Notes from your editor, September 24th
Here we are in Week four of the New Lyons Recorder! Yes, we just finished our first full month! Thanks for coming along for the ride.
So, let’s get started…
On the technical side, my Tech Wizard Clark Hodge and I continue to work on our new HOME PAGE for the newspaper. It will have lots of easy-to-use options for you! We’ll have the “Maintenance in Progress” sign up for a few hours when we do the switch. (If you are experienced at Elementor and would like to assist, now and then, please contact me.)
As part of our motto of keeping you informed of what’s going on in town, we have a report from Bill Palmer on the Lyons Library. For many months we could not enter the building, but now that “magical door” is open to us, to explore the “Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and more! (by appointment)
On the other hand, we wish we could keep our doors closed to the smoke that is filling our days. The Lyons Fire Protection District has written a report on how we can create a “wildfire defensible zone” around our homes. The article is also a re-introduction to “Lyons Prepared,” which is a volunteer group that has partnered with the Fire Protection District. It was formed after the 2013 flood to help residents be better prepared for emergencies.
Our Arts and Culture article this month has some pretty dynamic photos attached to it. Imagine bringing a crane to Lyons to move a bear sculpture that was taller than the storefront it stood in front of.
Speaking of “arts,” our article last week about how both Lyons folks and the Lyons Arts & Humanities Commission could help local artists who are struggling due to the coronavirus restrictions caused a little stir up. Chrystal DeCoster at Western Stars Gallery said we were wrong in saying that the art world came to a screeching halt because of the COVID-19 restrictions. She said that her business reopened April 1st and is booming. (The article did say that Red Canyon Art was also doing better than last year.) Our reporter, Tamara Veda Haddad will be attending the Arts & Humanities Commission’s next monthly meeting and will report back to you.
Tamara is also working on an article that directly presents how artists are getting by during the crisis. And, Chris Lause is working on a matching article on local musicians. We’ve got you covered Lyons! (Contact me if you would like to be on the list of interviewees.) While in one survey of 11,000 artists, it said 95 percent suffered wage losses, you also have to consider the effects of isolation and depression.
We’ve now established enough qualified and fascinating writers to fill our Wellness/Health section. This week we have healthy food news and a recipe using the abundance of the fall crops. It comes from our old friend Linda Pecone (“Miss Linney’s Kitchen”). She wrote for the Lyons Recorder for five years when it was in print.
The schedule will consist of Cherie Maureaux, LEAF, writing about mental wellness. Then staff at Stillwater writing about living a balanced healthy life through “the wisdom of ancient systems of medicine.” Next is Janaki Jane writing about community wellness. And, then we’re back to Linda again! What do you think about that? All locally written, addressing concerns that we residents can benefit from.
I’m happy to start off our monthly articles on the history of Lyons with a link to three virtual tours or exhibits that the staff at the Lyons Redstone Museum has put together over the past couple of years. Future articles will focus on one item. If you’d like a treasure hunt this weekend, go to LaVern M Johnson Park and try and find the sign seen here.(see photo) It was supposedly put there by construction workers in the early nineteenth century, as they passed through this spot. The construction company that renovated the park was told to remove all graffiti (including some old ones by local school students), but to leave this historic marker. Go for it!
I’m sure people were surprised to hear that there is a live opening night for the Lyons Film Festival on September 25! A list of the short films is in last week’s article, as well as information on how to watch the full festival online, all month long, in October. Support your local entrepreneurs!
The Autumn Equinox has rung in the official fall season. We have a little contest going on this week. Send in your most spectacular photo representing the fall season, and our group of photography professionals will choose the top ones to feature in next week’s issue! It can be your dog playing in the leaves, or your toddler chewing on one! It must be done by a local Greater Lyons Area person, and a preference toward those taken around town. (Click on the red tree for more info)
The benefit of having a weekly newspaper, and one that is online, is that we can put up “Breaking News.” This past week some locals had a Vigil for Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Sandstone Park, and we were able to post the notice, inviting the public to come.
Rather than do an article that stated the significance of Ginsburg’s life achievements, which can be found in dozens of other larger news outlet web sites, I have gathered up quotes from locals about how she effected their lives, as well as what the significance was in her passing away in September. ==NOTE== I have been unable to confirm some of the exact longer quotes, so this will be put off till next week.
We sadly report this week that the United States now has 200,000 deaths due to the COVID-19. And, Colorado has gone from approximately two percent daily cases, to three percent. This is mainly due to circumstances around students returning to the classroom. Please, folks, take precautions for both yourself and those around you.
Out of the four major forest fires in Colorado this season, the Pine Gulch Fire, the largest wildfire in Colorado’s recorded history, has burned 139,007 acres and, as of Wednesday, is now 100% contained. The Cameron Peak Fire, which is closest to Lyons, is still only eight percent contained. Because of the winds increasing to around 35 mph, it has expanded to approximately 104,500 acres and additional mandatory and volunteer evacuations have been issued. Firefighters are working day and night shifts. The haze continues to hang low over Lyons, especially in the latter half of the day.
In government news, I have posted Election debate dates in Flash News, and will post other significant election-related dates there till November. September 30 is the last day to complete your Census form. Every person counted means more dollars for our Town. More than 95% of Colorado housing units have been accounted for in the 2020 Census. Households that have not been counted are encouraged to respond today. Officials said that this is the first year the census has been conducted primarily online, which has helped with responses during the pandemic.
Stay well, and stay informed! Keep reading the Lyons Recorder!
See you next week! Kathleen Spring, Your Editor
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