All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 101 - 150 of 175
Niwot isn't anywhere near the North Atlantic coast, but it was hard to tell the difference at the July 31 Lobster Fest at Whistle Stop Park. Between the freshly-caught seafood and the persistent drizzle, the reinvented Bash ended up with even more of an authentic New England vibe than the organizers could have hoped for. "This weather is fantastic, it's like Nantucket comes to Niwot," Mary Coonce of the Niwot Business Association said of the soggy conditions. Coonce led the charge to reboot the...
Bert Steele doesn't consider himself a "car guy," but he definitely appreciates the classics. So when the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled many of Niwot's traditional summer events, including his famed Friday night dinners at the Market, he partnered with Pat Murphy and the Niwot Tavern to bring a socially distanced alternative to town, and the new tradition of Friday night car shows was born. Fast-forward a year and the cars and crowds are still coming to Niwot Market's parking lot in Cottonwood...
Summer in Niwot hasn't been quite the same since Lobster Bash left 2nd Avenue, but the late, lamented community feast is making a comeback. On July 31, the Niwot Business Association is hosting the inaugural Lobster Fest, which "takes it up a notch," according to NBA treasurer Mary Coonce, one of the event's organizers. "Lobster Bash was my first exposure to Niwot," she said. "I was living in Boulder, and used to ride my bike out here, and I would go every year. It's what made me want to live...
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...
The seniors' division Hawks, majors' Giants and AAA's Cannon Ballers all took home the gold in the 2021 Niwot Youth Sports recreation baseball playoffs. Led by coaches Ben Bernstein, Mike Curtin and Scott Francis, the 4-8 Hawks upset the 10-2 Falcons in the championship game on June 26. The contest stretched to extra innings and the Hawks won on a walk-off bunt. "It was a wonderful seesaw game," said NYS baseball director Galen Scheidenhelm. "Both teams battled hard and the Hawks were able to...
Looking for a fun way to celebrate Independence Day this year? Now you can kick off the 4th with a celebratory run down Niwot Road. Brand new for 2021, the Niwot Downhill Mile will feature a mostly downhill course starting at Niwot High School at 8 a.m. and finishing at Niwot Market. After the race, participants can enjoy a pancake breakfast at the Market until 10:30 a.m., along with local vendors before the motorcade kicks off at 11 a.m. Registration starts on the day of the race at Niwot...
It's not easy being a high school coach, and baseball and softball coaches have extra duty to keep their programs running. While many sports run off-season programs, only baseball and softball coaches also must maintain their fields of play, as well as installing and maintaining improvements such as windscreens, bullpens, batting cages and warning tracks. School districts mow the grass, supply some watering and provide baseballs. But baseball coaches often can be found before and after games and...
Softball was not added as a high school sport for girls in the St. Vrain Valley School District until after the 1991-1992 school year. Although the Boulder Valley School District had added a girls softball program at the high school level in the late 1980s, it took an effort by area high school girls and volunteer coaches to convince the St Vrain Valley School District that there was sufficient interest to add softball to the sports available for girls in the district. In the fall of 1991, teams were formed at Niwot, Longmont, Skyline and...
A combination of familiar favorites and new sounds will be making their way to the Whistle Stop Park gazebo this summer when Niwot’s popular weekly summer concert series Rock & Rails returns to the stage on Thursday, June 3. From blues-inspired rock, to Afro-style reggae, the 2021 lineup has a little bit of something for all music fans and even a few surprises along the way, according to longtime talent manager Satir DeMarco. “I wanted to create a combination of ‘comfort food’, to honor the fol...
Left Hand Grange No. 9 is the oldest institution in Niwot, and the oldest active Grange in Colorado, organized Dec. 20, 1873 and chartered in 1874, before Colorado was even a state..Since then the Grange has evolved from an agrarian organization serving a largely agriculture-based community, to a town center which continues to support the semi-rural character of the community and the values that have sustained the organization for over a century. The Grange building at the southwest corner of Se...
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...
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....
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...
What a relief...Left Hand Valley Grange Park will soon have a proper replacement for the portable toilet that has been on sentry duty for a very long time. The new restrooms will be open to the public including park visitors and any passersby, such as those traveling the Longmont to Boulder (LoBo) trail. The original plans were for the installation of a prefabricated building equipped with plumbing and electricity but, what's presently in the works is a standard two-stall restroom.The toilets...
Prior to Niwot's season finale on March 5, girls basketball head coach Terri Ward shed a few tears while completing her routine sweep of the gym floor. Ward had been doing the same monotonous chore before home games for almost 30 years, but with her decision to retire following this one, it dawned on her that this would be her last time. "It's hard to stop being what defines you or who you are and I think this does, because this is who I am, this is what I've done," Ward said. "And to leave...
School volunteer Lydia Moy looks at every opportunity and raises it up a notch. "Your job is not to do 10,000 cutout Valentines for second grade, your job is to spread the love," Moy said. Moy has been spreading the love for 14 years in elementary, middle and now high school. She's a realtor who used to work with emerging markets in finance, which she said helped her think about the big picture, "I'm a long term person." That mentality influences the way she approaches volunteering. When she...
The sport of lacrosse has exploded across Colorado schools and recreation leagues in recent years, and now it's coming to Boulder County. Starting Sunday, April 11, Niwot resident and former collegiate lacrosse player Neema Kassaii will be conducting a weekly youth lacrosse clinic at East Boulder Community Park (5660 Sioux Drive). "The clinic is geared towards beginners and intermediate level players, especially at the younger age groups, as we will be teaching/reinforcing the basics," he wrote...
The addition of the "purple" on the COVID dial last November made the six color levels more like stepping stones between safety level precautions, rather than jumps. With the recent downgrade to level yellow (concern), businesses in Niwot appear to be largely the same. The most notable difference is restaurants are allowed to have indoor dining. "It's [COVID restrictions] definitely taken a toll," said a WiNot Coffee employee. " I think that since the restrictions have been lowered, and having...
Sue Prahl couldn't hold back her emotions while talking about her dear friend Eli Buzas. "I just remember his huge heart," Prahl said. The two met in the 1990s when their daughters both played varsity soccer for Niwot High, and then bonded while working together for the school's education foundation. After their girls graduated, Prahl and Eli's wife Chris were officemates while on staff at the high school, and the two families remained close. By then Eli Buzas, a realtor by profession, was also...
In an age when a forgotten video clip can lead to the withdrawal of a scholarship offer, it's more important than ever for student-athletes to think twice before taking their thoughts to TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram. That's the message of Niwot junior Sydney Rothstein, whose comments during a recent leadership training course are now being highlighted by the Positive Coaching Alliance, a national organization that is dedicated to cultivating a positive youth sports culture. "Sometimes it's...
The COVID-19 pandemic turned life upside down for most of us over the past 12 months, but it was especially hard on the local non-profit community, which saw its donations dry up as traditional fundraising events and activities were postponed or canceled. Fortunately, there's still time to help balance the scales as we count down the final hours of 2020. Among the many provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) passed back in March, was a change to an IRS rule...
In 1975, the Lutheran Medical Center Foundation was created as a way to support a nonprofit hospital in West Denver. Since then, it has been renamed the "Community First Foundation" (CFF) and has sought to create change beyond just the Denver Metro. Then, CFF became involved with ColoradoGives.org, an online tool that is a way to connect with and support nearly 3,000 nonprofits around the state. In 2010, CFF and ColoradoGives.org kicked off Colorado Gives Day, which has garnered $355 million in...
Back in mid-August, Niwot softball opened its season against Berthoud. It was not a competitive affair and the Cougars lost 15-0 in three innings. On Friday, Sept. 18, the two teams reconvened, this time in Niwot. Although Niwot lost again, 9-7, the team was hardly recognizable from a month ago. Niwot was without its freshman pitcher Anne Booth and junior shortstop Ayva McComas for the first meeting and their presence proved large in the rematch. Booth has been a workhorse all year for Niwot,...
Local collegiate and high school football seasons may be on hold, but for Niwot Youth Sports flag football, it's nearly business as usual. Players ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade will grace the gridiron this fall at the Biff Warren Sports Complex on Nimbus Road. The league will consist of three age divisions (kindergarten/first grade, second/third grade and fourth/fifth grade) with four teams per division. Practice started on Aug. 31, and games will be played on Sundays beginning...
In last week's edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier, we covered the story behind Niwot's Ritz Field, named after Colorado Rockies pitcher Kevin Ritz. We now turn our attention towards its neighbor, Hagen Field, named after the late Greg Hagen. Hagen was a parent volunteer for Niwot Youth Sports. When NYS lost the use of borrowed fields in Niwot at 83rd and Neva Road, Hagen helped erect the backstops at three new fields on Left Hand Water District property off Nimbus Road. When Hagen died...
Niwot Youth Sports baseball was thriving in the 1990s and was in desperate need of additional fields for its over 500 ballplayers. NYS was limited to local school fields and borrowed land for much of its then 20-year history. The situation was not ideal for a growing program. Former NYS Softball director Jim Martinsen reached out to the Left hand Water District in hopes of securing land for future ballfields and his wish was granted. NYS quickly constructed three makeshift fields adjacent to...
GOLF Kelsey Webster (Fairview) of Gunbarrel was named to the Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar for the 2019-2020 season. Webster, a sophomore psychology major at the University of Colorado, posted a 77.58 stroke norm for 12 rounds. To be eligible for WGCA Golf All-American Scholar status, a golfer must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.0 scale) and must have played in 50 percent of the college's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the...
After months of waiting, Niwot will get another glimpse of normality with Niwot Youth Sports (NYS) participants returning to action. This summer will feature a resumption of the spring baseball and softball seasons, but not without an abundance of caution. Competitive baseball practices are underway and recreational baseball teams will start practicing on June 15. A renewal of the spring soccer season was also in discussion according to NYS Executive Director Patrick Longseth, but ultimately can...
Sue Prahl doesn't see anything special about her 25-year tenure with the Niwot High athletics department, so when she learned that she had won the Colorado Athletic Directors Association's 2020 Award for Distinguished Service, her reaction was bewilderment. "I'm not a person who needs to be patted on the back, and I never have been," Prahl said of the honor, which was announced publicly on April 30, along with the Athletic Director of the Year awards. "You just go at it and do it. And so I was o...
A world put on pause can be a difficult time for some, but for Niwot High School head boys soccer coach Stephen Dimit, the absence of spring sports only means new possibilities. His new podcast, “Make Your Mindset,” aims to mentor high school athletes during their time off the field. His first episode dropped March 31 and featured Oregon State University men’s soccer player Joel Walker. Dimit plans on releasing weekly episodes with guests ranging from college athletes to coaches and local sports-minded friends. “A lot of the people that we...
Left Hand Water Effective March 16, 2020, the Left Hand Water District has closed its administrative office building to the public through March 29. The District will continue to provide services to customers, with staff rotating work schedules or working remotely or in the field. Payments can be made over the phone or online through Xpress Bill Pay; customers are strongly encouraged to make payments via these methods. The District's water remains safe to drink; as all drinking water...
Vicki Maurer's approach to life and volunteering is probably best put in her own words: "We do what we have to do and get it done." Maurer has been involved with many community organizations over the years, from Niwot Youth Sports to the Left Hand Valley Courier to the Niwot Cultural Arts Association. Appreciation for her efforts is widespread. "She's really easy to work with, enthusiastic about the town...and fantastic at what she does," said Michelle Henzel, treasurer of the NCAA. "Vicki is...
When you're spreading the love to friends and family this Valentine's Day, don't forget another valuable member of your everyday life: the local community. There are a number of simple but thoughtful ways to show your appreciation for the people and organizations that help make the Left Hand Valley such a unique place to live. Replenish the books at Niwot and Gunbarrel's Little Free Libraries The Little Free Library neighborhood book exchange program got its start just over a decade ago, when a...
Spring is right around the corner, and Niwot Youth Sports is gearing up for its 51st season of fun and friendly competition on the diamond. Early-bird registration for recreational baseball is now underway at www.niwotyouthsports.org. Softball registration will open on Feb. 1. NYS Baseball is offering six divisions again this season; Bubblegum (T-ball for ages 4-5), Rookie (coach pitch/T-ball hybrid for ages 5-6), AA (coach pitch for ages 7-8), AAA (kid pitch for ages 9-10), Majors (kid pitch fo...
Colorado state minimum wage is $11.10 an hour. But by various exemptions provided by law, many agricultural workers make only $7.25 per hour. That might be enough during the long days of summer, but for those whose livelihoods fluctuate with the seasons, winter can be an economically trying time. Casa de la Esperanza means House of Hope, and this local organization is dedicated to supporting agricultural workers and their families year-round. In 1993, the first migrant laborers moved into this...
There’s just nothing like the anticipation of opening a package, so everyone loves it when the big brown truck stops in front of their house. UPS driver Gabe Amaya is Niwot’s main guy in the brown uniform driving that brown truck. The Courier wanted more than just a friendly wave “hello” from the reliable person who makes hundreds of stops around town. So we asked Amaya some questions and learned that his ties to the town run deeper than his daily route. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) Gabe Amay...
The future of Niwot baseball is bright with players on a talented 11-year-old squad hitting their stride. Head coach David Gaccetta led the Niwot Youth Sports Cougars to a 27-4 record and an impressive showing in the 12-year-old state tournament. For the past five years, Gaccetta has watched this team develop as ballplayers and as teammates. It all came into fruition this season. “It’s been really neat watching them (go) from learning how to just play catch with each other to some of the ama...
It’s not a mid-life crisis, but Niwot Youth Sports is hoping to have a little work done after turning the big 5-0 earlier this year. In the coming weeks, the non-profit organization, formerly known as Gunbarrel Lefthand Valley Recreation Association (GLVRA), plans to launch a capital campaign to fund some much-needed improvements to its largest field complex, Hangge Fields at Monarch Park, according to Executive Director Patrick Longseth. “We’re going to raise funds this year to put a build...
Tom Theobald only will allow the Courier to bestow a Left Hand Laurel to him if his community involvement is qualified as being historical. Not a problem, because he did begin making a difference quite a while ago. But, we can’t resist saying he’s still a force for what’s good and continues to contribute greatly to this community and beyond. Seventy-six year old Theobald reminisces about his days growing up on a lake in Delavan, Wisconsin roaming the fields, wearing a bathing suit all summe...
Debbie Lammers is this month’s Left Hand Laurel recipient because of her dedication to St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) and schools throughout Colorado. Lammers spent her formative years in Las Vegas where her father was a hotel executive. She was in seventh grade when her father passed away. Her family relocated to Northern California a year later. She attended California State University - Chico and then worked as a legal assistant and a paralegal for many years. She and Chris, her h...
After a long, cold winter, Niwot residents are ready to get out and savor Colorado in all of its summer-time glory. Rock & Rails is back bringing entertaining performances to our community all summer long. Lovingly referred to as the neighbors’ largest block party, Rock & Rails provides tenured residents the chance to bump into old friends and catch up, while also giving new residents the perfect excuse to get involved and be a part of this great community. The 14th annual Rock & Rails kicks o...
In the late 1960s, a handful of Gunbarrel and Niwot parents formed a sandlot baseball league as an alternative to leagues in Longmont and Boulder. Over the next five decades, that ragtag group blossomed into Niwot Youth Sports, which serves hundreds of the area’s budding athletes each year. On Sunday, May 5, NYS kicked-off its 50th anniversary season, and executive director Pat Longseth said it’s on track to be one of their biggest yet. “This is the largest turnout we’ve had for basebal...
Donating money is wonderful, but engaging with a cause by giving your time and energy is likely to have an even greater impact – to that cause, and to you. It’s completely guaranteed that by volunteering you’ll be making the world a better place, and besides the obvious gratification of bringing about positive change for others, you’ll reap the benefits of connecting with others, which is proven to ward off depression and lower your blood pressure, and will generally make life more satisfying. Y...
Long-delayed plans to build permanent restrooms at Left Hand Valley Grange Park (83rd Street and Niwot Road) can move forward again after the Boulder County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve an Exemption Plat for the 12-acre open space area of the Johnson Farm Nonurban Planned Unit Development (NUPUD). At a public hearing on Jan. 15, Deb Gardner, Elise Jones, and Matt Jones accepted the recommendation from land use staff to grant the replat request from the county’s transportation a...
It would be easier to list the team sports that Niwot power forward Bitzy Archibald hasn’t tried at some point in her life, but the senior said she’s really a “pretty big nerd” at heart. “I think people picture a jock, but I’m always reading in the locker room,” she said. Archibald is a fan of sci-fi and thrillers, and recently completed “We Know It Was You” by Maggie Thrash. “I get a lot of jokes about that from the team.” What isn’t getting any jokes is Archibald’s play on the basketball court...
John Anthony (Tony) Dageenakis passed on to the presence of the Lord on January 6, 2019 at 1:27pm. He was surrounded by those who loved him most as he made his entrance into God’s hands. He was 86 years young and truly lived a full and special life. He was born on September 6, 1932 as the second child of 7 to Anthony John and Carmela Dageenakis in the city of Johnstown, New York. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War from 1950-1953 and returned to upstate New York to marry Elayne N...
When Trevor Smith took up rock climbing in 2016, he hardly dreamed he’d be on his sport’s biggest stage just two years later. But that’s just where the Niwot junior found himself on Sept. 14 when he took second place at the 2018 IFSC Paraclimbing World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria. “It was otherworldly to me,” Smith said of winning the silver medal at the international event. “I’d been training for seven months at that point, and all of the work leading up to that moment all paid off....
The Boulder County Land Use department is accepting public comment on a requested land use variance for a restroom to be built on N. 83rd Street. The variance would allow for permanent restrooms to be built 71 feet from the roadway, while the current setback is 90 feet. The restrooms are part of LoBo trail improvements and an expanded parking lot at Left Hand Valley Grange Park in Niwot. Jennifer Severson with the Boulder County Planning Department said that while the location is owned by Parks and Open Space, the variance request will...
The Niwot Touchdown club welcomed former University of Colorado head football coach Gary Barnett to its fifth annual Cougar Classic golf tournament, held Aug. 3 at Twin Peaks Golf Course in Longmont. More than 75 players turned out for this year’s 18-hole scramble, making it the Club’s largest event in its five-year history. “We had a lot of support from a lot of different places and a lot of different people,” Niwot head football coach Jeremy Lanter said. “It was incredible to see that many...
Skye Messinger, University of Kansas infielder, has a couple of weeks off before heading back to school August 18th, but he’s not wasting an opportunity to work on his game. Messinger and his older brother, Connor Messinger, go down to the Niwot High School baseball field weekday mornings at 6 a.m. to get some work in before Connor heads off to his day job working for his father, Cary Messinger, at Flying Colors Painting in Niwot. “We work on ground balls and various defenses,” Skye said. “Then...
