About Town with LaVern – December 12, 2019
CHRISTMAS IN LYONS last weekend was the best. The weather was good. The Bazaar went well; with 69 vendors of a great variety of items to buy as gifts. The Chili Supper at the Community Church was good. Hmmmm. The Parade was the best; along with several bands, a new Santa sleigh, beautiful floats. The Alice in Wonderland cat float by Laura Levy‘s group and the Mayama dancers won first place. Dave Wechsler of Lyons Portable Welding had a big beautiful snowflake on his decorated truck at the end of the parade. (His sister Julie Wechsler‘s truck, George’s Towing, sadly broke down just before the parade.) The plungers were on hand. In Sandstone Park, the choirs were good, and thanks for the free cocoa and cookies by The River Church. The fireworks were great! and could be seen everywhere. All in all it was a wonderful evening sponsored by the Town of Lyons.
WE THANK all who helped with the Lyons Historical Booth: those who worked, brought food, stuff and crafts, bought tickets from Geneva Sabados, our great saleslady, and our thanks to Kay Laatt who furnished the prizes. The winners were: D. Henley, Victoria Simonsen, Lisa Sobieniak, Lisa Ramsey, J Gau, Darlene Root, Barbara Curtis, Annette Purcell, Peg Wicks, Eric Harrison, Crystal White, Brianna Hoyt, Arthur Lee Land, Geneva Thomas, Tony Wilson, Al Papp, The Olson’s, Beda Paoeoni, Calista Morrill, Karen Selden, Deb B, Dorothy Pellochoud, S Pinson, Larry Quinn, Pam Browning, Ron Ravel, James Johnson. Keith Samisen’s granddaughter and a friend from Fort Morgan won the large stuffed dog as a prize!
Thanks to everyone that had a hand in the great night: volunteers at the parade, directing traffic, judging, setting up booths and signs, etc. A wonderful night.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
NEED A CHRISTMAS TREE? The Bee Hugger on Ute Highway, just west of County Line Road, is selling them from 2 to 8 p.m. Also, the boy scouts in Estes Park are selling them at the St. Vrain Lumber Yard, on Highway 7, during business hours. Willow Farms in Hygiene are selling sustainable trees from Friday to Sunday, as a fundraiser for their nonprofit.
There will be two opportunities to join in singing some Christmas carols. The first is put on by Cheri Hofer, on Wednesday, December 18. You can either walk with the group, or seniors can request that they stop by your home. Meet at the Library lobby at 6 p.m. to go over the song sheets and route. She warns people to dress warm, and bring your eyeglasses and flash light. The second chance to sing will be put on by Janaki Jane at the Lyons Regional Library on Saturday, December 21, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. All ages are welcome.
HOLIDAY EVENTS taking place at the Lyons Community Church: Sunday, December 15, 10 a.m. is the Children’s Christmas Pageant play. Saturday, December 21, 7:15 p.m., is the Blue Christmas service, for those who wish to remember the loved ones they lost. All open to the public. Watch for more information on the Christmas Eve service at the Wildflower Pavilion.
THE LYONS HIGH SCHOOL BAND will give their Holiday concert this Thursday, December 12, at 7 p.m. at the High school; next Monday is the Middle School Christmas Concert at 7 p.m.
THE LYONS CHAMBER has brought back their Shop Small in Lyons contest through December 24. Enter the weekly drawings, sponsored by the Town, for a $25 gift certificate at your favorite local shop. The grand prize is a basket full of gifts from our businesses.
OSKAR BLUES is sponsoring a Craft Fair at their Events Center this Saturday, December 14, from 12 to 5 p.m. with a variety of gifts to buy for Christmas, like blown glass, wooden boxes, pet accessories, etc. The Lyons Historical Society will be selling my Famous Fudge. Stop by.
DONATIONS
THERE IS A COAT RACK outside of Lyons Reruns thrift shop. If you are homeless or in need of a coat, pick one out and let the ladies inside know. They work with LEAF. Call them to donate coats (303) 823-2473. They are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Western Stars also wants to start something like that in front of their store. Stop by and talk with the owner.
I hope you gave to our Lyons’ non-profits on Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday. We are a small town and your donations go far. Many of you could not find Lyons Community Foundation on the list. Officer Jeanne McKelvey Moore said, “Yes, it is very confusing. As LCF does not have its own 501(c)3 status. Our organization is under the Community Foundation of Boulder County. Our friends and neighbors can still donate at their page by scrolling down to Special Instructions and write in the box that their donation is for Lyons Community Foundation. Or you can go to our website www.Lyonscf.org.”
HOLIDAY GIVING FOR THE HOMELESS. The LEO volunteer teens have a drive to collect toiletries for the homeless, and provide hope and a holiday season to all. Donations to Hope for the Homeless can be dropped off at the Library by December 18. To donate items in the future, you can write direct to: katiekaty.f@gmail.com.
Thank you for all those who took the names off the Giving Trees in town and bought the people in need some gifts. Their wrapped gifts will be delivered by volunteers this Saturday, December 14, to their homes. For many of them, this will be their only Christmas gift.
Next Wednesday, December 18, LEAF will be conducting its Super Duper Holiday Food Pantry. It will provide the needy and elderly with abundant holiday meal supplies, and stock up on hygiene and other necessities. In addition to Sam Tallent, and his Higher Ground Ministries, the Lyons Elementary School, Middle/Senior High School, Cemex, Lyons Community Church, and Lyons Catholic Community are all making major contributions to this Big Day. And, there will be dozens of volunteers setting up and distributing the food. Many thanks for your kindness!
THE LYONS REDSTONE MUSEUM is supported by your donations and grants. If you were not able to visit our garage sale or booth at the Christmas Bazaar, you can still support it by sending in your donations before the year’s end to Lyons Historical Society, P. O. Box 9, Lyons, CO 80540. Our history and flood books also make great gifts. Write: lavern921@aol.com. The museum will be open one day, Sunday, December 15, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. to sell Christmas decorations, and history books, and gift items.
BUSINESS
Reminder, Friday, December 13, from 3 to 6 p.m., is the Farewell party for Debra Anthony, who is retiring as Town Clerk after working for the town 22 years. All invited to the Lyons Town Hall party.
Don’t forget to shop at our local stores, including the ones on the way out of town. The Let It Be Honey Store has a sale going on, and many consignments of bees wax candles, tealights, hand-dipped tapers, and more. Their Christmas parade float had many signs promoting organic, pesticide free Lyons, like “Bees keep Lyons BEE-ti-ful.”
The Lyons Chamber held their December social at the Festivarie Inn with Julie Hamilton of Scope Solutions in charge of an Income Tax Workshop, and Ian Phillips, President, presiding. Fifteen were present: they discussed meeting every other month, more workshops, music, programs to get more out, inviting the public, ways to enhance the business area, and bringing more tourism to town. They praised the Town and all who participated in the Christmas weekend: the parade, fireworks, choir, bands, floats, etc. Very commendable.
Congratulations to Laura Levy who held an Open House of her new Realty store last Saturday. We welcome this new business.
Our State Representative Jonathan Singer is running for Boulder County Commissioner. He is having a meet-and-greet on Saturday, December 21, 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Stone Cup. Come say Hi! He keeps track of the goings on in Lyons, and even jumped in the river during the annual Polar Bear Plunge!
LEAP will help low-income families with their home heating bills from November 30 thru April 30. This is a partial payment. Go to either https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdhs/leap
SCHOOL & SPORTS NEWS
Open Basketball: Available at Lyons Elementary School Gym, Age 18+, $5.00 per drop in fee; every Thursday, September to May 8. No Use: December 25, 26, January 1, 2, 16, 23, 30, March 26- 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. All invited.
Mark Roberts will receive Colorado Hall of Fame for his 22 years of serving as Track and Cross Country Coaching Lyons this March. Our Congratulations!
The Lyons Elementary School held an Open house last Thursday, where new enrollers were welcomed; and a program for 3rd and 5th graders on Tuesday evening.
Lauren Simms, the daughter of Deb and Steve Simms will graduate from University of Northern Colorado in Greeley this Saturday, December 14, with a BA degree in Criminal Justice. She is a 2005 graduate of Lyons High School. Congratulations, Lauren!
Attend and support your Lyons Middle/High School sports. Baseball (weather permitting), basketball, and wrestling are now going on. (We are trying to get the schedules. The newspaper is looking for someone to be a Sports Editor and announce and report the games in 2020. Write ksinger48@gmail.com).
WITH SYMPATHY:
Helen Fern Leichliter, 96 years, wife of Homer, mother of Sharon and Cindy, Longmont, formerly of Lyons, passed away. The family greeted friends on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at Howe Mortuary and held Graveside services at 11 a.m. at Foothills Garden of Memory. Refer to Howe mortuary.com for condolences and complete obituary. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/longmont-co/helen-leichliter-8951050
