Golden Hammer Award to Kathy Koehler

The 2017 Golden Hammer Award for volunteer service to the Niwot Community was presented to Kathy Koehler at the Great Pumpkin Party Oct. 28.

Pat Murphy of Niwot Real Estate, who originated the award in 2009 in honor of late community volunteer Curtis Lizakowski, made the presentation to Koehler, noting that she has worked tirelessly for the community since moving to Niwot in the early 1970s.

Koehler, a native of Boulder County, has been involved with the Niwot Community Association and the Niwot Business Association, serving as a liaison between the organizations for many years. She has also volunteered at Rock & Rails, coordinating sponsors for the past three years as well as volunteering at the margarita station.

Koehler’s latest volunteer project is raising money to refurbish the Old Firehouse, next to the Left Hand Grange building in Niwot. As a longtime volunteer with the Niwot Historical Society, now serving as president, she has been instrumental in arranging the highly successful lecture series.

Saturday was no exception for Koehler’s volunteer activities as she had to be summoned from her post at the Old Firehouse during the Great Pumpkin Party to receive the award. “Halloween in Niwot is the best,” Koehler said.

Past recipients of the award include Tim Wise, Biff Warren, Ray & Verna Newman, Selene Hall, Cliff Tharp, Bert Steele and Riki Frea.