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Looking to find that perfect gift?

Here is a list of awesome Holiday Gift Festivals in the area:

16th Street Holly Days – Holiday Gift Festival on the 16th Street Mall
Friday, December 6, 2013
11 am – 6 pm
Located on the 16th Street Mall in Downtown Denver

Jingle all the way down the 16th Street Mall for a festive holiday shopping experience before the 9News Parade of Lights.  The 16th Street Holly Days is an outdoor boutique of exhibitors with arts, crafts, holiday

Surprised

Dear Editor,
I fully appreciate your recognition of the people and agencies involved with rescue, safety, and security during the devastation imposed on our wonderful town. Each in their own way were a tremendous asset and all worked well together. Sadly though I am surprised at the lack of recognition

Holiday Decorations

Dear Lyons Community,

On behalf of the Lyons Student Council we would like to invite you to be a part of a decoration drive for people that have been affected by the flood. We want to collect holiday decorations such as

AmeriCorps Aids In Lyons Post-Flood Recovery

A team of nine AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members, who arrived mid-November, will be serving in the community of Lyons through December 19 assisting in flood disaster relief efforts. This is one of six AmeriCorps NCCC teams currently working on flood recovery efforts.  Other teams are serving in Boulder, Jamestown, Estes Park, Firestone, and Greeley.

Every Calorie Counts

Today as I arise I am thankful for so many things in Lyons Colorado.  I am thankful that so many in our beautiful little town will be able to enjoy Thanksgiving in the town and home we love.  I think after the flood that will forever change us, but not define us, I am aware of how blessed we truly are in overabundance of family, friends, and community. Ironically

Energy Assistance Now Available

As energy costs continue to rise, help is available for Boulder County residents who struggle to pay their winter heating bills. LEAP, the Low-income Energy Assistance Program, is accepting applications now through April 30, 2014.

TUCGAR Credits for Lyons

Lee: As long as there have been families and neighbors, there has been loaned tools and work parties.

Bob: I thought the Amish invented the work party?

Lee: No silly, they just take them a little more seriously than most of us.

Bob: Our flood has provided many opportunities to help our neighbors.

Lee: Too many, some might say.

Bob: Here in 2013, there is something new at work parties: government accounting rules.

Lee: Are we really going to talk about accounting rules? Half our readers will turn the page and the other half will fall asleep.

Bob: This is "Tech Talk" and government accounting provides ample technicalities. We're only going to talk about a single accounting rule. It has a name similar to "FEMA Rule 36, Chapter 5, Section 12, ...". Here we'll call it TUCGAR, short for The Unnecessarily Complicated Government Accounting Rule.

Lee: The Town Of Lyons faces an enormous bill from FEMA. It is something like 10 times the town's annual budget. It covers the FEMA rescue efforts, National Guard, the food and water, the evacuee housing, helicopters, ... the whole enchilada. Does FEMA really expect us to pay it?

Bob: Yes.

Lee: Let's send them one those funny checks they use to "balance" the federal budget. The Lyons Recorder knows lots about printing. Maybe they can print a big stretchy latex check on the town's behalf.

Bob: FEMA expects cash, like when you pay your taxes.

Lee: But we don't have that much cash. Can we pay in livestock? 8-track tapes? mash whiskey? good intentions?
Bob: It's the government. They like cash. But they also like credits. And that is where TUCGAR and the best tradition of helping your neighbor meet. Every hour that you volunteer helping your neighbor can become a TUCGAR credit. Each of those credits reduces the town's bill from FEMA.

Lee: Are you saying: if I muck out 10 yards of mud from my neighbors basement and he mucks out 10 yards of mud from my basement, that the town can get a credit against the FEMA bill?

Bob: Yup, that's the TUCGAR rule.

Lee: Does the town get the credit if I work on my own house?

Bob: Nope, that's the "Unnecessarily Complicated" part of the rule.

Lee: All those church groups & relief organizations that are working around town count?

Bob: Yes, we receive their labor and the credit too.

Lee: Our neighbors are helping each other out of the goodness of their hearts. They're so focused on the tasks at hand, they probably don't know about the TUCGAR credits.

Bob: I saw the Ford Broncos Club Of Denver digging out a home in Pinewood Springs. I'm sure they weren't thinking about TUCGAR credits. Their growling stomachs and barbecue alongside Rt 36 was at the front of their minds.

Lee: Do we get the TUCGAR credit even if the mayor prefers Toyota trucks?

Bob: Yes, even if she switches to Chevys.

Lee: There is probably a really long nasty form to fill out, right? You probably have to be over qualified to work at H&R Block to get the credit, right? 

Bob: Nope, there is an organization already setup to track it. They're called the Lyons Volunteers. They're an adjunct to town hall.

Lee: Aren't those the people wearing the white shirts with green lettering led by the green shirts? Aren't they the ones you see on Saturdays working all over town covered in dirt and sawdust?

Bob: Yes, they deploy work crews from the storage pods at the corner of High & 4th on Saturday mornings at 9AM. Behind them is an accounting system to track all the work and get the TUCGAR credits. I asked how many credits have been earned thus far but the "Unnecessarily Complicated" thing was getting in the way again. I resorted to a back of the envelope guess. I think it is more than $100,000 worth of TUCGAR credits.

Lee: That's a good start but there is still long way to go.

Bob: Yes. Now that basic infrastructure is coming back on line and most residents have returned, the pace of work available for TUCGAR credits is increasing. Whether you work with Lyons Volunteer crews or independently, we should be recording it to cut the town's FEMA bill. Visit lyonsvolunteers.org for more information. There is a web form to report hours. Click on "Log Volunteer Hours". Or stop in town hall and ask to speak to Lyons Volunteers.

Comprehensive Creek Planning Meetings Scheduled

As a part of flood recovery, Boulder County is launching a comprehensive planning effort to address the post-flood condition of creeks in the county. The Boulder County Comprehensive Creek Planning Initiative will engage residents in