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.



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.

We’ll 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.



Pinon Project launches Community Job Club for job seekers

The Community Job Club will have its kick-off meeting at 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 1, at the Pinon Project, 300 N. Elm, Cortez.

The Job Club will provide an environment of networking and support to local job seekers. This will be a weekly participant-driven effort with support from employment specialists on location, as requested. People are invited to join the club and share refreshments, job search skills, job contacts, and employment opportunities in a relaxed social environment.

No preregistration is required. Participants can just show up.

For more information, contact Karen Sillman or Ken Degener at the Pinon Project, 564-1195.



Groundbreaking scheduled for new downtown home of KSJD

KSJD Dryland Community Radio will hold a groundbreaking celebration at noon Friday, April 1, on the corner of Main and Market streets, Cortez.

The public is invited to join KSJD’s disc jockeys, volunteers, staff and board members. Individuals and businesses in the community have come together over the past three years in support of the Cornerstone project’s fundraising efforts, making it possible for remodeling to begin on the historic Basin Industrial Bank building in downtown Cortez. This site will become the new home of KSJD.

For more information, contact the KSJD office at 564-9727.



Old North State will perform

high-energy electric acoustic style

The band Old North State will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, April 1, at the Mancos Valley Distillery, 116 N. Main St., in Mancos.

There is no cover charge; doors open at 5 p.m.

ONS’s high-energy electric acoustic style can keep your feet moving. Check them out at www.reverbnation.com/oldnorthstate.

For more information, call Ian at 946-0229.

Art reception will introduce Law’s ‘Demons & Deities’ exhibit

A reception for artist Dian Law will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 1, at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market, Cortez.

The title of Law’s show is “Demons & Deities — Fiber art taken to the 3rd dimension.” The show includes batik dyed fabrics, screenprinted, appliqued, beaded and painted, augmented by twigs and branches, wood pieces, copper enamel elements, and other materials. The show’s theme is based on the gods, demons, ceremonies, rites of passage common to all human cultures, with a bit of tongue-in-cheek thrown in.

For more information, contact the Cultural Center at 565-1151.



Desert Pearl will host reception

for ‘Flight Songs’ photography

Desert Pearl Gallery will host an artist’s reception to welcome Barbara Stewart-Hager as the featured artist in April, and her photography show “Flight Songs — A Celebration of Birds,” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 1, at the gallery, 40 W. Main St., Cortez.

“With my background in music, I often think of my photographs in terms of musical selections or groups of musical phrases,” Stewart-Hager said in a prepared statement from Desert Pearl. “My new musical composition, also entitled ‘Flight Songs,’ will premiere at the opening reception of this show. Please come and enjoy the wonder of our avian friends portrayed in photographs and music.”

Barbara Stewart-Hager’s show will run April 1-30. The public is invited to join the reception for fine art, good company and light refreshments.

For more information, call 565-9320.



Sideshow will host Subtle Salvage art show with opening night music

An opening-night event for “Subtle Salvage: Free-range Artworks by By Bil and Sam Lyons” will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at Sideshow Emporium & Gallery, 411 Central, Dolores.

Enjoy an evening with the artists, refreshments and music from the Crags — three pieces of original rock ’n’ roll from Durango — playing live at 8:30 p.m.

The collection includes artistically processed found objects, wood, furniture, micro art, light and digital animation — a retrospective of work by two brothers who ask each other, “Excuse me, did you just art?” Digital animation will be screened on opening night only.

A portion of art proceeds go to Peace Wind Japan.

For more information, call 739-4646.



Cowbelles will hold annual yard sale to benefit scholarship fund

The Cowbelles Annual Yard Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the Presbyterian Church, 350 S. Washington, Cortez.

This is an all-donation sale. The Cowbelles will accept donated items from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 1, at the church. The event will include a bake sale.

All yard sale proceeds go to the Cowbelle’s scholarship fund, and the bake sale proceeds will benefit the bereavement fund. Have lunch with the Cowbelles. They’ll have Sloppy Joes, chips, soda, and a cookie — all for $6.

For more information, contact Catherine at 562-4716.



Mancos Millwood Junction Follies will benefit Chicken Creek Nordic

The 28th Annual Millwood Junction Follies will be held Saturday, April 2, at the Millwood Junction Restaurant, located at the corner of U.S. Highway 160 and Main Street in Mancos.

Doors will open at 4 p.m. for dinner, libations, silent auctions and door prize ticket sales. Door prize drawings start at 5 p.m. and entertainment begins at 7 p.m. The live auction runs throughout the evening.

No reservations are taken for this event, so come early. Admission is free, and all proceeds from the auctions and door prize ticket sales benefit Chicken Creek Nordic, a nonprofit, nonmotorized recreation area six miles north of Mancos.

For more information, call 533-1605.



Vendors being sought for Cultural Center’s 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 today’s 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 year’s vendors, and anyone interested in participating in this year’s 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 manager’s 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.



Ryan will give presentation on ‘Telluride’s Regional Geology’

Marcie Ryan will discuss local geology in a talk entitled “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Telluride’s Regional Geology” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5 at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St., Cortez.

Ryan will focus on Telluride’s scenery as a function of past and present geologic processes. Ryan is not just a geologist; she is a geomorphologist (one who studies the arrangement and form of the Earth’s crust and of the relationship between these physical features and the geologic structures beneath). Before moving to Dolores six years ago, Ryan lived in Telluride for more than 20 years. There she led gold-panning expeditions, mineral-collecting trips and geology tours. She is also an officer and board member of the Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society.

For more information, call Bob Bernhart at 739-6772.



Support groups can help people

with vision loss, brain injury

Southwest Center for Independence will hold two meetings in April to provide program information and support for individuals needing assistance who are suffering vision loss or have experienced a brain injury. The Cortez Vision Support Group will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 6. The Brain Injury Support Group will occur from 3 to 5 p.m. on the same date.

Following meetings will be on the first Wednesday of each month.

Call Rose at 759-2347 for location of meetings and for further information.



Montezuma County Sheriff Spruell will speak at Democrats’ meeting

Montezuma County Sheriff Dennis Spruell will speak during the Montezuma County Democratic Women’s meeting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Jack & Janelle’s Restaurant, 801 E. Main St., Cortez.

The public is invited to hear Spruell, who also will take questions.

For more information, contact Marcia Boon at 565-7668.



Native American families can sign up for financial literacy workshop

A five-week financial literacy workshop for Native American families will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings beginning April 7, and will continue to meet on Thursdays until May 5, at The Piñon Project, 300 N. Elm St., Cortez.

This class is for Native Americans who are interested in learning about ways to handle their money, make the money they have go further, set up and track their own personal finances, open a checking account, apply for a loan, create a budget and create a spending and savings plan. This opportunity for Native American families will utilize a five-week, 10-hour financial literacy program called “Making Money Work For You” that will cover goal setting, loans, credit and debt, various types of insurance, stretching personal resources and spending choices.

There is no cost to interested individuals for this course. Child care and meals, starting at 5:30 p.m., will be provided each night of the class for participants and children who are pre-registered. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a $100 savings bond.

For more information or to register, call The Piñon Project at 564-1195 and ask for Lara.



Poet Hershman John will read

from his book, teach workshop

Hershman John, published poet, fiction writer, comic book aficionado and teacher, will read from his debut book of poems, “I Swallow Turquoise for Courage,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park.

Hershman writes from a multicultural perspective influenced by his Navajo heritage. His vivid, descriptive language and sense of humor distinguish him from all others. A special treat: Hershman will translate from Navajo, an animated, very funny, short film called “Coyote and the Lizard.” Then, at 10 a.m. Friday, April 8, he will teach a workshop entitled Ekphrasis, a poetic term defined as “a reaction to an artistic impression like a photograph, painting or musical piece.” You will use your poetic voice to describe your impression. Both events are free and everyone is welcome.

For more information, call 565-8117.



Local river guide Maloy will present slideshow on Salmon River

Local river guide Michael Maloy will give a slideshow at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the Mancos Public Library, 211 W. First St.

Maloy will show slides and discuss his solo winter raft trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. This trip is the earliest known descent seasonally of this section of river. Maloy began river guiding in Idaho in 1970. He has also guided in New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea, Asia and South America. Additionally, he spent a year with the U.S. Geological Survey in Antarctica. He has made the first known solo descent of the Main Salmon River from headwaters to the confluence.

For more information, call the library at 533-7600 or visit us at www.mancoslibrary.org.



Dubin will speak about message that Jews for Jesus has

Larry Dubin of Jews for Jesus will speak at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the First Baptist Church, 100 N. Market St., Cortez.

Pastor Vic Powell invites all to attend. Jews for Jesus uses creative methods and contemporary issues to present the message that Jesus is the messiah to Jewish people around the world.

Moishe Rosen founded Jews for Jesus in 1973 and revolutionized Jewish evangelism with his creative approach. To Dubin and other Jews for Jesus staff, the objective evidence of the Hebrew Bible the New Testament, and the transformation in their own lives provide ample evidence that Jesus was who he claimed to be — the Jewish messiah.

The event is free.

For more information, call 565-6555 for more information.



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 Slaven’s 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.