The Cortez Journal encourages people to submit announcements about upcoming events for the Community Calendar. Send announcements to news@cortezjournal.com. Items submitted at least two weeks in advance will have a better chance of getting published; items submitted several days before the event might not get published. For more information, call the Journal at 565-8527.
Orchard Restoration Project pruning workshops
The Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project (MORP) aims to preserve our local fruit growing heritage and restore an orchard economy to our region. Please join co-founder Jude Schuenemeyer for hands-on pruning workshops in our local heritage orchards. These free workshops will be held on Saturdays this month, beginning today, Saturday, Feb. 9, and will also be held on Feb. 16, and Feb. 23. Participants should meet at Let It Grow, 90 N. Mildred Rd., at 1:30 p.m. to caravan to the orchard, or call ahead for directions at 565-3099. Please dress warmly and wear good boots, gloves and glasses. Coming up, there will also be workshops on grafting.
Family Winter Walk at Hawkins Preserve
Join friends and family for a beautiful winter walk through the Hawkins Preserve from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 9. Reservations must be made by calling Gabi at 385-1256. Meet in the preserve parking lot at the end of South Cedar. Dress appropriately.
SW Colorado Livestock Association festivities
The evening's events for the Southwestern Colorado Livestock Association annual meeting will be held at the Cortez Elks Lodge on Saturday, Feb. 9, and are open to the public. Festivities start at 7 p.m. with a steak dinner, with the highlight of the evening the announcement of Stockman of the Year and Cowbelle of the Year. Dance music will be provided by the band Vanishing Breed. A silent auction will also be held, with proceeds awarded as scholarships to local youth. Tickets for the dinner and dance are $25, and can be purchased at the door or from any member of the Board of Directors. Contact them as well to make a contribution for the silent auction. For more information, or to buy tickets, contact Lynelle Brumley at 565-1972.
Incredible Years parenting classes
The Pinon Project will offer a series of free parenting classes beginning Tuesday, Feb. 12, and lasting 14 weeks. The Incredible Years is a curriculum targeting parents of children 2 to 8 years of age and is proven effective. If you are looking for more effective ways to discipline and want to build a more positive relationship with your child, this is the program for you. Classes will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Pinon Project, 300 N. Elm St. Dinner and childcare are provided. To register, please contact Lara Blair at 564-1195. Space is limited, so sign up soon.
Mardi Gras Pancake Supper
A Mardi Gras Pancake Supper will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at St. Barnabas Church at the corner of North and Elm. The meal will include pancakes, sausages, fruit, scrambled eggs, and a drink. The cost is $7.50 for adults, $4 for children 10 and under, or $20 for a family of two adults and two or more kids. Funds raised will go to support Grace's Kitchen, a Jubilee Ministry of St. Barnabas. Along with the meal there will be a pancake flipping race that will begin at 6 p.m. and everyone is invited to participate. St. Barnabas will provide the pancakes for flipping. Participants should BYOS (bring your own skillet). Call 565-7865 for information.
St. Phillips Pancake supper
The Anglican Church of St. Phillips at 716 S. Market St. in Cortez, will host a pancake supper on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. The supper is free but donations will be accepted. For more information call 562-4454.
Prepared Childbirth Education classes
Expectant women between their 28th and 33rd week of pregnancy and their partners are invited to attend Prepared Childbirth Education classes sponsored by Southwest Memorial Hospital in February. The three-class series will be held on Wednesdays, Feb. 13, 20, and 27 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at 20 South Market Street. The cost is free for women who plan to deliver their babies at SWMH and $10 for all others. Please call 564-2245 for more information and to register.
Weekly group for girls to learn healthy dating
Four Corners Child Advocacy Center (aka The Nest) will offer a six-week group for girls ages 13-17. The focus is on developing healthy dating relationships. The group will be held at the Advocacy Center, 140 N. Linden St., on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. starting on Thursday, Feb. 14. Space is limited, so reserve your spot now. Contact us at 565-8155 or ginger@nestcac.org for more information.
Artisans gallery holds Valentines Day celebration
The public is invited to join us for a special Valentines Day celebration on Thursday, Feb. 14, at Artisans of Mancos, 101 Grand Ave. We have extended our hours for the special event from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be a raffle drawing for gifts from the artists every half hour. There is no cost to attend, and refreshments will be served. For more information, call 749-4001.
'Giving Up Something Bad for Lent' series of classes
Rev. Suzanne Listemann will present a special Lenten Season class in the conference room at the Cortez First United Methodist Church, 515 N. Park St., Cortez, beginning on Friday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. and meeting each Friday at 10 a.m. for the following six weeks. "Giving Up Something Bad for Lent" is another way of thinking about engaging in a traditional act of sacrifice and spiritual discipline. Why not give up something that is destructive in our lives, such as envy, jealousy, self-pity, apathy, procrastination, gossip, resentment, negative thinking - and how much better life would be. The 46 days of Lent can be used to prepare to give up something bad while preparing to fully embrace the "Good News" of Easter. The public is invited to attend. For more information, please call Remetha Gustafson at 565-3001.
Legislative Low Down with Sen. Roberts, Rep. Coram
On Saturday, Feb. 16, the League of Women Voters will sponsor a Legislative Low Down in Cortez with State Senator Ellen Roberts of Durango and State Representative Don Coram of Montrose. The program will be at 10 a.m. in the Calvin Denton Room at Empire Electric, 801 N. Broadway. These legislators, whose districts include Montezuma County, will discuss the issues expected to come before the Legislature this year. The event is open to the public. For more information, contact Betty Janes at ejanes@frontier.net or 533-1051.
Animal Tracks and Signs at Mesa Verde National Park
Learn how to discover what animals are out and about during the winter months at Mesa Verde National Park. On Saturday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon, hikers will learn how to look for and identify animal tracks and signs, and then explore the hillsides around Morefield Campground. Past animal tracks observed in the area include weasels, rabbits, mountain lions, mice, and coyotes. This hike is limited to 20 people, ages 7 to adult. Meet at the Morefield Village parking lot at Morefield Campground, 4 miles from the park entrance. Snowshoes are provided for those that need them. There is no fee for this hike. Call 529-4631 for reservations.
St. Barnabas' conversation on faith
"How does my belief/practice form my life?" will be discussed on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at a conversation at St. Barnabas Church at the corner of North and Elm Streets. St. Barnabas hosts these gatherings for folks who can't reconcile their life experience with what they believe the church requires; who don't want to check their minds at a church door; or who just don't want to live in a world they think the Christian church espouses but who might value being part of a community of faith. Questions are required. No answers are promised. Call 565-7865 for more information.
Soups of the World fundraiser for Bridge Shelter
Grace's Kitchen and St. Barnabas Episcopal Church offer the sixth annual Soups of the World and live dessert auction on Friday, Feb. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. This event supports the Bridge Emergency Shelter. Delicious soups from various regions of the world will be served at Grace's Kitchen at 110 West North St. in Cortez. Tickets are $10; kids 5 and under are free. Tickets will be available at the door as well as from various agencies in the community. There will be a live dessert auction beginning about 6 p.m. with Larry Don Suckla serving as auctioneer. Those that wish to contribute something for auction should bring homemade desserts to St. Barnabas between 1 and 5 p.m. on the day of the event. Contact Kristen or Christy at the shelter at 565-9808 or Betsy Jones at 565-7865 for more information. Join us for this fun soup supper and dessert auction!
Lewis-Arriola 'Warm Up' annual chili dinner, pie auction
Come eat supper, buy a pie and meet your neighbors at the 8th annual "Warm Up" at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22 at the Lewis-Arriola Community Center, 21176 CR S (west off of Hwy. 491). The evening includes a homemade chili supper and homemade pie auction, with door prizes such as gift cards for area grocery stores and gas stations. Tickets are $5 for one or five tickets for $20, and are available for purchase in advance or at the door. Proceeds support the free activities and events put on at the Lewis-Arriola Community Center throughout the year. To buy advance tickets or for more information, call Chan at 882-7318, or Carol at 882-7816.
Big Moon in the La Platas SJMA winter nature tour
A winter nature tour, Big Moon in the La Platas, will take place Saturday evening, Feb. 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Folks of all ages are invited to go snowshoeing with the San Juan Mountains Association, in partnership with San Juan National Forest, and certified interpretive guide MK Thompson. Explore wonders of La Plata Canyon as the sun sets and the moon comes up. Snowshoes are available for kids under 120 pounds. To reserve your spots, contact us at MK@sjma.org or 759-9113. Various tours are offered throughout the winter.
Family Pizza and Movie Night event will feature 'Babe'
Skip the meal planning, bring the kids and join us for Family Pizza and Movie Night on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Montezuma County Annex Building, 107 N. Chestnut, Cortez. Doors open for dinner at 4:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 6 p.m. The film being featured is "Babe," a funny, heartwarming tale about a little pig that goes a long way. Rated G, "Babe" is appropriate for children of all ages, as well as the young at heart. Dinner will include wood-fired pizza, salad, assorted desserts and lemonade. Please bring cash to purchase extra concessions. Feel free to bring a sleeping bag or blanket and pillow; kids are invited to wear PJs. There will be fun prizes and drawings, and Katya Chorover will hold a Music and Motion session starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door for $5 per child and $10 for adults - please help us plan for the event by buying tickets in advance at The Children's Kiva and Silver Bean. All proceeds from the event will benefit the tuition subsidy and scholarship programs at The Kiva. For more information, call them at 565-8586, or stop by.
Classical Gas performs Cortez concert
Southwest Colorado Concerts presents Classical Gas, a concert with piano, violin and a whole lot of fun, on Thursday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in the Montezuma-Cortez High School auditorium. Pianist Rich Ridenour teams up with violinist/comedian Steve Brook for a show that is a little bit Jack Benny and a little bit Victor Borge as they perform classics fueled by their own imaginations. The program for the evening includes such great classics as "At the Old Ballgame," Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony" and "11 Finger Rag" by Dykstra. Tickets will be on sale at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m.; single-concert tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for youth 18 years-old and under. For more information, contact Paul Bostrom at 565-9127.
'Play It Safe' presentation on consumer fraud, financial abuse
AARP ElderWatch in conjunction with Montezuma County Senior Center will offer "Play It Safe," a presentation featuring Bob Mager of AARP ElderWatch. This interactive presentation will instruct on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from consumer fraud and financial abuse. Join us at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 22 at 107 N. Chestnut in Cortez. For more information, contact Marsha Green at 564-2775.