Notes from your editor, 1/21/21
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 thought I would make this week’s edition a bit lighter, with all the stress that we have been going through lately.
Well, the heavens didn’t seem to think the same way as I did, …thunder clouds poured down heavy on this week’s edition.
First, there was a vicious wind storm a week ago, which ripped up magnificent 50-foot-tall Ponderosa pine trees. A couple of days later, a local church decided to shake us up to reality with a poster on its front stairs asking us to Stop Racism. Then, the reporter who I had sent out to do a fluffy piece and ask people about their New Year’s resolutions, came back with answers that were not fun or funny but introspective. Next, I had scheduled an article for January’s Cervix Cancer Month, which is a hush-hush disease that is killing women. And, finally I got in the mail a deeply disturbing Opinion Letter from someone who compared the racism demonstrated in towns during the Holocaust to the images of the people desecrating the nation’s capitol building.
Well, what can I say, I have to publish them all, and do it now, as they are timely topics.
I did manage to squeeze in an article about what birds do with the hundreds of bird seeds we leave out for them, with enchanting photos of a couple of bird feeders.
And, of course, the biggest, most hopeful and inspiring thing to happen this week – the Inauguration of our 42nd president – I wrote down all the best quotes he said during his simple, inviting, and caring speech to share with you.
So, can I say, All’s Well that Ends Well?
So, let’s get started with the News…
TOWN NEWS
repeat: SECOND STREET BRIDGE: The next week or two, they will be begin working on retaining wall work; and sanitary sewer work continues.
repeat: COVID TESTING – FREE – The testing IN Lyons – Watch FLASH NEWS for any changes in this program.
repeat: LIBRARY (1) Name the new bear statute in front of the library (2) Winter Reading Program: Warm up to Great Books
BUSINESSES:
Popular chef Modou Jaiteh, who operates a food truck, in cooperation with The Stone Cup, has announced that he has found a new job in South Carolina. He will be the head chef of Low Country Fresh, and will be working alongside a chef he respects. He says, “in a place that has long, intimate ties to my home in West Africa.” This past summer, because of the pandemic, he had to close his restaurant Jarcana in Boulder, and he has been offering food out of a food truck in recent months, to rave reviews, for his mainly West African cuisine. His staff will continue serving food at The Stone Cup at least untill spring.
The Lyons Dairy is expanding. They have converted the dining room into a store, and have changed their name to The Lyons Dairy Bar, Specialty Bakery, and Candy Shop. They are expanding into offering numerous kinds of candies, such as Jelly Belly, and fresh baked items like cinnamon rolls and cookies. They are offering a “soft opening” for Lyons locals from January 25 to 27, open seven days a week.
The Farm Stand, located at the front of the Lyons Farmette, on Highway 36, is now open and selling eggs. They have a new flock of Rhode Island Reds and Amber Links who have been laying consistently. The hens have just begun converting to an Organic, specialty formulated mix. It is open 8 – 6 p.m., every day. Although the door is closed, the stand is open. The eggs are $6 a dozen, and it is on a “trust basis” (no sales person is present).
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LEAF MENTAL WELLNESS on ZOOM – On HOLD – Cherie Maureaux has suspended for the next few weeks the Thursday “group mental wellness” sessions offered by LEAF. In the meantime, you can reach the co-facilitator of the meetings, Rebecca Major of the OUR Center, for information about community services, resources, and events. Rebecca’s email is: rebecca@ourcenter.org.
Go to FLASH NEWS for more activities and deadlines.
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JANUARY HOUSECLEANING: Many of us go on a housecleaning binge during the first month of the new year. — I’ll list in JANUARY in this weekly column some web sites that might help you, during the month of January.
For this week I have “How to Organize Your Home: A Room-by-Room Guide.” www.additudemag.com › slideshows › how-to-organize…
Here’s a general tip: “Start with the floors, then move to surfaces, then empty out drawers and interiors. A bedroom will take two days, kitchens take three. If you need help the first time, hire a professional organizer for one project.”
COVID-19 NEWS
See January 7th 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 continues to lower its virus numbers, and is almost at the desired 5% 7-day positivity rate. Lyons currently has 65 cases, which continues to go up.
There was a hub-bub this past week where the governor told off the federal COVID-19 headquarters. They stated they had held back half the vaccines to give out when it came time for the second doses, but it turned out they have none in stock.
The good news is that multiple experts say that President Biden’s promise to get 100 million vaccines out in 100 days is feasible. The experts state that they are confident the federal supply chain would allow the states to backfill those second doses from future supplies of the vaccine in the upcoming weeks. The national supply is to increase by one million doses in February.
Colorado has received 530,000 vaccines and used 278,000, with 49,744 receiving their second dose. This week the governor ordered all vaccines be used and not held back. They will take about 40,000 second doses which were planned to be used in the coming weeks and instead use them this week for those 70 and older awaiting their first dose. There will be 120,000 first doses given this week, with the bulk of the additional vaccinations being done by hospitals, which are able to do large-scale scheduling. It is critical to quickly vaccinate that group of 70 and older Coloradans who account for a majority of the deaths.
Rochelle Walensky, MD MPH, the new CDC director, states that approximately 4,000 death are happening each day, and with a total of 400,000+ deaths. She predicts that February will be even worse. Remember to wear your masks, even if you have had the vaccine!
Thanks for your help folks in slowing this surge.
THIS WEEK’S ARTICLES
== INAUGURATION = Best inspiring quotes from President Biden’s speech; and the Executive Orders he signed on his first day, and what his plans are for his first week.
==”Person on the Street” NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS: Lyons folks tell us what they resolve to do. It may give you ideas for yourself.
==SMALL BUSINESS LOANS: (published last week) The new round of PPP loans is now available. We have information on who can apply, deadlines, and links. Boulder and Larimer County info.
==SENIOR NEWS (monthly) – How food (supper) has changed over the decades – (published last week) Some people told me they loved the list of cook books they used in the 1960s, 1970s, and still use today. If you haven’t read this yet — it’s FUN for all ages! on when we started to use “instant, frozen, canned foods.”
==OPINION LETTER — A person recalls their family traumas of going through the Holocaust and states how it compares to the racists who stormed the Capitol and attempted to take over the government this month.
==BIRD SEED: Do the birds really eat those 100s of bird seeds you leave out for them? Enjoy this informative article and the accompanying photos of a couple of local bird feeders.
==STOP RACISM: Local church puts out a sign beseeching us to help stop racism; plus comments by Martin Luther King, Jr. dating back to the Race Riots of the 1960s.
==CERVIX CANCER MONTH: What you should know. Plus, two stories about women (now survivors and advocates) who were among those who felt it was too sensitive of a topic to talk about out loud.
==WIND STORM RIPS UP TREES: Photos of the 90mph wind damage that hit Pinewood Springs seven days ago, resulting in power and phone outages, and destroyed 50 ft. tall trees.
==FLASH NEWS — general events and deadlines, listed by date.
==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:
Peace Train (Song by Yusuf, Cat Stevens)
Now I’ve been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
Oh, I’ve been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
Someday it’s going to come …
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