All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 401 - 450 of 508
Singer-songwriter Rebecca Folsom performs in exotic venues all over the world, but there is no place the long-time Rock & Rails favorite enjoys more than the bandstand at Whistle Stop Park in the summertime. “It’s my favorite of the whole year,” the Boulder native said about her upcoming show on July 5. “Coming home and playing for my Colorado people is where I’m very happy. It’s the sweet spot for me, to play for the hometown crowds. I’m in the heart of where I want to be.” Though Folsom i...
Jeremy Lanter is looking forward to his second season as Niwot’s head football coach, and not just because he feels the Cougars will be more competitive on the field. With 20 first-time players, in addition to a healthy crop of freshman, Lanter said newcomers have breathed energy and optimism into his program, which has seen its share of struggles in recent years. “Now although the numbers have been similar, the excitement has been one of the biggest changes in the program,” he wrote in an em...
It was winter when the Makovec family uprooted their lives in Colorado to begin an experimental genetic treatment for seven-year old Mila in Boston. All efforts were focused on Mila at that critical juncture as she battled against Batten CLN7 disease, a fatal neurodegenerative disease which has been robbing the previously normal little girl of her of her sight, mobility, cognitive and speech abilities. The diagnosis of Batten Disease a year earlier radically changed the family's life and set...
Father’s Day has always been an odd holiday for me. I say this because when you get down to brass tacks, if you’re a father who is present in your children’s lives, every single day is Father’s Day. My son turned 11 this year, and my daughter is now eight. They are — hands down — the best thing that has ever happened to me and truly what made me a man. I suppose I wouldn’t realize what I was missing if I never had it in the first place, but the thought of that void breaks my heart. As a relative...
This month’s topic is very important in my mind. We are seeing an increase in road rage, not only in our state, but across the United States. The reason road rage starts varies from situation to situation, but it needs to be taken seriously because it can be deadly in the end. I want all of you to be careful when driving the roadways of Colorado. It seems with the increase of traffic and the inevitable gridlock we have when traveling on weekends and holidays, tempers are rising quicker than ever. Here’s a few tips to avoid getting caught up...
Husband and father Doug Squire of Niwot passed away in August of 2017 at the age of 46. His fight against colon cancer lasted four and a half years, more than the three years his doctor had anticipated. There was no reason to believe Squire was anything but perfectly healthy, even when, at age 39 he began to experience what he thought were simply “stomach issues.” His wife Heather said they thought perhaps he had food allergies, such as celiac disease. So, for more than a year they made sev...
On Tuesday April 3, the Niwot LID Advisory Committee held its first monthly meeting since the appointment of Scott Firle, Anne Postle, and Bruce Rabeler to the board by the Boulder County Commissioners late last month. On hand to welcome them were current members Bruce Warren, Jim Eastman, Harris Faberman, Carrie Wise, Jay Champion, and Laura Skaggs, who was also reappointed to board for a second five-year term. “It’s great to have new individuals and faces on the board,” Boulder County liais...
Catherine Médal, owner of Miss Catherine's Creative Learning Center and Infant Center in Gunbarrel for over two decades, announced the completion of the sale to a new owner. The center has been renamed to Growing Minds Learning Academy. “I am so appreciative of the parents and community for allowing me to have been involved in their lives for 22 years,” Médal said. In her farewell letter to parents Médal wrote, “Approaching the big 70 in February, it is now time to think of enjoying retireme...
Niwot opened its Northern League schedule on April 5 with a 2-1 win over the scrappy Thompson Valley Eagles, thanks to midfielder Elise Crall, who was in the right place at the right time not once but twice during the game’s first half. Down at the other end of the field, senior keeper Allie Colvin and the Niwot defense deftly weathered not only the Eagles’ physical attack, but also some controversial officiating that had a lot of Cougar fans scratching their heads as the first half came to a c...
With a young team, you never know when things might start coming together. After winning two out of three in Arizona to get in the win column, albeit against some weaker competition, the Niwot Cougars returned home and picked up a victory in the first of two games against Centaurus, Niwot’s first Northern League Conference win of the season. Each team scored a run in the first inning of the April 5 game at Niwot, but the Warriors added three runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Niwot picked up a run in the fifth inning, but it took a f...
Niwot and Gunbarrel residents should be extra cautious about clearing out valuables and locking their vehicles along with making sure their garage doors are down, Boulder County Sheriff’s Department Commander Mike Wagner told Niwot Community Association board members at the board’s April 4 meeting. “We are seeing an uptick in vehicle thefts, along with crimes of opportunity,” Wagner said. “People are having their cars stolen, along with items from their unlocked vehicles or open garages.” Wagner said the sheriff’s department believes ther...
Has Gunbarrel seen its day? These words are reverberating throughout the area, as the forces of change swirled around the historic region. “Violence, we see violence everywhere,” said one community member, who wished to be anonymous. “The name is horrible. I’m embarrassed. Why should I be reminded of it every time I tell my doctor to call in my prescriptions to the pharmacy in Gunbarrel.” Maizey Camarillo, a recent California transplant who has a long career in urban planning said, “I could hardly believe my ears when he said the name. What...
Officials from the Niwot Finishing Commission (NFC) have focused their attention recently on the matter of parking in Niwot. The Niwot Fixers League (NFL) and the Niwot Bidness Association (NBA) began plans last year for a 50-space parking lot on a two-acre parcel along the railroad opposite Murray Street. While everything was looking to fall into place for that plan, the NFC has joined the picture claiming that 50 parking spaces will not even cause a dent in the problem, let alone a door ding....
Those heading south of Niwot on 79th Street have noticed a big banner sign that reads “Bob NEEDS A KIDNEY”, along with a website and a phone number. Calling that number will lead you straight to Niwot resident Bob Keesy, and he is, in fact, in need of a kidney. Keesy’s kidney troubles began in the late 1990’s. A medication he had been taking for 15 years, along with an incident of severe dehydration and pneumonia, did irreversible damage to his kidneys. Despite having no family history of kidn...
In a case that began last year, Gunbarrel resident Kristin Bjornsen is now taking her lawsuit against Boulder County to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Bjornsen’s suit alleges that the Boulder County Commissioners have violated the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) and the Colorado Open Meetings Law (COML). The issue stems from documents concerning the Twin Lakes area and the county’s use of open space. After many petitions and not getting the information she wanted from the county, Bjornsen filed suit when the documents she requested came in...
Charges have been filed against two juveniles following a Feb. 16 “Safe 2 Tell” report at Niwot High School. Last month, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report, but the school has been unable to report the incident to district patrons due to the investigation. Now that charges have been filed, the two students were arrested on Friday, March 16. Since they are both 16, names have not been released. “Safe 2 Tell” is an anonymous method for students to report suspicious behavior or knowledge of threats made by other students o...
The Niwot LID Advisory Committee held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on March 6, despite the fact that the Boulder County Commissioners have yet to fill the four vacancies that opened when five-year terms for four of the board’s nine members expired. Boulder County staff liaison Mark Ruzzin cited unexpected travel commitments and illnesses for the delay by the commissioners, and invited the departing members—Satir DeMarco, co-Chair Laura Skaggs, Tony Santelli, and Howard Tre...
Students and staff are ecstatic that local real estate firm, Estate Professionals, recently donated a 3D printer to Niwot High School (NHS). Computer science teacher Teresa Ewing, who was also integral in bringing this wish list equipment to the school, said this donation has been a great way to help build up the school’s technical program. “Programming the 3D printer is a carrot,” Ewing said. “When students complete an assigned project, like their latest one of designing a playground, they ar...
Four Niwot neighbors and friends, Tina Eden, Patti Hoge, Liana Street and Dawn Server are hosting a pot luck dinner this weekend at The Left Hand Grange. The dinner is March 18 from 4:30 to 6:30. Bring a dish to share and place settings; beverages will be provided. The purpose of the pot luck is to educate people about pollinators — specifically why populations are declining and ways humans can help. “The reason for the pot luck is to have a pollinator safe neighborhood,” Eden said. “It’s informative to let people know that there have been...
There’s an old saying that “To catch a thief, you have to think like one.” For five intense days, two teams of Niwot High School (NHS) girls rewired their thought processes to compete in a computer security challenge to thwart cybercrime. Stepping into the virtual shoes of hackers, the teams out-performed their competitors admirably. The Coding Cougars team, made up of Julia Curd (sophomore), Davita Bird (sophomore), Michelle Tran (senior) and Aileen Ma (senior) finished first in the state...
Niwot girls tennis coach Aimee Keronen admitted she’s feeling some pressure this season. Armed with a talent-laden lineup that includes a nationally-ranked freshman and eight returning State qualifiers, the Cougars may finally have the depth to challenge perennial powerhouses Cheyenne Mountain and Kent Denver for the Class 4A State title in May. The key, she said, will be to keep the youthful team working well together all season long. “The team on paper is capable of winning it all this yea...
Niwot High’s Mock Trial team is generating real buzz in local legal circles, and deservedly so. Led by senior captain Kynzie Clark, Niwot upended perennial powerhouse Fairview High School to take first place at the Boulder County regional mock trial tournament, held Feb. 8-10 at the Boulder Justice Center. With the win, Niwot secured a berth in the upcoming State Mock Trial Tournament, scheduled for March 9-10 at the Weld County Justice Center in Greeley. A win there, and the team earns a t...
More than 400 ticket holders let the wind blow them around Niwot to enjoy wine, art, food, and the hospitality of Niwot businesses. Niwot’s fourth Wine about Winter event took place the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 24. While the sun was shining brightly, the temperature was still wintery cold and the exuberant wind battered the event’s celebratory balloons. But, the strong breeze didn’t prevent the flow of happy mug-toting participants from moving from one warm welcoming location to anoth...
This month’s progress issue features several area groups, clubs and organizations that are all about volunteerism. Though they may range in variety — such as the Niwot Historical Society, the Niwot Community Association or the Longmont Foundation — they have one common goal, and that is to make the community a better place to live, work and play. The next six pages of this issue feature several of the organizations, what they’re about and ways to get involved. We hope you enjoy learning about the many groups that make this community tick. N...
Current officers of the Niwot Business Association were re-elected at the February 13 NBA meeting, hosted by the Niwot Inn and Treppeda’s Italian Restaurant. In the only contested rate, incumbent vice-president Deborah Fowler was re-elected as vice-president over Jim Ditzel. Tony Santelli will continue as president, Linda Klueber will return as secretary, and Dayna Roane was re-elected as treasurer. The NBA officers also serve as the board of directors. Santelli thanked Ditzel for his interest in serving the NBA and welcomed his continued i...
Niwot sophomore Abbie Shaw wasn’t going to let a little thing like pneumonia stand between her and the podium at the Class 4A State Swim Championships this year. Diagnosed with the “walking” iteration of the illness in January, Shaw stuck to a rigorous training schedule during her recovery, determined to top her eighth-place finish in the 100 backstroke at State a year ago. “We knew she could sit pretty well in terms of a top-four finish, but you have to be on your ‘A’ game, and going into...
Late season woes continued for the Niwot girls basketball team, which dropped another two conference games last week, and were all but eliminated from post-season contention in spite of a Saturday night victory over Silver Creek. On Feb. 6, the Cougars were blown-out at Mountain View 60-24, a stunning reversal from the earlier season matchup, won handily by Niwot. Then, two nights later, the Cougars squandered a 13-point third-quarter effort by Sophie Grant at Thompson Valley for their sixth...
On Feb. 6, the Niwot LID Advisory Committee considered five funding requests, got a sneak preview of the NBA’s 2018 budget and heard after-action reports for two popular events from last year. They also said goodbye to AC members Tony Santelli and Howard Treppeda, who will be stepping down at the end of the month when their latest five-year terms expire. Treasurer Harris Faberman led off with an update on the District’s 2017 finances. The LID collected $13,253.70 in sales tax revenue for Nov...
Niwot wrestling called it a season at the Class 4A Regional 4 tournament at Golden High School last weekend, after none of its wrestlers qualified to compete at the upcoming state meet. Max Pechersewski (106), Brandon Barton (138), and Keith Hemenway (152) all won consolation round matches, but otherwise the Cougars were shut out of the scoring and finished last in the team standings, with just 10 points. Niwot head coach Bobby Matthews had tempered expectations for his team going into the weeke...
Preparations for the fourth annual Let’s Wine About Winter event are underway. During this sometimes chilly, but warm-hearted social event, more than 28 businesses throughout Niwot will be serving up a little something from 1-5 pm, Saturday, Feb. 24 as patrons wander the town and enjoy public outdoor art, art galleries and culinary delights. Ducking in and out of businesses, sipping on wines, brews and other beverages, snacking on cheeses, nuts and chocolates, and meeting old and new friends are among the objectives for the afternoon, along w...
Niwot senior Rosie Setter may not be the highest scoring player on the girls basketball team, but it would be impossible to tell the story of the team’s recent success without her. After sitting out most of her junior season after suffering a torn ACL, the power forward returned to the court for Niwot in November on a mission: make up for lost time. “I hate the saying, ‘You never know how much you love something until you let it go’, but it’s so incredibly true,” Setter said. “I realized how...
It is with great sadness that we report the heartbreaking news that Ed Navarro, longtime sports photographer for the Courier, passed away Dec. 31 after a battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Though his death will be felt deeply by his wife Trudy, a retired teacher, and his two children, Ed “Lucky” Navarro and Emily Marcellus, his friends and the many lives he touched will also experience a great loss. I knew Ed as a lawyer in Longmont for many years before he took up photography. I recall seeing him...
It is with great sadness that we report the heartbreaking news that Ed Navarro, longtime sports photographer for the Courier, passed away Dec. 31 after a battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Though his death will be felt deeply by his wife Trudy, a retired teacher, and his two children, Ed “Lucky” Navarro and Emily Marcellus, his friends and the many lives he touched will also experience a great loss. I knew Ed as a lawyer in Longmont for many years before he took up photography. I recall seeing him taking photographs along the fence at a Niwot Hig...
Niwot cheer coach Alexis Bellinger isn’t shy about praising her team’s performance at this year’s Class 4A State Cheerleading tournament, held Dec. 8-9 at the Denver Coliseum. “The girls were in a great place,” said Bellinger, who co-coaches the team with former Erie cheer assistant Catherine Linhardt. “Everything was falling into place. We went out to perform, and they had an absolutely flawless routine. They had zero deductions. Absolutely every stunt, every tumbling, and every jump hit, and w...
The Niwot girls basketball team headed into the holiday break on a high note, with a hard-fought win over the previously undefeated Skyview Wolverines. In a defensive battle on the professional-size court at the Pepsi Center, the Cougars held Skyview to a just 33 points, while another multifaceted offensive effort netted the Cougars the 35 they needed to pull off their second victory of the still-young 23-game season. For Head Coach Terri Ward, her team’s effort on both sides of the ball in the...
Junior Tommy Bounds and company sprinted out of the gate in their season-opener against Frederick last Wednesday night, building a quick lead over the Warriors and giving Cougar fans plenty of fodder for their post-season fantasies. A slew of turnovers and missed shots in the second quarter stalled the Cougars’ early momentum, and new head coach Eric Hejl’s team had to battle down the stretch. Buoyed senior Cameron Carlson’s fourth quarter heroics, Niwot finally put Frederick away 60-55, and c...
Led by senior guard Mary Gillett’s 16 fourth-quarter points, the Niwot girls nearly pulled off an improbable comeback against the Erie Tigers last Friday night. Down by seven with just over a minute to go, Gillett rattled off four points in the next 45 seconds to bring the Cougars to within three. After a forced turnover at half court, her senior teammate Sophie Grant evened it up at 55 as the last seconds ticked off, forcing overtime in a game that was seemingly out of reach just seconds earlie...
Niwot has the good fortune of being Alyson Bell’s family. And, as it is with the best of kin, Bell’s positive impacts are deep and immeasurable. “I like to keep a full plate and keep it rolling” Bell said. And that truly is the Alyson Bell effect. Her personal touch on Niwot’s signature events such as Let’s Wine about Winter, Rock & Rails, and The Great Pumpkin Party, through her organizing and hands-on effort and by ensuring that graphics, printed materials and online presences are emblematic,...
Local members of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists will be holding a Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Left Hand Grange as part of this weekend’s festivities in Niwot. Lora Cantele, an aromatherapist out of Gunbarrel, said that the event is for people who aren’t certified in aromatherapy, but want to get into using essential oils. At the bazaar there will be information on safe topical uses, inhalation and other different methods of using the oils. “We feel like it’s our duty to provide solid public e...
Niwot High School will soon have a new roof, but not the kind made of shingles. Thanks to a power purchase agreement, the St. Vrain Valley School District will be installing solar panels at NHS, Erie Middle School and Red Hawk Elementary over the winter. Dara Ward, energy and sustainability manager for the district, said that this will become a great opportunity for the students as well as the facilities and constituents. “Going into this project for the district, it was really important to n...
When these two teams met back on Sept. 5, Niwot dispatched then-winless Thompson Valley without much trouble, downing the Eagles in three quick sets 25-20, 25-15, 25-19. But a much different Thompson Valley team took the court last Thursday night, and it would take some late heroics from the Cougars’ big hitters to put the Eagles away this time. “Thompson Valley has improved a lot,” said Niwot head coach Daisha Agho following the hard-fought 25-12, 15-25, 26-24, 25-19 victory. “I knew they we...
The Niwot Community Association is looking for anyone interested in volunteering time and/or tulip bulbs to help fill a space on Niwot Road between the Diagonal Highway and Franklin. Pat Murphy, a member of the NCA, said that several people have already donated bulbs, but more are needed, and help is always appreciated. “We took over that strip of land and we’re going to be planting flower beds,” Murphy said. “People can help however they see fit, we welcome all that we can get.” The sections can be selected as a memorial to a loved one or in...
Let them drink water. Beer production was paused by Oskar Blues Brewery so that the brewery’s manufacturing equipment could be used to package much needed clean drinking water for delivery to Texas and Florida hurricane victims. This generous response to two back to back crises is the result of the joint efforts of Oskar Blues, Ball Corporation, and the CAN’d Aid Foundation. CAN’d Aid, a not for profit organization started in 2013 by Dale Katechis, owner of Oskar Blues Brewery, originated when...
Going into the 2017 season, Niwot’s new head volleyball coach Daisha Agho counted the Silver Creek Raptors among the potential roadblocks on her team’s path to the state title. As the Cougars’ chief rival for the Northern League title this year, Agho knew the outcome of this highly anticipated early season matchup would set the tone for the rest of the season. So when the Cougars swept the Raptors in front of a boisterous home crowd last Thursday night, Agho was more than a little relie...
It’s hard to describe the past decade of Niwot football without using the word tumultuous. After two classification changes, three head coaching changes, and an abysmal win-loss record, the program’s successes have been few and far between. Last spring, longtime Berthoud defensive coordinator Jeremy Lanter was tasked with rehabilitating the Niwot program, a challenge the first year head coach has taken to heart. As the 2017 season looms, Lanter has a roster full of exciting young players and...
On Monday, Aug. 7, the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee held its annual joint meeting with the Boulder County Commissioners to provide them with a first-hand account of the state of affairs in Niwot. Commissioners Cindy Domenico and Deb Garder (Elise Jones was out of town) along with County staff Peter Salas, Michelle Krezek and Mark Ruzzin were joined by LID Co-Chairs Laura Skaggs, and Carrie Wise, Vice-Chair Jim Eastman, Treasurer Harris Faberman, and members Tony Sant...
How to Support your Child and Niwot High School The 2017-2018 school year is only days away and the excitement for new opportunities and friendships is buzzing across Niwot and St. Vrain Valley School District. Now is an ideal time for students and parents to get a fresh start and consider the impact they want to have in the coming year. Below are recommendations for Niwot High School families to make the most of the academic year and ways to partner with the principal, administration, teachers and Niwot High School Education Foundation to supp...
The Left Hand Valley Courier has been receiving multiple requests to stop delivering to a certain neighborhood, and we feel it is time to address the issue candidly. I’ve received emails about our “litter” and “trash” being distributed. The Courier also has strong support, and we appreciate all of the kind words from those that understand our purpose and goals with the service we provide. We are a free publication that covers your area. Many people work their tails off to get this paper out every week, the majority of whom work and live in your...
Sorry, Niwot Elementary second graders. It’s going to be hard to top Collin Blatchley’s “What I Did Over Summer Vacation” story this year. On July 26th, the seven-year-old Niwot resident beat out 68 competitors from around the world to finish eighth overall in his age group at the 2017 UCI BMX World Championships in Rock Hill, S.C. For the next year, Collin will preside as “World #8”, and ride with a special number plate on his bike during races. “It was an awesome experience,” said Rob Blatch...
The sixteen Niwot residents who filed suit contesting Boulder County’s approval of a marijuana dispensary in downtown Niwot are not appealing the State District Court ruling upholding County approval. While disappointed, we value Judge Sierra’s confirmation that “the proposed use is not by right.” Our County Commissioners had authority to deny this land use but chose not to. Instead, they set aside multiple well-founded objections, opposition by 94% of the 500+ public comment letters from Niwot and compelling public hearing testimony. This is...
