HERE WE ARE STARTING A NEW YEAR. Let’s hope it brings us good health and happiness, jobs, a place to live, something creative to do, and love from all. (I took a week off last week from doing my column. I decided it was time to have a vacation; besides I had to get ready for Santa Claus!)
It is back to work and back to school. On Monday, January 6, Lyons schools start up. The vacation was enjoyable, and is now over until March.
LYONS RECORDER
Yes, we are trying to get ready for the first edition of the Lyons Recorder on January 9, 2020. “About Town” is already being published every Thursday on the Lyons Recorder Facebook page. If you have an interesting topic to write about, contact the newspaper, and do it. We need to spread the local news to the public. We will strive to get the news out by Thursday mornings. Contact kensinger48@gmail.com
TOWN OF LYONS NEWS
THE TOWN BOARD will meet this Monday, January 6, at 7 p.m. We need to think about six Trustee and one mayor position to be voted on in April. Several board members will not be running for another term. Consider these facts: Mayor Connie Sullivan and Wendy Miller state they will not run again. Barney Dreistadt, Mayor Pro Tem, is Trustee term limited, but might be convinced to run for mayor. Jocelyn Farrell may also run for mayor. Caleb Roberts may have to be convinced to run again. I do not know about the thoughts of the others. However, it is time to round up our recruits for the board. The good thing is you will be serving your town. And, I know how great it feels to know first hand what is going on in town. Do you have time to read those big packets of information, attend meetings, study town needs? Think about it. The many forms needed to run are due on January 27. For details on what the duties of a Trustee are, and what forms are needed, go to: http://www.townoflyons.com/589/Run-for-Mayor-or-Trustee Our thanks to all the Board members that have served.
THE TOWN is working with Lyons Volunteers to recycle your Christmas trees on Friday, January 10 only, beginning at 8 a.m. You must remove everything from them. No wood stands or wreaths are accepted. See the Town web pages for more information. Since this is free, the Town is asking you to consider making a donation to one of our local nonprofit groups.
When will the ice rink open? The Lyons Parks and public works crews have set it up and are waiting for Mother Nature to freeze it. They are aiming to open it Thursday, January 2. Please take time to tell your kids to not throw rocks at the ice, as it delays things by several days.
The Town is putting on a three concert series called Winter Wonderland Concert on three Saturdays: January 11, January 25, and February 8 in LaVern M. Johnson Park, from 2 to 4 p.m. Free live music, free ice skating and skate rentals, hot cocoa, and winter festivities for the whole family.
BUSINESS NEWS
THE LYONS DAIRY BAR has new owners. Kelly, Darcey and Cory Pierce are spreading the word that they will be open as of January 2. They have changed the hours to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; closed on Mondays in the winter. They will be learning about the business from past owners Benji and Robin Boydstun in the first weeks. Go in and welcome them to Lyons.
CHRISTMAS TID BITS
The annual Polar Plunge took place on New Year’s Day. Thanks to Jason Stillman for bringing this freezing fun event to the town. Christmas Eve Services were held at The River Church; Planet Blue Grass’s Wildflower Pavilion; Lyons Catholic Church; and Lyons Community Church. They were well attended, and the weather was good. The Holidays brought Keith Simonson’s mother here from Canon City, Colorado (their home). A Christmas party was held by Pam and Mark Browning. The two Christmas caroling events were well attended and much fun. Andrea Marshall spent Christmas in Boulder. Kathleen Spring went to Michigan to visit family. Debbie (Kinsey) Tabor had her three grandkids over for Christmas. Sixteen family members enjoyed Christmas at Maxine Harkalis’ house. My family Christmas was at son, Ron Johnson’s house, with all the family there. The Lyons seniors had a small party at the Senior Center on New Year’s Eve, played games, had snacks, and welcomed in the new year. The next free meal will be at Oskar Blues & Grill on Wednesday, January 8, at 11:30 a.m.
HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Randy and Georgianna Pollard are celebrating their 28th year! And, congratulations to Keith and Georgina (Ohline) Minto on their Anniversary! Congratulations to Mark and Linda Roberts who are celebrating their 30th Anniversary! Wishing them all many more years of happiness!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Franziska Stein turned 97 years old. She and her husband were the first owners of the Lyons Black Bear Inn. She is grandmother to Lyons Band director, Karen Gregg. She lives in Reston, West Virginia, with another granddaughter, Amy Cutts. They continue to have book signings for her autobiography, “Chopin Through the Window.” Autographed copies are available through the Lyons Redstone Museum. We wish you many more birthdays, Franziska. Also, Happy Birthday to Brit Fell, who was the former Lyons Middle/High School Policeman. He turns 63 years old.
GET WELL WISHES
To M. Tabor granddaughter of Jerry & Debbie Tabor. To Roy Thomas, who has heart pains; however, is back to work at Clark’s Hardware. To Jim Bradshaw. We hear a lot of people are getting the flu. Get well you all!
TID BITS
Bonita Yoder was here in December and took part in a lot of Lyons’ activities. She said it wore her out. She attended with me some Senior meals and a party, a school play, a church breakfast, Christmas programs, the LCF party, Town Commissions Thank You Party, and Town Staff Party, and more. (We are getting her acquainted to run on the Town Board when she moves here full time.)
Jonelle Tucker reports that the teen volunteer group Lyons Leo Club raised money that was matched resulting in a contribution of $450 that was personally delivered to an orphanage, Casa Hogar Esperanza de Los Ninos, in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. They also shared information about the Lyons community with them.
Congratulations to Mark Roberts, who has the honor of being named in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, this March. Mark has brought several State Championships in Track and Cross Country to Lyons over the 22 years he has coached.
Farewell to Lora and Bill Gilson, former owners and editors of the Lyons Recorder, who are moving to Loveland. We wish them well!
The Lyons Volunteers elves plan to pick up scrap metal and #6 Styrofoam to take to Boulder-based CHaRM again on Friday, January 10, 2020. Fill out the form at lyonsvolunteers.org. This is the same day that they will be picking up the Christmas trees. Many thanks!
WHOOPS: In my last column, I wrote down the wrong year of Jerry Ribble’s classmates which was 1964: Dennis Bashor, Jack Brackett, Nelda Cook, Farren Elwood (deceased), John French (deceased), Kathleen Gereaux, Wallace Goranson, Douglas Harkalis, Jana Holtwick, Colleen Leiding, Dennis Morgan, David Orback, Colleen Ramsey, William Simpson, Sylvia Sisk (deceased), Sharon Vinson, Donna Wiliams, and Sandford Williams.
OBITUARY:
GENE MACK
I am sad to report that my Lyons classmate Gene Mack, of Greeley, passed away this week, December 23. He had been in a care center for about a year. He graduated with my Lyons High School Class of 1945. He was married to Joanne (Mauch) for sixty years. More information to come next week.
ROBERT HENRY BLOOMFIELD
Former resident who grew up in Lyons, passed away November 16, 2019, in Bellevue, Washington. Robert was the son of Icibinda and Clay Bloomfield of Illinois. In 1944 Icibinda purchased the Burlington Hotel on Main Street, Lyons, and opened the town’s only dining room. More information to come next week.