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.
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.
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.
Heart & Soul Cortez holds neighborhood block party
What would you like to see improved in Cortez? Heart & Soul Cortez is bringing a neighborhood block party to you on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Southwest Memorial Hospital lawn on Mildred Road. Please join your neighbors for free food and ice cream, activities, and family fun. We want to hear from you about your favorite places in Cortez and what you like best or would like to see different in your neighborhood. There will be free blood pressure checks, face painting, and more! For more information, call 564-4079 or visit www.cortezheartandsoul.com.
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 11/2 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.
Radon session for builders and building officials
The Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) and Colorado State University Extension Service will offer a free live webcast presentation of Radon Control Techniques for New Homes from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the Montezuma County CSU Extension Office, 109 W. Main St., Room 102 in Cortez. Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the book Protecting Your Home from Radon and lunch. This is a special session for builders and building officials, although anyone who is interested is welcome to attend. To RSVP to this free event, contact Cori Andreatta at 259-1916 ext. 111 or cori@fourcore.org. You may also visit www.fourcore.org/Contractors/SustainableBuilding.aspx for details.
Madison House holds ice cream social with Cortez Mayor
Madison House Assisted Living, 120 S. Madison St., Cortez, celebrates National Assisted Living Week with an ice cream social with special guest, Mayor Dan Porter. The community is invited to join us for this free event on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Preserving Your Harvest workshop
Cortez Community Garden will sponsor a Preserving Your Harvest workshop on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 12:30 p.m. at Let It Grow Nursery, 90 N. Mildred. Preserving your own food provides you and your family the opportunity to access healthy nutritious fruits and vegetables throughout the year. This workshop will give you the chance to better familiarize yourself with a variety of safe food storage techniques as we demonstrate how to freeze, dry, or can fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Space is limited and registration is required; please register by Friday, Sept. 14 by contacting us at 529-0689 or cortezcommunitygarden@gmail.com.
Meet & Greet, Square dance lessons begin
Four Corners Square Dancers are offering new square dance lessons with a Meet and Greet night on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Kemper Elementary School, 620 E. Montezuma Ave. at 6:30 p.m. The new square dance lessons will take place every Monday night at 7 p.m., starting on Monday, Sept. 17. Come and check out the fun, easy to learn exercise that square dancing provides. No partner? No problem. Well provide someone to help you learn and move to the square dance calls. If you have questions, call Vonnie Robinson at 749-9682, or Don and Judy Morris at 565-9836.
Cortez River Run for Orphans
The first annual Cortez River Run for Orphans will be Saturday, Sept. 15 at Parque de Vida behind the Rec Center. Race day registration starts at 8:30 a.m., with the 1 mile at 10 a.m. and the 5K at 10:30 a.m. The Cortez River Run for Orphans precedes the Reach Out Music Festival, which begins at noon. Participates gain free entrance to the concert with their race number. Our goal is to bring our community together to serve orphans. Every participating school, church or community group decides where to send the money that they raise. Money will be use to provide orphans with resources such as food, clothing, education, vocational training, proper nutrition, and most importantly, a permanent loving family. The cost for people ages 14 and up is $25, and for people ages 13 and under the cost is $10. The cost includes an event t-shirt for those who pre-register. Participants may register online at www.RiverRunforOrphans.org. For more information, contact Steve and Linnea Bowman at 565-9558 or nea_bean@hotmail.com.
Harvest Fest Celebration
The Dolores Chamber will host a Harvest Fest Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be food vendors, produce vendors, live music featuring Louis Edwards and Yesterday, free Galloping Goose rides and more. It will be held in front of Town Hall on Hwy. 145. There is still room for more produce vendors. Call Ruby Gonzales at 882-7717 or the chamber at 882-4018 for more information.
Fall aspens hike
Enjoy fall beauty while hiking through aspen groves and some old growth spruce-fir forest with a naturalist from San Juan Mountains Association on Saturday, Sept. 15. Learn about the unique attributes of aspen and old growth forests and look for late fall wildflowers and signs of wildlife. Meet at the Durango Recreation Center parking lot (in front of the ball fields) at 8:30 a.m. The group will carpool from there to the trailhead at the Forest Service work camp, about 40 minutes north of Durango. This is an easy 3 mile hike with little elevation gain, returning to the Rec. Center by 1 p.m. Bring water, rain gear and a snack and/or lunch. Hike is suitable for adults and families with children age 6 and older. Please leave pets at home. Contact SJMA for more information or to sign up at gabi@sjma.org or 385-1256. Sponsored by SJMA, San Juan National Forest, and BLM Tres Rios Field Office.