The Cortez Journal encourages people to submit announcements about upcoming events for the Community Calendar. Send announcements to news@cortezjournal.com. Items submitted less than two weeks in advance will be less likely to be published.
Calendar items are published as space allows. To see the current complete calendar, log on to www.CortezJournal.com, click on Community and, under it, Community Calendar.
Class on government contracting
Four Essential Steps to Government Contracting with Dennis Casey of the Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (Co PTAC) is designed for companies registered as government contractors in the SAM system. Casey will be covering the recent changes in the new system, how to be more successful in winning bids, limitations for subcontractors, non-manufacturing rule and more. The Small Business Development Center class is free and is scheduled at the Durango Public Library program room on Wednesday, May 22, from 1 to 3 p.m.
The class is free; to register, call (970) 247-7009 or email Asano_L@fortlewis.edu.
Blood drive to be held May 23
United Blood Services will hold a blood drive from 3 to 6 p.m. May 23, at the Pleasant View Fire Department conference room, 15529 Road CC, Pleasant View.
Blood drive to be held May 24
United Blood Services will hold a blood drive from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, May 24, at the First Methodist Church, 515 N. Park, Cortez.
Four Corners Community Band concert
The Four Corners Community Band will play a concert on Friday, May 24, at 7 p.m. at the Morefield Campground Amphitheater at Mesa Verde National Park. The campground is located four miles from the entrance to the park. For more information, see www.visitmesaverde.com or www.fourcornerscommunityband.com, or call Sue Eleison at 564-1245.
Public plant sale
The Mesa Verde Gardeners are hosting their Fifth Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 25, from 9 a.m. until noon in the parking lot of Front Row Seat (next to City Market) on Main Street in Cortez. This is your chance to add some new and perhaps unusual plants to your landscape. Plants are provided by our garden club members and by local nurseries. Perennials, annuals, herbs, houseplants and vegetables will be available.
Mesa Verde Gardeners is a group of men and women dedicated to enriching the lives of the local gardening community through education and experience in all aspects of horticulture and gardening. Anyone interested in plants or gardening is invited to join. There are educational meetings and garden tours throughout the year.
For more information or to donate additional plants for the sale, please call Mary Ann Bruner at (970) 565-9158.
State of the lumber industry
The public is invited to attend a free program on the state of the lumber industry, with trends and predictions, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at the First National Bank meeting room. The presentation will include a panel of Bryan Black from Choice Building Supply, Vernon Hoffman from Probuild, and Jim Olsen from Slavens. The program will be hosted by the Four Corners Builders Association. For more information about FCBA or the event, call 565-1771.
Rodeo and Cowboy Days
for kids at the library
The Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo will be presenting Rodeo and Cowboy Days on Wednesday, May 29, at the Dolores Library and Thursday, May 30, at the Cortez Library, starting at 10 a.m. There will be stories, crafts and an opportunity for the kids to have their picture taken on a mannequin horse or to try their roping skills. This is for kids of all ages. Dress western or just come for the fun! Each child attending will receive a free rodeo and carnival ticket.
Blood drive to be held May 29
United Blood Services will hold a blood drive Wednesday, May 29 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in its Bloodmobile at the Cortez Fire Protection District, 30 N. Ash.
Blood drive scheduled for May 30
United Blood Services will hold a blood drive on Thursday, May 30, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Ute Mountain Casino Hotel Bingo Hall, 3 Weeminuche, Towaoc.
Conversation on faith
“How can or should Christians relate to other religions” will be the topic on Thursday, May 30, at 6:30 for the next “How You Can Be Part of a Christian Community with Integrity and Not Believe All Those Things You Thought You Had to Believe” conversation. St. Barnabas Church (corner of North and Elm) hosts these gatherings for folks who struggle to reconcile their life experience with what they believe the church requires, who don’t want to check their minds at a church door, or who just don’t want to live in a world they think the Christian church espouses but who might value being part of a community of faith. Questions are required. No answers are promised. Call 565-7865 for information.
Cortez comedy improv troupe forming
An informational meeting will be held at Blondie’s Trophy Room on May 30 at 7 p.m. This is open to adults in the community (18 and up). This meeting is for those interested in participating in helping set up the troupe. For those wishing to participate but not interested in the administrative portion, auditions will occur sometime in the middle of summer 2013. For more information or to RSVP to the meeting, please call 564-5188 or email jmcarlsonlaw@gmail.com.
Baby-sitting class rescheduled
A baby-sitting class originally scheduled for May 4 will be held on Friday, May 31, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Southwest Memorial Hospital Community Annex Room. The cost is $25 per participant, and all proceeds will go to the SWMH Relay for Life Team.
The course will cover how to stay safe, feeding, playtime, and how to start and safely advertise a baby-sitting business. Students will learn how to change diapers and identify age-appropriate toys and games, and will receive a basic first aid overview. Choking and what to do in an emergency is also covered.
To register, call Robin Bragg at 564-2243 or email rbragg@swhealth.org.
Dance showcase, recitals
Suzanne’s School of Dance will be holding its first-ever competition team showcase on May 31 at 7 p.m. at the M-CHS auditorium. The students will be performing every dance they took to competition and presenting the community with the awards and scholarships the dancers received.
The annual recital will be held on June 1 at 6 p.m. and June 2 at 2 p.m. Recitals will include all the dancers from the season.
Admission is $5 at the door for all shows. For more information, call (970) 739-9481.
Incredible Years Parenting Class
The Pinon Project will offer a series of free parenting classes beginning in June and lasting 14 weeks. The Incredible Years is a curriculum targeting parents of children birth to 12 years of age and is proven effective.
This program is for parents who are looking for more effective ways to discipline and who want to build a more positive relationship with their children. Classes will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Pinon Project, 300 N. Elm Street. Dinner and child care are provided. To register, contact Lara Blair or Sandra Jaburg at 564-1195. Space is limited; sign up soon.
Cultural Center/Hawkins Preserve summer day camps
The Cortez Cultural Center and Hawkins Preserve summer day camps for area youth ages 6-12 begin June 3.
Programs include creative arts, beginning percussion, water and ecology and environmental studies. Partial scholarships are available and enrollment is limited. For more information visit the website, www.cortezculturalcenter.org or call Anne Beach, 565-1151.
Business After Hours
kicks off the rodeo
This month’s Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours will kick off the 83rd annual Ute Mountain Round-Up Rodeo at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds on Thursday, June 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., in the barn in front of the rodeo arena. Take advantage of a special “behind the chutes” tour during the event. Come for Business After Hours and stay for the rodeo.
Rodeo tickets are available at First National Bank, Citizens State Bank, the Cortez IFA store or online at www.utemountainroundup.org. For more information, call the Chamber at 565-3414.
Summit Ridge Women’s Club yard sale
The Summit Ridge Women’s Club will hold its annual yard and bake sale on Saturday, June 8, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Summit Lake Community Church, 36501 Highway 184, Mancos. All proceeds benefit scholarships for local youth in addition to Thanksgiving and Christmas donations for local families.
Spaghetti dinner, dessert auction
The community is invited to a spaghetti dinner and dessert auction sponsored by the Board of Deacons of the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church. The deacons use their money to help both church and community members with medical costs, payment of utilities, groceries and rent. This year, approximately $3,000 has been spent. This fundraiser is being planned to replace some of the money in order to help others in the future.
The event will be Saturday, June 8. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m., at $5 for adults, $2 for children 7 and younger, and $20 per family. The dessert auction will begin at 6:30. All donations for the auction will be greatly appreciated. The church is located at 350 S. Washington.
‘Starting your own business’ class
The Small Business Development Center will hold a workshop for people interested in starting businesses on Thursday, June 13, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Durango Public Library.
The cost is $25, with a $5 discount for Chamber members. Walk-ins are welcome; to reserve a spot contact the SBDC at (970) 247-7009 or email Asano_L@fortlewis.edu.
Dolores River Dialogue
There will be a full Dolores River Dialogue (DRD) meeting on Tuesday, July 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the offices of the Dolores Water Conservancy District.
The topics of this meeting will be the “319 Watershed Plan” that the DRD Steering Committee has been working on since early 2012, updates on the next version of the Lower Dolores River Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation Plan for Native Fish, as well as other updates including drought forecasting.