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.
Mobile blood drive takes place today
United Blood Services will hold two mobile blood drives in the area from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at the First United Methodist Church, 515 North Park St. in Cortez, and from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Dove Creek Community Center, 403 West 7th St.
To set up an appointment or for more information, call 385-4601 or sign up online at www.bloodhero.com.
Pick-up, drop-off locations set for Christmas trees in Cortez
Through Friday, Jan. 13, the city of Cortez will have two areas set up for residents to dispose of their Christmas trees for recycling: the parking lot at the southeast corner of Elm and First Streets; and the BMX parking lot on the south side of Empire Street. For those residents that cant get their tree to one of the recycling stations, the Public Works Crews will be picking up Christmas trees curbside during the week of Jan. 3-6.
Please place your trees in front of your house, on the curb (not on the street, and not in the alley) for pick-up. The trees will be chipped and taken to the south ball fields to be used as mulch.
For questions or additional information, please contact the Public Works Department at the City Service Center, or call 565-7320.
Business course offered for ag producers and businesses
Experienced and new farmers, ranchers, and agriculture related businesses are invited to attend the Leading Edge Tilling the Soil of Opportunity course offered by the Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center. This 10-week course starts Thursday, Jan. 19, in Cortez at the Colorado Welcome Center, 928 E. Main St. Register by Friday, Jan. 6, to secure a seat.
This innovative, farmer friendly course teaches the art of better agricultural business practices. Participants will be guided step-by-step to develop ideas and learn how to research markets, set prices, create financial statements, manage cash flow, find resources and implement plans. Businesses that service agriculture are welcomed. A tuition fee of $280 covers two people from the same business. Scholarships are available. Participants receive 30 hours of instruction, workbooks, five hours of individual professional assistance and an opportunity to win an award for completed business plans.
For details and to register, contact Cindy Dvergsten at 882-4222 or cindyd@gobrainstorm.net.
Cowboy Church invites area residents to join in supper, music
Come and experience new possibilities for 2012 at Southwest Cowboy Church at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9. Our theme is New Trails and will feature the Line Camp Riders performing comedy and Western music. There will be a cowboy chili supper at 6 p.m. Join us at the Lewis Arriola Community Center (about a mile west of 491 on County Road S).
Everyone is welcome to bring side dishes or desserts. Wear cowboy clothes or simply come as you are. This event will kick off a whole host of activities for the new year! Look ahead to a variety of cowboy singers and musicians, chuck wagon dinners, outdoor cowboy activities and lots of family fun.
For more information, call Mark at 882-1433.
January Storytime is announced for Cortez Library
Winter activities is the January theme of Storytime at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St. Storytime is held every Friday at 10:30 a.m. for preschool-aged children. Older children are welcome to join in for the craft at 11:15 a.m.
The New Year is Here! is the subject on Friday, Jan. 6. Crayons Revisited will be discussed on Friday, Jan. 13, and Lets Visit the Library! will be the focal point on Friday, Jan. 20. Storytime will wrap up the month with Exercise With Me! on Friday, Jan. 27. Storytime offers songs, stories, crafts and silliness and uses the Early Childhood Literacy Initiative program.
For more information, contact the library at 565-8117.
New Postpartum Depression Support Group
A new Postpartum Depression Support Group is starting up in the area, beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The group will meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at the Southwest Memorial Hospital Annex, 20 South Market Street, Cortez.
This support group is for women who are suffering, may be suffering, or have suffered from postpartum depression. Drop ins are welcome.
Contact Shauna at 560-2786 for more information.
Cortez Library will host writing workshop
Instructor Linda Rose invites the public to join the Writing Your Life Story workshop on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 to 5 p.m. beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St. The workshop will run for four weeks.
Have you wanted to tell your life story to friends, family, loved ones, or the public? Does the task seem too big and the project fails before you even get started? Linda Rose has taught numerous workshops in Florida, and brings her strategies for creating your biography to Cortez. Bring your enthusiasm and your idea for stories. Youll get started on a plan that encourages you to keep writing.
Participation is limited to six persons, so register early at the front desk of the library. For more information, contact Linda at (850) 933-4134 or Joni at the library at 565-8527.
Ron Paul for president supporters group will hold local meeting
The 4-Corners Ron Paul Meet-up will hold a local meeting to discuss Ron Paul for president from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the Calvin Denton Room of Empire Electric, 801. N. Broadway, Cortez.
All supporters are welcome to come and meet each other. Organizers would like to develop a strategy for introducing people in the Four Corners area to Ron Paul. This will include a lively discussion on how to develop support for Paul for President.
For more information, call Abby Lurvey at 570-9378.
Cortez Public Library continues Independent Film Series
On Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m., the Cortez Public Library will show the Australian film Little Sparrows, directed by Yu-Hsiu Camille Chen. The library is at 202 N. Park St.
The summary from the publisher, Film Movement reads, In the middle of an Australian summer, we meet three sisters. Nina is widowed with two young children. Anna is an aspiring actress unhappily married to a filmmaker. Christine is a med student who has yet to fully come to terms with her sexuality. When their mother Susans breast cancer returns, the family is faced with the reality of their last Christmas together. As each daughter confronts personal change and growth, Susan guides them by revealing a secret of her own.
Fore more information, call the library at 565-8117.
Resolve is theme of Cortez Chambers Business After Hours
Cortez Chamber of Commerce invites you to Business After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12 at First Southwest Bank, 1510 E. Main St., in Cortez.
The theme this month is Resolve to build your business relationships in 2012. Enjoy free food, fun and friends. If you havent been for a while, come and see what youve been missing. Unwind after a days work the 2nd Thursday of every month at various, exciting locations.
For more information, contact Dena Guttridge at 565-3414.
Four Corners Square Dancers invite all to meet and greet, lessons
Four Corners Square Dancers are starting new square dance lessons with a Meet and Greet session on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Kemper Elementary School, 620 E. Montezuma Ave., Cortez. The mainstream lessons will begin on Monday, Jan. 23, and will continue every Monday night until mid-March.
You dont need a partner or dancing skills to square dance.
For more information call Vonnie Robinson at 749-9682, or Don and Judy Morris at 565-9836.
Celtic guitarist Barlow will perform music of British Isles
Jerry Barlow, Celtic fingerstyle guitarist, returns for a concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St.
His repertoire is the traditional music of the British Isles and his own Celtic-inspired compositions. Dont miss this exquisite musician.
For more information, call the library at 565-8117.
Chamber requests nominations for community awards evening
The Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Denim and Diamonds Community Awards Evening at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Main Street Brewery, 21 E. Main St., Cortez.
Tickets are $25, or $30 if purchased after Saturday, Jan. 14. To nominate people, organizations or businesses for awards, email nominations with a brief description of why you believe they deserve recognition to cortezchamber@cityofcortez.com or drop off nominations at Cortez Chamber of Commerce, 928 E. Main St., inside the Colorado Welcome Center. Nomination forms are available at cortezchamber.com.
For more information, call Dena Guttridge at 565-3414.