 2....
Like it or not, 2022 is just around the corner, and if your plans for the new year involve bettering the world, there's no better place to start than your own community. The Left Hand Valley is home to dozens of non-profit organizations that are making a difference, and they need engaged volunteers to help them do it. No experience is necessary; there's a position for you. By volunteering, not only are you helping your community, you'll also reap the benefits from connecting with others, learnin...
We're in the home stretch of the holiday shopping season, and for those of you with a few names left to check off your gift list, be sure to consider one of the dozens of unique items from the artists, growers and crafters that call Niwot and Gunbarrel home. Gas up and grab a gift When you fill 'er up at the Niwot Conoco in the Cottonwood Shopping Center, don't just drive off - go inside where you'll find a treasure trove of charming gifts for your loved ones. You'll be stunned by the corner of...
On Dec. 7, Boulder County Commissioners approved the budget to fund 23 of 32 proposed Boulder County Parks & Open Space projects. The $1.5 million line item for the proposed Capital & Stewardship plan is funded by the county open space sales tax, money that is designated to support the acquisition of open space and pay for programs that help preserve habitat, provide educational and recreational programs and create and maintain trails. In addition to the sales tax funding, the county will utiliz...
Gunbarrel Estates resident Bill Ringer has eagle eyes and an eye for eagles. According to Ringer, both bald and golden eagles have been showing up more frequently. The two bald eagles pictured here were seen at sunset on Dec. 18 and a golden eagle was viewed just two days earlier. "There are always more in the winter, but they can be seen here any time of year," Ringer said. I grew up in Boulder and remember when a bald eagle sighting was front page news. The eagle comeback is a great success...
Behind any community event in Niwot, there is an unsung army of volunteers, handling details and logistics that most attendees overlook. Among them is the Niwot road crew, a group that has been dedicated to keeping the town's parades and festivals pedestrian-friendly since 2014. "We started with seven, and it blossomed from there," Dick Piland said of the group he founded as Niwot Community Association president nearly a decade ago. "It was amazing. We had people calling up insisting they get...
Margaret “Lin” Folsom Former Niwot resident, Margaret “Lin” Folsom, age 86, died Nov. 8, 2021, A Celebration of Life will be held on Feb. 19, 2022, at the Seafarers Memorial Park Bldg., in Anacortes, Wash. from 2 pm - 5 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to N.A.M.I., National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. To share memories of Lin, please sign the online guestbook at www.evanschapel.com. Lois Ann Veneziano Lois Ann Veneziano, age 85, of Gunbarrel died Nov. 23, 2021 in Boulder. Services will be held Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 at 11 am a...
Heatherwood resident David Joseph Waters, age 39, was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder after Boulder County Sheriff’s officers responded to a report of a road rage shooting at around 6:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24 near the south entrance to the Heatherwood subdivision off 75th Street in Gunbarrel. Dispatchers received a report from a caller that another driver shot at him with a handgun as the caller was passing him. A news release from the sheriff’s department indicated that deputies responding found a bullet hole in...
CROSS COUNTRY Lucca Fulkerson (Niwot), a freshman at Princeton University, helped her squad to a second-place finish at the Lehigh Invitational Sept. 3, when all five runners crossed the 6K finish line together, good for an eighth-place tie at 22:14.8. She followed with a fourth-place finish at the Harvard-Yale-Princeton meet Sept. 11, with a time of 16:28.3 for the 4800-meter race. At the Princeton Invitational she finished seventh with a time of 21:44.2 for the 6K. At the NCAA Mid-Atlantic...
The Niwot and Gunbarrel areas have their share of exceptionally talented chefs, some of whom have just opened or expanded restaurants in the past year. Each has expressed appreciation for working out of this community and serving those who live here. As a thank you, they've provided some of their favorite recipes as a gift for readers who might want to try something new for their Thanksgiving meal. Potato Jurasien Pie from Christine Carr of TipTop Pies This recipe is not only decadent and...
There's a meme which depicts two paths as to what your road of life may look like. One path shows a straight line going up at a steep angle labeled "What you thought your life would be like." The other path shows lots of spaghetti-like lines with the caption "What your life is really like." Gunbarrel resident Mike Hamers knows these two sides very well. What he's learned is when the road of life gets complicated, a map, dictated by the healing power of art, showed him the way home. The Kenosha,...
When it's time to purchase holiday gifts this year, you can always pull out your keyboard and order gifts from Amazon or purchase something from a chain retailer at the mall. But local stores here have a lot to offer. When you buy from area retailers you'll find gifts you can't get anywhere else in the world, and the money you spend stays in the community, something that's needed by many as they recover from the lingering impacts of the pandemic. Local food restaurants and purveyors Niwot and...
On Oct. 6, the City of Boulder announced the formation of the Library District Advisory Committee (LDAC). This committee is an advising body, rather than a decision-making body, and the council chose 12 representatives out of 37 online applications. The application process largely focused on applicants' demographic data (age, ethnicity, income), and asked questions about how applicants planned to best represent the various perspectives in and around Boulder. Joni Teter, longtime library...
Silence and Respect. Thus reads the first trail sign greeting visitors at the Sand Creek Massacre National HIstoric Site. Thirty Niwot-area residents, both young and old, traveled to the site on Saturday, Sept. 25, by bus exactly 17 months after the original excursion was derailed by the pandemic. What originally started as two busloads of Niwotians dwindled to a little more than half a bus, due to COVID concerns and the difficulty of finding a rescheduled date that fit everyone's schedule, but...
Though his induction into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame was delayed a year due to the pandemic, Niwot resident Cotton Burden was never at a loss for words when the time arrived Sept. 16 at the Embassy Suites hotel in Boulder. Burden accurately predicted that he would have trouble getting through his remarks without choking up, much as he did during soccer banquets during his 11-year tenure as Niwot High's head coach. He thanked his many supporters who were present. Among those Burden...
Niwot-born Bootstrap Brewing has once again medaled at this year's Great American Beer Festival awards. The brewery received a gold medal for Stick's Pale Ale, a win which placed it among 20 other GABF gold, silver, and bronze medal winners in Colorado. Although the festival portion of this year's event was canceled due to pandemic-related concerns, the awards portion of the ceremony proceeded in person. Brewers, many of whom were already in town for the Craft Brewers Conference, carefully...
With the beginning of each school year comes the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and to celebrate making new ones. In that spirit, Niwot United Methodist Church (7405 Lookout Rd., Gunbarrel) is hosting a Back-to-School Extravaganza on Sunday, Aug. 29, from 12-3 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited to come enjoy an afternoon of free food, carnival games, crafts, and, most of all, fun, Pastor Emily Kintzel said. "We wanted to do something, especially in light of the last year and a...
From the time Cotton Burden was in the sixth grade, he knew he would be a lawyer. After a stint in the Navy as an aircrewman and a Bachelor of Science degree from the Leeds Business School at the University of Colorado, Burden accomplished that goal and graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1981. It was during that time that he also obtained a real estate broker's license, setting him up for his current role as president and in-house counsel of Burden Incorporated, which...
Many residents in the area are well acquainted with Geof Sparks due to his passions, the genuine way he connects with others in conversations, and also because he works at a very popular retail store in Niwot. Here are a few tidbits about Sparks which give us insight into the man behind the familiar face. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) – How have you become a familiar face in Niwot? Geof Sparks (GS) - Most people know me as the evening face of Niwot Liquor where I've worked for over 16 y...
Gunbarrel-based nonprofit Cultivate is focused on meeting the needs of our community's seniors. How this plays out is by way of seven programs: Carry-out Caravan (shopping/delivery), Fix-It (home repairs and upgrades), VetsGo (medical appointment transportation), YardBusters (outdoor clean up), SnowBusters (shoveling), RSVP (AmeriCorps Retired Senior Volunteer Program), and File of Life (documents for emergency preparedness). In honor of his volunteerism with the organization, Cultivate wanted...
Water goes down the drain. In Niwot’s early days, homes had a septic system with a leach field to collect wastewater. While these systems worked well, they could lead to contamination of groundwater and drinking water. Boulder County began requiring permits for septic systems and gradually imposed stricter regulations on wastewater systems, such as increased lot size requirements. As Niwot developed from a small unincorporated townsite surrounded by farmland and farm houses, into a community with subdivisions to serve the growing population, t...
Early farmers in the Niwot area relied upon wells and cisterns for a domestic water supply, as did the residents of Old Town Niwot. In 1960, as Colorado's population began to increase, they looked for a better system to supply potable water to the area. Because Niwot was unincorporated, there was no municipal water system, so farmers and residents formed the Left Hand Domestic Water Users Association, an unincorporated association and sought a $1.25 million loan from the FHA to finance the...
To paraphrase an old adage, "Man plans, the universe laughs." In Jim Eastman's life, at least two major events sent him off the expected path. Thankfully, the world is a better place, and Eastman would likely concur, that he's better as a result. A rollover car accident in 1990 caused Eastman to sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) which led to profound changes cognitively and, over time, physically as a result of stress. A decade later, he experienced another turning point - the discovery tha...
Barbara Angevine, longtime Niwot resident, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2021. She will be missed by her husband of 64 years, three children and two grandchildren. Peter Sprenkle of Boulder passed away June 11, 2021, of myelofibrosis at age 84. Pete began his storied softball career coaching for Gunbarrel Lefthand Valley Recreation Association (GLVRA), now known as Niwot Youth Sports and later founded the Boulder Valley Girls Softball Association. A celebration of Pete’s life will be held at Pine Street Church, 1237 Pine Street, Boulder o...
Ed Nuhfer has become a familiar face over his cumulative 17 years in Niwot thanks to everyday walks with Zion, his dog, and the time he regularly spends at local establishments such as Winot Coffee and Garden Gate Café doing work on his laptop. We wanted to hear a bit of Nuhfer's life story, so we asked him a few questions. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - Where are you from, and besides Niwot, where have you lived? Ed Nuhfer (EN) - I'm originally from a small town on the Ohio River,...
This month's recipient of the Left Hand Laurel is Shana Oehmke, uber-parent volunteer at Heatherwood Elementary School (HES). Living just three blocks away from the school for the last 15 years, the Oehmke children had an easy commute to HES; Henry is a third-grader this year, Charlotte is in seventh grade at Platt Middle School, and Amelia is a sophomore at Fairview High. HES school office manager Marlys Lietz wrote, "Shana has worked hard to keep our school finances in order and has been...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) began as a reaction to a regional shopping center proposed by an out-of-town developer in the early 1980s. The concept put forth was that the property kitty-corner from the IBM site on the Diagonal Highway would be developed into a regional shopping center as part of a plan to incorporate the town of Niwot, with a sales tax providing all the revenue the newly incorporated town would ever need. At the time the City of Boulder had not yet annexed the IBM site or the would-be shopping center property and Twin...
The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect arises when natural environments are replaced with artificial surfaces such as concrete and buildings, which absorb solar radiation differently. When nature is built on, the benefits of natural evaporative cooling and carbon absorption are lost. In addition, the heat produced directly by new human activity in the area (including transportation and air-conditioning)creates “islands” that are warmer than the surrounding areas -- an effect that has major adverse effects. The Celestial Seasonings development (LU...
When the pandemic hit last year, the City of Boulder had to scramble to reallocate funds and resources. The Boulder Library was one such institution subject to a budget cut; people lost their jobs and services were cut. Meanwhile, in neighboring communities with library districts, rather than libraries maintained by the municipality, those libraries were able to bounce back. According to those in favor of a library district, COVID has only further emphasized the need for one. On May 18, Boulder...
"I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy.....Born on the 4th of July" The line from "Yankee Doodle Dandy" fits the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, which first performed on July 4, 2005, as part of the bandstand dedication ceremony in Whistle Stop Park. "The Niwot Business Association built a bandstand in the park reminiscent of the bandstand that stood for many years on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Murray Street," Biff Warren, one of the founding band members said. "We had everything ready...
Bobcats have become a regular feature on the Nextdoor social media platform. Several people have recently posted photos and stories about seeing them in Niwot and Gunbarrel. Avara Yaron was walking in the afternoon along a ditch on a path north of Lookout Road, just east of King Soopers. "On the other side of that waterway, that canal, I saw a large cat and the first thing that crossed my mind was, 'Is it a mountain lion? No it's smaller, it's a bobcat,'" she said. "We just looked at each other...
The City of Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) is planning to build a new loop trail in the northwest corner of the Gunbarrel Hill open space. The approximately 1,000-acre open space site, which is owned by the City of Boulder and managed by its Open Space and Mountain Parks Department, is located to the south of Lookout Road between North 75th Street and North 95th Street. The proposed loop trail is estimated to add roughly two miles of trail to the system and is part of a larger...
A tip from a Gunbarrel reader led the Courier to this new store, dedicated entirely to the sale and care of houseplants, at 375 McCaslin Boulevard in Louisville. The business, called Plante, is the creation of co-owners and general partners Trevor Kuntz and Kyle Rutz, experienced plant growers with longstanding ties to Boulder County and the Niwot-Gunbarrel area. "Plants are inherently good, and they help you remember things, increase self-esteem," Rutz said. "We think anybody can be...
Whether it's first thing in the morning or a break later in the day, time with coffee in-hand is practically a ceremonial daily act. The emotional warmth of that ritual is nearly equal to the physical enjoyment it delivers. Part of that anticipated experience includes the kind people who provide that soul hugging treat such as Winot Coffee's manager Mary Jo Wysocki. The Courier wanted to learn more about the familiar face that is as uplifting as our daily cup of java. Left Hand Valley Courier...
The Niwot Business Association, known informally as the NBA, is the organization that gets most things done in Niwot's business district. While the Niwot Community Association (NCA) addresses matters of community-wide interest, the NBA has taken the lead on business-related matters. The two organizations often work together on projects of mutual interest, such as the Veteran's Banner Project last fall. But the NBA, whose 150-plus dues-paying members often live in NIwot as well as work there, is...
The south end of the West Twin Lakes Trail in Gunbarrel will close for up to three weeks for emergency stabilization of a bank along the Boulder and Left Hand Ditch that flows through the area. Boulder County Parks and Open Space plans to start work this week. Erosion on the bank is threatening the abutment to a footbridge, adding urgency to the project, according to BCPOS Project Manager Mary Olson. She said the problem stems from the impact of people and dogs, "It's like any other park during...
April is National Volunteer month, a moment when the US acknowledges and honors the impressive impact volunteers make by giving their time and energy. We can all make the world a better place by volunteering in big and small ways, and while pitching in, you're also bringing health and happiness to yourself. Here's a list of nearby organizations where volunteers make a huge difference. Note: For the past year, we've been told to stay socially distant during the pandemic, but many organizations...
Found either on a bike or working on one, Fernando Tapia is one of Niwot's most Familiar Faces. From the day the doors opened and through the relocation to its expanded space, Tapia has been part of Niwot Wheel Works bike shop and the new Wheel House Bar. With more than 35 years of experience, this master bike mechanic is the go-to person when it comes to bike maintenance. Niwot Wheel Works and Wheel House Bar owner Eric Bergeson said, "Fernando is the definition of a master in his trade. He is...
Jackson C. Taylor, former Gunbarrel resident, died Mon., April 5, 2021 at age 90. Jack was president of the Gunbarrel Left Hand Valley Recreation Association (GLVRA), now known as Niwot Youth Sports, in the 1970s. No services are currently planned. Visit Jackson Taylor Obituary - Longmont, CO (dignitymemorial.com) to leave condolences....
This time last year, Laurel Fox and Jessica Crider of Gunbarrel were preparing their annual fundraising yard sale for the organization they run - Cause4Paws (www.facebook.com/C4P.ARF). It was early in the pandemic and seemed reasonable to think the multi-day event would still be on, but might take place just a little later than usual as the world got its bearings. Through the large-scale yard sale, C4P whose motto is "It takes nothing from a human to be kind to an animal," has raised more than $...
Living in pandemic times we realize more than ever that our homes are our refuge. But for 45 years, Habitat for Humanity has been focused on just that - offering permanent affordable shelter to families around the globe. Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley (HFHSVV) makes local low-income families' dreams come true by paving the path for them to own a safe, well-maintained home. Located in Longmont, HFHSVV engages volunteers to work hands-on improving the living situations of well-deserv...
BASEBALL Ford Ladd (Niwot) finished his collegiate career as a pitcher at New York University and has joined the coaching staff at Georgia Gwinnett College as Coordinator of Research & Development. In his final game at NYU, Ladd played first base and went 1-4 at the plate, scoring a run and driving in two runs in an 11-0 victory over John Jay College March 9, 2020. A day earlier, he went 1-3 as a DH in both games of a doubleheader sweep of Stockton University with a run and an RBI in the second...
It's all about the dirt. Improving the soil improves the plants, improves the yield, improves the quality and amount of locally grown food, and benefits the environment, which is why Boulder County is investing more than $300,000 in grants to local agricultural projects and farms through the Sustainable Food and Agriculture Funds. Michael Moss of Kilt Farms has two properties he leases from the county. One of them, on the Diagonal Highway west of Niwot is a productive organic vegetable farm. But...
Savory pies, whiskey barrel roasted coffee on nitro, and New Zealand-style ice cream are just some of the items customers can enjoy when Tip Top Savory Pies of Lafayette opens a second location in Gunbarrel this spring. The 4,000 square-foot location will open doors in late April or early in May in the Gunpark Drive development close to King Soopers and next to Anytime Fitness. It will include plenty of on-site, indoor and outdoor seating for customers to enjoy menu options. It will also have a...
This month, Gunbarrel-based Beyond the Mountain Brewing announced that it will begin distributing to liquor stores throughout Boulder County. This was a major step for the business, which first opened in late December 2017 at 6035 Longbow Drive. "We're pretty excited and we think the cans are looking great," said the brewery's managing member, Chuck Hixon. He shared that as a local craft brewer, owners are prioritizing distribution in Longmont, Niwot, and Boulder. While the business currently...
On March 13, many of us went to bed feeling a little sheepish about buying into the hype of winter storm Xylia, which local forecasters had teased all week with predictions of improbable snow totals and comparisons to the memorable blizzard of March 2003. Store shelves had been cleared, events were rescheduled, and we looked forward to engaging in treasured snow-day traditions. But after a few false starts on Saturday afternoon, it appeared that Xylia was destined to be a bust. By all...
On Saturday March 13, like the old Burger King commercial, everyone was asking where's the snow. We all found out the next day. Fifteen or so inches of heavy wet spring snow fell in Gunbarrel and Niwot. Besides testing the flexibility of trees and bushes, the snow also brought a short power outage to Gunbarrel Estates....
Repairs on the Cottontail Trail in Gunbarrel could begin this week, causing a temporary closure to two sections of the trail. The trail is part of the LOBO Trail. Impacted sections are between Lookout Road and Highway 52. Starting as early as Wednesday, a half-mile section of the trail south of Highway 52 to the Boulder White Rock Ditch will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. while work is being done. Resurfacing is expected to take four weeks. The section of the trail that is directly south of...
Gary Arthur Garrison, age 74, of Ward, formerly of Gunbarrel, died Friday, February 29, 2021 after battling viral meningitis. Services will be held during the summer of 2021. In lieu of sending flowers please send donations to one of these organizations Gary supported: CalWood Fire Restoration: Cal-Wood Education Center, https://www. calwood.org/, Colorado Gives, https://bit.ly/ 3ebw2H1, Boulder County Open Space Foundation, https://preserve bouldercounty.org/, designate CalWood Fire Recovery fund Social Justice Organizations Gary Supported:...
With the move down to the yellow zone, many businesses and organizations have been able to open up, in spite of COVID. But one that is still struggling to open are the libraries throughout Boulder County. Those institutions--in Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette and Boulder--are all municipal libraries, which are funded by city budgets. Unlike the library districts in the surrounding areas of Fort Collins, Weld County, and Broomfield, many libraries in Boulder County remain closed for in person...
