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.
Montezuma Orchard Restoration Workshop meets today
Please join Jude Schuenemeyer with the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project (MORP) and Beth Lashell with Fort Lewis College at the Old Fort at Hesperus today on Saturday, March 31 from 2 to 4 p.m. for a Montezuma Orchard Restoration Workshop. To reach the old Fort at Hesperus, from Hwy. 160, take Hwy. 140 five miles south to 18683 Hwy. 140. Meet outside the historic library.
The workshop will take place in the orchard, and will include pruning, grafting, and assessment of this orchard planted in the 1920s. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Attendees should dress in layers and bring gloves. There is no cost.
Please RSVP to Beth at 385-4574 or lashell_bfortlewis.edu.
The Crags, Holy Smokers, Beesknees perform at Sideshow
Sideshow Emporium & Gallery will present three live bands on Saturday, March 31 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sideshow is at 411 Central in Dolores.
The Crags, a female-fronted garage punk trio from Durango, will headline the evening. The Holy Smokers, a three-piece western gothic instrumental group featuring steel guitar will follow, and opening the evening are the Beesknees, an alt-folk duo from Dolores. There is a $5 cover charge.
For more information, call 739-4646.
Mancos Library screens Lioness film for Community Cinema
The Mancos Public Library, located at 211 W. First St., as part of Womens History Month, will show the Community Cinema film Lioness on Saturday, March 31 at 2 p.m. in the meeting room.
They went to Iraq as cooks, clerks and mechanics and returned a year later as part of Americas first generation of female combat veterans. How did five female army soldiers end up fighting alongside the Marines in some of the bloodiest battles in the Iraq War?
For more information, call MPL at 533-7600 or visit www.mancoslibrary.org.
Silent auction will raise funds for Caughey memorial playground
A silent auction to raise funds for the Louie Caughey Memorial Playground at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds will be held during the upcoming High School Rodeo on Saturday, March 31. The silent auction will start at 9 a.m. and bids will close at 5 p.m.
Plans are underway for the renovation of the playground in memory of longtime Montezuma County resident Louie Caughey. The public is invited to attend the rodeo and participate in the silent auction.
For more information, or to donate an item for the silent auction, call Bonny White at 560-0795 or LuAnn Meyer at 739-6874.
Cortez Animal Shelter will have childrens Blessings Basket
In celebration of Easter, during the week of Monday through Friday, April 2 through 6, the Cortez Animal Shelter, 2791 E. Main St., invites the public to bring children by to select an egg from the Basket of Blessings. Each egg holds a surprise treat and a wish for a donation item for a child to bring back to the shelter to help the homeless pets. This is a wonderful way for children to learn compassion as they help our furry friends that have found themselves at the shelter. The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, call the shelter at 565-4910.
Archaeologist Kearns will discuss Basketmaker III culture
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society will present Tim Kearns to discuss Basketmaker III in the Southern Chuska Valley, Northwest New Mexico on Tuesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St.
In his presentation, Tim will highlight the Basketmaker III settlement, architecture, subsistence and material culture of the southern Chuska Valley area with a focus on the population movement and settlement dynamics of the period AD 500 to AD 725. His remarks will address questions that complement the current Basketmaker III research project being conducted by the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. Tim Kearns is a professional archaeologist currently associated with Woods Canyon Archaeological Consultants.
For questions about this or other lectures, please call Bob Bernhart at 739-6772.
Nashville band JP Harris and the Tough Choices play Brewery
J.P. Harris and the Tough Choices from Nashville will play at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 at the Dolores River Brewery, 100 S. 4th St.
The band doles out pure unadulterated country music the kind destined for dancing and heartache. Theyve resurrected the ghosts of a time when real, hardcore Honky Tonk ruled the airwaves; before the words pop or new ever met the word country. If you wanna dance, if you wanna cry in your drink, or if you like scruffy fellas in tight jeans, then look out for J.P. Harris and The Tough Choices. There is a $5 door charge.
For more information, call the Brewery at 882-4677.
Southwest Tourism Summit will offer networking opportunities
The inaugural Southwest Tourism Summit will take place in Durango on Thursday and Friday, April 5 and 6. All presentations will be at Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum and at the Strater Hotel.
This new tourism conference will provide Southwest Colorado businesses with valuable information and networking opportunities with key tourism leaders. The featured speaker will be Al White, Director of the Colorado Tourism Office, and there will be additional presentations from Tour Colorado, Four Corners Film Commission, Southwest Colorado Travel Region and many more. Attendees can learn about domestic and international travel trends, the state tourism offices new ad campaign, and opportunities in advertising and grants, agritourism, PR, heritage and culture, and other topics. Registration is $99.
Call 385-8842 for schedule, registration or information, or visit www.durango.org/summit or www.durangotrain.com.
Mobile blood drive will take place at First United Methodist
United Blood Services will hold a mobile blood drive from 2:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church, 515 N. Park St. in Cortez.
To set up an appointment or for more information, call 385-4601 or sign up online at www.bloodhero.com.
Spring is theme of April Storytime at the Cortez Public Library
Too Early for Spring? is the April theme of the newly-renamed Raising Readers 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.
Chocolate Bunnies, Chocolate Bunnies, Chocolate Bunnies is the subject on Thursday, April 5 and Friday, April 6. Did the Tooth Fairy Come? will be discussed on Thursday, April 12 and Friday, April 13. Are You a Good Steward? will be presented on Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20. Jump Frog will wrap up the month on Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27.
Raising Readers Storytime offers songs, stories, crafts and silliness and uses the Early Childhood Literacy Initiative program. For more information, contact the library at 565-8117.
Cortez Library offers April computer training classes
The Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St., will offer a series of computer training classes in April. All classes start at 1 p.m.
On Friday, April 6 and 20, Gabe Torres from the Southwest Colorado Workforce Center will teach computer classes on various aspects of finding a job on the Internet, including: registering with the Workforce Center; updating your Workforce registration; conducting job searches statewide; updating skills which will allow the system to find more jobs for the client; applying for unemployment insurance; ONET-ON-Line website job title searches; resume preparation; searching for State applications; labor market information; labor law information; and facilitating the WorkKeys Skills Assessment. On Thursday, April 12, Randy Funk will hold a class on Internet Shopping. On Thursday, April 26, Randy Funk will teach students about Microsoft Word.
All classes must be signed up for ahead of time, as space is limited. Sign up by calling the library at 565-8117 or by stopping by.
Gospel Easter Egg Hunt at Parque De Vida amphitheater
Blessed Bible Church will host a Gospel Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Parque De Vida amphitheater in Cortez, behind the recreation center. The event will include treats, games, music and an amazing egg hunt. There will be prizes and gifts and a lot of fun. Please come and join us it is free and a safe environment will be provided.
For more information, call Pastor Neely at 565-5360 or 529-0780.
Presbyterian Church will host 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, April 7 at the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church, 350 S. Washington St., Cortez. The church is directly across the street from Manaugh School.
This activity is organized by the Fellowshipping Fun Loving Outreaching Christian committee and the Youth Group of the church. Numerous games and activities are 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.
Cortez Rotary Club holds annual Easter Egg Hunt for kids
The Cortez Rotary Club invites area children from toddler up to 12 years of age to the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, which begins promptly at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 7, on the west side of Cortez City Park. The hunt will have 3,000 real and 2,000 plastic eggs for children to gather.
For more information, call 560-0781.