Happy Monday, Longmont! And happy Cabrini Day! For those who are out of the loop on Colorado state holidays, Cabrini Day was established in 2020 when Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill declaring the first Monday of October to honor the Catholic saint & humanitarian and provide a long sought-after replacement for Columbus Day. All state offices are closed and all of the sudden, I wish I worked for the government.

About St. Frances Xavier Cabrini: She was an Italian-born nun who came to Colorado in 1902, established an orphanage and school in Denver for children whose fathers died in mining accidents, later started a summer camp for orphans in Golden, where she reportedly discovered a spring on land thought to be waterless. We must learn her secrets.

Today — NextLight’s imperialist internet journey, the rec center’s pool upgrades are complete, and the guy who caused a hotel explosion in Longmont returns to court.

Let’s dive in.

Earlier this year, NextLight was named the best overall internet service provider in the nation, awarded best pricing in internet, and earned a near-perfect likelihood-to-recommend score. Yet, thousands of homes and businesses in Longmont aren’t using it.

During budget discussions with Longmont City Council, NextLight Executive Director Valerie Dodd made her case for the award-winning internet service provider’s place in the 2027 budget.

Dodd says the city-owned ISP has 29,910 subscribers, equal to about two-thirds of Longmont’s homes and businesses. In fact, NextLight has already exceeded its 2026 goals for subscriber growth. Despite strong numbers, Dodd says there’s a lot of business left to acquire. But success is not so simple:

Step into the light:

But NextLight has a familiar obstacle working against it: cost of living. Dodd says both revenue and subscribers are growing…but growth is slowing. NextLight loses about 10% of its customers every year, but not because they’re switching to a competitor. Rather, they’re leaving Longmont altogether to seek a cheaper place to live.

Still, there are some people moving into Longmont. That’s key clientele but historically, brand awareness for newcomers has proved elusive. Councilmember Alex Kalkhofer questioned Dodd on how she plans to ameliorate anonymity.

The cost of internet in Longmont, on the other hand, is another field where Longmont sets itself apart. As a not-for-profit ISP, NextLight’s average revenue per unit is $66. The average for the ISP industry is between $68-$74.

But tech is an increasingly unpredictable industry. Dodd cautioned city council that the explosion of data centers and A.I. are causing chip shortages and network equipment costs to rise.

Fun fact:

4% of NextLight’s revenue goes back to city coffers. The grand total amounts to roughly $1 million that goes back into the community, according to Dodd.

Pool upgrades unveiled at Longmont Rec Center: After a several week delay and nearly two months of construction, LRC’s leisure pool, including the lazy river, water slide, and an all-new interactive play feature, are open to the public. Upgrades include three water slides, a spray play area, interactive water tables and a toddler-friendly space. LRC will host a grand opening to celebrate the improvements on Saturday at 11 a.m. where there will be a ribbon-cutting, snacks, bubbles and more.

Leon Gladwell returns to court: The man responsible for a September 2020 standoff and explosion at a Residence Inn in Longmont will make an appearance in Boulder County District Court tomorrow. Gladwell plead guilty to first-degree arson on July 31 and is now awaiting sentencing, which is expected to be handed down this week. He faces up to 32 years in prison. No one was injured or killed in the incident.

Longmont High football is undefeated no more: Friday night, Longmont suffered its first official loss of the season after falling to Frederick in a 22-19 nailbiter, despite a two-touchdown performance from junior quarterback Tanner Reed. Longmont had lost earlier in the year to Sand Creek, but the loss was reversed after the Scorpions discovered one of their players was ineligible during the game. Sand Creek self-reported the finding to CHSAA who vacated the two of the school’s wins. Honesty is the best policy, right?

Key: Sport (win - loss, ranking (if in Top 25)): most recent result. next scheduled event.

Callahan House Video Release Party: You’ve heard of it, kind of know what it is, but definitely can’t explain it. Your chance to change that is this Thursday when Tend Studio hosts a watch party for a new video highlighting the history of the Callahan House and how it serves the community today. Enjoy a happy hour reception with snacks and drinks prior to the viewing, and a discussion panel afterwards.

Boys Golf State Championship: Three Longmont golfers take their shot at a high school state title today. Longmont High School’s Wyatt Bogue and Jayson Mitts tee off at 9:20 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., respectively. Skyline High School’s Zack Lacrosse starts swinging at 10:10 a.m. Catch all the action at Lone Tree Golf Club.

Hard-to-Recycle Event: Trying to get rid of that 40-year-old box TV in your basement? Starting today, for the next two weeks, Green Girl Recycling is helping locals recycle printers, keyboards, mattresses, DVD players, stereos and all the other recyclables you’re tempted to toss in the trash. To sweeten the deal even more, you can recycle several items for free. Learn more here.