NBA Meeting Notes June 2024
The June meeting was a success! Notes are here!
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Eric Bergeson opened the meeting at 6:13p. Prior to that, NBA members toured the amazing Open Studios Plein Air Art Show at Niwot Feed Store. Learn more at https://www.openstudios.org/boulder-plein-air-fest.
Eric thanked Anne Postle and Tucker Huey of Osmosis Art and Architecture for hosting the NBA. Anne said that she was excited to host at Niwot Feed Store due to the great space and fabulous art.
Mary Horrocks of Open Studios spoke about the seven programs that Open Studios runs each year, and noted that Plein Air is the 2nd biggest event that Open Studios hosts each year. She noted there are 38 artists in 2024 and they painted all of this wonderful art in 6 days. Eric noted that the art is stunning. Come see it through July 5th at Niwot Feed!
Eric asked if there were guests. Dr. Barry Mathieu of Western Wellness Chiropractic introduced himself and his team. See https://www.western-wellness-chiropractic.com/ to learn more. The practice is above Chill Cryotherapy and Recovery. Biff Warren thanked Barry for already joining the NBA and for already volunteering at Rock & Rails.
Rock & Rails needs volunteers, especially June 27th and July 18th. Eric noted that the NBA members are REQUIRED to volunteer for Rock & Rails. In return, the NBA gets funding from Rock & Rails. Sign up link is here! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kY6Y48T3LN-B1Z9xoHeDlWa8cjG4EjybaR3L60_knHY/edit?gid=34#gid=34
Patti Ashley has a new psychotherapy office and there are hypnotherapists and massage therapists in the practice also. The building is the previous Niwot Vet building. Patti Ashley was welcomed by the NBA. Learn more about her practice at https://pattiashley.com/
Eric Bergeson updated the NBA Members. L.I.D. revenue continues to rise, and is 10-15% LOWER than 2022 due to changes in on line sales and manufacturing decreases in the L.I.D. area. Additionally, 1914 House is closing, and Eric has talked to the owner about this decision.
Eric noted that there are rumors about the Wheelhouse closing and Farow closing and THESE ARE NOT TRUE. There are pressures on these businesses, as on all NBA businesses. Eric said he is not sure why these rumors have started, and encourages them to stop.
There were questions about why the power went out and wind storms are to blame.
Anne Postle spoke about the Why Not Niwot Juried Art Show, as it is about to begin! The art pieces will be spread through Niwot in businesses for 2 months and encourages Niwotians and out of towners to come to downtown Niwot. If you would like to host art, please reach out to Anne Postle at https://www.osmosisartgallery.com/post/call-for-entries-2024-why-not-niwot#:~:text=Art%20Exhibition%20for%202024%2C%20inviting,interpretation%20of%20Niwot’s%20unique%20character. It’s a great way to have people visit your business!
First Friday in July (July 5th) there will be a ceremony at Sculpture Park to welcome new art pieces donated by Anne and Jim Postle. There is a fundraiser to buy Peacemaker for $78,000 and there is a $50,000 donation contingent on whether the rest of the money is raised. Please donate if you can! Learn more at https://www.lhvc.com/story/2024/06/05/news/peacemaker-fundraiser-receives-boost/9248.html
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Amy Scanes-Wolfe was introduced by Eric. Amy introduced herself as a native Niwotian. She graduated from Niwot High and in her journeys, she has returned to Niwot as she recognized what a special place Niwot is. She studied agriculture and ecology and found out about permiculture. That set her on a pathway to use ecosystems to grow food and to create regenerative agriculture. She suggested reading Chief Left Hand by Margaret Coel and this helped her recognize how special Niwot is. (Find this book at Inkberry Books!) She could not afford to buy land, and listed in Next Door for an option to steward land. She now is at the end of Meadowdale Court on a plot of land and she noted more people know the dog Mojo than her. There are now volunteers each Sunday. She suggests visiting The Niwot Project and thinking about land and thinking about growing all that you can eat in a meal in one plot of land. She loves the power of people coming together to work the earth and be a community of stewards for the property. She collects food scraps from Niwot Market, Wheelhouse, Farro, and Fritz Family Brewing to feed the animals. On the 1 acre of land, she has grown enough food to feed a person a 2000 calorie diet for over 300 days of a year. Currently, volunteers harvest and share in the food created. As she continues this project, she is looking for people who crave this link between earth and people. Learn more at https://niwothomestead.farm/
Amy wrote a book “Between Grass and Hay” and this is at Inkberry Books. Learn more at https://www.inkberrybooks.com/inkwell/grass_and_hay.htm. Questions were asked about how Niwot and the NBA can integrate with this. She spoke about having groups of sheep or goats to come to neighborhoods and eat grass rather than have each person mow. She would like to partner with Niwot Inn for an experience day where people can come for a day and be on the land and learn more and have fun. She would like to partner with restaurants to have experience dinners and feed unique regional foods. She would like to spread the word about having a food landscape in people’s yards and share the harvest among neighbors. Biff Warren noted that his backyard is part of this ecosystem. Eric noted that Amy’s passion really comes through!
Amy noted that Chief Niwot spoke about the beauty of the land, and the need to preserve it and Amy sees this as an invitation and promise and plan for her work and for Niwot.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:40p.
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