NEWS Briefs & NOTES from your editor, 1/19/23
Dear Readers,
Yes, I know I have a weekly paragraph on the weather, but weather seems to have jumped its boundaries of being a filler conversation to being a consistent conversation over the past couple of weeks.
I’m glad to hear that California will now go into a couple of dry weeks after a couple weeks with drenching rain (flooding) and snowfall in the mountains measured by the foot! They have now experienced more rain than all of the previous year. On the other hand, on the other coast, New York (city) has not got any snow, and the northeast coast is usually packed in snow.
I talked with some friends across the country and all seem to be having “usual years.” Just taking one state as an example – hot, dry, sunny Arizona: One friend in Arizona said =Flagstaff= has had 60 inches of “water” so far vs. last year’s full season was 39. (I just inserted Flagstaff 1/22/23,… a family member originally told me it was Scottsdale, and I just got word of the correction; apologies!) Another friend said that northern AZ got 35 inches of snow (Sun Mon Tues). And, then Tuesday Flagstaff got two feet of snow. And, has been getting little sunshine!
Even in Colorado, comparing quadrants, I talked with a friend in Durango to warn him about driving to Lyons on Wednesday due to our heavy snowfall, and he said that they had already experienced a heavy snowfall, and had a foot of new snow as of Monday! …and ended up getting about an foot Tuesday night. And, every snowfall this season seems to close the I-76 and I-70 highways. (I-70 had multi semi and car accidents Wednesday, and the road was still closed as of Wednesday night). The ski resort cities have gotten close to 200″ of snow, and have 5 foot “snow packs.” And, yet our strip down the middle of the state has remained relatively tame. Lyons has mostly got 4″ of snow each time. And Denver airport (the officially ‘measuring site’) got 9.1 inches, compared to everyone else getting about 6 inches — and it is usually noticeably below what most of the Front Range gets.
I guess we should look at how the snowpacks are developing quickly, and will be filling up our water reservoirs back to normal conditions.
………Many Thanks, Kathleen Spring, your editor
==NEWS TID BITS==
Weather – OK, here is my “regular weekly” paragraph — we got hit with a heavy snowstorm Tuesday night and most of Wednesday. This is unusual for Colorado to get so many snow falls in January. It is generally only the 6th snowiest month; I always remember it as being the month with icy driveways that never melt! We have now beat the 30 year record (1992) of amount of snow falling in one day in January …as well as this week’s being the biggest snowfall this season! making us 10.1″ above the normal season snowfall count. Thank goodness we in Lyons aren’t getting snow “by the foot”, (only 5 inches this time) so we can just smile and enjoy the beauty. See more interesting details in our ARTICLE with great snowy photos!
===TONIGHT===
—SCHOOL WRESTLING: Come support the Lyons wrestling team this Thursday, January 19 at Lyons High School, 5:30 p.m. against Berthoud and Resurrection Christian. It’s Senior night as well!
—SCIENCE SERIES at SpiritHound, tonight, Thursday, “Riparian and Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration” with Tony LaGreca. At 7 p.m.
—Monday: OPEN HOUSE – SHERIFF SUBSTATION in DEPOT Building – On Monday, January 23, from 4 pm – 7 pm, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is hosting an Open House for residents to meet the new Lyons Chief, Sergeant Cody Sears. The substation is located in the historic Depot building located just west of the library. There will be light refreshments served.
WILDBIRD DISEASE – Last week we gave a detailed article about the Avian flu going around and what it means to farmers, hunters, and home owners. – We wanted to let you know that the Town has assigned employee Crystal White to gather and dispose of the dead geese around town, so you can contact her thru Town Hall (or on Facebook). (303) 823-6622. Only White and the Colorado wildlife department have been TRAINED and can handle them. Do not try to pick them up and throw them away. The Town puts them in double bag’s and then in a dumpster just for the dead birds. Greenwood will not take them. They have been euthanizing any that they have, as there is no cure, and it spares them the suffering. Do not let your dogs go near the birds or eat their feces.
MORNING CUP OF JOE – For those of you who wondered how I came up with nine places in Lyons that open early and serve coffee and treats, here is the list, and their specialty – note all of these have permanent locations, not just occasionally coming to Lyons:
Dairy Bar – cinnamon rolls
Mojo – burritos
Barking dog
Juicy Dialogue inside A-Lodge – fresh juices
Biscuits at Mikes – Quilt store parking lot daily
Moxie’s – pastries and breads
Diner Bar
Mud Hut – drive thru
and you can add the gas station – quick flavored coffees and ‘snack foods’
and St. Vrain Market – bakery
(and ‘use to be’ Stone Cup)
So you could say ELEVEN! Places.
(and Beanjo coffee BEANS by Lyons’ Charlie Rose)
BUS STATION: METH found in downtown Boulder’s bus station: RTD closed the restrooms the transit facility after confirming the presence of methamphetamine “and/or similar substances” in both restrooms and an adjacent hallway. You can still sit in the lobby waiting area for your ride. ====Starting Friday, Jan. 20th, (RTD) will temporarily relocate its Downtown Boulder Station sales outlet to Boulder Junction at Depot Square Station until further notice. The sales outlet’s hours of operation will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Customers can purchase tickets, access lost and found, and other outlet services including EcoPass issuance. Parking is available in the attached garage.
ICE SKATE RINK CLOSED – first it was closed due to the warm weather last week, and now someone has torn the liner, so it’s closed this week till ?? — We have not got any notice that the concert this week will be cancelled due to the closed rink.
PILATES / and FLORIDA HURRICANE SURVIVOR: message from Chrystal DeCoster— 1/16/23 Meta Roth & I are childhood friends from Worthington, Ohio. She’s passionate, knowledgeable & creative w/ decades of exercise physiology experience in FL. Sadly she completely lost her studio on Sanibel & her Ft. Myers home sustained extensive damage in Hurricane Ian. So she’s here, loving Lyons, hoping to pick up the pieces & build life anew in a community she’s fallen in love with! Please sign-up for one of her Pilates classes (or a private session) at Wild Grace Studio in Lyons.
Lyons Farmette is starting their Winter Workshops with a “weaving a DreamCatcher” class. Check out their web site for the full list: www.lyonsfarmette.com/workshops
Snow Response Plan for Town of Lyons ==Information on Plowing Priority in Lyons==and== on who has to shovel what by what time. Plus maps. See our ARTICLE.
Avalanches have claimed FOUR lives since December 26. — 900+ avalanches have been reported this season. This new snowfall will add to the troubles. You can take classes on being prepared.
WOW! Lyons loves their Bluegrass!! Last night at Oskars Charlie Rose & folks played and there were well over 100 people — and SIX of them were (popular locals) musicians who brought their instruments to jam at the end. — Oskars is back! bands every Friday and Saturday, and they are working on the Sunday Family Day again. // yea, ok, I’m an old timer, and love seeing this 25 year old local re-enter the live music schedule again… I can’t wait for the Mardi Gras musicians… I think they said a well known Zydeco band was coming for Fat Tuesday. Now that’s what I remember Oskars niche was. ~~~ Laissez les bons temps rouler (Let the good times roll) The Fat Tuesday band is The Rampart Street Stompers. The Tuba player in this band has a house on Rampart St. in New Orleans. Next Weekend will be bluegrass with Jake Leg and The Fretliners. — I’ll remind you about the Mardi Gras in late February. I was just ‘on a roll’ and wanted to share it now while it was fresh in my mind.
Why does Fat Tuesday change every year? Mardi Gras begins precisely 47 days before Easter. Since Easter falls on a different Sunday every year, Mardi Gras also has a variable date. This year, Mardi Gras will begin on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
MAGALI FOURNIER, Lyons Artist, opened at Western Stars’ art gallery this week. Stop by and see her work!
DOG POOP – Pinewood Springs – some residents want you to know that you should still pick up your dog’s poop, even though you live in the great outdoors, as some residents find that their homes seem to be “favorites” and have a lot of poop drops. Also, they’re concerned about water contamination (where that is appropriate risk)
CLEANING UP MINE LANDS: the Department of Interior’s (DOI) announced that Colorado will receive nearly $10 million to reclaim and clean up abandoned mine lands (AML). See our ARTICLE for full details.
Colorado had the largest Martin Luther King Jr. parade in the country this week.
***MISCELLANOUS STATE Government News*** see our ARTICLE for full details
===Now Open, sign up for free pre-school // sign up for state retirement plan
Hear about new housing for Homeless and Workforce in Colorado. ===This is the first time that WOMEN make up the majority in the Colorado legislators.
MISCELLANEOUS US& WORLD NEWS:
===MISS UNIVERSE crowned this week. R’Bonney Gabriel, who was the first Filipino American to win Miss USA. She is a fashion designer, model and sewing instructor from Texas; using recycled materials in her fashion design and teaching sewing to survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. Nearly 90 contestants from around the world took part in the competition. Chakrapong “Anne” Chakrajutathib recently bought the competition, and hopes to “evolve the brand for the next generation.” She is a reality show star in Thailand who is outspoken about being a transgender woman. Last year’s winner was from India. (ex-Pres. Trump was partially owner many years ago).
===COVID – China has had 148million new infections in the first 20 days of December. They relaxed restrictions when protest went on for weeks about going back to full lockdowns. They announced 60,000 DEATHS a MONTH!
===Investigations going on regarding US Confidential papers found in both ex-President Trump’s personal office/home spaces, and that of President Biden.
===Economy: 6 straight months with price drops! summer was 8 / Nov. was 7.1 / Dec was 6.5 / now 6!
Fire-related News
(1) Prescribed Burns / Seeing SMOKE IN SKY – The area between Lyons and Estes Park saw two prescribed burns. First the one by Boulder County, hwy 7, that we reported two weeks ago – that will continue on and off thru April
(2) USFS Slash Burning — Pinewood Fire Chief reminded residents: In Pinewood we are seeing smoke from USFS slash pile burning west and north of us, in the Lion Gulch area. Pile burning is also going on near Allenspark, Glen Haven and in RMNP.
(3) BARN FIRE 8-9a.m. Wednesday, 1/18/23 – Lyons and Pinewood Springs firefighters responded to a structure fire on 4708 Highland Drive just east of the intersection of SH 66 and US 36. The small barn-like structure was destroyed and charred. It was Android Jones’ art studio. No people were harmed. It could be seen from the road; Hwy 66 was temporarily closed. Thank you folks! For the quick response!
(4) MARSHALL FIRE: Colorado Division of Insurance that several homeowners’ insurance companies have agreed to extend additional living expenses (ALE) coverage for Marshall Fire survivors for up to 24 months for policyholders who only had 12 months of coverage. Thanks to our legislators and governor who contacted the insurance companies to make this happen!
(5) ARTICLE this Week by Lyons Fire Chief === Some of you have expressed concern about the mill levy that was passed for our local fire department. We asked Fire Chief Zick to explain why it was needed and what it will be used for. And, while he was at it, we asked him what he would be spending his new 2022 grant money on. We hope this will answer …all? most? of your concerns. 
FIRE VICTIM FUNDRAISERS and UPDATES (1) In case you read the newspaper last week early on Thursday, you didn’t see my ‘addition’ late in the day == Oskar Blues’ New Year’s Eve “drink special” From management: Here’s an update on our Lyons Fire Relief campaign up in Lyons. Oskar Blues Brewery donated 200 cans of Dale’s, Mama’s, and OB Lager to us, which we sold during the NYE Joe Kuckla event for $4 a can. All of those sales went to LEAF and their Main Street Fire Relief Fund. We sold a majority of them that night, but we continued the sale of them through the week and sold out of them within that first week. So 200 cans at $4 a piece was $800 donated. We also have fliers with information on the fire and QR codes for people to scan and donate directly. ======(2) Have grant writing experience? Lyons Chamber of Commerce is looking for a volunteer grant writer who may be able to assist businesses impacted by the Dec 15 Mainstreet Fire. Reach out to us at Admin@lyonschamber.org – please include resume! ====== Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund – LEAF: Over $80,000 has been donated, but don’t forget that covers 8 businesses, plus artists on commission who need your help. DONATE here.
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