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.
Pruning workshops across Montezuma County
Let It Grow Nursery and Garden Market and the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project present another season of free orchard pruning workshops in orchards across Montezuma County. These workshops will be held on consecutive Saturdays in February and March, beginning Saturday, Feb. 18. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Let It Grow Nursery, 90 Mildred Road in Cortez.
Call 565-3099 for more information.
Meet & Greet for DA candidate Will Furse
Summit Shooting Center at 23858 Road G will host a Meet & Greet for district attorney candidate Will Furse on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Coffee and doughnuts will be provided, and discounted rates on range time will be available.
For more information, contact Larry or Darlene at the Summit 565-2474.
SJMAs Winter Discovery Walk at Hawkins Preserve
San Juan Mountains Association offers Winter Discovery Programs throughout the winter. Join us for SJMAs Winter Discovery Walk at Hawkins Preserve on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Hawkins Preserve is located at the south end of Cedar Street off Seventh Avenue. Cedar dead ends in the preserves parking lot.
If there is snow, well use snowshoes to explore the wintry world. If there isnt, well still have fun looking at what plants and animals are doing to survive in the winter.
Contact the Cortez Cultural Center at 565-1151 for more information or to sign up.
Parenting classes at Pinon Project
The Pinon Project will offer two 14-week Incredible Years parenting classes from 5:30 to 8 p.m. One class will be held on Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 21, at The Pinon Project, 300 N. Elm St., Cortez; and one class on Thursdays, to begin Feb. 16 at the Ute Mountain Child Development Center in Towaoc, at 514 Sunset Blvd.
Dinner and childcare will be provided. There is no cost to participants. Enrollment is limited, so call soon.
For more information and registration, contact Lara at 564-1195.
Relay for Life Mardi Gras kick-off event in Cortez
This years Relay For Life committee would like to invite interested community members, returning RFL teams, and new teams to join in the fun, food, and information sharing at this years Relay For Life Mardi Gras Kick-Off event at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Trinity Lutheran Church Hall, 208 N. Dolores Road, Cortez.
The kick-off event is to start the relay season by getting folks together to sign up teams, and to organize volunteers to help at this years Relay For Life. Get involved in saving lives by participating in this years Relay For Life on July 20.
For more information, contact Lucy Gasaway at 564-1468.
Mardi Gras Pancake Supper will benefit Graces Kitchen
The Mardi Gras Pancake Supper, a fundraiser for Graces Kitchen, will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Graces, 110 W. North Street. The dinner will be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
Mardi Gras costumes are optional, though encouraged. The menu will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit and a drink. Adults are $7.50, kids age 3-12 are $4, and kids 2-years-old and under eat free. A pancake flipping race will start at 6 p.m. Bring your own skillet well provide the pancake. Tickets are available from members of St. Barnabas, the church office, or at the door.
Call 565-7865 for more information.
Cortez Library announces February Storytime themes
Baby, Its Cold Outside! is the February theme of Storytime at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St. Storytime is held every Thursday and Friday at 10:30 a.m. for preschool-aged children. Both days will follow the same theme. On Thursday there will be no craft. Older children are welcome to join in for the craft at 11:15 a.m. on Fridays.
Storytime will wrap up the month with 100th Day of School on Thursday, Feb. 23, and Friday, Feb. 24. Storytime offers songs, stories, crafts and silliness and uses the Early Childhood Literacy Initiative program.
For more information, contact the library at 565-8117.
Cultural Center will host educational wine tasting benefit
Eric Allen of the Wine Merchant in Durango will again give an educational wine-tasting at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market, on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. The cost is $20 per person; proceeds benefit the Cortez Cultural Center.
Space is limited; call 565-1151 to register.
Parks and Wildlife will discuss sunflower field wildlife damage
Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff will discuss ongoing research related to damage by wildlife to sunflower fields at a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Dolores County Courthouse, 409 Main St., Dove Creek.
The agency started work during the summer of 2011 to try to determine how to keep deer and elk from eating sunflowers in this area of southwestern Colorado. At the meeting, agency biologists will discuss the research design, field activities expected to occur during the next year, share preliminary information from the study and answer any questions. Parks and Wildlife is also looking for sunflower growers who are interested in participating in the research project this summer.
For more information, call Matt Hammond at 749-8804.
Vanishing of the Bees documentary will screen
Center of Light will present the film Vanishing of the Bees at Conscious Movie Night at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at the Sophia Peace Center, 19581 Road 31, in Dolores. (In Dolores turn left at the Riverside Gas Station, go 1.8 miles to the Sophia Peace Center.)
Its a phenomenon with a name Colony Collapse Disorder but no explanation or solution exists. This documentary details the economic, political and ecological consequences of a dwindling world honeybee population. This event is free, and all are welcome. All donations will go to support American Beekeeping Association, a national organization working in the interest of all beekeepers and those associated with the industry to ensure the future of the honeybee.
To RSVP or find out more information, contact Rev. Meira Leonard at 882-2123 or RevMeira@CentersOfLight.org.
Heroes vs. Villains face off at costume birthday bash
KSJD and Dolores River Brewery invite you to celebrate our birthdays on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. at the Super Heroes vs. Super Villains party at the Brewery at 100 N. Fourth St., Dolores.
Access your super powers and enter the costume contest of Super Heroes vs. Super Villains! Groove to the positive reggae sounds of Salt Lake Citys Codi Jordan Band! Tickets are $10 at the door.
For more information, call 565-9727 or visit ksjd.org, doloresriverbrewery.com, or codijordan.com.
Mesa Verde will offer free winter ecology hike
Park Rangers will lead a second guided hike focusing on winter ecology at Mesa Verde National Park on Saturday, Feb. 25, beginning at 9 a.m. The guided hike is free, but advance sign-up is requested. Participants will meet at the Morefield Village gas station, and then explore the hillsides around the Morefield Campground, looking for signs of wildlife and observing adaptations of plants and animals in the winter months.
Children are welcome and should be at least 7 years old to join the hike. Be prepared to be outdoors for two to three hours with extra layers of clothing, water, and snacks. There is a limit of 20 adults and children. If needed, snowshoes will be provided, or you may bring your own. Park entrance fees are waived during the months of January and February.
To sign up, for weather conditions, and for more information on the hike, call the Chapin Mesa Museum at 529-4631. For more information about Mesa Verde National Park, visit www.nps.gov/meve.
Horse club sets cutting practice
The Four Corners Cutting Horse Club will sponsor a cutting practice at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The club is seeking new members and spectators are welcome.
Non club members are welcome to compete. The cost is $65 for two goes. A potluck lunch will be served.
To reserve cattle call Jay Springer at 564-9689 or Kristie Carriker at 565-1499.
New Community Garden planning group will meet
Community members interested in actively participating in creating a community garden are invited to come to a meeting Sunday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. in the Calvin Denton Room at Empire Electric, 801 N. Broadway, Cortez. We will discuss garden concepts, various models, fundraising and sharing ideas.
For more information, contact Bobbi at 529-0689 and leave a message, or at cortezcommunitygarden@gmail.com.
Dolores Rotary Club Bingo Night
The Dolores Rotary Club will sponsor a bingo night Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Dolores Community Center, 400 Riverside Ave. Soup, corn bread and dessert will be served starting at 6:30 p.m. for $5 with bingo following at 7 p.m.
Cards are $1 per game or $10 for the evening. All proceeds will benefit the Dolores Senior Citizens Group.
For more information, contact Neal Stephens at 564-4440 or Dave Sanford at 882-7428.
Builders Association offers presentation on new roofs, repairs
Four Corners Builders Association invites the public to a free presentation and question time on the topic of roofs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the side room at Benys restaurant, 640 S. Broadway, Cortez.
Steve Wilderson will be there to help give some insight on how to be well-prepared when it is time to deal with putting on a roof, or repairs to be concerned with. Admission is free.
For more information, call FCBA at 565-1771.