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.
Harlem Ambassadors basketball show
Get ready for dazzling ball-handling tricks, high flying slam dunks and hilarious family comedy. Join the Harlem Ambassadors basketball show on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. as they take on the Montezuma Mavericks at the Montezuma-Cortez High School gym. Purchase tickets in advance for $7 for students and seniors or $10 for adults, at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St. and at M-CHS. Tickets will also be available at the door for $2 more. Admission free for age 5 and under. All proceeds benefit the Cortez Cultural Center, 565-1151.
Montezuma Valley Farm Hub seminar series
The Montezuma Valley Farm Hub presents High Desert Homesteading practical skills in raising food for small farmers, rural landowners and backyard enthusiasts. The first of eight courses, "It's Not Dirt, It's Soil - Soil Science, Organic Matter, and Compost," is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Let It Grow Nursery, 90 North Mildred Road. The cost of each class is $15. You can take one, two or all or purchase a seven class seminar card for $85. Purchase your tickets at Let It Grow. Refreshments and educational materials are included. Contact Rosie Carter at 565-4170 or Nina Williams at 560-1443 for more information.
Horsemen to hold monthly meeting
The Four Corners Back Country Horsemen will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, March 14 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds in Durango. Social time will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7. Guests are always encouraged to attend.
This is an important meeting to attend if you'll be volunteering to work at the Tack Sale in April. There will be an ice cream social starting at 6:30.
To learn more, go to: www.4cbch.org or call Bob Volger, chapter president, at 970-883-4004 or bobvolger@gmail.com
Core essence course
Learn how to connect to and work with your 5th dimensional energy field through your core essence. Join Carla Fox at the Cultural Center 25 N. Market, March 14 7 p.m. $10 at the door For more information call the center at 565-1151 or Carla at 565-2624
Supper Bowl and Cupcake Bar benefit
Come out Friday, March 15 from 5-7 p.m. for a build-your-own "Supper" Bowl of chili, baked potato, and salad for $3 a bowl. All proceeds will benefit American Cancer Society - Relay for Life coming up July 19, 2013.
Treats will be available from the Cupcake Bar for a donation. Complimentary coffee and assorted teas will be provided. A silent auction will be held with bids closing at 7:05. This fundraiser is under the direction of Team God's Kidz and will be held in the lower level of First Baptist Church, 100 North Market Street in Cortez, across from the Cortez Cultural Center and Ertel Funeral Home. For more information contact team captain, Donna Pharo at 565-3193.
Spring Hoedown multi-band fundraiser
The Spring Hoedown fundraiser is set for Saturday, March 16 from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at the Mancos Opera House. This event benefits Montezuma School to Farm Project and Pay It Forward Fund. There will be musical performances by Robbie Overfield and the Breaks, Hello Dollface, Caruta Roma, as well as square dancing and line-dancing. There will also be a silent auction, and food, beer and wine will be available for purchase. Admission is $20 for adults; ages 17 and under are free. Tickets are available at Maria's Bookstore (Durango), Zuma Natural Foods (Mancos), Dolores Food Market, Spruce Tree Espresso (Cortez), or at the door. For more information, contact Tami Graham at 759-9716.
4H Western Swing
Come dance with the 4H Western Swing on March 16 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Montezuma County Annex building on 103 N. Chestnut. DJ Mr. Soul will be providing the entertainment and refreshments will be available for purchase. The cost is $5 for singles and $8 for couples. Tickets will be available at the door. Contact Sherry at 529-6174 or Vonnie at 749-9682 for more information.
Bake sale fundraiser
There will be a St. Margaret Mary Youth Bake Sale on Sunday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cortez City Market. Funds will go to sending youth to Steubenville of the Rockies in Denver and to World Youth Day in Brazil this summer.
Call for Mentors
The Piñon Project will be at the Mancos Public Library on Wednesday, March 20, from 9:30 a.m. to noon to talk about its mentoring program. The program matches at-risk youth with an adult volunteer who serves as a one-on-one mentor, friend and advocate. The Piñon Project's Mentoring Program is the only program of this type in the area. People interested in learning more, or becoming a mentor, should come to the meeting or call the Piñon Project at 564-1195.
Wonder Women film
In celebration of Women's History Month, Community Cinema at the Mancos Public Library, located at 211 W. First St., will host a screening of Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines. This film traces the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman, from the birth of the comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the blockbusters of today, the film looks at how popular representations of powerful women often reflect in society's anxieties about women's liberation. Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. in the MPL meeting room. Free and open to the public. For more information call the library at 533-7600.
Presentation: 'Lincoln's Legacy of Equality and Liberty'
On Saturday, March 23, Montezuma County Court Judge Jennilynn Everett will present "Lincoln's Legacy of Equality and Liberty." The program was developed by the Colorado Bar Association and is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Montezuma County. It will be held at 9 a.m. at the Ponderosa Restaurant, 108 S. 8th, Dolores. The presentation is open to the public. For more information, contact Betty Janes at 533-1051 or ejanes@frontier.net.
Leave No Trace training
Dolores River Boating Advocates will host a "Leave No Trace" awareness workshop for whitewater boaters on Saturday, March 23 at 4Corners Riversports in Durango from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn how to minimize impacts to the rivers. Rick Ryan, former BLM Dolores River ranger, will lead the training. Cost is $10, which includes lunch and all materials. Space is limited, register by calling 799-1475 or email info@doloresriverboating.org.
Messianic Passover Seder
Passover Seder will be held on Monday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at 15325 Rd. 22 (north of Cortez, near Road S, off Highway 491). As celebrated in homes throughout the world, the Passover Seder is rich with historical meaning and traditions, as well as with Messianic symbolism. Passover is a holy convocation, a calling together for a sacred assembly. The observance will last about three hours and includes reading together through the Haggadah, eating the symbolic elements, drinking the cups, partaking of a meal of traditional foods, partaking of the Lord's Supper, all with music and worship and in order. An optional $10 donation would be appreciated. Please RSVP to one of the following by March 20: Mike and Paulette Gasner, 882-7696; Ron and Carolyn Lucus, 565-2430; Jeanette Conacher, 560-1651; Pat Grant, 560-2848; or Jean Oliver, 565-0747.
Bingo in Dolores
Dolores Rotary Bingo will be held Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. Dinner (chili and soups, drink and dessert for $5) Bingo begins at 7 p.m. Help support the Dolores Operation Graduation by playing Bingo.
Easter party for children
All children in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to attend an Easter party from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church, 350 S. Washington St., Cortez, directly across the street from Manaugh School.
This activity is being organized by the "Fellowshipping Fun Loving Outreaching Christian" committee and the Youth Group of the church. Numerous games and activities are being planned for the children to enjoy. A raffle will be held for a number of items, including a large vinyl bunny. Refreshments will be available for parents who accompany their children.
For more information, contact the church at 565-7024 or Jack Robbins at 882-1444.
Driver safety course offered by AARP
AARP will sponsored a driver safety course Tuesday, April 2 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at the Calvin Denton Room in the Empire Electric Building.
This course is authorized by the state of Colorado and is designed to meet the needs of older drivers. Completion of this course can qualify you for a discount on your automobile insurance.
The course is available to all motorists whether or not they are members of AARP. A $12 fee for AARP members and a $14 fee for nonmembers is to be paid by check, (no cash or credit card) which covers materials. Please bring your driver's license and your AARP membership number (if you have one).
Register with Scott and Judy Aeschlimann at 565-3872. Leave name and phone number on the answering machine if no one is available. The class number is limited.
Two on Tap coming to Cortez
Southwest Colorado Concerts presents Two on Tap performing a concert of song and tap dance, on Tuesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in the Montezuma-Cortez High School auditorium. Two On Tap marks the creative collaboration of two celebrated Broadway musical theatre performers Melissa Giattino and Ron DeStefano. Tickets will be on sale at the door; single-concert tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for youth, 18 years old and under. Season tickets for the four-concert 2013-2014 season will also be on sale, $45 for adults and $10 for youth 18 years old and younger. If you are not a current season ticket holder and purchase a season ticket for the 2013-2014 season at this concert, you will get into Two On Tap for free. For more information contact Paul Bostrom at 565-9127 or Joyce Stevenson at 565-4757
Computer classes at Cortez library
The Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St., and the Unlimited Learning Center will offer computer classes in April.
On Thursday April, 11 at 1 p.m.: Basic Internet Searching. Subjects covered will include: World Wide Web, URLs, Links, Web Browsers, Toolbars on Web Browsers, Address Bar, Simple Searching Tips and Techniques.
Staff from the Southwest Colorado Workforce Center will be teaching a computer class on finding a job on Friday, April 12, at 1 p.m.
On Thursday, April 25 at 1 p.m. the Cortez Public Library will present "Getting an Email with Gmail."
All classes at the library must be signed up for ahead of time. Sign up by calling 565-8117 or by stopping by the library. To find out more about the classes at the Unlimited Learning Center call 565-1601.
9Health Fair coming to Mancos
The 2013 9Health Fair, sponsored locally by the Mancos Valley Loins Club, will be held April 13 at the Mancos Middle School from 7 a.m. to noon. Don't miss this opportunity for low-cost and free health care screenings for individuals over the age of 18.
Participants can review screening options, register and pre-pay for their screenings online at www.9healthfair.org. There will be a separate entry for the pre-pay participants; watch for signs.
Volunteers are needed during the fair and for setup and clean up. If you are interested in helping with the 9Health Fair, non-medical volunteers can contact Val Hobson at 533-7874 and medical volunteers can contact Deana Yeomans at 533-7985.