All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 3637 - 3686 of 4144
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... Full story
"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... Full story
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 $... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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... Full story
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...
For the average cost of a home in Boulder, rare diseases affecting hundreds of children could be curtailed or eradicated. Six-year-old Mila Makovec was diagnosed in late 2016 with one of these diseases and her family is looking to our community to raise $1M to help children in the same unfathomable situation. Diagnosing Mila’s illness was a journey unto itself. What doctors discovered years after worsening symptoms appeared, was that Mila (pronounced Mee’-la) has Batten Disease, a fatal gen...
DETAILS Date: August 26, 2017 Start & Finish: Prospect Park (700 Tenacity Drive), Longmont, CO Participants Expected: 1,500 women, 500 volunteers Registration Price: $95 through 9 p.m. August 25 Courses: 33-miles, 64-miles, 100-miles Information & to register: venusdemiles.com/colorado Greenhouse Scholars, an education based non-profit organization, will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Venus de Miles, Colorado’s largest women’s bike ride. The ride will be held in Longmont, Colo.’s Prospect Park from 6:30am-3:30pm on Aug. 26. The non-c... Full story
“Homegrown tomatoes home grown tomatoes Wha’d life be without homegrown tomatoes Only two things money can’t buy That’s true love and homegrown tomatoes” — By Guy Clark, singer/songwriter 1983 Mike Dooley grew up in a small town in New Jersey and still remembers the taste of his mother’s garden tomatoes. He also remembers a period of time when most grocery stores offered a pale, tasteless substitute. Fortunately for tomato aficionados, Dooley has spent the last 11 years producing delicious nut...
As if having a traumatic brain injury in common wasn’t enough, Jim Eastman and Scott La Point now share another life-altering event. Six weeks ago, La Point’s left kidney was transplanted into Eastman,bolstering his health and adding years to his life. Eastman’s journey to replace his failing kidneys is a masterful study in how to gracefully navigate a terrifying health issue. La Point’s story speaks to how offering support and charity can be a way of living every day. Eastman, who has lived i... Full story
Several years ago the Niwot Local Improvement District had a transportation and connectivity study done through Boulder County that identified a need for a dedicated parking lot in or near the business district downtown. Bruce Warren, who participated in the study, said that when parking usage downtown exceeds 74 percent of the available spaces open to the public, it’s time to explore options for a parking facility, and when it reaches 85%, it’s time to act. Anyone who frequents downtown Niwot can attest that often times it is hard to find par...
Boulder County Public Health has confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in the county for the 2017 mosquito season. A 33-year-old Lafayette man who reported having several mosquito bites on his legs was hospitalized for a week in early August and is now recovering at home. The man reported a fever, vomiting, neck pain, muscle weakness, and tremors on the right side of his body when he was hospitalized. The man was diagnosed with viral meningitis and lab tests later showed that he had contracted West Nile virus. It’s unclear where t...
The Niwot LID Advisory Committee held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 1, and reviewed the budget reports prepared by county liaison Pete Salas and LID treasurer Harris Faberman. According to their figures, the LID has disbursed just over $41,753 in expenses so far this year and has committed to spend another $64,839, not counting the pending application, leaving about $26,408 in the budget for the year. This does not include the $192,025 recommended for approval last month for the purchase...
Sponsored by Fabulous Finds Upscale Consignment Successful writer and editor Alyssa Danigelis loves the freedom and flexibility of doing freelance work from her Gunbarrel home, but acknowledges there is a downside. Spending too much time alone can leave her feeling isolated. Realizing that volunteer work in the community might provide meaningful social interaction, Danigelis set out to find which available opportunity would best use her skills. She discovered a good match at Boulder County...
On Monday, Aug. 7, the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee held its annual joint meeting with the Boulder County Commissioners to provide them with a first-hand account of the state of affairs in Niwot. Commissioners Cindy Domenico and Deb Garder (Elise Jones was out of town) along with County staff Peter Salas, Michelle Krezek and Mark Ruzzin were joined by LID Co-Chairs Laura Skaggs, and Carrie Wise, Vice-Chair Jim Eastman, Treasurer Harris Faberman, and members Tony Sant... Full story
Niwot High School is part of an effort to help reduce the carbon footprint of students and staff within the St. Vrain Valley School District. Two charging stations for electric vehicles were installed over the summer. “We’re pretty excited to take more green initiatives,” Niwot High School Principal Eric Rauschkolb said. “We’ve already seen it used this summer and we anticipate it being used more by the community as well.” The charging stations are limited to students and staff during the day, but are open for public use outside of school hour... Full story
Along with the growing stressors of modern life, there’s been a corresponding dependence on fatigue fighters such as energy drinks, triple-shot lattes and Mountain Dew. We take supplements to re-charge our metabolic systems, often reaching for quick-fix solutions when what we really need is to rest and recharge. But then, who’s got the time? But without time spent each day in an anabolic state, or what Niwot author and pharmacist Dr. Izabella Wentz calls a state of “rest and digest,” we’re b... Full story
How to Support your Child and Niwot High School The 2017-2018 school year is only days away and the excitement for new opportunities and friendships is buzzing across Niwot and St. Vrain Valley School District. Now is an ideal time for students and parents to get a fresh start and consider the impact they want to have in the coming year. Below are recommendations for Niwot High School families to make the most of the academic year and ways to partner with the principal, administration, teachers and Niwot High School Education Foundation to supp...
Reid Porter of Niwot finished in the top 40 in the BMX World Championships in Rock Hill, SC. Porter, at eight years old, already has multiple national championships under his belt. The World Championships, however, use a different age cut-off than the U.S. competitions. Although Porter is only eight years old, and won’t turn nine until December, he raced in the nine-year old division at the Worlds, where the top 110 riders from 25 countries gathered to compete. He said, “ I didn’t make it as fa... Full story
The Left Hand Valley Courier has been receiving multiple requests to stop delivering to a certain neighborhood, and we feel it is time to address the issue candidly. I’ve received emails about our “litter” and “trash” being distributed. The Courier also has strong support, and we appreciate all of the kind words from those that understand our purpose and goals with the service we provide. We are a free publication that covers your area. Many people work their tails off to get this paper out every week, the majority of whom work and live in your...
Three Niwot residents have been taking their skills abroad to help those in need. K. Lynn Walker, M.D., is a doctor in Longmont; Lisa Lee is a pediatric nurse practitioner; and Mary-Jean Fickes is an interpreter and translator. The three friends use their professional skills on medical mission trips to underdeveloped parts of the world. While Lee is new to these trips, Walker and Fickes are seasoned veterans and the three met under happenstance. “We all met at Pilates of Niwot,” Walker sai...
Jaryd Meek plays a variety of roles for the Niwot Cougar baseball team, both in the field and at the computer. Meek, primarily a first baseman who played both C Team and JV baseball last spring as a sophomore, played for Niwot’s Legion B team this summer under new head coach Adam Strah. In addition to seeing action at first base, he also played third base and pitched at times. Meek drove in the winning run in walk-off fashion in a 4-3 victory in the last game of the summer season for the C... Full story
At its July 26 hearing, the Boulder County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the 2015 Major Update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP), and accepted the recommendation from the Planning Commission to retain four-body review for Area III Planning Reserve changes as a condition of renewal of the intergovernmental agreement (IGA). The commissioners also voted to approve land use designation changes in CU-South, paving the way for annexation by the city and future devel...
