All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Winter is a time for cheer, time with loved ones, good food, and of course, festive music. The Niwot High School orchestras, choirs, and bands will be hosting their annual winter concerts from Dec. 4 through Dec. 7. Kicking off the performance schedule on Monday, Dec. 4 at 7:00 p.m. is the “Winter Jazz in the Rockies” concert featuring the two jazz band ensembles at Niwot High School. The ensembles will perform several pieces including Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five,” Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” Lena Horne’s famous “Stormy Weather,” and more....
With the help of her teammates, Sami Sessa quickly developed confidence in her first season as a starting libero for the Niwot High School girls volleyball team. "I definitely was nervous coming into the season because I was like, 'Now I'm a starter for the first time. I don't want to let the team down and let the program down since we've had such an amazing program the last couple of years,'" the senior said. "But I started to believe in myself. I really think that pushed me forward and I...
The top two high school cross country teams from each of the nine Nike regional qualifying meets in November secured automatic berths into this weekend's Nike Cross Nationals (NXN). That left just four at-large invitations available for high school boys teams from across the United States to compete in the national championships on Saturday, Dec. 2, in Portland, Oregon. When the Niwot boys cross country team finished fourth in its Southwest Regional meet on Nov. 18 in Arizona, it looked like a...
Dear Left Hand Valley Courier, Mental health has become a much more prominent topic in recent years. There are more articles, news segments, self-help books, and overall discussion of mental health in the general media. All of which is great that our society is on the road to issues around mental health, but the discussion and action shouldn’t end there. Nor should mental health awareness only take place during May - it is ever present and can be an especially difficult thing to deal with. I am not a medical professional, but I have had my s...
Ok. It’s that pumpkin spice latte time of year. Seriously, that’s a big thing. I guess when the weather gets colder, people just have a hankering for pumpkin. It used to be just pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. Now it’s pumpkin candles, pumpkin sauces, pumpkin soup, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin muffins, and even pumpkin ravioli. But let’s get back to that harbinger of the holiday season, pumpkin spice latte. Remember when your choices for coffee were black or with cream and/or sugar? That was it....
With its season on the line, the Niwot High School girls volleyball team won twice in a rival's gym to earn a spot in the upcoming Class 4A state tournament. The Cougars first cruised past Denver North High School (25-17, 25-13, 25-17) before beating host Longmont High School in four sets (25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18) at the 4A Region 11 championships on Saturday, Nov. 4. Obviously, the stakes were higher than a typical match, but because Longmont was seeded three spots higher than 14th-ranked...
For the sixth time in six years, the Niwot High School girls cross country team reigns supreme in Colorado. And, not to be outdone, after a disappointing two-year hiatus, the Cougar boys team reclaimed its state title at this past weekend's 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships. Taking advantage of their outstanding individual leaders and incredible team depth, the Cougars wrapped up their near perfect season with two runaway victories on the Norris Penrose Event Center course in...
Ok. I have Covid. I have no idea where I got it since I barely go anywhere. But what I do know is that Covid is no fun. And not funny. I know some people have mild cases, others have serious symptoms, and many have long term effects. In my case, so far, it is like a bad cold. I'm fine. I am one of those lucky people who rarely get sick. My husband, on the other hand, just has to hear that a cold or flu or a stomach ailment is "going around" and he starts coming down with every symptom. So being...
When Allison Gundmundson was in elementary school, she learned that Candlelight Dinner Playhouse hosted acting classes that included children. Whenever she could find the time, Gundmundson would join in. Her theater repertoire expanded quickly, with roles in the junior production of "Mary Poppins," and roles in "The Aristocats," and "Beauty and the Beast." She also worked in two junior shows at Longmont's Jesters Dinner Theatre, including "Alice in Wonderland" and "Snow White and the Seven...
Ah, Halloween in the Left Hand Valley! Trick-or-treaters, haunted houses, maybe a surprise blizzard… it’s a spookily festive time. But as you prepare to revel beneath your Barbie wig or Cousin It’s hair, be forewarned: this is the Season of the Witch. And the Left Hand Valley Courier has learned that sorcery may lurk in the local DNA. Go ahead; laugh it up. The proof lies in prominent family trees. “I’m a researcher. People who know me know about my research.” Donlyn Arbuthnot is a passionate historian, especially in the area of ancestral r...
Ok. Halloween is looming. It’s the first holiday wave. Undoubtedly, some of you have been buying and eating candy since Labor Day. Many have been making costumes, buying costumes or just thinking about costumes for weeks. Those messy pumpkins have been carefully carved. It is a big deal for all the kids (and adults) to go trick or treating and bring home all that loot just to consume it all in one big tummy ache. But let’s review. Halloween is not for everyone. Basically, people fall into two...
An informal committee met with Alison Steele and Seth Steele last week to plan a memorial to their late father, Bert Steele, Niwot Market owner who died last summer after a short illness. The committee was organized by Vicky Dorvee, and included Selene Luna, Deb Fowler, Karen Edwards, Kamla Chopra, and Biff Warren. Everyone was in agreement that a proposed memorial bench with a red Chevrolet tailgate would be an appropriate remembrance of the man who was a beloved fixture in the community for the past 20 years. Steele was known for driving a...
All the hard work . . . all the long hours . . . all the miles of traveling . . . all of it is behind the Niwot Cougars’ cross country teams. Now, there’s nothing left for the runners to do but lace up their shoes and run for their ultimate goal . . . a 4A state championship trophy. Seven boys and seven girls from Niwot will don the green and silver and represent one of the country’s (not county’s) elite programs Saturday as they attempt to cap a nearly perfect 2023 racing season at the 4A State Championship Meet at Norris Penrose Event Center...
The Niwot High volleyball team likely doesn't come back to beat Frederick without senior Julia Dadey. After dropping the match's first two sets, Niwot's back row, which included Dadey, was the spark that got the Cougars going en route to reverse-sweeping (20-25, 17-25, 25-15, 25-16, 15-8) the Golden Eagles on Oct. 10. "There were four or five (plays) that Julia Dadey got on her horse and ran from sideline to sideline picking up balls," Niiwot head coach Tony Engel said following the match....
The Niwot High School football team played the George Washington High School Patriots Thursday, Oct. 12, losing in a close, one-point game that ended in heartbreak. Niwot lost 34-33, dropping the team to a 3-4 record. The Cougars had a staggering 393 yards on the ground, more than the Patriots' 288 total yards for the game but were plagued by their five turnovers. Niwot started the game on offense, but on the first play of the drive, quarterback Chad Volf's pass was intercepted. Niwot's defense...
Niwot High School boys soccer is dominating opponents as the team closes in on the playoffs. The Cougars played two games this past week, facing off against Thompson Valley High School and Mountain View High School. Niwot won both games, beating Thompson Valley 3-0 on Tuesday and achieving a dominant 10-0 victory over Mountain View on Thursday. Niwot is now 7-3-1 on the season with just three games left. Niwot's win on Tuesday against the Thompson Valley Eagles was crucial as they were coming...
Saturday Sept. 23 brought the return of Niwot's annual "Out & About," a day to celebrate the small businesses of Niwot. Sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA), this annual event brings out tents and stands featuring Niwot businesses and live music along Second Avenue and in Cottonwood Square. Out & About was started last year as a way to showcase the various goods and gifts from businesses in Niwot, and to bring support and awareness for Niwot's charming business community....
In any sport, a bye week can be a curse or a blessing. If momentum is running high, a bye can be a buzz killer. But on the other hand, a week without competition can be a blessing when long weeks of practice and competition have taken a physical and mental toll. For the Niwot High School gymnastics team, this week's bye may be the blessing Coach Marisa Purcell and her team need. After hosting their final home meet of the season on Wednesday evening, Sept. 20, in an event that saw their top...
Niwot High School boys soccer was able to bounce back from a tough week with a win at home against the Roosevelt High School Rough Riders this past Tuesday, Sept. 19. The Cougars dominated in their win as they easily got past Roosevelt with a 3-0 victory. Niwot had more trouble on Thursday, Sept. 21, as they fell to the Northridge High School Grizzlies, 2-1 at Northridge. Niwot is now 4-2-2 on the year, an impressive start given their strength of schedule. Niwot's Tuesday match with Roosevelt wa...
The results of last Wednesday's RE-1J District Cross Country Meet may have looked like opening the floodgates, but Niwot head coach Kelly Christensen described the outcome as more of a controlled release. The Cougars, who had seen their top runners held out of competition in the first weeks of the season, were on full display on their home course and the visual effect was a green wave. Both the girls and the boys teams easily ran to victory with the girls capturing the top 13 individual places...
Niwot High School Boys Soccer wrapped up the fourth game of the year, tying against Denver North High School 1-1 as the Cougars remain undefeated at 3-0-1. Niwot struggled early on against the Denver North Vikings, as they went scoreless during the first half, but junior goalkeeper Malachi Gilmore was also able to shut out Denver North during that half. Niwot switched goalies at the half, putting in junior Lucas Willard. Willard let one goal get by him, but he played a good half. Niwot struggled...
While Niwot High School was on a rampage early this year, with a hot 2-0 start, the Cougars have finally cooled down as they lost their first game of the year against the Skyview High School Wolverines. Niwot lost in a heartbreaker, 16-14, with the outcome decided on the final play of the game. Niwot started the game on offense with Haden Shaw breaking off a long run on the second play of the game that gave Niwot great field position. Chad Volf connected with Sergio Pimentel through the air a...
Ok. The word "Costco," always generates some kind of reaction. "Oh my God, I love Costco!" or "Have you been to the new one? It's great (or 'different' or 'hard to find anything' or 'so nice')," or "Oh, I only shop local." Well, the new Costco in Longmont opened and for a long time I think I was the only person in the county who hadn't stopped by. (Incidentally, no one simply "stops by" Costco. Costco is an hour-long shopping adventure). Let me explain. Although I am a proud Costco member, I...
The Niwot community turned out to honor the life and memory of Bert Steele Saturday, Aug. 26, in Cottonwood Square shopping center. What was originally planned to be a "thank you" to the Niwot community for supporting local retail businesses, and helping the merchants survive the pandemic shutdown, morphed into a tribute to the late Bert Steele, who brought The Niwot Market to life over 20 years ago. Stacy Szydiek, co-owner of The Niwot Tavern, spearheaded the effort to put the afternoon and eve...
The Niwot High School boys soccer season has started off hot, as the Cougars are 2-0 now after the second week of the season. Niwot beat the Wheat Ridge Farmers 1-0 last Thursday. Niwot was much stronger than the score would indicate as they maintained possession throughout most of the game, getting solid shots on net all during the game. Josh Rodriguez was able to kick Niwot off to an early lead with a goal assisted by Bo Gardner halfway through the first period. Niwot got good shots off all...
Ok. It's that time again. Some dread it, others can't wait for it. I am talking about going back to school. As a parent, you might be happy to see some structure begin and a quiet house for a few hours. For kids, you might be looking forward to seeing your friends again and getting on with this thing called "education." Personally, as a parent, I missed my kids when they went back to school. Of course, I got over it in about a week. As a kid, it was my worst time of year. Let me explain. My birt...
Ok. Where did you go for your summer vacation? It's a question wrought with landmines, isn't it? Every spring the pressure to plan an epic summer vacation for you and your family begins. The kids are out of school, the weather is good and so it's a great time to get out and spend some family time together and make some memories you will look back at with a smile and a story. And you also know you have that distinct responsibility to give the kids something to write about when asked on the first...
Take a solid core of outstanding returning starters, sprinkle in some transfer talent and add a dash of fresh new faces, and Niwot High School softball Coach Bobby Matthews thinks he has the recipe to challenge the top teams in a very strong Longs Peak Conference this season. After finishing 9-14 and missing the regional tournament a year ago, Matthews believes this year’s team has just the right ingredients to compete with conference foes like Riverdale Ridge High School, Frederick High School, and Roosevelt High School. Riverdale, the c...
Ok. How many cars have you owned in your life? If you are young, maybe one or two (or maybe zero). If you are older, undoubtedly several. Your car history is like an archeological dig into your life. Let me explain. Some people carefully choose what they drive, others just need transportation, and still others don't really have a choice. And is your identity somehow wrapped up in the car you drive? In Southern California, the answer is a clear "yes." Here in Colorado, well, you decide. After an...
Ok. Some of us are starting to go back to the movie theaters after the big Covid drought. I have seen "Maverick" so far, which doesn't make me an expert but was an exciting way to get my movie-feet wet again. I think we are all a bit rusty, so perhaps a movie-manners refresher might be in order. Let me tell you a story so you know what I am talking about. It was date night, pre-Covid. My husband and I had planned for a week to go see the new "Captain America" movie. It was a very popular movie a...
Another year, another Fourth of July - it seems like Niwot just had a celebration, just last year. This year, the Niwot Community Association is once again hosting a town-wide celebration for our nation's independence beginning at 8:00 a.m. and wrapping up around noon. Festivities include a pancake breakfast and concert as well as the Niwot Downhill Mile Run, and a parade winding around both Cottonwood Square and down Second Avenue. The pancake breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. until...
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...
Often on a clear, crisp morning when the weather is fine and the wind is calm, Niwot residents who are lucky enough to be out early may get a view of a slow moving, brightly colored train of balloons flying low on the horizon. While a few of them are navigated by private pilots, many of the balloons in the sky just east of town belong to commercial companies. According to RefUSA, there are 21 commercial hot air balloon sightseeing companies in Colorado, and the majority of balloons that travel...
Ok. It's graduation time. Whether you are graduating yourself or you have a child, grandchild or other family member or friend who is graduating about now, we all know what a big step that is. The word "commencement" means both an end as well as a beginning. It's the celebration of the end of one of life's many chapters and the beginning of another. But don't let me be your commencement speaker. Heck, we could have the wisdom of Bill Gates, Oprah, Tim Cook, Maria Shriver, Arnold Schwarzenegger...
Despite being Colorado's most successful Class 4A girls track and field program over the past decade, Niwot High School had remarkably never produced a state title winner in shot put until May 19, 2023, when Jade West staked her claim to history. West's heave of 40 feet, 8.25 inches traveled a full 29 inches further than what the second-place thrower produced at the 4A state championships in Lakewood. In fact, observers reported that West had another throw that reached 42 feet at state, but it...
OK. Have you ever taken a trip with your adult siblings? I mean no spouses, no children. Just you guys? I recently took a trip to Lake Powell with five siblings and five other old friends, and two teenagers. Can we just talk about the logistics of that for a minute? Logistics for family events, whether reunions, birthdays, weddings or just a vacation can be daunting. But let's just focus on 12 people from various parts of the nation converging on a barren southwestern portion of our country...
Over the next few months, the former feed store on 2nd Avenue will continue its reimagined purpose as a home for art and culture in Niwot. "At this time, the climate isn't good to start building any kind of development for that lot, so we decided to do a minimal fix up and get the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) involved and create something that would encourage people to come downtown," said John Fischer, who co-owns the building with his wife Xan. "Until the climate for redevelopment...
Before Joshua Ibarra-Trujillo became a musician, he was not a big music fan. "I just listened to it and didn't think much of it," Ibarra-Trujillo confessed. But in December 2019 the romantic comedy film "Como Caido del Cielo" was released, and that film became his inspiration to perform music. Omar Chaparro stars in the movie as a Mexican singer named Pedro Infante, who is sent back to Earth to earn his place in heaven. The actor became Ibarra-Trujillo's favorite performer. From there, the...
On Thursday, May 4, in the Class 4A Region 5 tournament held at Niwot High School, several Niwot players qualified for the individual 4A state tournament, which is set to begin in Pueblo on Thursday, May 11. “All of the Niwot girls played exceptionally well,” said Niwot Coach Aimee Hites. “They’ve worked so hard and they’re more than ready to play in the state finals next Thursday.” At No. 2 singles, Niwot freshman Sahasra Kolli battled against Silver Creek senior Liana Kelly, who was undefeated during the regular season. Kolli won the first s...
OK. Many of us enjoy a cocktail now and then. Actually, now sounds pretty good. Seriously, everyone has their first choice/go-to cocktail. You might order white wine, red wine, beer, gin and tonic, vodka soda or vodka Red Bull. Whatever. But let me tell you, the minute those words come out of your mouth, someone has just sized you up. I have found that it's not how much you drink but what you drink that gets everyone's attention. Wine? It is no longer just white or red. No, my friend, if it's...
When spotlights illuminate a theater set on opening night, the audience is usually unaware of the work that has gone into making sure that the world they see on stage provides a safe environment for the actors and technicians working the show. According to "Safety and Health in the Theater: Keeping Tragedy out of the Comedies...and Musicals...and Dramas," an article published online by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009 (the most current data available) there were 1,190...
The Boulder County Commissioners met for an emergency meeting on Saturday, April 1, to abolish Daylight Savings Time in Boulder County. Daylight Savings Time was enacted during World War I to conserve energy and has been the law in most states in the U.S., including Colorado since that time. Commissioner Angela Silverman said, “It is time we take back our role as a governing entity and abolish antiquated laws that adversely impact our citizens and wildlife.” Sean Wilcox of the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department testified at the mee...
The Niwot Homestead Project is a three-year-old project dedicated to reimaging suburbia as an ecosystem that feeds people a complete diet. The Project held a community meeting on Sunday, March 5th at the Old Oak Coffeehouse to present the concept to the Niwot community, hear feedback and brainstorm solutions. Amy Scanes-Wolfe grew up in Niwot and attended Niwot High School. After working on a commercial vegetable farm for several years Scanes-Wolfe thought about growing food in a different way....
On Saturday, Feb. 25, The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop in downtown Niwot held its first Drag Queen Storytime, with Miss Shirley reading to children who had signed up in advance to attend. The event caused some controversy, as the Boulder County Republican Party and its newly elected chair, George Tristan, organized a protest, claiming that it was a "grooming event." But the protestors, many of whom wore masks to conceal their identity, were far outnumbered by those attending and supporting the...
Ok. We have all been invited to a party where the invitation reads, "Please bring an appetizer and wine." First, what happened to the word "hors d'oeuvre?" Is it too hard to spell? (Protip: just ask Google, I did.) Now, I can handle the wine part, but the appetizer sends me into a tizzy (yes, I said "tizzy" - a woefully underutilized but easy-to-spell word). Why? Well, we all have our go-to appetizers at home: nuts, cheese and crackers and, everyone's favorite: shrimp cocktail. But don't we...
Ok. We love our dogs. No, let me be clear, we adore our dogs. No, let me clearer. Our dogs are our best friends, our children, our partners, our comfort. They read our minds, love us unconditionally and often are incredibly funny. That said, I was walking with a friend today and she wiped off her leggings and said, "Oh my God, I am always covered in dog hair!" Ahh. There's the rub. I, too, find myself using one of those lint removal masking tape roller things all the time, trying to disguise the...
The Wandering Jellyfish children's bookstore in Niwot will host its first Drag Queen Storytime on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. Co-owner Jerilyn Patterson said the event has been so popular that it has already sold out. Those attending are urged to "Gather your glitter, gowns, tutus, and tiaras!" According to The Wandering Jellyfish website, "Miss Shirley will bring a little glitter, a little glamour, and lots of fun during drag queen storytime. There will be books about unicorns, cupcakes,...
Revised and improved architectural renderings for a two-story, commercial structure that would house Niles Dentistry were approved at a Niwot Design Review Committee meeting Feb. 8. Chairman Bruce Larsen opened the meeting, explaining that this hearing was simply to review changes to the design of the proposed building, and would not address issues such as parking. Committee members Kathy Koehler, Will Hentschel and Satir DeMarco as well as Boulder County planners were also in attendance, as...
Everything is coming together at the best time possible for Izzy Fay, the lone diver on the Niwot girls swim and dive team. In Niwot's final meet before the state championships, Fay ran away with a first-place finish at the Longs Peak League Championships on Feb. 4. Her score of 450.85 was about 85 points higher than the next-closest diver. "This is probably my best meet so far, to be honest," Fay said soon after her final dive at the Mountain View Aquatics Center in Loveland. "But my season is...
Ok. It's been a cold winter. Really cold. We all wake up to freezing cold houses, glance outside to see what snowfall occurred during the night, wondering if it will be a snow day and a treacherous drive to work. We make steaming cups of tea or coffee, check to be sure the faucet is still dripping and shuffle to the shower muttering, "It's freezing in here!" For me, first things first. Turn up the thermostat. As my family likes to remind me, "Mom, turning it up all the way doesn't get the house...
