"ABOUT TOWN" by LaVern Johnson = 2 weeks Tribute Editions
LaVern Johnson has been writing Lyons Recorder’s “About Town” social news column every week since October, 1983. Her final column was April 7, 2022. ~~ We are sad to report that LaVern passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2022 ~~ The Celebration of Life took place May 26, 2022 in LaVern M Johnson Park, Lyons, CO.
Revised layout
The Lyons Recorder - WEEKLY editions (October, new subscriber month)
This Week’s Articles: 10/14/21
==FOUR NEW BUSINESSES in Town — handicrafts!
October is “BUSINESS MONTH” in the Lyons Recorder
Plants, Jewelry, Furniture, Leather Goods
==Book Review: 100+ recipes from top Chefs in Aspen! (fundraiser to help covid-restricted restaurants)
==Are you Sweet on SWEETEST DAY!? — ideas on how to make someone happy in Lyons
==Billings Ranch – History notes on our Pioneer Family – and explanation as to what is done on properties that you donate or sell to Parks & Open Space (fieldwork and archival work)
==Vasi is leaving her position as head of the Lyons Community Farm Project; read her farewell letter
==10 YEAR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – Revision for next 10 years – the Town of Lyons is gathering ideas, opinions, comments from everyone in town – fill out the survey
==OBIT – Chester Barnard
========PLUS WEEKLY COLUMNS: THINGS TO DO == ABOUT TOWN == NEWS BRIEFS & EDITOR NOTES
TEMPORARY LIST OF *PAST* ARTICLES / DURING NEW SUBSCRIBERS MONTH
This Week’s Articles: 10/7/21
==ART SHOWS – two art shows opened up this week, for the Fourth Quarter of 2021, with the help of Lyons Arts & Humanities Commission (1) abstract local art in Town Hall, and (2) solo exhibit by Diane Dandeneau
==HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF BUILDINGS – the Town of Lyons achieved certification! and now owners of historic buildings, and the Town can apply for assistance in preserving them.
==OCTOBER BUSINESS MONTH – each month we will focus on a group of similar-themed businesses that have expanded/moved/renovated, or are NEW! This week is bars/restaurants.
==Monthly STROLL PHOTO SPREAD: fall color / Women’s March / Jogathon!
==RACE RELATIONS: various free programs this month at the library
==INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DAY: multiple events happening! see the list
==CDOT new TRAVEL APP – plan your trip with fewer obstacles
==OBIT – Margaret McCain Billings (pioneer family)
==OBIT – Josh Meckle
========PLUS WEEKLY COLUMNS: THINGS TO DO == ABOUT TOWN == NEWS BRIEFS & EDITOR NOTES
This Week’s Articles: 9/30/21
==SENIOR NEWS – our monthly article is one of the most read articles all month! This month we chat about “the old days” when airports were friendly. TONS of cool activities to attend, both in Lyons and in Denver.
==September is Suicide Prevention Month. Read a few easy ways that you can help save a life! Plus two free classes that you can take at the library or at home to help recognize needs in friends, and how to direct them to help.
==TWO Lyons ART SHOW Openings in one day. See our article on how you can submit your art, and the who/what/when/where of the shows October 6th, by LAHC.
==DIG volunteers — this is the last month for both DIG and WEED POSSEE to pull weeds in our parks and open spaces. Help prevent the Town from going back and using pesticides. Let’s keep our parts beautiful! (See dates in Things to Do; and see “report” from DIG director)
==CONNECT old recipes to old Colorado — read about a new book, and video series that the Colorado history museum is promoting that connects Colorado history to recipes, and some cool old-time photographs.
==LYONS COMMUNITY FARM PROJECT had their first community event — on the grounds that will eventually be turned into a “food forest.” Find out more about what a “food forest” is, and sustainability and more. Check out the great musicians and food that was served! What a great pool of talent — in the entertainment and the speakers/teachers!
=========PLUS WEEKLY COLUMNS: THINGS TO DO == ABOUT TOWN == NEWS BRIEFS & EDITOR NOTES
Week’s Articles 9/23/21
This was a mini edition due to our web site being hacked. Sorry for the inconvenience.==Colorado Gerontological Society, serves local seniors with referrals, filling out forms, and more==Review of CD: Greg Schochet ==Rabies – bat and skunks found in Lyons and Longmont== AND MINI VERSIONS OF ”NOTES FROM EDITOR” AND ”ABOUT TOWN”
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SEPTEMBER 2021- FLOOD 2013 REMEMBRANCES & 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF NEWSPAPER
This Week’s Articles: 9/16/21 FLOOD MONTH
==GREAT FLOOD of 2013
==Memories of the Flood of 2013 by LaVern Johnson, Town Historian, includes some photos (publish 9/16/21) LaVern walks you through the first days of the flood, area by area, mentioning streets, businesses, people, and more. ARTICLE
==How Lyons Wellness/Medical Clinics have Changed since the Flood (publish 9/16/21) ARTICLE
==Destruction of Foothills Mobile Home Park, now the Botanic Gardens (publish 9/16/21) == “There was a neighborhood tucked along the South St. Vrain Creek between CO Highway 7 and 4th Avenue, south of Prospect Street. This pocket of land hosted 13 mobile homes of the Foothills Mobile Home Park, two wooden cabins, and a house close to the highway set among trees. These structures are all completely gone now, casualties of flood damage, and this area is now the growing Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens.” ARTICLE
==UPDATED “INDEX” Page of all Flood Articles (click links)
===Prickly Pear restaurant and bar has Grand Opening this Friday, September 17th.
Read about the new owners and their goals, plus menu and drink descriptions.
=================PLUS WEEKLY COLUMNS: THINGS TO DO == ABOUT TOWN == NEWS BRIEFS & EDITOR NOTES
This Week’s Articles: 9/9/21
==GREAT FLOOD of 2013
………BOHN PARK: A review of everything that happened between 2016 and 2021 with the recovery efforts of BOHN PARK. Meadow Park was done, so the focus turned to Bohn Park. LOTS of photos of the construction, and of “FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE PARK”!
………Flood Comments and an INDEX of the articles, including a statement by Mayor Angelo
………and a list of the Flood books, dvd’s, newspapers, memorabilia and more
………Troublesome Fire Exhibit in Grand Lake — something the people of Lyons can empathize with
……….Home Flood Insurance, a Lyons agent gives detailed tips on what to look for
===Happy Grandparents Day! Hear about Great Great Grandmother Maxine who has 41 “kids”!
===Official statements from Boulder County Health, Larimer County Health, and the Town of Lyons on the new MASK MANDATES effective this week.
===US Post Office has QUIETLY increased its prices! find out more…
This Week’s Articles: 9/2/21
==Year in Review: (click link) fun remembrances of what’s happening this year (Happy 1 year anniversary!)
==One of the best ‘string musicians’ in the US is coming to Lyons at Planet Bluegrass “PUNCH BROTHERS”
==CONSTRUCTION NEWS
….Highway 7 between Lyons and Estes closing…. 2nd Avenue at Bohn Park temp closing…
==RECYCLING NEWS
….tree limbs and slash drop off…. scrap metal and Styrofoam pick up….
==20 year Anniversary of 9/11 ARTICLE
==SCHOOL NEWS — tons of information — when the new auditorium will be ready; what will school sports look like this year; volunteer opportunity; free school lunches; opening day traditions; CMAS tests sporadic; and more.
==Black Mtn. Fire – smoke and fire retardant
==Hootenanny PHOTOS & wrap up – great fun
==Boulder Sheriff’s office looked for Victim Advocates (will train volunteers)
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF COVID-19
(hover over text to find links & click thru to articles)
- Report on the Economy; Unemployment
- A year in the life of a teen
- A year in the life of a university student
- A year in the life of a mom of three
- ==REPORTS==
- Report on 1 year of Covid – Mayor
- Report on 1 year of Covid – Town Administrator
- Report from Lyons Community Foundation/grants
- Report from LEAF – emergency funding, food pantry, volunteers, and more
- Report from Elementary School
- Report from Middle/High School
- schools combined in one article
- ==BUSINESSES==
- Store owners quotes, surviving covid
- Report from Red Canyon/art store
- Report from St. Vrain Market
- Report from Pizza Bar 66/restaurant
- Report from artist (Magali)
- Report from music world (McIntyre)
- Report from church
- ==HELPFUL wellness articles==
- Mental Wellness “Cultivating Hope”
- Community church sermon/poem
- Hair loss from stress, Alopecia
- ==PERSONAL articles==
- Travelling by RV during covid
- Poem on 1918 pandemic
- (Poetic) essay on life during the pandemic (Soosloff)
- Memories – quotes/comments from residents
- Memories – quotes from self-employed & businesses
- American Legion, Estes Park, feeding the hungry for one year
March 25, concluding article and photographs.
== Between March 2020 and February 2021, there were 26 articles written about COVID-19 == go to this link. == Add the 28 articles being published during the month of March 2021. == These will be placed in the Lyons Redstone Museum history archives.
OCTOBER 2020 WILDFIRES - 3 fires surrounding Lyons
During the October 2020 wildfires, the Lyons Recorder posted weekly articles. But when it got within 10 miles of Lyons’ southern border, it published this article that was updated twice a day:
Emergency: Evacuation Maps; Kit List; Fire Updates & more
DAILY UPDATES (see page 2 of this Article)
…also see…
ARTICLE 10/14/20 – on Emergency Preparedness, and Photos of the three fires, mainly Cameron Fire, taken by locals.
ARTICLE: 10/28/21 – October Front Range Forest Fires Wrap up – photos
ARTICLE: 11/12/20 NEWS: about Fire Districts, people, fires – including thank you’s and photos.
SAMPLE FRONT PAGE UNDER NEW OWNER, KATHLEEN SPRING
SAMPLE FRONT PAGE OF PAST OWNERS (JANUARY TO MAY 2020)
We may add additional issue covers for either MAJOR EVENTS, or LAYOUT/STYLE changes. Thank you.