Redstone March/April 2020

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MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

B •R •I •E •F •S Lyons Fire Protection District and update on Corona Virus from Chief Hoffman LYONS – Our dispatch center will be screening callers for symptoms related to the Corona virus.

Out of precaution, our firefighters may need to respond in personal protection equipment (PPE) in some situations. PPE may consist of protective clothing such as gowns or a protective jumpsuit, mask, goggles and gloves which are designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection.

Please do not be alarmed, we are doing this to protect our responders as well as to try to mitigate the spread of the virus to others. We may also ask that others in the residence that are with the patient, put on a face mask which our crews will supply. This is also as a protective measure to try to mitigate exposure.

We will come to you, please be patient as we are getting our gear on to come inside your home. We may also give you a call on your phone to ask you some questions prior to us entering your home again to provide safety to our crews.

Also, out of precaution, we are not allowing station tours or the use of our meeting rooms at this time and are also limiting public access to our buildings unless it is an emergency.

We are dedicated to providing our citizens the absolute best services in EMS that we can provide while dealing with this growing issue. We will continue to provide valuable updates and information as available and as needed.

We thank you all for your patience and understanding while we as a community, all go through this together.

The bobcat was spotted relaxing on Old South St. Vrain a few weeks ago. Many thanks to photographer David Lawrance for giving us his permission to use it.

Lyons town board meets online to avoid virus

Gov. Polis orders all restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters, breweries and other closures

By Susan de Castro McCann Redstone Review Editor

DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis announced Monday afternoon that he was ordering all on-site dining to be prohibited at restaurants and bars in Colorado as part of the effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Drive-thru, take-out and delivery services are still be permitted.

The order remains in effect for 30 days and it went into effect at 8 Continue Briefs on Page 14

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I •N •D •E •X LYONS

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MAYOR’S CORNER

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HOUSING

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OPTIONS

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CONCEPTS

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INSIGHT

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CANDIDATES Q&A

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A&E

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CONTEXT

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WILDLIFE

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LYONS – As the world as we know it shuts down, and people all over the world are wondering if their lives will ever be the same again, Lyons takes its own steps to try and ensure the safety of residents amidst the growing Coronavirus crisis.

Two months ago, few people had ever heard of the Coronavirus and now it is everywhere with no end in sight.

The Lyons Town Board issued an emergency declaration for the town to give the board and the town staff more leeway to close facilities, meet electronically and take other measures to reduce the risk to public health.

Following along those lines, the town board conducted its second March meeting through a meeting website while board members logged on from their homes. This was the first time they conducted a remote meeting in that way that I can remember. The public was invited to join in and was allowed to comment during audience business.

The board passed a Wastewater Pretreatment Ordinance on first reading in the consent agenda. In the ordinance, the definition of pretreatment is stated as: Pretreatment means the reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties in wastewater before or in lieu of discharging, or otherwise introducing, such pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works (POTW).

In the ordinance the Town Administrator is authorized to take any action necessary to enforce the provisions of the ordinance. The town can suspend water and wastewater

service to the violator. The town can fine the violator up to $1000 per violation on a per-day basis.

Aaron Kaplan, Director of Utilities and Engineering, said in a memo to the town board, “The main concern with the wastewater has been particular pollutants being too high. One of those pollutants is called Biochemical Oxygen Demand or BOD. It should also be noted that the BOD coming out of the plant has been well below the allowable limit. The State has a limit on how much BOD can go into the plant in addition to how much can come out of it.

This is where our system has seen much higher numbers than it should, with the amount of BOD in the wastewater going into the plant. The wastewater plant takes these higher levels of BOD and still gets them below the limit allowed on the way out of the plant. The wastewater system is doing its job.”

Kaplan said that there is a concern for the levels of copper in the water. The state guidelines show that houses most at risk were built between 1983 and 1987 and a second level of concern is homes built before 1983.

The town is working with all customers in the higher classification for higher levels of high strength waste or pollutants in their wastewater.

Kaplan told the board that the centrifuge has been repaired and is up and working.

The centrifuge repair cost $14,000, and a new pump cost

another $14,000. Then another $13,500 was spent on Apple Valley water tank modifications that were needed to meet new regulations.

In other news Town Administrator Victoria Simonsen said she met with the Planning and Community Development Commission (PCDC) to see what help they could offer local businesses during the COVID-19 period.

“We want businesses to know that we are going to totally support them. We do have a revolving loan fund and we can lower the interest rate to even 2 percent.”

The board discussed camping in the local parks and decided that camping in RVs was fine but did not want to allow tent camping.

“I want to keep RV camping but we should discourage tent camping,” said Mayor Connie Sullivan. “If we tell people now, they can make plans.”

The board decided to suspend utility shut offs for non-payment of utility bills and to waive late fees for a period of time due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

After a discussion the board decided not to list pro and con statements for ballot issues. They also voted 7 to 0 to exercise the appeal process of PCDC’s passage of the resolution approving a development plan for Summit Housing Group. And the board had a discussion on directing staff to refer the Outdoor Activity Overlay district for Lyons Den at 160 Main St. to the PCDC. The board then went into an executive session to discuss the personal matter involving the evaluation of the Town Administrator Victoria Simonsen to discuss the extension of her employment contract.

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REDSTONE • REVIEW

MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

LYONS Spring Clean Up Day is coming up in May

By Dawn Weller Redstone Review LYONS – With spring around the corner, it’s time to start planning for the annual Lyons Community Clean Up Day, coordinated by the Lyons Sustainable Futures Commission (SFC). Clean Up Day Weller will take place Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lyons wastewater treatment plant on Second Avenue, across from Bohn Park. SFC is coordinating with other Boulder County agencies to provide several options for responsible disposal of your items. Participants so far include: • CHaRM takes hard-torecycle items such as bicycle tires, car tires, mattresses, box springs, Freon appliances, porcelain toilets, fire extinguishers, and electronic waste such as computers and peripherals, audio equipment, phones, small electric items, TVs, VCRs, cellphones, and plastic appliances.

Also accepted is #6 white block foam (Styrofoam), durable plastics (such as lawn furniture, buckets, trash containers, and barrels), clothing for recycling, paired reusable shoes, books, bicycle tubes, plastic bags, printer cartridges, and scrap metal. Fees apply to some items. No plate glass or cooking oil will be accepted.

Refer to the CHaRM website for more information: ecocycle.org/charm • Resource Central will accept tools, some building materials, cabinets and shelves, and outdoor furniture in good condition. See their website for more information and specific items they accept: resourcecentral.org.

• Boulder County Hazardous Waste will accept paint,

household chemicals, motor oil, and batteries for recycle.

Come early to recycle these items, as this service will close once they reach their carrying capacity. See their website for more information: https://www.bouldercounty.org/environment/hazardous-waste/about-household-hazardous-waste/.

Yard waste that can become mulch will be accepted: grass, leaves, very small branches. Some wood can be dropped off for chipping (free): small and medium sized limbs (up to 10” in diameter) and untreated lumber (wood with NO paint or stain).

Landfill items such as couches, painted or stained wood, and bulky trash will be accepted. Landfill costs will be the same as those charged by regional commercial disposal sites.

Note that this event, sponsored by the Town of Lyons and Boulder County, is designed to promote recyreuse, and cling, responsible disposal for area residents. All commercial waste and construction/building materials must be taken to an area disposal or landfill location.

More details and costs will be published on the town website and in local papers.

To the Editor: We, the residents of Lyons, wish to combine our voices to speak out against the town mandatory single hauler trash service (sometimes referred to as PAYT).

We are a combination of Western, United, and One Way clients, as well as those who don’t currently have a trash service at all. We urge you all to vote against this overreach by the town government!

We are happy with the garbage systems we use. Some of us don’t even have a trash service now because we generate so little actual trash. Some of us take it to work, or share service with a neighbor. Some of us have been with our current provider for many years and have no complaints. All of this will change if this is approved because it is MANDATORY of all HOUSEHOLDS in the town of Lyons.

We already PAY to recycle, each and every one of us, because our taxes support the town Recycle Center. The center is not going away and we will continue to use it.

Selecting one monopoly trash hauler, and a new town utility, would have been a done deal. The decision wasn’t even going to be up for a vote until a group of Lyons residents, from all parts of our community, took action to assure we all have a choice in the future.

We just need to vote YES on Resolution 2020-09 which gives us the right to decide on this utility for ourselves and NO on the Board of Trustee’s single hauler trash service.

Dawn Weller is a member of the Sustainable Futures Commission. She is a former Lyons Trustee and Parks and Rec Commission chair. She lives in Lyons.

Your Friends and Neighbors: Nicholas Angelo, Maureen and Randy Arthur, Patty Ayala, Dennis Bachy, Abe and Jene Bergan, Natalie and Rob Boggess, Bill Boone, Robert Brakenridge, Monica Brooks, Amber and Mark Burton, Loretta Bunyan, Jim Crowder, Dave and Linda Daniels, Robert Danson, Renee de Alba, Becky Deveny, Erin Donnelly, Janet Wilson Edwards, Joycelyn and Steve Fankhouser, Joanne Farmer, Kristine and Nick Fuster, Quinton Giese, Albert and Linda Goranson, Albert and Olena Goranson, David and Sharon Gouge, Dean and Mindy Huff, John and Sarah Hunter, John Lamb, Jan McCain, Jared McCain, Jim McCain, Cindy and Pete Moffitt, Ifka and James Morton, Charles and Sara Olson, Melissa Romero, Kathy Shulkin-Jensen, Pamela Sichel, Bill and Cherine Steel, Helen V, Juli and Kenyon Waugh.

Tag Along – This very sweet and gentle four-yearold boy will make a delightful companion. Tag Along gets along well with other kitties as well as dogs and loves quiet time with his favorite people.

Come in for a visit with this handsome boy today.

More than 200 animals are waiting for forever families at Longmont Humane Society. Visit them at www.longmonthumane.org, and then come meet them at the shelter at 9595 Nelson Road.

Homeward Bound 2020 cancelled After assessing recommended best practices surrounding COVID-19, and in the interest of doing our part to keep our community healthy and safe, Longmont Humane Society has made the difficult decision to cancel our upcoming Homeward Bound event scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 21. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your support and understanding as we continue to serve the community in a thoughtful, safe manner. Please contact Liz Smokowski, CEO at liz@longmonthumane.org with any questions.

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MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

REDSTONE • REVIEW

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MAYOR’S CORNER This is not the time to dismantle the Lyons Urban Renewal Authority

By Connie Sullivan, Mayor of Lyons Redstone Review LYONS – Thanks to coronavirus, our economy is about to take a hit. It’s too soon to know how severe the shock will be, Sullivan but most experts believe the virus has the potential to send the U.S. economy into a recession. Our local businesses are already struggling to absorb massive increases in property tax rates and higher utility fees. If concerns related to COVID-19 last into the summer resulting in limited tourism and canceled weddings and concerts, it could be a rough year for Lyon’s local business owners.

The summer revenues are what carry most businesses through the winter months. It was under similar conditions that the idea of creating a Lyons Urban Renewal Authority (LURA) was ulti-

mately born. After the collapse of the housing market and subsequent recession, several local Lyons businesses were forced to close. During the recent candidate forum, several trustee candidates mentioned their skepticism about whether Lyons needs an urban renewal authority so I want to clarify some of the misunderstandings expressed during the discussion.

Forming an urban renewal authority (URA) has been a priority of the Board of Trustees for well over a decade, and the Board seated from 2012 to 2014, was one meeting away from succeeding until the floods hit Lyons the week before the final vote was to take place. URAs exist because they are a flexible tool to eliminate blight in communities and close the monetary gaps for projects that are unlikely to happen due to a gap in funding. Usually this gap is created because of the blighted condition of the property and the extraordinary cost associated with bringing the

property up to code.

URAs don’t fund beautification efforts like planting flowers on Main Street.

Rather, URA dollars must be used for improvements that have a public benefit such as demolition and site clearance; installation of streets, sidewalks, storm drainage, sewer and water lines; preserving historic structures; or removing hazardous materials. Lyons has very little undeveloped land within the Town boundaries, and therefore most development will occur on blighted properties and aged buildings.

Because redevelopment costs more than developing green-space, Lyons can facilitate projects by providing funding for aspects of the project that benefit the public.

Every mayor of Lyons for the past 15 years agreed that URA is an effective and flexible tool to incentivize redevelopment that Lyons needs. The Metro Mayors Caucus (a coalition of mayors from communities of all sizes and political affiliations

Good news and important news from LEAF

By Lory Barton Redstone Review

COVID-19 challenge. We are grateful for donations of food and for the donors who faithfully support this vital program that helps so many remain independent. Visit our website LYONS – Thanks to the loyal support of at leaflyons.org for current Lyons Food Pantry needs. With so many, the Lyons Emergency & Assis- the challenges our community faces as the COVID-19 sittance Fund (LEAF) completed so much uation unfolds, we are so grateful for the commitment of so great work in 2019. Over 100 volunteers many to LEAF’s vital work in our community. donated 5,310 hours of their time to LEAF’s Lyons Community Food Pantry is open each Barton make LEAF happen in 2019. Here is a Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in the lower level of sample of LEAF’s impact last year, as well as the opportu- Lyons Community Church. Please look for Facebook upnities and challenges we expect to encounter this year. dates as we expand our hours in response to the COVIDLyons Community Food Pantry 19 challenge. The Food Pantry is free and available to • Total pounds of food from Community Food Share: anyone in the Greater Lyons area who needs nutrition 29,766 (down 11% from 2018) and community.

• Total pounds of food Meals on Wheels donated by commu• Total number of nity members: 18,144 meals delivered in (18% increase from 2019: 3,169 (37 per2018) cent increase over • For the grand total 2018) for 2019: 47,910 • Free St. Vrain Marpounds of food distribket Sandwiches: 688 uted in 2019 (30 percent increase • Value of food disover 2018) tributed: $44,077 • Volunteer hours: • Food Pantry visits: 936 1475 Our volunteer pro• Volunteer hours: gram leader, Eric An1392 dresen, and dedicated Our volunteer direcdrivers deliver hot tors, Monique Sawyermeals and warm “helLang, Nancy Reckling, los” to our friends and and Deb Tabor, as well neighbors who need as the many dedicated 8-year-old Jourleni Ruiz visits the Lyons Community Food Pantry. them each day, all year volunteers, provide long. The price of meals great food and healthy is determined using a community each Wednesday afternoon in the lower level of generous sliding scale, and nobody is turned away due to Lyons Community Church. inability to pay.

Food availability continues to be a challenge in 2020. We Demand continues to increase, and the cost of meals find ourselves purchasing more food and looking for creative we purchase and deliver is increasing by 50 percent this ways to supply the pantry, especially as needs rise during the year. We are grateful for committed donors who partner to-

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across the state) has consistently advocated to protect the right of cities and towns to use this tool to facilitate development, which generally results in stimulating the economy. URA does what zoning codes do not when properties are developed as “use-by-right,” and gives communities more control over how development happens. By making the town an investor in the project, the town can have more influence how development occurs.

Having a URA to close funding gaps during difficult economic times may be the difference between a project moving forward or not. The dilapidated water treatment plant site east of town is a good example of the type of property that can benefit from URA. This area is the current focus of the LURA and a plan is being discussed for approval by the Board of Trustees. The town recently sold the property to Paul Tamburello who has plans to Continue Mayor on Page 14

gether with LEAF, our volunteers, and clients. LEAF is prepared to meet growing demand as friends and neighbors self-quarantine to maintain health and wellbeing.

Basic Needs and Resource Matching • Households served: 45 (25 percent increase over 2018) • Average basic need grant: $203 • Referrals to partner agencies: 84 This year, 2020, is off to a busy start, with growing housing and transportation issues driving much of the need.

This program helps people stay on their feet and refers them for comprehensive support when needed. These best practice interventions offer help, empower people, and ultimately help avoid tragic circumstances like homelessness. I offer many thanks to partners who trust LEAF to help community members navigate through difficult times.

Partnering with our community and governmental agencies, we will help our friends and neighbors as they face challenges related to COVID-19.

Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery LEAF’s newest program, launched in September, 2019 • Total individual counseling sessions completed Chrie Mareaux, LEAF’s lifourth quarter 2019: 45 • Number of group life censced clinician, runs the skills classes: 12 classes, Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery program. three hours each Our licensed clinician, Cherie Maureaux, volunteered 400 hours of her time before launching the program. We will continue to grow Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery this year. Group Life Skills classes started recently, and individual counseling is available as well.

One goal of Mental Wellness and Addiction Recovery is to offer mental health care to people who have been preContinue LEAFon Page 14

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REDSTONE • REVIEW

MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

HOUSING Where the candidates stand on affordable housing

tiatives on the Board of Trustees, including ADUs. In the platform statement that she emailed me, she said “While this is a great start, it isn’t enough to support our community’s needs. Lyons does not have sufficient affordable

By Amy Reinholds per home, electric vehicle charging stations, enclosed storor rental options.” She mentioned some home-ownership age units for each home, an easement to allow access from Redstone Review COMMENTARY: Carter Drive to the adjacent 12993 N. Foothills Highway progress at the three Habitat for Humanity duplexes, which AFFORDABLE HOUSING LYONS –Both candidates for Town of property and easements for town utilities, bear-proof trash are one duplex away from being complete. “Having affordIN LYONS Lyons mayor, Jocelyn Farrell and Nick receptacles, and a detention pond concept to be added able housing options will help provide employees for our Angelo, and Board of Trustees candidates and implemented in the development plan to prepare for small businesses and enable Lyons to become a stronger, Mark Browning, Wendy Miller, Mike a 100-year stormwater event, approved by a town engineer more diverse community,” Farrell said. “We must make plans now for future affordable housing development.”

Karavas, and Hollie Rogin all have sup- before a building permit is granted.

At the candidate forum, Farrell listed affordable housing ported a wide range of ways to ease burdens The PCDC commissioners also added a prohibition as one of the three top issues she wanted to focus on if on both homeowners and renters in the against short-term vacation rentals in the lease agreeTown of Lyons in their official capacities ments as a condition. The conditions came from concerns elected mayor, as something that touches her personally. In when serving on the Lyons Planning and from neighbors, PCDC commissioners, and consulting her platform statement that she emailed me, Farrell deCommunity Development Commission agencies such as the Lyons Ecology Board and the Lyons scribed growing up living in apartments, rental houses, and Reinholds (PCDC) and the Lyons Board of Trustees.

Utilities and Engineering Board as described at a mobile home. “The high cost of property values, health care, student loans, child care and transportation are a few These approaches include supporting policies for acces- http://www.townoflyons.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Ite sory dwelling units (including tiny homes on wheels and m/6710?fileID=14690. The next step in the process is a examples that can have a significant impact on financial aging in place) and for limiting short-term vacation rentals, Development Plan Agreement before the Lyons Board of stability,” she said. “I know Lyons residents who have these challenges and are one hardship away from choosing to live supporting Habitat for Humanity, encouraging using the $4 Trustees, possibly in April. million in federal Disaster Recovery funds set aside for subSummit is under contract with landowner Keith Bell to here or move out of town.” At the forum, she mentioned sidized affordable rentals in the Town of Lyons (which Sum- purchase both Tract A of Filing No. 8 for 21 townhomes, the Boulder County goal for 12 percent affordable housing mit Housing Group eventually applied for and was granted and 19 existing platted single-family-home lots in the sub- across the county by 2025 and how the Town of Lyons is a by the State Housing Board), and highlighting a challenge division, all affordable rentals to households at 60 percent partner in that plan, with a variety of affordable housing for local businesses who can’t find employees to hire who of the area median income, required and monitored policies and proposals like the ADU policy, and affordable can afford to live in town. Board of Trustees candidate through federal funding programs. The funding comes from rentals subsidized by the federal Disaster Recovery funds.

Kenyon Waugh, who hasn’t served on a board or commis- the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) pro- “The ideas on the table will help us get there,” she said. sion in recent years, has said he supports increasing afford- gram and also the Community Development Block Grant Seven candidates competing for the six seats on able housing by removing administrative barriers and – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. In the Town of the Town of Lyons Board of Trustees hurdles, encouraging ADUs, employee Robert Brakenridge, who volunteered rehousing, and supporting federally subsidized cently on a subcommittee of the Lyons Ecology affordable rentals like the proposal from Board, emailed an policy statement that stated, Summit Housing Group in Lyons Valley “My own belief, ever since the flood of 2013, Park (although he hasn’t commented on has been that flood replacement/affordable details in the Summit proposal). housing, supported by public funds, should be But Board of Trustees candidates Greg in compliance with the Lyons Comprehensive Lowell and Robert Brakenridge are foPlan. On a topic that has caused the town so cusing narrowly on one topic related to the much controversy, I also feel strongly that town term “affordable housing” during their camtrustees should not substitute their personal bepaigns: problems they see with a proposal liefs for what a majority of the residents want, from Summit for a development plan to or don’t want. Subsidized affordable housing build 21 townhomes with rents affordable has a public cost; it should not be injected into to households at 60 percent of the area mea community unless that community has a say dian income or less. I haven’t heard them in it. Not just through developer-guided ‘infortalk about a campaign platform for the mation workshops’ but, ideally through a vote.”

Town of Lyons that eases burdens on both Brakenridge argues in a way that pits homehomeowners and renters, of all ages, who are owners struggling to pay mortgages against struggling to get by in a town and a region A view of Lyons Valley Park TractA Filing 8, the proposed site for the Summit Housing renters who are struggling to find places to rent with rising house prices and rising rents. that they can afford and who would want to Group development of Lyons Valley Townhomes.

Other candidates have talked about live in new townhomes or homes for rent if these issues in their work over the past six built by Summit in Lyons Valley Park. He and a half years since the flood, or at least in their recent Lyons, Summit will be paying all required development fees, posted a comment to my column in the Lyons Recorder campaigns. Even at the candidate forum on March 9, impact fees, and connection fees, and won’t receive any tax that suggested I don't care about people with mortgages when asked specifically about affordable housing, Lowell breaks for the development. For more details, seelyonscol- who have a property tax increase because I support the and Brakenridge responded with comments focused on the oradonews.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/planning-commis- Summit proposal. In reality, we can live in a caring comability of residents to vote on all new affordable housing sion-approves-development-plan-for-21-townhomes. munity that helps both homeowners struggling to pay mortproposals, and broad statements of general support for the Two candidates competing for the Town of Lyons gages and the renters struggling to pay rent. I think that is Lyons Comprehensive Plan that ignored pieces of that mayor seat the compassionate path that almost everyone wants in the plan about subsidized affordable housing and the reality community – supporting multiple programs and approaches Nicholas Angelo, a former mayor and former member of lost housing stock. (Approximately 76 to 94 homes of the PCDC, supported the accessory dwelling unity that ease the burden of the wide variety of homeowners and were lost in the 2013 flood.) They didn’t talk about a way (ADU) policy to encourage more lower-priced market renters, like what candidate Hollie Rogin proposes. to help people struggling to pay rents and mortgages.

Brakenridge does not address this concept, which I think rentals in the Town of Lyons as a PCDC commissioner. In There are various nuances between candidates’ posi- the platform statement emailed to me, he said he would is vital for the Town of Lyons and the surrounding commutions, which I describe in the following sections. The in- like to see more of the subsidized affordable rentals at 40 nity. He also doesn’t have a track record on affordable housformation comes from their voting records on boards and percent AMI and special incentives for apartments acces- ing issues on a Town of Lyons board or commission – but commissions, their emails responding to my questions to sible for people with disabilities. His earlier statements to he does have a track record of trying to prevent Summit all candidates, online correspondence they initiated with me about the delaying affordable housing until he felt the from being approved for the CDBG-DR funding by giving me, and their statements at the March 9 candidate forum. water treatment plant as operating correctly were prob- input to the State Housing Board in February 2019. He I list candidates in alphabetical order by last name. It is lematic, implying the current plant cannot handle more asked the State Housing Board to reject the application, important to note that the Town Attorney has advised residential units in town. stating that it was incompatible with the Lyons Comprethat if there is a bias or prejudgment about the Summit In reality, the water treatment plant was designed for hensive Plan and other planning documents, that it does Housing Group development plan for Lyons Valley Park, residential waste even more than Lyons build out. The not address the housing needs of the town in a size approthe State of Colorado standards for ethical conduct of current issues are with industrial waste from high-strength priate and economical manner, and is in disagreement with elected officials require that the trustees must recuse waste producers, which are starting be addressed with a the purpose of the CDBG-DR funding program. The State themselves from a consideration, vote, or decision. There- plan for a pre-treatment ordinance. More residential waste Housing Board did not agree and approved the funding. fore, no one at the candidate forum commented about the without the BOD contaminants will help dilute the waste.

At the March 9 candidate forum, affordable housing was specifics of that proposal.

At the candidate forum March 9, affordable housing was not one of Brakenridge’s top three issues. When the canA quick update about Summit’s development plan for not one of Angelo’s top three issues to tackle, but he said didates were asked directly about what kinds of affordable Lyons Valley Townhomes: the Lyons Planning and Commu- he agreed with Hollie Rogin’s comment to pursue how to housing they supported in town, Brakenridge was the last nity Development Commission (PCDC) approved it on ADUs permanently affordable, something he did not pur- candidate in the order to give his answer. After hearing March 10. The plan for Tract A of Filing No. 8 of Lyons Val- sue when he was on the PCDC. He also said that he wanted what others said, Brakenridge said he supported the “10 or ley Park Subdivision is for a total of 21 townhomes, all with to see the subsidized rents in the Summit proposal go lower 12 percent” goals that were already set by the Town of two bedrooms. The plan shows five buildings: four two-story than the required maximum of 60 AMI and that he wanted Lyons and Boulder County and repeated something from fourplex buildings and one two-story fiveplex building. affordable housing accessible “for the physically impaired.” the Lyons Comprehensive Plan that “towns need a range The PCDC approval comes with more than a dozen Jocelyn Farrell, a current trustee now running for of housing.” He also stated an observation: “I noticed that conditions, including required bike parking of at least one mayor, has a history of supporting affordable housing iniContinue Housing on Page 12

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MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

REDSTONE • REVIEW

PAGE 5

OPTIONS Coronavirus means social distancing, loneliness, mental health, and reaching out

By Janaki Jane Redstone Review

alone, a mom or dad whose kids have left home, any older people who live by themselves? Is there someone who you used to be close to and haven’t hung out with for a while?

This is a good time to reach out and reconnect.

Here are some ideas for things we can do to connect: Pick up the phone and call. When you are scrolling through Facebook, or taking a break from working at

LYONS – We are doing it, social distancing. In order not to get physically vulnerable people sick, in order not to overload our health care system, we are all working to stay separate and apart Jane from each other due to the Coronavirus.

My doctor has requested that I stay home and not go out at all, because of my health conditions. So here we all are, those who can are working remotely, many others are losing income from the lack of custom at their workplaces, parents having to figure out child-care. All great things for the physical health of the community, but not so great for our mental health.

Over 61 percent of people now feel lonely some of the time. This is up from 47 percent just two years ago. Now the people who were feeling lonely sometimes when they could go to work or the coffeeshop are at home, many of them alone. What can we do for each other? How can we help each other during this already very stressful time of social distancing?

Social media, one of the main culprits that causes loneliness can, when used with purposefulness, helps us to feel connected with each other. Joining chat groups on Facebook or Google Chat/Hangouts or using FaceTime or Skype or Zoom to talk face to face with a friend or neighbor or family member can help to decrease those feelings of loneliness. So can a phone call, more than a text or a note on Facebook.

Do you know someone who you suspect is alone a lot?

A person who is divorced or widowed, someone who lives

home, or sitting around after dinner, pick up the phone and call someone you are thinking about. Tell them you are thinking about them and ask how they are doing. You don’t need a special reason to call; just reaching out helps.

You could take it a step further and “eat dinner together” on the phone, whether it’s a person or a family on each end of the phone, it could lead to some silly, fun, or significant time together.

Use video chatting to increase the feeling of connection. About 60 percent of communication is non-verbal,

Reexamining the way we think about prairie dogs

By Chelsea Barrett Redstone Review

Barrett

LONGMONT – City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) staff, trustees, and Prairie Dog Working group are in the process of finalizing a plan to address prairie dogs on approximately 280 acres of land that they have designated as

irrigable.

According to the draft plan, irrigable refers to areas “that are associated with water rights and water that is typically available at a time, in a place and in amounts such that those OSMP lands are, or are able to be, irrigated for agricultural or other purposes for which the applicable water rights are decreed.” During the initial engagement windows, OSMP described the situation to the community and collected feedback. The plan notes that the survey results are not statistically valid due to the way that responses were collected. The results indicated that that the stakeholders valued farming and ranching on open space over lives of individual prairie dogs and the animals that depend on them.

The draft plan acknowledges that only an estimated 40 acres of prairie dogs (which equates to 1,200 animals) can be relocated each year, which means they will be forced to use lethal removal methods on the remaining 240 acres (approximately 7,200 animals). The project area is focused on lands north of Jay Road (in Boulder), west of Diagonal Highway, and east of US 36. While the area of

focus does not encompass Lyons, we’ve all become familiar with these prairie dogs on our drives to and from Boulder, Longmont, and beyond. If you’re a wildlife lover like me, you probably find joy in watching them running to and from burrows, “kissing” by touching noses or incisors, and even hugging.

These little burrowing animals are an essential part of our ecosystem. They are a keystone species meaning that other animals, such as predators like foxes and eagles, depend on them as a source of food. Their burrows also provide shelter for other animals, such as the rare Great Plains Toad. Eliminating these prairie dogs means there will be a high risk of important predator species such as eagles,

so being able to see each other’s faces can really decrease the sense of distance and isolation. I just Googled “video chat apps,” and the first link was to a list and review of 24 video chat apps. If tech intimidates you, try Skype or Zoom. Zoom is nice because multiple people in different places can all join and see each other.

Meeting a friend to go for a walk outside and keeping a little distance can also work. Fresh air and sunshine, nature, exercise. So what if you need to talk a little louder than you usually do?

Join a group chat online. Many groups are starting to offer the opportunity to chat online about specific topics during this time of social distancing. Wide Spaces Community Initiative will be offering some opportunities for group connection through chats and video conferencing soon. Like our Facebook page and join our Group at https://www.facebook.com/widespacescomm/ to find out when and how.

Right now we have an opportunity to slow down and connect more deeply with the people around us. Let’s use it to include those who so often feel left out, to make more connections, for both you and for others.

Janaki Jane is the Program Director of the Wide Spaces Community Initiative, “Creating a Community of Belonging and Personal Safety for Everyone,“ a program through the Lyons Regional Library. She teaches multiple classes on mental health and suicide and creates community-building events.

hawks, foxes, badgers, and the black-footed ferret, which is the most endangered species in the United States.

Prairie dogs make up about 90% of the ferret’s diet.

These animals were wiped out in our state when human development caused a significant decline in their primary food source. In 2015, they were reintroduced by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and are starting to make a comeback.

Prairie dogs help enhance our western grasslands in a number of other ways. Studies show that the vegetation above a prairie dog town is higher in protein and nitrogen as a result of the animals helping manage it, and is favored by grazing ungulates such as bison, elk, and pronghorn.

Prairie dogs also help diversify plant species with their digging and scratching, which creates patches of bare soil for new types of vegetation to become established.

The way that they clip the plants around their shelters increases nitrogen uptake by these plants. Additionally, burrows can act as aquifers that cool the land while helping prevent water from eroding it.

I’ve heard people comment about how much they love seeing foxes and birds of prey in their neighborhood but could care less about prairie dogs. This kind of logic is concerning and doesn’t acknowledge the bigger picture when it comes to the role prairie dogs play in our world.

Please note this column is meant to be informational and educational. Greenwood is not an advocacy organization, so we do not feel it is our role to take a stance on policy.

Chelsea Barrett is the Development Manager at Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, which cares for thousands of mammals, songbirds and waterfowl each year. Greenwood also offers education programs for children and adults of all ages.

Visit www.greenwoodwildlife.org to learn more.

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PAGE 6

REDSTONE • REVIEW

MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

CONCEPTS Home on the Front Range – area elk find summer living easy

By Greg Lowell Redstone Review LYONS – Every fall, a herd of 300 or so elk make the journey from the high alpine meadows west of the Peak to Peak Highway to Heil Valley Ranch when the snow gets deep and the weather grows cold.

They spend the winter along the hogback that parallels Route 36 from Lyons to the intersection of Nelson Road, feeding on the open fields and agricultural lands to the east at night and returning to the warmth of the south- and east-facing slopes during the day.

Come early May, the herd reverses course and migrates back to the high country to calve and spend the summer months. That used to be the cycle of the so-called Red Hill elk herd, but is no longer true for some of the herd’s members.

Radio collar tracking and field observation have revealed that some of the herd have opted to stay year-round. This is a new phenomenon, causing biologists at Boulder County Parks and Open Space to grapple with increased elk-human conflicts on agricultural land, threats to highway safety along Rte. 36 and Nelson Road, and potential threats to native biodiversity due to overgrazing.

Open space attracts elk BCPOS manages more than 5,000 acres in this area, including Heil Valley Ranch and much of the land fronting Route 36 to the west.

A study done by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and BCPOS from 1997 to 2005 radio-collared a sampling of the elk herd and tracked their movements. It showed that as the former Heil Valley working ranch and quarrying areas were closed, the elk gravitated to those areas that were closed to the public.

Portions of the area along the hogback were also acquired by BCPOS over the past 15 years and are devoid of human visitation. Further, this large area was also closed to hunting, making life more comfortable for elk.

To the east BCPOS also manages another 1130 acres – some of it leased for agriculture. This area provides an open corridor to the 1,700-acre Table Mountain area owned by the Department of Commerce. Table Mountain has restricted access and little development, and that’s where the Red Hill herd has taken up

summer residence.

Study shows jump in year-round numbers During the earlier study, no radio-collared elk used the Table Mountain area, but a more recent study revealed a substantial change. More than 200 elk now use this area including a sub-herd that doesn’t migrate. Over the last three summers, 100, 44, and 108 elk have been

The Colorado Department of Transportation has identified the Route 36 corridor between Lyons and Boulder as an area of concern for wildlife-vehicle collisions. Since 2005, there have been 256 collisions with elk and deer, but in the last five years, these collisions have increased, including 40 elk strikes.

There are three regular crossing areas: near the former Foothills Baptist Church;

In the short term, a limited, five-year public harvest program is recommended.

This program would allow four hunters each week to use short-range weapons, such as bows and arrows, muzzle-loading firearms and shotguns, to take one cow elk each from August 15 to October 31. A similar program at Rabbit Mountain has resulted in 89 elk being taken in three seasons. Hunters will be selected by lottery and then must pass a proficiency test.

In concert with this limited hunting, BCPOS will work with adjacent private

The area south of St. Vrain Road has been identified as one of three major elk crossings on Rte. 36. Lyons’ nearby elk herd has found summer living here to their liking, but may soon face eviction.

PHOTO: DAVE HOERATH, BOULDER COUNTY PARKS & OPEN SPACE counted in the area.

“This sub-herd of the Red Hill population has the potential to continue to grow in numbers,” said Dave Hoerath, Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS) wildlife biologist. That growth, and the year-round movement of animals, increases agricultural damage, automobileelk collisions and habitat damage.

Elk love gardens The Red Hill herd has caused considerable damage to agriculture both north and south of Nelson Road. There are several vegetable and farming operations in the area where elk feed causing damage to stored crops like hay, ornamental trees and shrubs.

Game damage hunting licenses have been issued by CPW to private landowners, but in 2019 of the 32 licenses issued only three elk were harvested, indicating that hunting was largely ineffective.

Hazing with fireworks has also been tried, but has also proven ineffective. In one instance, after hazing, the elk returned overnight and ate stored hay in a barn.

Collisions on the rise

just south of St. Vrain Road; and a halfmile north of Nelson Road. And with the projected increase in traffic, elk and deer collisions are expected to rise.

Imperiled plants at risk The fear of habitat destruction by a fulltime population of elk is real. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program has rated the Red Hill area south of Lyons as having “outstanding biodiversity significance,” due to its concentration of “four or more globally critical imperiled to globally imperiled” elements. These elements include mountain mahogany shrublands and Piedmont grassland communities, as well as shale outcrops with the globally imperiled Bell’s twin pod.

“There’s currently no habitat damage on Red Hill, but cutting down on the yearround elk population will contribute to avoiding damage,” said Hoerath.

What’s to be done?

Cutting down on the elk herd is the focus of a management plan now in review at BCPOS that, like the current Rabbit Mountain limited elk hunt, needs to be approved by the Boulder County Commissioners.

landowners who are experiencing elk damage to pair them up with interested hunters.

Hazing of the elk in the spring in order to force them into a normal migration pattern is also being considered, but could be limited due to the potential for increasing car-elk collisions on the heavily traveled roads. Long term, the hunting program may be extended but perhaps not with the same targeted harvest numbers. Much depends on how the initial hunting pressure forces behavioral changes in the elk.

BCPOS also plans to address the wildlife crossings on Route 36, and has identified the three major crossings as potential areas for technology, such as sensor-triggered flashing lights.

The whole thrust of the management plan is to force the summering elk back their natural migration pattern.

Lyons resident Greg Lowell moved to Lyons in 2012 and was previously a life-long resident of New Hampshire. He serves on the town’s Ecology Advisory Board and Parks and Recreation Commission.

Senior activities in Lyons curbed to prevent spreading of COVID-19

By Kathleen Spring Redstone Review LYONS – Senior-related activities and meals in the town of Lyons have been cancelled or altered for approximately one month due to precautionary measures being taken to prevent the spread of Spring COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says “older adults” and people with serious chronic medical conditions “are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness.” Anyone over 60 and those with underlying health problems should try to avoid places with large crowds.

Therefore, all activities and gatherings of people in the Walt Self Senior Center have been cancelled or changed. The Town of Lyons exercise program, and craft and activity programs have been cancelled. Get on their email notice list to have the latest information: lramsey@townoflyons.com. The Boulder County Area

Agency on Aging (BCAAA) has closed the Lyons Bistro lunch doors, and it will be preparing its lunches in carryout boxes that seniors can take home. Call 303-4411415 to order the lunch by 1 p.m. on Tuesday and / or Thursday and pick it up at the Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday and / or Friday.

The following activities normally at the Senior Center have been cancelled for at approximately the coming month of March 15 to April 15: church suppers in the evening, film programs, watercolor classes, book art classes, anniversary celebrations, mini-massages, speakers, games, and pot lucks.

The Community Dinner and Improv by Wide Spaces Community Initiative on March 19 is cancelled. The Lyons Regional Library has also cancelled its programs and events. The Lyons Emergency & Assistance Program (LEAF) will keep the Food Bank open, and continue the delivery of Meals on Wheels.

It is a good idea to make sure your medication supplies are sufficient to get you through approximately one month.

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Also, if you live alone, it is also helpful to choose a friend or relative and ask them to call you each day to make sure you are in good condition. The CDC has several tips to help avoid getting the virus; go to: www.CDC.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html In April, the Walt Self Senior Center will be celebrating its third year of revival of the Center, along with bringing back the activities, programs, bus trips, crafts, meals and more. The BCAAA will be celebrating its third year of bringing nutritious lunches two days a week to the Senior Center at low cost. The celebration parties have been postponed due to the precautionary measures to avoid Covid-19 virus contamination. Contact LovingLyonsSeniorGroup@gmail.com to get notification of the return of events and the parties.

Kathleen Spring is a local historian and award-winning journalist, author and photographer. She does publicity, research, exhibits, and fundraisers for the Lyons Historical Society, and has done extensive video interviews Lyons’ pioneers.

MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

REDSTONE • REVIEW

PAGE 7

INSIGHT Primary confusion

By John Gierach Redstone Review LYONS – I’d never cast a ballot with such ambivalence as I did in the recent Colorado presidential primary. That’s Gierach because I did what so many experts predicted voters would do this year by voting not with my heart, for the candidate I wanted to be president, but with my head for whoever I thought stood the best chance of beating Trump in November. And on that count, no one stood out in what was then still a crowd.

As a habitual Democratic voter, I had the regulation soft spot for Vice President Joe Biden with his liberal credentials and decades of experience in government. It’s true that he’s always had the tendency to misspeak and to occasionally blurt out the kind of plain truths that politicians are supposed to hide behind a smokescreen, but I think that’s a bum rap. We all trip over our own tongues from time to time and the more we speak in public the more of it is on the record. And it seems unfair to complain that politicians never say what they mean, only to label Joe a loose cannon the minute he says what he means.

But this time around, at age 77, Uncle Joe seems a little more befuddled than usual and he made a mistake by not responding to Trump’s charges that he and his son were involved in something shady in Ukraine. The correct response would have been, “Look who’s talking about corruption” or “Let’s talk about your kids,” but ignoring the accusation was like entering a plea of no contest: it made him look guilty, even to me.

I liked Elizabeth Warren’s policies the best and I think she was arguably the smartest and most well informed of the candidates. When she washed out of the primary there was speculation that Democratic voters were gun shy of a woman candidate after Hillary Clinton’s loss to

Trump in 2016. When Warren was asked if sexism was a factor, she correctly pointed out that it was a trick question.

If she said yes, she’d be a whiner; if she said no, every woman in American would wonder what planet she was living on. It was a good answer from a candidate who’d become known for her good answers. If she can’t be president, she’s my choice for our next Secretary of the Treasury.

A similar question comes up about whether Pete Buttigieg being openly gay accounted for his performance in the primary. His orientation was only men-

wouldn’t have looked twice at Mike Bloomberg – multi-billionaire, former Republican, author of Stop and Frisk and so on. But this year some thought he could be the anti-Trump by being wealthier than Donald, legitimately selfmade and presumably tough and ruthless enough to take on the loudmouth. But although his countless TV ads made him look good, when he finally got around to entering the race he promptly folded in the debates, tanked on Super Tuesday and that was that.

Now Bloomberg has pledged his support to Joe Biden along with his billions of dol-

tioned in passing in the early reporting on his candidacy and was soon dropped almost entirely from the press coverage to the point that a woman voted for him in the Iowa caucus without knowing he was gay and when she was told blurted out, “Well, I don’t want someone like that to be president!”

In one way, Buttigieg is the ideal Democratic candidate: young, well-spoken, presentable, a veteran and a moderate. But then some said he was too young – he’s 38 – and that being the mayor of South Bend, Indiana wasn’t enough preparation for being president.

At first people did joke about his difficult name, but in a country that elected a president named Barack Hussein Obama it just never became a thing.

In a normal campaign, Democrats

lars, which will be much easier now that the Supreme Court has blown the lid off of campaign finance rules. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Citizens United decision, which was intended to favor Republicans, allowed Bloomberg to wash Trump from office on a flood of money?

I haven’t forgotten Bernie Sanders. He may be right that the only way to achieve anything like economic equality here is to adopt a Scandinavian model where we pay more in taxes, but get so much back in free services that we used to pay for that at the end of the year we end up with more money in our pockets. Some don’t like his cranky, professorial style but others do and he does have a large following, but even some moderates who might agree with him in principle are still uneasy and think he could scare off

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By Kara Bauman Redstone Review LYONS – The Lyons Community Library recently joined a growing number of libraries nationwide in eliminating Bauman overdue fines.

While the library has not been in the practice of collecting overdue fines for at least a couple of years, the Director and Board of Trustees resolved in February to

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officially eliminate them all together.

Why not collect overdue fines? One of the core missions of libraries is to provide equitable service to all residents. Overdue fines go against that mission by disproportionately affecting residents in low-income households. These patrons may have transportation challenges that keep them from getting to the library regularly. They may work multiple jobs, be single parents, or have unstable households, all leaving them with limited time to visit the library.

Families with small children are often negatively affected since overdue fines prevent them from fully experiencing the rich collection of early literacy materials and staff expertise available that is crucial to a child’s development.

Most notably, there is no research to support the long-held belief that fines encourage people to return library materials on time. In fact, many name the shame of having overdue fines as the top reason for

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other moderates as well as Trump deserters who might consider voting for a Democrat, but probably not for a Democratic Socialist.

By the time I voted in the primary I was exhausted. I’d heard so many charges and counter charges between the candidates that I no longer really liked any of them very much. Republicans are famous for standing behind their candidates even when they’ve been shown to be liars, scoundrels or felons, but Democrats set up impossible standards of political and ethical correctness that they themselves can’t live up to and then criticize each other for not living up to them.

For the record, I’m not looking for the perfect candidate. I want a human being who knows what it’s like to screw-up and is smart enough to learn from mistakes and not make the same ones again. I also agree with Senator Alan Simpson who said, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”

But in the end, I realized that it didn’t really matter who I liked or whose name I checked on the primary ballot because I planned to vote for whoever the Democrats put up on the premise that the worst possible Democratic candidate would be infinitely better than another four years of Trump. I’m with Chris Matthews of MSNBC who, a few weeks before his retirement, said that Democratic voters aren’t out to stage a revolution or otherwise make history, they’re just looking for a designated driver who can get them home safely.

John Gierach is 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 has won seven first place awards from the Colorado Press Association for his columns in the Redstone Review. His latest book, Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers, will be available in April 2020 at bookstores and fly fishing shops everywhere including South Creek Ltd. on Main Street in Lyons.

COVID-19 (coronavirus) Update The Lyons Community Library will be closed through at least March 29, 2020, as we mirror the St. Vrain Valley School District and minimize the possible spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) through public gathering. Please check the website, our Facebook page, and the doors of the library for more information as it becomes available.

During this time, please take advantage of our many online and downloadable resources. Do not hesitate to call us at 303-823-5165 or email us at info@lyonsregionallibrary.com should you require help with your account or have any other questions. We will check messages regularly and return them as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding as we respond to this unprecedented public health crisis. not visiting their local library. Patrons should, of course, make a habit of returning items on or before the due date. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s how libraries work. We will continue to charge lost and damaged fees and accounts with more than $10 in fees will be blocked.

To help with those pesky due dates what always seem to sneak up on you, we will also join several other AspenCat libraries in offering two automatic renewals for eligible items. As a reminder, items with new status only renew once and items with active holds cannot be renewed. You will receive an email reminder two days before your items automatically renew, and another email when the items do.

We’re proud to join the ranks of those libraries dedicated to removing barriers to access.

The Lyons Community Library is also proud to be a trusted partner in helping achieve a complete Census 2020 count.

Continue Library on Page 14

PAGE 8

REDSTONE • REVIEW

MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

CANDIDATES Q&A Candidates for Lyons Mayor and Trustees answer a few questions The candidates running for Lyons Town Board Trustees and for Mayor were asked to answer three questions for the Redstone Review. The questions were: What is the most important issue facing Lyons right now? What can the town board do to attract new businesses to Lyons and to keep the businesses that we have? The town board has set a goal of having 10 percent of new housing dedicated to affordable housing. Do you favor affordable housing, why and is this a reasonable goal?

Their answers are below.

Jocelyn Farrell, current Trustee running for Mayor Most important issue: The Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of the most important and difficult issues for Lyons. As Mayor, I will work closely with the new board to create a comprehensive pretreatment policy, reduce the biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids to comply with state and federal requirements. We will continue to diligently identify, prioritize and budget to correct the system. The plant must be in compliance to produce the cost-savings benefits it is meant to provide our town.

Attract new business: I strongly believe an increase in lodging will help stimulate our town’s businesses on Main St, our wedding venues, outdoor entertainment and music industry. In addition, I believe affordable housing will help current business owners retain employees and reduce attrition. Nearly every owner has expressed to me how difficult it is when an employee living in Longmont can’t make it to work because of bad weather, transportation and lack of convenience. This is often a challenge for the service sector, but if an employee can have local access to his/her job, businesses will have a more loyal and dedicated workforce. Finally, having an improved wastewater treatment plant and pretreatment policy will help to reduce significant costs impacting the business’ operating budgets as well.

Affordable housing: As a member of the Lyons Board of Trustees, I am currently working with county commissioners, elected city officials and community lead-

Nicholas Angelo, candidate for Mayor Most important issue: The most important issue by far is our out of compliance sewer plant. We have passed a BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) ordinance which is not complete but can be updated, just passed a testing port ordinance and are still working on a pretreatment ordinance.

To not have our sewer plant ordinances in place seven years after the flood is unacceptable. It is not just a matter of passing ordinances, it is also a matter of implementation and enforcement. I would urge the Board of Trustees to place this issue on an emergency footing.

Attract new business: Take a look at our commercial utility pricing structure, enter into partnerships with businesses that contribute to our industrial and high strength influent flowing into the sewer plant. The last thing we want to do is duplicate what happened to the Laundromat, our additional penalties forced them out of business. We would not want to duplicate that strategy with our restaurants, distillery or brewery.

ers developing plans focused on countywide initiatives to support affordable housing needs.

By 2035, Boulder County has set a regional goal to increase affordable housing inventory by 12 percent. As Mayor, I will work to align Lyons with Boulder County’s plan to provide for a varied residential demographic and stable workforce. That plan includes reaffirming our communities’ goals, bolstering outside facial resources, securing development and redevelopment options, and continuing to set regulatory policies to support our citizens. Having a long-term place to call home will be provide security, stability, better overall health and wellbeing for our whole town.

Personally, I feel very fortunate to call Lyons home for the past 12 years. I believe every person deserves an opportunity to live and work in Lyons should they choose to call this amazing town their home.

see that as sufficient to create the number of affordable homes that we have lost since the flood. I believe it should be more in the 15 to 20 percent range, but we simply do not have the space for building. I absolutely support Affordable Housing even at 10 percent; to get to that number is going to be years. The housing costs in this town have skyrocketed, mainly because the affordable dwellings were all in the flood’s path; to rebuild was impossible or costly. The homes that were all platted pre- and post-flood were monstrous, leaving virtually no unlocked land left. We are almost built out.

Greg Lowell,

ANGELO

Affordable housing: I support affordable housing. The PCDC recently approved an affordable housing project, we also built a Habitat for Humanity six unit project. We have the possibility of receiving additional funds from Boulder County to construct additional affordable housing on our eastern corridor. Since we are nearing build out we actually may exceed the 10 percent goal.

Wendy Miller,

FARRELL

MILLER

incumbent and Trustee candidate Most important issue: The most important issue facing the Board at this time is, without a doubt, the Wastewater Treatment Plant. We have just begun to address it with Ordinance passed on the testing ports. This will give us the ability to collect the random data we need from the businesses without interfering with their daily operations. With that data, we can get a Pre-Treatment Ordinance in place that will work for the operation of the plant to assure the effluent is in compliance. Those pieces, along with community education and outreach to the businesses to assure they are aware of what will hinder the plant operation running efficiently.

We need to get this in compliance and get a handle on it, so we feel good about adding more hook-ups to it.

Attract new business: Lyons is in a unique situation with the way things are.

I believe if we could get CDOT to work with us on putting in some traffic circles at both ends of town, we would see a greater number of folks stopping to check out the businesses. I also think that it would be helpful to have “walking tours” of town in the summer to attract folks to the historical part, in turn creating a love for Lyons. History is always a great way to connect people to a place. I also think a full service grocery store in the Eastern Corridor Development would bring in new business. Grocery stores tend to bring in other shops too, for a “whole experience” shopping area.

Affordable housing: The Town Board agreed to the BoCo County Wide goal.

The Housing Committee actually did not

Trustee candidate Most important issue: The Town will soon be emerging from its post-flood status. The administration of some $85 million in grant money has consumed Town staff and the Board for the last seven plus years. I don’t believe any of us know what a “normal” Town budget looks like or how it will be affected by maintenance and upkeep of the new flood projects.

Our parks bear little resemblance to what they were prior to 2013, and we have yet to see what normal maintenance costs look like for our improved parks. Once we get a handle on parks maintenance and income, we may need to increase usage fees. Likewise, our infrastructure (sewer lines, water mains) clearly needs to be rebuilt or repaired. It’s beyond shameful that we leak sewage into the ground and lose valuable water through leaking mains. It’s doubtful the funds in the water and sewer fund will be able to pay for infrastructure work; the Town may have to ask residents to approve a bond to perform this necessary work. Beyond these issues, I’ve committed to improving resident awareness of Town budget, issues and future plans as well as the workings of the boards and commissions through publication of an annual town report.

Attract new business: A modest hotel to attract wedding venue guests and festivarians would be appropriate – the closer to downtown the better. Every tourist season, millions of visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park pass through Lyons. We must figure out a way to capture this business through building the right mix of businesses on the Eastern Corridor and im-

cessive organics or heavy metals. It’s not fair to penalize all businesses over the transgressions of a few. We need to find out who the offenders are and insist on either pretreatment or a change of practices.

Affordable housing: We’ve never had a conversation about affordable housing in Lyons that didn’t devolve into vitriol and name-calling (a prime example is the 2015 Bohn Park proposal where, to this day, those who opposed the plan are vilified).

There are residents on both sides of the issue who need to be equally heard and whose viewpoints considered. Moreover, when the town directly inserts itself into the affordable housing issue by either offering town land for affordable housing or taking a purchase and sale on land then soliciting developers, there needs to be an open public discussion and possibly a binding vote of the residents. Beyond that, the Town should offer incentives through their municipal code to achieve the desired 10 percent allocation. But it’s one thing to say 10 percent of new housing will be affordable, it’s another to guarantee its continuing affordability. I went through the same process in a small town in N.H. where concessions were made to allow affordable housing, and because nobody had oversight the 20 percent affordability goal essentially disappeared upon the second and third selling of those designated homes. The question becomes: who is going to monitor the Town’s affordable housing to ensure compliance with the 10 percent stated goal?

Mark Browning, incumbent and Trustee candidate Most important issue: The budget, because that cuts across all other issues. We need to trim some non-essentials out of the budget and get back to basics – Fourth Ave. bridge, streets, infrastructure.

Attract new business: Increase housing availability so businesses can hire employees who can live in Lyons. Avoid further property tax increases that hit businesses especially hard due to the Gallagher Amendment.

Affordable housing: I support affordable housing, but the 10 percent of “new housing” goal really doesn’t compute any-

BROWNING

more when there are less than 10 vacant lots in town apart from the Summit lots, buyout/floodplain lots and parks/open space. We’re nearing 100 percent buildout, so there will be few “new housing” units.

The goal needs re-setting.

Kenyon Waugh,

LOWELL

proving the parking downtown. But before we embark on any new commercial development, we need to take care of our wastewater treatment plant issues. We currently put a tremendous cost on existing businesses we suspect may be the cause of ex-

Trustee candidate Most important issue: The Town of Lyons is in a stage of transition. We are preparing to transition into growth from recovery. There are still recovery projects in progress and we still don’t have all our neighbors back in town, however, we need to be moving into the time of looking forward to what Lyons can and will become.

The most important issue from my perspective is that we don’t have all the necessary infrastructure in place nor the mindset to move forward and grow our future. The infrastructure needs of the wastewater treatment plant and our streets are obvious and foundational to growth Continue Candidates on Page 9

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CANDIDATES Q&A Candidates Continued from Page 8 and prosperity in town. We have all spoken about our ideas to address infrastructure issues. As important is the mindset of supporting this growth through action.

The current board has taken some strides toward this mindset. The ADU ordinance is a great example. The issue comes when trying to work with the town.

Poor communication, long delays and inconsistent information related to what needs to be done and who can approve it are the norm. Preliminary work done with staff or advisory commissions are often not aligned with the board’s objectives. This creates an environment where projects are “not worth the effort.”

The board must make its intentions clear and consistent through proactive and interactive communication with staff, its advisory boards and citizens.

Attract new business: It is my belief that success begets success. We should be asking what we can do to help businesses and listening rather than passing requirements and costs down to the town’s businesses. Lyons can be a great place to run a business, and some proactive support can go along way of cutting through red tape and process.

The town can start with small improvements in our approach to small businesses.

Invest in small ways – waive the business license fee for the first year, promote businesses through promotion of town events, provide business support services and a

WAUGH

“Welcome to Lyons Workshop” for new businesses to help with navigation.

Promote the successes of businesses in town and collaborations that work – yell it from the mountain tops to attract new businesses. Build a partnership with local businesses – to anticipate needs and impacts, identify and supporting funding programs, small loans, and programs to support increased costs (like BOD).

Invest in a staff person who is the internal advocate and point person for businesses trying to navigate town hall. Be proactive: identify the types of businesses we want to attract to town – through community interaction and collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce – then recruit them.

Affordable housing: Ten percent seems to be a very achievable goal and we should all be working toward that. The current Summit proposal would provide much more than 10 percent of the housing unit numbers lost in the flood. My concern is that affordable housing isn’t going to help without transportation and employment options in our community. We need to build infrastructure, business and housing options concurrently.

We need to support Lyons property owners’ flexibility to create unique housing solutions beyond those available today by code. The ADU ordinances are a great start, now the town needs to be flexible and creative in developing new projects through collaboration and partnership.

A great place to start would be to allow seasonal housing options for our wedding and hospitality industry. Many artists and others working in town leave Lyons in the winter already. Getting these seasonal employees somewhere to live in and near town would allow employers to staff their positions and have those employees live and spend money in Lyons. A win for businesses and employees. The buyout properties could provide some of the land

ROGIN

for this with some creative options, and business owners already have ideas that support their business needs. Allowing ADUs on commercial properties would also grow potential options.

Hollie Rogin, Trustee candidate Most important issue: The board faces many important issues, but the most urgent important issue is the town’s physical infrastructure, including the wastewater treatment plant and fire safety equipment.

Like most of us, I’m not privy to the details regarding the wastewater plant, since it’s often discussed in closed executive session.

I think a good start would be to adopt the pretreatment ordinance while looking for ways, such as grants, to help offset the costs to businesses. Regarding fire safety, there are folks who wish to build – as is their right – three-story buildings in Lyons.

Our fire truck cannot currently service them, but they may be built regardless.

The required equipment, training and storage would cost $1.3M. I think we should investigate how other towns have successfully addressed this growing pain and emulate them, as quickly as possible.

Attract new business: There are several policy initiatives that have proven successful in helping attract and retain small businesses. First, we should zone for local business. Because small businesses often require small spaces, we should insist on some small (or co-op) space alternatives when we look at the Eastern Corridor and other Planned Unit Developments (PUDs). Next, we should create a local small business landmarking program in which a business (not a building) is landmarked. The business’ landlord can receive benefits for providing a longterm, affordable lease to the business owner. These can vary but could include funds to offset property taxes or high utility fees (which may come from grants or other sources, such as event fees). Finally, we should make setting aside spaces for local businesses in every new commercial development a condition upon which building permits are granted.

Affordable housing: I absolutely favor affordable housing because it helps maintain socioeconomic diversity, addresses the local labor shortage, and is simply the right thing to do. Having a 10 percent goal is reasonable in a town of this size, but because there’s so little viable land left to build on, we’ll need to build in, increasing housing density at the downtown core, when possible. I also believe we can’t simply build our way to affordability. We must also preserve and enhance the affordability we already have. We need to protect our remaining mobile home park and its residents. We should enhance our Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance by trading increased allowable square footage for guaranteed limits on rent increases. Finally, we should investigate leveraging new builds – both residential and commercial – by creating a fund to offset rising rents, by starting a revolving down-payment assistance program for both middle- and lowerincome people, and by providing low-cost loans to residents who wish to build ADUs with guaranteed affordability.

Michael Karavas, incumbent and Trustee candidate Most important issue: As I have stated a multitude of times over my past four years on the Board of Trustees, most of what we do does not operate in a bubble,

nor do the answers to these questions.

Each question plays on the next as well as the answers.

Currently, the Town of Lyons is facing mounting infrastructure repair and replacement needs, which in turn creates the need for continuous budget review and awareness. Of course, some of this was created by the 2013 flood and the necessary postponement of repairs in lieu of immediate flood recovery. This then becomes an important issue and driving force for our staff and the Board of Trustees for the foreseeable future.

Attract new business and Affordable housing: Providing housing, which in turn provides a stable workforce for our businesses will not only help our current employers but encourage new ones to Lyons. And, this process has been underway over the past four years of my tenure on the board as we continue to review our zoning to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) within Lyons. I have assisted with the annexation of the eastern corridor with a design plan of a mixed use technique which includes a housing piece.

This mixed use plan has been successfully used throughout the nation over the past 15 years. An example close to Lyons is North Broadway in Boulder, and in Denver just south of Colfax on Colorado Blvd. where the old University Hospital was razed. We can incorporate a percentage of affordable housing units in the plan.

Providing new retail space, restaurant space, light industrial / artesian space with modern amenities that business owners (millennials especially) expect will draw

KARAVAS

people to this space which will drive economic development, including employment opportunities. Above the retail space, we can provide three to four stories of living space, including affordable living space.

The above will assist in driving use and tax revenues to the General Fund, Parks Fund and our Enterprise Funds which helps improve the overall budget of Lyons.

These revenues are necessary to alleviate the financial burden upon the current rate and tax payers of Lyons in funding the necessary infrastructure needs of our great and beautiful town.

Robert Brakenridge, Trustee candidate Most important issue: I think the most important issue, since it affects all others, is governance: improving how our local representative democracy works.

Our trustees are elected to make decisions on behalf of Lyons. The board must provide leadership, but this leadership and decision-making can go astray unless town government is informed about what voters are, or are not, supportive of. Too often, during town decision-making over the past years, our board has made major decisions, affecting all of the town, without this information. We need this to change, as it has pernicious effects on trust. I believe our town board should be much more proactive then it has been about seeking town votes, even if simply advisory votes, on important actions. Consider that the town purchased (using funds from the water enterprise fund) a tract of land just east of town; then annexed this large parcel into town, without asking consent from the voters. Consider that an Urban Renewal Authority was set up, at a legal cost now close to $200,000, with money from our General Fund, without a query to

the voters as to whether we thought this a prudent use of our tax dollars. When town boards proceed in this way, they invite a backlash from residents, and provoke petitions for votes from the citizens. Residents are entitled to feel frustrated that, unless they circulate a petition, they will not be allowed to exert the power of their votes, power that a functioning democracy is supposed to provide.

Attract new business: Our business property taxes, sales taxes, and utility fees are too high and the board could work to reduce them. I am proposing a 2 percent reduction in all. So, for example, reduce

BRAKENRIDGE

the mill levy by 2 percent, and our present sales tax (3.5 percent) by about 2 percent: to 3.4 percent. Modest reductions, but at least reductions, and putting a full stop to the unsustainable increases of recent years.

For example, for 2020, the effective tax mill increase over 2019 was from 14.844 to 16.891. That is a big increase: 13.8 percent. Because both the Town’s tax rate and property assessments (+14.9 percent for all of the town) are going up, steeply, the projected general fund revenues from property taxes will grow 31 per cent in one year: from 2019 to 2020. In dollars: from $551,018 to $720,374. Thus, business owners and residents will see their 2020 tax bill much increase. I believe that the town budget does not likely need that much extra revenue; I think one way the new board could help the business community is by reducing taxes and utility fees by a modest amount next year.

Affordable housing: My understanding is that, actually, the town goal is to reach, eventually, 10 percent of all housing as lower income “affordable” units. I favor this goal. It is similar to what other municipalities have set for themselves, although over extended time periods, such as 20 years. For Lyons, this would mean, eventually, about 81 units (somewhat more as total housing stock continues to grow).

We today have only perhaps 30 (depending on definitions of affordable housing).

In any case, I favor using our town’s Comprehensive Plan as a guide, and encouraging more such development in the town's core area, close to shopping and other services, through in-filling and densification, and generally pursuing all possibilities to add units within existing parts of town. For example, at present, there are many single family homes occupying lots that are actually already zoned to R2, higher density. So, over time, provided there is appropriate policy in place, additional units could be located in these areas, without any change of present zoning or expansion of town limits.

Finally, I think Lyons is small, that most of its residents like it that way, and that policy encouraging affordable housing in Lyons must take into consideration our large neighbor, Longmont, 12 minutes to the east. Longmont has 32,000, not just 812, existing units and very rapid growth of all types of housing is now underway.

How can our town preserve its unique attractiveness as a small town amidst this growth, while working to grow both the total number and diversity of its housing stock? Hopefully, a new Comprehensive Plan, due to be created this coming year, will provide residents much opportunity to provide their input and ideas on this. If I am so lucky as to be elected to the board, my job will be to listen, and to also make sure that their concerns indeed are expressed in the finalized Plan.

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MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Arts and Entertainment in the Lyons Area Please be advised that theaters, movies, events, art shows, galleries, dance studios, lectures, concerts and other venues are closing by the hour due to COVID-19.

Please check websites for times and dates of all local events to make sure that the event or show is still going to be held.

Things will change a lot in a month.

Nothing is a sure bet at this time.

LYONS Bell of Renewal – The Bell of Renewal, a sculpture by James G. Moore and Anita Miller, will be unveiled on Sunday, April 19 at 11a.m. near the bridge ramp approaching Bohn Park. The artwork commemorates the Town’s recovery from the 2013 flood. The bronze sculpture depicts a bell suspended from a tree branch upon which rests a great horned owl with outstretched wings. The two-sided bell showcases natural scenes in relief, including the iconic, local Steamboat Mountain. The sculpture beautifully represents the nature in which Lyons thrives and memorializes the strength of the community through recovery. The sculpture was commissioned by the Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission and supported by the Board of Trustees and independent funders. The Bell is part of the heARTS of LYONS Outdoor Public Art Collection as Legacy artwork – a permanent piece of public art in the Town’s collection. The unveiling is free and will feature dedications and light refreshments.

Red Canyon Art – Red Canyon Art is located at 400 Main St., phone 303-8235900. Red Canyon Art is open by phone or appointment. They are happy to serve you, thru individual shopping at the store via Facetime or texting images (send a text.) and phone purchase, then you pick up outside or we drop off your items.

Item selection or need a gift? Tell us what you’re interested in; we will email pictures of items to select from. You can purchase

with your credit card over the phone, send a text or call Red Canyon Art at 303-6565501. We also offer smudging items: palo santo / sage / incense / singing bowls.

Western Stars Gallery – Western Stars Gallery & Studio is located at 160 East Main St., phone 303-747-3818; 401-3011212. Find Western Stars on Facebook and Instagram. We are pulling together onlineordering via website – PayPal or credit card. Considering custom Easter basket ordering (nice selection of goodies) and delivery thereof. Happy to help select greeting cards (we have a huge assortment of LovePops and others made by local artists) over phone or email. We will write messages on card for sender and mail to your people (we have stamps, too). Other things in the works. Gift cards will soon be available on our website. Also, over phone or by texts: 401-301-1212. Western Stars is doing our best to keep up with messages and will get back to you. To ensure the safety of customers and employees we are performing daily cleaning of all knobs, counter, faucets, credit card keypad, etc.

DENVER Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivers at DAM – The Denver Art Museum will hold an exhibition of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection which opens on October 25.

Featuring more than 150 artworks by internationally celebrated artists Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Lola Alvarez Bravo, Gunther Gerzso, María Izquierdo, Carlos Mérida, and others, this exhibition will take a closer look at the role art, artists, and their supporters played in the emergence of national identity and creative spirit after the Mexican Revolution ended in 1920.

Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism will explore the Mexican modernism movement through paintings and photography. The museum is located at 100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy. in Denver. For more information, call 720-913-0130.

Frida Kahlo, Self-portrait with monkeys, will be part of the upcoming exibition at the Denver Art Museum: Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection. Opens October 25.

Every word we utter

It is 100 years after the suffragettes won the vote for women.

Can we reclaim our vital power and dust off the nay-sayers?

It’s not about perfection but the realistic and important value of personal choice, expressed freely.

Local artist Priscilla Cohan and I have designed images for T-shirts with the intention of encouraging people to vote.

Priscilla Cohan’s artworks are the drawings of vote-dogs and mine are block prints. We are not marketers and neither of us have connections with large organizations promoting the vote. As an artist the ideas come in almost unbidden but then it’s the execution of the idea that can be challenging.

If this project appeals to you or maybe you have another idea about how to best get these graphics and message out into the world we sure could use your help. VOTE.

By Sally King Redstone Review Every word we utter, every act we perform, wafts unto innumerable circles, beyond.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton LYONS – There is power in a word, it resonates with meaning. Take the word VOTE: it’s a great feeling, getting to have a say in your governance. Although many people have forgotten the importance of their own voice, voting as an expression of choice. The right to vote has lost its shining appeal. What would our early suffragists who labored for more than 70 years to win the vote for half of us, say? Voting is not about winning, it’s a privilege to be part of a democracy.

Every Word We Utter is a bronze sculpture 21 feet in height. Very inspiring, first modeled in clay by a woman of years: Jane DeDecker of Loveland has created this work honoring Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells and their daughters. These courageous women won the vote for their daughters and for us. VOTE The congressional bill to give a permanent home to the sculpture in Washington, D.C. was presented by our congressman, Rep. Joe Neguse, D-CO. It passed last month with the bipartisan support of both of our U.S. Senators from Colorado.

At the base of the sculpture are concentric circles made of bronze, hoops laid on the ground, the ripple effect of women permitted to vote for the very first time. Women had no rights to property or children back in 1848, at the time of the Seneca Falls convention which was the starting point of the suffragist movement. Our foremothers were inspired by the Iroquois women who provided a model of freedom for women at a time when Euro American women experienced few rights The thoughts of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others were shaped by their involvement with the nearby indigenous women in upART BY PRISCILLA COHAN state New York. An Iroquois grandmother on the women’s council could fire the chief if he got out of line and if the tribe was considering war, the women, they often said, no way. VOTE I enjoy the way my artforms get me involved in the thick of things, like the importance of exercising our right to vote.

King

Sally King is a local artist and activist. She lives near Lyons.

For more information and to purchase a T-shirt you can contact Sally King at sallywhiteking@live.com and Priscilla Cohan at priscillacohan@gmail.com.

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

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MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

REDSTONE • REVIEW

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CONTEXT LCF event: Join the COLORado Fun Run/Walk/Roll The Lyons Community Foundation still plans to hold this event. Keep checking the LCF website to make sure the event is still on as the May 3 date gets closer.

By Lori Stott Redstone Review LYONS – The Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) invites you to the Lyons COLORado Fun This Run/Walk/Roll.

Stott event will directly benefit the people and organizations of Lyons and our surrounding area, as all monies raised will go directly into the 2020 LCF Grants Fund.

This untimed walk/run/roll will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Sunday, May 3 starting and ending at beautiful Bohn Park.

After a decade of LCF gala fundraisers, it was decided to seek out new events that can engage people of all ages to be silly, get

some exercise, meet new friends and raise funds for our community. Meetings about Lyons COLORado Fun Run/Walk/Roll began last spring, we’re working closely with the folks from the Town of Lyons, and momentum is starting to build.

What’s a Color Fun Run exactly? Everyone will get an event T-shirt to wear. There will be 2K and 5K courses, with four stops along the way during which willing participants (runners, walkers, wheelchair racers, strollers) get showered with bright, vibrant

powders. The color powders are safe: they are made from a blend of food grade cornstarch and baking soda, and are FD&C approved (food, drug and cosmetic dyes).

This is Lyons, so of course there will be all sorts of live music and entertainment along the routes. When you and your family, friends and team members cross the finish, you’ll find yourself in the middle of a LYONS COLOR Blast that will surely be photo worthy.

The COLOR Fun Planning Committee is actively seeking business sponsorships so that we can keep the registration costs down. An average gala ticket was prohibitive for many locals, particularly families with young children. The goal is to keep our registration cost as low as possible while still being a successful fundraising event.

Sciatic nerve pain can limit mobility

By Bronwyn Muldoon Redstone Review LYONS – Are you experiencing any of these?

Pain down the leg, numbness / tingling in the legs / foot or weakness in the Muldoon legs? Then it’s possible that your sciatic nerve is irritated.

“Sciatica” or “sciatic pain” refers to symptoms from the irritation of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. Nerves provide communication from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to the rest of the body (muscles, joints, skin).

This nerve is formed from the combination of nerve roots of the lower lumbar and sacral area. It runs from your lower back (lumbar region) down the back of each thigh before splitting behind the knee and continuing down to the foot. Because the

New to town? The LCF mission is to improve the quality of life, build a culture of giving and to create positive change in the greater Lyons area. The Grants Fund helps fund LEAF and the Food Pantry, school gardening programs, Town of Lyons/Parks and Rec Sandstone Concert Series and Parade of Lights, Lyons Historical Society, amazing public art installations, Clarifier Project, student scholarships and the new library amongst others. https://www.lyonscf.org.

Look for the event website and a lot more info coming your way. Early-bird registration will continue through April 3.

For now, please mark your calendars for May 3, 9 a.m. to 12 noon for the best spring kick-off community celebration ever. For more information contact COLOR Fun Chair: Lori Stott at lori.stott@gmail.com or LCF Chair: Jeanne Moore jemmoore@hughes.net.

with the help of anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, or alternative interventions. Some of the exercises use to ease the nerve are stretches.

Staying active, watching your posture and maintaining your flexibility are great ways to prevent sciatic pain from occurring. If symptoms from the sciatic nerve arise, try to avoid activities that aggravate your symptoms for a few weeks. This should allow the nerve to heal. If your symptoms linger longer than six weeks, it’s probably a good idea to check in with a health professional.

nerve travels the length of each leg, symptoms can be felt anywhere along the path of the nerve (low back, buttocks, posterior thigh, calf or foot).

Symptoms vary from person to person, but typically occur in one leg and can range through pain, numbness, tingling, burning and/or muscle weakness. The frequency of pain can be positional (only occurring with certain positions/activities: sitting, standing, or walking) or the pain can be constant.

Sciatic nerve irritation occurs when the nerve is compressed. The compression of the nerve can be from a herniated disc, degeneration of the spine (arthritis), tight muscles or a strain to the ligaments in the back.

There are various treatments for sciatic pain, with the majority being conservative options (non-surgical). About 70 percent of the population with sciatica pain will recover fully within two to six months

Bronwyn Muldoon, a licensed physical therapist, owns Lyons Physical Therapy, 435 High St. in Lyons. Some of the things addressed at her clinic include but are not limited to: acute and chronic spinal pain (back and neck pain), postural dysfunction alignment, sports and performance-related injuries, repetitive / overuserelated injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, muscles strains and sprains, and physical rehabilitation of all kinds. For more information call 303-823-8813.

Jonelle Tucker 303-902-6250 jtucker@realtor.com www.tuckergroupinc.com

Mark your calendars for the Lyons Community Foundation’s 1st Annual COLORado Run/Walk/Roll! Sunday, May 3, 2020!

NEW LISTING!

NEW LISTING!

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PAGE 12

REDSTONE • REVIEW

Housing Continued from Page 4 we have a lot of R2 zoning with only one residence.” In reality, there are very few R2 lots in the town of Lyons that are not in the floodplain or on steep terrain with no room for a second dwelling, discussed at recent Board of Trustees meetings in the past year when the board updated the ADU policy to allow tiny homes on wheels.

Mark Browning, a current trustee, has supported affordable housing issues like ADUs and limited short-term vacation rentals that were before the Board of Trustees and his past work on the PCDC. He also volunteers regularly with Habitat for Humanity. The platform statement that he emailed me mentions the same Lyons Comprehensive Plan as Brakenridge’s, but he seems to have actually read the plan: “I support affordable housing. The 2010 Lyons Comprehensive Plan provided, ‘Increase opportunities for affordable housing.’ Since then, we lost more than 75 lowto-moderate-income housing units in the 2013 flood.

We’ve replaced only about 12 (in Habitat for Humanity homes and ADUs). Lyons needs more affordable housing to even approach what we had pre-flood, much less address the Comp Plan goal to add more.” He said he looked forward to reviewing Summit's application when it is finalized and hoped that Summit proceeds with a high-quality proposal. “I also continue to support ADUs to add more small rental options in the private sector market.

At the March 9 candidate forum, Browning said affordable housing was the first of this three top issues, and he reiterated that platform statement that I mentioned above. He said the town already identified a need for more affordable housing, before the great loss of homes at lower end of the market in destroyed in the flood. And he linked it to the economic needs of the town. “Businesses need to be able to hire employees and have a place for them to live locally. It’s hard for them to find employees who can afford to live here,” Browning said. “Housing is important.

It helps not just the people who live there, not just the community as a whole in terms of being open to diverse incomes, it helps businesses, too.”

Also at the forum, Browning said that Lyons can’t address the affordable housing lost by building on empty lots in town, because there aren’t that many of them. He said he had counted only five and fellow candidate Waugh told him of one more. “So that’s six vacant lots in town. I’ll donate $20 to the Lyons Community Foundation to anyone who knows of an additional available lot,” said Browning.

Michael Karavas, a current trustee, has supported affordable housing issues before the Board of Trustees in his two terms as a trustee, including Habitat for Humanity, the $4 million of federal CDBG-DR funds set aside for affordable housing in Lyons, encouraging ADUs for longterm tenants and limiting short-term vacation rentals, and adopting the Boulder County Housing Partnership’s Regional Housing Strategy.

At the March 9 candidate forum, Karavas listed budget issues and housing issues together as a top issue, because he said they are tied together. He said it is important to keep Lyons a place where current residents can continue to afford to live and that raising fees for residents can work against keeping housing affordable. This approach is important for the Town of Lyons, as housing costs continue to rise in the region. I’m glad that Karavas is paying attention and cares about not losing long-time residents to this type of gentrification. He and Miller are valuable members of the board with this perspective.

When asked about what kinds of affordable housing he supported, Karavas said that since he was first elected to board in 2016, the main proposal on the table was for affordable rentals built by the $4 million in federal Disaster Recovery funds set aside for the Town of Lyons (which Summit Housing Group eventually applied for and was granted by the State Housing Board). “I am supportive of trying to bring something to fruition,” he said.

Greg Lowell, a current member of the Ecology Advisory Board and the Parks and Recreation Commission, sent an email response to my request to all candidates asking if they had platforms for affordable housing, and what kind of affordable housing they support. He replied, “If Town trustees, mayor and staff actively engage in affordable housing projects (that is, offer Town land for such housing or enter into purchase agreements to buy land for affordable housing and then solicit building contractors), then there needs to be a public process and a binding vote of the residents on that project. The proper way to develop affordable housing should be making changes to municipal ordinances to favor affordable housing projects and seeking concessions from developers to include lowerpriced homes in their mix of proposed houses.”

Other than requiring “a binding vote of the residents” there really isn’t much of a platform other than a vague

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statement about “changes to municipal ordinance to favor affordable housing projects.” I’m not sure how that would work. It seems like developers would have to work with the Town of Lyons for a binding vote of the residents before proceeding. Like Brakenridge, Lowell also tried to prevent Summit from being approved for the CDBG-DR funding by giving input to the State Housing Board in February 2019. He asked the State Housing Board to reject the application, stating that Summit housing group had not made a concerted effort to engage the community and to inform them of the application for funding before the State Housing Board. The State Housing Board did not agree and approved the funding.

At the March 9 candidate forum, affordable housing was not one of Lowell’s top three issues. Lowell responded to a question about what kinds of affordable housing he supported in town by talking about what he described as “a lot of division” over a proposal in 2015 for using part of Bohn Park to build 50 to 70 federally subsidized homes, some Boulder County Housing Authority rentals and some affordable Habitat for Humanity homes that would be sold. (A ballot issue asking voters if the town should sell a portion of park land for the project failed with 498 votes for and 614 votes against.)

But he didn’t offer an answer of what proposals he supports moving forward in the town of Lyons other than a vague mention of town residents examining “whether we want single homes integrated into the community.”

Wendy Miller, a current trustee, served on the Lyons Special Housing Committee in 2015 to 2016 and ran as a trustee on a platform supporting affordable housing and was elected. She was elected again in 2018. She is the board liaison to the Lyons Housing and Human Services Commission. Like Karavas, she has supported affordable housing issues before the Board of Trustees in her two terms, including exploring opportunities for the $4 million of federal CDBG-DR funds set aside for affordable housing in Lyons, encouraging ADUs for long-term tenants and limiting short-term vacation rentals, and adopting the Boulder County Housing Partnership’s Regional Housing Strategy. In her liaison work with the Housing and Human Services Commission, she is also interested in aging in place and homesharing for seniors, the intersection of transportation and housing needs, as well as fair housing for people with disabilities, and improving situations for people who live in Boulder County Housing Authority rentals in Lyons.

Miller was not able to attend the March 9 candidate forum, but her record on affordable housing speaks for her.

She has the experience of being a renter during the 2013 and its aftermath. She applied for and qualified to buy a Habitat for Humanity townhome, and she moved in last summer. In an emailed statement, she said, “I have lived in Lyons for 15 years, being a renter most of the time.

When we moved here, it was a much different place.

Artists, musicians, and blue collar workers were the fabric of the community ... creating a respected and magical place for ourselves and our children to grow up. Then the flood hit and everything changed.” She continued: “I represent the lower income class, the blue collar folks; the ones who have lost their voice as housing costs have soared.”

When the Board of Trustees passed changes to the ADU ordinance over the past two terms, Miller stated that she wanted a way for ADU property owners to commit to

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lower rents, affordable to lower-income renters, or even agree to take tenants with housing vouchers. However, there was not support from other trustees, or implementation ideas from town staff at that time to pursue. With other candidates like Rogin speaking out in favor of affordability requirements for ADUs, there might be enough momentum to take this up on the future board.

Hollie Rogin, a current member of the PCDC, speaks in support of affordable housing issues on that commission, and she has previously served on the PLAN-Boulder County board, which has identified an affordable housing position. On her website, she spells out her affordable housing platform at hrogin.wixsite.com/hollieforlyons/housing-

BOT Candidate forum March 9, sponsored by Redstone Review and The Lyons Recorder. At the table, from left: Kenyon Waugh, Jocelyn Farrel, Hollie Rogin, Nick Angelo, Mark Browning, Greg Lowell, Micharl Karavas, Robert Brakenridge. Wendy Miller was unable to attend.

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affordability. While she calls adding more affordable homes as “one tool in the toolkit,” she also promotes the town should “preserve and enhance the affordability we already have.” For example, she said the mobile homes and apartments 224 Seward St. are not zoned for apartments and a mobile home park. “Let’s make sure they’re protected from redevelopment and while we’re at it, let’s find a way to improve the properties.”

Rogin proposes enhancing the ADU ordinance “by preventing those units from being sold apart from the main dwelling unit. This practice, called condominiumization, effectively removes more affordable rental units from the market and results in a windfall for the original property owner. Let’s also look at swapping increased allowable square footage on ADUs for guaranteed limits on rent increases.” These plans fit in with goals that Miller, Browning, and Karavas have previously discussed on the Board of Trustees, and now might have more momentum if Rogin is elected. She also mentions adds larger goals like investigating how to use new residential and commercial development to fund a pool of money “to offset rising rents, offer down-payment assistance to those who qualify, and provide low-cost loans to residents who wish to build ADUs with guaranteed affordability.”

At the March 9 candidate forum, Rogin said increasing affordable housing in Lyons was one of her top three issues. Like Karavas, she also talked about sustaining current “market-rate affordability.” She mentioned the goals she listed on her website, including modifying the ADU policy to incentivize or encourage property owners to provide lower than market rents, or permanent affordability for low incomes, something that Miller has been advocating for during her years on the board. Rogin’s approach goes even broader than just policies to include the volunteer board members who help shape and interpret the policy.

“I would like to see the town recruit people to the PCDC who might live in affordable housing,” she said.

Kenyon Waugh, who has not served on a board in recent years, likes to point to his personal experience at Lyons Properties, the partnership he and his wife are part of with four other families in the area, that owns River Bend. He operates WeeCasa Tiny House Resort on the Riverbend property. In the platform statement he emailed me, Waugh said that he and his wife (former Trustee Juli Waugh, who resigned last year) as well as Riverbend are residential landlords with several tenants in town. “I would like to work to get affordable (and seasonal) housing in place for the town by removing administrative barriers and hurdles.” Waugh said the ADU policy (including tiny homes on wheels as ADUs) is a good start and “Now Continue Housing on Page 13

MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

Housing Continued from Page 12 the town must be open to making these feasible and worth the time.” Waugh also said that “the only new affordable housing since the flood (or since I’ve lived in Lyons) is the Habitat for Humanity project. This was driven by a private interest and supported quickly (and relatively painlessly) by the town.”

T IN

REDSTONE • REVIEW Waugh is mistaken about the speed and agility Habitat for Humanity project at Second and Park Streets. It was not a quick process, and the third duplex building is not complete. It also is not the only affordable housing built since he lived in Lyons, if he’s lived here since 2003. Walter Self Senior Housing was built in 2006 by the Boulder County Housing Authority, using funds from U.S. Department of Agriculture

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PAGE 13

(USDA) Rural Development program. At the candidate forum, he repeated the same oversimplified and misleading statement that “the only affordable housing brought forward was through a private developer, with the town getting out of the way.”

In reality, a Lyons Special Housing Committee formed in 2015 resulted in one of the original members, Tom Delker, encouraging another, Craig Ferguson, to sell some land to Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley to build federally subsidized for-sale homes. The original committee didn’t last for long, and several times in the process of purchasing the land from Valley Bank, or in the subdivision process before selling to Habitat for Humanity, Ferguson said he would quit and not move forward. It was far from a quick and smooth process by a private developer. And Habitat for Humanity is built by volunteers, which takes time, especially if there are not enough volunteers. The final duplex building is still being completed, nearly five years after that meeting where the Board of Trustees agreed to waive the portion of water and sewer connectivity fees they had control over. (Browning also took issue with that statement at the candidate forum, saying that the project wouldn’t have taken place without the town’s financial commitment of waiving some portion of fees

for the project.)

At candidate forum, Waugh listed affordable housing as one of the three issues he would focus on as a trustee. “We need diverse affordable housing for employees of businesses in Lyons and the artists and musicians that made it a place where we all wanted to live.” In his email statement, Waugh said, “there are a lot of details to work out” in a larger project like the one Summit Housing Group is proposing with several federal funding sources, and those projects take longer; he is still supportive. At the candidate forum, he said “I think there is a place for larger efforts. I applaud the effort.”

He also said “We’ve got cases where people are saying ‘not in my back yard’” in Lyons and said that talking with friends and family in other states about large metro areas like San Francisco and Seattle said he learned “single-family zoning is the new redlining.”

Seniors suffer as funding for food programs dries up

Very little had changed except that many more people needed help. “There are tens of thousands of seniors who are waiting,” said Erika Kelly, chief advocacy officer for Meals on Wheels America. “While they’re waiting, their health deteriorates, and in some cases we know seniors have died.”

Why is this problem so severe in a country so rich? The answer, very simply, is disagreements over funding. In 1965 Congress anticipated an aging population would need social services and passed the Older Americans Act. In 1972 it added the home-delivered meals program as well as congregate meals available in many locations. But federal dollars haven’t kept pace with need, and funds from state and local governments, which often filled in the gaps, have also fallen short. When that happens, programs must scramble to make up the shortfall, often relying on local philanthropy to help out.

But that’s hard to do in places like Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for example, where there are few community resources to tap. Meals on Wheels America says the nutrition programs are serving 21 million fewer meals a year than in 2005 because

By Trudy Lieberman Redstone Review DENVER – Two years ago in Dallas I met an 85year-old woman and her 65-year-old son. Both were very hungry with almost Lieberman no food in their fridge or in their cupboards. After they had paid their bills, their meager monthly income from Social Security was dwindling. For lunch the mother wanted boiled cabbage with lima beans and collards, but the son reminded her there was no money for that.

It was the second week of the month.

They had been on waiting list for food from the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, the Meals-on-Wheels provider in Dallas. About 800 names were on the list the day I visited.

Indeed, there are waiting lists all over the country, and the statistics are as grim as the prospect of having no food for lunch.

The anti-hunger group Feeding America found that nearly 8 percent of Americans 60 and older were food insecure: about 5.5 million seniors.

This year’s congressional budgets are, at least, beginning to address that horrifying statistic.

In the meantime, Feeding America found that almost 10 percent of the Dallas population age 60 and older were “food insecure” meaning they didn’t have consistent access to enough food for good health.

The numbers were even worse in other parts of the South. Nearly 12 percent of the senior population in Mississippi and about 10 percent in Alabama, for example, were food insecure. The problem is hardly confined to the South, though. In Indiana, Feeding America said, nearly 8 percent of seniors were not getting proper food; in South Dakota it was 7.3 percent.

The number of hungry seniors has more than doubled since 2001 and is expected to keep increasing.

Meal programs almost everywhere struggle to keep up with the growing demand.

This was the third time in 20 years I found myself reporting on hunger among seniors in America. The numbers of elders on waiting lists has grown since I first visited the topic in 1998 and called attention to the irony of older people coming home from the hospital but finding themselves without the food they needed to heal.

When I worked with Kaiser Health News on a third story published just two months ago, focusing on the plight of seniors in Memphis, we found the same thing.

Amy Reinholds served on the Lyons Housing Recovery Task Force from December 2013 through its end in February 2015. She is currently a member of the Lyons Housing and Human Services Commission. She has lived in Lyons since 2003. She writes a monthly commentary (opinion column) in the Redstone Review about affordable housing after the 2013 flood disaster in Lyons. For a history, see previous columns on her blog at lyonscoloradonews.wordpress.com.

of funding shortages. Kelly told me that last year Congress bumped up funding for the program by only $10 million, which means many local programs still experience serious shortfalls. This year an appropriations bill that has passed the House of Representatives calls for a hefty increase, raising the funding from $906.7 million to one $1 billion. Kelly says, “It would be a record increase.”

The Senate’s appropriations bill, however, is calling for “flat funding,” which means no increase for next year. Advocacy groups are lobbying to change that before the Senate votes on a final bill.

You’d never know from the constant news drumbeat about impeachment and the president that there is other news in Washington. But there is. Whether the Senate decides to increase the budget for home-delivered meals is one story that will tell us whether seniors across America will have enough to eat.

Have you known seniors who have needed food but couldn’t get it? Write to Trudy and trudy.lieberman@gmail.com.

Trudy Lieberman writes for Community Health News Service in conjunction with the Colorado Press Association.

PAGE 14

Mayor

REDSTONE • REVIEW

Continued from Page 3

redevelop the property into live-work industrial space.

Several businesses in Lyons are interested in expanding their facilities, which would create valuable primary jobs for local residents. Whether these businesses have a space to grow in to may be the difference between staying in Lyons or moving their jobs to larger communities.

Green Goo, REEB, and Spirit Hound Distillers are good examples of businesses that may simply out-grow Lyons as Oscar Blues did years ago when they had to move manufacturing to Longmont. Lyons can’t afford to lose these manufacturing jobs whose employees contribute to the local economy. Development in the eastern corridor may be the deciding factor and it may not happen without help from LURA. In addition to supporting larger developments, the LURA can also be a source of funding for small businesses to invest in improvements they otherwise may not be able to complete. The town needs to do more to promote the LURA as a tool for small businesses who want to expand or improve their facilities. Expansion requires

businesses to meet more stringent codes by investing in additional infrastructure. The LURA can provide funding for businesses to put in more sophisticated grease traps, newly required sampling ports, and the like to reduce burden on our wastewater plant.

The fact that this has not happened to date does not mean LURA is not needed as some are stating. The lack of activity in LURA is a reflection of the town’s focus on flood recovery the past six years rather than a non-need for the program.

All towns need to find ways to grow their tax base in order to offset inflation.

During an economic slide, Lyons may struggle to maintain basic services due to lower sales tax revenues. The town will need every possible tool to stimulate the economy if the impacts of coronavirus last into 2021. Some businesses may even decide this is a good time to do projects they may not otherwise do, as they did after the 2013 flood. The town can do more to educate businesses about how to use the URA and demonstrate how the tool can work to support business investment.

Colorado state statute dictates how URA boards are formed. When forming the local URA, the board at the time felt

Library Continued from Page 7 The Census, conducted once every 10 years, is the Constitutionally-required count of every person living in the United States. The 2020 Census asks questions about all people who live and sleep in a household most of the time, including babies and anyone who has no other permanent place to stay and is living in the household, as of April 1, 2020.

Lyons, with its high rate of post office box delivery, is especially tricky to count. Almost 45 percent of our residents will receive their Census questionnaire at their home and not in the mail as questionnaires are not sent to post office boxes. Those receiving home mail delivery should have begun to see their questionnaire on March

LEAF Continued from Page 3 viously unable to access or afford it. If you or someone you know could benefit from supportive mental health or addiction services, please confidentially email mentalwellness@leaflyons.org. Individuals with Medicaid coverage don’t pay anything for these services. Those with other insurance, or without insurance, pay using a very generous sliding scale. Nobody is turned away due to inability to pay.

We are aware people may be experiencing trauma related to COVID-19. We are working to provide ways to support our community at this time.

I couldn’t be more grateful and proud to help lead LEAF, alongside the many people who donate their time, talents, and treasure to stand with community members in need. As I witness our community rise in response to disruptions caused by COVID-19, I am humbled and amazed.

Friends and neighbors, we will get through this together. Let’s continue to encourage one another and love where we live. If I an answer questions or talk about how you

Lory Barton is LEAF’s Executive Director.

When she is not living the LEAF Life in Lyons, she is loving her large family in Longmont. Reach her at lory@leaflyons.org.

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

a.m. on Tuesday. The order comes on the heels of similar orders already in place in Denver and some other counties. Polis also ordered all theaters (both movie and performance), breweries, coffeehouses and casinos closed.

Department of Motor Vehicles offices will be closed throughout the state from March 18 through April 18.

Establishments can allow up to five people inside their business at one time to pick up food. However, they must be at least six feet away from one another.

Polis added that the state will adopt Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in real-time.

In Denver, Mayor Michael Hancock said the Denver sheriff’s department will stop booking people accused of lower-level, nonviolent crimes in an effort to allow for greater distance between people in the city’s jail. The court system will continue to operate because people are guaranteed a right to a speedy trial, he said.

Local Emergency Announcement: Update on Coronavirus LYONS – The Town of Lyons is in close communication with the Boulder County Public Health Department and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regarding COVID-19, more commonly known as the Coronavirus. The Town of Lyons issued a Local Disaster Emergency Proclamation on Friday, March 13.

In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community, Town Hall and some public Town facilities will be closed

it was best to have elected officials serve as the LURA members, rather than appoint members not elected by the people. This means that when you elect Trustees, you are also electing the majority of the LURA board. Some current and/or candidates for trustee have either already refused to serve or say they will refuse to serve on the LURA if elected. Serving on the LURA is a duty of an elected official in Lyons. A majority of the LURA board recently voted to reject the resignation of Trustee Browning on the basis that his views add value to the discussions, and that he should continue to serve to represent constituents that agree with his point of view. Serving on the LURA is part of the job – even if your opinion is in the minority. If you disagree with the direction things are going, then as a trustee you can try to change course by persuading the other board members to your views … but only if you actually participate in the discussion.

In my view, Lyons needs a URA. I agree we need to put more focus on how to actively recruit projects and build on small successes.

I agree with Trustee Jocelyn Farrell’s comments that we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. The state now mandates

12; the same day the online portal opened.

Once you receive your questionnaire, responding to the Census is easy. Households can respond online, by phone, by mail-in form, or in-person through an enumerator. It should only take about 10 minutes to respond. The Census is also safe. All data are protected and records are confidential for 72 years under federal law. Bureau employees also swear a lifetime oath to protect information. Lastly, the Census is important. Census counts determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. Based on 2020 population projections, Colorado stands to gain one seat in the House. Additionally, Colorado receives approximately $2,300 per person per year (over $13 billion) in federal funding, but only if peo-

can get more involved at LEAF, please reach out.

Important News: COVID-19 The facts and circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 virus are changing daily. LEAF is coordinating with local agencies and governments, including the Town of Lyons, to understand the dynamics and most appropriate responses to this event. LEAF is taking measures to continue to provide safe nutrition to people who visit the Food Pantry or utilize Meals on Wheels services. As the core provider of community nutrition and human services, the staff and volunteers at LEAF are committed to meeting our community’s nutrition and human services needs in the safest and most appropriate ways. We will communicate updates through Town of Lyons e-blasts, email updates on our website, (leaflyons.org) and via Facebook.

MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

Connie Sullivan was elected Mayor on April 5, 2016. Prior to becoming Mayor, she served two terms on the Town Board of Trustees beginning in 2012. Connie, and her husband Neil are the owners of the St. Vrain Market located in downtown Lyons on Main Street. For comments or questions, Mayor Sullivan can be reached by email at csullivan@townoflyons.com.

ple fill out the Census and are counted.

The Lyons Community Library, with its eight public Internet terminals and four laptops, is a great place to safely respond to your Census questionnaire.

The Lyons Community Library is open Monday through Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. We close at 5 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays; stick around late to serve you until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; and close at 3 p.m. on Saturdays. We’re always open on the web at lyons.colibraries.org or feel free to give us a call at 303-823-5165.

Kara Bauman, MLIS, is the director of the Lyons Community Regional Library.

Travels with Redstone Lisa Hassin, Tricia Marsh and Tanya Mercer-Daty were together for a week in Brittany, France, to visit with family.

This picture,taken in the town of Rochefort-en-Terre includes 11 of the

to the public through at least March 30, 2020. This schedule is subject to change, as the town will evaluate whether to reopen facilities to the public and resume normal operating hours after that time. Updates will be posted on the Town of Lyons website and via eblast.

Here’s what this closure means: Town buildings will be minimally staffed, with no public access. The public is asked to conduct business online, if feasible, or by phone.

If you need to contact the Town, please call Town Hall at 303-823-6622. The phone will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Town parks will remain open. However, groups of 10 or more shall not be permitted in public parks and patrons are encouraged to maintain separation of at least six feet.

All Town-operated public restrooms shall be closed until further notice.

BOT, PCDC and Board of Adjustment (BOA) meetings will be held remotely. Information will be posted on how the public will be able to attend and participate in these meetings.

All other Town Board and Commission meetings are suspended until further notice.

Municipal Court will be closed for the month of March and rescheduled or postponed until April.

Town recreation programs and events are cancelled. Public meetings will not be allowed in any town facilities. Building inspections will continue by appointment only.

Public Works and Utilities will operate as much as necessary, addressing essential functions such as streets, plowing operations, water, wastewater and electric services.

Notary services at Town Hall will not be available until further notice.

that URA boards include representatives from all the taxing bodies to give everyone impacted a voice in the decisions.

This is not a detriment, but a way to work collaboratively and get buy-in from the different districts about major developments. The LURA plan for the eastern corridor properties is well under way and much of the work is complete. I would strongly encourage the community to take the time to learn more about this program before making judgements about its worth.

We’ve large made the investment needed to create an important tool that can aid both existing businesses and new developments. Throwing it out now is like sticking with an old shovel when you just bought a new backhoe because you don’t want to learn how to operate it.

group from Lyons: Marsh family, Hassin family and Daty family.

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.

Pipe Water sales and hours will be limited and posted outside of Town Hall.

The Town strongly urges businesses to offer sanitizer to patrons; increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfection for high-touched surfaces; maintain a distance of at least six feet among patrons / parties; notify the Town if an employee tests positive for COVID-19; and explore ways to meet demand for home deliveries.

Gatherings of more than 10 people are strongly discouraged (i.e. religious services, parties, business meetings, sporting and entertainment events). The Town reserves the right to cancel all public gatherings which present a threat to public health and safety upon notice to the organizer.

Town of Lyons advice for Novel Coronavirus LYONS – Boulder County Public Health continues to closely monitor the developments of the COVID-19 outbreak and is in close and regular contact with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This is a rapidly changing situation, and it’s hard to predict exactly how COVID-19 may affect our communities. With a situation that is constantly changing, the questions and responses will also change. The Town of Lyons is in contact with Boulder County Public Health and CDPHE has information, guidance, and up-to-date case counts for Colorado.

For accurate information on the coronavirus (COVID-19), we recommend the World Health Organization (WHO) Q&A webpage. Cases in the U.S. will likely increase as more labs have access to the test kits. Visit the CDPHE website for status updates on the outbreak in Colorado.

MARCH 18 / APRIL 15, 2020

REDSTONE • REVIEW

PAGE 15

WILDLIFE Human-bear contacts show people need to change behavior to keep bears wild

By Colorado Parks and Wildlife Redstone Review DENVER – In 2019, Colorado Parks and Wildlife documented 517 reports of bears entering dwellings, 303 vehicle break-ins and 5,369 total bear calls from April 1 through Dec. 31.

Thanks to a modernized tracking system these numbers provide a tremendous amount of insight on human-bear interactions. It is the agency’s hope that the release of this data serves as a wake-up call to Colorado residents. Concentrated, community-wide efforts must be made to live appropriately with bears in mind.

While the public and media tend to focus on the number of bears CPW has to put down, that number is only part of the overall story. In 2019, 92 bears were euthanized, or 1.7 percent of the year’s reported bear conflicts. While these numbers vary year over year, this data sheds a new light on the overall picture and how simple steps can be made throughout our communities to keep Colorado’s bears wild and alive.

The agency’s wildlife conflict data tracking system launched on April 1, 2019. It allows CPW to comprehensively track statewide reports ranging from simple sightings, to food source attractants provided, to property damage done by a bear, livestock depredation, aggressive behavior and more.

As our ability to more efficiently and effectively track conflict data grows, we are committed to sharing this information to help all Coloradans understand our role in living with bears.

The data outlines a major problem and potentially documents only half of what actually takes place. CPW recognizes that among the 5,369 bear reports from April 1 to December 31, there are likely an equal number of humanbear interactions that go unreported.

The following sections break down the types of reports into categories and what each can mean to the well being of Colorado’s bears, whose population is estimated between 17,000 and 20,000 (black bear is the only species in Colorado).

Trash: 1,728 events.

One-third of all bear reports CPW received in 2019 involved trash. Trash is by far the leading cause of bear habituation, and open dumpsters or trash cans provide an all-you-can-eat buffet when left unsecured. Bears are highly intelligent and resourceful animals. Bears that

find food around your home or in your community often lose their natural wariness of people. Once they find garbage, the next place they may look to for more food is inside your home.

Communities or HOAs can help reduce human-bear conflicts and avoid attracting bears to your neighborhood or property by enacting a trash ordinance.

Among Colorado municipalities in the process of developing trash ordinances for bear proofing is Lyons.

If you must leave trash outside, buy a bear-proof container / dumpster, build a bear-proof enclosure or install an electric fence. To avoid attracting bears, clean containers regularly with ammonia or bleach.

Birdfeeders: 397 events A seven-pound bag of bird seed equates to 12,180 calories for a bear. A 50-pound bag of bird seed has over 87,000 calories, a reward well worth the effort of breaking into your garage to get.

Bears want to get the most energy they can with the least amount of effort. Any type of bird feeder (hummingbird, suet and seed) you have out on your property, including those on upper levels, is about as easy of a meal that a bear can get.

Birdfeeders should not be placed outside from March through the end of November for any reason. Letting your bird feeders turn into bear feeders teaches bears that it’s safe to come close to people and homes looking for food.

And for bears that can become a deadly lesson.

The 2020 Census asks 10 questions about the people living in a housing unit: 1. Name 2. Phone Number 3. Sex CENSUS DAY: 4. Age and Date of Birth 5. Relationship to Householder ✔ 6. Hispanic Origin 7. Race 8. Housing Tenure – own/rent 9. Number of Persons in Household 10. Does the person usually stay or live somewhere else?

April 1, 2020

A housing unit is a house, an apartment, a group of rooms, or a single room occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters.

There are no questions about legal status, citizenship, income or occupation.

The Census Bureau estimates that it will take 10 minutes to complete a Census form.

It is important that all people living in a housing unit on April 1, 2020 are counted on the Census form, regardless of how the people living in a housing unit are related.

Other ways to attract birds to your property include placing a nesting box out, creating a bird garden, hanging flower pots or having a bird bath. Add brightly colored, trumpet shaped flowers around your home to attract hummingbirds, butterflies and a variety of beneficial insects.

Water, especially running water, actually does a better job of attracting a wider variety of birds year-round than a bird feeder. Just keep your water sources smaller. Bears don’t sweat, so larger ponds and uncovered hot tubs can actually attract bears looking for a place to cool off. Be responsible about attracting birds and you’ll be doing your part to keep bears wild.

Other Food Attractants: 1,171 events Black bears are omnivores and will eat just about anything. Other major food sources we find around homes that attract bears include fruit trees, bee hives, chicken coops and livestock. While fruit may be a part of a bears natural diet, that does not mean a bear should be gorging itself on your apple tree mere feet from where your kids play outside. Additional food sources include pet food, BBQ grills, compost, livestock feed and fridges/freezers in your outer buildings. These items must always be cleaned up and/or properly secured.

Vehicle Break-Ins: 303 events That equals 303 preventable occurrences if people had only kept anything with a scent out of their cars. Imagine the damage a bear would do inside your car, and the unwanted “present” it could leave behind. Keep car doors and windows closed and locked if you park outside. Make sure there’s nothing with an odor in your vehicle, including candy, gum, air fresheners, trash, sunscreen, lotions and lip balms.

Dwelling Break-Ins (houses, cabins, garages): 517 events This number is certainly conservative as it includes neither the many incidences where a bear was reported in a garage after the owner left it open, nor sheds that bears got into to get food. It only accounted for bears in homes, cabins or garages where there was forcible entry.

These numbers should highlight the elementary principles of locking the doors to your home, keeping your garage door closed and your windows closed and locked.

Build bear unwelcome mats as a deterrent to place in areas a bear may want to access, replace exterior lever-style door handles with good quality round door knobs that bears can’t pull or push open, install sturdy gates or bars on lower level windows to help keep bears out. Screens don’t keep bears out.

Responding to the 2020 Census is safe.

Your personal data cannot be shared with any individual or government agency—not your neighbor, not the mayor, not a landlord, not the President, not any social service, or law enforcement agency.

When you complete your census form, you help bring in funding to Colorado for vital services, provide valuable aggregate data for state and local decisions, and ensure fair representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 2020 Census will shape the next 10 years, don’t leave your future blank!

It’s Important.

It’s Easy.

It’s Safe.

For more information, visit www.colorado.gov/census2020 and www.2020census.gov This article has been prepared by the Colorado State Demography Office for inclusion in local newsletters, social media posts, and web pages in support of 2020 Census Outreach.