NEWS Briefs & NOTES from your editor, 2/9/23
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.
Dear Readers,
While we approach the one year anniversary of the War by Russia in Ukraine, which is a fight for Democracy… we see another tragic incident on our Earth — the earthquake in Turkey and Syria on Monday.
As of Thursday, February 9th, more than 17,000 people have been killed, with that number expected to rise each day this coming week. Tens of thousands are also injured and/or homeless. Thousands for buildings are destroyed. Rescue teams battle snow and freezing temperatures, and face a shortage of trucks and fuel, as they search for survivors. Especially in war-ravaged Syria.
Not only did they experience a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, but multiple aftershocks (some even larger than the initial one). The World has responded and are sending help, including America sending search and rescue teams, and even Ukraine has sent help. The United Nations has released $25 million from its emergency fund to help kick-start the humanitarian response in Turkey and Syria.
A UNICEF office in southern Turkey is being used as an emergency shelter; and staff say they haven’t slept for days. “It was just terrifying,” a staff person said. “I’ve worked in disasters for the last 20 years, but the magnitude and the force of that quake and how long it was…”
We are hearing stories,…watching rescues on TV… One man said he lost 25 relatives. A new born baby was found, but the mother had died. People are grabbing debris to use for fires and shelter, as there is almost no shelter or food immediately available to most. Tent cities are starting to go up.
The deadliest earthquake prior to Monday’s was Japan’s 9.0- magnitude temblor in 2011, according to the U.N. And, its three events reached a toll of 20,000 people.
Some of you long-time readers know that in the first year I had a “box” each month listing a charity in great need. I am listing HERE some places you can send money to help.
Perhaps the greatest VALENTINE’s GIFT you can give is to help these people. Thanks for your consideration, from your editor, Kathleen Spring 2/9/23
MESSAGE OF HOPE: How you can help Turkey & Syria victims:
Support Doctors Without Borders here. === Sent emergency teams, helping with injured patients, donated emergency trauma/surgery kits to hospitals, sent ambulances, distributing hygiene kits and food, and more.
Donate to the International Medical Corps. ==== the charity is working to assess needs and has established a response team which will be supporting the national emergency response across the region. It has mobilized a response to the Turkey/Syria disaster, deploying mobile medical teams in Syria to provide emergency medical care to people in the region affected by the quake. The International Medical Corps is also working with local partners in Turkey to respond, and is in discussion with the World Health Organization regarding a potential deployment of its Emergency Medical Team.
Donate to Save the Children’s emergency fund here. === has provided independent and impartial relief and medical care to victims of war in Syria since 2012 – has put out an urgent call to the international community to release emergency funds to provide aid and rescue resources immediately. On the ground, Save the Children’s teams are planning to support affected communities with winterization and emergency kits, including blankets and winter clothing.
Donate to the UOSSM here. Union of Medical Relief & Care === Humanity & Inclusion has launched an emergency response to support disabled people affected by the Turkey/Syria earthquake. In a statement, the UOSSM said its hospitals and medical facilities are overwhelmed and will need support to ensure lives are saved during this crisis.
UNICEF – children need food, water, sanitation. winter clothes, because most of them just fled their apartments in the middle of the night with nothing… need medical care. It’s very easy to get respiratory tract infections in this wintertime. rapidly assessing supply needs and redirecting supplies already in-country to fill immediate gaps. …identifying separated and unaccompanied children and working to reunite them with family.
===NEWS YOU CAN USE===
SHOP LOCAL – Valentine Gifts
Lyons is blessed with multiple unique shops and appetizing restaurants, where you can find unique gift items! And food gift certificates! Support your local economy and the business owners you love!
Weather: Yes, we are still “in winter,” but no new snow for OUR area. We are experiencing some typical February 40s …some low 50s. Things are melting well (but no flooding).
LOVE YOURSELF, there’s an old saying that if you don’t love yourself, you cannot fully love others. If you are having a bad day, alone, on Feb. 14th, you might benefit from looking at the TIPS and TOOL BOX that Mental Health Partners provides. It’s a BIG List with links – includes loneliness, anxiety, LGBT help, Discrimination help, and more. See our ARTICLE this week.
Planet Bluegrass TICKETS FOR LOCALS – These tickets use to be sold at the Stone Cup. Now they will be sold at SpiritHound on April 1st, from 4-7 p.m. during an “event.” We’ll promote it closer to the date. NOTE: ONE DAY ONLY sales!!! (left over tickets will be for sale on the remaining Fridays in April) – We will have a full article on it next week.
VOTE for 150th CO Anniversary license plate Feb 1-15
LINK to February SENIOR NEWS – senior news, activities, bus trips, wellness, meals, tax help, February birthdays. – We usually publish the Senior News in the 2nd week of the month, but there were several crucial events happening in the first week of February, so we issued it a week early. (the monthly column discusses McDonald prices in the 1950s)
USDA announces, for the first time, lowering sugars in school meals. The proposed rule would strengthen support for local and domestic foods. The USDA will invest $100 million in the Healthy Meals Incentives initiative.
CPW was doing a wildlife (deer or elk?) count over the weekend with a helicopter. (People were wondering why the helicopter was hanging around the area)
TROLL – shall we have a giant wooden TROLL by world-famous Thomas Dambo? Byron Fears is in touch with him, and several entities in Lyons are jumping on the band wagon to try and make this happen. It would attract tourists from wide and far. We hope to do an interview of Dambo if/and/when he comes to check us out, and a full article in the near future. If you want to donate your carpentry skills or make a donation, contact Byron at SimBLISSity Homes at Hwy 36 & 66 == 303-885-5991. This will likely need fundraising events, then happen next year.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: YMCA of the Rockies – apply here: https://ymcarockies.org/…/artist-in-residence-program
Winter Wonderland Concerts = The next concert is with Dechen Hawk on Saturday, February 25th, from 2- 4 pm. At this time, we aren’t sure if it will be in LaVern Johnson Park or Bohn Park, which will depend on the weather. Skates and hot cocoa provided.
REMINDER: SCHOOL PROPERTY PARKING == The Lyons Middle/Senior High School would like to remind residents that there is NO PARKING on school property while school is in session. /// In addition, residents are not allowed to use the field, cut through the property to get to the dog park, or use the track, while SCHOOL is in session. /// The school resource officer has asked residents to please respect this and to not use school property when there is school and students are on the campus. Thank you in advance!
SNEAK PREVIEW: March 11, 6:30 p.m. – Silent Movie night at the library, courtesy of Friends of the Library – including Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd short films. Step back in time with these movie star comedians from over 100 years ago with a Silent Film quadruple feature. The films will be accompanied with live piano by Rodney Sauer, a local musician specializing in the repertoire and history of silent film music. Back in the days before “talkies” added sound to the movies, silent films were shown with live musical accompaniment. Carrying on that tradition here in Lyons, our piano soloist, Sauer will bring these silent films to life. – we promote it more closer to the date, but wanted you to “save the date.” Library Friends “members” will get a notice in the next newsletter.
INTERESTED in SOCIALIZING with Lyons people, but don’t necessarily want to do it at a bar situation? — Dionisia Hatz wrote a LONG posting on “Lyons Happenings” Facebook about seeking out friendly human interaction, but was having a problem finding it in Lyons. –172 people–!! Yes that many! Clicked “like” – some people also wanted the same thing /and/ 190 people—had comments about how this is or might happen. Dionisia has now formed a group page on Facebook where people can “gather” and sort out ideas and suggestions and meet. Their first get together is next Thursday Feb. 16th, 10 a.m., at Moxie’s, 355 Main St., Lyons. See the ARTICLE with her COMMENTS and some suggested places to “meet people.”
FUN FACTS=== Today, youth tobacco smoking rates are at 2.1% — a historic low.
BOULDER COUNTY: Housing & Human Services locations in Boulder & Longmont are closed until Feb. 13. Call 303-441-1000, text 303-441-1069
CDOT is hosting a virtual public meeting regarding the emergency safety gates placed as part of the State Highway 7 road project. In November 2022, crews completed roadway construction for the permanent repairs on Colorado Highway 7 between Lyons and Allenspark. One of the final pieces of construction was to install emergency safety gates on the corridor for another added layer of safety in the event of a catastrophic weather event. CDOT will share information with the community about the emergency safety gates and their intended purposes; brief Q&A. See their website for a recording of the meeting.
Thursday, Feb. 16, at 3:30 p.m.
Via Zoom = Zoom meeting link: us06web.zoom.us/j/81394934382
Meeting Call-In Option = Phone: 719-359-4580 | Meeting ID: 813 9493 4382
Repeat — LYONS Community Blood Drive– FEB 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.—On Friday, February 24th, there will be a community blood drive, at the Lyons Regional Library.—There is a nationwide shortage of blood and your donation is very much needed. If you are able to donate, please visit the website vitalant.org and sign up today! The code for Lyons community blood drive is A069.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! We love you and Lyons!
Share your heart this week
………..you came here and read all these Goodies?! Pass on the Word… tell people what they are missing!
We appreciate your SUPPORT — Please make a contribution to the Lyons Recorder for a year’s worth of articles, if you found many useful and/or entertaining articles! Consider 25 cents a week — Thank You! We are savings Lyons “everyday history” for posterity.
Take Care of Yourself! See you next week!
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