The Dolores Star encourages people to submit announcements about upcoming events for the Community Calendar. Send announcements to news@doloresstar.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 Star at 882-4486.
New Child Care to host open house
Dolores Christian Child Care will host an open house, Saturday, Sept. 22 at 902 Hillside Ave., Dolores from 1 to 4 p.m. Call Debbie Jorgensen for more information at 882-2446.
Concussion Management 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. This program is intended for both parents and coaches and will cover current guidelines for the diagnosis and management of concussion. The free event will be held in the cafeteria at Southwest Memorial Hospital on Monday, September 24 from 7:00 8:30 p.m. Contact Ronda Weir, RN, BSN at 564-2160 for more information.
Car Seat Safety Checks on Sept. 24
Did you know that 95 percent of car seats are used unsafely? 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 please call Jennifer Beckermeyer, RN at 564-2246.
Conversation on family, friends and neighbor childcare to be Sept. 27
Representatives from the statewide Family, Friend and Neighbor Project have joined forces with the Montelores Early Childhood Council and are coming to Cortez in a few weeks for a conversation with FFN providers. These conversations are designed to be open forums for FFN providers to discuss their successes and challenges. FFN providers will have an opportunity to talk about the resources they can and cant access, if they feel adequately supported, or if they feel isolated. These conversations will play a key role in helping policymakers and early childhood professionals better understand this important part of early childhood care and education in Colorado.
The SW Colorado FFN event will be held in Cortez on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. Dinner and childcare will be provided free of charge. Qualifying participants include grandparents, aunts, friends and neighbors who care for children other than their own in their homes. Participants will receive a $20 stipend and a childrens book. Please RSVP by Monday, Sept. 24 to Vangi McCoy at 970-749-7017 or mecc.coordinator@gmail.com.
Group hopes to offer support through divorce
DivorceCare, a special help seminar and support group for people experiencing divorce and separation, will be held on Thursday evenings at First Baptist Church, 100 North Market St., Cortez, beginning September 13th. DivorceCare features nationally recognized experts on divorce and recovery topics. Thirteen weekly sessions will include the topics, Facing Your Anger, Facing Your Lonliness, Depression, New Relationships, KidCare and Forgiveness, with time for discussion afterwards.
Come and meet new friends that are going through the same situations you are encountering.
Meetings will begin at 7 p.m. each Thursday at the church. For more information, please call 565-7642.
LWV to hold candidate forum Sept. 25
The League of Women Voters of Montezuma County will hold a Candidate Forum for District 3 County Commissions at Vista Mesa Nursing Home Tuesday Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. Several nursing homes are sponsoring the Forum and the public is invited.
The Leagues one-stop election information site, www.vote411.org, is extremely popular. It contains answers to frequently asked questions, such as where do I vote, what are the polling place hours, and how do I get an absentee ballot, as well as candidate information.
The League of Women Voters, 92 years old and founded after winning the battle to get women the right to vote, has become synonymous with education and information, especially around elections and voting. The League of Women Voters of Montezuma County is one of more than 800 Leagues in all 50 states, said Lou Burkett co-president. Since 1920, our goal has been to educate and inform. We respect all points of view; we dont endorse or oppose any candidate or political party. This is what sets us apart from so many organizations, and it is why we are one of Americas most trusted organizations. Membership in the League is open to men and women of all ages. For more information about the League (including how to join), visit www.montezuma.org.
Yard sale to benefit humane society starts Sept. 28
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. It will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday. So 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 2-7, or call For Pets Sake at 565-7387 for other options or for pick-up of large items. 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! (Please no computers or accessories, tires, or tvs)
Mancos to host balloon festival
Here are other ways to enjoy the Mancos Valley Hot Air Balloons Sept. 27, 28 and 29 and support the Medicine Horse Center:
Buy a ride! Prices are $125 per person with an amazing view of the Mancos Valley.
Come to the balloon glow in Boyle Park on Friday night, Sept. 28. Meet the pilots from all over the nation (and Great Britain). Feel the heat from the burners and see the special shaped balloons that only make their appearance for this event.
Visit Boyle Park and watch the balloons inflate and launch Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Stand in the park and watch the drama of the morning launch. Is the wind right? Who is taking off first?
If the winds stay quiet, be in Boyle Park for a $10 tethered ride. Jump in the basket and experience the sensation of going up and down in a hot air balloon that floats over the park.
Just cant make it to the balloon launches or really want a hot air balloon to land near your home? Here is how you can raise your odds of that happening. Place a white or any light colored sheet where the pilots are welcome to land. In the end only the winds know where the balloon will land. However, with a welcome sheet in the pasture or yard, you may end up with visitors from the sky.
Landowners can register for a balloon ride drawing. The drawing will take place on Saturday night Sept. 29 during the dinner being held at the hardware store. To enter, please visit the visitor center to complete a registration card. You may also register at the festival icket Boboth in Boyle Park during the flight days and on Friday evening during the balloon glow.
Brand Inspector to speak about Equine Brand Inspections
The Mesa Verde Back Country Horsemen will present guest speaker Joel Stevenson, Brand Inspector,on the topic Equine Brand Inspections, on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m., at the Elks Lodge, 2100 N. Dolores Rd., on Hwy. 145 in Cortez. Come early at 6:15 p.m. for buy your own Taco Tuesday.
Joel Stevenson is our local brand inspector. He will provide information about brand inspection regulations in regards to horses and will then open the floor to questions and answers.
Please join us in welcoming Joe Stevenson and to learn more about equine brand inspections. The public is always welcome!
Call Nihla McCabe at 570-5036 for more information, or visit www.mesaverdehorsemen.com.
Sept. 28 discussion to explore child health and education issues.
Community leaders will examine health and education issues facing local children in a community discussion Sept. 28 in Cortez. To start the conversation, Colorados leading voice for kids will present statewide and county-specific data on child well-being from its 2012 KIDS COUNT in Colorado! report.
The Colorado Childrens Campaigns recent report, The Importance of Place: Variations in Child Well-Being Across Colorado, shows that child well-being varies widely across Colorados 25 largest counties, and where a child lives can substantially impact his or her chances for success. The annual KIDS COUNT in Colorado! report provides state- and county-level data on a variety of child well-being indicators.
The free event is co-sponsored by the Colorado Childrens Campaign and the Montelores Early Childhood Council at the Axis Health System, 691 East Empire, Cortez from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28. The public is welcome with RSVP. Contact Liz Houston at liz@coloradokids.org by Sept. 24.
New Odyssey Kicks Off SouthWest Colorado Concerts 2012/2013 Season
For Pets Sake Humane Society to Host Fall Pet Vaccination Clinic
For Pets Sake Humane Society will host a Low-Cost Dog and Cat Vaccination Clinic from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the IFA Country Store, 10501 Highway 491 in Cortez.
Veterinarian Dr. Sue Grabbe with Four Corners MASH will offer dog and cat packages which include rabies, distemper, parvo (dogs), leukemia (cats), and more for $39.00 each, or $14.00 for rabies only. Packages without rabies are just $32.00. Exact change is appreciated, checks are okay, but No credit cards please. Dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers. A portion of each package purchased will be donated to For Pets Sake.
For more information call the Humane Society at 565-PETS (7387).
Evening with Mark Twain to benefit cancer coalition
An Evening With Mark Twain by Dennis Seibel is the program of the local Womens Cancer Coalitions 10th Annual Pink Ribbon Affair on Thursday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m. at the Dolores Community Center. Spouses, families, and friends are invited to attend this special evening that honors breast and all cancer survivors. In addition to Mark Twain, there will be an Americana style show, an all-American buffet, a silent auction of great values, and fun door prizes. All proceeds from the $15 ticket benefit Montezuma and Dolores County women with cancer screening. If you have items to donate to the silent auction, please drop them off at Planned Parenthood in Cortez or call 882-4484 for pick up.