All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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"It seems like it's probably been twelve years at this point," said Mark Trippensee of Last Men on Earth as the band prepares to return to the familiar bandstand in Whistle Stop Park on July 13. "[Rock & Rails] is a hometown gig for us, which we don't do a lot of in the summer," he continued, "so it's always nice to have that amount of people come out." Last Men on Earth's music ranges from classic rock and pop, to country from the 70s, 80s, and current popular music. But what can patrons...
"[Niwot] is a comfortable town. Even if you don't know someone, you probably still recognize them." Chris Teta said this is why he has been involved in the Niwot community since 1988. Teta is originally from New York and moved to Colorado in 1986 to attend college at The University of Colorado Boulder. He received a degree in political science and later got two masters degrees in urban planning and public administration. He is a member of the City of Longmont Planning & Zoning Commission....
Niwot’s annual Rock & Rails is partnering with an eco-friendly compost and delivery service known as Wompost this summer. Wompost is a women-owned business founded by Carolyn Pace in 2018. Pace was frustrated that there was no composting pickup service in Aurora, so she decided to launch her own business as the one and only employee at first. Now, Wompost provides services not only in Aurora, but also in south Denver, Greenwood Village, Centennial, Englewood, Cherry Hills, Southglenn, Littleton, and Commerce City. They do not normally s...
Two local acts, and first timers at Rock & Rails, got the crowd going at the weekly concert Thursday, July 6. Although rain threatened the event earlier in the day, the clouds parted just before the opening act, providing a perfect night for music, dancing and food. Dechen Hawk started the night with his indie soul ballads. Having moved to Boulder when he was five, the "adopted Colorado native" says he has always loved music. But when his father was diagnosed with brain cancer when Hawk was 14,...
Will Baumgartner, band founder, leader, singer and songwriter for funk and soul group The Pamlico Sound, is clearly excited about appearing at this week's Rock & Rails concert, July 6. "I've been to Rock & Rails, I've seen what a party it is and how much fun it is," Baumgartner said. "The concert series has gotten such a great reputation. Everybody who knows the series gets excited when I tell them we're playing there." This year's concert includes a few notable elements. Audiences will enjoy...
Although storm clouds threatened and a few sprinkles danced their way through the early evening, the weather was no match for the well prepared and excited Rock & Rails crowd on Thursday, June 28, where two bands new to the event were ready to entertain the crowd. The night opened with the Teresa Storch Duo, made up of Storch and her husband Peter Lacis. No strangers to the stage, the Duo have toured internationally, performing at festivals in Scotland and Ireland. Their music focuses on...
Busy is certainly one way to describe Alison Steele, this week's recipient of the Left Hand Laurel award. The mother of a 16-month-old little girl named Elizabeth, who often comes to work with her mother, Alison, 42, is also co-owner, with her father and brother, of the Niwot Market. Alison Steele runs the grocery department doing all the ordering, stocking the shelves, working with distributors, unloading the trucks and "doing all the financials," as she puts it. The market at Cottonwood...
Donald Allen Farr Dec. 7, 1943 - June 12, 2023 Donald Allen Farr was born in Detroit, Michigan. He passed away at the age of 79 in Commerce City, Colorado, due to Parkinson's. He met his wife Julie Farr in California and the couple married in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1970. They lived most of their married life in Niwot, Colorado. They had four children and many pets. They were married 36 years before Julie's passing of breast cancer in 2006. When Don was a kid he loved playing with trains and that...
The usual Thursday modus operandi of "rain, rain, and more rain" certainly held true on Thursday, June 22. But Mother Nature also seems to be a fan of Rock & Rails, and the weather only temporarily halted the fun at last week's Rock & Rails where it was all about the blues. Deborah Stafford and the Night Stalkers got the evening started at 5:00 p.m. Stafford has been a staple of the Colorado blues scene for several years but put the band together in its current form in 2021. Deborah Stafford and...
One of the most enjoyable things about Rock & Rails is the mix of bands that play each week. It's possible that the only thing each week has in common is that whoever is playing on stage, they are going to be danceable. And Los Cheesies might be one of the most unconventional bands to step onto the bandstand stage at Whistle Stop Park. Their mix of fusion reggae, ska, Latin, '80's, rap and psychedelic rock stylings is blended with wacky humor that could winkingly be called "Yankovian" (as in Wei...
This week's Rock & Rails stage will feature familiar faces of Mojomama, with their beloved mix of funky blues, rock and soul that ranges from Aretha Franklin to Susan Tedeschi to Steely Dan. "Knowing that we get to play for the best crowd all summer makes us happy," said lead vocalist Jessica Rogalski. "People are really in a good mood, everyone's up dancing. As performers, it's fun for us to have that energetic exchange. It feeds our energy too." She remembers the fun, colorful crowd from last...
You might recognize him as a volunteer at various Niwot Community Association events, such as Niwot Clean Up Day. Perhaps you have seen him on the NCA Road Crew or as a member of the tech team at Rocky Mountain Christian Church. Most likely, you have seen him driving the golf cart offering transportation service at Rock & Rails. Misha Barrett started providing his transportation services for patrons who parked down the street from Rock & Rails in the summer of 2022. His usage of the golf cart...
The June meeting of the Niwot Business Association, held Tuesday, June 13 outside of the former feed store at 291 Second Avenue in Niwot, was sponsored by Osmosis Art & Architecture. Owner and architect Anne Postle greeted members and introduced Tucker Huey of her staff. Postle has been instrumental in working with John Fischer, owner of the former feed store, and the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, to arrange for Open Studios artists to use the space until early July to display art by local...
Given the weather over the last month, it seemed inevitable that rain would eventually crash a Thursday Rock & Rails party. And rain it did on Thursday night, June 15, halfway through the headline act. But that didn't stop the appreciative crowd from enjoying a country-themed evening, nor did it end the evening. Taylor Shae, a Colorado native who recently released the single, "Small Town America," started the music and happy hour off at 5:00 p.m. Shae, a singer and songwriter, has been...
Approximately 35 people attended the Scout Troop 161 Fundraiser Trivia Night at The Wheel House in Niwot on Monday, June 12. The event was a fundraiser for Niwot's Scout Troops 161-B and 161-G. "We raised $2,465 through the ticket sales and silent auction," Scout Kyrie Moorman said. "We thank all of our silent auction donors, The Wheel House, Niwot Market, and of course Deb Fowler for setting everything up." The event brought together a diverse group of participants of all ages who were ready...
This week, CW & Twenty Hands High are returning to the Rock & Rails stage for their second year, bringing their country, Southern rock, outlaw, red dirt sound with them. Local musician Taylor Shae will open for them. I talked to the band's founder and frontman, CW Wooten, just after the band finished a performance at Beasts and Brews, a taphouse and butcher shop in Colorado Springs. Our conversation started not by talking about music or his latest show, but about the food that was there. Wooten...
Dark skies and the threat of rain didn't deter a large crowd from enjoying the second Rock & Rails concert of the season on Thursday, June 8. The music kicked off at 5:00 p.m. with Dean Himes, a local country artist. Himes wowed the crowd with a combination of his original songs and well-loved covers. Himes is no stranger to Niwot having played at the Niwot Tavern, First Friday Art Walks and Rock & Rails in the past. Himes was inducted into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022. Headli...
Thursday's Rock & Rails headliner is familiar to many attendees, with proven performers who can get the audience up off of their lawn chairs, abandon their picnic baskets and onto the dance floor. It will be the popular Chris Daniels and the Kings, the beloved Colorado Music Hall of Fame inducted band, which has played its rock and blues-based music in venues throughout the world. They will be preceded by the opening act, Gunbarrel acoustic guitarist Dean Himes, a 2022 Colorado Country Music...
Despite the threat of rain and the allure of the Denver Nuggets playoff game, Rock & Rails kicked off its summer 2023 season last Thursday, drawing an impressive and enthusiastic crowd. With looming dark clouds above, the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band provided the opening set. The headliner, Girls on Top!, followed with two sets of high-octane party music, bringing the dance floor to capacity. As usual, the team of volunteer greeters, beverage servers, and student "gargoyles"...
Sandwiched between Thursday's first Rock & Rails concert of the season and Saturday's much-anticipated Niwot Lobsterfest, Niwot's First Friday Art Walk had fewer visitors than anticipated. But those who did make it out were treated to an evening of great music, inspiring art, light refreshments and fine dining. On Friday, June 2, a core group of Niwot business owners hosted four artists, including Penny Peterson at Slifer Smith and Frampton; abstract expressionist painter Blaise Simonelli,...
The first band to play Niwot's summer concert series 18 years ago returns to open the 2023 Rock & Rails summer concert series Thursday, June 1. Girls On Top!, a seven-member band featuring vocalists Dawn Beck, Kristin Henry and Michele Steele in three-part harmony, performs R&B, rock, soul and funk from the 1970s and 1980s, with a stage presence that has made them a favorite along the Front Range. "We're 24 years in," said Henry, who doubles as the band's manager. "We're interactive, we're part...
A crew of volunteers spent the morning of May 13 getting Whistle Stop Park ready for the Rock & Rails summer concert season. Several volunteers cleaned the Depot Building and the Caboose, while others hung banners at the front gate and on the Caboose. Barrels and table tops were moved out of the Depot and lights were reinstalled in preparation for the first concert on June 1. Offseason work included installing additional fencing at the southwest corner of the park, and new signage. Crew...
Niwot's Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) approved funding requests for six events in Niwot from May to September, including several beloved Niwot events as well as a new music event. The May 2 meeting included annual requests from the Niwot Business Association (NBA), Niwot Community Association (NCA) and Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), and a request from a local restaurant. Cottonwood Concert Among the funding requests approved was a new event, a Cottonwood Concert,...
It's that time of year - when your favorite summer concert series once again returns to Whistle Stop Park. Starting June 1, with the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band opening for Girls on Top, you can enjoy free live music with your friends all the way through August 31. If you are a long-time fan of these weekly summer events, you are sure to recognize several of the headlining bands such as Last Men on Earth, Mojomama, Face Vocal Band, Hazel Miller & the Collective, and The Long...
Some of us remember when television audiences watched spellbound as pageant host Bert Parks whittled down a row of finalists to reveal the identity of our new Miss America. The year's reigning beauty would hear her name as the last one called, then half-laughing, half-sobbing, she'd parade across the stage, one shaking hand steadying her new tiara, the other wrapped around an enormous bouquet of fresh flowers. She was the very vision of disbelief that her lifelong dream had come true. This...
A Colorado native, this month's Left Hand Laurel recipient, Kristin Alger, grew up following her parents' advice to "always be a volunteer." Now a half century later, this long-time employee of the international medical device firm, Medtronic, volunteers more than ever, and is an inspiration to her many friends and neighbors in Niwot. A familiar face in Niwot – "Everyone knows my dog," she says, "he's a friendly and gregarious mutt named Maxwell," Alger was born in Green Mountain near Red R...
One of the most popular and effective forms of self-care is getting outdoors for physical activity. Incorporating nature into a self-care routine doesn’t have to cost anything (maybe except for investing in a new pair of sneakers), which makes this form of self-care available to just about everyone. Its impact on health and well-being depends on the amount and quality of exposure to nature. Exercise is essential for a healthy body and mind, and current CDC recommendations are at least 150 minutes per week for adults and one hour per day for c...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LIDAC or LID) held its annual meeting with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on Monday, March 27 in the Left Hand Grange. The members of the LID are a mix of people from businesses and community plus representatives of the Niwot Business Association (NBA) and Niwot Community Association (NCA). The commissioners serve as directors of the LID while the LIDAC advises the commissioners on ways to benefit the district through...
The Niwot Cultural Arts Association, which manages Niwot's Rock & Rails summer concert series with the Niwot Business Association, announced that applications for receipt of Tip Jar proceeds are now open. Non-profit organizations serving the Niwot area, or which have a substantial connection to Niwot as part of a mission to serve a broader community, are eligible to apply. For the 2023 summer concert series, there will be 14 concert nights, beginning June 1 and ending Aug. 31. The Tip Jar...
Gene Parker was in his late thirties when he and his wife Denise bought a spanking new home in Gunbarrel's Heatherwood subdivision. The year was 1967, and most of Heatherwood was still a twinkle in its developers' eyes. A short walk from the Parkers' new home were a couple of acres of open space with a clear view of the mountains. The site was designated as a future park, but as time passed, the future never seemed to arrive. "The actual space was designated for a park, but it was never...
Curtis Johnson, who was elected Boulder County Sheriff in the November 2022 election, was sworn in as the top law enforcement officer in Boulder County on Jan. 10. Johnson succeeds Joe Pelle, who served an unprecedented five 4-year terms as Boulder County Sheriff. Pelle is a former Niwot resident whose wife Stephanie worked at the Niwot Post Office for many years, and as a result, was very familiar with the community. Johnson, a Boulder native whose father, Clayton "Swede" Johnson, was a...
The 2022 Rock & Rails summer concert season has long been over, but offseason work continues. Co-managers Vicki Maurer and Dan Hawk organized a crew of 11 to meet up at Whistle Stop Park Jan. 7 to clean and reorganize the Depot building for the offseason. Chris Teta, who handles set-up and break-down on concert nights, Tom Smathers, who coordinates the food vendors, and Satir DeMarco, who books all of the bands, were joined by regular beer tent volunteers Tony Maurer, Maureen Miller, Doug...
The Marshall Fire left a scar on Boulder County last year, and since then, we have all experienced anxiety about whether or not the next grassfire will burn down our homes. A Niwot parent of a Marshall fire victim said, "The trauma is still so real. [Our daughter] often feels defeated, angry, sad, scared....lots of emotions. We do what we can to help, but there's a long road ahead. Even though the fire families are so appreciative of all the love and support from the community and perfect...
I am a father of one girl and three boys, all of whom played high school sports. Julia and Andrew are Niwot and CU graduates, while Matt is a senior at CU and Callan is taking a snowboarding-focused gap year. I have lived in or around Niwot since moving here from Boulder to save $100/month on rent while a CU undergrad in 1988. I used to brag about rent at the one-bedroom Countryside condo being under $400/month back then. I belonged to the local gym, known as Cottonwood Health & Racquet Club,...
Jason Champion was awarded the prestigious Eagle Scout rank at a ceremony at the Left Hand Grange Dec. 12. Champion, a member of Troop 161 B of the Boy Scouts of America, has been involved in scouting for the past six years. His Eagle Scout project was to make improvements to Whistle Stop Park in Niwot, where Champion has volunteered for several years as a member of the Gargoyles, who man the recycle and compost stations at the Rock & Rails summer concert series and retrieve traffic control devi...
I moved to Niwot in 1975 from Nebraska (did you know that Niwot used to be in Nebraska Territory?), and I knew it was the right place when I went to a Niwot High School football game....A lady in the stands recognized me... because she used to babysit me....in Nebraska. Since then I've been an attorney, a volunteer firefighter, a coach, a swimming instructor, a Sunday School teacher, a band member, a sportswriter, and now an editor. My wife Susan and I have three children and one bonus son, alon...
A third generation Coloradoan, I was born in Longmont and grew up in Southmoor Park where my parents (Courier carriers Otto and Arlene Ahlgrim) reside today. Graduating from Niwot High School in the 1980s, I saw Niwot as a sleepy farming community with a few subdivisions housing mostly IBM employees. In November of 1980, I was hired at the only law firm in town, the Law Office of Bruce W. Warren, and have been fortunate enough that even though the firm has evolved to Warren, Carlson & Moore,...
Well, I'll start by saying that I interview other people, so I don't have to talk about myself...So this is a little rough, but here goes. A Colorado native, I grew up near Red Rocks and have lived in Denver, Colorado Springs and Durango. A five-year stint in Detroit made me realize how fabulous our state (and its weather) is and I returned, settling in Niwot where my dad and step-mother still reside. I always thought I'd be here for a few years before returning to the "big city." That was 17...
Grange funding approved The Left Hand Grange is on a mission to make the iconic building in the center of Niwot's downtown business district even more of a community center. Jim Dorvee, president of Left Hand Grange, Inc., which owns the building on the southwest corner of the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Franklin Street, presented a funding request to the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) at the LID's regular meeting Dec. 6. Dorvee asked for a contribution of $15,000...
The new parking lot in Niwot was officially dedicated in a brief ceremony Dec. 2, with Niwot Business Association president Eric Bergeson presiding. Bergeson noted that the project had been long in the works and thanked all those who saw it through to completion. While the parking lot has been open for several months, glitches with the functioning of the two charging stations delayed the official ribbon cutting. Bergeson also noted that approval has already been obtained for expansion of the...
Eugene (Gene) Mason Parker of Gunbarrel died October 29, 2022, at age 92. Gene was often seen at Rock & Rails concerts during the summer, as well as throughout events in Boulder, Niwot and Gunbarrel. The Heatherwood community park was renamed Parker Park in 2021 in honor of Gene and his wife Denise. A Celebration of Gene’s life will be held December 10 at 1:00 pm at the VFW Post 807, 4760 28th St, Boulder. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to TRU Hospice....
The dedication of the Niwot Parking Lot, located west of the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Murray Street in Niwot, has been set for Friday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. Niwot Business Association President Eric Bergeson will be on hand to recognize the contributions of Chuck Klueber, NBA Streetscapes Coordinator, Chad Fletemeyer, of Fletemeyer & Lee Associates, a local architectural firm, and others in the acquisition of the property and construction of the parking lot. The lot provides 14 parking spaces...
It is not uncommon to see similar businesses in fierce competition with each other. All it takes is 15 minutes of TV to see the competition between grocery stores, car companies and yes, even lawyers. But the world of independent brewers is a bit different – congenial and downright cooperative. That spirit of cooperation was on display at a recent Thursday night Rock & Rails concert when there was a problem with one of the beer lines. "Dan (Hawk) came up to me and told me that one of the tap l...
Tim and Carrie Wise Founding members of the Niwot Business Association, Tim and Carrie Wise, owners of Wise Buys Antiques on 2nd Avenue in Niwot, have been involved for the past 40 years in just about every improvement to the community – from chairing the Local Improvement District to helping to build the Children's Park, to bringing a caboose and building a band-stand at Whistlestop Park. "We're having fun," said Carrie. An exuberant woman with a glowing smile, she grew up in California's S...
Rock & Rails' second complete season following pandemic interruptions was a notable success. A full slate of musical acts played each Thursday between Jun. 2 and Aug. 25 and included 26 musical groups split between main stage and opening acts. Talent included long time performers who return each year, new performers, Colorado Music Hall of Fame members and newly appointed Colorado Country Music Hall of Famer, Gunbarrel resident Dean Himes. Business numbers also point to a strong season....
The House Blend Band, created by Old Oak Coffeehouse owners Michael Tomich and his wife, Patty Machen, closed out the summer concert season on a beautiful summer night in downtown Niwot with another stellar performance featuring family members, guest artists, and the baristas who work at Old Oak. A crowd of several hundred people, young and old, brought lawn chairs and enjoyed the music, together with the spaghetti house special from Old Oak on a warm evening, where the threat of rain resulted...
On Aug. 21, Gunbarrel resident Dean Himes was inducted into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held at Dougie G's Lounge (VFW Post 7945) in Thornton, Colorado. The Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame was founded in 1998 and recognizes musical accomplishments of Colorado country musicians. Himes was one of seven inductees honored for his significant contribution to the country and western music scene. Himes has been on the local country music scene since 1981. His signature...
The first Thursday night after Rock & Rails will feature a "bonus" concert, sponsored by the JARED Foundation. Anyone looking for one last night of the summer concert season will have a chance to support a local Niwot charity and enjoy live music and refreshments on Thursday, Sept. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Whistle Stop Park. The Jared Foundation, founded by Surinder and Renee Dahiya in memory of their son, Jared Lizakowski, provides music lessons and scholarships for children who are unable to...
The last concert of the Rock & Rails 2022 season opened with the amazing blues sound of Nalani playing the upright bass. Her throaty vocals, accompanied by her bass, made folks want to get up and dance. Nalani's giant smile and big voice kept the crowd's enthusiastic attention as rain threatened to dampen the event. Nalani, also known as Nalani DeMarco Clisset, grew up on Third Avenue in Niwot, and is a graduate of Niwot High School. Her mother, Satir DeMarco, books all of the music for Rock &...
On Aug. 2, Gene Hayworth, Executive Director of the Niwot Jazz Festival, gave a wrap-up report to the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID), which provided funding for over half the cost of the free festival. The event, sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, marked its second year of bringing live jazz to Niwot. To measure the success of the festival, volunteers conducted an hourly attendance count and handed out surveys to gather information about those attending. Everyone who compl...
