NEWS Briefs & NOTES from your editor, 8/25/22
Dear Readers,
Have you converted all or part of your yard to xeriscape? The city of Aurora has taken proactive steps. About 50% of their water usage is for outdoor use, which cannot be treated and reused.
Aurora City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that restricts backyard turf to 45% of the area or 500 square feet, whichever is smaller, and bans most front yard turf… limiting the use of cool weather turf in new developments and golf courses…. The ordinance prohibits turf in common areas, medians, curbside landscape and front yards…. (An exception was added Monday night allowing for turf in all residential front yards where backyard size prohibits the 45% size.)
The ordinance also prohibits turf for aesthetic purposes only, but allows it in new developments “in active or programmed recreation areas.” …an area which primary functions as a sports field.
Looking at a bigger picture, re: WATER BASIN: The CO River Basin is seeing a 23 year MegaDrought. The Basin started in 1937 (filling it up). But between the big population gains in the SOUTHWEST (incl. Denver) and the drought, it is now only about ¼ full. It has caused the management to tell AZ, NV, and parts of Mexico to limit their water usage beginning in 2023. If this continues, it will cause an energy crisis, as there won’t be enough water to make electricity.
So what does this mean to the farmers in Colorado? Farmers are the largest users of water in Colorado (and other Western states). They use about 89 percent of available supplies, according to the Colorado Water Plan, while cites and industry consume roughly 11 percent. Our famous peaches and cantalopes use A LOT OF WATER!
I’ve included in this edition two articles about how “our” Boulder and Larimer Counties are addressing SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES.
You can help in so many ways. First, of course, is landscaping, but second is personal use of water, such as not flushing as much, taking shorter showers, shut off the faucet WHILE you are brushing your teeth. A drop saved, is a drop earned.
………Many Thanks, Kathleen Spring, your editor
==NEWS TID BITS==
Weather this past week: We had some refreshing overcast days that brought slightly lower temperatures. Back to about 90 degrees for this week. — But that being said, we’ve had 53 days that were 90 or higher this summer.
PINEWOOD WATERSHED “TALK” last week: It was not taped. — per Ted Plank, Fire Chef, “Only a short bit of background presented, followed by groups working together to identify and capture areas of concern and possible solutions. The focus was on forest health (with the goal of reducing the impact of wildfire) as well as stream health in the Little Thompson drainage. They indicated one more public meeting will be held via Zoom in September. As soon as I get the link I will share. Also, when all meetings are completed they will have some sort of summary available.”
CONSTRUCTION: (this is updated Thurs. afternoon / I will repeat it next week for those who already read this Thurs. morning)
==BLACK BEAR HOLE: I talked with the construction workers and they said Wednesday was their last day there, and now the Town will be putting up their signs, so it will be open soon!
==HWY 7 – if you havent been downtown lately, you may not have noticed, the one lane blockage at the bridge. There are traffic signals, not just signs! PER THE TOWN: During the initial phase of work, crews will replace the sidewalks and make bridge deck repairs. This is expected to last for approximately four weeks. Work will begin on the northbound (east side) of the bridge and switch to the southbound (west side) once the east side is complete. Two-way bridge traffic will be down to one lane, managed by temporary traffic signals. The second phase of work consists of scour removal and riprap protection with no traffic impacts to CO 7. This work will last for an additional three weeks.
==The Americom work on Hwy. 36 will not be done by September! I just talked with a construction worker and they are now saying it will probably be November. I saw, as I was driving, that a lot of area between Pinewood and Estes especially are lacking cabling and poles.
WILDLIFE REPORT:
===LYONS BEARS & WILDLIFE: Robyn Sloan reports on the water basin/tank that she set out this summer up in the mountains for the animals to drink from, or soak in: “We have a 25 gallon tank that we can strap to the ATV. The guzzler is off an old quarry road about 2 city blocks from the house in the woods. In 6 weeks we’ve emptied it to clean it once, and made 5 trips total. (125 gallons)” === Pinewood BEAR – Residents have reported seeing the bear that’s been around since spring during the daylight hours.=== Bears are now crossing over into the stage where they will be fattening up for winter…per Robyn Sloan.
West Nile Virus – 8/19/22 First Case confirmed in Boulder County in 2022
GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT: BOULDER COUNTY: Following a month-long comment period and a public hearing, the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners has unanimously approved five ordinances designed to address gun violence. The new laws represent a multifaceted approach to reducing gun violence through bans on the sale of assault weapons and the possession of “ghost guns”, as well as an age-based restriction and waiting period for purchasing a firearm, and restrictions on carrying firearms in sensitive public areas. “Ghost guns” are unserialized and untraceable firearms that can be bought online and assembled at home. ===At the August 2 public hearing, the Commissioners voted 3-0 to adopt the ordinances with immediate effect. In 2021, Boulder County supported Colorado Senate Bill 21-256, which removed the restrictions that prohibited local jurisdictions in Colorado from passing gun violence prevention ordinances. ===See our ARTICLE
UPDATE on Lyons Community Foundation’s Hootenanny at River Bend, August 28, 2-7 p.m. Daniel Rodriguez (was a member of Elephant Revival) and Friends will be performing on Sunday. Also Mayama will be performing two pieces, and will, once again, be leading the audience in a dance. — FUNDRAISER for LCF and LEAF. Corn Hole. Duck Race. Silent Auction. Food Trucks. Cash prizes. (parking $5 donation; festival free) See our ARTICLE for more details of events!
CLOSED/OPENED:
== The Post Office lobby and boxes are still closed after hours for repairs. M-F 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. / Saturday closes at 2 p.m. / Sunday closed all day
== Bank of the West has reopened this week, but only with a manager, new assistant manager, and a teller. They are looking for one more part-time teller. It took them 15 minutes to look up my file and process the $11 check! (Wedn.) They were closed for “health safety concerns,” which last time translated into someone coming down with COVID-19. Popular assistant bank manager Scott has transferred to Niwot branch.
SCHOOL IS IN! –Remember to STOP for school buses! Do NOT pass them! And do not pass cars that are dropping off kids. It is dangerous, but you could also get a big driving penalty.
COLORADO INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES: You will receive a $19 credit for filing a trade name (eg. Sole Proprietorship), and a $49 credit when filing your new LLC “filing fee” Articles of Incorporation, this year, to help people come out of COVID and start up new businesses. Per recent legislation, House Bill 22-1001. (You will be charged $1)
COVID — Colorado has been on a “plateau” of number of hospitalizations for a while, and last week, it finally saw a drop in case numbers. — We have an ARTICLE detailing the new rules (or should I say “non-rules”)
CRAFT VENDORS WANTED: Treasure Tables, Oct. 29th, Estes Park: The regional event takes place this year on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It features free parking, free admission, several food trucks, a bake sale and more than 45 vendors welcoming the public at the Fairgrounds, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park. The event will be indoors at the main event center. Last year more than 600 people attended, even though masks were required. sponsored by a nonprofit philanthropic educational organization, supporting women going to college. peotreasuretables@gmail.com
FIRE RESTRICTIONS EXPIRE: Larimer County Sheriff and County Commissioners will let the Fire Restrictions expire (not renew). Because of above-normal moisture levels, and cooler temperatures it will expire on August 29, 2022, at 12:01 p.m.
STUDENT LOANS – if you have a loan, you can check to see if you qualify for aid or forgiveness at www.StudentAid.gov As part of the American Rescue Plan, there were 10 bills affecting these loans. Some have to do with colleges scamming students, and some have to do with people who went to work in public service jobs. And more.
==As of 8/24/22, President Biden made an announcement that the government will forgive student loans in the amount of $10,000 for those earning $125,000 or less, and $20,000 for those mainly earning $75,000 or less and have a PELL grant. (These are preliminary figures taken from radio announcements.) This will effect about 43 million people. Elizabeth Warren has been pushing for more than the proposed Biden-$10,000-foregiveness, so she is celebrating today… along with many students. Get your application done now, and you will probably get the credit automatically when it goes into effect. Roughly 20 million borrowers are expected to see their entire remaining student loan balance erased. There are a couple of others “helps” in the proposed Plan (like extending the payment pause period to the end of the year).
Mayama Dance Studio, Lyons, call out — from a parent: “C’mom Lyons, where’s all the middle school and high school Breakdance kids? Arguably the coolest performance at the Mayama Dance & Wellness show last year! Sign up! Jacob is the coolest teacher ever!”
Claudia Keen bragged on Facebook about her horse BB going thru an injury and now winning multiple 1st place awards for dressage in our Front Range area. Congrats!
MONKEY POX VACCINE: Monkeypox is rare, but it can be serious for people who get it. ===Larimer Co Health & Environment has a limited supply available. ===Coloradans can confirm their eligibility by filling out the online form. Eligible Coloradans who complete the form will be added to a waitlist and contacted when more clinics are scheduled as more vaccines become available from the federal government. ===Boulder County: 8/19/22, Five residents have tested positive for the monkeypox virus and about 100 have received the monkeypox vaccine.
ENCHANTING CONCERT: Elephant Revival band came back after a four-year hiatus and performed at Planet Bluegrass. I heard so many compliments about the performance, including one person who said “There was some kind of magic in the music, because I felt uplifted, and feel better than I have in a long time.” Also, there seemed to be more people bringing their whole families to this concert than usual. See our ARTICLE this week, reviewing in depth the wonderful performance (by our music critic David McIntyre), plus photos.
RMNP – September is around the corner – but the RESERVATION system continues thru October 10th.
REMEMBER ALL CDOT Buses are FREE for the month of August! Give it a try, and see if you can get to work, or movies, or doctor, or shopping much cheaper by using a local bus. Go to our ARTICLE and it has all the info, and link on HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP!
SENIORS: See this Month’s “SENIOR NEWS” — lots of news and activities.
SENIORS: Community Assessment Survey of Older Adults
— Boulder County Office on Aging is doing a survey of seniors as part of its FOUR YEAR traditional study of what is working, what is not, and what is needed in the future. Please fill out your form if you got one of the randomly mailed letters. Or, go to their page to see how you can participate at various senior centers (not Lyons) or virtually – go HERE to see the list. https://bouldercounty.gov/families/seniors/services/advocacy/ == I will publish the survey page when it comes out, in about a week.
BYE STONE CUP TALLENTS: I just got this notice on Thursday, and will add it “now” at 12noon,
and again next week, as many people read the newspaper early Thursday morning, but this event is too important for you to miss: After 18 years of tending to our beloved Stone Cup, Sam and I have made the decision to retire. Our final day of business will be September 5th, however we are in talks with several interested parties.The Stone Cup will be closed during this transition, but stay tuned for new fun things on the horizon at 442 High Street.
We’ll miss so much about our roles as stewards of Lyons’ Front Porch and everything we have shared with the community through the years, but we’re ready to relax, spend more time with family and friends, enjoy our home, and embark on some new adventures.
Stop by and say “hi” over the next two weeks! We’ll be open 7:30am-2pm, Wed-Sun, through Sept 4th and on Monday, Sept 5th, 7:30am-1pm.
………..you came here and read all these Goodies?! Pass on the Word… tell people what they are missing!
MESSAGE OF CARE: All PetsMart stores are having a one-day PET ADOPTION EVENT this Saturday, August 27. Find that pet you have been waiting for! Lots to chose from at this event; some are brought in from out of state shelters. Click HERE to see the Longmont and Boulder store information.
