All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Live theater arts in the Left Hand Valley were effectively shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic in March, along with most everything else we gather together to do. While restaurants and shops are starting to reopen under new guidelines, community arts organizations are only just beginning to understand the gravity of the challenges they are facing. On June 11, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts announced it was cancelling or postponing the entire 20/21 season through June, 2021. Local th...
Electric bikes, or e-bikes as they are commonly known, have begun to make significant in-roads in the cycling industry. Eric Bergeson, owner of Niwot Wheel Works, said that in his three years running the local bike shop, he has seen e-bikes grow in popularity. E-bikes, which come equipped with a battery-powered electric motor, come in a variety of makes and models, ranging from road and mountain bikes to hybrid bikes. Per the Boulder-based national cycling advocacy group, PeopleForBikes, there...
Niwot's 2nd Avenue is now home to a new boutique. Originally started in 2019 and operating out of another boutique in Loveland, A Few of a Kind Vintage + Mercantile has opened its doors to provide residents with unique gifts and vintage goods. "I'm a thing finder," said founder Angie Miltersen. "I seek out and find well-loved objects that offer a story and add beauty to your home." While Miltersen does not live in Niwot, she worked at Rocky Mountain Christian Academy and is friends with fellow...
Since the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement has once again come to the forefront of American thought. Along with the calls to specifically end police violence, there have also been calls for cities and various levels of government to reform, defund and even abolish police departments. Police violence has once again become a divisive issue in the country. Both District 2 county commissioner candidates Marta Loachamin and Jonathan Singer agree that it is c...
My name is Ellise Stager and I am going to be a junior at Niwot High School in the fall. The Community Food Share is in need of food contribution as a result of the global pandemic, and in an effort to replenish the Community Food Share, I'm hosting a canned and non-perishable food drive in the Niwot community. The week of June 22-26, I will be collecting food from neighborhoods. If you would like for me to pick up the food from your home, kindly leave grocery bag(s) out by noon and visible from...
The Niwot Children's park playground, public restrooms, and picnic tables will reopen on Wednesday, June 17, from sunrise to sunset. Use at your own risk. When using Niwot Children's Park and amenities, it is required to: **Follow all rules and regulations. **Cloth face coverings are strongly encouraged, and must be worn when social distancing cannot be maintained. **Stay home if you are feeling sick. **Maintain a 6-foot distance with anyone not in your household. **You are responsible for...
Valerie Cannistraro doesn't consider herself an activist, but in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of the Minneapolis police, the Brigadoon Glen resident felt compelled to speak out. On June 5, she and about 20 of her like-minded neighbors gathered at the northwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road for a peaceful demonstration against police violence and racism. "I think making a stand for what you believe in is always important," Cannistraro said, waving her sign at passing...
The swings at Lefthand Valley Grange Park in Niwot remain still except for the occasional gust of wind. Yellow caution tape prevents little feet from reaching to the sky, a stark reminder of the concerns still present during the coronavirus pandemic. Technically, playgrounds are now allowed to open, according to state of Colorado guidelines. But the reality of following the recommendations and keeping everyone safe is daunting. They include sanitizing the equipment as often as feasible, limiting...
Budding O'Keeffes and Monets will soon have paint brushes in hand at Sunflower Art Studio in Gunbarrel, though there will be fewer campers than in year's past. Owner Lika Gitis has cut the number of campers in half. She'll take seven kids a week when she opens June 15. She hopes to slowly increase her numbers as the summer unfolds. Colorado allowed summer camps to open this month with limited numbers and lots of rules. Camps that are primarily indoors can have no more than 10 children at a time...
The annual July 4 parade in Niwot will not take place this year. Members of the Niwot Community Association Board of Directors agreed at their June 3 meeting that proceeding with the parade "is just not feasible" in this era of the COVID-19 pandemic health restrictions. The NCA sponsors and organizes the annual parade. "The committee has agreed that we are not able to hold the parade safely this year," said NCA events coordinator Kim Hawksworth. "We just don't think the risks can be reasonably...
One of the pleasures of spring is digging in the soil and that earthy smell, but how much do we really know about the soil beneath our feet? According to Leonardo DaVinci, "We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot." Although we've learned a lot since Leonardo's time, we still have a lot more to learn. At the core of any property, and critical for plant growth, is soil. Soils store and release nutrients and water to plants for growth, and secure plant...
On Tuesday, June 2, the Niwot LID advisory committee gathered via videoconference for its monthly meeting. Treasurer's Report Treasurer Bruce Rabeler presented an update of the district's finances, starting with the revenue report from March. The Niwot LID earned $12,639 for the month, which is down substantially from the same period in 2019 ($16,406), but higher than expected thanks to robust sales in the Retail and Arts, Entertainment & Recreation sectors. Unsurprisingly, the...
Q: Please tell the readers a bit about yourself. A: I grew up in a Navy family where my dad served our country for 30 years. Growing up in a military family I learned that service to others is my calling. I have been a veterinarian for 36 years, caring for people and their animals in our community. I owned my own veterinary hospital and for over 16 years helped it grow to a thriving business with over 24 employees.Throughout my profession I have been solving problems with compassion and plan to...
Q: Please tell the readers a bit about yourself. A: I am running for the state assembly because, as an engineer, the decisions being made by the governor and other officials did not make factual sense to me. I am not running to make politics my career. I am doing this to serve my district and state with the experience and knowledge I’ve acquired doing business globally over the last 3-plus decades. I am an electrical engineer by profession that works in the telecommunications industry. Most of my career was spent delivering broadband s...
Meet Jill. This delightful three-year-old girl is looking for a loving forever family to call her own. Could she be yours? Jill has been living in a foster home recently, and her foster family has shared that "Jill is as sweet as can be, a playful goofball and really loves people. She is very quiet. We have only heard her bark once or twice in a couple of months. She is crate trained and knows basic commands like 'sit' and 'down.'" Jill is looking for a home with no kitties though she enjoys...
When longtime Gunbarrel resident Lori Highfill left Colorado on Saturday, March 14, for a week's vacation in her home state of New Jersey, she never thought that it would turn into a two-month ancient Greek, Homer-esque odyssey. But instead of finding danger with the one-eyed Cyclops giant, she found her trip imperiled by the microscopic Coronavirus. The original plan was to be gone for a week, returning to Colorado on March 23. The first sign that things might not go as planned was that...
The future of the fields south of Twin Lakes in Gunbarrel is still up in the air. TLAG, Twin Lakes Action Group, had requested a land use designation change to open space to protect the fields from being developed as a site for affordable apartments. The Boulder Planning Board refused to consider the request as part of the mid-term update of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, which determines future land use and development. "I think it's extremely disappointing that the board didn't...
When the state of Colorado issued its Safer at Home” guidelines allowing in-person dining at restaurants last week, Edward Vanegas was thrilled. He immediately went to the Next Door app to tell his Gunbarrel neighbors that his popular bistro Aperitivo and its "resort-like" patio would be open for dine-in service on Wednesday, May 27. However, his pronouncement would turn out to be only half-true, as bringing his small indoor space into compliance with the new regulations took more work than h...
When Cinda Kochen was a high school student, a classmate came to her, asking if she would help him win the race for class president. He told her that he wanted her help, because he saw her as the bridge between the affluent students and the "have-not" kids in school. This was her first attempt and exposure to local politics. "I have always participated, but more as a worker bee than someone interested in political office," said Kochen. She has done so much more than simply being a worker bee--sh...
The fur is about to fly. One place to see the faux June snow is the Cottonwood Trail, just south of Jay Road and east of the Diagonal. The trail is only 1.2 miles long, but its name carries the legacy of the tree that has been a towering presence in the life of people and wildlife throughout the Boulder Valley and beyond. Cottonwoods touched every aspect of life for Native American people, providing shelter, materials, sustenance, gathering places and spiritual inspiration. In the 1800s a new...
There is a point in summer when gardeners can't show fear. The growing season fills all of our spare time - we're running full tilt, harvesting, weeding, and watering; there's blooms to pick, mulch to replenish and insects to fight off. At a certain point I wonder why I always smell like plants, but it's not a bad scent and soon after washing I'm back in the plants again, getting covered in sap. The rush and frenzy can get overwhelming, so for stress relief, take time to stop and smell the...
Marcus McCauley has an ambitious personal mission "to heal people and the planet with delicious food." The farm manager and founder of McCauley Family Farm is working toward that goal in a practical and strategic manner, by building a farm in rural southwest Longmont. "We're doing that on this farm by building a regenerative farm that is sustainable, ecological, and economical for generations," said McCauley. McCauley is one of the seven recipients of the recent Boulder County Sustainable Food...
Though difficult to comprehend in our current environment, the events of COVID-19 mark an unprecedented moment in our shared human history. Focusing on local historic impacts, the Niwot Historical Society has put out a call for pandemic-related information in an effort to, as its mission states, "preserve, collect, and protect the history of Niwot." The historical society is asking volunteers from the community to help document this moment and the impacts of COVID-19 in Niwot's history. The...
Warm summer nights in June traditionally herald the return of music lovers to Niwot's Whistle Stop Park for the annual Rock & Rails summer concert series, with weekly Thursday night shows featuring a double-bill of local acts and fan favorites. But in 2020, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic has forced organizers from the Niwot Cultural Arts Association and Niwot Business Association to push back opening night to July at the earliest. "The earliest opening date would be July 2, but for that to...
Dozens of great horned owls have made Gunbarrel's Twin Lakes their home for years. See Patricia Logan's video of the owlets from 2018, then read more about the collapse of a prime nesting tree in the area....
In 1969, Mo Siegel made his first herbal blend that would eventually launch his career in the tea industry. Celestial Seasonings was born, and it wasn't long before its one and only factory was built in Boulder County. Since then, it has become a local landmark. But that iconic Boulder County view could soon change. As reported first in February and then again in May, there are proposals for an apartment complex to be built near Celestial Seasonings. At this time, Celestial Seasonings, as part...
In most years, Memorial Day marks summer rolling into full-swing on the Front Range. But this year, the three-day weekend undoubtedly was quite different locally with no Bolder Boulder, less long distance travel, smaller gatherings and barbecues and picnics hosted with social distancing in mind. And as people at a local and state level look forward to future summer plans, a fair question is how to best resume "normal" outdoor activities in public spaces. Specifically as public land, parks, open...
The fields south of Twin Lakes Open Space are quietly doing their thing; growing green grass, hosting nests for meadowlarks, supporting voles and mice and the things that eat them, such as raptors and foxes. Kids are racing over mounds and dips at the mini BMX track, people are walking their dogs and admiring the view of the Flatirons. Nothing has changed on the surface, but the long-term fate of the fields is still unsettled and the fight over the status of the land is bubbling back to life. Th...
Staying occupied has been a challenge for many during quarantine, but not for 11-year-old Simon in Gunbarrel. Simon has remained productive by writing and distributing a newsletter for his neighborhood. Over 300 copies of the inaugural Gunbarrel Herald hit the streets on April 24. With now two issues under his belt, Simon has touched on a variety of subjects including neighborhood businesses, reading and outdoor recommendations and local birds. His intentions were to simply shine a little...
According to Eric Skokan, owner of Black Cat Farm, one of the best resources Boulder County has to offer "is the total quantity of agriculture geeks we have here." This summer, Black Cat Farm is beginning an experiment with the regenerative agricultural technique called pasture cropping, Skokan's own geeky agricultural project. This project is one of several to have recently been awarded a 2020 Sustainable Food and Agricultural Funds grant by Boulder County. Black Cat Farm was awarded $43,500...
They were the unofficial, fuzzy, wide-eyed mascots of the fight to preserve the fields south of the Twin Lakes Open Space. But the hollow cottonwood that hosted great horned owls nearly every spring, collapsed, forcing the raptors to find a new place to raise their young. There couldn't have been a more picture-perfect place for people to ooh and aah and get close-up images of owlets. In winter, a pair of great horned owls would nestle into the cavity of a dead cottonwood tree along the ditch...
There was much excitement in Niwot over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. In addition to many joyous graduation celebrations and a socially distanced jazz concert at Inkberry Books, there was also a music-themed fundraiser event at Niwot Tavern. In a collaborative effort with Community Food Share and Boulder Symphony, Tavern Co-Owners Tara Kpogoh-Narh and Stacy Szydlek hosted a special Take Out Family Dinner night on Saturday, May 23, with net proceeds benefiting the two nonprofits. As two music...
Meet Teddy Bear. He is an 8 year old Samoyed mix, from Oklahoma, via a rescue organization in Lakewood. Teddy Bear is a "cancer survivor." He is a super calm, sweet boy who loves his walks and his humans. He tolerates with graciousness the surly kitty who had the humans first, despite being about 5 times the kitty-son's size. Teddy Bear and his humans, Francesca and Peter Howell, recently moved to Niwot after many years in Boulder....
The limited printed edition of the May 20, 2020 issue of the Left Hand Valley Courier is brought to you by our faithful advertisers and a grant which supports local journalism. A limited number of print copies are available from our advertisers, in Courier boxes and at the Niwot Market. We are grateful to our advertisers and those who have subscribed online-they make it possible for the Courier to bring you local news and important information during the COVID19 pandemic. The more subscribers...
When historians write the history of the coronavirus pandemic, they might want to add this description of online learning from Niwot Elementary School teacher Dale Peterson, who does Google Hangouts with his first graders. "It's like if you go to a pet shop and let all the pets out of the cages and you spend the rest of the time trying to put them back in the cages," Peterson said. "I have 23 little boxes. One might have his feet in the air or his bottom in front of the camera, another is...
Three out of every four COVID-19 deaths in Boulder County have been in a long-term care facility. Each of the more than 40 deaths in these facilities was a parent, grandparent, extended family member or a friend with a special smile, twinkling eyes, a unique personality and rich life experiences. "It's tragic. There is not a better word. Our most vulnerable and cherished population has unfortunately become victimized by this," said Bob Murphy, president of the Colorado chapter of AARP. It's one...
Growing up in rural Michigan in a lower middle class family, Sheri Smith recalls her childhood perception that education was going to be her gateway to success. "My parents told me that if you want to be successful in life, you've got to get an education. So I really thought that if I worked really hard, got straight As, and did everything the system told me to do, I would have somehow arrived and made it in life," Smith said. But as many current professionals and some recently graduated...
Congratulations to the “Courier’s” own Jocelyn Rowley for her win in the 2019 Colorado Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. Rowley won for her reporting on Longmont’s Up-A-Creek Robotics win at the Colorado Regional tournament. The article appeared in the March 27, 2019 issue. The “Courier” is proud of Rowley’s accomplishment and her continued tradition of excellence in reporting....
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, lay people and experts alike have said that this is a virus that does not discriminate based on age, sex, race or class. But just by looking at the numbers alone, it's obvious that this belief isn't exactly the case. "When you look at the population of Boulder County that are people of color and positive cases, those numbers are shocking," said Manuela Sifuentes, the language access program manager for the City of Boulder. "I think that, to me, they'...
The day before the Longmont Humane Society re-opened on Saturday, there were a suspicious number of animals already on hold for adoption. The animals weren't being seen by the public. The majority were not even in the building. They were staying in approved foster homes after the shelter closed to the public in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The key to solving this mystery may have something to do with one of the shelter's worst kept secrets. In normal times, the regular volunteers, the one...
She howls, sews masks, plots to honor grads, helps kids learn, gets them moving, organizes the occasional birthday car-parade, and that's just some of the stuff Diane Zimmermann does during a pandemic. Supporting others is a way of life for the Niwot resident. "Anywhere there is room for helping out. I'm always up for that," Zimmermann said. Some of her volunteering is organized, such as her work for the Niwot Community Association and the Niwot Historical Society, and some she does on her own....
There is just a hint of green in the fields where the small herd of horses stand basking in the sunshine. Longs Peak looms to the west, still covered with snow. The horses seem to not care about the impressive view from their backyard, more concerned with finding the tasty spring greens popping up in their pasture. These are the pastures of Colorado Horse Rescue, located off of N. 65th Street north of Niwot and west of Longmont, a 501(c)(3) impact organization dedicated to the rescue and...
Last week, the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners launched the Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Program to provide "immediate financial support" to small businesses in unincorporated parts of the county, including Niwot, Jamestown, and Ward. Companies with fewer than 50 employees that have experienced substantial financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic are encouraged to apply. "The county has been very active in the emergency response for the pandemic...but...
On Tuesday, May 5, the Niwot LID advisory committee gathered via videoconference for its first monthly meeting since March. Unsurprisingly, the coronavirus pandemic and its ongoing economic impact on Niwot drove the discussion. Summer Events Noting a paucity of funding requests on the board's official May agenda, chair Laura Skaggs opened the meeting by asking LID members Bruce Warren and Eric Bergeson (presidents of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association and Niwot Business Association,...
Eating at home more lately? You are not alone. Consumer food demand has pivoted abruptly over the past two months from about 50% of meals consumed outside of the home to virtually none. My experiences early in this shift revealed household purchases stripping local supermarket inventories, leaving shelves bare of produce, meat, eggs, paper products, etc. Trade associations and supply chain experts note there is no major lack of US food supply, aside from some slowdown in meatpacking due to...
In April, the Niwot Business Association had record attendance for its first ever Zoom meeting, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Amongst the lively discussions, Josh Morin from We Love Trees asked how we could help businesses circulate gift cards. NBA Vice President Deborah Read Fowler suggested a central location in Niwot Market, and owner Bert Steele instantly agreed. There, the idea was born, and Fowler volunteered to lead the project and bring the idea to life. "This is a...
Meet Lalya. Layla is a 16 year old Welsh Pony who saved the heart of her guardian, Lady Cat Powers. On Aug. 17, 2008 Lady Cat was with her Arabian, Ebony, when she happened to notice a pony in the pasture of the Colorado Horse Rescue. Now Cat had no interest in having a second horse, especially a pony. But something about Layla compelled her, and the next day she went over to the Horse Rescue and adopted her. Exactly four weeks later Ebony died in a tragic accident, and since that day Layla has...
The Left Hand Valley Courier has been selected to receive the Facebook Journalism Project COVID-19 US Local News Relief Grant. For more information about the grant and how Facebook is helping newsrooms across the county, visit https://www.facebook.com/journalismproject/programs/grants/coronavirus-local-news-relief-fund-recipients. And stayed tuned for details on how this grant will help the LHVC continue to bring high-quality news related to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on our local...
The idea was hatched over dinner as Jeff and Cheryl DeLong sat out on their back deck in Niwot. Jeff said he thought it would be cool to see words out in the grassy field behind their house. Cheryl double dared him to do it. "He got a gleam in his eye," Cheryl said. Jeff got out his electric mower, paced off the letters and cut the first word they thought of, pray. It took hours as he alternated between cutting and charging the mower--once, twice, three times, four. Four passes per letter....
Even as a student at Fairview High School, Jonathan Singer volunteered for Boulder County. "I've been sort of bitten by the public policy bug before I was old enough to vote," he said with a laugh. After graduating and getting a degree--he went so far as to earn a master's degree in social work--Singer found a position in South Carolina to do campaign work. But he soon realized that he loved Colorado more and spent a number of years as a social worker for Boulder County. In 2011, he announced...
