All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 1426 - 1475 of 3926
As the Niwot Market approaches its 20th anniversary this month, its owner Bert Steele admits, "I still work more than I have to." Yet it's apparent he loves his work, which he's been doing since the age of eight. That's when Steele first started bagging groceries at his parents' grocery store in Fort Collins. A modest, self-deprecating man, involved in many community activities from helping to organize a pancake breakfast for Niwot's 4th of July celebration, to sponsoring Friday antique car...
A tractor stuck in the mud at Little Gaynor Lake has residents in the surrounding neighborhood asking questions. See more in an upcoming edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier....
In the six months since Farow opened, co-owners Lisa and Patrick Balcom have been busy bringing the best local ingredients to diners' plates-an endeavor that recently garnered the attention of Slow Food USA which awarded Farow the Slow Foods Snail of Approval. This award is given to food and beverage establishments that are pursuing and practicing Slow Food values in their business. These values go beyond just dishing up top-rated cuisine. The award specifically recognizes businesses that have...
A second summer concert series and signs for Niwot's new public parking lot were just two of the pending issues before the advisory committee to the Niwot Local Improvement District at its monthly meeting on March 1. The group also met its likely future representative from the Niwot Community Association, heard a year-end revenue report from treasurer Bruce Rabeler, and put the finishing touches on its update to the Niwot five-year strategic plan. Treasurer's Report Boosted by robust earnings...
This is not an April Fool's "announcement.".... The Left Hand Valley Courier will mark 25 years of serving the Niwot-Gunbarrel community on Friday, April 1, with an Open House from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the courtyard outside the offices of Warren, Carlson & Moore, LLP, Attorneys located in Cottonwood Square. The community is invited to join the founders and current staff of the newspaper for a celebration outside the law office, where the staff meets once a week to plan each edition of the weekly newspaper. The Courier is the only independently...
As of Feb. 18, Boulder County Public Health's two public health orders requiring masks in public indoor spaces expired. For the first time in months, no one was forced to wear face coverings inside, although they could if they wanted to. Some do. A careful eye in retail spaces around town indicates this. Many customers waiting in line for coffee in Cottonwood Square's Winot Coffee Company one morning were maskless on one recent morning. At one point, a single masked individual came in. "I'm...
It's a testament to Karen Behne's 25-year career at the Niwot Sanitation District when past sanitation board president Jim Jones said, "People come in to pay their bills in person so they can talk to Karen. She really is the face of Niwot Sanitation." Jones feels that Behne has an encyclopedic knowledge about the district. "She knows the answer off the top of her head." He added, "The only time people are concerned (with sanitation) is when their toilets don't flush." For Jones, Behne has been...
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) normally implements its first round of seasonal wildlife closures on Feb. 1, to protect cliff-nesting raptors such as peregrine falcons, prairie falcons, and golden eagles. For 2022, the City of Boulder OSMP will implement several seasonal closures to protect sensitive habitats that support many wildlife species, including cliff-nesting raptors, bald eagles, grassland-nesting birds, burrowing owls, and bats. Many of these wildlife species...
This very good dog spent some time over the weekend "chilling" on the 2nd Avenue bump-out outside of Old Oak Coffeehouse (136 2nd Ave.) in Niwot. He wasn't camera-shy, once he heard the word "treat."...
Longtime Niwot pet Dallas the dachshund has passed away at the age of 18. Beloved Dallas was adopted by the Niwot Steiner family at the age of 7 from the local Petsmart. Dallas was a rescue from a negligent breeder and everyone who met him fell in love with him. Dallas was the unofficial mascot of Girl Scout Troop 1970, run by Julie Marx of Niwot. Dallas will forever be remembered as the cute, long-haired dachshund who loved being held by the many little elementary school Girl Scouts. He could...
On Feb. 26, the Italian restaurant Ciminini's (300 2nd Ave.) hosted a fundraising event for the Marshall Fire victims. Customers paid $25 per ticket to enjoy a lovely Saturday morning, while listening to a live cello performance. All food and drinks came with the ticket, which included the choice of pancakes, French toast, cottage cheese parfait with avocado toast, scrambled eggs, sausages and hams, a pastry basket, specialty coffee, and of course, hot cocoa. A silent auction was held at the...
Motorists traveling on 95th Street (also known as Hover Road) near the intersection with Niwot Road notice a sandstone sign on the west side of the road: "Howard L. Morton Water Reclamation Facility, Niwot Sanitation District." The district offices as well as the actual water treatment facility sit farther back from the sign, accessed by a narrow road which dead ends at the offices. Howard L. Morton farmed the land up the hill and east of the small community of Niwot, which had been platted in...
A public meeting to discuss an issue that could be on the November 2022 ballot is coming to the Left Hand Grange (195 2nd Ave.) next month. On March 8, representatives from the Boulder Public Library will lead a town hall on a pending proposal to create a new library district in the county, and what it might mean for Niwot. "Because Niwot is currently included in the Boulder Library District proposal, I wanted to make sure that people in town have a chance to ask questions and express their...
The Niwot Gig held a grand opening Saturday, Feb. 19, at the newly remodeled space behind Fan's Chinese Restaurant in Cottonwood Square, with owners Martin Marks and Alana Marks on hand to welcome the community. They were joined by their soon-to-be 11-year-old daughter, Odette, an accomplished musician in her own right. Popcorn, pumpkin bread and poppy-seed bread were part of the celebration, along with coffee and hot chocolate from Winot Coffee to wash it down. Music director Martin Marks, who...
Congratulations to the Steele family of Niwot Market on the recent addition of two new members, babies born to Bert's daughters and Seth's sisters, Alison Steele Kraft and her husband Peter, and Sara Wollesen and her husband Brandon. From Niwot Market's Facebook page: "The Niwot Market family got bigger this week. Bert gained two granddaughters on February 17, 45 minutes apart. Elizabeth Steele Kraft and Emery Merrill Wollesen. They also share the same birthday as their great - grandmother's,...
Left Hand Grange is going to be helping the community get to know local growers this season by hosting a series of farm-related mini-talks. The lead two events in the series will be a pair of interactive presentations by Ollin Farmson March 1, and March 11, each from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The talks are free of charge. Ollin Farms' participation in the Grange talks is meaningful to the farm owners, who consider Niwot a core part of their origin story. "It's the 15th growing season for the farm,...
The Wandering Jellyfish (198 2nd Ave.) is hosting a writer's workshop on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event is part of the bookshop's series of local authors invited to share their books and their creative process. Next in line is Todd Mitchell, sharing his new book, "Breakthrough: How to Overcome Doubt, Fear and Resistance to Be Your Ultimate Creative Self." He is an award-winning author for his middle grade and YA novels, and is the director of the Beginning Creative...
Kristian Dura is the future owner of a meditation/community center in Cottonwood Square. The name of her business is Una Vida, which translates to “one life” in Spanish. Dura came up with the name when she was working at a retreat center in Argentina. While she was living there, her coworkers would repeat their mantra: “your life, my life, one life.” Meaning, we all share the same human spirit no matter who we are or what background we come from. And so, Dura wanted to create a center (similar to the one in Argentina) where Front Range natives...
A campaign launched by Niwot businesses to raise $100,000 for Marshall Fire victims is more than one-third of the way to its goal after just three weeks. According to organizers for the "Small Town Big Heart" fund, a combination of donations, benefit concerts, and other local events has brought in $38,504 since late January, a testament to the community's generosity. "This town rocks," Colorado Landmark realtor Deborah Read Fowler said. "What's so cool about it is we're seeing residents and busi...
Damage to the fence on the east side of Whistle Stop Park was discovered recently. It appears that a vehicle crashed into the fence, breaking off two sections of the rail fence sometime before Feb. 5. Representatives of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, which owns the park, indicated the fence would be repaired before the Rock & Rails summer concert series begins. Anyone with information concerning the damage is asked to contact NCAA President Bruce Warren at 303-652-2433....
After raising thousands of dollars for Longmont Meals on Wheels with his annual holiday light extravaganza, 79th Street resident Chuck Rodgers put up a display honoring another organization close to his heart: the U. S. military. "I started it when my daughter and son-in-law were deployed, and I just have kept doing it since," he said. The lights will remain on through Memorial Day....
Last summer was the first time I signed up for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership with a local farm. I had long debated about getting a vegetable share, but for various reasons, mostly owing to my frazzled memory, I missed the spring sign-up window. By the time I remembered my good intentions, CSA registrations were usually filled, and I would have to content myself with picking up local fare at the weekend Farmer's Market. Not a bad option, mind you, though I only would ever go...
Many have dubbed America to be a melting pot of cultures that has coagulated into something unique. Other scholars argue that the country is more of a tapestry, where some cultures are maintained and others are transformed. For Francesca Ciancimino Howell, this tapestry metaphor seems more relevant–as an Irish-Italian-American, her unique heritage greatly inspired her academic studies. These studies, in turn, inspired her 2018 academic work "Food, Festival and Religion", which will be d...
Sarah Campbell has always had a passion for fashion and community. Over the years, she has tried on a variety of career hats. Locally, she participated in the Little Holiday Shops and even a previous iteration of The Little Shop. As of Jan. 1, 2022, she became The Little Shop's official owner and is thrilled about the reopening. "It's wonderful, and we just reopened two weeks ago," she said smiling. "We completely redid the flooring, [there's] a new coat of paint, new furniture [and] we've had...
After a strong start during the Après Ski weekend which raised $2,113 for families affected by the Marshall fire, Niwot's benefit events are continuing. A pair of events that combine dining and music are the next set of community fundraisers supporting the Small Town Big Heart Fire Relief Fund. "We've got a Niwot-wide goal of $100,000 and this is a great way to start," said Deb Fowler of DRF Real Estate, who is coordinating the events. Her total included amounts from the first weekend, but didn'...
February is American Heart Month and to kickstart your cardiovascular health, here are some astounding facts about the human heart. - The human heart pumps blood through the 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the body. By comparison, the distance around the Earth at the equator is about 24,901 miles. - Your heart beats approximately 100,000 times per day. That's about 5 times the number of breaths you take every day. - Each heartbeat pumps about 4 tablespoons of blood which amounts to around 1.5...
The beginning of February finally brought the Arctic chill typical of a Colorado winter. With temperatures dropping below zero and highs barely above freezing, you could be forgiven if you traded your normal exercise routine for sitting by a blazing fire and sipping hot chocolate. We won't judge. But if you are feeling motivated, the ice, snow, and cold temperatures don't have to stop you from getting in your daily exercise. If you aren't inclined to hit the gym, you can still safely get outside...
Turning fear into hope was a gift long-time Niwot resident Judy Seaborn drew from her experience of the Marshall fire. For her efforts to assist fire victims and her commitment to provide food to those in need, Seaborn is the recipient of the February Left Hand Laurel. Co-owner with Curtis Jones of Botanical Interests, a large Colorado seed and garden company whose goal for the past 27 years has been "to inspire and educate the gardener in you" by supplying garden centers nationally and home...
Wildlife photographer extraordinaire Bill Ringer captured this bobcat on the hunt in the Gunbarrel area. There's wildlife all around us if you take the time to stop, look and listen....
Meet Coco. Coco is a super sweet Black Mouth Cur mix that is looking for her forever home. Coco is about one-year-old and is very friendly with other pups and kids alike. She just wants to play the day away and get as many pets as possible. Coco is currently being fostered through Boulder's own, Farfels Farm! If you are interested in Coco, or any of their other foster dogs, please visit farfels.com or call 303-443-7711....
The Niwot Local Improvement District’s advisory committee may be without a Niwot Community Association representative for at least the next few months, after the Boulder Board of County Commissioners office was unable to appoint a candidate for the open position during the latest recruitment period. According to county liaison Mark Ruzzin, both a small number of applications and other priorities in the BOCC office contributed to the inability to seat a new member. “The commissioners, as you can...
The popular weekly concert series Rock & Rails is returning to Niwot's Whistle Stop Park for 13 shows in 2022, and organizers are gearing up for another great summer of live music and family fun on Thursday nights. "We're looking forward to another successful season," co-manager Bruce Warren of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association said. "We're adding some new local talent for opening acts along with the return of popular favorites." Along with Warren, Dan Hawk of Edward Jones and Vicki Maurer of...
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) recently announced that active construction of the Cottontail Trail north of Lookout Road and east of the Gunbarrel Estates would resume on Monday, Jan. 24. This section of the Cottontail Trail will be closed for the duration of the construction and is expected to re-open sometime in mid-April, weather permitting, pending the completion of the trail. The ongoing realignment and resurfacing project is part of a larger improvement effort...
The Niwot Community Connection is a new organization designed to help people ages 50 and over make new friends. The organization was founded by local residents Eve Lempriere, Pat Murphy and Dawn Server. They believed the community was in need of a social outlet due to the pandemic, with more people moving into town and many older adults struggling to make new friends after their kids have left the nest. The organization meets the second Thursday of the month at the Left Hand Grange in Niwot....
You didn't have to go out in the cold to celebrate all things winter at the 2nd annual Après Ski winter pop-up event, held Jan. 29 in downtown Niwot. From marshmallow toasting to aperitif tasting, there was something for everyone at this year's festival, even a little left over snow. Other frosty festivities included live musical performances, a live ice sculpture demonstration, and a ski gear sale at the Left Hand Grange, with proceeds benefiting Marshall Fire victims. See more photos...
Though it doesn't seem possible, Niwot's arts scene is about to grow larger. The Niwot Play Company is bringing dance and theater classes to the heart of the community. The organization is run by theater professional and co-owner Lindy Bartruff and her husband Jim. They are excited to be in the area and bring their knowledge and experience to residents of all ages. "We came here December of 2020 to be near my mom and sister," Lindy Bartruff said. "The second we came to Niwot it was an...
Growing up in Skåne, Sweden, Martin Marks and his brother, Mike, loved music. "It can be life-changing or just something that brightens your day but without it, our lives are certainly empty," said Marks. Together, they started a band and began traveling the world, performing in Stockholm, Los Angeles, Boulder and more. Their music even extended to iconic venues like The Troubadour and reached as high as #2 on the MTV Nordic Top Five. Eventually, Marks settled in California and ran a music...
On February 2, you've come to see, What a groundhog can come to be. But if you live in the mighty West, You know that prairie dogs are the best. No movies for our famous dog, Who certainly isn't Phil the hog. That groundhog who lays around his house, Only to sit there, still and grouse. Of dogs and hogs I hope you know, The trick is finding their shadow. For in the West, you'll come to see, The shadow means more months to ski....
Although much of the publicity has died down in the month since the Marshall Fires, Niwot community members are continuing to rally to help victims of the tragedy. Stepping up now is as important as it was before. It may be more important. "The needs of the victims are a lot clearer," said Deborah Reed Fowler of DRF Real Estate whose office has been collecting donations for victims. "We've been talking with Boulder Community Foundation, Boulder County and with victims directly or with friends...
Gunbarrel Estates residents received notice from Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting Department (formerly Land Use) that the Hillside Learning Center is requesting modification to an existing special review and site specific development plan for a new school building and the modification of the existing structure. HIllside, located at 7415 Lookout Rd. in Gunbarrel, has been in this location since 2017. The school provides half-day, small classes and individualized instruction for...
The 17th century is considered the "Golden Age" of Dutch painting. Many are familiar with such masters as Rembrandt, and what was particularly notable about Dutch painting at the time was its developing focus on still life. These still life paintings are abundant with flowers and abundant with inspiration for local florist Sarah Cioni. "[In 2020] I was on a phone interview and [the reporter] asked me what's my favorite design and I instantly said 'Dutch master painter.' It's always been my...
On Jan. 25, Chris Doyle hit the pipes in celebration of Burns Night, an annual tribute to Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns (1759-1796) held at Niwot Tavern There were also poetry readings, and diners enjoyed haggis, neeps, and tatties....
Sofiya Ivanova has always been creative, dabbling in creative writing and songwriting, but poetry is what really captures her interest. "It feels holy," she said, almost wistfully, describing the writing process as something akin to flying, or an out of body experience. "Art," and poetry specifically, she said, "Is the way positive energy can be channeled." For Ivanova, poetry has been present throughout her life–whether she was trying to make sense of a Lyme Disease diagnosis or make sense o...
Carissa Mina and Jerilyn Patterson, co-owners of the Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop, launched two successful fundraisers for the community. They will also be hosting another fundraiser for the Après-Ski celebration on Jan. 29. From Jan. 10 to 16, the shop donated 10% of their revenue to the Boulder County Wildfire Fund. The effort raised $247, which they rounded up to $250. Mina said, "Since we are still a relatively new business and, because January is generally slower than other months in...
Jack's Solar Garden is seeking applicants to fill two community-focused roles for 2022. The family-owned solar garden, which is located between Niwot and Longmont off of North 95th Street, recently posted a call for their 2022 Artist on the Farm program and opened a position for an agrivoltaics education specialist at the farm's non-profit Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center (CALC). Agrivoltaics, or the practice of growing crops in conjunction with solar panels, is Jack's Solar Garden's unique...
What's the buzz about native plants? Find out at the 7th Annual Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference! Experts in horticulture, ecology and landscape design share how to plan, plant and maintain beautiful and biodiverse native landscapes from the ground up. To enable participation statewide, this year's conference is online. Recordings of the speakers' presentations will be available for registrants to view after the event as well. The conference runs from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on...
On Jan. 22, Dr. Patti Ashley hosted her bi-annual mandala workshop at Cottonwood Square in Niwot. Dr. Ashley specializes in child development, special education and psychology; she works as a psychotherapist, author, international speaker, and authenticity architect coach. Mandala is a form of artistic representation meant to unfold an individual’s inner thoughts and feelings through guided meditation. cultures, but is usually represented in geometric patterns. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung u...
For 35 years Chuck Rodgers has delighted the community with his all-out dazzling holiday light display. Installing the magnificent light show that grows a bit each year, tending to it for weeks while it's open to drive-through viewing, and the couple of weeks it takes to gently dismantle and stow away the display never gets easier. But the legacy of the phenom that is Rodgers' holiday extravaganza just gets mightier and mightier each year, because of the generous financial impact it provides...
To paraphrase Forrest Gump's mama, a trip to the grocery store these days is like a box of chocolates-you never know what you're going to get because several items on your list are probably out of stock. The reasons for this are myriad, and mostly (but not entirely) downstream from the pandemic, but it can be summed up as bottlenecks at all points along the food supply chain--from the source, to vendors, to distributors, and at the store level. In Colorado and other parts of the U.S., this...
Though many didn't realize it at the time, last June there was a change to one of Niwot's longest-standing businesses. It's Only Natural Gifts, located next to Niwot Real Estate at the intersection of Niwot Road and 2nd Avenue, was sold. Karen Edwards began the business with Niwot resident Vicky Dorvee in 2008 and, in the years since, it has focused on presenting healthy and unique gift giving choices, and has grown dramatically. Diane Strong bought Dorvee's interest in 2017, but this year,...
