All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 2994 - 3043 of 4144
The Longmont Community Foundation (LCF) will be celebrating 25 years of supporting charitable giving at its annual dinner on April 4. Since 1994, the foundation has overseen the distribution of $11 million to non-profits. This year alone the organization will allocate more than $1 million to the arts, education, animals, human services, health and environmental causes. There are only 1,900 community foundations world-wide, each honing in on a particular geographic area. LCF was originally under... Full story
If the mark of a neighborhood's growth is measured in pizza joints, then Gunbarrel can puff out its chest and brag away. First Proto's Pizza, then Domino's Pizza, and now there is Fringe Pizza, which opened its doors about a month ago. A concept restaurant from owner Nate Rajotte, Fringe is definitely different. The tiny pizzeria, located right next to Rush Bowls on Spine Road, is working in less than 400 square feet, but that's enough to house the remarkable pizza oven that is just one of the... Full story
Senate Bill 181 (SB181) is on track to become law, and the bill contains the most sweeping regulations of the Colorado oil and gas industry in decades, giving many who oppose oil and gas development, including fracking, cause for celebration. Other anti-fracking activists believe the bill is simply more of the same and doesn’t go far enough to reform decades-old legislation that impacts the health and safety of Coloradans. But what would SB181, as it stands now, mean to Boulder County r...
There is a stout little tree that dots the landscapes throughout our region. It’s native territory spans from Utah and Wyoming south through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and even into parts of Texas. Vast expanses of land in the Southwest are covered by its sparse forests. It’s a hardy survivor. We often find it used in the landscape as a low screen tree, functioning to block the wind or create privacy in a backyard. This stout little evergreen has a vast history that’s been deeply inter...
Two of the founding members of The Lookout Alliance (TLA), Leesah Patt and Amanda Janusz, officially severed ties with the organization they founded and organized after the group and its mission were co-opted by LOGIC (League of Oil and Gas Impacted Coloradans), according to a press release from the two women. When oil and gas interests placed the Heatherwood mineral rights’ owners in their sights in November 2018, Janusz and Patt organized the community, recruited volunteers, and sponsored a town hall meeting attended by nearly 200 r...
Stalled plans to build a public parking lot west of old town Niwot could be getting a jump-start after Boulder County Commissioner Deb Gardner strongly suggested revisiting a county policy that has prevented the lot’s developers from moving ahead with construction. During a March 12 Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) public hearing on proposed updates to the Niwot Rural Community District (NRCD) land use code, Gardner questioned a provision in the 2011 Niwot Transportation and Connectivity P... Full story
Chris Wathen of All-Pro Lawns, Inc., has been a staple in Niwot and Gunbarrel neighborhoods for many years. Wathen said the business has grown steadily since he bought it from his father-in-law, Charlie Schulze, in 2008. The time has come, however, to refine his business model. The business has grown steadily over the years, Wathen said. “We had to sit down and redefine what we want to do and pinpoint what our business is.” Starting this spring, he’ll be concentrating on commercial buildings, HO...
Heatherwood Elementary is getting a much-anticipated facelift thanks to a Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) bond approved by voters in 2014. This $6.2 million project broke ground in February, and the essential portions of the project will be completed in time for school to start this coming August. During the renovation, the building will receive routine repair and maintenance, as well as security upgrades. Though these changes aren’t always visible, they are significant. “It’s impor... Full story
At what was potentially the final public meeting regarding the Niwot Rural Community District (NRCD) code update process on March 12, when Boulder County Commissioners (BOCC) could have approved land use staff’s proposed code updates for development in downtown Niwot, Commissioners Elise Jones, Matt Jones, and Deb Gardner instead chose to send the team back to the drawing board on several issues, thereby extending the six month moratorium on development by another month. While commercial entitie... Full story
You can't miss the increasing number of nearby fields donning what seem to be modern art installations of shiny black rectangles slanted toward the sun. These masses of photovoltaic panels are solar farms and, while their orderly appearance in place of the usual disarray of plant life is what captures our attention, it's their purpose of collecting power from the sun and converting it to electricity that's truly amazing. But you haven't seen the most awe inspiring type of solar installation yet... Full story
In a move that caught some stakeholders off-guard, Boulder County Commissioners voted unanimously at their March 12 public hearing to extend Niwot’s development moratorium until April 23 in order to address, among other things, concerns from property owners about proposed limits on Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for the non-historic blocks of the NRCD. FAR is a measure of a building’s above-grade floor area in relation to the total area of the lot it’s built upon. A FAR of 1.0 means that a 10,000 squar... Full story
DNA testing companies like 23&Me can tell you about your genetic origins, but they can’t tell you much about the fateful encounters, harrowing escapes and happily-ever-afters that helped those genes make their way to you. For those curious about the human drama in their family’s story, researching and preserving genealogical information doesn’t have to be a major undertaking, according to local historian and Gunbarrel resident Dina Carson. Carson is hosting the workshop Publishing Your Herit...
If you’ve have ash trees that have been marked for removal due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) quarantine in Boulder County, you still have time to schedule treatment to keep your trees from being cut down. Boulder County removes ash trees that have been flagged with a blue “X” during the colder months between September and April. The cold-weather culling is to avoid spreading the infestation of the EAB, which is not in flight during that time. Trees can be treated by licensed contractors, and t... Full story
This long, cold winter has many feeling cooped up. For people who exercise and train outdoors―which is a large portion of Boulder County’s population—the icy paths and sub-zero temperatures make keeping up a regular regimen challenging. But using the weather to change up movement habits and patterns could be the best thing for more productive and safe training for the rest of the year. Joe Gambles, an Australian transplant who lives in Niwot with his wife and toddler son, is a professional triat... Full story
The National Education Association’s celebration Read Across America has been an annual event since 1998. What better day to revel in reading than to honor cherished children’s author Dr. Seuss? His March 2 birthday was chosen to spread the excitement of reading. On this national celebration of the wonder and importance of reading, Niwot Rotarians, known for bringing about positive changes in the community, read stacks of Dr. Seuss’s beloved stories aloud to every grade in Niwot Eleme... Full story
Free entertainment for the community Niwot High School has a beautiful auditorium; the acoustics are fantastic, the seats are cushioned, and it’s a fabulous setting to enjoy a performance. On Tuesday, March 19, NHS is extending an invitation to the entire community to experience Spectacle 2019 – a no cost concert featuring four bands chock full of energy and skill. Joining NHS’s two bands, the Niwot All-Stars, an advanced student jazz band, and the Lefthand Jazz Ensemble, will be professional lo... Full story
Niwot High School sophomore Fiona Nugent’s six months of treatment for cancer are behind her and in front of her now is the anticipation of the upcoming track and field season, continuing to play her cello and creating art. Then, there’s her first trip out of the country thanks to Make-A-Wish Colorado. Wish Night, the organization’s annual fundraising event, was held on Feb. 22 with hundreds of donors in attendance at the festivities. That evening, Nugent’s gift of a week in Paris was publica... Full story
The Colorado State tournament for VEX IQ robotics took place on Saturday, March 2. Flagstaff Academy had five teams qualify to compete at a state level: three middle school teams and two elementary school teams. After a very dramatic final competition, one Flagstaff Academy middle school team - The Burgundy Dragons - qualified for the VEX IQ World Championships which will take place in Louisville, Kentucky in April. Overall, the teams received the following awards: Burgundy Dragons - Teamwork... Full story
The Niwot LID advisory board is back at full strength, following the appointment of three new members late last month. Joining the six current members are residential representative Lisa Rivard, and business representatives Cornelia Sawle, owner of the Niwot Inn, and Mary Coonce, co-owner of Porchfront Homes, who was also elected to the Niwot Business Association’s executive board recently. The three fill the vacancies left by the departures of Harris Faberman, Carrie Wise, and Jay Champion d...
It’s been the better part of a decade since teenage rocker Jackson Cloud made his St. Vrain Valley Schools debut, and now the Niwot senior will get a chance to end his school performance career the same way he started it—co-headlining with local recording artist Mojomama. “Mojomama came to my school for their music academy when I was in, I think, second grade at Niwot Elementary, and I got a chance to play with them,” Cloud said in an interview about Spectacle 2019, an upcoming concert to bene... Full story
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will consider proposed text amendments to Land Use Code Article 4-116 Niwot Rural Community District and related provisions on Tuesday, March 12, at 2 p.m.. Public testimony will be taken. What: Board of County Commissioners hearing to consider update to NRCD Land Use Code When: Tuesday, March 12, at 2 p.m Where: Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder Advance online sign-up for anyone wishing to speak at the hearing is available at http://bit.ly/dc-18-0004. Speakers will be organized in the... Full story
Bonnie Egeland discovered first-hand the benefits of Pilates when it helped her to heal chronic injuries she had worked on in a multitude of ways. Her history of trying to beat the injuries resulted in a cycle of healing and then re-injury. But with Pilates, she’d hit on the silver bullet and has stayed strong and injury-free. “I finally found Pilates and that was the one thing that helped me to strengthen and rehab old injuries,” Egeland said. “Then I found that I just loved it and what a... Full story
Have you been out for a walk in the morning in Niwot and then midday stopped at the Niwot Liquor Store to pick up provisions, and perhaps in the late afternoon you were on your way to meet friends on 2nd Avenue, and on each outing you chanced upon the familiar face belonging to Rob Gordon? Gordon gets around town like no one else. Why? Because Gordon walks dogs and housesits; he’s a clerk at the liquor store; he works at the Niwot Inn; he does yard work around town; and he delivers newspapers e... Full story
One day while riding with her dad and chatting about autonomous (driverless) cars, Boulder Country Day seventh-grader Zoë Wagner noticed something at a four-way stop. “We saw that the car across from us turned right and then the car next to us turned right, and I thought ‘well, if this were an autonomous intersection, then both of those cars could have gone at the same time.’” Not content to let the question lie, the precocious Wagner eventually decided to investigate the idea further for her... Full story
City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) held an open house on Feb. 26 to share the upcoming trail repair and maintenance projects for 2019, and two of the intended projects will affect Niwot and Gunbarrel folks who utilize the Cottontail Trail and the White Rocks area. Addressing recurring erosion issues is the focus of the work on Cottontail Trail, which connects Gunbarrel to Niwot. OSMP will repair ¾ mile of the trail with drainage improvements, including culverts and ditches....
The Niwot Nifties will have several booths at the 4-H Mardi Gras Carnival on Saturday, March 9, at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. Come play fun games including Pendulum Swing, Lollipop Draw, Rubber Band Shoot and Spin the Wheel for 50 cents each. We also have fresh popped popcorn for $1. This is the Niwot Nifties’ largest fundraiser of the year and proceeds will support the club and their community service activities. In the past year, the Niwot Nifties spent time caroling and visiting with r... Full story
Niwot will soon be home to the eighth Pinocchio’s Incredible Italian Restaurant establishment. Founder and owner Annie Vick confirmed the good news – a lease was signed on Feb. 28 for the new eatery to occupy what was formerly Treppeda’s Ristorante at 300 2nd Ave. The 2300-square-foot space in Niwot will be remodeled to match the décor of existing Pinocchio’s locations. The kitchen will be totally revamped, carpeting installed throughout, and there will be a new bar. Tables will be set with che... Full story
In this age, the majority of us are more connected to our smartphones than the rhythm of the seasons, and half of us wouldn’t know how to turn on a faucet without waving our hands in front of it. We are connected, but not to anything other than a device. It is, if you will, an age of disconnect. And that’s where the Laughing Coyote Project comes in. This school on an assuming chunk of land called Fire Willow Farm near the corner of 65th and Nelson in Longmont offers up the chance to build a ski...
A local anti-fracking group, born out of the Heatherwood neighborhood in Gunbarrel, is reaching out with a new name to join with the greater Gunbarrel and Niwot communities. Formerly known as Keep Heatherwood Frack-Free, the citizen group formed in rapid response to oil and gas companies’ interest in developing hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in and near the Heatherwood neighborhood in late 2018. Oil and gas companies approached the homeowners of Heatherwood en masse in November 2018 to inquire about purchasing mineral rights to drilling a...
At age 46, Kim Needham Watkins had been dealt an extremely frightening hand. The Watkins’ family jumped into action last year when Kim was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. This very aggressive form of cancer statistically has a 40 to 50 percent chance of recurrence in a different organ system within the next five years. But there’s wonderful news to report – after five months of chemotherapy treatments and surgery on Jan. 28 to remove 16 lymph nodes, results showed her response to t...
Longtime local resident Franklin David Frankfort, 54, died on Feb. 26, 2019 after a battle with congestive heart failure. He is survived by his mother Toby of Del Rey, Fla., and brother Jeff of Boca Raton, Fla. He also leaves behind many, many close friends and associates in the Niwot and Gunbarrel areas, where he was a resident for more than 25 years. Frankfort was born and raised in Chicago, then lived with his parents and brother in the Phoenix, Ariz. area during the 1980s. Frankfort relocate... Full story
The Niwot Business Association (NBA) welcomed two new members to its executive board following officer elections on Feb. 12. President Tony Santelli and vice president Deborah Reed Fowler received new terms. Joining them are Nancy Bureau of Left Hand Animal Hospital, who replaces Linda Klueber as secretary, and Mary Coonce of Porchfront Homes, who is set to become the new treasurer. “I want to thank Linda for having served five years as secretary and Dayna [Roane] for serving three years as trea...
Gardeners and lovers of the slow food movement are invited to an event that will help jump start their spring planting and offer the chance to meet with local farmers and food producers. Slow Food Boulder County and Mountain Fountain are hosting their 2nd annual Colorado Producers Open House & Seed Exchange on Thursday, March 21 at the Mountain Fountain Market in Hygiene. Seed exchanges are growing in popularity, due to both an increased interest in organic gardening and the increased awareness... Full story
Senior AJ Metlay wins Maggie Long Award It’s been a highly successful season for the Niwot forensics team and now they have some state hardware to show for it. At the CHSAA Speech & Debate State Festival held last month at Heritage High in Littleton, Cougars brought home six medals, including first place in Creative Storytelling and a co-championship in Public Forum Debate. “This is the best we’ve even done at the state tournament,” co-captain AJ Metlay said of the team’s performance. ”We’ve ha...
For fear that they would be taken away by the Nazi forces that had invaded the Netherlands, the Frank family went into hiding in 1942 in cramped rooms concealed behind bookcases.The Jewish family lived a life of isolation for two years before they were discovered and arrested. Over that time, teenage Anne Frank passed the time by documenting her thoughts and the happenings in the secret annex in a diary recovered after the war. This poignant and important story is the subject of Niwot High Schoo...
Getting a healthy amount of sleep is a challenge for up to 70 million people a year the American Sleep Association reports. Some of us suffer from the inability to fall asleep or can’t sustain a good night’s rest. Others have apnea leading to interrupted breathing and waking up throughout the night. There are a variety of reasons why getting the proper amount of quality slumber becomes an agonizing quest. Fortunately, expert help for the exhausted is easily accessible. Colorado Sleep Ins... Full story
Flagstaff Academy parent Melinda Coburn became a Dragon Volunteer when her oldest child entered preschool four years ago. Each week Coburn helps kindergarten students with their math and first-graders with reading. Those interactions lead to students learning and feeling cared for. But those are just a couple of examples of how Coburn’s energy, dedication, and kindness are bringing a ripple effect of positivity to the world. Coburn and her husband Sean met in junior high school while growing up... Full story
Chado—the 500 year old traditional tea ceremony that cultivates peace of mind and aesthetic appreciation of art and nature though the harmonious interaction between host and guest—is coming to Longmont. On Saturday, March 2, the Meditation Place in Longmont will be offering a rare glimpse into this precise and meaningful ceremony, along with a short meditation instruction. Guests will experience an authentic ceremony and learn about the aesthetic, social and spiritual components of this fas... Full story
At a public hearing on Feb. 20, more than two dozen interested Niwot community members spoke out about proposed changes to the Land Use Code that will affect development in the 2nd Avenue commercial district. Here are some comments presented to the Planning Commission: Dr. David Meisner explained that the mixed use development he and Von’s Colorado Concepts want to build on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Niwot Road was curtailed because of the moratorium. Meisner said, “The benefit to the thousands of visitors and residents to Niwot should out... Full story
At a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 20, the Boulder County Planning Commission gave its blessing to land use staff’s proposed code updates for the Niwot Rural Community District (NRCD) with two alterations. The first was the removal of a sentence reading “Where alley access is available, curb cuts should not be permitted.” Curb cuts are what the county is defining as access to off-street parking spots from 2nd Avenue. The second change was the addition of wording encouraging the explo...
I often hear the statement, “Aspen don’t live very long,” when having discussions about trees on the Front Range, especially when people have an opportunity to plant a new tree. The notion that aspen are a short-lived tree sparks a number of thoughts and questions and really a curiosity about these organisms many people regard as short-lived. If you happen to be a tree geek (aka arborist), you probably know that the oldest and largest recognized single living organism on this planet is a colon...
Sept. 20, 1925 - Feb. 9, 2019 Suzanne Margaret Newman Webster of Boulder passed away on February 9, 2019, at the age of 93. She was a devoted mother to her two sons: George Chandler Webster II of Los Angeles and Robert Newman Webster of Boulder. She adored her four granddaughters: Meghan Julianna Webster and Caitlin Elizabeth Webster, both of Los Angeles, and Chandler Elizabeth Webster and Kelsey Margaret Webster, both of Boulder. Suzanne was born on September 20, 1925, in Chicago to Bernard...
Dig out that oversized spoon and put on your elastic-waist pants for the 23rd annual Soup, Soup and More community dinner and fundraiser, coming up on Saturday, March 2 at Niwot United Methodist Church, located at 7405 Lookout Road in Gunbarrel. Event organizer Janet Gates said this year’s event will be familiar to repeat visitors. Doors open at 4 p.m., and there will be a wide selection of soups, chilis, stews, and chowders available, as well as bread, salad, desserts and drinks, served in a... Full story
In 2013, former U.S. National Park Ranger Robert McIntosh was volunteering with the Mongolian Ecology Center (MEC) near the Russian-Mongolian border when something happened that set a mission in motion to change the world, one motorcycle at a time. McIntosh watched helplessly as the chief Mongolian park ranger hopped on his motorcycle to enforce protection of the parklands, only to have it break down. McIntosh’s frustration grew as he learned that breakdowns happened routinely. Mongolian park r... Full story
Dear Editor, We were very concerned to read the letter from Mr. Santelli (February 13) informing us that we have a ticking time bomb because of curb cuts on 2nd avenue! A Niwot emergency of pedestrian safety has been declared! Who knew? Is there a pedestrian safety study we missed?? We have been prowling 2nd Avenue for several years now, and mercifully to date have not even come within a whisker of being squashed by an errant SUV exiting the Niwot Inn parking lot. They are, after all, driving...
Larry Dorsey will present this year’s first Now and Then lecture hosted by the Niwot Historical Society (NHS) at the Left Hand Grange Hall, 195 2nd Ave.at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27. Chronicling a dramatic event that was emblematic of difficulties plaguing the nation in 1911, Dorsey’s presentation is titled, “Shoot Out at the Superior Depot, An episode in Colorado Labor Wars.” Dorsey, a retired Boulder Valley School District high school history teacher, chairman of the Superior Histori...
The Boulder police department is seeking to form a partnership with the community that might help solve more crimes in less time. Residents and businesses that have security cameras — the number has increased considerably in the last three years due to affordability and ease of use — can sign up to be on a police department roster. When crime and vandalism occurs, the police spend valuable time canvassing surrounding neighbors and business to see if they have security cameras to help solve the crimes. The new partnership could speed up investig...
Niwot residents will soon be seeing reminders to renew their Niwot Community Association memberships in their mailboxes, email in-boxes and along Niwot Road. The membership drive will kick off the week of Feb. 17, with an email message to current members and posting of the “Burma Shave” style signs along Niwot Road, NCA President David Limbach told board members at their March 13 meeting. Currently Niwot residents can join the NCA by paying with a check or through PayPal. NCA board members are exploring adding Venmo by PayPal, a mobile payment...
The Boulder County Planning Commission will consider proposed text amendments to amend the County’s Land Use Code Article 4-116 Niwot Rural Community District and related provisions on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. Advance online sign-ups for anyone wishing to speak at the hearing is available at www.bit.ly/dc-18-0004. What: Planning Commission Public Hearing When: Wednesday, Feb. 20. The Planning Commission meeting begins at 1:30 p.m., and the NRCD item is the third item on the agenda. The E...
You can complain about it, but you just can’t change the weather. So why not make the most of the chill in the air by joining fellow whiners at the fifth annual Let’s Wine About Winter event in Niwot, 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23. Nearly 200 tickets have already been sold for the stroll from business-to-business occasion, but there’s always room for more merrymakers. Over 35 establishments, along 2nd Avenue and in Cottonwood Square Shopping Center, will be serving up samples of wines, beers...
