Notes from your editor, 4/1/21
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.
Ten days have passed since the tragic mass shooting in Boulder. There are almost daily vigils, ceremonies, funerals, and more in Colorado. Lyons had a Vigil in Sandstone Park on Sunday, March 18 at 7 p.m., sponsored by LEAF. There was live music, speakers, lighting of candles and more. A good turnout of 125 people. See our article, with a fifteen photographs, including the full program and speeches. We continue to update our “How you can give, and How you can receive help” page with lists of reputable places to donate, or to contact for help for yourself.
A group that counts “mass shootings” (which they define as four or more people shot and killed, not including the gun man) stated that the number went up drastically in 2020. Statistics: starting in 2014 — 269, 335, 382, 346, 336, 417, and 611 in 2020. In 2021, the United States has witnessed 103 mass shootings in 29 different states (and Washington D.C.) in the first 82 days. There are some gun legislation bills in Washington, D.C. under consideration that have to do with expanded background checks, which the majority of the public support. With the NRA falling into disarray, it would seem that the legislators won’t be pressured to vote “no” (afraid to lose their political contributions), but this has been going on for decades, so there’s no way to predict if/when the bills would pass. If you feel strongly about this, you should write your congress person.
So how about more statistics, but this time about weather in MARCH! We had a record snow fall and almost record in high winds. March had 33.6 inches of snow, which is the snowiest March ever. March usually has 11 inches of snow. Next comes our #2 snowiest month of April, with an average of 8.9 inches. That sounds puny now.
For the first time in a long time, we are able to relax and KNOW ahead of time that our Easter Sunday will be in the 70s and sunny. It’s as good an excuse as any to Wear your Easter Bonnet! with no fear of getting snowed on! The majority of our elders are now vaccinated and many families will be enjoying visiting over the Easter ham this spring.
Let’s get to the news…
GENERAL NEWS=====
April 1 – 6 to 7 p.m. Town of Lyons SOLAR ELECTRICITY NEEDS Feedback Meeting==Town will be hosting a virtual town hall on Thursday April 1st 2021, from 6 – 7 p.m., with the purpose of receiving feedback from the residents of Lyons on the possibility of a new solar installation to provide 5% of the towns electricity needs. This town hall will be conducted via the following zoom link, https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/94586406306. This idea got many positive “likes” on Facebook!
MAILBOXES DAMAGED: posting on Facebook= The mailboxes were destroyed by an early morning wreck (maybe drunk driver?) The driver was injured and transported to the hospital after taking out 12 mailboxes on one side of Hwy 66 and ending up in the ditch on the other side.
PLANET BLUEGRASS BEGIN SELLING TICKETS: comments posted on Facebook 3/24/21 – Last week we announced our Spring Grass series, and we were overwhelmed by the response. All shows sold out within minutes, and it was made clear that people need musical medicine now more than ever before. We got together as a team and thought, hey, why not double the fun? ===We are still operating at a reduced capacity, but are so excited to be adding thirteen shows to our existing spring lineup. Yes, you read that right- thirteen! Almost all artists have signed on for another night of music under the stars on the main stage. This time around, we will be holding a limited number of corrals for Lyons locals (that’s you!). We will be doing a local presale beginning tomorrow- you can find all the details below.
(The Lyons Recorder will have a full article about what is happening in 2021 with Planet Bluegrass in the next week or two.)
3/30/21 PPP EXTENDED – President Joe Biden signed the PPP Extension Act of 2021 into law today, extending the Paycheck Protection Program an additional two months to May 31, 2021, and then providing an additional 30-day period for the SBA to process applications that are still pending.
THE RIVER CHURCH Monday Suppers ending = Now, as many of the restrictions are being lifted and more and more people are getting out and about, we are going to be ending Monday night meals. Our final dinner will be Monday, April 19th. We continue to look for ways to serve our community and will update you as to the direction of the Manna Cafe going forward.
STEWART FAMILY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LONGMONT MUSEUM WITH $1 MILLION DONATION. The Museum will use the funds to target strategic plan initiatives, such as building expansion, staff support, and needed equipment. ====During her life, Lila Stewart was the leading contributor to the Museum’s 2012 $4.5 million capital campaign, enabling the construction of the state-of-the-art Stewart Auditorium. Although Stewart died in 2018, in 2019 the Stewart Family Foundation awarded the Museum $80,000 to pay for a Master Development Plan, which will inform building growth. In 2020, the Foundation contributed another $200,000 that has been critical in offsetting revenue lost from many months of closure and restricted admission. ====CURRENT EXHIBITS: The Longmont Museum is currently exhibiting the original work of Impressionists Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro and their printmaker George William Thornley in a show entitled “Enduring Impressions,” on view with timed ticketing through July 18.==== It hopes to return to regular, in-person programming this summer, starting with the annual outdoor Summer Concert Series. We all benefit from the supported growth of this amazing museum.
ACTIVITY====
LYONS Teen and Youth Bike/Hike Group Meet-Greet Meeting
High school senior and outdoors enthusiast Charlie Chilson is starting a hiking and mountain biking group for teenagers and young adults here in Lyons. There will be an initial meeting at Sandstone park Sunday, April 4, at 4 PM to discuss what the group will look like, what their planned activities will be, and their longer term goals. Parents are welcome to attend, and we will follow mask and social distancing guidelines. Charlie is welcoming to teenagers and young adults of most skill levels and abilities, and there will be 2-3 optional events per week varying in duration and physical difficulty. He’s looking forward to meeting new people, and hearing other’s ideas for having fun outdoors.
DANCE CLASSES: Message from DEFINED MOTION: We have been having so much fun these past few weeks. What a difference it has made to have kiddos back dancing with us and to remember what we do and why. Our first 6 week session has gone so smoothly, we are adding another 6 week session, April 12th-May 21st We did open up preregistration already to those students currently enrolled but we still have room in many classes. If the class you want is full please waitlist because spots do become available sometimes.
HELP CAL WOOD CHILDREN’S OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER rebuild bluebird boxes and picnic tables – YOU can build them from home and hey will pick them up and put a photo on their social media – or you can donate money. QUOTE: BLUEBIRD BOXES: We have an ongoing research project involving forty nest boxes spread around the Cal-Wood property and many were lost in the fire. The boxes originally focused on blue birds, but have been used by a number of other species including Mountain Chickadee, House Wren, Western Blue Bird, Mountain Blue Bird, and Tree Swallows. Data has been recorded for each nest box every year since 2000! Instructions can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/kzdhj9w3 PICNIC TABLES: We lost many of our picnic tables and are seeking DIY-loving families to help us rebuild 12 tables. The materials list totals about $250-300 per table, and an ‘expert’ can build one of the tables in about 4 hours. Instructions can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/jwk675p2
Email angie@calwood.org if you’re planning to build something for Cal-Wood and make sure to tag us when you post your finished project!
POETRY CONTEST: The Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission is excited to announce a call for submissions for our new Lyons Poetry in Public Places Contest. The theme is “Finding joy and beauty in Lyons.” (This will be listed in FLASH NEWS, until the deadline is reached, May 24).
STAMP OUT RACISM, next meeting is April 8, Lyons Community Church (See FLASH NEWS for more details)
ROCKY MT NATIONAL PARK (NPS) announced this week that they will have a temporary timed-permit for the summer of 2021. Also, you are required to get a Commuter Permit if you want to travel for non-recreational reasons from over to Grand Lake. Note it takes 4 to 6 weeks to get the Commuter permit, as they need to verify that you are a local resident. See our full article this week for more details. It also links to the page that gives what fire-burnt areas are now open to the public.
PILE BURNING WORKSHOP: Big Thompson Watershed Coalition shared: The Ember Alliance is hosting a Pile Burning Workshop this Saturday, April 3rd from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and again from 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. (See FLASH NEWS for more details, and links, or Register here.)
****Remember to go to FLASH NEWS to read in DETAIL about all the CLASSES == TALKS == DISCUSSIONS that are going on in town!****
COVID-19 NEWS=====
VACCINE NEWS:
By early March, the United States had started administering more than 2 million shots per day. The country surpassed President Biden’s initial goal of 100 million vaccines into arms in his first 100 days, reaching that tally by Day #58. He has now set a goal to have an additional 100 million done by the end of his first 100 days.
The Denver Metro area now has FIVE mass vaccination sites, with one more to soon open. Their aim is to administer 36,000 total per week.
A new record: 3.49 million vaccines were given in one day: March 27th
27.9% percent of Colorado has been vaccinated. The number seems to jump by one percent every day. It’s hard to keep up! 16.8% are fully vaccinated. But you have to take into consideration that 20% of people do not qualify for vaccines (eg, kids)
As of Friday, April 2, anyone 16 or older can get on the list to be vaccinated.
Six states have done the same thing. Forty states are committed to doing it by May 1st. Seventeen states have no mask requirements.
GET VACCINE IN LYONS
LEAF has been selected to host a community COVID vaccination clinic, as part of Governor Polis’s Vaccines for All Plan.
*When: Saturday, April 10 and Saturday, May 8 (for the second vaccine dose), 10am to 3pm
*Where: Lyons Community Church, 350 Main Street, Lyons
*Who: We will have 250 doses to be administered to randomly-selected qualified applicants who live in the 80540 zip code
*How: Please visit LEAF’s website (leaflyons.org) or Facebook page starting on Monday, April 5 for the link to apply
*Cost: The vaccines are free
*Which: Our clinic will administer the Moderna vaccine.
Please, no phone calls. The team is working very hard to provide this opportunity on a short turn-around basis.
KARMA TIDBIT: The Custer County Commissioners appointed themselves as the Public Health Agency and declared that everything was open for business, and no masks needed. This week, all three declared that they have tested positive for COVID-19.
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==Both Larimer and Boulder are in YELLOW Level.
Level Yellow – Indoor Dining: 50% or 150 people, whichever is fewer.
Patrons in different parties must be a minimum of 6 feet apart. The spacing of tables may need to be 6 feet or more to ensure proper physical distancing between diners from different parties.
All employees must wear masks that cover the nose and mouth.
Disinfecting and deep-cleaning of all shared surfaces between seatings.
Keep parties together, and do not allow them to mingle with each other.
Alcohol sales MUST conclude by 1 a.m.
==The 5 star restaurants in Level Blue can now open at 100%. However, this is not the perfect solution as the tables still have to be six feet apart, and if you are a small restaurant you may still be operating with only 25 to 50 percent capacity.
Level Blue: main changes are: Businesses can now open at 100%. Alcohol sales MUST conclude by 2 a.m. == Bars (those businesses serving drinks only) may conduct take-out service.
==ENTERTAINMENT VENUES/EVENTS: Mid-April the state will hand over regulation authority to local agencies/counties, except for large scale events. Elitch Gardens and Red Rocks. and the AVS and Broncos will all see small live audiences/attendees now.
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==CDC EVICTION MORATORIUM EXTENDED
3/29/21: The CDC issued a moratorium on evictions for millions of American renters effective from Sept. 4 to Dec. 31, 2020 — then extended to March 31 — now extended to June 30. To be eligible, you must either earn less than $99,000 a year ($198,000 for couples), have received a stimulus check, or have been exempt from paying income tax in 2019. If you’re struggling to pay rent, you’ll need to attest in a signed declaration to your landlord that you’ve sought rental assistance, that being evicted would require you to double up with others or become homeless, and that you promise to make partial rent payments. The CDC moratorium does not change local eviction protections currently in place, and does not relieve you of your obligation to pay rent.
FRIEND MESSAGES:
Condolences to the Lyons’ family of TERI LEIKER, shooting victim (age 51). Her parents are Tom and Marge Whittington. They lived to the west of Foothills Highway, as you go out of town. Tom was developer in town. They redid the first house that belonged to Boyes,now Eagle Canyon. She did the first Chamber Brochure. Teri Leiker was a 30 year employee of King Soopers. She graduated from Longmont High School.
This Week’s Articles 4/1/21
We have a lot of interesting photos in this week’s issue! And more coming up in the next couple of weeks!
If you missed any of the articles relating to “1 year with COVID” you can check out the INDEX page, which has direct links to each of the 24 “anniversary” articles.
==VIGIL Sunday==This article gives an overview of the events, and the text from the speeches. We have 15 photographs that capture the evening, including several that may show “you” in the crowd. It was a memorable night, and gave many people some emotional relief. Everyone wants to do “something,” and donating sometimes just isn’t “enough,” so this gave us a way to grieve as a community and send prayers to the deceased.
==Pinewood Fire Department did training in car crash rescue
==New Electric Meters – this is an excellent rational and detailed article about what kind of meters are being installed, and the benefits that will be derived from using them.
==Apply for a grant to get “fire/tree mitigation” done around your home (Boulder County).
==Rocky Mt National Park has settled on the rules for “timed-entry” into the Park for 2021. Read all the details. If you have any reason to go THROUGH the Park (not as a “tourist” but to get to “the other side”) read about the permit you will need. This permit takes 6 to 8 weeks, so check it out now!
==PHOTO JOURNAL: Capturing some fun moments around town in March!
==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, town news, caring messages, and more…
MY WEEKLY MESSAGE OF CARE:
Please check out the “How you can give” article for links to many worthy causes that are helping the deceased victim’s families, the grocery store workers, the police and first responders, the emotionally and mentally hurting people connected to the tragic event.
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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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