NEWS Briefs & NOTES from your editor, 12/16/21
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.
This Christmas season is certainly more stressful than many in the past. We have the new Omicron variant spreading and the need to keep our Holiday parties small, and experiencing drought, with many days of high winds that have sparked a few fires. But, I have found that attending “Christmas events,” like the parade, can bring back the joy and excitement of the Holidays, by connecting us to our past Holidays.
There are many triggers that send off sparks, that grow into warm fires. Smells can often do it — like warm pumpkin pie, honey-roasted ham, and sweet potato casserole. What does your family put on your ham: Pineapple · Horseradish ?
And, of course, cookies — whether it is the buttery crumble of shortbread, the snap of gingerbread, or the chewy gooey toffee bars. When I had more little ones in my family circle, I would bake up a few batches of cookies each Christmas. They had to be different each year! And I leaned on “Ladies Home Journal” for some great recipes. Think about your favorites, and let your mind wander, and your mouth water. That’s the Christmas Spirit!
General News
Important Notes: There will be no midnight Christian service this year at the Wildflower Pavilion. The LYONS FOOD pantry will be closed December 22 and 29.
Thank you to all those who donated food to the LEAF Food Pantry, or gave on CO Gives Day to the Lyons Community Foundation, or bought some of Lyons Museum director LaVern Johnson’s famous fudge, or participated in the Holiday Parade, or decorated your home outside for all to enjoy! This week wrapped up the “Town Holiday events.” So, this leaves a quiet time for you to be with family and friends at Christmas. May the Blessings of the Season be with you!
A Christmas Miracle? for LEAF. – That’s what Lory Barton and Rebecca Holley are calling it. Volunteers worked on the LEAF float the day of the parade. Rebecca’s husband Tommy was in charge of the float, and when it was ready, he plugged it into his truck to make sure it worked. Then everyone went down to the parade-start site. Unfortunately a series of outages occurred, over and over, and volunteers were crawling all over the float to check wires or loose lights. Time was flying and other floats passed them by, and Santa’s float was almost next in line. Fortunately, the Lyons Fire Department saw them in distress and offered them their extra generator “we always carry around.” They hooked it up, and presto! the lights all worked, and they were off seconds before Santa’s cart.
SNOW – “kinda” good news — we finally got a small snowfall on Friday, December 10. We needed 1/10th of an inch for it to register as an “official” snowfall, and we got 3/10ths of an inch!! We are now tied with 1887 when they got their first snowfall of the season. (In the meantime the high country got 6 to 22 inches of snow). Interesting to note, that the top four “late snowfalls” were all in the 1880s: 86, 87, 88, and 89. I bet those pioneers who travelled out here to seek their fortunes were thinking twice about whether they had made the right decision! 1887 was both the “longest streak” of consecutive days without snow, and “the latest snow ever.”
WIND STORM: On Wednesday, December 16, Colorado got hit with one of the strongest wind storms on history. The Foothills (which include Boulder and Longmont, as well as Lyons) were hit with winds 80 to 100 mph. Add to that the worry of our drought situation, and possible sparks setting and spreading fires, the Foothills were placed on Red Alert. The storm is said to be heading for the same mid-central states that were just hit by one of the worse tornadoes in US history. == The official highest wind was recorded in 2013 at 97mph. On Wednesday: Stagecoach Rd. hit 87mph and X-Bar had 82 mph, and the open plains went over 110mph! One Lyons person said he almost got blown off Highway 36, but instead saw a 18-wheeler blown on its side! and another person saw one on CO-287. == People were posting photos of giant clouds rolling in 6-7 a.m. and taking over the sky, that were brown or grey in color, with dust from the drought-dry grounds. And, there was an amazing big, full rainbow, from land to land. (No one reporting finding the Pot of Gold at the end.)
DRUG PROBLEM: 624 people have died from Fentanyl in Colorado; 540 died in all of 2020. There was a recent capture of illegal “mismarked” drugs (containing Fentanyl) which had the potential to effect or kill 440,000 people. Please do not buy drugs off the street!
WELLNESS FACILITY: Construction is beginning on the NEW Behavioral Health Facility in Ft. Collins! that we voted for a couple years ago. It will provide a Much Needed 64 beds; and is 55,000 square feet.===The new Larimer Facility will provide licensed, equitable, and culturally relevant care and treatment to individuals in crisis with mental health and/or substance use disorders. == A comprehensive care team will be available 24/7 to accept, assess and assure care for all individuals who arrive at the facility. An intake team will be available for a seamless transfer of care for those in crisis from family, law enforcement officers, and other first responders. A highly-trained care team will provide the appropriate level of care for the appropriate amount of time and coordinate a care plan before being discharged.== It is anticipated to open in two years.
SCHOOL SPORTS: We have an ARTICLE this week that talks about the Cheerleaders going to Nationals, and lists all the coaches this year (several are new), and much more!
INFLATION: numbers have just come out saying that the US is at 6.8 percent inflation. The Federal Reserve will meet this coming week to see what they can do about it.
<repeat> SENIOR LUNCHES: *CHANGES* Beginning January 5th the Redstone Cafe 60 + Senior Lunch Program will be serving lunch THREE DAYS: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week at Walt Self Community Room, next to post office. Reservation required; call 1 day prior by 1 pm. (303) 441-1415. Lunch served Noon to 1 pm. Wear a mask please.
MISS BECKY at the LIBRARY: Storytime update! we will have a break for the holidays. A new session will begin 1/11, format (in person/online) TBD!
News on RECYCLING in our next issue — hot item — for After the Christmas Holiday. (The Town will not be picking up Christmas trees).
CLOSED for Holiday: Lyons Town Hall will be closed Friday, December 24. See our “Things to Do” page for a list of closures over the next 10 days.
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Post Office / Mailing
FINAL MAIL DAYS:
Dec 15 – retail ground
Dec 17 – 1st class mail
Dec 18 – priority mail
Dec 23 – Priority Mail Express
ACTIVITY====
(this paragraph is a repeat) ========click on each link to learn more=======
==see “THINGS TO DO” for lots of activities and events! and more details than you’ll find here in News BRIEFS.
==See also =DECEMBER= SENIOR NEWS. As usual we have a TON of tips, links, and more in the MONTHLY article!
==LYONS LIBRARY – see our ARTICLE November/December for activities – Library will be closed Dec 23 and 24, and Dec 31 and Jan. 1
CHURCHES: Christmas Services, updated the page to show programs and services.
TOY MODEL KITS: Instructor Sonny will have sessions on December 21 and 28. Always check our Things to Do page for updates!
CHILDREN’s BOOK “Signing” – Kat Russell, Lyons local, is having a book release party at the Red Canyon Art store on Saturday, December 18, 1-3 p.m. “The Pond of Reflection” (2nd edition). The book also supports “emergency famine relief.” Both paperback and hardcover are available. Meet the artist and writer who will both be there to sign books. (See also “Things to Do” for more information)
Ice Rink Update=Weather Dependent= The Town is waiting for steady days of colder temps, which still are a long way off, in order to get the outdoor ice rink ready. They will be having three winter concerts coming up. (See our ARTICLE for dates and musicians)
OSKARS – BLUES NIGHT – as many of you know, Oskar Blues Grill & Brew had a return of “blues” to their basement after approximately two or more years — between their remodeling and covid closures. They had The Rhythm Allstars playing Saturday night December 11th. I asked if this will now be a regular thing, and the manager responded: “Stay tuned/ Check our Instagram. I am planning for one or two in January and one or two in February, then a full ramp up in March. We are thrilled to be back at it with music in the basement, and I think the town is excited as well. I hope to have some very special shows very soon!” The Recorder will do a report on blues music during Mardi Gras!
Your Senator John Hickenlooper is having a Virtual Town Hall Meeting on December 16, 5p.m. To view it, go to: hickenlooper.senate.gov/live
LIBRARY – Get your books and DVDs now for “winter break”! The library will be closed Dec 24 and 25, and Dec 31 and January 1st.
COVID-19 NEWS=====
One year ago, Colorado got its first cases of vaccines. It was an exciting time! Today 76.2 have one dose; 68.8 percent are fully vaccinated; totaling 9 million; and 1.2 million Boosters have been administered.
As of this past weekend, in Colorado 95 percent of the COVID cases in ICU beds are those who are not vaccinated. The Delta strain is the dominant one in Colorado, and the US.
Also, the Colorado COVID case numbers are going down, and are at the lowest since November 5th. People are moving indoors with the cooler weather, and it is important to wear masks.
Teens 16 years and older can now get the vaccine Booster, six months after their second dose.
European officials and scientists say the omicron coronavirus variant will soon become the dominant strain in Europe. Denmark, Scotland and Great Britain have noted the fast spread of the omicron variant, with officials in the countries saying the strain could be dominant by next week== While 75 percent of Britains have had their second dose, their Prime Minister has declared that Britain is facing a “tidal wave” of infections from the new Omicron coronavirus variant, after seeing the rapid transmission rates in London and across the country.
Help Wanted, Lyons Recorder=====
TECH HELP — Can you spare a day each month to help with Tech work on our newspaper?
SALES HELP — are you an experienced ”ad sales person”?
FEATURE WRITERS: Join our crew of 33 local writers! (2 new writers as of last month)
Write once a month, once a quarter, or once a year!
Send us your ideas for consideration.
We are currently running a series on new businesses; get to know your local shop owner first-hand!
And, LaVern would love to have someone take over her Board of Trustee meetings, as her hearing isn’t as good as it use to be, and it is very tiring to try and hear them speak. You only need to write up major discussions, not basic agenda items. You’ll be “in” on all the Town business news, who/what/where/when!! Call her at 303-823-5925.
For more information, write to: LyonsRecorder.Editor@gmail.com
This Week’s Articles:
==Update on the proposed Hotel: Comments by Lyons Town Hall Planner, and more drawings of what it might look like.
==What is the new Fiber Cable internet: article by Lyons Communications.
==Schedule of Winter Music in the Park
==Fire Prevention Tips: Christmas is the #2 time for house fires.
==School Sports: info on Cheerleaders going to Nationals; list of all coaches (many new); and more
==IRS – highlight of “Small Business Week” event
==Books: 3 books written by LYONS authors! All give tips on the philosophy of life, and how you can improve it. (including a children’s book)
We promised you “December” local book reviews and lists – for your Christmas Gift shopping!
==Our ANNUAL Victorian Post Card Holiday Greeting from LOCAL BUSINESSES!
……………..
==NEWS BRIEFS & NOTES from your editor – “News Announcements” that are too short to have their own article.
Government, Covid, Activities, Town, Businesses, School, and Town ”gossip”.
==FLASH News/now called “Your To Do List” – find out details about upcoming activities, classes, deadlines, and more.
==ABOUT TOWN by LaVern Johnson, tid bits of news from around town. And Board Meeting notes.
ENJOY!
MY WEEKLY MESSAGE OF CARE:
The United States has experienced one of its worst tornado disasters in its history this week —
Tornadoes destroying buildings and homes, flattening many areas. It touched down and travelled approximately 223 to 250 miles, from Arkansas to Kentucky, meteorologists say. Dozens of people were killed as tornadoes swept across at least six states. Officials said there were at least 70 deaths in Kentucky. Winds registered 70 to 120 miles per hour.
We offer up the usual helpful organizations for you to consider making donations to – which includes Red Cross and the Salvation Army, who were visible when Lyons had its flood disaster; but these are specific to Kentucky, who was hit the hardest.
Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund- (Governor Beshear has established the Team) https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Finance/WKYRelief
United Way of Kentucky: The agency has set up a donation site specifically for tornado victims. Visit uwky.org/tornado.
American Red Cross of Kentucky: call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999.
Aspire Appalachia (they also help animals in trouble): Send donations to paypal@aspireappalachia.org or PO Box 1255, Jackson, KY 41339.
Kentucky Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters -Visit kentuckyvoad.org/.
Salvation Army (they helped feed people during Lyons Flood): Visit helpsalvationarmy.org and donate to the Salvation Army Western KY Disaster Relief Fundraiser on Facebook.
Samaritans Purse; US Disaster Relief Fund (they helped in Lyons Flood repairs): The nonprofit has deployed team members and resources to western Kentucky. Donate to the U.S. Disaster Relief fund at samaritanspurse.org/donation-items/us-disaster-relief-donation/.
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Thank you for being steady readers of the Lyons Recorder. We hope you benefit from our relevant articles each week, and have some fun, too! ………..Your Editor, Kathleen
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