All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]@lhvc.com....
Do you know people in the area who share something in common with each other? Something unusual, such as they have climbed all of Colorado’s fourteeners, they jumped out of an airplane, they went to the same middle school in another state, they were in New York during 9/11, or they have a distant relative in common. The Left Hand Valley Courier is launching a new feature called “Connections” to highlight the unusual things we have in common and to better get to know one another better. Send your connections with names and contact infor...
On Thursday, Jan. 16, the Boulder County Commissioners voted to table the proposed dissolution of the Gunbarrel Public Improvement District (GPID). After hearing almost two hours of public testimony both in person and virtually from those who attended online, Senior Assistant Boulder County Attorney Olivia Lucas amended her original recommendation from dissolution of the GPID to tabling discussion for at least 180 days so that more research on the issue might be conducted. Upon hearing the...
In just a few short weeks, including the holiday season rush, Niwot's Sesquicentennial Committee is quickly making plans to celebrate the platting of Niwot 150 years ago. Under the leadership of Laura Skaggs, the committee is working to "put a ribbon on every event in Niwot," said Skaggs. To that end, Angie Miltersen of Few of a Kind Vintage and Mercantile quickly designed a banner that can be used by every organization in Niwot to promote its events throughout the year. The banner has already...
The Boulder County Commissioners appointed Jim Ditzel as the Niwot Business Association representative on the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee on Jan. 14. Ditzel, a long-time member of the Niwot Business Association (NBA), will replace NBA President Eric Bergeson, whose term ends in February. His application was approved unanimously by the board, and Ditzel's first LID meeting will be in March. Ditzel said he applied to the LID Advisory Committee partly because it is a...
Cooper Knight, a 2015 graduate of Silver Creek High School and son of Niwot residents Jeff and Ali Knight, is continuing his work in the film industry in the Boulder area. Knight graduated from the University of Colorado Denver earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors in film and television production. While there, he worked on various student films, earning a Cinefest Best Editor Award in 2016 and a Cinefest Best Documentary Award nomination in 2019. After graduation, Knight...
The Boulder County Board of Review held a public meeting on Jan. 8 to discuss proposed modifications to building code amendments following recommendations made after their Dec. 19, 2024, meeting. In a move to promote energy efficiency while maintaining flexibility for homeowners, the Board endorsed new guidelines for home additions. Projects between 500 and 1,000 square feet must now demonstrate a 30% improvement in energy efficiency through the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index score evaluation before construction can begin. The Board...
After over 35 years of dedication to the biking industry, a seasoned expert and longtime community figure is pedaling into a new chapter. Having spent years honing his craft at Niwot Wheel Works on Second Avenue, Fernando Tapia is opening a new bike shop in Cottonwood Square, bringing his expertise and passion for cycling to a new location. The opening is planned for March 1. Cornelia Sawle, new owner of the property at 101 Second Avenue in Niwot where the Niwot Wheel Works has been located,...
Boulder County's Third Annual Seed Swap will take place on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Niwot United Methodist Church. The swap, founded originally by Elise Edson, Maureen Harvey, and Diana Neff, is a networking event for new and experienced gardeners to share information about the plants they are growing and to swap seeds with other gardeners. Gardening was a hobby that many people took up during the pandemic, and the founders started the event three years ago in order...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]@lhvc.com....
Students at Niwot High School were suddenly summoned to the main gym at 9:13 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, but no one, save for school administrators and a few invited guests, knew what the occasion was. Pep band members received a cryptic message from Band Director Wade Hendricks the day before – "Emergency Pep Band during Cougar CORE!...[G]et your instrument quickly and head [to] the gym as soon as humanly possible." Drumline Instructor Scott Barto followed with a message the next morning at 9...
When The Wheel House real estate was sold in 2024, locals questioned the future of Niwot's popular gathering spot, renowned for its eclectic crowd and vibrant atmosphere. On some evenings a small band might be playing in a corner while guests cheered their favorite sports teams competing on the screen across the room at the bar, with patrons enjoying food from La Musette food truck. On Thursday evenings in the summer, amped up locals and visitors stop by after Rock & Rails concerts in Whistle...
The Boulder County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the county courthouse at 1325 Pearl Street in Boulder to consider whether the Gunbarrel Public Improvement District (GPID) should be dissolved and then transfer the real property owned by the GPID to Boulder County for open space use. (See hachured lines on accompanying map of GPID in solid blue). The Homestead neighborhood PID which was voter-approved for street paving purposes in N...
The Left Hand Valley Courier, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, launched a fundraising campaign in November 2024 with the goal of raising $250,000 to pay reporters and vendors, print the newspaper weekly, upgrade our printing quality and support our educational mission. Your generosity has been overwhelming. To date, we have raised $44,958.00 to date because of the outpouring of local support from you, our loyal readers. We are in the process of applying for grants to supplement our local fundraising efforts. Several of you have also pledged...
With all the road construction going on through the CO 119 corridor (CO 119 Safety and Mobility Project) and surrounding streets (the Boulder Cone Zones map) into 2027, harried local commuters may be gratified to learn that some on-going and near-term trail improvements are going to provide unprecedented off-road connectivity to central Boulder from the Niwot/Gunbarrel area for bikers and pedestrians. The current construction that is continuing next to the Lobo trail south of Jay Road for the Fo...
This is the second article in a series on the Consortium of Cities addressing child care challenges in Colorado and Boulder County. According to Kaycee Headrick, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Council of Boulder County, the current child care environment in Boulder County is creating dire circumstances for many working parents, with one-third of highly educated women dropping out of the workforce each year. Seventy-four percent cite the primary reason as a lack of quality and...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) opened 2025 by approving several funding requests, including one for new street banners celebrating Niwot's first 150 years. LID members Scott Firle, Eric Bergeson, Mary Coonce, Carla Hunter, Heidi Storz, Cornelia Sawle, and Keith Waters were present, along with Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin. Jim Ditzel also attended the LID meeting. Ditzel, who is running unopposed for the position of president of the Niwot Business Association, was the only...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) held its first monthly meeting of 2025 on Jan. 8. With 2024 officially at an end, board members took the opportunity to reflect on their objectives, finances, and accomplishments from the past year as they look ahead to 2025. The NCA 2024 objectives included continuation of events, creating a new informational pamphlet, monitoring trails and open space, working with Wildfire Partners for wildfire mitigation, and creating a social media presence. It was reported that all objectives had been met. Treasurer Te...
On January 7, 2025, a group of legislators, business members and community and state leaders, including Governor Jared Polis, came together in the Glenn Miller Ballroom at the University of Colorado - Boulder to review the accomplishments of the 2024 legislative session regarding decreasing greenhouse gas effects through transportation innovation. The meeting was presented by Commuting Solutions, which is one of several state Transportation Management Organizations (TMO's) that are funded...
The Niwot Community Connection (NCC) hosted its monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9, featuring a talk by 2014 Niwot High School graduate and two-time Olympian Elise Cranny. The event provided an inside look into the life and career of the accomplished runner, who recently moved back to Colorado. Cranny, a Stanford University graduate with a degree in human biology, shared her journey as a professional athlete with a crowd at Niwot Hall. She currently is part of the Nike team, and spent...
The Niwot Annual Health & Wellness Fair at Niwot Hall on Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. offers a wide range of wellness products and services, with local vendors showcasing everything from fitness gear to organic wellness products. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore a variety of health services providers, including naturopaths, bodyworkers, nutritionists, acupuncturists, and more. The fair includes a day of hands-on learning, fitness classes, and personal wellness consultations aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle. Organized by...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]@lhvc.com....
January's Left Hand Laurel recipients are Michael Tomich and Patty Machen, who have a long history of giving back to the Niwot community. During the months of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, Tomich and Machen felt that people desperately needed social interactions and to not feel so isolated. As the owners of The Old Oak Coffeehouse, they could not let anyone sit in the shop, or even at The Emporium next door during that time. They had the idea to have free socially distanced...
In a Jan. 3 e-mail to "friends and valued guests," Farow Restaurant owners Lisa and Patrick Balcom announced that their upscale eatery in Niwot will be closing on Saturday, Jan. 11. Soon after the restaurant opened in 2021, Farow began receiving recognitions and awards for their hyper-local focus, commitment to a more sustainable food system, fair wages for farmers, and innovative menu. Among them were the Slow Food Snail of Approval, and numerous awards from Boulder Weekly including Best New...
After six years in Niwot's Cottonwood Square, Fly Away Home is now closed. Owner Kathy Trauner announced to her loyal customers that Fly Away Home, a home decor boutique, would close on Dec. 24. The shop was a favorite of local shoppers, along with out of town visitors, for its unique home decorating items. Trauner carried a wide variety of goods, such as baby outfits with clever sayings, including a baby girl onesie that says, "I'm not allowed to date. Ever." The store also featured art and...
Last year was Niwot Hall's first as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Many donations were made throughout the year, and end of the year fundraising efforts resulted in additional tax deductible donations of just over $8,000 thanks to participation in the Colorado Gives Foundation, two Rebecca Folsom concerts, and the sale of Carolyn Bradley paintings displayed in the Hall. Niwot Hall is operated solely by unpaid volunteers and several new volunteers have just been welcomed to the organization....
Finn Murphy was a Conneticut Yankee who took an offramp from long haul trucking to end up on a ranch in Boulder, Colorado. He was seduced by local excitement over a potential modern gold rush in hemp production when the eighty-year federal ban was lifted in 2018. It wasn't as if Murphy was a neophyte in small business. He started a poster business in college, became a trucking contractor, and then grew a small sweater importing business into a cashmere empire, among other things. He was East...
Although Mother Nature hasn't given us much to whine about this season, Let's Wine About Winter is still on tap for next month. Sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA), with funding by the Niwot Local Improvement District, the event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Now in its eighth year, event participants, who become members of a club by purchasing tickets, have the opportunity to stroll through historic Niwot when Cottonwood Square and Second Avenue...
Niwot High School graduate Aamuro Kanda, Class of 2019, debuted his first feature film, "Mr. Yanagi's Aliens," at the Boedecker Theater in Boulder on Jan. 7. Kanda co-directed and co-starred in the movie with his roommate, Aspen native Alex Buysse. At NHS, Kanda took filmmaking classes and was a member of the Boulder International Film Festival's Youth Advisory Council before attending The University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, where he met Buysse. Kanda said, "During...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]@lhvc.com....
Hunter Bennett, a freshman at Niwot High School, successfully earned his Muay Thai black belt on Nov. 16. He completed ten other belt levels throughout his course of study before testing for the black belt. Muay Thai is a type of martial arts originating in Thailand that involves striking an opponent with one of eight isolated limbs and works to improve the focus of the mind, body, and soul. Earning a black belt in Muay Thai is no small task. Bennett explained, "You have to complete three differ...
The Consortium of Cities (COC), comprised of 11 cities and towns in Boulder County, including non voting representatives from Broomfield and Niwot, was established by the Boulder County Commissioners in 1986 to provide an organizational structure to promote communication among local governments and facilitate collaboration for the benefit of organizations and residents. The COC met Dec. 4 to discuss the child care challenges in Colorado and Boulder County. Kaycee Headrick, executive director of...
The Left Hand Valley Courier has been fortunate to have devoted staff members who bring you the news every week. We profiled many of our staff members a year ago, and have had some new valuable additions this year, and thought you might want to know who is reporting what you like to read. Madison Shaw Hi, I'm Madison Shaw! I was born and raised in Colorado, graduated from Dawson School, and am now a student at CU Boulder. Sko Buffs! Growing up, I was an avid reader and imagined a career in journ...
With the new year, many of us resolve to change something in our lives. Small changes can make a difference. Whether it is to eliminate a behavior or add a behavior or perhaps treat yourself to a new experience, there are many good reasons to start the year with a “clean slate” and resolve to make 2025 a better year. The Left Hand Valley Courier staff shares some of their New Year’s resolutions below. Now that you have gotten to know us better, maybe their resolutions might inspire you to make your own. Scott Barto - • Get back into the hab...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]@lhvc.com....
The Left Hand Valley Courier has been fortunate to have devoted staff members who bring you the news every week. We profiled many of our staff members a year ago, and have had some new valuable additions this year, and thought you might want to know who is reporting what you like to read. Karen Sherlock Well into her sixties (but yet very young!) Karen Sherlock is still trying to decide who she wants to be when she grows up. After pursuing a degree in English literature, she made a sharp turn...
Following a review of survey results and responses at a community meeting in Niwot Dec. 2, the Boulder County Commissioners on Dec. 16 instructed county staff to obtain cost estimates for the Option 4 design of an underpass into Niwot from the bikeway under construction in the median of CO 119, also known as the Diagonal Highway. Mark Ruzzin, Boulder County liaison to the LID, wrote in an email, “At the Monday meeting, the commissioners directed Community Planning & Permitting staff to ask the county’s engineering firm (Muller) for an est...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID), in conjunction with community organizations, is working to establish a Niwot Public Improvement District (PID). This District would be based on the Niwot Community Service Area (NCSA) map adopted by the County Commissioners in January 1995, and would provide funding for subdivision road repairs, infrastructure for the Master Plan, and ongoing infrastructure maintenance. In 1995, Boulder County was faced with increasing budget demands, and looking for...
Local artist and Niwot resident Bill Enyart has lived an incredibly full life, many years of which were spent in Colorado. In 2018, Enyart moved to Niwot and has since become a friend to all in the area. With his personable demeanor, he and his family had no trouble finding their way into the Niwot community. Throughout his life, Enyart found himself constantly connected to art. As a young child he inherited an art box from his grandmother, in high school he sketched images from National...
A bear has been sighted multiple times from Dec. 19 through Dec. 21 in the Somerset neighborhood in Niwot. Somerset resident Elizabeth Riegel said the sightings occurred on Firethorn Court during the nighttime hours. Riegel said the sightings have been reported to Boulder County and the Colorado Parks & Wildlife authorities. The Colorado Parks & Wildlife District Wildlife Manager from Longmont investigated the area on Dec. 21. The bear sighted appears to be healthy. The Left Hand Valley Courier...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA), in collaboration with the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID), conducted parallel surveys Dec. 2 - 16 to gather community input on the proposed underpass from the new Niwot Transit Center & Park-n-Ride in the median of CO 119 to downtown Niwot. The proposed underpass to Niwot is part of the CO 119 Safety, Mobility, and Bikeway Project. Initial design of the bikeway showed access to Niwot at the Niwot Road intersection with CO 119, at grade. The Niwot...
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department's (OSMP) public Prairie Dog Annual Meeting was held on Tuesday, Dec, 10. The department reported a significant increase in prairie dog populations in 2024, prompting expanded management efforts and new initiatives to balance conservation with agricultural needs on the city-owned lands, which are largely located outside of the Boulder city limits. According to recent mapping data, prairie dog colonies on OSMP lands grew by 17.6%...
Residents, architects, and construction professionals are raising concerns about Boulder County's proposed home size restrictions, warning the measures could have unintended consequences for housing affordability and neighborhood preservation in unincorporated Boulder County. The proposed amendments to the Land Use Code would not apply to properties in the cities of Boulder or Longmont. The controversial proposal would eliminate expansion possibilities for approximately 50% of homeowners in unincorporated Boulder County, while reducing the...
Many Niwot and Gunbarrel residents have been faced with the Rubik's Cube of road impacts and closures associated with the ongoing CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project being done by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in parallel with ongoing Boulder County and City of Boulder Public Works projects. The combination of projects occasionally shuts down intersecting roads that could normally be used to get around the CO 119 bottleneck. It seems unclear who or what entity is...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]@lhvc.com....
In recognition of his two decades of dedicated service, Boulder County's new alternative sentencing facility will bear the name of former Sheriff Joe Pelle, following a 2-1 vote by county commissioners on Oct. 29. Commissioners Ashley Stolzmann and Claire Levy cast the decisive votes in support of the recognition, while Commissioner Marta Loachamin opposed the measure, suggesting instead that the naming opportunity be used to recognize Indigenous communities. Loachamin also noted that she...
