Notes from your editor, 1/7/21
If there ever is an emergency in town, or timely news needing to be distributed, you can trust the Lyons Recorder to put it online immediately.
I’ve tried a couple of times to write my column earlier than the Wednesday deadline, but so many things seem to pop up during the week that I end up revising the column over and over. This week the insurgent attack on the U.S. Capitol building upset my whole day… glued to the television, with anger and tears and fear and shock… and so much more.
On January 1st, I tried to start my mindset for the year with hope and a positive outlook – I saw on the horizon freedom that the new vaccine would bring to me and others, beginning with the Red Level counties going into Orange Level so that they could welcome 25 percent capacity and more. But this domestic terrorism event through me for a loop. Who could have imagined this would happen in the United States of America? Well, the past four years have been un-ending shocking news, but this one tops the cake.
So, after the initial shock, and listening to the analysis of the newscasters in the evening, and speeches by both the Republican and Democrat legislators, I’ve come to the conclusion that this may be the traumatic event that will shock us into jumping into a more democratic state, where we can disagree, listen respectfully, and make wise decisions in the halls of our democracy again. Fear, intimidation, favoritism, self-promotion and egotism, bold lies, sexual and monetary favors, and instigating violence seem to have been shrunk by the dragon that attacked Washington into a mouse. I think I will be able to sleep tonight and not wake up, fearful of the day’s news. I think I’m going to like 2021.
So, let’s get started with the News…
TOWN NEWS
POLAR PLUNGE: The Annual Polar Plunge took place on New Year’s Day. Organizer Jason Stillman announced it just a few days before the event, but he still got a good size crowd and raised $400 for LEAF. One after another, adults to kids, lined up to quickly jump into the freezing St. Vrain River, at the Black Bear hole landing, quickly wrapping up in a warm covering. I posted the photos taken by Chris Lause on Saturday because I knew that folks would not want to wait till our normal Thursday publishing date to see the fun photos. Such crazy fun!
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AUTHOR TALK: The Lyons Library will have an AUTHOR TALK, virtually. See FLASH NEWS or FACEBOOK for more details. Sarah Adleman, 2020 Colorado Book Award Finalist for Creative Nonfiction, on Thursday, January 14 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. She will read from and discuss her book “The Lampblack Blue of Memory: My Mother Echoes.” Check the library to order your book through inter-library loan.
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CONTESTS: The “Christmas Lights” contest and the “Lyons Vet–Naughty or Nice contest” are coming to a close this week. Watch for cool PHOTOS!
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LEAF, Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund, YEAR END summary: Director Lory Barton stated: “Thanks to the support of our amazing community, LEAF made $85,502.86 in grants that helped people this year. (That’s nearly 12x more than last year!) These grants have helped families stay in their homes. They have kept the lights on. They have carried people through this hard year. Thank you to everyone who gives!”
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STIMULUS FUNDS: $37 million is set aside for small businesses who have lost money due to the virus. They have to be under severe capacity restrictions. The state stimulus grant depends on how much the business made last year 2019 as of January 1. Counties apply by January 8; receive it by January 15; Businesses apply and receive it by February 12. They must be in compliance with COVID-19 rules etc. (per Channel 9 News)
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SURPRISE HOSPITAL BILLS: It has been in the news that patients sometimes get surprise hospital bill, often in the thousands of dollars, weeks or months after their visit due to the doctor being “out of the patient’s network.” The US Congress passed a bill stopping this practice (with the current CARE/Stimulus Act), and it will be effective 1/1/22. But Colorado has already done that, almost a year ago! Thank you Colorado legislators!
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VANDALISM: We are sad to report that the beautiful ‘bottle trees’ at the Labyrinth were found smashed to smithereens last week. The creator and caretaker of the Labyrinth had to clean it all up, with great disappointment. The Labyrinth is located across the river from the Rocky Mt. Botanic Gardens. Please keep an eye out for suspicious people or possible destructive behavior, and report it. It was created for, and belongs to, all of us.
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MENTAL WELLNESS – I am adding this group to our “Community Resources” page (you can always find it thru the MENU BAR):
==Mental Health Partners – Mental health and substance use care. Connect with a compassionate, multi-disciplinary care team through phone calls; with same day support, or set up an appointment. Areas specializes in “Mental Health”, and “Addiction,” and “Community.” They offer free online classes, which cover topics like “Stress Reduction during COVID” and “Setting Wellness Goals that are Attainable” and “How to Get an ID when Homeless.” In addition to same-day phone help, they also have shared locations in Boulder | Broomfield | Lafayette | Longmont. ==To inquire about our services or to make an appointment please call (303) 443-8500. For emergency assistance with a mental health crisis please call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255. To contact our Walk-In Center please call 303-447-1665 or go directly to our Walk-In Center at 3180 Airport Road in Boulder Colorado (which is open 24/7).
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HOUSECLEANING: Many of us go on a housecleaning binge during the first month of the new year.
I’ll list in this weekly column some web sites that might help you, during the month of January. I’ve also invited our local “declutter expert” to write a column of tips for you this month.
For this week I have a “fix it yourself” page with 1000s of manuals! — don’t throw it out, fix it! — lamp switch replacement; fix a sticking deadbolt; replace a cracked tile; and more. Some libraries were getting into “FIX IT” workshops – you would bring in your item and there would be experts on hand to try and show you how to fix it. I wanted to bring in my toaster that wasn’t toasting properly, but then covid happened.
https://www.ifixit.com/?fbclid=IwAR3eVUr96Ak6AIRpLRT9pOvAVcND7UwYVCNnfj5npG23EZ8IoF7FBOFcD_U
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BUSINESSES: The Lyons Chamber of Commerce is offering a healthcare program now for its members. It is NOT an insurance plan, but has many great options. It is a medical cost sharing program. They will be holding two live webinar programs to explain the program on January 12th. Contact Erin at the Chamber for more information. If you are a member, look in your email box. If you are not a member, write to: admin@lyonschamber.org.
COVID-19 NEWS
See THIS WEEK’s NEW article on everything COVID in Lyons, Boulder & Larimer County, and the state of Colorado – easy access, at your finger tips to all the news – I have gathered it from the various state’s web pages and news organizations to save you time. It includes a place to sign up for Boulder County vaccines notices.
Colorado – Good News and Bad News —
Good News: Same as last week – number of cases and hospitalizations are going down, and positivity rate is around 8%
The Bad News is deaths are going up.
Colorado has 343,435 cases, with 4,944 deaths
Boulder County has 15,151 cases, with 184 deaths
Larimer County has 14,949 cases, with 155 deaths
Lyons has 63 cases as of 1/4/21 = as of Dec. 29 –59 cases // Dec. 21–57 cases // Dec. 14—53 cases. == That is the 4th highest number “by population” out of the NINE cities in Boulder County.
- Vaccines are being administered to Phase 1A people — and several groups have been moved up to the Phase 1B category = elders above 70 = teachers = essential workers like grocery store workers, postal workers, and other front line workers who are exposed to high numbers of people. == See the article for more details, including news on nursing homes, and goal dates to get each level done.
- All counties are back from the “red” level to the “orange” level–this first week of January. This moves businesses to 25 percent capacity. See the article for a list of all the rules.
- Both Boulder and Larimer County have “sign up sites” for news on when you can get your vaccines.
Thanks for your help folks in slowing this surge.
THIS WEEK’S ARTICLES
UPDATED:
- The distribution of federal CARES acts funds: I have included a link to the Town of Lyons page that shows what business got how much. https://lyonsrecorder.org/2020/12/31/cares-funding-packages-lyons/
- Polar Plunge: On Saturday, I posted photos of the plunge, as I knew people did not want to wait until the following Thursday to see them! https://lyonsrecorder.org/2021/01/02/polar-bear-plunge-2020/
- Polar Plunge: I added on late Sunday three photos – 2 of organizer Jason Stillman, and 1 of “the Polar Bear”!
- Poem: Yestertomorrow – I inserted an updated version of the poem that was sent in by the poet – my apologies for not seeing the updated version earlier! https://lyonsrecorder.org/2020/12/31/yestertomorrow-poem/
==POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
==RADON – January is national Radon Month. 500 deaths each year in Colorado are caused by lung cancer from radon exposure. https://lyonsrecorder.org/2021/01/07/news-brief-january-national-radon/
==NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS: Achievable, realistic goal setting for 2021 (part 1) This week: Identify your core values. Set a healthy, growth-minded mentality to begin the process; reflect on good things that happened in 2020; be kind to yourself during this review period; celebrate big and small successes of 2020. Week 2: Set – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-based goals. == written by LEAF’s Mental Wellness counselor.
==COVID-19 Statistics/Vaccines/Levels & More — with multiple changes happening this past week to our Coronavius rules, vaccines, numbers and more, I have published a new article for “easy reference” for you. No need to go to multiple web sites and news organizations for your local covid-news!
==SCHOOL NEWS – the Lyons schools are opening up this week, with in-person and hybrid situations. It’s far too complicated to list here, so take a look at the article if you want to learn more. The students get their news from their teachers, but you may want to know for yourself how the schools are handling the virus, and may find this interesting.
==WORDS MATTER: US CAPITOL = Trump followers invade the US Capitol building and grounds – This is one of those once-in-lifetime events that will be remembered forever. The article captures what happened over the four-hour period. It also has a large selection of memorable, insightful, life-changing quotes by some top legislators. And a brief mention of Colorado’s involvement in the situation.
==FLASH NEWS — general events and deadlines, listed by date – there are several deadlines happening THIS week! Don’t delay looking at it. Some are grants, some are classes, or author talks, and more.
==ABOUT TOWN — weekly column by LaVern Johnson of snippets of Town news.
==NOTES from Your Editor — that’s me! You are reading it right now! thanks.
MY WEEKLY MESSAGE OF CARE:
OK, I’m NOT going to give you a list of possible New Year’s Resolutions. Rather I’m giving you one gift:
We are all hoping to have many more happy days and thoughts in 2021, and I’m going to give you a simple way to bring some sparks of joy into your life…
How many time have you had a great meal, or have a perfect cup of coffee, or baked a wonderful casserole, and you said to yourself “Wow! That was great!” ? And then two seconds later that “spark of joy” is gone.
Now, I want you to double that pleasure, and say it twice.
What?
Yes!
“Wow, that was the best potato salad I’ve ever made! That was the best potato salad ever!”
“Wow, what did they do? That was the best chili fries they’ve ever served. The best chili fries ever!”
“Wow, what happened? That was the best Safeway apple pie I’ve ever had. The best pie ever!”
You will be surprised at how it more than doubles your pleasure!
It stops time for a few seconds…
And makes the excitement stick in your brain just that little bit longer.
Give it a try. Oh, such fun!
Kathleen
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