All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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After a few drops of rain fell early at the Rock & Rails concert Aug. 22, the evening cooled off and the crowd came out to hear hometown girl Nalani Clisset and her band, The Nalani Effect, entertain the crowd with a mix of blues, funk and soul standards. Joined by Regi Wooten on guitar and Adam Wooten on drums, from the renowned Wooten Brothers, Nalani, her stage name, poured out her heart and soul on vocals while playing bass. Tunes included Chaka Khan's "Tell Me Something Good" as well as a...
On Friday, Aug. 23, Dancing Under the Stars featured a lively blend of waltz, folk, and contra dancing, bringing a fresh dynamic to Niwot's beloved event. The evening was accompanied by live music from keyboardist Teri Rasmusson and fiddler Royston Hunget, whose harmonious tunes set the perfect mood for the traditional dances. Earlier in the season, Rasmusson, a Niwot resident, performed with violinist Julia Hays on July 12. Adding to the energy was Tina Fields, who called the dances and guided...
Kaige Kennedy, a senior at Niwot High School, recently returned home from the Dominican Republic with a gold medal around his neck, after representing the USA in the Latin America Baseball Classic (LABC). "It was really exciting getting to travel and play with a bunch of guys who know what they're doing and give it their all," Kennedy said. "The fact that we got to win the whole thing was surreal." Reflecting on the atmosphere of the final game, Kennedy noted that the team's mindset remained...
The Niwot High School gymnastics team is kicking off this season with exuberance and optimism for both its new and returning talent. Led by Coach Marisa Purcell, who is entering her ninth year with the team, and Assistant Coach Maddi York, the gymnasts are freshly prepared to compete. After landing in fourth place at last season's 4A state meet by less than half of a point from a position in second, the gymnasts are bringing an ambitious attitude. Senior Maeve Flentie has challenged herself on...
Senior Tyler Chivukula doesn't take his new role as a Niwot High School boys tennis team captain lightly. "I take a lot of pride in it," Chivukula said. "Team captains are always someone that's looked up to. In the past, I've always looked up to the team captains. Being the person that's looked up to now is a really big honor." Along with fellow captains Charlie Kirtland and Rex Wallington, Chivukula is looking to improve the Cougars' chemistry throughout the entire program, junior varsity inclu...
The Niwot High School girls volleyball team is gearing up for an exciting 2024-2025 season under the leadership of Head Coach Tony Engel. Coming off a strong performance last year, when they placed second in their league and secured a spot in the state playoffs, the Cougars are looking to build on that success with a new approach to the game. This season, the team will emphasize defense and ball control, a shift from the aggressive hitting strategy they have employed in the recent past. Last...
With a new-look lineup, the Niwot High School boys tennis team navigated a rather chaotic first week of the season. The Cougars were tested immediately in their opener, going up against two-time defending Class 4A team state title winner Kent Denver School. In a match that began on Monday, Aug. 19, and wrapped up the following day due to rain, junior Oskar Hansen's 6-1, 6-2 performance at No. 3 singles represented Niwot's only winning line. "It was tough starting with Kent because (they're) the...
As school begins again in full swing, so do the various fall sports, notably cross country. The Niwot High School cross country team recently geared up for the season's first invitational at Mountain Vista High School, a large Class 5A school in Highlands Ranch last Saturday, Aug. 24. This event was the first real test of the team's rigorous summer training program, and the athletes were met with a hot, but manageable environment, as temperatures ranged from a high of 90º to a low of 84º t...
The Niwot High School boys golf team faced another challenging week on the course, competing in two league tournaments that tested the golfers' consistency and resilience. On Aug. 20, the Cougars participated in the Centaurus League Tournament at the Indian Peaks Golf Course, where they tied for fourth place with Monarch High School, both teams finishing with a score of 308. Fairview High School claimed first place with a dominant score of 287, followed by Erie High School at 302, and Horizon...
Niwot Youth Sports (NYS) is a non-profit organization providing recreational and competitive sports experiences for children ages four to 18 in the Niwot, Gunbarrel and South Longmont area, and fall brings back the NYS flag football program. The NYS NFL Flag Football League is a premier youth flag football league for boys and girls that includes games against other NFL flag football teams in the Boulder County area. Flag football is a non-contact sport where players wear flags and defenders are...
Coming off a 3-7 season, Niwot High School's football team is aiming for an upward trajectory in a challenging new environment. The Cougars have moved to a new league in 3A, the North 2 League, which includes tough opponents like the Windsor Wizards and the Mead Mavericks. The reclassification sets the stage for fierce competition, but Head Coach Nik Blume remains focused on the bigger picture in his fourth season as the coach. Despite the challenges ahead, Blume's primary focus is on continued...
Last year, Niwot High School had over 60 student-led and created clubs. Niwot students are dedicated to their passions, and many returning clubs will be coming back bigger and better to recruit members at this year's Club Rush event on Sept. 4. During both A and B lunches, club leaders and other members will be outside at the front of the school with interest sheets, candies, and information about their clubs. This year, clubs such as Model United Nations, Best Buddies Club, Dance Club,...
Calling all photographers, intentional or accidental! The Left Hand Valley Courier’s Photo of the Week feature is open to any area resident who personally photographs Niwot-Gunbarrel area sights, including people (with permission, of course), buildings, animals, birds, plants, flowers, events, or anything else. Naturally, there are a few rules to follow: • The photograph must be submitted in jpg format via email to [email protected]@lhvc.com in high resolution. • Please include a caption describing the photo, your name, email addre...
All nine members of the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) met with Boulder County Commissioners Claire Levy and Marta Loachamin on Aug. 12 at the Left Hand Grange building in Niwot. The meeting, which had been rescheduled several times, is an annual affair in which LID members can give an update on the state of Niwot and hear directly from the commissioners about their priorities. County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann, who is the elected representative from an area which...
The Niwot community and many of its events are made possible only through the efforts of community volunteers, people who dedicate their personal, unpaid time to make this town fun, eventful, and engaging. One such volunteer is Terry Larsen, treasurer and board member of the Niwot Community Association (NCA), an organization whose board is made up entirely of volunteers. For her volunteer efforts, Larsen is this month's Left Hand Laurel. Larsen has been a Niwot resident since December of 1999....
While Rock & Rails may be coming to a close soon, the free music will continue for one more week with the annual Remember in September (RISE) Benefit Concert for the Jared Music Foundation. The concert will take place on Thursday, Sept. 5, at Whistle Stop Park from 5 to 9 p.m. This concert is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) or the Niwot Business Association (NBA), but has sometimes been referred to as the "unofficial Rock & Rails victory lap"...
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...
While there may be only a couple of Rock & Rails concerts left this season, there is an unlimited amount of friendliness that comes from its volunteers. This week's Familiar Face behind the Rock & Rails bar on Thursdays is Kristin Alger. Alger first got involved with Rock & Rails seven years ago. Bill and Jill Whitener used to manage the site at Whistle Stop Park and because Alger and the Whiteners were friends, she would help with pre-concert set-up during the first year. She soon got promoted...
The Grange main floor hall has had another wonderful update. After many years of a mirror lurking behind curtains, there is now a beautiful continuous wall on the first floor. This update was transformative resulting in the hall feeling larger and warmer. Stop by for one of September's community events listed below and enjoy the new ambiance. Niwot Historical Society Then & Now Lecture Series Wednesday, Aug. 21, 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) "The Arapaho in Boulder County and Northern...
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...
Once again, the parking lot in front of Cottonwood Square's WiNot Coffee Company and The Little Shop became a Friday night outdoor ballroom during Niwot's Dancing Under the Stars. On Aug. 16, nearly 175 participants and spectators enjoyed the return of Swing Dance Night, with the event's usual introductory lesson, followed by open dance for the rest of the night. Catherine McHale and Tom Masterson organized the evening, as they do every Friday. "We have salsa, swing dancing, and country...
Rock & Rails drew a large crowd on Aug.15 to see the opening act, Charted Territory, followed by the headliner, FACE Vocal Band. "FACE always draws a large crowd, including many fans from out of town," said Biff Warren, co-manager of Rock & Rails. "Many came early to set up chairs near the stage, and were treated to music from Charted Territory, the opening band, which included Mike Pierce and Katie Warren, who performed earlier this summer at Rock & Rails with the Niwot Community Semi-Marching...
On Aug. 13, the Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting Department hosted a webinar to provide detailed updates on various CO 119 (the "Diagonal") intersections and design options for the 63rd Street bike/pedestrian overpass. The intersections discussed included both unsignalized and signalized locations. The unsignalized intersections covered were 55th Street, Monarch Road, Oxford Road, 83rd Street, and Fordham Street, while the signalized intersections included Airport Road, Niwot...
Karlien Dang-Lee has had an active musical life since the age of four, when she first started playing the violin. According to her mother, the young girl really wanted to learn violin, but all Dang-Lee remembers is crying because her fingers hurt. When she was seven, she switched to piano, which she played until she was fourteen. Playing piano provided her with a solid foundation for understanding notes and music theory. In fifth grade, she picked up the flute. "Because," she said, "my elementar...
While baseball remains his ultimate priority, senior Jagger Kilpatrick is currently working toward other important goals with the Niwot High School boys golf team. The two-sport athlete would like to qualify for the state golf tournament later this fall, something he has yet to accomplish in his three-year career. Reaching that goal will require consistent practice and continued improvement on the mental side of golf, he believes. "It definitely would mean a lot because I didn't start playing...
As the 2024-2025 school year begins, Niwot High School welcomes a new registrar, a student engagement specialist, and eleven new teachers in math, English, social studies, science, and Spanish. The new teachers and staff are Chevron Bayley (social studies), Michael DeCamillis (science), Sarah Florek (social studies), Gunilla Godebu (registrar), Priscilla Gonzalez (student engagement specialist), Kristen Keronen (Spanish), Stephanie Polutchko (science), Kyle Rees (art), Taylor Richardson (math), Taylor Renquist (math), Laura Schoenfeld...
Last year Drum Major Mark Rokhlenko and Drum Major Lily Sykes identified a major opportunity for the Niwot High School Marching Band. As section leaders in the band before becoming drum majors, they realized that drum majors are offered extensive training on how to lead. Niwot drum majors always attend Drum Major Academy at CU Boulder. But the section leaders of the marching band did not receive similar training. In response, Sykes and Rokhlenko spent more than eight hours planning a detailed schedule, making slideshows, and practicing...
The Niwot High School cross country team enters the 2024-2025 season with high expectations, as both the boys and girls teams make the leap from the 4A classification to Class 5A, where they will face some of the toughest competition in the nation. After dominating the 4A State Championships last season and achieving impressive results at the Nike Cross National Meet-where the boys' team placed fifth and the girls' team secured second-the Cougars are ready to take on bigger schools and more...
Head coach Bobby Matthews witnessed a mix of good and bad throughout Niwot High School softball’s season-opening loss at Golden High School on Saturday, Aug. 17. Looking at the positives, Niwot’s offense limited the strikeouts and freshman second baseman Payton Stokes shined during her varsity debut. However, the Cougars’ seven defensive errors were too much to overcome in the 12-8 defeat. “It definitely showed our lack of experience together,” Matthews said. “We only really have three girls playing the exact same position as they did the yea...
12 Niwot High School graduate Hanna Sandoff has made it full-circle, and is now a first grade teacher at Niwot Elementary School. Not only was Sandoff a NHS graduate, she also spent her fifth grade year at NES. "I naturally care very deeply for the people around me and teaching is a profession where you get to build long lasting relationships and make a small amount of positive change in the world," Sandoff said. "I like teaching because it is my little drop of goodness." Sandoff has known...
Niwot High School’s athletic programs are gearing up for significant changes this year as the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) implements its biennial reclassification. With an enrollment of 1,359 students, Niwot’s growth has led to shifts in classification for multiple sports and placed the school in newly formed leagues that aim to better balance competition across the state. Every two years, CHSAA evaluates school enrollments and reclassifies athletic programs accordingly. This reclassification is crucial in det...
The Cougars boys golf team has been busy on the greens, participating in three tournaments last week. On Aug. 12, Niwot's top players competed in the Roosevelt Invite at the Fox Hill Club in Longmont, where the team secured a third-place finish out of twenty-seven teams. Timnath High School took first with a score of 236, and Erie High School followed in second with 238. Niwot ended just behind with a team score of 242. Senior Drew Stapp delivered a strong performance, finishing fourth overall...
Calling all photographers, intentional or accidental! The Left Hand Valley Courier’s Photo of the Week feature is open to any area resident who personally photographs Niwot-Gunbarrel area sights, including people (with permission, of course), buildings, animals, birds, plants, flowers, events, or anything else. Naturally, there are a few rules to follow: • The photograph must be submitted in jpg format via email to [email protected]@lhvc.com in high resolution. • Please include a caption describing the photo, your name, email addre...
Phyllis Terrones Jan. 8, 1936 - July 12, 2024 Phyllis Terrones passed away in her home on July 12, 2024, from complications with interstitial lung disease. She was born January 8, 1936, in Pueblo, Colorado to Bellisario and Juliana (Lujan) Bustillos. She married Arthur Terrones on February 6, 1954. After graduating from Central High School in Pueblo, Colorado, she and Art moved to San Jose, California where they started their family. They returned to Longmont, Colorado in 1965 and began...
Residents of Niwot and surrounding communities had a special opportunity this year at the National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 4. A number of the first responders present had been at the scenes of the Alexander Mountain and Stone Canyon Fires in Boulder and Larimer counties, which had only recently been brought under control. The stories the responders shared kept some of the event attendees wide-eyed at the courage and commitment of those who protect our region. National Night Out is an...
Rock & Rails kicks off again this Thursday, Aug. 15 with Charted Territory entertaining Niwot with a variety of pieces that range from heavy guitar-driven classics to dance tunes. Formerly known as All About the Brass, this seven-piece group has evolved throughout the years since its creation in 2015. Various decades of music are represented during Charted Territory's performances, giving room for everybody to enjoy the feelings of nostalgia that music provides. The band includes Niwot High...
The second annual Flower Fest on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Niwot's business district proved to be a resounding success, drawing in a large crowd eager to celebrate the beauty of summer blooms, local artistry, and community spirit. Event organizer Kathy Trauner, owner of Fly Away Home, expressed her delight, noting, "Visitors seemed to really enjoy themselves." The festival's signature activity, the "Flower Journey," was a major hit. With 150 passports available for attendees...
There are so many who volunteer behind the bar at Rock & Rails every week during the summer, but one particular volunteer stands out. This week's Familiar Face is Mary Coonce, well-known through her work at Porchfront Homes in Niwot. In fact, Porchfront Homes built the Whistle Stop Park building where Coonce serves adult beverages, known as The Depot, in 2020. Prior to that, alcohol was served from a tent known as the "beer tent," which required set-up and take-down every Thursday night during...
There seems to be some confusion about the type of e-bikes that are permitted on public open spaces and trails in Boulder County. Not all trails allow all e-bikes. According to Boulder County Open Space Management: E-bikes are prohibited in the foothills and mountains, which includes the following parks and trails: Anne U. White Bald Mountain Scenic Area Betasso Preserve Caribou Ranch Hall Ranch Heil Valley Ranch Mud Lake Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain Walker Ranch Trails that do...
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...
The House Blend Band held its fourth summer concert on Saturday, Aug.10 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., which had Niwot cheering for more songs at the end of the performance. The concert has undergone many difficulties and interruptions over this summer with the band's saxophone player, Greg Worthington, acquiring COVID not long before the July performance. Other concerts were interrupted by bad weather, but not this time. While there was a bit of rain an hour before the concert, the weather Saturday...
Friday, Aug. 9, Dancing Under the Stars brought a spicy new flavor to the dance floor with Nathan Hook leading a Cuban-style salsa. Making his first appearance as an instructor this season, Hook introduced a fresh salsa style to the event, adding variety and excitement for both regulars and newcomers. Hook took his time with the basic steps, watching all participants closely and offering advice when he felt it was necessary. As in previous weeks, switching partners was encouraged often,...
With only three concerts left after Aug. 8, Rock & Rails fans were determined to attend Thursday's concert despite the weather. A chilly and rainy day set the stage for the evening, with mist and cool temperatures persisting throughout the entire concert, limiting the crowd size. The evening kicked off with Gunbarrel resident and country music artist Dean Himes. A 2022 inductee into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Himes brought a mix of heartfelt originals as well as well-loved covers to the...
Blessings Day Spa has moved into a new location at 240 Second Avenue and will be having a Grand Opening on Aug. 17 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the new location. Blessings moved from its former location in Cottonwood Square next to Subway, and now occupies the space which was the former home of Nourish & Company. Blessings Day Spa offers facials, aesthetics, physical therapy and massage therapy. "We moved because our lease was up, it was serendipitous about how it all came to be," said Julie Stenz, the...
Niwot United Methodist Church is hosting a free fun back-to-school event Sunday, Aug. 18 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 7405 Lookout Road. Families will be treated to free hot dogs, chips, cookies and activities to celebrate the start of school. “This 4th annual Back-to-School Extravaganza is a free community event that is open to all as the church throws open its doors in hospitality to its neighbors,” said the event host, Janet Gates. Activities will include a “bounce house’ and a dunk tank, s...
Niwot High School's Cougar Marching Band (#PrideOfNiwot) completed its 2024 summer band camp on Aug. 6, accomplishing a tremendous amount of work. Thanks to the dedication of students and flexibility with some unexpected heat and smoke, there is no doubt that the marching band at NHS will have another successful season. This year's halftime field show is "Night at the Movies" where the band will be performing three pieces - "Pixar Favorites" (a medley of famous songs from Disney-Pixar movies...
Arts Student of the Week Mark Rokhlenko, Niwot High School Band's drum major, played the tenor trombone since the fourth grade, thanks to Sean Kemp, the music teacher at Flagstaff Academy but was uncertain if he wanted to continue in high school. He took a band class in his freshman year at NHS to earn his Fine Arts credit and intended to quit band after finishing that class. Freshman band camp completely changed his mind. "The people were incredibly welcoming, supportive, fun to be around, and...
Ryder Keeton's passion for running goes far deeper than his pursuit of state championships. While he remains focused on bringing big-time hardware back to Niwot High School, the junior cross country standout procures motivation through his love for the sport. Even something as simple as discovering a new running trail can gratify Keeton. "In training, I mostly enjoy exploring the environments where I can run and the trails I can run," Keeton said. "It's a really fun thing for me to explore." Con...
Niwot High School 2024 graduate and valedictorian Mia Prok was a highly accomplished high school student and athlete, resulting in her acceptance to Wake Forest University specifically to run track and cross country. Not only is it difficult to get into WFU for athletics, it is also a school that values academic strength and enthusiasm. Prok has it all. Prok has not decided on a career path after college but is intrigued by pursuing pre-med since both of her parents are physicians. For now, Prok...
