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.
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.
Democrats hold Get Together Potluck Fundraiser
The Montezuma County Democrats will hold a Get Together Potluck Fundraiser on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Cliffrose Nursery, Hwy. 160 east of Cortez. A $10 per person donation is recommended. Bring your favorite potluck dish and come join fellow democrats for an evening of fun. All interested persons are welcome to attend. If you have questions, please call Ric at 565-8994 or 739-4365.
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.
Local author hosts Moonshine Murder book party
Local author, Erin S. Gray, will host a new release book party at Cold Stone Creamery for adults and young adults, ages 12 and up, on Friday, Sept. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. Erin will be selling autographed copies of her young adult historical fiction novel, Moonshine Murder, as well as offering a chance to win a Kindle device. The first 100 autographed copy purchases of Moonshine Murder will be entered in the drawing for a Kindle. Each book purchased will be counted in the drawing, so if you purchase more than one copy, your name will go in the drawing more, too. Door prizes include Cold Stone Creamery gift certificates and free bookmarks. Dollar Scoop ice cream can be purchased during the signing. To learn more about the book or the author, visit www.erinsgray.com. If you miss the event, you can still participate in the drawing by purchasing your copy at the website.
Battle Rock Charter School hosts Open House, potluck
Battle Rock Charter School, 11351 CR G, will host an open house and community potluck on Friday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited. Please join us for the evening, enjoy the canyon and learn about our school and programs. Battle Rock is your Kindergarten through 6th grade tuition-free alternative. For more information, call 759-1816.
Octoberfest at Groundhog Lake
The Groundhog Lake RV Park will host a Fall Festival and Fireworks celebration on Saturday, Sept. 22. The event, which is also an Octoberfest celebration featuring old German cuisine and beer, will go from 4 to 9 p.m. There will also be music and a bonfire. Groundhog cancelled its annual Fourth of July fireworks show due to the hot and dry conditions, so the show was moved to the fall. Call 739-5533 for reservations or visit groundhoglake.com.
Fall Chili Fest has gospel group, chili cook-off
Montelores Baptist Church will host their annual Fall Chili Fest and Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, Sept. 22. The event will feature the music of Ernie Couch & Revival on tour from Nashville, Tenn. This group is known across the United States and Canada for its live music, good humor, and genuine spirit. Many describe the group as refreshingly different, and a lot of fun. The Fall Chili Fest will run from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The entry fee for the chili cook-off is $10. Cash prizes will be awarded for the Judges Favorite and Peoples Favorite. Donations will be accepted for the Chili Fest meal and the concert. Montelores Baptist Church, 18735 CR 23.5, is located off Hwy. 184 across from Narraguinnep Reservoir. For entry forms or more information call the church office at 882-2418 or go to www.monteloresbaptistchurch.org.
Naturopathic physician will give talk on natural remedies
Dr. Amy Loschert, a Dolores-based naturopathic physician, will give a free talk, Natural Remedies for Common Digestive Complaints from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24 at the Dolores Healing Space, 102 S. 4th St., Dolores. She will speak about disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, food allergies, constipation and colitis. The most commonly seen nutritional deficiencies in our country will also be discussed along with natural foods and remedies that ameliorate these disorders and return balance to the digestive system. For more information, contact Dr. Amy at 676-1011.
Concussion management of children for coaches and parents
Southwest Memorial Hospital will host speakers Susan Kirelik, MD, and Karen McAvoy, PsyD, from the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver for an evening presentation on the management of concussion in children. The free event will be held in the cafeteria at Southwest Memorial Hospital on Monday, Sept. 24 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This program is intended for both parents and coaches and will cover current guidelines for the diagnosis and management of concussion. Contact Ronda Weir, RN, BSN at 564-2160 for more information.
Car seat safety checks
Did you know that 95 percent of car seats are used in an unsafe manner? Bring your child and your car seat to the front entrance of the south campus of Southwest Memorial Hospital on Monday, Sept. 24 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a free safety check. For more information, call Jennifer Beckermeyer, RN at 564-2246.
FCBA hosts Home Enhancement Systems presentations
Four Corners Builders Association will host a presentation by Home Enhancement Systems, a company that can provide services in the home or business such as Web services including satellite, room audio/video, security and home comforts like custom closet systems, central vacuum or theater. This is free to the public and will be held Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the First National Bank, 2258 E. Main in Cortez. Plan to come at 7 p.m. with your questions on easy ways to improve your life. For more information on the presentation or FCBA, call 565-1771.
Eating Smart Being Active classes
The Piñon Project, 300 N. Elm St., will offer an Eating Smart Being Active class for Kemper, Manaugh, and Mesa families who want to learn about preparing healthier meals and bringing a basic level of activity into their lives. The classes will start Tuesday, Sept. 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Kelly Proctor, as facilitator, will lead the group through eight weekly lessons designed to help them shop, cook and enjoy entry-level activity. The class offers ideas for a healthier life for families, who will work as a team to develop healthy and tasty recipes. Participants will create (and devour) delicious snacks and light meals in the class while developing friendships and new and useful skills. The activity level is appropriate for any age and almost any condition, as it emphasizes basic stretching and movement, and each person is encouraged to work at a comfortable level. Classes are further enhanced with small take-away incentives useful for food preparation and activity. There is no charge for this program. Class size is limited; sign up with Lara Blair at 564-1195.
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.
For Pets Sake 3-day yard sale
For Pets Sake Humane Society will have its biggest yard sale ever on Friday through Sunday, Sept. 28-30 at the Cortez Christian Church Family Life Center on the corner of Empire and Hwy. 145. The sale will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Have fun with your fall cleaning and donate those unwanted treasures to the humane society! Donations can be brought to the building on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 2 to 7 p.m., or call For Pets Sake at 565-7387 for other options or for pick-up of large items please, no computers or accessories, tires, or TVs. We need a lot of goodies to make money to help the dogs and cats in Montezuma and Dolores Counties. So, look hard for donations, and then come and get new treasures at the sale!