NEWS Briefs & NOTES from your editor, 4/28/22
If there is ever an emergency in town, or timely news needing to be distributed, you can trust the Lyons Recorder to put it online immediately.
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March and April are two of our snowiest months of the year (which may come as a surprise to some Midwesterners who have moved here… and are use to an April SPRING!)
But this year, I spent the month changing from flannel bedsheets and sweats, to cotton nightclothes and t-shirts about a 100 times…ok, well, maybe not 100, but it was relentless!
Normally February gets close to 9 inches of snow, but we haven’t had snow since St. Patrick’s Day in March. And this April we have 0.01 – that is ONE ONE-HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH of precipitation! Yes, our “ski resort/mountain towns” got some snow, but the official measurement is taken on flat land near cities.
At this point, NOOA is still predicting (as of April) that most of the state, and our area, will have a 70 to 90% “seasonal water supply” in our reservoirs. Snow pack is in the 75-110% range. Add to that, according to NOAA, as of a week ago, we are in the lowest drought range — D0 (Abnormally Dry), and surrounded by D1 (Moderate Drought).
So I think we can breathe ok for now. We are now moving beyond the traditionally very windy month of April. I just wish we had the “traditional” April Showers Bring May Flowers!
………….Your Editor, Kathleen Spring
General News
Lyons “matriarch” LaVern Johnson is no longer able to live independently and has moved to an assisted living home in Longmont. She is not feeling well. I’m sure she would love to get a greeting card from you – whether it is “Get Well” or “Thinking of You” – I checked with the “home” and they said her “building” doesn’t have a post office box, so you can mail it to their main building at:
LaVern Johnson,
Catherine & Charles Hover Green house, Skilled Nursing
1425 Belmont Rd
Longmont 80503
EARTH DAY EVENTS:
== on Friday, Lyons Gateway Realty had about 20 people show up and collected about 15 bags of trash, plus a bag of recycle. Wow! Thank You!
== And, on Saturday, April 23, nonprofit Can’d Aid (related to Oskar Blues) partnered with Sustainable Resilient Longmont last weekend to clean up litter and debris along Left Hand Creek in Longmont for Earth Day. This weekend they counted: 43 volunteers, 55 bags of trash, 8 bags recycling, and 5 bags of compostables (an estimated 500 lbs of waste and 15 lbs recycling) Great job!
MESSAGE FROM MAYOR about NOT POSTING on FACEBOOK “comments”: Hollie Rogin: Hello! I’m honored to be your new Mayor, and I look forward to serving the community. Please follow this account for official news and information. While social media can be a valuable way of communicating, please know that as public officials, your Board of Trustees has limits on participation. Open Meetings laws prohibit more than two Trustees to gather without first noticing a public meeting to the community. This applies to online conversations as well; if more than two Trustees interact with a post having to do with Town matters, it is a violation of the Open Meetings law. We do very much want to hear your thoughts, though! You can email us at: TOL_BOT@townoflyons.com.
Colorado home prices = SEE OUR ARTICLE for Fun(?) Facts! on commercial and home real estate news happening in Colorado and Front Range. Median price up 20+%
========SPORTS===========
MAJOR COLORADO SPORTS TEAM NEWS: The Denver Pioneers won the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four Championship after defeating the Minnesota State Mavericks 5-1 at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. Only two nights after eliminating Michigan from the Frozen Four, the University of Denver Pioneers joined the Wolverines as the only schools to win nine national championships. Congrats! === The Denver basketball team Pistons is in the playoffs. The Western Conference Playoffs first round. Enjoy it while you can! ==== And the Denver hockey team won the Division. Colorado Avalanche – keep the momentum going all the way to The Stanley Cup finals and beyond to the Top! === congratulate the Colorado Avalanche Adult Sled Hockey team on being crowned the Adult National Champions over the weekend!
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ENVIRONMENT – this will tell you something about a change in the world regarding paying attention to climate change – for years, trucks sold more than cars. NOW Sales of electric vehicles were up and truck sales down in Colorado in the first quarter of 202. See our ARTICLE about Pollution in Colorado.
MAMBO (live band in Lyons) – while this is an “activity” I’m going to put it here so that you don’t miss it – it’s the FINAL event for the month-long Baile speakers and teachers: Colorado Mambo Orchestra featuring Dr. Raul Murciano (original member of the Miami Sound Machine) will be playing a FREE concert at the Lyons Library this Saturday from 4-6 p.m. Tickets are free but need to be reserved on the library web site. Promotor Brighton says: If it fills up, come and dance on the sidewalk. If the weather is good, they will open the “garage door” to the patio area.
VETERAN MEDICAL NEEDS: The Department of Veterans Affairs is issuing a rule that will add nine rare respiratory cancers to its list of presumptive service-connected disabilities for veterans exposed to toxins in burn pits during their military service, President Joe Biden announced Monday.
PARK PONDS algae: Greg Lowell Aerators/bubblers now up and running in the ponds – finally. Goodbye algae (Greg assists the Ecology Advisory Board)
Town of Lyons RESIDENTS Branch Pick UP – May 16 & 17, 2022 – for the exact Info go here (LOTS! of details): INFORMATION
BASEBALL Field Locked up – why? – response, from Dave Cosgrove our Parks Director: “The contractor is still doing work on both the ballfields. Bohn is nearly complete and we have opened it for practices and will be playing games on it this week. Vasquez field needs more work and we plan to have done later in the week. Fields will be able to be scheduled through our recreation department, Lisa Ramsey. During the season, we have many teams practicing and playing games. This requires considerable prep-including watering, raking, dragging, lining and setting bases and pitching rubbers to required distances. Like most communities, we need to ensure the fields are manicured and prepped for these events. With only two fields and many, many teams, this is a challenge……We will look into ways to offer use of the fields in off hours, off season and times not scheduled for practices or games.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING: LONGMONT has approved 83 apartment homes to be built. Eligible: households making 30-60% of area median income. Located near intersection of Hwy. 66 and Main Street. (April 2022) – see more info on housing markets and the 20% increase in ‘median prices’ in our ARTICLE this week. == As well as some big commercial sales, and big construction projects in the Front Range. And comments by local realtors.
UKRAINE: while we don’t talk about world news much here, I will give a short update, just so when people read this in 50 years, they will know what was happening in the world around Lyons. – It’s been over two months since the War started. The Russian attack on the capital of Ukraine has failed. They are now focusing on taking over the far eastern side of the country, razing most of the buildings and killing most of the citizens. They hope to have a clear path of land between the ports in the Black Sea to land in Russia. The peace talk negotiations have been called off. The head of the UN has met with Putin and he has agreed to let humanitarian groups come in and rescue the 1,000+ people hiding in a steel complex.
The Warning SIRENS will be tested this weekend. See our Article for dates/times/ etc.
TAKE BACK DRUG DAY – Saturday April 30th. See our Things to Do page for more info. Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.
TWITTER: big news. The richest man in the world has bought TWITTER for $44 billion and will be turning it into a privately held company (not on the stock market). And wants to promote more free speech.
APRIL is POETRY MONTH – Our final poem is this week.. about a sweet dog. We enjoy publishing poems by local writers any time of the year. Please write us at LyonsRecorder.Editor@gmail.com
FIRE News
The new Lyons Fire Chief Zick has prepared some information about his goals, including fire mitigation. Plus tips on the TAX BALLOT. See ARTICLE this week.
The Lyons Fire Dept. visited the library and instructed the staff on basic CPR skills. Thank you!
If there is ever an emergency in town, or timely news needing to be distributed, you can trust the Lyons Recorder to put it online immediately. == For the Wildfire this past weekend, we posted multiple updates on our Facebook page “as announced” by the Sheriff’s Office! …and then did a summary article of evacuations, damage, maps, and photos!
PINEWOOD SPRINGS == quote: We were honored last week to be visited by our local Brownie Girl Scout Troop 77784. They brought us Girl Scout Cookies they collected by identifying the Pinewood Springs Fire Department as one of several agencies in our area designated as Hometown Heroes. Thank you very much girls, we love cookies!
HELICOPTERS: helicopter-based fire suppression and classroom training by Colorado Army National Guard.==The trainees will take off from Vance Brand Municipal Airport in Longmont and Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora. Boulder Fire-Rescue, Longmont, the U.S. Forest Service, the Oklahoma Army National Guard and Kansas Army National Guard will also be a part of the training. The final week is April 26-29.
PINEWOOD FIRE DEPT REPORT: 4/27/22 Overnight, Pinewood Springs firefighters were dispatched to a small wildland fire west of Pinewood Springs. The fire was quickly controlled and extinguished without incident. The cause of the fire is believed to be improperly discarded ashes. Please, if you use a fireplace or wood stove, MAKE SURE that your ashes are cold and out before discarding them. – Our thanks to our neighboring agencies who responded as well- VFD of Big Elk Meadows, Lyons FD, Boulder County FDO and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. === 4/28 a structure fire in Pinewood Springs. Damage appears to be limited, and no one was injured.=== 4/27 Larimer County put fire restrictions into place as of 6:00 p.m. today. This is not a fire ban, but limited restrictions. These restrictions will expire in two weeks at 6:00 p.m. on May 11, 2022.
FOREST OPEN? – Trying to keep track of what forests are open and which have fire restrictions? Our local forest fire news can be found here: the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests’ Know Before You Go web page to see fire restriction orders and maps.
There are THREE Wildfire/Mitigation BILLS that were passed by Colorado House (1 of them to be signed). These will help mitigate wildfires in a variety of ways (including a reimbursement to you). See our ARTICLE.
Larimer County Assessor to survey 37E fire properties in Larimer County vehicles and they will be equipped with Larimer County ID cards for identification purposes.
VOTE/FIRE DEPT==If questions, email: elections@lyonsfire.org or chief@lyonsfire.org. Ballots can be dropped off at Station 1 by appointment prior to May 3, or on May 3 from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (See Article in this week’s newspaper)
Business News
====JOBS ===Almost every restaurant and cafe in town is advertising for “help wanted.” Go inside and ask.
Lyons Chamber is having their Quarterly Social Thursday, April 28, 5:30 p.m., at Solace store, 437 Main Street. RSVP’s are urged. Free hors d’oeuvres and network with your local businesses. RSVP HERE Come and check it out, and learn how you can join, and what benefits you will get.
COOL SHOES: Colorado business CROCS has named its first director of sustainability. (NIKE is also getting tips from singer Billie Elish – she developed the first shoe/boot that is sustainable vegan friendly non-leather “Air Force 1”.)
Government News
$400 check rebate! The Colorado government has found a 1.4 billion dollar Budget Surplus. So according to the TABOR Act, Gov. Jared Polis has asked the government to refund taxpayers checks in the amount of $400. While it would normally take a year to do that, he has asked them to speed it up as we are in a crisis right now. The anticipated timing will be late August or in September.
PRE-SCHOOL BILL: The Colorado government has passed a Bill that gives parents 10 free hours of pre-school per week. Gov. Polis has signed it. It will probably take place “next year.” A typical pre-school bill for the family is $14,000 a year! So, parents can save $4,000 a year. This could help people have more time available to get jobs. The money is funded by the voter passed tax on nicotine products.
DOWNGRADED due to POLLUTION: We have been downgraded for violating federal ozone standards, by the EPA. It is severe in Denver and the NORTHERN FRONT RANGE! But much of it comes from the wildfires. ALSO, Colorado’s population has grown, so that means more cars and ozone pollution. See our ARTICLE for more details, and how we rate compared to other states. Plus Air Quality info/links.
A FENTANYL BILL has passed the House and is being considered by the Senate now. There is a lot to discuss as it would mean people being charged with a felony and/or being sent to jail for small amounts.
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.
==APRIL SENIOR NEWS. As usual we have a TON of tips, links, and more in the MONTHLY article!
==LYONS LIBRARY
TOWN SOFTBALL LEAGUES: See Town Hall web pages to sign up. Now up from 3 to 4 teams registered. They need six teams!
International DARK SKY Week! See our article.
150 Anniversary of ARBOR DAY! Plant a Tree! See ARTICLE. Lyons is an Arbor Day Town.
MAMBO Friday – see above under General News /and on the Things to Do page. Colorado Mambo Orchestra featuring Dr. Raul Murciano (original member of the Miami Sound Machine) will be playing a FREE concert at the Lyons Library.
Model Kit Class – Sonny Smith has not responded as to whether he will be well enough to do the class. Call the library to confirm before going. (1st Thursday of the month)
Picture Rock Trail is now open, sunrise to sunset.
Famous street artist BANKSY is being shown at a gallery on Broadway in Denver, in the old Sports Castle. 100 of his pieces, until June 13th!
===REPEATS===
LYONS FILM FESTIVAL – Showing films in Blocks; some filmmaker speakers. April 29-30 at The Prickly Pear on Main St.. For details and tickets go HERE —- GO To ARTICLE for a detailed discussion on the festival, and some of the filmmakers who will be talking.
COVID-19 NEWS=====
====WHENEVER WE GET A LOT! OF COVID NEWS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, WE PUT THAT IN A SEPARATE ARTICLE=== So this week, please go to the ARTICLE.
It covers:
==CDC says that approximately 58% of Americans have had COVID, that’s at least 3 out of 5 people. They have COVID antibodies protection; but…
==MASKS, mandatory rules being dropped – Passengers will no longer have to wear masks inside of Denver International Airport, or on most flights, but may in other airports. Riders on the Regional Transportation District’s buses and trains …
==NEED CONGRESS FUNDING: Because of the stalemate in Congress to fund further treatments, the Administration has not been able to commit to placing orders for more. And we are going down on the list of countries who have priorities to get orders…
==KIDS 3rd Dose ‘news’ ==REMDESIVIR treatment: KIDS UNDER 12 ‘news’
==“Test & Treat” same day – update on availability of Paxlovid.
==CHINA – “ZERO COVID” program – rising complaints. In Shanghi …
Help Wanted, Lyons Recorder=====
TECH HELP — Can you spare about a day each month to help with Tech work on our newspaper? Do you know WordPress? — We especially need someone during the summer months, as our Tech Supervisor travels.
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 37 local writers!
Write once a month, once a quarter, or once a year!
Send us your ideas for consideration.
Our next series is on local artists.
For more information, write to: LyonsRecorder.Editor@gmail.com
This Week’s Articles:
Wow! I was kept super busy this week with all the activities and news going on!
We’ve got 13 articles! including our weekly “News Brief” column, and Calendar “things to do”!
==TID BITS on commercial and housing market in Lyons & state of Colorado/Front Range:
fascinating news about big business sales, and big construction projects, as well as median
home prices in the area, and comments from our local realtors
==COVID updates — treatments, kids vaccine/treatment news, how many people now have
temporary COVID immunity, and more
==FIRE CHIEF Zick “statement” on community wildfire mitigation, the ballot tax issue, the completion of the E37 fire, and more (includes links to full text of his one hour talk last month)
==THREE Wildfire prevention/and Mitigation Bills passing thru CO Congress
==Colorado’s rating for Air Quality downgraded and what it means
==Opinion Column about unionizing “County” workers
==Final “National Poetry Month” — the comfort of a pet dog
==International Dark Sky Week April 22-30
==ARBOR DAY April 29th – 150 year forestry anniversary
==Warning Siren will once again be sounded this year, this weekend
==Rocky Mt Park reservation system and affects of long-day use
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==NEWS BRIEFS & NOTES from your editor – “News Announcements” that are too short to have their own article.
Covering Government, Covid, Activities, Town, Businesses, School, and Town ”gossip”.
==”Your To Do List” – APRIL/MAY – find out details about upcoming activities, classes, deadlines, and more.
==ABOUT TOWN by LaVern Johnson — no column this week.
ENJOY!
MY WEEKLY MESSAGE OF CARE:
FOOD SHORTAGE: 400 million people get food and grain from Ukraine. The world needs farmers to get back to their fields, and also get the ports opened up again. Countries like Syria and Central America could see a lot of starvation. The World Food Program (WFP) said it has a $71 million increase in food costs due to the shortages.
They said that we need to feed the world’s poor, those in war or drought conditions, before it gets worse. They described the “hunger pandemic” like “fixing a leak in your ceiling – before it crashes down and floods the whole house, and now the repair work is much bigger.”
The World Food Programme is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations. It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization focused on hunger and food security, and the largest provider of school meals. Founded in 1961, it is headquartered in Rome and has offices in 80 countries.
WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize back in October 2020 for its work providing lifesaving food assistance to millions worldwide, often in dangerous locations. Last year, it supported nearly 100 million people – go to WFP.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, focused on Lyons area residents, and have some fun, too! ………..Your Editor, Kathleen
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