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.
For Pets Sake accepts donations
of items for fall yard sale
For Pets Sake Humane Society will have its annual fall yard sale Friday through Sunday, Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, at the Cortez Christian Church Family Life Center on the corner of Empire and Colorado Highway 145. This is expected to be the humane societys biggest sale yet. The hours are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon 2 p.m. Sunday.
The humane society still needs lots more treasures for the sale so it can help the dogs and cats in Montezuma and Dolores counties. (No computers, monitors, printers, or other computer accessories, tires, or televisions.)
Bring donations to the center from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, or call 565-PETS (7387) and leave a message if you need to drop off items at a different time, or if you have a large item for pickup.
Conscious Movie Night will offer Big Bucks, Big Pharma
The Center of Lights Conscious Movie Night will present the film Big Bucks, Big Pharma at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Center of Light, 30705 Road V.6 in Dolores.
This event is free, and all are welcome. All donations will be in support of the famine in Somalia.
Big Bucks, Big Pharma pulls back the curtain on the multibillion dollar pharmaceutical industry to expose the ways that illness is used, manipulated, and in some instances created, for capital gain.
To RSVP or to find out more information, contact Rev Meira Leonard at 882-2123 or RevMeira@CentersOfLight.org.
Order of Mercy will host Bridge Shelter clean-up
All are welcome to participate in a clean-up event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Bridge Emergency Shelter, 601 N. Mildred Road, Ste. 1, in Cortez.
Bring yourself and a friend. Cleaning supplies and snacks will be provided.
Contact Sister Gloria for more information or to RSVP at 394-0001, or at SisterGloria@Orderofmercy.com.
Weekly October sale will benefit Noahs Ark Animal Shelter
A benefit sale for Noahs Ark Non Kill Animal Shelter that will include items from Roger Hazlewoods Estate, as well as other items, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday in October Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Buds Security Storage, 14525 Colorado Highway 145 (between County roads P.3 and P.7) in Cortez. All proceeds of the sale will go to support Noahs Ark Non Kill Animal Shelter. New items will be added weekly.
Noahs Ark will also be accepting donations of Pedigree, Purina One and ORoy Bites and Bones dog food, paper towels, bleach and aluminum cans. All donations are tax deductible.
Noahs Ark Non Kill Animal Shelter is a nonprofit, charitable organization, funded only by the kindness of people. The shelter currently boards, cares for and loves 96 orphans.
For more information, call Louise Long at 565-2751.
Masonic Lodge will sponsor pancake fundraiser for chorus
The Mancos Masonic Lodge 100 AF&AM is sponsoring a fundraising pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at 141 E. Montezuma Ave. in Mancos, home of the Mancos Senior Center. This breakfast will benefit the Mancos Valley Chorus.
The breakfast includes not only pancakes, but eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice. Tickets are $5 per person; children under 12 eat for free. Tickets are available from any chorus member and at the door on the morning of the breakfast.
For more information, contact Sarah at 533-9165.
Silent auction, dinner will raise funds for Fresh Start Horse Rescue
Fresh Start Horse Rescue will hold its first annual silent auction and Navajo taco dinner fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 1, with the silent auction to go from 4 to 7 p.m. and the dinner to go from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will also be a PowerPoint presentation on Fresh Start from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will be held Empire Electric Associations Calvin Denton Room, 801 N. Broadway, Cortez.
Fresh Start invites people to come for a night of fun, food and door prizes.
For more information, contact Tara at 739-6799.
Family Walk, Run For Hope will raise funds for free mammograms
The Seventh Annual 5K Family Fun Walk and Run For Hope will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Joe Rowell Park in Dolores.
Sponsored by the Womens Cancer Coalition, this event raises funds for free mammograms for local uninsured and underinsured women. Put the day on your calendars to walk or run or just support your friends with a cheer!
For more information, call Patsy at 560-2922.
Southwest Singers will offer open house, invitation to singers
The Southwest Singers invite one and all to an Open House at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at the United Methodist Church, 515 N. Park St., Cortez.
In preparation for the Christmas concert, and hopefully to entice some of you to join the singers, the group offers cake, cookies and soda. Now, that may not be enough to entice you into the chorale, but the warbling may. Listen to some music, eat some cookies, and consider how you can contribute to the sounds of Cortez. All voices and levels of talent are welcome. Choir director Ruth was able to take a musically-challenged bass and turn him into a musically-challenged singing bass. Hows that for results? You could be the next miracle. Come see if becoming a Southwest songster is your destiny. The group rehearses every Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the church. Rehearsals are going on now ... all are welcome to attend to see if this might be for you.
For more information, call Larry Tradlener at 565-7804 or Ruth Wilson Francisco at 882-3970.
Cole will discuss rock art
of Basketmaker II community
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society will present Sally Cole to discuss Rock Art at the Falls Creek Rock Shelters at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St.
Cole will discuss her ongoing research into the chronology and social identity of the Basketmaker II Falls Creek Rock Shelters community near Durango. The community was first excavated and written about by Earl Morris in the late 1930s. It was also where Zeke Flora discovered Esther one of several named mummies found at the community.
Sally Cole is an adjunct faculty member of the Department of Anthropology at Fort Lewis College in Durango, research associate with the Utah Museum of Natural History, and a consulting archaeologist working on the Colorado Plateau for more than 30 years.
For questions about this or other lectures, contact Bob Bernhart at 739-6772.
Artist-in-residence will teach
class that features aspen knots
The Mancos Public Library, 211 W. First St., will host an art class taught by local artist Helen Loomis titled To Be or Knot to Be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Participants in the class will each be given an aspen knot to paint and transform into whatever they desire. Loomis was chosen as one of the artists-in-residence at the Aspen Guard Station for late summer. This class is for people 12 years old and up. The cost is $4 and class size is limited, so call or stop by the Mancos Public Library to sign up.
For more information, call the library at 533-7600.
Wildlife biologist Freels will present talk on wildlife migration patterns
The Mesa Verde Backcountry Horsemen will present Eric Freels, U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist for the Dolores Public Lands Office, who will speak about wildlife in the area and their migration patterns, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Elks Lodge at 2100 N. Dolores Road, Cortez. Arrive early at 6:15 p.m. for buy your own Taco Tuesday.
For more information, call Howard Thomas 533-9135, or visit our website at www.mesaverdehorsemen.com.
Library will show A Screaming Man at monthly film event
The Independent Film Series at the Cortez Public Library continues at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, with the film A Screaming Man, directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, from Chad and France. The library is located at 202 N. Park St.
Adam, a former swimming champion in his 60s, is a pool attendant at a hotel in Chad. When the hotel gets taken over by new Chinese owners, he is forced to give up his job to his son, Abdel, leaving Adam humiliated and resentful. Meanwhile the country is in the throes of a civil war. Rebel forces are attacking the government and the authorities demand the people contribute to the war effort with money or volunteers old enough to fight. Adam is constantly harassed for his contribution, but he is penniless. In a moment of weakness, Adam makes a decision he will forever regret.
For more information, call the library at 565-8117.
Director of Southwest Open School will speak at Democrats meeting
The Democratic Women will host special guest speaker Judy Hite, director of Southwest Open School, at their meeting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Jack and Janelles Country Kitchen, 801 E. Main St., Cortez.
The public is invited to come hear about the needs of the school, and the upcoming SWOS bond issue that will be on the ballot in the November election.
For more information, contact Marcia Boon at 565-7668.
Storytime changes to Fridays; October theme is Stayin Inside
Stayin Inside! is the October theme of Storytime at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park Street. Storytime is held every Friday at 10:30 a.m. for preschool-aged children and every Saturday at the Farmers Market beginning at 10:30 a.m., weather permitting, through the end of October. The Farmers Market is located on the corner of S. Elm and Main streets. Older children are welcome to join for the craft at 11:15 a.m. on Fridays. The Saturday Storytime will follow the same theme as the preceding Friday.
The library is going to switch their Storytime hour from Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. to Fridays at 10:30 a.m. beginning on Friday, Oct. 7. This will be done on a trial basis. There will be no Storytime on Thursday, Oct. 6.
I Love My Teacher! is the subject of Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8. Dont Mess With My Box of Crayons! will be discussed on Friday, Oct. 14, and Saturday, Oct. 15. Well explore Lets Eat Popcorn! on Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22. Storytime will wrap up the month with Ghost Repellent? on Friday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29.
Storytime offers songs, stories, crafts, and silliness, and uses the Early Childhood Literacy Initiative program.
For more information, contact the library at 565-8117.
Local band Blue Coyote will play blues, rock-a-billy, swing
The band Blue Coyote will be playing at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Blondies Pub & Grub, 45 E. Main St., Cortez.
Blue Coyote is a group of local musicians who have been playing together for about six years. They play a mix of blues, rock-a-billy and swing. They are a very energetic and upbeat band that loves to get the crowd out of their seats and dancing.
For more information, contact Matt at 565-3795.
Salon will host fundraiser event
for Womens Cancer Coalition
A Pink Party to honor National Breast Cancer Awareness month will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Terris Hair and Nails, 202 S. Fourth St., Dolores.
Pink streaks, feathers, shimmers, and polish will be given for a donation. All donations stay local and benefit the Womens Cancer Coalition.
Call 882-7067 for more information; no appointments are necessary.
Singer-songwriter Chorover will perform at CD release party
Singer and songwriter Katya Chorover will perform at a CD release party for her fourth recording, Big Big Love, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Dolores River Brewery, 100 S. Fourth St., Dolores.
Katya plays her own original material, but also covers some of her favorite artists, such as Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan and Kate Wolf, among others always with her own unique spin. One of the best singers out there, her warm dark voice has been compared to Emmylou Harris and Shawn Colvin, and her carefully crafted songs set her apart. The Dolores show will be with a full band, and is part of a tour around the West. Cover is $10.
For more information, call 565-0144, and to learn more about Katya and hear her music, visit www.katyachorover.com.
Lifeguard will host Family Fun Fest event with games, music, dancing
Lifeguard, a pro-life, nonprofit educational organization located in Durango, will host a Family Fun Fest from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, to be held at the Cortez Recreation Centers amphitheater.
There will be games for adults and children, music, square dancing and prizes. Food booths will also be available, providing hamburgers, hot dogs, baked goods, and other goodies. This will be a fun time for the families of Cortez and the surrounding areas.
For more information or if any group would like to host a food booth, contact Linda Moore at 564-4211.
Montezuma County Extension will offer apple pie canning class
The Montezuma County Extension Office, in conjunction with the La Plata County Extension Office, will offer an Apple Pie Canning Class from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Calvin Denton Room, Empire Electric, 801 N. Broadway, Cortez.
Wendy Rice, extension agent and family and consumer science specialist from La Plata County, will conduct the class. The cost of the class is $10; this fee covers supplies and materials. Preregistration is required before Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Contact the Montezuma County Extension Office at 565-3123 for more information or to pre-register.
Metales M5 Mexican Brass will kick off SW Colorado Concerts season
Metales M5 Mexican Brass will kick off SouthWest Colorado Concerts 2011-2012 winter concert series at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Cortez Middle School auditorium, 450 W. Second St., Cortez. Come early to purchase tickets; doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Metales M5 with two trumpets, a French horn, a trombone and a tuba is balanced between classical pieces and pops tunes, including a 007 segment and finishing off with some rousing Mexican folk tunes, including a bullfight.
Single concert tickets will be available at the door for $20 for adults and $5 for youths.
SouthWest Colorado Concerts will present four concerts for 2011-2012. Season tickets for all four concerts will be available at the door Oct. 11 for $45 for adults and $5 for youths 18 years old and under. Season tickets also provide entry to concerts in Gallup, N.M., and Delta, Colo., at no additional charge. Single concert tickets are also available.
For more information, call Paul Bostrom at 565-9127 or Steve Costos at 882-1471.
AARP will offer driver safety course for mature drivers
AARP will sponsor a driver safety course from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Calvin Denton Room in the Empire Electric Building, 801 N. Broadway, Cortez.
This is a new four-hour course authorized by the state of Colorado. It is designed to meet the needs of mature drivers. The course will review safe driving techniques as well as Colorado traffic laws. 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 or a $14 fee for nonmembers, to be paid by check (no cash) will cover the cost of materials. Bring your drivers license and your AARP membership number (if you have one).
Call to register with Scott and Judy Aeschlimann at 565-3872. Leave name and phone number on the answering machine.
Chamber of commerce will offer Business Essentials Workshop
The Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce is offering a Business Essentials Workshop from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the First National Bank in Cortez.
Bryan Dear and Karen Veals from the payroll department will help us simplify and to understand one of our biggest, yet most important expenses in our organizations: Payroll, with a focus on timekeeping and attendance as well as worker classification (Exempt vs. Non-Exempt and Employee vs. Contract Labor).
Phil Bryson from On the Edge Productions will then give us the tools for effectively hiring, managing and working with different personality types in the workplace.
Registration fee for chamber members is $40, and $50 for nonmembers.
Contact Dena at 565-3414 for more information or to register for this workshop.
Special fall photography workshop at Mesa Verde will be offered
Every year thousands of visitors snap photos of the spectacular, world-famous Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde Institute is offering a special fall three-day photography workshop scheduled beginning at noon on Friday, Oct. 14, through the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 16, to be led by well known photographer Professor Emeritus Gene Balzer.
The workshop is limited to 13 participants to ensure plenty of personalized coaching. Tuition includes three days of instruction, two nights in-park motel lodging at the Far View Lodge, and all meals, including two dinners at the famed Metate Room Restaurant.
Participants will visit sites around the park at times designed to capture ideal lighting conditions, and will work on compositional skills for compelling images.
For further information, including photographic equipment needs and to register, visit the Mesa Verde Institute at www.mesaverdeinstitute.org, email info@mesaverdeinstitute.org, or call 800-305-6053.
Girl Scouts seek volunteers, will offer troop leader training
Girl Scouts of Montezuma County is looking for volunteers to be troop leaders. All volunteers receive basic training for their position through adult learning opportunities. Training ensures that each volunteer has the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in her or his work. Training for new leaders will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 15.
Whatever your background, whatever your interest, whatever commitment your schedule permits, Girl Scouts of Colorado needs your experience and energy to serve the increasing number of girls who are, or who want to be Girl Scouts.
Contact Kyle Conrad at 375-7913 if you are interested in volunteering, or if you have a girl who wants to participate in Girl Scouts. Learn more at www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org.