AA Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Personal Care Consultation

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TESTIMONIALS

“We had just started and all of these hospitalizations happened. It would have had a really nice impact we just weren't able to use it for very long. They were great. Their service was wonderful and the communication was great. I was very happy with the kindness and care.”

Don C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They do a lot of the things we cannot do ourselves. Everyone we have had has been exceedingly pleasant and easy to get along with.”

Richard C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I never had a problem with Always Best Care. My experience was positive because they were attuned to the time with everything I needed to do. If there was a paper I needed to be signed, they were helpful. I don't have any memory problems, but they were very friendly. We laughed and talked. They were just like a best friend who took me where I needed to go. I have always told people about Always Best Care and the people working there. I have referred people. Always Best Care is the best. I like how they were attentive when I called. Laura, she knew exactly what I needed. And the timing, they were perfect about the timing. Always Best Care was attuned to what I needed.”

Marilyn F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They are really good with the clients. They are prompt and always on time. They are always on top of everything when we call.”

Mary S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They help me to take a day off. They seem to be very caring.”

John C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“It was essential for her recovery. They're very responsive and work to make sure they have someone here.”

Marilyn W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“My caregiver helps me with numerous things, like helping me get out of my chair, and driving me places. Everybody is very kind, efficient, and thorough.”

Bruce B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They helped in the way they interacted with her. The caregivers were all very friendly and caring.”

Darlene S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They are reliable and I can count on them and she is getting excellent care. They have great caregivers and they are matched very well.”

Beverly D.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The caregivers are friendly and they help around the house. They do our laundry. They do not always tell us which caregivers are coming.”

Debbie R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“It's helped me get through a lot of difficult periods. I like the quality of the people they send out.”

Patrick T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They are helpful for me. Especially the younger girls are so helpful, they volunteer to do things. They're helpful and reliable.”

Kathryn V.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I've been here going on three years their so flexible I really enjoy working here”

Michelle T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They were here for a few hours and always came. Everything was just fine. It was just pricey.”

Jeffrey C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“When I first came here 10 months ago, Rich couldn't walk. I've never seen a client succeed this far for his age. They are so professional. I would not work with any other company besides ABC.”

Richard ".
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TESTIMONIALS

“The best employer I have ever worked for. Everyone from the management team and other caregivers are some of the nicest and compassionate people I have ever encountered. They always listen and take care of questions or concerns I may have.”

Jasmine L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They have been outstanding. It has not been easy for me since me and my husband have a lot of medical appointments. When we are not able to get a car, they are willing to take us in their car, pick up prescriptions, and pick up groceries for us. They are very professional and look and see what needs to be done. They are very flexible and help wherever they can. They help us when the time is good for us.”

Joyce T.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’m giving ABC a 5/5 star review because I have been a caregiver with them for 5 months and I absolutely love my job. I enjoy caring for other people and helping those who are in need. Besides work, every time I go into the office to pick up my checks I always feel so welcomed by the staff. They even let me bring my mini aussiedoodle there too! If you’re looking for a job that has a friendly staff, flexible schedule, and rewarding, apply TODAY to Always Best Care Senior Services.”

Madeleine W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’m giving ABC a 5/5 star review because I have been a caregiver with them for 5 months and I absolutely love my job. I enjoy caring for other people and helping those who are in need. Besides work, every time I go into the office to pick up my checks I always feel so welcomed by the staff. They even let me bring my mini aussiedoodle there too! If you’re looking for a job that has a friendly staff, flexible schedule, and rewarding, apply TODAY to Always Best Care Senior Services.”

Madeleine W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“It leaves me able to get more help as the pandemic calms down. I can get errands done. I like that the caregivers have been with us through the pandemic and they have been stellar. They are very helpful and I feel safe leaving my husband with the caregivers.”

Karen B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They were only there for a short time. They made a big difference. They took care of the basic daily needs. They were very good at being responsive to our questions and they provided generally good caregivers.”

Scott G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“This is a great home care company to work for! They are very sweet and do a lot for their clients and care givers! Nothing but good things to say about them! I saw the reviews and decided to go with them over other companies and it was definitely a great choice!”

Nicole M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They sent the caregiver that we wanted them to send. I like the caregivers. They were responsible.”

Kendall M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“There is not much they can do. They cannot do more than what they are doing now. She never stops serving us. I am very pleased. I like the attitude, they always want to work with you. The person that is here is outstanding.”

Bruce B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Great place to work! I've never been happier with a job. The staff is always helpful and compassionate. They are always willing to work with my hectic schedule and do their best to give me the hours I want. Very organized and professional.”

Caitlyn B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They help to exercise him and they help with giving him medicines. They provide us some very good care, and good caregivers.”

James ".
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TESTIMONIALS

“I've been a care giver for 10 years. And just started a month ago with Abc in longmont. I enjoy working for this company. They are so nice and Alway one step ahead of you. If you are looking for work I recommend ABC..”

Michelle W.
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TESTIMONIALS

“A wonderful group of caregivers managed by an amazing team of supervisors who really care! A perfect choice for your loved ones caregivers who really care about their passions their feelings and their happiness!”

Sunshine S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“They have helped us the most by providing good services to my mother. I like that they are very responsive.”

Diane K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Absolutely love this company! Very good management and communication! ???? would choose this company for my family!”

gabby S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always best care is wonderful! They take care of there clients with immense amount of love and compassion. I’ve worked here for quite some time. I always feel like I can come to them with any discord’s, as they with take care of it diligently. I love the people I work with and I know they care for the clients just as much as I do.”

Sydney B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Working for always best care as a caregiver has open my eyes to how important caregiving really is me as well as all my coworkers always go to work we a positive attitude and I can tell everyone enjoys there job by far best working team I been with and there staff are amazing! :)”

maria M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Working for Always Best Care has been a joy. As a caregiver I have found fulfillment in what I do. Inga, our owner, and all the amazing staff in the office are truly delightful. We have a great scheduler and amazing care managers to pair the right caregiver with the right client. Always Best Care is a family of phenomenal professionals who care about the emotional and physical welfare of their clients. Communication makes this agency tick. I love it.”

Carolynn K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I almost slipped off my shower chair and if Tony was not there I would have been on the floor. They are a reliable company.”

Paula B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I’m an elder care provider and have worked for several agencies. ABC is the best. They have a professional orientation and one of their staff always accompanies you to your first visit to introduce you to the client and go over the care plan. Natalie, the lady who does the hiring, is professional and friendly. She makes sure those she hires are qualified. All care givers are occasionally shown educational videos and given periodic quizzes.”

Allie M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have never worked for a company who not only cares about their clients but also care about their employees! Always best care definitely cares for their people ❤️”

Candi F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Very professional and caring, with both client's and employees.”

Veronica L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care is the best! I loved working here. Everyone cares about you and they are very compassionate. As a student, they were able to work with my schedule from part time to full time. They are reliable and great listeners. Natalie was the best! Anyone looking for a job as a caregiver I would highly recommend it here :)”

Deisy F.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have worked as a caregiver for over 3 years now, this being the third agency I have worked for. This is by far the best agency I’ve worked for or been around, I would highly recommend them to anyone. As a caregiver, I feel completely supported by all of the office staff and case managers. Communication is a key when it comes to home care, and this office makes that one of their priorities. I’ve never had any issues working for this company. I would recommend them for your family members, or as a caregiver looking for a new job. As a college student they are very flexible with time and accepting of what my needs are.”

Cassidi M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care was there with caring, knowledgeable staff, ready to meet me and discuss all of the care options available, including in-home care, local facilities, etc. They know their stuff and are kind and patient with great follow-through!”

Jessie H.
 In-Home Care Niwot, CO

How does In-home Senior Care in Niwot, CO work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Niwot, CO

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Niwot, CO, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Niwot, CO gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Niwot, CO

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Niwot,CO understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

 Caregivers Niwot, CO

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

01

An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

02

Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

03

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

Latest News in Niwot, CO

Niwot community rallies around vandalized bookstore

An act of destruction turned into an outpouring of community support after a business in Niwot was vandalized earlier this month.Thanks to a GoFundMe campaign, Inkberry Books will be able to replace its damaged window without requiring co-owner Gene Hayworth to empty his pockets. The bookstore in Cottonwood Square has been a feature of ...

An act of destruction turned into an outpouring of community support after a business in Niwot was vandalized earlier this month.

Thanks to a GoFundMe campaign, Inkberry Books will be able to replace its damaged window without requiring co-owner Gene Hayworth to empty his pockets. The bookstore in Cottonwood Square has been a feature of the town since it was opened in 2018 by Hayworth and his partner, Keith Waters.

“Many of the customers consider it a community hub,” Hayworth said. “We have author readings, we feature a new artist in the bookstore every month, and we have music sometimes outside the store.”

The morning of Dec. 3, Hayworth received an email from a fellow business owner alerting him that a rock had been thrown through the storefront window. He said he was heartbroken when he arrived and found broken glass strewn underneath a gaping hole.

“Honestly, at first I thought it was a joke,” he said, recalling his initial reaction to the news. “It just didn’t seem like the kind of thing that would happen here.”

The hole was covered first with plastic, then with plywood, and finally with plexiglass. The store stayed open the whole time, but Hayworth said the plywood — which was up for a week — was a big deterrent for customers.

“Everyone thought we were closed, so we didn’t really do any business at all,” he said.

Hayworth launched the GoFundMe campaign on Dec. 8 after learning that, since he doesn’t own the building, his insurance wouldn’t cover the window’s replacement. In its first day alone, the fundraiser brought in over $500. As of Thursday, there have been 25 donations totaling $1,725 – surpassing the campaign’s $1,500 goal.

“I wasn’t really expecting this to be successful, so when it started growing so quickly, it amazed me,” Hayworth said. “It showed me how much the community really values our being here.”

One contributor who donated $200 left a comment on the campaign site saying she looks forward to Inkberry Books’ next window display. Another comment read, “I love books and (the) owner of this particular book store!”

“(The support) reinforced the fact that this was just some random act of vandalism,” Hayworth said. “You always think when something like this happens that it’s pointed directly at you, but the care and kindness that people have shown us really convinced me that was not the case.”

Jim Mitchell, who helps run the store on Wednesdays during the busy holiday season, said he was astounded and disappointed to hear about the vandalization but happy to see the fundraiser’s success.

“It shows the Niwot community bands together when someone suffers some kind of loss,” he said.

Hayworth said the extra money will help offset his purchase of the plexiglass and the increased cost of heating the store this month. The new window is expected to arrive Jan. 19.

Enjoy Hyperlocal Farm-To-Table Fare at Farow in Niwot

In September 2021, longtime culinary professionals Lisa and Patrick Balcom opened Farow, a hyperlocal-focused, farm-to-table restaurant in Niwot. The duo sources 90 percent of the restaurant’s ingredients from within 10 miles, creating a delicious rotating menu that showcases Boulder County’s fresh produce, locally raised meats and freshly milled flour.Farow’s new winter menu includes dishes like rutabaga cacio e pepe with black truffles; gril...

In September 2021, longtime culinary professionals Lisa and Patrick Balcom opened Farow, a hyperlocal-focused, farm-to-table restaurant in Niwot. The duo sources 90 percent of the restaurant’s ingredients from within 10 miles, creating a delicious rotating menu that showcases Boulder County’s fresh produce, locally raised meats and freshly milled flour.

Farow’s new winter menu includes dishes like rutabaga cacio e pepe with black truffles; grilled bass with grapefruit, chimichurri and hominy; and handmade ricotta ravioli with fennel and tarragon beurre blanc. Farow also recently launched a new concept called Pie Dog, which serves up scrumptious handcrafted pizzas that are available only for pick-up or delivery via DoorDash and Uber Eats. And, starting in May, the restaurant will begin hosting farm dinners at Boulder County farms.

We caught up with co-owner Lisa Balcom—who is responsible for Farow’s delectable rotating focaccia bread and desserts—to learn more about everything that’s happening at the restaurant. Here’s what she had to say.

Patrick and I have been in the food service industry for over 20 years. We have a deep passion for delicious, well-prepared food from great ingredients in addition to amazing wines and creative cocktails. We spent so much of our lives doing this and love it so much. Combined, we have a really unique skill set that rounds out both sides of the restaurant. Patrick has a savory fine-dining culinary background, and I have a pastry background in addition to a fine-dining serving and bartending background with sommelier training. After living in Boulder County for a couple of years, we saw an opportunity in the area to combine our unique skill sets and bring something new to the table. When we found ourselves with shorter and matching schedules during the pandemic, we took the time to put together a business plan and organize what we really wanted to do. We’d hit a point in our careers where working for someone else had become more of a lateral move than an advancement. We felt it was time to take the next step and do our own thing.

Our goal with opening Farow was to support our local farming community on a larger scale. Farming has such a huge impact on the environment and, oftentimes, the people doing the most important work in that industry are not being compensated appropriately for what they do. We pay whatever they ask for their organic veggies and pasture-raised meats and then charge appropriately at the restaurant. If they’re sitting on a lot of a certain cut of meat or a certain vegetable, we will buy it up and find a way to create a dish around it. In addition to supporting our local farmers, we wanted to create a place where we could put out delicious food and drinks made from the cleanest and freshest ingredients for our guests. Our wine list is biodynamic and organic and our cocktails stay seasonal, all our juices are fresh-pressed and syrups are made in-house.

Niwot actually wasn’t on our radar initially. We live in Longmont and have been wanting to see downtown Longmont transform into the cool place we know it can be. At the time we were looking, there were no spaces available for us that were a good fit. We knew we definitely didn’t want to deal with the cost of Boulder rent and we happened upon a previous restaurant space in Niwot and fell in love with it immediately. The huge patio is shaded by giant cottonwood trees with garden beds all around the building. There is also a parking lot and a fully built-out kitchen. It just made sense for this concept. Then we got introduced to the actual community of Niwot, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an actively connected community as Niwot. They host so many wonderful events and make every holiday such a special celebration. Everyone knows each other. It’s like a tiny Hallmark town. The magic is very palpable. Beyond the space and the community, we have almost every farm we work with just across the Diagonal Highway or within a 10-mile radius of the restaurant. We’ve built so many amazing relationships with our local farmers and ranchers. If we ever need something last minute, we can easily pop by or they will bring it to us.

While opening a restaurant during the pandemic, then rolling into a recession, has definitely had its challenges, I can’t think of a more appropriate time when supporting local has really played in our favor. With all of the supply chain price hikes and shortages, we’ve been more insulated from a lot of it because we work with only local farms. We still have access to eggs, and our grass-fed meats are around the same price or cheaper now than a lot of commercially raised meat. In addition to skirting the commercial supply chain, we work with farmers who are using regenerative practices and are enriching the soil of the lands they work on. In the case of our ranchers, they treat their animals with respect and allow them to live on their natural diets in wide open spaces, which makes the animals healthier and happier and makes their meat more flavorful and nutritious.

Additionally, food that is consumed right after being freshly harvested retains more of the nutrients, flavor and vibrancy. Our vegetables are harvested across the highway and driven, in most cases, just a couple miles to our restaurant, then put on your plate. If you’ve ever eaten a fresh tomato off the vine and compared it to the ones flown in from Mexico and California in the grocery store, you understand exactly what I mean. Fresh food, grown in its proper season, consumed just after it’s done ripening on the vine, is miles above what you get when we take the shortcuts we do in order to have produce year-round in our stores. From a culinary perspective, using the best ingredients creates the best-tasting food. You can’t make great food from crappy ingredients. We’re very passionate about having and showcasing these gorgeous ingredients that we take a lot of time and energy to source.

There was a period of time when all of the pizza shops in Niwot were closed for various reasons. Our building used to be a pizza shop, and we have a brick oven from Italy already. We also make all of our delicious focaccia dough in-house. After learning more about ghost kitchens and how they operate, we realized we could easily do without a lot of extra labor, start-up costs or energy, so we decided to start testing pizza in the kitchen. The results were incredible and after testing it on our team a few times for family meal, everyone agreed we should definitely go for it!

It has been a really great stream of revenue to help us get through the slower months so far, and it really seems to be taking off! Pie Dog has been really well received by our community as we’re servicing a need here that wasn’t being filled. Just like with Farow, we use nothing but the best ingredients. Our dough is made from fresh-milled flour, followed by a three-day fermentation time, so it really gives the dough a chance to develop great flavor and makes it more digestible. Then, we top it with a super simple tomato sauce — just really good tomatoes and salt. Our cheese and pepperoni are imported from Italy and we slice/shred all of it fresh in-house. Our sausage comes from Buckner Ranch. In my opinion, they have some of the best sausages I’ve eaten and their meats are always flavorful and top-notch. We’re not doing anything crazy, we’re just using really great ingredients and treating them with care. They really shine when left to their own devices.

I would love to introduce our farmers to the rest of the community and help support their businesses with visibility to their CSAs or at the farmers markets stands. They’re doing truly some of the most important and undervalued work in this world. They, like everyone else, deserve to make a living wage and be supported in their efforts to better our soil, our health and, ultimately, our planet. I hope that we can inspire people to eat more veggies at home, try things they would never find in the store, make more frequent trips to our farmers markets and sign up for CSAs. There’s something special about having a close relationship with the people who grow the food you eat. It connects you more deeply to the process, where it all comes from and all the work that someone goes through for you to enjoy what’s on your plate and to have foods that nourish and sustain you. As a whole, humans have really lost connection with that process and the joy that comes along with it. It’s something I hope everyone can experience again.

I’m hopeful Farow is a place where people come to not only be fed and nourished but where they can also be inspired by the ingredients we use to bring them home and use them at home. I know a lot of people who have started shopping with Buckner Ranch because of having their meats in our restaurant or who have gone into Moxie asking for those wheat berries or flours they’d eaten in the restaurant. I also hope it’s a place where we can keep sharing our knowledge of food, wine and spirits with the community and our team so people can further learn the pleasures of really great food and drink.

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Black bear spotted in Niwot

Niwot is no stranger to wildlife occasionally roaming into this neck of the woods every now and then. There have been recent sightings of lynx, bobcats, foxes, deer, raccoons, snakes, prairie dogs, and even bears.While this is not the first instance of a bear making its way into Niwot, it surely is the furthest east that we know of. There have been several bear sightings in the Lake Valley area, closer to the foothills. And there was a bear on the railroad tracks across from IBM during daylight hours several years ago.And in 20...

Niwot is no stranger to wildlife occasionally roaming into this neck of the woods every now and then. There have been recent sightings of lynx, bobcats, foxes, deer, raccoons, snakes, prairie dogs, and even bears.

While this is not the first instance of a bear making its way into Niwot, it surely is the furthest east that we know of. There have been several bear sightings in the Lake Valley area, closer to the foothills. And there was a bear on the railroad tracks across from IBM during daylight hours several years ago.

And in 2013, a bear caused Niwot High School and Niwot Elementary School to go into lockdown briefly while officials from the Colorado Division of Wildlife monitored his whereabouts near the intersection of Niwot Road and Franklin Street.

On July 8, a local trail-walker witnessed a black bear on the path behind Niwot High School. "I'd better stop," said Bob Breyer of Morton Heights as he saw the bear come out of the bushes. "It wasn't a huge bear, and fortunately I saw it before he saw me," Breyer said. "Once he did see me he ran the other way into the ditch."

Before that, reports were coming in that the bear was seen roaming around in backyards in the Overbrook neighborhood near Niwot High School. "The bear walked across the path behind our house, came over the bridge, and strolled across the other side of our fence," said Dave Limbach, a resident of the Overbrook neighborhood. He spotted the bear later in the evening before it disappeared into the open space near the creek.

At about this time last year, residents of the same neighborhood had a similar experience with a black bear that was rummaging through trash cans. It isn't known if that was the same bear. Similar sightings have occurred in Lake Valley Estates, including a bear, several bobcats, foxes and even a badger.

With increased land development, animals are becoming less fearful of people and reclaiming their land as they look for new places to live. There are certain sanctions in place to prevent further deforestation and to maintain some wildlife habitats, but people should be aware of these potential interactions.

David Limbach

Other reports have claimed that there is an increase in prairie dogs appearing in residential areas significantly away from the preservation area near the Monarch Trailhead of the Niwot Loop Trail. Prairie dogs have been known to carry fleas that carry the plague.

With these increased sightings, the Colorado Division of Wildlife asks residents to be mindful of your pets, children, and yourselves when walking around nature. If you do see wildlife, do not engage with or startle the animal. Do your best to give it space and back away. Keep yourself, loved ones, and the wildlife safe. Please be sure to keep your trash cans locked as well.

Contact the Colorado Division of Wildlife at (303) 291-7227 or the Lakewood Animal Control Center at (303) 987-7173 if you do encounter these animals in your residential area.

For more information on Colorado wildlife, visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website at https://cpw.state.co.us/.

April Nature Walk: Look for Turtlebacks on the Niwot Trail

Can you actually see the backs of turtles in the dry, rolling hills of Boulder County? Yes — if you accept the unusual sandstone geologic formations called “turtlebacks” instead of aquatic creatures. The sand was deposited some 67 millions year ago when an inland sea and sandy beaches covered our region.As the sea receded, the sand was buried and lithified into sandstone. Cracks (joints) formed in the Fox Hills Sandstone, and polygonal-jointed sandstone outcrops arose. One of the few places to see these turtlebacks i...

Can you actually see the backs of turtles in the dry, rolling hills of Boulder County? Yes — if you accept the unusual sandstone geologic formations called “turtlebacks” instead of aquatic creatures. The sand was deposited some 67 millions year ago when an inland sea and sandy beaches covered our region.

As the sea receded, the sand was buried and lithified into sandstone. Cracks (joints) formed in the Fox Hills Sandstone, and polygonal-jointed sandstone outcrops arose. One of the few places to see these turtlebacks in Boulder County is along the Somerset section of the Niwot Trail Loop.

Starting at the Niwot (named for the famed Arapaho Chief) Loop Trailhead, cross two bridges over irrigation ditches and go to an intersection with the Hidden Star Trail. Turn right and walk south up a gentle incline. Yipping prairie dogs in a large town on your right attract red-tailed hawks and other raptors. On your left are the Somerset subdivision mansions. Magnificent views of snow-capped peaks stretching all the way from the Mummy Range to James Peak dominate the western skyline, but are best enjoyed on your return trip.

As the trail rises, you’ll notice several cattail marshes where red-winged blackbirds sing. Then, the land changes. Yucca plants appear. Grassland is replaced by strangely jointed swellings — the turtlebacks. To protect these fragile formations, they are fenced off from the trail, but if you take along a scope, you might be able to pick out trace fossils, such as the tracks and tunnels of burrowing sea creatures. Unusual plant communities flourish in the turtlebacks, and rare lichens have been discovered in similar formations at the White Rocks Nature Preserve a few miles to the east.

As you approach Somerset Drive, look to the left for two ponds where great blue herons may stalk small fish or a muskrat may swim by. For a 2.2-mile out-and-back hike, you can turn around at this point. Or, you can cross Somerset Drive and do an additional 1.5-mile loop on Legend Ridge before returning.

There are many choices and connections from the Niwot Trail, though some involve using sidewalks. From Legend Ridge you can continue on Niwot Hills Trail, then connect to Cougar Trail. From the intersection near the trailhead you can hike the Hidden Star Trail that follows Boulder and Left Hand Ditch. You can park at Monarch Park Trailhead and catch the LoBo Regional Trail connecting Longmont and Boulder. Check online maps for details and more options.

Large cottonwoods near the trailhead provide the only shade, and the sunny trail can get very hot. So we advise going on a cool, cloudy day or early in the morning.

Directions: From Boulder take SR 119 (the Diagonal Highway) to the SR 52 (Mineral Road) exit and turn east. Turn north at North 79th Street, and in a short distance turn right into the trailhead parking area.

Ruth Carol and Glenn Cushman are the authors of Boulder Hiking Trails, available on Amazon.

Encouraging signs for the Niwot underpass in the CO 119 projects

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the Colorado Highway 119 Safety and Mobility Improvements Project and Bikeway Project at a "1041" review in a hearing on April 20.The "1041" designation is shorthand for an "Areas and Activities of State Interest" law which outlines how the county must manage projects that involve State of Colorado lands.The BOCC hearing was the final step and highest level of government review in the county.A significant outcome from this hearing was that th...

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the Colorado Highway 119 Safety and Mobility Improvements Project and Bikeway Project at a "1041" review in a hearing on April 20.

The "1041" designation is shorthand for an "Areas and Activities of State Interest" law which outlines how the county must manage projects that involve State of Colorado lands.

The BOCC hearing was the final step and highest level of government review in the county.

A significant outcome from this hearing was that the commissioners expressed support for an underpass under the railroad and the northbound lane of Colorado Highway 119 (the "Diagonal") so that people can safely walk or bike between Niwot and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station that will be built at the location of the RTD Niwot Park-n-Ride that presently sits between the two traffic directions of the Diagonal just north of Niwot Road, as well as access the new bikeway.

The county staff recommendation stated that this underpass idea is currently not "within the scope" of the Highway 119 project.

The principal parties provided their presentations with few changes from previous proceedings. Notable changes related to the greater visibility of the work that the Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) has done toward a possible Niwot underpass. The LID, members of other community organizations and Niwot residents have voiced the need for greater safety at the intersection of Niwot Road and the Diagonal and the need for an underpass. It was clear that the principals have listened.

The lead county planner for the 1041 process, Pete L'Orange, gave the county staff presentation and mentioned the requested underpass three times.

After L'Orange's presentation, Commissioner Stolzmann asked, "Would the scope be able to be changed without re-reviewing this 1041 process for that underpass?" L'Orange answered, "[The underpass could] be included in, say, the 90% plans that are reviewed without having to come back for a full 1041 review."

Commissioner Loachamin focused on the Niwot underpass request and also asked for consideration of an underpass at the Colorado Highway 52 (Mineral Road) intersection with the Diagonal. Loachamin specifically referenced conversations at the annual LID/BOCC meeting that took place in Niwot on April 27. Loachamin sought more information from the principals about why these underpasses are not already in the plan.

She said, "My concern is hearing from residents who are asking for accessibility to a significant infrastructure opportunity... What I'm hearing is we're going to see if it's feasible but somehow I would believe that that happened at the beginning. Was it really just about funding or was there decision making?"

Commissioner Levy addressed the bus queue jump lanes, which allow BRT buses to get ahead of backed up car traffic. Levy pointed out that queue jump lanes must be long enough for buses to enter the lane before encountering the backed up traffic. She also noted that although Boulder County was one of the applicants, the commissioners were acting in their review capacity at the hearing, and not in their capacity as applicants.

The applicants (Boulder County, CDOT and RTD) gave their presentations next. CDOT mentioned the Niwot underpass and repeated the idea that the project management contractor will have flexibility within financial constraints. Federal grant requests are being submitted for more money but the intent is to address integrating the project into Hover Street in Longmont, which is unfunded at this time.

CDOT reported that they intend for the contractor to break ground in the spring of 2024, with completion in 30 months.

Public testimony was taken during the hearing. Biff Warren, president of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association, said, "You've gotten a letter from us, basically all the organizations in Niwot, about the lack of an underpass to Niwot from the bikeway. I think that the underpass and the safety issues touch on many aspects of the [Boulder County] Comprehensive Plan."

"When I look at the [county] staff recommendation the thing that stands out to me,... the response is that [the underpass] is not within the scope of the project." Warren said that access to the bikeway from Niwot was within the scope of the project, but that the project as designed calls for that access to be at grade level across the Longmont-bound lanes of the Diagonal.

Warren acknowledged that the cost of an underpass was not part of the $160M budget. "Six million dollars is the estimate and we think that's a bit high," he said, but noted that it was only 3.7% of the budget. He concluded, "We would urge you to include [the underpass]."

Eric Bergeson, president of the Niwot Business Association, expressed appreciation for the meetings that the applicants, county staff and the county commissioners have had with people in Niwot and how Niwot is being listened to.

Bergeson focused on all the safety issues at the Diagonal/Niwot Road intersection. "What I see in the new design... I think we're missing the mark on making improvements there," Bergeson said. He noted that the project studies have concluded that cross-traffic will be waiting at signals longer, which might cause some people to cross when they shouldn't, which would increase accident rates. "We really really think that an underpass should be in the scope of this project," Bergeson said.

Niwot resident Elaine Erb, Sustainable Transportation Planner for Boulder Transportation Connections, talked about how stressful it is to walk across Highway 119 from Niwot to get to the southbound bus stop on the far side when she travels from Niwot to Boulder on the bus.

Another Niwot resident, Mike Grothus said, "A number of years ago the county made some changes to that [Highway 119 /Niwot Road] intersection. They took away things like the buttons that you used to be able to push on a bicycle to cross 119." Grothus encouraged the designers to take everything into consideration.

During another question and answer period county staff reported on an on-site visit to the Highway 119/Niwot Road intersection with CDOT and other principals. They reported on changes that will be made with flashing beacons to warn of signal timing, moving signals to make them more visible and aspects of the current configuration that contribute to driver confusion about when to proceed through the intersection. They also discussed a Niwot underpass while on site.

After over three hours, the commissioners quickly came to a decision. Commissioner Stolzmann made the motion, saying, "I move to approve ... with the additional two conditions added, the first being making meaningful effort to fund and build a grade-separated solution to connect the Park-n-Ride at Niwot with Niwot...." The motion was approved unanimously.

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