All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 2212 - 2261 of 4144
Back in March, streaks of panic buying due to COVID-19 left stores barren of cleaning supplies, bathroom essentials and canned foods. Niwot Market owners were forced to limit purchases of certain items to one or two per person. The supply chain slowed down as big vendors shifted to the bigger markets, leaving owners Alison Steele and Bert Steele to look towards quickly developing new relationships with smaller vendors. However, the Steeles are confident now that they have the resources necessary...
Lawson and Suzanne Drinkard of Niwot put their energy into making sure members of Recovery Café are wrapped in the warmth of connection with others. Built upon the premise that recovery from challenges with addiction, homelessness, and mental health is made possible through a sense of belonging and being valued, Recovery Café Longmont (RCL) opened its doors a little over a year ago and the Drinkards were committed to support the impactful organization from the start. "Being a part of a caring c...
In 2018, the EPA reported the total generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the United States was 292.4 million tons or 4.9 pounds per person per day. Of the total MSW, 25 million tons were composted. This included approximately 22.3 million tons of yard trimmings and 2.6 million tons of food waste across the United States. At a local level, Boulder County estimates that almost 20% of the waste stream in Boulder County is plant trimmings and fruit and vegetable scraps that could be recycled as compost. As part of Boulder County’s o...
In 1975, the Lutheran Medical Center Foundation was created as a way to support a nonprofit hospital in West Denver. Since then, it has been renamed the "Community First Foundation" (CFF) and has sought to create change beyond just the Denver Metro. Then, CFF became involved with ColoradoGives.org, an online tool that is a way to connect with and support nearly 3,000 nonprofits around the state. In 2010, CFF and ColoradoGives.org kicked off Colorado Gives Day, which has garnered $355 million in...
If someone were to start belting out "Jingle Bells" in the middle of June, it's a safe bet that someone else would yell something along the lines of, "Stop that, it's not Christmas yet!" Similarly, there have been numerous posts on social media where people have put up their trees in early to mid-November with the caption, "Is it too early?" But with COVID ravaging the world for the past nine months and people being cooped up inside, time has seemed a bit stranger this year. People have been...
A socially-distant version of Niwot's annual holiday celebration kicked off on Friday, Nov. 27 with a pandemic-friendly Enchanted Evening. Masked shoppers strolled through town while carolers, entertainers, and musicians played holiday favorites, including a set from the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange (Masked) Band. Santa also made a grand appearance on a horse-drawn carriage, though he stayed outdoors to hear socially distanced Christmas wishes, per state and county guidelines. The...
Meet Poe. This sweet and social 12-year-old fellow is looking for a special someone to call his own. Poe is very chatty and affectionate and loves to be involved with what is going on around him. This senior kitty is not shy about asking for cuddles and sincerely enjoys the company of people! Poe is diabetic and so is looking for a new partner who will be able to help him take his insulin every day. To learn more about Poe or to make an appointment to come in for a visit please call...
We have a couple of snowstorms under our belt already this year, and we have had our standard crashes that come with those storms. Just as you need to get used to your sea legs when sailing, you need to be ready for snow when driving and how your vehicle will respond to different surface textures. So, these are the topics I want to hit on in this article this year: freezing rain, windblown snow, and compacted snow. Freezing rain scares me the most. I've been doing this job for 17 years now, and...
Pints will be brewed and poured in Cottonwood Square again. Last week, co-owners Leslie and Steve Kaczeus closed on the sale of the former Bootstrap Brewing location on 79th Street. New owners Cory and Kelly Buenning plan to open a family brewery in the building. They aim to start serving customers sometime next spring. The location will be known as Fritz Family Beer, and will offer the varied range of beer styles that Buenning produced while head brewer at both Snake River Brewing in Jackson...
On Friday, Nov. 6, Boulder County was moved to Level Orange, High Risk category. Barely two weeks later, Governor Jared Polis added a new color to the COVID dial and Boulder County was bumped up to Level Red, Severe Risk, which was redefined as somewhere between Level Orange and the new Extreme Risk-Stay at Home shut-down, known as Level Purple. "The numbers have been going up, so I can't say that I was super surprised," said Pastor Emily Kintzel of Niwot United Methodist Church. Perhaps the...
The bad news is that more people than ever are in Boulder County hospitals with COVID-19; the good news is that patients have a better chance of avoiding the most serious or deadly outcomes compared to when the pandemic began. “We have been thrilled with the progress we’ve made since March as health care providers, learning how we take care of these patients,” said Boulder Community Hospital Vice President of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer Jackie Attlesey-Pries. “We are able to support them in a different way than we first did in March,...
Due to the recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases, many Thanksgiving traditions are off the table in 2020. But thanks to a Gunbarrel chef, pumpkin pie won't be among them for Boulder County residents in need. For the last three weeks, Mary Capone of Simply Clean Eats has been hard at work crafting and baking 125 holiday desserts for the Boulder and Longmont Food Rescue organizations, which distribute nutritious food to "feed hungry, homeless, and low-income populations directly". "We're all...
Niwot has long been a destination for old fashioned Christmas charm, with traditional events such as Enchanted Evening, the Holiday Parade, and WINC Holiday Fayre, which provide a festive ambience and attract families from both close to home and towns all around. What's more magical than seeing children's faces light up at the iconic Santa on the fire truck, or people marveling at the ice sculptures, or the comfort and joy of hearing carols sung beautifully, or sipping a fabulous holiday...
On Nov. 18, Boulder County hosted a virtual public meeting to discuss current and future improvements to cycling corridors in east Boulder County. The virtual meeting discussing future bike improvements had 113 participants and was followed by a short Q/A session. Three separate issues related to improving cycling safety, and access in eastern Boulder County were discussed with several county representatives giving a high-level overview of each project or proposed improvement. First,...
With Thanksgiving almost upon us, I thought it would be fun to take a closer look at the tart, red fruit that is a staple on most Thanksgiving menus. Whether you like to make your sauce from scratch, or you prefer to open a can and let the cylinder of wriggly jelly slide out, the cranberry is something we should all know more about. A member of the Ericaceae family, also known as the heath or heather family, cranberries are related to blueberries, huckleberries, azaleas and rhododendrons....
Boulder County Public Works, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and Concrete Works of Colorado have started a safety improvements project at the US 287 and Isabelle Road intersection. Normal working hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Weekend work may be necessary over the course of the project. Updates will be posted at www.US287Isabelle.com. Travelers on both US 287 and Isabelle Road can expect lane closures and traffic shifts throughout the project's...
Meet Millie! She is a beagle mix and oh so sweet! She came to Bowhaus a bit unsure of humans, but has quickly warmed up to the team and just cannot get enough love and pets. She is great with other dogs and is looking for a loving, patient home to call her own! She is being fostered at Bowhaus Boulder through the Bowhaus 2A Newhaus program. If you are interested in more information on MiIlie or other foster dogs, please call Farfels Farm Rescue at (303)442-7711 or visit their website at...
As Thanksgiving approaches, there's no shortage of advice on how to make the best turkey, what new sides to serve along with beloved family recipes, and what wines or cocktails to have. While information is available from a lot of sources, culinary talent from the Niwot Tavern and newly opened Niwot Wheel Works have their own suggestions. Read their thoughts as you plan your holiday meal. Suggestions for Thanksgiving meals Head chef Juan Reyes and Chef Hugo Ordiz have been in the kitchen at...
Chances of getting COVID-19 are as high, or higher, than they've ever been during the pandemic, but there are simple steps people can take to be prepared if the virus strikes. Research suggests that Vitamin D may play a role in the severity of COVID-19 cases. "I've read a couple of studies that specifically show that morbidity goes up directly with COVID with low levels of Vitamin D," said Dr. Janine Malcolm, a naturopathic doctor and licenced acupuncturist at Niwot Natural Medicine. "Most...
Like it or not, the 2020 holiday shopping season is upon us, and like everything else during the past eight months, it promises to be fraught with uncertainty. But one thing that is certain is that supporting Niwot's shops and restaurants-whether online or safely in-person-is especially important this year, according to economic development director Catherine McHale. "I am happy that most of our businesses are surviving for now, and we've had very few casualties or actual closures, but obviously...
In a year when many well-loved group events have had to be canceled, it's refreshing to see the beginning of a new annual tradition: The Niwot Turkey Trot. Holding an event in light of rising Covid-19 numbers isn't something to be taken lightly. The event's organizing committee, a group of Niwot business owners, know this. They're doing everything they can to be careful. While the race, due to its nature, will be held outdoors, there are other things organizers are planning to keep things safe....
In the closing line of the poem First Things First, W.H. Auden writes, "Thousands have lived without love, but not one without water." Water is the topic of author and retired water resource manager Bob Crifasi's lecture for the Niwot Historical Society's latest Now & Then lecture series set to be released on Nov. 18. Crifasi's lecture, "From Desert To Oasis, A Land Made From Water," will be available for the public to watch on the Niwot Historical Society's YouTube channel. Crifasi worked for...
The retail incubator launched by the Niwot Business Association last month got a boost from the Niwot Local Improvement District's Advisory Committee when they agreed to recommend funding a portion of its marketing and promotional expenses at their virtual monthly meeting on Nov. 10. By a vote of 8-1, the board granted a modified funding request of $4,554 that will cover advertising and printing costs, as well as costs associated with hiring an "ambassador" to assist shoppers during business...
As the weather cools and bears are headed to hibernation, mice may be seeking the warmth of your home and voles may be setting up their homes in your landscaping. How do you keep these unwanted visitors out of your house and protect your landscape plants? Start inside the house by storing food in rodent proof containers. Store cereal, rice, flour, noodles, chips and other foods in either metal or heavy plastic containers with tight lids. Immediately clean up any food spills. Keep the area where...
This year, 3,207,983 votes were cast across Colorado, resulting in a voter turnout rate of 84.83%. Boulder County's rate was comparable at 84.81%, with 230,721 votes cast. Traditionally seen as a more liberal part of the state, the Boulder County results tend to lean blue this election cycle. The average turnout across the sixteen precincts that make up the Courier's readership was 90.74%, higher than both the county and state rates. Of those sixteen precincts, the lowest turnout was 80.87% and...
Meet Jack. Jack is a 1 year old black Lab and is looking for a loving home to call his own! Jack is great with people and other dogs. He is currently in Bowhaus' foster program, Bowhaus 2A Newhaus. We just love getting to play with and snuggle Jack. We also love watching him play with his other four legged friends. We hope Jack finds a wonderful home where he can really come out of his shell. Farfel's Farm of Boulder will be handling Jack's adoption. For more information on Jack, please visit...
Pvt. Joe Pacheco was a WWII soldier, a father, an American Indian and much more. His son, who shares his name, wanted to honor him for all those things, so he and his brothers got him a banner as part of the Niwot Veteran's Banner Project. "You don't see a lot of praise for those American Indians, no matter what tribe you're in, that had joined the service and fought for their country," Joe Pacheco said. "He, like everyone else, wanted to serve their country." Pvt. Pacheco didn't talk much...
Veterinarian Dr. Crystal Conner has devoted her career to helping animals ever since graduating from CSU's veterinary school in 2007. In June 2016, she joined Niwot's Left Hand Animal Hospital after several years of working as an emergency veterinarian. Connor's work helping animals in the local community extended to a pet CPR training that she offered for first responders in Boulder County, a class that she has previously taught to firefighters and medics with the Mountain View Fire District...
In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, all fighting as a result of World War I officially ended with the signing of an armistice with Germany. Since then, it has been a day around the world to remember those events and those who served. In 1954, various veterans' organizations within the United States banded together to have Armistice Day be renamed to Veterans Day. While Memorial Day honors those who died while in the military service.Veterans Day celebrates all who have...
Jane Leland Langdon's art expresses what's in her heart - a genuine love for life and others. You've seen Langdon's oil and watercolor paintings in Niwot and Boulder County businesses and homes. She's the Niwotian you just can't help but notice because of her lovely large smile and easy laugh. I met Langdon years ago waiting in the check-out line at the grocery store where she struck up a conversation and I was thrilled that we continued to cross paths again and again. This Familiar Face column...
In Boulder County, a program called Farm to Early Care & Education (Farm to ECE) is helping change how some of our littlest citizens view new and strange fresh fruits and vegetables. The program, begun in 2015, serves the highest need and lowest income children across Boulder County by providing nutrition education and local produce to care centers for children from two-and-a-half to six years old. To qualify for the Farm to ECE program, child care centers must have some element of subsidized...
Coffee houses can unite communities together around a love of caffeine, conversation, and the arts. At the beginning of this month, Niwot's coffee houses welcomed two area visual artists to their walls. The Old Oak Coffee House is presenting work by mixed media artist Alicia Varga for its monthly showcase while Winot Coffee is displaying work by astrophotographer Jim Miller. The two installations couldn't be more different. Miller's photographs are colorful long-exposure shots that take views...
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...
