Good Wednesday morning, Boulder.
Leading today’s edition: It’s that time of year when BVSD’s open enrollment lottery is about to open, and new state rankings offer a fresh look at school performance. The district again earned Colorado’s top accreditation rating, placing it among the top 9% statewide. But as reporter Jenna Sampson explains, school-level results reveal both progress and the challenges of closing persistent gaps.
Also today: Keeping with the BVSD theme — in this week’s Nibbles, John Lehndorff looks at what’s at stake for the district’s no-cost, scratch-cooked school lunches if voters reject two November ballot measures. He’s also giving local kids an extra-credit assignment: Review BVSD school meals and send their takes to nibbles@boulderreportinglab.org. We’ll be publishing them.
And finally: We’re publishing the next question in our city council candidate questionnaire — this one on how to make Boulder more resilient to wildfire. Fire officials have made it clear: It’s not if but when a wildfire will tear through Boulder proper. It’s one issue where every candidate agrees on the need for action.
The city already requires new homes to meet fire-safe construction standards. But let’s be real: How many new homes are built in Boulder each year? Experts say the real challenge is expanding those requirements to all homes. So who’s for it — and who’s not? Read to find out.
More, Below the Fold:
- BoulderCAST: A temporary dose of sunshine.
- Folk night: The Milk Carton Kids play Boulder Theater Oct. 19. (sponsored)
- School board: BVSD candidate forum Thursday, Oct. 9.
- Bandshell update: Downtown landmark may get long-awaited upgrades.
- Game on: Monopoly: Boulder Edition hits local shelves.
- Día de los Muertos: Longmont’s 25th annual celebration starts Saturday.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Jenny Robins is running for Boulder City Council to bring focus back to good governance, safety and sustainability. As Chair of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and a longtime community volunteer, Jenny has a proven record of service and collaboration. She believes in fiscal responsibility, supporting small businesses, protecting open space and making Boulder more affordable for working families. Learn more about her vision and get involved at JennyForBoulder.com
BVSD ranks in top 9% of Colorado districts — but school-level data show disparities
Columbine improves after last year’s seven-year low in performance, as Casey’s data point to mixed outcomes. Continue reading…
Nibbles: Free, scratch-cooked lunches feeding Boulder schoolkids to end unless voters approve November ballot issues
John Lehndorff explores what’s at stake for BVSD’s free lunch program if two ballot measures fail — plus birria ramen, new Boulder eateries and fall’s pumpkin spice obsession. Continue reading…
2025 Boulder City Council election: Where candidates stand on wildfire mitigation
BRL asked each of the 11 city council candidates: Should the city require wildfire mitigation and home hardening for existing homes? Here’s what they said. Continue reading…
Sunshine returns, for now, as temperatures rise
After several days of gray skies, Boulder gets a welcome dose of sunshine today as a mid-level ridge builds over the Rockies. Downslope winds will clear things out and spark a warming trend, with highs reaching the mid- to upper 70s. By Thursday, we’ll touch the lower 80s. Overnight lows will also rise, settling into the mid-40s to low 50s.
Looking ahead: Hurricane Priscilla, now a Category 2 storm in the eastern Pacific Ocean, will send an impressive surge of tropical moisture into our region this weekend. Western Colorado could see one to three inches of much-needed rain, but east of the Continental Divide — including Boulder — downslope flow will likely suppress most of it. We’re expecting thick clouds Friday through Sunday here, with only a few light spits of rain.
Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. More clouds are already queuing up.
The Milk Carton Kids in Boulder on Sunday, Oct. 19 (sponsored)
Enjoy a night of folk music at the historic Boulder Theater as The Milk Carton Kids bring their Sad Songs for the Off Season tour to town on Oct. 19. Singer-songwriter Michaela Anne opens the show. Don’t miss it!
BVSD board candidate forum tomorrow night
Three BVSD school board seats are up for grabs this November — but only one is contested. Current board president Nicole Rajpal will retain the District B seat, and Anna Temu-Otting, a business owner, will fill the District F seat. The District E race is between Deann Bucher, a longtime teacher, and Jeffrey Anderson, an NCAR data scientist.
Voters can hear from the four candidates at a community forum tomorrow night, Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m., at the BVSD Education Center, 6500 Arapahoe Road in Boulder. The event is hosted by the League of Women Voters and the BVSD District Parent Council.
Visit our Election Guide to learn more about the candidates and read their answers to our election questionnaire, covering fiscal responsibility, declining enrollment, AI and student mental health.
Boulder Bandshell may get an update as part of downtown renovations
The Glen Huntington Bandshell in downtown Boulder could undergo renovations in the next few years as part of a broader plan to bolster the city’s cultural life. City staff hope to improve accessibility, performance space and seating.
The Bandshell was built in 1938 by the Lions Club, with additional seating installed in 1950. Since then, it has been designated a local historic landmark (in 1995) and has become a hub for community gatherings, including Arts in the Park performances and an annual July 4 concert.
Discussions to update the Bandshell are part of the city’s Civic Area Phase 2 project, a plan that’s expected to break ground in 2027 to upgrade an area that stretches from 9th to 14th streets along Canyon and Arapahoe and extends toward the CU campus. Currently, $18 million is available for area renovations, but how that money will be allocated is still under discussion. Changes to the Bandshell will depend on available funding. Read more on BRL.
Go directly to Pearl Street: Boulder’s Monopoly edition hits store shelves
Monopoly: Boulder Edition has landed on store shelves (and online). The local twist on the classic board game was unveiled Sept. 25 at the Museum of Boulder and is now available at Boulder Bookstore, McGuckin Hardware, The New Local and the Village Coffee Shop.
In this version, Boardwalk and Park Place are replaced with local landmarks like Boulder Canyon Trail, the Boulder Chamber and Pearl Street Mall. The railroads? They’ve been swapped for outdoor pursuits — hiking, skiing, biking and kayaking. And instead of paying taxes, players cough up cash for trail maintenance and outdoor gear. The game pieces stay the same.
The board was produced by Top Trumps, which makes city-specific Monopoly editions under license from Hasbro, including one for Colorado Springs.
Día de los Muertos celebrations begin Saturday in Longmont
Now in its 25th year, Longmont’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration is the longest-running in Colorado. A Mexican tradition with Aztec and Indigenous roots and influenced by Catholicism, Día de los Muertos honors deceased loved ones. Altars, or ofrendas, are created with pictures, food, flowers and cherished items of the departed, whose spirits are believed to return to visit their families on Nov. 1-2.
The Day of the Dead Family Celebration will take place this Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 4th Avenue and Main Street in downtown Longmont. The event will feature live music and dance, sugar skull decorating, face painting, crafts, local food vendors, a kids zone and a Gigantes procession.
Additional events include a Día de Muertos exhibition at the Firehouse Art Center (Oct. 11-Nov. 3), “Noche de Museo” on Saturday, Nov. 1, with performances ranging from Aztec dance to rock, and curated digital resources in English and Spanish for home celebrations. This year’s program is organized by the Longmont Museum in partnership with community partners.
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