Goooood Morning!
It’s hard to believe that just a little over a week ago it was in the 60’s here in Lead. Tonight and tomorrow it’s supposed to get down in the negative teens and twenties (that’s FIFTY degrees below freezing)! They’re warning that windchills might be as low as -40 this week which means exposed skin can suffer frostbite in as little at ten minutes! But the weather should break here next week and we’ll be back into the balmy tropical 30’s again.
Only the toughest will put up with it, and we Leaders are made of pretttty stern stuff! (Just imagine, other people in our country have NEVER in their life experienced a cold like this!) In lots of other places weather like this would shut everything down, but life continues pretty much as usual here. “Yup it’s cold,” people say matter of factly, “it’s winter.”
While I honestly do enjoy winter, this isn’t my favorite part, but I always relish the extreme portions of our weather. I love a challenge and a weather challenge is no different. It forces us to exercise our mental stamina, it begs us not to complain and it most of all has us celebrating summer because when it returns we’ll fully deserve it.
So exercise that self control, turn those cold taps on overnight and revel in this crazy time!
______ Here’s what’s happening in Lead this week
Today, Thursday 2/11
3pm – Beer Bingo at Jailhouse Taps! This weather can make going out a drag, beer and free nachos makes it better.
6pm – Cooking Class at Cheyenne Crossing. A friend of mine went for the first time last week and said “I thought this would involve cooking, but I was happily surprised to find that Dave does all the cooking and all I needed to do was sit, visit with friends, drink wine and be entertained by him!” Now you know! Call 584-3510 for reservations and more info about this week’s menu.
6pm – Virtual Deep Talks: “How low can you go?”Join Dr. Brianna Mount for a live virtual tour of the Black Hills State University Underground Campus, or BHUC, nearly a mile underground at Sanford Lab. Mount will discuss how physicists harness the science of radiation to take minute measurements and support other experiments at Sanford Lab. Register on the Sanford Lab website.
Friday, 2/12
6:30pm – Zumba at Explore Fitness & Adventures. Check out their line up of amazing classes on their website from couples dance to yoga to mommy and me kids dance – all the fun in their new location!
Weekend – We’ve added church services to our community calendar – so if you’re new to town or looking for a service time find it there! Does your member church have other exciting events going on? We’d love to post them!
Sunday, 2/14 – Valentine’s Day!
2:30-5:30pm – MOPS will meet in the basement of Shepherd of the Hills church (basement entrance off parking lot). If you’re a mom and looking for some fun mom time come join us! We’ll have childcare, snacks and fun! Call us for more info 584-3110
5-8pm – Connection Church in Lead is offering free babysitting for kids 1-13 so parents can have a Valentine’s date night! Registration is required so they can prepare. Register at www.connectionchurchlead.com
Monday, 2/15 – President’s Day (all the best birthdays are in February)
The Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center will be open as usual from 9-5. A great indoor option if you have guests in town and need something else to do. The Chamber offices will be closed.
Tuesday, 2/16
5pm – City Commission Meeting (moved due to the holiday) – Two commissioner seats are up for new people. If you’re interested in participating grab a petition at City Hall offices.
7pm – Poker for Fun at Hangar 7 Lounge inside Blackstone Lodge. Anyone over 21 is welcome to come hang out and enjoy a fun evening.
Wednesday, 2/17
2pm – Public Planning Meeting for upcoming spring and summer events! Want to have a say in how we put on our city wide events? This is your chance to participate! Can’t make it? We can dial you in or send you an agenda via email. A lot of our greatest ideas come from community members so we’re happy for your input.
6pm – Trivia continues at Jailhouse Taps. We’re really happy to see businesses host events and we love to help promote them! Is your business holding some fun thing? Let us know – membership only works as much as you work it!
_____ News & Notes
The city sends texts out about city wide notices and warnings. It’s a good way to stay up to date on what’s happening and things to be aware of. You can sign up on the city website.
This week they sent out a notice to be careful about water freezing in your pipes. Even if you’ve never had water freeze before this can happen – and possibly from the street to your house deep underground. Danny’s Plumbing advises:
“Keeping one cold tap on overnight at a trickle will help prevent this from happening to you. There is very little that can be done once it’s frozen (especially if it’s deep underground) until the weather breaks again. If you have a crawl space or a basement you might also consider putting a space heater near your main water intake. Crawl spaces can be particularly prone to freezing as they aren’t usually as insulated as basements.”
You can try calling the city, a welder or a plumber but normally there’s very little that can be done by either except these same things.
We’re thrilled to welcome BA Coffee to our membership – Alexandra is located inside Explore Fitness & Adventures new building (right off 14A) and has crazy hours to help accommodate our growing population of shift miners! She has coffee and food (including delicious breakfast burritos and delicious caramel rolls).
And speaking of food service, businesses in town are BEGGING us to bring more food service to Lead. Thyssen Mining is about to bring over a hundred people to work here and they need food desperately! Do you have a food service business that’s been shut down in another state? Come to Lead!! There are always challenges to starting a new business but nothing is insurmountable!
And speaking of Thyssen Mining, they’ve posted some more jobs on our page. In addition to a custodial job at Trinity United Methodist Church. https://business.leadmethere.
The Homestake Opera House is a proud recipient of a Residency For Recovery grant and is partnering with the Lead/Deadwood Arts Center. The HOH is accepting proposals for a one-time community residency for Black Hills Artists – creating an opportunity to dialogue with the community in a public space. Call Patrick for more details or information 584-2067.
Stay toasty!
With Love from Lead,
Sierra Ward
ED