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.
Word shark reading frenzy at Spruce Tree tonight
Art Goodtimes (father, deep ecologist, bioregionalist, Colorado Green Party co-chair, performance poet, newspaper columnist, county commissioner, rainbow, burner, spud farmer, fungophile, drummer, chanter, basketweaver) and David Feela (father of a book of essays, How Delicate These Arches: Footnotes From the Four Corners, retired teacher, contributing editor and newspaper columnist, poet, book collector and thrift store pirate) will entertain the audience with a wide-ranging selection of short pieces from their collective collections from 5 to 7 p.m. Today at Spruce Tree Coffeehouse, 318 East Main St. in Cortez.
Feela described the event as a poetic reading frenzy in the round, back and forth between the two of us, where we churn up the waters of a calm evening with poetic rants and musings.
For more information call 565-6789.
Southwest Singers begin rehearsals
The Southwest Singers started their rehearsals for the Spring Concert on Jan. 30. Rehearsals take place every Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the choir room of the First United Methodist Church, 515 N. Park, Cortez.
All who enjoy singing and music are encouraged to attend. You need not read music to participate. Your voice is welcome. For further information you can call Larry at 565-7804 or Ruth at 882-3870.
Yoga Nidra Deep Guided Meditation
The Amrit method of Yoga Nidra Deep Guided Meditation is open to everyone for personal growth and healing at The Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St. The first in the Spring series of classes will be held at from noon to 12:50 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, led by certified Amrit Yoga Nidra Facilitators Mimi Scott and Karen Mischke, who will lead these sessions on Thursdays, March 1, April 26, and May 17.
These sessions are suitable for people who work and are able to come on their lunch hour, as well as those who simply want to experience the benefits without time constraints. Bring a pad, pillow and blanket. No prior experience in meditation or yoga is necessary. A $10 donation is suggested, however whatever one can afford is gratefully appreciated.
For further information and to reserve a place, call Mimi Scott at 564-0100 or Karen Mischke at 565-4061.
Presentation on Navajo expeditions will review research, history
Fred Blackburn and Chuck Haspells will provide an illustrated talk on the Navajo Expeditions in Northeastern Arizona: Reliving History through Graffiti. The talk will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2 at the First National Bank of Cortez, 2258 East Main St.
The lecture will review research on early cavalry expeditions; Hollywood filmmaking in Monument Valley; traders; miners; Navajo, Ute, Puebloan peoples, and The Long Walk; Excavation discovery of Alfred Vincent Kidder, Samuel Guernsey and the Rainbow Bridge Monument Valley Expedition; Mitchell and Merrick Silver Mine (PishLaKai) and the mineral rush that ensued as well are also part of this exploration.
There is a suggested donation of $10 to $20. This event is a benefit for the scholarship and tuition assistance programs at The Childrens Kiva Montessori School in Cortez.
For more information, call 739-1963.
Cortez Library announces February Storytime themes
Baby, Its Cold Outside! is the February theme of Storytime at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St. Storytime is held every Thursday and Friday at 10:30 a.m. for preschool-aged children. Both days will follow the same theme. On Thursday there will be no craft. Older children are welcome to join in for the craft at 11:15 a.m. on Fridays.
Is it spring? Did you see the groundhog? is the subject on Thursday, Feb. 2 and Friday, Feb. 3. Valentines Day will be discussed on Thursday, Feb. 9, and Valentines Day with Durango author Melanie Milburn will be presented on Friday, Feb. 10. Presidents Day will be the focal point on Thursday, Feb. 16 and Friday, Feb. 17. Storytime will wrap up the month with 100th Day of School on Thursday, Feb. 23 and Friday, Feb. 24. Storytime offers songs, stories, crafts and silliness and uses the Early Childhood Literacy Initiative program.
For more information, contact the library at 565-8117.
Lewis-Arriola Community Center annual fundraiser
Everyone is invited to attend the 7th annual Lewis-Arriola Community Center chili and cornbread supper, including a pie auction, at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Center, 21176 Road S.
This fundraising event will help support the Lewis-Arriola Community Center, a non-profit organization. Tickets are $5 each, or five tickets for $20.
For more information, contact Carol at 882-7816.
Meet and Greet events for DA candidate Furse
Will Furse is a candidate for District Attorney and will be hosting a pair of Morning Coffee Meet and Greet this weekend. On Saturday, Feb. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Furse will be at the historic Bauer House Bed & Breakfast located at 100 Bauer Avenue, Mancos. On Sunday, Feb. 5, Furse will meet residents from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Ponderosa Restaurant located at 108 S. 8th Street in Dolores.
Information about the upcoming Republican Caucus and County Assembly will also be provided.
For more information, contact Will Furse at 903-8183 or furse4da@gmail.com.
Annual Sweethearts Ball fundraiser
Enjoy dinner, dancing, live music, and a show at the Cortez Cultural Centers Sweethearts Ball at the Cortez Elks Lodge on Saturday, Feb. 4. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner is at 6 p.m., and the silent auction and show begins at 7 p.m.
The Elks Lodge is at 2100 N. Dolores Rd., Cortez.
Tickets are $40 per person; ticket sales and auction proceeds benefit the Cortez Cultural Center, promoting art, culture, education, and science for our community.
Call 565-1151 for tickets or for more information.
Energy Workshop will teach how to save costs
Colorado State University (CSU) will hold an Energy Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6 at the Lewis-Arriola Community Center, approximately one mile west of Basin Co-op on Montezuma County Road S.
Participants will learn about energy audits, solar power applications and feasibility, small hydropower generation, and the feasibility of biodiesel generators for home or farm use. Speakers include Kurt Jones, leader of the solar energy work team for CSU Extension; Mike Kostrzewa, Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Industrial Assessment Center at CSU; Lindsay George, Water Resources Engineer and lead of Applegate Groups hydropower program in Glenwood Springs; and John (JP) Funk, lead engineer at Dove Creeks JP&G Engineering Inc., a company that specializes in renewable energy. Lunch will be provided. The workshop is sponsored by Empire Electric.
For more information or to sign up for the workshop, call 562-4255 or email abdel.berrada@colostate.edu.
Back Country Horsemen host event
The Mesa Verde Back Country Horsemen will meet Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m., at the Elks Lodgeon Highway 145 in Cortez. Come early at 6:15 for buy your own Taco Tuesday. Guest speakers are Connie Clementson, Chris Bouton and Mark Tucker. All three guests are from the Dolores Public Lands Office.
Call President Nihla McCabe, 570-5036, for more information, or visit our web site at, www.mesaverdehorsemen.com. The public is welcome.
Albert Porter Pueblo Research Project to be dicussed
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society is pleased to present Susan Ryan to discuss The Albert Porter Pueblo Research Project: What Have We Learned? on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market Street.
In her presentation, Ryan will discuss the research effort at the Albert Porter Pueblo great house and its surrounding community with a focus on social differentiation and how the great house fits into the Chaco regional system. Ryan is the Project Director for Crow Canyons excavation at the Albert Porter Pueblo. In addition to a variety of authored and co-authored publications, Ryan is a frequent presenter at various conferences and symposia. Susan is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona.
For questions about this or other lectures, contact Bob Bernhart at 739-6772.
Valentine Blues theme of Family Comedy Club fundraiser
The Pinon Project is planning its sixth annual Family Comedy Club fundraiser event on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Montezuma-Cortez High School. The theme for this year will be Valentine Blues.
All proceeds will be used to support family and early childhood services at The Pinon Project. If you missed the show last year, please take this opportunity to join us in a hilarious event that will showcase some of our most talented citizens singing, dancing and doing their best to entertain. Some of the talent for this years show includes The Back Alley Boys versus the Spicey Girls, The Pinon Players, and an extremely talented banking group who will be doing their Village People routine. Tickets can be purchased at The Pinon Project located at 300 North Elm, or at the door the night of the event for $15 per person or $20 for a family.
For more information, contact The Pinon Project at 564-1195.
Boy Scout troop to hold food drive
Boy Scout Troop 518 of Mancos is collecting non-perishable food donations for the community. Bags and instructions will be placed by front doors Mancos on Saturday, Feb. 4 and picked up on Saturday, Feb. 11. Contact Sensa Wolcott at 903-9882 for more information. Thank you for your support as we all work toward improving our local communities by helping those in need.
Four Corners Band to play
The Four Corners Community Band will hold a special concert with the San Juan College Concert Band on Feb. 11, at 3 p.m., in the Little Theatre, Central Classroom Complex, San Juan College, 4501 College Blvd., Farmington, N.M. This concert is an event of the 2012 New Mexico Centennial celebration and is free to the public. Please visit www.fourcornerscommunityband.com or www.sanjuancollege.edu for more information regarding the two bands or call Sue: 564-1245.
Hoof Beats 4-H Club sponsors Valentines Day Ball
The Hoof Beats 4-H Club will sponsor a Valentines Day Ball, with music by DJ P.A. Jackson, from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Lewis-Arriola Community Center, 21176 Road S.
Besides dancing, refreshments and snacks will be offered. Admission is $5 per person, or $8 per couple, pay at the door. Proceeds raised will help members of the Hoof Beats 4-H Club attend a horse clinic.
For more information, call Maniesha Buck at 799-4060.
Free education series on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Renew will offer a free community education series about Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, to begin Monday, Feb. 13. This group will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for four weeks. For those who want to be a volunteer advocate, the training will continue on the same schedule for two additional weeks.
You will learn why these two crimes are the only ones that the victim is regularly blamed for. You will learn how the community can and does help. You will learn what Renew does, who Renew is and why we are needed in our community. You are invited to bring a brown bag meal for yourself. Beverages and small snacks will be provided. Space is limited to 25 people.
Call Renew at 565-4886 to reserve your space and get the location.
Parenting classes at Pinon Project
The Pinon Project will offer two 14-week Incredible Years parenting classes from 5:30 to 8 p.m. One class will be held on Tuesdays, beginning Feb. 21, at The Pinon Project, 300 N. Elm St., Cortez; and one class on Thursdays, to begin on Feb. 16 at the Ute Mountain Child Development Center in Towaoc, at 514 Sunset Blvd.
Dinner and childcare will be provided. There is no cost to participants. Enrollment is limited, so call soon.
For more information and registration, contact Lara at 564-1195.
Relay for Life Mardi Gras Kick-off event in Cortez
This years Relay For Life committee would like to invite interested community members, returning RFL teams, and new teams to join in the fun, food, and information sharing at this years Relay For Life Mardi Gras Kick-Off event at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Trinity Lutheran Church Hall, 208 North Dolores Road, Cortez.
The kick-off event is to start the Relay season by getting folks together to sign up teams, and to organize volunteers to help at this years Relay For Life. Get involved in saving lives by participating in this years Relay For Life on July 20. Hope to see you there!
For more information, contact Lucy Gasaway at 564-1468.
Horsemanship technique clinic to be held at Ag Expo
The Four States Ag Expo is pleased to present Aaron Ralston, host of RFD TVs popular program, The Ride, as he shares his winning horsemanship techniques in a clinic, Ride with a Reason on Thursday, March 15.
This clinic will fill up fast. Register at www.cowhorseproductions.com or call Brad at 274-4346. For more information about the clinic, visitwww.fourstatesagexpo.com.
