Notes from your editor, 2/25/21
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.
Now we are entering the two snowiest months of the year, so be prepared! Keep those faucets dripping, and keep the sidewalks cleaned off.
Next month is the one-year anniversary of when Colorado had its first COVID-19 case, and when stores and restaurants started closing down. We will be gathering articles and tales from businesses and residents about what they remember the most. Please send in yours – it can be two sentences or two paragraphs! We will be saving this for posterity in the Lyons history museum.
Let’s get to the news…
TOWN NEWS
PINEWOOD/SPRING GULCH QUARRY: For those of you who live in “south Pinewood” near the quarries, some of you noticed a very large piece of equipment going up to that area, and were wondering if there was a change or expansion going on in the quarry business. Shad Byarlay explained that this was in response to the “988B that Caleb brought up yesterday… is a newer version of the same loader he and Dan have had for years. Just an upgrade. Heavy rock equals huge equipment.”
OBITUARIES, Sorry for your loss:
OBIT: Carolyn Patch Fairbanks (1946 to 2021) Carolyn’s funeral arrangements were under the care of Allnutt Funeral Service – Estes Park Chapel. The Fairbanks lived on Evans in the past. Carolyn was one of the first firefighters on the Lyons Fire Department. She was an advocate, and caregiver of animals, and ran the Estes Park version of the Humane Society. It is now under the care of others (Estes Park Pet Hospital) Our condolences.
OBIT: Emma “Jeanie” Brown, 81 years. She and her husband Dean lived on Apple Valley Rd. and were married for almost 60 years. SEE THE OBIT for more details. Our condolences.
TO SEE PREVIOUS OBITUARIES: click on the top menu bar and chose “OBITUARIES” and all will show up.
BUSINESS NEWS
Our Business News section got so big the last two weeks, February 4 and 11, that I have put all of the announcements in a separate article. This month there are only two announcement’s Go to the new page to hear about last week’s business news:
BUSINESSES SERVING PINEWOOD SPRINGS: The Pinewood Springs Facebook page voted to keep commercial companies off their page, and they set up a separate page for them to advertise on. Each business did a mini-profile of themselves, and there are some GREAT services being offered!
TIGER LILY LANDSCAPING. Olivia Spada, Lyons. You can reach her at: Email: TLLgardening@gmail.com, Website: tigerlilylandscaping.com. I specialize in detail-oriented landscape maintenance, CO drylands native + drought hardy plant designs, and ultimately creating functional + supportive landscapes that are also aesthetically pleasing (like pollinator havens, xeriscape gardens, restoration work, etc.) I would really love to focus on bringing that vision and my work locally.
LYONS FARMETTE is back in business this summer! “The dinners are created by amazing chefs from around Boulder County using local food from not only the Farmette, but also surrounding organic farms.” LyonsFarmette.com The first events will start in July. More news to come. www.LyonsFarmette.com
POLITICS—GOVERNMENT
IRS FREE FILE PROGRAM: This is a free service offered through the government web pages. The government went after the big tax software companies for having deceitful practices. You must go to the IRS page to use them.
2020 TAX INFORMATION === Information on both state and federal tax filing == AARP has tax help this year, information on tax credits, unemployment, business taxes, new form 1099NEC for non-employee compensation, and more. ===The Lyons Recorder is committed to publishing news pertinent to Lyons residents, and offers opportunities for them to be educated in useful areas.
2/20/21 – Phase 2 UNEMPLOYMENT: Colorado’s statewide unemployment rate rose two percentage points to hit 8.4% in December, after Red Level restrictions. In January it was higher than the US average.
People can now apply for unemployment insurance due them. The system got a long-needed update in January, which slowed the process; but after opening its web site on Saturday February 20, they have paid $206 million to 130,000 claimants! All monies due recipients will be paid, in a lump sum, if needed.
2/23/21 – USPS – Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on slowdowns at the Postal Service ahead of the November elections on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and proposed price increases.
2/14/21 – Governor Jared Polis gave his State of the State address. According to CPR News, much of it reflected a state — and a nation — changed by the year-long COVID-19 pandemic, a season of historic wildfires, a renewed racial justice movement and the shock of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. == Here is the full transcript and video: https://www.cpr.org/2021/02/17/transcript-video-gov-jared-polis-2021-colorado-state-of-the-state-address/
Town of Lyons JOB OPENINGS:
| Reception/Accounts Payable Clerk |
| This is a part-time position about 20 hours per week. Duties include: (there are about another two dozens duties, beyond what is listed here, that you can find the details on by clicking the link) Welcoming and assisting callers and visitors to Town Hall. Assisting residents with municipal services such as building permits, contractor licenses, business licenses, parking permits, zoning and Municipal Code questions, pipe water, dog licenses and Eco Passes etc. Receives and processes various payments from visitors and callers using cash, checks and credit cards. Enters data into the Town’s financial system for accounts payable process and year-end reports. Knowledge of GAAP and standard bookkeeping practices Skilled at data analysis, filing and organizational systems both paper and electronic Seasonal Parks Maintenance Worker Town of Lyons Parks and Public Works Seasonal Maintenance Worker The Town of Lyons has vacancies for the 2021 spring/summer season for the position of Seasonal Parks & Public Works Maintenance Worker. This temporary seasonal …….. (April/May-August) and is full-time 40 hrs./wk. @ $14.00 to $16.00/hr. DOQ and may include varying shifts on weekdays, weekends or holidays. Duties include general maintenance of town parks and open space, streets and ROW’s, including all grounds and facilities as assigned by the Director Parks & Public Works or Departmental Lead. ……… Complete job descriptions are available upon request or at www.townoflyons.com. Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 26, 2021 at 4:00 P.M. |
CLASSES OR EVENTS: Go to FLASH NEWS for more activities and deadlines, this includes descriptions of classes and talks, not just dates.
COVID-19 NEWS
COVID-19 NEWS
See “February 4th COVID NEWS” article – Look for the words “UPDATE” — Easy access, at your finger tips, all the latest news.
==I have gathered it from the various state’s web pages and news organizations to save you time.
==This includes a new break down as to what the COLOR CHART means.
VACCINE UPDATE: 2/24/21
This young computer expert developed a search engine jsut for vaccines in the Front Range! Easy and free! https://vaccine-finder.nickm.org/?fbclid=IwAR2wwFV-0kIRydWhTziNPk2QrdsrYypilBDNoCJkJO6fKXYYUzxPVy_Bx14
This Week’s Articles 2/25/21
==FEBRUARY Town Board Meetings – Board of Trustees –updated: the Feb. 15th meeting.
==FEBRUARY COVID News – details on vaccines, Phase 1B2, Boulder County info, and more.—updated this as of 2/22/21
++++++++++++++++++
==Lyons Alumnus returns virtually to help band students learn how to compose music! This is a detailed interview of Andy Forsberg, who participated in Lyons School Band 12 years ago, and is now a successful movie music producer. Director of Bands, Karen Gregg, and he have remained friends, and she called on him to help her students. Andy is part of the Huss and Forsberg family who have lived here and been successful business owners in the Lyons area since the 1930s.
==2020 TAX INFORMATION === Information on both state and federal tax filing = There are a lot of changes, and credits, and more this year due to COVID payments. Check out this handy all-in-one page for tips and LINKS. — It also states how to get the “free tax form” to fill out online.
==BOULDER LIBRARY in CRISIS: It depends on sales taxes, and therefore had to let go of 66 employees and close pretty much all their branches. The Town Council is discussing the formation of a Library District, which would give them guaranteed property tax money each year. Check out the details in this article, and attend the next meeting in APRIL.
==WINTER WILDLIFE, PHOTO SPREAD= These may be the best photos we have had on local Lyons area wildlife – bear, black fox, Tom turkeys, birds, and more. So cute! Plus, some text that will inform you about these native animals.
==”VILLAGE OF LIBRARIES” – Looking for something to do while stuck inside this winter? The four nearby libraries have an abundance of cool things to do! (We keep you up-to-date on the Lyons Library monthly, but sometimes the bigger libraries have things that the Lyons library does not have staff or money to support). HAVE SOME FUN!
==IRS TAXES / and CO state taxes – So much has changed and happened this year, it will be hard keeping up with it. I have tried to put it all in one place, for your easy convenience, including LINKS to the web pages. – Lyons Recorder strives to keep you informed every week.
==OBITUARY: Emma “Jeanie” Brown. She and her husband of 60 years, Dean, lived on Apple Valley Road. She was 81 years old, when she passed away. Read her life story.
==FLASH NEWS — general events and deadlines, classes, meetings, etc. listed by date.== This included details on things like classes, not just the dates.
==ABOUT TOWN — weekly column by LaVern Johnson of snippets of Town news.
==NOTES from Your Editor — behind the scenes news, business updates, personal notes, classes, caring messages, and more…
MY WEEKLY MESSAGE OF CARE:
Most of the four million Texans who lost power during the extreme winter storm and subsequent blackouts have been able to turn the heat and lights back on. But as Lyons residents know, that is not the end of the nightmare.
Here are some recommended “local Texas” groups that you can look up to see how you can help:
==The Coalition for the Homeless, based in Houston, also has a resource guide listing organizations helping those experiencing homelessness, including agencies accepting donations of coats, blankets, and other winter gear. ==Animal shelters and rescue groups across the state have also struggled to keep homeless critters warm and fed. Go to your local shelter’s Facebook page to see which items it needs, or make a donation online. Smaller organizations may be in particular need, such as Texas Panhandle Pet Savers and Pets Needing Parents Rescue in West Texas. == In Austin, pipes burst in two of the cottages for the children’s shelter at the SAFE Alliance, and the organization is in need of funds and supplies such as drinking water, nonperishable food, and wipes… or donations. ==CrowdSource Rescue is working to assist senior citizens and could use volunteers and donations. == Feeding Texas, a network of food banks across the state, is accepting donations to help feed Texans and distribute clean drinking water through this crisis.
Thank you for opening your heart to these beleaguered people.
NOTE FROM WENDY MILLER — RESCUE DOGS!
Ok, Lyons Peeps! Time for rallying for TX and potentially CO animals. This is from the rescue I got my beloved Butters from. They need help! Lemme know what you got and I’ll make sure it gets in the van tomorrow! Thanks!
Wanna help Houston animal rescue peeps? Rescued Pets Movement (RPM) is the non-profit organization from Houston that pulls dogs(and cats) out of high kill shelters in Texas, vets them, fosters them, and brings them to rescues in Colorado. Their clinic, their shelter, and all of their fosters have been massively impacted by the winter storms, power outages, and water damage in Texas over the past two weeks. Supplies are hard to come by there, and prices are inflated due to increased demand.
The RPM vans will be arriving in Colorado on TUESDAY MARCH 2, to deliver dogs to Colorado rescues. They’ll drive back to Houston empty so we can send things back with them. As of today, here is what would be most helpful to donate:
Dog Beds – especially medium sized. (They have a foster home with SIX fosters that lost EVERYTHING.)
TOYS – again, many fosters lost all their dog toys and enrichment stuff to water damage.
Coats and sweaters to keep pups warm in cold houses.
Blankets, sheets, & towels for dog beds, etc.
Crates to contain fosters while people are going in and out to aid with cleanup, or even to keep dog beds off the wet floor.
Ex-Pens, Baby Gates, containment stuff
Pet food and supplies like pee pads, kitty litter, etc.
Treats, chewies, etc.
Tarps, plastic sheeting, drop cloths
Large plastic trash bags
Plumbing stuff – PVC pipe, adhesive/sealant, elbows, etc.
Sheetrock stuff – tools and supplies
Work gloves and sanitation gloves
Space heaters and box fans
DROP OFF: Ziggi’s (coffee shop) at 400 Main St, Longmont. My contact info is 303-304-8882. Wendriatic@gmail.com. People may contact me for drop off/pick up. Let me know if you have questions.
You can also drop things off with Lana Hansen at her house in Longmont. I’ll make sure that the items got to the RPM vans at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, before they head back to Houston.–but let me know first.
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Thank you for being steady readers of the Lyons Recorder. We hope you benefit from our articles each week, and have some fun, too! ………..Your Editor, Kathleen
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