About Town with LaVern Johnson – January 23, 2020

Another dry, cold week gone by, but no snow. It has been freezing at night; good for ice skating and hockey. Lots of fun! Skate rentals are from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays or bring your own skates (when LaVern M. Johnson Park is open). Free to skate.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE MECKLE: A surprise birthday party was held at Pizza Bar 66 Saturday evening for Dr. Joe Meckle, who was more than surprised, when a lighted birthday cake was handed to him to blow out the candles. Fifty people attended. It was headed by his children Carly and Josh (the other daughter Paige was unable to come). Son Josh lives in Broomfield. Daughter Carly lives in Dayton Beach, FL with her husband Jason Scheibel and children Jaxon, four months, Wyatt, four years, and Lexie, six years. Not present were Jennie and Jay Noem, and children Paige, four years, and Jayse, 11 years, living in Custer, SD. It was a wonderful tribute to a fine guy. Joe graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa, and moved to Boulder. He felt it was too big and ended up in Lyons in 1984. He thinks he has treated in his clinic everyone in town! Truly to say, Joe was flabbergasted. He said, “I feel super lucky to live in Lyons. Thank you! Thank you!” He considers me his Colorado mother; his mother is the same age and lives in Boston MA.

LYONS REGIONAL LIBRARY has some continuing programs each month; like, storytime, chess, and book club. See their Facebook page for more information. They have a used book sale, located by the entrance door, with paperbacks for $1 and hardcover books for $2. There are many popular books. It is an ongoing fundraiser. Your annual dues are requested in January. You can pay online. They will have a program on identifying birds of prey on February 4, at 7 p.m. It is presented by Boulder County Parks and Open Space Volunteer Naturalists.

TOWN BOARD: January 27 is the last day to register to run for the Lyons Town Board. I hear Tamara Vega Haddad will run for Board, and Jocelyn Farrell will run for Mayor, as well as incumbents Mark Browning and Mike Karavas. I have not heard about any others. It is important to have a good Town Board to oversee the affordable housing, the flood recovery, the budget, and the future. To qualify, you must have been a resident for a year, and have ten local people sign your petition. We hope to have profiles of the candidates in this newspaper.

Click on www.LyonsRecorder.org for the #3 issue of the online newspaper… a great job! It contains a calendar of all events, Senior News, About Town, sports, school news, general articles, arts, and more. You will enjoy it. Send your news articles to lyonsrecorder.editor@gmail.com. Ksinger48@gmail.com is Editor. We are trying to keep you in the know!

SCHOOL NEWS & SPORTS

SCHOOL NEWS: The Lyons Middle School Honor Choir sang at the High School Concert in Niwot on Wednesday evening. Karson Bean, Katie Fankhouser, and Alexa Karsell signed Letters of Intent to compete at the collegiate level in sports. Congratulations! The Lyons High School is sponsoring a Brown Bag Lunch Series, featuring speakers to give students insight into professional paths about trajectories they may consider.

BASKETBALL: No home games this week. Next week Tuesday, 6 p.m. Home vs. Nederland (No boys varsity).

WRESTLING: Thursday, January 23, 6:30 p.m. Highland at Home; Saturday, January 25, 9 a.m. Northglenn Invitational; Thursday, January 30, 6:30 p.m. at Estes Park.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LYONS WRESTLERS who won the Wiggins Tournament last Saturday with 160 points; followed by Yuma 154, Wiggins 110; Northridge 91; Byers 83; Longmont 81; Littleton 63. Lyons has six wrestlers but over 30 boys in the Junior wrestling. Our boys will be going to State. Good Luck!

WINTER CHEER CAMP at the Lyons Elementary School on Monday January 27 to the 30th, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. and performing on January 30 and 31; cost $40; open to kids in kindergarten to fifth grade. Get the paperwork at the Front Office; or, contact Julie Vasquez at vasquez_Julie@svvsd.org.

TOWN RECREATION

WINTER WONDERLAND CONCERT and ice skating Saturday, January 25, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Johnson Park. There will be live music by Joe Kuckla & Irons in the Fire. Next up, on February 8, will be the Jesse Garland band. All concerts will have free ice skating, cocoa and cookies, and parking. Bring your own mug for cocoa. Thanks to Lyons Community Foundation members Gail Frankfort, Josie Wratten, Jeanne Ware, and Julie Jacobs who served the cocoa and cookies at the Concert last Saturday. See you there!

OPEN BASKETBALL, Drop in, Age 18+, at Lyons Elementary School, 8 to 9:30 p.m.; limit of 45 per drop in; every Thursday through May 8th. No use of the gymnasium on January 30 and March 26.

ECOPASS – The Lyons EcoPass provides residents with free use of any RTD bus and light rail services for a year. Services include buses to Boulder, the airport and Denver. To renew go to www.townoflyons.com/EcoPass, or for a new pass, contact Town Hall for questions and proof of residency.

OTHER ACTIVITIES IN TOWN

HIGH STREET CONCERT: The next Concert will be Saturday, February 8 with The Blue Canyon Boys; and Release Party for their new album; with special guest Jackson Earles. The next one is in March. www.highstreetconcerts.com

OLD MAN WINTER BIKE RALLY AND RACE. The race will be put on by AdventureFit on February 9. Stay tuned for more information.

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: Stillwater healing Arts Clinic & Apothecary will be celebrating the new 2020 year on the day of the Lunar New Year, Saturday, January 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, with a meditation and some free foot spa or classes. Sara Ryn Hart says, “Transform yourself and our world and set your dreams into motion.” See their Facebook page for more information.

KNITTING club is available at the Stone Cup on the first and third Wednesdays at 11 a.m. All levels of skill are invited. They do have knitting needles, books and yarn for beginners. Robyn Sloan is the instructor. Just show up; no reservation needed.

LYONS ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION
The Art Commission will present quarterly shows both at Town Hall and at the Lyons Regional Library on the same night. A hearing will be held at February 3 during the Town Board meeting whether to allow alcohol there for special events. Some people are objecting, saying that the Library is for kids, not liquor.

The FEBRUARY TOWN HALL SHOW has a Call Out to Artists: The theme is Twenties – What’s In A Number? It is open to all ages, abilities, interpretations, and mediums. Artists are welcome to submit up to five entries to hang on the walls. It will be in the Shirley F. Johnson Council Chambers room. The FEBRUARY LIBRARY SHOW will exhibit art of Larry Cohan’s Neighborhood Retrospective. Both are on February 5, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

FIRST FRIDAYS: The Lyons Chamber has instituted Lyons businesses being open the evenings of the first Fridays. Plan to shop in Lyons next Friday, February 7.

THE LYONS GOOD OLD DAYS is scheduled for Saturday, June 27th, with a History Program at the Museum at 1 p.m. Call me at 303-823-5925 for more information. CLASS OF 1970 will celebrate their 50TH REUNION during Lyons Good Old Days on Saturday, June 27, with a picnic in LaVern M. Johnson Park from 4 to 8 p.m., followed by camaraderie at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew. The committee of Jerry Tabor, Jerry Johnson, Danny Belg, Bonnie Clark, and Rhonda Harkalis are trying to find all Alumni of the Class of 1970. They also are inviting Classes of 1968 1969, 1970, and 1971 to join them. The Class of 1970 consists of: Dan Belg, Sara Carlson, Bonnie Clark, Deborah Colard, Don Ewy (deceased), Gordon Ferrell, John Fidler, Joanna Fischer, Carol Hewett (deceased), Gerald Johnson, Debbie Kast (deceased), Henri “Ro” Kinson, Bradley LaVoie, James Moore (deceased), Frederick Robb (deceased), Victoria Robb, Gloria Roe (deceased), Larry Roe, Calvin Schilling, Gerald Tabor and Marlys Werner.

COMMUNITY SUPPER: The first monthly Community Supper last week was a big success. Sixty-eight people reserved tickets, and enjoyed the sandwiches from Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ & Grill and the storytelling fun. Janaki Jane said, “We had people from two months to ninety-two years old, and every decade of life.” The next one is February 20. Each one will have a different topic.

SENIOR SUPPERS: The seniors enjoyed a free tasty beef stew supper from the Lyons Community Church on Monday. The next one is Tuesday, January 28, at 5:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, presented by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Free to all seniors; drop in.

The Lyons Chamber of Commerce met at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew Tuesday night. Lawrence LeBlanc, owner of Lyons’ Hempsual CBD, gave a presentation on CBD. Oskars served pulled pork on buns and salad, with live music by Joe Kuckla. Dan Siddall, president, and Erin Foudy, executive director, were in charge. Twenty-five were present, including several new businesses. They are sponsoring the First Friday shopping promotion.

LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES

FENCING CLASS by James Andrews, all ages, Saturdays at 3 p.m. at LaVern Johnson Park. Text to 720-296-3224, or nklknights@gmail.com.

JEDI GAMES on Saturdays at 2 p.m. in Labyrinth near Highway 7, just south of town. Combat Training, meditation, fitness. Certified martial arts instructor James Andrews. Open to all kids. Text questions to 720-296-3224, or nklknights@gmail.com. Very affordable family prices.

LEARN TO TAKE PHOTOS OF WILDLIFE. Robyn Sloan, of the Lyons Happenings wildlife camera reports, recommends you go to: www.WildNatureMedia.com if you want to be a serious tracker or are just an enthusiastic photographer.

I-PHONE AND COMPUTER consulting by Lauren Simms of Lyons, who just graduated and received her Business Degree. She will help you with basic technical problems. Seniors call her for a discount. Call 303-823-5664. Very reasonable prices.

MEAL DROP SERVICE – Two meals delivered to you on Wednesdays, starting in February, by Brittni Hamilton d/b/a Sugar.Salt.Chef. These are from a pre-set menu of healthy meat-free meals. Call 417-434-3251.

ROUNDUP OF NEWS

Robb Jones and Peggy Story have sold The Lyons Communications to USA Communications who also own Black Hawk, Central City, and Gilpin County Communications. We welcome you. Thanks Robb and Peggy for the years of taking care of our TV connections. They were first giving us television service, back when we used antennas, and then cable. They gave free service to the Lyons Redstone Museum and to the Lyons Senior Center for several years. The new owners will take over April 1st.

STORY of a LYONS BRIDGE, FLOOD 2013
During the Great Flood of 2013, Steve McCain came down to 5th and Evans Streets and piled rocks and sand on the ends of the bridge to keep it from being carried away by the floodwaters. They told him not to do it, but Steve persisted, and saved the bridge. We are all eternally grateful for your hard work and perseverance, Steve.

In more recent news about the bridge, Richard, a photographer friend of Sally Austin, who owns 19 acres near San Luis, Colorado, needed a bridge. After an internet search he found the 70 foot Lyons steel bridge, and bought it from the Town of Lyons. Access to the Lyons bridge was blocked by a small creek. It had been washed out by the flood and the EPA would not allow it to be reinstalled. He arranged for a trucking company to haul the bridge. They said it was too long to fit on the 55-foot trailer; however, they hooked a second trailer on back, and moved it to San Luis. A wonderful story on Lyons 70 foot bridge over 4th and Evans.

At the present time, the Town is trying to find matching funds, which are available from FEMA, to replace that bridge. Stay tuned.

FROM CONNIE BURTON BURKHART: We heard from Connie, who owned a house on Meily Street, and is now in New Mexico. She is teaching welding classes, taking people on tours and hikes, and teaching a Dinosaur camp. She notes that she missed Lyons during the holidays and remembers that she won the Christmas light contest two years in a row. Her mother from California now lives with her. Connie, we miss you!

WOMEN’S MARCH: Several from Lyons attended the annual Women’s March last Saturday in Denver, speaking for women’s rights, and joined in the parade.

BONITA Yoder is back in town checking to see if her house at 341 Park has frozen up. She hopes to get it redone soon and is interested in FEMA’s new Floodplain regulations. She says that she will be in town for longer periods of time now.

WITH SYMPATHY to Julia and Mike Karavas whose father, David Robert Parker, passed away at age 80, on January 16. He was born in 1939 in Sioux Falls, SD, and grew up in Superior, NE. He graduated from Colorado University-Boulder in 1957 on an ROTC scholarship. His job was in risk management. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, his daughter Julie, and son Eric, and several grandchildren. They celebrated his life privately. Memorials may be made to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.