Life in Boulder Valley 

Welcome to the 23nd issue of Life in Boulder Valley!

Thanks for spending a few minutes of your week with Life in Boulder Valley.

Let’s dive in!

Michele

A+ News for Local Schools

 

St. Vrain Valley Named "District of Distinction" Just in time for the new year, St. Vrain Valley Schools has been honored as a 2026 District of Distinction by District Administration. This national award recognizes the district’s "Transformative Graduation Initiative"—essentially, their incredible success in making sure every student crosses the finish line ready for the real world.

High Schools Make the Honor Roll As of this week (Jan 20), several St. Vrain high schools have been officially recognized on the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll, celebrating schools that have done an exceptional job increasing access to Advanced Placement coursework.

 

The "Arts Season" Begins! If you love student performances, mark your calendars. The season of honor bands and choirs is kicking off:

 

• Jan 26 (Mon): SVVSD High School Honor Choir.

• Jan 28 (Wed): Colorado All-State Jazz Choir begins.

• Jan 28 (Wed): Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are announced—expect to see many local students on the winners' list!

• Feb 4 (Wed): SVVSD Honor Band takes the stage at Longmont High.

  Jan 28 is a big day for student artists in both SVVSD and BVSD. The Scholastic Art Awards (often called the "Pulitzers for teenagers") announce their Regional winners that day. It's a great "nice thing" to look forward to for next week's issue!

 

Good News for Makers: The "Grandma Hobbies" Are Back!

If you love needlepoint, quilting, or crochet, you are officially a trendsetter.

The Trend: 2026 is being called the year of the "Analog Renaissance." To combat screen fatigue, people are flocking to tactile crafts like "Slow Stitching" (visible mending) and Needlepoint, with searches for beginner kits up over 200% this month.

The Science: A new study found that daily crafting boosts "cognitive reserve" and reported well-being more than job satisfaction does. So, that hour you spend knitting? It's not just a hobby; it's a health strategy.

Feb 9 (Mon) | Learn to Crochet @ Firehouse Art Center (Longmont)

• Did you know the Firehouse Art Center hosts a monthly crochet guild? It meets the second Monday of every month. It's free, friendly, and the perfect place to finally learn how to make that granny square blanket. Crocheting is so much fun!

Residents in western Louisville can find some relief after a frustrating series of blackouts.

Xcel Energy announced it has fixed the technical issue behind three major power outages that have impacted thousands of customers in just a few weeks.

The most recent incident left approximately 2,300 homes and businesses, primarily in Ward 2, without power.

The problem stemmed from sensitive wildfire prevention settings.

An unexpected energy surge, driven by extensive rebuilding efforts following the Marshall Fire, caused the safety system to “false trip” and unnecessarily cut power.

After City Manager Diana Langley pressed the utility for answers, Xcel identified the sensitivity problem.

The company has now reprogrammed its protective devices to handle the increased energy load, a critical fix aimed at restoring grid stability for the recovering community.

How Good Neighbors Keep Each Other Safe

We usually focus on the lighter side of life here, but part of being a good community is looking out for one another. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and while that sounds heavy, the "good news" is that you are the best defense we have.

Trafficking doesn't usually look like the movies (kidnappings in vans). It often happens in plain sight, and it stops when a caring neighbor, teacher, or barista notices something "just isn't right."

 

The 3 Things to Notice (Your "Gut Check" Guide) You don't need to be a detective. You just need to be observant.

 

• 1. The "Scripted" Voice:

  • What to look for: Does the person seem unable to speak for themselves? If you ask a young person a question, does someone else answer for them every time? Victims often look to a "controller" before speaking or seem to be reciting a rehearsed story.

  •  

• 2. The Sudden Shift:

  • What to look for: A sudden flood of expensive new items (shoes, phones, jewelry) without a clear job or explanation, especially in teenagers. Conversely, look for a sudden withdrawal from friends, school, or activities they used to love.

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• 3. The "Hovering" Companion:

• • What to look for: A companion who seems controlling, holds the person’s ID or money, and refuses to let them be alone, even for a moment.

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The Positive Action: "See Something, Say Something" If your gut says "something is wrong," trust it. You don't have to intervene yourself—in fact, it's safer if you don't.

 

• The Resource: Save the National Human Trafficking Hotline in your phone: 1-888-373-7888.

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• The Local Win: Colorado has some of the best advocacy groups in the country, including the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, which trains our local law enforcement and hospital staff. We are a community that cares, and that is our superpower.

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Quick Parent Tip: The best prevention is conversation. Make sure your kids know that no matter what mistake they make online, they can always come to you without fear of losing their phone. "Safe Harbor" parenting prevents secrets!

Kitties

I love cats. Their independence, their curiosity, their ability to nap like it’s a competitive sport - all of it. Life’s just a little better with a cat around.

1. All cats are carnivores - Just like lions and tigers, our cats instinctual feeding and exploratory behavior involves hunting, ripping and chewing. Our male adopted cat had a $4,000 medical bill!, due to him eating supermarket kibble for 7 years! He is now on raw/freeze dried food bought from the Happy Beast in Lafayette. He is happy and healthy.
2. They need to hunt & chew - The modern cat's diet lacks these components, which can lead to boredom, destructive behaviors and poor dental health. 
3. Enriched Cat = Happy Cat - Enrich your cat's life with natural chews, interactive play or a scavenger hunt!
4. Choose your chews - Biologically appropriate chews - like chicken necks, rabbits ears and turkey hearts - satisfies your cat's urge to chew and scrapes off plaque and tartar to help clean teeth at the same time.

Kibble Leads to:

Obesity

Urinary Issues - ($4,000 worth of problems for us!)

Kidney Disease

Diabetes

IBD

The Happy Beast - Lafayette

This is the place to get all the right supplies for your kitties and your puppies.  Ask for Natalie - the owner, she will answer all your questions, lovely person, and tell her Life in Boulder Valley sent you!

Widespread power outages continue across Boulder County following destructive, raging winds.

For residents left in the dark, several community locations have opened as crucial charging hubs.

The East Boulder Community Center and Nederland Community Center are available for personal device charging, though neither offers EV capabilities.

Electric vehicle owners can find relief in Louisville and Superior.

The Louisville Public Library and Recreation Center each provide two EV charging spaces.

Meanwhile, the Superior Civic Space offers an impressive ten EV spots, and the Superior Community Center has two available as well.

Officials have confirmed the response is currently focused on life-safety priorities.

A full assessment of the wind damage will begin once the immediate danger has passed, and emergency shelters are not being opened at this time.

Life in Boulder Valley: The Good News Forecast

☀️ The sun returns!

We have a beautiful warming trend on the way. After a crisp weekend, get ready to trade the heavy coats for light layers.

• Monday: The clouds break 🌤️

• Wednesday: Full sunshine returns ☀️

• The Weekend: Highs climbing into the 50s! 🌡️

We are Boulder Valley!

Testimonials from Real People

Picture of the X-39, Alavida and Silent Nights.

They are all this size, so inconspicuous when you place them behind the neck, below the belly button or anywhere you want. I've been using the X-39 and Carnosine since July of 2024.  Love my patches!

Reminder: Keep Your Goals in Sight

As you head into the week, take a moment to reconnect with your goals — big or small. You don’t have to finish everything at once. Just focus on one meaningful step that moves you forward.

 Reflect on what matters
 Reset your energy
 Refresh your mindset
 Realign with your purpose

Small progress is still progress. Be proud of how far you’ve come, and stay committed to where you're headed. You’ve got this! 

Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken & Veggies

This one-pan meal is a lifesaver for busy nights. It's healthy, full of flavor, and cleanup is a breeze!

Ingredients:

• 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

• 1 lb baby potatoes, halved

• 4 carrots, chopped into chunks

• 1 large red onion, cut into wedges

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• 2 lemons (one sliced, one for juice)

• 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary

• 4 sprigs of fresh thyme

  1 tsp garlic powder
• salt and black pepper to taste
  

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Instructions:

1. Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). On a large baking sheet, toss the potatoes, carrots, and onion wedges with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, pepper, and half of the fresh herbs. Spread them out in a single layer.

2. Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, mix the remaining tablespoon of olive oil with the juice of one lemon, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Rub this mixture all over the chicken thighs.

3.  

4. Assemble: Nestle the seasoned chicken thighs in among the vegetables on the baking sheet. Tuck the lemon slices and remaining fresh herb sprigs around the chicken and veggies.

5.  

6. Roast: Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C) and the vegetables are tender and golden brown.

7.  

8. Serve: Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving directly from the pan. Enjoy!

The Good News: You don't need harsh chemicals to keep your pantry safe. The best defense against Colorado's common visitors (like the Indian Meal Moth) is actually just good organization and some pleasant-smelling herbs.

 

Step 1: The "Decanting" Upgrade Cardboard boxes and thin plastic bags are no match for determined pests.

• The Fix: Move your flour, rice, and grains into glass jars or hard plastic containers with rubber gaskets.

• The Perk: Not only does this stop pests cold, but it also makes your pantry look like something out of a magazine. Uniform jars = instant calm.

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Step 2: The "Freezer Initiation" Most pantry pests actually hitch a ride home from the grocery store inside the packaging.

• The Fix: When you buy a new bag of flour or birdseed, pop it in the freezer for 48 hours before putting it in your pantry. This neutralizes anything that might be hiding inside.

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Step 3: Nature's Repellents (That Smell Great)

• Bay Leaves: Tuck a dried bay leaf inside your flour and rice canisters. We might love the smell, but moths hate it.

• Cinnamon & Peppermint: If you have sugar ants scouting your shelves, wipe them down with vinegar and place a few cinnamon sticks or cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil in the corners. It smells great to us, but it's a "Do Not Enter" sign for them.

Since we live in a dry climate, our flour and spices tend to lose flavor faster. Moving them to airtight glass jars isn't just about pests—it keeps your expensive baking ingredients fresh for much longer!

Amazon Prime - 6 month Trial

Please don't forget about the animals at Longmont Humane 

Donate to help the animals at the Longmont Humane, please!

I am doing Thai Bodywork here!  Book your appointment.

I'm happy to answer any and all questions-feel free to reach out anytime! Contact Michele

Jalisco Painting

 Why We Live Here sometimes the best news is simply looking out the window. While much of the country is bundled up in gray winter storms this week, we are reminded of the best perk of the Boulder Valley: The Sunshine.

We might get snow, but it rarely stays gray for long. Enjoy the Vitamin D this week!

Thanks for spending a few minutes of your week with Life in Boulder Valley.  If you are still reading, hit reply and type "here" so I know these are landing.  I read every reply. Thank you!

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