All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Pat Murphy and Niwot Real Estate couldn't go another year without an Easter celebration. But rather than host an Easter egg hunt, as she has done for decades prior to the pandemic, Murphy sponsored a pancake breakfast at her office building at the intersection of Niwot Road and 79th Street April 3, complete with balloons, eggs and goodie bags for children. The turnout for the free community event was steady all morning, with families enjoying the music of Eddie Spaghetti as well as the trio...
The past 12 months have been especially challenging for independent musicians, and many are still struggling to make ends meet as pandemic restrictions on large gatherings linger. To help those in need, local singer/songwriter Taylor Shae and aid organization Rocky Mountain Music Relief are partnering for a benefit concert at The Wheel House (101 2nd Avenue in Niwot) on Saturday, April 10. "It has been a really tough time," Shae, a 2018 graduate of Silver Creek High School, said. "But when I...
It was a perfect evening for an Easter parade. That's right, evening. Besides organizing Niwot's traditional pancake breakfast, sadly without the Easter egg hunt for a second year, Pat Murphy decided that an evening motorcade was the perfect antidote to what has been a very hard year. With a combination of fire trucks, vintage cars and motorcycle clubs, Murphy was able to bring some cheer to Niwot on a warm Saturday night. "We need more cheer," Murphy said. "And we all need to brighten our...
From historic droughts and wildfires, recent air quality scandals, unwanted dam expansion, rapid development, and population growth, Colorado is facing both challenges and opportunities in the management of the state’s natural resources in light of climate change. The Longmont Museum is tackling these tough topics with a week-long virtual program to discuss these big issues facing our environment. The Climate Change series will examine climate change, its impact, and potential solutions. ...
Pat Murphy is known for many things in Niwot, including organizing the annual Easter egg hunt and the Great Pumpkin Party, both of which have been curtailed or modified by the pandemic. But one activity the long-time Niwot resident and realtor has maintained through thick and thin – providing cookies and other goodies in care packages to U.S. troops far from home, through the efforts of the Niwot Patriotic Cookie Moms, or the "cookie momsters" as they have recently come to be known. Murphy s...
Paperwork delays at the Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting Department are holding up construction of a small parking facility west of downtown Niwot, but Chuck Klueber of the Niwot Business Association is hopeful that work will resume soon. "The county is asking for additional information with regard to the grading permit, electrical permit, and they want to see details of the lighting plan," Klueber, head of the NBA's streetscapes committee, said. "So that has been a hang-up. We...
We are told to read labels and instructions on just about everything we purchase,whether it is a new cell phone, food or pesticide. This is also the case with seed. If you purchase your seed from a reputable dealer, then you can be assured that the information on the package and the seed in the package meets certain requirements. You may have noticed the information on the seed bag, but didn't know what it meant. State law, federal law and either Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) or...
Boulder County Commissioners have removed Rainbow Open Space as a potential site for a large-scale compost facility. The move comes nearly four weeks after commissioners accepted a withdrawal of the application for a special use permit being sought by Boulder County Public Works. The decision was based on several reasons, according to a news release from commissioners, which state, "After careful analysis of concerns identified during design development, including additional cost information, si...
Boulder County is looking to allocate money from the sustainability tax to fund a series of experiments that could lead to the first furry colonies in space. "If things go well, we could see prairie dogs relocated to another planet within a matter of years," said Agricultural Specialist G.D. Riddance. "Since prairie dogs already live in colonies, they are the perfect species to colonize Mars." Mars rover Perseverance will be needed to drill below the surface to see if there is enough frozen...
This time last year, Laurel Fox and Jessica Crider of Gunbarrel were preparing their annual fundraising yard sale for the organization they run - Cause4Paws (www.facebook.com/C4P.ARF). It was early in the pandemic and seemed reasonable to think the multi-day event would still be on, but might take place just a little later than usual as the world got its bearings. Through the large-scale yard sale, C4P whose motto is "It takes nothing from a human to be kind to an animal," has raised more than $...
Activists from the organization Please Understand Mature Attraction (PUMA) are putting pressure on administrators at Niwot High to change the school's longtime Cougar mascot, a symbol they say is offensive. "Our culture is not your caricature," President Venus Hunter (56) of PUMA said during a protest held in Cottonwood Quadrangle. "We are real people, with real emotions, and don't like to see ourselves reduced to a cartoon." More than a dozen PUMA members attended the demonstration, which gathe...
Some call him Bruce, others The Boss, but whatever you call him, you may be seeing him at the Rock & Rails concert series this summer. While he's known for playing to huge crowds, "The Boss" is from a small town and has an affinity for communities like Niwot, which leaves the door open for a date at the renowned Thursday night concert series. If COVID is under control by July, concert goers could hear new renditions of songs that are tweaked for The Boss' Small Town America Tour: "2nd Avenue...
April 1 Boulder Country – There may be a green light at the end of the tunnel for the proposed and then possibly canceled Rainbow Composting Facility. Although the application was removed, the project may have new life. The new take is a proposed upscale housing development which would be, at the very least, heated from Rainbow Composting Facility "gas" emissions. The End of the Rainbow development, while in preliminary planning stages, has attracted a lot of interest from as far away as K...
The State Transportation Department announced that a new roundabout will soon be in operation at the intersection of Highway B-52 and County Line Road east of Niwot. The traffic control device will include reduced speed signs posted for traffic approaching the intersection from both the Weld County and Boulder County side, directing traffic to slow to 35 miles per hour. The announcement met with mixed reactions from local government officials. Boulder County Commissioners hailed the move as an...
Living in pandemic times we realize more than ever that our homes are our refuge. But for 45 years, Habitat for Humanity has been focused on just that - offering permanent affordable shelter to families around the globe. Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley (HFHSVV) makes local low-income families' dreams come true by paving the path for them to own a safe, well-maintained home. Located in Longmont, HFHSVV engages volunteers to work hands-on improving the living situations of well-deserv...
A trip to the Flower Bin is a spring ritual for many homeowners. The nursery is their resource as they're planning their vegetable gardens, brightening outdoor spaces, or seeking out overflowing hanging baskets for their porch. This year, the family-owned business is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Since its opening as a small greenhouse in 1971, it's grown to include a gift house with multiple larger greenhouses on Nelson Road in Longmont, and a 50,000-square-foot greenhouse on a 20-acre...
This past month, the Niwot business community grew larger with the opening of Blessings Day Spa in Cottonwood Square. With owner and aesthetician Julie Stenz at the helm, the business operates with a philosophy of care and support, offering customers the opportunity to renew, rejuvenate and relax. "Our service is all about the person as they enter our spa," Stenz said. "We really want to take care of them, whatever their needs are. In that sense, our name implies to us that there's kindness here...
The Niwot Cultural Arts Association, often referred to as the NCAA, has nothing to do with March Madness, or intercollegiate sports. In Niwot, the NCAA has everything to do with charitable activities involving arts and culture. The NCAA was formed in January 2009 by Tim Wise, Mike Anfinson and Biff Warren at the urging of the Niwot Business Association. The NBA, through Wise's efforts as head of the Historic Projects Committee, had worked with Bank of the West to establish Whistle Stop Park on...
The Easter Bunny won't be hiding eggs in Niwot this year, but that won't stop Pat Murphy from filling baskets and bellies at a free pancake breakfast at Niwot Real Estate (7915 Niwot Rd.) on Saturday, April 3, from 8 - 11 a.m. "I couldn't go by another year without doing anything," Murphy said. "All of my volunteers are helping. My tried and true flippers Chris Klatt and the gang will be flipping." Murphy has been hosting the town's annual Easter egg hunt for more than 40 years, and was crushed...
You'll know when they're back by their drumming on your roof vents or the side of your house (I spotted the first one this year on Feb. 22 pecking a telephone pole). You may love them or hate them when they cause damage to your house. Northern flickers, also known as woodpeckers, are migratory birds that winter in the southern United States and arrive back here around March. What can you do about them? As a migratory bird, they are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. The Act...
Spring in Colorado brings out the best in gardeners, who've been pining for the warm, longer days of the growing season. We revel in the first hellebores and crocus to bloom and spend every warm day outside doing what few chores we can. Spring in Colorado also brings out the worst in gardeners, because in our zeal to Get Things Growing, we engage in soil preparation. And when the soil is this wet, tilling or turning it is the last thing you want to do. If you had taken advantage of the weekend...
This week, we've partnered with Inkberry Books to bring you a review of Carol Samson's short story collection called "Goose Summer." As with poetry collections, it's a little tricky to assess collections of short stories. Critiquing the plot, the pacing or the character development doesn't entirely work, because each story is unique--it's short, the author doesn't have chapters and chapters to develop the story. So, while there may be overarching themes, or references to characters from other...
Ask a Trooper about how to drive safer on the roadway, and you better take a seat because it could be a while before the Trooper finishes. I have plenty to say about driving, and the hardest part is picking a single topic among the myriad number of laws to talk about. But, if you are interested in more, try out the Colorado State Patrol YouTube channel and watch our podcast on driving in Colorado. We go more in-depth on a lot of the topics I hit on each month and have a little fun with it as...
Meet Mocha - Mocha is a 3-year-old lab mix and she is the sweetest thing you'll ever meet! Mocha has a stuffed animal, her "stuffy," that she carries around EVERYWHERE with her! You will never see her without it. Mocha is currently in foster care with Farfel's Farm and is looking for her forever home. You will not regret meeting this little love and welcoming her into your home. To get more info on Mocha and other foster dogs, please contact Farfel's Farm @ (303)443-7711 or visit...
Mild spring weather, friendly faces, and Irish themed-fun made for a perfectly charming afternoon at Lucky Niwot Day on Saturday, March 20. "I was so glad we changed the day," organizer Deborah Read Fowler said of the first-time celebration, which was postponed from March 13 due to the snow storm. "The weather was perfect and it was wonderful to see so many people having socially distanced fun." The town's salute to St. Patrick's day featured festivities for the whole family, and then some....
It's all about the dirt. Improving the soil improves the plants, improves the yield, improves the quality and amount of locally grown food, and benefits the environment, which is why Boulder County is investing more than $300,000 in grants to local agricultural projects and farms through the Sustainable Food and Agriculture Funds. Michael Moss of Kilt Farms has two properties he leases from the county. One of them, on the Diagonal Highway west of Niwot is a productive organic vegetable farm. But...
Spring is always a busy time for gardeners, and this year Jack's Solar Garden is finding the season to be super-charged with activity. Last March Jack's, the largest U.S. commercially active agrivoltaic system, was just preparing to have 3,200 solar panels installed. What a difference a year makes. By November 2020 the system was up and running, and now it's nearly 100% sold out, seeds for grasses and wildflowers have been spread, a unique 2021 Artist on the Farm has been selected, a grant for...
The Niwot Future League, or NFL as it is commonly referred to, is another one of Niwot’s accidentally sports-themed acronym groups. With the Niwot Business Association (NBA) and the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) widely known in Niwot, the NFL is probably the least-known group in Niwot. That’s because it is actually just a committee of the NBA, formed at the request of the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) several years ago when the LID agreed to fund the NBA’s request for a part-time contractor to serve as Niwot’s Economi...
Savory pies, whiskey barrel roasted coffee on nitro, and New Zealand-style ice cream are just some of the items customers can enjoy when Tip Top Savory Pies of Lafayette opens a second location in Gunbarrel this spring. The 4,000 square-foot location will open doors in late April or early in May in the Gunpark Drive development close to King Soopers and next to Anytime Fitness. It will include plenty of on-site, indoor and outdoor seating for customers to enjoy menu options. It will also have a...
Niwot Historical Society president Kathy Koehler went for more than a year without a haircut and last week, Liz Edge, owner of Ivy and Thistle hair salon on Second Avenue, styled Koehler's hair so it could be donated to Hair We Share. The non-profit organization makes wigs and hairpieces and provides them at no cost to those suffering with hair loss due to a medical condition. Koehler and her two daughters have donated their long tresses in the past. Koehler said of her new hairdo, now more...
One thing that many gardeners have in common is, they pay attention to weather. Especially precipitation levels here in the semi-arid west. So, it may come as no surprise to some of you that according to the U.S. Drought Monitor (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/), here, along the Front Range, we are currently experiencing drought conditions and in fact are in the 'Severe Drought' category. While "drought is a normal part of the climate cycle", it is also characterized as "a slow-moving hazard"...
Meet Kane-This sweet and gentle three-year-old boy is looking for a forever family to call his own through Longmont Humane Society right now! Kane has an easy-going demeanor and appreciates the company of other calm dogs. He will likely also do well with a kitty in his new home. Kane is looking for a person or persons who are also easy going and will appreciate his desire to take new people and situations a bit more slowly. Your patience will be rewarded with an affectionate and loyal companion...
This month, Gunbarrel-based Beyond the Mountain Brewing announced that it will begin distributing to liquor stores throughout Boulder County. This was a major step for the business, which first opened in late December 2017 at 6035 Longbow Drive. "We're pretty excited and we think the cans are looking great," said the brewery's managing member, Chuck Hixon. He shared that as a local craft brewer, owners are prioritizing distribution in Longmont, Niwot, and Boulder. While the business currently...
5 is getting off to a good start for one Niwot business. DRF Real Estate, LLC, has been certified as a B Corporation, an ambitious designation that recognizes a business's commitment to the planet and to the community. Similar to a "fair trade coffee" designation, the recognition doesn't bring direct benefits to a business, but it allows customers to know more about a company's values and approach to its operations. It also makes the business part of a regional and global community of other...
On March 13, many of us went to bed feeling a little sheepish about buying into the hype of winter storm Xylia, which local forecasters had teased all week with predictions of improbable snow totals and comparisons to the memorable blizzard of March 2003. Store shelves had been cleared, events were rescheduled, and we looked forward to engaging in treasured snow-day traditions. But after a few false starts on Saturday afternoon, it appeared that Xylia was destined to be a bust. By all...
On Saturday March 13, like the old Burger King commercial, everyone was asking where's the snow. We all found out the next day. Fifteen or so inches of heavy wet spring snow fell in Gunbarrel and Niwot. Besides testing the flexibility of trees and bushes, the snow also brought a short power outage to Gunbarrel Estates....
Railroad historian Larry Dorsey will open this year's Niwot Historical Society lectures series with a presentation highlighting the advent of the railroad and its impact on Colorado's history. The lecture is titled In the Footsteps of the Iron Horse – The Influence of the Railroad on Colorado History. The term Iron Horse refers to steam locomotives which came on the scene in the 1800s gradually replacing actual horses which had been the prominent means of transportation. Dorsey, a long-time r...
The Niwot Historical Society recently elected two new directors who were inadvertently omitted from the How things get done in Niwot series in the March 10, 2021 issue. Amy Scanes-Wolfe and Kirk Stewart have joined the board of directors, and Joe Betts, who now resides in Wyoming, has become a consultant to the board. The website of the organization is www.niwothistoricalsociety.org....
Repairs on the Cottontail Trail in Gunbarrel could begin this week, causing a temporary closure to two sections of the trail. The trail is part of the LOBO Trail. Impacted sections are between Lookout Road and Highway 52. Starting as early as Wednesday, a half-mile section of the trail south of Highway 52 to the Boulder White Rock Ditch will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. while work is being done. Resurfacing is expected to take four weeks. The section of the trail that is directly south of...
Meet Benny - Benny is a super cute lab/pit mix. Benny is such a character with his playful personality and loving heart. He is a staff favorite over at Bowhaus where he is part of the Bowhaus 2A Newhaus foster program. He loves other pups and people alike. Benny has lots of loving energy that he'd like to take to his forever home. Benny is fostered through Boulder's own Farfel's Farm. To meet Benny or any of our other foster dogs, please contact Farfel's Farm at (303)443-7711 or go to...
Plans to build a compost plant on Rainbow Open Space took a step back last week as Boulder County Commissioners expressed concerns with the location and asked for more creative solutions to deal with organic waste. "If we do a site, for me, not on Open Space lands, that's not what Open Space lands are for, no biosolids from wastewater treatment plants, we should be imaginative and maybe use a smaller scale and include the public," said Commissioner Matt Jones. Commissioners Claire Levy and...
What a relief...Left Hand Valley Grange Park will soon have a proper replacement for the portable toilet that has been on sentry duty for a very long time. The new restrooms will be open to the public including park visitors and any passersby, such as those traveling the Longmont to Boulder (LoBo) trail. The original plans were for the installation of a prefabricated building equipped with plumbing and electricity but, what's presently in the works is a standard two-stall restroom.The toilets...
You're in the midst of Thomas Studholme's artwork when you shop and stroll in Niwot. Studholme's paintings are found throughout the Niwot Market and likely, Studholme himself is at the market, so mask aside, he's got a very recognizable face. For the last four years, he's painted holiday scenes on the windows of local businesses and won several awards as a result. We asked this Familiar Face some questions to get to know the man behind the art. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) - How did life...
New events headed to Niwot this spring and summer, as the Local Improvement District advisory committee approved a full slate of funding requests at its monthly meeting on March 2. The LID members also welcomed a new face to the monthly Zoom call, as Heidi Storz officially began her five-year term as a residential representative. Treasurer's Report The LID's December 2020 revenue report has been released by the state of Colorado, and it raises a couple of "interesting" points, treasurer Bruce Ra...
Members of the Niwot Community Association Board are cautiously exploring whether the group will be able to host some of its signature activities in 2021. "Will we see the same Covid-19 restrictions this summer after vaccines are more widely distributed? It's too early to know," said NCA Vice-President Tom Sesnic. He and area 5 representative John Barto co-chair the Niwot annual cleanup day usually held in May. That event was cancelled last spring due to Covid-19 restrictions set by Boulder Coun...
The plat of Niwot was filed in the Boulder County records on March 30, 1875 by Porter Hinman and Ambrose Murray, laying out streets, alleys and lots on both sides of the railroad tracks, but Niwot was never officially incorporated as a town under state law. As a result, Niwot does not have a mayor or city council, and is governed by the Boulder County Commissioners. All of the buildings west of the railroad tracks are long gone, moved or demolished when the Diagonal Highway was built beginning...
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) recently announcedseveral planned prescribed fire projects in the coming weeks. These prescribed fires, also known as controlled burns, are intended to help improve open space agricultural properties and irrigation ditches and waterways utilized by farmers and ranchers in the area. The burns are used to remove vegetation from irrigation infrastructure where the vegetation competes for water, as well as to help control plant growth and...
A holiday that typically features bars packed shoulder-to-shoulder with revellers will look very different for Niwot residents this year. Though mass vaccination of Colorado residents is near, all businesses in Boulder County are still restricted by the yellow level of the COVID-19 concern tier system, which allows for 10 people from a maximum of two separate households to gather. Both essential and non-essential businesses, which includes most indoor eateries, are limited to 50% of posted...
Agriculture in Colorado can be in a state of challenging realities. Like all spots on terrestrial earth, we are surrounded by abundant nitrogen in the air, but we are unable to get this essential nutrient to crops without significant human intervention. Some 70% of the snowpack melts out in 90 days, leaving farmers on the semi-arid plains in search of water from rivers, creeks, aquifers and the sky to replenish soil moisture. Many Coloradans enthusiastically demand local food, yet county, state...
Meet Jon Snow - This clever two-year-old boy is a pleasure to be around and is looking for his new best friend for life through Longmont Humane Society right now. Jon Snow is deaf and he has learned some very useful hand signals including "sit" and "down!" Jon has lovely leash manners and enjoys going on long strolls in the park and being in the company of people of all ages. Jon enjoys playing with some dogs, and is looking for a home with no kitties, please. Call 303-772-1232 today to learn...
