Redstone March / April 2022

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Redstone stands with President Zelensky and the people in Ukraine

VOLUME 23, NUMBER 2

LYONS, COLORADO

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B •R •I •E •F •S MARCH IS WOMAN’S HISTORY MONTH

Amelia Earhart first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic LYONS – The American aviation pioneer took off from Newfoundland, Canada, in her single-engine Lockheed Vega 5B. Fifteen hours later she landed in a field near Derry, Northern Ireland.

When a farmhand reportedly asked, “Have you flown far?”

Earhart replied, “From America.”

Born July 24, 1897 – disappeared July 2, 1937, declared dead January 5, 1939. She was an American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many other records, was one of the first aviators to promote commercial air travel, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences, and was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted its first female performer in 1987 LYONS – Aretha Franklin was the first woman performer to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame in 1987. The Queen of Soul’s hits like Respect and Natural Woman earned her a spot in the Hall of Fame and many other honors, including No. 1 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Singers list. Respect, indeed.

First woman to win a Nobel Prize LYONS – Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person – man or woman – to win the award twice.

With her husband Pierre Curie, Marie’s efforts led to the discovery of polonium and radium and, after Pierre’s death, the further development of X-rays. She was born Maria Sklodowsky in Warsaw, Poland in 1867.The famed scientist died in 1934 in Passy, France of aplastic anemia, complications of radiation poisoning. Curie’s daughter, Iréne followed in her mother’s footsteps, winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935.

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Northern Pygmy Owls, have been spotted in Boulder County, an unusual occurance. The Northern Pygmy-Owl is one of the smallest owls in North America and the smallest found in Colorado. It is roughly 7 inches from head-to-tail and weighs, on average, about 2 ounces. They nest in the forested mountains of the west and have a specialized habitat preference of aspen, Douglas fir, ponderous pine, junipers, downed logs, a water source, and openings in the forest where the adults can hunt. Their main diet consists of voles, chipmunks, small birds, and even insects. This information comes from the Colorado Research and Rehabilitation Institute in Estes Park. Photo by Bob Wood.

Town board approves new commercial design guidelines, raises for the new board, a place for the solar farm

By Susan de Castro McCann Redstone Review LYONS – Lyons Town Board has decided to work on commercial design guidelines. The board passed Ordinance 112 on second reading, and after a public hearing, amended and upgraded Lyons’ commercial and mixed-use design guidelines.

Director of Community Development Philip Strom said, “It should be noted that no design guidelines are currently in place for the entire commercial downtown and some commercial-zoned properties in town. After forming a PCDC subcommittee, and through multiple workshops, research, and feedback from the community, the PCDC has determined it is necessary to update the LMC to create more efficient, effective design guidelines and implement design guidelines for all new developments or redevelopments, except for in residential zoned properties.”

Strom said that staff held meetings with businesses both virtually and in person requesting feedback from the business community. He said feedback from businesses was minimal, but he added that all feedback was incorporated into the ordinance. The board made a few amendments to the ordinance and then it was passed by seven to zero.

The board, also on second reading and after a public hearing, passed Ordinance 113, which updates the site plan and development review process. After reviewing the process, the Planning and Community Development Commission (PCDC) determined that al-

though the process was not exactly broken, modification and clarification of code would benefit the staff and potential developers. It also passed seven to zero.

The Lyons Town Board heard from Sgt. Bill Crist at a town board meeting in early March that Lyons needs more surveillance cameras.

He pointed out that cameras are very helpful to law enforcement in all areas, as more and more municipalities use them. He said that they can identify perpetrators, license plates, areas where crimes have occurred, and they help in many other ways.

At a recent town board meeting in March, Flood Manager Tracy Sanders told the board that Steve McCain, owner of Hat Rock Excavating business located along 4th Avenue and Railroad Avenue, wants to put in an entrance/exit to his business on 4th Avenue.

Sanders said that McCain told her he needed an entrance along that street for his business, but that would put his business in violation of the ordinance passed by the board several months ago.

The town board voted several months ago, at the request of McCain, to approve an ordinance to change the zoning on that parcel from a commercial zone to an industrial zone to accommodate McCain’s excavating business, which was out of compliance at that time. As part of that ordinance, it was stipulated that the exit/entrances would be along Railroad Avenue to specifically avoid any entrance on 4th Avenue, since the town plans to put in a sidewalk system along 4th Avenue to connect the elementary school with Bohn

Park, and the town doesn’t want heavy equipment entering and exiting along 4th Avenue with little children walking along that street. The updated sidewalk is part of the Save Walk to Schools project that the town has received funding for.

Sanders said McCain told her he planned to put in the entrance/exit to his business on 4th Avenue and Sanders said she would take it to the board. The town board will go over the ordinance again and listen to any request that McCain may have at the regular board meeting to change the ordinance on Monday, March 21. The meeting is open to the public.

The board also passed Ordinance 119 on second reading and after the public hearing to amend the zoning map to allow the solar farm in the Parks and Open Space Zone.

The people of Lyons voted in favor of the solar farm last September by a two to one margin. Ordinance 119 passed five to two with Mayor Nick Angelo and Trustee Kenyon Waugh voting no.

The town board voted to raise the compensation for the mayor and trustees to be effective on January 1, 2023 when the new board is in place. The compensation for mayor will go from $400 to $700 per month and the compensation for trustees will go from $200 to $400 per month. Trustee Hollie Rogin (mayor-to-be on the new board) recused herself.

In a recent interview with Mayor Nick Angelo, he discussed how the proposed new hotel Continue Town on Page 12

MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

REDSTONE • REVIEW

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LOCAL Chief Zick responds to residents on wildfire danger and emergency medical response

By Peter Zick, Lyons Fire Chief Redstone Review LYONS – I want to thank our community for the great participation in our telephone town hall meeting. As a reminder you can listen to the entire session by going to our web page, www.lyonsfire.org.

Zick We had approximately 150 attend the meeting, and we answered some great questions that folks called in with. I feel it is so important for the community to be involved when we discuss our challenges. In the days after the event, I received many emails that thanked us for holding the event and all the emails expressed support for our fire district.

After reviewing the session, we found there were two main issues that came to the forefront in the questions asked that evening or that were left as messages after the event. First, the

concern about wildfire impacting our community seemed to be on the minds of many people in our community. As I expressed at the event, this is a major concern for us also. There are three ways we can start to make our community safer from wildfire, and this will be my focus as your Fire Chief.

First, we need to plan and organize for communitybased mitigation in our neighborhoods. This means not only focusing on the individual homeowner to mitigate their property, but the whole neighborhood working together to protect each other.

Second, we need to ensure that if a wildfire does occur, that your Lyons Fire Department is able to get our equipment out of the station as quickly as possible so that we can respond in a timely manner in order to start protecting the homes that are threatened.

Lastly, we need to ensure that we have adequate staffing on that equipment so that when we do arrive at a fire, we have enough people to do everything we can to protect your

homes and loved ones. As I explained during the town hall meeting, this is our biggest challenge today. My goal is to bring the Lyons Fire Protection District into compliance with national and local standards for response times and staffing.

The second area with the most concern was emergency medical response in our community, and the need for advanced life support (paramedics) to arrive within the national and local standards. Our current response times for the first paramedic to arrive on the scene of an emergency medical call is well above the national and local standards of four to six minutes. My goal will be to not only improve our staffing for fire responses but also to have paramedics with advanced life support equipment on our fire trucks to quickly provide that service when we arrive.

I want to close by thanking our community for being involved with the Lyons Fire Protection District. It was a great accomplishment to see so many members of our community call in, or email, with the same concerns that we have. I will continue to work hard to resolve these challenges so we can make our community as safe as possible. Thank you so much for all of your support during these challenging times.

Peter Zick is the fire chief for the Lyons Fire Protection District.

A unity agenda: tackling the mental health crisis and the opioid epidemic

By U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse Redstone Review BOULDER – Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to represent our great state at President Joe Neguse Biden’s first State of the Union Address. During his speech, he laid out a unity agenda for the nation: beat the opioid epidemic, take on mental health, support our veterans, and combat cancer.

As President Biden said in his remarks, these are four big things that we can do together, and that we must get done.

I couldn’t agree more. Each are issues of vital importance to our nation, to our communities and to the health and well being of so many individuals. During my time in Congress, our team has introduced countless bills in this vein, working with local healthcare professionals, parents, teachers, universities, and mental health providers to find creative, effective solutions to reduce the number of opioid-caused deaths in our state, and to ensure all Coloradans can access mental health care and fulfill the promises we’ve made to our nation’s veterans. I shared in a recent column the work we are doing to support our veterans through expanded access to health care, mental health care, job training and career services, so I want to share more about our work on mental health and substance abuse prevention in particular.

Over the last year, as I’ve visited with hospital workers, they shared the dramatic increase in mental health related emergency department visits they’ve witnessed due to the pandemic, not just in children and young adults but for individuals of every age. Recently, Colorado Children’s Hospital even declared a “state of emergency” for youth mental health following a major increase in attempted suicides among kids.

As a member of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force, I’ve

been working in Congress to promote policies that address the addiction and mental health crisis in America. I know the level of heartbreak this crisis has caused, and it is because of it that we are devoted to increasing access to mental health and behavioral services so that we can support the thousands of struggling families.

That’s also why I introduced the CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act, legislation to reform licensure to expand interstate access to mental health resources, making care more accessible by telehealth and easier to access for rural communities.

Given the worsening and more dangerous wildfires we’ve seen in our community and across Colorado, the mental health of our wildland firefighters is also a very real and growing concern. My legislation – the Care for Our Firefighters Act and Tim’s Act – would ensure trauma-informed mental health resources for wildland firefighters, including a mental health awareness campaign, peer-to-peer support network, mental health leave and expansion of the Critical Incident Stress Management Program.

Additionally, my bipartisan Youth Substance Abuse Act would reauthorize an effective and successful youth substance abuse

initiative to get more young people effective public health and safety support. As you may know, in 2021, 767 individuals in Colorado died due to an overdose of fentanyl. This is a crisis and one we must address with urgency – through increased funding for prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery.

Since coming to Congress I have also worked to increase suicide prevention funding to states and college campuses and to secure health care resources for rural and mountain areas of our district where access to

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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We know that side effects of mental illnesses like stress, anxiety, depression, and isolation have a direct impact on the opioid epidemic, with many Americans fighting both battles simultaneously. It is absolutely critical, therefore, that we provide necessary mental health support, intervention, treatment, and recovery resources for all those impacted by the opioid crisis and substance abuse epidemic.

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LYONS Mayor and Trustees Elect answer a few questions about Lyons LYONS – The new Mayor and Trustees, who will be sworn in next month, were each asked to answer three questions. The questions were: what is the most serious issue facing Lyons today; what is a solution to the ongoing parking problem in Lyons; how can Lyons attract new businesses in the face of high rents and/or high prices for commercial space in Lyons. The new board members were instructed to keep their answers brief. These are their answers.

Hollie Rogin, Mayor Elect Most serious issue facing Lyons: Natural disaster mitigation and preparedness is by far the most serious issue facing Lyons today; the best time to act was ten years ago. The second-best time to act is now.

Parking: I think we need to look at where we can create “micro lots” to relieve some of the pressure on our streets, as well as encourage partnerships between property owners that have excess parking and those who require more parking.

Attracting businesses: I created the foundation for what is now the City of Boulder’s affordable commercial space program, based on studies by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. I haven’t seen any data to show that commercial rents in Lyons are a barrier to entry, but if that’s the case, there are a number of policy levers that can help bring those costs down without detriment to property owners. There’s no question that running a business in Lyons is challenging, particularly in the winter. We should clearly communicate the requirements for getting one up and running, and continue to advertise our fabulous downtown offerings across the region.

Tanya Daty, Trustee Elect Most serious issue facing Lyons: With the price of housing skyrocketing in Boulder County, I am concerned with the issue of affordable housing in Lyons. The Summit Housing project (in Lyons Valley Park) seems promising. According to the Housing and Human Resources Commission’s 2021 report, the planned affordable housing will have 24 single-family and 16 multi-family units. Those units will be restricted to those making 60 percent of the Boulder County average mean income. Economic diversity is a key aspect of our small town character.

Let’s help locals stay in Lyons.

Parking: According to the 2018 Downtown Lyons Parking Study, there are 197 Marked Spaces, 103 Unmarked Spaces and 51 Seasonal Spaces in Lyons. There are another 200 parking spots at the 2nd Avenue lot (by recycling center). Another 50 park-

ing spaces are planned to come from CDOT’s Hwy 36/Broadway project. There will be a total of 601 parking spots in Lyons.

The study outlines several recommendations. In the short-term, signage and enforcing two-hour parking restrictions on Main Street from May to September should be considered. In the long term, a parking garage could be an option although it is not my preferred solution. I prefer something more fun and in character with Lyons like a seasonal golf cart shuttle to ferry visitors to and from their cars, parked in the 2nd Avenue lot. Parking should be a shared responsibility between the town of Lyons and the business community. I believe a special committee should be set up with members from both the town and local businesses so that the 2018 Downtown Lyons Parking Study might be revisited.

Attracting businesses: I would collaborate with existing partners such as the Lyons Main Street Manager (Brianna Hoyt) and the Economic Vitality Commission to come up with solutions for attracting new businesses. I realize that property taxes have been steadily increasing in relation to the property value in Boulder County. Many communities offer incentives to new businesses. I would look to other Main Street communities via the Main Street program to share successes and ideas. I think supporting our existing businesses is key to retaining a vibrant community. We might also want to consider revisiting existing design guidelines to ensure that town regulations are comprehensible and easy to implement.

Glen Delman, Trustee Elect Most serious issue facing Lyons: Affordable housing Parking: Turn the 2nd Avenue dirt lot across from Bohn Park into a pay lot and have a shuttle service on busy weekends.

Attracting businesses: We need to have more things to bring in business so the businesses can afford it. Work with Planet Bluegrass to encourage festival goers to come to town. The new hotel will be a great place to start, bringing in new people throughout the year, especially in winter when the summer tourists are not around.

Ted Elson, Trustee Elect Most serious issue facing Lyons: This is a very good question. I am not sure that I see one particular issue or problem facing Lyons.

The question I see is what will the impacts be to the town due to any new decisions made by the board. We need to not only look at the short-term impacts or benefits but also the long-term impacts to all aspects of the town. We must be rational and really look at how all the pieces will fit together, not just now but also in the future.

Parking: As far as parking is concerned

it looks like the improvements planned on Broadway will be a huge improvement. Will this solve the parking issues, we will see.

Attracting businesses: While we have no control over the rental costs for business in town. I see our role as figuring out ways to make the town as inviting as possible to bring traffic to the local businesses year round.

The key is finding that happy medium keeping our small town charm we know and love and having the ability for business to thrive.

Jocelyn Farrell, Trustee Elect Most serious issue facing Lyons: The natural beauty and location of Lyons is one of the most important qualities that makes our town unique. It also puts us directly in the middle of an urban wildfire interface (WUI). I believe wildfire is the largest vulnerability and most serious issue facing Lyons. Our town needs to work directly with the Lyons Fire Protection District, surrounding fire districts, communities, Boulder County, the State and the Left Hand Watershed Center. The last agency is critical because fire will have devastating impacts on the quality and quantity of our water source from the North and South St. Vain Rivers. It is time to mitigate town own properties, enlist our volunteer groups to help homeowners clear properties, seek funding to help residents harden their homes, and decide what WUI codes need to be adopt to protect Lyons and our water sources. These are just a few examples. The timing and responsibility to address this issue is now.

Parking: The Lyons Planning and Community Development Commission (PCDC) has offered to add parking to its agenda to study our land uses and parking solutions. It’s going to take coordination with Parks and Recreation to mitigate parking during the peak summer season. I would like to work with the Economic Vitality Commission and local businesses to create a shuttle system to help tourists and employees move through town and minimize car congestion downtown.

Attracting businesses: One of my responsibilities on the PCDC is to create the next Comprehensive Plan. From the community survey and discussions with local business owners, it is clear that there is a desire for expanding a thriving year-round economy.

Adding opportunities for expansion of services and employment diversification will help local businesses and start-ups afford to stay in Lyons. With this also comes the re-

sponsibility to mitigate the impacts on the town’s infrastructure and business development process. While this is only one example, it is an ongoing process to improve the costs of doing business in Lyons.

Gregg Oetting, Trustee Elect Most serious issue facing Lyons: First, fire mitigation and safety, and after that parking, more complete services (pharmacy and doctor’s office) and the Eastern Corridor. I hope all of these issues are prioritized in the next Lyons Comprehensive Plan. As an “unelected” Trustee I will push for the priorities in the Comp Plan as determined by public input. (Please get involved in the Comp Plan meetings!)

Parking: We close off the town and only allow bikes and golf carts. See, this is why everyone should go to the Comp Plan meetings. You don’t want the Trustees (me especially) to do anything stupid. For now, all I’ll say is everything is on the table and it’s a major priority.

Attracting businesses: I believe the solution lies in improving the “business value” of the commercial real estate in Lyons. Businesses need more people walking in the doors as opposed to driving by. (This was very clear in the public hearings for the hotel). This goes back to the need for parking, creating a better critical mass of businesses (the hotel) and growing and maintaining Lyon’s charm and character.

Paula Williams, Trustee Elect Most serious issue facing Lyons: As a new oncoming member of the Board of Trustees, I am hesitant to speak definitively about the needs of Lyons, because there is so much I have yet to learn. There are some issues, however, that seem obvious. First, Lyons cannot continue to exist on FEMA grants.

The town must develop additional revenue streams going forward if it is to thrive.

Parking: I do understand concerns about parking not being adequate in town, and I believe that is a problem the town must solve, not the businesses coming into town. I do not feel I have an adequate understanding of the specifics related to parking to be able to suggest a workable and cost-effective solution.

Attracting businesses: I believe one of the critical issues facing businesses coming into Lyons is the lack of adequate foot traffic in town. Until Lyons can be seen as more of a destination, as opposed to a community you drive through on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park, this will continue to be an issue. I believe the proposed hotel can have a major impact. A continuing healthy relationship with Planet Bluegrass is also essential. And of course, ample parking certainly doesn’t hurt.

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OPTIONS Storytime is back, sign up kids for Mini Med School and learn Latin and Caribbean history and dances in April

By Kara Bauman Redstone Review LYONS – Your Lyons Community Library is excited to announce the return of in-person storytime sessions. Through May 11, Bauman every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. we welcome babies and their caregivers for storytime, and every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. we welcome all ages and their caregivers for a storytime followed by an age-appropriate craft. Masks are recommended for those age two and up.

Enroll your local kiddo in our upcoming Mini Med School. Every Thursday afternoon from April 7 through May 5 children will learn the basic principles of the immune system, common pathogens, and how to treat and prevent viral and bacterial illness. Clinical and medical experts Taj Schimek, N.P., and Sarah Moyle, Ph.D., will lead children through activities that illustrate the core medical principles of modern human physiology. Sessions run from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and registration is required.

Adult technology instruction returns on March 22 with an hour-long session focusing on using images and tables in Microsoft Word. Another session on March 29 will cover how to use formulas in Microsoft Excel. Both sessions run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and are led by the library’s Technology Coordinator, Dana Petersen.

Bring your own laptop or borrow one of ours. Feel free to email dana@lyonsregionallibrary.com if you have other tech topics you would like to learn about.

In January we put out a call for program presenters and many of our talented com-

We are all on overload

By Janaki Jane Redstone Review LYONS – I have stopped watching the news. It has been a tradition in our house, watching Norah O’Donnell at 8 p.m. But I Jane cannot anymore. I used to read a couple of newspapers online every morning; now I skim past the headlines about the war and pretty much everything else. I just cannot anymore. It is all too much. The invasion of Ukraine put me over the edge, and I do not have the bandwidth. I am noticing that there is less of it on my social media pages, too. I think we are all on overload.

I do not need to enumerate the reasons.

We all know them and have our own personal ones to add to the pile. My personal additions are three diagnosed mental ill-

The Lyons Community Library will present their Baile Latino series during April. Latin American and Carribbean history, music and dance will be featured. munity members generously answered. We will feature the first few arts and crafts programs for adults in the coming weeks, but we welcome program proposals on a rolling basis. Please consider sharing your expertise in crafting, art, DIY; art or music performance, workshops or discussions; and travel tales and slide shows.

April brings a series of Create and Connect classes for adults. On Saturday, April 2 between 10 a.m. and 12 noon, we welcome local florist and herbalist Mary Reaume to learn how to make sustainable and natural wreaths using flowers, herbs, and vines foraged from our own gardens and woods. Supplies are provided, but feel free to bring your own natural treasures.

On Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. until noon, local artist Cathy Rivers will offer

an Envelope and Cards Collage Art session. Learn to create your own unique envelopes and gift cards to spread joy with friends and loved ones. Choose from an array of recycled paper items for your creation. Supplies are provided, but please consider bringing our own pair of small, pointed scissors and any old maps, calendars, or pretty papers.

The library will celebrate Latin American and Caribbean dance, music, history, and cultural connection through our Baile Latino series. Throughout the month of April, we will offer Saturday dance lessons along with featured speakers and a related book discussion. We will cap it off with a dance fiesta on April 30 featuring the Colorado Mambo Orchestra. All events are free thanks to the generous support of the

nesses including PTSD: post-traumatic stress disorder. Many of us in the Lyons area still have PTSD from the floods, often unacknowledged and untreated, but you can tell by the response when there is a torrential rain. My PTSD is because of prolonged trauma and neglect as a child, which I have done much to heal, but I cannot remember the last time I was triggered like I am now.

So, I have stopped watching and reading the news, and I am practicing heavyduty self-care. I am re-reading my favorite fantasy and childhood books: the Narnia series, the Earthsea series, my versions of escape. I am reaching out to friends, I am telling the truth about how tender and weepy I am right now, how close to the surface my wounds are, because part of my life’s work is to decrease the stigma around mental illness and to empower others to share their vulnerabilities.

I have found new healers who specialize in trauma, and I am getting support. I am now at a place where reaching out and sharing works. I have the ego strength for that now, when in the past I could not,

and had to hide away when I was triggered like this, eating yummy food, and watching soothing movies, talking on the phone to my dearest friends and relatives. What works changes over time.

What we do to protect, heal, and soothe ourselves when we are overwhelmed should not be harmful to us, but beyond that it is only important that it works, that

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Friends of the Library. The dance series is presented by Brightheart Productions.

Space is limited and registration is required.

The first program in the Baile Latino series takes place on Thursday, April 7, at 7 p.m. and will feature Carmen Reina-Nelson.

Come discover the spiritual traditions brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans. Carmen will describe and demonstrate the music and movement that was the inspiration and origin of the popular dances from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Then join us on Saturday, April 9 at 4 p.m. for Latin Dance instruction featuring Elisa Garcia accompanied by Leo MunozCorona and Kyle Perez on live percussion.

We invite library patrons of all ages to join us on Wednesday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. for What Age Can Teach You. Lyons elders will share the wisdom, perspective, and experience gained with age in four TED Talk-style presentations.

Kitty and Chuck Keim will describe how exchange students changed their family; Sarah Catchpole will detail the power of her work with restorative justice; Cathy Rivers will recount her experience with the Clarifier Community Mosaic project; and Harry Bieber will impart realworld business leadership. A brief Q&A session will follow.

The Lyons Community Library opens Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m. We close at 5 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays; 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays; 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.

Kara Bauman is the Director of the Lyons Community Library and holds an MLIS from the University of Kentucky.

we receive some comfort and feel nourished by it, and that we give ourselves the time and space to do it.

I have friends who go to the gym and exhaust themselves when overwhelm hits; I know people who take off to camp or hike in the mountains, alone or with others; people for whom the best thing is to Continue Overload on Page 11

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PAGE 6

REDSTONE • REVIEW

MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

OPPORTUNITY Isabella Bird and Lyons’ role in travel to Rocky Mountain National Park

By Brianna Hoyt Redstone Review LYONS – Isabella Bird is internationally known for her intrepid travels in the 19th century. In 1873, she climbed Longs Peak and took on the moniker of “Mother” of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Hoyt She was born in the United Kingdom in 1831 and became renowned for her travels. Her travels in the United States inspired her books The Englishwoman in America (1856) and Aspects of Religion in the United States (1859). She visited Colorado and wrote A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains, detailing her journey up Longs Peak and her life in Estes Park.

Her memoir and her expedition up one of Colorado’s 14ers brought notoriety to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. Isabella Bird praised Colorado for its beauty and sunsets. Her published letters detail her explorations in Colorado, including her trip across the Front Range.

Isabella Bird first attempted to reach Estes Park in 1873 from the mouth of the Big Thompson. After she initially failed, she traveled to Longmont, stopping at the St. Vrain Hotel on September 24, 1873, and then continued along the St. Vrain River. She eventually made it to Estes Park, where she met both Griffith Evans and Jim Nugent, the latter with whom she allegedly had a romance. Bird stayed at the Ranch House, which was owned by Griffith Evans.

She was one of the many who made the trek to Estes Park for the thrill of climbing Longs Peak.

Isabella Bird was like many travelers who had their

Outdoors enthusiast, traveler, and author, Isabella Bird brought attention to EstesPark and Rocky Mountain National Park after she scaled Longs Peak in 1873. sights on tackling Longs Peak. Both Griffith Evans and Jim Nugent, known as Rocky Mountain Jim, took on the challenge of climbing Longs Peak. Griffith Evans played a role in the foundation of Lyons as one of Edward S. Lyon’s business partners.

While living in Estes Park, Jim Nugent and Griffith Evans were involved in an altercation which resulted in Rocky Mountain Jim’s death. After being charged and acquitted for Nugent’s death, Griffith Evans moved to Lyons and purchased the Miller Road House. He renamed the building the Evans Homestead and converted it into a stagecoach stop and inn. Evans took advantage of its location at the “Double Gateway to the Rockies” and turned his new property into a profitable business venture. The property’s access road was the original road used by early pioneers on their way up to St. Vrain Canyon. It was situated perfectly to serve travelers to Estes Park and Allenspark.

During the nineteenth century, there were three types of stagecoach stops. Swing Stations, also known as Living Stations, were every ten to 15 miles along stagecoach lines. Drivers could refresh their horses or cattle and continue on their run. Home Stations were situated every 40 to 50 miles along a line and offered more services.

Passengers could purchase tickets at the station due to the fact that they were often a destination point. There were new drivers at these stations ready to take over runs with fresh horses. Passengers were able to purchase meals for $1 to $2.50. Travelers were also able to rest for 30 to 45 minutes before continuing their bumpy journeys.

The last type of stagecoach stop were the Cattle Stations. These stops were like Home Stations but where livestock were kept to refresh teams. These stations were generally 100 to 150 miles apart.

The Evans Homestead was most likely a Wayside Home for travelers. These inns functioned as a stagecoach staContinue Museum on Page 14

Two years since Covid hit and too many people are still struggling

By Lory Barton Redstone Review LYONS – The minute Covid became a crisis is etched in my memory. I was actually in a meeting with LEAF leaders when Barton all of our phones started going off. School was closed. Offices.

Restaurants. Everything came to a halt, and nobody knew what to expect. Understandably, people were scared. At LEAF and everywhere, the world changed.

LEAF’s leaders, almost all of them volunteers, invented new plans and implemented them immediately.

Demand for services skyrocketed. The community gave sacrificially to support the many local people in crisis. Every single individual who came to LEAF with a qualified need was helped. Thousands of people. LEAF started to become the Heart of Lyons.

That was year one. Year two of Covid continued in similar, and very different, ways at LEAF. Even as high emotions slowed down, the needs continued. Big needs, new needs, more people, still, than ever before. Our teams got really good at making fast adjustments, depending on the changing requirements and circumstances.

As year two unfolded, LEAF’s teams continued working steadily, really without a break. And they are still working and working. They are the heart of Lyons.

And people – new people, young families, young adults, folks we know and love – are continuing to come to LEAF with needs.

And as in year one, we have helped every single one who came to us with a qualified need.

Two years in, too many local people among us are still struggling. Folks who were barely stable before Covid have not yet made a comeback. Some who were stable before Covid are no longer so. Housing insecurity is a serious problem. For

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some, transportation is a concern. Paying for utilities is a challenge. The rising cost of food and fuel and housing are hitting people hard and creating new instabilities.

All of these issues combined make for ongoing, long-term hardships.

People in Lyons are hurting now, so we can’t wait while we look for bigger-picture and even systemic solutions to these problems. They need the ongoing, comprehensive human services supports that LEAF provides.

So year two was a similar and new kind of struggle that continues today. For most of us, life has mostly stabilized since March of 2020. I read that incomes are up for many

people. And yet, charitable giving is down.

We are all tired and worn down by the chronic stress and needs that Covid has forced upon us. I’m writing today to ask you to remember your friends and neighbors whose lives have not yet stabilized, and to remember those whose situations may be ongoing struggles, and give generously and regularly to LEAF as you are able. To be honest, donations to LEAF so far this year are down, but the need for our work is not.

I have shared today about the difficulties of these years from a human services perspective. And about the devotion of Continue LEAF on Page 11

MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

REDSTONE • REVIEW

INSIGHT Ukraine is a sticky political problem

By John Gierach Redstone Review LYONS – I recently watched the State of the Union address along with – according to the Nielson Ratings – 38.2 million othGierach ers, and I thought Biden gave a good, standard-issue political speech.

When you give a talk, you’re supposed to start with a joke; not necessarily a kneeslapper, just something to elicit a little laugh, which accomplishes two things at once: It relaxes everyone and, since laughter feels good, it’s the first step toward getting the audience on your side. This is so important that if your joke falls flat and you hear crickets instead of laughter, you know you’re in for a hard slog.

In a serious political speech, you’re not after laughter, but the solidarity that comes from sharing rousing emotions, so Biden naturally led with the Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion. Ukraine is an ally and a young democracy – less than 30years-old to our nearly two and a half centuries – which instinctively puts us on their side. Furthermore, they’re the innocent victims as well as the underdogs in the conflict and the bravery and persistence of their defense of their country is inspirational.

There are stories of unarmed civilians taunting armed Russian troops and standing in front of their advancing tanks, while others learn to fire their recently-acquired assault rifles and make Molotov cocktails from the Internet. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is still in the capital and when he was offered an escape route famously said, “I need ammunition, not a ride.”

Biden invoked all that and got the standing ovation he expected, including from some if not most Republicans, because how could you not stand for that?

The fact is, we all like to see ourselves in the heroism of others, even as we secretly suspect that, in a pinch, our better angels might fly off like a flock of crows at the first sign of trouble.

But Ukraine has got to be a sticky political problem for Biden. We’re unquestionably on their side, but they’re not a member

of NATO. That means we’re not obliged to defend their country as if it were our own, and so we won’t. Biden has said, more than once, that there’ll be no American troops in Ukraine for the obvious reason that if we go up against Russia directly – with or without NATO – we’re in a world war with nuclear weapons on both sides.

I think I’m on the same side as most Americans on this. Half of me wants to see us ride to the rescue with trumpets blaring, while the other half wants to avoid a world war at any cost. And I say that knowing that most of us will sit comfortably watching others bear the cost on TV while we go about our daily lives and grumble about the rising price of gas.

B •R •I •E •F •S Continued from Page 1

First country to give women the right to vote LYONS – In 1893, following some 20 years of activism by suffrage campaigners, New Zealand became the first nation in the world in which women had the right to vote – beating Canada and the US by a quarter century.

Harriet Tubman led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom LYONS – Harriet Tubman, was born Araminta Ross, in 1820 in Dorchester county, Maryland. She died March 10, 1913 in Auburn, New York. She was an American bondwoman who escaped from slavery in the South to become a leading abolitionist before the American Civil War. She led dozens of enslaved people to freedom in the North along the route of the Underground Railroad – an elaborate secret network of safe houses organized for that purpose. Born into slavery, Araminta Ross later adopted her mother’s first name, Harriet. At about age 5 she was first hired out to work, initially serving as a nursemaid and later as a field hand, a cook, and a woodcutter. When she was about 12 years old she reportedly refused to help an overseer punish another enslaved person, and she suffered a severe head injury when he threw an iron weight that accidentally struck her. She subsequently suffered seizures throughout her life. In about 1844 she married John Tubman, a free Black man.

Lyons After Prom at Oskar Blues

The sanctions against Russia are said to be the severest ever leveled against a country and its leaders and they may eventually make a difference. The ruble is quickly “turning to dust” as someone put it (a ruble is now worth less than a penny) and that, along with other measures, threaten to tank the Russian economy over time.

It was also a good idea to target the oligarchs who support Putin, not because they agree with him, but because they’re as corrupt as he is and they’ve become fabulously wealthy together. With their accounts frozen and their assets being seized, they might try to talk him into withdrawing or, failing that, remove him in some creatively Russian way. They might even

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Create groups of people in the neighborhoods within the Lyons Fire Protection District to coordinate preparation and response to emergencies.

be encouraged by anti-war sentiment.

There have been demonstrations in dozens of cities and although public sentiment in Russia doesn’t mean what it does in a democracy, it isn’t meaningless, either.

And of course, we’re helping to fortify the eastern borders of NATO countries and supplying Ukraine with weapons, drones, antiaircraft devices and funding, although it’s a valid criticism that we should have supplied them with more and done it sooner.

But the likely outcome is that all those measures will punish Russia for what they’re doing, but they won’t stop them from doing it. The retired generals and other military analysts who have recently populated cable TV all agree that Ukraine can’t hold out indefinitely on their own, let alone win. The country will eventually fall, and although it’s rarely a good idea to invoke the Nazis,

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PAGE 7

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comparisons with Hitler and Poland and what came later are unavoidable.

I think Putin’s not-so-veiled threat to use nuclear weapons was designed to keep us and NATO out of it. It’s called the mad man theory: If you can convince your opponent that you’re crazy enough to use nukes, you’ll get what you want without having to use them and deal with the consequences. So far, it’s working, and we’ll probably never know if it we’re making a smart strategic move or if we lost our nerve and sacrificed Ukraine in our own self-interest. Either way, I doubt we’ll ever feel like we made the right decision.

We should feel that we understand Putin after our four years of Trump. Both aspire to unlimited power, both act only in their own self-interest, both are desperate to appear strong because they’re so weak and both are such preposterous liars that if you call them out for a lie they’ll just tell you a bigger one. More to the point, both men have such fragile egos that they’d be willing to blow up the world rather than admit to a mistake. We suspect that Putin is smarter because it was Trump who became the lap dog instead of the other way around, but neither can be trusted to do what’s best for their country.

So is Putin actually crazy? Of course he is. War is an insane act and anybody who wants one is crazy by definition.

LYONS – The Lyons High School After Prom is going to be a fun-filled event open to all ticket-holding LHS juniors and seniors, at Oskar Blues, 303 Main St., from 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on April 2. The committee is busy planning and will be providing food, drinks, games, and prizes. We are currently accepting cash donations to help fund this event as well as accepting donated prizes, such as gift cards to local restaurants and shops, movie tickets, etc. Smaller gift donations can be made at the school’s front office.

Cash donations are accepted at the Lyons Booster Club’s donation webpage. If you would like to donate larger items or have any questions, please contact Lisa Rickman at rickman_lisa@yahoo.com.

Candidate Janice Marchman holds an open house LYONS – Janice Marchman, Democratic State Senate candidate for SD15, is hosting town halls monthly across the district. Marchman is running in the newly formed state senate district, which is currently represented by a Republican. The brand new Senate District goes from the Wyoming border to the northern JeffCo border and is based in Loveland.

Marchman held her first town hall last month in Lyons. She will be at the Lyons Regional Library on the last Tuesday of each month from 3:30 to 5 p.m. This is your oppor-

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REDSTONE • REVIEW

MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

CORNERSTONE Hey, where’d all the water go?

By Greg Lowell Redstone Review LYONS – If you’re like me, this time every year you get upset to find the St. Vrain River below Lyons reduced to a trickle.

Lowell The fish, bug life and all that depends on a steady flow are on life support until the Highland Ditch Company turns the spigot back on.

Highland diverts the entire river – “sweeps” it (a gentler euphemism than “draining”) – in order to fill Highland Lake in Mead to prepare for this year’s growing season. The sweeping of the river generally takes place mid-January through March of every year.

Colorado law allows water rights users like Highland to divert all the water in a river if they can show “beneficial use.” In Highland’s case, that use is storage for agriculture. The Highland’s water rights are largely used on approximately 35,000 agricultural acres.

The St. Vrain River from Lyons downstream to Longmont does pick up some residual groundwater and snow melt but the flow is drastically reduced during the two months that Highland draws off the water.

Complicating the environmental impact of this decreased flow is the Town of Lyons new sewage outfall pipe. Beginning last year, effluent from the town’s wastewater treatment plant is dumped just below the Highland Dam (the outfall was previously located above the Black Bear Hole).

Lyons’ effluent temperature ranges from 52 to 59 degrees F at this time of the year, while the river temperature is around 36 to 40 degrees. During the Highland’s sweep, the effluent is not diluted by the colder river water so the 150,000 gallons a day of effluent warms the river during this

time to the detriment of the cold water environment downstream.

Why not let some of the river go through to at least ensure viability of the river; in other words, stretching out Highland’s allotment over a longer period?

According to Sean Cronin, executive director, St. Vrain and Lefthand Water Conservancy District, Highland takes all the water because they may not have assurances that the water will be available day to day because their water rights are junior to other more-senior water shareholders.

Seniority of water shares in Colorado are based on the date of their original claim, many dating back to the mid 1800s.

When a senior water right holder places a “call” on a river or stream, diversions under junior water rights are shut off, starting with the most junior, until the senior right is satisfied.

Therefore, Highland exercises its water rights when it can before some more-senior water rights holders downstream decide to exercise their rights.

Highland takes the water when it can – just like all other ditch companies in this convoluted Colorado water scheme – and the river ecology be damned (or dammed, as it were).

Cronin does note that “great strides have been made to recognize environment and recreation as high values for water in Colorado,” but admits progress being made in that regard is admittedly slow.

Subterranean hells I learn something new about my adopted state almost every week. Now it’s burning, abandoned coal mines. Such a mine just off Rt. 93 in Marshall is being looked at as the source for the devastating Marshall Fire, but it’s only one of 38 such subterranean hells in the state. Given the right kind of coal, oxygen, and a certain temperature and moisture content, coal

The St. Vrain is reduced to just a trickle in spring because of water rights. will spontaneously combust.

The Denver Post reports that state agencies are keeping tabs on these underground smolderings as it worries about them igniting surface fires. Tara Tafi, with the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety, keeps an eye on coal mine fires for the state, but admits that there’s no real cost-effective way to put out the fires short of excavating out an entire area to pull out the burning coal.

Colorado lists the Marshall coal mine at number 19 of 38 on the list of coal fire priority with a “low” overall risk. (I shudder to think what the top 12 “high” and “medium” risk mines are like.) The Lewis mine, also in the Marshall Mesa area, is rated “very low” risk. Both the Marshall and Lewis mines were part of the coal mining done in Boulder County from 1869 to 1938.

Brown harbingers of spring As if dry rivers and burning coal mines aren’t enough, here’s one more thing to get you riled up. As winter winds down and

Death and taxes “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” From a quote in a letter by Ben Franklin to French scientist Jean-Baptiste Leroy in 1789.

LYONS – It’s mid-March so you’ve got about four weeks left. The chances are, if you were expecting a refund you’ve already done your taxes, but if you have a balance due then what’s the rush? None of your options are terribly appealing: you can go and stand in line at one of the big name preparation offices or you can buy the most patronizing and badly designed software in the world and grind your teeth while you type. Maybe you’re the independent type – just a tiny bit cheap but smart enough to design a 96-line spreadsheet.

Whichever way you are doing it, there are going to be some surprises and changes this year. The pandemic encouraged our government to be fairly generous to most people. Every year Congress adds new tweaks to the tax code and recently there has been a trend towards reducing taxes.

I have fantasies about the old days. Pa would sit at the kitchen table with a big fat black pencil and write down the numbers on a real paper 1040 tax form. Two additions and one subtraction later and he was finished before his coffee stopped steaming. But here come the 1980s and some of us are getting home computers: big ol’ clunky beige boxes with a tiny display screen. It wasn’t long before manufacturers designed programs to do the work for us.

The software companies loved this new offering. You might buy their word processor for $129 and that thing would still be working 20 years later – the everlasting light bulb dilemma. But tax software offered annuity: Washington fiddled with the rules every year so you could sell the punters a new piece of junk for $29 every year. Then $49 a year. Hey this is great.

Lyons resident Greg Lowell is a Lyons Town Board Trustee and serves as a liaison to the Ecology Advisory Board.

ing for disabled relatives. Also it’s more expensive to be a college student and pricier to get childcare.

Every 30 years, or so, the government has a reset. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 was the last big reducer of complexity. But President Reagan’s signature was hardly dry on the page before a confetti sprinkle of new details started raining down. Every year saw more exceptions and footnotes.

Even if you were a tax professional it was harder to rely on your historical knowledge without checking the latest Pub 17, the nickname for Publication 17, the all in one bible for tax preparation.

In 2010 there was an article in CityLine, the Longmont utility bill newsletter. An organization called VITA was looking for volunteers. VITA turned out to be Voluntary Income Tax Assistance and the organ-

By Peter Butler Redstone Review

Butler

the sun gets higher, the snow recedes to reveal one of spring’s perpetual harbingers – piles of dog poop and the plastic bags of it that supposedly conscientious dog owners leave behind.

Here in Lyons, the turds of spring line our sidewalks, parks and open spaces. If it’s any consolation (and it sure as heck isn’t), we’re not alone. A recent article on the OutThere Colorado website said a Jefferson County Open Space ranger team reported that they picked up 2,220 bags of discarded pet waste in 2021.

Unfortunately, the trend is statewide; Colorado has more dog poop complaints per capita than any other state. C’mon, people. Can we band together, my fellow Lyons dog owners, to help reverse this trend? If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for my shoe treads.

Continue Taxes on Page 13

A few years ago a presidential candidate ran his platform on a fixed tax rate of 7 percent for everybody. The number was easy for him to remember in debates and he claimed it was fairer. No more headaches at tax time. But it occurred to me that lots of incentives would disappear:

like the very low tax rate on qualified dividends that encourages savers to hold their investments for longer. But the idea illustrated an eternal truth. Taxes can either be simple or they can be fair. Make them simple and you eliminate help for low-income folks, families with children, or people car-

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MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

REDSTONE • REVIEW

PAGE 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT When fear enters the field When you’re down and out When you’re on the street When evening falls so hard I will comfort you I’ll take your part Oh, when darkness comes And pain is all around Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down People are upset How did a war get past our radar?

How did we let this happen?

It feels like a collective failure.

I asked my nephew if he was disappointed.... and apologized to him and by extension to his entire generation.

War is what my generation was raised on not his.

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.

And if you look, you will see the bones of the grandmothers bridging safe passage for you, for all the children of earth.

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind.

Our minds are spinning, the need “to know” is activated.

When fear enters the field, it is time for prayer, mediation, saying hello to your neighbor.

True understanding comes from not knowing.

My mind can never truly understand anything and no intellectual answers bring peace.

Sally King is a local artist who has created whimsical bears and delightful wild flower acrylic paintings to enhance the appearance of Lyons all over the town. She lives with her husband John King, a kinetic sculptor artist, near Lyons.

Bridge Over Troubled Water was written by Paul Simon in 1969 and recorded in 1970 with Art Garfunkel.

Painting “Ocean Rough” by Sally King King

At LCF, our monthly donors build community

By Tanya Daty Redstone Review LYONS – Spring is right around the corner. Can you feel it? At the Lyons Community Foundation (LCF), March is Monthly Donors Appreciation Month.

We realize that without our monthly Mercer-Daty donors, we would not be able to depend on a reliable and stable income in order to fund the Community Support Grants or the Scholarship Fund. In 2021,

Death of the Pugilist to be performed at Lyons Middle/Senior High School’s new auditorium

LCF granted $37,000 in grants to a variety of projects which either connect the community, provide human services, invest in our youth or support local ecology. Another $7,500 was awarded to six graduating high school seniors so that they could further their education at a postsecondary institution. Monthly donors literally build their community, which is why we affectionately refer to them as community builders.

The Covid-19 pandemic caught us all by surprise. LCF’s 2020 annual budget depended on the spring fundraiser, “A Color Run,” which was canceled. Thankfully, our generous donors pulled through when the Lyons Share Fund was created to help local businesses survive the twomonth lockdown. In 2021, LCF partnered with LEAF to bring the first ever Hootenanny to Lyons. This familyfriendly community event was appreciated by all, but in the end, proceeds were split between the two non-profit organizations. If it weren’t for our generous donors, LCF would not be able to fulfill its budgetary requirements.

When the world seems to be in such chaos, it is easy to feel helpless. Isn’t it reassuring to know that we can still Continue LCF on Page 11

Staff Reports Redstone Review LYONS – Death of the Pugilist, a 60-minute narrative performance, returns to Lyons on March 27, and will be staged at the new state-of-the-art auditorium of Lyons Middle/Senior High School, 100 McConnell Drive. Death of the Pugilist, featuring local Lyons’ musician Eric Thorin and previous Lyons resident, violinist MinTze Wu, is an experimental ensemble piece based on American novelist Daniel Mason’s short story.

The experimental ensemble piece is remounted with a stellar Colorado-based lineup that includes MinTze Wu, Jem Moore, Joy Adams, Eric Thorin, and Blayne Chastain, in an exquisite convergence of music and story. Death of the Pugilist was premiered in 2009 as part of the Sounds of Lyons Music Festival, where it was praised for its intimate yet powerful performance. The piece embodies everything exceptional about a BenFeng Production: free-spirited, expressive, and transformative.

Set on the quayside docks amid the squalor of workingclass life in 1820s England, the narrative follows a young man as he comes of age in a rough-and-tumble profession, with music weaving the rich layers of emotional tapestry and humanity. Drawing from the musical elements of contrapuntal Bach, minimalistic Philip Glass, blues and Irish folk music, the production creates an experience of story and music that is deeply moving and truly unique.

The performance is appropriate for children eight and up.

Tickets are $20 for general admission and $30 for VIP, and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/deathpugilist with postshow discussion. If you love a good story and crave some soulful music, this is for you.

April Library art show to feature Anita Miller, Town Hall Show to highlight artists of all ages

By Brianna Hoyt Redstone Review LYONS – Mark your calendars for the next Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission (LAHC) art show, Perpetually Creative, hosted at the Lyons Regional Library.

The show will feature Lyons artist Anita Miller, and highlight her artistic development throughout her career.

Join the celebration for the installation of the show on Wednesday, April 6 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lyons Regional Library. Perpetually Creative will be on display until early June.

Miller created the bear located in front of the library and co-created Bell of Renewal sculpture located near the Bohn Park bridge. She also created a nationally touring exhibit, Eyes of Freedom, which brings awareness to PTSD and veteran suicide.

This show is scheduled for an early June stopover at the Lyons Regional Library.

In addition, a new Town Hall Art Show will be hung Friday, April 1. The theme for this quarter is Joy – Where Do you Find It? Artists of all ages and experience from the

Lyons area are encouraged to bring up to five pieces of their artwork to Town Hall on Friday, April 1 between 5 and 7 p.m.

Art must be ready to hang on the wall.

Works from the current Town Hall Art Show, Free for All – Whatever Floats your Particular Boat, will be available for pickup at this time. If you are looking ahead to future Town Hall community art shows the upcoming themes include: Thirst – Water, Water Everywhere?; Thanks. Giving. – Tis the Season; Cultivating Change; and Oh, the Places You’ve Gone! Follow the LAHC on Facebook to stay up to date on all art show dates and art happenings.

These tandem Lyons Regional Library and Town Hall art shows renew quarterly. Any artists who are interested in participating in the solo show at the library can reach out to the LAHC Art Show coordinator Chrystal DeCoster at chrystaldecoster@gmail.com.

The LAHC also encourages anyone who has questions about preparing their work or suggestions for future themes, culinary inclusions, musicians, or general input to contact Chrystal DeCoster.

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musician Eric Thorin and former Lyons resident, violinist MinTze Wu, is an experimental ensemble piece based on American novelist Daniel Mason’s short story. The 60-minute narrative performance is Sunday March 27 at 4 p.m. in the Lyons Middle/Senior Auditorium. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $30 for VIP and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/deathpugilist.

The Town of Lyons and Bohn Park will be hosting the second annual Lyons Summer Artisan Market on Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign up today for your opportunity to sell your quality creations in a lovely outdoor setting along the St. Vrain Creek in Bohn Park. Each vendor will receive room for a ten ft. by ten ft. booth space, with plenty of open space in between booths, for shoppers to browse.

Tables may be in shade or sun, depending on time of day. Shade tents are allowed with water weights or sandbags; staking in the turf is not permitted. All vendors are responsible for obtaining a Special Event License from the state, as well as for filing their special event sales tax return following the event. The booth cost is $40 per space. Registration is limited.

This new event is planned to run in conjunction with the Lyons Community Foundation BBQ and Cook-off and will feature live entertainment. Look for more information regarding both in the town eblast and newsletters. Please reach out to Lisa Ramsey at lramsey@townoflyons.com or Kim Mitchell at kmitchell@townoflyons.com with any questions.

The Sandstone Summer Concert Series will be back for summer 2022, with a schedule planned for eight to ten weeks beginning in early to mid June. More information is to come.

Art @ River Bend is also returning this

The upcoming art show, Perpetually Creative, will feature Lyons artist Anita Miller. The show opens April 6 and will be on display until early June. summer, after a two-year Covid hiatus.

The LAHC and Boulder County Arts Alliance (BCAA) are seeking artists for this event, held along the North St. Vrain Creek in Lyons at River Bend. Art @ River Bend will be held Sunday, July 17 from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Applications are open to artists of all mediums, the deadline is May 20, 2022. They are looking for artists and artisans who want to staff a booth and sell their work at the event. Unlike previous years, artists will handle their own art sales and artists will retain all earnings. Table and chairs will be provided.

In addition to the arts and crafts sale, Art @ River Bend will feature live demos, children’s activities, food, drink and more.

There is no fee for submitting your entry.

If selected, the fee for an artist’s booth is for $125 BCAA members and $150 for non-BCAA members. Contact Boulder County Arts Alliance or LAHC for more information at bouldercountyarts.org.

PAGE 10

REDSTONE • REVIEW

MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

CONSENSUS Protect your pets from wild predators

By Mysti Tatro Redstone Review LYONS – Several stories have recently emerged regarding attacks by coyotes and mountain lions on small pets. CoincidenTatro tally, I’ve recently experienced an encounter with a local predator.

My two-year-old border collie-German shepherd mix, George, and I were out for an afternoon stroll at the open space where I live. The trail travels through prairie, wetlands, and cottonwood trees that many species of wildlife call home. I’ve enjoyed watching a plethora of birds, deer, and waterfowl along the river during my walks.

However, this time my precious pet and I came in contact with a coyote. George was on his retractable leash, trotting along the edge of the tall grass by the walking trail. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw another “dog” behind us. I swiveled around to find a coyote intensely staring down my pup and inching closer. I called George in a panic and bellowed at the curious critter, “Go away.”

The wild canine bolted into the tall brush, obviously frightened by my sudden response. I continued my anxious fit, waving my hands in the air, stomping and shouting a mix of warrior cries until I felt the coyote was sufficiently far away. We successfully avoided confrontation, and I had to thank my recent readings for the information on what to do in these situations. Given my en-

counter, I feel even more passionate about sharing the humane ways to deal with predators when it comes to our beloved pets.

In the past, predators have typically been dealt with by killing off mass amounts of the population. This “solution” is neither effective nor beneficial. For example, the U.S. has participated in the indiscriminate killing of large numbers of coyotes for over 100 years. The goal was to reduce the frequency of conflicts, but instead, it caused coyotes to migrate into new areas and encouraged breeding due to the disruption in social structure. These mass killings also correlated with unhealthy ecosystems. By eradicating coyotes, the ecosystem becomes unbalanced and can even escalate other wildlife conflicts.

Currently wildlife managers and social scientists have proposed new solutions to dealing with predators involving humans changing their behavior. In terms of predator-pet conflict, that means that dog and cat guardians have the responsibility of protecting their pets. The tips I’ll share with you can help keep your pets safe and promote balance in our ecosystem.

Watch your pet during backyard time: While it is tempting to let your pet go outside on its own, it can be dangerous. Coyotes, foxes, and even mountain lions have been known to jump the fences of urban backyards and attack pets. Keep a watchful eye on your furred friend and watch the low-growing brush on your property while they are outside. Yes, coyotes and foxes do come out during the daytime too.

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tunity to meet Janice Marchman, ask questions and share your thoughts and concerns with her on March 29, April 26 or May 31. For more information, you can go to her website at www.janiceforcolorado.com or email her at janiceforcolorado@gmail.com.

Fundraiser for Youth Softball and Baseball LYONS – Join the Colorado Rockies to celebrate Youth Baseball and Softball Days and help support our local youth athletes at the same time. Local youth teams and their families, friends, and anyone who wants to is welcome to attend. Local teams are welcomed to Coors Field with a scoreboard message and may

have the chance to parade around the field. So come on out to the old ball game for a day of fun. Tickets are for the Colorado Rockies VS Atlanta Braves game on Sunday June 5 at 1:10 pm.

The cost is $40 (a $5 savings off regular ticket price). For more information, go to the townoflyons.com/recreation for information on all their offerings or call the Town Hall at 303-823-6622.

Lyons Community Church Sunday worship in person at 10 a.m. Sundays LYONS – The Rev. Emily Hagan will begin the series discussed this month about the Way of St. James, and will continue through Easter, April 17, at Lyons Community Church at 350 W. Main St. We are learning to walk as pilgrims and looking at where Jesus walked. It is open for all to attend.

We also have a special showing of The Way the movie with

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Remove attractants around your home: Pet food should be stored inside air-tight containers. Wild predators can easily sniff out Fido’s dog food if left out. Other attractants include food scraps, garbage, fruit trees, and water resources.

Avoid using flexi-leashes in wild spaces: I made this mistake. While thankfully my dog is great with the “come” command, if I had a small dog that I needed to draw in quickly, the retractable leash might not be swift enough. Always be prepared to pick up small dogs in a hurry while in coyote country.

Haze animals that are too close for comfort: In my case, it was hard to tell whether the coyote wanted to play with George or if it was planning to defend its territory. All I knew was that six feet was too close, and

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I wasn’t waiting to find out its intentions.

The best hazing methods are to be loud, look large, and stand your ground. Never turn your back and run, crouch down, or let your pet get close to the other animal.

It’s important to remember that most of the time, these predators are more afraid of us than we are of them. Please keep in mind that we are sharing their home too.

With a few simple behavior changes, we can learn to live in harmony with our local wildlife.

Mysti Tatro is the Communications & Marketing Coordinator at Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. For information, call 303-823-8455 or www.greenwoodwildlife.org.

Martin Sean on April 2, at Niwot UMC at 6 p.m.

Blue Canyon Boys will lead the music on April 10 at 10 a.m.

Please plan to join us for this special Palm Sunday Worship.

Easter worship will be at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 17 with an Easter egg hunt following worship. We welcome you all to attend as you are able. If you are interested in Continuing the Conversation about anti-racism we will meet via zoom next on Thursday April 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Grace and Peace from Pastor Emily Hagan, serving God with Lyons Community Church. She can be reached at pastor@lyonscommunitychurch.org or cell: 719-248-0477 or office at Lyons: 303-823-6245 or office at Lafayette: 303-665-5165. Pastor Hagan says, “I look forward to getting back to you. I check email regularly, but if you need faster service, please feel free to text.

Friday is my sabbath, Saturday is usually a day off.”

Continue Briefs on Page 11

MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

Overload Continued from Page 5 go out to dinner with a large group of friends followed by music, or a show, or a movie; people who lovingly grow plants from seed every spring. The list of things we can do to care for ourselves is endless.

It only needs to feed you, support you, and not hurt you or anyone or anything else.

We need some form of release, some form

REDSTONE • REVIEW of support, and ideally some place where we are seen and accepted for who we are, no questions asked.

There is a feeling in our culture that extraversion is normal, and introverts have something wrong with them. One of the great gifts of the pandemic lock-down is that many introverts have realized how toxic it is to be pushed to be something they are not, and now feel more comfort-

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able claiming their right to not socialize.

Our societal norms pressure us and we pressure ourselves to be upbeat and positive: “Hi! How are you?” we cry when we meet an acquaintance. There is only one type of answer that is acceptable: “Fine” or “good,” or “getting along,” regardless of how you are really feeling. I can say from experience, if you are feeling depressed, or isolated, or alone, this question is torture.

You are miserable, and this person does not want to, or does not have time to, hear about that (usually) but still our society forces us into these ridiculous, and often cruel, interchanges.

We do not need to answer that question. Frankly, we should stop asking that question. It has turned into a formality, without awareness of how painful and inappropriate it can be. How about “Great to see you!” instead. Better one lie alone than a lie wrapped in a possibly cruel question that pretends concern. It just makes the times anyone is struggling harder. I do not believe that this is what we want.

We also do not need an excuse to take care of ourselves, to give others space for themselves. We need to be kind to ourselves, to our families, to each other, to the planet. We need to be kind and give the benefit of the doubt to every single person we interact with these days: our family, our neighbors, our friends, co-workers, and to every person who has to work behind a counter or provide any service anywhere for too much hassle and too little money.

The other day I was at the end of my rope. My PTSD was running me, I was not running me. I teared up at everything. The picture of the little girls killed in Ukraine had put me over the edge. I finally called

the crisis line: I just needed to cry and talk about how this was making me feel. They were wonderful. Please put this number in your phone. Maybe you will need it, maybe a friend or a stranger will need you to call it for them. The Colorado Crisis Line is 844-493-8255, the national crisis line number is 800-273-8255 (press 1 for Vets), Spanish is 888-628-9454.

Call them just to find out how easy it is, tell them you are just trying it out, in case it is needed some day. Doing only that one thing increases the chances that you will call when it is needed by 80 percent. I just needed someone to be there while I cried.

Some people need someone to be there so they do not hurt themselves or someone else. These numbers save lives and broken hearts. It is worth the momentary discomfort of calling them just to experience it, knowing that doing so now may help you to save a life in the future.

I hope you take care of yourself and give space to those around you for them to take care of themselves. I hope you know how to ask for help when you need it, give help when asked for it, and encourage others to get help when you cannot give it. I wish you a way to find peace. I wish us all a way to find some peace. May we all, may the world, find peace.

LEAF Continued from Page 6

gle households, in our community, or across our entire country, will always come our way. As the first line of defense against human services needs, LEAF has to be prepared. Please share your heart for Lyons and partner with us.

By the way, we at LEAF joyfully and hopefully continue to make plans around here to scale our work to meet community needs, both known and new.

Stay tuned.

LEAF’s teams, the support of the community, the needs we have seen and served.

What I haven’t yet shared, and it’s at the heart of LEAF, is the joy. There is joy at LEAF every day. Our teams and our participants know and care for one another.

There’s no shame at LEAF, not ever. The people at LEAF are building beautiful community together, and that is a beautiful thing for this community.

What have I learned these past two years? Nonprofit work is hard. Nonprofit work is wonderful. Human services work never ends. LEAF’s volunteers are unstoppable. We can never plan or budget well enough, we can never prepare enough. Because unknown and new crises, within sin-

LCF Continued from Page 9 make a difference right here in our own backyard? For just $1/day or $30/month, you can help local projects get off the ground and send high school students to college. At LCF, we like to think that our monthly donors plant seeds that bloom all year long. Seeds like human services, community connectivity, youth investment and local ecology help grow our community into a bountiful garden of beautiful wildflowers. Now, who wouldn’t subscribe to that?

“I choose to give monthly to LCF because as an Advisory Board member for five years I know how essential it is to be able to build an annual budget based on reliable and stable income. I love this community and believe in and admire all the wonderful folks who desire to improve the quality of life in the Lyons area through the thoughtful and meaningful work of their non-profit organizations. I’m proud to be a community builder,” says Jeanne Moore, LCF Chairperson.

In the next month, you will receive a postcard in the mail that looks like the

B •R •I •E •F •S

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Continued from Page 10

Summer Artisan Market

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PAGE 11

LYONS – Join artisans in Bohn Park at199 2nd Avenue, for the 2nd annual Summer Artisan Market to be held Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign up today to sell your quality creations in a lovely outdoor setting along the St Vrain Creek in Lyons. Each vendor will receive room for a 10' x 10' booth space with plenty of space in between booths for shoppers

Janaki Jane writes on issues of society and mental health. She currently works as a Child Cares Outbreak Investigator in the COVID19 response, teaches suicide prevention, and runs the Wide Spaces Community Initiative, “Creating a Community of Belonging and Personal Safety for Everyone,” a program of the Lyons Community Library. You can read more of her writing at www.janakijane.com.

Lory Barton is the Executive Director at LEAF, Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund. Having previously served with local and international non-profit organizations, she’s glad and grateful to partner with so many at LEAF to change our small corner of the world in the Greater Lyons area. one pictured on page 9. If you enjoy live concerts in the park, the Holiday Parade of Lights, local history, beautiful gardens, educational opportunities for your children, public art, human services, etc., then we ask that you consider becoming an LCF Community Builder. If you are interested and are able to give back to this amazing community, please visit our website to set up a monthly contribution at www.lyonscf.org.

Community members are always encouraged to get involved with the Lyons Community Foundation. If you are new to town, this is a great way to meet new people. You can either volunteer on one of LCF’s committees or you can become an Advisory Board member. To find out more, please visit our website at www.lyonscf.org. You can also drop us an email at info@lyonscf.org. We would love to hear from you.

Tanya Mercer-Daty is the new Marketing and Communications Associate for Lyons Community Foundation. She has lived in Lyons for the past eight years after immigrating to the U.S. with her family in 2011. Feel free to contact her at tanya@lyonscf.org. to browse. The cost of a booth is $40 and be purchased by people 18 and older. Tables may be in sun or shade depending on the time of day. Shade tents are allowed, with water weights or sandbags to hold them down. Staking in the turf is not permitted. This event is planned to run in conjunction with the Lyons Community Foundation BBQ and cook-off and will feature live entertainment. Vendors are responsible for obtaining a Special Event License from the state, as well as filing their special event sales tax return following the event. For more information, visit lyonscolorado.com/summer-artisan-market.

PAGE 12

REDSTONE • REVIEW

MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

INTEREST A prickly winter beauty – the creeping Oregon holly-grape

By Jessie Berta-Thompson Redstone Review LYONS – Hiking in Colorado this time of year, if you were to pause for a moment to look down at the ground, instead of up at the stunning winter mountains, you might see brilliant patches of green, red, orange, burgundy, and purple. Upon closer inspection, you will see that these unexpected colors belong to small plants with spiky, leathery leaves. Leaning down further still, you see that the pale green buds tucked among the leaves in the center of the plant are visible, flower buds getting ready for spring even in the depths of winter. This winter delight is the creeping Oregon holly-grape (Mahonia repens or Berberis repens, Barberry family).

In the winter it’s the foliage that stands out on this broadleaf evergreen shrub (or subshrub or shrublet, since its small). The leaves of the creeping Oregon holly-grape are compound, made up of three to seven leaflets, each with sharp holly-like points around the leaf margin. Their remarkable pigmentation varies with season and sun exposure.

It is also one of the earliest plants to flower in our region. It blooms in March and April in the foothills (or possibly even February), then opens progressively later at higher and higher elevations. The small bright yellow flowers are borne in little clumps. If you can get closer, low enough to the ground, they smell sweet. The scent helps pollinators who are active early enough to find their first forage of the season.

John Gierach took this picture of a big buck poaching bird seed from his backyard feeders.

Around Lyons, the creeping Oregon holly-grape grows abundantly on hillsides, either exposed or in the shade of ponderosa pines. The species is found in Colorado everywhere from the Front Range to the west, from 5,500 to 10,500 feet (just not in the eastern plains).

It does indeed grow in Oregon, and this species’ range extends across the western U.S. and Canada, to as far east as Minnesota and Texas. It is a plant with a creeping habit, keeping low to the ground, particularly compared to other close relatives that grow as larger shrubs (the Latin repens means creeping). As for the rest of its name, in addition to the holly-like leaves, its fruits look like little purple-blue grapes.

All manner of wildlife appreciates these fruits. Birds, bears, and small mammals eat

the fruits and then disperse the seeds.

Smaller creatures can also use the plants as protective cover. The leaves are somewhat protected from foragers by prickles and bitter alkaloids, but many species still eat them when winter feed is sparse, including deer, elk, moose, rabbits, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.

The fruits, leaves, bark, and roots of the creeping Oregon holly-grape have all been used by humans over the ages. There are numerous documented indigenous uses of the plant as food and as medicine for a wide range of ailments. Groups across the West, including the Karok in California and the Blackfoot in Montana and Alberta, used the bright yellow roots of this plant as a dye for creating yellows and oranges (see the Native American Ethnobotany Database,

Town Continued from Page 1 would benefit the Town of Lyons financially.

Mayor Angelo said, “The Town of Lyons will receive approximately $250,000 yearly from the increment accrued from the Moss Rock Development/Hotel. These funds can be used by the hotel for any additional costs incurred, but will predominantly will be used to develop additional projects in the Lyons Urban Renewal Authority (LURA). The funds can also be used to upgrade the infrastructure, water, sewer, electric, drainage in the LURA, basically downtown Lyons.”

He added, “In addition, the hotel will generate a projected $39,000 yearly from lodging taxes at $2 per night,

http://naeb.brit.org/ for more uses). Contemporary foragers often use the sour fruits for jelly. Taking the edge off tartness with sugar is a theme for handling many ediblebut-challenging wild fruits.

The creeping Oregon holly-grape can survive forest fires, and so serves as an important early-emerging ground cover in landscapes recovering from fire. Passing flames destroy all parts of the plant above ground, but it can regrow quickly from networks of underground rhizomes.

Like many other woody species with this kind of fire ecology, very intense fires can kill the plants, if ground temperatures reach hot enough and deep enough to harm the roots. Currently, some of the burned areas of Rocky Mountain National Park, two years after the East Troublesome Creek Fire, show abundant creeping Oregon holly grape and other regenerating shrubs (e.g. Fern Lake trailhead).

For local readers, the creeping Oregon holly-grape can be found in the Foothills section of the Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens in Lyons and all over the surrounding area, easily spotted along trails. It is a good garden plant for a partly shady or sunny spot where something low growing is desired. It’s a hardy perennial that is drought-tolerant once established. It spreads over time through underground stems, and its root network can help with erosion control. As mentioned above, its fruits and flowers support wildlife and pollinators, and its unusual winter color would enhance any garden’s four-season beauty.

Jessie Berta-Thompson is a member of the Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens Board.

which is not commensurate with comparable municipalities. Obviously, if the lodging tax were raised, the math is simple to figure.”

Mayor Angelo went on to say, “So, in closing we should all be very appreciative of the opportunity that Edna Johnson and Agnes Rey-Giraud (the hotel project owners) are providing for us. Sure, we can oppose the plan, but understand the golden opportunity that it represents, not just for the hotel owners, but for all of us. It is the duty of the Board of Trustee to do what is in the best interest of the Town of Lyons. We have been hoping for this opportunity for the past 20 years, it is upon us and we will perform our duty, indeed.”

MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

REDSTONE • REVIEW

PAGE 13

CROSSROADS Think like a Lyons Local-vore

By Kim Mitchell Redstone Review LYONS – Here we are Lyons, two years after the Covid pandemic shutdown that began in March 2020, and impacted so much of what was normal in our everyday lives. We have all learned so much in the past two years about community, school, family, zoom meetings, being outdoors and each other. One of the great takeaways from the past two years is the significance of supporting our small businesses and how folks like us who choose to live in a small community can make our impact.

Did you know shopping and supporting locally is one of the simplest ways to strengthen our vibrant community and maintain our distinctive community character? While it may be easy to fall into the groove of online shopping for convenience’s sake, by shopping locally we are adding dollars to our community, enhancing local employment opportunities, and supporting the growth of our exceptional businesses, whose owners invest their efforts and dollars in Lyons too.

While we realize you can’t shop for everything in Lyons, we want to continue to encourage residents to visit our local

Taxes

businesses year-round and think like a Lyons local-vore. There are a multitude of reasons to eat locally, play locally and shop locally. Our favorites are below.

Keep more tax dollars in our community: When you spend at local retailers, an average of $70 of every $100 spent will be reinvested in our community. These dollars help fund town improvements, parks, schools, non-profits and many other local amenities.

Small businesses give back to their community: Nationwide, 92 percent of small business owners personally donate to local charities and nonprofits. We see that with our local events – Spooktacular, Parade of Lights, Duck Races, Hootenannies, LEAF and more.

Keep our community interesting: Imagine Lyons with no small businesses, only big-box franchise stores from major retailers and restaurants. No thanks.

Celebrate Lyons: Spend a day appreciating what made you want to live in Lyons in the first place. Surely, as you first entered Lyons you were drawn to our local independently owned businesses and our historic downtown. Spend some time shopping or eating in Lyons and I am sure you will be greeted with a warm smile.

Check-in to your favorite place to grab a

Continued from Page 8

ization was on the lookout for that independent type I mentioned earlier. I joined and never looked back. I warmed to a group of slightly nerdy but generous and big-hearted friends. Each year in January we cram a bunch of IRS instructions and tests to become “Certified Tax Preparers.”

A credit union in Longmont loans us an office suite which is big enough that several volunteers can be working with taxpayers at any given point in time. VITA is not part of the Internal Revenue Service, but the program is guided and supported by the IRS. It’s a fairly light touch and we are given access to professional grade software, loaned printers and other equipment and information sources. On top of that Colorado-based philanthropic organizations help with gifts of computers and accessories to make the work quick and efficient. We even get money for essentials like donuts and coffee.

Year after year, our returning customers wait patiently

bite, or get a massage, visit the bike shop or the auto repair, include your favorite hotspots and the newest additions to town.

Catch up with friends and neighbors, enjoy a beverage at your favorite watering hole, reconnect and rediscover the services and business who work to make Lyons thrive.

Find unique gifts: Skip those overrated, mass-produced items and be rewarded with an array of unique and quality products for everyone on your list.

Support local jobs: Small companies nationwide account for 64 percent of new jobs created in the U.S. annually.

Our local retailers, service businesses, restaurants and more are standing by and

for a volunteer to turn their documents and scrappy pieces of paper into a real tax return. Then a second person checks for errors. A paper printout is given to the client, and one signature later, it’s all done. All for absolutely no money at all. In fact Rule 1 from the IRS is “No Tip Jar.” We might find the odd apple pie in our kitchen but that is the limit.

Each year we help about 1,000 individuals and families, totaling about $1,000,000 in refunds and saving them each between $200 and $500 if they went to the Main Street firms. VITA organizations operate all across the U.S., including a big group in Loveland and some giant sites like warehouses in Denver. As volunteer work goes, it has a nice blend of knowledge and communication skills. Each session requires a few concentrated hours of brain work and then it’s all finished and you can go home and stroke the cat. It’s satisfying and the customers are generous with their appreciation.

I have often mused that it would be great to have such

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Christmas merchandise at Solace on Main Street. ready to help you with flowers, pet care, auto needs, date nights, gifts, fabric, crafts, jewelry, groceries and more. Let’s continue to show our small, local independently owned businesses that we are grateful for them and their services to Lyons. Let’s thank them for their impact on our community which goes above and beyond the friendly experience we receive every time we visit them. Be a Lyons Local-vore and make your big impact. It really does start with each of us.

Kim Mitchell is Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Town of Lyons. Kim has called Lyons home since 2009.

a service in Lyons. What would we need? Most importantly, we would need at least four volunteers prepared to study, get certified, and give a few hours of their time each week between February 1 and April 15. We would need a local site with public access, a quiet room or two, some desks and a Wi-Fi network. The technical bits like IRS Authorization and financial aid from the local support groups is almost the easy part. If we could make it work, Lyons VITA could offer a valuable service to the town and its surroundings.

If you like this idea, and think we could make it work, send me an email at peter@cogico.com and let’s chat.

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 was 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.

PAGE 14

REDSTONE • REVIEW

MARCH 16 / APRIL 13, 2022

WHAT’S COOKIN’ Winter veggies to dress up your meals

By Barbara Shark Redstone Review LYONS – I had a busy week ahead so on Sunday afternoon I spent an hour preparing carrots and beets. With these in my fridge I will have delicious tidbits to add to our meals. I have made marinated carShark rots for many years since discovering the recipe in a British cooking calendar. They are the perfect accompaniment to a sandwich.

Cut five to eight peeled carrots into chunky matchsticks about 1/4 inch across and any length. Place them in a large skillet and barely cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for just a minute or two, long enough to slightly soften them. Drain and toss with a mustardy vinaigrette: 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper.

Store in a jar in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before serving. Top with minced green onions or chives and some chopped dill. (I used my dried dill.)

MARINATED CARROTS

BEETS IN OLIVE OIL

For the beets, steam yellow beets until tender, peel them, cut into batons and toss with a bit of olive oil. Stored in a jar in the fridge, they make a lovely condiment alongside a sandwich; dress with lemon and crushed anise seed. Or toss the beets with arugula, pistachios and crumbled goat

cheese, olive oil and lemon juice for a simple salad.

Barbara Shark is an artist and author of How I Learned to Cook, an Artist’s Life. She lives near Lyons. For more recipes, read her blog at www.howilearnedtocookanartistslife.blog.

Deep dish curried cauliflower and cheese pie – like healthy mac and cheese in a crust

By Catherine Metzger Redstone Review SAN MIGUEL COUNTY – This month’s inspiration comes from Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love. We present curried cauliflower and cheese phyllo pie. The only change to the book’s recipe is that instead of a phyllo crust, I used my tried and true, buttery 3-2-1 crust.

The cauliflower is roasted with curry powder and then covered in a mildly spiced bechamel sauce, then poured into the crust that lines a springform pan. The 3-2-1 crust stands up admirably to comparable wet fillings like this. The effect of the entire pie is creamy and delicious with a zing of flavor from the lemon zest and parsley.

1 T parsley, roughly chopped, to serve 1 1/2 t lemon zest to serve For 3-2-1 crust 3/4 C white flour 1/2 C (1 stick) butter 1/4 C cold water

flour with your hands, one palm rubbing over the other. When well mixed, it will resemble large, pea-sized lumps. Then add 1/4 cup very cold water and mix lightly until the dough holds together. Place on floured board and knead several times into a ball. Place ball on small plate and cover

in the garlic, mustard, cheese, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt until the cheese has melted.

• Remove 3-2-1 crust from fridge and roll out to about 1/8 inch thick. Place in springform pan and push the dough up the sides.

• Spoon half the bechamel into the crust and top with the roasted cauliflower florets. Spoon over the remaining bechamel, then trim the top edge of the crust.

• Bake at 350°F for 90 minutes. It will be done when the top is browned and filling

Curried Cauliflower and Cheese Pie Serves 8; Prep time 35 mins.; Cooking time 1 hour 30 mins.

For the filling 1 large cauliflower, trimmed and cut into bite-sized florets 2 t mild curry powder 1 1/2 T olive oil 3 T butter 3 C whole milk 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 1/2 T English/yellow mustard 3/4 C mature cheddar, roughly grated (mature or aged cheddar will give the sauce more tang; I used a combination of Tillamook mild cheddar and Irish aged cheddar) Salt and black pepper

Add the bechamel and roasted cauliflower in layers to your crust-lined spring form pan. Bake to perfection.

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Take out a 9-inch springform pan.

• Place the cauliflower on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper and toss to coat with the curry powder, the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a good grind of pepper. Roast cauliflower for about 20 minutes, until cooked through and lightly colored.

Set aside and turn the oven down to 350°F. • Meanwhile, make the 3-2-1 crust: Take 1 stick of cold butter, cut it into 16 pieces and place it in a small bowl. Add 3/4 cup white flour. Rub the cold butter into the

Museum Continued from Page 6 tion as well as a place for travelers to rest after a day on a stagecoach. Stage companies commissioned Wayside Home owners to serve as Home Stations on stage routes.

Passengers who wanted to rest overnight and catch another stage paid between $.50 and $1.00 for lodging.

Isabella Bird would have likely stayed at stagecoach stations such as the Evans Homestead during her travels through the Front Range and up to Estes Park. She was well known for her travel writing and took on adventures that many women did not have the opportunity to experience.

Isabella Bird was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in 1985 for the 20 travel books she wrote during her lifetime. Bird was also the first woman to be elected a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in 1892. Isabella Bird inspired countless people to tackle Longs Peak and to experience Rocky Mountain National Park. She helped put the national park and the Colorado front range on the map for exploration and tourism.

A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains is available for purchase at the Lyons Redstone Museum and a complete list of her books is available at www.cogreatwomen.org/project/isabella-bird/.

The Lyons Redstone Museum will be reopening this spring. Follow the Lyons Redstone Museum on Facebook to stay up to date. The museum has limited staff available for research year round and the museum accepts donations year round. Contact the Lyons Redstone Museum at redstonehistory@gmail.com for more information.

with a wet towel or paper towel and place in refrigerator to rest for a half hour.

• Next, make the bechamel. Put the butter into a medium saucepan on medium high heat and, once melted, whisk in the flour. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until it starts to smell nutty, like popcorn. Turn the heat down to medium and slowly add the milk a little at a time, whisking continuously to prevent any lumps, until incorporated and smooth. Cook, whisking often, for about 7 minutes, until thickened slightly.

• Remove the pan from the heat and stir

slightly jiggles as you remove it from the oven. Serve warm with chopped parsley and lemon zest.

Catherine Ripley Metzger has been cooking professionally and privately since 1979. She was a French cuisine journeyman at the celebrated Henri d’Afrique restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Today she is the proprietor of the food blog www.foodfortheages.com and cooks with curiosity from the ground up in her log cabin home on the Western Slope of Colorado.

Seeking Town of Lyons Parks and Public Works Seasonal Maintenance Workers Details: • Seasonal position: Start late-April or early-May through August or September, 2022 • $16.00 - $18.00 per hour, depending on qualifications

455 Main Street, downtown Lyons 303-823-5225 • www.StVrainMarket.com

• Includes weekday, weekend, and holiday shifts with flexible hours and schedules depending on situation • Perfect for local/nearby students Responsibilities: • General maintenance of town parks and open space, streets and all grounds

Sandwiches, Soup, Fresh Bread, Homemade Sausage, Pies and more…

• Assisting maintenance staff in performing regular and recurring park and public works duties, including but not limited to: mowing and trimming, trash removal, assisting with irrigation, maintaining existing landscaped areas and associated equipment operation

Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-8pm • Sun 8am-7pm

Must be at least 16 years of age and have a valid Colorado Driver License. Applications should be submitted by Friday, April 29, 2022 at 4:00 PM via www.TownofLyons.com

Join our online community TODAY! Visit our website at www.StVrainMarket.com “Like” us at www.Facebook.com/StVrainMarket and receive Facebook-only sales, specials and discounts.