All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Discussions have been underway since March between Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting and the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) regarding the location and alignment of the proposed underpass linking the planned bikeway in the median of the Diagonal and the RTD park-n-ride parking lot with downtown Niwot. The original plans for the bikeway did not include an underpass on the northbound lanes of the Diagonal Highway, but the LID and the Niwot Business...
The third week of Niwot's Dancing Under the Stars brought a touch of elegance to Cottonwood Square on Friday, July 12. The waltz and folk dance evening featured live music by the talented duo of Terri Rasmussen and Julia Haze, setting the tone for a magical night. The evening began again with a dance lesson led by Tom Masterson, one of the event organizers, from 7 to 7:45 p.m. After slowly teaching the basic steps, Masterson lined attendees up for a circle waltz before handing off the mic to...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) approved funding for three items at its July 9, 2024 meeting. Flower Fest Kathy Trauner of Fly Away Home Decor presented an application from the Niwot Business Association (NBA) for the second annual Flower Fest event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the application, Trauner wrote, "Flower Fest is designed to delight visitors and bring new customers to area businesses." "[W]e offer a 'Flower Journey' in which the first 150...
On Friday July 5, dancers from all over gathered for the first swing dance evening of Dancing Under the Stars this summer. At 7 p.m., dancers moved cautiously towards the makeshift dance floor for dance lessons led by Tom Masterson, one of the event organizers. Participants of all ages and skill levels joined in, learning the basic steps of swing dancing. Masterson let attendees take their time, stepping in when he felt it was necessary. With his swing dance crash course, the dancers were ready...
Dancing Under the Stars opened up its 2024 season on June 28 in Cottonwood Square in front of The Little Shop and WiNot Coffee Company. The event brought together dance enthusiasts and curious newcomers for an evening of dancing. While weather threatened to disrupt the night, a thunderstorm quickly moved through Niwot at the very beginning of the evening, leaving the crowd with a cloud-covered sky and an occasional sprinkle, a much-needed cool-off for those on the dance floor. The night began...
One of Niwot's greatest assets is its rich dedication to the arts and this Friday provides yet another opportunity to get involved. The "Why Not Niwot?" Juried Art Show is underway with a chance for Niwot residents to vote for their favorite piece of work. The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) website describes the event: "Each year local and regional artists submit works depicting the look, feel, and/or essence of the Niwot community, a vibrant and vintage Colorado town on the Front...
Dancing Under the Stars is back and ready to light up the night on Friday, June 28. The festive tradition, now its fifth year in Niwot, promises an enchanting evening of salsa dancing under the stars in Cottonwood Square from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Originally founded by Tom Masterson in the early 1980s, the event "started at the University of Colorado's Memorial Center and was very popular," said Masterson. "We had over 100 people dancing with us, and it has always been a completely free program,...
In the wake of 1914 House’s announcement that it will close as of July 7, 2024, Tony Santelli, a respected business professional and former president of the Niwot Business Association, has voiced his concerns about Boulder County's Minimum Wage Ordinance 2023-4. Santelli, who is a former site manager of IBM’s Boulder facility and a former owner of the Niwot Tavern, fears that this ordinance, if not addressed, could lead to significant financial strain on small businesses in Niwot and other areas of unincorporated Boulder County. Niwot's cur...
The second concert in the 2024 House Blend Band Summer Concert Series in front of The Old Oak Coffeehouse at 136 2nd Avenue in Niwot is set for this Saturday, June 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. This concert will feature songs by Chicago, Elton John, and multiple Motown jams, along with other hits from the 60s to the 2000s. The free event will close 2nd Avenue from Murray Street to Franklin Street that evening. It is recommended to bring your own chairs as seating is limited. Spaghetti and meatballs made...
Niwot's Lobsterfest is returning this Saturday, June 8 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Whistle Stop Park. While there have been over 100 tickets sold, there are still tickets left for the event, which is capped at 200 people. A $95 adult ticket includes entrance, a "Cape Codder" welcome cocktail, lobster, sides, designer cookies, and ice cream. At a cost of $35 for children, tickets include lobster mac and cheese, sides, designer cookies, ice cream, a juice box, and a fun-filled goodie bag. Beer, wine,...
Sales tax revenues for 2024 in Niwot continue to decline, based on data through February, with revenues down by 11% over the same period in 2023. Several funding requests were approved by the LID Advisory Committee (LID). Rock & Rails The 18th year of Rock & Rails, Niwot’s summer concert series, begins on Thursday, May 30, this year. The event takes place in Whistle Stop Park every Thursday night in June, July (except July 4th) and August, with 13 concerts total. Biff Warren, one of the three co-managers of the event, presented the funding r...
Part two of a three-part series covering RTD regarding TABOR's impact, RTD Northwest Rail and Front Range Passenger Rail, and an update on key state legislation. Commuting Solutions, a Louisville based organization dedicated to finding innovative transportation options connecting commuters to their workplaces, has strongly advocated for the CO 119 Safety, Mobility, and Bikeway Project. It held a membership meeting on April 24, providing a comprehensive update on the project, including its team,...
Rock & Rails, one of Niwot's favorite long-standing summer traditions, is returning for another fun-filled, jam-packed, "off the rails" concert series for 2024. The much anticipated summer concert series is starting a week early this year on Thursday, May 30, due to a Thursday off on the 4th of July. Through the efforts of sponsors and patrons, Rock & Rails continues to work towards being a zero-waste event and venue. Composting will resume as it always has, and though compost partners are...
The annual meeting of the Niwot Community Association (NCA) was held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23 at the Niwot Community Hall. Guest speakers were Jim Webster, Boulder County Wildfire Partners, Paul Ostroy, Fire Management Officer for Mountain View Fire Protection District (MVFPD) and Dr. Don Haddad, Superintendent of the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD). Annual elections were held for the NCA board. David Limbach was re-elected to the office of President, Emily Limbach was re-elected...
The annual Lobsterfest event is returning to Niwot Saturday, June 8, for the fourth year since its return after a long hiatus. Lobsterfest began at the direction of former Niwot business owner Diane Atwood several years ago. Its reincarnation draws people from near and far as a charitable, fun, community event at Whistle Stop Park. "Every year, the funds are raised at this event for different charities," said organizer Deb Fowler of the Niwot Business Association (NBA). Previous funds have been...
Dips are a staple on game day or any day! And you can't go wrong if cheese is a main ingredient. Enjoy some of these next time the crowd comes over. Or if you are just hungry. Fundido Submitted by Alyson Varvel Bell Ingredients: 1 pound Boulder chorizo (or other fresh chorizo, not the tube stuff) 1 package of asadero, queso fresco and/or cotija cheese (or jack cheese in a pinch) Optional: sauteed onions and peppers Fresh tortillas Cilantro or jalapeno slices for garnish Directions: Fry up the...
Around the World Day is returning to Niwot for the fourth year in a row on Saturday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with 26 businesses participating in spreading cultural exposure and celebration. Around the World Day is Niwot's one-day version of the World Showcase in EPCOT. "We started the event in 2020," said Deb Fowler, one of the organizers of Around the World Day. "It was a good way to get people outdoors to socialize safely and bring people to the businesses during that time."...
Minimum wage, master plan, housing costs, Highway 119 underpass, key priorities. Those are the topics Niwot's Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) members hope to take up with the Boulder County Commissioners when the two boards meet at the Left Hand Grange on Thursday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m. The annual meeting between the three county commissioners, who govern Niwot as well as the rest of unincorporated Boulder County, and the members of Niwot's most active advisory board, all of...
Plans have been unveiled for the construction of innovative bike-accessible-only apartments in the median of CO 119 (the "Diagonal") at Niwot Road. Messer Development has applied for Special Use Review with the Boulder County Planning & Permitting & Pedaling Department to construct this new facility which it believes "will be a groundbreaking innovation to revitalize and enhance the community and Boulder County generally." The project, slated to take three years to complete, promises to...
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...
Welcome to the Niwot Transportation Update, your go-to source for all things related to transportation and mobility in our vibrant community. Highway 119 Underpass Discussions are underway regarding the proposed underpass linking the current RTD parking lot and downtown Niwot, involving the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) and Boulder County. Recently, the LID penned a letter to Stacey Proctor, Transportation Strategic Planning and Projects Manager for the CO 119...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) met March 5 at the Niwot Inn to consider funding requests from the Left Hand Grange No. 9 for improvements to the Grange Hall, now owned by Niwot Community Hall, a newly formed non-profit organization. The meeting began with an introduction of Carla Hunter, the newest member of the committee, who was appointed to fill the resident vacancy held by Lisa Rivard, who did not apply for reappointment. LEFT HAND GRANGE Left Hand Grange No....
Niwot High School senior Tracy Yu will be pulling double duty this spring for the first time in two years. Yu is currently preparing for her fourth season on the Cougars' girls tennis team and is rejoining Niwot's girls soccer squad after taking last season off. Her weekday afternoons may be chaotic at times, but her passion for both sports should prevail. Regarding her return to the pitch, Yu was convinced by teammate Margaux Boyer to attend a low-stress summer kickaround. "I definitely really...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) board held its monthly meeting at the Left Hand Grange hall on Feb. 14. Membership Director Johnny Barrett reported that a membership drive will begin soon. The manager of the NCA's annual Cleanup Day, John Barto, reported that planning is very nearly finished, with all contacts made, approvals in place and a date of May 18 set. These two activities are related because the cost for non-members of the NCA to drop off yard waste, scrap metal, some types of...
Philly Cheesesteak Variations Philly Cheesesteak, or as most like to say, simply "Cheesesteak," may have originated in Philadelphia, but it has taken on a life of its own. The flavor of thinly sliced steak, caramelized onions, peppers and provolone cheese (or other cheeses) resonates in many mediums. Here are a few variations on this comfort food theme for you to enjoy. Traditional Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich Adapted from House of Nash Eats https://houseofnasheats.com/philly-cheese-steaks/...
The House Blend Band is back for a fourth summer of concerts on Second Avenue. The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) approved funding for the popular concerts, now known as 2nd Avenue Concert Series, based on an application from the Niwot Business Association, presented by Michael Tomich and Patty Machen of The Old Oak Coffeehouse. Tomich explained that there would be five concerts this summer beginning May 18, an increase of one over last year. The headliner for the...
Road maintenance and development has been, and continues to be, a concern for residents within the Niwot and Gunbarrel communities. The degeneration of roads within residential subdivisions and neighborhoods are very apparent and only continue to get worse as time goes on. So how do they get improved? Well, it's not that simple. Issues regarding road maintenance are not new and have been prevalent for decades. It wasn't until the mid-2000s that residents started really noticing the...
As an unincorporated community, Niwot relies on Boulder County for day-to-day governance, and the two appointed advisory boards that directly affect Niwot are the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee (NLIDAC), and the Niwot Design Review Committee. The Niwot Design Review Committee is charged with reviewing development applications and proposed changes to properties in the Niwot Rural Community District I, which includes the Old Town business district. Some regulations apply to the entire district, while others apply only...
The working draft of the Niwot Master Plan 2023 was presented to the Niwot Community Association (NCA) on Jan. 23 at the Left Hand Grange No. 9. The master plan is the first step in imagining how Niwot might look in the near and distant future, and includes an update to the 2012 Transportation & Connectivity Plan that has guided Niwot projects for the past decade. This vision for Niwot has been developed by the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) in conjunction with the...
Niwot is known for its great small-town feel and numerous community events. The inaugural WinterFest event on Saturday, Jan. 27, did not disappoint. WinterFest brought food, games and carriage rides from Cottonwood Square to 2nd Avenue. Vendors, musicians, and activities were scattered through Niwot including Nothing Bundt Cakes in Cottonwood Square and Sweet Maple Cotton Candy at the Emporium on 2nd Avenue. A steady flow of attendees participated throughout town. However, the real hit was the...
In years past, the Niwot hosted Apres Ski Day, a fun winter event that included winter treats and activities around town. This year, the revamped event has changed its name to "WinterFest" and will be held on Jan. 27 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The name was changed to better celebrate the season and let the community know that no one needs to go skiing before enjoying all the activities. WinterFest is sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA) with most of the funding coming from the Niwot...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee approved funding for three upcoming events to be held in January, February and June, 2024, at its Jan. 9 meeting. Mary Coonce, who serves as treasurer of both the LID and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), spoke in support of the events, saying, “The goal is to have an event every month.” In her treasurer’s report, Coonce reported a $10,716 decrease in sales tax revenues collected by the LID through October 2023, compared with...
Niwot is home to the architectural firm Fletemeyer & Lee Associates (FLA). Dave Lee and Chad Fletemeyer and their team are actively engaged in the local business community and offer a complete selection of professional services that include site analysis and selection, architecture, landscape architecture, facility needs assessment and construction. The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (NLIDAC) retained FLA to update the 2012 Master Plan for Niwot. The Master Plan will assist...
First, just in case you were wondering, most of these groups of letters are not acronyms but initialisms, as they cannot be pronounced as a word. For example, FOMO (fear of missing out), FedEx, and NASA are pronounced as words, consequently they are acronyms, whereas ATM is not pronounced “attem,” thus an initialism. But the initialisms listed above represent organizations in Niwot, including non-profits, a taxing district and its advisory committee, and a business committee, which are all quite important to local Niwot citizens. The ini...
Thanks to the alarmingly successful recruitment efforts of the Courier's Biff Warren, Keith Waters was persuaded to contribute articles to the Courier beginning last summer. Local readers lavish praise on his prose, noting that his articles are "remarkably adequate," with one local going so far as to say that they are "appropriate in length." When asked about Waters's writing, Niwot novelist Jim Ringel was quoted as saying, "...uhh, right, Keith Waters," before abruptly leaving the room. When...
Approximately 75 people turned out for an open house at the Left Hand Grange No. 9 on Dec. 13 to review plans for Highway 119 (Diagonal Highway) improvements between Boulder and Longmont. Representatives from Muller Engineering Company, consultants on the project, were on hand with Boulder County Public Works and RTD staff members to listen to comments and answer questions. The primary topic of discussion was the design of a pedestrian-bikeway underpass leading from 2nd Avenue in downtown Niwot...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) is a non-profit organization established in 1990 that advocates for the Niwot community with local governmental agencies. The NCA also provides a forum for Niwot citizens to have an opportunity to become informed and involved in proposed changes affecting their lives in the community. The NCA board of directors held its monthly meeting Dec. 13 at the Left Hand Grange No. 9. The focus of the December board meeting was to set goals for the new year. In...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee approved two funding proposals from the Niwot Business Association (NBA) at its Dec. 5 meeting. Chuck Klueber presented a request for funding to clean up the area along Niwot Road where Eddie Running Wolf's iconic tree carvings have been removed for restoration. The application requested $862 toward the total cost of $1,062, based on a bid from Niwot arborist company We Love Trees. The NBA and the Niwot Cultural Arts Association each...
In an uncertain world, Niwot's annual Holiday Magic events provide traditions, nostalgia and hope for the future. Holiday Magic in Niwot is comprised of four main events: Enchanted Evening on Nov. 24, the Friday after Thanksgiving; the Holiday Parade on the following day, Nov. 25; and then two Holiday Market days at the Left Hand Grange on the first two Saturdays in December, Dec. 2 and 9. During this magical time, there are several opportunities for children to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the...
Catherine McHale is the recipient of the Left Hand Valley Courier’s Left Hand Laurel for her volunteer work in Niwot, most notably establishing the popular event, “Dancing Under the Stars.” McHale owns Power & Purpose Marketing in Niwot, and has been a member of the Niwot community for about 13 years. She was Niwot’s Economic Development Director for a number of years, leading efforts to fill Niwot’s commercial spaces. She started getting involved in the community as a business owner. “After a...
Historically in the United States, a wooden nickel was not typically legal tender, but instead more of a novelty coin often issued by merchants as part of a promotion. Wooden nickels became popular in the 1930s, though they may date back to the 1880s. Niwot has had its own share of wooden nickels through the years, issued by local businesses. Thanks to local Niwotians such as Adam Robinson and Tim and Carrie Wise, the idea of re-introducing a new wooden Niwot Nickel was born. The Niwot Business...
Niwot's Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID), made up of nine community members appointed by the Boulder County Commissioners, unveiled a Master Plan for Niwot, focusing primarily on the business district, at a meeting of Niwot's primary community non-profit organizations Nov. 6. The first meeting of Niwot organizations took place in the fall of 2021, when each organization had an opportunity to describe its mission and planned projects. The Nov. 6 meeting was a followup to the...
All nine members of the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee were present Oct. 17 in the downstairs conference room of the Niwot Inn & Spa for a preview of a master plan commissioned by the LID. David Lee and Chad Fletemeyer of the Niwot architectural firm Fletemeyer, Lee & Associates were on hand to give a preview of a master plan for Niwot being developed to assist the LID and the Niwot community in planning for the future. The LID’s first effort at creating a master plan was completed in 2012 when several community members a...
After a two-year hiatus, Oktoberfest returned to Cottonwood Square on Saturday, Sept. 30. The festivities kicked off at 11 a.m. with a Nerf Animal Shooting Gallery for kids and adults alike. The inflatable animals included bears, deer and wild boar that could be "shot at" with a Nerf bow and arrow. The shooting gallery was run by the Niwot Rotary Club. Music started at 12:30 p.m. with the aptly named Wurst Case Scenario playing some fun German themed "Weird Al Yankovic" style music. The...
Whether you love them or fear them, insects make up approximately 80% of animals found on earth, and make up the majority of pollinators. This weekend, Niwot celebrated one of the most well-known and well-loved species of pollinators – bees. The over 900 species of bees found in Colorado play an integral part to the farming culture Niwot was built upon. From 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept.16, 2nd Avenue and Cottonwood Square were taken over by various small businesses, artisans, and b...
Karen Ragland, Niwot's St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) school board representative, joined the Niwot Community Association's (NCA) September board meeting to hold a conversation with members and the public about the banners on the football field fence, an upcoming bond measure, and property valuation and taxes. NCA board members have previously spoken with Niwot High School (NHS) principal Eric Rauschkolb about the advertising banners on the football field fence facing Niwot Road, which...
As we transition into autumn, one of the most popular events in Niwot is coming to a close – the weekly "Dancing Under the Stars" event. A free dance lesson of varying genres followed by a public dance takes place every Friday during the warm summer evenings from June to the end of September. Originally scheduled to end Sept. 22, a "rain date" has extended the season through Sept. 29 with contra dance. Dancing Under the Stars started out in Boulder at the University of Colorado, but when C...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) met Tuesday, Sept. 5, at the Niwot Inn, and approved six out of seven funding requests, all submitted by the Niwot Business Association. Kate Head of Pebble Art Jewelry presented a funding request for Out and About, a one-day event, now in its second year, designed to allow "all businesses to showcase their services and products in a fun way all around town," according to the application. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept....
Just off of Highway 119 on the north side of Niwot Road is a new carved rock sign, welcoming visitors who get off the Diagonal Highway to enter Niwot. Montana Heather, a Niwot High School senior, created the sign, located on the north side of Niwot Road just across from Peppertree Drive, as his Eagle Scout project. The planning and coordinating behind the construction of the sign took almost two years due to the spacing requirements of the sign itself, which required approval by Boulder County b...
The Niwot Business Association (NBA) and Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee have been hard at work to convince Boulder County and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to add an underpass into Niwot as part of the Colorado Highway 119 Safety and Mobility Improvements Project and Bikeway Project. County funding for the underpass design has now been approved. Scott Firle, chairperson of the LID, said, "[The LID effort] started about two years ago when we had our...
