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The NoCo Optimist, Greeley, CO (2025)

08/19/2022

From the newsletter: Greeley's La Changada Greeley offers reprieve from the summer heat.

By Emily Kemme We’re in the Dog Days of Summer, or so I’ve been told at least three times this week. The statement is basically a summer-y way of saying, “Hi there,” without adding an exclamation point, because it’s just too damned hot to get excited about much of anything. The Dog Days ru...

08/18/2022

Rogue Play Trampoline and Ninja Center, a new Greeley business, offers a trampoline center where kids (and adults) can bounce around while practicing (or showing off) cool tricks and flips. It also offers a small obstacle course based on what you might see on the show “American Ninja Warrior."

By Kelly Ragan When Maribel Molina and her husband, Obed, decided to open Rogue Play, a trampoline and obstacle course center in Greeley, they did so with children in mind: Their children, to be specific. Molina has two kids of her own, she said, and she knows how difficult it can be to

08/17/2022

From the newsletter: Work for a major employer in Greeley? You might already qualify for down payment assistance -- and you could soon qualify for more.

By Kelly Ragan Work for a major employer in Greeley? You might already qualify for down payment assistance -- and you could soon qualify for more. Oh, we know housing prices are tough. That’s why, at a work session Tuesday, city council discussed expanding the Greeley Home Ownership Pro

08/17/2022

Food writer Emily Kemme highlights some of the best spots in Weld County to get shrimp and grits in a celebration of southern food. She writes, "the foods of the South send a clear message: life is more about the celebration of eating than obsessing about our waistlines."

By Emily Kemme There’s something about foods from the southern United States that gives them a distinct cachet. Some dishes are homespun and unfussy; others have names notable for their obscure pronunciation. Regardless of which group into which they fall, southern cuisine is memorable because it

08/17/2022

From the newsletter: Monkeypox is in Weld County. While the risk to the general public is low, vaccine supply is very limited.

By Kelly Ragan Monkeypox is in Weld County, and if it spreads, health officials don’t appear to be in a great position to handle it. In fairness, neither does the rest of the country. The Weld County Department of Health and Environment confirmed two cases in a news release last week. T

08/16/2022

From the newsletter: Greeley will soon see more affordable housing units as city council approves one of the largest projects in the area.

By Kelly Ragan Greeley is making moves on affordable housing. This week, Greeley City Council approved plans for one of the largest affordable housing communities in the area. The project, called Hope Springs, is spearheaded by Greeley’s Habitat for Humanity, and plans call fo

07/21/2022

Poudre Ponds opened years ago as a unique place where anglers could catch a variety of fish. But since the lake was refilled a couple weeks ago, the city is seeing other uses.

“I’ve seen a ton of standup paddle boarders and belly boats and kayaks,” said Justin Scharton, superintendent of the City of Greeley’s Natural Areas and Trails division. “People really want to get out on the water.”

By Dan England Poudre Ponds opened years ago as a unique place where anglers could catch a variety of fish. But since the lake was refilled a couple weeks ago, the city is seeing other uses. “I’ve seen a ton of standup paddle boarders and belly boats and kayaks,” said Justin Scharton, s

07/15/2022

What have your Weld County representatives done for you lately? With the 2022 Colorado legislative session done for the season and an election on the horizon, it’s important to take stock of what our representatives accomplished this year.

Here we have Tonya Van Beber, a Weld County Republican representing House District 48, which includes zip codes 80631, 80634, and 80504 (think central and west Greeley, Eaton, Milliken, Gilcrest, La Salle and more).

By Kelly Ragan What have your Weld County representatives done for you lately? With the 2022 Colorado legislative session done for the season and an election on the horizon, it’s important to take stock of what our representatives accomplished this year. Don’t worry, we’ve done most of the har...

07/15/2022

What have your Weld County representatives done for you lately? With the 2022 Colorado legislative session done for the season and an election on the horizon, it’s important to take stock of what our representatives accomplished this year.

Here we have Mary Young, a Weld County Democrat representing House District 50, which includes zip codes 80631 and 80634 (think central and east Greeley and Evans).

By Kelly Ragan What have your Weld County representatives done for you lately? With the 2022 Colorado legislative session done for the season and an election on the horizon, it’s important to take stock of what our representatives accomplished this year. Don’t worry, we’ve done most of the har...

07/14/2022

Someone wise once said marriages are made in heaven, and they might have easily quipped that business partnerships are, too. Because just as it takes two to tango, business people who sync ideas will clean up the dance floor.

The weekly Chef’s Happy Hour events at High Brau Taphouse with La Petite French Bakery llc are the perfect example.

By Emily Kemme Someone wise once said marriages are made in heaven, and they might have easily quipped that business partnerships are, too. Because just as it takes two to tango, business people who sync ideas will clean up the dance floor. The weekly Chef’s Happy Hour events at High

07/14/2022

John Karner, Greeley’s director of finance, has “good news:” Revenues – especially sales, use and lodging taxes – have returned to levels experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the news came with a caveat.

By Trenton Sperry John Karner, Greeley’s director of finance, has “good news:” Revenues – especially sales, use and lodging taxes – have returned to levels experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the news came with a caveat: The next year looks uncertain due to inflationary pres...

07/06/2022

When Achilles Bardos took on ownership of Roasty’s Steak House this year, it wasn’t because he had loads of experience in the restaurant business.

The diner, a longtime feature of 8th Avenue, its name emblazoned in faded rust-colored lettering on a marquee projecting from its façade, is a downtown Greeley staple.

By Emily Kemme When Achilles Bardos took on ownership of Roasty’s Steak House this year, it wasn’t because he had loads of experience in the restaurant business. The diner, a longtime feature of 8th Avenue, its name emblazoned in faded rust-colored lettering on a marquee projecting from its faç...

06/24/2022

The City of Greeley filed an eight-page lawsuit against Hydro Construction Co. Inc. of Fort Collins, alleging water leaks at the city’s Bellvue Water Treatment Plant are the result of the company’s mistakes during a vast renovation.

“These errors and defects included actions and inactions that led to cracking and water leaking in the (Treatment Building 1) structure,” the lawsuit reads. “These errors and defects also included actions and inactions unrelated to cracking and water leaking.”

By Trenton Sperry The City of Greeley filed an eight-page lawsuit against Hydro Construction Co. Inc. of Fort Collins, alleging water leaks at the city’s Bellvue Water Treatment Plant are the result of the company’s mistakes during a vast renovation. Built in 1907 at the mouth of t

06/23/2022

We’ve compiled a list of all the performers hitting the free stage and headlining the arena at the 100th annual Greeley Stampede for your listening pleasure.

By Kelly Ragan The 100th annual Greeley Stampede kicks off Thursday and runs through Monday, July 4. We’ve compiled a list of all the performers hitting the free stage and headlining the arena for your listening pleasure. For a full event schedule, including PRCA rodeo events, duck races, para

06/23/2022

The Greeley Stampede’s new stage was built with Brad Paisley in mind.

The last time he played here, in 2007, Paisley had 10 semi-trailers full of equipment, said Justin Watada, executive director of the Stampede. Eight of them went to his next show.

That won’t happen this time, as the brand new stage is bigger and much better, with all the fixins you’d expect from a show at Red Rocks.

By Dan England The Greeley Stampede’s new stage was built with Brad Paisley in mind. The last time he played here, in 2007, Paisley had 10 semi-trailers full of equipment, said Justin Watada, executive director of the Stampede. Eight of them went to his next show. That won’t

06/14/2022

The property in question formerly contained the Hewlett Packard printing division building, which was emptied in 2003 after HP moved about 1,600 jobs into Fort Collins and Loveland. The building remained vacant for more than 15 years as the landowner awaited a new tenant, but it was torn down when no serious interest materialized and the building became a repeat target of vandalism.

By Trenton Sperry Mara Watson says she knows her family took a risk a month ago when they moved into a home just east of West Ridge Academy in Greeley. No, the risk wasn’t skyrocketing mortgage rates or ballooning inflation. It wasn’t high water bills from a thirsty lawn or errant skateboards fr...

06/13/2022

The ordinance includes a “social host” component which enables police or fire officials to impose additional misdemeanor charges against anyone who “knowingly provides private property for the possession and use of illegal fireworks,” according to city docs.

By Trenton Sperry The manufacture, sale, use or possession of illegal fireworks in Greeley now comes with a $1,000 fine if you’re caught, as well as the potential for jail time. The Greeley City Council passed an ordinance on final reading to make that crime a misdemeanor offense rather than a mi

06/13/2022

The summer months generally aren’t known for the holiday meal centerpiece, but this wild turkey is now the most famous patron in the Westlake Shopping Center at 35th Avenue and 20th Street next to Sanborn Park. He hangs around the businesses by Kings Soopers, though his favorite location now seems to be Subway. He allows photos. He even has his own Instagram account - Greeleyturkeyfp.

By Dan England This turkey may be Greeley’s most famous in a while, and yes, we are counting Thanksgiving. The summer months generally aren’t known for the holiday meal centerpiece, but this wild turkey is now the most famous patron in the Westlake Shopping Center at 35th Aven

The NoCo Optimist

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