NEWS Briefs & NOTES from your editor, 2/17/22
If there ever is an emergency in town, or timely news
you can trust the Lyons Recorder to put it online immediately.
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With me on the Computer every day, the “ease of operation” is essential to my sanity.
I noticed an old post by me, back in 2014, about Microsoft Windows: I posted a video that showed people who “hated Windows 8” on how they could revert back to Windows 7!
Remember going from a serene “sky blue and grassy hill” screen with ONE home/Start box in the corner to dozens of “picture boxes” filling your screen?
Microsoft wanted to make the cellphone and computer-screen look the same, but it was “a step too far” for most home users.
Thank goodness they heard our protests and brought back the START Button!! and gave us the option of a “serene” screen again.
Windows 8 went out in 2016. But I have a 95 yr old friend who was still using W7 until last month! when her computer died… Remember when people hated to give up their “XP”?! We kept it long past the time that MS stopped doing updates. It was like giving up our old beloved 7 year old car.
Then, we went from 8.1 to 10 in 2015. (8.1 will be supported thru 2023; and, there was no #9) Most people have W10 now, and it will be supported thru 2025; and W11 is also available.
Oh, how we can time our lives by Microsoft numbers…
………….Your Editor, Kathleen Spring
General News
We have a whole bunch of tid bits of news for you this week — we’ve moved our COVID section to a separate article because there is sooo much going on — lots of “new science/medical news” and “kid news”
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Winter Wonderland Concert – Jesse Garland on the 13th gave a sizzling jazzy concert at Bohn Park. Thank you Town of Lyons, and Lyons Community Foundation, for arranging for these free concerts to help us enjoy winters. The weather was lovely, and fun to see our neighbors.
Ian Brighton’s concert fundraiser for Marshall Fire victims was a big success, with all the tickets to the live performance at the Lyons Community Church sold out – and lots of people seeing it lived streamed at Spirit Hound Distillery Sunday, February 13, afternoon. Also, thanks for audio provided through Grace. Ian said, “It’s a concert at a church streamed to a distillery. Ain’t this a great town?” (We’ll have more, and a great photo in our MONTHLY “STROLL Through Lyons” section next week)
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE: both schools reported that parents stepped up and provided food for the teachers during the long nights, making Parent Teacher Conference nights so much easier. === Schools are closed this Friday, February 19.
(repeat) Jeff Schacht, deceased = The family now has a date for the Memorial Service. = at the WeeCasa Tiny Home Resort, Saturday March 26th at 2 p.m.
OUR Center (similar to LEAF) is seeking a person to help coordinate family in need with their services. It is a 20 hour a week paid position (see the ad on the Front Page, just after the 13 articles listed for this week)
Donations to Can’d Aid (Oskar Blues’ nonprofit) for the Berthoud “Adaptive Park Project” are now up to $100,000! Many thanks! more help needed. (the first of its kind)
The Community Foundation Boulder County raised $27 Million for wildfire victims.
The Table Mesa King Soopers welcomed back shoppers last week, with a brief ceremony, and a “ribbon tying” instead of “cutting,” to represent unity. It was completely remodeled inside and out. See the Boulder Museum for an exhibit. We pray for the lost persons and their families.
Larimer County has a new building code effective March 1st. See details on their web site. They do this every 3 years.
Animal lovers on the Front Range adopted a record number of pets from the Animal Friends Alliance in Ft. Collins.
Hwy 34 BRIDGE WORK: I-25 widening and US Highway 34 bridge reconstruction continues as the Colorado Department of Transportation progresses on the second section of the new US 34 bridge over I-25. Crews poured the new concrete deck on the new portion of the US 34 bridge during nighttime hours on Feb. 15. When complete, the new US 34 bridge will add an additional through lane in each direction and reconfigure the on- and off-ramps. The project will also increase capacity on I-25 by adding an Express Lane in both directions, constructing inside and outside shoulders, and replacing aging bridges. The project will also improve multimodal access to regional transit.
REBUILDING A HOME in BOULDER COUNTY: In the wake of the Marshall Fire, there are hundreds of families in Boulder County in need of practical, useful advice as they take their initial steps toward the rebuilding process. This event will be the first of a year-long series of conversations and trainings hosted by the Colorado Green Building Guild and sponsored by Boulder County intended to grow the connection between high performance building professionals and those in the public looking for expert advice and live Q&A about the ins and outs of building a high-performance home. Find more information about CGBG on their website.
Colorado’s marijuana industry can celebrate 2021 as a record-breaking year with over $2.22 billion in sales. This is a trend that’s grown since marijuana sales started in January 2014. In 2019, it was $1.19 billion. I wonder how much of this has to do with people in lockdown during covid?
CELL PHONE – 3G will degrade: If you have a device from 2012 or before you will have degraded service, if any, in the next month or so. Not just the flip phones and feature phones are affected. Some early smartphones may also be included, and you can’t always tell by the name marketer’s use. This also includes the cheaper discount providers, like Boost, Cricket, Straight Talk and others, who don’t have their own network. Check with your company to see when the deadline is (this will happen betw Feb 22 and July 1st, depending on your company)
MEGADROUGHT: The American West’s megadrought deepened so much last year that it is now the driest in at least 1200 years and is a worst-case climate change scenario that has been feared might happen. The last comparable — though not as severe — multi-decade megadrought occurred in the 1500s. This covers the Western U.S. and northern Mexico. (new study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change)
LEAF – EGGS = Did you know Lyons Dairy Bar donates 30 dozen eggs to our Food Pantry every week. 360 eggs. That’s a lotta omelettes! Kidding aside, it’s a lotta healthy nutrition for local people. Please thank Cory Pierce and his team the next time you’re there.
Denver Police Dept.’s “STAR Vans” has been a success – sending out health responders instead of police for non criminal calls. They will buy another 3 units to run 7 days a week, from 6am to 10pm. They started out with one van, then added 3, and now there will be 7 in just a year! They got 2,800 calls for things like such things as depression and mental health crisis. Such a wonderful thing!
NO ATV’s! – Pinewood Springs PSPOA was approached this week by Estes ATV company about the idea of opening up a “parking lot” for their vehicles on Hwy 36 next to the Pie shop. They would store them there and people could pick them up. Within about 2 hours, residents posted hard facts as to why it was not wanted: fuel and oil runoff into the nearby reservoir, lots of noise, dust, and congestion; potential trial rides and burn outs on our streets; taking off and going to Big Elk’s Johnny Park nearby; blocking connecting driveways with traffic. Maybe it was the “all negative” response, or maybe it was a “zoning” thing, but whatever it was, the ATV idea was dropped that day!
GOODWILL GRANT DEADLINE EXTENDED: Nonprofits in Lyons who would like to do “good/helpful” programs, etc. for the public can submit their applications now thru the end of February. (See our “Things to Do” for more details)
ELECTRIC BILLS: Xcel Energy announced 37% increase because of what they are buying on the market; next month 14% increase to residential – May thru October. ==Poudre REA is lowering its rates!
SNOWFALL: Our January snowfall was 13.4” total. We just got another 6” Wednesday, and Lyons schools again went on a 2 hour delay the next day. It seems like we get this every Tuesday or Wednesday!
Inflation is peaking at 7.5% Energy costs are up 27%. The Federal Reserve is looking at what it can do. (the politicians and president are not in charge of it)
MARSHALL FIRE: 10 bills were introduced to address the wildfires… totaling more than 30 million dollars. It includes a tax credit to homeowners who create defensible space around their homes; and matching grants. === It will cost $52 million to get the clean up done, with a goal of 7/1/22 for completion. ===A number of homeowners are putting their properties up for sale, rather than rebuild.
Important SCHOOL SPORTS:
(1.) Wrestling State send off happening Feb 16th at 2:30pm. Please come out and wish Jaden Gardner and Ashley Booth good luck on their journey to a State title.
(2.) Friday, Feb 18th, is Senior Night for the LHS Basketball teams! We honor four senior Lions: Jack Abernathy, Grant Gau, Gage Basey and James Dean. (The Girls’ team has no seniors this year.) Come support our local Lyons’ teams!
Game times: Boys JV 4:00, Girls Varsity 5:30, Boys Varsity 7:00
Business News
GREEN GOO: An Australian cannabis and hemp company has purchased Sierra Sage Herbs LLC, in an all-stock deal worth $21 million. Sierra is the maker of the Green Goo, Southern Butter and Good Goo natural and more. They were Pioneers in Plant-Based, Natural First-Aid and Body Care. It made products including some with and without CBD. It is being praised as a major milestone for Creso Pharma; and it will provide it a foothold in the USA’s CBD market.
Looking to expand? DIA is seeking developers to build hotels and restaurants near the cell phone lot. Many of us thought this was a temporary “lot,” but it looks like it’s here to stay.
The Parks & Open Space department is now accepting applications for the 2022 Artist-in-Residence Program at Caribou Ranch open space. Online applications will be accepted through Monday, Feb. 28. Selected artists will stay in the historic DeLonde Barn at Caribou Ranch Open Space. The open space property offers a variety of landscapes and wildlife to inspire you. Artists can stay up to four days and three nights (Wednesday-Saturday) during a period from July 15 to Sept. 30. Note, rustic accommodations. visit boco.org/artist or contact Pascale Fried at pfried@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6201.
Oskar Blues has closed its “Boulder Taproom” on 921 Pearl Street (opened in 2017). It served staples, craft beer and pub grub. (We will be doing an article on the changes that happen when Oskar Blues sold part of its business last month).
Planet Bluegrass’s request for changes to its Agreement—see our ARTICLE and what they are asking for==== SECOND READING Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 7:00 pm.
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. Plus deadlines.
==FEBRUARY SENIOR NEWS. As usual we have a TON of tips, links, and more in the MONTHLY article!
==LYONS LIBRARY
The Boulder International Film Festival is the first weekend of March in Boulder – our local Dechen Hawk will be part of the Singer/Songwriter Showcase! (Volunteers get free tickets)
-repeat- SENIORS! Town of Lyons Bus Trip – March 6th to Denver Downtown Aquarium. 12noon to 5:30p.m.. Contact LRamsey@townoflyons.com
LIBRARY – the library has expanded the number of books it has available to lend out by joining “Prospector”. You can learn how to do it in 2 minutes by viewing their video on their front page. Don’t jump the gun and think you can do it on your own, by guessing, as it involves linking with Aspen Cat. Or, stop in, and a staff person will show you. It’s free. Prospector is a unified catalog of academic, public, and special libraries in Colorado and Wyoming providing access to 30 million books, journals, DVDs, CDs, and other materials.
Olympics in Beijing, February 4 – 20. (on Channel 9) At the half way mark, the US has 8 GOLD, 8 SILVER, 4 BRONZE. The US team has more women athletics than any other team, in any other year!! |
COVID-19 NEWS=====
We have so much news this week that we are doing a separate ARTICLE. This includes Boulder County joining all the other Metro Area Counties and dropping their mask mandate this weekend.
Boulder County7 day positivity rate 10.2% (2/14/22)
Highest rate in 12-17 and 23-34 age range.
96% one dose
73% full course (ages 5 and up) including Lyons
Larimer County
7-day positivity rate 7.9%
71.8% one dose
66% full course
Government News
The IRS started the year struggling with a backlog of about 6 million unprocessed individual returns going back as far as 2019. A massive pileup of unprocessed returns accrued during the pandemic. As of this week, it has hit 24 million unprocessed for 2020. Don’t get your hopes up for fast reviews and refunds!
====Town of Lyons Board of Trustee Meeting, (moved from 2/21 a federal holiday) 2/22 at 7pm.
The Town will decide if LEAF or Lyons Arts District will lease the Depot building. Your comments are welcome.
See our ARTICLE for the details of what each group will bring to the table if they rent the property.
See Town’s web page for the AGENDA and PACKET
===Town of Lyons Board of Trustee SPECIAL Meeting 2/23/22 Wednesday
—-Planet Bluegrass Ranch Conditional Use Review of Site Plan and Associated Keynotes – public welcome.
Requesting ability to have 1,000 more campsites on the “Farm” side of their property, off Apple Valley Rd., along with constructing a building and bridge. See more details in our ARTICLE, and a “Question & Answer” with Planet Bluegrass.
See Town’s web page for the AGENDA and PACKET
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”? Would you like to help a non-profit? or sell by commission?
FEATURE WRITERS: Join our crew of 35 local writers!
Write once a month, once a quarter, or once a year!
Send us your ideas for consideration.
Our next series will be on local artists.
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. Or write LyonsRecorder.Editor@gmail.com
For more information, write to: LyonsRecorder.Editor@gmail.com
This Week’s Articles:
We’re jammed pack with articles this week!
==Two HOT Town of Lyons Board of Trustee Meetings
2/22 Decision on whether to lease the DEPOT to LEAF or Arts District
2/23 Decision on whether to allow 1,000 campers on habitat site of Planet Bluegrass (and more)
==Black History Month – a List of Black-oriented Museums
==COVID News – Boulder Count Masks//kids//endemic//stats//more
==3 free “behavioral health” sessions available for Youth
==Bird feeding and Water in Winter
==This School needs your help (letter)
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==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”.
==”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:
About 80,000 Afghans have arrived in the U.S. since last summer. Many of them fought through crowds at the Kabul airport to board planes before western forces pulled out completely in August. During the Trump era, resettlement agency lost money, and many have not come back. But Team Rubicon, who was founded by a group of U.S. military veterans saw a use for their logistical and organizational skills during disasters at home. They are a small group of veterans that started helping with the catastrophic 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Often they would use their own money. They made a significant impact, and that made others feel the calling to help. Now they are turning to helping the refugees settle in America.
In 2010, Colorado saw it’s own chapter rise up after the Big Thompson flood. Members say that they may not be the biggest group in the nation, but their 6,500 people in Colorado are likely the most active. They are either service members, or some how connected to the military service. They have lately been gathering used furniture to deliver to Afghan homes in Colorado. They now have a warehouse space packed with tables, chairs, couches… and cribs, destined for new life.
They are rated on Charity Navigator: Exceptional. This charity’s score is 96.46, earning it a 4-Star rating. Donors can “Give with Confidence” to this charity.
Team Rubicon | Built To Serve … https://teamrubiconusa.org
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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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