August/September 2026

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Redstone Review stands behind the United States Constitution VOLUME 27, NUMBER 6

LYONS, COLOR ADO

AUGUST 14 / SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

B •R •I •E •F •S Lyons Mural Program: Two unique opportunities

LYONS – Thanks to generous grant-supported funding, the Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission (LAHC) is pleased to announce TWO calls for artists for public murals. Each project brings community-focused storytelling to our shared spaces. Details and applications can be found on the Town of Lyons website: townof lyons.com/ muralprogram. The deadline to apply is August 5. Contact the Town Hall for information on how to apply. 303-823-6622. Reminder: Lyons does not allow a door-to-door solicitation without a permit

LYONS – The Town of Lyons does not allow door-to-door solicitation without a permit. Under the Lyons Municipal Code, no person may engage in solicitation within the town without first obtaining a solicitation permit, with the exception of school-sponsored fundraising activities, which do not require a permit. This includes roofing companies. Please note that nearly 50 permits have been issued. Residents also have the right to post a sign on their property indicating they do not wish to be disturbed by door-to-door sales. Signs stating “No Trespassing,” “No Solicitors,” or a similar message clearly indicate that door-to-door sales are not authorized and must be respected. Residents may ask any solicitor to show their permit upon request. Thank you for helping keep our community informed. Roofing webinar

LYONS – What to know from the building department. The town has uploaded the roofing webinar that Planning Director Ritchie hosted with SafeBuilt to our YouTube channel. youtube.com/watch?v=cw3AXWXPLb4, Feel free to share this out with any neighbors who may have similar questions. Snacks in Space — Boxed book launch at Warrior Soul Gallery and Community Studio

LYONS – Warrior Soul Gallery and Community Studio in Continue Briefs on Page 5

issuu.com/sdcmc Like us on Facebook I •N •D •E •X LYONS MAYOR’S CORNER OPTIONS CONTRAST LOOKING UP INSIGHT SET EXAMPLES EXPLORE NEW IDEAS WHAT’S COOKIN’ VOICES ARE HEARD COMMON CAUSE ADVENTURE

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Beating the summer heat, kids and adults make a splash tubing the river at LaVern M. Johnson Park in Lyons. PHOTO BY CATHY RIVERS

Town board tackles weed management and passes independent audit By Kay Sparks Redstone Review LYONS – The August 3 Board of Trustees meeting opened with recognition of Barney and Wendy Dreistadt for their service to the Lyons community. During the workshop, Parks and Public Works Director Dave Cosgrove provided an overview of the department, as well as the town’s herbicide and weed management policy. The department maintains approximately 90 acres of parks, more than 100 acres of open space, 11 miles of roads, and 8 miles of trails. Annual revenues include approximately $50,000 in Bohn Park parking, more than $110,000 from parking payments in LaVern Johnson Park, and more than $340,000 in camping revenue. Board priorities include sustainable maintenance funding, capital replacement planning, balancing recreation with conservation, safety and access, pursuing grants, and maintaining strategic partnerships. The town’s herbicide and weed management policy, adopted in 2020, prohibits synthetic herbicide use in parks and other publicly owned properties except for targeted control of state-listed noxious weeds. The policy requires advance public notice, including signage, website information, and a treatment map. Herbicides used by the town or

its contractors must be selective for broadleaf weeds and may not be used solely for cosmetic or nuisance weed control. Administ rator Simonsen reported that the town had received 50 roofing contractor applications following the recent hailstorm. Residents were advised to contact their insurance providers if they suspect damage, obtain multiple written estimates, confirm contractor insurance coverage, and use caution before authorizing repairs. Ordinance 1223, which would have amended Section J of the International Building Code, failed unanimously on second reading. Ordinance 1224, amending general penalties to align with state law, advanced unanimously to second reading. Ordinances 1225 and 1226, concerning annexation and zoning of property at 19617 N. St. Vrain Drive, were continued to the October 5 meeting. The board appointed Dr. Eric Harker to the Housing and Human Services Commission and Matthew Davis to the Ecology Advisory Board. Following discussion of wildfire mitigation strategies, the board directed staff to draft an ordinance addressing wildfire mitigation requirements on property in Lyons and explore grant opportunities for mitigation efforts on residential property. The board decided not to add a mid-roof

inspection requirement. Staff was also directed to continue two Natural Disaster Mitigation Enterprise grant applications and pursue other funding sources. The board also directed staff to pursue a Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Local Match Assistance grant to provide the required match for the Town’s Safe Streets and Roads for All pedestrian safety grant to add sidewalks along State Highway 7 and US-36 to Eagle Canyon. At the July 20 Board of Trustees meeting, there were no ordinances or public hearings on the agenda. During the workshop, the board reviewed the town’s independent audit and discussed funding options for planned stormwater improvements on Second and Third Avenues. The audit, presented by the Adams Group, found the town to be in essential compliance. One finding recommended that the Finance Director develop a standardized grant reconciliation worksheet for each active grant, including documentation of expenditures that span more than one fiscal year. The estimated year-end fund balance is $740,000, including reserves. The wastewater treatment plant is the town’s only outstanding debt. Engineers have completed a cost estimate for the Second Avenue stormwater project, while an estimate for Third Avenue is

still pending. Staff outlined two potential funding approaches. The first combines several sources, including a $3 million Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant, which would require a $950,000 town match. A grant award decision is expected by January 2027. The town has also applied for Department of Local Affairs Local Match Assistance and a Natural Disaster Mitigation Enterprise grant to help cover the match, with decisions anticipated in December 2026. If those match requests are unsuccessful, the town could apply to the Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund. The second option would be a direct 20- or 30-year loan from that fund for the full project cost. An application could be submitted in January 2027, with a decision expected by March 2027. Town Administrator Victoria Simonsen reported that Boulder County is updating its Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment as part of the 2027 Hazard Mitigation Plan. Utilities Director Aaron Caplan and Simonsen represent Lyons on the planning committee. Upcoming work includes reviewing local vulnerabilities and hazard rankings, identifying mitigation actions, reviewing the draft risk assessment, and continuing public outreach through a survey, digital open house, interactive hazard map, and mitigation Continue Town Board on Page 14

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LYONS, COLOR ADO

AUGUST 14 / SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

LYONS and a participation stipend. The proHousing and Human Services offers filmmaking dential, gram costs nothing to join. Priority is given to low- and moderate-income teens and who’ve faced barriers to opportunity. for teens, help with housing for seniors, and more teens Teachers, counselors, and mentors are By Isabel Tarr Redstone Review LYONS – Medicare classes and counseling – The Boulder County Area Agency on Aging (BCAAA) provides no-cost classes and counseling on Medicare. The BCAAA State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free, unbiased assistance to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers regarding health insurance and Medicare-related issues. Whether you are new to Medicare, reviewing Medicare plan options, or have questions on your current benefits, SHIP can help. Their Medicare Basics Classes, live via Zoom, are designed for anyone wanting to understand Medicare enrollment, plans, benefits, and costs. The program provides up-to-date, objective information and guidance when comparing and enrolling in Prescription Drug plans (Medicare Part D), Advantage Plans, and information about Supplemental insurance plans (Medigap).

They provide guidance in the appeal process and information about resources for financial help with Medicare costs. Register for one of their Medicare Basics Classes at boco.org/Medicare. One-on-one counsel-

ing addresses specific questions and concerns about Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicare/Medicaid coverage. Questions about

Medicare? Email medicare@bouldercounty. gov or call 303-441-1546. Free filmmaking program for Longmont-Area teens seeks sponsors and participants – Youth Innovation Studio, a program of the 501(c) (3) nonprofit InternetBar. org Institute, is now accepting applications for its free “Digital Storytelling” filmmaking program for Longmontarea teens. The six-weekend program runs Saturdays, 1:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. at Longmont Public Media on September 5, 12, 19, 26, and October 3, 10. Teens will work in small teams alongside media professionals to develop, shoot, and edit a short film for a local program sponsor—building hands-on production, media literacy, and work-preparedness skills. Participants will leave with a finished short film for their portfolio, a work-readiness cre-

encouraged to share information about this program, and families are welcome to apply directly. Sponsors are also sought. Applications for participants and sponsors close August 31. For families, go to: youthinnovationstudio.org/6-week-filmmaking-program. For prospective sponsors: learn more about the program using the link above, and about sponsorship here: tfj.wildapricot.org/Youth-Innovation-Studio-Donate/ Lyons Valley Townhomes has places for rent – There are four units available: a free-standing 3-bedroom house for $2,175/ month and three 2-bedroom townhomes for $1,890/month. Water, sewer, and trash costs are included; utilities are not. The property management company is advertising for a full- time maintenance person. Please spread the word. For more information, call 720-600-4278 or go to their website summithousinggroup.com. Isabel Tarr is a Housing and Human Services Commission member.

is all that is needed. Tighten leaking faucet or showStop the drip: Small leaks can waste a lot of water repair erhead connections and use pipe tape where appropriate. Adding an inexpensive WaterSense-labeled faucet aerator By Kim Mitchell Redstone Review

LYONS – Drip. Drip. Drip. That small leak at your home or business may not seem like much, but it can add up quickly. The average American household wastes more than

10,000 gallons of water each year from easy-to-fix leaks— enough water to wash about 270 loads of laundry. Nationwide, household leaks can waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water annually. The Town of Lyons and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourage residents to check their homes for leaks and make simple repairs. Fixing common household leaks can save water and may reduce your water utility bill by about 10 percent. A good place to start is with three simple steps: Check. Twist. Replace. Check for leaks. Look and listen for dripping faucets, showerheads, pipes and outdoor spigots. Toilets are another common source of hidden water loss. To check for a silent toilet leak, place a few drops of food coloring inside your toilet tank and wait 10 to 15 minutes without flushing. If the color appears in the bowl, you have a leak. Twist and tighten. Sometimes a simple

Ralph is a 2-year-old boy with a zest for life and an endless supply of enthusiasm. Whether he’s watching the world from the windows or wagging his way into the middle of the action, Ralph is happiest when he’s with people. His playful spirit and adventurous personality make every day a little more fun. This energetic boy would love an active family that can keep up with his excitement for life. He’s recommended for a home with children of any age and gets along well with both dogs and cats. Staff know Ralph will happily tag along on hikes, playtime, neighborhood walks, or any adventure you have in mind, making him a wonderful companion for an on-the-go household. The shelter can be a busy, overwhelming place, but volunteers have seen just how much Ralph blossoms once he’s out exploring and able to relax. He’s the perfect reminder that some dogs simply need the chance to show who they really are. Come meet Ralph at Longmont Humane Society and discover the loyal, fun-loving friend waiting behind that wagging tail. To see all our adoptable animals or get more details visit longmonthumane.org. Or stop in at the shelter at 9595 Nelson Road.

can also save a household more than 500 gallons of water each year without sacrificing water pressure. Replace inefficient fixtures. If a fixture can’t be repaired, consider replacing it with a WaterSense-labeled model. WaterSense products use at least 20 percent less water while meeting EPA performance standards. Replacing an inefficient showerhead can save the average household about 2,700 gallons annually. Replacing old, inefficient toilets with newer WaterSense-labeled models can reduce the average family’s toilet water use by 20 to 60 percent—saving nearly 13,000 gallons of water every year. Every gallon counts. Taking a few minutes to find and fix leaks around your home can conserve water and help to lower your utility bill. For water-saving tips and information about WaterSense products, visit epa.gov/watersense. Kim Mitchell is the Director of Communications and Community Relations for the town. She writes on town events, staff news, and the arts. She has called Lyons home for 17 years and is a dedicated small-town enthusiast.

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VOLUME 27, NUMBER 6

LYONS, COLOR ADO

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MAYOR’S CORNER I’d like to explore ways to get volunteers The importance of volunteers and saying even more involved in helping the town get things done. If the town is going to proceed fire risk mitigation measures for existgoodbye to Barney and Wendy Dreistadt ingwithhomes (as a BOT majority favored at By Mark Browning Mayor of Lyons, Redstone Review

Barney’s wife, Wendy Dreistadt, has likewise been an active volunteer, serving as a victims’ advocate in the legal system and Browning heading up the local medical lending closet LYONS – I can’t remember exactly the first to provide things like crutches, walkers, and time I met Barney Dreistadt, but I’m pretty other equipment free of charge to those sure it was in some muddy, nasty Conflu- who need them. At the August 3 Board of Trustees meetence-area basement or crawl space after the 2013 flood while mucking out or moving ing, the staff and trustees took a few minutes away from our regular agenda to honor dirt and rock. Barney was a key member of Lyons Vol- the Dreistadts (who are moving back to unteers, which formed to organize local Florida) for their years of extraordinary volunteers and coordinate their efforts community service to Lyons. The Dreistadts’ departure got me to thinkwith out-of-towners who came to help Lyons recover from the flood. As time went ing. What would we do without citizen and on and the number of visiting volunteers business volunteer help in Lyons? And how dwindled, Lyons Volunteers continued to can we continue to muster invaluable volprovide help to residents for both flood unteer efforts in the future at times other than post-disaster (flood or fire) periods? recovery and other things. As a small statutory town, Lyons town government has limits in services it can provide, much as we all might wish “the town” to take care of many things. The town doesn’t have a human services department or a housing agency, though it does what it can in those areas: senior activities at Walt Self, the Z Trip voucher program for transportation needs, incentives for affordable housing. The town provided the land for the Walt Self Center, Lyons Mayor Mark Browning, right, honors Barney and waived fees and contributed Wendy Dreistadt for their years of extraordinary volunteer valuable water rights to the service to the Lyons community. The Dreistadts, longtime Habitat homes, and served contributors to local government and community organi- as a conduit for federal grant zations, are moving back to Florida. money and waived some fees for privately owned Lyons ValLike others in Lyons Volunteers (Jim ley Townhomes. Town staffing levels have actually declined Kerr, Mike Karavas, Greg Lowell, to name a few), Barney ended up on the Lyons Board in recent years—from 24.75 full-time equivof Trustees, where his financial analysis alent positions in 2020 to 21.35 in 2026. skills and calm, moderating influence were As costs continue to rise (big increases in instrumental to getting important things Sheriff’s Office costs, insurance and bendone. He also served on the Planning and efits expenses, utility expenses, equipment Community Development Commission and supplies) and tax revenues either flatand on the Lyons Urban Renewal Author- ten or increase at rates less than expenses ity. He helped organize (and acted in) the increase, Lyons may have to look at cutting staff or reducing services. Lyons Community Theater group.

Personnel expenses—either in-house or its August 3 meeting), volunteer assistance contracted out services like law enforce- will be essential, particularly for those physment—account for somewhere around 70 ically or financially unable to do some tasks percent of town costs by my estimate. If themselves. A local volunteer effort similar cuts must be made to match expenses to to post-flood efforts is one possible source revenues (no deficit spending is allowed), of help in that area. Groups like Team Rubicon or the Boulder County Sheriff’s mitigastaff and services would be a main focus. A preliminary Boulder County budget tion program may also be needed. Whether it be fire risk mitigation, river recently projected a need to cut 49 staff clean-up, limb drop-off, or other activities positions on top of 181 jobs eliminated last year. The City of Boulder has done hiring that go above and beyond town staff’s usual freezes, leaving vacant positions unfilled functions, volunteers in Lyons are important. They’re not just important; they’re (which equates to service cuts). Lyons has much less room to cut staff essential. We literally can’t get along without them. positions or reduce services. So how are gaps and shortfalls in what we’d like to do filled? With volunteers to a significant extent. The Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) and Lyons Elevates All Fund (LEAF) address many needs the town simply can’t cover. Lyons Volunteers (now part of LEAF) is still around, with the Weed Posse doing weed control on town property that would otherwise have to be done by paid town staff. LEAF runs a much-needed food bank and Meals on Wheels service, plus basic needs assistance for things Members of the Lyons Lions Club continue the organizalike town utility bills. The Lyons Garden Club tion’s tradition of community service in Lyons. The club’s reduces the need for costly land- volunteer efforts are among the many ways local residents scaping services by maintaining give their time and talents to support the community. beautiful planter areas on govThat’s where people like Barney and ernment right-of-ways. The town also directly calls on volunteers Wendy Dreistadt come in. They and many at times, like for annual river clean-up. Vol- others have made Lyons what it is: a great unteers fill citizen boards and commissions place to live. To keep Lyons a great place to that provide valuable input on important live, we need volunteers, now and in the town functions. For example, the Utilities future. “Thank you” goes to all who have Engineering Board (UEB) analyzes com- volunteered in the past or who volunteer plex electric, water, and sewer projects. now. For future volunteer needs, my mesThe town would have to contract that work sage is: “Stand by. Your turn is coming.” out to expensive outside consultants if we didn’t have a UEB. Mark Browning was sworn in as Mayor of The Lyons Fire Protection District (LFPD) Lyons on April 20, 2026. He has served three depends on volunteers to protect us all terms as a Lyons Trustee. He was also the chair from fire risk and provide emergency ser- of the Lyons District Library Commission and vices. Like the town, LFPD could not func- the former Assistant Attorney General for the tion without volunteers. State of Texas.

of parks and infrastructure takes a team effort. “Hiring dependable individuals who are committed to Hot, dry and busy: Celebrating improving our community makes a positive impact for all,” Town Administrator Victoria Simonsen. “During the parks and public works seasonal staff said summer months, when our parks and projects are in full By Kim Mitchell Redstone Review

LYONS – It has been a hot, dry summer in Lyons—and while residents and visitors have been enjoying our concerts, ballfields, parks, trails and other outdoor spaces, a small yet dedicated group of seasonal employees has been working behind the scenes to help keep our community spaces maintained and town operations moving. Summer is always one of the busiest seasons for the Town’s Parks and Public Works team, but hot, dry conditions add another layer to their work. Irrigation systems need attention, grass and landscaping require careful maintenance, parks see heavy use, and ongoing road, utility and infrastructure projects don’t slow down when temperatures rise. Fortunately, the town had some extra hands to help. Our seasonal team grows in late May when school lets out, with local students and recent graduates joining the town staff for the summer months. The Parks and Public Works crew welcomed five Lyons students—Payton Bolkovatz, Jesse Nunez, Eamon Osborne, Maregu Sullivan and Cooper Ucker. Four returned from last year, bringing valuable experience to another busy summer. “The seasonal staff gets a wide-ranging perspective of all

the effort required to maintain our infrastructure and our swing, seasonal staff are an essential part of our team.” local parks, especially during the busy summer months,” Along the way, the seasonal crew gained hands-on expesaid Parks and Public Works Director Dave Cosgrove. “For rience with town operations and large-scale infrastructure some, it can be a launching pad for a full-time position with projects, interacted with residents, campers and visitors, the town. They learn a great deal about the daily work it and learned just how much work happens behind the takes to keep our community runscenes to maintain the community. ning smoothly.” As fall arrives and students preThis summer’s crew took on pare to return to school or move on everything from irrigation repairs, to their next adventure, the Town mowing and trimming to field extends its thanks to this year’s preparation and assistance with seasonal employees. They worked road and utility work. Their through some long, hot days, gained efforts could be seen throughout valuable skills, and helped care for Lyons: maintaining the dog park, the hometown they know so well. preparing Bohn Park for baseball Their summer jobs may be seasonal, and softball, and keeping Sandbut their contribution to Lyons will stone Park ready for the Summer be enjoyed well beyond the end of Concert Series. summer. During this hot and dry summer, their jobs became especially Kim Mitchell is the Director of Comimportant. Keeping irrigation munications and Community Relations operating efficiently, maintaining Seasonal crew Cooper Ucker, Eamon Osborne, for the town. She has called Lyons home heavily used public spaces, and Jesse Nunez and Payton Bolkovatz. Not pic- for 17 years and is a dedicated smallresponding to the day-to-day needs tured: Maregu Sullivan. PHOTO BY KIM MITCHELL town enthusiast.

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LYONS, COLOR ADO

AUGUST 14 / SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

OPTIONS St Vrain Market has a new look, and now you can get great prices too By Peter Butler Redstone Review LYONS – Affordability has been a political arguing point for this year and last year. Grocery prices have been rising sharply, Butler causing consumers much hand-wringing and unwelcome economizing. But now we have a local independent grocery, The St Vrain Market, that is actively working to make meeting your weekly grocery needs a happy and satisfying experience right here in Lyons. Excellent healthy produce at reasonable prices. The St Vrain Market grocery store at the west end of Main Street in Lyons has long been one of the anchors of retail in Lyons. Those locals who have been here a while will remember various versions of ownership. But for almost two years, the market has been under the careful guidance of Bryce and Carly Woollard. They are smart, eloquent and thoughtful and have excellent intentions as to how the market fits into the Lyons community. They employ local staff, get as much as they can from local farms, and aim to provide a friendly social experience with personal interaction. One big change that they have been steering for the last few months is how they can fill the shelves with produce at wholesale

prices that allow them to pass along attractive pricing to us everyday grocery customers. Bryce and Carly are keenly aware that

member of the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association, or INFRA, which is a co-operative of more than 400 similar businesses across the country. INFRA gives independent grocers the opportunity to get their supplies and inventory at keen prices that are competitive with the big, well-known chain stores and which their members, such as St Vrain Market, can pass along to their consumers. Carly and Bryce have a vibrant message which is: you can get high-quality, healthy and delicious food supplies here and you will be pleasantly surprised how cost-effecSt. Vrain Market owners Carly and Bryce Woollard are working tive it will be. INFRA offers its own to make healthy, affordable groceries more accessible while keeping private label brand the market rooted in the Lyons community. PHOTO BY PETER BUTLER called “Cadia” which is available at St Vrain expensive pricing has been a sticking point Market. An example of the startling price reductions is canned organic beans—black in the past. But that is changing fast. A new business beans, baked beans, or kidney beans—now partnership has made a big and exciting about $1.50 instead of $4. So everyday prices are super competitive difference to what the Market can offer to its customers. St Vrain Market is now a with the big-name healthy food stores, but

there are also weekly “deals” with too-goodto-miss prices on selected items. Items that we all need at almost jaw-dropping prices. The store is a delightful place to visit. The walls are decorated with colorful hand-painted murals, the aisles look bright and fresh, and the overall feel is very inviting. Not pretentious or over the top but authentic and family oriented. There have been carefully thought-out tweaks to the store layout to make selection and checkout more intuitive and smooth, with friendly staff who know your name and what you like. There is a customer loyalty program that rewards regular shoppers. So rather than trekking all the way to Longmont or Boulder, maybe change your routine a little and make St Vrain Market one of your mainstays for grocery shopping. This correspondent spent some time there recently and was physically incapable of leaving without buying loaves of their in-store-baked, warm and delicious bread. It was super yummy. Peter Butler was born in India and lived in a house facing a giant kapok tree. Growing up in England, there were trees, but never quite enough. After qualifying as a biochemist, there was a gradual evolution into being a graphic designer. He and his wife, Deirdre, moved to the States in 1997 and to Lyons in 2000. Finally, there are enough trees.

The benefits of subscribing to the local paper By Monique Sawyer-Lang Redstone Review LYONS – Often, when researching topics in the early issues of The Lyons Recorder newspaper, which operated from 1900 to 1943, Sawyer-Lang we come across pleas from the editors for readers to subscribe to the newspaper. They would sometimes print the names of new subscribers, perhaps as an enticement for others to get their names in the paper. Other times, many of these pleas were aimed at local businesses to advertise in the paper and listed the benefits of doing so for the business person.

In the July 10, 1902 edition of The Lyons Recorder, the editor and publisher H.C. Knight took a humorous approach with an article about the cost of not subscribing to the paper and borrowing your neighbor’s newspaper instead. “Kansas papers tell of the danger of newspaper borrowing as follows: A man who was too economical to take his home town paper, sent his little boy to borrow the copy taken by a neighbor. In haste the boy ran over a $4 stand of bees, and in ten minutes looked like a warty summer squash. His cries reached his father, who ran to his assistance, and, failing to notice a barbed wire fence, ran into that, breaking it down, cutting a handful of flesh from his anatomy, and ruining a $4 pair of pants. The cow took advantage of the gap in the fence and got into the cornfield, and killed herself eating green corn. Hearing the racket, the wife ran, upset a four-gallon churn full of rich cream into a basket of kittens, drowning them; in the

Beyond our stunning WEDDING & EVENT VENUE, The Farmette hosts a series of FARM DINNERS with local chefs during the growing season and homesteading and DIY WORKSHOPS in the Spring and Fall.

hurry she lost a $7 set of teeth. The baby, left alone, crawled through the cream and into the parlor, ruining a brand new $20 carpet. During the excitement, the oldest daughter ran away with the hired man; the dog broke up eleven setting hens, and the calves got out and chewed the tails off four fine shirts. Moral: Come in and subscribe for the ‘Lyons Recorder’.” It is unclear if this humorous approach worked to bring in new subscribers, since no mention is made of an increase in subscriptions in subsequent issues of the paper. The subscription rate at that time was $1.50 a year, and the paper came out weekly, on a Thursday. The Knight family owned the paper until September 1914 when it was sold to C.N. Brust. The paper went through several owners in the subsequent years. Its final owner, C.R. Spenser, announced in the January 1, 1943 edition that the paper needed community support if it was to survive. That support didn’t materialize, and The Lyons Recorder ceased publication in March. The newspaper was resurrected as The New Lyons Recorder in

1969 and operated under various owners and slightly different names until August 15, 2019, when it ceased being a printed publication and became an online newspaper. The only printed newspaper currently in Lyons is the one you are reading, the Redstone Review, which started publication in February 2000 with editor and publisher Susan de Castro Gierach. During the research for this article, the Redstone Review’s publisher revealed that the Redstone, like every other newspaper currently in print, is struggling to survive and would also Continue Benefits on Page 14

Meet Nina, the senior no one ever guesses is a senior! At 8.5 years old, this sweet, silly girl still has plenty of pep and a playful spirit. Her floppy ears, expressive eyes, and joyful personality have made her a shelter favorite. Nina has earned VIP status in our offices because she’s the perfect coworker. She loves tossing toys in the air and chasing them, but she’s equally happy relaxing on a comfy bed nearby. One tail wag quickly reveals the affectionate sweetheart behind those big, wide eyes. Nina would do best in a home without cats and may enjoy another dog after a successful meet and greet. Whether you want a playful adventure buddy or a laid-back companion, Nina offers the best of both worlds. Come meet her at Longmont Humane Society! Longmont Humane Society is participating in NBCUniversal’s Clear the Shelters campaign throughout the month of August. During this time, adult dogs, cats, and small animals that have been in our care for 60 days or longer are part of our Name Your Discount adoption program, allowing adopters to choose the adoption fee they feel is fair. Nina is one of the eligible pets, should you wish to mention this opportunity in your coverage.Visit longmonthumane.org, or stop in at the shelter at 9595 Nelson Road.

dan siddall broker/owner

Ly o n s Fa r m e t t e . c o m

Lyons Newspapers A History exhibit at the Lyons Redstone Museum PHOTO BY MONIQUE SAWYER-LANG

Cell: 303-918-8400 Email: siddallteam@gmail.com Website: www.gateway-realty.com 324 Main Street, PO Box 217 Lyons, CO 80540

VOLUME 27, NUMBER 6

LYONS, COLOR ADO

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CONTRAST other algae blooms, but Didymo thrives with less phosRock snot blooms in the St. Vrain River phorus. The lack of elevated phosphorus levels in the St. Vrain River is a good sign; it shows introduction of phosBy Greg Lowell Redstone Review

LYONS – I’d seen this before elsewhere, just not here in Colorado. Mats of slippery brown slime covered the river bottom where just three weeks prior there had been none. The St. Vrain River botLowell tom south of Lyons was coated in what could be impolitely described as brown s**t. The only places free of it were where the current was strong. It was Didymo (pronounced “Did-i-mo”), or in more common vernacular “rock snot,” and it’s a recent phenomenon of the last couple of decades. Researchers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Gothic, Colorado, first noticed blooms of the algae in 2006 and 2007. Didymo is a single-cell algae, which is among the Earth’s most common life forms. When it’s in balance, it’s the foundation of aquatic food webs. It’s only when it proliferates into dense mats that it becomes unsightly and an annoyance to river users and causes ecological changes. Invasive or native? There are mixed opinions on whether Didymo should be classified as a harmful invasive or whether it’s common aquatic flora that occasionally over-multiplies. When treated as an invasive, fishermen are advised to drain, dry, and disinfect their boots and waders after being in a river where rock snot is present lest they transport its living cells to other waters. When in doubt as to whether rock snot is present, every angler and river user should clean their gear as a defense against it and other aquatic hitchhikers. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) doesn’t classify it as an invasive like zebra mussels but still recommends the cleaning protocol. The other more prevalent opinion is that Didymo is naturally occurring in North American rivers and streams and the blooms are cyclic. Why has there been an explosion of rock snot here in the St. Vrain River? There are actually three reasons. The lack of a significant runoff due to low snowpack this past winter prevented the usual scouring of the riverbed, which would have prevented Didymo from taking root. “Without that heavy flushing flow, low and clear summer water can create ideal conditions for Didymo,” said Kara

The water may look crystal clear, but that brown coating on the rocks tells another story. It’s Didymo—aka “rock snot”—an algae that can form thick mats across the streambed. PHOTO BY GREG LOWELL

Van Hoose, CPW public information officer. The early warm spring temperatures we experienced (remember 90 degrees in April?) allowed the Didymo to establish early and have a longer growing season. These conditions can cause the harmless, microscopic cells to explode in just a few weeks. The cells begin sprouting stalks about the thickness of human hairs that form thick mats. A third, counterintuitive reason for the Didymo bloom may be a lack of phosphorus. High phosphorus levels typically occur with agricultural runoff, failing septic systems, and laundry detergent wastewater and are associated with

Adult Ukulele Class starts September 8; explore the Library of Things By Kara Bauman Redstone Review LYONS – August is a month of transition. As families squeeze in the last of summer’s adventures and prepare for a Bauman new school year, we’d like to pause and thank everyone who helped make this year’s Summer Reading Program, Unearth a Story, such a success.

Together, our community spent the summer reading, creating, discovering, and learning. We’d especially like to thank the Friends of the Lyons Regional Library for sponsoring this year’s program, as well as the many presenters and community partners who shared their time and talents, including the Lyons Fire Protection District, the Center for Musical Arts, the Society for Creative Anachronism, and many others. Their enthusiasm, creativity, and generosity helped make this one of our most engaging summers yet. Most of all, thank you to everyone who read books, attended programs, volunteered, and made the library part of

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your summer. We unearthed plenty of stories, laughter, friendships, and memorable moments along the way. While August does give us a chance to catch our breath, there’s still plenty happening at your library. If your family is homeschooling, or considering homeschooling, join us for our Homeschool Community Meetup and Resource Share on Thursday, August 20, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Meet other homeschooling families, browse the library’s recently expanded learning kits and cultural passes, swap gently used curriculum or educational materials, and discover new ways the library can support learning at home. While adults connect, children from toddlers through teens can enjoy games, outdoor play, snacks, and library browsing. RSVPs are appreciated but not required. Teenagers in grades 6 through 12 are invited to the school year return of our Teen Advisory Group (TAG) on Thursday, August 27, at 6:00 p.m. TAG members help shape library programs and collections for teens while earning volunteer hours and making a real impact on future library services. Looking ahead to September, our Beginning Adult Ukulele Class starts Tuesday, September 8, at 6:30 p.m. Over three evenings, participants will learn basic chords, strumming techniques, and how to read tablature while building the confidence to play songs on their own. No musical experience is necessary, and ukuleles are provided for each class. Registration is required. Our Pints and Pages Book Club returns Wednesday, September 9, at 6:00 p.m. at MainStage Brewing. We’ll discuss The Rest of Our Lives by Benjamin Markovits, a thoughtful novel that follows a longtime married

phorus into the river is low and that Lyons’ wastewater plant is doing its job. The only outlier to this good news is that Didymo grows larger in low-phosphorus river water as the algae responds by sending out longer tendrils to capture what little phosphorus there is in the water. Effect on rivers Beyond its appearance, the dense mats of Didymo can cover an entire river bottom and cause some ecological changes. It causes a shift in the macroinvertebrate population. There are more midges and chironomids and fewer caddisflies, mayflies, and stoneflies. The dense mats favor the smaller insects that can take refuge in the mats, while larger ones like the caddisflies that are predominant in the St. Vrain find their habitat shrunk considerably as Didymo covers their cobble rock environment. As for trout in Didymo-affected rivers, CPW has found that the algae has no effect on their population numbers. The fish obviously change their feeding habits to the smaller insects. Didymo is unlikely to completely go away; it typically exists harmlessly in Colorado’s river systems, staying virtually invisible most of the time. “Didymo is a native diatom, and while it may be a nuisance to anglers or look gross, it’s a natural part of the ecosystem,” said Van Hoose. Another climate change indicator The environmental factors that cause Didymo’s explosive growth may become more prevalent as climate change affects Colorado. Low snowpack, less runoff and warmer springs may become the norm and cause more-frequent blooms. And while it seems odd to say that our improved agricultural fertilizer practices and efficient treatment of wastewater effluent are a contributing factor to Didymo blooms, that’s exactly what a low level of phosphorus in the river helps create. The best that anglers and other users of Colorado rivers can do to prevent the spread of Didymo and invasive species to other rivers, streams and ponds is to follow CPW’s guidelines on cleaning and drying fishing gear and boats: https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/clean-your-gear. Greg Lowell is a Lyons Town Board Trustee, and he writes on ecology and the environment.

couple as they wrestle with aging, family, ambition, and the unexpected turns that come with the second half of life. New participants are always welcome to join for a beverage and good book discussion. Along with books, eBooks, eAudiobooks, and streaming content, your library card also gives you access to our growing Library of Things collection, filled with useful tools, games, equipment, and hands-on learning resources. Whether you’re tackling a home project, trying a new hobby, planning a family gathering, or simply want to borrow something before buying it, the Library of Things offers practical resources for everyday life. Recent additions include a power drill, stud finder, food dehydrator, karaoke machine, paper shredder, Dungeons and Dragons Starter Kits, and a metal detector. They join popular items like lawn games, trail cameras, craft kits, board games, induction cooktops, and cultural passes to destinations including the Butterfly Pavilion, Denver Botanic Gardens, and WOW! Children’s Museum. You can browse the complete collection and place holds anytime through its dedicated section on our online catalog homepage. Your Lyons Community Library opens at 10:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday. We close at 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m. on Fridays, and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Our online catalog is available 24/7 at lyons.colibraries.org, and we’re always open for digital downloads on the Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy apps. Give us a call at 303-8235165 or email info@lyonsregionallibrary.com with any questions. Please see the calendar of events on our website for additional programs, program information, and registration instructions.

Kara Bauman is the Director of the Lyons Community Library and holds an MLIS from the University of Kentucky. She’s an avid fly angler, enjoys craft beer, and travels extensively to see her favorite band, Widespread Panic.

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

Lyons will host the launch of Snacks in Space, a boxed book collaboration by well-known Lyons artist Coco Gordon and accomplished poet and North Boulder resident Virginia Schultz, on Sunday, September 20, from 5:00–6:30 p.m. The event will include a presentation and interview with Gordon and Schultz, hosted by Eric Raanan Fischman, beginning at approximately 5:23 p.m. at Warrior Soul Gallery and Community Studio, 304 Main Street, Unit B, Lyons, CO 80540. Algae bloom observed at McConnell Ponds; Closed to the public and keep dogs out

LYONS – When staff learned of a harmful algae bloom in portions of the McConnell Ponds. Water samples were collected for testing. Out of an abundance of caution, residents and visitors are asked to avoid contact with the water and keep dogs out of the ponds until further notice. Harmful algae blooms can appear as: * Thick pea soup * Spilled bluish-green paint on the water’s surface * A thick mat of foam along the shore line * Short grass clippings floating on the water Town of Lyons EcoPass Program

LYONS – Boulder County continues to work with the Town of Lyons regarding 2026 public transportation services. The zTrip Voucher Program for those who need transportation options is available again in 2026. Reach out to recreation@townoflyons.com for more information. The Lyons Flyer has FREE daily service to/from Boulder Monday–Friday. The schedule is posted on the town’s website. Mid-day service also continues in 2026. Visit townoflyons.com/ lyonsflyer. RTD services and the EcoPass use the MyRide App, accessed via Continue Briefs on Page 9

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LYONS, COLOR ADO

AUGUST 14 / SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

LOOKING UP Sharing the wild: Cherishing the diversity of our neighboring lifeforms by Peter Butler Redstone Review

num wire at chest height powered by a small Patriot energizer mounted on a wall inside the coop. The energizer ticks once per second, which is the sound of the circuitry generating a 50-millisecond pulse of electricity at 8000V. It’s not enough to cause bodily harm to them or us, but from experience, it is something worth avoiding.

make a mess. Our headlamps let us see him retreating down our driveway, and there were a few piles of chokecherry-flavored poop as a reminder. LYONS – I had a reminder this morning, For a variety of reasons, the early morning has become the first day of August, coincidentally Cola pleasant wildlife reunion. First up are our eleven hens orado’s 150th birthday, of how intimate starting their day in the relative cool of apple tree shade, our connection with the natural then we open the garage where our resident world can be living in this state, Plymouth Barred Rock, Little Bar, is getting and especially in Lyons. respite from her sisters’ bullying. She emerges Butler I had just finished opening up to sojourn in her small grassy area with a secret the chicken coop and delivering bushy retreat guarded by Tal the sheepdog, who their morning scratch grain when I noticed that also gives collateral protection to two other visithe protective electrical wire on the outer fence tors who turn up about this time and scoop up was drooping. We first designed and built this stray grain under the feeders. Longie and Shortstructure, the chicken palace, back in 2010, but ie are boy turkeys or toms. They each have that it took us three phases of development to achieve quirky sticking-out feather that looks all wrong complete protection. in the middle of their chest. I’ll let you guess We had located it in an existing fenced orchard, who has a long feather and who has a short one. maybe 50 feet by 20 feet, with a fence that was So, sitting outside with that first cup of coffee, about chest high. It seemed sufficient to protect there are several conversations to be made in a them until one day I witnessed a bobcat making variety of species languages. I used to love Hugh good his escape over the wire with our best broody Lofting’s Dr. Dolittle books when I was a kid, hen, Blackie, in his mouth. I was close enough but I never realized I would become a student to give chase, shouting and screaming as Bobby disciple in later life. headed for thick scrub, and luckily he dropped The sagging electric wire I mentioned at the the bedraggled lump of feathers on the ground. beginning stemmed from a break in the wire I picked up what I expected to be a corpse, but caused by 378 million ticks of 8000V over Blackie pulled her head from under her wing and 12 years. Yes, sorry, I calculated it. But a few lived several more years raising many tiny chicks. minutes with pliers and the hens were safe So, we added some taller fence posts and more again—perimeter secure. Not so much a food deer wire netting topping out just over six feet. production zone but more of an assisted living In our imaginations, that seemed sufficient until Longie and Shortie, two local tom turkeys, make their morning rounds in Lyons in spa for old girls enjoying their retirement. We I returned home one day (funnily enough with search of stray grain and good company. PHOTO BY PETER BUTLER needed to make some adaptations to live so a new box of baby chicks) to see that a bear had close to our local charismatic megafauna, but climbed the wire on one side, causing considerthe investment was worth it. able damage and crumpling, grabbed a hen, and then exitOver the years I’ve seen coyotes and other critters ed on the opposite side, causing additional mangling and approaching, and it seems as if they can sense unpleasantPeter Butler was born in India and lived in a house facing a wire crushing. He then ate the chicken in my full view from ness and steer clear. Finally, the coop is secure with no more giant kapok tree. Growing up in England, there were trees, but a patch of scrub not a hundred feet away. It was time to go intrusions. That doesn’t mean we don’t still get unexpected never quite enough. After qualifying as a biochemist, there was a electric. visits. But it’s mostly bird feeder mayhem. We were tak- gradual evolution into being a graphic designer. He and his wife, Deirdre spent a few days digging an 80-foot-long trench ing down the feeders a few nights ago at about 10:00 p.m. Deirdre, moved to the States in 1997 and to Lyons in 2000. from the house to the coop, and we installed a single alumi- and surprised a young bear who was evidently just about to Finally, there are enough trees.

Living Arts Garden Party celebrates gardens and community at the Lyons Farmette By Sara Erickson Redstone Review LYONS – On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the Lyons Farmette will be a setting for a celebration of garden delights, food, drinks, and music. As the golden-hour sunlight filters through the trees, the air fragrant with seasonal blossoms, enjoy an evening that will transcend the ordinary. Garden art enthusiasts will mix and mingle in the open-air setting. T he evening event celebrates the connection between art, gardens, and community while raising support for local artists and two organizations dedicated to enriching life in Lyons. Plein-air artists will be painting throughout the landscape, while additional nature-inspired artwork is displayed in the Barn Gallery. Artists will offer a thoughtfully curated collection of work inspired by flowers, gardens, botanicals, pollinators, and the natural world. Guests will enjoy watching art come to life outdoors before

wandering into the barn to discover even more lovely creations available for purchase. Every artwork purchase directly supports the individual artist. Throughout the evening, acclaimed violinist, vocalist, composer, educator, and longtime Lyons resident, Enion Pelta-Tiller will entertain guests. Enion is an artist whose music knows few boundaries. Drawing inspiration from classical masters, jazz, bluegrass, Celtic, Eastern European, Indian, and American roots traditions, she has built a career defined by curiosity, collaboration, and fearless musical exploration. A founding member of the internationally celebrated progressive folk band Taarka, Enion has performed on stages around the world— from Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts—sharing the stage with artists including Linda Ronstadt, Bobby McFerrin, Yo-Yo Ma, Darol Anger, John Cowan, Ron Miles, Darrell Scott, and members of the Grateful Dead, Phish, and String Cheese Incident. Equally respected as an educator, Enion

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serves on the faculty of the University of Colorado Boulder’s College of Music, where she teaches in Jazz Studies and directs the Cross-Genre American Roots Strings Ensemble, encouraging students to explore connections among diverse musical traditions while developing their own creative voices. Whether performing, composing, or teaching, Enion brings an improviser’s spirit and a deep appreciation for music as a universal language—qualities that make her a natural fit for the inaugural Living Arts Garden Party. Guests will enjoy Enion’s live performance from 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m., as her expressive violin provides the soundtrack while artists paint among the Farmette’s late-summer gardens during the golden hour. Her music promises to create an atmosphere that is at once joyful, reflective, and deeply connected to the beauty of the natural world. Admission includes a selection of garden-inspired appetizers. Signature botanical cocktails, wine, beer, and other beverages will be available for purchase. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Lyons Creative District, Lyons Garden Club, and local artists. The Lyons Creative District creates opportunities for artists through community programming, public art, and partnerships that strengthen Lyons’ identity as a creative community. The Lyons Garden Club creates and maintains many of the public gardens and sea-

Thank you readers, for your subscriptions and your donations. For those of you who can donate, but haven’t yet, please consider a donation. If new tariffs are imposed on Canada, there will be a 25 percent increase in the prices of paper and gas, which will disrupt much of the newspaper industry, according to Adams Publishing Group, in Cheyenne, WY. You can donate to Redstone Review by check to PO Box 68, Lyons CO 80540 or by credit card by calling Julie Hamilton at Scope Accounting in Lyons at 303-324-2869. In 2023, the rate of newspaper closures in the U.S. increased to an average of 2.5 per week, up from two per week in 2022. Thank you for your support.

REDSTONE R •E •V •I •E •W

sonal planters throughout town, helping make Lyons a more colorful and welcoming place for residents and visitors alike. Living Arts Garden Party will be a memorable evening that celebrates the creativity, beauty, and art that make Lyons so special. Tickets are available at livingartsgardenparty.com. Sara Erickson is a member of the Lyons Garden Club.

Violinist Enion Pelta-Tiller will provide the soundtrack for the inaugural Living Arts Garden Party at the Lyons Farmette. PHOTO BY CU BOULDER

years

VOLUME 27, NUMBER 6

LYONS, COLOR ADO

PAGE 7

INSIGHT hair?” the whole time and I was getting a full Making friends at school in Zimbabwe your I was caught so off guard, I thought that head massage. maybe I didn’t hear her correctly. My typiThis activity started to attract the attenBy Susan de Castro Gierach Redstone Review Editor

LYONS – Several years ago, in 2019, I took a trip to South Africa, visiting four different countries, with three of my girlfriends. The four of us comprised a little travel group, picking out places each year that we wanted to visit, and Africa was and still is high on our list. On this trip, we went to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa. I have visited Africa three times now, and I would go back again in a heartbeat. We traveled with a tour company that planned out each day with activities for us, and on this trip we were often staying in tents, mostly in national parks in each of these countries. In Zimbabwe, on one of our days there, we toured St. Mary’s Primary School where we were allowed to mingle with the kids and I had a most unusual experience. In every country we went to on our many trips, it was common for people and kids to come up and talk to us, ask us where we were from and what we did back in the US and we were always happy to chat with them and learn about their lives. On this day, the headmistress at the school showed us all around the school, told us what the kids were studying and how long they spent in school, etc. The kids were mostly outside in the courtyard on their break when we got there.

After the tour, we were also ushered out into the courtyard to mingle with the teachers and the kids. I sat down by myself on a cement circle that was also a garden wall and I immediately saw two little girls star-

ing at me and whispering together. They covered their mouths, so I could not tell what they were saying. They were giggling. I motioned to them to come over and talk to me. They came over slowly and were very shy. “Do you want to ask me some questions?” I said. They hesitated. “You can ask me whatever you want,” I said. “Don’t be shy.” Then one of them said, “May we touch

cal hairstyle is to roll out of bed and try my best to remember to run a brush through it before going out the door. But I have failed at that so often that I have to carry a brush in my car and my handbag to brush my hair before I go anywhere. I thought to myself, these kids live in a remote village and a bus picks up all of them up and brings them to school. They don’t see many tourists. I think they wanted to feel the texture of my hair. “Sure,” I said to them. “Come closer.” They very carefully came close and stood on each side of me and started to pat my hair, very gently. It sort of tickled. I started to laugh at how gently they were trying to touch me. I said to them, “You can put your hands into my hair; you don’t have to be so careful.” So, I took their hands and showed them how to go all the way down into my scalp with their fingers. They caught on immediately and started really getting into my hair, like they were giving me a shampoo. They were laughing

tion of the other people from my tour group as well as the other kids, and soon we had an audience from all across the courtyard. I tried to imagine what I looked like, but decided that I didn’t care anyway. We were having fun. The headmistress started to walk over to us. I could see that she was not sure that I was OK with it and not sure if she wanted her girls to be scrubbing the head of a total stranger. She approached carefully and said in a very soft voice, “What are we doing here?” I said, “We are seeing what my hair feels like and giving me a wonderful massage.” She was not exactly buying it, however, and after a few minutes, with the three of us becoming the center of attention, she said, “Well, girls, we have lots of things to do today and we need to get started.” The girls stopped abruptly. I hugged them both. Then they turned to look at the headmistress and slowly skipped away behind her. They turned around and waved to me, still laughing. I waved back to them smiling; I was careful to not touch my hair, but to leave it all tangled and sticking out everywhere, so they could see that I was not trying to change it or make it look better, but that it was just fine the way they left it. I hope that they remember that day as well as I do, when the lady from America let them run their hands through her hair.

then independently layered our own ‘Bugs’ on top. They are presented all together on one base. A thematic stretch Lyons Quarterly Art Show is on display now for me, but it was so fun.” The two collaborated on a few themes; one of them was with art by Cathy Rivers and Patricia Appelfeller bugs. They both did bugs and displayed them together. The By Staff Reports Redstone Review

LYONS – The Quarterly Art Show, now on display at both the Lyons Library and the Lyons Town Hall, will run through October 14. The show, titled Imaginations: Connective Tissue, features paintings and artwork by Cathy Rivers and Patricia Appelfeller, two local artists who have been friends for many years. Chrystal DeCoster, of LAHC (Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission) and LCD (Lyons Creative District), had the idea to pair Patricia and Cathy for a ‘duo’ show/ exhibition. “We loved working together to plan it, share

info, support, art supplies, etc. We viewed the art show as a celebration of our creativity and our friendship,” said Cathy Rivers. “We had the primary idea right away of doing some collaborative pieces as well as exhibiting our own ‘independent’ works. Patricia came up with the idea of doing a collaborative “Nature Wall” on the west wall of the Community Room. Four themes: Bugs (favorite of Patricia’s), Trees, Birds, and Sea Creatures. We chose the same format/substrate and size for each theme. We even created some random collage papers together, used independently on various artworks. For instance, the ‘Bugs’ are all done on 4x4 canvases. We painted all the canvas bases together,

artwork is bold and alive with color. It feels like the perfect place to be on a hot summer day, gazing at the cool leaves and the slow-moving bugs. “We wanted to have some artworks for sale at an accessible price. Many bugs have sold,” Cathy Rivers said. “Patricia and I both love collage and painting, which we approach in different ways. I also have several (very) mixed media pieces as well as some photographs. We both decided we wanted to exhibit some items we’d done in the past, for a full spectrum.” Be sure to catch the show at the Lyons Library and at the Lyons Town Hall.

ART BY PATRICIA APPELFELLER

Artists Patricia Appelfeller and Cathy Rivers are showcasing their artwork as part of the quarterly art show, currently on display simultaneously at the Library and Town Hall.

ART BY CATHY RIVERS

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LYONS, COLOR ADO

AUGUST 14 / SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

SET EXAMPLES driveway. Throughout the day, we watched in trepMemories of early days of the 2013 flood our The next morning, we stood in the rain, idation as 100-year-old trees toppled over, shocked at the sight of the usually calm creating a Pick-Up-Sticks logjam of lodgeBy Annie Muldrew-Pancoast Redstone Review

RIVERSIDE – Mother Earth is wreaking havoc on us all. Watching news coverage, one wonders if constant extremes are the new norm: torrential rain leading to flooding and mudslides, unusually high temperatures, wildfires, tornadoes. Remember back in mid-September, 2013? Lyons and the foothills were experiencing non-stop rainfall, torrents for over two weeks. This deluge would morph into our own extreme event dubbed the “100-Year Flood and Thousand-Year Rain.” Day one, Thursday, September 12, 2013 Here in Riverside, sleep was impossible, especially the night of September 11, with constant checking by flashlight on the Middle St. Vrain River racing under the county-built Riverside street bridge at the end of

The 2013 flood changed communities throughout the foothills. PHOTO BY RJ SANGOSTI

Sundance Film Fest representative will speak at library on August 25 By Tanya Daty Redstone Review LYONS – The Sundance Film Festival Task Force was formed in May 2026, and recommended the town amend its short-term Daty rental regulations to allow broader participation during the festival window. The Board of Trustees (BOT) held a special meeting on June 29, 2026, and unanimously voted to adopt Ordinance 1222, amending the town’s short-term rental code to create a new Special Event Lodging License (SELL). The SELL is a new, limited license available only during Board-Designated Special Qualifying Events. The BOT approved the Sundance Film Festival as a special qualifying event at their BOT meeting on July 20. The license will be valid up to 29 days per calendar year, but only during the designated event window. The processing time is anticipated to be 15 days from receiving a completed application. The SELL will cost the same as a license for a Short-Term Rental (STR). An application will be $125 for the first year and $50 to renew. Applications are available, and interested folks can see the Town of Lyons website to apply. If you are interested in learning more about the Sundance Film Festival and possible impacts in Lyons, there are two upcoming opportunities. First, Jeff Levine, Head of Audience Development and Experience for the Sundance Film Festival and Sundance Institute, will present a PowerPoint on all things Sundance at the Library, starting at 6:00 p.m. on August 25. Second, Fox Property Management will

be holding a community informational session at the Lyons Farmette starting at 5:30 p.m. on September 23. Fox Property Management, in collaboration with the Town of Lyons, will host a complimentary educational session to examine how the relocation of the Sundance Film Festival to Boulder may influence our local tourism, property valuations, and housing landscape. This presentation offers objective guidance for residents interested in seasonal rental prospects, regional compliance requirements, or broader investment outlooks. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to navigate upcoming changes with informed confidence. Please register in advance at: eventbrite. com/e/lyons- sundance-rental-opportunities-regulations-what-to-expect-tickets-1994593001360. If you would like to learn more or volunteer with the Lyons Sundance Task Force, the next meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 21 at 1:30 p.m. at the Lyons Library. If you would like to volunteer at the Sundance Film Festival (January 21–31), the application process will open August 31 and will be available online at sundance.org/festivals/ sundance-film-festival/volunteer. Applicants can note any experience or skills they have. It is likely to be a competitive process, as typically thousands of applications are received to fill approximately 2,000 volunteer positions. Tanya Daty is a volunteer on the Lyons Sundance Film Festival Task Force, working to support various entities interested in capitalizing on the Sundance Film Festival in January 2027. Tanya served on the Board of Trustees from 2022 to 2026. She is passionate about serving her community.

river next to our driveway swollen with ugly brown roiling waves, propane tanks and deck chairs bobbing past. Huge boulders were rolling underneath, constantly smashing as they collided in their uprooted travels. Our driveway was soaked with rainwater running in torrents off the hillside behind our house, digging deepening grooves in the dirt surface, especially around the tires of our 26’ sailboat trailer. Suddenly Stacy raced into the house announcing that a nearby cabin had just gone into the stream. “Laughing Waters,” a small summer place two doors upstream from us, had been pulled into the raging waters, breaking into thousands of pieces with jagged parts sliding under the bridge, but thankfully not catching and blocking the water flow. We realized at that moment that this was going to be a bigger event than we had ever witnessed since moving here in 1982.

pole pine trunks in the river, their evergreen tops sloping up the banks. The whole day was marked with bewilderment, nonstop noise, and hugs with anxious neighbors. Rumors flew as we stopped every emergency vehicle with our thanks, well-wishes, and requests for updates. For our own safety, we took to heart the invitation from former neighbors situated in new jobs back east; they had heard of the flooding and emailed an offer of their empty for-sale house as a temporary higher-ground living arrangement. After packing up basics and our cats, we turned the key on our beloved home, hoping that it would survive if the bridge got stopped up and the river started running across our driveway and down through Riverside. At least we were able to situate ourselves away from the river, but the frightContinue Memories on Page 14

Intercession By Sally King Redstone Review As an artist I am inspired by the folk art I saw at the Santuario de Chimayo A sacred place found On a small road trip to New MexicoFinding there—what I didn’t know I was looking for As I watched a woman kneeling At the doorway of a small glass house Containing a Mother and Child…. I witnessed her faith Her Prayer – A gesture of openness to the unknown Her willingness to admit her need For help—for an intercession. So deeply true for most of usAs our addictions fail us (that drink won’t help) We require a deeper vein We require source energy—real ground. But can we lower ourselves to the ground When everything else is shouting” Go up” ? To humbly acknowledge that we are hurting That we have a need for ground—for source.

PHOTO BY CATHY RIVERS

This is the foundation of every 12-step program It is the starting point—an admission— That my life has become unmanageable. Maybe you have visited the sanctuary at Chimayo And have gathered the holy dirt That is offered to pilgrims. A ritual of ground and source. A willingness to lower—to touch the earth To be the supplicant… Bending low to enter the door… Reading—the pamphlet that says… “Suggested Way to use the Holy Dirt” (pronouns have been changed) 1. Bring silence to your heart and mind Try to listen beyond yourself, your worries, and concerns. 2. Humbly acknowledge your weaknesses, mistakes, illness 3. Tell source that you have need of Her- Them- Him Her guidance, Her forgiveness, Her healing. Sally White King is a local artist who believes it’s imperative that each of us pop our heads up out of the collective trance to bring through our creative gifts. You can find her on her blog and website, hersoupot.net and sallywhiteking.com, or email sallywhiteking@live.com.

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VOLUME 27, NUMBER 6

LYONS, COLOR ADO

PAGE 9

EXPLORE NEW IDEAS Most memorable patients of the season ingbyThetheat Greenwood. first duckling was found cornered in a horse barn barn cat. The other was alone on a hot sidewalk

care for the next few weeks to ensure each of the pups was by a busy road. Both were all alone; there were no other able to survive on their own just in case they were separated ducks or ducklings around, and their rescuer was worried from mom after release. During their stay, four additional for their safety. Luckily, they were scooped up and brought LONGMONT – Every season, Greenwood Wildlife treats orphaned marmot pups arrived at Greenwood in need of to Greenwood for help, arriving within days of each other. But before the second duckling landed at Greenwood, over 5,000 patients across over 200 different species, all help. Sadly, two didn’t make it, but the other two were welwe had a lonely Merganser chick that was also all alone. with their own unique rescue and rehabilitation story. comed into this incredible marmot family. However, there are always a handful that stand out from When release day arrived, a team of volunteers drove And because young animals do better in a rehabilitation the others. Here are a few of those stories from this year: miles into the high country and then hiked even further setting with a companion, the twov were paired up and into the woods to a rocky outcropping, ideal mar- instantly bonded. When the other Wood Duck showed up, mot habitat, and away from any roads or parking we were hopeful that the duo would accept the third chick lots. Once her kennel door opened, mom didn’t into their flock, and they did. One common thread weaves through these and all our waste any time and ran ahead, waiting and calling to her hesitant younglings. One by one, they patients’ stories: humans cared enough to stop and help. To emerged and joined her in their new home. Check make a call. To transport an animal. To donate their time, out the full release video on our YouTube channel. money, or other resources. All of this helps us in our misAmerican Robin renesting – After a brutal hail- sion to provide compassionate care to orphaned, injured, storm, some good Samaritans braved the weather to and sick wildlife, and we couldn’t do it without compascheck on the inhabitants of an American Robin’s sionate wildlife lovers. nest in their yard. Inside, they found three babies Cindy Leikam is the Communications and Fundraising Assissitting in a soaking wet nest, among golf ball-sized hail. The nestlings were shivering, and the adult tant for Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center birds hadn’t been seen since before the storm. Concerned the young birds would get hypothermic, they scooped them up and promptly called Greenwood for advice. The babies were just a few days old and were cold, lethargic, and exhausted from Stranded at the Aurora Post Office, a rather large family of Yellow-bellied Marmots is rescued and recovers at Greenwood. PHOTO BY DEENA the ordeal. The rescuers sent pictures to our team, and after getting all the details, they SVEINSSON devised a plan to renest them so they could stay with their parents. But first, the babies Marmot family returns home – It’s common for crit- needed to be warmed up and the nest prepared for ters from the high country to hitch a ride down the hill their return. They filled a plastic zippered sandwich with unsuspecting people. They climb up into the engines bag with warm water, covered it with a pillowcase, and wheel wells and just about any nook and cranny acces- laid the nestlings gently on it, and covered them sible to them. with a light cloth. It is very uncommon for a mother and nine baby YelWhile the babies enjoyed their heated waterbed, low-bellied Marmots to stow away together for a trip down the rescuer gathered soft, dry moss from their garto Denver. We’re not sure how they did it, and we may den and lined the nest for insulation and comfort. never know how this big family ended up at the Aurora Once all was in place, the babies were gently placed Post Office. After several close encounters with vehicles, inside. The rescuers watched from a distance to a few concerned employees started calling around to find ensure the parent birds returned. Mama Robin help for this misplaced family. One by one, the family was came back within hours of the renesting and was reunited in our care. reunited with her trio of nestlings, who grew up Fortunately, each of the marmots emerged from the ordeal wild and free, as nature intended. relatively unscathed. Aside from burns on their paws, likely Orphaned Wood Ducks find a friend – Found American Robin nestlings are warmed up by their rescuer after a hail from the hot engine they rode down in, they were found separately at different locations, an adorable duo of storm left them cold and wet. PHOTO BY CINDY LEIKAM to be in good health. However, the family remained in our Wood Ducklings have been inseparable since meetBy Cindy Leikam Redstone Review

free food, and helped strengthen National Night Out enjoyed the partnerships that make Lyons a safer and more connected community. LYONS – Kids, parents, and residents joined the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and Lyons Fire Department for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4, in Bohn Park for a free, family-friendly evening celebrating community, public safety, and neighborhood connections. People met local first responders, explored K9 and SWAT demonstrations,

The kids loved it; they watched the helicopter land in Bohn Park, and they were able to explore the Med Evac helicopter that landed right in the park. Lyons Fire Station, Boulder County Sheriff, and a mountain rescue team with horses all showed up to answer questions and talk about safety. It was a cool evening weather-wise, and everyone had fun.

PHOTO BY CATHY RIVERS

PHOTO BY CATHY RIVERS

B •R •I •E •F •S Continued from Page 9

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your smartphone for all passes. Lyons residents need to download and install the MyRide app, in order to access free use of any RTD bus or light rail, including rides to the airport and around Boulder, Longmont, and Denver. Learn more about the MyRide App and how to install the program. Learn more at www.townoflyons. com/ecopass

US-36 and traffic cameras

LYONS – Traffic cams will be installed for safety Implementation. Starting in mid-August, a CDOT contractor will begin installing 27 traffic cameras along US 36 from Lyons to Estes Park. Impacts to the traveling public will be minimal, with primarily shoulder closures. According to CDOT, traffic cameras offer many benefits. They help first responders get to the scene faster since they are monitored by CDOT’s Operations Centers 24 Continue Briefs on Page 11

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LYONS, COLOR ADO

AUGUST 14 / SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

WHAT’S COOKIN’ Gingersnap cookies By Barbara Shark Redstone Review LYONS – I had a yen for gingersnaps, sweet with the slightly bitter edge of molasses. The recipe is based on one from Marion Cunningham. I whizz this dough in my Cuisinart, but it’s easy to make by hand. Shark Gingersnaps are delicious alongside a bowl of sliced Colorado peaches, so good right now. They also make a great ice cream sandwich. Cover one cookie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream a couple of inches thick, top with another. Wrap each in waxed paper and store in a freezer container until firm and refrozen. Cream together 6 ounces butter (1½ sticks) and 1 cup of brown sugar. Add 1 large egg and ¼ cup blackstrap molasses. Stir in 2 cups unbleached flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Shape into walnut-sized balls, roll in turbinado sugar, and place two inches apart on a parchment-lined or greased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes. Cool on a rack. Barbara Shark is an artist and author of How I Learned to Cook, an Artist’s Life. She lives near Lyons, Colorado. For more recipes, read her blog - howilearnedtocookanartistslife.blog

Summer on a plate: Ruhama’s bright roasted cabbage and quinoa salad By Catherine Metzger Redstone Review SAN MIGUEL COUNTY – Ruhama’s roasted red cabbage and quinoa salad— bright with herbs, dates, and a lemony sumac dressing—captures exactly the kind of fare Food for the Ages seeks out: deeply flavorful, make-ahead friendly, and nourishing enough to earn a permanent place at the table. The Mediterranean-style recipe folds caramelized red cabbage and onion into fluffy quinoa with fresh parsley, mint, chives, sweet dates, and crunchy nuts. It works equally well as a lunch, a holiday side, or a base for grilled fish or chicken, and it only improves after a day in the fridge—qualities that align with FFTA’s preference for practical, enduring dishes that taste as good

tomorrow as they do today. Ruhama is an Israeli-American recipe developer and content creator behind RuhamasFood.com, known for sharing approachable Middle Eastern and Mediterranean recipes. Born and raised near Haifa,

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she moved to the Boston area with her husband and children around 2007–2008, where the former teacher and mother of four now lives and creates content full-time. She is warm and encouraging, and her signature statement of “wow” after tasting each of her easy-to-make recipes is contagious. Roasted red cabbage and quinoa salad Serves: six as a side dish; Preparation time: About 35–40 minutes total (15–20 minutes slicing the cabbage and onion, chopping the herbs, dates, and nuts, and mixing the dressing. If you need to cook the quinoa from scratch, add another 15–20 minutes.); Roasting time: ~20 minutes Ingredients 1 whole red cabbage cut in half

and thinly sliced, 1 red onion cut in half and thinly sliced, ½ teaspoon of flaky Maldon salt, 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, handful each of: parsley finely chopped, mint leaves finely chopped, chives finely chopped, 1 cup of cooked quinoa, 5 pitted dates sliced, handful of roasted nuts roughly chopped, 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon of sumac, 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, juice of 1 large lemon, 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon of date syrup or honey, 2 garlic cloves minced, Optional toppings: crumbled Feta cheese, grilled salmon, or grilled chicken Directions Preheat the oven to convection broil at 450 degrees F. Place the sliced cabbage and onion on a baking pan and season with Continue Summer on Page 14

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VOLUME 27, NUMBER 6

LYONS, COLOR ADO

PAGE 11

VOICES ARE HEARD Probe for weakness with deliberate fol- then challenge the model or ask for countThat AI answer looks good… but is it true? low-ups. Ask for the strongest evidence er-evidence. The aim is not to abandon against the claim, or request that the model AI, but to treat it as a fast and sometimes

list every potentially incorrect factual statement and then verify each one. Rephrasing the original question or asking the inverse often surfaces inconsistencies. You can also EDMONDS, WASHINGTON – In an ask the model to generate a second indeage when artificial intelligence can produce pendent answer and compare the two for fluent, authoritative-sounding answers in points of disagreement. seconds, the real skill is no longer simply Certain patterns should raise suspicion: asking good questions—it is knowing how precise statistics paired with vague attributo test the answers that come back. tion, an overconfident tone on niche or The polished surface of an AI response recent topics, sources that cannot be locatcan hide fabricated studies, misstated numed, answers that shift when the question is bers, outdated claims, or confident guesses mildly rephrased, and confident statements dressed up as fact. Learning to vet those about very recent events. answers carefully is now a basic form of Overly neat causal stories are another digital literacy. warning sign. Reality is usually messier Treat every AI answer as a draft rather than the polished narrative an AI produces than settled truth. Never act on a single on the first try. M at ch the intensity of your checking to the stakes. For casual questions, a multi-model comparison and a quick glance at sources may suffice. For work or re search, isolate the key claims and check them against primary material. Fact or fiction? As AI-generated information becomes increasingly polished and convincing, readers must learn to distinguish For high-stakes verified facts from plausible-sounding fiction by checking sources, comparing answers and questioning claims. matters—health, legal, financial, or safety deciresponse for anything that matters—health rial exists, that the details are accurate, and decisions, financial choices, legal questions, that it actually supports the claim. Do not sions—insist on full primary-source verificatechnical work, or any citation you plan to stop at confirming a paper exists—open it or tion and, when possible, human expertise. Finally, trust your own knowledge. If reuse. Large language models frequently read the relevant sections and confirm that invent facts, statistics, studies, quotes, and the numbers or conclusions match what something feels off relative to what you plausible-looking citations with complete the model claimed. A real source that has already know, treat that feeling as a prompt fluency and an air of authority. Because been misrepresented is just as dangerous as to investigate further. Even modest background knowledge can alert you to implauthe output reads so smoothly, it is easy to an invented one. lower your guard and accept it at face value. Isolate discrete factual claims—numbers, sible numbers or claims that contradict Consider a common example. dates, names, studies, or causal statements— well-established facts. A workable daily habit looks like this: You ask an AI whether drinking more water and verify each one against primary sources improves focus. It replies with a confident such as official data, peer-reviewed papers, or obtain the answer, run the same question paragraph citing a “2021 study from the Uni- original documents. Leaving behind the AI’s past one or two other models, demand versity of Michigan” that supposedly found framing and consulting independent sources sources and spot-check them, extract the a 23% improvement in concentration, com- is the most effective way to catch subtle errors. important claims and verify those yourself, By Don Hurst (assisted by AI) Redstone Review

plete with a polished explanation of brain hydration. The answer sounds scientific and helpful. In reality, no such study exists under that description, and the specific percentage is fabricated. The fluency makes the claim feel trustworthy until you actually check. One of the highest-return checks is to ask the same question of two or three different systems—Grok, Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or others. Substantial agreement raises confidence; clear divergence is a signal to dig deeper. Models can share the same blind spots, so agreement is not absolute proof, but disagreement is almost always useful. Always force the model to supply sources, then examine them. Request full references or working links and verify that the mate-

brilliant research assistant that still requires supervision. Used this way, the technology becomes a powerful aid rather than a source of quiet, accumulating error.

Don Hurst earned a Master of Science from the University of Missouri. He was a consultant at NCAR and taught computer science at multiple universities while working as a computer systems librarian. He freelanced as a programmer in Los Angeles and San Francisco and also appeared as a movie extra in various films. He is now retired and lives with his wife near Seattle, learning Python and exploring AI.

B •R •I •E •F •S Continued from Page 11

hours a day. The cameras also assist the public and plows to understand road conditions before going out, especially in a location like the US 36 canyon that has historically seen floods, fires, blizzards and strong winds. Fire mitigation in Allenspark

ALLENSPARK – Earlier this month, 21 volunteers joined The Watershed Center, Allenspark Fire Protection District and Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a community wildfire mitigation event in Allenspark. Local businesses including Cemex and FNBO sponsored the event. During the three-hour effort, volunteers helped 10 households remove vegetation and other flammable materials from around their homes to reduce wildfire risk and improve safety for residents and first responders. Together, volunteers filled more than 38 yardwaste bags with flammable vegetation, removed more than six pickup-truck loads of combustible material, and filled four 30-yard dumpsters with household debris, yard waste, and other vegetation. The project demonstrated the impact of community-wide collaboration to help prepare mountain communities for wildfire season and create more resilient neighborhoods.

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PAGE 12

LYONS, COLOR ADO

AUGUST 14 / SEPTEMBER 17, 2026

COMMON CAUSE LEAF helps people connect to services when they need more care By Kim Hinzy and Daryl McCool Redstone Review LYONS – At LEAF (Lyons Elevates All Fund), we often talk about hardship and crisis, and lately we’ve McCool realized those two words mean very different things. Helping our neighbors navigate life’s challenges is LEAF’s sweet spot. Our team is here to provide compassionate support, connect people with resources, and help stabilize situations before they become larger challenges. Hardship is what most often brings people through our doors. It might be a tight month, an unexpected expense, or a week when groceries don’t stretch as far as expected. During our office hours, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., we provide basic needs assistance, resource navigation, ongoing mental wellness support

through our contracted therapist, and connections to trusted behavioral health providers throughout Boulder County. Our role is to walk alongside people as they navigate challenges and connect them to the right resources. When someone is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, however, the safest and most effective response is through our county’s crisis response system. If you encounter someone experiencing a crisis If someone appears confused, incoherent, physically ill, unconscious, or is an immediate danger to themselves or others, call 911. If possible, let the dispatcher know you believe it is a behavioral health crisis so they can send the most appropriate response. If someone is in emotional distress but is able to communicate, contact Well-

Mind Connection at 303-441-1300. Their team provides behavioral health support and can connect individuals with Boulder County’s Crisis Assistance and Treatment (CAT) Team. If someone is coherent but appears to need immediate assistance related to a mental health or behavioral health concern in the community, you can also call the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 303-4414444 and request a co-responder. These trained professionals work together to help people safely access the care they need. These situations require specialized, immediate support that LEAF is not staffed or equipped to provide. While we care deeply about every person who comes through our doors, we are not a crisis response agency and are not always open or available when emergencies happen. The

most helpful thing to do is connect people to the professionals and services designed to respond safely and effectively. A small way we can help LEAF has assembled care kits for people who have nowhere to stay. Each kit includes water, nonperishable snacks, items to help people stay cool during periods of extreme heat, and a list of local and countywide resources. These kits are not a solution to homelessness, nor are they intended to replace professional services. Instead, they provide immediate comfort while longer-term support is being arranged. To make them more accessible, care kits are available through several community partners, including the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Lyons, and the Lyons Regional Library. This allows first responders and community partners to offer immediate assistance wherever someone is first encountered, not just when LEAF is open. Continue LEAF on Page 14

Summer Vibes Bike Rally and Run celebrates Lyons’ adventure and outdoor spirit By Josh Kravetz Redstone Review LYONS – For one weekend each summer, we transform a corner of Lyons into what we hope is the best summer playground in Colorado. This year’s Summer Vibes Bike Rally and Run Festival did exactly that, bringing together 485 athletes and more than 300 festival attendees for a weekend filled with adventure, music, camping and community. While the races are at the heart of the weekend, Summer Vibes has become about much more than crossing a finish line. It’s about bringing people together to challenge themselves outdoors and then

celebrate those accomplishments with friends, family, and fellow adventurers. From the beginning, we wanted Summer Vibes to feel different from a traditional race. We created it as a festival first and a sporting event second. The goal is to offer an experience where participants can push themselves on the course and then spend the rest of the day relaxing in the huge lounge pools, enjoying live music, connecting with friends, drinking cold beer, eating ice cream, and soaking in everything that makes summer in Colorado special. Lyons continues to be the perfect home for that vision. The town offers a unique combination of trails, open spaces, local businesses, and welcoming community spirit. Bohn Park provides the ideal setting,

with shady trees, riverside hangouts, and easy access to the outdoor adventures that draw so many people to this part of Colorado. One of the most rewarding aspects of Summer Vibes is seeing local businesses come together to help create the experience. Oskar Blues, La Mariposa Mexican Restaurant, Cemex Lyons Cement Plant, Moxie, A-Lodge Lyons, Scheels Johnstown, and many other partners played an important role in making the weekend possible. Their support helps us showcase the best of Lyons while creating an event that benefits participants, visitors and the local economy alike. We’re already looking ahead to next year, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Lyons for another unforgettable weekend of adventure, connection and, of course, summer vibes. Josh Kravetz is the founder of Summer Vibes Bike Rally and Run Festival and President of Adventure Fit Events

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VOLUME 27, NUMBER 6

LYONS, COLOR ADO

PAGE 13

SELECT YOUR ADVENTURE Wild Turkey Festival is coming to Allenspark on September 26 By Elisabeth Sherwin Redstone Review ALLENSPARK – Allenspark’s Wild Turkey Festival will be held on September 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will feature a pancake breakfast, a farmers’ market, live music, a scavenger hunt, and delicious ready-to-eat turkey legs. Proceeds benefit the Allenspark Food Bank and the Allenspark Fire Protection District. All things turkey-related will be celebrated in the course of the day, including a turkey-calling contest, a turkey costume contest, and a turkey strut contest. Adults and children should come to the festival dressed in their best turkey costumes. Prizes will be awarded. Volunteers are needed to make the day a total success, so if you can help even for a short time, contact Kathy Eastland at kathyeastland5@gmail.com. The day of the festival will open with a pancake breakfast served at the community room of the fire department. Tickets

A wild turkey on a cold day. PHOTO BY RON FOLTZ

Summer Concert Series featured Quemando

are $8 for adults, $5 for children. Live music will begin at 9:00 a.m. with Whiskey Revolution, followed by National Pork at 10:30 a.m., and Los Cheesies at 12:30 p.m. The Allenspark Community Cupboard Food Bank booth will challenge all comers to games of pin-the-tailon-the-turkey. The fire department will challenge those who dare to hose down a (metal) turkey. Cocktails will be sold at The Old Gallery, the Estes Park Brewery will have a beer tent, Kim’s Mountain Jams will be available for purchase, and food from You Need Pie, Mountain Berry Bakery, and Kona Ice will be on hand. Stick around to celebrate the winners of the turkey-themed contests and for the grand prize drawing in the afternoon. Complete the turkey trail scavenger hunt to be entered to win. Check back—the grand prize will be announced soon. One of the many prizes will be a stay at nearby Ferncliff Lodge—either a two-night stay in a cabin or three nights in a hotel room. More prizes will be announced. Sponsors to date include Allenspark Area Club, Allenspark Breakfast Club, Estes Park Brewery, Ferncliff Lodge, KL Realty, Moonrise Meadow Cabins, Mountain-Ear Newspaper, National Turkey Federation, Neteo, Ray Kawata, Safeway, Sunshine Mountain Lodge, Tree Huggers Trading Co. and The Old Gallery. Learn more at wildturkeyfest.com. Stay tuned; WTF is coming.

By Peter Butler Redstone Review LYONS – The Summer Concert Series continues to entertain large audiences in Sandstone Park on the Raul Vasquez Stage. The canopy of shade trees contributes to a happy environment for families to assemble for a couple of hours and enjoy live music. On June 22, it was the salsa band Quemando who was providing the rhythmic energy, and it was impossible not to get up and move. The band has its foundations on a broad rhythm section of bass, drums, and multiple percussion instrumentalists that the melodic team of three singers and two horns shares tuneful duties with keyboards reinforcing both. They have a very flexible arrangement, and there were frequent additions of youngsters helping out on maracas and other percussion instruments. Quemando (It’s on fire or it’s burning) is based in Boulder and has been entertaining music lovers for at least twelve years. They’ve got the energy to play for many more years. Peter Butler is an avid music fan. He has one dog, several cats, and numerous chickens as pets. He lives in Lyons.

PHOTO BY PETER BUTLER

Elisabeth Sherwin is a member of the Hilltop Guild in Allenspark.

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PAGE 14

Town Board Continued from Page 1 idea board. Town staff will provide information at the August 12 Sandstone Summer Concert. A mitigation strategy workshop is planned for early October. At the midpoint of the one-year Dog Waste Composting Pilot Program, 820 pounds of waste had been diverted from the landfill. Staff also reported that the Town is pursuing grant funding to underground the main electric transmission line from the U.S. 36 and Highway 66 area to Black Bear Hole to reduce wildfire risk. Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sharon McKim reported that emergency service providers are refining the water rescue plan to improve coordination for rescues on the St. Vrain River. Town Attorney Brandon Dittman reported that state and federal organizations are responding to a proposed Office of Management and Budget rule scheduled to take effect in October 2026. The rule could increase administrative and compliance requirements for local grant recipients and allow grants to be terminated during an active award period. Kay Sparks lives in Lyons, and she is the chair of the Housing and Human Services Commission.

Benefits Continued from Page 4 appreciate a donation or subscription ($25) to the paper. Send your donation or subscription to: PO Box 68, Lyons, CO 80540. You can explore more of Lyons’ history and specifically its newspaper history through the Redstone Museum’s exhibit Lyons Newspapers: A History. The Redstone Museum is located at 340 High Street. We are open now through September. Our hours are Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and Sunday 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Stop in this summer and view four new long-term exhibits and two new temporary displays. Browse our gift shop and used bookstore. The museum relies on donations, grants, and gift shop sales to fund our operations, and your support is greatly appreciated. You can donate in person, through our website, or by mail to Lyons Historical Society, PO Box 9, Lyons, CO 80540.

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.

Summer Continued from Page 10 flaky salt and olive oil. Mix well and massage with your hands until slightly softened. Spread evenly and roast for about 20 minutes, turning a few times during roasting so the vegetables brown evenly. In a large bowl, combine the parsley, mint, chives, quinoa, dates, and roasted nuts. Add the roasted cabbage and onions. Season with salt, black pepper, sumac, olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, date syrup or honey, and garlic. Mix everything well and serve. Salad can be topped with either feta, grilled chicken, or grilled salmon. Catherine Ripley Metzger has been cooking professionally and privately since 1979. She was a French cuisine journeyman at the celebrated Henri d’Afrique restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Today, she is the proprietor of the food blog foodfortheages.com and cooks with curiosity from the ground up in her log cabin home on the Western Slope of Colorado.

LEAF Continued from Page 12 If you or someone you know is experiencing a housing crisis, not just a difficult month, but uncertainty about where you’ll sleep tonight, we encourage you to reach out to LEAF during our office hours. We can help connect people with the appropriate county resources and support systems. If you’re looking for a way to help, donations of bottled water, nonperishable snacks, reusable ice packs, handheld fans, and other cooling supplies are always appreciated. Hardship and crisis both deserve a compassionate response, but they often require different kinds of help. LEAF is proud to be one part of Lyons’ network of support, working alongside our community partners to ensure people receive the care that best meets their needs. LEAF is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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The Lyons Community Food Pantry is open Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and community social time from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tr a v e l s with Redstone Lyo n s re s i d e n t , Amy Rullkoetter with friends (Robert from London and Christianne from Rotterdam) in front of the Old Bridge in Mostar. The bridge (rebuilt after being bombed) has an amazing history both architecturally and symbolically. They visited Mostar after a week riding horses in the mountains north of Sarajevo. Take the Redstone with you on your next trip and send us your photos showing where the Redstone has traveled. Send your photos to redstarnews5@gmail. com.

Kim Hinzy, LCSW, Community Programs and Client Services Manager Daryl McCool joined LEAF in 2024 and serves as Creative Communications and Marketing Manager. She supports programming, events, social media communications, website, and outreach activities in our community.

Memories Continued from Page 8 ening roar did not abate since it rained all through the night, raising the water level. Day two, Friday, September 13, 2013 After only a few hours of restless sleep in a strange house, hearing that terrifying noise of slamming boulders every few seconds, I opened my eyes to find Stacy waiting. He said tersely, “I need you to see something.” Warned to brace myself, he put his arm around my shoulders as we wound through the backyard of our house. Coming around the northwest corner of our home, I gasped in shock seeing “Roses Rest Awhile,” our next-door summer neighbors’ place, toppled on its side, augured into the river with water streaming around it! Thank goodness the family was back home in Kansas at that time. Not many of us were left in Riverside by then since the power was out, most having evacuated to locations elsewhere. Using our house as a base camp while sleeping in the temporary cabin, we fired up the generator for needed appliances, internet, and TV. We made sandwiches, snacks, and coffee for anybody who stopped by since we all could use our cell phones via an app with a wifi connection. After calling our families to assure them of our safety, we found that the grapevine worked quickly as neighbors gathered at our “Riverside Internet Café” to catch up, eat, give hearty hugs, and make calls to their families and friends. We were thankful for everybody who pitched in to move the sailboat to higher ground before the wheels were lodged into the ruts in the driveway. Watching TV coverage, we all finally realized how devastating this event already was for the town of Lyons. Our Middle St. Vrain River had joined up with the South and North forks, forming a huge wall of water roaring down the canyon. I admit I was jittery, sleep-deprived, and off-base on my eating habits, a constant nervous pit in my stomach. I appreciated cool heads like Stacy calmly reassuring me, “We are safe, we are fine, and we will get through this.” Our house and sailboat did survive; but sadly, the Roses’ cabin would be demolished the next spring after months in the stream, reminding us all daily of how life had changed for so many. By staying intact in the river, their house virtually saved Riverside by not jamming up under the bridge. Through the months and years of road closures, rebuilding, repairs, and county and insurance requirements, our Lyons and Riverside communities pulled together and did just that—we got through it—with grit and gumption. Even after 13 years, we are still so grateful to all the people who helped get Riverside back on its feet: so many first responders; the Allenspark volunteer fire fighters and the Boulder County Sheriff who chased off looky loos and looters; caring volunteers from all over; locals who shared their homes; others who ran machinery at their own peril to do so many jobs: Dan Crane, George Ackerman, Leister Bowling, Tom the Tree Man and his excellent crew; Foothills United Way volunteers; Nederland Saws and Slaws; American West Construction; the workers for CenturyLink, Xcel, and all county departments and staff; our mail and news deliverers; Coast Guard personnel checking on floating propane tanks; FEMA folks; neighboring towns that put up with so much extra traffic while Hwy. 7 was closed; the Skanska crew who worked hard to open that road to Lyons; and friends and neighbors who came together, pitched in, and got to know each other better. Forever thankful. Annie Muldrew-Pancoast is a long-time resident of Riverside, Colorado.

Travels with Redstone Redstone Review page designer Jen Deiley visits friends in Ontario, Canada, last month, when wildfire smoke blanketed the region and air quality ranked among the worst in the world. Unsafe, overwhelming smoke forced the group to cancel their outdoor plans and find their fun indoors. Take the Redstone with you on your next trip and send us your photos showing where the Redstone has traveled. Send your photos to redstarnews5@gmail.com.

Helping Buyers and Sellers make their home goals come to fruition all along the Front Range of Colorado. Lyons, Boulder, Estes Park and "Beyond!"

I love living in Lyons, Colorado and I can't wait to help you do the same! We work hard, and it's great to have a beautiful spot to "play" at the end of the day. —Ian A. Phillips

Ian A. Phillips Associate Broker (315) 292-3114

ian.phillips@cbrealty.com Coldwell Banker Realty 2700 Canyon Blvd #200 Boulder, CO 80302

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