All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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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...
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...
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...
Rock & Rails summer concerts continue on Thursday, June 13, with the opening act starting at 5 p.m. and the headliner lighting up the stage at 6:30 p.m. This week, Tim Ostdiek & Jenny return to open the stage with their upbeat folk music to get concert goers on their feet. Jenny Balagna and Ostdiek are an entertaining musical duo from Longmont who perform throughout the Front Range. Ostdiek recently released his new album "The Lost Days," available now on his website at https://timostdiek.com/....
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...
Although Pawxatawney Phil has determined spring is right around the corner, based on last weekend's storm, winter seems determined to hang around. One upcoming event might offer some relief: Let's Wine About Winter in Niwot. Sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, the annual Let's Wine About Winter event is planned for Saturday, Feb. 24 to welcome community members in from the cold with wine, art, food and hospitality. Kristin Alger, who is co-chair of the event with Anne Postle,...
While most of Niwot was suffering below zero temperatures on Jan. 13 and 14, Niwot resident Pete Brandes was basking in the sunshine and 70+ degree temperatures in Hawai'i. But don't think he wasn't suffering too. Brandes was there to compete in the aptly named Hurt 100, an ultra-marathon on the island of Oahu. Brandes said the joke at the race was to be prepared for overnight temps to be five (degrees) below..."below 70 degrees that is." Brandes finished in an impressive 16th place with a...
With roots dating to 1875, Old Town Niwot, the area on 2nd Avenue between Niwot Road and Murray Street, has always been a mixture of the familiar and the new and is widely considered to be the historic heart of town. John Nelson, a local carpenter, is credited with building the first commercial structure on Second Avenue in 1905. Most of the remaining shops in the first block were completed by 1915 and include the home of the oldest operating Grange in Colorado. These buildings comprise the...
In a world that sometimes seems to create isolation, the Courier is launching a new feature entitled "Meet Your Neighbor." We hope you enjoy getting to know some of the fascinating people who live in our community. Joyce Johnson has lived in Niwot for 32 years. Her determination, friendly nature, sparkling eyes and kindness mask the many hardships and tragedies she has faced throughout her long life. The first word Johnson uses to describe herself is "resilient." She was raised in Connecticut...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee approved funding for three upcoming events to be held in January, February and June, 2024, at its Jan. 9 meeting. Mary Coonce, who serves as treasurer of both the LID and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), spoke in support of the events, saying, “The goal is to have an event every month.” In her treasurer’s report, Coonce reported a $10,716 decrease in sales tax revenues collected by the LID through October 2023, compared with...
Blue skies and unseasonably warm temperatures set the stage for Niwot's November 11th tribute to military veterans. The ceremony began at 11:00 after The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band played several patriotic songs as the crowd gathered, including John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever," and "America." The colors were presented by Niwot Scout Troop 161, followed by the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner." This is the fifth year for the event and the veterans banner...
On Saturday, Nov. 11, Niwot residents will have the opportunity to honor United States military veterans, and especially those with a community connection. The fifth annual veterans banner ceremony will be held in front of the Left Hand Grange at 11:00 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, marking what was originally known as Armistice Day at the end of World War I in 1918. The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band will be on hand beginning at 10:30 a.m. to perform music as the...
After a two-year hiatus, Oktoberfest returned to Cottonwood Square on Saturday, Sept. 30. The festivities kicked off at 11 a.m. with a Nerf Animal Shooting Gallery for kids and adults alike. The inflatable animals included bears, deer and wild boar that could be "shot at" with a Nerf bow and arrow. The shooting gallery was run by the Niwot Rotary Club. Music started at 12:30 p.m. with the aptly named Wurst Case Scenario playing some fun German themed "Weird Al Yankovic" style music. The...
Left Hand Valley Courier writers Jack Carlough, Kristin Alger and the now-retired Mary Wolbach Lopert were each honored at the 145th annual Colorado Press Association Better News Awards Dinner in Denver on Sept. 23. Lopert, one of the seven founders of the Courier who retired in 2022 after 25 years with the paper, took second place in the Class 5 Editorial's Best Humorous Column Writing category for her piece, "It's A Laughing Matter: 21 Ways You Know You Live in a Small Town." The column was...
On Friday, Sept. 1, the winners of the 12th annual Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show were announced at the September First Friday Art Walk. The ceremony took place in front of Osmosis Art and Architecture with an artist's reception following at the former Feed Store building across the street. Prior to the ceremony, the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band entertained the crowd in front of Niwot Jewelry & Gifts with tunes ranging from "Isn't She Lovely" and "Pictures at an Exhibition" to...
Although it feels like Rock & Rails just got started, the last concert of the season took place Thursday, Aug. 31. As the saying goes, "Time flies when you're having fun." And, as usual, the last concert pulled in a nice crowd to enjoy the music, the weather and to say goodbye to Niwot's long-running signature summer event. The evening kicked off at 5:00 p.m. with Nalani in a solo performance following last week's performance as the Rock & Rails headliner with The Nalani Effect. Nalani, also...
A beautiful evening greeted concert-goers at the penultimate Rock & Rails concert of the season on Aug. 24. Although gray skies threatened, nothing more than a brief dash of rain fell, making for a perfect summer evening. Rock & Rails veteran Wendy Woo opened the evening. A Boulder native, Woo's parents were founding faculty members at Naropa University in Boulder. Influential beat writers such as Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, and Ken Kesey would be regulars in the living room – a fact s...
If it's not one thing, it's another... Through much of June and July, rain, hail and thunderstorms were the Thursday night concern. But now that we're in August, high temperatures have finally come to roost. However, judging by the number of chairs set out to save a space at Rock & Rails, the heat wasn't about to put a dent in enthusiasm for the evening. Legitimate By Friday was Thursday's opening act. No strangers to the Rock & Rails stage, the band has performed six times at the event. Band...
The Colorado Press Association announced that three Left Hand Valley Courier writers have received awards for the 2022 Colorado Better News Media Contest. Kristin Alger, Jack Carlough and Mary Wolbach Lopert have won awards for their work on the Courier. Alger has been writing for the Courier since 2022, though she has a wealth of experience in journalism. Carlough, a Silver Creek High School graduate who earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado, College of Media,...
A warm summer night, a tribute to Eagles founding member Randy Meisner who died the day before, and a record night for tips and alcohol sales highlighted the July 27 edition of Rock & Rails. The Strangebyrds, comprised of Cari Minor and Ray Smith, were Thursday's opening Rock & Rails act. No "strangers" to the Rock & Rails stage, the duo has been around since 2011, and have released five albums to date, with a musical style they describe as "blue collar folk Americana." The quality of Rock &...
Colorado's unusually wet summer weather caught up with Rock & Rails July 20, cutting short the performance by Rebecca Folsom and her band. The dark clouds and threat of rain held off until just after 7 p.m., when lightning strikes within two miles of the venue, accompanied by a downpour, interrupted the performance. Folsom and the band tried to wait out the storm as concert-goers huddled around the depot building and crowded under umbrellas, but when high winds came up and the rain did not...
Beautiful blue skies and high temperatures brought out a huge crowd to the July 13 edition of Rock & Rails. And the bands didn't disappoint. Award-winning songwriter Tim Ostdiek got the evening started and was joined by Jenny Balagna, bringing their upbeat mixture of folk originals and covers to the stage. Ostdiek and Balagna are both based in the Longmont area and perform around the Front Range, often with a full complement of band members, but Niwot was treated to an intimate performance by...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
When Lafayette, Colo., nurse Kara Plese traveled to St. Lucia for vacation in April, she assumed she'd come back with a few souvenirs. But she certainly never expected the one she actually brought home. On a walk near the resort where she was staying, Plese and her friends came across a small dog who looked scared and emaciated. "He was so skinny," she said. "He ran past us and almost got hit by a car. He was so mangy – I felt really bad for him." Plese wasn't sure she would see the dog again b...
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...
Five Niwot High School students have been named the first winners of the Kindness Counts Award, administered by The Peter Fund, a local non-profit. The students, Freddie Ambrose, Haylee Matney, Phoebe McLean, Henry Stauch, and Ellie Steele, were all nominated by NHS students and faculty. The Kindness Counts Award and The Peter Fund were developed by Eve Bonn and Dave Elchoness after they lost their son Peter, a NHS senior, suddenly in November 2022 to myocarditis. Peter was well known as a magne...
At a recent Boulder County Planning Commission meeting, Prairie Orchard LLC faced stiff opposition from area residents for their planned reception hall and vacation rental at 5114 Niwot Road. At the April 19 meeting, staff planner Pete L'Orange presented the staff report which included traffic studies and recommendations from other Boulder County agencies. L'Orange said that 115 letters in opposition to the project and four letters in support had been received, in addition to a petition against...
When Eve Bonn and Dave Elchoness lost their son Peter suddenly in November 2022 to myocarditis, they wanted to be sure they honored the person he was. A senior at Niwot High School at the time of his death, Peter Bonn-Elchoness was known to be a magnetic presence who made an impact on those around him. His father said stories about Peter's kindness were endless. "After he passed, we began receiving notes from people about all the kind things he had done. One woman told me Peter had befriended...
Prairie Orchard LLC has applied to Boulder County for approval to use the property located at 5114 Niwot Road as a reception hall venue, vacation rental and community gathering space. The property sits approximately one-half mile west of the intersection of Niwot Road and 55th Street. The project would use existing structures on a 3.6-acre lot. The site, zoned for agricultural use, contains a renovated farmhouse, a small cottage, a 120 square-foot studio, a renovated barn, and the site's...
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...
February 2023 marked the return of Let's Wine About Winter and it made its return in spectacular fashion. Anne Postle, event founder and co-organizer, said more than 500 people attended the event on Feb. 11 and approximately $13,000 was raised that will go towards maintaining the Niwot Children's Park and Whistle Stop Park. "This was our most successful Wine About Winter to date," Postle said. "The beautiful weather and the event's hiatus for two years certainly helped add to the excitement."...
What started as a way for two friends to give back to the community ended up being the impetus for a new business: Plant Based Boulder. When the Marshall fire erupted in December 2021, Niwot area residents Amy Cramer and Miche Bacher knew what they could do to help. Both professional chefs and cookbook authors, Cramer said they realized, "Someone needs food. Someone needs us." And with that, the two got to work. Reaching out to the Boulder Jewish Community Center (JCC), they arranged to use the...
After a brief hiatus, Let's Wine About Winter, one of Niwot's most popular events, is scheduled to return to Niwot on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Suspended for two years, one of the many consequences of Covid, the Niwot Cultural Arts Association event is now in its sixth year. For those who have not heard about the event, Kristin Alger, who is coordinating the event this year, has an apt description. "I will describe it the way my dad's wife described it," Alger said. "It's...
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...
The Christmas shopping season is in full swing so what better way to shop than with food and beverages? On Thursday, Dec. 15, The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop (TWJ) hosted "Goodies for Grownups" at Cimmini's Italian restaurant in Niwot, featuring both food and books. TWJ assistant manager Alison Cave said the event was a great success and they hope to offer another book fair in the spring. "We were hoping to reignite the feeling of a book fair from elementary school," Cave said. "But for...
Niwot has always prided itself on being a true small town – no big box stores, parades for every occasion, and lots of "mom and pop" businesses. This all adds up to a perfect atmosphere in which local artists can shine. And local art is certainly thriving in Niwot this holiday season. The Open Studios Pop! Gallery celebrated a grand opening during Niwot's Enchanted Evening, Friday, Nov. 25. Twenty different artists working in numerous mediums are featured in the spruced-up space that p...
It's not too late to vote for your favorite Niwot holiday window. The annual window decorating contest deadline has been extended to Sunday, Dec. 11, to make sure everybody has time to admire all of the holiday-themed decor. If you haven't voted yet, just stop by one of the participating businesses and pick up your ballot. Make your way around town to see all the entries and have your ballot stamped by at least six businesses, then pick your favorite. Turn your ballot in to any of the...
Among its other wonderful holiday events, Niwot is also now home to an Open Studios Pop! Gallery. The gallery, located in the former Niwot Rental and Feed store at 291 2nd Avenue, will be open beginning Nov. 18, Thursday through Sunday, Noon to 6:00 p.m. through New Year's Eve. The grand opening will take place during the Enchanted Evening celebration Nov. 25. Managed through the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), the gallery will feature 20 artists from around Boulder County. Mary...
The building that formerly housed Niwot Rental and Feed is seeing new life...and bringing new life to the local arts scene. Open Studios, a visual arts non-profit organization based in Boulder, in conjunction with the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), will be hosting a holiday market in the building at 291 2nd Avenue. The market will feature 20 different artists and will be open Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 6:00 p.m., beginning Nov. 18th and running through the end of December. NCAA...
On Sunday, Nov. 6, approximately 100 members of the Niwot community came together in Cottonwood Square to honor military veterans at the fourth annual Veterans Banner ceremony. The event, jointly sponsored by the Niwot Community Association (NCA) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA) began at 1:30 p.m. with a patriotic concert by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band. The colors were presented by Niwot Boy Scout troop 161 followed by the National Anthem performed by the band....
As Niwot continues to honor veterans in the month of November, you'll find stories behind some of the banners displayed in Cottonwood Square and on 2nd Avenue. James Albert Zander, U.S. Navy, WWII - Born in Saginaw Michigan in 1915, Zander was a civilian flight instructor for the Army Air Corps before joining the Navy as a pilot. Stationed in Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and Hawaii, Zander spent most of his time in C-47s, F6F Hellcats, and Corsairs, transporting troops and supplies...
With a beautiful fall and another Great Pumpkin Party behind us, Niwot prepares to honor military veterans with banners along 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square and with a ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. Although "a picture is worth 1,000 words," the stories behind the banners are worth even more. They tell the stories of military men and women with Niwot connections serving all over the globe from World War I until present day. A few of their stories are below. Burton Gale Bergeson,...
A beautiful autumn day provided the perfect backdrop for Una Vida Meditation and Movement and Inkberry Books' joint celebration of the release of "Hidden Buddha: Lama Rinzen in the Hungry Ghost Realm." The novel by Boulder author Jim Ringel is the second in a series featuring Lama Rinzen, who must both learn a lesson and solve a crime. The free event took place Saturday, Oct. 22 at 3:00 p.m. and began with live music by Elizabeth Morrow on cello, Keith Waters on keyboards and Kevin Garry on guit...
When you buy a business, you expect a reasonable number of "hiccups." But owners, Tara Shaheen and Stacy Szydlek, who were part of Niwot Tavern restaurant staff, got more than they bargained for. "We bought the restaurant in January of 2020," said Shaheen. "In February, there was a fire in the kitchen and in March, well you know, everything shut down." But despite some tough going, the restaurant has not only survived, but thrived. Szydlek said that the former owners, Tony Santelli and Bob Russe...
Despite rain, hail and some chilly temperatures, Fritz Family Brewers' First Annual Fritztoberfest went off without a hitch on Saturday, Oct. 1. The event, which ran from 12 noon to 10:00 p.m., featured a stein-holding competition, an El Herradero food truck and a traditional German "oompah" band, Denver's Thirsty Five. Over one hundred people attended and sampled Fritz's numerous German-themed brews including Fritztoberfest Marzen Bier, brewed specially for the event....
For most people, a 10k would constitute a long run. But Niwot resident Pete Brandes has a different definition of "long." On Sept. 17th, Brandes, 30, completed the Run Rabbit Run 100-mile ultra-marathon in Steamboat Springs with a total time of 27 hours and 37 minutes. Brandes took 26th place out of a field of 315 dedicated runners. He logged 185,000 steps during the event. The course had 20,391 feet of total ascent and 20,391 feet of descent. Brandes said he started seriously thinking about an...
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...
