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B •R •I •E •F •S November General Election: What you need to know LYONS – Colorado Public Radio has all the information you will need for voting. Go to https: / / www. cpr. org / 2020 / 10 / 12 / vg2020 - colorado - voter - guide novembe r- election / for in depth information on candidates, amendments and propositions. Active registered Colorado voters are automatically sent ballots in the mail. Ballots for the November 3 General Election are being mailed beginning October 9. With the ongoing pandemic, voting at home is the safest way to vote in the November 3 General Election. Vote Centers will be available for those that need or want to vote in-person. The ballot drop box for voters in Lyons is located in front of Town Hall on Park Street. Take action now to ensure you receive a mail ballot: register to vote or check / update your ballot mailing address at www.GoVoteColorado.gov.
Level 2 fire restrictions are in effect for unincorporated Boulder County BOULDER COUNTY – Sheriff Joe Pelle has amended the Level 2 Fire Restrictions, effective immediately, Monday October 12, to include all areas of unincorporated Boulder County. The inclusion of eastern Boulder County is due to high fire danger caused by very low humidity levels and above normal daytime temperatures, with no significant relief in the forecast. In addition, we are still concerned about the firefighting and law enforcement resources while we have the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and continue to take proactive measures to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents and first responders. The fire ban PROHIBITS: • Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire on private and public lands. This includes charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves and sheepherder’s stoves and includes use in developed camping and picnic grounds. • Fireworks sales, use, and possession, including permissible fireworks. • Shooting or discharge of firearms for recreational purposes. • Smoking, except in an en-
These are rescued baby black bears at a wildlife rehabilitation center called Kilham Bear Center in New Hampshire. Since 1993 the Kilham Bear Center has been rehabilitating and releasing injured, orphaned and abandoned black bear cubs brought to the center by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
Town board discusses RV street parking, sewer tap request, 2nd Ave. Bridge and other issues
Continue Briefs on Page 10
By Susan de Castro McCann Redstone Review Editor
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LYONS – Although the Lyons Town Board meetings are conducted on Zoom and there is no real face-to-face contact, the meetings remain as spirited and well attended as ever with the same amount or more of audience participation. At the early October board meeting, an ordinance (2020-1088) proposing a change to RV parking on town right-of-way brought numerous residents to speak out against the new proposal because it limited the time an RV could be parked out on a public right-of-way, and residents felt it was too restrictive if they had to keep moving their RV from in front of their houses. Residents complained they would not have enough time to clean out their RVs after a camping trip or might want to use the RVs for visiting relatives in this time of COVID. Trustee Hollie Rogin made a motion to continue the ordinance to December 2 so the board could have time to revise the or-
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I •N •D •E •X LYONS
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MAYOR’S CORNER
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INTEREST
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OPTIONS
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EDUCATE
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INSIGHT
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OPPORTUNITY
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A&E
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FORWARD
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dinance granting more leeway for residents to leave RVs parked in front of their houses. The original changes to the ordinance were recommended by Boulder County Sheriff’s Dept. to make enforcement of the ordinance easier and create more parking. The board voted 7 to 0 to move the ordinance and public hearing to December 2 and to hold a workshop on the ordinance on October 19 before the regular meeting. In other matters, Jon Calvin came before the board to request a sewer permit for his property at 407 Steamboat Valley Rd., which is outside the city limits and is over five acres. Calvin came before the previous town board on occasion requesting a sewer permit which that board denied. Town Planner Paul Glasgow said, “We decided he could not get a sewer tap permit without getting a water tap permit and he would need to annex the property.” Glasgow said that this property is in a Rural Reserve area, not in the Lyons Municipal area, which means that the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Boulder would have
to be reopened and changed in order for this property to be annexed to Lyons. Rural Reserve areas are designed to remain rural until the IGA ends, which is 2034. Along with the fact that the property is over five acres, this means that it would require a vote of the people to be annexed according to town code. Another issue for this property is that 407 Steamboat Valley Rd. is above the blueline, an area into which the town is not planning to extend utilities. Any property above the blueline needs a variance to connect to water and wastewater services. In 2019 Mr. Calvin had a site plan approved with the County. The site plan entitles the property for the approved development for a period three years after 7/9/2018. The site plan includes a 3,5889 square foot residence and a 2,647 square foot barn. Calvin offered the town a right of way to his property to improve the water pressure on Vasquez Court if he was granted a sewer permit. The town board had no ordinance to conContinue Town on Page 12
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REDSTONE • REVIEW
OCTOBER 14 / NOVEMBER 18, 2020
LYONS Lyons Fire Protection District is looking for volunteer firefighters By Steve Pischke, Lyons Interim Fire Chief Redstone Review LYONS – Are you looking to help serve the Lyons community in a Pischke new and meaningful way? Would you like to learn new skills while helping others? Consider joining the Lyons Fire Protection District as a volunteer. This November we will have our
next round of interviews for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter with us and we are especially interested in having people from our district consider this meaningful and important volunteer opportunity. Lyons Fire is staffed by a volunteer force with a full time Fire Chief and several paid firefighters. The District has two stations where volunteers report to staff applicable apparatus for emergency response. Our primary station, Station 1, is located in the town of Lyons. Station 2 is lo-
cated near the Blue Mountain area of Larimer County. Volunteering with Lyons Fire requires training and call response commitments that vary depending on whether or not you live within or outside of the fire district. We provide comprehensive training for all new candidates. Regardless of your current skill level, we’ll help you learn the skills needed to serve our community as a firefighter. We train for structure fires, wildland fires, medical needs, car accident extrication, wilderness
Minni – This delightful 11-year-old girl loves being in the company of people and is looking for a home where her social and chatty nature will be celebrated. Minni will likely do well with another cat or a polite dog, given time to adjust. To learn more about Minni or to make an appointment to come in for a visit call (303)772-1232 or email info@longmonthumane.org. Allstate offers Quotes for Paws – The Liz Hogan Allstate Agency in Longmont is giving back to the animals. For every auto or pet health insurance quote made in October, the Liz Hogan Agency will donate $20 to the Longmont Humane Society. Participants will be entered into a drawing for a basket full of pet goodies worth over $200. Included in the basket is a $100 Petco gift card. Call 303-678-0911 for a quote. Pints For Paws punch cards – Each $50 Pints for Paws punch card is redeemable for one pour / drink at 10 participating local breweries. Card must be presented to server at time of ordering. Cards are valid through August 4, 2021. Purchase cards online at www.longmonthumane.org or by appointment at the LHS retail store, Boz’s Place. All proceeds benefit the animals at LHS. Public Dog Training Classes available online – Longmont Humane Society announces a new, virtual alternative to in-person dog training classes, including private training video sessions, online obedience courses, and mini-courses designed to address specific concerns such as walking on leash, and a review of training tools and equipment. For information visit www.longmonthumane.org.
Redstone Associate Editor Cokie Roberts is hard at work on the October issue.
search and rescue, swiftwater and ice rescue, hazardous material response and much more. To apply, please visit our current website at lyonsfire.org and click on “volunteer application.” If you have any questions about volunteering or the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact us at recruitment@lyonsfire.org. It’s a great way to help serve the community of Lyons while learning new skills and being part of a team. Consider joining us.
Corrections The photo above appeared on page three of the Redstone September issue. The photographer credited was incorrect. David Hirt is the photographer of this picture of the Fork restaurant at sunset and kindly shared it with Redstone Review. We apologise for the error. The date for the Free Film night sponsored by the Lyons Film Festival was incorrect in our September issue. The event was held on September 25 at the Lyons Den. The Redstone Review regrets the error.
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MAYOR’S CORNER Important issues and plans ahead for Lyons By Nick Angelo, Mayor of Lyons Redstone Review LYONS – The most important issue for all of us to address is the COVID pandemic. Lyons should be very proud of the fact that there have only been eight documented cases so far, well done everybody. There will Angelo be a mobile testing unit located in Lyons, so that everyone who wishes to be tested can be tested. Since the virus can be transmitted even if one is asymptomatic, not showing any signs of illness, it is an excellent idea to take advantage of the opportunity. We will let everyone know the location and time when they are finalized. Please stay well and be safe, wear your masks, physically distance and hand sanitize regularly. The Board of Trustees will review the new Summit affordable housing plan this week. We will decide which public process will take place by resolution. A decision will be made regarding the Planning and Community Development Commission’s (PCDC) role in the process.
Let’s all hope that the requirement that Lyons residents have priority regarding renting the units be abided by as previously agreed to. As a friend of mine told me this week, “Keep us in mind, keep us in town.” Regarding the political situation and season Lyons is very fortunate. By state statute all towns are bicameral, there cannot be a party affiliation attached to a candidacy. Good. We all get to work together for what we feel is in the best interest of the Town regardless of party. Great ideas and compromise can be achieved and implemented without the shackles of party dogma. Just vote, it is the inalienable right that best defines equality. There will be fantastic news coming forward very shortly in regard to the funding for the Second Ave. Bridge as well as the Fourth Ave. Bridge. Hopefully they will both be completed in a timely manner. Administrator Simonsen should be congratulated for identifying and procuring funding sources
Students return to classes in Lyons By Don Moore Redstone Review LYONS – “Things went really well. We were prepared,” said Jennifer White. She is a first-grade teacher at Lyons ElemenMoore tary School and was talking about her first week back in the classroom with students. From the start of the school year, all classes in schools within the St Vrain Valley School District had been taught with online instruction. That all changed Monday, October 5, when District schools, including Lyons Elementary School (LES) launched a hybrid system of learning. “Classes split into two groups, with one group having in-class learning on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the other half coming on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” White explained. “The school day of 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. has not changed. Fridays are spent with a quick online check-in meeting when activities and homework are assigned. Individual sessions with a student or parent can take place then as well. It’s also a day when teachers can do plan-
ning for the next week.” As teachers must teach both in the classroom and online, lesson planning takes nearly twice as long as in a normal, all day in-classroom setting. Parents of some students in White’s class have opted to keep their children out of school during the pandemic and are either homeschooling or having them attend online classes provided by the District through LaunchED. It’s a program where District teachers are teaching a regular curriculum to those online students. “My class is small, having only seven to eight students each day. Safety is our first priority and that means we all wear masks, maintain social distance, and wash our hands several times a day,” White said. “During this warm weather, we’ve been able to hold outside lessons such as reading. It will be harder to do stories or other work outside in the winter.” Previously, classroom supplies used by all students would be stored in one common area with each student taking materials as needed. Keeping safety as the number one priority, White has provided each student with a bin containing all materials needed for the class.
for the two extremely important projects. The WWTF (sewer plant) situation continues to move forward. Slower than any of us would like. We’ve completed plant upgrades, and we are now comfortably in compliance with State and Federal guidelines. Before we can begin to develop the eastern corridor, we must be recertified by the State. Due to COVID and the State back log that may take until 2022, hopefully not. Utility Director Aaron Caplan has been doing a splendid job and hopefully can help to expedite the process. Director Caplan also discovered a mistake that will be memorialized in our October water letter with Longmont. There were additional Colorado Big Thompson shares that were discovered belonged to Lyons so our CBT portfolio was not in as dire a position as was represented to the prior Board. That is fantastic news and Director Caplan should be congratulated. Continue Mayor on Page 15
“The day has been structured so that classes do not meet in the hallway. Rather, outside entrances to classrooms allow passage without having students meet others from different classes,” she said.
Physical Education is conducted on the playground with smaller groups, allowing White to be able to keep track of her students. The school has added more seating Continue Students on Page 12
At left: Jennifer White, a first grade teacher at Lyons Elementary. On the right, first grader Jazy Rocco Palmerie plants flowers in the LES garden. White feels things are going well after one week back in the classroom.
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REDSTONE • REVIEW
OCTOBER 14 / NOVEMBER 18, 2020
INTEREST Town of Lyons helps Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens take root By Jessie Berta-Thompson Redstone Review
town offered to assist in installation and paid the difference in upgrading materials so that it would better match adjacent town park fences. They also handled the logistics LYONS – After years of planning, paperwork, dreaming of delivering posts, chains and cement. At their first atand weeding, the Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens tempt at digging a fence post hole, the posthole digger hit (RMBG) in Lyons is now a proper garden, with winding something solid a foot down. What was underneath the paths and native Colorado plants identified by signs with ground there? An old asphalt road, it turns out. Once common and botanical names. A large part of the success again, the town came through, breaking up the road with of this project is due to the generous and sustained support heavy equipment, and voilà, with the Lyons Volunteers’ of the Town f Lyons. help, the fence was up, secure and ready. The garden is the idea of local herbalist, gardener, eduAs for water, no simple matter in Colorado, the Town cator, all-around plant lover, and, now, Botanic Gardens of Lyons installed a water-access hydrant at the gardens, board president, Garima Fairfax. In 2018, Fairfax, with a digging to a water main connection from a house that once group of like-minded garden-appreciating friends, formed a stood on the corner of the lot. Now the garden’s beautiful, nonprofit organization and submitted a successful proposal tough and locally adapted plants are being planted and to the Town of Lyons to use one of the floodplain buyout have enough water for initial establishment. They will reproperties for the Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens. quire relatively little watering as the years go on. The 1.26-acre plot, once a mobile home park with Bringing the gardens to life is an ongoing effort of love beautiful home gardens and great river access, was totally from a multitude of regular garden volunteers, the Lyons destroyed in the 2013 flood. The site is between Fourth Volunteers, the all-volunteer RMBG board of directors, and Fifth Avenues, and Prospect Street and the walking town leaders, many town employees, and financial and inpath along the South St. Vrain River and Meily Alley kind donors. Over the years, two mayors (Julie Van Dome(a.k.a. Bristlecone Lane). With its new purpose, this land len and Connie Sullivan) helped Fairfax search for the is on track to become a place for right place to plant. She also works people to appreciate Lyons’ beauty with many Parks Department emonce again. The town’s endorseployees, when they are able to help ment of the project, the first using move a heavy rock or take out a a buyout property, included its broken tree branch during the commitment to help with in-kind course of their daily work. Fairfax, services where possible, without the board and the volunteers love straining resources. working with town employees and Fairfax said, “The town’s generoscontinually thank Town Adminisity in providing us use of the land trator Victoria Simonsen and Pubby lease is fantastic and they conlic Works Director Dave Cosgrove, tinue to help our garden grow.” along with their always helpful Clearing the land for planting was staff Marisa, Kyle, Chris, Tim, mostly a process of removing weeds Dave, Justin, Omar, Parker and and spreading a soil-enriching, Black-eyed Susan flowers sprawl into the path Louis. Fairfax also received early moisture-entrapping layer of mulch. of the Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens. help from former town board The town provided the first moun- PHOTO BY JESSIE BERTA-THOMPSON member LaVern Johnson. tain of mulch, which came from She also notes that in addition to branch and tree scraps collected during parks maintenance. helping erect the fence, the ever-helpful Lyons Volunteers Along the way, lots of flood detritus also needed to be jump in regularly to help the gardens, too. When the board removed from the garden, including chunks of cars, pot- purchased a storage shed, the Lyon’s Volunteers built the tery shards, and endless unrecognizable plastic bits. “The foundation, put it together, painted it, and installed the town relocated a dumpster, and continued paying for its roof. A steady crew of Lyons Volunteers also operated the regular trash removal, to make it easier for garden volun- machinery for the paths. They are always there to dig holes teers to get the trash out,” Fairfax says. for trees and shrubs as each garden zone is planted. When it came time to install the garden’s fence, the Wandering downtown this summer, garden volunteers
A discussion of the Gallagher Amendment’s role in funding the Lyons Regional Library By Kara Bauman Redstone Review LYONS – The Gallagher Amendment, passed in 1982 and named for one of its primary sponsors, Dennis Gallagher, was the result of concern over skyrocketing residential property taxes. Amendment Bauman B, on the November ballot, seeks to repeal the Gallagher Amendment. Why might the Library Director care about the Gallagher Amendment? Over 93 percent of the District’s operating funds are generated from the collection of property taxes. Should Gallagher not be repealed, homeowners are on track for their residential assessment rates to drop from 7.15 percent down to an estimated 5 percent. That drop would result in the Lyons Regional Library District losing somewhere between 16 percent and 20 percent of its annual revenue. That loss would certainly make it more difficult to fulfill our mission of providing access to quality resources and programs that serve the lifelong cultural, educational, informational, and entertainment needs and interests of people of all ages and backgrounds within the Lyons Regional Library District. Even if you’re a longtime Colorado resident, keeping track of the Gallagher ins and outs can be a bit tricky. The Gallagher Amendment divides the state’s total prop-
A bed of the Prairie Grasslands zone at the Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens in Lyons, planted earlier this summer. PHOTO BY JESSIE BERTA-THOMPSON
were delighted to discover that the town, unprompted, had added the Botanic Gardens to its large map signs. Directional signage is a key part of making the gardens easy to find for visitors and locals, once the plants are established enough to open to the public. By the end of 2021, the board of directors hopes to rest easy knowing the native plant-filled outdoor space is complete. In future years, the RMBG plans to host tours and classes to explore nature, science, gardening and art as a community. Combining the efforts of the town with those of an enthusiastic corps of garden volunteers has enabled a beautiful spot to emerge from devastating flood damage. To learn more about the gardens, please visit: http://www.rmbg.org/ Jessie Berta-Thompson is a member of the Rocky Mountain Botanic Gardens Board.
Colorado, shares the three things that would happen should Gallagher be repealed. First, a repeal would freeze the residential assessment rate at its current 7.15 percent in the same way that the assessment rate for all other property has been historically frozen at 29 percent. A reerty tax burden between residential peal would also remove the language and nonresidential property. Accordplaced in 1982 that initially set the ing to the Gallagher Amendment, 45 residential rate at 21 percent. This is percent of the total amount of state important so that we don’t just reproperty tax must come from residenmove the 45/55 split and inadvertial property, with other classes of tently jump the residential assessment property such as commercial property, rate from 7.15 percent back up to 21 agricultural land, vacant land, induspercent – yikes. And lastly, a repeal trial property, and public utilities makwould also remove the assessment ing up the other 55 percent. rates for all other classes of property Since 1982, the growth of residential from the constitution. This would property values has consistently and sigallow the legislature to have the aunificantly outpaced the growth of all thority to potentially reduce those other property, so much so that today rates in the future, while the TABOR residential property makes up 80 perAmendment would still require a cent of the total assessed value of all statewide vote of the people to inproperty statewide. Because Gallagher Youth Services Librarian Apelles crease any assessment rate. requires that residential property ac- Morales will soon offer two live storyLocal homeowners might be tempted count for no more than 45 percent of times each week via Facebook Live. by the reduction in their property the total statewide valuation, the legistaxes, but many services such as lature has been forced to continually reduce the property schools, fire departments, and libraries depend on them. tax assessment rate from 21 percent in 1982 to 7.15 percent And don’t forget, the burden then shifts to our already in 2020. Based on the growth of residential property relative struggling small businesses. Without adequate tax revenue, to non-residential since 2018, Gallagher is expected to fur- our newest staff member, Youth Services Librarian Apelles ther force down the residential assessment rate to an esti- Morales, would have an exceedingly difficult time bringing mated 5.88 percent in the next calculation cycle in 2021. critical library services to our community’s developing Reeves Brown, Project Manager at Building a Better Continue Library on Page 15
Lyons Redstone Museum Open by appointment on Wednesdays! Contact: redstonehistory@gmail.com LaVern at 303.823.5925 or 303.823.5271 340 High Street • Lyons, Colorado
OCTOBER 14 / NOVEMBER 18, 2020
REDSTONE • REVIEW
PAGE 5
OPTIONS RBG, a hero across lines By Terry de Castro Redstone Review LOS ANGELES, Calif. – When Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, a palpable wave of grief swept the country. Hearing of her death on that Friday afternoon was one of those remember-where-you-were-moments that will stick with me forever. It was a before-and-after moment, one that marked the end of an era and the start of a new one. At that particular moment, my knowledge of her life and the vast scope of her achievements was more limited than I would like to admit, but I knew how important she was, and I felt it like a punch. As a woman in my mid-50s, I have lived my whole life in a world that she had a hand in creating. We are now entering a post-RBG world, and it’s hard to know what that is going to look like. I had been meaning to watch the award-winning documentary film, RBG ever since it came out in 2018 and have no idea what took me so long. It’s an informative, entertaining introduction to Ginsburg’s life and work and a delightful peek into her character, which (and I don’t think I’m grossly overstating it) seems as if it was pretty close to flawless. Among the innumerable adjectives that could be applied to her, practically all of them describe some kind of virtue: gracious, driven, patient, inspiring, witty, principled, fair, compassionate, generous, devoted, disciplined, civil. All of these must have contributed to her being such a revered Supreme Court Justice during the 27 years she served, and all of them make it clear why she was so dearly loved by so many people. Ruth Bader Ginsburg became an octogenarian pop culture icon with scores of young fans all over the world and her own bobblehead. She seemed to be admired by everyone who crossed her path. It is impossible not to admire her tireless (another word that is often ascribed to her) advocacy for women’s rights. But she fought not just for gender equality, but equality for all people. She was respected across all kinds of lines: party lines, gender lines, even seemingly immovable lines. Her famous friendship with her the late Justice Antonin Scalia – a colleague she was diametrically, idealistically opposed to – was testament to that. Despite their vastly conflicting politics, their similarities seemed to outweigh their differences, or maybe it was more that they could accept the ideological clashes and meet through what they had in common. It feels like this idea is disappearing, and I suspect that such a friendship would be unlikely, if not impossible, now. I don’t think that any public figure could be such a unifying force in the current political and social landscape, and I cannot imagine what the Supreme Court will be-
come without her. After watching RBG, I went to the supremecourt.gov website and looked up the remarks made by her fellow Justices. To read what they had to say about their beloved colleague was genuinely moving. Sonia Sotomayor called her “an American hero.” Elena Kagan said, “I will miss …her intellect, her generosity, her sly wit, her manifest integrity, and her endless capacity for work – for the rest of my life.” It was clear that her colleagues not only respected her, but they had a real and deep affection for her. The statement that brought me to tears, and does every time I re-read it, was the shortest and most succinct, from David Souter, “Ruth Ginsburg was one of the members of the Court who achieved greatness before she became a great justice. I loved her to pieces.” I think it’s a rare quality that a person of such high office could touch the lives of others in such a profound and endearing way. Even her most conservative colleagues had only glowing things to say about her. Surprising to me were the remarks made by Brett Kavanaugh, who clearly revered her. He called her “a cherished colleague” and said, “I learned from her principled voice and marveled at her wonderful wit… Justice Ginsburg paved the way for women to become lawyers and judges. She made it possible for women and girls like my daughters to compete on equal footing as student-athletes.” Clarence Thomas called her “unfailingly gracious, thoughtful, and civil.” In a 2019 University of Buffalo Honorary Degree acceptance speech she told a story about a college student who once asked her what the biggest problem of the 21st Century was going to be. After much consideration, she concluded that the biggest challenge will be “to make or
Examining and dealing with our prejudices By Janaki Jane Redstone Review LYONS – I am prejudiced. I don’t want to be, but I am. One way I am prejudiced is that right now, in COVID-world, I am prejudiced against people who come too close, refuse to wear a mask, and pull off Jane their masks to talk. I am prejudiced toward (or for) people who wear masks that cover their noses, are willing to stay six or more feet away, and don’t object when I ask them to back up. I think these are rational prejudices, but really, no prejudice is rational. Probably most of the people I am negatively pre-judging are good people who are loving and honest and hard-working. They may have good reasons for their behavior, or they just may not understand how those of us who are at high risk feel. The people who I am positively pre-judging might be mean to their kids and steal from work. I don’t know anything about these people except how they behave around masks and social distancing, but I am making decisions about them that could be completely inaccurate. Prejudice has no basis in fact a superficial one. Prejudices are judgments about the people we see, hear or meet that we base on insufficient information to make a true judgment about who that person is and what they con-
tribute to the world. We may judge someone on what they wear, how they talk, their height, color of skin or hair, where they are from, what they do for a living, where they live or some other perception we have about them that has little to do with who that person actually is. Judging someone when we don’t have enough data to actually make a decision about them hurts everyone. That person we are judging because they look or act in a way that we have decided is bad could be the person we most need in our lives or work or even family, but we will never know because we had a knee-jerk reaction against one thing about them. When we decide that someone is a bad
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keep our communities places where we can tolerate, even celebrate, our differences, while pulling together for the common good.” Imagine if we had leaders who thought this way. The world – and our country – would be vastly different. It barely seems that civil discourse is a possibility among people with opposing views today. It leaves me wondering if there will ever again be a common ground where we can pull together for the common good, and this makes her loss all the more devastating. The Supreme Court Justice who summed it up in the most all-encompassing way was Justice Stephen Breyer, who called her a “rock of righteousness,” and said, “the world is a better place for (her) having lived in it.” Yes, and I fear that the world is going to be a worse place for her no longer living in it. It’s not just her devotion to equality and her courageous, dissenting voice that will be sorely missed. Her ability to cross what seems now like uncrossable party lines might just be something from a bygone era. Her death feels symbolic of what seems to be continually vanishing, like civility, integrity, and real wisdom. It feels as if what Ruth Bader Ginsburg represented is considered to be of less and less value. I remember exactly where I was when I heard that she was gone. What I want to remember and carry with me are all of the inspiring, motivating, and unifying things she stood for. RIP, RBG. Terry de Castro lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband Andrew. She teaches Yoga and works for Craft in America Center in LA. She plays in an indie rock band, The Wedding Present, in England on occasion.
person, or a good person, based on limited information, we lose the potential to see them as they really are or to acknowledge the good that they do in the world. The big problem with prejudice is that it is almost completely unconscious. We aren’t even aware that we have these feelings and make these judgments. Then because we assume that we are rational people we come up with “reasons” for how we feel when our prejudices are challenged. We try to defend our irrational feelings by making them into rational thoughts, and we make up with arguments for our prejudices. Our prejudices are emotional, not rational however, so our reasoning is flawed, and because we feel threatened when the feelings are challenged we often double down into the prejudice and our false reasoning behind it. It is possible to become less prejudiced. The first step is to recognize that we are prejudiced. Everyone is. This takes self-compassion and forgiveness. For example, I don’t want to admit that I, a Caucasian woman, have an immediate negative reaction against people of color when I see them. However, when I am very honest and watch very closely, I notice that I do. How do I change these reactions in myself? The first step is to admit to myself that I am reacting in a way that is not based on fact. Then I try not to act on those feelings, and I examine the conclusions that I have drawn based on those feelings. I notice what it is that triggers those feelings and where they live in my body. Finally, I work to change them. I combat them with facts, not feelContinue Prejudice on Page 15
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REDSTONE • REVIEW
OCTOBER 14 / NOVEMBER 18, 2020
EDUCATE Left Hand Water Conservancy district seeks tax increase for water resources protection
recreational uses. Grow food locally – Water for agricultural irrigation is critical for local food production. The ditches that provide water to farms are old and in need of repair and will benefit from upgrades that will deliver water more By Greg Lowell New water plan addresses future efficiently. Much has changed since the St. Vrain and Left Hand Store water for dry years – Mined-out gravel pits can Redstone Review Water Conservancy District was established. Climate be lined and utilized to store streamflow during times of surLYONS – The social restrictions of the change and with it the threat of long-term drought, and plus. Water can then be released later in the year to supCOVID-19 pandemic that have led many more wildfires like the nearby Cameron Peak Fire, add a plement flows for fish, recreation, and agriculture. These people to seek comfort and recreation new urgency to the protection of water resources that was reservoirs can be strung together throughout the valley to along local rivers, the summer’s drought, not present in 1971. Further, as the population in Col- better manage water supplies for multiple benefits. and the burgeoning population along the orado continues to grow dramatically the reliance on and Maintain healthy rivers and creeks – The recently Lowell Front Range have increased awareness of protection of water resources likewise grows. completed Stream Management Plan identified several the area’s water resources. “Water programs, services, and projects are more com- reaches of St. Vrain and Left Hand Creeks in need of Protecting and advocating for local rivers, streams and plex and challenging today than they were 50 years ago,” restoration to stabilize the creek channel and reconnect reservoirs is the St. Vrain and Left Hand the floodplain. Strategic partnerships Water Conservancy District. The disand strong fundraising efforts will be trict was formed to develop, manage necessary to achieve these stream imand safeguard local water resources. provements. “Since its creation, the St. Vrain The district’s new water plan has and Left Hand Water Conservancy gained the support of groups such as the District has led, facilitated, and impleNature Conservancy, Western Remented water programs, services and source Advocates, Trout Unlimited, projects with an emphasis on the and American Whitewater. Statewide overall big picture for water use optiagricultural associations are also supmization,” said Sean Cronin, Execuporting the new plan. tive Director of the district. Need for increased funding on ballot The local district is one of 49 Col– To fund the Water Vision and Action orado water conservancy districts Plan, voters are being asked for a propformed in 1971 under the Water Conerty tax increase, appearing as issue 7A servancy Act. The districts engage in a on the current ballot. wide range of water issues, including de“This is the first time in its history that velopment and management of water the district’s mill levy will increase,” projects, water conservation, distribuCronin said. tion, water quality protection, flood The ballot measure would add control, legislation and education. 1.25 mills to the district’s current The St. Vrain and Left Hand Water This map shows the boundaries of the St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District. levy and provide an additional $3.3 Conservancy District’s boundaries million annually. As an example, the start in the headwaters within Boulder County and extend said Cronin. district’s current mill levy of 0.156 mill adds $5.92 a to the confluence with the South Platte River in Weld A recognition of these challenges has led the district to year to the property taxes of a $500,000 home. The County. develop a five-point Water Vision and Action Plan to ad- new mill levy of 1.406 would cost $44.64 a year for the The district is divided into seven subdistricts, each rep- dress the region’s future water needs. same $500,000 home. resented by a member on the board of directors. There are Protect water quality and drinking water sources The tax would sunset in 2030 and would require future also two at-large board members. – The health of creeks and rivers is linked to the condition voter approval to continue. The district will publish an anOne of the district’s goals is to prevent “raids” on the of the forests in the upper watershed, which act as a filter nual public expenditure report / audit that will identify how watershed’s resources, said Cronin. For years, entities out- to keep pollution out of the water. Colorado is experienc- the funds are being used. An appointed volunteer board of side of the basin have actively planned their future water ing increased large-scale wildfires, and local forest manage- local residents will oversee spending, said Cronin. supply sources with the St. Vrain River in mind. Recent ment will be the key to maintaining the health of local “As we have seen with Colorado’s wildfires and this designs on water development at the confluence of the St. waters. Also, the issue of water rights in Colorado is com- year’s drought, the threats to our water quality and quanVrain and South Platte rivers underscore the threats the plex and few residents understand how water rights are em- tity are increasing,” said Cronin. “The new revenue will watershed faces from outside. The district, however, has ployed to keep water flowing out of residents’ taps. The allow the district to leverage additional funding to meet limited resources to protect its water. district plans ahead and proactively protects local water those threats.” Protecting water rights is “expensive,” Cronin said, and rights to benefit the local economy, families and farms. Funding for creek improvements and wildfire prevention as the price of water continues to rise, the fight to keep Safeguard and conserve drinking water – Most “are far less costly than disaster recovery,” he added. For local water resources will struggle to keep pace. The dis- urban water is used for irrigation. Partnerships with local more information on the district, visit https://svlhwcd.org. trict currently receives $421 thousand from residents’ water providers to increase outdoor water efficiency and property taxes – not enough to prevent exploitation from conservation are effective for long-term water sustainabilLyons resident Greg Lowell, is a Lyons Town Board Trustee outside the watershed, he said. ity and offer greater opportunities for environmental and and serves as a liaison to the Ecology Advisory Board.
Origins of Lyons street names By Monique Sawyer-Lang Redstone Review LYONS – Ever wonder who were the people whose names grace the streets of Lyons? Names Sawyer-Lang such as Evans, Stickney, Seward, and Reese. To find that answer you have to go back to earliest days of Lyons when Edward S. Lyon purchased land from Hiram and Isabelle Sawyer in 1880. In 1881 Edward Lyon and a handful of others began laying out a town and erecting buildings, including the towns’ first school house, now the Lyons Redstone Museum. They started one of the first quarries in the area through the Evans Townsite and Quarry Company and the Lyons Rock and Lime Quarry Company in 1882. The original plat of the town was not registered until 1882 and only went as far north as High Street. The portion of town containing Stickney, Seward, and Reese Streets were part of the Nortonville Addition added by the Lyons Rock and Lime Quarry Co. in 1885 and 1889. Edward Lyon put his name on the town and his business partners put their names on the streets. Evans Street was named for Griffith Evans who was born in Wales May 2, 1830. His family immigrated to the U.S. in 1844, settling in Wisconsin. He married Jane Owen in 1855 and they moved to Colorado in the mid-1860s, living in Estes Park. There he operated a cattle ranch. In July of 1874 he and his neighbor James Nugent, also known as Rocky Mountain
Jim, got into an alcohol fueled argument which resulted in Nugent being shot. He died of his injuries several months later. Evans was brought to trial and was acquitted in Nugent’s death. In 1878 he moved to Lyons where he purchased the Miller Road House. The house, located on the current Planet Bluegrass property, was used as a stagecoach stop and inn by early travelers heading up the North St. Vrain to Estes Park. The home is on the National Register of Historic Places and part of the Lyons Historic District. In May of 1882 Griffith Evans along with Hiram F. Sawyer and Edward S. Lyon created the Evans Townsite and Quarry Company, one of the first quarry companies in the valley. In 1883 he sold his prop-
erty and moved to Jamestown where he operated the Evans House Hotel. Evans and his wife had eight children. He died in July 1900 and is buried in Jamestown. His wife, Jane, died in 1926 and is also buried in Jamestown. It’s believed that Stickney Street was named after Frank Hale Stickney. The February 27, 1891 issue of the Longs Peak Rustler newspaper lists F.H. Stickney as the president of the Noland Stone Quarry
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located in the Town of Noland in the hills above Lyons. In 1897 Stickney was the proprietor of the Lyons Rock and Lime Quarry owned by Edward Lyon. Seward Street was most likely named after Samuel H. Seward, one of the officers of the Lyons Rock and Lime Quarry Company. Seward was originally from Putnam, CT and was one of a number of people that Edward Lyon, also from Putnam, en-
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OCTOBER 14 / NOVEMBER 18, 2020
REDSTONE • REVIEW
PAGE 7
INSIGHT Rescuing a Great Horned Owl By John Gierach Redstone Review LYONS – I’d gone outside to do something and, once again, noticed the limbs that came down in that September snowstorm. I’d Gierach been intending to haul them to my existing burn pile, which by now has grown to a couple of cubic yards, but you know how that is: It’s a small chore that’ll only take ten minutes, so you keep putting it off until it ends up taking a month. So, I dragged the biggest elm limb over to the pile, but when I tossed it on, something grayish brown and vaguely dogsized exploded out the other side. What the hell was that? Hawk? Bobcat? Coyote? I only caught a glimpse of whatever it was. When I walked around to the back of the pile, I found an adult great horned owl, facing away from me with his wings outspread and touching the ground, glaring at me over his shoulder in that disconcerting way owls have of seeming to turn their heads completely around like Linda Blair in The Exorcist. It was strange for an owl to be out in mid-morning and also to be on the ground, but I thought maybe he had a rabbit that he was trying to protect by hunching over the kill the way raptors do. I gave him half an hour to sort things out before checking on him again, but when I did he was perched back on the burn pile with no sign of a carcass around and he didn’t fly as I walked up to him. Owls don’t let you just walk up to within a few feet like that, so something clearly wasn’t right. I called Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, but they said they weren’t licensed to deal with birds of prey and referred me to an outfit called just that, the Birds of Prey Foundation. A woman at Birds of Prey asked me to email a couple of photos, which I did. She called back in a few minutes to say something was askew with the bird’s right wing and it clearly couldn’t fly. Then she explained how I should capture it. I’d cut air holes in a large cardboard box, then simply throw a towel over the bird, put it in the box and drive it down to their facility near Broomfield. Simply? I almost asked if she’d ever seen the beak and talons on a two-foottall great horned owl, but she volunteers at a place called Birds of Prey, so of course she had and probably bears the scars to prove it. I’m not ashamed to admit that I wasn’t eager to wrestle with a great horned owl. I didn’t want to further injure the bird, I didn’t want to get injured myself and I’m not sure which was foremost in my mind. I understood that I’d have to grab the bird tightly enough to keep him from peeling my face off, but not so tightly that I’d injure him and I couldn’t picture myself getting it right on the first try.
After several more calls that came to nothing, Susan reached out to our friend Rene Haip, whose two sons are ornithology students. The boys were out of town, but she put us in touch with Donna Nespoli, founder of Colorado Native Bird Care and Conservation, and her husband Brent Daniel, who’ve tackled this kind of thing before and were no doubt more adept at it than Susan and I would be. As luck would
him while Brent moved in slowly and, at the moment when the bird seemed most confused about his next move, netted him with one quick stroke. Then they peeled him out of the mesh of the net and put him in the cage. The cage then went in the bed of my pickup covered with a blanket to keep the owl quiet. The whole time the bird loudly snapped his beak. It’s a defensive display designed to show what will happen to you if you don’t back off, but “You can’t hesitate,” Brent said, “You just have to do it.”
Neighbors from Spring Gulch, Donna Nespoli and her husband Brent Daniel got the owl contained so it could be transported to the Birds of Prey Foundation for medical treatment. Nespoli is the founder of Colorado Native Bird Care and Conservation. PHOTO BY RENE HAIP have it they were available and showed up with Rene within the hour, armed with a large cage, a pile of old blankets and towels, a pair of heavy elbow-length welding gloves and the kind of long-handled landing net a fisherman would use. Naturally, the owl didn’t want to let himself be captured. It would never occur to him that approaching humans might be there to help and nine times out of ten he’d be right. It took all five of us to corral
I couldn’t help wondering how this would have gone if Susan and I had tried to toss a bath towel over this guy and stuff him in a box. We’d have tried if it came to that, but I’m glad it didn’t. The Birds of Prey facility is out in a sprawling tract of open space and unmarked except by the street numbers on its mailbox: the kind of place you locate with GPS. The women there bustled out, collected the cage and presented us with the paperwork
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without which nothing can get done, plus a foundation brochure and the usual information on how to donate. A few minutes later they bustled back out with the empty cage and blanket, told us we probably didn’t want the old towel from the cage returned because it was covered in owl poop, and that was that. They told us that they did not have any volunteers working due to COVID and they were swamped. “Don’t call us to check on your owl,” they said. Like many people I’ve met who deal with emergencies, their motives were altruistic, but in practice they’d become brusquely efficient and unsentimental, possibly in the interest of self-preservation. I get it. Everyone involved had great sympathy and concern for this big, gorgeous owl, but I, for one, was ready to hand him off to someone else. This will end in one of three ways. If the owl is too badly injured, he’ll be put down; if he can be rehabilitated, he’ll eventually be released; and if he’s otherwise okay, but crippled, he might become a captive bird – an exhibit to be trotted out for visiting field trips. They have a large aviary for raptors. Donna had done a quick once-over when we caught him and said the break didn’t look bad, so maybe he has a good chance. I keep saying “he” automatically, even though, when it comes to owls, I can’t tell the boys from the girls. It’s just that the coldly menacing aspect of large owls has always struck me as peculiarly male. In stories like this the animal in question often ends up with a human name – something endearingly non-threatening à la Walt Disney – but in this case he became “Admission #570-20, Species: great horned owl.” We could check on his progress, but were asked to please not call because answering the phone took them away from more important work. Instead, we should go on their website, enter that number and some other information and we’d eventually get an email. It was best to wait a couple of weeks, they said, because, like most such outfits, they were overworked, understaffed and underfunded, so updating the website was necessarily low on their priority list. The drive home was uneventful. Things had seemed to happen quickly when they happened, but the whole business had somehow taken the better part of eight hours and I couldn’t figure out where the time had gone. The next day, we returned the cage and blanket and tossed the rest of the limbs on the burn pile. John Gierach is an outdoor and flyfishing writer who writes books and columns for magazines including a regular column for Trout Magazine. His books include Trout Bum, Sex Death and Fly fishing, and Still Life with Brook Trout. He has won seven first place awards from the Colorado Press Association for his columns in the Redstone Review. His latest book, Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers was released in June.
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REDSTONE • REVIEW
OCTOBER 14 / NOVEMBER 18, 2020
OPPORTUNITY Lyons Share Fund helped 43 small businesses By Tanya Mercer-Daty Redstone Review LYONS – The Lyons Share Fund, a small business economic relief fund created by the St. Vrain Market and the Lyons Community Foundation (LCF), was able to give $1,000 to 43 locally owned and opMercer-Daty erated companies to help cover expenses such as rent, utilities, payroll, etc. during the COVID-19 extended business closures. LCF’s intention was to support local businesses who have always given back to Lyons’ residents, schools and charitable causes throughout the years. One of the recipients, Dr. Geralyn Gibson of the Lyons Vet Clinic, realized that the Lyons Share Fund could help her clients who could not afford pet care during these challenging economic times. Another recipient, Mindy Tallent of the Stone Cup, finds it harder to stay open during the pandemic than after the flood of 2013. The Lyons Vet Clinic, owned by Dr. Gibson since 2004, has provided alternative financing plans for customers since the flood in 2013 when residents’ finances were stretched thin. Thanks to her membership with the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Gibson has access to the Veterinary Care Charitable Fund for clients who are facing personal hardships. Sometimes, long-term clients who have always taken great care of their pets have health issues or fall on hard times. The fund typically helps four or five clients per year. Anyone who wants to help pet owners financially can make a donation directly on the Lyons Vet Clinic’s website or by adding $5 or $10 to their veterinary bill when making a payment. Dr. Gibson readily acknowledges that every crisis makes them stronger. She recalls how the Lyons Vet Clinic was displaced for three months during the flood in 2013, forcing the clinic to open a satellite location in Erie and make visits to people’s homes. Luckily, when the pandemic first began, veterinary hospitals were deemed an essential service. Since the Lyons Vet clinic followed American Animal Hospital
Association (AAHA) guidelines by moving all services curbside, requiring everyone to wear masks and creating an isolated waiting room for hot summer days, they never had to close their business. Dr. Gibson attributes their busy practice to an amazing team and faithful clients. Also, more pets have been adopted since the pandemic. According to the magazine 5280, “People who had been considering adoption or fostering before the shutdown were given a perfect chance once they started working from home. Suddenly, the ability to commit more time to prepare and gather supplies, and of course spend time with a new pet, was made available. The demand was felt at shelters across the Front Range.” After 16 years of running the Stone Cup, Sam and
Dr. Briggs and front desk manager Meghana with client Debbie Lee and her cat Hunter, and dachshunds Freckles, Bear, Blue and Lucy at the Lyons Vet Clinic. Mindy Tallent have also had to navigate through two crises: the flood in 2013 and the ongoing pandemic. Both times, the Stone Cup closed to the public for about six to eight weeks. Both times, Mindy had to resort to Small Business Administration loans in order to reopen. Up until
The Stone Cup, aka Lyons’ front porch. the state-mandated lockdown in March, the Stone Cup was open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Most recently, they have had to let go of five part-time employees and are only able to open four days a week (Thursday through Sunday) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. With winter coming and temperatures dropping, Mindy worries about customers having to come inside to order but not being able to hang out indoors as they have been accustomed to doing in the past. Between visitors not stopping by on their way to a festival or friends not supporting artists by attending art openings, Mindy is counting on locals to step up and support local businesses. What can you do? Pick up a gift certificate for friends and family and make it a priority to stop by on the weekend for a breakfast burrito and coffee. What makes the pandemic more difficult to come back from than the flood is the uncertainty of how long this current health crisis will last. No one knows how long people will need to isolate and socially distance. Owning a small business in a small community like Lyons is already challenging without the addition of a crisis. When clients are feeling economic uncertainty, it affects our small businesses. We all have a stake in looking out for the future of these locally owned companies and their ability to survive during these incredibly difficult times. We urge you to support them as they continue to remain open under challenging conditions. If you would like to support the Lyons Community Foundation and its mission to improve the quality of life, build a culture of giving, and create positive change in the greater Lyons area, you may donate to the LCF General Fund by visiting their website at lyonscf.org.
747 is the winner of the biggest bear contest at Katmai National Park Staff Reports Redstone Review LYONS – It’s that hungry time for bears again when each year they have to bulk up for hibernation. It’s called hyperphagia. During this period bears eat anything and everything. In Katmai National Park in Alaska, where there are more than 2,200 brown bears roaming around, a contest is held each year, Fat Bear Week, to pick the fattest bear from a sea of heavyweights. Video cams are set up all over the park and people vote for their favorite bear online. This
year’s winner is named 747 and it’s just a coincidence that he has the same name as an airplane. Bears can lose a third of their body weight during hibernation. Fat Bear Week at Katmai has become so popular it is now an international event. Park Rangers often report on various portly bears as they are spotted eating salmon or other favorite foods. Katmai, a four-million-acre park sprawling over mountains, lakes, streams and coastline, is famous for having the world’s densest population of brown bears, the coastal version of grizzlies. Brooks River in the park is a favorite salmon feasting spot for bears. The
bear cams have created a sensation in the park with their unique views of bears, and tourists are flocking to see the magnificent creatures on the Brooks River. Park rangers estimate that 747 weighs about 1,400 lbs. One ranger spotted 747 going up a hill when his stomach got caught on a rock and he had to find an alternate route. The big bear seemed not the
least bit interested when rangers told him he won the contest, he just continued to eat his salmon. Local flyfishing expert, John Gierach has seen some of those hefty beasts. “I’ve fished in Katmai National Park – for the same salmon the bears are after – and I can testify that these are the fattest Alaskan brown bears I’ve ever seen.”
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Fat bear 747 appears unimpressed with his win in the Fat Bear Week competition.
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OCTOBER 14 / NOVEMBER 18, 2020
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Bell of Renewal is installed near the bridge entrance to Bohn Park With the support of the Board of Trustees, the LAHC commissioned Colorado-based artists James Moore and Anita Miller to create the sculpture titled Bell of Renewal. Bell of Renewal consists of a bell hanging from a tree stand, on which a great horned owl is positioned. The stand depicts a great horned owl building a nest, and the bell features design elements from nature in relief. The bell beautifully represents the nature in which Lyons thrives, memorializing the strength of the community through recovery; the stand represents renewal through the symbolism of the building of the nest. The bell is approximately 16 inches by 20 inches, and suspends beneath the owl, which is positioned as flying past a stand of young cottonwood trees that serves as the support for the sculpture. The sculpture stands approximately eight feet tall by four feet wide, and three feet in diameter and is constructed of cast bronze. The sculpture was installed in September 2020 at the anniversary of the flood, along the river, in an appropriate, safe, and enduring location within Lyons. The bell has been added to the heARTS of Lyons Outdoor Public Art Collection as Legacy artwork: a permanent piece of public art in the Town’s collection.
About the Artists James Moore has been working professionally in bronze for the last 22 years. His award-winning work is now in public and private collections across the United States, Mexico, and Europe. Moore participates in many shows and is represented by several galleries. He lives in the rural town of Eaton, Colorado, where he spends much of his leisure time enjoying the outdoors and observing the animals and natural environment that are so inspirational to his work. Learn more at www.sculpturebyj gmoore.com. Anita Miller moved to Lyons in 2016 and felt the ripples of the flood as she heard her neighbors speak of the historic and life-changing event. The artist, who has her own history of creating memorial artwork, imagined a symbol of hope and renewal to honor Lyons’ recovery, which she and her family now enjoy. Miller believed the work of James G. Moore best captures the spirit of renewal, so they have partnered to create the one-of-a-kind sculpture. Miller’s work can be seen in The Eyes of Freedom: Lima Company Memorial Project, in which she combined her painting and sculpture artwork into an artistic memorial of the Lima Company tragedies of 2005. Learn more at www.limacompanymemorial.org.
James G. Moore, left, assisted by Anita Miller, created the Bell of Renewal sculpture, memorializing the strength of the Lyons community in recovering from the flood of 2013. The Bell of Renewal was installed in Bohn Park in September.
Top: Staying Close by Lisa Pentz Bottom: Fishing for Salmon by Jeremy Walker and Barbara Bates Beasley
it possible for me to connect again with artist friends and see their work.” According to McGuckin, “Just go online to www.openstudio.org and find events and schedule your appointment.” It’s exciting that Open Studios is now county-wide and director Mary Horrocks encourages artists to consider membership and the various opportunities throughout the year to participate in events. The Boulder Museum of History does cost $10 admission, so be sure to go upstairs to see the videos and other historical presentations on that floor. It’s not overwhelming and I thought that its simplicity makes it more effective. There is even a case with hippie clothes, giving a nod to that creative period of time that drew young people from all over the country to Boulder, poignant for me because I was young then myself. Did you know that in 1975 Boulder Colorado issued the first gay marriage licenses in the country? All in all it was a fun outing but if you want to see the Open Studio Show, make it quick. It comes down on October 18.
hung by our very own Priscilla Cohan, not an easy feat, so many pieces. My neighbor Monica McGuckin, who visited two studios, said, “In these socially distanced times, the studio tour with its structure of individual appointments made
Sally King is a local artist who has created whimsical bears and delightful wildflower 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.
Open Studios art show By Sally King Redstone Review BOULDER – What a delight to see colorful and interesting art after living for months in what feels like a deprivation chamber. Quite a pleasant contrast. Open Studios has once again created a beautiful show of our local artists’ work, up now through October 18. The show can be viewed at the Museum of Boulder located at 2205 Broadway from 9 to 5 daily. Three Lyons artists participated in this year’s show. Plein air painter Lisa Pentz created her lovely oil painting Staying Close with its warm colors and sweet farm life, which reminded me of the mural painting on the barn just east of town. While Jeremy Walker’s New Beginnings stained glass felt to me like the cosmic swirl we find ourselves in today, in his Fishing for Salmon he has two bears sewn by Barbara Yates Beasley, and this is a feat of magic, an intricate fabric sewn collage. Beasley’s studio is in Lyons Quilting where she occasionally offers classes. And the show itself was masterfully
Kingfishers on the river By Sally King
We have Kingfishers here on the river. A magnificent bird with a spear-like beak Whose arrival is heralded by loud squawking Loud like an incoming airplane. He’s not hiding. My sister who lives in North Carolina, who is voting for the other guy also has kingfishers on her pond Kingfisher is a talisman of undying love, a Romeo and Juliet kind of thing. So what am I being asked to sacrifice here, maybe just my fear.
Parker McDonald’s sculpture, Ursa Major, has moved on. She’s headed, via a forklift and flatbed, to the 300 block of Main Street in Longmont, near one of the pass-through access arcades. The life-sized female grizzly bear sculpture was purchased by the City of Longmont in January 2020. She had lived at Western Stars Gallery since June 2018 as part of LAHC’s heARTS of LYONS Outdoor Art Collection All Around Town. McDonald was the first LAHC arts-partner sponsor in the ever-expanding heARTS of LYONS program.
LAHC has a renewed commitment to support the arts, artists and business in the community By Lauren Click Redstone Review LYONS – Lyons, Colorado is a Mecca of creativity. Like many communities throughout the world, the shock waves of COVID-19 hit Lyons. While some businesses have closed, cut back on the number of services and hours of operation, many businesses and galleries are open and adapting. It might not be business as usual and public safety is still a concern, but Lyons artists and gallery owners are proving their resiliency. The Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission (LAHC) is a volunteer-based government commission that was created with a mission to “beautify the streets of downtown Lyons, promote local artists, and educate the viewing public on artistic inspirations and procedures.” The LAHC is composed of seven local, artistic members of the community who work to make the LAHC’s mission a reality. Like the other commissions in the Town of Lyons, the LAHC’s volunteers are passionate about improving Lyons while managing careers, families, health, and more. The LAHC meets on the first Tuesday of every month via Zoom. All meetings are open to the public. The LAHC is more determined than ever to continue supporting artists, arts organizations, and local businesses. During the summer of 2020, the LAHC continued to work and added five sculptures to the heARTS of LYONS
program, which pays artists a stipend for the two-year installation period. The LAHC also added five permanent sculptures to Lyons’ outdoor art collection, including the Bell of Renewal. Local artists Anita Miller and James G. Moore created this stunning bronze sculpture and called it the Bell of Renewal in demonstration of the resiliency of the Lyons community. On September 1, 2020 the LAHC expanded on its Creative Outlets program. Gunbarrel-based artist The Designosaur painted the electrical box adjacent to the Lyons Regional Library on the corner of Broadway and 4th. The installation of this mural resulted from a collaboration between the LAHC and the Lyons Regional Library. The LAHC continues to seek funding to expand both its heARTS of LYONS program and its Creative Outlet programs. The Call for Artists on both of these projects is regional; however, Lyons artists receive priority during the selection process. In 2020, the LAHC had received $9,000 in funding from the Town of Lyons Board of Trustees. These funds were earmarked for carving a large fallen tree in LaVern Johnson Park. When COVID-19 struck, that funding was reallocated for other, much needed services in the Lyons community. While the LAHC pursues grants, the commission is dependent on donations and fundraisers. Each year, the LAHC hosts art shows at Town Hall to highlight Continue LAHC on Page 12
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FORWARD Prevent unwelcome guests in your home this winter
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By Mysti Tatro Redstone Review LONGMONT – When weather starts to cool, wildlife looks for warm places to den. You can prevent critters from seTatro lecting your home as their nesting spot by deploying winter wildlife proofing tactics. Here’s how to get started: Scout out problem areas Your home might have several points of entry where an animal could squeeze through. Walk the perimeter of your house and look for these vulnerable areas. Check for holes or gaps in your roof, poke around to make sure all vents have secured caps, and look for signs of wildlife such as scat. Pay close attention to crawl spaces, gutters, shingles, the deck and around the chimney. Give animals time to leave If you find a potentially susceptible spot, you should first confirm that no animals are already living there. To do this, loosely stuff the hole with paper or line the entrance with a ring of flour. Wait 72 hours before checking the hole again. If the crumpled paper or flour was disturbed, you know an animal is still residing there. Use a few humane strategies to evict the unwanted house guest before closing it off. Start by making the space noisy and inhospitable. You can play talk radio nearby or shine bright lights. Another easy yet effective trick is to place soaked rags with 1part apple cider vinegar and 1-part water. Continue the eviction process for several days, plug the hole again, and repeat until the animal has left the area. Do not attempt to seal the animal into the space. Not only will this cause suffering to the animal, but you might end up with even more damage to your home. Patch, wrap, or cap If you have successfully vacated all your property’s problem areas, you can start closing them off. Home improvement stores sell items like chimney caps, secure toppers for air vents, and window well covers to make sealing easier. If you are having
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trouble keeping wildlife out from underneath your deck or patio, you might consider putting up fencing or lattice to keep them out. Scarecrows or motion activated sprinklers can also help deter critters. Trim trees and shrubs It’s much easier for a squirrel to access your roof if there are branches that hang over your house. Try trimming trees in late autumn. We advise you cut branches well after fall squirrels are born so that babies aren’t displaced. You’ll also want to cut back shrubbery that animals can use to scale the sides of your house. Other attractants to consider While these tips will help prevent curious animals from denning in your house, there are also a few things you can do to avoid attracting them in the first place. Try putting locks on trash bins, storing pet bowls indoors, bringing bird feeders in at night, and cleaning your BBQ after each use. Call for advice We know sometimes it can be hard to know how to deal with wildlife interactions in your backyard. If you need any further information, call our center at 303-823-8455 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. You can also visit our website at greenwoodwildlife.org.
Why trapping and lethal means don’t work Trapping and killing are temporary solutions that do not get to the root of the problem. Other opportunistic animals will find the space suitable for nesting and the extermination process will have to begin again. Trapping is ineffective and timeconsuming, often frustrating, and can cause harm. It is easier to allow an animal the time to move to a new location, and they will have a better chance because of it. Often times, animal control companies won’t tell you the fate of the animal that they trapped. Unfortunately, trapping often results in their death not to mention that nearly 80 percent of animals relocated after being trapped do not survive. Because trapping is often ineffective, it is important to establish preventative means to help our local wildlife. When you make winter wildlife proofing a part of your yearly routine, you help prevent this conflict and protect your wild neighbors. Mysti Tatro is the Communications and Marketing Coordinator at Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. For information, call 303-823-8455 or www.greenwoodwildlife.org.
closed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. • Operating a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arrester properly installed and in effective working order, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher kept with the operator and one round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use. • Using an explosive. This includes but is not limited to fuses or blasting caps, fireworks, rockets, exploding targets, and tracers or incendiary ammunition. • Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame except in cleared areas of at least 10 feet in diameter and in possession of a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher For current fire, shooting and developed recreation site restrictions and seasonal closures for USFS properties, visit: www. fs. usda. gov / detail / arp / alerts-notices/ ? cid = fseprd533597. Anyone found in violation of the fire ban may be convicted of a class two petty offense and may be subject to up to a $1,000 fine, in addition to any possible civil penalties. Higher fines may be imposed for subsequent offenses. The fire restrictions do not affect open fires within incorporated cities and towns; however, residents and visitors must comply with applicable ordinances and regulations in their respective cities and towns. The fire restrictions will be in effect until Sheriff Pelle finds that the hazardous conditions have subsided.
Peace in the Park Event LYONS – The Lyons Community Church plans to host a Peace in the Park Event at 1 p.m. on October 18 at Sandstone Park. They are still waiting for approval from the Town of Lyons and residents can contact Pastor Emily Hagan at 719-248-0477 for more information. The event will include a short service at 1 p.m. at Sandstone. We are waiting to hear back from the city officials. For more information, feel free to email pastor@lyonscommunitychurch.org. At the Peace Event the Lyons Community Church will be consecrating flood buckets to send on to those who need them. The supplies will be taken to the local United Continue Briefs on Page 11
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LOOK AHEAD Clarion Assoc. chosen to work with PCDC on the Comprehensive Plan By Jocelyn Farrell Redstone Review LYONS – The Planning and Community Development Commission (PCDC) has good news about the new Comprehensive Plan. Also known as a master plan, the Comprehensive Plan creates a Farrell vision and guides legislation for the future of Lyons, including growth and development for the next 10 years. Writing the plan is a complicated process that’s based on community engagement and shepherded by an experienced consultant. The PCDC reviewed submissions from seven nationally renowned consultants that responded to our Request for Qualification (RFQ). We chose the national land-use consulting firm Clarion Associates. With offices in Denver, Clarion is well known for its expertise in comprehensive planning, development regulation and plan implementation. Clarion will also partner with the Brendle Group of Fort Collins. They’re an engineering and planning firm that helps communities integrate sustainability and resiliency into strategic and long-range plans. Together Clarion and Brendle outlined their strengths and experience in developing plans for small, progressive communities, their ability to tailor national best practices to local context, displayed understanding of the regional (and state) context, and showed a commitment to the inclusive community-driven process, an approach to geographic focus areas and a focus on implementation and ownership. The project manager and Director of Clarion Associates, Darcie White, said, “We have watched Lyons’ recovery over the past seven years and have been impressed by the commitment of the community to not just come back, but to come back stronger than ever. We (are) thrilled to work with the Town of Lyons to help facilitate a broader
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Methodist Committee on Relief drop-off point, Johnstown United Methodist Church. They will take them to Salt Lake City UMCOR depot west where they will be distributed to people experiencing both flood or fire. Flood Buckets We are collecting either completed Flood Buckets or Flood Bucket Supplies. They can be dropped off at the church on Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If you need a different drop-off time, email Pastor Emily pastor@lyonscommu-
PHOTO BY DAVID HIRT
community conversation about what comes next!” The PCDC was impressed by the number of similar local communities Clarion has worked with, including Longmont, Lafayette, Ridgway and Frisco. In recent years, they completed a Sustainability Evaluation System and Sustainability Plan and a Multimodal Transportation Plan Update for Longmont. The Brendle Group has consulted with the Colorado Resiliency Office to develop a five-year
nitychurch.org. The buckets will be consecrated during the Sunday Service on October 18. The supply list is: • One five-gallon round bucket with re-sealable lid, 14.35”h x 12.19”w x 12.19 d. No screw lids. May be used but must be free from all residual product. Advertisements on the outside acceptable. • One 32 to 64 oz. bottle liquid laundry detergent. • One 16 to 40 oz. bottle liquid concentrate household cleaner. No spray cleaners. • One 16 to 34 oz. bottle dish soap. • One 4 to 8 oz. pump spray air freshener. • One 6 to 14 oz. pump spray insect repellent
framework and vision to “address social equity, unique community needs, economic vibrancy, and diversity challenges across the state in addition to risk from natural and other hazards,” according to Brendle’s Sustainability Planning Manager, Erica Heller. Heller has also worked as a consultant on projects with Mead and Longmont. Our process took its next step on September 21, when the Board of Trustees approved the PCDC’s recommendation to apply for a DOLA grant and budget funds to offset the costs involved, including contracting with a professional project manager. The Town Historic Preservationist / Planner Reyana Jones, with advice from the Director of Community Development – Town Planner, Paul Glasgow, wrote a grant for the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund, which is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). All grants require a 50/50 match. The grant application was submitted October 1, and the Town should know if we’ve been awarded the $58,000 grant by the middle of November. Once the DOLA grant is secured, Glasgow will execute a contract with Clarion Associates and Brendle Group. It is anticipated that an official start will begin in 2021 and last through January, 2022. Clarion and Brendle are already developing a community engagement process that may need to follow social distancing guidelines. The process will likely include an interactive website with online engagement tools so that everyone can make their voice heard. Over the next few months, I’ll share additional information, along with detailed explanation of the project’s timetable and community engagement process. I will continue to keep you posted; remember, planning for Lyons’ future is a community effort. I look forward to working together create our collective vision for the future. Jocelyn Farrell is on the PCDC Board of Directors. She is a former Lyons Trustee and she lives with her family in Lyons.
(pack of 10 to 20 wipes also acceptable). Pump spray bottles must have protective covers. • One scrub brush, with or without handle. • 18 reuseable cleaning wipes: no terrycloth, microfiber or paper towels. Remove from packaging. • Five scouring pads: no stainless-steel pads with soap in them. Remove from packaging. • 36 to 50 clothespins. • One 50 to 100 ft. clothesline, cotton or plastic. • 24 roll of heavy-duty trash bags, 33 to 45gallon sizes. Remove from packaging. • Five N95 particulate respirator dust masks, 1 to 3 mm thickness. No surgical masks. • Two pairs kitchen gloves. Durable for multiple uses. Remove from packaging.
• One pair work gloves, cotton with leather palm or all leather.
Sheriff's Office Reminders LYONS – Our local officers and the Town would like to remind residents about the rules regarding speeding and parking licensed golf carts. Now that school is officially back in session, it’s a good reminder for everyone to practice safe driving. Lyons Middle / Senior High School: The parking lot is under construction and there is very limited parking for students and for staff near the school. The school requests your help by NOT Continue Briefs on Page 14
CURBSIDE COMPOSTING HAS ARRIVED! Think there’s nothing you can do to slow climate change?
Think Again! Based on EPA estimates, the average family of four can avoid nearly 1,800 pounds of CO2 per year by composting their food and yard waste.
Call 303-444-2037 Learn about compostables collection and other waste services available in your neighborhood.
Committed to Exceptional Service Since 1970 • Locally Owned & Operated
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sider on the Calvin property but did come to a consensus vote of 7 to 0 to deny the request for a sewer tap permit. Moving to other issues, Town Administrator Victoria Simonsen announced that a mobile COVID-19 testing unit is coming to Lyons. It will be in town on Fridays from October through December and will be both a walkup and drive-up site. The location and hours were not announced. The town board also discussed the Second Avenue bridge. Flood Manager Tracy Sanders said she is still working with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff to reconcile the shortfall of $600,000 that FEMA is asked to pay for rebuilding the new Second Avenue bridge. She said that they are also pursuing other funding options such as the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), working with Boulder County and working on getting grants. Sanders said that they still have one property that the town has not signed to an easement agreement for the 2nd Avenue bridge. “We need four easement agreements and we have three signed easement agreements. We have condemnation proposals coming in for a condemnation attorney and we are working with Boulder County to help us with the condemnation.” The condemnation is largely for some grading work along the river. Sanders said if they get the additional funding from FEMA or other sources, they plan to mobilize on October 20 to begin the demolition on the bridge. “We need to get the funding in place before demolition because FEMA may say, ‘We will only repair not replace the bridge,’” said Simonsen.
couraged to move to Colorado to help establish the town. Seward, a lawyer, was the witness to the 1881 will of Adeline Lyon, second wife of Edward Lyon. Adeline died in 1889. Reese Street, on the north side of town, was named for John Reese. John Reese was born January 12, 1831 in York County, PA. He came to Colorado by wagon train in 1859 and worked in Central City as a blacksmith and wagon master. In 1863 he came to the St. Vrain Valley and purchased 160 acres of land just east of what would become Lyons, the area where the Lyons High School is located. In November of 1869 he married Catherine (Kate) Gifford. Catherine was the first teacher at the Montgomery School located east of Lyons. The Montgomery School is also part of the Lyons Historic District. John was president of the Evans Town Site Company in 1885 and that same year was also Director for School District No. 47, the Lyons school district. They had two children, Bertha and Frank. Bertha married James “Albert” McConnell. Town matriarch LaVern McConnell Johnson is a descendent of the Reese family. The information for this article came from the files of the Lyons Redstone Museum and the books Piecing a Town Together Families of Lyons, Colorado and Double Gateway to the Rockies by Denise Berg and Birth of Quarry Town by Diane Goode Benedict. All of these books are available from the Lyons Redstone Museum. Email redstonehistory@gmail.com to make purchasing arrangements. View additional book offerings on the museum’s website, www.lyonredstonemuseum.com.
local artists and to raise money for the commission. This year, 2020, was supposed to be the LAHC’s first year partnering with the Lyons Regional Library to utilize their newly built space to host two art shows concurrently. Larry Cohan’s Neighborhood Retrospective and 2020: What’s in a Number were both received warmly by the community, but were the last art shows to hang before COVID-19 closed both the Lyons Regional Library and Town Hall. The LAHC adapted by moving Larry Cohan’s Neighborhood Retrospective online and rewriting the upcoming art show schedule. Art @ RiverBend is an annual event organized by the LAHC and Boulder County Arts Alliance. Lyons artists have the opportunity to show and sell their work, and the LAHC uses the event for fundraisers. Like many events this summer, Art @ RiverBend was cancelled due to COVID-19. Even though public events and art shows were cancelled, Lyons artists and galleries remained resilient. Despite closing its doors for more than two months in the spring, one Lyons gallery owner reports approximately 160 local (Lyons, Longmont, Estes Park, and Boulder) works of art sold since March of 2020. In a recent interview, Connie McGuire, owner of Red Canyon Art stated, “More than last season I am selling a lot of art pieces.” The LAHC website, Facebook page and newsletter promote events and art news in our community, and share resources and opportunities for artists and arts organizations. The Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission strongly believes Lyons is and always will be a thriving community.
Monique Sawyer Lang is the Collections Manager of the Lyons Redstone Museum. She is also a volunteer with the Lyons Food Pantry and a former member/chair of the Lyons Community Foundation Board. She lives in Spring Gulch.
Lauren Click is the chair of the Lyons Arts and Humanities Council (LAHC).
Students Continued from Page 3 areas outside to accommodate separate areas for smaller groups. “On days not in class, my students will attend parts of classes online through WebEx. I project all students on a large screen allowing them to socialize by seeing and interacting with each other,” White said. “Most parents don’t want their first graders to spend much time online, meaning assignments are done independently off-line. And we do some math and reading as a full class.” All teachers at LES were provided with both masks and face shields, but according to White none wear the face shield. “I was concerned before classes began that having students wearing masks all day
would be a problem. That turned out to not be the case. They have been very responsible with mask wearing,” White said. “I quickly learned since it was not a problem at all and with all the social distancing, I felt safe not wearing a face shield.” As classes are taught in-person only two days a week instead of the normal school week of five days, one might wonder if students are provided sufficient instruction to stay pace with learning what they need to know by the end of the school year. “Even though there is less time for instruction per week, I can get as much content taught in two days as I could in five days. The difference is having a class of only seven to eight students instead of a normal size class of 25,” White said. “I’m finding that instead of teaching one lesson
per day, I can now teach two.” White is also a mother of a fifth grader at LES, Ella, and as a mom she feels good with the hybrid system. Ella enjoys being back in class with her friends, and the content is the same as it previously was online. White said that if Ella is missing or having trouble with assignments her teacher is available to meet one-on-one. White is most appreciative of the strong Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at LES. When she needed individual materials, they were provided immediately by the PTO. “The District was well prepared when the decision was made to move to the hybrid system,” White said. “Lots of work went into preparation for it and all things needed were in place and have worked. When things didn’t work quite as planned,
changes were made immediately.” Strict District cleaning and sanitizing protocols within the school are being followed. She went on to say that the District has particularly good protocols in place to deal with any issues regarding the coronavirus and has been very good at communicating on health and safety issues. Finally, White also believes Principal Andrew Moore’s leadership has been outstanding. Before classes resumed, he had in place systems, procedures, scheduling, and even mapping of how to use the hallways. When tweaks needed to be made when students returned to the building, he made them on the spot. Don Moore is a retired lawyer. He lives in Longmont with his wife Joanne.
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On October 30, we rave By Lory Barton Redstone Review LYONS – Here’s a silver lining, a lemonade-out-oflemons, a positive circumstance to celebrate for our community in this weariBarton some year of COVID-19: Instead of one single Rave To The Grave party on one night in October, we’re rockin’ our way through an entire Rave To The Grave season this year. Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund’s major annual fundraising event, Rave To The Grave, has become a highly-anticipated Lyons celebration each year in October. Hundreds and hundreds of costumed supporters have gathered at Planet Bluegrass for the last five years, reveling to Arthur Lee Land’s and his team’s dance party extravaganza, all in support of LEAF’s services in our community. Due to COVID our team came to terms with the fact that this year’s sixth annual Rave could not proceed in its traditional format, with all of us together at the Wildflower Pavilion. We were also determined we wouldn’t be defeated by the ongoing pandemic. And that’s how 2020’s Virtual Rave To The Grave was born. Over the weekend, we celebrated the first phase of this year’s Rave. Our gracious hosts, Skye and Tess McDonald (along with their young daughters), welcomed very small and safely distanced groups of LEAF supporters to their beautiful property at Blue Skye Barn and Recording Studio just outside of town. In full costume, our guests enjoyed a meet-and-greet-style cocktail party, where they mingled with the musicians of Rave To The Grave – all at a safe distance, of course. After cocktails, they savored a lovely autumn feast – again, outdoors and socially separated.
LEAF board member Heather Santesteban serves appetizers and drinks at the VIP Event. And after dinner, our becostumed guests partied and danced to the live show that will become this year’s Rave To The Grave. Yes, for three evenings last weekend, Arthur Lee Land and his incredible team of music-makers performed live Rave dance parties at the Blue Skye Barn and Recording Studio. Our guests safely celebrated outside under their personal socially-distanced tents, and the production team filmed it all. From these three evenings of live performances, the production team will create LEAF’s Virtual Rave To The Grave show. It’s going to be a show you don’t want to miss! We’ll stream the show in Lyons and even around the world on Friday, October 30. While we can’t all be together in the Wildflower Pavilion, we can celebrate Rave To The Grave in our homes, or with small pods of friends or neighbors, or at one of the local businesses that will host Rave parties. It’s going to be powerful and passionate, and we promise some unexpected fun and surprises, too. Put your costumes together. Identify your “pod.” Be creative. Have fun. Let’s RAVE this year. As Land says, “It’s going to be crushing!” As always, this year’s Virtual Rave To The Grave fundraiser will be brought to you at no cost. And as always, we hope you’ll support us if you’re able. We’ll make it easy for you to donate online during the streamed party. Or maybe you’ll collect donations Continue Rave on Page 15
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WHAT’S COOKIN’ An autumn cake that is sure to please By Barbara Shark Redstone Review LYONS – LYONS – During these trying times, encounters with friends make my day, whether they are via emails, phone Shark calls, letters, or a visit. I resolve to be a better communicator knowing how much these connections can change my mood from sad to elated. So I invited a friend I had not seen for months to come for afternoon coffee on our porch. The air was clear, after days of smoke and the raking fall sunlight on Mt. Audubon was glorious. We sat at each end of the table, properly distanced, and nibbled on freshly picked raspberries from the Zweck farm and lemon sablés. I loved seeing my friend, her three-dimensional self, and we caught up with the details of each other’s lives. My favorite fall fruit is plums, especially so-called prune or Italian plums. Next time, I’ll make a plum cake, a lovely au-
tumn treat with a cup of coffee or tea. This is adapted from a classic Marion Burros recipe published annually in the New York Times. I make the batter in my Cuisinart, but it is easy to do with a mixer or simply a bowl and wooden spoon. If you are unable to find small plums, make this with peeled, sliced pears or a mosaic of raspberries. And share it with a friend. Plum Cake • Combine 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup sugar and pulse until smooth. • Add 2 large eggs, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. • Then mix in, until just combined, 2/3 cup unbleached flour, 1/3 cup cornmeal, 1 teaspoon baking powder and a pinch of salt. • Scrape this thick batter into a buttered springform or other cake pan. Arrange 24 plum halves on the batter, then sprinkle with a teaspoon of cinnamon and one of coarse sugar. • Bake at 350° for one hour or until firm when tested with a toothpick or skewer.
Barbara Shark is an artist and author of How I Learned to Cook, an Artist’s Life. She lives
Planning ahead for the holidays in the time of COVID By Catherine Metzger Redstone Review SAN MIGUEL COUNTY – Planning ahead for the holidays in the time of COVID, we conscientious cooks find ourselves wondering how things will unfold. We’re already mulling it over – realizing that many of our families’ and friends’ gatherings this year will be in far reduced numbers or perhaps not take place at all. Looking back over 2020, many of us have hardly left our homes, nor have our kids, and maybe we are balancing home school for our children, a WFH job and the needs of a partner and a pet or two. Or perhaps we’ve been keeping the rest of us going with our essential work. As we try to get it all in hand, we take the recommended few deep breaths every hour to ground ourselves. And we’ve discovered with rising alarm that we’re not sure how we’ll celebrate this year. So how do we celebrate? What are we thankful for? How do we keep our celebrations simple without reducing the gift of a simple but delicious culinary experience? Regardless of our situation at home, all of us would like to give thanks, gather a measure of family and friends, and present a table that is delicious and distinctive. To lend a bit of color, taste and warmth to our homes, we are looking for solutions for two to four people at a holiday table that are simple, special and that we can be thankful for. Below are a few recipes most of which only need one oven and one temperature
for making a meal for a king or queen when there’s only two to four of you at the table. I have listed them in the order you can prepare them so that everything is hot and ready to eat at the same time. If you’re looking for a holiday dessert, go to my blog www.foodfortheages.com and type dessert into the search bar. Roasted Chicken with Carrots and Onions Serves four; preparation time 10 minutes; cooking time 1 1/2 hrs. One 3-pound chicken 1 large onion peeled and cut in eighths 2 C carrots, washed and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 bay leaf 1/2 t dried thyme 1/2 t dried parsley 1 t dried tarragon 4 T butter, softened Salt and pepper • Preheat oven to 400°F. Chop the onion and carrots and place them in the bottom of a Dutch oven or roasting pan. Sprinkle bay leaf, thyme, parsley and half the tarragon over the vegetables. Dot a tablespoon of the butter over vegetable mixture and season lightly with salt and pepper. • Tie down chicken wings and legs and arrange on top of the vegetables. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Rub the remaining softened butter on the chicken skin and sprinkle with the remaining tarragon. • Place the roasting pan uncovered into
B •R •I •E •F •S Continued from Page 11
parking at the school to go to the dog park or biking / hiking access to Picture Rock Trail during school hours, Monday through Friday. There is a stop sign directly in front of the school. Please remember to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. Staff and students are walking to and from the school during school hours. There are three crosswalks by the school for pedestrian safety. As a reminder, bicyclists and golf carts must also follow vehicular traffic rules. The speed near the high school is 20 MPH: Twenty is plenty Golf Carts • Drivers must have a valid driver’s license to operate a golf cart in the town of Lyons.
oven and cook for one hour, basting occasionally using the juices from the bottom of the pan. • Cover the chicken with aluminum foil or cover the pan and turn the oven down to 350°F and cook for another half hour. • Remove from the oven and place chicken on a serving platter and cover to keep warm. • Remove the roasted bed of vegetables to a small serving dish. • Keep the cooking liquor to use in pan gravy and set the roasting pan on the stove. Easy-Peasy Pan Gravy Serves four; preparation and cooking time 10 minutes Juices and cooking liquor remaining from roasted chicken 2 T flour 1 C chicken stock 1/4 C whole milk or cream Salt and pepper • Heat cooking liquor from the roasted chicken in the roasting pan on your stovetop, scraping up the bits of vegetable that are clinging to the bottom. • Once simmering, sprinkle flour over the bottom of the pan and stir to mix. Let cook a minute. • Add the chicken stock and stir with a whisk, to blend the mixture into a smooth sauce. Continue to stir as the gravy thickens. • Pull off the heat and add the 1/4 cup of milk or cream and adjust to taste with salt and pepper.
• If the driver has only a driver’s permit, they must have a valid licensed driver with them while driving. • Also, per code, no golf carts may be operated on any state highway within the Town limits, except to cross a state highway at a designated street intersection, i.e. Fourth Ave and Broadway, golf cart must stay on Fourth Ave. • Any person age 18 or younger must be secured by a seat belt at all times while operating or riding in a golf cart on Town streets or rights-of-way.
Parking Reminders for all areas of Town LYONS – No Parking on any bridge. Within 5’ of a private or public driveway. Within 15’ of a fire hydrant. Within 20’ of crosswalk or intersection.
near Lyons. For more recipes, read her blog, www.howilearnedtocookanartistslife.blog. Stuffing Pancakes Serves 4; preparation and cooking time 45 minutes 2 C old or toasted bread, cut in 1/2 inch cubes 2 medium eggs, beaten 1/4 C milk, as needed 1 T finely chopped onion 1/4 t celery salt 1/4 t salt, pepper to taste 1/4 t rubbed sage Vegetable oil for frying • Mix bread, eggs, milk, onion, celery salt, salt and pepper, and sage together and let sit for 1/2 hour so that the bread absorbs the milk and egg mixture. You might need to add a bit more milk so that the mixture is a thick, pancake consistency. • Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan at medium-high heat. • Fill a 1/4 C measuring cup with the stuffing and pour into hot frying pan. Let cook approximately two minutes on each side, until golden brown. • Remove from heat and keep warm. Quick Cran-Apple-Pear-Orange Sauce Serves 8; preparation and cooking time: 45 minutes Note: You can make this a day ahead and refrigerate until serving time. • Mix in a saucepan: 1 bag of fresh cranberries, 1/2 of a navel orange sliced thinly, one apple, one ripe pear cored and cut into chunks, and a handful of golden raisins. • Add one cup of water and 1/2 cup of raw sugar. Cook uncovered about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until fruit is nearly translucent. Remove from heat and place in small dish. Refrigerate until use. • You can add crystallized ginger and walnuts after cooking to increase the crunch and add a zap of flavor. 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. She is the proprietor of the food blog www.foodfortheages.com, and Facebook.com/Food for the Ages. Though she cooks every day in a tiny kitchen with a two-burner stove, her recipes are expansive and she dedicates her craft to living large by cooking well in tiny kitchens.
Within 30’ of any traffic control device, including all stop signs, or where yellow or red curb markings prohibit parking.
Lyons, tigers and bears! Oh my LYONS – In an effort to keep the Lyons community safe, this year’s Halloween Spooktacular parade has been cancelled, but don’t get too spooked. There is still ghostly fun to be had. Costume Contest. We KNOW Lyons knows how to costume. The question is, who’s taking the gold this year? Submit your best individual or group Halloween costume photo, to be voted by the people of Facebook – the costumes with the most votes win! Visit townoflyons.com/costume to enter. The spooktacular doesn’t stop there. Throughout October, be on the lookout for a scarecrow contest, Halloween Hunts, the haunted courtyard, mighty big pumpkins, and more.
OCTOBER 14 / NOVEMBER 18, 2020
Mayor Continued from Page 3 There are vacancies to be filled on all of these commissions and boards: Board of Adjustments, Citizen Budget Committee, Historic Preservation Committee, Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission, Planning and Community Development Commission, Sustainability Futures Commission, Utilities and Engineering Board.
REDSTONE • REVIEW
One of the pleasures of the Mayoral position is to appoint members to our various commissions. The only commission with a “residency” requirement is the PCDC. The PCDC with be starting the public process of the Comprehensive Plan in earnest very shortly. It is the guiding planning and growth document decided on by the citizens of Lyons. Perhaps one of our newer community members would volunteer to
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THE FORMER BRADFORD ESTATE, AVAILABLE NOW TO THE PUBLIC FOR FIRST TIME IN DECADES! Amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of the most beautiful and coveted properties on the front range! Nearly 7 acres of forested, fertile land in the country, but walking distance to town, schools, parks, trails, etc. Charming, updated 1935 farmhouse with an open floor plan, lots of character, and tremendous potential! Large red barn for all your critters and/or storage needs. Majestic, old-growth trees, irrigation ditch, huge garage, 2k gallon water cistern + extensive irrigation piping installed, large garden area — the perfect hobby farm! Additional study on upper floor, Solar PV system = low electric bills. For those with school-aged children, Lyons schools are rated among the best! Bring your horses, too! A truly rare paradise! 227 County Road 69 / $2,400,000
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LIS AMAZINGLY EFFICIENT CUSTOM PASSIVE SOLAR TIN HOME ON A BEAUTIFUL, GENTLY SLOPING, G SUNNY, SOUTH-FACING 6+ ACRE LOT WITH STUNNING MOUNTAIN AND FRONT RANGE VIEWS! Main floor is modeled after a tiny home floor plan, then greatly expanded, and built with a full walk-out lower level basement. Light and bright with walls of windows and high-end finishes! Super solid and durable concrete construction insulated on both sides, (known as ICF); Solarium on lower level, with an enormous deck above off of main level. 24x36 garage/shop building with loft and 12' overhead door for RV storage and all of your additional storage needs. Much stronger than average well for the area, last tested at 5 gpm. 1 smaller outbuilding finished for office/studio use, and another for storage. Ideal property for anyone seeking a simpler, quieter, and safer rural lifestyle! 1404 Rowell Drive / $850,000 ICE
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AMAZING OFF-GRID MOUNTAIN GETAWAY! Enjoy spectacular continental divide views and unmatched privacy! 153 square foot solarium not included in total sq ft. Solar PV system provides electricity, up buildings include shop, butcher shop, smokehouse, chicken coop, rabbit hutch, pigeon roost, root cellar built into mountain, everything you need for independent living! Century Link dsl reportedly available up to 40 mbs, freestanding gas heater, antique wood cook stove, Wolf 4-burner oven w/ additional griddle burner, propane frig., fresh paint, commercial grade shingles, Instant on-demand water heater, 2 big pressure tanks, some newer windows, some other windows came from the old church at Camp St. Malo. 900 Spruce Drive / $665,000
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OL THIS SWEET MOUNTAIN HOME WAS REMODELED D pine IN 2015 AND AGAIN IN 2020! 4 panel knotty doors and trim, wood floors in kitchen & dining area, new counters, appliances and more! The large wrap around deck is perfect for enjoying the flowers, views, and wildlife. The garage is a 2 story 2+ car with a 720 sq ft upper level set up for a shop/ home business complete with it’s own deck. Only 15 minutes from Estes Park — 30 minutes to Boulder and 30 minutes to Longmont. Enjoy the famous natural “tubs” of Pinewood Springs! 332 Deer Lane / $570,000
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STONE AND WOOD TIMBER ACCENTS ENHANCE THE SPECTACULAR EXTERIOR OF THIS CUSTOM 2-STORY COLORADO RUSTIC STYLE HOME. Huge covered front porch with sweeping views of the foothills and down the valley! Huge remodeled kitchen w/ breakfast bar overlooking great room with gas fireplace! Luxurious master suite, main floor study, enormous 2nd floor laundry. Custom finishes, tile work and more! Situated on a huge, nearly 2/3 acre lot within walking distance to downtown Lyons, Planet Bluegrass, parks, schools, bus, etc. 95% efficiency furnace, 2 water heaters, 2 x 6 construction, and superior workmanship! Fully finished basement. 1013 Steamboat Valley Road / $985,000
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SWEET LITTLE LOT 17 MINUTES FROM LYONS FOR YOUR PR IC MOUNTAIN RETREAT! 2/3 acre size makes for affordability, E rare these days! In the middle of a forest , so plenty of tree energy! Features of this lot include fairly easy road and driveway access, good sun, and mostly usable terrain, gently sloping to the south. Enjoy unlimited access to Roosevelt National Forest right across the road! 49 Pine Drive, Lyons / $100,000
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help steer our course for the next 10 years? We also have several infrastructure project goals to complete so a position on the Utility and Engineering Board will be very important to fill as well. Do you have a passion to address the issue of Senior Citizen’s well-being? Preserving our historic heritage? Expanding the Arts and Humanity goals in Lyons? Become involved in the budget process as a committee member? Have visions to contribute looking forward on the Sustainable Futures Committee? If so, forms are available online, fill one out, it will be my
honor to appoint and acknowledge anyone’s contribution to their community. My only true political statement for you is repeating the words of Theodore Roosevelt, who I must remind everyone secured Rocky Mountain National Park for all of us to enjoy. “The responsibility of citizenship in a democracy is participation in the government.” Please be well and stay safe. My love to you all.
Library Continued from Page 4
Remember, your Lyons Community Library is open by appointment for public computer use and browsing and checkout on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.; on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon until 6 p.m.; and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon. WiFi from our comfy front porch and patios is available 24/7, as are the online catalog and digital downloads. Call 303-823-5165 or email info@lyonslibrary.com to make an appointment or for any of your other library-related needs.
learners. Apelles’ first day with the Library was October 8 and soon she will offer two live storytimes each week via Facebook Live and will, of course, continue to develop our world class collection of materials aimed at kiddos. In addition to the probable loss of programs and materials, the District could face the reduction of service hours and every organization’s most costly yet important resource: staff. Please consider the consequences to special districts like the library when you make your decision whether to vote to repeal the Gallagher Amendment.
Prejudice Continued from Page 5 ings. I come up with evidence that supports the opposite conclusion from my prejudice. I have been doing this for over 40 years around my negative feelings about people of color. My prejudice has decreased, and I am much more aware of it when I do feel it. I now have some wonderful friendships with people of color that I probably would not have had if I had not admitted my prejudice to myself. Sometimes we say, “I just don’t like (something or some kind of people)” we have an opportunity to dig deeper and understand why we don’t like it or them. Maybe there’s a good reason. I don’t like people who lie a lot, because I can’t trust them. Even if they have a good reason for lying all the time, I feel justified in my dislike. But often there is not a good reason for our dislike.
Mayor Nick Angelo was elected mayor in April 2019. Prior to that he has served as a Lyons Trustee and as Mayor.
Kara Bauman is the Director of the Lyons Community Library. We might dislike people we were taught were less than we are, or who remind us of the boy next door who hurt us when we were a child, or anyone else. Taking the time to examine the reasons that we judge for or against someone helps us as much as the person we are judging. We become more accepting people. We feel safer in our own skins when we no longer feel unnecessarily threatened. Everyone benefits when we do this work. Right now, when so many of our ingrained ways of thinking are being challenged, it is more important than ever to examine and combat our own prejudices. Janaki Jane writes on issues of mental health and society. She is the director of the Wide Spaces Community Initiative, “Creating a Community of Belonging and Personal Safety for Everyone.” You can read more of her writing at www.janakijane.com.
Rave Continued from Page 13 from your neighbors. Or perhaps you and your friends will contribute to a “tip jar” together. Our team is doing everything we can to offer this world-class show to our community in this hard year. I hope you’ll be creative in your costuming and generous in your support of LEAF. More than ever, your community needs your support. Since the onset of COVID-19, requests for LEAF’s human services are higher than they have ever been. Routinely, twice as many folks attend our well stocked, safe and welcoming Food Pantry each Wednesday afternoon. Our Meals on Wheels deliveries are up by 21 percent. Basic Needs and Resource Matching has grown into Gig Grants and COVID-19 grants; LEAF has made over 80 financial grants so far this year, partnering with your friends and neighbors to keep lights on and rent payments current. Through our Mental Wellness ad Addiction Recovery program, members of the community are accessing no-cost or very low-cost mental health services as they grapple with the effects of this pandemic. And the LEAF team is already working hard, making plans to serve well as we approach the holiday season and move into 2021. We know life still feels unsettled and people are still suffering. Please know LEAF will be here, helping and serving, and we won’t give up. We offer thanks for
Tess McDonald and daughter Trea at dinner. your generous support so far, and gratitude even now for your generous Rave To The Grave gifts, too. It’s safe to say we’ve never experienced a year like this one. On Friday, October 30, let’s Rave like we always do, even in this different way. We’ll “crush” it, Lyons. Visit leaflyons.org, or find the Virtual Rave on Facebook, for all the up-to-date information, including support for personal house parties and the locations of parties at hosting businesses around town. 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.
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