SENIOR NEWS – December 12, 2019

The December “Senior News” columns were published on the Lyons Recorder Facebook Page due to the web site not being ‘active’ yet – and are transferred here for convenience

Were you out enjoying the Holiday Season this past weekend? The weather was more mild than we have had in years. A steady crowd wandered the aisles of the Christmas Bazaar. Most people I talked to said they bought themselves a gift! Next came the many varieties of chili offered at the Lyons Community Church, and ditto on the thousands of cookies offered at The River Church cookie-and-cocoa booth in Sandstone Park. The parade favorite was the Alice in Wonderland float, that included many residents dressed up as Cheshire cats. What was your favorite? Did you bring your grandkids for the fireworks? I sat next to two other seniors, and we shouted out loud our “Ohhh’s” and “Ahhh’s” just like when we were kids.

On Monday, the Catholic Church of Lyons served a warm home-cooked meal of different pastas, with a yummy desert, and cookies to take home. Next Monday, December 16, at 5:30 p.m., at the Walt Self Senior Center, the Lyons Community Church is serving a special Christmas meal. One of their members is a designer, and she will be putting out delightful place settings. And, then they will be performing a Christmas Song Program, with instruments and voices that will fill the room with good cheer. All free to Lyons seniors!

Speaking of singing, 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 request that they stop by your home by contacting learnerch1@aol.com. Meet at the Library lobby at 6 p.m. to go over the song sheets and route. Cheri warns singers to dress warm from top to toe, and bring your eyeglasses and a flashlight. 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; bring your grandkids.

The Town of Lyons quarterly bus trip takes place Tuesday, December 17. There are three openings left, as of this week. The bus leaves at 5:30 p.m. and returns at 9:30 p.m. Lisa will have mapped out the Best of Longmont Christmas Lights. The Town of Lyons activities coordinator Lisa Ramsey said, “The Roost has come up with a wonderful modified menu for us so we should have an excellent meal.” All of this for only $10.

The final craft class of the year is this Wednesday, December 18, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in the lower level of the Senior Center. Teacher Trish Murtha says that the watercolor class will be of Holiday themed. Contact lramsey@townoflyons.com.

The fun continues with the senior lunch at 12 noon, with ham and fixings. Call in your order by 1 p.m. the day before (303) 441-1415. The Jingle Mingle follows. Lisa said, “We plan to have a fun craft to do, as well as Christmas music, and a holiday treat. ” There is one more December lunch on Friday, of parmesan pork chops. During lunch, receive a free hand or shoulder massage, courtesy of Taryn Pinson of OmBodyworks.

Exercises continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. through December 19. The Lyons Community Preschool will be coming to Walt Self Center on Tuesday, December 17 at 10:30 a.m. to sing a few carols. Note, this is not a lunch day at the Center. Just stop by. No other official activities take place till January.

All local churches have Christmas services. The Community Church has a special Blue Christmas service for those who have lost someone, and want to remember them in a special, more private way. It is at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 21.

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 to their homes. Perhaps your name was among them. For many of them, this will be their only Christmas gift. Thank you to Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund for conducting this, and all the dozens of volunteers and donors!

Next Wednesday, December 18, LEAF will be conducting its Super Duper Holiday Food Pantry. It will provide the needy and elderly with abundant holiday meals and 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!

I hope you enjoyed the festive decorations that I packed into our Senior Center for the month! Helen Vanderwerken also decorated our miniature Christmas tree. It will put a smile on your face. These will come down the first full week in January, so please do stop by soon.

Don’t have anything to do for the upcoming Holidays? Join the group walking the downtown streets and doing Christmas caroling. Volunteer to help at the local Food Bank or deliver meals to shut in’s, and stop and visit with them. Contact LEAF (720) 864-4309. If you know any of the seniors who live in the Walt Self Housing Complex, contact them and ask about their upcoming casual gatherings. You could offer to bring an old-time Christmas movie to share and some snacks on Christmas Day. On Monday, December 30, there will be a Senior Neighbors Holiday Meal. On Tuesday, December 31, some of the Walt Self neighbors might also stop in the Center for a New Year’s Eve celebration. Don’t sit home alone!

A past member of the Lyons senior group, Donna Cole, said she spent a whole day decorating her Christmas tree. She said, “It has little handprint ornaments from ‘lil folks’ in past Christmas’s, and about 50 red glass balls.” Yes, that is handprint, meaning a cut out of the child’s hand. What traditional decorations do you do each year?

All events on this page are free, except for the bus trip to Longmont. You can find more details and contact information on the Lyons Recorder Facebook page Events section, as well as on the Facebook Lyons Longevity page. Happy Holidays to you! (there will not be a Senior News report for the next two weeks due to it being Christmas week, and no new events are planned).