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.
Driver safety course will be offered by AARP
AARP will sponsor a driver safety course from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at the Calvin Denton Room in the Empire Electric Association building, 801 N. Broadway, Cortez.
This is a 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 participants for a discount on insurance.
The course is available to all motorists whether or not they are members of AARP. There is a $12 fee for AARP members and a $14 fee for nonmembers payable by check only; no cash. This fee covers all materials. Bring your drivers license and your AARP membership number (if you have one).
For more information or to register, contact Scott and Judy Aeschlimann at 565-3872.
Easter Bunny volunteers needed for Easter egg hunt
The Cortez Rotary Club is cordially inviting individuals who are interested in volunteering to help with the annual Easter Egg Hunt to attend a noon meeting Tuesday, April 19, at Southwest Memorial Hospital in the hospital cafeteria.
Rotarians are committed to providing community service projects. Annual projects of the Cortez Rotary Club include the annual Easter Egg Hunt, the dictionary program and the Fourth of July Fireworks. If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about Rotary, feel free to join us for lunch or contact Orly Lucero, board president, at 565-1128.
Responsible Fatherhood program will begin at local church
The Church of Christ will offer a Responsible Fatherhood program from 5:30 to 7 p.m. beginning on Tuesday, April 19, at 631 Montezuma Ave., Cortez.
During the free program, fathers will develop skills to communicate effectively, deal with childrens challenging behaviors, strengthen loving father/spouse relationships, and address many other areas of fatherhood. This program is not about someone telling you how to be a father, but rather men sharing their experiences and learning from each other.
The program will be facilitated by staff from the Pinon Project and co-facilitated by Pastor Rob Hall. Participants can join this 26-week program at any time.
For more information or to register, call Lara at The Pinon Project at 564-1195.
Dolores School District sets focus group on superintendent search
Dolores School District invites members of the community for a scheduled focus group meeting on the search for a superintendent at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, in the Dolores School Library, 1301 Central Ave.
The time commitment will be approximately one hour. Colorado Association of School Board consultants have developed a series of questions that will be asked of the community focus group. They will then report the results to the board of education and follow up in writing as they develop a composite profile of the districts expectations. CASB will meet with school staff members from 3:45 to 5 p.m. to get their input also.
For more information, contact Karen Andrews, business manager, at 882-7255.
Hendrickson will give Bolivia: Silver, Lithium and Socialism talk
William Hendrickson will present a talk entitled Bolivia: Silver, Lithium and Socialism at the Cortez Cultural Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 21.
This is a discussion of a tour Hendrickson made in 2006 just after the election of Evo Morales, an Indian coca farmer who brought his Movimiento antes Socialismo into power. Morales has since been reelected with a 67 percent majority and sees benefit from holding the worlds largest deposit of lithium.
For more information, contact Hendrickson at 565-8907.
Native Plant Society will lead Sand Canyon spring wildflower hike
The San Juan/Four Corners Native Plant Society will lead a spring wildflower hike in Sand Canyon, in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, on Thursday, April 21.
This hike will be led by Al Schneider of the Native Plant Society. Participants will walk about 4.5 miles, so they will start early and finish late, spending an entire day leisurely enjoying the beauty of this area. At times, especially at the beginning of the trip, participants will walk slowly and identify many plant species. Then participants will walk more continuously, but still stop whenever people have questions or find new flowers to enjoy. This trip is moderately paced for wildflower enthusiasts and budding botanists.
Be sure to bring lunch, snacks, two liters of water, rain gear, etc.
Reserve a spot to obtain the time of hike and meeting location.
Contact Al Schneider at coloradowildflowers@yahoo.com or call 882-4647 for more information and to make reservations.
For more Native Plant Society activities and a slide show of flowers in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, see http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com.
Presbyterian church will host Easter party for children
All children in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to attend an Easter party from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church, 350 S. Washington St., Cortez.
This activity is being organized by the Fun Loving Outreaching Christian committee and the Youth Group of the church. Numerous games and activities are being planned for the children to enjoy. A raffle will be held for a number of items, including a 62-inch vinyl bunny. Refreshments will be available for parents who accompany their children.
For more information, contact the church at 565-7024, Jack Robbins at 882-1444, or Ron Kimmi at 565-9042.
Flowers Abound is April theme for Cortez Public Library Storytime
Flowers Abound! is the April theme of Storytime at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St.
Storytime is held 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.
Next is Be a good egg on April 21. Well wrap up the month with My favorite dinosaur on April 28.
Storytime offers songs, stories, crafts and silliness and uses the Early Childhood Literacy Initiative program.
For more information, contact the library at 565-8117.
National Weather Service will give free severe storm spotter training
The National Weather Service of Grand Junction will present two free training classes. Basic Storm Spotter Training will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the Towaoc Community Center, 485 Sunset Blvd. (next to the recreation center in Towaoc). Combined Basic and Advanced Storm Spotter Training will take place later the same day from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Cortez Journal Building, 123 Roger Smith Ave., Cortez.
Learn how to identify and report significant and severe weather to the National Weather Service, and learn how to accurately measure precipitation.
For more information, visit http://weather.gov/gjt.
Mustang association will give talk on Disappointment Valley herd
The Colorado chapter of the National Mustang Association will present an educational presentation about Disappointment Valley mustangs at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the Cortez Recreation Center, 425 Roger Smith Ave.
Information will be shared about the September fall roundup and adoption as well as using fertility control as a sustainable management tool to reduce helicopter-driven roundups in Spring Creek Basin.
This discussion will provide information about the herd from T.J. Holmes, who is president of NMA/CO and documents the mustangs, and about the April 25 public hearing and open house to be held about the roundup at the Dolores Public Lands Office.
For more information about the presentation, contact Holmes at 422-4388. For information on Spring Creek Basin mustangs, visit http://springcreekwild.wordpress.com.
Meditation series continues
at Cortez Cultural Center
The third in a four-session meditation series will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market.
For more information or to reserve a space, call Amrit Yoga Nidra facilitator Karen Mischke at 560-1396.
McHenry will give presentation about historic McCabe Ranch
Come hear John McHenrys History of the McCabe Ranch at the Montezuma County Historical Societys symposium, at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at the Methodist Churchs Hampton Hall, 515 Park St., Cortez.
McHenry is the grandson of Leona and Stanley McCabe, a rancher and coach for the Dolores school system.
For more information, contact Vivienne Kenyon at 565-7714.
Dolores River Festival organizers call for festival vendors
Organizers of the Dolores River Festival, scheduled for Saturday, June 4, are looking for licensed food, crafts, and merchandise vendors as well as nonprofit organizations to participate in this years festival as vendors. The deadline to reserve a booth for this years Festival is May 1.
If you are a licensed food vendor, commercial merchant, craftsman, artist, or local business and would like to reserve a 10- by 10-foot or 10- by 20-foot booth space at the festival to sell your goodies, gear, or glitz then see the festival website for vendor information and applications.
Organizers are also offering discounted booths to local nonprofit organizations that want to spread the word about their work to the festival audience. If you are interested in either of these two great opportunities, see the festival website at www.doloresriverfestival.com or contact the Festival Director, Shaine Gans, at 759-9817 or coordinator@doloresriverfestival.com.
