All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 2312 - 2361 of 4144
For over 35 years, the Firehouse Art Center has been the leading contemporary art center in Longmont, featuring national and local artists with over a dozen exhibitions a year. Founded in 1986, the center has been a cornerstone of the Longmont Creative District where it was started by local artists to create a space for artists to create as well as exhibit their work. "Our mission is to bring arts and culture to our community through education, exhibits and cultural events," said Elaine...
Leonard Sitongia is an essential worker, or more fittingly, an essential volunteer for the Niwot community. Even before Leonard and his wife Christine moved to their Niwot home in 2014, while waiting for their North Boulder house to sell, he stepped up to be an area representative for the Niwot Community Association (NCA). For the past three years, he's also been the organization's secretary. Hearing about his history, it's clear that connecting through community engagement is Sitongia's modus...
Need is everywhere. To fill that need, and as part of its ministry, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church's pastor Janet Kettering said an important part of the church's history is feeding those in need. Kettering said that there are many people in the Gunbarrel community who, while not part of an organized worship group, still want to help. In 2017, that energy was put to good use with a food drive. Pardes Levavot, the Jewish Renewal Congregation that also worships in the church building on...
The First Friday Art Walk returned to Niwot on Friday, Sept. 4, after a five-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The town was bustling with perhaps the largest crowd out and about since the pandemic shut down much of the social life in Niwot and everywhere else in March. Moods were high, masks were worn, people were friendly, but socially distanced, and Niwot seemed to be returning to its usual community-oriented nature. Anne Postle, vice president of the Niwot Cultural Arts Associatio...
At their virtual meeting on Sept. 1, the Niwot LID advisory committee members got a preview of what could prove to be a very busy fall around town, with funding requests for a slew of upcoming events as well as plans to preserve the Native American tree sculptures carved by the late artist Eddie Running Wolf. Treasurer's Report LID Treasurer Bruce Rabeler went first with an update on the district's finances, though there was nothing new to report on the revenue side, as the Colorado Department...
The gray wolf, or Canis lupus, once was the most widely ranging land mammal on earth. Due to habitat loss, general fear, and hunting, its once widespread population has dwindled. The last native wolves in Colorado were killed in the 1940s and the gray wolf was added to the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s. There is currently one confirmed pack of six wolves and one lone wolf in Colorado, however these wolves are not believed to be sustainable long-term. There have been a number of attempts...
Gunbarrel resident Julia Williams has been an artist her entire life. A graphic design major at CSU, she has been wanting to paint a portion of the north side Lookout Road underpass for a long time. An opportunity to create her dream piece presented itself, "courtesy" of COVID-19. As the Courier reported in a July 15 article, The City of Boulder through its Boulder Creative Neighborhood Murals Program offers grants to support public art, especially local artists. Williams submitted several desig...
Local restaurants are hanging on thanks to an outpouring of support from the community, Boulder County grants, loans from the federal government and creative offerings. But the first yellow leaves of fall are creating fear for eateries that now depend on outdoor dining. "This is the really important piece; the community has kept us in business," said Michael Tomich, co-owner of Old Oak Coffeehouse in Old Town Niwot. "They have been incredibly supportive." "We have had an outpouring of support,"...
The ability to travel during COVID-19 may feel sidelined, but time travel is still possible thanks to the Niwot Historical Society's lecture series. Unfortunately, the annual NHS lecture series can't take place in person at the Left Hand Grange, so the organization has come up with another venue in which to immerse the public in local history. The first of three speakers will take to the internet in September with a lecture titled, "The Switzerland Trail, a Boulder County Railroad," presented...
This "beautiful" sunset belies a very dangerous fire. Taken on the Cottontail Trail in Gunbarrel, Saturday Sept. 10, the Cameron Peak Fire exploded to over 34,000 acres, growing over 10,000 acres over the weekend. Saturday's 101 degree temperature, added to the already tindery dry conditions. The fire, which started on Aug. 13, shot smoke and ash 40,000 feet into the air. Area residents have experienced extremely poor air quality, breathing issues as well as falling ash....
Thursday, Sept. 3, saw some activity by Burlington Northern on the 2nd Avenue crossing in Niwot. While there is no firm completion date yet, Andrew Barth from Boulder County Transportation said that the county was told the goal was to complete the project in August 2020. While that goal was not met, Barth thought they were close to completion. The Federal Railway Administration will be called in to inspect the work completed, once the mechanical parts are in place. The crossing at 2nd Avenue...
Since the COVID-19 crisis began, area churches and synagogues have responded with incredible nimbleness, creativity and generosity in meeting the heightened spiritual, communal, and practical needs of their parishioners. Many congregations quickly transitioned to live streaming their services to parishioners and the wider community, and some even have experienced an increase in attendance as a result. One local pastor attributed this increase to the fact that there is no travel time to and fro, and to the fact that now parishioners can...
As summer winds down, you might be looking for a few last outdoor adventures. And you wouldn't be alone. Labor Day weekend is prime time for outdoor recreation, as many families take one last trip before school gets going in full swing. But don't expect to find too much peace and quiet on your next outing, whether you are sticking local to Boulder County or heading somewhere else in the state. Colorado, and Boulder County specifically, is known as an outdoor recreation mecca. As the state's...
In a year when many business headlines aren't positive, Bootstrap Brewing Company, founded in Niwot, recently made a significant staffing and financing announcement. Geoff Hess, former Regional Director of National Accounts at CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective, will join Bootstrap's staff as the director of sales. In addition, Dale Katechis, founder of Oskar Blues Brewery, will join Bootstrap as an advisor and investor. The amount of his investment hasn't been specified. The good news spilled...
Back in the summer of 2005, Biff Warren, his daughter Katie, and a few other like-minded locals decided to dust off their band instruments and revive the time-honored tradition of live concert music in Niwot. In the decade and a half since, the band's popularity, its repertoire, and its name have exploded in size, while its unique musical stylings have become the soundtrack for the town's signature events. Needless to say, 2020 has been quiet for the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange...
The Boulder Symphony recently announced a socially distanced concert to be held Sunday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center at 6007 Oreg Ave. in Boulder. The hour-long performance will feature the Takács Quartet, a grammy-award winning string quartet. The Boulder-based group is made up of violinists Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes, violist Richard O'Neill, and cellist András Fejér. Executive Director of the Boulder Symphony Andrew Krimm said he looks forward to hosting the qu...
These aren't the kind of records that anyone is proud of: Denver hit a new high mark for 25 days over 90 degrees in August, Boulder had 18; the active Pine Gulch Fire is the largest wildfire in Colorado history. Last week, ozone levels were "extraordinary," according to Boulder County Public Health, a mix of pollution from fossil fuels and smoke from wildfires. And, as of last week, more than 93% of the state was in severe, extreme or exceptional drought. Climate change is getting personal....
The Rotary Club was founded over a century ago in Chicago, and since then, the organization has advanced to nearly every corner of the globe, including several local clubs in the Left Hand Valley and St. Vrain Valley areas. Rotary International is best known as a service organization, and their work on polio eradication is well documented, a hallmark of local Rotary clubs around the world, including those in the Left Hand Valley. A recent merger between two local clubs, the St. Vrain and the...
It is a truth that food brings people together-family gatherings, casual business meetings, and first dates often occur with some sort of dining experience. Even pop-culture recognizes the level of importance of restaurants. Famously, in When Harry Met Sally, Marie (played by Carrie Fisher) said, "Restaurants are to people in the 80s what theatres were to people in the 60s." Dining out has become more complicated lately, especially in light of COVID. In response, the Niwot Business Association...
Every election that occurs in this country is decided by popular vote, except one: the presidency. Instead, the presidency is decided by the electoral college, which allots a certain number of votes to each state based on population. To win the presidential seat, a candidate needs 270 of the 538 electoral votes. Colorado has nine. The electoral college was, and has been, hotly debated over time. From the 1787 Constitutional Convention, to a bi-partisan push against the electoral college in...
Kind hearted people see need in their communities and want to help, but a handful move into action to help solve problems too great for one act to overcome. The folks at Fresh Food Connect and Boulder Food Rescue felt the pull to take action years ago to combat hunger locally and throughout the state of Colorado. "We posed the question: if gardeners could participate in community hunger relief action, how can we make that happen?" says Helen Katich, CEO of Fresh Food Connect and co-founder of...
Meet Maxwell-This sweet and social eight-year-old kitty thoroughly enjoys being in the company of people and is looking for a forever home to call his own. He has a gentle demeanor and will surely enjoy relaxing with his new best friends. Maxwell will likely do well with another kitty given time to adjust as well as a polite dog in his new home. If Maxwell sounds like he may be a good fit for your cat-loving family, please call 303-772-1232 or email info@longmonthumane.org for more information...
On Saturday, Aug. 22, about a dozen people gathered at the Niwot post office (150 Murray Street) to protest recent actions by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and "Trump Administration policies" related to the US postal service. The rally was part of a nationwide "Save the Post Office Saturday" event organized by the political organization MoveOn.org. Protesters from Niwot and other nearby communities waved handmade signs and called for DeJoy's resignation for about 30 minutes during the late...
The Boulder County Sheriff's Office is trying to figure out who vandalized two Boulder County Open Space properties last week where an estimated $100,000 of damage was done to utility vehicles, trailers and prairie dog traps. "I can't recall anything on any open space property to that level," said Carrie Haverfield, public information specialist for the Boulder County Sheriff's Office. "Unfortunately, we do see vandalism, but it's of the criminal mischief variety, graffiti, that sort of stuff....
Boulder Country Club has been moved to the list of resolved COVID-19 outbreaks by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, CDPHE. The Gunbarrel club had six positive cases, including employees working in the restaurant and a lifeguard. If an organization has two or more cases within a 14-day period, it must report that to the local health department. Boulder County Public Health was notified when the first two positive cases turned up in late June. The health department did contact tracing and worked with BCC on how to manage,...
I wish I were a painter. I think the immediate effects of that creative energy would be very rewarding. Sometimes that's what I pretend I'm doing when I garden, but in extreme slow motion, especially in spring when the entire vegetable patch is a blank palate. I delude myself that with patience, my subliminal artwork will mature into a beautiful, bountiful 3D canvas of produce first reaching for the sun and then gracing our kitchen. I've had nearly three decades of planting, watering, weeding, a...
By January 2021, two local fire districts will be merged into one. Mountain View Fire Rescue will absorb Rocky Mountain Fire District, with the combined district covering about 250 square miles, including areas in both Boulder and Weld counties. Last week, both districts hosted virtual town halls to spread the word about the merger and answer any questions from the public. In these town halls, MVFPD Chief Dave Beebe, who will be the combined district chief, addressed services rendered,...
They say that dogs are man's best friend, but everyone knows they can also be high maintenance friends. With the demand for cuddles and attention, dogs also come with responsibilities: grooming, feeding and picking up after them. Humans think of their pets as part of their family, but this last responsibility--picking up their poop--is often one task people would rather not have to do. For residents of Boulder County, there is a new solution to that problem, Sooper Scoopers. Niwot High graduate...
Jack's Solar Garden met several milestones over the past few months. The experimental agrivoltaic farm and solar power plant in South Longmont on 95th Street is on track to start delivering power from Colorado sunshine to local households and organizations through Xcel Energy's grid. Almost all of the solar panels have been installed on land that had been used to grow grass and alfalfa for the past 30 or 40 years, according to Jack's Solar Garden founder and owner Byron Kominek. The timing is...
Thieves made off with a van and food cart from Sancho's in Gunbarrel and then drove it to Safeway in Longmont and shoplifted, according to owner Shawn Camden. He said the vehicle was parked behind the restaurant in the Gunbarrel Shopping Center when it happened early Saturday morning, Aug. 15. "Our infamous food trailer goes around the community selling food. Now that we don't have that, we can no longer operate that business. It's a fairly big tragedy for us," Camden said. The restaurant also...
If you have not yet done so, you have until Aug. 31 to vote for your favorite piece in the 2020 Why Not Niwot ? juried art show. The winner will receive a cash prize for the People's Choice Award. Pieces range from the fanciful to the sublime, and the quality of the work is outstanding, all related to Niwot. Don't let the chance to cast your ballot go by. Ballots are available at participating businesses in Niwot. The juried winners and the People's Choice Award will be announced at 6 p.m. on...
Romeo-This polite and gentle four-year-old fellow is ready to join a forever family of his own. Romeo has an energy level that would be a great match for hikes in mountains as well as cuddling on the couch. Romeo would do well with the right dog in his new home though is looking for a home with no kitties and older children, please. If Romeo sounds like he may be a good fit for your household, please call 303-772-1232 or email info@longmonthumane.org for more information or to make an...
On a sunny, but smoky day in August, plein air artists paint what they see at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Franklin Street. The artists were set up on the northeast corner near the now- shuttered Colterra Restaurant....
True or false? Will CU students, faculty and staff successfully avoid widespread transmission of the coronavirus when classes begin next week? The answer will be revealed over the next several weeks as the University of Colorado welcomes back students for a mix of remote and in-person learning. The campus has been crawling with white trucks and vans emblazoned with company names and tasks like engineering, events, electrical, CU Facilities Management. Contractors and CU employees are scrambling...
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article titled "Local prairie dogs on the move," originally appeared in the PDF version of the Aug. 19, 2020 edition. Vandals smashed prairie dog traps being set by Boulder County to reduce the population of the animals living on the north side of Hwy. 52, near the Somerset development. Boulder County Agricultural Specialist, Amy Schwartz, doesn't recall that ever happening in the county. Schwartz said that the Boulder County Sheriff is investigating....
Familiar faces abound where people gather for food and there's an especially magical food-centric connection that happens when you get to know the creators of your food. Those are the folks who rise at dawn, dig in the dirt, plant the seeds, labor in the heat, and thanks to their expert knowledge and cooperation from Mother Nature, months later you'll enjoy crispy heads of lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and aromatic basil. This month's familiar faces are a couple you're likely to see often in the...
Unfortunately, the title from The Platters' song didn't mention the smoke that invades your nose and lungs. While there are no fires in the mountains directly to the west of the Left Hand Valley, most everyone in northern Colorado is suffering from poor air quality due to fires in the west. Many residents have had to deal with falling ash as well. According to Colorado Air Quality's website, high ozone and periods of heavy smoke are expected for the Front Range through the week of Aug....
August has seen local Niwot businesses getting creative with their offerings. From socially distanced movie screenings to live music to car shows, there are more than a few reasons why you might want to swing through downtown Niwot this month. Car Show Fridays at Cottonwood Square From 5 to 8 p.m. every Friday in August, Cottonwood Square will be hosting a socially distanced car show. People are invited to bring their hot rods, classics, sports cars, motorcycles, and even their antiques out to...
To date, 63.3% of Americans nationwide have self-reported for the 2020 census. Colorado's rate is above the national number at 66.9% of residents self-reporting. Boulder County has had 74.5% of residents self-report. The Census Bureau has started reaching out to households in census block groups with low response rates; it expects to email more than 20 million households. These emails will come from 2020census@subscriptions.census.gov. Just as with in-person visits, it's important for residents...
Boulder County communications specialist Mircalla Wozniak said, “As a Colorado resident, you should feel proud that we’re leaders in election innovation.” A simple internet search of “mail voting Colorado,” reinforces this idea. With questions rising around the practice, there have been numerous media reports about voting my mail; many of which focus on Colorado. Colorado implemented standard voting by mail in 2013. For some residents, the mail-in ballot method is essentially a no-brainer. But, nationally, only four other states regularly...
Meet Maxwell-This sweet and social eight-year-old kitty thoroughly enjoys being in the company of people and is looking for a forever home to call his own. Maxwell has a gentle demeanor and will surely enjoy relaxing with his new best friends. Maxwell will likely do well with another kitty given time to adjust as well as a polite dog in his new home. If Maxwell sounds like he may be a good fit for your cat-loving family, please call (303)772-1232 or email info@longmonthumane.org for more...
LHVC reader Steven Levin was in the right place at the right time on Tuesday, August 11, and captured this image of Niwot's 2nd Avenue as the sun set in the west....
The expression "people person" was created precisely for the likes of Niwotian Andy Lattanzi. He genuinely enjoys being around others and has a natural ease when it comes to interacting. Lattanzi uses his warmth and insight to lean in and bring about positive change for individuals and the community. The Left Hand Valley Courier selected Lattanzi as this month's Left Hand Laurel recipient to honor the tremendous contribution of his time and energy volunteering with many local organizations for...
Admirers left flowers, notes and appreciative comments on social media for the artist who brought Native American images to life from the stumps of massive willow trees along Niwot Road. Artist Eddie Running Wolf died Aug. 5 at age 62. "He put his heart and soul into that project," said his sister Margie Albert. "He knew all the history of what he was putting in there. And knew it as if it was his own history, as if he was that Indian warrior. He put himself into it." Starting in 2007, Running...
For approximately the past three years, there has been tension between Haystack Golf Course and some of the neighbors in and near the adjacent Brigadoon Glen residential area. Complaints have been made against the golf course accusing the facility of both liquor license and land use code violations. "They have a history of violating their liquor license by serving at the residence and they were issued a violation in August 2018," said neighbor Martin Magill. "[And] there's a zoning case open."...
A proposal to bring more parking to downtown Niwot cleared its last major hurdle on Aug. 6 when the Boulder Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to conditionally approve a parking facility on the western edge of downtown. Now the project's sponsors are preparing for construction and coming to terms with the realization that their long-held vision is finally becoming a reality. "Well, it's been a long battle, but yes, I did think we would get it done," Niwot Cultural Arts Association...
I always love partnering with Inkberry Books in Niwot, because they always hook me up with the coolest books! This week, I took a look at Mohamed Asem's Stranger in the Pen, and I thoroughly enjoyed it This is a nonfiction memoir of Asem, mostly focusing on his experience of being detained at Gatwick Airport in the UK. However, this storyline is intertwined with other anecdotes of his life: including failed attempts at love, tensions and reflections about family, and his international...
The Rotary Club of Niwot presented a check for $1,000 to the Niwot Cultural Arts Association as a donation to the new concession-utility building at Whistle Stop Park, known as The Depot. The group gathered in front of the building included (l to r) Dennis Daly, Kamla Chopra, Chris Wiorek, Ron Grunzweig, Satir Demarco (NCAA), Biff Warren (NCAA), Vicki Maurer (NCAA), Thom Lynch (Rotary president) , Clay Marsh (kneeling), Dany Dolan, Matt Dolan, and Tony Santelli (NCAA Fundraising...
For the last eight years, the Niwot United Methodist Church has been participating in a unique method of outreach - micro loans. The loans go through a nonprofit company called Kiva, formed in 2005, which operates through a network of donors/lenders who help individuals and groups with specific needs. Dennis Knowlden, along with his wife Minetta, are co-chairs of the church's outreach committee. Knowlden said that the church just surpassed giving over $12,000 to various people over the course...
A virtual town hall was held in late July regarding a concept proposal for a 268-unit development on Gunbarrel land currently zoned as light industrial. The 9.8-acre parcel in question is located just to the west of Spine Road and east of Celestial Seasonings - the owner of the property - and south of Sleepytime Road, up to the current single-family housing development there. Gunbarrel residents recognize this area as open space that the tea company designated as a prairie dog preserve in 1999,...
