All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Earlier this month, members of the Niwot Nifties 4H Club created and delivered holiday gift bags for residents of the Eagle Place senior living community in Niwot. An annual tradition for the Nifties, each member contributes an item for all 12 of the bags, and club funds are used to add gift cards to Niwot Market. Back row, from left: Zach Shepherd, Harrison Falborn, Harrison Campbell - Beig; front row, from left: Francesca Fowler, Hazel Campbell- Beig, Beryl Campbell - Beig....
One of the things about living in rural parts of Colorado means often having to travel on two lane roads. Where it is sometimes a lot more pleasant than driving on a big highway, it can have its drawbacks. One of those is not having a passing lane you can access the entire time you are traveling that roadway. In Colorado, there are 11 state statutes that talk about the proper way to pass another vehicle. I'm going to hit on a few of them this month. Passing on the left in an unsafe manner. This...
If you drove south on 71st to Lookout Road the week of Dec. 8, you probably experienced some delays. Xcel is repositioning power lines in advance of the long-awaited upgrades to 71st Street. Although the project was originally slated to begin in spring 2019, the Courier reported in April that the schedule had been pushed back to early winter 2020. As previously reported, the project is divided into two phases. However, the first phase, which runs from Lookout Road to Winchester Circle/...
You’re likely to have spotted the recognizable shape of cannabis plants in fields throughout Boulder County and even gotten a whiff of the skunky scent more often this year. Since those spiky-leafed plants are in open fields, rest assured it’s not marijuana – it is hemp. By definition of the U.S. government, hemp has less than .3% THC, which is the psychoactive element of marijuana. With proper licensing, it’s perfectly legal to grow acres of hemp. But there’s a big learning curve for governmen...
Even Mrs. Claus couldn't resist partaking of the goodies offered during the annual Women's International Niwot Club (WINC) Holiday Fayre on Saturday, Dec. 14. Niwot's community center, the Left Hand Grange, was alight with holiday cheer as more than 500 visitors perused the booths of 23 local vendors. Shoppers bought presents for others, some items to keep for themselves, and quickly snatched up tantalizing baked goods to be enjoyed sooner rather than later. Art work, jewelry, candles, body...
On Thursday, Dec. 12, Lookout Alliance, 350 Boulder County, and Colorado Rising hosted a community forum that discussed threats from proposed fracking development in Boulder County. Currently, a moratorium that bans fracking development is in effect until March 2020. As this end date approaches, anti-fracking groups such as these are working to convince county commissioners to adopt revisions on oil and gas regulations or ban fracking altogether. This forum brought together legal experts, environmental activists, and policy makers in hopes of...
Blizzard (Blizzie) is an extra small (8.5 lbs.) miniature schnauzer who lives with her human companions Dave and Rhonda Curran. Writes Rhonda, "Her parents were named Snow and Ice. She's been our little princess here in Niwot for 15 years. She still loves taking walks - but on her terms: temperature not too cold and not too hot. With the way she gets around and continues to wag her stubby tail, you'd be surprised to know she can't see or hear much of anything. Her senses of taste and smell...
Following a prolonged delay, plans for a permanent concession stand in Niwot's Whistle Stop Park got the final nod from Boulder County Land Use in early December, and now the project's co-sponsors, the Niwot Business Association and Niwot Cultural Arts Association, are kicking off a community campaign to raise the remaining $70,000 needed to fund the construction. "We have over $35,000 in the bank from donations and fundraising efforts, and we just received a $5,000 donation today, giving us...
Author Jonathan Gottschall once said, "We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night telling itself stories." Storytelling is part of the human psyche, an element which has fascinated Sarah Echsner throughout her life. After graduating from Niwot High School, Echsner took psychology, photography, creative writing and even a documentary class at university. While this may seem like an eclectic selection, these choices led her to develop...
Niwot's annual window decorating contest, sponsored by Left Hand Animal Hospital, drew an unprecedented number of participants at Enchanted Evening on Nov. 29. With 23 businesses included in Old Town and Cottonwood Square, those attending the festival saw a wide array of themes: Santa's welcome home living room, gnomes welcoming visitors to Gniwot, even miniature superheroes celebrating a tiny terrarium version of Hanukkah. New participants in the contest this year, Classic Looks and Abo's...
This year marked the introduction of Recovery Café Longmont, a not-for-profit community organization reaching out to those who want support overcoming addictions, mental health issues, and loneliness. It was quiet at first, Executive Director Lisa Searchinger said, but now six months in, word is spreading. "We learned that a slow start is very much in keeping with other Cafés that have opened across the country," Searchinger said. "But, now we have enrolled 71 members." About half of those m...
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Niwot's 2nd Avenue was temporarily transformed into Santa Claus Lane as the big guy himself made a return trip to town for the annual Holiday Parade. This year's procession featured a wide variety of scouts (cub, boy, brownie, and girl), as well as classic car clubs, elementary school students, horses, marching bands and much, much more. Santa led the festive procession from the bed of Longmont Rural's Old Engine No. 10, and then headed over to the Left Hand Grange to meet...
Mica and Kira are both true snow dogs and love nothing more than romping in fresh powder. Mica and Kira live in southwest Longmont with their humans Linnie and Ben. Mica is a nine-year-old Border Collie mix and Kira is a Husky and Swiss White Shepherd combo....
After a busy fall coordinating the Niwot Veterans Banner project and taking part in the Great Pumpkin Party and Enchanted Evening, Niwot Community Association board members turned their attention to helping spread holiday cheer in Niwot. At the Dec. 4 board meeting, NCA board members agreed to add to their decorations at the corner of Niwot Road and the Diagonal Highway. The area currently has some lighted wreaths and a holiday snowman courtesy of the NCA and the property owner, and board...
Edison was chided "It really is berserk, You had so many failures, Before you made it work." Edison responded: "Failures I had none. From my wrong assumptions, I learned to get it done." - By Ian Hayes, based on words from Thomas Edison From his hilltop home, 88 year old Ian Hayes has a front row seat to a long stretch of the Front Range. Hayes and his wife Jackie moved to their home on the edge of Niwot two years ago, along with Monte the dog and Carlo the cat. Yes, that's Monte Carlo when you...
Marcus McCauley is the owner of a 40 acre diversified organic farm in Longmont. If you take a farm tour, McCauley will start by asking you an important question: what modern food crops are native to this region? The answer is none. "Perhaps raspberries," McCauley added. But McCauley noticed that there is one plant that is abundant in Colorado--grass. "How do you feed people from grass?" he asked. The answer is to use a ruminant. Or a pig or a chicken. Which is why McCauley raises all three....
Their first names rhyme, so it is easy to see them as a matched set and their last name is emblematic of the brightening effect they have on the community. It's Jill and Bill Whitener - the vivacious, capable, and caring duo who have become very familiar faces in Niwot. We posed a few questions to find out what makes this generous couple tick and here is what we've learned. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC): Tell us a bit about your backgrounds. Jill & Bill (J&B): Jill grew up in Aspen. Her...
Niwot High School Key Club members assisted the Niwot Business Association with the preparation for Niwot's annual Enchanted Evening on Friday, Nov. 29, and members are also assisting with the Holiday Parade the following weekend. Key Club president Adam Rose will be the emcee at Niwot's annual Holiday Parade, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, beginning at 11 a.m. Rose said that the club has reached out to the NHS Boys and Girls Volleyball Club, NHS cheerleaders, NHS Environmental Club and...
This article continues a monthly series about the artworks and artists chosen for Community Corner at Sculpture Park at the corner of 79th Street and Niwot Road. This month's feature is "Waco Curves II" by artist Rollin Karg. This tall steel and blown glass structure is the most colorful sculpture currently on display, and the only one in the park which features glass. The sculpture is now a permanent resident at the park - after it was bought by the Burrell Family Foundation and generously dona...
Russell and Gabrielle Chagolla, owners of Gym No. 5, added the tagline "Level the F*** up" to declare they're fiercely serious about being the best lifting gym in the area. They should know...they've tried them all and when they didn't find one that worked well for them, they decided to invent it. It took two years of planning, months of hands-on work, and a $150,000 investment to bring the facility up to their standards. They quietly swung the doors open in mid-October. The 5,000 square-foot...
Deb Fowler understands how scary and difficult it can be with a newborn in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a hospital. So when she learned about the organization Love for Lily, whose mission it is to help families with children in a NICU to thrive while in the hospital and when they go home, she was moved to support them. "It's a charity we chose because myself and Bonnie [Beam], who's on the team, were both NICU moms and we would have loved something like this." Fowler's son Oliver...
Kayuh is a 2 year-old energetic husky who loves snowboarding and playing in the snow. She also enjoys running around her Oma's house and tearing the leaves off plants. She rarely has any down time, but when she does, she loves snuggles with her owners, Kirsten Maurer and Mat Tocko....
The conditions were decidedly seasonal at Niwot's annual Enchanted Evening celebration, held Nov. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. Hearty locals braved frigid temperatures and snowy sidewalks to enjoy musical performances, the holiday tree lighting, shopping deals, and a visit from the big man himself....
Medicine on a leash is how this month's Laurel recipient Jim Thomas refers to his faithful companion, Archie the fox red Labrador retriever. As part of the organization, Therapy Dog Boulder County (TDBC), 65-year-old Thomas and six-year-old Archie are weekly visitors at Superior Elementary School. All 76 pounds of the wagging pooch exudes love, so it's the perfect gig for him. His human partner is all about being there for others too. "My mom and dad brought us up to help people," Thomas said...
Climate Reality campaign organizer and Niwot High School graduate (2013) Natalie Negrelli, presented 24 Hours of Climate Reality, Truth in Action, a world-wide event discussing climate change and solutions. About 35 people were in attendance at the Left Hand Grange, including a contingent of Niwot High School's Environmental Club. Climate Reality is a global nonprofit organization focused on climate change advocacy and education which was founded by Nobel Laureate and former U.S. Vice President...
One hundred and fifty years ago, we weren't the only place named Niwot. Chief Niwot--or Left Hand--was an Arapaho chief. He was a skilled linguist, a visionary, and a constant advocate of peace. He made such an impression on the local settlers that a mine, an inn, and two towns claimed his name. The mine closed, the inn is gone, and the other Niwot changed its name to Altona to appease the postman. In the end, we are the only town that bears the name Niwot. So it is fitting that the first thing...
Thanks to the Niwot Historical Society archives, we get a glimpse into Niwot's bygone Thanksgiving celebrations. On Nov. 22, 1957 "The Niwot Tribune" reported an evening church service at the EUB Church, a middle school rendition of "Wildcat Willie Carves the Turkey," and advertisements from Curtis Confectionary encouraging readers to "Start Now with Your Christmas Lay-Away." First and second grade teacher Dora Chappell reported, "Last Friday we made many vegetables and fruits for our Horn of...
It's that time of year...the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving when Chuck Rodgers waves his magic wand and the massive extravaganza of holiday merriment in his yard just appears. If only, especially this year. But no - that's not it at all. As has been Rodgers' tradition for more than three decades, he spends several weeks setting up inflatables, lit-up scenes and words, putting out his reindeer, and stringing thousands of lights for what becomes the area's most impressive holiday display. And...
Cities and towns across the country and world ring in the yuletide season in numerous ways: parades of lights, tree lighting ceremonies, holiday craft bazaars, and more. Niwot will be joining in on this practice with the annual tradition, Enchanted Evening. Scheduled for Friday, Nov. 29, the community will come together to celebrate the holidays--there will be musical groups throughout Old Town and Cottonwood Square; local crafters; an ice sculpture demonstration; holiday window contest voting;...
In 2011, Heather McCarthy and her daughter joined a friend on a trip to Thailand aimed at helping local children there. Overwhelmed by the love and gratitude from those she helped, she was inspired to do more. Her need to serve this community resulted in McCarthy and a few peers starting Charities Within Reach (CWR) and opened up the Promise Home in northern Thailand. What is unique about CWR is the organization is not supported by any major corporation. It is a self-identified grassroots group...
As of Jan. 14, 2020, the Board of the Boulder County Commissioners will be slotting in a new staff member between themselves and many county departments. The new county administrator role will be filled by Jana Petersen, the current head of Boulder County’s Administrative Services Department. In a letter addressed to Boulder County employees dated Nov. 6, the three-member board of the Boulder County Commissioners stated, “After much discussion over the past year with our leadership staff and with the help of a team of organizational con...
After a two-month absence, the female elk has returned to the Schultz Family Farm on Hwy. 287 and Oxford Rd. Sometimes she's in the field with Calvin and Chester, the oxen, and other times she hops in with the chickens, goats, sheep or pigs. This is the third guest stay for what farmer Glen Schultz calls the Spirit Elk. He credits the work done on regenerating the farm soil for her love of the land. She comes and goes as she pleases and she partakes of feed available to the oxen. What's...
There is probably only one place in Longmont you can shoot arrows at a dinosaur. High Altitude Archery. And though this archery school allows you to choose between many three dimensional targets-deer, leopard, crow, alligator, and jackalope, among others-hunting is a minor emphasis. According to staff-member "Coach Bob," the school seeks to create "more of an instructional, classroom environment." It prides itself on family-friendly atmosphere with knowledgeable instructors and space to learn....
Following hundreds of hours of continuing education and hands-on courses, and successfully passing rigorous exams, Gunbarrel's Dr. Gerald Savory, DDS, was awarded his Mastership Award and the new owner of the dental practice, Dr. Rachel Barone, DDS, was awarded her Fellowship Award by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Dr. Savory is the founder of Gunbarrel Dental Center. Less than 2% of general dentists in the United States and Canada have the distinction of earning a Mastership Award and...
On Nov. 12, Boulder County Sheriff officers and Mountain View Fire Protection personnel were called to investigate a death at Countryside Condominiums, located off of Countryside Drive just south of Cottonwood Square in Niwot. Personnel responding to the scene found a deceased male in a car, later identified as Niwot resident Kelcey Clarke, 51. The Boulder County Coroner later performed an autopsy, but the cause and manner of death have not yet been released....
Meet Missy, a "well-behaved" two-year old cat who lives in Gunbarrel with companion Mabel Stewart. Writes Mable: "She is curious, and always needs to be apprised of what I'm reading or writing. She is easily distracted though; here, a sound outdoors draws her attention before I can capture a snapshot of her facing the camera. We're just enjoying a lazy afternoon in Gunbarrel. She's an indoor cat but has lots of open-aired windows to keep abreast of what the squirrels, birds, and butterflies are...
Since mid-October, 2nd Avenue between Niwot Road and Murray Street has been lined with 35 banners recognizing veterans with a Niwot connection. On Sunday, Nov. 10, the community came together in observance of Veterans Day and to formally acknowledge the successful inauguration of the Veterans Day Banner Project. Three members of Boy Scout Troop 161 kicked off the ceremony with a presentation of the American flag and the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free...
The Boulder County land use code is a document that is often updated. When the county commissioners approved new policies for housing in October, it seemed to be an appropriate time to consider regulations regarding short-term rentals given that those have not been updated since 2008. A survey was sent out Monday, Oct. 28 and will be open through Nov. 22 for Boulder County residents to share their opinions with the county regarding how the regulations should be updated. Short-term rentals are those which are rented for less than 30 days at a...
Niwot's Children's Park on 1st Avenue is a place of joy and playfulness, bustling with happy children. The award-winning, community-funded park has also been on the receiving end of destructive mischievousness. But now, the wrongdoers will be caught on video and there will be ramifications. Sadly, there have been recurring incidents of graffiti scrawled in the bathrooms and on the sidewalks and there has been damage done to the structures and creatures. Embellishments have been pried off of...
In 1870, armed with a pad of census schedules, steel nib pens, and ink, P. D. McClanahan set out to single-handedly count Boulder County's citizens. He was not overly concerned about accuracy, but it is safe to say his approximation of 1,939 people living in Boulder County was not far off. One hundred and fifty years after its first census, our county's population has risen to over 320,000 residents. We may not run the risk of spilling our ink bottle over the records, but the 2020 census poses...
Epic Nutrition, serving Herbalife Nutrition smoothies and energy teas, opened its doors in October at the Gunbarrel Shopping Center. This is a sister enterprise to Fit Family Nutrition owned and operated by the same husband-wife team, Brad Larsen and Brook Kirwin. Fit Family Nutrition opened one year ago on South Main Street in Longmont. "We make healthy eating fast, simple, and delicious," Larsen said. "We have over 20 flavors of smoothies and 10 flavors of energy teas, and the smoothies are a...
The Niwot Rotary Club is combining its love of serving the community with the community’s love of gathering over food. Inspired by the Fort Collins Rotary Club’s app focused on highlighting local breweries, Niwot’s club decided to create a similar app, but has extended it to include local restaurants as well. As such, they have partnered with16 local establishments to create a coupon app that will both highlight local business while allowing the club to put service above self. The app, which is estimated to offer at least a $75 value, is access...
Boulder County has committed to be the biggest subscriber to date in Jack's Solar Garden. As of Nov. 5, the county commissioners pledged to be a holder of 10% of the 1.2 megawatts solar array, equalling a $376,000 investment. Jack's will be the first and only solar garden in the county and the largest commercial agrivoltaic system in the U.S. Jack's Solar Garden founder Byron Kominek said, "Having the confidence of Boulder County in becoming an anchor tenant and having them fully appreciate the social and environmental benefits we intend to...
Though many local businesses have reported lower earnings in 2019, year-to-date sales tax collections in the Niwot Local Improvement District are outpacing 2018 by nearly seven percent. To help explain the apparent contradiction and other district tax conundrums, the advisory committee invited LuAnn Pyatt of the Colorado Department of Revenue and Dave Thayer of Boulder County Financial Services to their monthly meeting on Nov. 5 for a discussion of how sales taxes are collected and distributed....
Oil and gas development in Boulder County is on pause until March 2020, but that doesn’t mean The Lookout Alliance has taken a break. In collaboration with 350 Colorado, TLA has put together a petition that calls for a complete ban on fracking in Boulder County. The petition comes at a time when the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) is reviewing and updating oil and gas regulations. In addition to the petition, the COGCC is currently accepting commentary from the public on each of Crestone Peak Resources’ three project petiti...
This adorable menace is Ripley, an 11-week old goldendoodle retriever adopted last month from the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies (goldenrescue.com) by Courier editor Jocelyn Rowley and her family. She enjoys cavorting in the snow, playing with her new friends Lucy and Louie in obedience class and hiding under the bed from the vacuum....
Monday, Nov. 11, is a day set aside to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces - our veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as of this year there are nearly 19 million living veterans. This is a story about a group of local veterans who are collaborating on an art project unlike any other. Robert Bellows stashed away his sculpture making tools for decades while he operated a successful business. Retirement meant he could finally get back to the torc...
The Niwot Business Association (NBA) received word in June that a Boulder County Economic Vitality Grant it had applied for on behalf of Niwot's Left Hand Valley Grange had been approved. The grant is part of Boulder County's overall distribution of grant funds to one economic development organization in each municipality including Erie, Longmont, and Nederland. The fund was formerly called the Economic Development Grant. Boulder County's Economic Development website page reads, "In support of...
There are numerous retreats every year for entrepreneurs to help them realize their goals and direct them in good business practices. However, the upcoming retreat sponsored by Family Village and Nesting Your Business in Longmont this month is different. Inspired by the modest success of the cathartic event last year, the two organizations are hoping to create an annual event for entrepreneurial parents. "We wanted something to continue...we're going to have this every year. This retreat is...
Thanks to the generosity of the community, Niwot Dental’s first holiday food drive collected nearly 10 boxes of food for the non-profit OUR Center in 2018. This year, from Nov. 11 through Dec. 19 the dental practice is once again offering a convenient drop off spot for your donations which will then be delivered to the Longmont charity on time for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. OUR Center, which helps the working poor, seniors, disabled and homeless members of our community by providing those individuals and families with food, clothing, a...
