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VOLUME 24, NUMBER 11
LYONS, COLORADO
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B •R •I •E •F •S Run for public office and serve on the Board of Trustees LYONS – If you are interested in serving your community and guiding the future direction of Lyons, perhaps you have considered serving on the Board of Trustees? The election will be held on April 2, 2024 and nominating petitions are available now at Town Hall, 432 Fifth Ave. in Lyons. The petition must be returned by January 22 in order to be certified and put on the ballot.
An action plan for suicide intervention LYONS – LEAF has a new plan which addresses suicide loss in our town. The Lyons area has faced a significant increase in the number of deaths by suicide this past year. On Thursday evening, January 18, LEAF will host a community orientation at the Lyons Community Library, 451 Fourth Ave. to introduce an action plan that we can all participate in. Please join us in the library’s Community Room from 6 to 6:45 p.m. to discuss the next steps we will take together. This meeting is for all of us. Your voice is needed. This first meeting is part of a series that will unfold over the next few months. It is mostly informational, but counselors will be on hand. If you or someone you know needs support around the topic of suicide, please send a completely confidential email to mentalwellness@leaflyons.org or visit LEAF’s website to contact me by telephone so we can confidentially discuss best options for help. Go to the LEAF website for more information.
Title V permit public comment hearing LYONS – January 10, 2024 Cemex provided this statement regarding the virtual public comment hearing hosted by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission on January 5, in connection with the Title V permit for the Lyons cement plant. Cemex understands the importance of public comment as part of our Title V permit renewal process and respects the engagement from our community on our shared commitment to environmental protection. Cemex has alContinue Briefs on Page 13
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I •N •D •E •X LYONS
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Mary Hubbard captured this sandhill crane displaying its beautiful wings on March 21, 2023 in her backyard in Bozeman, Montana. Hubbard is a recently retired structural geology professor from Montana State University. While photography is a much loved hobby, she currently spends time continuing her geology research in Nepal, and guiding a teacher training project through Rotary International, also in Nepal. Decades ago she received her undergraduate degree in geology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Sales tax goes on the ballot in April, property tax mill levys approved By Susan de Castro Redstone Review Editor LYONS – At a Lyons Town Board meeting early in January, the board held a public hearing to pass Resolution 2024-01 levying general property taxes for the 2024 budget year. The town is required by law to pass a mill levy resolution for property taxes every year. The mill levy is set to produce a balanced budget. About 35 percent of the town budget is property tax. Town Administrator Victoria Simonsen told the board that this year the amount of property tax needed to produce a balanced budget for Lyons is $904,228 and the amount of mills required to produce that amount is 15.137 mills. “That amount of mills will allow our residents a tax credit of 4.385 mills,” she said. “We could be asking for over 19 mills, but we are only needing 15.137 mills to make that balanced budget this year.” Administrator Simonsen said that Boulder County Assessor sent out a statement recently saying that the assessed property values went down in Lyons by $4.8 million. This was due to a number of factors. She pointed out
that residential property went down by $55,000 and commercial property went down by $30,000 and on top of that the assessment rate also went down. In addition Lyons had a big fire on Main Street. Part of this change was from a bill passed in the Colorado Senate. “Between all of those factors our assessment value went down for the first time in probably forever,” she said. “However, we will only see a tax decrease in property tax revenue to the town of $1,082.” She went on to say that residents should see a nice decrease in their property taxes. The resolution before the board was to adopt and accept the general property taxes for 2024. The resolution was passed by all board members. The board went on to the next public hearing on a resolution, to be voted upon in the April 2024 election, to approve the ballot language to increase sales tax revenue. The town board is asking voters to approve a half percent (.5 percent) sales tax increase for infrastructure improvements, construction, and maintenance such as storm drain improvements. The current sales tax rate is 3.5 percent and the increase, if approved, would raise the
rate to 4.0 percent. The increased revenues, if approved, would be held in a separate account, segregated from all other accounts, and would only be used for infrastructure improvements in the town. At a previous town board meeting the board discussed the need to raise money for storm drainage projects. Finance director Cassey Eyestone told the board that the town has Second Avenue, Third Avenue, and Fifth Avenue all associated with watersheds above them and all with water slides coming down the roads during large storms. “We keep hoping for federal grants, but that hasn’t happened yet. If we could get the sales tax passed, that would potentially offset the cost of construction,” she said. The board went on to discuss whether the proposed funds to be collected from the sales tax increase, if passed, should have a separate name for the separate account. The board generally agreed to make it clear in the ballot language that the funds collected from the tax increase, if passed, would be used for a range of infrastructure improvements and not just one project. The resolution was passed by all. The board heard a report from the Economic Vitality Commission, formed in 2012 to help/assist small businesses develop and maintain economic vitality with the help of a Continue Townon Page 15
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LYONS OBITUARIES By Gregory Stewart Schrodt Born in 1970 – Died December 8, 2023 Gregory Stewart Schrodt, 53, of Berthoud CO passed away on December 8, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Macarena; three stepchildren, Joaquin, Sophie and Amanda; his mother, Linda; sister, Ann (Dan) Hill; aunts, uncles and numerous cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, Stewart, and his grandparents. Gregory was born in Murphysboro, IL and his parents moved to Springfield, IL a year later. Springfield was his home until he grew up and developed an interest in scuba diving. He obtained a certification to repair
diving tank regulators and moved to Houston, TX, where he lived for ten years. Gregory eventually wanted to relocate and found Lyons, living first in Pinewood Springs and subsequently in Lyons. He loved the small town artsy feel of Lyons and truly felt he belonged there. The thought of working at the Lyons Fire Department was something he wanted, starting first as a volunteer and moving up through the ranks to become Captain. This was a career he loved for the past ten years. He was loved by this community just as much as he loved them. During this time he met Macarena Anguita and her children, whom he loved.
Lorena Liane Christman Born October 26, 1941 – Died September 18, 2023 Lorena Liane Christman, a mother, grandmother, and highly accomplished environmental scientist, died peacefully on September 18, 2023, surrounded by loved ones at her home in Lyons, Colorado, after a brief and severe illness. She was born Lorena Liane Randolph on October 26, 1941, in San Francisco, the second child of Robert and Donna Randolph, and grew up in Salem, Oregon with her four brothers (two of them her adopted cousins) and one sister. A graduate of South Salem High School, Lorena attended college at U.C. Berkeley, aspiring to become a journalist. There, she fell in love with geography and geology, and met her future husband, Stephen Champlin, who would become the father of her two daughters, Robin and Katy. Her third daughter, Amie, was welcomed from her second marriage to surgeon, Jules Margoles. After graduation, Lorena took a job as a cartographer, and then worked for decades to become a leader in the field of urban planning and environmental science. In 1987, Lorena discovered Boulder, Colorado when vis-
Their love of music, food, and fun artwork brought them together. Among friends and family, they were married on May 17, 2019 in Lyons. Gregory loved the outdoors, cooking, hiking, biking, and learning how to fix things. Macarena and Gregory traveled together to Montana where they enjoyed time at Flathead Lake where they had planned to retire together and live near the lake. His ashes will be spread at the lake by his family in the summer. Gregory loved his family most of all, and was dedicated to teaching the girls life skills. They have fond memories of Gre-
iting her daughter, Katy. She was so deeply inspired by the exquisite landscape of mountains, sky, and the small community, that she moved to Colorado the following month. In 2007, one year after the loss of her third husband, Phil Christman, Lorena called up her daughters and said, “I’m ready to have a wonderful group of friends again.” She began looking to downsize. Soon after, she re-discovered Lyons and moved to her dream home above the St. Vrain River and Rockygrass Festival grounds. We all stood in awe when, on the very first afternoon of her arrival in Lyons, she was invited to join a potluck of friends: teachers, musicians, story-tellers, urban planners, and Lyons City Council Members too. The group became a clan of best buddies who did everything together, and she so appreciated having their special friendship all these years, to this day. Near her passing, she reflected that this group had “shared endless skies of stars, sunsets, rain storms, and even sunrises together.” Lorena kept the tradition alive by regularly hosting gatherings and celebrations in her home. She hosted all of her daughters’ weddings in her home as well and even contributed the splendid cooking and decorating. Lorena was currently Principal Scientist and Advanced Writing Consultant for ESA PCR, a leading environmental consulting company in California. She drew on her years of expertise in environmental law, journalism, urban planning, geology, and science.
gory teaching them how to drive, cook, change tires, ride bikes, organization, and much more. They loved going to concerts together and shared their love for country music, in particular, Taylor Swift. Gregory loved his cats, Monty, Odie, Koko, and Lola. His phone was full of kitty pictures that he shared with all of those who asked about his kitties A celebration of life was held on January 6 at Wildflower Pavilion at Planet Bluegrass in Lyons. Olinger Highland Mortuary in Thornton was in charge of arrangements.
Lorena was a profoundly cool grandma who took a devoted and lively interest in her grandkids. She was also an independent woman who was a wonderful, steadfast mother, wife, sister, and friend. According to her daughter Robin Champlin, “She worked tirelessly, always giving her all to assist others in the workplace or as a devoted mother and wife. She was a regular powerhouse in everything she did and in how she held conversation. Lorena learned she had metastasized cancer shortly before her passing, and spent her final weeks assuring friends and loved ones that she was truly curious about her next adventure. She is survived by her loving husband, Ned Alterman; three daughters Robin Champlin, Katherine Champlin Rice, and Amie Margoles; four grandchildren, whose company she adored; one brother, William Randolph; one sister, Jeane Lucas; and two adopted brothers, Johnny and Pat Randolph. She was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Randolph, and by both parents. A service celebrating her life will be held at her home in Lyons on July 20, 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a nonprofit of your choice that tends to the bounty of our natural world or the human spirit, for example, Arbor Day Foundation, MiphamShedra.org, or the Lyons Community Foundation. Arrangements were made by the Natural Funeral, 102 W. Chester St., Lafayette, CO 80026; thenaturalfuneral.com.
New Fire Chief finds his home base in Lyons By Rob Stumpf, Lyons Fire District Chief Redstone Review LYONS – I suppose an introduction is in order, as I have only been with Lyons Fire for a short time. My name is Robert Stumpf, and I have been granted the privilege of serving as the new Fire Chief of the Lyons Fire Protection District. (I go by Rob). I began my tenure in Lyons in February of 2023 as the Deputy Chief of Operations, and for the last ten months my areas of focus has been the day-to-day operational concerns of this small fire district: staffing, maintenance of apparatus, policy development, training and the like. Late in 2023 I learned that Chief Pete Zick would be leaving, and thus I began discussions between myself, Chief Zick and the Board of Directors on appointing his replacement. I am honored and humbled to have been chosen. I came to Lyons with 26 years of experience in the fire service, the last 12 of which have been spent here in Colorado. I have served as firefighter, engineer, Battalion Chief, and Operations Chief in small jurisdictions such as Lyons and Berthoud, and larger ones in Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana. I am a graduate of Indiana University (go Hoosiers) where I studied outdoor recreation and environmental resource management. I was born at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora (now Anshutz, I believe) and could claim native status if I believed in that sort of thing, but I was raised predominately in Germany and Italy while my father served in the military. I subscribe to a personal philosophy of service to others over self because of this upbringing. I have been a Chief Officer for the majority of my career, and am a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, a master’s level curriculum that
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and carpenters, veterans and career fire officers, single mothers and fathers, architects, and philanthropists ... all banded together under the badge and banner of the Lyons focuses on community risk reduction, leadership, and fire Fire Protection District keeping watch over this self-admitted quirky little town. This spring I got to visit with service management. In the fall of 2022, I found myself contemplating my many of you at the Easter celebration at Planet Bluegrass, future, a possible retirement from the fire service, and which affirmed my decision to come to Lyons. The people maybe even relocation out of Colorado. In my travels, I were welcoming, the event indicative of the kind of comhave worked adjacent to Lyons Fire, and crossed paths munity I want to represent, and the venue an absolute Colorado gem. I have been, and will with a firefighter in Loveland who continue to be, in awe of the men and had begun her career in Lyons. women serving here, and will be their When I learned of an opportunity to greatest advocate as Fire Chief. be the Deputy Chief here, I recalled I have been married to my some of the things I had heard from wife Krista for 25 years and we have Linda, who despite having moved to two kids in their 20s who are making Loveland Fire, still had a deep affintheir way through young adulthood. ity for the town, the District, and the Krista has been a nurse for longer men and women that served here. It than I have been a fireman, and by was her attachment to Lyons Fire coincidence perhaps, her father was a that prompted my curiosity in this firefighter and her mother a nurse as department. well. When I am not at the firehouse, When I tested for the position and it is with these folks, and a beagle began to meet the staff back in Janunamed Charlie, that I try to spend ary of 2023, I began to understand her most of my time. feelings for this small but tight-knit My wife and I are avid fans of group. This is a special group of indithe 1950s and 1960s style of music viduals, from such diverse backand dress, and you can find us out engrounds, who have found purpose in joying live music, car shows, and serving this community. Lyons has Rob Stumpf is the new Chief of the dancing most weekends in the sumbeen through a lot, and the men and Lyons Fire District. mer. We have a 1953 Pontiac Chiefwomen here have weathered more pain than most like-sized departments and I would tell you tain that I have been building for the last six years, and a it has instilled a resiliency and a bond amongst the staff 1959 Fan Road Chief vintage camper that we like to take to festivals and camping as well. that is a rare commodity. I am excited at the opportunity before me, and I look How fortunate am I to lead such a group as this. And you, to be protected and cared for by this band of brothers forward to meeting you at firehouse or around town. and sisters. We have pilots and rocket scientists, engineers Cheers.
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MAYOR’S CORNER Lyons addresses sales tax ballot issue, Cemex Air Quality Permit, and more By Hollie Rogin, Mayor of Lyons Redstone Review LYONS – At the January 2 Board of Trustees meeting, the board unanimously agreed to put a sales tax increase measure on the April 2024 election ballot. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) mandates Rogin that voters decide on sales tax increases. The board did not take a pro or con position on the measure; it’s up to you, which is the way I personally believe it should be. This ballot measure is asking town voters whether the town’s portion of sales tax should be increased to 4 percent, which is a 0.5 percent increase over the current sales tax. All proceeds of this increase would be used to fund infrastructure improvements within town limits. Each board member had slightly different reasoning for supporting putting this measure on the ballot. It’s one way to raise funds for projects that have been languishing during the necessary focus on flood recovery. Yes, the price of taxable goods and services in town limits would rise by 0.5 percent. And it’s worth noting that about half of the local sales tax paid to the Town of Lyons comes from local businesses. We also analyzed the sales tax rates of surrounding and similar municipalities, and we discussed whether to include a sunset clause. We considered that having a robust infrastructure fund may make it easier to go out for a bond, should a future board decide
to do so. We also discussed that sales taxes, particularly in the summer, are paid by visitors. Given the significant rise in property values in Boulder County and in Lyons, property taxes will rise, even with the measures the State Legislature put in place in November and the temporary mill levy reduction the board approved in January. No one wants to see property taxes increase even more. Ultimately, this board has a challenge that many small towns face: the cost of goods and services is rising and along with that, so is the cost of doing infrastructure improvements and repairs. But these improvements, in stormwater containment, streets, sidewalks and electric undergrounding, need to be made for the health and safety of our community. How do we raise the necessary funds in a way that has the least impact on our residents? Raising the sales tax is one reasonable option, and the board agrees with the TABOR requirement that it’s the voters who should decide. You’ll be seeing arguments both for and against this measure in the coming weeks and months. On January 5, the State of Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) held a public hearing regarding the renewal of the Cemex Title V Air Quality Permit. The board had two discussions, one in December, and one in January, about whether we should comment (the answer was yes) and what should be said. The majority of the board was in favor of renewing the Title V permit with the caveat that Cemex be held to the strictest possible air quality control standards, use independent monitoring,
and face significantly increased fines for violations. Boulder County Public Health requested specific improvements to be made, and we agreed with them. The hearing itself lasted almost three hours, with nearly all comments supporting specific changes to the permit that address emission reduction, fugitive dust storm mitigation, modernization of the plant, and independent monitoring. The AQCC has 30 days to modify and approve or deny the permit, which is then sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has 45 days to seek changes or respond, and then there is a 60-day appeal period. Last but certainly not least, the Town of Lyons municipal election is in April, and packets are ready. Every two years, all seven trustee seats (mayor included) are elected. Signature packets (ten signatures of Town of Lyons voters are required) can be picked up at Town Hall now and are due by 4:30 p.m. on January 22. I encourage anyone who has an interest to contact Dolores Vasquez, our Town Clerk, to learn more about the process. I’m always happy to discuss the duties of trustee and mayor one-on-one; feel free to contact me at hrogin@townoflyons.com. Remember, in a democracy, voting is the least you can do.
Cemex opponents in Boulder County demand sharp restrictions on new air pollution permit By Michael Booth, The Colorado Sun Redstone Review LYONS – The Cemex cement plant in Lyons seeks a permit renewal while neighbors and county officials line up asking the state for crackdown on dust, greenhouse gases, and repeated violations. Neighbors and local officials are demanding sharp state restrictions on a pollution permit for the Cemex factory in Boulder County, saying current operations at the plant near Lyons are a menace to residents and adding to climate change. Those questioning Cemex cement operations packed a state air pollution permit renewal hearing Friday evening January 5, citing lax fines for consistent Cemex violations and the hazards of a major greenhouse gas emitter in a suburban area.
Cemex “has been flying under the radar for decades” despite numerous violations of air pollution regulations, said Sarah Lorang, a leader of an advocacy group Good Neighbors of Lyons. The group was among those trying to persuade Boulder County officials to deny renewal of a permit for Cemex’s materials mining operation across Colorado Hwy. 66 from the cement plant, in late 2022. “It’s time to make meaningful modifications” to the company’s permits, she said. Cemex officials and employees, meanwhile, used their time in the hearing to spotlight the cement plant as a major employer for Boulder County, a source of charitable spending, and a key supplier of building materials used in crucial infrastructure throughout Colorado. Since 2022, Cemex has modernized operations at the plant to make 95 percent of its production Portland cement, which creates fewer carbon dioxide emissions, a
Cemex’s Cement Plant on June 13, 2022, near Lyons. PHOTO BY HUGH CAREY, THE COLORADO SUN
Cemex official said at the hearing. With more than 100 union jobs for community residents, Cemex is “committed to responsible production practices, environmental protection and sustainability,” communications manager Maryssa Silva said in a statement before the hearing. “I routinely see Cemex support environmental goals, and the priority placed on quickly responding to any potential environmental incident,” plant worker Francisco Javier Sanchez Lopez said in a testimonial statement to the commission. Continue Cemex on Page 15
Neguse’s LEAF visit concludes an active year of legislation By Joe Neguse, U.S. Rep. Second District Redstone Review LYONS – Happy New Year, Lyons. As 2024 kicks off, our office remains committed to working to Neguse foster a sense of community that is rooted in care and compassion, and continues to do everything we can to ensure a better and brighter future for folks throughout the town of Lyons and beyond. As the Representative for Colorado’s Second District, I spent last year working with community members to tackle a number of important issues. And in doing so, I am proud to announce that we were able to deliver some pretty exciting results for the state. In 2023, we launched three congressional caucuses: the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, the Bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus, and the Bipartisan Congressional Colorado River Caucus. We also introduced 77 bills – more bills than any member of Colorado’s congressional delegation – all focused on protecting critical benefits for our nation’s veterans and servicemembers, bolstering drought resilience
Rep. Neguse met with volunteers at LEAF on December 30, 2023. and supporting water development projects in the Colorado River Basin, addressing housing shortages in our communities, mitigating the risk of wildfires and helping communities like those impacted by the Marshall Fire recover after disaster, and supporting small businesses and fostering innovation taking place at Colorado’s higher education institutions. We were successful in getting two of these Colorado-led bills signed into law by President Biden, including our Mental Health for Military Families Act and the Federal Data Center Enhancement Act. These laws will address critical priorities for folks in our community by eliminating several fees for mental health care for Colorado’s military families and bolstering the resilience of federal data centers.
We also fought to secure federal funding for our communities, announcing $275 million in federal grant funding and more than $23 million in community project funding to help support critical community programs like the Lyons Emergency and Assistance Fund (LEAF) that I toured just before New Years – which, thanks to these investments, is expanding its food pantry and mental wellness programs, enabling it to serve more households and address additional needs in the community.
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We know our work doesn’t stop here, and we’ll continue to strive to work to meet the urgent needs of families and individuals across the state. Wishing everyone a year filled with hope. Congressman Joe Neguse represents Colorado’s Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to his first term in November 2018, becoming the first African-American member of Congress in Colorado history. He serves as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.
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OPTIONS There’s a new dental studio in town By Jim Ramsay Redstone Review PINEWOOD SPRINGS – When long-time local dentist Dr. Dennis Johnstone retired and closed his practice, Lyons was left Ramsay without a dentist until Dr. Derrik Johnson and Dr. Shannan Johnson, who are husband and wife, opened their Redstone Dental Studio in the building across from Oskar Blues at 303 Main St. You may recognize the office as the former location of Dr. Matt Brett’s medical clinic before he moved to Longmont. Both Dr. Johnsons are former Air Force dentists; Shannan specializes in periodontics and Derrik practices general dentistry, so their well equipped studio is ready to serve all your dental needs. “We can do a lot,” Derrik assures us. When Dr. Johnstone closed his practice, he transferred all his patient records to the Redstone Dental Studio, so if you are a former patient of Dr. Johnstone you can resume your dental care with the new dentists in town. If you don’t have a den-
tist, or if you’re looking for a dentist who’s local, give the studio a call at 303-8236006, the same number previously used by Dr. Johnstone’s office. Derrik is a Colorado native born in Lakewood. When he was in junior high, a family friend who was a dentist invited him to his practice to meet some Colorado Rockies baseball players, knowing that Derrik was a fan. Seeing the dentist in action so impressed him that he decided when he grew up he was going to be a dentist instead of a professional baseball player. He graduated from CU in Boulder before he went to Boston for his dental training, where he met Shannan. Shannan is from Minnesota. After attending Boston University both Johnsons joined the Air Force. Five years later they left the Air Force and moved to Berthoud where they now live with their three children, a nine-year-old and twin six-year-olds. They’ve had their eye on Lyons as a location for their practice for some time. Initially attracted by the music Lyons is famous for, they are impressed with the “super supportive and encouraging” welcome they have received from the town of
Dr. Derrik Johnson and Dr. Shannan Johnson, a married team of dental professionals, have opened their Redstone Dental Studio at 303 Main St., across from Oskar Blues. Left to right: Tanya Mercer-Daty, office manager; Dr. Johnson; and Jordan Hawkins, dental assistant. Lyons. “Thanks for showing up and supporting us,” they say. Jim Ramsay was raised in Iowa, Iran, Nigeria and Afghanistan. He studied English at CU in Boulder and taught English as a Second Language in Tanzania, Botswana, the
Voters will decide on a sales tax increase for Lyons on April 2 By Mark Browning Redstone Review LYONS – On April 2, Lyons voters will be asked to approve a 14.3 percent increase in the local sales tax rate – from 3.5 cents per Browning dollar of sales to 4.0 cents. The 4.0 percent rate would put Lyons (along with Nederland) at the top of Boulder County municipalities’ sales tax rates. Boulder is at 3.86 percent. Longmont is at 3.67 percent. Superior is the lowest at 3.46 percent.
Lyons last increased local sales tax (from 3.0 percent to 3.5 percent) in 2015, when 63.5 percent of voters approved a ballot measure to do that. At the time, Lyons faced substantial flood recovery costs and the 3.5 percent rate still put Lyons at the low end of Boulder County cities and towns. This column discusses issues raised by the proposed 2024 tax hike, such as “Why does the town need the money?” and “Aren’t property taxes going up too?” and “Where will the money go?” and “Why can’t existing stormwater and streets funds pay for needed improvements?” As to why the town needs the money, Lyons gets most of its General Fund rev-
enue from sales taxes (about 42 percent) and property taxes (about 29 percent). Revenue from both types of taxes (especially sales taxes) has increased considerably in recent years. Sales tax revenue rose from $778,000 in 2016 to $1,301,000 in 2022 – a 67.2 percent increase. In the same time period, property tax revenue rose from $501,000 to $813,000 – up 62.5 percent. (Final 2023 figures are not yet available.) Inflation from 2016 to 2022 was about 21.5 percent, based on town-provided numbers So if tax revenues exceeded inflation by that much, why does the town need more
money from a 14.3 percent sales tax increase? The answer seems to be two-fold: (1) town expenses (overhead), like revenue, have grown at a rate much greater than general inflation, and (2) there isn’t enough money in special purpose stormwater or streets funds to pay for big capital projects. Administrative expenses (overhead) in the town General Fund grew about 59.3 percent over the same 2016 to 2022 period, basically keeping pace with the tax revenue increase, leaving little extra money for capital projects. (Whether the town has “too much overhead” will be the subject of a future column.)
Capital projects (“infrastructure”) are the focus of the proposed sales tax increase, which is to go into a separate fund for that purpose. In discussions, the Lyons Board of Trustees has identified street and stormwater projects (particularly Second Avenue, Third Avenue and Fifth Avenue) as the likely use of the estimated $225,000 in additional annual revenue from the 0.5 percent increase. Future Boards will decide the actual use if the tax increase passes. Town Finance Director Cassey Eyestone explained at a December 4, 2023 BOT workshop that debt service on a 20-year low-interest (3.0 percent) loan of $3 million from the State would be about $200,000. The $3 million loan is projected to be enough for only one of the three potential street/stormwater projects. It would take many years for an infrastructure fund with $225,000 in annual revenue to reach $3 million or more, so using the new tax money to service a loan is anticipated. Lyons residents may well ask, “But aren’t there already special purpose street and stormwater funds available for projects?” There are, but neither fund has anywhere near enough money in it to fund a major capital project. There is no dedicated source of funding for streets, but beginning in 2019, the BOT began setting aside $200,000 of general revenue per year in a streets account, with the expressed intent to build up a capital fund for long-neglected major projects like Second Avenue. The fund reached $700,000, but in 2023 a different BOT, acting on staff recommendations, opted to spend most of the streets account to resurface several streets in Eagle Canyon, Lyons Valley Park and Stone Canyon before they reached the critical repair stage. That reduced the streets fund balance to about $225,000 as of year-end 2023. There is also a special purpose Stormwater Fund, funded since 2017 by a $10-permonth fee on all utility customers. However, that fund lacks a sufficient balance to fund a big capital project. Over the years, it has been spent on maintenance projects like storm drain jetting and street sweeping, plus repairing storm drains on Longs Peak Drive ($50,000) and part of the Lyons Ditch.
University of Illinois and the Economics Institute at CU. An affinity for computers led him to technical writing, and he wrote manuals for tech companies up and down the Front Range. He moved from Boulder to Pinewood Springs in the early 1990s to follow a dream of mountain living, and he’s still up there. Additionally, administrative costs allocated to the Stormwater Fund have increased over the years, from $19,528 in 2019 to a projected $79,655 in 2024, which would total 65 percent of the Fund’s $122,500 in projected revenue. Utilities Director Aaron Caplan has explained that more staff and salaries (with accompanying overhead) have been allocated to the Stormwater Fund in recent years due to more anticipated projects. The result is that the Stormwater Fund balance at the end of 2024 is projected to be only $130,000, down from $284,000 at Continue Sales Tax on Page 11
Threat to our local democracy? By Nick Angelo Redstone Review LYONS – I understand gerrymandering, voter suppression, foreign government interference in our elections, election violence – they have been happening for a long while. What I don’t understand is the concept in Lyons such as at our last opportunity to elect our governing body that we didn’t have an election because of the lack of candidates. It is outrageous to not go through the vetting process of at least one candidate’s forum. Answers to questions can be revealing. Appointed leaders rather than elected leaders? In Lyons all one has to do to serve on the Board of Trustees is raise one’s hand and gather ten signatures. Lyons should be ashamed of itself. Apathy is indeed a serious threat to a true democracy. Let’s have an election this year, let’s talk about the issues. Let’s be true to our creed and define it by participating in our government. It is a wonderful feeling to accomplish meaningful achievements for the benefit of the town that we cherish. Nicholas Angelo is a former two-term Mayor of Lyons; he also served on the Lyons Town Board as a Trustee for ten years. He is a business owner and lives in Lyons with his wife Candace.
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CONTRAST The 1907 Lyons mail wagon was coming down the street By Monique Sawyer-Lang Redstone Review LYONS – “Twenty years ago on February 16, 1907, I drove into Lyons to make my first delivery of Sawyer-Lang mail on the rural route.” These words, written by Albert F. Hess, were printed in the February 24, 1927 edition of the Lyons Recorder in an article titled Twenty Years on Mail Route Bring Out Many Changes. In the extensive article Hess describes what it was like to deliver mail in those early years. “I have been out in wind and electric storms. I’ve wallowed mud and drifted snow, forded the creek and washouts during highwater and the flood.” Hess certainly appears to have lived up to the postman’s motto of “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” At times he was known to pick up and deliver groceries along with the mail. Albert Hess delivered mail up the North and South St. Vrain Canyons under the Rural Free Delivery (RFD) program. The RFD program was established by the U. S. Post Office Department in 1906 for delivering mail to rural destinations. Prior to its establishment, persons in rural areas had to pick up their mail themselves at the post office in town. In 1907, the mail arrived in Lyons by train, at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. and was sorted
Postman Albert Hess and his 1907 Studebaker Mail Wagon. by Postmistress Nettie McFadden and her assistant Grace Flynn. The mail for the rural route was separated out and given to Hess for delivery along the new Rural Route #1. “I delivered with one horse and road wagon the first month, after which time I went to Denver and purchased a Studebaker mail wagon and harness, then I purchased from J. B. Stratford and Homer Oatnier, an iron gray team which I used for several years.” Hess used the Studebaker mail wagon for ten years. In 1917 he purchased a Ford automobile to take the place of the mail wagon but commented that, “It took more money to buy tires than I could make or than it cost to feed horses.” The rural mail route #1 was discontinued July 16, 1929 when it was consolidated with Route 3 of Longmont.
Hess clearly had an affinity for the Studebaker wagon, because rather than get rid of it when he started using a car, he stored it in a barn owned by Miss Nora Sineles. When Albert Hess died in 1957 the mail wagon began a traveling odyssey of its own before returning to Lyons in 1983. Supposedly, upon his death the wagon was donated to the Mail Carriers Association. Though we are not sure exactly when and how, the wagon ended up at an antique store in Veneta, Oregon where it was purchased by Janice and Richard Barrett around 1979 and moved to Naches, Washington. In 1981 the wagon traveled with the Barrett family to Missouri but returned with them to Washington about a year later. Shortly thereafter, Richard Barrett reached out to Lyons Postmistress Marilou
Vincenz asking if anyone had a picture of the old mail wagon. It was then that the Lyons Historical Society undertook the effort to acquire the mail wagon and bring it back to Lyons. With donations from the community, the wagon was purchased December 22, 1983 for $1,350. The next challenge was getting the wagon moved to Lyons. With additional donations transport was arranged using Allied Van Lines. The wagon arrived back in Lyons on January 8, 1984. The Studebaker mail wagon was on display for several years at Tim Combs’ antique store on the corner of Fourth and Main. For many years the mail wagon was also entered annually in the Lyons Good Old Days Parade. When the store needed more floor space the wagon was moved to a barn on Evans Street. Seeking a safer and more accessible storage solution the Lyons Historical Society raised funds to purchase a steel building to house the mail wagon. In May of 1990 the building was installed on the grounds of the Lyons Elementary School behind the Lyons Redstone Museum. While the new storage shed offered protection from the elements it meant the mail wagon was not available to view by visitors. At a future time, Redstone Museum staff will look into bringing the historic mail wagon into the museum building where it can be on permanent display and once again be admired by the public. The museum will open for the 2024 season on weekends in May, Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sundays 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monique Sawyer-Lang is a curator at the Lyons Redstone Museum.
Trumpeter Swan brings beauty to winter By Deborah Huth Price Redstone Review LYONS – Swan Lake, swan song – we tend to wax poetic with references to swans, whether it be through grace, dance, life and death, or romance. Swans have a hold on us, probably due to their overall large size, Price their graceful gestures, and their beauty. That’s why I was mesmerized this month at seeing one on Webster Pond at Pella Crossing Open Space near Hygiene. Not seen as your average waterfowl, swans trumpet in the beauty of winter in Colorado, with their brilliant white feathers and search for open water. The swan at Pella Crossing was a Trumpeter Swan. This beautiful bird can reach up to six feet in length and weigh more than 25 pounds. Trumpeter Swans breed in summer in Canada and Alaska, with some populations coming to the Pacific Northwest in winter, and some to the northern inland states. Being so large, Trumpeter Swans need a “runway” of over 100 yards to take off from open water. They also emit a series of honks that sound like a trumpet, providing their descriptive name. The Pella Crossing swan appears to be a juvenile, displaying gray and brown feathers mixed in with the white. Floating the waters of Webster Pond with a variety of
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ducks, it dabbled the water with its long bill, seeking underwater vegetation in this shallow pool. I had heard about this Trumpeter Swan sighting from friends, and learned that adult Trumpeter Swans are all white, except for their black bills, legs, and feet. Juveniles have a pink center on their black bills, in addition to the dusky feathers. According to the Trumpeter Swan Society, juveniles don’t grow their feathers totally white until the summer of their second year. This would make the swan seen at Pella Crossing between one and two years old. Michelle Durant, wildlife biologist with Boulder County, shared that there was originally a pair at the site; however one may have died of avian flu after exhibiting some symptoms a few weeks ago. Other sightings of Trumpeter Swans this year, as found on the website Ebird, have included Boulder Reservoir and Union Reservoir, east of Longmont. While spottings of Trumpeter Swans are not common here, they have been seen more often during the last number of years. Near decimation in the early 1900s, the birds have made a comeback due to protection from hunting, habitat protection, reintroductions and public education. Tundra Swans are also seen in Colorado. They look very similar but have yellow patches at the base of their bills. A third swan species seen in Colorado is the Mute Swan, an introduced species native to Europe. These swans also look very similar but have orange bills instead of black.
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Deborah Huth Price lives in Pinewood Springs and is an environmental educator.
Girl Scout Cookie Season is on the horizon. Girl Scout cookies have been sold everywhere in the US for nearly 100 years. Cookie sales happen in the first few months of every new year, and our local Girl Scout Daisy Troop #77908 is ready to fill orders starting at the beginning of February. The Troop is led by Yelena Hughes, Cherie Maureaux, and Laura Buster, all mothers of troop members. The Daisies are five to seven years old and voted to use funds raised this year to take an educational trip. Funds will also be used to help fund summer camps and scholarships. Cookies will be for sale in front of the Daisy Troop #77908, left to right: Sage Hughes, 7; Elizabeth Buster,5; River Lyons Community Church, 350 Main Street, Kye Maureaux, 5; Paige Carter, 7; Reverie Seelig, 7; and Aria Pearce, 6. on February 4, 11 and 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. PHOTO BY CHERIE MAUREAUX
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Mute Swans usually don’t migrate. Swans generally live nine to 12 years noted by several websites, but some can reach 30 years or more. Swans form strong mating bonds and will often stay with their mate for life. Even when you don’t see a swan in real life, you can look to the skies. The constellation Cygnus the Swan is in the northwest part of the sky right now, flying through the Milky Way towards the horizon. I like to think of it as being on its migratory path, searching for open waters in Colorado. And if you are lucky enough to see the Trumpeter Swan, it’s a nice bright spot on the winter landscape, reminding us that grace and beauty always have a place here.
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JANUARY 17 / FEBRUARY 14, 2024
OPPORTUNITY wander off and die. There is no clear acThey’re back. Watch for Lyons elk herds orcounting, but the danger is clearly there. “Many road strikes go uncounted where By Greg Lowell Redstone Review LYONS – Michelle Kramer never saw the bull elk until it landed on the hood of her car. The Lyons resident is one of the many Lowell motorists who have encountered elk along the five-mile stretch of Route 36 from Lyons to Nelson Road. Fortunately, she was uninjured that night and so apparently was the elk who ran off. But it could’ve been worse (as the damage to her car attests) had she not slowed down after earlier seeing elk on the roadside. Every fall, like clockwork, when the snow gets deep and the weather turns cold, a herd of 300 or more elk makes the journey from the high alpine meadows west of the Peak to Peak Highway to Heil Valley Ranch. These elk are part Colorado Parks and
Early evening and early morning are the times to watch for the crossings, but the elk can be anywhere close to or on the road during the night and not necessarily just on Route 36. Two groups of resident elk have splintered off from the migratory herd: the socalled Rabbit Mountain herd (numbering at one time 360 individuals) and the Red Hill herd (50 to 100 animals). Both herds no longer migrate and have caused ecological and agricultural damage. The ideal year-round carrying capacity for these subherds should be 25 (Red Hill) and 30 (Rabbit Mountain). In an effort to disrupt these herds and force them to disperse and return to migrating, BCPOS holds annual, strictly supervised and limited hunts (see accompanying article). Route 36 is high impact area The electronic sign at the Lyons end of
the animal makes it off the roadway and dies out of sight,” said Joe Halseth, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, wildlife biologist. Because of the collisions and the constant presence of the elk herd during the winter, there are early discussions between CDOT, Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS) and CPW about some sort of wildlife mitigation or passage there, said Halseth. Any sort of Route 36 crossing that funnels the animals to a single crossing point is problematic. The elk herd is at the terminus of its eastern migration and extending that migration path through artificial means is an issue and a source of wildlifehuman conflicts as the elk would move into agricultural land and more populous areas, said Halseth. Until any safe passages for elk are devised, motorists would do well to stay alert and heed the words of the State Patrol of-
Route 36 west of St. Vrain Road is one of area’s major elk crossings Wildlife’s designated St. Vrain Herd that is currently estimated at 2250 animals. The elk that migrate down to the Lyons area in November spend the winter along the hogback ridge that parallels Route 36 from Lyons to Boulder and in the open fields and agricultural lands to the east. The elk herd crosses and recrosses Route 36 at varying intervals but generally in the same places: by the St. Vrain Road intersection, just west of the “pumpkin farm,” and closer to Lyons a quarter mile east of Hygiene Road.
Route 36 warns, “Watch for Wildlife – High Impact Area,” and it’s not an exaggeration. The Colorado Department of Transportation has identified the road corridor as an area of concern for wildlife-vehicle collisions. On average, six or seven elk are struck there each winter, but that number only accounts for dead elk for which a tag was issued and the elk salvaged. Many elk hit by vehicles are not reported to law enforcement. Some elk may survive the crash
ficer who responded to Michelle Kramer’s accident, who told her it’s not a question of “if” you’re involved in an elk-vehicle incident on Route 36 but “when.” Slow down and stay alert for elk (and deer) at roadside and remember that where there’s one, there can be as many as a hundred or more following. Be safe. Lyons’ resident Greg Lowell, is a former Lyons Town Board Trustee and serves as the chair of the Ecology Advisory Board.
Hypnotic flickering flames – the joy of a log fire By Peter Butler Redstone Review LYONS – As we transition from summer’s long days and light evenings to short days and cold evenings there is nothing more pleasant than sitting in front of a wood fire with a book and Butler maybe an adult beverage. Watching the flickering oranges and yellows is hypnotic and soothing. It is a universal and historical bond with people in other cultures and eras. You might have just returned from a fishing expedition to your igloo in the far north or perhaps be calming down, back in the cave, after having a scary incident with a woolly mammoth a few eons ago. A couple of years ago, a friend found a book, Norwegian wood: chopping, stacking, and drying wood the Scandinavian way, by Lars Mytting, about how the Norwegians tend their birch forests and take the collection and storage of winter fuel very seriously, employing a systematic and disciplined approach. It’s either get organized or get shivering. Chow down on the chapter about how to choose and cherish your chainsaw. We have a big free-standing cast iron wood stove with double doors and an arched front. When we bought our house, the former owner described how his father had been in the business and made sure that our house had a beautiful stove. I find that preparing the fire in this cast iron beauty is a joyful experience. It’s a bit like the tea ceremony or meditation. I bring over a stool and grab my most important helper – an aluminum alloy cat pooper scooper. It has a shovel at the front with slots.
First job is to recapture the leftover charcoal from last night’s burn. I scoop through the ashes and wiggle the scoop so that the fine ash falls to the left hand part of the stove opening and as each portion of charcoal emerges I put it to the right hand side in a small pile at the front right corner. I continue until everything has been sifted and there is now a clear flat zone in the middle, ready to start building a model of a Japanese temple. I choose two matching logs that are about three to four inches thick and place them parallel to each other and the sides of the stove with a gap of about five inches in the middle. Then comes the bit that drives our dog crazy: tearing paper strips. Choose a newspaper that you have finished reading: any newspaper at all, except of course, never the Redstone Review. Knowing the grain direction helps your rending. Get it right and you can rip strips quickly and easily. I hang the newspaper from its fold, then rip little half inch portions downwards. I do about six rips and then do a quick cheerleader pompom flourish to fluff them all up and then squash the pompom into a ball about the size of a softball which goes to the back of the space between the starter logs. Rinse and repeat until you have a nice little nest that would be a snug roost for a woodpecker or perhaps a baby phoenix. This strip nest is the guarantee that
County hunts disrupt wayward elk Boulder County Parks & Open Space began two strictly controlled hunts on their open space back in 2017 and 2020. The hunts are limited to two hunters, seven days a week at Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain and three hunters, six days a week on Red Hill. The hunters are chosen by lottery, are required to attend an on-site orientation, must qualify by showing firearm accuracy and must use non-lead ammunition and/or short-range firearms, such as black-powder rifles and shotguns. The aim of the two hunts is not necessarily harvesting elk, but rather disrupting their use of sensitive habitat (Rabbit Mountain) or agricultural land and prevent human conflicts (Red Hill). The two elk herds are groups that have splintered from the migratory herd and now prefer to stay year-round in the area. Jon DeCoste, BCPOS wildlife biologist and elk management coordinator, said the Rabbit Mountain hunt (begun in 2017) has been successful in moving the elk off the ecologically sensitive area where they retreat after feeding in local fields. He said there has been a steady decrease in harvested animals since the hunt began, which indicates the strategy is working. For example, six elk were taken this last season, down from 14 in 2021. “We’ve dispersed the herd throughout the local area and likely contributed to the re-establishment of seasonal migration of many individuals—there are less animals on the property to harvest because they’re simply not there,” said DeCoste. Likewise, the so-called Red Hill herd took advantage of the food offered by farms and ranches and the large swathes of BCPOS properties to stake out a year-round niche beginning around 2005. The hunt for these elk has been less successful as the animals have been moved but now use the Commerce Department’s 1700acre Table Mountain as their reserve. Plans are underway to cooperate with the federal government to extend the hunt to that area. Both hunts have been extended through 2025.
your fire will go first time. Now I build a platform on top with bark pieces or something similar. Then I use the scooper to gather the charcoal that I collected at the beginning and carefully place it on the platform. When it is all in place some kindling pieces can be mounded on top, and also one or two smallish logs. I am almost ready but now I need to make a splint. I tear a piece of newspaper about five inches by ten inches and keep folding it in half until I have a long stick. When the end is lit, it gives plenty of time to ignite the strip nest in several places so that it is fully detonated, without burning any fingers. The paper nest flares up vigorously and immediately starts heating the charcoal on the platform. After that catches, it roasts the kindling and the larger logs. It never fails. Every time I cut corners and do it fast and dirty and it ends up being slow and dirtier. In a matter of moments I can sit in my favorite chair, absorbing the glow, and settle back into my inner Neanderthal. If Grok could just knap me a new spear head tomorrow I might be feasting on fillet of mastodon very soon. Peter Butler was born in India and lived in a house facing a giant kapok tree. Growing up in England there were trees but never quite enough. After qualifying as biochemist there as a gradual evolution into being a graphic designer. He and his wife Deirdre moved to the States in 1997 and to Lyons in 2000. Finally there are enough trees.
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JANUARY 17 / FEBRUARY 14, 2024
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INSIGHT Letters from Joe Biden By John Gierach Redstone Review LYONS – I keep getting letters from Joe Biden. That would be Joseph Robinet Biden, 46th President of the United States, although in this context I can’t help thinking of him as just plain Joe the Gierach candidate, asking for money. I haven’t read any of those letters because I know what they say and I know they take up way too much ink and paper to get that said. I have mixed feelings about political contributions. Besides voting, they’re one of the few ways I have to directly participate in our peculiar version of democracy, but I was taught in civics class that American elections are decided on the merits, not bought for money, and I guess I’m still nostalgic for that ideal, even if it was never really true. (Something else I have mixed feelings about is teaching kids a sugar-coated version of reality and then sending them out into the world to learn the hard way that there’s no Santa Claus after all.) For all the idealistic talk, politics is transactional and there’s the sense that you’re out-gunned from the beginning when you’re bidding against the kind of people who can afford to have their own pet supreme court justice. And there’s also the apparent lack of gratitude on the part of recipients. I mean, if you give a panhandler two dollars, he’ll say thanks, but if you give a politician two hundred, he’ll just ask for more. But now that we’re in the year of the election and the enormity of what’s at stake really comes into focus, I’ll swallow my cynicism and write some checks like I always do, if only for fear that if I don’t and things go the wrong way, I’ll feel like it was my fault. And although I sometimes agonize over whether or not to contribute, I always know who the recipient will be. I was a registered Democrat from 1967 when I was first eligible to vote (you had to be 21 then) until a little over a decade ago when I reregistered as unaffiliated in order to make some obscure point – if only to myself – but in all that time I’ve never once voted for a Republican, let alone sent one money. A friend once told me that was simple-minded thinking
and that he casts his well considered votes for individual candidates, not their party. But my father once told me that when you marry a woman, you don’t just get her, you get her entire extended family (including all the annoying nephews and crazy uncles) and it’s the same with politicians. You may vote for the individual, but you get the party whether you like it or not. So although it might still be possible to locate a principled Republican candidate who believes in the democratic process and the rule of law, that candidate will come with an aspiring dictator as well as all the lesser crazies and, politics being what it is, they’ll
all vote the way they’re told to when the chips are down. We have an especially stark choice this time between the imperfect democracy we’ve always known and the dictatorship we keep seeing previews of. If his disastrous four years in office, ending with an attempted coup, isn’t enough evidence, Trump keeps telling us who he is and what his plans are, albeit in that too cute way he has of never quite letting go of deniability. So, when he said he’d be a dictator “only on day one,”
Library offers clothing design with Staci Bernstein, blood drive, fostering a child and more By Kara Bauman Redstone Review
form the silhouette of a garment – on February 8; hammer in tack buttons, conquer heavy-weight buttonholes, navigate fat seams, and buckles, loops, or flaps on February 15; LYONS – Welcome to 2024; your Lyons and finally, watch your creation emerge in all its glory on Community Library is here to help make February 22. Sewing machines will be available and parany New Year’s resolutions a reality. Our ticipants should be proficient in winding a bobbin and upcoming programs and events – with of- threading a machine; all sessions are at 10 a.m. ferings for all ages – will support you on Did you perhaps resolve to help others and give back Bauman your path to self-improvement, growth, to your community? Consider a life-saving blood donation and connection. at the library on February 9 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Did you resolve to ditch fast fashion? Spend less money Register by visiting vitalant.org and using our drive code on clothing? Learn a creative and sustainable skill while A069. The Town of Lyons and Lyons Library will cosponpossibly helping Mother Nasor two other drives later in ture in the process? Join the year. Staci Bernstein, clothing deHelping others and signer and upcycler, on giving back to your commuThursday, January 18 at 10 nity could also take the form a.m. for “Eco Elegance Unof fostering a child. Join us locked: Design Principles for on Friday evening, February Fashion Rebels.” 9 for a movie night and She will dive headfirst Q&A with Boulder County into the world of sustainable Staci Bernstein will lead workshops on clothing upcycling Foster Care Engagement fashion, unraveling the in January and February. Specialist, Samantha Frazee guiding principles and fabuand local foster parent, lous allure hidden in your pre-loved textiles. Whether Hannah Dickes. This movie night is for everyone – those you’re a seasoned eco-warrior or just dipping a toe into who want to learn about fostering in Boulder County and sustainability waters, you’ll be treated to an engaging dis- those just looking to enjoy a Friday night movie with free cussion where creative ideas take center stage. snacks. The film is rated PG-13 and explores the joys and Put those ideas to work with Bernstein when she returns pitfalls of foster parenting to become a modern family. Join in February for “Fashion REBELution: Denim Re- for the movie beginning at 6 p.m. or the Q&A only at 8:15 designed,” a four-part series designed to unlock your cre- p.m. ative potential. Bring a pair of jeans to patch on February Did you resolve to learn a new language, start an at2; learn all about godets – the magical triangles that trans- home yoga practice, learn chess, or perhaps just take it easy
his followers could hear that as “beginning” on day one, but when critics made the same charge he could say he was just kidding. On the other hand, then when he quoted Adolf Hitler to the effect that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of the country” and then went on to deny ever reading Mein Kampf, it was actually believable. Trump isn’t known as a reader and when he was president his security briefings had to be dumbed down to Dick and Jane levels to allow for his infinitesimal attention span. But the horrifying part is that to his followers, claiming that he independently arrived at the same conclusion as Hitler is a perfectly good defense. But none of it is as ill-considered as it seems. Trump uses the slippery language of a con man because that’s what he is and he’s damned good at it. In a country that holds its politicians to an unreasonable standard of consistency, Trump somehow manages to tell a different story every time he opens his mouth and while his critics point out the inconsistencies, his followers just feel like they’re in on the joke. Mark Twain said that if you tell the truth, you don’t have to try and remember what you said, but somehow that old rule doesn’t apply in Trump World where it’s entirely logical to believe that President Biden is a doddering old fool just this side of senility one minute and the criminal mastermind of the Biden crime family the next. The choice here seems clear to me: a blowhard aspiring dictator whose only skills are attracting attention and sucking the air out of the room or a straight-ahead liberal politician with a half century’s worth of experience in government who knows how to get things done, even in the face of stiff and often pointless opposition. I won’t list them all here because there literally isn’t room, but try googling Biden’s accomplishments as president. If you’re like me, you’ll have forgotten half of them and there might be one or two you weren’t even aware of at the time. But this election isn’t about fine points of policy or political philosophy; it’s about whether we want to stay the democracy we’ve been for the last 247 years or become an autocracy. And you know as well as I do that if we make the wrong choice, it’s not like we’ll be able to fix it in the next election because there won’t be any more elections
at home a little more often? We’re excited to announce we now offer access to Kanopy, an online streaming platform featuring thousands of popular movies, TV shows, and documentaries. Library card holders will receive ten virtual tickets per month that provide free and immediate access to hours of education and entertainment. Additionally, patrons will have free and unlimited access to Kanopy Kids, a branch of Kanopy packed full of movies, shows, and animated storybooks geared towards children ages two through eight. There’s always magic in old favorites, so please don’t forget we offer weekly storytimes and monthly clubs and events for children, teens, and adults. Writing circles, craft sessions, book clubs, educational opportunities, and much more await you at the library. We also invite you to reserve our study room, Effie Banta conference room, or large Community Room for your next meeting or quiet work session. Starting in January we are adding Monday evening hours. Your Lyons Community Library opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday. We now close at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. on Fridays, and 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Our online catalog is available 24/7 at lyons.colibraries.org and we’re always open for digital downloads on both the Libby and CloudLibrary apps. Give us a call at 303-823-5165 or email info@lyonslibrary.com with any questions. Please see the calendar of events on our website for additional programs, program information, film titles, and registration instructions. As we step into the New Year, let the library be your ally in achieving your goals. Whether it’s diving into sustainable living, honing your creative skills, or simply connecting with your community, we’re here to help. Kara Bauman is the Director of the Lyons Community Library and holds an MLIS from the University of Kentucky. She’s an avid fly angler, enjoys craft beer, and in non-COVID times travels extensively to see her favorite band, Widespread Panic.
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REDSTONE • REVIEW
JANUARY 17 / FEBRUARY 14, 2024
CREATIVES LAHC sets goals of promoting artists, beautifying Lyons and fostering arts awareness By Claudia Paterno Redstone Review LYONS – The Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission (LAHC) is thrilled for the year ahead. We have many works in progress and lots of ideas to bring to fruition. Our mission is to beautify Lyons, promote local artists and educate the viewing public on our artistic inspirations. The LAHC supports the arts in all forms whether it is painting, theater, sculptures or music. We stay focused on our purpose and have recently added two new members to our team. We are overjoyed to welcome our new commission member, Kristin Frances, along with our newly appointed Arts and Cultural Services Coordinator, Kristen Bruckner. They both bring a depth of knowledge in the arts and a passion to make Lyons the best it can be. One very special art undertaking that the LAHC is involved with is the LaVern Johnson Commemorative Sculpture Project, a bronze to be installed, possibly on the late community leader’s July 23 birthday, at the corner of Hwy. 7 and Railroad Avenue on the Lyons Depot historic property. This historic corner will have a xeriscaped garden and pavers added. These landscaping
Sculptor Christine Knapp and her life size clay sculpture of Lavern Johnson
Garden Club highlights 2023 By Sara Erickson Redstone Review LYONS – The Lyons Garden Club is growing like the flowers we nurture. We added several new members in 2023 and they bring enthusiasm, ideas and exceptional weeding abilities to the club. Our gardens at the West Wall (where the bear sculptures reside) and the Butterfly Garden (across High Street) continue to evolve and provide an unstructured and natural array of seasonal flowers and grasses to the delight of residents and visitors. LGC member Debbie Simms revamped our Terrace Garden on High Street with an artistic display of textures and colors. Passersby can sit on the nearby bench for a moment of rest and reflection. In June 2023, we held our Third Annual Mountain Blooms Garden Tour to rave reviews. The gardens were amazing and full of variety. We attracted visitors from not only Lyons, but also from many surrounding communities. We are already planning for the 2024 tour. Email Sara Erickson
(sarae403@gmail.com) or Sue Wratten (steveandsuew@gmail.com) if you have or know of a tour-worthy garden in Lyons. Our Chili Cook-Off fundraiser, which has been held almost annually for 16 years (thanks, COVID for ruining our streak) was scheduled to take place at MainStage in coordination with the Spooktacular Parade. Mother Nature decided it was too snowy and chilly for chili and sent us packing our crockpots. The parade/cook-off was rescheduled to Bohn Park. It was a smaller event, but full of community spirit. We had winners in the red, green and veggie categories. We were delighted to see the Lyons Firefighters take the win for their green chili. In 2023, LGC was thrilled to establish the Lyons Garden Club Scholarship Fund. Keara Ping of Lyons High School received the award. She plans to pursue study in the area of botany/landscaping/agriculture. This year will see another worthy Lyons High School recipient receive the LGC scholarship. Other projects planned for 2024 include expanding the West Wall planting area
improvements will create a perfect backdrop for this sculpture. Stay tuned as we will have fundraising opportunities and events in the spring to help fund this project. If you keep your eyes peeled, you will spot new sculptures here and there all over Lyons. This awesome public art is the relentless work of our sculpture curator, Melinda Wunder. She spearheads “heARTS of LYONS – An Outdoor Public Art Collection – All Over Town.” We currently have 13 new submissions from artists all over the West that will be juried by an LAHC team to determine those that will be added to this year’s rotation. Our First Quarter LAHC Tandem Art Shows’ Opening Reception, slated for Wednesday, January 17 at 5:30 until 7 p.m., will kick off art shows at both the Lyons Library and Town Hall, and attendees are encouraged to flow freely between the two venues. The title of the invitational LAHC Library Art Show is “Otherworldly” by world-renowned Lyons’ artist Android Jones, and will be on display through April 10. Jones plans to be on hand at the library briefly at 5:30 for introductions, then shift down the street where Jones’ Town Hall courtyard mural, through the projection mapping expertise of an Estes Park based
company, Lightbrush, will transform the mural into an immersive experience. Inside, the newest open Town Hall Art Show themed, “Home. Grown.” will be on display alongside available warm cider, optional beverages, assorted tamales by Esmarelda, and Android Jones merchandise for purchase as an LAHC fundraiser for the mural’s Railroad Avenue expansion targeted for late summer 2024. More information about the heARTS of LYONS program and the march-out of 2024’s LAHC Art Shows and themes will soon be available on the Town of Lyons website. Lastly, the soon-to-be Lyons Creative District (LCD) has just been granted its 501c3 non-profit status. The LCD is awaiting the Colorado Creative Industries’ re-opening of their application portal. This statewide program certifies select communities that contribute to Colorado’s economy through creativity, culture and the arts with the goal of helping communities increase jobs, incomes and investments in creative spaces. Great things are happening with the LAHC. We look forward to a bright, beautiful and creative 2024.
(where the bear sculptures reside) to include more drought-resistant and pollinator-friendly plants. We also plan to expand our crevice garden that we started last year. You can find garden club members working this spring and summer at our three gardens. Drop by and say hello.
Check out our website, www.lyonsgardenclub.com, for our planting/weeding schedule (starting around early May) and to learn more about LGC and our programs.
LYONS – Thank you, Lyons. The Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) Board wants to thank the entire Lyons Community Sparks for your tremendous generosity and support in 2023. LCF’s end-of-year fundraising appeal raised more than $51,000, and donations for the entire year exceeded $180,000. This amount compares to more than $150,000 raised in 2022, $119,955 raised in 2021, $98,973 raised in 2020, and $72,607 raised in 2019. All of the money raised will be used in support of LCF’s mission, which is to improve the quality of life, build a culture of giving and encourage positive change for the greater Lyons area. Last year, your donations made it possible for LCF to provide $50,000 in grants to 27 local nonprofit and municipal organizations. This was a new high-water mark for LCF and our community. In addition, we were able to provide $35,000 in scholarships to 7 local high school students. This was a record dollar amount given out in scholarships. In 2024, LCF will be offering at least two new scholarships, the Zoe Chase Memorial Scholarship, and a Planet Bluegrass Communities in Harmony scholarship. We are also exploring the possibility
of creating a fellowship honoring Priscilla Cohen, a local Lyons artist who died last year. LCF participated in multiple community events last year, including the third annual Hootenanny (in partnership with Lyons Emergency & AssistanceFund (LEAF), the Winter Wonderland and Sandstone Concert Series, the Artisan Fair, the Lucky Lyons St. Patrick’s Day fun run, and movie nights at A-Lodge, among others. LCF is deeply grateful for the many volunteers who made our participation in these events possible. In 2024, LCF Advisory Board Co-Chairs are Cory Pierce and Gil Sparks, Co-Treasurers are Gail Frankfort and Kathy Hoyt, and our Grants Committee Chair is Ella Levy. Additional board members are David Hatchmonji, Zach Tucker, and Pete Hinzy (our newest member). Departing LCF advisory board members are Jesse Garland, Ravi Gandh, David Mencin, Gwydion Winkelmeyer, Sara Erickson, and Sarah Lorang. The Advisory Board is grateful to these departing board members for their dedication, and wishes them well in their future endeavors. If you have interest in being a part of the work of LCF, please consider volunteering or even joining the Advisory Board. Board members are asked to attend monthly board meetings, to participate on committees, and to volunteer at annual fundraising events. The LCF Advisory Board would like to represent the community it serves
Sara Erickson is a member of the Lyons Garden Club
Garden Club members at their 2023 Chili Cook-Off. Left to right: Jeanne Moore, Sharon Lynn, Rudy Pucel, Patty McNichol, Robin Cowdery-Corvan, Ellen Keane, Steve Wratten, Teresa Pennington, Sue Wratten, Sara Erickson, Donna Guest. PHOTO BY GAUTAM BHAN
LCF had a record-breaking year, thanks to you By Gil Sparks Redstone Review
Claudia D. Paterno is the chair of the Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission.
by adding board members who are diverse in age, background, talents, and skills. If you are interested in learning about becoming a board member or in volunteering your time to help out with fundraising, grants, scholarships, or special events, please contact us at info@lyonscf.org. Upcoming Events: Winter Wonderland Concert Series. LCF is partnering with the Town of Lyons to bring you the Winter Wonderland Concert Series. Mark your calendars now, so you don’t miss any of the three family
friendly events. We are excited for this amazing line-up: January 21: Shauna Lee; February 10: Elbow Brothers; March 9: Joe Kuckla All concerts are scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. in LaVern Johnson Park. Hot chocoContinue LCF on Page 15
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JANUARY 17 / FEBRUARY 14, 2024
REDSTONE • REVIEW
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ARTS & LIFE The boy needed a dog By Sally King Redstone Review The boy and his mother live in Paris On an island in the Seine The boy moved there from America And now speaks French and rides on the subway And buys bread with the right amount of change in his pocket “Merci beaucoup” But the boy needed a dog
Winter Healing by Sally King
THE GRIEF OF MEN By Sally King Redstone Review A whole generation of WWII-era men were traumatized And when they returned to family life with part of themselves in tatters, We, their children, were suspicious of their missing parts – hearts Could these men (our fathers) Be trusted? At a dialogue group, I shared what was on my mind, The grief of men
The grandmother who lived in America Found a small dog named King With pointed ears and a sweet smile She put the puppy in a basket Along with her knitting And was ready to fly to Paris After all, a cup of tea with her grandson would be very nice But alas her passport was out of date so Her travels to Paris would have to wait. But then a miracle happened… The mother found the Petite Aslan,
A quirky Yorkshire Terrier with joie de vivre The mother sent pictures, true love has been found The boy and the dog even look alike Each expression matching – it is uncanny. They romp and play The shopkeepers wave and say bonjour And when evening settles in, they curl together As the river winds its way to the sea Paris sleeps. “ Bon nuit, Aslan
Art by Sally King
This group of seniors from Lyons attended Fiddler on the Roof at the Boulder Dinner Theatre. The play was the last before the theater closed after 47 years of great performances and food.
And immediately the stories started flowing. Remembrances of the Vietnam draft system years Where all young men had a number Stripped down to their underwear – standing in a induction line With an uncertain future A sergeant shouting “You’re drafted, you son of a bitch” Or remembering the relieved kid who had gotten a reprieve – Not drafted – he wanted out – so fast He reached for the door – naked. This was the Vietnam war era where mostly Everyone was worried about the draft. Girlfriends and mothers too.
Stories that reveal the hard stuff – the silent suffering Can we elicit these stories, Redeeming them from the land of nightmare Witnessed and heard, especially by women. When we can connect with another’s pain We are made human. The grief remains but sharing heals at least in part. Firefighters, police, men worried about money Or a job. Fathers, husbands, partners…
LEAF starts the year with new programs including suicide prevention and mental services By Cherie Maureaux Redstone Review LYONS – As we stride into 2024 carrying our own gathered wisdom and experiences, we are presented with an abundance of new beginnings in our town. There are many new and valuable opportunities for each of us to elevate ourselves and our community, and align with our personal values, in this new year. Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund (LEAF) is a firstrate example of new beginnings. As many know, LEAF purchased its own building recently, and the new headquarters is actively changing and growing. When you drive into town on Ute Highway, look over towards Second Avenue, and you can see the remarkable makeover to the building that’s happening daily. Changes and transformation abound at the new headquarters, setting the stage for the birth of many new services and opportunities for our community. Inaugural programming includes an initiative starting this week, which addresses suicide loss in our town. The Lyons area has faced a significant increase in the number of deaths by suicide this past year. There is a proven path forward that we can follow to help our community be a safer place. On Thursday evening, January 18, LEAF will host a community orientation at the Lyons Community Library to introduce an action plan that we can all participate in. Please join us in the library’s Community Room from 6 to 6:45 p.m. to discuss the next steps we will take together. This meeting is for all of us. Your voice is needed. This first meeting is part of a series that will unfold over the next few months. It is mostly informational, but counselors will be on hand. If you or someone you know needs support around the topic of suicide, please send a completely confidential email to mentalwellness@leaflyons.org. Other new programs that are in the works include new community gardens, expanded mental health services, and
LEAF’s new headquarters at 304 2nd Avenue is undergoing makeovers in preparation for opening in 2024. PHOTO BY CHERIE MAUREAUX
a variety of new youth programs. More varied addiction recovery services, medical support, and expanded classroom and education offerings are all blossoming. LEAF’s new home heralds a higher level of care for us all. As we witness hopefulness and growth in our unique community, we can also take the concept of new beginnings to heart in our personal lives. Each year, the cultural ritual of welcoming a new year involves evaluating our lives and creating goals or resolutions. There are three important concepts to consider when observing this ceremony: practicing gratitude, self-compassion, and positive thinking. If one sets a formal goal for the year, it is helpful to follow a proven paradigm to ensure the goal is realistic and achievable, and one that will successfully propel us forward. The SMART Goal model is a helpful template to follow. SMART is an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound.
Older men who went through the draft system Or served in the military. Can we open our hearts? Listening does help Exploring the emotions, accepting them Letting it run through. Sally King is a local artist who believes it's imperative that each of us pop our head up out of the collective trace, to bring through our creative gifts. You can find her on her blog and website, hersoupot.net and sallywhiteking.com or e mail King sallywhiteking@live.com.
The S is being specific, limit a goal to a single, specific area. Instead of trying to “be a better person,” try focusing on your listening skills or positive self-talk, for example. The M is for measurable. This means setting explicit metrics to the goal, like saving a specific amount of money or qualifying for a particular certification, so you can measure when the mission has been accomplished or needs modification. The A for Attainable means the goal is realistic. Take time to ponder this and set yourself up for success in creating a goal that is small, achievable, and can be a starting step for longer term goals. The R is for relevant. A relevant goal is one that moves you in the direction of your own personal core values, dreams, and ambitions. Remember to choose goals that are important to you, and not because you feel you “should” do something or based on someone else’s expectations. Finally, the T stands for time bound. When we set a due date to an objective, we create urgency, encourage efficient time management, and allow ourselves to pace efforts. You can visit LEAF’s website at leaflyons.org and go to the Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery tab for examples on how to craft a SMART goal and dive into setting objectives for yourself this year. Remember that when we seek to improve ourselves through goal setting, we should celebrate our small victories along the way. Even reading this article now is a success. Please know that LEAF is here if you need us. Our Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery team is highly skilled and compassionate. We can help you in useful ways while maintaining confidentiality, even in our small community. Please don’t let fear or stigma keep you or anyone you care about from seeking help or services that LEAF can provide. Beginnings are a beautiful and important part of the work that we do, for ourselves, our loved ones, and our community. We are grateful to join you in collective spirit as we each embark on the journeys that 2024 holds for us together. Cherie Maureaux is the Program Director of LEAF’s Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery Program. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Addiction Counselor.
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REDSTONE • REVIEW
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WHAT’S COOKIN’ Polenta with shrimp for cold winter nights By Barbara Shark Redstone Review
handful of grated parmesan. Serve in bowls with the shrimp and tomatoes on top. For the two of us I usually make a half batch but it’s nice to have leftovers. If you’ve made extra, pour into an oiled bread or cake tin and let cool. It will continue to thicken and can be sliced and fried for another meal. Or cut into one-inch cubes, toss with a little flour or cornstarch and sauté for a delicious crouton to add to a salad. For the sauce, in a shallow casserole or skillet sauté a thinly sliced yellow onion and a thinly sliced red or yellow pepper in a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Cook over medium heat until they are tender and begin to caramelize. Watch and stir so they don’t burn. Add two cloves of garlic, minced, and a 15-ounce can of pureed tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes to meld the flavors. Taste for salt. At dinner time, bring the vegetables to a simmer. Place the defrosted, peeled shrimp – as many as you fancy – on top. I add eight to ten large shrimp for the two of us. Cover the pan and simmer until the shrimp are done, three to five minutes. Top with chopped parsley for a bit of con-
LYONS – After our indulgence in sweets over the holidays we’re ready for savory dishes, veggies, salads. We enjoy corn in any form, tortillas, cornbread, corn on the cob, tamales, so this dish fills the bill – Shark shrimp with tomatoes and peppers over polenta. Perfect for these cold winter nights. I make polenta from scratch but if you prefer, use instant or premade polenta. Follow the directions on the package. In a large, deep saucepan bring four cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a boil. Slowly add, stirring, one cup coarse polenta meal. Bring back to a gentle boil then lower the heat and simmer until thick and creamy, about 30 minutes. Stir frequently. Polenta can be volcanic and may spit so watch out. Add additional water by the tablespoonful if the mix gets too thick or threatens to stick and burn. When the grains are swollen and tender add two tablespoons butter and a
trasting color. Serve over the polenta. If shrimp aren’t your thing this is delicious with a fried egg or two. Barbara Shark is an artist and author of How I Learned to Cook, an Artist's Life. She lives near Lyons, Colorado. For more recipes, read her blog at www.howilearnedtocookanartistslife.blog.
Bakewell Tart – the real thing By Catherine Metzger Redstone Review LYONS – This is a 1927 recipe for the elusive, original Bakewell Tart – with no cherry on top—curated by Regula Ysewijn, a Belgian anglophile whose British cookbooks are trending and very collectible. Regula has taken time to track down the original, historic Bakewell Tart recipe made with almond meal, breadcrumbs, apricot kernels, rosewater and jam so that we don’t have to. By following her recipe we get to enjoy the fruits of her research. And they are delicious. Regula’s most recent cookbook that contains this recipe, Oats in the North, Wheat from the South, features more historical and traditional British bakes. All the somewhat exotic ingredients are available on Amazon or from other retailers. Bakewell Tart For 6 to 8 people For the pastry 1 quantity of a shortcrust pastry (so as not to make this super long with pastry instructions, buy it or use your favorite recipe, or Regula’s on page 235 of Oats in the North.) For the filling 20 g apricot kernels (Do not snack on these; keep away from children as they cause upset stomach when eaten raw and in large quantities) 1 tablespoon rosewater 150 g butter
75 g plain or demerara sugar (for more flavor) 150 g almond meal (blanched gives a lighter result; natural, which is what I had on hand, is a darker result because the almond skin is still present) 50 g fresh white breadcrumbs 2 eggs Pinch of grated nutmeg 3 tablespoons raspberry jam Handful of flaked almonds For a 20 cm (8 inch) round tin • Make the shortcrust pastry following the instructions on page 235 of Regula’s book, or another book if you like, or use storebought, there is no shame in it. • Prepare the cake tin. Roll out the pastry on a floured work surface to a thickness of 5 mm. Fold in the sides so that the pastry will fit into the base of the baking tin, then gently lift it into the tin, letting it sink down into the base. • Use a small piece of excess dough to firmly press the edges of the pastry into the tin. Trim the excess pastry with a knife and then pierce the base with a fork. Put the pastry in the fridge to rest for at least 30 minutes or overnight; we don’t blind-bake this pastry as we want it to blend a little with the filling. • Blanch the apricot kernels in boiling water, then remove the skins. Using a mortar and pestle, mash the apricot kernels with the rosewater to make a paste.
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• Melt the butter in a saucepan but don’t let it bubble. Remove the pan from the heat, add the sugar, almond meal, apricot kernel paste and breadcrumbs and stir well. • Add the eggs and nutmeg and mix well. Let the filling rest for at least one hour. To-
wards the end of the resting time, preheat the oven to 200C (400°F; no fan heat). • Spread the jam over the pastry base and spoon the filling on top. Sprinkle with the flaked almonds and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown.
JANUARY 17 / FEBRUARY 14, 2024
REDSTONE • REVIEW
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SEASONS A Bushy-tailed Woodrat learns an important lesson By Mysti Tatro Redstone Review LYONS – Below-freezing temperatures that leave you feeling chilled to the bone, even after only a half hour of exposure, can leave you wondering, “How do wildlife survive these conditions?” There Tatro are many adaptations that help critters regulate their body temperatures. Canada geese, for example, have layers of downy feathers that hold pockets of warm air close to their bodies. Some animals use hibernation or torpor to limit normal body functions and use their precious energy reserves for survival. The bushy-tailed woodrat, however, is known to withstand frigid temperatures without hibernating, as many other rodents do. The woodrat withstands cold climates by storing a cache of food in its crystalized home, a midden. These dwellings crystalize when the woodrat deposits waste – high in calcium carbonate – over the material it collects. A young bushy-tailed woodrat in the Fort Garland area decided a camper was the ideal spot to start her own midden. When the owners of the camper took their next trip, they ended up transporting the critter with them on a long three-and-a-half-hour drive away from her original stomp-
Sales Tax Continued from Page 4 the end of 2021. That balance won’t fund much of a big capital project. Another relevant question about town finances is, “My property taxes have gone way up as property values skyrocket. Why isn’t that enough to fund town projects?” As stated, town property tax revenue has gone up considerably – from $501,000 in 2016 to $813,000 in 2022; 2024 property tax revenue is projected to be $904,228. Under Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (“TABOR”), the town can only increase property tax revenue by 5.5 percent per year. That means the town must adjust the mill levy (the level of tax imposed on property values set by Boulder County) each year to stay under the 5.5 cap. Lyons taxes its citizens’ property at the maximum level allowed by state law (TABOR). The existence of an accounting entry “credit” below the maximum voter-authorized mill levy (see Mayor Hollie Rogin’s column in the December Redstone Review)
ing grounds. The woodrat was brought to Greenwood Wildlife after the unsuspecting humans discovered their furry passenger and found her bleeding. While evaluating her health, Greenwood’s Animal Care Team discovered she was missing part of her tail, the bone was left exposed, and she sustained minor wounds to her hindquarters. Our veterinarians prescribed her a regimen of pain medications and antibiotics. We hope these injuries can be successfully treated and she can be returned to her home down south. With even colder temperatures approaching, this woodrat’s story is a great reminder of why it is important to thoroughly check all the compartments, nooks and crannies of campers, boats, vehicles, and trailers periodically. Greenwood Wildlife has taken in a slew of animals that have fallen victim to this same kind of predicament: yellow-bellied marmots have hitched rides from the mountains when they warm themselves under car hoods; raccoons have made cozy dens in the compartments of trailers; birds have nested on boats stored for the winter. Protect your equipment from unwelcome guests by checking under the hood, periodically moving stowed vehicles, making a racket in your camper or trailer, removing food, and sealing holes. This bushy-tailed woodrat is lucky she wasn’t more seriously injured, and even more lucky
does not save taxpayers any actual money. The town couldn’t tax at its maximum authorized mill levy even if it wanted to. Put simply, the town is getting as much property tax money from its residents and businesses as it can, having declined Gov. Jared Polis’ request to not impose the maximum 5.5 percent tax revenue increase in 2024. With relatively small balances in streets and stormwater funds, and having maxed out property tax revenue, the town is mostly left with raising sales taxes as a source of new revenue. It could raise Stormwater Fund fees or impose a streets/sidewalks fee, but those types of fees are paid 100 percent by Lyons residents. By contrast, a substantial portion of sales taxes is paid by out-of-towners – visitors who shop in local stores and eat in local restaurants, many of them in summer months when Lyons’ sales tax revenues rise. Still, Lyons locals do pay local sales taxes – more than half of them, by my calculation. They pay sales tax not only at local
Specializing in the Greater Lyons Area! A referral from you is the best compliment I can receive. Mark Prucha 303-990-3201 pruchamark82@gmail.com
that licensed professionals are around to get her the treatment she needs before returning home. Mysti Tatro is the Communications & Marketing Coordinator at Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. For information, call 303-823-8455 or www.greenwoodwildlife.org.
LYONS STORM WATER FUND HISTORY 2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Revenue
99789 118007 117780 117393 119952 126830 122500
Admin Exp
0
19528
23606
27867
36831
60511
76655
AE% of Rev
0%
16.5%
20.0%
23.7%
30.7%
47.7%
65.0%
Note: 2018 through 2022 are actual numbers. 2023 is projected numbers in 2024 budget. 2024 is budgeted numbers. stores and restaurants, but also on online purchases (like Amazon orders) delivered to Lyons. Those sales from online sellers account for about 42 percent of town sales tax receipts. The 0.5 percent sales tax increase would apply to online orders, too. A final question related to the proposed sales tax increase is whether Lyons does a good job of collecting sales taxes already on the books. In recent years, several local businesses (Barking Dog, Lyons Den, Diner Bar) ran up large amounts of unpaid sales taxes collected over many months from visitors and locals alike. Citizens being asked to approve a tax hike may well ask if sales taxes should be raised when existing taxes haven’t been fully collected. Town officials have pointed to the Colorado Department of Revenue as being re-
sponsible for collecting sales taxes owed to statutory towns like Lyons and reported along with state and county sales taxes. That is correct as far as it goes, but Lyons also has a way to force businesses that are delinquent for months to pay sales taxes. The town can revoke a license to do business in Lyons for any business not paying its taxes, but the town only did that for Diner Bar the day after it closed on its own. So is the 14.3 percent sales tax increase justified? That is for each voter to decide. I’ve tried to identify relevant factors and will let people make up their own minds. Mail ballots will go out in March and Election Day is April 2. Mark Browning is a Lyons resident and retired attorney. Travels with Redstone
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REDSTONE • REVIEW
JANUARY 17 / FEBRUARY 14, 2024
INTEREST Wildlife officials release five wolves from Oregon into Colorado as reintroduction begins
plete in the coming months. The location was on stateowned public land in Grand County. There were 13 Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials in Oregon participating in the collection of the five wolves. Wildlife managers in Oregon knew the general locations By Jason Blevins, from the Colorado Sun crates and to the side. A drone buzzed overhead. of the state’s wolf packs and a spotting plane provided preFor the first release, a 76-pound mottled gray-and- cise coordinates from above. A helicopter with a wildlife Redstone Review brown male darted from the crate but slowed to a lope as official armed with a gun firing tranquilizing darts hovered GRAND COUNTY – The wolf loped through the snowy he followed a track up a small hill. A gray female – sister over three packs Sunday and shot two younger wolves meadow into a copse of aspens, her fur blending with the to the first male – took some time to saunter out of the from two packs and an older wolf from a third pack. The browns, grays and whites of the remote corner of state land. cage and turned atop a small hill to look back. helicopter would hover as low as ten feet above the aniShe turned for a moment to look back at the about 45 The next two were another pair of siblings from the mals as the gunner fired. people gathered around the crates before trotting into the same pack. When the door swung open for the crate holdEric Odell is the species conservation program manager forest. In the meadow of spruce, pinyon and aspens, Col- ing a 93-pound juvenile male, he didn’t move. Officers at Colorado Parks and Wildlife who has shepherded the orado Parks and Wildlife officials rewolf introduction plan since 2020. He leased five wolves in Grand County. was among CPW employees in Oregon It was the first time a state – not the helping to locate, dart, crate and ship U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – had five wolves. introduced an endangered species into After being darted, the animals were wildland in the U.S. It was the culmidown within minutes. They were loaded nation of more than three years of into the helicopter and flown to a prowork after Colorado voters in 2020 dicessing station where the wolves were rected Colorado Parks and Wildlife to weighed and collared. Veterinarians took reintroduce wolves to the Western blood samples and provided any treatSlope by the end of 2023. ments and vaccinations, Odell said. While momentous and historic, the The wolves were flown on a singleoccasion was bigger than five wolves, engine Pilatus PC-12 from Oregon to said Joanna Lambert, a professor of Colorado using LightHawk, a conserwildlife ecology and evolutionary biolvation flying organization that provides ogy at the University of Colorado. planes and pilots for wildlife conserva“This is a moment of re-wilding,” she tion projects. said. “Of doing something to stave off Oregon officials warned their Colthe biodiversity extinction crisis we are orado counterparts that finding and colliving in ... to make a difference in this lecting wolves can be a slow process. era of extinction. And moreover, this is They were told to expect days without a source of hope not only for all of us Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five gray wolves onto public land in Grand County, Colany sightings and a good day would instanding here but for our younger gen- orado on Monday, December 18, 2023. Pictured is wolf 2303-OR. Image by Colorado Parks volve darting two animals. They got and Wildlife agency Senior Video Producer Jerry Neal. erations as well.” five in one day. Lambert said she lost her breath “We just had really good luck,” said when she saw the wolves gallop into the woods. For years, opened the door for the second crate and a gray-brown, Odell, who credited the team effort with both a helicopter Lambert and wolf advocates have been working to get 76-pound female bounded through the grass, glancing and spotting plane. Odell has headed back to Oregon to wolf “paws on the ground” and she felt herself gasp when sideways and backward as she trotted into the woods. The collect five more wolves. Oregon has offered a total of ten “all of the sudden, it happened. It was exquisite in every male, after several minutes, finally bounded from the cage. wolves to relocate to Colorado by the end of March. The way,” she said. An adult male – the only adult among the five – was Colorado plan calls for releasing 30 to 50 wolves on the The animals – two male and two female yearlings under released last and swerved immediately into heavy timber. Western Slope in the next three to five years. 100 pounds and one older, 108-pound male from three dif“I’ve seen wolves before but they have been in zoos and The second group of five will be released in the same ferent packs – were captured in Oregon on a Sunday and at rescue, but to see them in their natural habitat and turn general area, somewhere in Eagle, Grand or Summit counflown to Colorado early the next morning. They spent less and look curiously at us before darting into the forest is re- ties. Reid DeWalt, the assistant director for the aquatic, than a day in the metal crates. ally a special moment that I will treasure for my entire life,” terrestrial and natural resources branch of Colorado Parks Wildlife officers, many of them with holstered guns on said Gov. Jared Polis, who stood behind the crates with his and Wildlife, started looking at potential release sites this their hips, flanked the crates. A few held handle-mounted husband, Marlon Reis, as officials swung the doors open. summer, using state lands as a filter but also considering sheets of plywood to keep the animals from turning into The Colorado Sun agreed with the Colorado Parks and the populations of elk, deer and pronghorn so the wolf can the crowd. A few officers held their phones toward the Wildlife request to not reveal the exact location of the find prey. Other considerations include proximity to aircrates. There were cameras positioned in front of the wolf release until after a second round of releases is comContinue Wolves on Page 15
JANUARY 17 / FEBRUARY 14, 2024
REDSTONE • REVIEW
B •R •I •E •F •S
CROSSROADS
Continued from Page 1
Lyons Fire Fund uses the MAPS Program to assist fire fighters and first responders in recovery By Johanna Zeh Redstone Review LYONS – A new program is in place at the Fire Department – MAPS, or Multi Agency Peer Support network. Currently funded solely by a Larimer County seed grant in late 2022 plus community donations in 2023, the MAPS program offers in-house, immediate counseling resources to our firefighters, EMTS, and paramedics. The mental health and balanced recovery efforts needed to cope with postevent reactions of fire department and first responder personnel is a major factor in reducing known occupational hazards for all fire crews and first responders, nationwide.
MAPS supports those who experience firsthand the inherent trauma and accumulating stresses of potential PTSD after responding to fires, vehicle accidents, emergency ambulance calls, and natural disasters. Team response to trauma, and time spent with others who’ve witnessed similar trauma, is vital – to face the next call out, to come to work the next day. Talking and openly sharing thoughts in a supportive organizational group session works. Keeping our firefighters and first responders safe directly keeps us all safe. In 2022, LFPD Captain Josh Thompson identified a need for a peer-counseling support organization. His application went to Larimer County first for seed money, and initial grant funds were approved. He’s said that he was amazed by the immediate direct interest shown from firefighters in other local Front Range fire departments. Lyons Fire Protection District now partners in MAPS with several adjacent fire departments: Lefthand FPD, Allenspark FPD, Big Elk Meadows FPD, Pinewood Springs FPD, and Hygiene FPD. Professional training classes and certification for peer support team leaders began in early 2023. Today three experienced firefighters serve as peer counselors and two outside paid professional clinicians are on call to rapidly hold in-house counseling sessions for post-traumatic events. MAPS is up and running, fully operational, and has been used on a monthly basis ever since February 15, 2023. Larimer County awarded the original MAPS grant for
PAGE 13
a one-year period. While willing to carry the burden to help the program launch, Larimer County officials made it clear they would really like to see Boulder County carry the financial load as well. Boulder County officials have expressed interest, although the process is slow. The MAPS network is solidly in the black right now, thanks to Larimer County, the Lyons Fire Fund, and our community’s donated dollars. Aiming to remain funded into the future, Capt. Thompson will be asking participating Fire Districts to dedicate a budget line, however small, to health and wellness this year, and to contribute to MAPS this coming year. Boulder County definitely also will be asked to support the project with additional grant money awards. In 2024, we still need community support and will ask you for matching funds, whether in smaller or larger dollar donations. In community support, the owners of ALodge /Lyons (local residents Asa Firestone and his family, and general manager Rhea Davenport), sponsored the first two MAPS benefit concerts in 2022 and 2023. They’re happy to sponsor an Artist Showcase concert again, in 2024. Please consider attending and do plan to “feed the Boot” at the Lyons Fire Fund’s table. Lyons Fire Fund board members want you to know exactly where your donated dollar goes. We’re a tiny nonprofit and the MAPS network is a 100% direct goal of ours. The MAPS newly trained peer network is not here due to any big, costly, elaborate, multi-thousand dollar grant. It’s just an important program, with relatively small costs and huge returns of intangible benefits. Please take a minute to look over the help links, lists of public hotlines, and suggestions for finding support after traumatic experiences that’s offered on the LDPD’s newly updated website, under “Peer Support.” Anyone can use these hotlines. The direct website link describing MAPS is lyonsfire.org-peer-support. Multi-Agency Peer Support teams exist as a valuable new resource that’s available whenever the LFPD staff and all adjacent participating mutual aid fire districts need it. Help us continue to have in-house MAPS counselors available internally whenever needed. We’d like MAPS to go on for many years. Donations can be made at lyonsfirefund.org. Johanna Zeh, is a member of the Lyons Fire Fund, the fund raising and support organization for the Lyons Regional Fire Department Board.
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ways supported open dialogue and comments from the public concerning our operations. While we have been part of the community for many years, it is important to understand that our Lyons Cement Plant is held to all current state and federal air quality regulations, as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Air Quality Control Commission. We use state-of-the-art equipment to continuously monitor emissions, as well as conduct visual inspections of our facility throughout each day. Cemex prioritizes being a good neighbor in the communities where we live and operate. The cement we produce has been crucial to the development of roads, hospitals, businesses, schools and other infrastructure that improve safety, mobility, and quality of life not only in the Town of Lyons and Boulder County, but throughout Colorado. As we await renewal of our permit, our commitment to the community does not stop and we will continue the positive work we’ve always conducted at the Lyons Cement Plant.
Tenth annual Old Man Winter Bike Rally and Run LYONS – The Old Man Winter Bike Rally and Run, an iconic winter endurance festival, is gearing up for its tenth edition on Sunday, February 4. This thrilling event offers a mix of terrain challenges for both runners and cyclists, promising an unforgettable experience.You can sign up/register for the event at: https://www.oldmanwinterrally.com/signup. A $1,000 cash purse has been added for the top performers in the 10K run, elevating the competitive spirit. The starting and finishing point is Bohn Park in Lyons. Cyclists must be ten years old on event day, while runners can be six and up. Riders can choose from 50K or 100K of gravel, snow, and climbs, while runners can conquer the 5K or 10K course. The race ends with great snacks and hydration drinks, a hot meal and cold drinks at the after-party, s’mores, fire pits, and live music. Go to the Town of Lyons for more information.
Weather and ice skating rink LYONS – The town’s ice rink is open again. Thank you Mother Nature and the Parks staff. Rentals are available on weekends, Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 3 to 7 p.m. All of the details are posted on the Lyons Town website. The rink will be closed when temperatures exceed 45 degrees. Please bookmark this site for ice rink updates. Due to popular demand, more time slots have been added to the Learn to Skate Programs. Get all the details, whether you are new to ice skating or more advanced. See Town of Lyons website for more information.
Firing up the hoses to get the ice rink going. PHOTO BY CATHY RIVERS
2024 Winter Wonderland Concerts LYONS – Live music returns to Lyons outdoors for the Winter Wonderland Concert Series. We plan to have monthly concerts, one each in January, February and March. The January 21 concert features Shauna Lee and will be in LaVern Johnson Park along with ice skating and free skate rentals. Lyons ComContinue Briefs on Page 14
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REDSTONE • REVIEW
G U E S T •E D I T O R I A L
A different opinion on Cemex By Nick Angelo Redstone Review LYONS – Like it or not the manufacture of cement is here to stay until an alternative can be found to replace it. It is a business that contributes to the carbon footprint, but by no means is it solely responsible for the poor air quality along the Front Range. Not by a longshot. I had the privilege to be heard at Cemex’s Title 5 hearing and pointed out several facts to the Commissioners. That unbridled growth along the Front Range is the main culprit. Yes, you, me and everybody else contribute to the carbon footprint every day. We don’t all have electric vehicles and that won’t be a reality in the immediate future. I pointed out that the smoke that made its way to Colorado from the Northwest fires several years ago and resulted in Denver having the worst pollution index rating in the world was not Cemex’s fault. Reducing the carbon footprint will take worldwide cooperation that is not in place presently. I imagine many countries feel that the U.S. had and still has its industrial revolution, why can’t we. Speaking of cooperation rather than confrontation with Cemex, and these are strictly my personal views: revisit the extension of the mining permit on Dowe Flats. Lower Cemex’s offer to a ten-year extension and at the same date the mining extension expires, the plant closes.
The misconception that trucking in material will lessen Cemex’s financial wellbeing is nonsense. Cemex trucked material into the plant for years before the conveyer tube was constructed. The main benefit of that tube was to keep traffic off of the roads. The unintended consequence of the mining extension denial is the truck traffic caused by the denial. Along with the outright denial at the county commissioner’s hearing where Cemex offered to further lower the lifetime of mining Dowe Flats and plant operations by 20 percent, from 15 years to 12 years. One commissioner accepted the compromise offer, two commissioners rejected the offer of compromise. Would a further reduction to ten years be considered, I wonder. That time frame is less than when President Obama was elected. Ten years goes by like a blink of the eye. I have lived in Lyons going on 40 years and I have felt no reduction in my quality of life as a result of Cemex emissions. I’ll remind everyone that Mrs. Lavern Johnson lived to be 94 years old and was here the whole time the plant was operating. My children grew up here and they are all fine. Let’s discuss what possible additional amenities Cemex could provide in the future. First though let’s look at what they have provided to the town in the past. The sidewalk up Fifth Avenue that saved the town over $300,000, the many contributions to LEAF, contribution to the skatepark for the children, here’s another their contribution to the construction of the new beautiful auditorium at the Lyons Middle/Senior High School. Cemex and the town were accused at the Title V meeting of accepting graft and paying us off. I guess that’s how some people think, not me, I’m thankful. Cemex would most likely would also contribute to building
munity Foundation (LCF) will be there with yummy baked goods and some warm drinks. Come on out, bring a friend, see your neighbors, share community and enjoy Lyons in the winter. The other two dates are Saturday, February 10 and Saturday, March 9. Location for those two concerts are TBD, either Bohn Park or LaVern Johnson Park (if there is ice skating). Go to the LCF website for more information.
mitigation needs, and plan for outdoor work this winter and early spring that may help reduce wildfire hazards around your property. It is important to remember that all of the Town of Lyons and the surrounding geographic area of the Lyons Fire Protection District, is considered to be in the Wildfire-Urban Interface (WUI) Zone. Please feel free to contact Lyons Fire if you have any questions at wildlandfiredivision @ lyonsfire.org, or if you would like a wildfire risk property assessment done for your own home and property.
Community blood drive
Looking for proposals
LYONS – The Lyons Regional Library will be hosting a community wide blood drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, February 9. If you can donate blood, it is greatly appreciated. At the last blood drive in October, your donations helped to save 75 lives, with nineteen whole blood donations, seven power red donations and one plasma donation. Let’s share the love and donate on February 9 if you are able. Go to the town of Lyons for more information.
LYONS – The State of Colorado Trustee Council for the North St. Vrain Creek Natural Resource Damages Settlement has released a Solicitation for Project Proposals (SPP) to identify environmental restoration projects in the St. Vrain Watershed. Approximately $254,000 remains available for qualified restoration projects. A copy of the SPP can be accessed at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hm/north-saintvrain-restoration or can be obtained from Pearl Campos at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment records center. Please call 303-881-4620 or email melody.mascarenaz@state.co.us for a mailed copy.
B •R •I •E •F •S Continued from Page 13
Lyons Fire offers help to homeowners for fire mitigation LYONS – It is not too early to identify your
JANUARY 17 / FEBRUARY 14, 2024 of a Carbon Sequestration Research and Development Headquarters located on either the Cemex property of Dowe Flats. Of course that would take a partnership between federal, state and county governments and Cemex. The idea of building such a facility would be far more beneficial to the town, the county, the country, maybe the world if additional technological innovations could be discovered there and implemented accordingly. This is a component that was left out of the negotiations between Cemex and the county. It was all about money: we’ll give you a discount on our property for County Open Space and pay you additionally for the privilege to mine. I might add those numbers are substantial, but it’s not about the money, it’s about the environment. An interesting development is taking place in Lyons. NIMBY is no longer being defined by people who have lived here for a long time and don’t want any changes, to people who have just moved here that want to change many things immediately. To be collaborative regarding Cemex and have an absolute date for closure of the plant would be far more beneficial than entering into and extended, expensive lawsuit. I’d rather spend the money on carbon capturing organic plants and technology available currently and that may be invented at the Carbon Sequestration Research and Development facility on the plant site. Paying lawyers to fight this out is just a waste of money. These views are my own. As the great John Lennon wrote, “People say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” Thank you. Be well everyone and stay warm. Nick Angelo served three terms as Mayor of Lyons and served ten years as a Trustee on the Lyons Town Board.
Travels with Redstone World travelers Mike Whipp and Betsy Burton met up with Liz and Brian Erley, also abroad, for dinner in Valencia, Spain. Take the Redstone with you on your next trip and send us your photos showing where the Redstone has traveled. Send your photos to redstarnews5@gmail.com.
JANUARY 17 / FEBRUARY 14, 2024
Cemex Continued from Page 3 Local officials, who often back companies with large employment and tax contributions, in this case joined the list of voices speaking out against Cemex as a detriment to the community. Rep. Junie Joseph, a Boulder Democrat, urged the Air Quality Control Commission and the Air Pollution Control Division staff to rewrite Cemex’s permit to demand continuous air monitoring visible to the public, enhanced dust control and tougher accountability measures for violations. Lyons Mayor Hollie Rogin was among those accusing Cemex, which has more than $15 billion in annual worldwide revenues, of cynically paying to play, taking minimal state or federal enforcement as a cost of doing business. “Our concern is not Cemex’s shareholder satisfaction, it’s the health of our community,” Rogin said in testimony. “No amount of library donations is going to clear the air,” resident Rene Doubleday said at the hearing. Advocates seeking modifications in the permit renewal,
Wolves Continued from Page 12 ports to speedily deliver animals back into the wild and the ability to reach the sites in the middle of winter. Colorado Parks and Wildlife ended up with a list of about five locations inside Eagle, Grand and Summit counties and DeWalt said the next release could be at any of those. The female yearlings could be too young to mate this spring and time will tell if these wolves disperse, Lambert said. Wolves can roam hundreds of miles. “I couldn’t say whether these wolves will do that but they have that capacity,” Lambert said. “But also given the abundance of prey and just how quiet it is here this would be a great place to hang around.” Dan Gibbs, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources who lives in Summit County, said, “It’s been blood, sweat and tears” to reach the release. He said if any wildlife agency in the country was capable of being the first to release an endangered species, it’s his team. “I could not be more proud,” he said. His team worked to gather input from many stakeholders, he added. “That consensus-driven process really sets us apart,” said Gibbs, noting that the state plan offers ranchers who lose livestock or working dogs to wolves up to $15,000 for every animal, the most of any compensation program in the country. Just days before the release, two ranching groups sued to block Colorado Parks and Wildlife from releasing wolves, arguing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not follow federal rules when partnering with the state to manage endangered species like gray wolves. A federal judge declined to suspend the reintroduction plan, greenlighting Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s underway wolf-capturing mission in Oregon. Another lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Denver by the Colorado Conservation Alliance argued the federal service’s environmental review of the Colorado reintroduction plan failed to closely study potential impacts of gray wolves from Oregon mingling and breeding with protected Mexican
REDSTONE • REVIEW
PAGE 15
under Title V of the U.S. Clean Air Act, said the air pollution division has 30 days to modify and approve or deny the permit. The EPA then has 45 days to seek changes or otherwise respond. The advocates can then use 60 days to appeal permit provisions they object to. There are only three cement factories in Colorado, in Lyons, Florence and Pueblo. The Cemex Lyons plant reported about 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2022, according to EPA records, by far the largest single emitter in Boulder County and putting it alongside the other cement plants, the Suncor refinery in Adams County, and fossil fuel power plants as the largest singlesource carbon emitters in Colorado. Neighbors also complain that periodic debris from the kiln, from past mining activities and from heavy truck traffic on gravel roads create “Dust Bowl” conditions for neighbors. In 2022, the neighbors and the county commissioners rejected a proposed deal to continue mining operations, which would have made Cemex-owned acreage into county open space in exchange for a renewed mining permit.
Cemex said at the time it would have to greatly increase truck traffic in the area to bring outside cement-making materials to the kiln. Neighbors are now objecting to that traffic and other plant expansions as changes in Cemex’s county nonconforming land use permit, as another way of challenging ongoing Cemex operations. Rogin noted the Boulder County Public Health office also has urged tougher Cemex permit provisions. “Cemex should absolutely be held to the best available standards for emissions controls and unbiased reporting,” Rogin said. “And they should be encouraged via significant violation fines to make the necessary capital improvements in order to limit their emissions.”
wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. The alliance – a nonprofit that “seeks to preserve the heritage and lifestyle of farmers, ranchers, landowners, livestock producers, outfitters and sportsmen” – also argues that the entire wolf plan needs review under the National Environmental Policy Act. Gibbs said he was expecting lawsuits and the process of developing the reintroduction plan was about finding “the sweet spot” between the people who support wolves and those who don’t. “My hope and my philosophy is really that we will learn to live with wolves and not against wolves,” Gibbs said. Now his team at the Department of Natural Resources will begin working on re-establishing wolverines in Colorado. “DNR is really focused on biodiversity and we are working to become the nation’s leader on biodiversity,” Gibbs said. “We are going to continue to work to bring back species that used to be native to Colorado. It’s fun to be part of history right now.”
Town Continued from Page 1
Jason Blevins is a reporter with the Colorado Sun. This story was reprinted with permission from the Colorado Sun. The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported nonprofit news outlet. To learn more and subscribe to newsletters, go to coloradosun.com.
LCF Continued from Page 8 late and other tasty goodies will be available, with donations benefiting local nonprofit organizations. Ice skating may also be possible, depending on weather. Lucky Lyons. Join us on March 9 for the 3rd annual Lucky Lyons St. Patrick’s Day Run. Grab your luckiest green running gear and have fun while supporting Lyons Community Foundation. There will be 5K and 10K races for your whole clan to enjoy. Register today at https://geminiadventures.com/run/lucky-lyons Gil Sparks is the Chair of the Lyons Community Foundation.
Michael Booth is the Colorado Sun’s environment writer and co-author of the Sun’s weekly climate and health newsletter. The Colorado Sun is an award-winning news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state – our community – can better understand itself. The Colorado Sun is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
revolving loan fund grant of $44,000 from the USDA Rural Development Program. The Town of Lyons committed $6,000 as a match bringing the total up to $50,000. The committee for the application process consists of Erin Foudy, Rick Whitcomb, Julie Hamilton, Paul Dreyer and Mike Porter, the administrator for the Revolving Loan Fund. The Revolving Loan Fund program has lent out $459,000 since inception and initiated 40 loans. One loan is considered to be in default. Two borrowers are a few months behind in payments. Six loans were made in 2023. Current loan terms are either 15 or 27 months with zero interest. During the administrators report, Victoria Simonsen said that sales tax revenues were down slightly, 2.36 percent in November over the previous year, but she added that other revenues were up. She went on to say that 55 percent of sales taxes are paid by locals. All town funds are below expenses except the electric fund. In other news, Lyons Attorney Brandon Dittman told the board that he is now a partner in his firm. He said that his contract with Lyons has not changed since 2018. His current fee is $175 per hour and this will now be going up to $200 per hour. Attorney Dittman said that his normal rate is $245 per hour and Lyons has the cheapest rate of any of the municipalities that he represents. He told the board how much he enjoys working for Lyons and hopes to continue that relationship. Attorney Dittman’s contract is up for renewal at the next town bard meeting. Continuing with reports, Sgt. Cody Sears, Boulder County Sheriff’s Dept. Lyons supervisor, gave a report to the board on some of the year-end statistics. He said that there were 28 auto accidents in Lyons in 2023, which is up by ten accidents over 2022. He added that there were seven hit and runs and two of them were solved.
Local, family-owned, and proudly serving the Boulder & Lyons area since 1983
siddallteam@gmail.com • www.gateway-realty.com THE SWEETEST LOG CABIN IN RIVERSIDE! St. Vrain River frontage, end of the road privacy, and nearly all usable land are just some of the highlights of this awesome property! Spacious kitchen and living room, plus enclosed porch. Sleeping loft and standup crawl space not included in square footage. Propane heat, unregistered but functioning shallow well. Original septic system will need to be replaced with a vault by buyer upon transfer due to floodway location. In the same family and loved by them for generations. Furnishings can be included in the sale if desired. 49 Riverside Drive, Lyons / $390,000
SALE PENDING
SWEET THREE BEDROOM UNIT IN SOUTH LONGMONT SUPER CONVENIENT TO EVERYTHING: SCHOOLS, PARKS, SHOPPING!! This townhome is in brand new condition, with very light usage and includes a two-car attached garage, high efficiency heating and cooling, open floor plan with lots of light and southern exposure. Enjoy mountain views from the second floor! 1474 Sepia Avenue, Longmont / $475,000
PERCHED ON A HILLSIDE IN LYONS PARK ESTATES, 3 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN LYONS, THIS CUTE MOUNTAIN HOME PROVIDES ALL THE ROMANTIC ASPECTS OF LIVING IN LYONS WITHOUT THE MILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG OR HOURS OF WEEKLY YARD MAINTENANCE. Enjoy the mountain breeze, deer wandering in the yard and watching hummingbirds from this serene slice of paradise. This 3 bedroom (1 bedroom non-conforming), 1 bath does have a modest size, but packs a lot of character and potential to add a carport or larger garage on the lower portion of this 3 acre property. LISTED BY IAN PHILLIPS 276 Sandstone Drive, Lyons / $675,000
SALE PENDING
Dan Siddall broker/owner
Colleen Dickes associate broker
Ian Phillips
Dot Fears
associate broker associate broker
RARE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A COMMERCIAL SALE PENDING STOREFRONT/BUILDING/BUSINESS IN HISTORIC, VIBRANT DOWNTOWN LYONS! Currently the home of the famous Pizza Bar 66 restaurant. Trade name, marketing materials and FF&E are included in the offered price — no separate valuation. Building is in good shape and in compliance with current codes. Don’t miss this opportunity! Restaurant Seats 120. Pizza Oven, full bar, 3 large office spaces; Liquor/office space for managers. 2 large storage closets. Heating and cooling system/evaporative cooler. Well maintained 6 beer taps with FOB system. Built-in large walk-in refrigerator. Enclosed back patio. Large picture windows and overhead door to Main Street. 430 Main Street, Lyons / $1,050,000
GORGEOUS, LUSH 1- ACRE LOT IN THE BEAUTIFUL ROLLING HILLS WEST OF LOVELAND! Located in regulatory floodway, so building footprint will be limited. Older mobile home with 2 additions and a 2-car garage presently on property, all in original condition—rehab potential unknown. Contact Larimer County Building Division @ (970) 498-7700 for info on what is allowed. This is a gem! 6755 W County Road 24, Loveland / $300,000 SWEET, COZY, BUT SPACIOUS STUDIO APARTMENT SOLD HOME IN MUCH SOUGHT-AFTER HORIZON WEST! Enjoy spectacular sunrises and the warming of the morning sun from the 6th floor of this east-facing unit. Building has an indoor swimming pool, exercise room, game room, indoor bike storage area, and peaceful sitting areas all around the grounds. Laundry facilities and private lockable storage closet just outside your door. Mere steps to 29th Street and Dairy Center for the Arts. Short distance to CU Boulder, schools, parks, shopping, and more! No pets allowed, except ESA and/or service animals with appropriate documentation provided to the HOA. 1850 Folsom Street #612, Boulder / $350,000