All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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A trial involving the shooting of one Gunbarrel man in May 2016 by another Gunbarrel resident has resulted in an attempted murder conviction for Jon Barbour. The case was heard in Boulder District Court with Karen Peters and Lisa Saccomano of the District Attorney’s office handling the prosecution. Judge Maria Berkenkotter presided over the case. “We’re very pleased with the verdict,” Peters said. “Our jury was very attentive, asked a lot of questions throughout the trial and returned a just verdict for the victim. “Of course it’s import...
Niwotians are gearing up for the annual Independence Day celebration, an event that has been growing every year. Kim Hawksworth, Julie Breyer and Kathy Koehler and many more volunteers have been working hard to make this year even bigger. “We have a lot of new volunteers this year,” Hawksworth said. “It’s getting harder and harder to find them, but we have a great group that helps out.” Hawksworth said this is the first year she is taking over as event coordinator, but that Koehler and Breye...
Boulder County District Court Judge Norma Sierra upheld the decision of the Boulder County Commissioners which approved a marijuana retail dispensary for property on the south edge of Cottonwood Square in Niwot in a decision issued June 6, 2017. Boulder County Commissioners had approved the application in 2016 of Ernie Craumer to change the use of the property at 6924 N. 79th Street in Niwot to allow a marijuana business to operate. The initial request included a grow operation, but that request was later dropped, with the final approval...
Niwot Business Association President Tony Santelli welcomed the crowd and introduced Bert Steele of Niwot Market, which hosted the June 13 meeting. Steele expressed appreciation for the longevity of the market and thanked his management team, including his daughter Alison, whom he introduced. He is excited about the abundance of organic produce available to him from local wholesalers and invited everyone to shop in the produce department. Niwot Cultural Arts Association president Biff Warren...
The defending world champion Chicago Cubs have had their eye on Niwot High shortstop Skye Messinger since last summer, and liked what they saw. On the third day of major league baseball’s draft of amateur players, the Cubs selected Messinger in the 22nd round. “We knew it was a possibility,” Messinger said of his family’s eye on the draft. “We didn’t know where, but I was ready for anything.” Messinger had heard stories of players who had been told they would be drafted in the first 10 roun...
Boulder County Transportation will begin a culvert replacement and roadway resurfacing project on North 83rd Street in Niwot starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21. The project boundaries are from Niwot Road on the southern end to the Diagonal Highway/CO 119 on the northern end. In order to safely accommodate the project, the road will either be reduced to a single lane in locations or completely closed. Work will take place between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturday work may be allowed, but only if absolutely necessary to...
A public hearing between the Boulder County Commissioners and the Boulder County Planning Commission is scheduled for June 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss matters related to the final approval of updates to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan as part of the 5-year review process. What is of concern to residents in unincorporated Boulder County is that one particular point of discussion during the hearing will also review renewal of the current Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) between Boulder County and the City...
Boulder County Plein Air made a stop in Niwot last week to paint their versions of Cottonwood Square and the surrounding area. Carolyn Bradley, a member and the person in charge of finding “the place to paint,” said that group enjoys coming to town. Plein Air basically means painting outdoors, something the Boulder group does every Thursday — weather permitting. “It just means painting outside,” Bradley said. “Technically you’re supposed to finish the painting outside on-site and not do work i...
Every year, BCD third graders complete a social studies unit known as Market Day. This project-based learning unit is a mock exercise on: “How can I sustain a profitable business and benefit the community?” Students learn the difference between goods and services, decide on a handmade product to sell, prepare and present business plans and solicit feedback. They pay “desk rent,” file for business licenses, pay for advertising, create posters, and even get real world challenges such as a flood scenario, to which they must answer how their b...
June 10 and 11 saw residents of Gunbarrel Estates recycling electronics, offering free “treasures” and throwing away unwanted items. Cindy Maynard and David Vincent of WK Real Estate sponsored the June 10 electronics recycling. “We do the electronics drive ourselves every summer,” Vincent said. “We pay for the truck and everybody is welcome to bring whatever they like.” Both live Gunbarrel Estates. “It’s a nice opportunity to give back to the neighborhood,” Vincent said. Maynard and Vincent have been sponsoring the event for eight years. R2 S...
For those with a loved one suffering from Alzheimers or dementia, there is a long and difficult road ahead. But thanks to the Niwot United Methodist Church and the Alzheimers Association, help can be found. Ralph Patrick, regional director for the Alzheimers Association in the Greater Boulder area, said that recent educational programs came with an interest in support groups. “The purpose was to pick up and boost what had already been happening,” Patrick said. “We did have some support groups, but as a result of some educational programs that...
Last week’s Rock & Rails had the Women’s International Niwot Club (WINC) as the beneficiary of the tip jars. WINC started a few years ago as a offshoot from Daughters of the British Empire in the area. Club President Deborah Read Fowler said that since its inception, most of the club’s donations have gone to the Niwot Children’s Park, but they also give to Children First of the Rockies and other charities. “At the end of the year we email members and ask them to nominate charities,” Fowler said...
The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 6 at the Niwot Fire Station. After the meeting was called to order, members reviewed the June budget reports prepared by county liaison Pete Salas and LID treasurer Harris Faberman. According to their figures, the LID has committed to just over $66,000 in expenses so far this year, including about $11,000 in pending requests, and has nearly the same amount remaining in the 2017 budget. The...
Niwot resident and volunteer Riki Frea said she was “completely shocked” when she was told she had been selected as Grand Marshall for this year’s Niwot July 4 parade. The Niwot Community Association, which sponsors the parade, publicly announced its choice at the board’s June 7 meeting, citing Frea’s hard work and enthusiasm for volunteering in the community. “Oh my goodness, I’m just a Niwot mom who likes to be involved,” Frea said. “I have a lot of fun doing what I do, but this was totally...
The county’s preliminary plan for improving bike and pedestrian safety near Niwot Elementary School (NES) was met with opposition by area residents at a meeting held June 8 at the Left Hand Grange Hall. Two project phases were outlined by members of the transportation department staff, with Phase I slated for completion this summer. The construction phases are part of the St. Vrain Valley School District’s (SVVSD) goals for reducing car traffic while maximizing safety, according to co-presenter Cammie Piller Edson, a coordinator for the cou...
Dawson School held its graduation ceremony on May 27, when 57 seniors crossed the stage to begin a new chapter in their lives. Collectively, the class marked a number of milestones, including over $5.7 million in merit scholarships earned and 100% acceptance to 4-year colleges and universities. Mean ACT scores for the group were above the 90th percentile. Four students are moving on to play sports at the collegiate level, six plan to major or minor in performing/visual arts, and 13 plan to...
This year’s Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show as part of the First Friday Art Walk in Niwot produced more winners than ever before as the event continues to grow. Michelle Henzel, an organizer for the show and a member of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association board of directors, said there were a total of 21 entries scattered throughout local businesses. The only requirement for the artwork was to feature Niwot in some fashion. Pieces were displayed at local merchants, including ShopGirl, Pebble A...
Mother’s Day is a special holiday for Denise Dollar, not only because she values her role as mother to her two children, but also because motherhood is the theme of the community service endeavor she created three years ago. Denise and her husband Tony Ricke relocated their family from Wisconsin to Boulder County in 2013. Their son has Type 1 diabetes and is on the autism spectrum. As the stay-at-home parent, the responsibilities of having a child with multiple disabilities fell mainly on D...
Collin Blatchley (a second-grader next year) and Reid Porter (going into third-grade) will be representing Team USA and Niwot in this year’s world BMX competition next month. The boys earned their tickets earlier this year in Austin, Texas and Rock Hill, S.C., respectively, and will be making the trip to see how they fare with bikers from around the world against the best of the best. “They’ll be competing against kids their age from all around the world,” Collin’s father Rob Blatchley...
Hillside School has moved into the long vacant building formerly occupied by Joycare at 7415 Lookout Road near 75th street in Gunbarrel. The school opened in 2005 and is expected to have 64 half-day students in grades 1-9 this coming fall, which marks 13 years for the school. The rest of the day is spent at the student’s public, private, or homeschool location. While at Hillside, students receive specialized academic instruction skills in a class size limited to four students per instructor. H...
Mid-April to late June is a typical time for honeybee swarm season in Colorado. “We will be expecting swarms to emerge in the next couple of weeks,” Beth Conrey, Past President of the Colorado State Beekeepers Association (CSBA), said. The Colorado State Beekeepers Association (CSBA), a statewide organization of beekeepers, is dedicated to honeybee health. For the last 10 years, they have been running the “Swarm Hotline” and are asking folks to keep an eye out for swarming honeybees. The swa...
The Washington Post, which recently named Niwot High School to its U.S. Most Challenging School’s list, confirmed what NHS students and staff already know - the school does an excellent job of preparing students for success in college and beyond. But it’s not just the AP and IB classes that make the school great. Four exceptional IB students from the Class of 2017, Vidhya Dev, Eva Kitlen, Tina Mo, and Qing Xia, spoke to the Courier about how a variety of aspects of their four years at Niwot hav...
Dark clouds gathered on the horizon as students, families, and friends gathered at Niwot High School to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2017. Typically, graduation is held outdoors on the football field east of the school. But this year stormy weather drove the event inside. Teacher Jason Watkins, who has been at NHS for 20 years, said this was his first indoor graduation. Fortunately, the change in venue didn’t detract from the significance of the day for the more than 280 students w...
Boulder County Assessor Cynthia Braddock sent out notices to many residents in the county on May 15 advising that the assessment notice mailed on May 1was incorrect. Braddock’s letter stated, “We discovered a data input error in the time trend used to establish the value of your property. We have since corrected the error.” The error correction resulted in a reduction of value for most properties. In one case in Niwot, the valuation went from $633,000 down to $560,700. Braddock also noted that the deadline for filing an appeal of the adjus...
The fourth-annual St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) High Schools Reunion will take place on Friday, June 9 from 6-9 p.m. The Reunion will be held during the first Downtown Summer Concert of the season on Fourth Avenue between Main and Kimbark. Boulder-based band The Goonies will play all the hits from the 80’s. The night’s festivities will get underway with a Niwot High School student Jackson Cloud who will showcase his talents on the guitar and vocals, along with the rest of his Jackson Cloud Band. Alumni from all graduating years at...
Forty-one years ago, Susan Burnett stepped up to the chalkboard in her first classroom. Always up for a new challenge, Burnett has held many titles at many schools over her long career, including assistant principal at Niwot High, but in her heart, she’s always been a teacher. For Burnett, the call to education was clear. “When I was about third or fourth grade, I wanted to be just like my teachers,” Burnett said, recalling the path to her career. “I’ve just been in education the whole tim...
The heavy, wet snow on Thursday, May 18 played havoc with many Gunbarrel area trees. David-Michael and Glenda Monasch lost a tree in a manner they can only describe as being “explosive.” “Glenda saw one of the bigger branches starting to quiver,” David-Michael said. “She called me. We were looking out of the windows. Before we could go out and shake any of the branches, right there and then, in seconds, ‘boosh!’” “The whole tree exploded, all at once,” Glenda said. “Not one branch came down...
The historic preservation of old buildings is one way to remember the people who’ve helped shape the character of a community. Factor in the agricultural and economic forces of the past, and a historic building serves as a cultural reminder of a bygone way of life. Guests of the lecture on historic preservation at the Left Hand Grange Hall on May 17 learned how the county has invested in our shared cultural heritage—through five historic properties in particular, a painstaking process des...
At the beginning of May, The Washington Post’s Education Columnist Jay Matthews released his annual rankings of how well the nation’s top high schools challenge their students. This list, called America’s Most Challenging High Schools, ranked Niwot High School at number 360 in the country, which is in the top two percent of all US high schools, and number three in Colorado, the first public school behind charter schools Peak to Peak in Lafayette and Lotus School for Excellence in Aurora. Accor...
Rock & Rails will kick off its 12th summer concert series on June 1 with Mojomama w/ Bass Legends as the headliner at Whistle Stop Park in Niwot. Nick G and Nalani will open the event with music starting at 5 p.m. The headliner usually begins around 6:30 p.m. The weekly event is sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association in conjunction with the Niwot Business Association, and is free to the public each Thursday from June 1 to August 31. One of the three event managers, Vicki Maurer, said...
The IBM Connector Trail between the LOBO Trail and the Coot Lake Trail south of Tom Watson Park near the IBM plant was initially scheduled to open May 16, but construction issues have pushed out the opening by at least a month. “Unfortunately the IBM trail project ran into some delays as we worked through some technical items with the railroad,” said Andrew Barth, communications director for Boulder County Transportation. “Both the county and the railroad owner want to make sure that everyone who rides or walks along and under the tracks remai...
The Mountain Shadows Montessori School Board of Directors has named Liana Oram its next Head of School, effective July 2017. Bringing more than two decades of Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) experience as a teacher, school co-founder/director, and administrator, Oram will lead Mountain Shadows into its fifth decade. “Liana demonstrated that she is a model of AMI pedagogy and values,” said search committee chair and Board President Polly Buster. “Her Montessori and real estate busines...
Boulder County residents recently received a mailer concerning property values in the county. For some, there may be some sticker shock, but the point of the mailer is to let people know what is going on. The fact that valuations increased substantially does not mean your taxes will increase by the same percentage. Colorado law limits the tax burden which can be applied to residential properties, and governments are constrained to limit tax increases, accounting only for population growth and...
Last month, Boy Scout Troop 161 held a Court of Honor, a regular event to recognize scouts for their achievements. This one marked something special - Niwot High School senior Isaac Robare officially earned the rank of Eagle Scout. What makes this special, former scout leader Johnny Barrett said, is that Robare joins four of his peers as Eagle Scouts who all started together in Cub Scouts as first graders. “Only about five percent of scouts make the rank of Eagle,” Barrett said. “So to have...
The goal to help low-income students have access to drum lessons continues this weekend for Boulder Drum Studio and the Drumming for Jared program. Larry Bennett, who owns and operates the studio, established Drumming for Jared earlier this year following the tragic October 2016 death of 19-year-old Niwot resident Jared Lizakowski in a motorcycle accident on Niwot Road. Lizakowski had been a long-time student of Bennett’s, and thanks to Drumming for Jared, many more youngsters are able to take lessons, get equipment and continue their m...
A memorial ride was held over the weekend for Charles Crenshaw, a cyclist who was killed on Monday of last week. The ride was coordinated by Longmont Velo, a bicycle shop on Francis St. where the ride started. It ended at the site of the crash, N. 65th St. and Nelson Road. Anthony Hardwick, who is the head service mechanic at Velo, said that it was a somber day. “It was about Mr. Crenshaw and his family,” Hardwick said. “I really wish we could have met all of these people under different circu...
*The dates for the work have changed from the original post. These dates are an estimate from the transportation department and are subject to change. Pay attention to signs along the road for the most up-to-date closure information. In order to accommodate a flood recovery-related culvert installation project at Boulder/Lefthand Ditch, Boulder County Transportation will need to fully close 71st Street between Highway 52 and Lookout Road starting at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 22. The road closure will be in effect 24-hours per day, seven days per...
Michelle Welsh, an American Family Insurance agent for 31 years, was recently recognized for providing outstanding customer service under the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification Program. This doesn’t mean she is above giving a leg up to younger, less experienced agents, especially when that agent is her own daughter, Brie Welsh. Brie has been an independent American Family Insurance agent for two years and enjoys the proximity to her more experienced mom since they shar...
Walk into Niwot Market and you’ll see artist Tom Studholme hard at work. Studholme, who created a mural in the store, has been commissioned by Bert Steele to do a painting honoring a cousin of his children, Jay Knaus. Steele said the painting has a lot of meaning for him. “It is a tribute to Jay Knaus, who passed away last year. He was a very good football player. He played for Longmont High School. He [had] many concussions as a player.” The painting, which shows Knaus catching a footb...
Yvonne and Tegan Hammell share much in addition to being mother and daughter. They share custody of their elderly dog Evie, activities such as bowling league, and a commitment to volunteer work in their community. Yvonne started as a donor to Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) having been connected to the agency through friends and because there have been so many people throughout her life affected by HIV/ AIDS. At the urging of her daughter, she began to spend time volunteering, and now has a...
For the last two years, Niwot High School’s Education Foundation has hosted a spring festival to showcase the work of aspiring student filmmakers. But when the foundation announced that it would no longer be able to support the event, NHS teachers Jim Asmus and Jason Watkins teamed up to ensure the show would go on. In the process of taking over the festival, Asmus and Watkins made several changes, including renaming the event the St. Vrain Valley Student Film Festival. “That was because I’m...
The event is Wednesday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall in Niwot. "Come learn about square nails, see how old wood has been matched, vintage and aged buildings that use different building materials and the trails restored. See the outstanding changes and restoration projects that have happened in Boulder County."...
The rescheduled spring cleaning of Niwot Children’s Park saw 18 people, young and old, show up to rake wood chips, pick up a few pieces of trash, pull some weeds, and spruce up the park last Saturday. Park fundraising coordinator Riki Frea was on hand with her children, and reported that the damage caused by vandals last fall has been repaired at no cost, thanks to the manufacturer’s repair kit. Concrete bugs, bats and frogs which had been damaged are now restored in the play structures. The...
Longmont Velo, a bicycle shop in Longmont, has planned a memorial ride for Charles Crenshaw, the cyclist that was killed on Monday. It will be a seven-mile ride beginning at the shop, 1111 Francis St., and will end at the site of Crenshaw’s crash — N. 65th Street and Nelson Road. Crenshaw, 69, became the second cycling death in the last week in Boulder County, and the seventh in the last year. The ride will start at noon and is open to anyone. This tragedy brings to light that motorists need to remember to share the road. As summer app...
Members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Boulder County are holding a drive to help the OUR Center in Longmont. The event is leading up to Armed Forces Day, which celebrates all branches of our military. This year it will be observed on May 20, always the third Saturday in May. The drive is from noon to 4 p.m. on May 20 at Shoes and Brews, 63 S. Pratt Parkway in Longmont. Senior Vice-Commander John Reid of MOPH Chapter 434 and fellow veterans are having a “Battle of the B...
*Editor's note: This is a press release sent out by the Boulder County attorney's office. If you received the mailer, contact information on what to do and who to call is below. District Attorney Stan Garnett is asking residents to reach out to the Community Protection Division of his office if they have recently received a mailing purporting to be from the "National Processing Center" advising them that they may be entitled to certain federal benefits. This follows recent complaints from residents about this mailer. "These mailings try to...
At its May 2 meeting the Niwot LID Advisory Committee heard a preview at what’s shaping up to be another busy summer around town. Before considering the four funding requests on the agenda, the Co-chair Laura Skaggs reviewed the February 2017 revenue report. According to figures from Boulder County, LID sales tax collections for that month were $15,898, which is nearly 40 percent higher than the same period last year ($11,390). Members were surprised and pleased by the sharp increase, but m...
This month’s First Friday Art Walk kicked off a juried art show spread throughout various businesses. Michelle Henzel, with Osmosis and other Niwot Cultural Arts Association board members, launched the Why Not Niwot Juried Art Show in eight different businesses for the May art walk. There are a total of 22 pieces — all have to feature Niwot in some way — displayed in eight different businesses around town. Those businesses are ShopGirl, Pebble Art Jewelry, Painted Primrose, Niwot Inn, Niwot Jewe...
Heatherwood Elementary second graders are singing and dancing about economics this spring. The students have spent the last six weeks working with professionals from the Boulder theater group, The Catamounts, to create an original, curriculum-based production. This second-grade tradition began in 2011, when teacher Jolie Evans teamed up with her longtime friend Amanda Berg Wilson of The Catamounts to bring theater education to Heatherwood. Berg Wilson had recently moved to Boulder from Chicago...
The Niwot High School Education Foundation is currently holding an online auction, and the clock is ticking. With over $17,000 worth of locally-donated good, services and gift certificates, this marks the first time the foundation has tried to raise money through an online auction. Teresa Parrot, who is with the non-profit foundation, said that they are different from other boosters because they focus on raising funds for classroom materials instead of athletics. “We were looking for new and d...
