All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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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 info@longmonthumane.org....
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...
October is arriving, and it brings a chance for outdoor fun for the family. At this time in fall, we make the annual pilgrimage to pumpkin patches. Prowling in fields or rummaging through bins looking for the perfect Jack-O-lantern, we're all getting into the fall mood. Enjoyment is ripe for picking at many area farms, and local growers are holding their harvest festivals complete with orange, grey, white, warty, and giant novelty pumpkins. Hop on a hayride or test your skill at navigating a...
On Sept. 17, as Niwot finally enjoyed the cooler temperatures of a late summer afternoon, the doors opened at The Wheel House bar and café at 101 2 nd Ave in Niwot. The new gathering spot is an extension of Wheel Works bicycle shop, founded three years ago across the street. "Business in our old location did really well, and we made the decision late last year to move across the street," Eric Bergeson, who co-owns the Wheel House with his wife Tammy, said. "We actually started the move in Februa...
Amidst the current global pandemic, physical health is often at the forefront of many people's minds. But one facet of health and wellness that people may be neglecting is their mental health. The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. But in a year with unprecede...
Though most traditional fall events had to be shelved in 2020, autumnal-themed fun is still on the agenda in Niwot, courtesy of two brand new offerings from the Niwot Business Association. "In COVID times, more than ever, we need to think of different ways to get Niwot residents and those from neighboring communities to frequent the businesses downtown," longtime realtor and NBA vice-president Deborah Read Fowler said. "We are having regular meetings to brainstorm and launch new events to get us...
While this is not explicitly an Inkberry Book, it was a book recommended by one of the paper's readers. I've said before that I enjoy memoirs and expressed hope that I'd read more nonfiction, so I was excited about the chance to read Tears Run Dry, a memoir penned by Dr. Patrick Kalenzi of Niwot Veterinary Clinic. Kalenzi said, "I come from a tribe of cattle keepers and animal lovers in Uganda, that I was never going to be content doing anything but treating animals." When asked why Kalenzi...
The first snowflakes of the season fell like confetti for skiers and other winter sport lovers; a signal that it's time to get gear and bodies in shape. As ski season approaches, a Niwot business wants to make outdoor experiences better from the ground up. Boulder Orthotics does custom boot fitting for downhill and backcountry skiing, helping to solve the problem of ski boots that hurt or don't fit right. "An out of the box ski boot kind of fits like the box it came in," said Bob Egeland,...
The sorghum crop at the Diagonal and Niwot Road looks like someone having a bad hair day. Some of it is standing up, some sticks out sideways and the rest is flattened. Heavy wet snow combined with wind drove the stalks to the ground during the storm on September 9. As days passed, some of the grain has sprung back to life in varying degrees. The crop is causing farmer John Schlagel fits as he harvests the 130 acres this week. "It's a mess," Schlagel said. "It's awful." He expects to lose about...
It is a grand understatement to assert that life has been an interesting ride for 2020. Our food system and consumer behaviors during this time have made it through some challenging adjustments and still many Americans are food insecure. As summer fire and smoke abruptly gave way to September freeze advisories, it appeared our Northern Colorado outdoor growing season was coming to an end Sept. 9. But Mother Nature bats last and only low-lying fields suffered cold damage. This was a seasonal fake...
In 1993, President Clinton signed into law the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), with bipartisan support. Many have called the act historic since it allowed employees to better balance their work and familial responsibilities. It goes without saying that when someone accepts a job, they agree to: show up, be on time, and do their job while there. However, it also goes without saying that everyone has familial responsibilities that, to many, are equally important. So, with FMLA signed into law,...
Love is fickle, love is kind, love "is a many splendored thing." The idea of "love" has been written about numerous times, in countless ways, and now Niwot High School alum Daniel Fiamengo is writing that it's stupid. Or rather, that when talking about feeling in love, we sound somewhat silly. On Sept. 4, Fiamengo released his debut single "Stupid in Love." "The words [we use to describe love] are so ridiculous sometimes," Fiamengo remarked. "Sometimes we say things and it's like 'you wouldn't...
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the commercial real estate market in Niwot and surrounding communities in Boulder County was robust. While some properties such as the former Colterra restaurant have remained visibly vacant, generally the commercial market here sees low vacancy rates and high demand. The Courier checked in this week with Jim Ditzel, co-owner and founder of Summit Commercial Brokers in Niwot, for an update on the local commercial market. Summit Commercial is a full service commer...
Spontaneity is so 2019. In 2020, you have to plan ahead, especially if you want to visit Rocky Mountain National Park this fall to see aspen trees shimmering with gold coins or listen to the primal bugle of bull elk during mating season, which begins now and continues until about mid-October. Because of the pandemic, reservations are required and can be hard to get if you suddenly decide to spend a weekend day in the park or want to enter in the morning so that you can enjoy a full day. When...
Complaints are down and mask use is up on trails and Open Space properties, according to Boulder County Ranger Erin Hartnett. "We were getting a lot of calls from the public, like people from at-risk populations, maybe older people, people with underlying health conditions, who really wanted to be out on the trails and weren't comfortable with the lack of masks being worn," Hartnett said. That led to some "unfriendly behavior," according to Boulder County Public Health spokesperson, Chana...
When COVID hit earlier this year, the whole world seemed to be scrambling. Schools and businesses were shut down, all in an attempt to maintain social distancing and public safety; but a few businesses were able to stay open, including liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries. These businesses, which are deemed "essential" under state and local public health orders, were not open under the same circumstances as before. Marqis Griffin, the marketing manager for Wyatt's Wines and Spirits in south...
The craziness of 2020 can be quelled a wee bit with the reverent calmness of Chris Doyle's sunset serenades. The long comforting notes of his bagpipe feel like the entire community is taking deep healing breaths. We asked Doyle some questions to learn a little about his life story. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC) – What was your hometown and how did Niwot become home to you? Chris Doyle (CD) – I grew up on the east side of Cleveland and finished high school in Chesterland, Ohio. I went to Mus...
Colorado's first law addressing abortion was introduced by freshman Democratic representative Dick Lamm (who later served three terms as governor) in 1967, and legalized abortion in cases of rape or incest, or if the woman's mental or physical health was at risk. Moreover, women seeking an abortion could only do so up until 16 weeks of gestation and had to present their case for abortion before a three-doctor panel. The bill was eventually passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by...
The Boulder County Animal Control Unit has confirmed that a recent rash of raccoon deaths in Niwot was caused by canine distemper, a viral disease that is sometimes confused with rabies. "We have seen a lot of distemper in Niwot," animal control supervisor Sarah Spensieri said. "I know that I personally was out on Franklin on a call last week, and we also had one on CenterBridge and one on SpringHill. So they're kind of all over the place." Outbreaks of canine distemper are not a threat to...
After a summer of cancelations, on Saturday, Sept. 12, Niwot saw its second weekend of outdoor events with its second sidewalk sale. Merchants in Cottonwood Square and 2nd Avenue put up tents and welcomed customers into their shops, though with limited capacity. The weather even cooperated. Following the Friday, Sept. 4, first Art Walk of the year, the Sidewalk Sale was a smashing success, with most merchants giving the event a thumbs up. Liz Gould of Little Bird said that people were buying...
