Redstone July/August 2025

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A branch has broken from the Lyons Lions Club tree

LYONS – Ted Gullikson passed away on Monday July 7. He was a member of the Lyons Lions Club for 55 years. To honor his memory, the Lyons Lions Club is establishing a memorial scholarship in his name to be used for higher education to be offered to a Lyons High School senior Contributions may be sent to Lyons Lions Club, P.O. Box 1415, Lyons CO 80540.

Wildfire Preparation

LYONS – The Town of Lyons is aware of local concerns of smoke and wildfire. The town would like to remind residents of Lyons who reside in Boulder County to sign up for emergency alerts. Visit www.bocoalert.org to sign up for emergency alerts if you live in the Town of Lyons or unincorporated Boulder County.

If you are a resident of Larimer County sign up via Larimer’s NOCO Alert System at https:// www.nocoalert.org/.

Another good resource is the Watch Duty App.

Most importantly, now is the best time to review the wildfire evacuation checklist. Stay safe and stay prepared.

Road Improvements Hwy. 66 in front of Cemex

LYONS – Cemex is installing a triangle-shaped island at the plant entrance on Colorado State Hwy. 66. This installation is an agreed-upon safety measure with the Colorado Department of Transportation to prevent traffic turning left out of the facility. Construction of the island commenced on Monday, July 7 and will continue for up to five weeks. There will be a speed reduction to 45 m.p.h. in the vicinity of the plant during the full term of the construction, which will be identified by signage east and west of the construction zone.

Wildfire Mitigation: Lyons Match for Boulder County Wildfire Partners

BOULDER COUNTY – Boulder County will continue its wildfire mitigation program, which offers up to $500 to Continue Briefs on Page 8

Lyons Town Board accepts a new Lion sculpture, receives over $16,000 for improvements, and other issues

LYONS – At a Lyons Town Board meeting in early July, the board discussed Resolution 2025-46 to accept an annexation application from Dave Merkley and to set a public hearing date for a property located at 4497 Ute Hwy. near the intersection of Colorado Hwy. 66 and U.S. Hwy. 36. The resolution was passed unanimously by the board.

This will be the new site for the proposed reopening of the Western Stars Gallery. Many residents and former customers are looking forward to the new gallery.

“If all goes well, we are tentatively planning for our reopening at 4497 on our tenth anniversary weekend, November 14. Various musicians have already offered up playing at our opening,” said Chrystal DeCoster, Western Stars Gallery owner.

The town board also passed Resolution 2025-45 unanimously to accept a legacy sculpture named Shey, which is a very large statue of a lion lying on the ground. The artist who created Shey, Kimmerjae Macarus, reached out to Town Staff in early April, via their contacts through Moxie Bread Company – Lyons about a legacy placement of the sculpture to be located in Lyons. The town has other permanent public sculptures located throughout the town.

The sculpture was donated by benefactor, Greg Fitzgerald, who knows the artist. The town is working with the sculpture artist, Blue Mountain Stone, and Lyons Public Works regarding moving the sculpture from Lafayette to Lyons. Any cost would be paid from LAHC grant funds.

Administrator Victoria Simonsen said that she and the staff are thinking that a location for the giant lion might be in Bohn Park. The staff requested that the Board of Trustees accept the

Public Legacy Sculpture as part of the Lyons HeARTs of Lyons Public Art Program.

A third Resolution 2025-47 was passed unanimously by the town board to enact a temporary moratorium on issuing demolition permits for just over two blocks in the downtown area to protect historic buildings. Moratorium area would be from 3rd Avenue to 5th Avenue and would include the block on High Street from 4th Avenue to 5th Avenue. The Town Administrator said that the town staff suggested a period of eight months for the moratorium, to allow time to form some regulations and make informed decisions around any future demolitions.

In other news, Finance Director Cassandra Eyestone told the board that July 2024 is the first month the town received sales tax revenue from the additional 0.5 percent tax approved by the voters. As a reminder, the additional 0.5 percent is to be used for capital improvements only.

The original 3.5 percent sales tax revenue for April sales was 6.4 percent ($8,700) higher than in April 2024. The year-to-date sales tax revenue for the original 3.5 percent tax was 8.0 percent ($39,500) higher than in 2024. The sales tax figures also include the town’s portion of the State’s marijuana tax received each month.

A reduction in this amount was recently approved to take effect on July 1, 2025 and will reduce the amounts remitted to the local municipalities from 10 percent to 3.5 percent. Staff estimates the impact to the annual sales tax numbers to be a reduction of $25,000. The estimated impact to 2025 will be approximately half of that amount due to the timing of the reduction.

The Service Award was awarded to Melinda Wunder from the Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission for the extensive volunteer work she has performed through arts and human-

ities for the Town of Lyons. Wunder will soon be moving out of Lyons and the LAHC wanted to give her this award and recognition before she left town.

Administrator Simonsen announced a few changes and personnel updates. Upon the hiring of Lisa Ritchie and the transition of building and planning duties to her, Simonsen has implemented the following title changes: Lisa Ritchie is now the Director of Planning and Building; Aaron Caplan is now the Director of Utilities and Engineering.

In other news from staff, Lyons was previously approved to submit a State Rural Economic Development Initiative Grant (REDI) to enhance the Visitor’s Center with design, shelving, lighting, etc., to provide a small popup creative/artisan co-op retail space.

DOLA announced that Lyons was one of 13 projects that would receive $16,500 toward the improvements. This is the first step in creating an artisan space that will hopefully support Lyons Creates as their Creative District.

Announcing more changes, Administrator Simonsen said that the Building Department has moved back into Lyons Town Hall and will be under the direction of Lisa Ritchie as Director of Planning and Building.

Lyons will once again celebrate the Fifth Annual Lights Off Lyons, a community gathering to encourage residents and businesses to go “low lights or no lights” on Saturday, Aug 16 and explore the planets, stars, and more with telescopes, local scientists and the community.

The evening starts at the Lyons Regional Library with a mini planetarium experience brought to us by the Fiske Planetarium. Fiske is one of the largest planetariums in the U.S., educating the public on astronomy and astrophysics since 1975. This is a mini dome show

B R I E F S
A day on the river at Lavern Johnson Park is all it takes to beat the heat. Tubes, sunshine, and summer vibes. CATHY RIVERS

LYONS

Housing and Human Services in Lyons has connections

LYONS –The presentation by Boulder County Area Agency on Aging (BCAAA) staff in June at the Lyons Regional Library was packed with information about the agency’s mission-driven services for older adults (60+ years old), people living with disabilities, caregivers, and veterans in Boulder County. In addition, they provided the many ways their Resource Specialists can help individuals and families navigate other systems that provide services to those populations.

BCAAA’s primary priorities are supporting folks to age in their home and remain in their community and supporting caregivers, both paid and unpaid, family and non-family. Additional priorities that BCAAA support are housing, transportation, and funding.

Who is a Caregiver? You may be a caregiver if: you pick up groceries for someone or help them prepare meals; you pay someone’s bills or help them manage their money; you have helped someone with getting dressed, taking a shower, or using the toilet; you organize someone’s medication for them and/or take them to medical appointments; or you have a family member who could not live safely in their home without your help.

limited financial support for eligible individuals; social/ emotional support; long-term care planning; education programs; emergency planning and end-of-life planning. In addition, Resource Specialists can assist with referrals to additional organizations, including helping folks determine if they are eligible for those additional services.

Services available to Caregivers The services available include: resource information for care assistance/respite;

Additional services BCAAA also can provide information, referral, and options counseling to anyone 18 or older with a disability as well as to older adults.

Contact information Visit www.BoulderCountyAging.org; or email to Aging Resources@ bouldercounty.gov or call 303441-1617.

Mountain Resource Specialist Amy Shoffner is available at 720-766-8844, from Tuesday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and available every Wednesday through mid-November from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Lyons Regional Library. Become part of the Housing and Human Services Commission Help the community on this advisory group, which identifies needs and resources in housing and human services. We meet the second Monday of the month, 4:30 – 6 p.m. at the Lyons Regional Library. Apply on-line on the Town of Lyons web site. Questions? Contact Kay Sparks, 509-881-7096.

Kay Sparks is the Chair of the Housing and Human Services Commission in Lyons.

Hey Arts Lovers, Peace by Peace themed show to open July 18

LYONS – On your radar? A reminder that pick-up of all Fermentation themed work and delivery and hanging of incoming Peace by Peace themed creations is slated for Friday, July 18th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lyons Town Hall. Area artists of all ages and stages can bring up to to five readyto-wall-hang creative responses – paintings, photos, fabric art, wall sculpture, poetry, collage, etc. – and they will be welcomed. Some fab Lyons Arts and Humanities Council (LAHC) volunteers will be on hand to help.

Please plan now to join with friends and family – Lyons’ very special community Arts Trifecta Evening on Wednesday July 23.

Start with the LAHC’s Tandem Art Shows Opening Reception 4:30 to 6 p.m. where the fun kicks off at the Lyons Library (for premiering Becky Jacobson’s and Barbara Beasley’s Piece by Piece duo mosaics/quilts show – plus pizza slices by MainStage and hammered dulcimer music by local Mimi Wesson) then segues at 5:15-ish for peeps to view and vote on the new Peace by Peace LAHC Town Hall Art Show

entries – just a short half block stroll away.

On the heels of this visual art feast – right next door in Sandstone Park –the weekly summertime

Sandstone Summer Concert Series starts at 6:30 – this time featuring the OMG amazing musicians /recording artists – Bonnie and Taylor Sims.

Remember to bring along some cash. As usual, adult beverage choices will be available at the library – for which donations to the LAHC are greatly appreciated. All art (unless otherwise noted) is for sale. Tips for the musician are welcome in a designated tip jar. And the Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) appreciates contributions in the boot-passing segment of the concert’s brief intermission.

All this homespun gloriousness has the LCF and the Town of Lyons to give giant kudos to.

Chrystal DeCoste and her husband were the owners of Western Stars Gallery on Main Street in Lyons. She is a member of the Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission

Meet Issac, a gentle 2-year-old who’s still learning how sweet life can be with loving humans. He starts off shy, but with a little patience, he blossoms into a cuddly, affectionate companion who just wants to be near you.

Issac is FIV+, so he’ll need to stay indoors and enjoy a calm, low-stress life—but FIV+ cats can live long, happy lives! He’s already discovering the joys of soft blankets, chin scratches, and the magic of lap time. This snuggle king-in-training is well on his way.

He’s looking for a quiet, patient home where he can bloom at his own pace. In return, he’ll offer purrs, headbutts, and cozy afternoons by your side. If you believe in the beauty of slow trust and deep connection, Issac might just be your perfect match.

To see all our adoptable animals or get more details visit longmonthumane.org. Or stop in at the shelter at 9595 Nelson Road.

OBITUARY

Theodore Loren Gullikson

June 24, 1933 – July 7, 2025

Theodore Loren Gullikson Sr. died peacefully at home in Lyons, Colorado on July 7, 2025.

The youngest of three boys, Ted was born June 24, 1933 to Ted C. and Vera Gullikson in Grand Forks, ND and grew up on the family farm and in Inkster, ND where his father had a farm equipment dealership.

Ted had a service station and fuel delivery service in Grand Forks, which is where he met Aldyene Larson Murphy, a widow with four children. They married in 1957, had two more children and moved to Longmont in 1969.

He and his brother, David, owned Lucky 7 Shamrock service station and Ted’s True Value Hardware in Lyons.

Ted was a 55-year member of the Lyons Lions Club, a founding board member of the Lyons Fire Protection District, and as a participant in many town activities was recognized by the Lions Club and the town for his contributions to the community.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Aldyene, his parents, his brothers Donald and David, daughter Laurie Valois and son Jim Murphy. Survivors include sons David (Linda) Murphy and Teddy Gullikson, daughters Mitzi (Gordon) Dosher and Joey Gullikson, grandchildren Marc (Jeanne) Valois, Amy (David) Spurlock, Sarah Valois (Chris Marvel), Matt Valois (Kara Lyons), Michael (Jenny) Murphy, Heather (Ryan) Tellock, Megan (David) Hansen, Peter (Katie) Dosher, Nathan Dosher (Krista Morey), sister-in-law Mary Thorson Gullikson, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to the personnel of the Lyons Fire Protection District, Kaiser Permanente, At Home Healthcare, and TRU Community Care Hospice for their extraordinary and compassionate attention. We also thank Dave Wechsler for modifying Ted’s walker to accommodate his height.

Ted was beloved and well respected by his family, friends, and community.

MAYOR’S CORNER

Updates to local laws and fines

LYONS – In May, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved an update to the General Offenses of the Town of Lyons to enhance the health, safety, and well-being of our residents.

This update was the result of several months of work on the part of Staff and the Boulder County Sheriff’s office and covers a wide variety of topics pertaining to the health and safety of our residents and visitors. These laws are in now in effect, and it’s important to know what they are. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather the highlights of what may most affect town residents on a regular basis.

Personal Flotation Devices for Kids

Between April 15 and July 15, children aged 13 and under are required to wear personal floatation devices when in the river.

Solicitation on Private Property

Permits are now requited to solicit on private property, except for school-sponsored fundraising activities (Go Jogathon!) Solicitors must obtain a permit at Lyons Town Hall, pay a fee, and provide their full names, complete contact information, a physical description, driver’s license information (if any), a description of what they’re selling, and an authorization for the Town Clerk to conduct a criminal background check. Permits will be issued within seven days of application, and they can be denied for reasons of felony convictions within the past five years, failure to comply with the code, or convictions of any crime committed while soliciting within the town. It’s important to note that for this law’s purposes, solicitation means to enter or remain

on private property without having been requested or invited by the occupants, to solicit the immediate or future purchase or sale of goods, services or any other thing of value, or to solicit a gift or donation of any kind.

This does not include political canvassing, political advocacy, educational events

or pedestrians. If the above criteria do not apply, they still cannot remain on a public right-of-way for more than seven days. Anyone violating any parking ordinance, including this one, can be fined $150 for the first offense, $300 for the second offense, and will be required to appear in court for a third offense. And speaking of parking . . . Parking in Cul-de-Sacs Watercraft, trailers, recreational vehicles,

Trash

Fear not, this new law is not about single-hauler trash removal. Instead, it is now unlawful to leave personal trash in public or business trash receptacles.

Age Requirement for Nicotine and Tobacco

It is unlawful to furnish or sell nicotine and tobacco products to those under 21 years of age. It is also unlawful for people under the age of 21 to use them.

and activities, or religious proselytizing. Town residents can request to be added to a “do-not-solicit” list that will be provided to permitted solicitors; to do so, stop by Town Hall. Permitted solicitors are also required to abide by “Do Not Solicit” signs posted on private property.

No PODs on Public Right of Way

Portable On-Demand Storage containers, or PODs, may not be placed on any public right-of-way or street in a way that impedes or hinders traffic, obstructs the view of vehicles, or creates a hazard for motorists

at the Lyons Library to learn more about astronomical events.

Then head over to Bohn Park to Explore Bohn Park in the Dark. Residents are encouraged to bring telescopes to Bohn Park, or join the fun and look through other telescopes brought by local star and planet and dark sky enthusiasts.

Lights Off Lyons will take place on August 16, at 5:30 p.m. until late. It will start at the Lyons Regional Library and in Bohn Park, 199 2nd Ave. Residents and businesses are encouraged to go “low lights or no lights” on the evening of August 16. There will be a Mini Planetarium Experience at the Lyons Library Inside. At 5:30 they will show, The Reason for the Seasons; at 7 p.m. there will be a tour of the universe. You can explore Bohn Park in the Dark from 7:30 to 10:30 with astronomy educators and local enthusiasts with telescopes. Overnight camping in Bohn Park on the field will be available.

In St. Vrain Corridor Trail news, the contractor still has “control of the site” through July 31 to finish the project. The general public should not be traversing the trail, nor trespassing onto private property. This is causing consternation for adjacent businesses and a liability to the contractor. Please stay out until it is officially open.

and commercial vehicles may not be parked in a cul-de-sac at all. Vehicles parked in culde-sacs must be parked parallel to the curb, with passenger side wheels against the outside of curb. It is unlawful for head-in or back-in parking in cul-de-sacs.

Safety of Public Officials and Town Staff

It is a criminal violation to communicate threats of violence, reprisal or any other injurious act to any public official, town employee, or agent who is engaged in the performance of their official duties.

Park Rules

Various park rules were updated, including:

Dogs must be kept on a hand-held leash and not tied to a fixed object; Not defacing public property now includes rocks; No swimming or fishing in the McConnell Ponds; No launching, flying, or landing drones; No launching model rockets; No electric or motorized vehicles, golf carts, scooters, bikes, skateboards, or unicycles, and as mentioned above, any person aged 13 and under shall be required to wear a properly fitting personal flotation device (PFD) that is in good and serviceable condition when tubing, boating, kayaking, or floating in the N. St. Vrain Creek and St. Vrain Creek within the town limits of Lyons, from May 15 through July 15. It’s important to note that fines for violations have doubled: The first offense is a $150 fine, the second is a $300 fine, and any third offense is an appearance at municipal court.

Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy the summer.

Hollie Rogin was sworn in as Mayor of Lyons on April 18, 2022. Before that she was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees for the term of 2020 to 2022. In 2015, she created the foundation for what is now the City of Boulder’s Commercial Affordability program on a pro bono basis. While serving as a Trustee, she was the Board liaison to the Economic Vitality Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission.

Travels with Redstone

From left to right, Barb Kuffs, me Susan de Castro Gierach, Kim Freymiller and Gail Frankfort, are standing in front of the ride we all 4 just went on, at Tivoli Garden in Copenhagen, Denmark with the Redstone.

Tivoli is billed as the oldest amusement park in the world. It certainly is the most beautiful. Flowers and gardens were in bloom everywhere. We had dinner at a restaurant in the park. The Danes were still celebrating there annual Summer Festival which starts at the Solstice. The sun was setting around 10 p.m. and coming up again around 3 or 3:30 p.m. Because the Nordic countries have such a long dark winter, they take advantage of every minute of sunlight in the summer. The Danes have the reputation of being the second most happy country in the world; Finland has the reputation for 1st place as the happiest country in the world. 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.

Rogin
Town Board Continued from Page 1

Down the Horizon Line The working adventures of Hayes Perkins 1878-1964

A book review by Peter

LYONS – Hayes Perkins was an explorer who kept a diary. Not just any traveler: three times round the world and a diary to rival Pepys. He lived in a time when the world was expanding.

Countries were colonizing the global South and exploration was the drug of choice. Some of us might have a favorite relative or friend with some skill or knowledge that they taught you. Maybe even a mentor. But very few of us have a bona fide super hero in the family. Well maybe the descendents of Ghandi or Martin Luther King. John Martin, local retired mathematics professor, farmer, community builder and general polymath, and friend, has spent half a lifetime studying his ancestor and writing a gripping page-turner. This biography is a narrative that tells the story of a life jammed with variety, triumphs and tragedies.

I have been a friend of John Martin’s for 20 years and during our acquaintance I have been regaled with extracts from his illustrious great uncle’s life. I thought I knew the Hayes Perkins story pretty well, but reading the final published edition has been a revelation. Some books narrate past events, famous lives or a historical thread but this biography has all that and so much more. Johnny Cash sang “I’ve been everywhere,” but compared to Hayes Perkins he pretty much stayed at home.

Martin describes a period when travel involved serious effort. Not just check-in at TSA Precheck, then head to the lounge for a cocktail. Sea voyages were perilous and lasted weeks during the early days of steam ships. Especially when you are working your passage in the rigging at the top of the mast. Then you might have an eight-day railroad journey followed by hundreds of miles walking with all your possessions being portered by local tribesmen, in blazing heat with a dozen life threatening diseases – some of which Perkins succumbed to.

And his travelling companions ranged from life-long friends to arrogant, chiseling cheats. Hayes Perkins was an extraordinary man who should be as famous as the explorers we learned about in school: ethical, fair, hard-working, tolerant and creative.

His diary gives a level but detailed description of what happened, and not a sermon. On almost every other page one yearns to wield some sort of violent retribution on some disgusting privileged despot abusing his own power by exploiting the lowly. But there are tender and good people too. This makes the book a rollercoaster of emotions as spiritual moments in exotic and beautiful places sometimes evolve into evil.

Here is one example out of dozens. In 1918, Perkins was hired by the Guggenheim family to work in their diamond

mines in the Congo; the mines were in partnership with the Belgian government. My mental reference to the Guggenheim family is of the iconic spiraling art gallery in New York, but they made fortunes in industrial metals and diamonds during this period. A new book Murderland by Caroline Fraser describes how the Guggenheim-owned smelters in Tacoma, WA poisoned the city with the tallest smokestack in the world puffing lead, arsenic and sulphur into the lungs of the local residents.

So their partnership with the Belgians was a match made in hell. Today, we are aware of blood diamonds but they are not new. Hayes describes the various levels of compassion or brutality between the colonial powers: England, France and Germany were not exactly angels, but the Belgians were

Piecing together the history of an early

LYONS – In June of this year the museum received a donation of items from Scott and Beth Dubravac. The items included photographs, documents, and lapel pins originally belonging to Laurel Mae Stewart. The Dubravacs are related by marriage to the Stewart family and knew that the Stewarts at one time had lived in Lyons. So they brought the collection to the Redstone Museum.

New items are considered for accession to the museum’s collection if there is a strong tie to Lyons and its people and history. This led staff to ask: who were the Stewarts and what was their connection to Lyons? A little bit of sleuthing uncovered information about one of the earliest families to make Lyons their home.

Their story actually starts two generations earlier with Laurel Mae’s great grandparents David A. and Mary Ann Archie. They emigrated from Aberdeen, Scotland to the U. S. in 1887 and came to Lyons in 1893 by way of Jasper, Minnesota. One of the donated items is an 1882 The Free Church Hymn Book published by the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. A handwritten note inside the book identified the owner as David Archie of 60 Shene

Street, Aberdeen and that Mr. D. Archie worked at the Rubislaw Quarries by Aberdeen. These granite quarries were among the largest quarries in Europe.

David and his wife, Mary, had four children; their eldest daughter Jessie, born October 2,1882 in Aberdeen, married William Wallace Stewart in Lyons on October 29, 1902. They were married by Pastor S. Abbie Chapin at the First Congregational Church. They had two children, Laurel Mae born August 26, 1904 and Wallace

exceptional. Interesting how they were the most skilled in the world at chocolate making, beer brewing and “tickling” a worker with a hippo-hide whip.

One the overarching themes in the book is how tough life was for the average person at the beginning of the 20th century. There was a vastly wider expanse between comfort and good food, and backbreaking labor for cheated wages and gruel by the local tyrant. Somehow our modern society seems much more uniform. In between assignments Perkins knew how to look for work.

We might feel exhausted by checking LinkedIn or other recruitment websites, but Perkins would travel thousands of miles up and down four states looking for hard work with a fair boss. If he couldn’t find that he would return to the air hammer, a brutal machine designed to crush rocks and human beings.

Many of the events that Perkins witnessed are famous episodes in world history. The lay reader might have a hazy recollection of a well-known story from school, but Martin gracefully fills in historical, geographical or cultural context that aids understanding without bludgeoning the reader with stray research. I have read many a biography or history where the author has invested so much time digesting hundreds of books that they dare not lose the opportunity to exaggerate their learning like running flags up the flagpole thick as bunting.

It can be like the boring guest at a party where you are trapped in a corner while they tell you every detail of how to harvest maple syrup. From personal conversation, I am aware of the shelves of books this author has devoured on African and other world history to enable him to give a balanced view, and place Perkins’ actions in context. John Martin, however, wears his background knowledge lightly and uses it to color a vivid backdrop to the foreground events.

Down The Horizon Line by John Martin is available from bookshop.org. The search bar will find it. Also Inkberry Books, a charming old-fashioned independent bookstore in Niwot has copies.

It’s a riveting read.

Peter Butler was born in India and lived in a house facing a giant kapok tree. Growing up in England there were trees but never quite enough. After qualifying as biochemist there was a gradual evolution into being a graphic designer. He and his wife Deirdre moved to the States in 1997 and to Lyons in 2000. Finally there are enough trees.

Lyons family

Wilson born April 15, 1907. According to the Baby Record book that is part of the collection, Laurel was delivered by Doctor O. M. Burhans and Laurel’s grandmother Mary Archie. Interestingly, one of the recorded items gifted to the new baby was a “Painting of Baby’s birthplace by Mr. T(h)omas.” The museum has a number of artist Newt Thomas’s paintings in our collection. Unfortunately, the gifted painting was not a part of the collection and can not be located. Another gift, from Papa, presumably David Archie, was a Go Cart, which sounds exciting for an infant but in fact was a brand name for a baby carriage. David Archie worked as a stone cutter in Lyons quarries and died in 1904 at the age of 43. He and his wife Mary, who later married Charles Rundell, and died in 1943, are buried in the Lyons Cemetery.

family moved to Denver where he worked as a yard engineer for the railroad. Newspaper entries show that the family moved back to Lyons in August of 1914, but returned to Denver in October of 1915.

One particularly humorous newspaper entry on January 23, 1903 stated that “Walter Stewart purchased an alarm clock the other day, and says he don’t propose to make any more flying runs down the street, with shoestrings and suspenders flying, to

A search of newspaper records for the Lyons Recorder yielded quite a number of entries for William, Jessie, and their children Laurel and Wallace, shedding light on their lives in Lyons. William, referred to as either W.W. or Walter Stewart in the paper, was a Town of Lyons Trustee from 1908 to 1911 and worked on the Burlington and Northern Railroad first as a fireman and later as an engineer. In October of 1911 the

say nothing of missing his breakfast.” Other entries through the years document Stewart family events, travel, trips back to Lyons to visit friends and family, and sightings of William on the Denver-Lyons train route.

The newspaper articles show that over time the Stewarts lived on Seward, Evans, and Stickney Streets. The January 23, 1908 issue of the newspaper printed this news Continue Piecing together on Page 14

Biographer John Martin photographed by Daniel Weinshenker.
W.W. Stewart, left at Lyons Depot.
Sawyer-Lang Butler
Jessie, Laural and Wallace Stewart, 1907.

CONTRAST

Sale of “your

land” put off . . . for now

LYONS – Thanks in large part to the millions of recreational users of public land who flooded Capitol emails and switchboards and pummeled the offices of congressional delegates in protest, the ill-advised plan to sell off millions of acres of public lands was withdrawn from consideration in the Senate’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” June 28.

After facing opposition from hikers, bikers, hunters, anglers and others and under pressure from groups like Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Audubon Society, Trout Unlimited and dissent from both sides of the aisle, including Colorado’s own Senators Michael Bennett and John Hickenlooper, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) dropped his plan to sell public lands from the domestic policy bill.

His plan would’ve required the Bureau of Land Management to sell as much as 1.225 million acres of public land in 11 Western states to purportedly build affordable housing on that acreage. It would’ve been the largest disposal of public land since the Homestead Act.

Supporters of the land sale also touted that selling select public lands could generate $5 to $10 billion for essential services, reducing the deficit without raising taxes. This is laughable coming from a Congress that won’t balance a budget, runs up huge deficits and refuses to confront out-of-control spending.

The failure of the plan is good news, but it’s no reason for those of us who cherish “our” 640 million federally owned acres to

drop our guard.

We the public need to be always attentive to these D.C. shenanigans and be ready for the next ill-thought-out measure to sell public lands.

Most of these proposals originate from elected congressional members of the Sagebrush Rebellion – a movement that started in the western U.S. in the 1980s and seeks to have federal lands transferred to the state or local authorities or sold off to private interests.

The Sagebrush Rebellion hides in dark places in the Capitol then crawls out when the swamp water seems right – like it did these last couple months or when it did in 1982 when Interior Secretary James Watt suggested the same sort of bargain land sale during the Reagan administration.

of giving up a portion of Bohn Park to the Boulder County Housing Authority for the construction of 66 units of affordable housing to replace homes lost in the 2013 flood.

Our Land”—and worth fighting for. Public voices helped stop the largest land sell-off in a generation.

The movement places value on private economic benefits rather than on the societal and ecological benefits of open space.

A Lyons parallel

A smaller, but no less important, version of public land being offered for sale here in Lyons was the 2015 controversial issue

The Town of Lyons was desperate at that point, having come up empty on a search for land on which to build replacement housing. Bohn Park at the time was largely a blank palette, still in reconstruction, and the Lyons Town Board of Trustees and staff saw in the park land an opportunity for replacement homes. The notional plans showed townhomes constructed on about six acres where the current softball fields are. It seemed like a reasonable idea, except a group of residents felt otherwise and formed a group called Save Our Parks and Open Space (SOPOS) to fight the idea of giving up public parklands for development. In a divisive issue that pitted neighbors against neighbors, the trustees called for a binding ballot vote and the housing-in-the-park proposal was defeated, 614 to 498.

While Bohn Park was hardly on the same scale as federal lands like the Roosevelt National Forest, the controversy was the same. A government sought to sell public land for development while touting the beneficial uses that land could be put to.

Colorado water deaths have plummeted this year

This story is used with permission From the Colorado Sun, Redstone Review

GLENWOOD CANYON – It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day on Rampart Reservoir last weekend – until it wasn’t. A sharp wind picked up, bringing waves that rolled across the reservoir and knocked four paddleboarders into the crisp 50-degree water.

Two teens swam to the shore and two adults were rescued by a boat. All four were wearing life jackets, which first responders say saved them.

It’s a success story for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, whose rangers and other staff have been hammering on its life jacket messaging, emphasizing Colorado laws that require personal flotation devices, writing tickets, and loaning out more life jackets at state park reservoirs and recreations sites.

… If heavy rain or wind comes in, it could flip your boat,”

Bridget O’Rourke, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson, told the Sun

“Having a life jacket is the best thing you can do to keep your head above water. And so maybe just empowering people to realize that that’s kind of part of water recreation in Colorado. Maybe that is helping.”

Fatalities this season include:

•A father who was sharing a paddleboard with his two children on Chatfield Reservoir when a strong wind knocked them all in the water.

At least 15 people have died in Colorado’s reservoirs and rivers so far this year – a sharp decline from last year, when 32 people had died by the same point in the season. Of this year’s deaths, 13 were in reservoirs and two were in moving water, according to the Colorado Sun’s accounting of water deaths.

“Colorado waters are not like swimming pools – we do not have lifeguards that are watching all of the reservoirs.

•A canoe paddler whose boat flipped in Spinney Mountain Reservoir in midApril. The paddler had a PFD in the boat, but wasn’t wearing one.

•A 51-year-old man from Minnesota who had been missing for nearly four months before he was found in Dillon Reservoir.

•A fisherman whose boat and life jacket were seen drifting in the 52-degree water at Skaguay Reservoir.

•A 35-year-old man in an inflatable packraft that flipped in a Class II-III section of whitewater on the Arkansas River below Buena Vista.

•Two people who died in boating accidents on reservoirs.

•One person who died in a river rafting.

•Four people who died in swimming accidents in reservoirs.

•Four people at Pueblo Reservoir in a five-week span, including a 53-year-old man who tried to save his two chil-

And like the millions of users of public land who rallied against Congress’ latest proposal, the Bohn Park sale struck a chord with some residents and was ultimately defeated. A subsequent Lyons vote codified that henceforth any change in town park or open space use over ½-acre must be approved by a vote of residents.

It’s your land

At the national level, our voices don’t have the same power they do in Lyons. We depend on our elected representatives to speak for us. But there will always be those among them who see public land not as the right of all citizens but instead as a source of funding and will propose selling it.

This would be a dangerous precedent; once there’s a “for sale” sign on any public land, the door opens for any and all reasons to sell. A thousand acres here, a thousand acres there and the next thing we know huge swathes of national forests are on the open market and the places we hold in common are now in the hands of developers and extractionists and the atmosphere will reek of sweetheart deals and political mischief. When the fences and the “no trespassing” signs go up, we’ll be excluded from the forests, mountains, deserts and waterways where we once recreated.

We may have won the battle, but the war appears ready to drag on. Pay attention to the shifty deals being struck in Washington back rooms and then sliding like snakes into legislation.

Woody Guthrie had it right in his iconic ballad: This land is your land, This land is my land. This land is our land, not politicians’ or Presidents’ – and we best pay attention to efforts made to pry it away from us.

Greg Lowell came west from New Hampshire and is currently a Trustee on the Lyons Town Board. He is on the Ecology Board and writes on ecology issues.

dren and friends who were struggling to swim in rough water. Of the 11 people who died while swimming or recreating on a watercraft, ten were not wearing a personal flotation device, or PFD.

“It can be super, super hot on the surface, but you go into a reservoir and our bodies can go into a cold-water shock if we’re in 68 degree water or less,” O’Rourke said. “And so if you have a life jacket, the bottom of your body is super cold, but your head’s above water. If you don’t have a life jacket, your body starts cramping up and you get shortness of breath and then that’s how people drown because their body almost quits on them and they can’t make it to the shore.”

This year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife started its educational campaign in April, earlier than previous years, reminding people of the state’s PFD requirement, O’Rourke said. People on paddleboards, canoes, kayaks and rafts less than 16 feet long need an accessible PFD for each person aboard. Boats longer than 16 feet need a PFD for everyone, plus a throwable flotation device. Anyone on a personal watercraft, like a jet ski, and anyone being pulled behind a boat also must be wearing a PFD.

More warning signs were put up at reservoirs and state parks. Staff is also more vigilant about reminding people about the law, O’Rourke said. And more money is going toward digital ads, which debuted last summer, that remind people to bring a life jacket while enjoying Colorado’s waters.

CPW has also grown its life jacket loaner program with 48 stations in 30 of its state park reservoirs and recreation areas.

“There are 30-plus life jackets at each of those loaner stations. It’s the biggest it’s ever been,” O’Rourke said of the program.

On top of the education, CPW rangers are issuing tickets to the PFD rule-breakers. As of July 10, the agency had issued 325 tickets, which is likely to increase after citations from the busy Fourth of July weekend are counted, O’Rourke said.

Each ticket carries a $102.50 fine. CPW can write citations on any public water across Colorado and a traveling team, called the Flywater Patrol, patrols every weekend in the summer.

“We can’t take full credit,” O’Rourke said. “But boy, do we try throughout the summer to make sure that this number stays small.”

UPDATE: This story was updated at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025, to clarify that Colorado Parks and Wildlife can issue citations for not wearing a life jacket on any public water in Colorado.

Olivia Prentzel is a General Assignment Reporter who covers breaking news and a wide range of other important issues impacting Coloradans for the Colorado Sun, where she has been a staff writer since 2021. At the Sun, she has covered wildfires, criminal justice, the environment and other issues.

Lowell
Prentzel

LOOKING UP

Summer Reading Challenge continues, plus

a

fun mind master LEGO project at Lyons Library

LYONS – With just a few weeks left in the Lyons Community Library’s Summer Reading Challenge – Color Our World – it’s not too late to sign up, log your reading, and complete activities to earn a free book, prizes, and a chance at the end-of-summer grand prize drawings.

All ages – from babies to adults – are welcome to participate. The program is free, fun, and a great way to make reading a part of your summer routine. Stop by the library or visit our website for details.

If your child is a book lover between the ages of 8 and 11, don’t miss our popular Tween Book-to-Movie Club, happening Tuesday, July 22 from 3 to 5 p.m. Each month, tweens read a selected title, then come together at the library to watch the movie version and discuss how the two compare. We also include themed enrichment activities and snacks to round out the fun.

July’s pick is How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell, paired with the 2006 film adaptation. Books are available to check out at the

front desk, but don’t wait – this program frequently fills and often has a waitlist. If you register and are unable to attend, please cancel at least 24 hours in advance to allow others to join.

On Wednesday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m., we’re partnering with the Center for Musical Arts to bring Touch an Instrument to the library. This hands-on musical exploration invites kids to get up close with a wide variety of instruments – strings, percussion, brass, and woodwinds – and even try their hand at making music. No experience necessary; just bring your curiosity and a sense of rhythm.

Later that same day, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., join the Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission for the opening reception of the latest quarterly art exhibit, Piece by Piece, featuring the evocative work of Rebecca Bell Jacobsen and Barbara Yates Beasley. All are welcome to attend and meet the artists in person. Enjoy the hammered dulcimer music of Mimi Wesson and pizza from MainStage before heading across the street to the Sandstone Summer Concert Series for Bonnie and Taylor Sims.

LEAF welcomes summer with gratitude

LYONS – June burst with sunshine, community spirit, and collaboration here at Lyons Elevates All Fund (LEAF). Thanks to the generosity of volunteers Jessie Berta-Thompson and Scott Hoffenberg, our food pantry garden boxes are now overflowing with newly planted herbs and veggies.

We can’t wait for the first harvest.

color and cheer to our front porch – what a lovely gift.

If you’ve got a Minecraft-obsessed child in your life, we’ve got the perfect event: Minecraft Master Engineering Using LEGO® Materials on Wednesday, July 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. Led by energetic instructors from Play-Well, kids will bring their favorite digital creations to life using LEGO® bricks – crafting mystical items, defending their shelters from Creepers, and imagining epic builds beyond the screen. This is a great hands-on workshop for imaginative young builders.

We’re also thrilled to welcome Snapology back to the library on Tuesday, July 30 at 10:30 a.m. for Discovering Dinosaurs, a STEAM-centered program best suited for preschool and kindergarten-aged kids. Young paleontologists will learn about dinosaurs like stegosaurus, tyrannosaurus, and raptors while engaging in playful, age-appropriate activities focused on science, counting, colors, and creativity.

July wraps up with a culmination and celebration of Color Our World creativity with the Chalk Art Festival and Art Expo on Wednesday, July 31 from 3 to 6 p.m. Outside the library, fami- lies, individuals, and groups can claim a sidewalk square and create their

Colorful” costume prize. We at LEAF respect all people and we’re honored to be part of this event.

own chalk art masterpiece. Inside, browse the community room art expo featuring creations made by patrons throughout the summer. If you’ve made something you’d like to share, we’d love to display it. Cool refreshments – including popsicles and lemonade – will be provided. Bring a sunhat or umbrella if you plan to chalk, and come celebrate creativity with neighbors and friends.

Looking ahead to August, our Pints and Pages Book Club returns to MainStage Brewing on Tuesday, August 13 at 6 p.m. This month’s selection is Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh – a chilling, psychological portrait of a young woman’s disturbing descent. Join us for a casual, engaging discussion over drinks.

Your Lyons Community Library opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday. We close at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. on Fridays, and 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Our online catalog is available 24/7 at lyons.colibraries.org, and we’re always open for digital downloads on the Libby, CloudLibrary, and Kanopy apps. Give us a call at 303-823-5165 or email info@lyonslibrary.com with any questions. Please see the calendar of events on our website for additional programs, program information, 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.

More summer to come

“It was heartwarming to see how quickly our pantry garden boxes came together. They were a true labor of love from the community that in turn will support our neighbors. We can’t wait to harvest our first yield and share it with the community,” Hannah Ogden, LEAF Program Coordinator, said.

And thank you to Kay Sparks, whose beautiful geraniums are bringing fresh

On June 14, we were proud to host fellow plant lovers during the Mountain Blooms Garden Tour, sponsored by the Lyons Garden Club. Young participants from our Front Porch Art Workshop for Youth, led by LEAF’s art therapist Jennifer Jarrett, were the very first to explore the garden –and their excitement set a joyful tone for the day. We were thrilled to meet so many garden enthusiasts from across Colorado and are deeply grateful to the Lyons Garden Club for organizing such a blooming success of an event. Color, pride, and community support

“I felt the true heartbeat of our community – vibrant, inclusive, and overflowing with joy. Lyons Pride isn’t just an event, it’s a celebration of every identity and LEAF was grateful to be a part,” said Daryl McCool, LEAF Outreach Coordinator.

The following Saturday, LEAF joined the celebration for Lyons Pride, where Outreach Coordinator Daryl McCool and Jennifer Jarrett led a fun and colorful rock painting activity for attendees. Our very own River Maureaux even won the “Most

That same weekend, dedicated LEAF volunteers donated their time at the Summer Vibes event in Bohn Park. For every hour worked, LEAF received a contribution. Thank you to everyone who braved the heat to tour our new gardens, participate in Pride and Summer Vibes, and join with LEAF as neighbors – you truly make a difference.

Have you experienced LEAF’s Front Porch Series? This inspiring summer series is designed to support mental wellness through community connection. You can gather with Equine Coach Jackie Hibbard and her wise herd of horses in the spectacular nature expanse of Dancing Spirit Equine facility to learn stress reduction, heart expansion, and soul nourishment. Or, join award winning writer Elizabeth Marglin in a delightful journey of coming home to yourself through poems, prompts, guided writing exercises, and deep listening. Mayama’s Jasmine Lok continues teaching Nia (a combo of martial arts and dance) for movement healing. Every other Sunday, teens and pre-teens are invited to the main stage of Oskar Blues for Open Mic Night. Local Lana Reed continues leading Qi Gong at the LEAF Community Hub on Mondays, and Sally Glass is beginning her five-week Nature-Based Pottery course in Spring Gulch.

LEAF’s James Hart, Certified Addiction Counselor, offers weekly equine recovery conversations, and Jennifer Jarrett offers elementary and teen youth art classes at

Books to read, books to save, books to savor and books to throw

LYONS – Every now and then, in the interest of reducing clutter, I’ll go through my books, box up 30 or 40 that I have no further use for and get rid of them. I’ll donate some and sell others to a used bookstore. Instead of cash, I take store credit, which I can then turn into more books, sometimes immediately. After all, it’s impossible to go into a used bookstore, even on a selling mission, without cruising the shelves for half an hour, so it’s not unusual for me to come back from one of these trips with a new book or two.

Now here’s the weird part. When I go to put those new books into one of my bookcases, there’s no room. Not even enough for a slim volume of poetry. I’ve pondered this phenomenon for years and have settled on the only possible explanation: The books were crammed into the shelves so tightly that when the pressure was relieved by removing a few, the remaining books swelled up to fill the empty space like fat men loosening their belts after a big meal.

kitchen table, a few stacked on the stairs and two or three next to the bed. Come to think of it, there may be a few boxes of books out in the garage, too.

There’s the core library: Every title by a handful of favorite authors like Pete Dexter, Thomas McGuane, Annie Proulx, Annie Dillard, Jim Harrison, James Galvin, Tobias Wolff, Richard Ford, Pete Fromm, John Updike, Richard Russo,

typefaces and paper stock design it. Even if, as sometimes happens, a book isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on, it’s still built to last.

Back to the library. There’s also some, but not all, of Hemingway, Steinbeck, Twain, etc. (those authors whose first names you don’t have to use) plus smatterings of Wendell Berry, Elizabeth Hay, Louise Erdrich, Larry McMurtry, James Lee Burke, Elmore Leonard, E.B White, John McPhee, Kurt Vonnegut, Pam Houston, Wallace Stegner, William Kittredge, etc., plus books by friends, some of which I’ve written forwards or blurbs for and that are warmly inscribed to me by the authors. (Well, I assume they’re warmly inscribed, although I can’t always read what they’ve written.) These include titles by Thomas McGuane, Ed Engle, Jim Babb, A. K. Best and Ted Leeson.

I’ve always been a reader – which I suppose is why I grew up to be a writer – and I’ve always had trouble unloading books. Even back when I was footloose and had to keep my possessions pared down enough to fit in whatever vehicle I was driving at the time, I lugged around boxes of books. I’d already read most of those books, but hadn’t ruled out reading them again and so couldn’t leave them behind.

Now that I’m settled, the books have multiplied. I have no idea how many books I have and can’t face counting them, but I can tell you there are currently 115 feet of books in 11 separate bookcases, plus more books stuffed in sideways above the rows, plus piles on top of the bookcases, plus smaller piles around the house, another handful on the

Gary Snyder, Howard Norman, Ron Carlson, Scott Spencer, Tim O’Brien, Craig Nova, Ethan Canin, Larry Watson, David Guterson, Tim Gautreaux , John Casey and others, most in hardback, a few signed by the authors. I like hardback books for their sense of – or attempt at –permanence and seriousness. A literary agent once told me, “Having your book come out in paperback is like having your movie open at a drive-in.” A book is the opposite of a blog. It can take years to research and write, during which all facts, plus spelling, grammar and syntax are checked and double checked for accuracy. It goes through an editing and verification process. People who care about things like

Wildlife wonders: broken antlers and deer triplets

LYONS – When you have the privilege of watching wildlife on a regular basis, questions often arise. Things not seen before cause you to ponder, or to want to dig deeper into that animal’s behavior and existence.

In Pinewood Springs, a small herd of bull elk has graced us with their presence throughout the spring and early summer. We were literally able to watch their antlers grow (elk antlers can grow an inch a day), and observe them roaming and grazing our lovely landscape.

One bull, however, grew only one antler. He seems otherwise healthy and holds his head up just fine, which caused several of us to ponder, “What’s up with that?”

Referring this question to Boulder County Parks and Open Space wildlife biologist Jon DeCoste, I came up with some answers. Because the bull seems healthy, DeCoste suspects the most likely explanation is damage to the pedicle,

or the area on the skull that supplies blood and nutrients for antler growth.

“When this is damaged,” explains DeCoste, “usually from sparring with other bulls, the antler growth can be dramatically impacted. This usually results in a deformed antler, but in some extreme cases, can cause the entire antler to not grow at all.”

DeCoste goes on to add that another less likely cause is when an elk receives an injury to one side of its body (like a vehicle collision), the antler on the opposite side of the body is often small or deformed. But since our boy seems healthy otherwise, DeCoste’s guess for the missing antler is more likely the first reason.

Antler growth in general is pretty amazing.

Bull elk shed antlers in late March or early April and immediately begin to grow new ones. The growing bone is covered in skin and blood vessels, referred to as velvet. When fully grown in late August or early September, elk rub the velvet off the now-hardened antlers and begin displaying their healthy racks to the cow elk. A large rack doesn’t necessarily indicate the age of the animal, but more

There are also the reference books: several dictionaries, a thesaurus, Spanish/English and French/ English dictionaries, two dictionaries of quotations, Webster’s New World Speller/Divider, The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual, The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, (four copies of this, for some reason) The Elements of Editing by Arthur Plotnik, The Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer and a strange little grammar handbook by Karen Elizabeth Gordon called The Transitive Vampire. That’s “Transitive,” not “Transvestite,” as a friend once thought when he saw me reading it. There are also two shelves of guidebooks covering everything that walks, crawls, swims, flies or grows in North America, plus a 30-some-year accumulation of fly-fishing books, some of which I’ve written. It occurs to me that I have more books than I do trout flies, which is saying something.

It’s harder to explain the rest of the books. There’s the long shelf of poetry that I delve into from time to time when I need the literary equivalent of a breath of fresh air, a cold shower or a slap in the face. This also includes books by friends like Jack Collom, Reed Bye, Charley George and John Moulder. There’s a copy of Out Stealing Horses, by

accurately signifies its overall health to other members of the herd.

A Pinewood Springs resident also recently asked me about mule deer twins and triplets. She had seen a doe with three fawns and wondered if this was normal, or if the doe had possibly adopted an orphan.

Wildlife Wonders: This elk with one antler proves that beauty doesn’t need symmetry.

Strengthening community through art

LYONS – For the past decade or two, the arts momentum has been exploding in Lyons. Whether it’s a local poetry slam, performing arts, community theatre, our Sandstone summer concert series, painting creative outlets, or adding murals or public

sculptures, a group of dedicated residents and volunteers has helped to craft the magic of the arts throughout Lyons. We’re regularly impressed by the abundance of creativity within our small community.

The arts are also motivating. This past spring, a small local group spearheaded Lyons’ submission to be a designated Col-

I kiss you awake

I kiss you America

I kiss you awake

And oh it hurts to feel

How we have gone asleep at the wheel

Careening down the road

So much damage – we don’t even know . . .

But on the personal level

I know this amazing group of women (in their 70s)

Elders in my town . . . who quietly are doing the work.

The steward of the labyrinth

Maintaining it’s earthy chi with grace

Or the wise women behind the creation

Of our local botanical garden with it’s well trimmed paths.

Or my friend, who weekly organizes us to protest, sign in hand

Wearing Red White and Blue glasses . . .

We kiss you Awake. America. Heart in hand, hand on heart.

orado Creative Industries Community. Lyons is exploring the designation as a Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) Community to elevate its thriving arts scene. This recognition would bring state-level support, enhanced grant opportunities, and promotional benefits to strengthen Lyons’ creative economy. Becoming a CCI Community also encourages tourism, supports local artists, and fosters a strong sense of place and community pride. The designation aligns beautifully with the town’s identity as a hub for artists, musicians, makers, and outdoor inspiration.

The Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission (LAHC) has played a key role in curating and promoting this creative energy. National nonprofit Americans for the Arts emphasizes how arts and culture strengthen community pride and drive economic impact – something clearly reflected in Lyons’ rich and growing arts scene.

The LAHC embraces collaboration with local government, schools, artists, local

business and non-profits to enhance our community. The collaboration is evident throughout town, including the HeARTs of Lyons public sculpture program. In the past month, “Rusty,” the moose created by Bill Foy, and “Emma,” a visual interpretation of a young girl and her horse by Bill Bunting, have been added along U.S. Hwy. 36 between Black Bear Hole and McConnell. This stretch has been dubbed “rust alley” by local artist John King, for its collection of metal sculptures. This year, ten different sculptures have been placed throughout Lyons from Main Street to Rust Alley. Nearly all the local sculpture artists are based in Colorado and several call Lyons home, too. Our public sculpture program comes together with the financial support of the Lyons Community Foundation and the enormous volunteer efforts of the Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission.

Collaboration fuels creativity. This quarter’s local art show features Piece by Piece, a duo exhibition by Lyons artists Rebecca Bell Jacobson and Barbara Yates Beasley, showcasing their mosaic and quilt-inspired works. The exhibit will be on display at the Lyons Regional Library, with an opening reception on Wednesday, July 23, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Join us before the summer concert in Sandstone Park, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy live dulcimer music by Mimi Wesson and stroll between the library and town hall to view additional local artwork. The quarterly art shows celebrate local creativity and offer residents a chance to experience the rich artistic talent that thrives in Lyons.

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression “The Earth without art is just . . . eh.” In Lyons, the vibrant mix of art and local artisans continues to enrich our physical spaces,

Colorado kayakers paddle

strengthen our economy, and deepen our social and cultural connections. There’s truly something for everyone and we invite you to get involved and be part of the creativity that defines our community and our world.

Kim Mitchell is the Director of Communications and Community Relations for the Town of Lyons. She has called Lyons home since 2009 and invites residents to get involved in any facet of Lyons that interests them.

Continued from Page 1

homeowners who complete eligible mitigation activities. New this year the Town of Lyons will match up to an additional $500 per household for eligible mitigation activities until the matching funds are depleted. The Town of Lyons Wildfire Mitigation program will utilize the same eligible mitigation activities as Boulder County but will also require an Individual Home Assessment which is offered by Wildfire Partners. Boulder County does not require a home assessment to claim a rebate.

The first step for the Lyons Rebate is to get your individual home assessment. Sign up at www.wildfirepartners.org today and begin your home assessment. Learn more about the Lyons program at www.townoflyons.com/825/Wildfire-Preparedness.

What’s happening in Lyons? It’s all in the monthly utility bill newsletter LYONS – Interested in knowing more

Continue Briefs on Page 10

to rescue a dog that tumbled over 60-foot waterfall in Mexico

From the Colorado Sun, Redstone Review

VERACRUZ MEXICO – A daring descent of Rio Alseseca became even more risky when paddlers noticed a black dog shivering on a rock shelf above one of the gnarliest waterfalls on the planet.

Paul Palmer was at the lip of the 60-foot Tomata 1 waterfall on his first day kayaking in Veracruz, Mexico in December.

His crew of expert kayakers was planning to paddle some less daunting, but still demanding, drops downstream when one of them spotted something moving in the pool below.

“We were at the lip and someone says ‘There’s a dog down there,’” said Palmer, a professional kayaker from Colorado Springs who won a national freestyle kayaking title in 2017.

The black pup was perched on a mossy rock shelf on the side of a pool that spilled into Tomata 2, a narrow, rocky cascade that plummets 90 feet and is renowned by top paddlers as one of the gnarliest waterfalls on the planet.

this dog out and we can do a different mission. A dog rescue mission,” said Palmer, who grew up with dogs. “There was no way that dog was going to survive a night in that cold gorge. And no way it would survive those downstream drops.”

Palmer rappelled into the pool and watched as his partners paddled over the 60-foot Tomata 1. And then the real work began.

The only way the dog entered the gorge was over that 60-foot Tomata 1 drop. So she was rattled. Palmer spent about 30 minutes talking sweetly to the trembling water-

sketch factor.

Palmer loaded the dog on his sprayskirt – essentially on his lap – and wrapped his quick-release safety cord around her neck, like a leash. And he paddled over the 7-footer.

The dog stayed aboard over the drop. Palmer paddled to the shore and they set up safety ropes and began scaling the drenched cliff.

“We would climb 6 feet and hand the dog up to the next person and they would climb 6 feet and hand the dog up,” Palmer said. “If we fell, we were running Tomata 2 without a boat. It was a pretty stout little extract.”

Up top, the landowner and his workers watched the whole process. They had never seen the dog before. So the rescuers brought the pup to the Adventurerec hostel, a headquarters for kayakers exploring the rivers of Veracruz.

If the dog was swept into Tomata 2, “it was gonna die, for sure,” Palmer said.

So the group – including paddlers Beckham Bayreuther, Gav Barker, David Mitchell and Sofia Reinoso – changed their plans. They would run Tomata 1, rescue the hound, navigate a consequential small waterfall to the very lip of Tomata 2 and climb out with the dog. (The group had ropes to rappel over the falls to reach a series of cascades in the inner gorge of the Rio Alseseca below Tomata 2.)

“I said we have all the gear. Let’s go get

logged pup. She eventually approached him. He held her for another 30 minutes.

“And she realized, “Yeah, you are my lifeline here.’” He said. “That was a big concern. Once we got down there we were just hoping that it wasn’t a feral, pissed, bite-y mean dog.”

Portaging Tomata 2 is a sketchy endeavor. First paddlers need to drop a 7-foot waterfall and take out in the tiny swirling eddy above the lip of the rarely run, 90-foot Tomata 2 drop. Then they have to use ropes to scale wet rock to get to a safer place to rappel with their boats into the lower gorge. Doing that with a dog amplified the

“She walked in there like ‘This is my hostel. These are my people,’” Palmer said. “Everyone there loves her. She loves it. Now she’s the dog that ran Tomata 1.” Palmer says the pup already is motivating kayakers who ponder the classic Tomata 1 waterfall.

“Everyone can say ‘Come on, don’t worry about it. A dog ran it!” he said.

Oh yeah . . . the name of the adopted waterfall-running pup: Tomata.

Jason Blevins lives in Eagle with his wife, daughters and a dog named Gravy. He is the Outdoors Reporter for the Colorado Sun. He covers Western Slope, public lands, outdoors, ski industry, mountain business, housing, interesting things. He went to Southwestern University.

Painting by Childe Hassam The Avenue in the Rain, 1917
“Rusty” the moose joins Lyons’ public art scene, thanks to local sculptor Bill Foy and the HeARTs of Lyons program.
Colorado Springs pro kayaker Paul Palmer joined other kayakers in rescuing a puppy that tumbled over a 60-foot waterfall and we stuck abovr another daunting cascade in Veracruz, Mexico.
PAUL PALMER, SPECIAL THANKS TO THE COLORADO SUN

Hootenanny returns August 24: A collaboration between LCF and LEAF

LYONS – Mark your calendars and gather your friends and family – the Fifth Annual Hootenanny at River Bend is just around the corner. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, August 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. at River Bend (501 W. Main St.), and as always, it promises to be a celebration of community, collaboration, and summer fun. Best of all? It’s completely free and open to the public.

the river, and browse a silent auction filled with local goods and experiences. Families will also find plenty to do in the dedicated kids space, complete with games and activities to keep the little ones entertained.

With something for everyone, from foot-tapping tunes to family-friendly fun, this event is a highlight of the summer in Lyons.

As with any great community event, volunteers are essential to making it all happen. If you’re interested in helping with set-up, clean-up, kids’ activities, the silent auction, or general event support, we’d love to have you join the team. Please reach out

Co-hosted by Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) and LEAF (Lyons Elevates All Fund), the Hootenanny is a joint fundraiser benefiting the vital work these two local nonprofits do all year long to support our neighbors and build a resilient Lyons, from crisis support to youth and senior services, scholarships to community grants. Your attendance directly helps uplift the people and projects that make Lyons special.

The day’s festivities will feature live music from local favorites the 89’s and 5-Foot Betty, as well as dance performances by students from Mayama Movement Studio. Attendees can enjoy a variety of food and drinks available for purchase, take part in the ever popular Rubber Ducky Race on

to Rachel Pickarski at rachel@lyonscf.org to get involved.

Special thanks to the many local businesses and sponsors who are making the 2025 Hootenanny possible, including River Bend, Cemex, KGNU, 24/7 Restoration, Lifetime Remodeling, and many more.

To learn more or RSVP, check out the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/162UkEJhEi/

We can’t wait to see you at Riverside on August 24 for this celebration of Lyons spirit and generosity.

Rachel Pickarski is the Marketing and Communications Consultant for Lyons Community Foundation.

Emma

Standing on her bucket Her emotions are overrun By a stirring in her soul As two hearts beat as one

The blood of his ancestors Course through his veins

Those who’d never felt a saddle Or the pull of bridal reins

And the blood of her ancestors Course through her little veins

Those who’d set a saddle And held the bridal reins

And the two were drawn together By an unseen force

The spirit of the girl

With the spirit of the horse

Dealing with chaos

Joanna Macy put it this way . . .

“It is a good thing to realize that falling apart

Is not such a bad thing.

Indeed, it is essential to transformation

As the cracking of outgrown shells.

Anxieties and doubts can be creative

Not only for the person

But for the society . . .

Our fears permit new approaches to reality.

“What disintegrates in periods of rapid transformation

Is not the self but its defenses.

Self protection restricts vision . . .

Going to pieces . . .

Can open us up to new perceptions.

In our culture, Despair is feared and resisted

And represents a loss of control . . .

We dodge our despair

By demanding instant solutions to problems

We seek a quick fix.

But by acknowledging our despair

We are telling the truth about what we see and feel.

Truth telling is like oxygen,

Sharing the heartfelt feelings rushing through,

Is the opposite of going numb . . . which is by far the worst thing we can do.

“Pain for the world

The outrage and the sorrow

Breaks us open to a larger sense of who we are.

It is the doorway

To our mutual belonging in the web of life.

“You are not alone

We are part of a vast global movement

The epochal transition from empire to Earth Community

This is the great Turning.

And the excitement, the alarm

Even the overwhelm we feel

Are all part of our waking up to this collective adventure.”

Sally King is a local artist who believes it’s imperative that each of us pop our head up out of the collective trace, to bring through our creative gifts. You can find her on her blog and website, hersoupot.net and sallywhiteking.com or e mail sallywhiteking@live.com.

From a collection of Sally King’s
Pickarski
CATHY RIVERS

WHAT’S COOKIN’

Watermelon feta salad, cool and juicy for summer

LYONS – As the weather heats up I lose energy for cooking. I rely on the grill, and use veggies, fruit and grains to make easy, cooling salads. One of my favorite summer salads is watermelon and feta.

The combination of sweet, salty, crisp and juicy is irresistible. Delicious on its own, or as an accompaniment to a piece of grilled salmon or a burger, it can be garnished with other veggies for a complete meal. Sometimes I include a hard-boiled egg, avocado chunks, lightly cooked snap peas or slices of cucumber.

This is a no-recipe recipe so make it in proportions you like. For each serving, I combine a couple large handfuls of torn lettuce, arugula, (the bitter green is especially good with watermelon) and radicchio with a cup or two of oneinch watermelon chunks.

Toss with the juice of a lemon, salt, pepper, and olive oil to taste. Scatter crumbled feta on top. Serve with a baguette from St. Vrain Market or a crusty loaf from Moxie.

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

Lobster stock and bisque –A curious journey with supreme endings

LYONS – Every Fourth of July, our grocery store sells Atlantic lobster for landlocked locals to celebrate with over the holiday. The lobsters fly off the ice, are bagged up and still wriggling as we take them home, ready to serve up on our dinner tables.

This year we bought three, one-pounders, to make lobster rolls for four, lobster burritos for two and lobster bisque for six. Obviously, nothing went to waste.

From fleshy tails to monstrous claws to the red roe, every morsel found its place in our triumvirate of lobster meals. We even kept the shells and carapaces, simmering them gently for a half hour to create a stock to use for bisque the next day. Even the tiniest fragments were swept into the stock pot.

Here is the recipe for the stock and bisque – a delicious end to our lobsters’ long journey from the sea to the high plains and mountains out here in the middle of the country. To discover the recipes we used for lobster breakfast burritos and lobster rolls, go to foodfortheages.com and type in the search bar “lobster.”

Lobster Stock and Bisque

Lobster bisque is a luxurious, velvety soup that transforms lobster shells and a bit of meat into an elegant dish fit for the best company. The secret lies in building layers of flavor in the lobster stock. If you’re not ready to make the bisque the same day, you can freeze the stock for up to six months and use when you’re ready.

Lobster Stock

Ingredients

Lobster shells from 3 lobsters (The lobster meat is steamed for 12 minutes in a large stock pot that is brought up to the boil with the live lobsters in the pot.)

3 tablespoons ghee or clarified butter

Roughly chop: ½ large onion, 1 large carrot and 1 stalk of celery

3 small cloves garlic, minced

2 bay leaves

4 sprigs fresh thyme leaves

5 whole peppercorns

Instructions for Lobster Stock

In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic; cook until softened, about six to eight minutes. Add the lobster shells and about eight cups of water, or enough water to cover the shells, and simmer for a half an hour. Using a mesh strainer, carefully strain the stock to remove any solids. At this point, you can cool the stock and freeze it until you are ready to make your lobster bisque.

Ingredients for Lobster Bisque

2 tablespoons ghee or clarified butter

Roughly chop a ½ onion, ½ a carrot and ½ a stalk of celery

1 small garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

½ cup white wine

1/3 cup plain white rice

6 cups lobster stock

1 teaspoon tarragon

1 cup lobster meat

Splash of cognac (optional)

1 tsp. Better Than Boullion Chicken Broth

½ cup half and half or cream

Salt and white pepper to taste

Instructions for Lobster Bisque

In a medium-sized soup pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and cook until softened, about six to eight minutes.

Add the garlic, cook and stir for one minute. Add tomato paste, stir for two minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine.

Add the rice, and stir until coated. Pour in the stock, tarragon and half the lobster. Let cook uncovered for 20 minutes, or until rice is tender.

Blend carefully, filling your blender only 2/3 full maximum and fitting the top snugly on before blending until smooth. Return blended soup to soup pot and add the cream, blend in bouillon and a splash of cognac. Season to taste with salt and white pepper. Serve hot, garnished with chunks of lightly re-heated lobster and some chopped parsley.

Since cooking for room and board at a Scottish estate in 1978, then as a French cuisine journeyman at the celebrated Henri d’Afrique restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia, Catherine Ripley Metzger has been honing her culinary skills. Today, as proprietor of the blog, www.FoodForTheAges.com, she sources locally, gardens intentionally and cooks with curiosity from the ground up in her log cabin home on Colorado’s Western Slope. For more practical, how-to recipes, go to www.foodfortheages.com.

about events, capital improvement projects, river runoff and more in Lyons? Check out the July monthly Utility Bill Newsletter. The newsletter is included with every utility bill. We have the last several years of newsletters hosted on the town’s website, where you may review past newsletters. In addition, all of our emails are hosted on the town website. We’ve got you covered Lyons. If you are on Facebook, please follow @Town of Lyons Colorado Government.

Sandstone Summer Concerts Wednesdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

LYONS – The Sandstone Summer Concert Series is back for the summer on Wednesday evenings on the Raul Vasquez Stage. The 2025 series is weekly, Wednesday evenings through August 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Thanks to our partnership with the Lyons Community Foundation, the concerts are free. It’s a great way to meet new friends, reconnect with your neighbors and catch up. View the full lineup, visit www.townoflyons.com/concerts.

September Artisan Market Saturday, September 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LYONS – Join us for a perfect late-summer Saturday at beautiful Bohn Park in Lyons right along the scenic St. Vrain Creek. Now in its fifth year, the September Artisan Market brings together local creators and makers, featuring unique handcrafted jewelry, art, wearables, and more. Once again, we’re teaming up with the Lyons Community Foundation for a delicious Taco and Burrito Bar fundraiser.

Enjoy live music and entertainment from 12 to 2 p.m., plus root beer floats, great food, and a vibrant outdoor craft marketplace. Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bohn Park, 199 2nd Ave.

Get all the details: https://www.townoflyons.com/773/ September-Artisan-Market.

Prevent

falls and stay independent

LYONS – As we gracefully navigate the journey of aging, maintaining our balance becomes paramount – not just for everyday movement, but as a cornerstone of a fulfilling and independent life.

The statistics are stark: one in four older adults experiences a fall each year. Yet, it’s a crucial misconception that falls are an inevitable part of getting older. The truth is, you have the power to take proactive steps today to fortify your balance and safeguard your well-being.

Regardless of age, our ability to stay upright, to move confidently through our environment, is fundamental to our independence. A fall can lead to serious injuries, a loss of confidence, and a significant decrease in quality of life. Our balance is a complex system that relies on a constant interplay of several bodily systems: our vision, inner ear (vestibular system), and proprioception (our body’s sense of its position in space), all coordinated by the brain.

As we age, changes occur in each of these systems, contributing to a gradual decline in balance. By understanding the importance of balance and taking preventative mea-

sures, you can significantly reduce your risk.

The good news is that many simple exercises can be done at home with little to no equipment. The key is consistency and starting slowly, gradually increasing the challenge as your balance improves. Following are two good exercises that help indicate your risk of falling:

1. Getting up from a seated position on the floor. This activity is a crucial indicator of mobility, strength, and overall functional independence, especially as we age. There’s no single normal time that applies to everyone, as it varies significantly based on age, fitness level, and the specific method used to get up. However, research provides some general guidelines:

Younger Adults (20 to 40 years old): should be able to get up off the floor without holding onto anything for assistance in under four seconds. This movement should also require minimal effort.

Individuals in their 50s should be able to stand up from the floor in four seconds, without holding on to anything.

For individuals in their 60s a good indicator that you are doing well in mobility, strength, balance and overall function is if you can get up from the floor under seven seconds, preferably without holding

on to anything.

Above 60 years old, achieving getting up from the floor in seven seconds, with or without using a chair, table, couch for assistance.

2. Standing on one leg. The ability to stand on one leg for at least ten seconds is widely cited as a crucial benchmark. Studies have shown that individuals, particularly in middle-aged and older adults, who cannot complete a ten-second one-legged stance are at a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality and falls.

For individuals over the age of 65, being able to balance on one leg for 30 seconds is considered doing very well and indicates strong balance. This suggests a very

low fall risk. For those overachievers, and those who want to challenge their balance; try standing on one leg with your eyes closed. Though this may seem overly zealous, many individuals practice a form of this when they get up in the middle of the night and go to the bathroom. Due to low light, this is unfortunately when many people fall. The ability to stand on one leg with your eyes closed should be a goal for everyone. Don’t wait for a fall to occur before taking action. Seize the opportunity to prioritize your balance and overall safety. Remember, falls are preventable. Small, proactive changes today can lead to a safer, stronger, and more independent tomorrow. If you have any questions or concerns about your safely, please call our office at Lyons Physical Therapy, and our dedicated team will be happy to help.

Dr. Erin Mang DPT is a Midwestern transplant with over 13 years of physical therapy experience. Born and raised in Michigan, she moved to Colorado nine years ago to enjoy all that the mountains have to offer.

On July 12, Lyons Neighbors4Democracy peacefully declared: We will not go quietly. We will not obey in advance. And we will not be ruled by kings. “We must lead with our values.” Sen. Cory Booker.

CHOICES

Compassion fatigue, mental health, and animal welfare workers

LONGMONT – Working with animals can be incredibly rewarding, especially in a field that improves the lives of wild and/or domestic critters. However, providing continuous compassionate care for the most vulnerable can take a toll on emotional and mental health over the long term. Many animal welfare workers suffer through these issues that are often compounded by mental health issues, online

criticism, bullying, and intense feelings of isolation.

In the past year or so, there have been several instances of prominent, well-known animal welfare advocates who tragically succumbed to their silent battles with compassion fatigue, burnout, and declining mental health. Most recently, Mikayla Raines, the founder of Save A Fox rescue and sanctuary, took her own life after months of online harassment and bullying.

She was the face of the organization, which was largely funded by her social media presence. She had millions of followers across several platforms. Sadly, for many months, complete strangers, fellow rescuers and rehabilitators, and even those she considered friends attacked her and the organizations in the comments sections. That, combined with ongoing mental health issues and being overworked, pushed her over the edge. She was only 29 years old and left behind a young daughter, husband, and a legacy of life-saving work.

Compassion fatigue is defined as the emotional and physical exhaustion of caring for others without adequate self-care. Internalizing empathy for extended periods of time can lead to feelings of hopelessness, irritability, and exhaustion.

Compassion fatigue is different from burnout. Burnout occurs slowly over time, but fatigue can be triggered by a single case of trauma and often results in the inability to feel empathy. There are many symptoms of compassion fatigue but a few of the most common include intense sadness and/or anger, self-isolation, feeling overwhelmed, and the inability to tolerate stress. Prolonged compassion fatigue can lead to mood swings, trouble focusing, emotional or mental detachment, sleep disturbances, and even substance abuse.

Oftentimes, compassion fatigue and burnout occur in those that are also suffering from various mental health issues, like PTSD, anxiety, and depression, which can be an extremely detrimental combination, contributing to high rates of suicide within the animal welfare industry.

As a nonprofit organization that specializes in animal rescue, welfare and rehabilitation, Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 5761 Ute Hwy., Longmont, CO, cares for over 4,000 animals each year. Because of the high volume of intakes, there are bound to be many cases that tragically result in the critter succumbing to illness or injury despite our best efforts. Losing patients and seeing animals in distress on a daily basis can take a physical, mental, and emotional toll on even the most seasoned animal care professional.

To help combat compassion fatigue, burnout, and to promote positive mental health, as an organization, Greenwood highly prioritizes work-life balance for staff, volun-

teers, and interns. During the busy season, those who work directly with animals are part-time. Volunteer and intern shifts are limited to five hours or less. Full-time staff enjoys a host of benefits such as paid time off, and sick and mental health leave to help alleviate the strain of constantly caring for others and enduring the daily cases of trauma.

Additionally, team leaders are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms, but also how to take action to prevent further decline by providing a peer-based support system, setting realistic workloads, and encouraging frequent breaks. An inclusive and caring work environment ensures that employees feel comfortable speaking up when stress and burnout occur. When interacting with peers and followers online or in person, we follow the golden rule and always treat others with kindness and understanding. There are many ways to support those that work in ani-

mal welfare, or any career that provides care to others that may be at a higher risk of compassion fatigue, burnout, or mental health issues. One way to start is to volunteer at a local nonprofit organization. Many are understaffed and underfunded, which can add extra stress and strain on employees. For those who can’t spare the time, make a recurring, monthly donation to your favorite nonprofit to help with ongoing costs.

One of the most important things you can do for completely free is to be kind. Everyone is fighting their own internal battles and a little bit of kindness and understanding can really make a difference in someone’s day. Keep negative comments to yourself, online and in person. Express gratitude to those that provide care to animals or humans, no matter how small the gesture. Recognize the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue, burnout, and mental health decline. Encourage those suffering silently to seek help and practice self-care. Often, just taking some time off can alleviate negative feelings of hopelessness and provide a mental reset.

Cindy Leikam is the Communications and Fundraising Assistant at the Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at 5761 Ute Hwy., Longmont.

A Greenwood staff member carefully feeds a baby bunny.
Greenwood Animal Care team evaluates an injured bird.
A Greenwood staff member cares for a young raccoon.

CONSESUS

CSU researched whether it’s better if your romantic partner is your best friend, or not

FORT COLLINS – We usually think of romantic relationships as very important in life, but friendships also play a key role in our happiness. So, which is more important – companionship or a support network? New research from Colorado State University examines these relationship labels to find out.

Published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, the CSU study surveyed 940 American adults currently in romantic relationships to learn who tends to call their romantic partners their best friends and how that may affect their well-being. They found factors including age, income and type of romantic relationship (e.g., married vs. dating) influenced whether someone was likely to call their partner their best friend.

People who saw their partners as their best friends said they felt closer to them and interacted with them more often than those whose best friends were not their romantic partners. However, those whose best friends were not their partners reported greater feelings of social support.

“We put so much pressure in the past on romantic relationships and even talk about these ideals of you’re supposed to get married, you’re supposed to start a family, you’re supposed to want these things,” said lead author and CSU Communication Studies Assistant Professor Natalie Pennington. “Now we’re starting to say, well, actually, we can have lots of people in our lives who serve different roles.”

The paper is part of the American Friendship Project (AFP), an annual survey of social connection in the U.S. reporting on several critical facets of social health as it relates to friendship, including the structural factors of friendship (e.g., who are they, how many); friendship quality (e.g., satisfaction, closeness); and social support from friends.

SOURCE recently interviewed Pennington, an AFP co-leader, to learn more.

Q&A with Natalie Pennington

Q: Tell me a bit about the focus of this study. You looked at friendship from a very specific lens.

A: This is part of a bigger data set about friendship and two intersections that we were interested in: best friends and roman-

Q: How did you define the “best friend” role in this study?

A: That’s actually something we acknowledge in the paper. We let people self-define these roles. In the study we ask people to tell us about people who they consider to be their friends. And then as they selected those people, we asked them to dig a little deeper. Here is a list of all the people

tic partners. For the first, we looked at people who said they have a best friend, and for the second, we looked at how often that best friend was also someone’s romantic partner.

Q: You talk a lot about the “convoy” model in this paper. What is that?

A: The convoy model of social relations is a perspective that helps us understand that in our lives it’s valuable to have a convoy or network of people who support us. And there might be different people at different points in our life, but acknowledging that it’s a group of people, not just one person that’s important to help with our well-being.

you consider a friend. Is this person a best friend? Is this a colleague? Is this a sibling? Is this a romantic partner? We did not tell them what counts or not for each, we let them choose.

I’m betting there were some strong feelings about this subject. I know quite a few people who have an almost physical reaction when someone says their partner is their “best friend.”

Q: I’ll confess I was one of those people. I definitely was someone who, when I thought about doing this study, had feelings about whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. What I like about our results is

that I think it supports people either way in their argument.

A: If you are someone who calls your romantic partner your best friend – and about 39 percent of our sample who included their romantic partner as a named friend did – you were more likely to report greater feelings of companionship compared to those who have a best friend that is not their romantic partner. You’ve got somebody who’ll go to the movies with you, somebody who’ll watch your favorite show, somebody who’ll go dancing.

But for people who are say, absolutely not, and they have a best friend, but it is not their romantic partner, that’s where we found that social support was a little higher for those folks. Which makes sense in relation to the convoy model. Having two people who are supporting me and the things I want to be able to do versus having just one person supporting me and the things I want to do.

So, is it better to have your best friend be your romantic partner or a platonic friend?

One of our big takeaways in this study is that valuing friendship with your romantic partner is really great in the context of your relationship. Acknowledging that you are close to them, that you have routines with them, that you like to connect – those are all good things. We would never say don’t value those things.

But having other people in your life who can also support you and be there with you, those are really important things to strive for as well.

Q: What are the benefits and drawbacks to each?

A: Other than companionship and social support, there was not a big difference in the benefits of either when it came to well-being. The level of loneliness wasn’t different; life satisfaction wasn’t different; connection wasn’t different. Which is all great. We want people to have good levels of those things. It was only companionship and support that differed and in those opposite directions.

So, with social support it makes sense that if I have two people instead of one person who are able to support me, then I have a greater perception that I’ve got a support

Books Continued from page 4

Norwegian novelist Per Petterson that was magnificent, as well as another novel by the same author that left me scratching my head after 50 pages. I figure I’ll take another run at it one of these days when I’m more in the mood for Norwegian existentialism. There are books that I bought on a whim or out of curiosity about a new author or that were given to me by friends and that I may eventually get around to reading. There are copies of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig and On the Road by Jack Kerouac, as well as The Honey Badger and Uhuru by Robert Ruark and others that I no longer like, but did once and may again. There’s an old hardback copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. It was the only book she ever intended to publish, but it was a good one. I’m haunted by books the way Norman MacLean was “haunted by waters” in A River Runs Through it

It would take a forensic geek to figure out what you’d been doing on your computer, but book people betray themselves with lots of obvious hard evidence. When I go into someone’s house, I invariably scan their bookshelves, which is a little like going through their underwear drawer, only not as creepy. I feel that I can tell a lot about people from their books, or in some cases the relative lack thereof. A shelf filled with technical manuals tells you one thing. A shelf full of romance novels (or “bodice-rippers” as they were once called) tells you another. I once knew a Hell’s Angel who owned exactly two books: a Bible and a copy of Mein Kampf, by Adolf Hitler. He said he hadn’t been able to get through either one (“too many big words”) but kept them for sentimental reasons.

Whenever I catch a reader scanning my bookshelves, I feel momentarily exposed. Were they impressed by my hardback edition of Moby Dick, or did they raise their eyebrows over The Story of O or Spanking the Maid? I don’t think I’ve ever been in a home that didn’t have at least a couple of books lying around. If I had, I think I’d remember.

John Gierach died on Oct. 3. He was an outdoor and fly fishing writer who writes books and columns for magazines including a regular column for Trout Magazine. His books include Trout Bum, Sex Death and Fly fishing, and Still Life with Brook Trout. He won seven first place awards from the Colorado Press Association for his columns in the Redstone Review. His latest book, All the Time in the World, was released in March 2023 and is available at Boulder Book Store in Boulder on the Pearl St. Mall or at Simon and Schuster Publishing.

Piecing together Continued from page 4

item: “Walter Stewart, fireman on the local passenger run, has purchased the corner lot north of the Congregational Church, and will build in the spring. Walter always did want to live on Henpeck row.”

Laurel and Wallace’s names appear frequently under the monthly school record for perfect attendance. Two events of significance for the children were noted in the Recorder. The May 26, 1910 edition noted that Wallace was recovering from injuries suffered when he was kicked in the head by a horse. The August, 31, 1911 edition noted that Laurel had turned seven years old and the party held in her honor was attended by 20 boys and girls where cake and ice cream were served.

Additional information about Laurel, gleaned from items in the collection, show that in 1923 she graduated from North Side High School in Denver and she received a Teacher’s Certificate from the State of Colorado allowing her to teach in the public schools in Eagle County, Colorado. Several lapel pins in the collection show that Laurel was a member of the National Secretaries Association, which was founded in 1942, and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for over 50 years.

The Order of the Eastern Star is an appendant body of the Masonic Fraternity noted for their charitable work and social interaction. Female membership in the Order was based on a male relative’s membership in the Masons, presumably her father. Laurel died in 1993 and is buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge.

Her brother Wallace served in the Army during WWII after which he worked for the City of Denver in the Public Works

CSU Continued from Page 13

network. The companionship measure, that was about having people to do things and go places with you.

An example of that is that I once made my husband go to a figure skating competition with me. And bless him, he went –and I think he actually enjoyed it. That was something that, at the time, I didn’t have a friend in the community that could go with me. But I knew I could get my husband to go. That’s where that companionship piece comes in with the romantic partner. We might feel more willing to say, you must do this thing, and we wouldn’t necessarily ask or expect our best friend to do it.

Q: Are there certain demographics that are more likely to fall into the best friend romantic partner category?

A: We did ask questions about structural or demographic factors that might make someone more likely to call their romantic partner their best friend or not. And the ones we found really made sense.

If you have a lower income, are older, or are dating (not married to) your romantic partner, you’re more likely to call them your best friend. We know from past research that as people get older that network tends to get smaller, and we also know that those with lower incomes tend to have smaller networks.

In this case, having a romantic partner as a core part of that network likely explains the emphasis on being a best friend, too. In terms of dating, we also know from past studies that when people first start dating someone they tend to lose friends, partially as they focus more on that romantic partnership, so it again makes sense that we might see someone see their partner as fulfilling the role of best friend, too.

Q: In the paper you cited some research that Americans might even be veering away from emphasizing romantic relationships in favor of platonic ones. How might this research factor into that?

A: One of the things that we grapple with in the paper is that, while we don’t ask people if that’s their view, in society we’re seeing a growing number of Americans who are single or unmarried or marrying later in life. So, we know that emphasis on romantic relationships is lower than it has been in past generations.

There was also a survey that the Pew Research Center did where they asked people what the most important things in life are, and good friendships were identified more often than getting married and starting a family. Those are things that Americans still value, but we are starting to have this different conversation about it.

We put so much pressure in the past on romantic relationships and even talk about these ideals of you’re supposed to get married, you’re supposed to start a family, you’re supposed to want these things. And now we’re starting to say, well, actually, we can have lots of people in our lives who serve different roles and have different ways that we connect with them. And that can be really, really good for us.

This study was a chance to explore that in some ways, and we did find that compared to past studies, fewer people are calling their romantic partner their best friend.

Piecing together Continued

Department. One of his jobs there was the installation and repair of traffic lights in Denver. Wallace died in 2002 and is buried in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Wheat Ridge alongside his wife Ann Dubravac Stewart. You can explore more of Lyons history through our historic district walking tour and our five virtual exhibits, all of which can be accessed from our website www.lyonsredstonemuseum.com. The museum relies on grants and donations to fund our operations, and your support is greatly appreciated. You can donate through our website or by mail to Lyons Historical Society, P.O. 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.

LEAF Continued from Page 6

LEAF. And, we are so excited to start Introduction to Fly Fishing in the St. Vrain with Blaine Davis from Wildcat Mountaineering, as soon as the creek slows down.

Check for details of all Front Porch offerings and sign up for free by going to leaflyons.org and clicking on “Front Porch Offerings.”

LEAF’s mental wellness Clinical Program Director, Cherie Maureaux, said, “Mentalwellness is fun. Our new home at LEAF is alive with movement, joy, and hope. We hope to see you at LEAF and out and about at different locations about town where we can keep learning and growing.”

And be sure to mark your calendars for one of our favorite events of the year, the Annual LEAF and LCF Hootenanny on Sunday, August 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the beautiful new facility at River Bend. We’re excited to welcome performers Five Foot Betties, the 89’s, and Mayama to the stage, plus enjoy food trucks, kids’ activities, lawn games, the annual rubber duckie river race, and an incredible silent auction. We’re so grateful for our partnership with the Lyons Community Foundation and can’t wait to celebrate with you Leadership Transition at LEAF.

In June, LEAF announced that Executive Director Lory Barton will be transitioning out of her role. We are grateful for her years of service in Lyons and wish her the very best on her next journey.

The LEAF Board of Directors is launching a thoughtful, inclusive search for our next Executive Director. A job posting and full details are available at www.leaflyons.org and on our social media. We look forward to welcoming a new leader to guide LEAF into a fresh era of growth, connection, and community.

As we navigate this leadership change, we remain firmly rooted in, our mission: to foster health and well-being in the greater Lyons area. Our programs, services, and events continue full steam ahead, powered by our dedicated staff, your ongoing support, and our shared belief in community.

Thank you, Lyons. We truly are better together.

Kim Hinzy is a local Licensed Clinical Social Worker who serves as chair of LEAF’s Board of Directors.

Wildlife Continued from Page 6

DeCoste again came to the rescue. He said that triplets in mule deer are not uncommon. Twins are the norm, but according to DeCoste, older does will sometimes have triplets.

“Having more than one fawn is an insurance policy against predation since mortality is very high in the first year,” shared DeCoste. “Often by fall, when you see does with the fawns, it’s just a single fawn with its twin having died during the summer months, usually from predation.” Survival is hard in nature.

One thing I’ve learned in observing wildlife is that the more you watch, the more you want to know. As much as we try to predict wildlife behavior, there are always surprises, and often exceptions. Keep watching and wondering.

Deborah Huth Price is an environmental educator who lives in Pinewood Springs. If you have a wildlife wonder you’d like the answer to, feel free to email her at debhprice@gmail.com. Visit her blog at www.walk-the-wild-side.blog.

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