All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Community Meeting for Boulder Land Use Code Update: Niwot Rural Community District Boulder County is seeking public input to shape the Boulder County Land Use Code related to the Niwot Rural Community District (NRCD), which includes property along 2nd Avenue from west of Murray St to Niwot Rd. Staff will provide an overview and answer questions about the moratorium on new development. The primary focus of the meeting is to gather community feedback and public comment to inform the revisions to the land use regulations for the NRCD. More... Full story
Store manager Brandon Chisam may look familiar because he is a longtime resident of the Left Hand Valley area, and has been working at Gunbarrel Liquor for many years. Considering his friendly, helpful and polite demeanor, if you’ve ever stopped in for a bottle of red or a six-pack of Colorado’s finest, chances are, you’ve run across Brandon. Left Hand Valley Courier (LHVC): Where are you from? Brandon Chisam (BC): Independence, Missouri. LHVC: How long have you been in this area and what broug...
We need to reach people “where they live, work and pray.” This recommendation came from Ellen Goodman, former Boston Globe columnist and founder of The Conversation Project in Cambridge, MA. She was talking about ways to spread the word about the importance of talking about what matters to you at the end of life. Studies show that over half of us will need to rely on others to make treatment decisions. A faith community partnership in Gunbarrel is holding a 5-part series entitled, “Th...
September 2018 was a big month for Flagstaff Academy Preschool. The program reached its 10th anniversary, and it also achieved a level five quality rating from Colorado Shines. Colorado Shines, a Colorado Department of Human Services and Department of Education free resource, enables families to find licensed programs in their communities that are committed to offering quality services. Using a comprehensive approach to evaluate early learning programs, the organization looks at health and...
If you grew up in America, chances are you’ve had at least some exposure to Mickey Mouse and his creator, Walt Disney. It’s more likely that a larger part of your childhood, and your children’s childhoods, has been influenced by the imagination of those pioneers who were at the forefront of creating the cultural phenomenon that is the world of Disney. On Oct. 18 at the Left Hand Grange, Niwot resident Laurie Algar will share a unique insider’s perspective on what the early days of the Magic K...
For 25 minutes on Oct. 5, students at Sunset Middle School walked, jogged or did something in between to raise money for some exciting events coming up during the school year, as well as some much needed supplies and equipment. “We’re hoping to sponsor a student dance,” said Assistant Principal Mary Ellen Graziani, who also did her share of jogging for the day. “We’re also looking to continue expanding our IB program through professional development and buying more technology for the classroom...
In the wake of the Boulder County Commissioners’ temporary moratorium on new development applications in the Niwot Rural Community District (NRCD), the Niwot LID advisory committee welcomed Land Use director Dale Case and his staffers, Jose Ruano and Denise Grimm, to the Oct. 2 meeting to discuss the wider implications of such a ban, as well as the next steps in the process. They also considered a funding request, elected a new slate of officers, and discussed the agenda for the upcoming m...
Wednesday, Oct. 3 marked the last day for Bell, Book, Candle and Coffee (BBCC) at its Niwot location at 198 2nd Ave. Christine Lucas, who opened BBCC in June 2016, said earlier that she plans to continue the business, but has not secured a new location. Lucas, a longtime resident of the area, said she opened the store with her retirement savings, moving it from the Boulder Airport and expanding her merchandise offerings so that it would be the “department store” for the town. Inventory was ver...
The accolades just keep coming for Bootstrap Brewing Company. At last month’s Great American Beer Fest in Denver, its 1956 Golden Ale was awarded a silver medal in the Golden or Blonde Ale category, beating out 125 other entries for the prize. With a “crisp, dry” taste, the Golden is the Niwot brewery’s lightest and most drinkable beer, and serves as the base for it popular pineapple-infused Chillax. When Bootstrap co-owner and chief brewer Steven Kaczeus created the brewery’s signature... Full story
We may think our furry family of dogs and cats operate well on their instincts, but when it comes to what they are willing to eat, they can easily go off track. Our own common sense isn’t always so sensible either. Veterinarians Dr. Lise Cummings with Niwot Veterinary Care and Dr. Nancy Bureau, co-owner of Left Hand Animal Hospital, are first call responders for our pets and know from experience how easily our pets can get into a health scare after ingesting the wrong thing. What behavior to w... Full story
For the much of the past two decades, students in Finland have been ranked at or near the top of an international study that compares the academic achievement of 15-year olds in reading, math and scientific literacy in 73 countries worldwide. So when Niwot High principal Eric Rauschkolb was offered the chance to travel to Helsinki over the summer for an in-depth review of the Scandinavian country’s educational system, he jumped at the chance. “The educational company Education First, they off...
Drivers heading east or west on Franklin Street in Niwot need to be aware of newly installed stop signs. The now four-way stop at 3rd Avenue was included as part of the site plan review for the future Left Hand Animal Hospital at 304 Franklin St., formerly The Neighborhood Learning Center of Niwot. Stop signs were already in place on 3rd Avenue where it intersects Franklin Street and for many years residents on the southern block of 3rd Avenue have experienced difficulties seeing approaching traffic from the east due to cars parked in front of... Full story
This year’s Jazz on 2nd Ave, the eighth year for the event, welcomed more than 1500 participants over the weekend of Sept 15-16, according to organizers. With the event’s profits used to fund jazz education, Colorado Jazz Group, the 501(C)3 non-profit organization that stages the festival, hopes to expand its visits to Front Range schools and continue to inspire a new generation of musicians. 2018 Jazz on 2nd Ave’s Funk and Jazz Festival Festival director Rachel Cohen said total sales were...
The removal of ash trees infested with the emerald ash borer beetle (EAB) located in the Boulder County right-of-way will begin this October. If you’ve been notified that any of your ash trees are subject to removal, now is the time to act. Trees that have been marked with a blue ‘X’ will be removed starting this October, and then more removals will occur throughout 2019-2020. In the spring, Boulder County also marked trees with orange plastic bands, notifying adjacent residents that marke... Full story
An intrepid adventurer, reporter Lowell Thomas’s trailblazing work in the 1900s meant an award carrying his name would be synonymous with pioneering exploration and epic voyages. Planetary scientist, principal investigator of the New Horizons mission to Pluto, author, and Niwot resident, Alan Stern was recently bestowed the Lowell Thomas Award in Engineering Exploration for his accomplishments and ongoing endeavors. The Rocky Mountain Explorers Club, one of 30 international chapters of the p...
Kelly Morrow and her fourth graders from Boulder Valley Waldorf School pose with a Certificate of Appreciation for visiting historic Niwot with the Niwot Historical Society on Sept. 26. More than a dozen students joined the walking tour, which started at Whistle Stop Park and headed east on Second Avenue. Because there are older post office boxes in the museum, the tour stopped into the Niwot post office to see the post office boxes used today. While visiting, USPS clerk Martha talked to the... Full story
When out for a stroll, With your pooch or a friend, You may see this box, As you come ‘round the bend. No typical box, this, But you’ll soon see why, For while it’s made for the ground, It can fly in the sky. From world to weird world, Though time and deep space, It’s wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey, All over the starry place. “Bigger on the inside!”, Is what they all exclaim, And this small blue cop box, Holds fast to that claim. When you open the door, To what’s hiding inside, Enough words on paper, To take you far and wide. Beyond the bounds of... Full story
Altona Middle School (AMS) choir director Kim Needham Watkins’ routine mammogram earlier this year prompted doctors to recommend further testing. Follow up images indicated that she had cancer in her lymph nodes. The doctor’s phone call with the diagnosis came an hour before she, husband Jason Watkins, and their eight-year-old son Daniel boarded a flight to Germany to meet Jason’s biological family for the first time. With the frightening news heavy on their minds, the family spent the next... Full story
Boulder County Land Use Director Dale Case knew he was walking into a hornet’s nest when he met with eight Niwot developers on Oct. 1. In the ten days since the county enacted a six-month moratorium on new development in the Niwot Rural Community District (NRCD), concerned local business and property owners have politely and not so politely let their displeasure about the halt be known. “This moratorium, out of the blue, with no prior warning, is totally outside the spirit of cooperation tha...
Our chair was discovered, That’s not a bummer. The rhyme that follows, Isn’t hard to swallow. Here’s what people wrote in And all scored a big win. The Cubs chair on 79th Street in Niwot was the mystery Left Hand Chair.... Full story
November’s election will determine the next Boulder County Commissioner to serve a four-year term with incumbents Elise Jones and Deb Gardner. Each candidate must live in District 3 (Niwot, Gunbarrel, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, East Boulder, Erie), but is elected at-large and on each issue, acts on behalf of the entire county. Running for the office are Gary Cooper (R), Matt Jones (D), and Cliff Willmeng (G), one of whom will replace District 3 Commissioner Cindy Domenico in January 2... Full story
There’s a school in Kyengera, Uganda named Mwebaza. Two hundred students and six teachers spend their days learning and teaching there. More than 8,000 miles away, at Niwot Elementary School (NES), 450 students and 18 teachers spend their days doing the same thing. Dale Peterson is one of NES’s teachers and he has helped bring together the hearts, minds, and souls of the people of Mwebaza and NES. Peterson began his career as an educator 23 years ago as a student teacher at NES. As part of a w... Full story
Almost from the first day of school, most kids start looking forward to summer vacation. The average school year is about 180 days, which is a long time to wait if you’re a kid. Fortunately, aside from winter and spring breaks, the academic year is peppered with a day off here and there, so a kid can get a break from the daily grind. Then add in a few late start days, or early release days, just to keep things interesting. For working parents, these seemingly random days off can present a challenge—what will I do with my kiddo while I’m at work...
Two long-time Niwot health professionals are turning the page to new chapters in their lives. Dr. Leigh Charley relocated her chiropractic practice, Triad Wellness Center, to Niwot 11 years ago. She closed her office at the end of July. Dr. Felicia Santelli will be closing her natural health practice at the end of September. Her business, Santelli Healing Center, opened in Niwot 20 years ago. Leigh Charley Jamaica was home for Dr. Charley for 20 years and it’s where she raised her two c... Full story
The words “social media” don’t always inspire warm, secure feelings in most of us. Nextdoor, the private neighborhood-focused social media app designed to connect neighbors, is an online platform with good intentions that can sometimes degenerate into just another place for folks to air grievances or behave in a less-than-neighborly fashion. And while Nextdoor’s mission is “to provide a trusted platform where neighbors work together to build stronger, safer, happier communities, all over the wor... Full story
The annual Fall Crawl fundraiser hasn’t been a Sunset Middle School tradition for very long, but it has quickly become a favorite among parents and students alike. Last year’s event raised nearly $20,000 and helped the school purchase a new scoreboard, a sound system for the choir, and a 3-D printer. Now in its third year, the 2018 Fall Crawl is coming up on Friday, Oct. 5, and the Sunset Parents Advisory Council is inviting past and future students to come out and lend their support. “All of ou...
In an unannounced move at their Sept. 20 business meeting, the Boulder County Commissioners imposed a six-month moratorium on new development applications in the Niwot Rural Community District (NRCD), the three-block span of Second Avenue that comprises the downtown commercial zone. Citing concerns from community members about the pace and scope of new building in the district, commissioners Elise Jones and Cindy Domenico agreed to the temporary halt in order to give county planning staff time... Full story
It was Sept. 12, 2013, when rain from a stalled storm began to swell and overrun the banks of nearly every waterway in Boulder County, assaulting massive amounts of personal property, streets, bridges, rocks and vegetation, disrupting lives for what would be years to come. Left Hand Water District’s emergency response “I have to say one of my least favorite things is revisiting the flood,” Left Hand Water District (LHWD) Manager Christopher Smith said. “I like the fact that it’s behind us...
In a ceremony at the Longmont City Council chambers, the Longmont City Council designated Sept 11 as Mwebaza Day. The proclamation acknowledged the work of the Mwebaza Foundation, an organization founded by Niwot Elementary School teacher Dale Peterson to build and improve schools in Uganda. The proclamation reads: Whereas, the citizens of Longmont recognize that cross-cultural awareness and service learning enrich and strengthen a community; and whereas, the Mwebaza Foundation has been...
High spirits and friendly crowds marked Niwot’s inaugural Homecoming Carnival, held in the concourse outside Everly-Montgomery Field immediately prior to the Cougars football game on Sept. 14. During halftime, the 2018 Homecoming courts were announced. This year, each teacher nominated up to ten students for the court, and that list was then narrowed down to 10-12 candidates per grade. Voting then went to the student body, and the top-three vote getters in each class were selected as H...
Performances from this year's Jazz on 2nd Avenue festival, held Sept. 15-16 in downtown Niwot....
The Boulder County Land Use department is accepting public comment on a requested land use variance for a restroom to be built on N. 83rd Street. The variance would allow for permanent restrooms to be built 71 feet from the roadway, while the current setback is 90 feet. The restrooms are part of LoBo trail improvements and an expanded parking lot at Left Hand Valley Grange Park in Niwot. Jennifer Severson with the Boulder County Planning Department said that while the location is owned by Parks and Open Space, the variance request will...
In a surprise announcement on Sept 10, St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) Superintendent Dr. Don Haddad informed those attending the school year’s first community meeting at Niwot High School (NHS) that the district has decided not to store an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in the school as proposed by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s proposal earlier this year was described as a way to allow school resource officers quicker access to a long range rifle to compensate for longer emergency response times to Niwot and L...
It’s the end of a special evening and you’ve been satiated by delicious food and drinks, and all night you knew you were amongst a group of caring people. To top it off you’re leaving with a favorite new piece of art, tickets to a Pink concert, a gift card for a massage or maybe a seven-day wine tour in the Burgundy region of France. That’s the afterglow of Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement’s (HOPE) biggest annual bash. The benefit event raises nearly a quarter of the non-profi... Full story
Not everyone learns the same way. For a person with a learning difference, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia, those differences can create a gap in learning that can last a lifetime. Hillside School in Gunbarrel has a mission to close that academic gap for each and every child that walks through the doors. The small half-day school has been providing options for families and helping hundreds of students since 2005. Kathy Sherman, Hillside’s director and co-founder, has devoted her e...
At their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 4, members of the Niwot LID advisory committee considered just a single funding request, but members had plenty of new business on their minds, including funding alternatives for future capital projects and upcoming development projects in Old Town. Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin presented the monthly financials to lead off the meeting. As of Aug. 31, the LID has approved $155,105 in disbursements, about $22,000 over the budget, which is...
In an effort include a broader cross-section of the community, Niwot High will be hosting a carnival at Everly-Montgomery Field ahead of this year’s football game, instead of the traditional Homecoming parade through Old Town Niwot. “It’s going to give all of our feeder schools a chance to participate and get excited about becoming Niwot Cougars,” Principal Eric Rauschkolb said of the upcoming event, which is being modeled after similar events at other district schools. Niwot’s official...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) announced at its September board meeting that all three candidates for the Boulder County Commissioners District 3 position have accepted an invitation to participate in a public candidate forum on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Left Hand Grange, 195 Second Avenue, Niwot. The election for the position being vacated by three-term commissioner Cindy Domenico is being held Nov. 6. Candidates hoping to replace Domenico are Matt Jones (D), Gary Cooper (R), and Cliff Wilmeng (G). Suggested questions for the candidates... Full story
While the long, hot dogs days of summer ended in mid-August, if you are a dog owner, you know that every day is a dog day. Feed the dog. Pet the dog. And walk the dog. Every dog, no matter how small, needs to get out and about for their health and sanity. Whether it’s an elderly greyhound, a three-legged retriever or a border collie puppy, dogs need walks. And it’s good to know some local dog rules and etiquette when you’re out roving with Rover. Boulder County requires all dogs to wear a curre... Full story
Where in the World has hit the jackpot this week and it’s keeping the World staff very busy. Three very savvy families have found our mystery chair. First to thanks to Megan Nowak. Nowak writes, “The chair mentioned in the Aug. 29 edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier is in Whistlestop Park. Below is a photo of my daughter Savannah Nowak and friend Xander Ware at a Rock & Rails concert a couple of weeks ago.” Next there’s the intrepid Sascha. No hiding place in Niwot is safe with her eagle e... Full story
Mike and Nong Nicholas of Niwot will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary on September 30, 2018. The couple met at an Air Force base in Thailand, where Mike was serving as pilot, and they were married in New Fane, NY. In 1980, they came to Colorado, but relocated four years later after Mike joined the U.S. Foreign Service. The couple then spent time in Washington D.C., Egypt, Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines before Mike’s (semi)retirement in 1998. During this time, Nong held v... Full story
The aorta is the human body’s main thoroughfare for supplying oxygenated blood to limbs and organs. A very simplified description is that the aorta is an artery slightly wider than one inch in diameter, originating in the heart, descending through the abdomen and branching into two at the pelvis and down each leg. September was designated Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection Awareness month to draw attention to a possibly fatal condition if not diagnosed and treated. The incident of an a... Full story
The Courier wants to hear your stories It’s been five years since the September 2013 flood that devastated portions of Boulder County. According to Wikipedia, the county received a total of 26 inches of rain from Sept.12 to Sept. 15, 2013. Boulder County’s average yearly precipitation is 20 inches. Two hundred and sixty-two homes were destroyed and over 1,600 people were evacuated. Niwot High School was designated as an evacuation center. Many evacuees were flown in from Jamestown, which was especially hard hit. The high school received hun...
Lamya Deeb may look familiar because she and her family are longtime residents of the area. Shopping, running errands, or taking children to and from school, it is inevitable that we all cross paths many times over the years. But you might find Deeb out in nature too, facing a glorious scene she’s capturing on her canvas. Or you may have met Deeb while she worked at Osmosis Art Gallery on a First Friday Art Walk. In any of these settings, you’ll find Deeb appreciating a connection with the envir... Full story
Initiative 97—the Fracking Distance Initiative—will be on the ballot this November, thanks to volunteers who collected the 98,942 signatures required to get it on the statewide ballot. What does Initiative 97 entail? Currently, oil and gas wells that utilize hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, are allowed to be drilled 500 feet from homes and 1,000 feet from schools. If Initiative 97 passes in November, that distance will increase to 2,500 feet from any occupied structure, to also include dri...
Boulder Country Day (BCD), a K through eighth grade school in Gunbarrel, will be 30 years old on Sept. 16, marking three decades of commitment to academic excellence and character development for local students. BCD’s focus on small class sizes has been one of its guiding tenets. The school limits enrollment to 18 students in each elementary grade, and it’s a commitment the school intends to keep as it moves into the future. “Our middle school is a little more flexible, as far as class sizes...
World-class jazz will be wafting through Niwot, Sept. 15 and 16. The once secret-ish festival, Jazz on 2nd Ave, will be staging its eighth event with high caliber entertainers letting loose in Niwot’s unique small town outdoor venue. This year’s musical line-up welcomes back Liquid Soul and Jeff Coffin as festival headliners along with several groups new to the scene. The first day’s five acts begin with Niwot High School’s (NHS) jazz band which will have worked with Mars Williams of Liquid... Full story
The 2018 season of Rock & Rails closed out with two terrific groups. The concert opened with Summerland Sun to start the evening off, while the incomparable Hazel Miller had the audience up and dancing for the last two hours. Comments from attendees ranged from “Wonderful,” and “Fantastic,” to “I can’t believe my ears.” Thanks to everyone who contributed to the tip jar. Proceeds, which went to Whistle Stop Park for planned improvements, including a small building to house the beverage bar,... Full story
While the days are soon to get cooler, many folks are currently up to their elbows in weeding, watering and hopefully harvesting. Those that have lush and bountiful gardens have probably been working hard since early March. Bounties are now being harvested and giant zucchini are being left on doorsteps under cover of darkness. No rest for the wicked. For those who want to keep that harvest going, or for the latecomers who couldn’t quite get their spring garden prepared in time, there’s always co...
Back to school season is a sensible time to be evaluating who influences and makes decisions for our area’s educational institutions. November 6 is election day for the Colorado State Board of Education member from the Second Congressional District (CD2). A Niwot resident since 1989, Johnny Barrett (R) is challenging incumbent Angelika Schroeder (D) for the position. Schroeder is the chairwoman for the predominantly democratic board and has held the CD2 position for nine years. She was a... Full story
