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. 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.
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. For more information, contact the library at 565-8117.
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.
Pro-life film October Baby to screen at St. Margaret Mary
The pro-life movie, October Baby, which has been seen in many movie theaters throughout the country this year, will be shown at St. Margaret Marys parish hall, at 28 E. Montezuma Ave., in Cortez at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30. Snacks will be provided and the movie is free for all. We hope you will join us for this entertaining occasion. For more information, contact Linda Moore at 564-4211.
Archaeologist presents lecture on Ridges Basin population
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society will present Dr. James Potter on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St., to discuss Early Village Development and Collapse: The Case of Ridges Basin. Migration into the Durango area in the early A.D. 700s produced a landscape newly dotted with clusters of pit structures, one of which was large and aggregated enough to be considered one of the earliest settled villages. This process created an unprecedented social environment in which some community members occupied a village with highly visible communal-ritual architecture and others settled in dispersed hamlets. Dr. Potter explores the us-vs.-them social dynamic that was inadvertently established in the Ridges Basin community and discusses some of the untimely consequences that appear to have resulted from the lack of social integration and cohesion within this early village setting. James Potter is Senior Archaeologist and Principal Investigator with PaleoWest Archaeology. For more information, call Bob Bernhart at 739-6772.
Veterinarian will present Insulin Resistance in Horses
The Mesa Verde Back Country Horsemen will present guest speaker, local veterinarian, Dr. Sue Grabbe, DVM, on the topic Insulin Resistance in Horses on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m., at the Elks Lodge, 2100 N. Dolores Rd., on Hwy. 145 in Cortez. Come early at 6:15 p.m. for buy your own Taco Tuesday. Dr. Grabbe will provide information about the prevention, management and treatment of this problem that is a common cause of sore feet and founder in horses. Please join us in this opportunity to learn about insulin resistance which has become a fairly common problem with horses in our area. She will also give an update on pigeon fever in horses since there have been outbreaks in our area recently. The public is always welcome. Call Nihla McCabe at 570-5036 for more information, or visit www.mesaverdehorsemen.com.
Luncheon will offer info on BEST grant bond issue
Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 was chosen for a $22.7 million BEST grant from the Colorado Department of Education. Come and learn more about the M-CHS bond issue 3-B at the Chambers Business Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at noon at First National Bank, 140 W. Main St., Cortez. Reservations are needed to attend and space is limited. Lunch will be provided for $12. Contact Dena at the Chamber at 565-3414 to reserve your space now.
Little People Storytime focuses on change of seasons
The Mancos Public Library, located at 211 W. First St., will start Little People Storytime on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. Children ages 3-6 will be taught songs, verses and stories with the changing of the seasons emphasized. A craft is also offered. Free! For more information, call the Library at 533-7600.
Piñon Project offers Eating Smart Being Active classes
The Piñon Project will offer an Eating Smart Being Active class for anyone who wants to learn about preparing healthier meals and bringing a basic level of activity into their lives. The classes will be held at the Piñon Project starting Thursday, Sept. 13 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. There is no charge for this program. Kelly Proctor, as facilitator, will lead the group through eight lessons designed to help them shop, cook and enjoy entry-level activity. The class gives you ideas for a healthier life for you and for your family. You will work as a team to develop healthy and tasty recipes, and create (and devour) delicious snacks and light meals in the class while developing friendships and new and useful skills. The activity level is appropriate for any age and almost any condition, as it emphasizes basic stretching and movement, and each person is encouraged to work at a comfortable level. Classes are further enhanced with small take-away incentives useful for food preparation and activity. Class size is limited; sign up with Lara Blair at 564-1195 by Thursday, Sept. 6.
CSU Extension to sponsor Strong Women, Stay Young
Strong Women, Stay Young is a low-impact weight bearing exercise program that helps individuals maintain bone mass as well as muscle strength and function. The 10-week program will be taught by former Extension Agent, Jan Sennhenn. Orientation will be held at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6 at the Montezuma County Annex Building on the corner of North Chestnut and Montezuma Avenue. A health concern as we age is the onset of osteoporosis, or brittle bones. Additional benefits of the program include increased balance, flexibility, stamina, and metabolism, and improved sleep. Even though the program targets mid-life and older adults, anyone who is interested in the program is welcome. Interested individuals need to call the Extension office at 565-3123 to sign up.
Precious Knowledge will screen at Mancos Library
Mancos Public Library, 211 W. First. St., presents a screening of the critically acclaimed film, Precious Knowledge on Thursday evening, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room at MPL.
At Tucson High School, ethnic studies programs have improved graduation rates among Latino students. But some state politicians think ethnic studies promote racial solidarity and anti-Americanism. When books are banned and the programs eliminated, teachers and students fight back in a modern civil rights struggle. A panel discussion will follow the film. Free and open to the public. For more information, call MPL at 533-7600.
Catholic Community Rummage/Yard Sale
The Montelores Catholic Community will hold a Rummage/Yard Sale on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7 and 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, at the corner of Montezuma and Market in Cortez. A wide array of items including books, clothing, household, shop and yard/garden items will be for sale. Donations of items to sell will be accepted at the church hall from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1 through Wednesday, Sept. 5. Please, no large appliances, paint or televisions will be accepted. For more information, call Barbara at 565-0776 or Rosa at 565-7308.
Messianic Concert of Praise
You are invited to a Messianic Concert of Praise featuring Eric and Joanne Kragenbrink, worship leaders from Kehilat Ariel Messianic Congregation of San Diego, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 7 at 6:30 p.m. The event will be hosted by Etz Chayim BYeshua Messianic Congregation (Tree of Life in Yeshua) at Baptist Chapel, 1509 N. Dolores Rd./Hwy. 145 in Cortez. Admission is free; a love offering will be taken. For more information, contact Jeanette at 560-1651.
14th Annual Harvest Beer Festival
Come sample microbrews from 10 breweries at the foot of Mesa Verde in beautiful Cortez at the 14th Annual Harvest Beer Festival on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 4 to 9 p.m. This years festival is at Parque de Vidas pavilion and will feature music by Jack 10 High from Durango and the sensational singer-songwriter, Katya Chorover. Sample wood-fired pizzas, fish tacos and much more while perusing the biggest silent auction in the region. There will be childrens activities including face painting and games. All proceeds benefit Montezuma Land Conservancy, the only non-profit land conservation organization focused on land protection in Montezuma and Dolores counties. Admission is $25 and includes beer tasting, souvenir pint glass, door prizes, live music and silent auction entry. Must be 21 years of age or greater to drink. Admission is $15 for those under 21, and includes a pint glass for non-alcoholic beverages that will be provided. Children under 15 are free with paid adult. For more information, call Juniper at 565-1664.
Growing Through Grief workshop
Have you lost a loved one to death from this world? Would you like to learn how to deal with the grief that comes from such a loss? Pastor Rick Carpenter will be leading a six-week workshop beginning Monday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dolores United Methodist Church. Each workshop session will last approximately 1 1/2 hours. Topics to be covered include: The Grief Process; Emotions Were Not Supposed to Have; Letting Go But Not Forgetting; The Holidays; Societys Expectations and How to Respond; and Faith Offers Hope and A Future. You may also choose to attend a second offering during the day beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Dove Creek UMC. To register for either workshop or for more information, call 882-7780. Please leave your name, phone number and indicate which class you want to attend.
After school movies screen in September
The Mancos Public Library, 211 W. First St., will show the following movies on Mondays after school in September. Movies begin at 4 p.m. On Sept. 10, two episodes of The Last of the Airbenders will be shown; on Sept. 17, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace will screen; and on Sept. 24, the library will present Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones. These showings are for ages eight and above, and are free. For more information, call MPL at 533-7600.
Library offers computer trainings classes
The Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St., will offer a series of computer training classes in September. All classes start at 1 p.m. On Thursday, Sept. 13, Computer Basics II will be taught. This class will cover: documents, folders, drives, saving and printing documents. On Friday, Sept. 14, the Southwest Colorado Workforce Center will instruct on various aspects of finding a job on the Internet, including: registering with the Workforce Center; updating your Workforce registration; conducting job searches statewide; applying for unemployment insurance; resume preparation; and searching for state job applications. On Thursday, Sept. 27, Internet Searching for Beginners will be taught and will include the World Wide Web, URLs, links, web browsers, toolbars on web browsers, address bar, and simple searching tips and techniques. 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.
Community Cinema at library will present Half the Sky
Mancos Public Library (MPL) begins this season of Community Cinema with Half the Sky to be screened on Thursday, Sept. 13, in the meeting room at MPL at 7 p.m. A discussion may follow. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide is part of a landmark series based on the book by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky follows celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, and Olivia Wilde as they travel to six countries and meet inspiring, courageous individuals who are confronting oppression and developing real, meaningful solutions through health care, education, and economic empowerment for women and girls. Film screenings are free. Call 533-7600 for more information.