It’s Friday, August 16, 2024.
Good morning, Boulder. I hope you’re well.
Today, we’re covering the closure of another restaurant. Under the Sun, part of the Mountain Sun brewery chain, will serve its last customers this Saturday. Kevin Daly, owner of the Mountain Sun restaurants, told Boulder Reporting Lab that difficulty in maintaining a workforce and a decline in tourism contributed to the restaurant’s closure.
We also have a Q&A with Boulder County’s Office of Disaster Management about lessons learned from the Stone Canyon and Lake Shore fires, focusing on communication. The questions came directly from you, our readers, who wanted to better understand text message alerts and other ways to stay informed when a wildfire ignites.
Finally, key ballot measures, including two on the airport, inched ahead last night at city council. Today also marks the two-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act becoming law. To celebrate the act, which provided significant funding for the green energy revolution, several pro-electrification groups are hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow at a local Boulder home that was electrified with help from the IRA’s rebates and incentives. However, uncertainty about the upcoming election casts a shadow over the celebration.
Have a great day.
— Tim, reporter
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This weekend, EVERYTHING at Full Cycle is 20% off, with up to 50% off select bikes and gear (exclusions apply)! We’re offering freebies to the earliest shoppers and on Saturday and Sunday we’re grilling free hot dogs (veggie, too). Shop our biggest sale in years from August 16th-19th!
Featured stories
‘We can’t maintain a workforce’: Under the Sun in South Boulder is closing after 11 years
Mountain Sun Pubs owner Kevin Daly cited challenges such as staffing shortages, rising costs and concerns about Boulder’s business climate, contrasting it with more favorable conditions in other nearby cities. Continue reading…
Your emergency alert questions answered as Boulder faces intense wildfire season
After the Stone Canyon and Lake Shore fires, which killed one person and destroyed homes, Boulder Reporting Lab discussed with the Boulder Office of Disaster Management the limitations of Wireless Emergency Alerts and the differences between various communication channels. Continue reading…
Boulder groups mark Inflation Reduction Act anniversary with a push to use electrification rebates
The law offers Boulder residents a wide range of rebates and incentives to electrify their lives, but with the upcoming November election, the window to access them could be limited. Continue reading…
Boulder Reporting Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization that empowers our community through non-partisan, locally focused journalism that informs and connects.
In other news
Ah, 90s, short time no see
While the mornings and evenings are leaning autumnal, the days remain summery, with temperatures today and tomorrow in the mid-90s. After that, the high 80s will compete with the low 90s for the foreseeable future.
Airport closure, council pay measures inch closer to Boulder’s November ballot
The Boulder City Council on Thursday advanced two proposed ballot measures: one to close the city’s airport and another to repurpose the land for a mixed-use neighborhood, with half of the housing designated as affordable for low- and middle-income residents. Councilmembers have not taken a formal position on the airport ballot measures but have decided against proposing competing measures with a different vision for the airport.
Councilmembers also moved ahead with several other measures for this year’s election. One proposal would increase council pay so that the mayor earns 50% of the area median income (about $51,000), and councilmembers earn 40% (about $41,000). Another measure would allow the city council to hold executive sessions for matters such as legal advice. A final measure would permit the council to change the terms, eligibility and meeting schedules for volunteer boards and commissions.
The council is scheduled to give final approval to the ballot measures on Sept. 5. Read on BRL.
BVSD teacher and principal charged in child sexual assault case
On Aug. 8, charges related to child sexual assault were filed against two Boulder Valley School District employees. Dan Greenberg, a teacher most recently employed at Manhattan Middle School, faces multiple charges, including sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust (a Class 3 felony), child abuse (a Class 1 misdemeanor), and harassment (a Class 1 misdemeanor). Greenberg, who has been with BVSD since 2001 and on administrative leave since March 2024, remains employed as required by law during the ongoing proceedings.
Former Manhattan Middle School Principal John Riggs has also been charged with failure to report suspected child abuse (a Class 1 misdemeanor). Riggs, who served as Manhattan Middle School’s principal from 2013 to 2022, retired after the 2021-2022 school year.
Both individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In a message to families of students who attended Manhattan, Broomfield Heights and Casey middle schools during the employees’ tenure, the school district said, “We are deeply troubled by these charges and know this information is upsetting.” The district also offered child support services and advised anyone with relevant information to contact Boulder Police Detective Matt Porter at 303-441-3333.
Boulder testing non-native grass removal methods
The City of Boulder is launching a pilot project to test three herbicide-free methods for removing non-native Kentucky bluegrass and replacing it with water-efficient native grasses. The project is located at the northeast corner of Baseline Road and 30th Street.
“There is growing community interest in learning how to replace water-intensive grasses in sustainable, vibrant ways that are good for our planet and our wallets,” said Community Engagement Senior Program Manager Laurel Olsen.
The three methods include sheet mulching (layering organic materials over the grass), solarization (covering the grass with plastic sheeting) and hand removal. The hand-removed section will be reseeded this August, while the other two plots, which require a longer removal process, will be reseeded next year. The site is expected to reach full vibrancy by late 2025.
Community members are encouraged to visit the site throughout the project’s duration.
Potential wildlife crossing on US 36
Boulder County is planning to construct wildlife crossings along Highway 36 between Boulder and Lyons, specifically in the stretch between Lefthand Canyon Drive and Highway 66. These crossings are designed to reduce vehicle-wildlife collisions and ensure safer movement for animals in the area.
The need for these wildlife crossings is underscored by a study conducted in April 2022, which identified the section of U.S. 36 between Boulder and Lyons as having one of the highest potentials for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions.
Wildlife strikes in this area average 3.2 animals per mile per year, more than 10 times higher than the rest of Boulder County, which averages 0.26 strikes per mile per year.
Don’t let your dog run after bears
Starting yesterday, the City of Boulder enacted seasonal dog on-leash restrictions on several trails to protect bear habitats. These restrictions will be in place through Dec. 1 in areas where bear foraging habitat is located near trails. The affected trails include portions of Gregory Canyon, Saddle Rock, Amphitheater and Bluebell-Baird Trails; Skunk Canyon up to the Mesa Trail; Shadow Canyon South from the Mesa Trail up to the intersection with Shadow Canyon North; and the upper part of the Doudy Draw Trail above Springbrook Loop. The leash requirement is intended to minimize disturbances to wildlife during the bear foraging season.
Free material donation pickups in Lafayette
Lafayette residents can now schedule free curbside pickups of old cabinets, appliances, tools and other large items every Tuesday through Resource Central’s Zero Waste program. This service, offered in partnership with the City of Lafayette, aims to divert materials from landfills.
To schedule a pickup and view the list of accepted items, visit Resource Central’s donation page. Remember to schedule a pickup — don’t leave items on the curb without prior arrangements.
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