NEWS Briefs & NOTES from your editor, 7/4/24
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,
Parties happening around the 4th of July are the best kind of parties. The food is casual– no worries about bringing a fancy dish to the event – bring a salad, and just throw some favorite ingredients together — good old potato salad is a favorite — Relatives are not locked into one room, sitting in close quarters – but can be spread out over the grassy yard, mixing with some of our best friends.
What do you remember best about them? #1 for most people is watching the fireworks. Sometimes it would involve taking a car drive with the family to the special location. Other times, it involved your neighborhood gathering. When I lived in a suburb, we had a golf course nearby, and we could walk or bike to the outskirts of it, and watch the amazing explosions of color over the beautiful “golf greens.” Oftentimes, we’d bump into folks we knew and catch up on good times.
I’ve also gone to the wonderful Denver fireworks show downtown (this year it will only be drones). And, to the Estes Park fireworks over Lake Estes (which was cancelled due to wildfire danger in recent years). But both Estes and Longmont are having them this year. There is nothing like seeing it with a crowd — hearing the mumbles across the crowd… “did you see that tail?”… “oh, that’s my favorite!” …and just bursts of “wow” and “whoa”
Here’s wishing you some “group time” over the 4th of July holiday, to enjoy delightful fun and food and friends. Celebrate your FREEDOM in AMERICA!
…….. from your editor, Have a good day, Kathleen Spring
PS See our ARTICLE that lists Front Range and Denver 4th of July activities!
WEATHER REPORT
WILDFIRE: (1) Colorado — NO Major Fires — see below under “Accidents & Wildfires” … espec. the Oakridge fire (2) Ruidoso, New Mexico – wildfire continued thru last week of June. It burned 1,600 homes and businesses (Colorado’s Marshall fire burned 1,000 homes). It is the largest wildfire in NM, and one of the largest in the US. — they also had flooding in North NM, and 200 mile long dust storms!! (3) Daily videos of the massive flooding and damage down in Iowa, S Dakota, and Minnesota 6/24/24 etc.
6/20 CO had large hail and thunderstorms. 6/22 to 6/27, 5 days of temperatures in the upper 90s. It brought strong thunderstorms mid-week because of the heat. === 6/25 We reached 100 degrees! The week continued with temperatures from high 80s to 90s, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms, which produced little rain for the Lyons area.===week of 6/29, Saturday we had a “cool down” which took us down to the low 80s (when is 80 degrees a cool down?! sad situation). It was in the low 90s all week, and possible scattered showers every afternoon.
HEAT DOME: This term seems to be coming up daily for the past month. Most of the US has been under a extreme heat warning of temperatures in the upper 90s. — the east coast is not use to this, with Washington DC being in the 92 to 101 range; and the further US city north, Bangor, Maine, was in the upper 90s starting the last two weeks of June. ==== Colorado had several days with heat advisories, and/or Ozone Alerts.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
CUT ALL HOME PROPERTY GRASSES: Message from Town Hall ==== Did you know that weeds, grasses and bushes on properties must be maintained by the property owner or another responsible party to adhere to local municipal code? Spring weather combined with higher temperatures has caused grass and weeds to sprout like, well, weeds. Town code requires property owners to keep grass and weeds cut to less than 6 inches in height. This means you are responsible for vegetation on your property and the area between your property line and alleys and roadways (Town Right of Way), all of which must not exceed six (6) inches in height. It can be easy to overlook some of these areas but given the season, now is the perfect time to double check that your property is complying.
LYONS FIRE Department had their annual fundraiser on Saturday, …a sunny morning for “special recipe pancakes” and more; plus great Silent Auction and a live band. This used to be the opening event (along with the 5K race) for Lyons Good Old Days. It’s the last remnant on the last weekend of June. (Some “versions” of GODay events still survive, but on different days).
4th of JULY — remember government offices will be closed, including post office and libraries — BOULDER COUNTY offices will be closed BOTH Thurs and Friday! Check before you go to a federal office. ==== See our ARTICLE for a list of activities in the Front Range, and Denver. Have Fun! Remember to Honor our Country for its love and protection of its FREEDOM!
INCREASED POLICE Surveillance of Traffic in downtown Lyons. There are police cars at both ends of town, and residents have spotted speeding cars getting tickets.
FIREMAN? –If you have ever thought about becoming a volunteer firefighter, consider attending an informational meeting on July 11, 7:00 p.m. for Pinewood Springs. See their Facebook page or web page for more info.
As of May, ExpressToll customers can use their transponders to pay tolls in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas! ExpressToll customers are able to travel to our neighboring states and use the toll roads without stopping to pay or waiting to receive a bill.
LAVERN JOHNSON Statute to be unveiled July 24, at 4:30p.m. — where the train depot and baggage cart are located. They are currently working on the landscaping– you’ll see it, as you drive by on Broadway. We will have a full article about it in the next edition of the newspaper. Save the date!
LEAF is hiring: Outreach Coordinator: (part time) responsible for communications, content management, community engagement and more. – go to www.LEAFLyons.org for more information. 6/26/24
FREE FRESH FOOD: It’s called the Lyons COMMUNITY Farm for a reason! Stop by any day to see what is ready to harvest. Currently people can get kale daily, and some herbs. (It’s on Hwy 7, just past the bridge over the St. Vrain River, on the right hand side). They have a NEW SIGN! which will make it easier to identify.
LOUD DOGS at 2am – In Lyons Happenings/Facebook, a resident complained about dogs downtown barking at 2a.m. (“old north neighborhood” / Steamboat Rd.) She doesn’t want to immediately report them, and asked for suggestions. The main suggestion coming back was to contact the owner, as they may not know about it — they may work nights. — Robin F. summed up much of what was said in response: Maybe you can write a letter to the Lyons newspaper. If it’s bothering you it’s likely bothering a lot of other people too. My dog is pretty quiet in general but once in a while if she is outside late at night she will bark at something. I make her come in right away, but when a dog barks in the middle of the night it’s often because there is a wild animal out there (which is another good reason to make your dog come inside right away). If the problem continues you can call Animal Control or the Sheriff. They will come out and find out where the dogs are. I believe the law says that the owners can be fined if they allow the dog to bark more than 15 minutes, but being it is in the middle of the night the sheriff might probably be able to charge them for disturbing the peace as soon as he hears the disturbance. Usually they will tell the neighbors to get their dogs quiet, and then charge them if it happens again. Everyone has a right to a decent night’s sleep. Loss of sleep causes health problems. No one should have to put up with such rude disregard from their neighbors.
SLACK LINE: residents in Pinewood have posted photos of a local who has pulled a long slack line across Buttonrock mountain. He asks that people be aware that it is for sport, and to not pull out the anchors.
AIRPORT === Stolen Cars – down by 30%. First they installed 213 new cameras and added more personnel, but also they caught a gang last fall who had stolen 55 cars. === remember you can check the airport web site to see if the parking lots are full during this Holiday week. === Gas prices are down a few cents per AAA. === Have fun!
LYONS VISITORS CENTER NOW OPEN: 4 days: Friday thru Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Send your friends and relatives there to get information and brochures on Colorado.
repeat: final chance to sign up for a free class: WELLNESS Programs: Several of the dozen programs being offered June, July and August by LEAF still have openings! While some are for serious problems, like grief and sober, at least half are for general wellness, mainly offered thru “nature type” programs. Check it out! before you hear others say how much they loved it, and got out of it, and you regret not looking into it! go to https://leaflyons.org/front-porch/
repeat: FREE SHUTTLE Buses to trails: ====ELDORADO: Eldo Shuttle bus service to Eldorado Canyon State Park and the Marshall Mesa, Doudy Draw and South Mesa trailheads is available from Boulder and the US 36 & McCaslin Park-n-Ride in Superior. Free shuttle begins Saturday, May 25, and will run Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays until Monday, Sept. 2. Visit EldoShuttle.com to view full information including shuttle routes and stops. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays until Monday, Sept. 2 ===== ESTES PARK (& RMNP): Also see our article about the shuttle to Estes Park (which does have a small fee). It starts in Denver, and stops in Lyons. ===== NEDERLAND: Boulder County is providing free shuttle bus service on Fridays, weekends and holidays this summer and fall to carry passengers from Nederland High School (597 County Road 130) to the Hessie Trailhead, a popular entry point for accessing Lost Lake and the Indian Peaks Wilderness area off of Fourth of July Road. Visitors are encouraged to park in Boulder and ride the RTD route NB and connect with the Hessie Shuttle in Nederland. ====
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: as previously reported here, Gov. Polis is seeking to bring more movie makers to Colorado. One of the first big steps in bringing Sundance here. Folks put in a bid for it to come to BOULDER! in 2027. The film fest organizers are looking for new venue possibility. Estes Park just hosted the Sundance Directors Lab at The Stanley Hotel, and it was a big success. They loved being outdoors, and also having an easy walk to eateries.
Pinewood Springs Fire Department sponsors the annual 4th of July Parade at 11 a.m. on Kiowa Rd. between Arapahoe/Seneca and Wichita. While its a very short walk/parade, it is great fun — many dozen attend it, some ride their horses, or tractor or golf cart, and then socialize afterwards.
===ARTS & CULTURE ===
QUARTERLY ART SHOW: The next LAHC show will be July 17, 4:30 p.m. ===== Your art is due at Town Hall for hanging on Friday, July 12 at 7p.m. “WILD THINGS” themed entries. Photos / Paintings / Collage / Wall Sculpture / Framed Poetry / Fabric Art, etc. – all acceptable! ====== The Art Opening, July 17, will be an hour earlier, at 4:30 p.m. to 6p.m. due to the Summer Concert series starting at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Artists featured are Kahlie Sue Pinello and Amanda Anderson, with two themes: “Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice.” and “Living Dolls, Portraits of Paper Power & Play.” MUSIC by D’Lovelies. See ARTICLE for details and background of artists.
UPDATE 6/26/24 — IMPORTANT NOTICE
It has been called to our attention at the Lyons Recorder that some people are having trouble finding their Lyons Library SUMMER READING ACCOUNT ONLINE. === In response, the library explained:
This year the Summer Reading Program is only a pencil and paper format. There is no virtual account you have to sign into. You can pick the Summer Reading Sheet up at the library or download it from our library website. There is no other account information on line other than the registration process. ==== See our ARTICLE for more details on the program and on you and/or your kids can log your books, and participate in “adventure games,” and win prizes.
TELLURIDE FESTIVAL: we heard on TV that it experienced two very heavy rainfalls during the festival. On one of the days, people were directed to immediately leave and seek shelter, and to leave all their belongings (eg, chairs) on the field. — The Fretliners, a local Lyons area act, were in the lineup.
ART & CRAP FEST: 20 artists (most of them “new”) sponsored by Rebecca Jacobson: Apple Valley Art Show; and Todd’s Crapfest August 3.
===SCHOOL NEWS===
Some residents were concerned about the school removing landscaping near the parking lot and fields, particularly the bushes, and we got a copy of a letter from the district about why it was done — for improved safety (replacing it with fencing). See our ARTICLE for the letter.
Dean’s List at Bates College for Winter 2024=Shenandoah Waugh of Lyons.
==Local ACCIDENTS & WILDFIRES ==
**CPR** With all the water-based accidents happening in the past few weeks, you may want to consider brushing up on your CPR skills. If you cannot find a class locally, you can go to www.REDCROSS.org to see their tips.
6/23/24 Estes Park area: Pinewood Springs Fire Protection District firefighters assisted Estes Valley FPD on a wildland fire; located north of Jellystone Park on Hwy 36; started by abandoned campfire; put out same day.
6/23/24 LYONS: Small brush fire near 2nd Ave bridge. All out quickly, with some fast acting neighbors and walkers-by (thanks all). Fire trucks didn’t even get to get out their hoses.
————
6/22 Small fire at Rocky Mt Arsenal, put out same day, started with cigarette.
6/11 The Interlockan fire, south of Leadville, at Twin Lakes, began 6/11, and was mostly done Monday 6/24; and just some clean up continued for the next couple of days. Burned 704 acres.
The next biggest fire was SW of Pueblo, called Oakridge Fire; it started Saturday, 6/22/24, and burned approximately 1,200 acres and was zero contained for most of this past week.
SEVERAL SMALL FIRES: 6/19 brush fire: Juvenile suspected of starting Castle Pines brush fire; one day == 6/27 was the Wellington fire; I-25; Buckeye exit.; one day; evacuations orders for one hour.== 6/29 was the Byers fire, lighting, 40 acres, one day. == Highlands Ranch, brush fire, one day.
I will no longer report these small one day fires. It takes a lot of time to track down details, and probably is not essential to know — except! that it’s scary to see so many in such a short period, so early in the season.
Fireworks are allowed this year, and some cities are doing their 4th of July programs again, but please follow the rules and only do them in areas that do not have any vegetation. Thanks. (See our ARTICLE for more info on events and laws)
===CONSTRUCTION==
CO 119 BIKEWAY: CDOT Workers plan to start building the new Colo. 119 Bikeway and other transportation improvements this fall. The project will cost an estimated $165 million. It will run along Colo. 119 from Fourmile Canyon Creek and Boulder on the SW end — to Airport Road and Longmont on the NE end.
Hwy 36 BIKE LANE: They found a water pipe that will make them re-route the bikeway OVER 63rd Street; otherwise it would have cost of around $3 million to move the pipe.
===BUSINESS NEWS===
===NATURE/Wildlife ===
VISUALLY IMPARED? — Colorado is known for its outdoor amenities and active lifestyle—and that doesn’t have to stop when someone has a vision disability. Thanks to new state funding, vision-impaired visitors to all 42 Colorado State Parks have free access to Aria, a phone app that lets visitors experience all of the amazing things our parks have to offer with the assistance of a live guide.
Time to try a new “nearby” trail! ==The Tolland Ranch Trail is now open for the season. This was a decade in the making — it crosses the private Tolland Ranch property, west of Nederland, and connects the West Magnolia trail system to Eldora’s Deadman’s Gulch near Jenny Creek Road.
RMNP Artist in Residency (2 weeks terms): Claudia Borfiga, visual artist who will work on photos and drawings including paper, textiles and print; Susan Mockler, a poet.; Garrison Gerard, a composer of electroacoustic and concert music; Kait Evensen, an artist focusing on embroidery and technical illustration; Joe Norman, a sculptor; and Jeremy Shellhorn, a designer/illustrator.
NEW MTN LION: reported by Robyn Sloan at the end of June, on her wildcam. (Stone Mtn)
AERIAL SPRAY of Rejuvra – Contact Patty Greer or Athena Toriello DuBois if you want to be a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Boulder County for aerial spraying. Send an email with your commitment to DandyLyonsBrigade@gmail.com (ask them for details on what you should say in your statement). Your email address will be bcc’d and I will not share.
BEARS: ===Lyons still has the young bear roaming the neighborhood, but no break-ins or injuries ===Pinewood not only has that new bear in town, but the old Cinnabun bear is back! (but the mtn lion has not been seen lately).
ADVICE ABOUT BEARS & TRASH – from JR Gordon: Bears have a sense of smell 100X greater than humans. This can of course lead to problems…..like them being attracted to trash. However, it can also be used to deter them. With their sense of smell being so heightened, the harsh smell of bleach is caustic to them. Therefore, keeping them away from trash, or any other specific area is as simple as leaving the scent of bleach in the area.======= some options include soaking a rag in bleach and leaving it on the handle or the cover of your trash receptacle, or you can just pour some bleach on your trash when you leave it out. Or, if you have a specific area you want them to not be around, like a dumpster or a porch with a grill or bird feeders you can take a jug, fill it with water, then every other day drop into the water a couple of bleach tablets. This causes a slow and continuous release of bleach smell into the surrounding area and develops a, “scent perimeter” which the bears will stay away from. ====== I live just East of Pinewood Springs literally on the side of a mountain in the middle of the forest. Bears have a constant presence on the property. They used to tip over my dumpster with regularity in search of food. A number of years ago I started leaving a gallon jug of water sitting on my dumpster and I never go more than two days without dropping in a few bleach tablets. Since I started doing this I not had ANY Bears near the house, even though I still see them and their sign regularly in nearby areas throughout the property. . . . It really is that simple.
Repeat: WANT A SNAKE REMOVED & Relocated? – call locals Gil Sparks 509-679-3346; and Gwydion Winklemeyer 325-428-6202
Repeat: BEE SWARM HOTLINE: 844-779-2337
===GOVERNMENT===
Only 22% of the Colorado voters sent in their Ballots. Some people may not have studied it, and understood that some of the decisions made were beyond making the “Primary choices.” Remember, in November, don’t let others make choices for you. Vote!
SOME of the PRIMARY WINNERS:
===Board of Education seat: Kathy Gebhardt, longtime Boulder school board member, in the Democratic Primary, beat Marisol Rodriguez, an education consultant. (I got a lot of phone calls and snail mail from MR). Gebhardt led Rodriguez, 56 percent to 44 percent. Because there’s no Republican in the race, Gebhardt will get the seat, which covers Boulder, Fort Collins, Longmont and several mountain towns, incl. Lyons. Gebhardt will replace Angelika Schroeder, a Democrat who has served on the board since 2009.
==Elliott Hood, Colorado Board of Regents, has won: His campaign said –he wants to make CU more affordable, expand financial aid, keep the campus free of guns, encourage sustainability (incl. net zero emissions), support the collective bargaining rights of workers, and promote diversity, equity and inclusion. He will run against Eric Rinard, a Republican, in the November election.
==Republican Greg Lopez won the vacancy election to fill out remainder of retired Rep. Ken Buck’s term (thru January 9, 2025)
==in our House District 49 race, current University of Colorado Regent Lesley Smith got 73% of the vote vs. against 27% for Max Woodfin. Smith, a veteran scientist and educator, was the vice-chair of the CU Board of Regents during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, she became the first Democratic chair of the board.
RENEWABLE ENERGY for TOWN: The Town of Lyons has achieved its goal of getting 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy! It is a member of MEAN (Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska) which covers 4 states. — This involves work over the past recent years — including, laws passed in Colorado, and the work on the Lyons Environmental Sustainability Action Plan. See the ARTICLE for details.
MAIN STREET PROGRAM: Once again, Lyons has been designated as an “accredited Main Street America” town with “an exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community re-vitalization through the ‘Main Street Approach.’ They pointed out the good economy of the town, its volunteer hours, the ambient lighting on Main St. to help businesses be seen for longer hours by passers-by, and the expansion of Broadway Street for the public use. Congrats! We already knew it is a great Main Street(s) downtown!
IRS will be ending a major tax loophole for wealthy taxpayers that could raise more than $50 billion in revenue over the next decade. The US Treasury Dept. used funds from the Inflation Reduction Act to increase oversight and research on this practice. The proposed rule and guidance will stop “partnership basis shifting” — a process by which a business or person can move assets among a series of related parties to avoid paying taxes.
The Supreme Court on 6/21/24 upheld a federal gun control law that is intended to protect victims of domestic violence. In their first Second Amendment case since they expanded gun rights in 2022, the justices ruled 8-1 in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners.
NEW Colorado LAWS: See our ARTICLE this week that lists several new laws passed for this 2024 Legislative Session, which closed in May. I picked out some that may likely effect YOU / Lyons, and a couple that are more wide reaching, but interesting.
===SPORTS===
Lyons Parks — everything you need to know about picnicking, parking, renting, swimming, tents, camping and more — see ARTICLE — includes info on Planet Bluegrass parking reserved dates.
NUGGETS: MAX Contract for Jamal Murray: 4 years at $290 million
AVS: Nate MacKinnon won the Ted Lindsay award at the annual League ceremony. He had the best regular season of his career, scoring 51 goals and logging 140 total points. — he is 28 year old, and joined the Avs in 2013.
He was ALSO awarded the HART Trophy at the NHL Awards! (Avalanche) as the Most Valuable Player/MVP in the LEAGUE (the final award at the NHL Awards 2024); he appreciated it and said especially because it is voted on in the league by the players; and, it is a toss up this year; could go to anyone of nominees.
repeat:
Lyons Softball League – We are in week 6 — You can see who is playing and the scores on Facebook “Lyons Rec Softball.” Come on down and support your locals — this is Lyons residents only and such a good way to spend a summer day! (in Bohn Park)
LYONS LIONS CLUB GOLF Tournament and fundraiser: They have now opened up the site to register for the annual golf tournament. August 5; $125 per player. Download the form to start registering your team. They are also looking for SPONSORS for the popular event. Contact Scott Lieding or Jerry Tabor for more information. SIGN UP LINK
OLYMPICS 2024, July 26 – August 11, 2024. See it on TV!
TOWN OF LYONS has spring and summer classes and camps – register. Many are free. https://townoflyons.recdesk.com/Community/Program/
==Special ENTERTAINMENT ==
See THINGS TO DO for more special events each month, like these:
After a burst of activities in May and June, when everyone rushed out to enjoy the warmer weather, we find that there are few big, unique events happening in July.
==3rd QUARTER ART SHOW in Lyons, July 27, 4:30p.m. – see above “ARTS” for more details
==LONGMONT DOWNTOWN SUMMER NIGHTS: Music PLUS Prizes! — Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night (after 5pm) from June 20 – August 31, visit participating businesses, make a purchase, get a stamp, and win prizes! Pick up a punch card at any of the 25 businesses. MORE INFO
==COSTUME CRAWL in LONGMONT: July 27: Join local businesses for monthly theme days and costume crawls throughout downtown Longmont the last Saturday of every month. Visit participating businesses for fun challenges, games, activities, food & drink specials, photo opportunities, and more! This months’ theme is ‘Summer Games’, so break out your swim caps, track pants, sweat bands, and medals for a fun day and night on the town! Check the Costume Crawl webpage frequently for activities and specials to be added!
==HOOTENANNY: Mark your Calendar: Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) and Lyons Emergency Fund (LEAF) Fourth Annual Hootenanny at River Bend is happening on August 25, 2024!== they are seeking sponsors www.LyonsCF.org // www.LEAFLyons.org
==VOLUNTEERS NEEDED==
Volunteering makes both you and the recipient feel joy. You can gather new like-minded friends. You can learn some new skills, or teach other your skills. And, surveys show that your health improves when you do something for another person. BE HAPPY! BE PROUD! See our (1.) LOCAL NON PROFITS Article. (2.) BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Article.
==ACTIVITIES==
……..See THINGS TO DO — both regularly scheduled activities in Lyons, and special events in nearby cities — for the current month.
== See local bars’ Facebook pages for bands performing
== MONTH CALENDAR shows “re-occurring events”, like Bingo Tuesday – a 12 month calendar. You can always see what’s going on in town, any day of the week.
………..you came here and read all these Goodies?! Pass on the Word… tell people what they are missing!
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