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.
Democrats hold Get Together Potluck Fundraiser
The Montezuma County Democrats will hold a Get Together Potluck Fundraiser on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Cliffrose Nursery, Hwy. 160 east of Cortez. A $10 per person donation is recommended. Bring your favorite potluck dish and come join fellow democrats for an evening of fun. All interested persons are welcome to attend. If you have questions, please call Ric at 565-8994 or 739-4365.
KBDX Rockin Blood Drive
Find the hero in you and plan to attend the KBDX Red Rock 92s Rockin Blood Drive on Friday, Sept. 21 from noon to 4 p.m. at Aarons Sales and Lease in Cortez at 2288 E. Main St. To donate blood, call Desiree at 564-7170 or call the United Blood Services at 385-4601. All donors will have a chance to win two tickets to the N.Y. Giants and Cowboys game with hotel accommodations.
Local author hosts Moonshine Murder book party
Local author, Erin S. Gray, will host a new release book party at Cold Stone Creamery for adults and young adults, ages 12 and up, on Friday, Sept. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. Erin will be selling autographed copies of her young adult historical fiction novel, Moonshine Murder, as well as offering a chance to win a Kindle device. The first 100 autographed copy purchases of Moonshine Murder will be entered in the drawing for a Kindle. Each book purchased will be counted in the drawing, so if you purchase more than one copy, your name will go in the drawing more, too. Door prizes include Cold Stone Creamery gift certificates and free bookmarks. Dollar Scoop ice cream can be purchased during the signing. To learn more about the book or the author, visit www.erinsgray.com. If you miss the event, you can still participate in the drawing by purchasing your copy at the website.
Battle Rock Charter School hosts Open House, potluck
Battle Rock Charter School, 11351 CR G, will host an open house and community potluck on Friday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited. Please join us for the evening, enjoy the canyon and learn about our school and programs. Battle Rock is your Kindergarten through 6th grade tuition-free alternative. For more information, call 759-1816.
Octoberfest at Groundhog Lake
The Groundhog Lake RV Park will host a Fall Festival and Fireworks celebration on Saturday, Sept. 22. The event, which is also an Octoberfest celebration featuring old German cuisine and beer, will go from 4 to 9 p.m. There will also be music and a bonfire. Groundhog cancelled its annual Fourth of July fireworks show due to the hot and dry conditions, so the show was moved to the fall. Call 739-5533 for reservations or visit groundhoglake.com.
Fall Chili Fest has gospel group, chili cook-off
Montelores Baptist Church will host their annual Fall Chili Fest and Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, Sept. 22. The event will feature the music of Ernie Couch & Revival on tour from Nashville, Tenn. This group is known across the United States and Canada for its live music, good humor, and genuine spirit. Many describe the group as refreshingly different, and a lot of fun. The Fall Chili Fest will run from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The entry fee for the chili cook-off is $10. Cash prizes will be awarded for the Judges Favorite and Peoples Favorite. Donations will be accepted for the Chili Fest meal and the concert. Montelores Baptist Church, 18735 CR 23.5, is located off Hwy. 184 across from Narraguinnep Reservoir. For entry forms or more information call the church office at 882-2418 or go to www.monteloresbaptistchurch.org.
Mesa Verde Bike and Hike on Saturday
All are invited to Mesa Verde National Parks annual Hike and Bike events on the Wetherill Mesa tram road this Saturday, Sept. 22; entrance fees will be waived for participants. Wetherill Mesa is closed for the season after Labor Day, but will re-open for hikers and bikers for this event. The Wetherill Mesa Road will be open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and all visitors must exit the road by 4:30 p.m. The Wetherill Mesa Road is located near mile 15 on the park road, just past Far View Lodge. From that junction, visitors are invited to drive 12 miles to the Wetherill Mesa information kiosk, then can ride or hike along the 5.5 mile long tram loop road. Along the route, stop at Long House, the second largest cliff dwelling in the park, hike into Step House, explore Badger House Community, and hike to views of Kodak House and Nordenskiöld #16. Park Rangers and volunteers will be available to answer questions and point out unique features of each site. You may bring a picnic lunch and drinking water, or purchase snacks or a hot sandwich, chips and a drink for $5 at the kiosk. Bicycle riding is not allowed on the Wetherill Mesa Road itself, due to its narrow condition and lack of shoulders. Dogs are not permitted on the tram road. Riders and hikers should keep safety in mind at all times: bring plenty of drinking water and high energy snacks, and sun and wind protection. Wetherill Mesa is about 7,240 feet above sea level. For more information, call 529-4465.
Heart & Soul Cortez block party at Calkins School
Heart & Soul Cortez is bringing a neighborhood block party to you! We want to hear what you value about Cortez and what you want for the future of your neighborhood and community. Join us at the Calkins School building lawn, 121 E. First St., from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22. Come join your friends and neighbors for a free barbecue, ice cream, activities and family fun. The Montezuma Historical Society will also present stories about Cortez and more. For more information call 564-4079 or visit www.cortezheartandsoul.com.
Naturopathic physician will give talk on natural remedies
Dr. Amy Loschert, a Dolores-based naturopathic physician, will give a free talk, Natural Remedies for Common Digestive Complaints from 6 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24 at the Dolores Healing Space, 102 S. 4th St., Dolores. She will speak about disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, food allergies, constipation and colitis. The most commonly seen nutritional deficiencies in our country will also be discussed along with natural foods and remedies that ameliorate these disorders and return balance to the digestive system. For more information, contact Dr. Amy at 676-1011.
Concussion management of children for coaches and parents
Southwest Memorial Hospital will host speakers Susan Kirelik, MD, and Karen McAvoy, PsyD, from the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver for an evening presentation on the management of concussion in children. The free event will be held in the cafeteria at Southwest Memorial Hospital on Monday, Sept. 24 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This program is intended for both parents and coaches and will cover current guidelines for the diagnosis and management of concussion. Contact Ronda Weir, RN, BSN at 564-2160 for more information.
Car seat safety checks
Did you know that 95 percent of car seats are used in an unsafe manner? Bring your child and your car seat to the front entrance of the south campus of Southwest Memorial Hospital on Monday, Sept. 24 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a free safety check. For more information, call Jennifer Beckermeyer, RN at 564-2246.
FCBA hosts Home Enhancement Systems presentations
Four Corners Builders Association will host a presentation by Home Enhancement Systems, a company that can provide services in the home or business such as Web services including satellite, room audio/video, security and home comforts like custom closet systems, central vacuum or theater. This is free to the public and will be held Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the First National Bank, 2258 E. Main in Cortez. Plan to come at 7 p.m. with your questions on easy ways to improve your life. For more information on the presentation or FCBA, call 565-1771.
Eating Smart Being Active classes
The Piñon Project, 300 N. Elm St., will offer an Eating Smart Being Active class for Kemper, Manaugh, and Mesa families who want to learn about preparing healthier meals and bringing a basic level of activity into their lives. The classes will start Tuesday, Sept. 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Kelly Proctor, as facilitator, will lead the group through eight weekly lessons designed to help them shop, cook and enjoy entry-level activity. The class offers ideas for a healthier life for families, who will work as a team to develop healthy and tasty recipes. Participants will 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. There is no charge for this program. Class size is limited; sign up with Lara Blair at 564-1195.
League will hold voter forums before election
The League of Women Voters will present three forums in Cortez to provide information to voters before the November election. The first will be a Candidate Forum for District 3 County Commissioners at Vista Mesa Nursing Home, 1206 N. Mildred Rd. on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. Several nursing homes are sponsoring this forum where candidates will answer the same question within a given minute or two. The public is invited. The second will feature candidates running for local offices on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m. in the Calvin Denton Room at Empire Electric, 801 N. Broadway. The third event will be a forum explaining the local and state issues that will be on the November ballot. The issues forum will also be in the Calvin Denton Room at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13. For more information, call Judy Schuenemeyer at 565-7837.
Author/Mountain Gazette editor Fayhee book reading
M. John Fayhee, long-time editor of the Mountain Gazette, will read from his two new books at the Spruce Tree Coffeehouse, 318 E. Main St. in Cortez, on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. The event will include readings from The Colorado Mountain Companion: A Potpourri of Useful Miscellany from the Highest Parts of the Highest State and Smoke Signals: Wayward Journeys Through the Old Heart of the New West. Fayhee calls The Colorado Mountain Companion, which references Cortez numerous times, the proudest achievement among his 10 previously published books. That research journey came to include chapters as disparate as the movies that have been filmed in the Colorado mountains, mountain-based songs, climatic and altitude-based data, Olympic athletes who hail from the High Country, Native American history, natural science, ski history and much, much more. For more information, call Spruce Tree at 565-6789.
For Pets Sake 3-day yard sale
For Pets Sake Humane Society will have its biggest yard sale ever on Friday through Sunday, Sept. 28-30 at the Cortez Christian Church Family Life Center on the corner of Empire and Hwy. 145. The sale will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Have fun with your fall cleaning and donate those unwanted treasures to the humane society! Donations can be brought to the building on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 2 to 7 p.m., or call For Pets Sake at 565-7387 for other options or for pick-up of large items please, no computers or accessories, tires, or TVs. We need a lot of goodies to make money to help the dogs and cats in Montezuma and Dolores Counties. So, look hard for donations, and then come and get new treasures at the sale!
Presentation on equine brand inspection regulations
The Mesa Verde Back Country Horsemen will present guest speaker Joe Stevenson, Brand Inspector, on the topic, Equine Brand Inspections on Tuesday, Oct. 2 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. Joe, our local brand inspector, will provide information about brand inspection regulations for horses and will then open the floor for questions. The public is always welcome! Call Nihla McCabe at 570-5036 for more information, or visit www.mesaverdehorsemen.com.
Hollywoods Saturday Pool Tournaments at new location
The Hollywood Saturday Pool Tournaments begin soon and will be hosted at the American Legion Post 75, 320 N. Harrison St. in Cortez until the rebuild of the Hollywood Bar! Tournament play begins Saturday, Oct. 6, and goes for 10 weeks. For more information, call 565-8151.