The Visitor Center switched to its summer hours on May 1. The VC is now open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We are beginning to see more visitors to Mancos. Several international travelers have passed through from Germany, Austria and even South Africa. Zuma Natural Foods was of special interest to the folks from South Africa because their current president is named Jacob Zuma. They took pictures of the store and the Zuma Volkswagen to share with friends back home.

The VC is looking for volunteers to join the Mancos Ambassadors program. The Ambassadors help meet and greet tourists as they come to our community. We encourage travelers to stick around and visit the shops and businesses in our community. We also help them identify points of interest in and around the Mancos Valley that they can explore. Mesa Verde is frequently at the top of their list, but we also point out that Jackson Lake is nearby and there are great hiking and biking trails to discover and western outfitters to help them on their adventures in our community. If you would like to take on a fun volunteer position that has flexible hours, we at the Visitor Center would be happy to welcome you aboard. Call 533-7434 or stop and visit with us at 101 E. Bauer.

The Heritage Project has begun landscaping at the intersection of Highways 184 and 160, the northeast corner. Please, check out all the hard work invested there. Approximately 16 volunteers arrived at the corner on Saturday morning, May 4 and began moving rock and implementing a beautiful xeriscape design created by Leslie Hopkins from the Town of Mancos Parks and Recreation Department. There is still more work to be done.

If you would like to volunteer for the project, call Hopkins at 533-7725 or stop by Town Hall.

If you wish to make a donation to the project, Mancos Valley Resources (MVR) is accepting donations. MVR is a 501(c)3, which means your donation is tax deductible. Make checks payable to MVR/Heritage Project and send to MVR, PO Box 204, Mancos, CO 81328.

The Chamber of Commerce also completed one of its "Cash Mobs" on Thursday, April 25. Approximately 30 people invaded Chavolo's Mexican Restaurant for dinner, margaritas and beer. Great food and great fun were had by everyone while we gave Chavolo's a busy evening. Our next "Mancos Cash Mob" will be at The Absolute Bakery and Café on Wednesday morning, May 29 at 9 a/m. We hope you can join us and give the Absolute an absolutely crazy business day.

The Visitor Center is also a distribution center for a couple of application forms. If you are interested in participating in the "Amateur Photo Contest" being sponsored by the Chambers of Commerce in Dolores, Mancos and Cortez, you can pick up an application at the VC. It is also available on line at www.mancosvalley.com/photocontest.

We also have applications for the "Great Mancos Arts Roundup" sponsored by the Mancos Valley Arts Council. The Arts Roundup is designed to be a studio tour for local artists. However, many artists have very small work spaces and cannot accommodate visitors to their studios. Therefore, some artists will be showing in the galleries in town.

If you want your name and artwork to be on the studio tour map, you need to fill out the application and submit information to the Arts Council. We look forward to your participation. Come join in on the fun.

If you have any questions about the photo contest or the "Arts Roundup," please, call the VC at 533-7434 or stop by the VC at 101 E. Bauer.