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.
United Blood Services will hold blood drive at ag expo
United Blood Services will hold a blood drive on Saturday afternoon, March 19, during the Four States Ag Expo. Expo visitors are invited to stop by the United Blood Services van conveniently located along the shuttle route for information and to donate blood.
For more information on giving blood, contact United Blood Services at 800-863-4524. The Four States Ag Expo takes place March 17-20 at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds east of Cortez. For more expo information, visit www.fourstatesagexpo.com.
Cortez Animal Shelter will have dogs, cats at adopt-a-thon
The Cortez Animal Shelter will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, for a spring adopt-a-thon with dogs and cats available. The Cortez Animal Shelter is located at 2791 E. Main St.
For more information, call the shelter at 565-4910. To view animals, visit www.petfinder.com (enter 81321 zipcode) or http://www.cityofcortez.com/government/animal_shelter.
Montezuma County 4-H Council fundraiser
The Montezuma County 4-H Council fundraiser will take place on Saturday, March 19, with meal service to begin at 5 p.m. at the Lewis-Arriola Community Center. An enchilada dinner will be served, with a silent auction and a dessert auction to follow the dinner.
The Adult (ages 11 and up) plate will be $8 and Youth (ages 5-10) plate will be $5. Ages 4 and under are free.
You may purchase advance tickets or questions can be answered at the Montezuma County Extension Office at 565-3123.
Four Corners Dancers will host Spring Fling square, round dance
The Four Corners Dancers invite everyone in the community to attend the annual Spring Fling square and round dance festival from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 19, in the Cortez Middle School gym, 450 W. Second St., Cortez.
The free event can be fun for spectators, who are encouraged to come at any time. The flashing petticoats and bright ties of the dancers can lift your spirits, and the elegant steps of the round dancers can take you back to an era of gallantry and grace.
Art Tangen, of Albuquerque, N.M., is the featured square dance caller for the event. Maxine and Dale Springer, of Grand Junction, will be cuing the round dancers. About a hundred dancers from all over the Rocky Mountain region and the Four Corners are expected to attend this popular festival.
For more information contact Don and Judy Morris at 565-9836 or Ronnie and Vonnie Robinson at 565-8561.
Boris McCutcheon and the Salt Licks will play
KSJD presents Boris McCutcheon and the Salt Licks, an Americana/folk/rock n roll show, at the Millwood Junction Restaurant on Saturday, March 19. The show starts at 8 p.m., tickets are $10 at the door.
If you want to buy ahead of time, contact Melissa at 564-9727, or email melissa@ksjd.org.
The Truth Project presentation will show at St. Philip the Evangelist
The third session of The Truth Project dealing with the subject of philosophy and ethics will be shown at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, March 20, at St. Philip the Evangelist Church, 716 S. Market St., Cortez.
People are invited to join the church for this very insightful, relevant, and easy to understand presentation, which will feature Del Tackett, a retired career Air Force officer and now college professor.
For more information, call 565-1555, 560-3185 or 565-8665.
Four Corners Weed Symposium will cover clean water, laws, other topics
The 19th Annual Four Corners Weed Symposium will be held from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at the Lewis-Arriola Community Center, 21176 County Road S (West of Basin Co-op), in Lewis.
Continuing education credits will be available for commercial and private pesticide applicators. Topics will include The Clean Water Act and NPDES Permits, Herbicide Resistance, Update of Colorado Department of Agriculture Laws and Regulations, Controlling Weeds in Right-of-Way and Industrial Situations, Brush and Weed Control on Rangelands, Vegetation Management in Roadside Forest Settings, and New Herbicides for Managing Weeds in Turf.
Registration is $40 per person if postmarked by March 21 and will include a lunch, coffee and donuts, and break refreshments. Late registration will be $50 per person. Make checks payable to Montezuma County Extension and mail to Montezuma County Extension, C/O Weed Symposium, 109 W. Main, Room 102, Cortez, CO 81321.
For more information, contact Tom Hooten, Montezuma County Extension, at 565-3123.
Land management workshop will cover grapes, pests, other subjects
An Integrated Land Management Workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at the Lewis-Arriola Community Center, 0.5 miles west of U.S. Highway 491 on County Road S.
The workshop will focus on alternative agricultural enterprises such as Hops Production, Small Acreage Poultry Production, and Opportunities and Challenges for Grapes. The workshop will also include The Art of Cover Cropping, Garden Pest Control Without Pesticides and Good Agricultural Practices.
Registration is $20 per person and will include coffee and breakfast snacks, a (mostly) local lunch and break refreshments. Make checks payable to La Plata County Extension and mail to La Plata County Extension, Integrated Land Management Workshop, 2500 North Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
For more information, or to register by phone, call Darrin Parmenter at 382-6464.
Farmers Telephone celebrates opening of satellite office in Cortez
Farmers Telephone Company is hosting an open house on Tuesday, March 22 to celebrate the opening of its new satellite office in Cortez. The open house will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the site of its new office at 16 N. Market Street. An official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 5:15 p.m. Local author, Lowell Volk, also will be on hand to sign copies of his latest book, The Taylors Civil War. The public is invited. Dont miss out on cake, refreshments, door prizes and more!
For more information, call Farmers Telephone at 562-4211.
League of Women Voters will sponsor discussion groups
The Montezuma County League of Women Voters will sponsor Great Decisions discussion groups at the Cortez, Dolores and Mancos libraries beginning Tuesday, March 22.
The Cortez and Dolores groups will meet at 10:30 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Each group is limited to 10 participants.
Topics for the coming months include Rebuilding Haiti, U.S. National Security, The Horn of Africa, Responding to the National Crisis, Germany Ascendant, Sanctions and Non-proliferation, The Caucasus and Global Government.
Signup sheets are available at the Cortez and Dolores libraries. Contact Kate Kearns at the Mancos Library, 533-7600, for information on the meeting times in Mancos.
For more information, call LouAnn Burkett at 882-4666.
M-CHS band will present spring concert with jazz ensemble, winds
Montezuma-Cortez High School band will present a spring concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, in the high school auditorium, 206 W. Seventh St., Cortez.
The concert will feature the M-CHS Symphonic Winds and the M-CHS Jazz Ensemble and is free to the public.
For more information, call the high school at 565-3722.
AARP will sponsor driver safety course
AARP will sponsor a driver safety course from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, at the Calvin Denton room in the Empire Electric building, 801 N. Broadway, Cortez.
This is a new four hour course authorized by the state of Colorado. It is designed to meet the needs of older drivers. The course will review safe driving techniques as well as Colorado traffic laws. Completion of this course can qualify you for a discount on your automobile insurance.
The course is available to all motorists whether or not they are members of AARP. A $12 fee for AARP members and a $14 fee for nonmembers covers materials. Payment must be paid by check, no cash. Bring your drivers license and your AARP membership number (if you have one).
If interested, you are asked to register with Scott and Judy Aeschlimann at 565-3872.
SWMH Foundation will offer presentation about varicose veins
Dr. William Rainer will present Varicose Veins: Prevention, Risks, and the Latest Treatment Options at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at the Southwest Memorial Hospital Annex Building, 20 S. Market St., Cortez.
This is a new location for the Staying Healthy quarterly lecture series. Rainer, a general surgeon, will explain what causes varicose veins, how they can be prevented, who is most at risk for developing this condition, and will review the latest treatment options. Bring your questions to this informative lecture.
For more information, contact Karen at 565-7894.
March library theme is Spring Forward
Spring Forward is the March theme of Storytime at the Cortez Public Library.
Storytime is every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. for pre-school aged children. Older children are welcome to join us for the craft at 11:15 a.m.
The Number 10 will be discussed on March 24 and well wrap up the month with The Letter M on March 31.
Storytime offers songs, stories, crafts and silliness and uses the Early Childhood Literacy Initiative program. For more information, contact the library at 565-8117. The library is located at 202 N. Park St., Cortez.
Meditation series continues
at Cortez Cultural Center
The second in a four-session meditation series will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 24, at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market.
The public is invited, and no previous meditation experience is necessary. To be as comfortable as possible, bring a pad to lie on, and perhaps a pillow and eye pillow as well as a blanket. A donation to the Cultural Center of $10 is suggested, but everyone is welcome regardless of ability to make a financial contribution.
For more information or to reserve a space, call Amrit Yoga Nidra facilitator Mimi Scott at 564-0100.
Dodson, aka Renaissance Man, displays art at Cortez library
Justin Dodson, aka Renaissance Man, will display his paintings through March at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St., Cortz.
For more information, contact Justin at jakestery2k@yahoo.com.
Free dental care for kids on Give Kids a Smile day
The Dolores County Community Health Association will be having Give Kids a Smile Day from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, in the Community Health Clinic at 495 W. 4th St. in Dove Creek. Free dental care will be provided to eligible kids by Dr. Nathan Turnbow.
Eligibility requirements are kids ages 1 to 17 who do not have insurance. Treatment provided will be determined the day of and may include: exam, X-rays, cleaning, sealants, fillings or extractions. Treatment time is limited, so children with extensive treatment needs will have to be rescheduled or referred in order to complete needed treatment.
An appointment is required call 677-3644.
Millwood Follies will benefit Chicken Creek cross country area
Millwood Follies will feature skits and musical entertainment to benefit the Chicken Creek Cross Country ski area at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the Millwood Junction restaurant, located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 160 and Main Street, Mancos.
This annual event features skits and musical entertainment by a host of highly talented folks from all over the Four Corners.
This years beneficiary will be the cross country ski area located just a few miles north of Mancos maintained by a dedicated crew of volunteers. Last year, more than 4,000 skier visits were recorded at the popular ski area. The equipment is old and battered, so any funds raised at this event will be used to upgrade the grooming equipment.
Funds are raised through a combination of silent auction and door prizes. This years silent auction items will include an engineering job for a septic system valued at about $1,500, gift certificates for local restaurants, sporting equipment, artwork, and lots of other great auction items and prizes.
For more information, call 533-1605.
Vendors being sought for Cultural Centers Ladies Night Out
The Cortez Cultural Center is looking for vendors for Ladies Night Out scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the Cortez Elks Lodge, 2100 N. Dolores Road.
Participating vendors can include hair stylists, nail techs, skin care products, home decor and cookware, jewelry, massage therapists, health and wellness, and financial and insurance to name a few. Anything that appeals to todays women is welcome.
A comfortable, relaxed atmosphere will be created for women to browse the various booths and products being presented.
Call the Cultural Center at 565-1151 for vendor applications. The fee is $35.
Low cost spay and neuter clinic
There will be a two day low-cost spay and neuter clinic on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2, beginning at 8 a.m., at the Cortez Christian Church at Empire St. and Dolores Road .
The costs are: $25 for cat neuter, $30 for cat spay, $50 for dog neuter (over 60 pounds add $10 for each additional 10 pounds), and $60 for dog spay (over 60 pounds add $10 for each additional 10 pounds).
Contact 565-PETS (565-7387) to reserve your place. No limit on number of pets per family.
Sponsored by For Pets Sake Humane Society, Cortez (www.forpetssakehs.org) and Planned Pethood Plus, Denver (plannedpethoodplus.com).
Cortez Farmers Market plans spring meeting
The Cortez Farmers Market invites all of last years vendors, and anyone interested in participating in this years market, to attend its spring meeting from 9:30 a.m. until noon Saturday, April 2, at the Calvin Denton Room, Empire Electric Association, 801 N Broadway, Cortez.
The meeting will include topics on the agenda: a financial report, market managers report, a review of the 2010 season and of the rules and regulations, and instructions and time lines for vendor applications.
For more information contact Theresa at theresaincortez@gmail.com or call the Extension Office at 565-3123.
Community Passover seder ceremonial meal will be held
The annual remembrance ceremony of Passover seder will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, April 18, at Shiloh Steakhouse, 5 S. Veach, Cortez.
Passover welcomes in the spring and occurs around the time that believers in Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus the messiah) celebrate his death, burial and resurrection. Participants will commemorate this event at the ceremonial meal (seder), which will last about three hours as participants read, sing, pray and eat their way through the traditional Haggadah (printed order of the seder).
Tickets are $25 per adult and $20 for children under 12. The deadline for all reservations and payment is Friday, April 8. Seating is limited to 40 people this year. Tickets can be picked up with payment from Mike G. (560-9853) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Slavens True Value Hardware, 237 W. Main St., Cortez.
For more information or to make reservations, call 560-5963.
9News Health Fair 20 will offer blood chemistry, other screenings
The 9News Health Fair 20 will conduct low-cost screenings from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 9, at the Cortez Recreation Center, 425 Roger Smith Ave. Use the north entrance by the tennis courts.
Blood chemistry tests will be $30, and PSA testing for men will be $25. Do not eat 12 hours before having blood drawn (but diabetics should not fast). Take prescribed medications as directed. You must be 18 to participate.
For information, call 303-698-3799 or 800-332-3078, or visit www.9healthfair.org.
All volunteers will be appreciated. Call 739-3844 after 6 p.m. if interested.
Camp Chameleon grief camp will allow youths to speak about losses
The Montezuma Hospice Camp Chameleon Youth Grief Camp, a free, one-day event for children 6 to 18 and their families who have experienced the death of someone they love, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at the United Methodist Church Cortez, 515 N. Park St.
Registration and morning refreshments begin at 9:30 a.m. The day-long camp provides an opportunity for campers to speak openly about their losses, learn about the grieving process and find new meaning to their lives through group healing activities led by professional counselors and supportive caring adults. Lunch will be provided.
A working through play approach, provides an intense experience that not only allow the participants to experience their grief, but also to learn tools to strengthen their coping processes, to learn about themselves and build self esteem, and to share with others who are going through similar situations.
For more information and to register, call Hospice at 565-4400.
