Storefront & home businesses recall memories during pandemic (1 year)

Reports say that the housing market is booming over the past year. There are currently only a small handful of houses available in Lyons area for sale. “There has been no noticeable negative effects in the greater Lyons/Longmont/Boulder/Berthoud areas from covid on the Real Estate market. Quite the opposite as in certain locations and price ranges it’s a market frenzy with limited inventory, heavy showing traffic, multiple offers, many cash buyers, and increasing prices.” ….Jonelle Tucker, Tucker Realty

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March 2020 – “What the heck is going on here?!” I murmured to myself…“This can’t really be the big deal they’re making it out to be, right?”  WRONG!

Next thing I know, I am furloughed from my full-time job and spending endless hours on the phone ( literally HOURS on hold, for several consecutive days ), trying in vain to get the lowdown on possible government assistance during what they are now calling “the pandemic.”

Well, time to make lemonade with all these lemons suddenly thrust upon me and the result was FINALLY being able to start my publishing company…AND releasing my first book, an introspective and very personal statement about the serenity of exploring and experiencing remote & pristine wilderness. —I feel the pain and loss suffered by so many and wish them healing in these dark days while at the same time, at least personally, being able to sip a little ( very tart ) lemonade. 

Dreaming forward…of better days ahead, for ALL of us.
...Jimmy Lange, 12 Days Publishing Company LLC

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I’m in the convention and event business. Last March I faced the massive task of starting to cancel dozens of meetings and conventions all over the US.  Some of these programs have thousands of moving parts. I spend four straight months canceling six years of work leading up to our 2020 and 2021 programs. The cancellations impacted so many people and companies from caterers to convention centers, from hotels to entertainers, and from museums to even local printers. I will say it was stressful, upsetting and very bizarre to be in such a space of “unknown” however, I tried to have a sense of humor and compassion through it all. I’m now spending much of my day trying to rebook these programs but some of my clients have folded. …….Melinda Wunder

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We are the oldest book club in Lyons, (30+ years) and we do our monthly meetings at different member homes. We have a high percentage of retirees, and we feel this gives us both a literary and social outlet. A few months after the new library opened, we tried out have some meetings in its meeting room. 
When the pandemic closed that down, including our ability to meet in each others homes, we discussed whether a hybrid version would work– to meet outside, in person, while social distancing, and the next month to meet over the internet. Some wanted to try meeting in Lyons parks, which we had done a couple of times the previous summers. But, the majority did not feel it would be safe. It was discarded.

The next choice was to do our meetings over Zoom. Most of us had not used it (although our children had learned it). We relied heavily on one or two members of the book group to train us on Zoom. We were learning together, as peers, the language and practice of “entering a zoom room.” We also figured out how to not talk over each other.

We have faithfully stuck to the online monthly meetings for a year.  We still do a little socializing at the beginning and each person has an opportunity to give their opinion on the book. Sometimes people havent read the book but still join because they want to “see” each other, and miss the companionship. It looks like we will be able to meet again in person by May or June, when everyone’s had their vaccines. Oh, and we miss those yummy homemade snacks too! ………………Lyons Book Club

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“I’ve been surviving,” said Valerie Pellegrin, founder of The Corner Studios. Her studio use to specialize in presenting inspiring art collections. She now has returned full time to what she does best: framing only, with 25 years of experience.  
“Some artists are surviving better than others,” said Valerie of her artist connections. “I have a consistent flow of framing jobs. I think that people are in their homes a lot more, and they are adjusting to their new environment.”

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Just before the pandemic, I was in a great flow with jewelry making and teaching 3 TRX classes a week at Defined Motion. I was heavy into learning many metalsmithing techniques and advancing my practice, and had just come back from the big Tucson gem show with a whole bunch of new and exciting stones to work with. I was registered for two shows to sell my jewelry at, and that was a great motivation to make a variety of jewelry. When the first quarantine happened, I stopped going into my shop for a little bit because I shared the space with two other metalsmiths in a smaller space, and we didn’t want to potentially infect each other, and Defined Motion had to stop operations.
 
Then once we realized we could go into our shop and wear masks, or go in separately at differing times, the barrier became figuring out the school situation with my kids, and my personal creativity went down. It was all so new, different, and felt somewhat chaotic. I brought many materials home to do projects that required less work, such as making wire wrapped earrings, which I would do at the dining room table next to the kids doing their schoolwork. Moving into summer I had simply lost momentum. I became a mountain bike coach for BJC, and put more energy into the family dynamics in a pandemic.
 
 In November, few different variables allowed me to make the decision to move my shop into my barn. The ‘great pause’ also helped me to see how much I missed being in the health and wellness field (which was my career field for ~18 years). So I began a certification program online to become a nationally board certified Health and Wellness Coach, which I am working on currently. I taught one session of TRX classes on Zoom at Defined Motion as well. Currently, my jewelry making is on hold. I love metalsmithing, and will continue it soon, but for now things have shifted. My hope is to share my time between a Health and Wellness Coaching business assisting all types of people in positive behavior change to live their best life, with a further emphasis on motherhood and self-care, and a jewelry business where I have a presence in 2-3 shows a year. 
…………Lori LeGault

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See also March 25 issue: “Business & Self-Employed” articles written by

St. Vrain Market, & Red Canyon Art, & Pizza Bar 66………and personal essays by artist Daniel McKenna, & music coordinator Dave McIntyre.

Our condolences to The Fork, who closed because of the pressures of COVID-restrictions on their business, and will not be reopening.