All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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When it comes to the multitude of success stories coming out of Niwot High School these days, the statistics speak for themselves. Academically, NHS remains the only school in the St. Vrain Valley School District with an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, in which there is a 40% participation rate. An impressive 72% of students are taking at least one IB or Advanced Placement (AP) class. And, NHS students currently boast one of the highest SAT scores in the district at 1103 and one of the highest PSAT composite scores in the State of Col...
Although Pawxatawney Phil has determined spring is right around the corner, based on last weekend's storm, winter seems determined to hang around. One upcoming event might offer some relief: Let's Wine About Winter in Niwot. Sponsored by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, the annual Let's Wine About Winter event is planned for Saturday, Feb. 24 to welcome community members in from the cold with wine, art, food and hospitality. Kristin Alger, who is co-chair of the event with Anne Postle,...
Rick Clark and Bob Stadtherr are the latest recipients of Left Hand Valley Courier's Left Hand Laurel for their contributions to local music - most notably, as members of the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band. The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, formed in 2005, is iconic in the Niwot community. The band plays at local events such as Rock & Rails, the July 4th Breakfast and Parade, Enchanted Evening, the Christmas Holiday Parade, and Niwot High School basketball...
Jeff Server says he is a person who notices and appreciates details. He has applied these talents as a videographer and landscape photographer, as a gas industry accountant and as an active volunteer at Niwot events. He and his wife Dawn Reeb Server have lived at Meadow Lake Farm off of N. 79th Street for six years. Server, the second of four boys, grew up in Ames, Iowa. When he was 14 he joined a summer field crew of about 100 to 150 young men. They detasseled the corn in preparation for...
Niwot has a rich tradition of farming dating to the late 19th century. Many farm families still work their great-grandparents' farms and pass the tradition forward. The Courier plans to focus periodically on some of our local farm families. If you know a farm family in the Niwot-Gunbarrel area we should feature, please contact us at [email protected]@lhvc.com. Jill Belue is a fourth generation farmer and the water records manager for Boulder & White Rock Ditch & Reservoir Company...
February at the Left Hand Grange gives the public opportunities to be part of a number of social interactions that are unique to this community. Whether you're ready to get up and dance, or like to sit and listen to music, be amongst a vibrant group of your neighbors, or learn about the soil your food is grown in, this month's activities at the Grange will bring you happiness and gratification. Community Dance Sessions Wednesdays, Feb. 7, 21 and 28, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Teacher and choreographer...
Dark Fudgy Brownies Submitted by Camryn Bell "Delicious every time!" Ingredients: •2/3 cup Double-Dutch Dark Cocoa •1 1/2 cups granulated sugar •1/2 cup confectioners' sugar •3/4 teaspoon salt •1 cup all-purpose flour •1 tablespoon espresso powder •1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, optional •1/2 cup (vegetable oil •2 tablespoons brewed coffee •3 large eggs Directions: •Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8" x 8" or 9" x 9" square pan. •In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, su...
Lyndsey Cumberland, the owner of Farmers Insurance in Niwot's Cottonwood Square, purchased the Farmers Insurance agency from Leigh Suskin in October of 2022. The new owner of Farmers has been licensed as an agent since 2009. Cumberland was born in Minnesota and moved with her mom to Colorado in 2002. After graduating at the top of her class from high school "on the Western Slope," Cumberland said she had many adventures and interesting careers, including selling insurance and serving as a region...
Residents from Gunbarrel, Niwot, Boulder, and other surrounding areas met at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Gunbarrel on Feb. 4, 2024, to discuss the "Tennis Center of the Rockies" proposed to be built at 5701 N. 79th Street in unincorporated Boulder County. The proposed membership tennis club would include at least 26 tennis courts, two large bubble covers, a clubhouse, two swimming pools, eight padel courts, twelve pickleball courts, volleyball and beach tennis courts, septic fields...
While most of Niwot was suffering below zero temperatures on Jan. 13 and 14, Niwot resident Pete Brandes was basking in the sunshine and 70+ degree temperatures in Hawai'i. But don't think he wasn't suffering too. Brandes was there to compete in the aptly named Hurt 100, an ultra-marathon on the island of Oahu. Brandes said the joke at the race was to be prepared for overnight temps to be five (degrees) below..."below 70 degrees that is." Brandes finished in an impressive 16th place with a...
As an unincorporated community, Niwot relies on Boulder County for day-to-day governance, and the two appointed advisory boards that directly affect Niwot are the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee (NLIDAC), and the Niwot Design Review Committee. The Niwot Design Review Committee is charged with reviewing development applications and proposed changes to properties in the Niwot Rural Community District I, which includes the Old Town business district. Some regulations apply to the entire district, while others apply only...
Local musician Kevin Dooley was asked to perform six days before the Bert Steele memorial bench dedication ceremony. He responded, "I would be honored to do that. Bert was a dear friend and it would mean a lot to me to be there." Steele, the owner of Niwot Market and beloved community supporter, passed away suddenly last August after a short illness. A special bench surrounded by flagstones with many of Steele's philosophical sayings was unveiled at the memorial dedication in front of the...
Last weekend, Niwot and the entire Front Range was blanketed by more than 4 inches of heavy, wet snow. The large flakes quickly accumulated, making driving a slush-filled challenge for anyone who ventured outside, especially later in the afternoon. Anyone staying inside was able to see a frosted, snow-globe effect to anything beyond the panes of their window. We went to Old Town and Cottonwood Square to talk to community members about their snowy experience. The snow didn't deter visitors....
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]@lhvc.com....
The working draft of the Niwot Master Plan 2023 was presented to the Niwot Community Association (NCA) on Jan. 23 at the Left Hand Grange No. 9. The master plan is the first step in imagining how Niwot might look in the near and distant future, and includes an update to the 2012 Transportation & Connectivity Plan that has guided Niwot projects for the past decade. This vision for Niwot has been developed by the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) in conjunction with the...
CPAs and Niwot residents Don Perry and Dayna Roane joined forces in Niwot in 2010 to form the accounting firm, Perry & Roane, P.C. In addition to their professional accounting and tax services, the partners were active in the community, providing pro bono services to a wide range of Niwot area non-profits, including Niwot Youth Sports, the Niwot Business Association, the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, and Left Hand Grange No. 9. While Perry retired from the firm several years ago, he...
Niwot is known for its great small-town feel and numerous community events. The inaugural WinterFest event on Saturday, Jan. 27, did not disappoint. WinterFest brought food, games and carriage rides from Cottonwood Square to 2nd Avenue. Vendors, musicians, and activities were scattered through Niwot including Nothing Bundt Cakes in Cottonwood Square and Sweet Maple Cotton Candy at the Emporium on 2nd Avenue. A steady flow of attendees participated throughout town. However, the real hit was the...
The location of the Feb. 4 meeting of local residents opposed to the application for the "Tennis Center of the Rockies," to be built on 79th Street just north of Lookout Road, has changed since the Courier’s Jan. 24 article regarding the matter. The meeting will still be on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 2:30 p.m. but at Shepherd of the Hills Church, 7077 Harvest Road (on Lookout Road near 71st Street), in Gunbarrel....
Your neighbor, Sean Tufts, his wife Orly Ripmaster, and their two sons live just east of Niwot on a 48-acre farm. Tufts is the managing partner of Optiv, a cybersecurity consulting company focusing on critical infrastructure installations. Tufts is also well-known for his football career as a middle linebacker for the University of Colorado Buffaloes (2000-2003) and then for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. Tufts was born in 1982 in south Denver near County Line Road, where subdivisions once...
With roots dating to 1875, Old Town Niwot, the area on 2nd Avenue between Niwot Road and Murray Street, has always been a mixture of the familiar and the new and is widely considered to be the historic heart of town. John Nelson, a local carpenter, is credited with building the first commercial structure on Second Avenue in 1905. Most of the remaining shops in the first block were completed by 1915 and include the home of the oldest operating Grange in Colorado. These buildings comprise the...
Seed swaps are events where gardeners and farmers exchange seeds to help people garden inexpensively and reduce seed waste. The swap also provides a networking opportunity to build community, share local gardening information, and dispense education from experts such as CSU Master Gardeners and Growing Gardens. The swap works locally to keep plants for future generations. The Second Annual Boulder County Seed Swap was held on Jan. 27 at the Niwot United Methodist Church on Lookout Road. The swap...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]@lhvc.com....
The vast majority of banners inside Niwot High School's main gym celebrate team championships. A select few, however, are hung in honor of individual achievements. Coming off a stellar sophomore season on the NHS cross country team, Addison Ritzenhein will soon have her name immortalized twice. After receiving the Gatorade Colorado Girls Cross Country Player of the Year award on Monday, the state championship-winning runner earned the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of...
As one of two main hubs of small businesses in Niwot, Cottonwood Square brings together a variety of retail stores. Businesses range from restaurants to clothing stores, and from florists to fitness studios. A surprisingly high number of these enterprises are run, either in whole or in part, by women. Many owners have several things in common. They enjoy the Niwot community and the support it gives local businesses. They also share a "give back" or "pay-it-forward" attitude. "I feel like Niwot i...
In a world that sometimes seems to create isolation, the Courier is launching a new feature entitled "Meet Your Neighbor." We hope you enjoy getting to know some of the fascinating people who live in our community. Joyce Johnson has lived in Niwot for 32 years. Her determination, friendly nature, sparkling eyes and kindness mask the many hardships and tragedies she has faced throughout her long life. The first word Johnson uses to describe herself is "resilient." She was raised in Connecticut...
Open areas are dwindling as urban areas continue to be developed into more densely populated regions. One location being proposed for development is a vacant parcel on the west side of 79th Street between Lookout Road and Highway 52, next to the Church of the Lookout. An application for development of the parcel to be a private tennis club, "Tennis Center of the Rockies," was dated Nov. 22, 2023 and formally filed with Boulder County on Dec. 5, 2023. Many Gunbarrel residents met on Dec. 17,...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]....
Four Niwot-area appointed positions on Boulder County advisory boards are open for applications, which close on Friday, Jan. 19. Niwot Design Review Committee The Niwot Design Review Committee's primary role is to act as a referral agency for proposals within the Niwot Rural Community District I (NRCD I), which consists of the first block of 2nd Avenue between Murray Street and Franklin Street, plus the historic Bader House property. According to the county website, "The committee does not have...
In two separate split-decision votes at their Jan. 9 meeting, Boulder County Commissioners approved sweeping changes to the Boulder County Land Use Code and Boulder County Licensing Ordinance 2023-02 regarding regulation of Short-Term and Vacation Rentals in unincorporated Boulder County. The complexity of the issues and passion of public opinion were once again on full display at the Jan. 9 meeting which lasted eight hours, including nearly four hours of public testimony both in favor of and opposed to the proposed changes. On the two votes,...
In years past, the Niwot hosted Apres Ski Day, a fun winter event that included winter treats and activities around town. This year, the revamped event has changed its name to "WinterFest" and will be held on Jan. 27 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The name was changed to better celebrate the season and let the community know that no one needs to go skiing before enjoying all the activities. WinterFest is sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA) with most of the funding coming from the Niwot...
When Staci Pencis walked into the Garden Gate Cafe two years ago to borrow a cane, she had no idea she would be leaving the Café with a job. Pencis' son, Sy, was putting together a costume for Senior Day at Skyline High School, and he needed a cane to complete his outfit. "He had a hospital gown and an adult diaper," Pencis said. "And he needed a cane." She placed a message on Facebook and soon heard back from Dawn Dunlap, manager of the Cafe, who offered to lend them one. When Pencis came to...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) set goals for 2024 during its December board meeting. The NCA serves as a local advocacy group with representatives from eight residential service areas that interfaces with local government to provide input and provide a forum for Niwot citizens to learn about issues and voice their opinions.The January monthly meeting saw the NCA board launch projects that board members volunteered to champion. Boulder County’s land use policies and actions are an important topic for NCA attention. Examples of d...
Amy Scanes-Wolfe asks the question whether we need to reclaim our arid lands of the West by addressing the serious problems caused by our centuries-long disruption of nature's balanced ecosystem. In her Jan. 11 presentation to the Niwot Community Connection (NCC), it was clear Scanes-Wolfe is passionately committed to doing just that. She led NCC participants on a wide-ranging journey combining her cultural anthropology, ecology, agricultural and natural history backgrounds. Scanes-Wolfe...
Niwot's community focus is one of the things that make it a unique and fun place to live. Events like Niwot's summer concert series, Rock & Rails, winter festivities such as Winterfest and Let's Wine About Winter, and its holiday markets and parades bind the community together. Even the art around Niwot is special with tree carvings and left-hand chairs decorated to the theme of their surroundings. One often overlooked feature also contributes to the quaint aesthetic of Niwot. Little boxes with...
The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee approved funding for three upcoming events to be held in January, February and June, 2024, at its Jan. 9 meeting. Mary Coonce, who serves as treasurer of both the LID and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), spoke in support of the events, saying, “The goal is to have an event every month.” In her treasurer’s report, Coonce reported a $10,716 decrease in sales tax revenues collected by the LID through October 2023, compared with...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]....
When Steven Craig joined the Rotary Club of Niwot shortly after building a home on Portico Lane in the Ranch at Clover Basin subdivision two years ago, he didn’t waste any time in making a difference. Sadly, Craig, who was recently chosen as President-Elect for the club, will not have a chance to serve in that position. Craig was attacked in his home on Dec. 19 in the middle of the night, and died of his injuries Dec. 24. Michael Lucky, 32, turned himself in to the Boulder County Sheriff’s off...
Yesterday I received a thank you note in our mailbox, mailed from "Alaska Frontier," dated December 24, 2023. Here is what the card says: "Thank YOU so much for including us on your cookie moms' list. We have enjoyed sharing the goodies your team bakes and collects each holiday. We love the mini-photos/inspirational words and the Niwot Courier. Thank you for the time, effort, and love you put into making us feel remembered. We are leaving AK in February (unknown location), so, we will no longer be here to receive your boxes...but, please...
The inaugural New Year’s Eve party at the Left Hand Grange went off without a hitch. Close to 40 attendees started the night with cocktails while listening to the music of local musician John Shepherd. International appetizers and entrees were provided by Anam Soul Food, and the rousing tunes of Niwot’s own House Blend Band chimed in the rest of the evening as folks danced their way into 2024. The Grange’s new audio-visual system featuring a large television and new speakers allowed party...
Niwot resident Anita Wooldridge has been making the most of her retirement by devoting her time to photography. She specializes in nature and wildlife, capturing the natural beauty of the Rockies, Yellowstone National Park, and the Grand Teton National Park in her work. Her photography captures a feeling of quiet serenity, and offers a calm interlude to a busy life. Wooldridge said she first got started with ocean photography while diving, about 20 years ago. "...(B)ringing a camera underwater...
Redevelopment, particularly on historic properties, can be unpredictable. It's challenging to know exactly how a project will proceed until an excavator begins to dig into the ground. It's become apparent that this is the case with the project at the former Colterra restaurant and Bader House at 210 Franklin Street in Niwot. The building which housed the Colterra restaurant began life as a barn, and has been demolished due to damage from a fire several years ago, leaving the historic Bader...
Nearly four decades of holiday joy and delight came to an end Jan. 6 when Chuck Rodgers switched off his holiday lights for the last time. For all of its challenges, Rodgers’ light display for charity at the top of the hill on 79th Street between Lookout Road and Highway 52 has continued to be a labor of love, and this final year, at the culmination of its colossal size, it also hit a record amount of donations for Longmont Meals on Wheels (LMOW). Donations of $32,400 and 277 pounds of food were...
Abo's Pizza in Niwot's Cottonwood Square has been closed ever since a fire broke out in the oven at the business on August 10, 2022. Since then, the popular restaurant's reopening has been delayed multiple times by insurance issues, building permit delays, asbestos mitigation requirements and electrical issues related to the oven. Jeff Riegel, who purchased the business from Tom Smathers in 2020, operated the pizza business for two years before an early morning fire shut it down. Smathers, who...
The newspaper you are reading is now published by a newly formed nonprofit corporation, known as Left Hand Valley Courier. For over 26 years, the Left Hand Valley Courier newspaper was published by a Colorado limited liability company, known as Lefthand Valley Publishing, LLC. Effective with the Jan. 3, 2024, online edition, the weekly newspaper, both online and in print every four weeks, is now owned and published by Left Hand Valley Courier. Left Hand Valley Courier has applied for...
Do you know of a local event, interesting story or local person the Courier might be interested in covering? Do you have comments about what you have read in the Courier or suggestions to make? We would like to hear from you at [email protected]....
The Left Hand Valley Courier has been fortunate to have devoted staff members who bring you the news every week. We profiled many of our staff members last week, and have had some new valuable additions this year and thought you might want to know who is reporting what you like to read....
I am a new reporter for the Left Hand Valley Courier after responding to their ad. Although I do not have any reporting experience, I am a retired professional civil engineer who has spent many hours writing technical documents over my career, so I will try not to bore you. I moved to a farm outside of Lyons, Colorado in 1968 with my family and have resided in Colorado the entire time. Although I grew up outside of Lyons, Colorado, I did not attend school in Lyons and consequently graduated...
I'm Lisha Nouhan, and I've been writing for the Courier since last August. However, as a very busy (and poor) Studio Art major at the University of Denver, writing for the paper has been a great opportunity. I have lived in Colorado for most of my life, and while I live in Denver during school, on breaks I live in Longmont with my parents and my younger brother who is a freshman at CU Boulder. I graduated from Silver Creek High School in 2021. As a DU student in my junior year, I keep myself...
First, just in case you were wondering, most of these groups of letters are not acronyms but initialisms, as they cannot be pronounced as a word. For example, FOMO (fear of missing out), FedEx, and NASA are pronounced as words, consequently they are acronyms, whereas ATM is not pronounced “attem,” thus an initialism. But the initialisms listed above represent organizations in Niwot, including non-profits, a taxing district and its advisory committee, and a business committee, which are all quite important to local Niwot citizens. The ini...
Hand gestures have a long, diverse and important history. From early humans using them to communicate non-aggression, to nautical and military signaling, to non-verbal forms of communication used today during sporting events where players acknowledge the crowd. Waving is the most common hand gesture and an important social custom that somewhere along the way it seems, has started to become less practiced. Do we wave less frequently because we are increasingly walking around, heads down, looking...
