About town with LaVern Johnson

Another week gone by, where does the time go? Nothing has changed as to the virus; Governor Polis says “Safer at Home” as the virus is still a terrible threat.  We should all wear masks, keep our distance, and not give it or get it. To me, the protesters are truly disgusting. Do they think they are immune??? Strong and young people are dying!! We need to beware. Take care!

Boulder County requires face coverings beginning May 9 when social distancing isn’t possible.

This virus is just one of the scares the world has had. I have read that in the 1800s tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death in the United States, and in the world. It was called Consumption, the White Death or the Great White Plaque. In fact, people with tuberculosis came to Lyons for its dry warm air. O. J. Ramey, noted realtor and insurance agent, came here with TB from Tyler, Texas, and was cured. People slept outside, and most survived. The town of Hygiene is so named as people came there to be cured. There were many sanatoriums. Yes, for the populace to survive has been a struggle!

The Boulder County Area Agency on Aging is offering an online caregiver program on Tuesdays, May 19 to June 9, from 9 a.m. – noon, and Thursdays, May 21 to June 11, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The program is open to anyone providing care for someone who is age 60 or over. There is no charge, but donations are appreciated. To register email rvansweden@bouldercounty.org or call 303 441 3945. 

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. Be sure to call your mom. If you can’t take her out to dinner, she will surely understand. Of course, we would not be here without our moms. My mom, Irene, had three families. My sister Berene, me, and sister Violet; then 11 years after a son, Herb; and 13 years later, Sharon, then Byron. It kept her involved in school things for years. She died in a car wreck on April 20, 1976. Terrible thing. Something we never get over. Be sure to love your mom as she won’t always be with you.

May is history month, which we usually celebrate at the museum by opening on May weekends. However, due to the virus, we are weighing whether it will be safe to open at all (usually June through September) or if we would even have visitors. Stay tuned.

History: Let us think of the history of Lyons. The eighty acres owned by Hiram and Isabell Sawyer was bought by E. S. Lyons, who came from Putnam, Connecticut, to Black Hawk to mine gold, but it was fizzling out. He and six men with him rode horses along Red Hill and saw the land for sale. He soon found the hills of sandstone and started the quarries. He founded the town in 1880, built the school in 1881, and the town was named Lyons.

History also includes your family. Sit down now and write what you know about your family. Where did they come from? Where have they lived? Why did they come to Colorado and Lyons? (We need to start a history collection from the town residents for history’s sake.)

Town board member Hollie Rogin is in charge of forming a Historic Commission, and is soliciting for members for the many projects to enhance the town’s history archives. Email her at hrogin@townoflyons.com.

For information on senior resources, email Lisa Ramsey at lramsey@townoflyons.com or the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging at nvanderwerkell@bouldercounty.org.

Upcoming (?)
The Outdoor games scheduled for this month have been tentatively rescheduled to September 5. The Lyons Good Old Day, which may be on hold due to the virus, is presently scheduled for Saturday, June 27, with a history program honoring the Lyons Pioneers, the graduates of the class of 2020 from pioneer families who have lived in the area over forty years; the graduates of the “0’s”; the class of 1970’s 50th reunion; plus whatever the Town has. Stay tuned!

Lyons restaurants are open for curbside business. Call in your order and then pick it up at: Pizza Bar 66, The Lyons Den, Julie’s Thai, Smokin’ Dave’s, Bella La Crema, Mojo’s, La Mariposa, and The Dairy Bar. And remember that the St. Vrain Market is working hard to provide for your grocery needs. They will try to stock what you ask for. Our thanks to all these businesses. Let’s do what we can to help them through this difficult time.

The 43rd Christmas Bazaar is scheduled for December 5 and 6. To reserve a booth, email Lisa Ramsey at lramsey@townoflyons.com. 

School news
The 2020 teacher honorees are: Lyons Elementary: Kate Burns – Teacher of the Year, and Aleta Wilson, special recognition; and Lyons Middle Senior High: Eric Henson – Teacher of the Year, and Shannon Carheden and Sara Wegert, special recognition. Our congratulations. 

The Eighth Grade Continuation will be celebrated with a video of speeches and a slide show to be sent out on May 20.

A special effort is being made for Lyons’ graduating seniors. Awards Night has been canceled, but a video and booklet of the awards are forthcoming. A WebEx Prom will be held on May 16, with virtual prom festivities with photos, music voting, a trivia session, and selecting a Prom King and Queen to be sent to the students by e-mail. Senior Night will be a virtual celebration video with video streaming to be shown on Friday, May 22, 7:30 p.m.

Graduation: The St. Vrain Valley School District Graduations are planned at all schools for Saturday, July 25 at 9 a.m., with rehearsal on July 22 at 9 a.m. Nick Boggess has been named the Lyons 2020 Valedictorian. Our congratulations.

Yard signs or banners will be hung with the graduates’ names and pictures, financed by the Lyons Lions Booster Club. High school and middle school yearbooks will be distributed in June with a video. All school sports activities have been canceled until June 1. Workouts are offered on the website.

Last day of school is May 13 for seniors; May 20 for 9th-11th grade students; and May 21 for 6th-8th grade students. 
     
Congratulations to Janette Rivera Gonzalez, a first grade teacher at Longmont’s Northridge Elementary School, who has been named Teacher of the Year. She moved here from Mexico at 15, attended the Lyons Middle/Senior High, graduated from Longmont High, became a teacher’s aide, and earned her teacher’s as well as her master’s degree. She says, “If I can do it, you can do it.”

Tid bits –
Remember to go outside and howl every night at 8 p.m. to show your support for all the helpers during these difficult times. 

To help the Redstone Cyclery recover from the $30,000 burglary, go to GoFundMe to donate.

The Manna Cafe of The River Church is furnishing meals to seniors and anyone in need on Mondays at 5:30 p.m., curbside, at the Lyons Senior Center. All invited.

The Lyons Community Library is now open for curbside service. For more information, go to their website at lyons.colibraries.org.

Snake relocation: Call Donna Ness 303-618-0357 who will come get your snakes. She says she “loves them.”

Modern Western Square Dancing has gone due to the virus. After 61 years of “do-si-doing,” our pastime is dead until a vaccine is discovered. We think of the 61 years of fun and fellowship we have had with folks from near and far. Truly sad!

Lyons Republican James Crowder has joined the field of candidates seeking the District 2 seat on the Board of Boulder County Commissioners for election this year. Crowder is a mortgage broker, and says that he could offer fresh ideas and a different way of thinking about solutions to local problems and policy. He has been involved “as a citizen in Lyons housing issues and other local government affairs.” Two Longmont Democrats, Jonathan Singer and Marta Loachamin, are also running for the commissioner’s seat, with the winner to be chosen at the June 30 Democratic primary election to then advance to November’s general election. The seat is now filled by Deb Gardner, who is term-limited.

Anniversaries: Albert and Olena Goranson (10 years), Nikki & Luke Knapton (5 years), Troy and Barbara Fjeld Payne (35 years) Scott and Alisha Bunker, and Jim and Bonny Pardy (60 years).

Birthdays: Devin Dickes, Steve Zoelzer, Della Cushman Gibbons, Teodora Ferrais, Dr. Carley Meckle, Jenna Anderson, and Joan Treece’s grandson, Joaquin (age 7).

Obituaries:
Gerald (Jerry) Peila, loving husband to Jean, beloved father of Jeff and Jackie, and cherished grandfather of Nathan (Maggie), McKenzie, Conor, and Bailey, passed away at the age of 79 on April 28, while in his home surrounded by love. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Ada and Lou Peila, and his sister, Ada Lou Hammans.

Jerry, a native Coloradan, was born in Hayden, Colorado, and his family moved to Lyons in 1947, where he lived the rest of his life. Jerry grew up ranching, and although he worked in management in data processing, his ranching background was infused into all that he was and did throughout his life. In 1961, Jerry married the love of his life, Jean, in the Lyons Community Church, where he was baptized as a child and where he served in various leadership roles throughout his adult life.

While Jerry was a skillful professional ahead of his time in terms of management, his roles as husband, father, and grandfather were what fed his soul. He was a constant fixture at his grandchildren’s extracurricular and school events, and he taught them things only a grandpa can teach. Jerry was also regularly sought out by numerous nieces and nephews for his wisdom as an uncle. Supplementing his sage advice was his wit, charm, and ability to create and narrate both true and tall tales (with most stories containing a mixture of fact and fiction). Many of these anecdotes were based on his adventures as an avid fly fisher, hunter, and horseman.

While our hearts are broken, we will be eternally grateful to the man who modeled the way and taught us so much about love and life. Donations in Jerry’s memory can be made to the Center for Therapeutic Riding Center (https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/championforctrc?code=MainPage) or the Lyons Community Church (http://lyonscommunitychurch.com/). 

Darlene Morgan of Longmont, formerly of Lyons, passed away. She was the widow of Jack Morgan and mother to Judy Wagner and Dennis.

Joan (Pat) Ohline, passed away on April 10. She was the daughter of Arthur E and Golda Mae Ohline; sister to Arthur E. Ohline (Curley), Maxine Harklis, Jane & Jean Svilar; and married to C J. Burdick. 

Bessie Ann Rule, former Lyons resident, passed away at her residence in Delta on April 27. She was born on May 21, 1951 in Clear Lake, South Dakota, the daughter of Arnold W. and Lucile E. (De Clercq) Eliasen. Bessie spent her childhood in South Dakota and around the age of ten, moved with her family to Lyons. Bessie had been a resident of Delta for the past 37 years, moving to Delta from Lyons. During her lifetime, Bessie was a homemaker and also worked in the retail world as a cashier.

In November of 1972, Bessie married Edwin “Sonny” Porter. They had two children together. This union ended but they remained friends. On June 30, 2000, Bessie wed Arla “Wayne” Rule in Delta. On October 28, Wayne passed away in Eckert.

The things Bessie enjoyed doing included “hanging out” with her grandson Evan, riding motorcycles, singing at karaoke, and working hard.

Bessie is survived by her daughter, Amanda Porter (Cody Yeoman) of Delta; brother Dan Eliasen (Sharon) of Berthoud; brother-in-law Ronald “Choc” LaFollette of Lyons; a step sister Frankie Phillips of Longmont; and her grandson Evan Porter.

Preceding Bessie in death were her son Mark, sisters Arlie and Colleen, and a brother Gerald. No funeral service is scheduled at this time.