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.
August theme for Cortez Public Librarys Storytime
Wrapping Up Our Dreams is the August theme of Raising Readers Storytime at the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St. Storytime is held every Thursday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for preschool-aged children. Older children are welcome to join in for the craft at 11:15 a.m. on Thursdays. Please note that the library has discontinued Friday Storytime. The Saturday Storytime is held, weather permitting, at the Cortez Farmers Market on the corner of Elm and Main Streets. All days of any particular week will follow the same theme except on Saturdays there will be no craft.
Camping will be presented on Thursday, Aug. 16 and Saturday, Aug. 18. The topic will be Space Explorers on Thursday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 25. Monsters Under the Bed, Really? will wrap up the month on Thursday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Sept. 1. Raising Readers Storytime offers songs, stories, crafts and silliness and uses the Early Childhood Literacy Initiative program. Theres still time to pick up a reading log for our Summer Reading Program, Dream Big, Read! Join to have a chance at a big prize drawing at the end August. For more information, contact the library at 565-8117.
Rec Center will offer free classes during Zumba Week
The Cortez Recreation Centers free Zumba Week continues, ending Saturday, Aug. 18. The Rec Center will offer a Zumba party every day, with the Thursday class time TBA (popular demand day), Friday at 8 a.m., and Saturday at 9:30 a.m. These classes are open for all ages and abilities. For more information, call Rayna at 560-3916 or the Rec Center at 564-4080.
Driver safety course for older drivers offered by AARP
AARP will sponsor a driver safety course on Thursday, Aug. 16 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at the Calvin Denton Room in the Empire Electric Building, 801 N. Broadway, Cortez. This 4-hour course is 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 is to be paid by check, (no cash or credit card) which will cover materials. Please bring your drivers license and your AARP membership number (if you have one). The class size is limited. To register, contact Scott and Judy Aeschlimann at 565-3872; leave your name and phone number on the answering machine if were not available. Well return your call.
Catholic Vacation Bible School
Back by popular demand, Catholic Vacation Bible School at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church at Montezuma and Elm in Cortez will run from Thursday, Aug. 16 through the Saturday, Aug. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon. Children from Kindergarten through 5th grades are welcome and its free. Come spend three fun filled days of water fights and fellowship! Parents are welcome and encouraged to hang out. For more information, call Lynda Brenner at 799-4003.
Democrats hold Potluck Fundraiser
The Montezuma County Democrats will hold a Potluck Fundraiser on Thursday, Aug. 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Cliffrose Nursery. There will be an update during the event to let everyone know what is going on and how they can help. A $10 per person donation is requested. For the potluck, please bring light dishes or finger food for 6 to 8 people. Put together your favorite crowd pleaser and join in the fun. Bring a friend so they can see that Montezuma County Democrats are alive and well. We always welcome new contacts. For more information, contact Larry Condon at montezumacountydems@yahoo.com or call 529-0082.
Bike Maintenance Clinic at Mancos Library
The Mancos Public Library, 211 W. First St., and Kokopellis Bike and Board, in honor of the U.S. Pro Cycling Tour, will sponsor a Bike Maintenance Clinic on Friday, Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon at the library. Pete Eschallier from Kokopellis will demonstrate how to do maintenance and preventative care, as well as trail-side repairs for both mountain bikes and road bikes. How to be a safe rider will also be covered. Maintenance topics will include how to clean a bike, lube the chain, change a flat tire, etc. All ages are welcome. Pete will bring a bike or two to demonstrate on. Free! For more information, contact MPL at 533-7600.
Back-to-School Potluck for Native American students, parents
Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 welcomes all Native American students and parents to the 1st Annual Back-to-School Potluck & Picnic on Friday, Aug. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will take place at the Parque de Vida gazebo near the corner of Mildred and Empire streets (across from the Justice Center). Hamburgers, condiments, chips, and bottled water will be provided. You may bring a side dish or dessert, and a chair. Our main goal is to have Native American students and parents come and meet Alex Carter, the new superintendant, and the new principals from Manaugh School, Kemper School, and Mesa School. Dan Porter, Lewis-Arriola School principal and Indian Education Director for the Re-1 schools will also be available to meet you. You are encouraged to come and spend a wonderful evening meeting your local school administrators and participate in finding out how you can be a member of the Native American parent committee. For more information, call Viola at 739-3129.
Science Saturdays in the park for young scientists
Bring your young scientists to two Science Saturdays in the park, family events sponsored by Mesa Verde STEAM Academy. On Saturday, Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Park de Vida shelter at Mildred and Empire Streets, Cortez, we will present Can you run, jump, pull, and see as well as a mountain lion? Find this out, as well as other amazing facts about mountain lions, with the Mountain Lion Olympics! For information, contact Gabi Morey at 759-1170. On Saturday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon at the same location, join us to earn your Oooh Aahh license by flying loop planes, stacking water, creating toilet paper tube cannons and more. For information contact Kay Phelps at 759-3270.
Childrens Kiva Open House, registration week
Join The Childrens Kiva Montessori School for our Fall Open House on Wednesday, Aug. 22, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at 1204 E. Empire St. in Cortez. There will be refreshments and door prizes! Registration week for the 2012-13 preschool and kindergarten school year is Monday through Saturday, Aug. 20-25. Tuition assistance is available. Check us out at www.childrenskiva.org or call 565-8586 for more information.
CSU Master Food Safety Advisors offer free Q&A workshops
Do you have questions about food safety, food preservation, or gardening in this area? If so, you are invited to bring your questions at one of the three dates scheduled at Slavens True Value in Cortez. The Colorado State University Extension Master Food Safety Advisors and Master Gardeners will answer questions, test pressure canner gauges, supply handouts, and have a display of suggested supplies. The free Q&A sessions will be on Wednesday, Aug. 22 from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25 from 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., and on Wednesday, Aug. 29 from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. For more information, contact Lucy Butler at 560-8840 or lcbutler@ftitel.net.
Harvest Dinner will raise funds for Childrens Kiva
Sutcliffe Vineyards and The Farm Bistro will present a delicious and festive Harvest Dinner on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the The Childrens Kiva Montessori School. Come join us for a special meal, featuring four courses of local, freshly harvested, and beautifully prepared foods. Each course will be paired with fine wines from Sutcliffe Vineyards. The event will be held at The Farm Bistro (34 West Main St., Cortez), recently recognized in Edible Magazine as the Four Corners Best Farm to Table Restaurant! Sutcliffe winemaker Joe Buckel will be on hand for the event to share his expertise in the making and the nuances of these fine wines. The Childrens Kiva is a non-profit community preschool and kindergarten serving families in Cortez for 25 years. Space is limited please book your reservation at The Farm Bistro by calling 565-3834. The cost is $75 per person. For more information about the event, contact The Farm. To learn more about The Childrens Kiva, visit www.childrenskiva.org.
Harvest Crusade at Montelores Baptist Church
On August 26, Montelores Baptist Church will join more than 550 churches and public venues across the U.S. at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26 to host Harvest America. For 22 years, southern California pastor Greg Laurie has held annual stadium outreach events designed to share Christs message of hope through an evening of live music and a message. This year, host sites across the U.S., including Montelores Baptist Church, will participate by broadcasting the annual Anaheim stadium event live at the church, 18735 Rd. 23.5, off Hwy. 184 (across from Narraguinnep Reservoir) in Lewis. Everyone is invited to join us for this unique event. The Crusade will begin with music by Mercy Me followed by a message of hope from Greg Laurie. Contact Pastor Paul Gleason at 882-2418 for more information, or if your church is interested in participating with us.
Sheriffs Office holds Citizens Training Academy
The Montezuma County Sheriffs Office will offer the Citizens Training Academy program on Wednesday evenings for 10 weeks, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 12 and ending Wednesday, Nov. 14. The deadline to apply to the program is Monday, Aug. 27. The Academy provides a unique opportunity for citizens to learn about the duties and services provided by the Sheriffs Office. Students will receive instruction in all functions of the three divisions within the Sheriffs Office: Patrol, Detentions and Investigations, as well as auxiliary services which support the Sheriffs Office. The curriculum includes introduction to evidence gathering, crime scene management, case preparation and prosecution.
There is a $10 fee to offset costs. The curriculum does not fulfill State of Colorado certification requirements for peace officers. Applications may be downloaded from www.montezumasheriff.org. You may apply electronically or mail your application to: Montezuma County Sheriffs Office, 730 East Driscoll St., Cortez, CO 81321. If you are interested in this Program, contact any member of the Sheriffs office command staff at 565-8452.
Unlimited Learning Center offers free computer class
The Unlimited Learning Center, 640 E. Second St. in Cortez, will offer a computer training class at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29 on Internet Searching for Beginners. The class is free to the public, with a limit of ten students. Additional classes will be offered throughout the school year. Call 565-1601, ext. 1 for more details.
Cortez Library August computer classes
The Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St., will offer an Incredibly Basic Computer Skills training class at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30. If you have little or no computer skills, this is the class for you! All classes must be signed up for ahead of time, as space is limited. Sign up by calling the library at 565-8117 or by stopping by.
