SVVSD forum on state budget crisis

LONGMONT – Officials with the St. Vrain Valley School District will hold a community forum concerning Colorado’s budget crisis and its impact on the district at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, at Altona Middle School, 4600 Clover Basin Dr., Longmont.

The state budget deficit is now estimated between $1.5 and $2.2 billion and is expected to result in legislative cuts to K through 12 education by at least $260 million. The resulting cut to the district’s 2010-2011 general operating fund is currently estimated between $10 and $15 million.

For more information, contact John Poynton, Director of Communications at 303-682-7404.

The St. Vrain Valley School District is Colorado’s tenth largest school district serving more than 25,500 students in Dacono, Erie, Firestone, Frederick, Hygiene, Longmont, Lyons, Mead, Niwot, and the City and County of Broomfield north of Highway 7. The mission of the St. Vrain Valley School District is to educate each student in a safe learning environment so that they may develop to their highest potential and become contributing citizens.  For information contact Matthew Wiggins at 303-682-7321.

Pass the hat for Haiti

LYONS – A benefit will be held to help the earthquake survivors in Haiti from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on March 20 at the Wildflower Pavilion at Planet Bluegrass sponsored by Craig Ferguson and Sam and Mindy Tallent.  This will be a great night of food and music. All proceeds from the ticket sales and silent auction will go toward relief efforts in Haiti. Tickets will be on sale for $25 at the Stone Cup. All tax-deductible donations can be made payable to Higher Ground Ministries.

There will be a silent auction. Please contact Sam Tallent to donate silent auction items at 303-517-7577.  Shake off the winter blues and plan to attend a great evening of music and food. Many bands are planning to participate. There will be music for everyone.

Help for Haiti

LYONS – Haiti needs your help. Every little bit counts no matter how small. Cash donations are the only way to get food to those in need as delivery efforts are not reaching the areas outside of the major cities, especially the islands. Pam Solman, of Solman Realty Corp., is the administrative director of the Good Samaritan Foundation of Haiti. The foundation is collecting money for Haiti’s earthquake refugees.

We now have bank account set up specifically for the Good Samaritan Foundation of Haiti. You may now wire donations directly from your bank to the foundation’s account. Any amount is appreciated. We do not take any administrative fees from our donations for any reason.  All of the donated funds we receive and contribute ourselves go directly to our mission in Ile LaVache. Funds are be wired several times per week. You can donate to the Good Samaritan Foundation of Haiti in care of Bank of the West, 303 Main St., Lyons, CO 80540; Acct# 011349126, Routing# 107002147; or call 303- 823-9800 to speak to branch manager Jayne Rhode. If you prefer to mail a check the mailing address is The Good Samaritan Foundation Of Haiti, P.O. Box 264 Lyons, CO 80540. In a short while we will have a paypal button on our website linking to Bank of the West where donations may also be made.  Thank you in advance for your help. For more information please call the Good Samaritan Foundation of Haiti at 303-579-7618, or visit www.goodsamaritanfoundationofhaiti.com.
History Preservation in Lyons

LYONS – Three speakers will be presenting at the annual “Community History Potluck Party.” The key speaker is Bonnie Kohl, who will be doing a re-enactment of the life of Helen Hunt Jackson and reading from her short story, “Georgetown and the Terrible Mine.” Michael Tovani, who has been a blacksmith for 17 years, will show a video of himself shoeing a horse. And, lastly, Marguerite Peoples will show a video of the stores that burnt to the ground on Main St. and Fourth in Lyons.

The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Walt Self Center (park on Railroad Avenue, not in the senior housing parking lot). A $5 donation is requested, and bring a side dish to share.  Come meet other locals who support history preservation. For more information call Kathleen Spring at 303-823-0997 or contact the Lyons History Video Project, P O Box 274, Lyons CO, 80540.

Community Food Pantry Thanks Lyons

LYONS – The Lyons Community Church Food Pantry would like to thank the Lyons community for tremendous support this past year.  It was amazing to see so much involvement by individuals, businesses, and school groups as they all raised money, collected food and coats, and made birthday bags for the children of the pantry shoppers. Also, a special thanks to the St. Vrain Market for their continuing weekly contributions!  Where could you ever find a better community? Thank you on behalf of the pantry and volunteers

House for sale in Saratoga, Wy.

SARATOGA, WY. – House for sale in Saratoga with artesian hot springs, a well and pool, It has 1,600 sq. ft, with views, and two apartments, furnished and rented. It has a 970 sq. ft. barn zoned for two horses, a fenced three-car garage and it is located on four city lots. All the buildings are in great condition. Saratoga is 120 miles from Lyons. It is priced to sell, $295,000. For information call 303-652-4004.

Permaculture certification course

LYONS – A permaculture certification course starts on March 19.^. Check out http://farmettepdc.wordpress.com. Erin Schey and Laura Ruby (with many special guests and lecturers) will be bringing this PDC course to the Farmette on U.S. Highway 36 east of the U Pump It gas station, look for the chicken on the mailbox. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com.

Cheese Making Classes

LYONS – A cheese making class will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 18 at the Farmette on U.S. Highway 36 east of the U Pump It gas station, look for the chicken on the mailbox. In our cheese making class we will discuss the broad spectrum of cheese from fresh to aged, stinky to mild, and bloomy to washed rind.  We will focus on making cheeses that are easily made in the home including mozzarella, ricotta, and chevre as well as pairings for cheese. Hilary Van Dusen has been making artisanal goat cheese for Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy for two years. She works primarily with the raw milk cheeses, which have won several awards at the American Cheese Society and World Cheese Competition. The cost is $20 per person. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com.

Myths in cannabis cultivation

LYONS – Debunking the myths about cannabis cultivation will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 21 at the Farmette on U.S. Highway 36 east of the U Pump It gas station, look for the chicken on the mailbox; then join us for a “pot” luck. Because of its prohibition, research into the cultivation of cannabis has been conducted secretly and under poorly controlled conditions. As a result, cannabis cultivation is enshrouded in mystery and guided by folklore. Much of what is known – even repeated in cultivation books – is simply what has been passed along as “what works” from one lucky grower to another or is simply outdated or bad information. Though the plant possesses remarkable properties, it is still just a plant. Everything you should have learned in high school about plant biology still applies. This two-hour course will demystify the cultivation of cannabis and discuss several deeply rooted misconceptions. Topics include: photoperiodicity and light color, dioecity and sexual expression, the use of sugars and additives, special cropping techniques, genetic stability and strain development. One hour will be devoted to Q&A. The cost is $35 per person. Space is limited. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com.

Planning your vegetable garden

LYONS – A get-together to plan your summer vegetable garden will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on February 28 at the Farmette on U.S. Highway 36 east of the U Pump It gas station, look for the chicken on the mailbox.

Even though spring is still weeks away, the time is now to figure out what you’re going to grow in your vegetable garden this year. Whether you just want a couple of pots of herbs or have a giant community plot planned, Julie Artz’s method for assessing your needs, your garden space, and coming up with a simple plan, will help you tackle the garden year in an organized, stress-free manner. Come with a general idea of the square footage you have available for your vegetable garden and walk out with a plant to get you started! Julie Artz is a Boulder County Master Gardener and an experienced gardener who also writes about gardening and other things on TerminalVerbosity.com. The cost is $10 per person. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com.

Mushroom and mycology presentation

LYONS – There will be a mushroom presentation from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 followed by a potluck at the Farmette on U.S. Highway 36 east of the U Pump It gas station, look for the chicken on the mailbox. Todd W. Jones will offer an informal presentation inspired by his studies with world class mycologist, Paul Stamets.  The discussion will explore the fascinating abilities of fungi and the special roles they play in nature as well as some ways that they can be utilized by humans as food, medicine, to build soils, and in ecological restoration projects.

Topics will include gourmet and medicinal mushroom cultivation at home and in the garden, outdoor mushroom patches, integrating mushrooms into the permaculture design model, and how mushrooms can be utilized to restore damaged ecosystems.  Special emphasis will be placed on working with mushrooms in the arid and high altitude bioregions of the Colorado Front Range, including some exciting new ideas about how mushrooms may be utilized to address the pine beetle epidemic. The cost is $10 per person. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com.

Knife skills for the home cook

LYONS – A class on knife skill for the home cook will be held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday March 14 at the Farmette on U.S. Highway 36 east of the U Pump It gas station, look for the chicken on the mailbox. The class will be taught by chefs Chelsea and Susanna of Aprovecha Back to Basics Culinary Education.  Learn how to make your cooking more efficient and fun with simple slicing, dicing, and chopping techniques. We’ll cover knife brands, types, how to choose them, and how to maintain them. You’ll also get a reference handout of our recommendations and illustrations of basic cuts. And after all this chopping we’ll make a lovely surprise recipe that we can all enjoy. The cost is $20 per person.  Please RSVP by Saturday, March 13, space is limited. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com.

Make friends with the Lunch Bunch

ALLENSPARK – On Thursday March 11 the Lunch Bunch of Allenspark will hold a 50-minute program on Glenn Miller, a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, presented by Dr. Alan Cass, curator of the exhibit at CU, Boulder. The program will be on Glenn Miller’s life and his music.

Every Thursday at 12 noon folks in the Allenspark area have been gathering to have tasty meals, provided at the Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center on Colorado Highway 7 near Ferncliff. The menu varies each week with all natural, low sodium and fat; special diet needs available ((i.e., gluten free and diabetic.) The suggested donation is $2.50 for those over 60, $6 for those under 60. Reservations must be made at the center before noon on Wednesdays, at 303-747-2888. Many choose to play Yahtze, dominoes, and other table games until 2 p.m. Alternate Thursdays have interesting speakers and musical programs. For more information call Linda Eller, chairwoman, Allenspark Senior Advisory Council, at 303-747-0470.

Hunter education

LYONS – The Town of Lyons Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Events is hosting volunteers from the State of Colorado Division of Wildlife who will be teaching a hunter education course on February 22 through February 27 in the Walt Self Senior Housing community room. Classes will run from 5:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, February 22, Wednesday the 24, and Friday the 26, with classes ending Saturday, February 27 with the closing session running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You may call to sign up for the course at Lyons Town Hall between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Please call 303-823-8250 and leave a message with all names of those who will be attending, and your contact information.  You may also call Mike Hora, the program instructor, at 303-747-2827 to sign up or ask questions. A minimum of 15 participants is needed to ensure the class will be provided. A $10 course fee will be collected the day the program begins.

5K Logo contest for artists

LYONS – The Town of Lyons Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Events is reaching out to local artists to take part in a contest to create the 2010 Lyons River Run 5K race logo. The River Run 5K will take place on Sunday, June 27, 2010. The contest is open to all age groups and anyone interested in participating in the contest is encouraged to do so. Judging will take place during the third week of March (entry deadline is 4 p.m. March 12, 2010) with the winner and winning logo being announced in the Thursday, March 25, issue of the Lyons Recorder. The winner will receive a $250 grand prize in exchange for the logo. The winning logo will be displayed on over 700 T-shirts, 500 posters, several ads, and on over 6,500 race entry forms. All contestants must submit both a hard and soft color copy of their work. All entries must limit the number of colors used to three or less. For official guidelines please call 303-823-8250.

Men’s basketball

LYONS – Join us on Thursday nights from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for basketball.  The league is held at Lyons Elementary and all are welcome.  Seasonal and drop-in rates are available.  Show up and play!

Senior Balance Exercise Class

LYONS – The Lyons Department of Parks and Recreation and the Lyons Golden Gang are pleased to offer a balance exercise class to local seniors at the Walt Self Senior Center on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. This class if free to all Lyons seniors. Simply show up to join this class. Instructor Anne Marie Brown is an area senior who was trained by Boulder County Aging Services to instruct this course. For questions please call the Lyons Golden Gang at 303-823-6771.

Lyons Community Garden

LYONS – Don’t forget to get your garden plot. The last day of registration for the community garden will be March 26; any registration received after this date will incur a $15.00 late fee. Individuals must have completed a plot form, waiver, and pay the fee prior to a ten-foot-square plot being issued. Plots will be issued randomly on a first come, first serve basis. You may obtain a registration form from Lyons Town Hall or by going to www.townoflyons.com. If you have any questions please call Lyons Parks and Recreation at 303-823-8250.

Good Old Days Committee looking for champions

LYONS – On Monday, February 1, nearly a dozen enthusiastic citizens came to the Lyons Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) meeting to provide input concerning events they would like to see incorporated or expanded at the annual Good Old Days celebration in June. A summary of these suggestions includes a family-oriented community picnic featuring classic “old-time” picnic games (i.e. egg race, potato sack relays, three legged race, wheel barrow race, etc.), kid oriented games, water games (balloon fights, water guns, tubing races, etc.), kickball tournament, or adult vs. kid softball game.

With direction from the community, we now need “champions” to adopt one or all of these ideas. These champions will create a plan for their event, organize it, and help secure volunteers. While the Parks Department and the PRC stand ready to assist with the planning and provide advice, these champions will be the project leaders for their event. As in all small towns, volunteers are absolutely essential to create, enhance, and revitalize special events such as Good Old Days.

The next PRC meeting is Monday, March 1. If you (your organization, team, club, neighborhood, friends, etc.) are interested in planning one of the events, contact the Lyons Department of Parks, Recreation or Cultural Events at 303-823-8250 or recreation@townoflyons.com.  Proposed events, and their champions, will be finalized at our March meeting. We need your active vision, energy, and commitment to evolve Good Old Days into a community event that meets your needs. Thank you in advance for your help.

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