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.
Catholic Community Rummage/Yard Sale
The Montelores Catholic Community will hold a Rummage/Yard Sale on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, at the corner of Montezuma and Market in Cortez. A wide array of items including books, clothing, household, shop and yard/garden items will be for sale. For more information, call Barbara at 565-0776 or Rosa at 565-7308.
Heart & Soul Cortez holds neighborhood block party
What would you like to see improved in Cortez? Heart & Soul Cortez is bringing a neighborhood block party to you on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Southwest Memorial Hospital lawn on Mildred Road. Please join your neighbors for free food and ice cream, activities, and family fun. We want to hear from you about your favorite places in Cortez and what you like best or would like to see different in your neighborhood. There will be free blood pressure checks, face painting, and more! For more information, call 564-4079 or visit www.cortezheartandsoul.com.
14th Annual Harvest Beer Festival
Come sample microbrews from 10 breweries at the foot of Mesa Verde in beautiful Cortez at the 14th Annual Harvest Beer Festival on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 4 to 9 p.m. This years festival is at Parque de Vidas pavilion and will feature music by Jack 10 High from Durango and the sensational singer-songwriter, Katya Chorover. Sample wood-fired pizzas, fish tacos and much more while perusing the biggest silent auction in the region. There will be childrens activities including face painting and games. All proceeds benefit Montezuma Land Conservancy, the only non-profit land conservation organization focused on land protection in Montezuma and Dolores counties. Admission is $25 and includes beer tasting, souvenir pint glass, door prizes, live music and silent auction entry. Must be 21 years of age or greater to drink. Admission is $15 for those under 21, and includes a pint glass for non-alcoholic beverages that will be provided. Children under 15 are free with paid adult. For more information, call Juniper at 565-1664.
Growing Through Grief workshop
Have you lost a loved one to death from this world? Would you like to learn how to deal with the grief that comes from such a loss? Pastor Rick Carpenter will be leading a six-week workshop beginning Monday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dolores United Methodist Church. Each workshop session will last approximately 11/2 hours. Topics to be covered include: The Grief Process; Emotions Were Not Supposed to Have; Letting Go But Not Forgetting; The Holidays; Societys Expectations and How to Respond; and Faith Offers Hope and A Future. You may also choose to attend a second offering during the day beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Dove Creek UMC. To register for either workshop or for more information, call 882-7780. Please leave your name, phone number and indicate which class you want to attend.
Wiyos will play Dolores Brewery
The Wiyos, a New York-based trio, will perform Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the Dolores River Brewery, 100 N. 4th St. The Wiyos are a widely-acclaimed folk group who made a name for themselves by largely focusing their performances on acoustic sets only. In 2009, the band was chosen by Bob Dylan to be the opening act for his summer tour which also featured headliners Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp. They have toured the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and the Netherlands. They recently released their sixth album entitled, Twist. Tuesdays performance will begin at 8 p.m. for ages 18 and over. For more information, call the Brewery at 882-4677. To learn more about the trio, check out www.thewiyos.com.
Radon session for builders and building officials
The Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) and Colorado State University Extension Service will offer a free live webcast presentation of Radon Control Techniques for New Homes from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the Montezuma County CSU Extension Office, 109 W. Main St., Room 102 in Cortez. Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the book Protecting Your Home from Radon and lunch. This is a special session for builders and building officials, although anyone who is interested is welcome to attend. To RSVP to this free event, contact Cori Andreatta at 259-1916 ext. 111 or cori@fourcore.org. You may also visit www.fourcore.org/Contractors/SustainableBuilding.aspx for details.
Madison House holds ice cream social with Cortez Mayor
Madison House Assisted Living, 120 S. Madison St., Cortez, celebrates National Assisted Living Week with an ice cream social with special guest, Mayor Dan Porter. The community is invited to join us for this free event on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Body of War screens at Conscious Movie Night
Center of Light presents a special feature at Conscious Movie Night, Body of War on Friday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Sophia Peace Center, 19581 Road 31; in Dolores, turn left on 11th St., go 1.8 miles, and look for the large sign with the dove on the left. These events provide a way for people to talk about inspiring movies on a deeper level and is also a great opportunity to meet like-minded people. Body of War is a documentary about the true face of war today. Meet Tomas Young, 25, paralyzed from a bullet to his spine wounded after serving in Iraq for less than a week. This film is Tomas coming home story as he evolves into a new person, coming to terms with his disability and finding his own unique and passionate voice against the war. Scenes of Tomas speaking out against the war are interspersed with the packaged historic debate in both houses of Congress, and the vote by vote tally in the U.S. Senate. This event is free. If you would like to make a donation, we will send it to an organization thats truly helping the world. To RSVP or for more information, contact Rev Meira Leonard at 882-2123 or RevMeira@CentersOfLight.org.
Preserving Your Harvest workshop
Cortez Community Garden will sponsor a Preserving Your Harvest workshop on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 12:30 p.m. at Let It Grow Nursery, 90 N. Mildred. Preserving your own food provides you and your family the opportunity to access healthy nutritious fruits and vegetables throughout the year. This workshop will give you the chance to better familiarize yourself with a variety of safe food storage techniques as we demonstrate how to freeze, dry, or can fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Space is limited and registration is required; please register by Friday, Sept. 14 by contacting us at 529-0689 or cortezcommunitygarden@gmail.com.
Meet & Greet, Square dance lessons begin
Four Corners Square Dancers are offering new square dance lessons with a Meet and Greet night on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Kemper Elementary School, 620 E. Montezuma Ave. at 6:30 p.m. The new square dance lessons will take place every Monday night at 7 p.m., starting on Monday, Sept. 17. Come and check out the fun, easy to learn exercise that square dancing provides. No partner? No problem. Well provide someone to help you learn and move to the square dance calls. If you have questions, call Vonnie Robinson at 749-9682, or Don and Judy Morris at 565-9836.
Cortez River Run for Orphans
The first annual Cortez River Run for Orphans will be Saturday, Sept. 15 at Parque de Vida behind the Rec Center. Race day registration starts at 8:30 a.m., with the 1 mile at 10 a.m. and the 5K at 10:30 a.m. The Cortez River Run for Orphans precedes the Reach Out Music Festival, which begins at noon. Participates gain free entrance to the concert with their race number. Our goal is to bring our community together to serve orphans. Every participating school, church or community group decides where to send the money that they raise via sponsorships. Money raised through sponsors will be used to provide orphans with resources such as food, clothing, education, vocational training, proper nutrition, and most importantly, a permanent loving family. The registration fee for ages 14 and up is $25, and $10 for ages 13 and under, and will include an event t-shirt and a race number for those who pre-register. Participants may register online at www.RiverRunforOrphans.org. For more information, or to learn how to sign up sponsors, contact Steve and Linnea Bowman at 565-9558 or nea_bean@hotmail.com.
Harvest Fest Celebration
The Dolores Chamber will host a Harvest Fest Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be food vendors, produce vendors, live music featuring Louis Edwards and Yesterday, free Galloping Goose rides and more. It will be held in front of Town Hall on Hwy. 145. There is still room for more produce vendors. Call Ruby Gonzales at 882-7717 or the chamber at 882-4018 for more information.
Fall aspens hike
Enjoy fall beauty while hiking through aspen groves and some old growth spruce-fir forest with a naturalist from San Juan Mountains Association on Saturday, Sept. 15. Learn about the unique attributes of aspen and old growth forests and look for late fall wildflowers and signs of wildlife. Meet at the Durango Recreation Center parking lot (in front of the ball fields) at 8:30 a.m. The group will carpool from there to the trailhead at the Forest Service work camp, about 40 minutes north of Durango. This is an easy 3 mile hike with little elevation gain, returning to the Rec. Center by 1 p.m. Bring water, rain gear and a snack and/or lunch. Hike is suitable for adults and families with children age 6 and older. Please leave pets at home. Contact SJMA for more information or to sign up at gabi@sjma.org or 385-1256. Sponsored by SJMA, San Juan National Forest, and BLM Tres Rios Field Office.
MECC School Readiness Program holds Family Night
Montelores Early Childhood Council School Readiness Program is holding a Family Night on Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Church of Christ Annex in Cortez (on the corner of Montezuma and Adams across from Kemper Elementary). This evening is free of charge and includes dinner! Come and enjoy a variety of books and related activities that parents and children can do together. Please RSVP by Monday, Sept. 17 to Tricia at 719-849-1523 or telybely2@yahoo.com so there will be plenty of food.
Intro to Meditation & Christian Mysticism
Starting Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sophia Peace Center, 19581 Road 31 (in Dolores turn left on 11th, go 1.8 miles, and look for the large sign with the dove, on the left). This is a powerful six-week introductory course designed for modern mystics. Classes will include teachings on: the Inner Spiritual Path, Meditation, Soul, Light, Prayer, and Blessing. Time will be spent teaching the principles of meditation that will allow you to move deeper than the body, beyond thinking and emotions and into the reality of Gods peace and presence within. This course is free, and all are welcome. To RSVP or for more information, contact Rev Meira Leonard at 882-2123 or RevMeira@CentersOfLight.org.
KBDX Rockin Blood Drive
Find the hero in you and plan to attend the KBDX Red Rock 92s Rockin Blood Drive on Friday, Sept. 21 from noon to 4 p.m. at Aarons Sales and Lease in Cortez at 2288 E. Main St. To donate blood, call Desiree at 564-7170 or call the United Blood Services at 385-4601. All donors will have a chance to win two tickets to the N.Y. Giants and Cowboys game with hotel accommodations.
Author/Mountain Gazette editor Fayhee book reading
M. John Fayhee, long-time editor of the Mountain Gazette, will read from his two new books at the Spruce Tree Coffeehouse, 318 E. Main St. in Cortez, on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. The event will include readings from The Colorado Mountain Companion: A Potpourri of Useful Miscellany from the Highest Parts of the Highest State and Smoke Signals: Wayward Journeys Through the Old Heart of the New West. Fayhee calls The Colorado Mountain Companion, which references Cortez numerous times, the proudest achievement among his 10 previously published books. That research journey came to include chapters as disparate as the movies that have been filmed in the Colorado mountains, mountain-based songs, climatic and altitude-based data, Olympic athletes who hail from the High Country, Native American history, natural science, ski history and much, much more. For more information, call Spruce Tree at 565-6789.