All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 2026 - 2075 of 3926
In indigenous Mexican culture, death was never something to be necessarily feared; instead, it was seen as a part of life. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico in 1519, not only did they bring disease and violence, but they brought their own culture, namely religion. Over time, traditional indigenous rites were mixed with Catholic ones, similar to many other traditions world wide. The result is el Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, that takes place on Nov. 2; with Nov. 1 being e...
Citing a years-long increase in admission requests, an independent school for students with learning disabilities is seeking Boulder County's approval to add a classroom building to its one-acre campus in Gunbarrel. In an application filed with the county's Permitting and Planning Department, the Hillside School, located at 7415 Lookout Road in Gunbarrel, is requesting a modification of the site's existing development plan to allow for the construction of a 10,500 square-foot building that will...
Over the past few months, the free recycling containers located near the Niwot Loop Trailhead (79th St. & Highway 52) have been filled to overflowing with trash and other non-recyclable materials, which could lead to removal of the service by the Boulder County Resource Conservation Division. The county has contracted with Western Disposal to empty and replace the containers at the Niwot Drop-Off Center three times per week- Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Western Disposal charges the county...
Meet Miso This sweet and gentle four-year-old kitty loves people and will make a wonderful companion during the approaching cold winter nights. Miso is very affectionate and has a wonderful purr that she shares easily. Miso will likely do well with another kitty as well as a polite dog in her new home and would prefer a family with older children who will be able to appreciate her desire to get to know new friends slowly. To learn more about Miso or to make an appointment to come in for a visit...
Whether you read the Nov. 4 issue of the Left Hand Valley Courier on our website or in our print edition, you will notice some big changes. While the pandemic had forced us to stop weekly printing for several months, we recognized that we needed to enhance the Courier's website to attract new subscribers to help us through this crisis. We were fortunate enough to receive a Facebook Journalism Grant that recognized the importance of community journalism. These funds helped us subsidize advertisin...
When Karen Quinn took her grandson to look at the veteran's banners in Niwot, she didn't know how he would respond. Her grandpa, and her grandson's great, great grandfather was an Army Corporal in WWI. Cpl. Ivan Henry "Bill" Dart was based in France, where he helped wounded soldiers as a part of the Medical Corps. "I showed him my grandpa's banner and, oh, he just loved it," said Quinn, who lives in Niwot. The two strolled around Cottonwood Square and looked at some of the others, talking about...
Married for 51 years, Gunbarrel residents Mike and Becky Fellows are partners in life and community service. As a couple, they deliver meals to seniors and those who aren't able to shop for food and prepare meals on their own through the non-profit organization Meals on Wheels Boulder (MOWB). Lisa Hughes, MOWB manager of volunteer services, said, "Mike and Becky are such great volunteers. They deliver meals for us every week to Gunbarrel and often substitute drive as well. They are very...
The craft beer business hasn't been immune to 2020. Even the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) was forced to evolve into a virtual version of itself, with the event's highly regarded awards program, now in its 34th year, revealing winners online. Among all of the changes at GABF, one Boulder County brewery with Gunbarrel roots stood tall. Wibby Brewing beat out 110 other entries in the American amber lager category to win a gold medal for its Volksbier Vienna Lager. A slightly crisp but malty...
On March 5, 2020, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's public health laboratory confirmed the first presumptive positive COVID-19 test result in Colorado. What followed is well known to Coloradans, but looking back to March, there are some behind-the-scenes heroes from the early months of the pandemic who deserve some added thanks, namely the volunteers and organizations who helped support early mask-making endeavors in local communities. When COVID-19 cases were first on t...
A recycled crayon looks more like candy to a child at a demonstration at Inkberry Books in Niwot on Saturday. Most regular crayons are petroleum-based and don't break down well in landfills, said children's book author Pat Kittelson, who wrote "Bixley Baines and the Recycled Crayons." She led the event that featured a simple technique for recycling crayons. "Kids don't have to be Elon Musk to make a difference. There are lots of things you can do right in front of you," she s...
NASA released a statement on October 14 announcing planetary scientist and associate vice president of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Dr. Alan Stern, will be the first private sector scientist to fly aboard a commercial space vehicle, Virgin Galactic's suborbital plane SpaceShipTwo. The exciting news means that Stern will realize his lifelong desire to go into space and Niwot will have bragging rights over its first astronaut. The mission was selected in a proposal process through NASA's...
There have been more tricks than treats in 2020, and among the former is the hobbling of many local Halloween traditions, such as Niwot's Great Pumpkin Party. For many area families, finding an enjoyable but safe way to enjoy the popular holiday has been a matter of getting creative. For those in the mood to be social but distant, there are a few public celebrations organized with safety foremost in mind-from a trunk or treat in Cottonwood Square, to a virtual 5K benefit race organized by a...
His mom cries every time he heads toward the flames of a wildfire. "She acts like I'm going off to war," said Mountain View Fire Protection District Lt. Chris Queen, who has been a firefighter for 34 years. He recently returned from the Cameron Peak Fire, northwest of Longmont. But his mom may soon be worried again. Queen thinks he'll be back on that fire or another one until Colorado gets multiple snowstorms to help put an end to a devastating string of fires. Queen and other local...
4 marks the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment which guaranteed women the constitutional right to vote in the United States. However, this year does not mark the 100th year of women voters in Colorado as the state actually granted women voting rights in 1893, 27 years before the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. The Niwot Historical Society will be exploring the history of women's suffrage in Colorado with Dr. Rebecca Hunt in the latest NHS Now & Then fall lecture series. Hunt's...
It's important to stop and carefully consider a ballot proposition when both the opponents and the proponents agree that the ballot language is confusing. Thanks to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), in order for the legislature to make changes to taxes, it cannot do so without asking for voter approval. It has been called an anti-tax tool and the Bell Policy center, which seeks to "ensure economic mobility for every Coloradan," has pushed for TABOR reforms for years. As a result, since it's...
Based on population (5.691 million) and income data from 2018, 96.74% of Coloradans had a taxable income of $150,000 or less per year. That means that only 3.26% of the state's population made $150,001 or more. Yet, all those people paid the same percentage in income tax: 4.63%. This income tax largely goes towards the general fund, which supports K-12 education, public assistance, courts and other basic state-funded services. Proponents of the measure, such as the Colorado chapter of Americans...
For several months, artist Rachael Scala visited Jack's Solar Garden weekly to gain inspiration for a series of large scale multimedia sculptural pieces of art. Her process was time and resource intensive. Throughout the spring and summer, Scala, who lives in Nederland, worked to build a series of six pieces of art, the first show created through the farm's new artist-in-residence program. Her path to this point involved her passion for permaculture, and part time work for a biodynamic...
Earlier this summer I wrote about June being Colorado Pollinator Month. The City of Boulder celebrates Pollinator Appreciation Month in September. More and more people are becoming aware of the important role these insects (and birds and mammals) play in everything from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear. Pollinator gardens are being planted in neighborhoods and researchers spend their careers learning about every facet of these fascinating creatures. Whether you are already immersed in thi...
Last week, Renee and Bill McDermid of the Hampton Inn in Gunbarrel needed help feeding firefighters working on the CalWood and Left Hand Canyon fires, as many area restaurants were closed for dining. That spurred a number of Niwot residents into action, and before long, firefighters from Oregon, Nebraska, and elsewhere were well fed and ready to battle the blazes. Niwot Community Association donated $500 to be used towards the purchase of food. The Niwot Cookie Moms also chipped in with home...
If you have spent anytime in the military, you have heard the term "Watch Your Lane." It means keeping your eye on your target on the rifle range. In the civilian world, I'm referring to the lane you're watching while driving in it. Watching your lane will help you get home safely. Over the years, I've covered a lot of crashes that have dealt with vehicles going off the roadway. We even have a statute that covers this problem: Failed to drive in designated lane. So why is this such a problem...
Drought and high winds continued to create havoc in Boulder County. On Saturday, Oct. 17, a fire broke out near the CalWood Education Center in Jamestown. The fire quickly spread, and within the first 24 hours, became the biggest fire in Boulder County history. Evacuations were immediate. But within the chaos caused by the fire, there are those who want to help. Lefty's Pizza in Niwot donated pizzas to the Hygiene Fire Department. A quick look on Nextdoor also revealed those who were ready to...
For the past few weeks, Colorado television and the internet have been littered with commercials about Amendment B. This amendment seeks to repeal the nearly 40-year-old Gallagher Amendment, a provision in the Colorado constitution used to calculate property tax rates. As it is now, residential property taxes make up 45% of the overall tax base, while nonresidential properties--primarily businesses, --make up the other 55% of property tax revenue. As Colorado’s population has grown, the value of housing has increased far more than commercial p...
History can be learned from books and films and lectures, but a deeper layer of understanding comes from being in the place where things happened. That belief was what led me to visit Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in southeastern Colorado earlier this month. I had planned to join dozens of people who signed up to take a bus from Niwot to the site this fall. The trip, organized by the Niwot United Methodist Church in cooperation with several other community organizations, has been...
Boulder County Parks & Open Space has recently completed a new fence along the Niwot Loop Trail on the south side of Somerset to protect a critical and rare habitat. Working in conjunction with the Niwot Community Association and the Somerset Estates HOA, Boulder County installed the four-foot-tall Jackleg fence as a barrier to help protect the natural area. Therese Glowacki, manager of the Resource Management Division of Boulder County Parks & Open Space, was part of the team that helped identi...
Last Tuesday, the Niwot Community Association (NCA) hosted a virtual forum for the Boulder County Commissioner Candidates. This year, two of the district seats are up for a county-wide vote, District 1 and District 2. Though the third commissioner, Matt Jones, is from District 3 which includes much of the Left Hand Valley, all commissioners are elected on a county-wide basis. County commissioners assist in making a number of decisions that affect the whole county--road maintenance to allocation of funding for services such as mental health and...
R.L. Maizes is a Niwot local whose debut novel "Other People's Pets" is set in a fictional small town on the front range of Colorado. For Maizes, setting the book in Colorado was a natural choice. "It's so inspiring to look out your window and see a red tailed hawk, to see a fox when you're on your evening walk," said Maizes. "I recently saw a bobcat going behind a neighbor's house. There's incredible wildlife both in Niwot and in Colorado, so it was really a perfect place to set a book about...
Meet CeeCee In addition to being unbearably cute, 12-year-old CeeCee is an absolute joy to be around. This gal has personality for miles, loves being around people of all ages and gets along well with both cats and other dogs. What more could you ask for? To learn more about CeeCee or to make an appointment to come in for a visit please call 303-772-1232 or email [email protected]....
It's shaping up to be a busy, but socially distanced winter around Niwot, as the LID advisory committee members considered funding requests for upcoming holiday themed events at their virtual monthly meeting on Oct. 6. Treasurer's Report First, however, they heard from LID treasurer Bruce Rabeler, who led off with a concerning notice from the Boulder County finance office regarding the district's 2020 earnings. According to county analyst David Thayer, the state of Colorado believes the LID's hi...
If you've been through downtown Niwot that last two Sunday afternoons, you aren't imagining things if you've spotted a lion, a tin man, or perhaps even a wicked witch in the vicinity. Turns out we're not in Kansas anymore. The Spark, a multigenerational performing art community based in Boulder, has been bringing the classic tale of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to Niwot. In this socially distanced, interactive Tales on the Trails performance, the audience gets to lace up their shoes, fire up...
Amongst the shapes, colors, and textures inside Niwot's Osmosis Art and Architecture on 2nd Avenue, there's a face locals are well acquainted with - that of Michelle Henzel. She's raised a family, worked, and been an integral part of community events and organizations for more than 35 years. The Courier reached out to learn more about this vivacious member of the community. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) – Where is your hometown and what path brought you to Niwot? Michelle Henzel (MH) – I gre...
Harness Energy is a small business that provides meteorological measurement services to renewable energy developers and operators across North America. They will be moving their headquarters to Niwot next month, in the former Excel Electric Building on 2nd Avenue. LHVC had a chance to catch up with co-founder Taj Capozolla for a brief interview, which has been edited for length. LHVC: Tell us about yourself. Taj: I originally came out here to Colorado for the skiing and the outdoors. I'm from...
Something sweet has found a new home in Niwot. Late this August, chocolate candy maker Little Secrets moved its offices from Boulder to a new location just behind 2nd Avenue. According to President and COO Jeremy Vandervoet, they plan to settle in. "We signed a three year lease and anticipate being in the area for the near, medium, and longer term," he said. Founded in 2015, the company has fairly large ambitions for doing something different in the chocolate world: re-making chocolate so...
An eclectic pottery collection has found its way onto the walls of Old Oak Coffeehouse, and, fittingly, it has taken the form of more than 250 ceramic coffee mugs. The lovingly crafted carafes are part of the Cuppa Artists Display Collaboration, installed in the 2nd Avenue hang-out on Sept. 4. The exhibit is designed to draw attention to local potters, and mugs seemed a perfect fit for the coffee shop environment. Customers are taking notice, too, as many lingered by the displays, appreciating...
While Karen McCormick's journey running for state representative might, at first, seems to be somewhat unique, the common thread throughout her life is service. From the time she was little and watching her father interact with other Navy servicemen to her own career as a veterinarian, McCormick has seen the importance of helping others and strives to do it herself. "My dad...He was captain of an aircraft carrier, he made it a point to go to every department to ask what they needed...more...
Special to the Courier Trees are beginning to lose their leaves, your garden plants are done and if you don't have access to commercial composting pickup, you may want to try composting them in your yard. Composting is not as difficult or as time consuming as you think. Composting provides organic material to improve soil and reduce wastes that reach landfills by 20- to 30% or more. You do not need a fancy compost bin unless your homeowner's association has a covenant requiring one. A simple...
For five years, Niwotian Rich Anderson has brought nurturing and nutrition to homebound community members through Longmont Meals on Wheels (LMOW). The organization's motto is Delivering Hope One Meal at a Time, and Anderson does that in batches of 12 to 16 deliveries per shift, each one providing greatly appreciated smiles and sustenance. "Being retired," Anderson said, "I felt I needed something besides the activities in life I normally get engaged in. I just can't sit around the house. I...
September 8 marked the beginning of a new chapter at Niwot Vision Center. Dr. Amy Chang, OD, FAAO, FCOVD, joined the staff there and will assume ownership of the practice as of the new year. Dr. Rebecca Hutchins OD, FCOVD will retain ownership until then and plans to see patients on a part-time basis after the transition. Chang not only is new to the practice, she's new to Niwot and to Colorado. She, her husband, and their two French bulldogs moved to the area from Minnesota where she was on...
The spike in COVID-19 cases tied to the University of Colorado last month is troubling, but those who have recovered have the opportunity to play a critical role in saving lives, improving health outcomes, and understanding immune response to the novel coronavirus. Vitalant Blood Donation, formerly the Bonfils Blood Center, is collecting plasma from people who've recovered from the virus. It's being used for a number of scientific studies and medical uses, including convalescent plasma for patie...
Do you feel frazzled, irritable, preoccupied, angry, reactive, or just plain tired? Christine Ruth, M.Div., MS, LMFT, owner of Niwot Counseling Center says you are not alone. In her over 20-years of experience as a social worker, hospice grief counselor, spouse, and marriage and family therapist, Ruth has specialized in helping people work through loss and grief. And while you might not know it, these feelings are a normal response to what Ruth calls the “confusing emotional roller-coaster” of...
As Veterans Day 2020 approaches, the Niwot Community Association will once again honor the local men and women who have served their country in the U.S. Armed Forces. Starting in early October, more than 50 full-color banners featuring the names, photographs, branch, and service years of Niwot's military members past and present will be installed along 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square where they will hang through Veterans Day. "I think it's great that the community would honor our veterans,...
In 2020, the public receives news from an enormous number of electronic as well as traditional sources. The information onslaught is relentless, can be frustratingly inaccurate, and isn't always able to portray what occurs in a localized area. Local journalists have an important role to fill in this kind of potentially confusing environment. Community newspapers such as the Left Hand Valley Courier tell stories about businesses, schools, parks, open spaces, neighborhoods, local infrastructure,...
For her 48 years of "service, dedication, and love for Niwot," the Rotary Club of Niwot honored longtime resident Kathy Koehler with its second annual Community Achievement Award. "This year's winner could not be more deserving," RCN member and past president Doug Montgomery said during the presentation, held at Old Oak Coffee's OctoberFeast Celebration on Oct. 3. "To say that her love and care for the Niwot community has been on full display since she moved here in 1972 would be a colossal...
Nobel prize winning economist James Heckman said, “The highest rate of return in early childhood development comes from investing as early as possible, from birth through age five, in disadvantaged families.” Proponents of Proposition EE say that the revenue created from the nicotine tax would do just that. This November, Colorado voters will be voting to increase the current tax on tobacco products and for the first time ever, to institute a tax on nicotine-vaping products. “Oftentimes, peopl...
A walk around Niwot usually reveals a few interesting sights. Maybe it's the coming of fall, but the bird watching has been extremely good lately. A stroll in the park found some free range, semi-rural clucking chickens. The chickens seemed unconcerned about a crazed photographer and were very focused on the abundant bugs that were hiding the grass. It is, however, the turkeys that stole the show. According to the turkeys' mom Amy Vinson, "We've had them since March, and they were raised inside...
While many school and local events have been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Mwebaza Foundation is getting creative in gathering the community together for engaging, safe activities. On Oct. 29, Proto's Pizza will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Mwebaza Foundation's micro industry development plan at its partner school in Gulu, Parents' Junior School. Pick up a pizza, drinks, and dessert from the Gunbarrel, Longmont, or Broomfield locations and mention "Mwebaza Foundation"...
Meet Barley This sweet and smart seven-year-old boy is looking for his perfect match, could it be you? Barley is a bright and mature fellow who has excellent obedience skills that include advanced leash manners as well as the ability to sit down and "place" on cue. Barley loves his treats and will get very wiggly when he is especially pleased or excited about them! Barley is looking for a home where he can be the only beloved pet and would appreciate a family with high school age or older...
Locals seem to be heeding the fervent advice of health experts to get a flu shot this year. The King Soopers pharmacy in Gunbarrel went through three batches of flu vaccines by the end of August, according to a pharmacy employee. That doesn't usually happen until early October. Public health experts are advocating flu shots more than usual, worried that the normal seasonal flu hospitalizations combined with COVID-19 patients could overburden the health system's ability to handle both...
Have you recently stepped outside to the smell of a campfire? Or been surprised to find your car covered in white ash? Or been shocked by the size of the setting orange sun? It's not the apocalypse, although the orange light does seem a bit eerie. It's simply the end of a hot, dry summer in Colorado. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as the summer of 2020 comes to a close, the entire state of Colorado is currently experiencing drought conditions. For the first time since 2013, 100% of the...
With the COVID-19 pandemic making in-person voting a health risk for many, the 2020 election will be conducted by mail-in voting on a wider scale than ever before. After recent mail-in primaries in New York and Florida that took weeks to count, officials in both presidential campaigns have raised doubts about the entire process and suggest the system is ripe for potential fraud, particularly from non-citizens. Evidence to date shows those fears might be unfounded, problems in the aforementioned...
This past month, a noteworthy change came to Niwot High School's football field. The St.Vrain Valley School District installed new lights to allow for later practice times and, ultimately, after-dark home football games. Niwot High School is one of three in the district that received new light installations, the other two being Longmont's Skyline and Silver Creek High Schools. According to Athletic Director Joe Brown, the three high schools were the only ones in the district that didn't have...
