NEWS Briefs & NOTES from your editor, 3/16/23

Weather: The whole state experienced a Spring Break! this week — on Tuesday and Wednesday, the temperature in Lyons was in the low 60s! and 71 in Denver! — But back to normal winter weather for the rest of the week, with temperatures 40 or below… starting with a bitter cold and snowy Thursday.

Happy SPRING! Monday March 20th. 

TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT: Our Lyons friend Cheri Hoffer has now flown to Japan and is sharing her adventures. Her first week was in Tokyo. Sometimes comparing it to her months in Mexico this past fall, and other times with her life in Lyons. But mostly just sharing what she is experiencing – this past week she left Tokyo and landed at a beach, with her eventual destination Kyoto. She walked a long beach used by (surf) boarders; and she saw a class of teens in their uniforms go into the water up to their necks. What a unique experience. You can read her journal on her Facebook page.

2 YEAR REMEMBRANCE of King Sooper Killings  

— The City of Boulder, along with several local partners, will be holding a remembrance event to mark the two years that have passed since the March 22, 2021 mass shooting in Boulder. That day, Boulder lost 10 beloved community members. The community is invited to join us in person or via livestream as we remember those who are no longer with us, offer support to one another and come together as a community. For more information, visit the City of Boulder’s website. Free but registration required. === update 3/14/23: The Judge in this case has ruled that independent medical staff will decide whether the alleged shooter gets another psych evaluation.

BARN FIRE, Thurs. 3/9/23 – at Hwy 36 (Ute Hwy) and 66^th, or McCall Drive. Hygiene Fire Dept. responded. 9pm.

BOOK –If you participated in last year’s “Estes Park One Book One Valley” author talk with Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, about her novel, The Mountains Sing. I thought you might want to know that Quế Mai will be joining the library in person (flying in FROM VIETNAM) on Friday, March 24, from 6:30-8 P.M., to discuss her latest novel, Dust Child, which was released on March 14. MacDonald Book store has the books; and it’s on Kindle.

KUDOS From Estes Park resident: your little newspaper by far exceeds in information than our 2 papers in Estes Park. I really enjoy reading it.. so much new and excellent information. Thank you for sharing it with me, and your expertise. (from Joanie Lerner)

SHERIFF: The Nederland police department has shut down. Talks are in the works to contract with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. They are currently covering nights and weekends for Nederland. 

The Longmont’s Water and Natural Resources teams invited locals to review the final draft of the Button Rock Preserve Management Plan. — A few locals posted in Facebook that the team has gone ahead with its plans to significantly decrease visitation and recreation despite feedback from the public that they wanted more availability, not less, and it will prohibit dogs. To read the Final Draft draft of the Plan, visit bit.ly/2ZZ165O. It was presented to City Council on 3/14/23. — “Button Rock Preserve is the only protected preserve in Longmont’s system of open spaces, natural areas and parks. It’s purpose is to protect Longmont’s primary drinking water supply” per Wildlife Technician for the City

EASTER –- new news – Tallents’ service on Planet Bluegrass grounds —  just confirmed that folks can leave their candy and/or sticker filled plastic eggs at St. Vrain Market, as well as Moxie, on Friday, 4/7 & Sat, 4/8. Remember, no chocolate, and no bags of sweets.

Movie OSCARS== the big winner was “Everything Everywhere All at Once” which was shown last year in the Boulder Century Theater and Longmont Regal. It’s about a parrell universe, saving the world, and an unlikely ordinary person/hero. There were many first timers nominated and/or movie industry players. While we usually get 1 or 2 outstanding speeches, there were multiple important and/or emotional speeches in the Oscar show. It will be remembered forever.

DISCOUNTED BEAR TRASH CANS: From the Town of Lyons:  Spring is right around the corner and bears will be coming out of hibernation soon. In partnership with Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Lyons is one of the beneficiaries of a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Grant. Our shared goals are: to broaden our communities’ efforts to reduce conflicts, update human habits, and test out solutions that are working in other communities. What does this mean for you as a resident of Lyons? Certain homeowners in areas of Lyons may be eligible for a bear-resistant trash can at a significantly reduced price. Local pickup scheduled for late April. Order your bear-resistant trash can today!  https://boco.org/bearcart Lyons local residents only.

RMNP ===Alert 1: Severity closure, Major Construction Project has Begun at the Fall River Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.  One lane is open to enter. Visitors are encouraged to avoid the Fall River Entrance and use the Beaver Meadows Entrance via U.S. Hwy 36. Expect wait times at both major east side entrances to RMNP.  ===Alert 2: Be prepared for winter hiking conditions. Bear Lake has over 50 inches of snow and expect blowing snow due to the wind. When hiking on trails at higher elevations, snowshoes are recommended. Click here for trail conditions: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/trail_conditions.htm

RTD BUS INFO === (1) The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is debuting its parade bus at the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday. ===(2) Denver Mall Bus Ride – work is being done on 16^th, so bus pick up and drop off is on 15^th and 17^th Streets. —(3) Special buses to Bronco games: Check the RTD website before you travel for schedules and to plan your trip (See our ARTICLE from last fall about where the bus stops are).

TRASH RECYCLED – THANKS to Lyons Volunteers for conducting one of their “flat hard Styrofoam and scrap metal” pickups in town on Wednesday 3/15/23. And to all the residents who participated in it! “The Earth” thanks you!

NO SENIOR EXERCISE next week –the instructor is out of town– NO CLASS MARCH 21-23.  Class will resume as scheduled on March 28.

March 21 – The Colorado Public Utilities Commission will conduct a public comment hearing seeking comments on the cost recovery of retiring and/or the transition of four of PSCO’s coal-fired power plants. see Things to do for more details.

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMIN releases this statement: The Biden-Harris Administration released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2024.  The Budget details a blueprint to grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out, lower costs for families, protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security, and reduce the deficit by ensuring the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share—all while ensuring no one making less than $400,000 per year pays more in taxes.

SUNDAY FAMILY MUSIC – Oskar Blues has Dave McIntyre now added Sundays to their schedule. Dave says: starting March 19th at Oskar Blues in Lyons we will have mostly acoustic family type music on Sundays 4-7pm; free of course; starting 3/19 with Scott Shack Hackler an incredible boogie piano player with great vocals and amazing work on the piano. The following week Sunday the 26th will be John McKay guitar and Paul Kiteck on fiddle. // See their Facebook page for notices on who will be playing in the future.

POLICE INCIDENT: Friday night, 3/10, Pinewood Springs, near Button Rock Road and Cherry Company – lots of emergency vehicles; a resident reported: a “weapons related incident” according to LCSO report. I think it did not end well for somebody. “You’re under arrest, come out with your hands up, NOW” repeated over loudspeaker for 10 minutes or so.” // Another neighbor there said: “It’s under investigation; very sad from what I saw; I am the neighbor from the house it happened at. I will not discuss details. We are all safe, and should keep the family in prayer.” Residents estimate 16 vehicles, a swat team, and a Medivac helicopter. ========== Police Report says: Law enforcement from Estes Park Police, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office responded emergent to the scene. First responders entered the home where they located a deceased man and a woman with life-threatening injuries. A handgun was also recovered from the scene. The woman was transported by helicopter to an area hospital; however, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased…. Treating it as murder/suicide; possible domestic violence. // Crossroads Safehouse website at https://crossroadssafehouse.org/

I-25 ramps closed near Longmont: Tuesday through Thursday, March 21 – 23, the Colorado Department of Transportation, will have temporary closures that impact the I-25 southbound and northbound off-ramps at Exit 240, at CO 119 and southbound I-25 main line.

TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENTS on HWY 36=== (1) 3/13/23: on Hwy 36 just past Eagle Canyon (2) a small car and truck; a fatality. ==== (2) 3/14/23: Hwy. 36 and Hygiene Road around 8:30, Boulder-bound Traffic was being turned around.

BLOOD DRIVE – the next one, put on by the Town of Lyons, at the Library, will be May 2^nd. Plan to sign up early as they reported: we had a full slate of donors, though walk-ins were accepted if time and space allowed.

UPDATE on Hwy 36 cell phone service – Warren Musselman says: Just an FYI, it now appears that Verizon cell service is working in the canyon and in Pinewood Springs. I have 5 bars at my home on May Ave. 100 feet off Hwy US36. I also had multiple message notifications while driving up the canyon Monday afternoon. // He warns that it will probably take a couple of weeks to fine tune it; and it will go on and off meanwhile.

MT EVANS RENAMING:  We had an article prepared for this, but it looks like it will be delayed. It was sent to the governor’s desk to sign. –but– The final step to determine the future of Colorado’s Mount Evans was indefinitely delayed after the Department of the Interior received a request from a tribal government for a mandatory government-to-government consultation.

Atlas MISSILE: Greeley is purchasing 970 acres of land that features rolling hills and a decommissioned nuclear bunker that once housed an Atlas missile. — listen to the public radio KUNC report for more.

Spring Break Program for the kids: ———-NATURE Program for kids March 22: Spring snowfalls give us the chance to go outside and explore the clues that wildlife leave behind, from tracks and scat to other signs left behind. Discover how to identify common tracks and signs through stories and activities.  Designed for ages 5-10 with accompanying adults.—Deborah Price is a retired environmental educator. – see library page to register.

SILENT FILMS – standing room only last Saturday! Thanks and Good luck to Friends of the Library who put on such great programs.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES DONATED: Huge thank you to everyone who donated Girl Scout cookies to our local hometown heroes — educators at LES and LMSHS, the Boulder County Sheriffs Office, and the Lyons Fire Protection District. The fire department gave the girls a tour of the trucks today, shared insights on the role of first responders, gave tips on fire safety, and answered a LOT of questions! Great way to close out on a very successful cookie season for Troop #77908!

Share your True Story with other folks in Lyons — get to know others on a deeper level and form a bigger, stronger community of your own. Lyons Wide-Spaces- Community-Initiative is offering part 3 of the friendly get together at the library again – March 25 at 7 p.m. BUT THIS TIME you should REGISTER! Please. The theme this month is “Love” – which can be a story about your baby OR your favorite ice cream sundae! Bring a 5 minute story. (This is based on the popular “Moth” talks on NPR and more).

WANT A GYM in TOWN? — a big meeting is schedule for this Saturday at Barking Dog at 10a.m. // to be confirmed // Watch Lyons Happening on Facebook, or email gorillanator@protonmail.com

ST PATRICK’s Day WEEKEND: We have multiple things going on this weekend – while pretty much all the bars will have music and specials, the library will have a play for kids.