All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 3620 - 3669 of 4144
Niwot High School Principal Eric Rauschkolb was selected as the Colorado Association of School Executives principal of the year for 2017 and just returned from a trip to Washington D.C. for a national conference. The principals of the year for all 50 states met for the event, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. “It was a combination of professional development, networking and advocating for public education on Capitol Hill,” Rauschkolb said. Rauschkolb had an...
The Boulder Rural Fire Protection District and the City of Boulder are working on a way to bring services together for the two organizations. Members of the board of directors for BRFPD have been meeting with the City of Boulder in an effort to do what they say primarily concerns providing better service. “We are trying to look at options on our best way to improve services to our citizens and we have identified various ways that that might happen,” BRFPD Chief Bruce Mygatt said. “One of them is the City of Boulder.” There has been a lot of...
At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Niwot LID Advisory Committee formally met new Niwot Economic Development director Catherine McHale, considered one funding request, and discussed proposed Boulder County land use changes that could impact tentative plans for a parking lot north of old town Niwot. McHale introduced herself and spoke briefly of her plans going forward, especially as they relate to use of social media to promote Niwot businesses. She also indicated that she would be...
Two Iowa natives have found their calling in the form of nutrition bar dough. Co-founders Tom Miner and Reed McIntyre, along with nutritionist Maria Capecelatro started the company Unwrapp’d last summer with the goal to provide a product that is all natural with no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. But the kicker comes in the name, Unwrapp’d. Their product comes in tubs instead of individually wrapped protein or energy bars. “I used to work a job where I was at my desk all day,” Miner s...
Niwot Historical Society guest speaker Mona Lambrecht presented the fascinating story of Rocky Mountain Joe Sturtevant at the Left Hand Grange Hall on the evening of Sept. 27. At least 100 people attended. Topics covered included Rocky Mountain Joe’s irreplaceable contributions to preserving local history through his prolific photography, and his recounting of development in Boulder and the surrounding areas in the late 1800’s. Lambrecht, curator of History and Collections at the University of Colorado Heritage Center, is currently writing a b...
Editor’s note: The next few weeks we will have profiles of candidates for the November Boulder Valley School District election. Responses are printed as submitted to the Courier without edits. I grew up in Fort Collins, CO and attended K-12 public schools in the Poudre School District. For BVSD, I have been a parent volunteer (field trip chaperone, science fair, fundraisers, athletics, etc.) and currently support performing arts programs as a percussion accompanist for several student choirs and theater productions. Overall, I am a lifelong s...
Niwot Elementary is proud to nominate Greta Stauch and Luke Strickland as our students of the month! Greta and Luke were elected by their peers as Judge and Mayor; respectively, for the Young Ameritowne experience. Young AmeriTowne is an award-winning educational program offered to 4th and 5th grade teachers to help teach students about business, economics and free enterprise in a fun and hands-on way. The program has received countless accolades for its engaging format and its app...
Boy Scout Troop 161 of Niwot joined Eric Bergeson and Fernando Tapia at Niwot Wheel Works to learn about the intricacies of bike maintenance on Monday, Sept. 25. The boys, under the leadership of troop master Justin Brooks, are working on their Boy Scout Cycling Badge, which is a required merit badge for the Eagle Scout level of achievement. The boys learned how to properly repair a flat and practiced replacing the tube. They also learned how to do a basic safety check and keep their bikes...
Voting is now open for Colorado’s 2017 Significant Artifacts contest, and the Niwot Historical Society has another item on the list this year. Kathy Koehler said that this is just the second year the society has been nominated and selected for the voting. Last year was the blacksmith door burned with various cattle brands. “To us it is precious because we have not been in this contest except for the last few years because no one had entered any Niwot artifacts in it until last year with the bla...
The Niwot Community Association is looking for anyone interested in volunteering time and/or tulip bulbs to help fill a space on Niwot Road between the Diagonal Highway and Franklin. Pat Murphy, a member of the NCA, said that several people have already donated bulbs, but more are needed, and help is always appreciated. “We took over that strip of land and we’re going to be planting flower beds,” Murphy said. “People can help however they see fit, we welcome all that we can get.” The sections can be selected as a memorial to a loved one or in...
After approval last year by Boulder County officials, Southpaw Commons is now under construction between Colterra and Nourish & Company at 240 2nd Avenue in Niwot. Construction will consist of three elements – more than a dozen off-street parking spots, a commercial building, and three residential units. The project is owned by Anne and Jim Postle, with design by Anne Postle of Osmosis Architecture and construction by Porchfront Homes. The Postles, Osmosis Architecture and Porchfront Homes a...
The Boulder County Commissioners and the Boulder County Housing Authority filed a response to a lawsuit from a group of Gunbarrel citizens, asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit concerning the Gunbarrel Public Improvement District (GPID). The suit claims that the county failed to perform on its promise to match “up to” $1.9 million of tax funds raised from a 1993 property tax in Gunbarrel approved by Gunbarrel residents. To date, the tax has raised roughly $2.3 million, while the county has only contributed roughly $1.3 million into the purch...
There’s a noticeable new vibe at the Niwot Florist. As of last week, Jessica Wilson is the new owner of the flower shop, located inside the Niwot Market. Her excitement about the business and its possibilities is contagious. “I’ve always had a passion for flowers and this is something I really care about” Wilson said. Wilson brings her love and knowledge of flowers, including her master gardener status, to the flower shop. At her Gunbarrel home, Wilson uses all of the hard-to-come-by sunny s...
The weekend’s low pressure system had nothing on the high spirits of the Niwot Trot runners. Sunday morning’s cool air and teasing drizzle made for a beautiful setting to run a 5K, to feel the energy of the community, and to contribute to a wonderful cause. Niwot Elementary School’s PTAC organizes the annual race to raise money for the para-professionals who serve NES. The twelfth year of the Niwot Trot brought out 429 entrants, a record number for the event. Participants and spectators were...
Boulder Valley Rural Fire Rescue will be hosting a pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 30 at the fire station at 6230 Lookout Road. Captain Robert O’Donnell said that this event will replace the department’s regular fundraising event. “We have a history of having an annual spaghetti dinner,” O’Donnell said. “That typically raises funds for our department. It goes to helping firefighters around who have come on hard times.” What makes this year different is Hurricane Harvey. All o...
Keri Brown has opened her doors in Gunbarrel to provide holistic medicinal services and consultations. The idea behind her practice is to treat the root cause of any and all ailments in the human body. “I really specialize in helping people help their health forward on a cellular level,” Brown said. “It’s a practical approach to dealing with today’s health situations. She said that another main focus is preventative and proactive natural treatments. “We support people in health and wellness th...
Residents and visitors to Niwot this weekend will get a special treat if they swing by 8008 Pebble Road. Curtis Jones will be running his G Scale model train in his front yard, an attraction that draws people from all over the area. Named the John Galt Line after the character in Ayn Rand’s classic novel, Atlas Shrugged, Jones has 220 linear feet of track for the trains that are roughly the size of an adult forearm. “I started doing this because we have a pond in the front yard and I dec...
Think Outside the Box Coaching launched a series of workshops last weekend with a focus on “Getting Out of Your Own Way.” The events are hosted by Stacy Goresko, an inspirational coach and speaker who recently began her business in the area. “These workshops are for people who may be accountants but they really wanted to be a chef,” Goresko said, “people who want to do something else with their life — to think outside the box. My biggest joy is getting people to find their own passion. A...
To the Editor: Taxation Without Representation? Thanks to the LHVC for letting people know about recent (radical) changes to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) and Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA)—changes that could greatly affect Gunbarrel and Niwot. Since 1977, Boulder has had four governing bodies — the county commissioners, county planning commission, city council, and city planning board — reviewing changes to the BVCP. During the current BVCP update, however, the commissioners and city council have made three big changes to th...
Sunset Middle School’s 2nd annual Fall Crawl is just around the corner on Friday October 6. The Fall Crawl promotes a sense of community at Sunset by which every student participates whether they run or walk and in addition will receive a Spartan logo t-shirt. Last year’s inaugural event was so successful it met the school’s goal of $20,000 with 100% participation – enabling the school to purchase new sport uniforms and fund teacher-directed events such as the Robotics Competition. This year Sunset’s goal is to raise $25,000! Funds will go t...
Howard Treppeda, founder and chief organizer of Niwot’s Jazz on 2nd Ave, was more than pleased with the seventh edition of the event, held in downtown Niwot, Sept. 16. “Fantastic, fantastic,” was Treppeda’s quick response when asked how the event was going. The day opened with cloudy skies and cool weather, but Treppeda was not worried. “I feel confident with the tents and the fanbase. There’s a jazz family, and they’re going to come out rain or shine.” As the day warmed up, so did the music....
Friday’s celebratory announcements at Niwot High School included the newsflash that students had earned an average ACT test score of 24 in the previous school year, a threshold that has not been hit since the year 2012. NHS principal Eric Rauschkolb said scores have hovered above 23 since that year, but this year saw the score tip up to 24. While students received their individual scores prior to the beginning of school this year, the composite score had not been publicized. Niwot High School’s average score gives it the distinction of bei...
Led by top five individual finishes from juniors Jack Hoover and Andrew Elliott, the Niwot boys golf team took second at the Class 4A Region 1 tournament held Monday and qualified to compete as a team at the state tournament for the second year in a row. Hoover carded a 73 (+3) for the day, which was good for second place, behind defending 4A state champion Luke Trujillo (-5) of Discovery Canyon. Junior Andrew Elliott (+8) also had a big day in Pueblo, shooting a 78 (+8) to take fifth place...
Let them drink water. Beer production was paused by Oskar Blues Brewery so that the brewery’s manufacturing equipment could be used to package much needed clean drinking water for delivery to Texas and Florida hurricane victims. This generous response to two back to back crises is the result of the joint efforts of Oskar Blues, Ball Corporation, and the CAN’d Aid Foundation. CAN’d Aid, a not for profit organization started in 2013 by Dale Katechis, owner of Oskar Blues Brewery, originated when...
On the precise day they needed to have raised $100,000, Labor Day, Mila’s Miracle Foundation (www.StopBattan.org) hit its goal and received the promised matching funds. Thanks to an anonymous donor, the amount was doubled to give them $200K toward their search for a cure. Combined with other private donations, the organization sits just shy of $300,000 for this phase of the foundation’s endeavors. Mila’s mother, Julia Vitarello, said as the deadline to receive the matching donation approached, “Tons and tons and tons of people stepped up.” Ot...
Living kidney donor Scott La Point, and the recipient of his kidney, Niwotian Jim Eastman, are both ecstatic to report they’re doing “really well” 10 weeks post-surgery. Given that he’s already riding his bike for distances up to 60 miles, and this past weekend he took on the Pike’s Peak Challenge Summit Hike last weekend, to say La Point is doing really well is an understatement. Kidney recipient Jim Eastman has completed the Pike’s Peak Challenge five times in the past and said he’d love to do it again. Although it’s a little soon for Eastma...
"Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway!" Need the courage to push through your fears and have your dreams? Join this workshop and meet others who want to succeed in a safe and intimate environment. First time is free, then $20 per session. Every Saturday from 9am-10am at 8083 Meadowdale Square, Niwot 80503. Please register by calling or emailing Dr. Stacy Goresko at 720-290-2707 or DrStacy@ThinkOutsideTheBoxCoaching.com. Please bring a friend! Alzheimer’s support group An Alzheimer’s support group will meet on the first Wednesday of every month . Thi...
The Niwot gymnastics team picked up its second win of the season last Wednesday, with a 174.35 to 164.725 victory over the Loveland Indians. Niwot’s Linday Chohon took first place in three out of four individual events to claim her second all-around title of the year, while sophomore Taylor Green took second and freshman Grace Stephenson was third. Following the meet, Niwot head coach Marisa Purcell was pleased with her squad’s overall performance, especially in the floor exercises “I see them...
For a week, metal cages sat atop each prairie dog mound in the open space bordering Highway 52 and 79th Street. The hope was to capture and relocate 100 black-tailed prairie dogs. Ultimately, 84 critters were apprehended in the sprung traps and then moved to a more spacious location. Each trap was baited with sweet feed, consisting of oats, grains and sunflower seeds, a mixture prairie dogs love. While it compels many of the prairie inhabitants to enter the cages, they are aware enough to...
Yes, it’s a super cool thing to have, but Karen McMeans would have been happy to make you your own masterpiece. “The realization that it’s gone has been really hard” artist McMeans said about the missing one-of-a-kind Left Hand chair she painted. It took her two and a half months to complete, working on her hands and knees at times, with an injured back. Whether thieves stole the award-winning work of art, or the folks taking the chair thought it was abandoned, they used Herculean strengt...
The Niwot Business Association (NBA) has announced the hiring of a new Economic Development Director (EDD), Niwot resident Catherine McHale. McHale’s first day on the job was Sept. 1 and she steps into what she described as a “vibrant business community.” The first thing on her to-do list: getting personally acquainted with each Niwot business. According to the formal job posting for McHale’s new position, it is best summed up as “the vanguard of NBA’s vision for the community’s commercial co...
The Niwot LID Advisory Committee held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 5, where members considered funding requests for the upcoming holiday events, as well as an outdoor community seating area in on the west end of 2nd Avenue. The committee also heard an update on the search for Niwot’s new economic development director. The committee heard first from Mike Hagerty, Suzanne Jurgens, and Adam Sirois, representatives of Powder Keg Brewing Company at 101 2nd Ave. in Niwot. They requested $...
The Yesteryears Farm Show in Longmont has been a family tradition for Niwot’s Slepicka family since 1990. The event, held annually during the last weekend in August, celebrates the history of farming through displays and demonstrations of antique farm equipment. Known for their antique tractor collection, which they display at their property on 79th Street in Niwot, Jerry and Marsha Slepicka are fixtures at the show. “We want to make sure to keep history alive,” Marsha explained when asked...
Laura Hehner has been the pastor at Niwot United Methodist Church since July, and has been enjoying her role since replacing Rev. Pam Everhart, who was appointed to a church in San Antonio. “It’s been great,” Hehner said. “I’m really enjoying it here, the people are great.” Hehner moved to the area from Bailey, CO, where she had been on assignment for six years. She is now in her seventh year in the ministry. Originally from New Jersey, she grew up in a mostly Catholic family. They moved to Co...
Letter to Left Hand Valley Courier We are writing in reference to the article in the August 16th edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier titled: “Niwot LID approves funding for Cottonwood Park West open space”. The headline should have read: “Niwot LID approves funding for community area”. The headline as it was published suggests that the property is not private and could be misleading. There is no “open space” in Cottonwood Park West, only private common areas that belong to and are reserved for the residents of CPW and their guests. The prop...
Sunset Middle School is off to a great start as the school opened their doors to welcoming new and returning students into the hallways as the first full school year as an official IB Middle School gets underway. The school has decided to have a theme this year and it will be Celebration of Humanity. The staff will be teaching and modeling different characteristics from this umbrella theme with a focus on being well-rounded and globally minded students. This week began with staff and students focusing on “gratitude”. Sunset welcomed stu...
Both the Boulder County Board of Commissioners and the City of Boulder have agreed to sign a new 20-year inter-governmental agreement which keeps some, but not all of the county’s veto power over changes in land use decisions outside of the city limits. The previous agreement, which required approval by Boulder City Council, Boulder Planning Board, Boulder County Commissioners, and Boulder County Planning Commission, for land use changes on the edge of the Boulder city limits for land expected to be annexed, was set to expire at the end of this...
On Aug. 30 at the Left Hand Grange, residents from Old Town and other interested Niwot residents met with members of the Niwot Futures League (NFL) and the Niwot Business Association (NBA) to discuss details of a proposed 50-spot public parking lot along the railroad tracks west of town. The 2-acre parcel, which is approximately 80 feet wide by 1,100 feet long, is under contract with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad for $170,000. The parking lot would be located on the southernmost 306 feet...
Niwot High School’s new assistant principal, Zach Pinkerton, is thrilled to be back in Colorado. With two young children, ages three and six months, Pinkerton and his wife are grateful for the opportunity to move from California, where they lived for the past 15 years, to be near both his and her parents. “I was lucky enough to find Niwot High School,” Pinkerton said. “The schools that I’ve worked at are very similar to Niwot. It’s almost like the same school transported 1,200 miles east in a wa...
This year’s Jazz on Second Avenue is ready to go with some of the biggest names in the genre. With the help of the Colorado Jazz Group, the Niwot High School band will start the show at 2 p.m. on September 16 on the corner of Second Ave. and Niwot Road. Gates open at 1 p.m. Howard Treppeda, one of the organizers, said that it’s great to get the high school band involved. “The Colorado Jazz Group starts working with them a week before,” Treppeda said. “They get the work in, it’s a good show.” The full lineup for the the event includes Pecho Sanc...
We apologize for an incorrect link which was included in the earlier article regarding Mila’s Miracle Foundation. For information on fundraising events supporting Mila’s foundation, please visit www.StopBatten.org/events. Earlier we had reported Mila’s three-year-old brother, Azlan, might also have the gene combination that results in Batten Disease. We are pleased to report tests concluded Azlan does not have Batten Disease. However, it is true that siblings of children with Batten have a 25 percent chance of also having the disease. Addit...
Dear Editor, A proposal for Boulder Rural Fire Department (BRFD) to “join operations” with Boulder Fire Department is being considered. BRFD serves much of the Gunbarrel area. At the time of writing, it is not clear to me what is involved in “joining operations.” This is somewhat concerning. Area voters have elected to enact taxes to support BRFD financially at what seems to be a higher level than most fire departments, enabling the purchase of fire engines equipped with compressed air foam systems. If “joining operations” amounts to a merger...
What’s keeping you from riding your bike this summer? Flat tire? Bent derailleur? Busted chain? Niwot’s newest bike shop, Niwot Wheel Works, is open ready to help. This service-focused shop, located in the former Rockin’ Robin’s building, opened its doors on Aug. 2, and will host its grand opening during the First Friday Art Walk on Sept. 1. When asked to describe the vision for his new business, shop owner Eric Bergeson was quick to reply. “First of all, we are a bike shop for everybody...
A group of youth took notice of a trash problem in the Niwot Children’s Park and decided to take action. Nine-year-old Cormac Easter and his friend Emmett Verhoogen organized a group that they’re calling the Children’s Park Owls. For the last month or so, they’ve met at the park after Rock & Rails concerts to clean up the trash left behind. “What we’ve been doing is me and my friends have trash grabbers and other supplies,” Cormac said. “We distribute them so people can use them to clean. If we...
The skies were clear over the Front Range at lunchtime on Monday, Aug. 21. Students at Heatherwood Elementary in Gunbarrel grabbed their protective glasses and headed outside for a solar eclipse party. “It was really cool that it could get so dark and cold and the sun get so small so fast and then it all just comes back,” fifth grader Joy Allen said of her eclipse experience. “The temperature really surprised me,” said third grader Simon Schmidt, who measured a temperature drop of 12 degrees...
Boulder County, Colo. - On August 29, at approximately 5:43 p.m. the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a person impersonating a police officer that took place near 61st Street and Andrus Road in unincorporated Boulder County. The victim reported being stopped by a male party wearing plain clothes and a Boulder County Sheriff’s Office baseball cap. The impersonator used a set of red and blue flashing lights in his windshield to stop the victim. Once stopped, the suspect approached the car and asked the victim for his dri...
On August 15, a group of 10 plaintiffs filed a Complaint in Boulder County District Court against the Boulder County Board of Commissioners and the Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA). Plaintiffs David Rechberger, Nicolette Munson, Rolf Munson, Laurel Hyde Boni, Dinah McKay, Donald Sherwood, William B. Swafford, Jr., Marilyn Kepes, Donald Wrege and Douglas Johnson are or were owners of property within the Gunbarrel Public Improvement District (GID), according to the Complaint. They claim that the county has failed to live up to its...
Boulder Country Day School is once again hosting a lecture series for the upcoming school year that is free and open to the public. The first of the parent education series will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 13 at the school. Diana Emerson, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communication for the school, said that due to the popularity of these events, they are going to continue to bring in speakers for forums on a monthly basis. The events begin with the New York Times best-selling author of “The Gift of Failure,” Jessica Lahey. The boo...
Editor’s note: This article highlights just one of the new teachers at Niwot High School. We hope to get more spotlights on great teachers over the coming weeks. If you know a teacher or staff/faculty member that deserves credit, email editorial@lhvc.com. Sarah Demmel feels like she’s back home now that she and her family have returned to Niwot. After three years in Austin, TX where her husband’s job had relocated them, Demmel and her family are once again enjoying what this small town has to of...
