All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The Niwot Holiday Market wrapped up Saturday, Dec. 14, after spreading holiday cheer to the business district of Niwot. One of highlights every year is the opportunity for younger Niwot residents to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Santa and Mrs. Claus have been attending the Niwot Holiday Market since at least 2016. With Christmas only being one day a year, it is rumored that Mr. and Mrs. Claus have day jobs as well. Kim King, who closely resembles Mrs. Claus, works as an insurance broker. Her...
Holiday Markets and Time with Santa Saturday, Dec. 14, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Niwot Business Association and Women's International Niwot Club, this year's Holiday Market event promises to be more elaborate than ever before. In addition to Father Christmas' presence, there will be fabulous festive gifts available from a multitude of artists and vendors, along with delectable baked goods to enhance your holiday table. Bring the kids to spend time with Santa and Mrs. Claus from...
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...
Niwot organizations are poised to begin celebrating Niwot’s first 150 years as a Boulder County community. Sparked by the Niwot Historical Society’s plan to publish a recap of Niwot’s 150-year history with historical photos and descriptions, other organizations in Niwot have formed a committee to celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary of the recording of the town plat of Niwot by Ambrose Murray and Porter Hinman on March 30, 1875. The first meeting of the organizing committee, chaired by Niwot resident Laura Skaggs, was held Dec. 2, 2024....
The First Friday Art Walk is back on Friday, Dec. 6 at 5:00 p.m. just in time for the holidays. The First Friday Art Walks provide an opportunity to enjoy local artistry throughout Niwot while shopping for holiday gifts. Osmosis Art and Architecture and the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), with funding by the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID), have been making these events possible for the past twelve years. This is the first First Friday Art walk since September as the monthly...
The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes the much-anticipated Niwot Holiday Market. The cherished tradition will take place over two Saturdays, Dec. 7 and Dec 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the heart of the Niwot business district. Centered along Second Avenue and Cottonwood Square, the market is a festive celebration of the season, featuring live music, unique shopping, delicious treats, and activities for the whole family. Sponsored by the Niwot Business Association with...
Niwot High School is host to over 60 student-run clubs, and one stand-out is the Niwot Investment Club, an economics-based club that teaches students about different types of investments (such as stocks, bonds, dividends) through stock market simulations and related activities. Whether it be local competitions or in-club discussions, the group is dedicated to educating themselves on the growing world of investments. A passionate group of students lead the Investment Club. The leadership...
The Holiday Parade is going to be marching through Niwot on Saturday, Nov. 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on this year’s Small Business Saturday. Make sure to stop by for this classic holiday parade that has been a staple in Niwot for over 30 years, then stop in and support the small businesses in Niwot that help make the event possible. Santa will be swinging by in his magical sleigh to participate in the parade. The parade will start on Murray Street, with many local businesses participating. Once everyone is gathered, the parade will head...
Alison Steele, co-owner of the Niwot Market, conquered the New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 3. For Steele, the race was not just about covering 26.2 miles. For Steele, it was about balancing her passion for running with her roles as a mother, a business owner, and a community member, all while honoring the memory of her father, Bert Steele. Steele has been a runner since high school, where she competed in cross country and track. Though she ran her first marathon in college, it was not...
Just in time for the holidays, it's official, Niwot Hall is the new name of the Grange building. The community will be flowing in and out of the Hall to socialize, learn, shop, listen to music, and dance. Professional Holiday Portraits Nov. 23, 24, 25, and Dec. 10 Professional photographer Noah Katz of NJK Photography will be taking holiday portraits in the beautifully decorated setting of Niwot Hall. Each session is $135 and includes 15 minutes with the photographer and one fully edited image...
Niwot experienced its first snow of the season this past week, which means winter is quickly approaching. With winter on its way, many Coloradans look forward to skiing, snowshoeing, reading books by a cozy fire, or even traveling to Cancun, Mexico to escape to a warmer climate. However, for many Niwot residents, local annual winter festivities are always a highlight of this approaching season. Enchanted Evening kicks off the winter festivities on Nov. 29 from 5:45 - 9:00 p.m. on Second Avenue...
The Great Pumpkin Party began Oct. 26 with an impressive vocal performance by Niwot Elementary School students in the Left Hand Corner parking lot, a fitting prelude to the presentation of the Curtis Lizakowski Golden Hammer Award for outstanding volunteerism to longtime Niwot resident Neal Anderson. Niwot resident and realtor Pat Murphy, who helped create the award many years ago, made the presentation to Anderson, explaining that the award honors often unsung volunteers who make things happen...
Belle Terre Floral opened a new location in Niwot, taking over the space in Cottonwood Square previously occupied by Blessings Day Spa, which moved to 2nd Avenue. To celebrate this milestone, owner Sarah Cioni hosted a grand opening event last Thursday, Oct. 24, which saw an impressive turnout. Cioni said, "Sales have never been better. Our revenue has doubled, making this our highest-earning year yet!" The move to the new location was driven by a need for more space due to the growing business,...
A crowd of approximately 50 attended the Grand Opening of Inner Space Healing, located in the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center in the former Niwot Veterinary Clinic offices, on Sunday, Oct. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. The celebration began with Chuck Roberts introducing therapists Patti Ashley, Jules Radu, and Elaan Brudno, who offer three separate healing practices that operate out of Inner Space Healing. Ashley is a psychotherapist who practices Heart-Centered Psychotherapy and Shame-Informed...
The Niwot Trot, a fundraising race for Niwot Elementary School, was a huge success on Sunday, Oct. 6, raising over $10,000 for the school. "We had a record number of over 700 participants, surpassing our numbers by 100 racers," organizer Aimee Morin said. "It was a perfectly cool, sunny morning and everyone brought happy smiles and great energy, making it a memorable and successful event for our community." The event sent runners of all ages through a new route through the streets of Niwot,...
It shouldn’t take a research paper to figure out that the reason the cost of living is driving workers and young families out of Boulder County is one thing. It’s not the cost of food, or clothing, or utilities, or other essentials of living that makes it unaffordable to live here. It is the cost of housing. Yet the governing bodies in Boulder County have taken only token steps to address the shortage of affordable, attainable and workforce housing their own policies have created. It’s much too little, and too late. A recent study concl...
Last Friday, Oct. 4, a beautiful chinkapin oak sapling was planted outside of Niwot Market in honor of the market's late owner, Bert Steele, with a small personal ceremony at 10:30 a.m. The oak will grow to provide shade over the Niwot Market, where Bert loved to work and help the community. The tree honoring Steele began as part of a project started in March 2023 to plant a few trees around Niwot. The focus of the project changed with the loss of Steele, whose life had an amazing impact on...
When the building at 101 2nd Avenue went up for sale, Niwot's Cornelia Sawle saw it as an opportunity to invest in the town she loves. Sawle, who owns and operates the Niwot Inn & Spa just down the street, also owned commercial property in Ohio, which was recently taken by the local government there through the eminent domain process for public improvements. To avoid capital gain taxes resulting from the compensation paid to her, she had to quickly find a replacement property that was also a...
The five-day auction of the second parcel of property at Haystack Mountain, 5655 Niwot Road, concluded on Tuesday, Sept. 24, with the prevailing offer for the 105-acre site placed by Boulder County. According to Janis Whisman, Real Estate Development Manager for Boulder County Parks and Open Space, "We competed in the auction and are now under contract to purchase it and 31 shares of the Reformer New Hinman Ditch Company for their combined fair market value of $6.2 million. Closing is currently...
Judges and fans of the 2024 "Why Not Niwot?" Juried Art Show agreed - "Why Not Bert?" The awards ceremony for the Niwot Cultural Arts Association's (NCAA) signature art event, now in its 13th year, was held at the Former Feed Store at 291 Second Avenue in Niwot on Friday, Sept. 6. And when it came time to announce the awards, the first award and the last award both went to artist Karin Antoni, for her colored pencil drawing titled, "Keep It Running," depicting the late Bert Steele in front of...
The Niwot branch of the Bank of Estes Park has a new Branch Manager, Kim Reiber, with big plans for the bank's involvement in the community. "I'm super excited to be working in a small town," Reiber said. "I absolutely love working in the community and volunteering and going to lunch at all the little local places. It was my favorite part of working in Olde Town Arvada. I went to lunch at all the local places in town, shopped in all the stores, and had dinner at the restaurants. I just love...
The Niwot Cultural Arts Association's (NCAA) annual Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show will present awards at the First Friday Art Walk on Friday, Sept. 6, at Osmosis Gallery, 290 Second Avenue, in Niwot, with an artist's reception following at the former Feed Store across the street. Osmosis Gallery has sponsored the NCAA event since its inception 12 years ago, the brainchild of Osmosis owner Anne Postle. The three judges who make up the jury have selected a first, second and third-place winner...
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...
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...
On Saturday, August 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Niwot will come alive with the vibrant colors of the Flower Fest. The second year of this annual celebration will be held on 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square and promises a delightful experience for all ages. Kathy Trauner, owner of Fly Away Home and one of the event organizers, describes the Fest as a celebration of everything we love about summer. "Flowers are everywhere, all grown by local farmers," said Trauner. One of the event's highlights...
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission website, https://puc.colorado.gov/, states that Xcel Energy conducted a public safety power shutoff for the first time in Colorado over the April 6-7, 2024, weekend. Colorado experienced a weather event that brought wind gusts in excess of 100 mph in some areas of the state and sustained high winds throughout the weekend which precipitated the shut off. Will a power shut off happen again? It looks like Xcel Energy is planning on it. According to Xcel...
Saturday mornings are the best time to visit the Niwot Market, whether it be to stock up on ingredients for dinner or to grab breakfast with loved ones. You will not be alone, because Valentina Godat runs a pop-up stand for her limeade business, Yum Yum Limeade, at the Niwot Market every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or until she sells out. Godat and her mother, Larissa Godat, can be seen around town with a bright green sign and a pop-up table on Saturdays at the Niwot Market and at...
We are sad to share that Dallas Plese passed away at home on May 14, 2024. A rare Colorado native, Dallas was born July 17, 1941, in Pueblo, Colorado, to Theodore and Christine Plese. Christine died shortly after childbirth and Theodore died two years later during training for WWII. Dallas was then adopted by an aunt and uncle in Pueblo where he grew up with two sisters, numerous cousins, and lifelong friends. Dallas attended Pueblo Catholic High School (PCH) where he was the definitive Big Man...
Strong headwinds are blowing against the success of small businesses in unincorporated Boulder County, including Niwot. In the last year, small businesses have incurred losses due to a power shutdown and significant increases in sanitation fees, property taxes, food costs, and insurance. Small businesses now face the impact of the recent Boulder County minimum wage increase, with Niwot, Hygiene, and other businesses in unincorporated Boulder County required to pay a minimum wage of $15.69 per ho...
National Night Out is a nationwide community-building event held on the first Tuesday of August in communities across the country to promote awareness and cooperation between police and first responders, on one hand, with local residents. “[The event] enhances the relationship between (the community) and law enforcement…,” according to their website. The social setting of National Night Out is meant to create camaraderie in an informal setting to make communities safer. This year the event will be held on Aug. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Murra...
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...
Dear Courier and Niwotians: What a great 4th of July holiday our little town just put on! Like all the volunteer-run events that happen here, the pancake breakfast (Bert Steele's) and the parade with so many enthusiastic participants was a sight to behold! An estimated 1,000 plus people were served, and I'd guess double that amount were watching and marching in the parade. I heard several people comment on how special this event was, and how nice of the town to arrange such fun. Strangers that...
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...
Flags are in place, the parade lineup is set, bands are rehearsing, the road crew is organizing, volunteers are lined up, and the grand marshals are ready. The Niwot Community Associations's (NCA) signature event, the annual July 4th celebration in Niwot, is straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Hundreds are expected to turn out for a pancake breakfast, now named in honor of the late Niwot Market proprietor Bert Steele, in Cottonwood Square. But before it all starts, NCA volunteers and...
Justin Hirshfield is the well-loved head chef at 1914 House restaurant. As the upscale eatery in Niwot prepares to close, Hirschfield expressed his gratitude for people who helped him become the chef he is today and reflected on his tenure at the popular dinner venue. He shared thoughts on his future inside and outside of the kitchen. Hirshfield is the kind of person who treats you like a friend the moment you are introduced. He shares his life story freely and finds joy in his relationships....
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...
Alison and Seth Steele, owners and operators of the Niwot Market, have been named as the Grand Marshals for the upcoming 4th of July Parade in Niwot. Not only do they continue to manage the Niwot Market, but they have been active volunteers for different community events as they carry on the legacy of their father, Bert Steele. "Their Niwot heritage and being involved in activities reflects over a century of families serving the Niwot community," said Kathy Koehler, one of the organizers of the...
The Niwot Jazz Festival, held on June 22 in Cottonwood Square, once again brought a symphony of sounds and community spirit to the Niwot community. As the third iteration of this beloved event, the festival showcased a remarkable lineup of talented musicians, drawing in jazz enthusiasts from as near as local areas and as far away as North Carolina. With an estimated 300 to 400 attendees, the festival reaffirmed its place as a cornerstone of Niwot's cultural calendar. The festival kicked off with...
It's never good when rain and hail blow through an outdoor concert venue an hour before the event is scheduled. That's what happened in advance of the Rock & Rails program on June 20, 2024. However, in typical Colorado fashion, the skies cleared quickly and fortunately the weather remained delightful throughout the evening. The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band kicked off the event with selections consistent with the evening's country and Southern rock theme. A large group of 28...
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 June meeting of the Niwot Business Association (NBA) featured Niwot resident Amy Scanes Wolfe, describing her efforts to create a suburban homestead through regenerative agricultural design. She described a small farming operation in Niwot on about an acre of land that is grounded in regenerative agriculture, with volunteers raising crops and farm animals with minimal resources from outside the community. She said, "That's what has stood out to me is how people are craving that genuine...
Niwot's First Friday Art Walk took place June 7, from 2nd Avenue to Cottonwood Square, starting at 5 p.m. and lasting for at least two-and-one-half hours, although several businesses stayed open until 8 or 9 p.m. as well. It was the opening art walk to a series that will take place monthly this summer, sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association in conjunction with Osmosis Gallery. There was a small scare for the opening of the art walk when a large power outage along 2nd Avenue,...
We are sad to share that Dallas Plese passed away at home on May 14, 2024. A rare Colorado native, Dallas was born July 17, 1941, in Pueblo, Colorado, to Theodore and Christine Plese. Christine died shortly after childbirth and Theodore died two years later during training for WWII. Dallas was then adopted by an aunt and uncle in Pueblo where he grew up with two sisters, numerous cousins, and lifelong friends. Dallas attended Pueblo Catholic High School (PCH) where he was the definitive Big Man...
For Liza McConnell, Research Farm Director for Sprout City Farms, farming and working at Jack's Solar Garden is a multi-sensory experience that began as a passion for cooking good, fresh food. "Really freshly grown food is a wonderful experience - the flavor, color, and vibrancy is just amazing," said the Niwot resident. "The first time eating food directly from a farm really made an impression on me." Helping others experience the same fresh food and finding regenerative farming practices that...
The edge of spring verging onto warmer summer months marks the start of the House Blend Band concerts on Second Avenue. The concerts start on Saturday, May 18, at 6 p.m., with one concert every month throughout the summer. This year, the House Blend Band event will be working with the Boulder County chapter of Slow Food to provide salads at the event in addition to the spaghetti that is typically served at Old Oak Coffeehouse. All of the ingredients for the salads are locally sourced from farms and businesses in or around the Niwot area to...
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...
A tribute song written by local musician Kevin Dooley for Bert Steele is now available online in video format. Recorded on Feb. 7, 2024, at the Left Hand Grange, the video is a montage created by Niwot's Social Media Coordinator Kristina Rugg using content from the recording session and photos provided by the Steele family. Niwot Market owner Bert Steele passed away on August 7, 2023. In December 2023, Dooley composed a song in his honor to be played at the dedication of Steele's memorial bench...
