Opinion

On Friday, Sept. 27, the Cortez Public Library will launch “Four Corners/One Book,” a community-wide reading program for the American Southwest.

Cortez librarian Kathy Berg and local author Chuck Greaves put their heads together to develop the program based on their experiences with similar programs in other libraries.

The first Four Corners/One Book reading selection is Greaves’ “Church of the Graveyard Saints.” Set in McElmo Canyon, it is a story about family, environmental issues, choices, and the importance of place in our lives. A local resident, Greaves spent 25 years as a trial lawyer before beginning a career in fiction. He has been a finalist for a number of major book awards and has written five previous novels – all of which are available at the Cortez Library!

This year’s participating libraries include Cortez, Dolores, Mancos, Montrose, Ignacio and Moab. Other libraries have expressed interest, and as Four Corners/One Book evolves, it is expected that the number of participating libraries will increase.

The kick-off in Cortez will begin with a ribbon cutting Friday (Sept. 27), under the “library willow tree” at 5:30 p.m., then inside at 6 p.m. for an evening with Chuck Greaves. There will be book giveaways, refreshments and copies of “Church of the Graveyard Saints” available for purchase – you can have your copy signed by the author.

In January, those having read the book will have the opportunity to gather again to discuss it with the author. If you love to read, come participate in this wonderful new program sponsored by our library!

With chilly nights, cooler days, and fall’s official arrival on Sept. 23, many of us are looking forward to hanging up our gardening gloves and putting away the lawnmower for another season. At a recent perennials workshop at Four Seasons, Vic Vanik reminded participants that even though the gardening season is drawing to a close, fall is the perfect time to plant many perennials. For example, members of the daisy family do very well when planted in the fall, giving them a leg up on getting established so they provide spectacular color in next year’s garden. Daisies are a good choice for local gardens because they are drought resistant. Fall is also a great time to plant trees, and for those who love the early spring splash of color that bulbs provide, these perennials absolutely must be planted in the fall. The end of September through mid-October is the time to plant grape hyacinth, iris, and members of the narcissus family, also known as daffodils. These plants are water-wise and deer resistant; are not fussy about the soil in which you plant them; and will grow in full sun or partial shade. Adding a few bulbs here and there in your garden adds color and interest, and if you take the time to plant them now, you’ll be so happy that you did come next spring! Check out both of our local nurseries, Four Seasons and Cliffrose, for bulbs and information on other plants to set out during these lovely fall days.

This year we observed the 18th anniversary of 9/11. It seems inconceivable that almost two decades have passed since that horrific day, and yet for those of us who witnessed the day’s events, the images remain vivid, and for those who lost loved ones, the grief and loss are present every day. Two thousand nine hundred seventy-seven people were killed on that day: 2,753 at the World Trade Center, 184 at the Pentagon, and 40 passengers and crew near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. During the initial attack and the subsequent collapse of the twin towers, 343 New York City firefighters lost their lives, along with 37 Port Authority officers and 23 New York City police officers. More than 6,000 were injured. Since 9/11, over 2,000 have died as the result of related illnesses; over 400,000 were exposed to materials known to cause over 70 kinds of cancer. The toll in suffering and loss continues to mount.

As great as the loss of life directly resulting from the 9/11 attacks, the sacrifice of military men and women and their families in the resulting wars has been greater. Brown University researchers estimate that 7,000 American soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan with double that number of private contractors providing support services. In addition, there have been tens of thousands of casualties, many returning home with egregious injuries. And, the tragedy continues. In the past six month two families in our own community have lost young men in this ongoing “fight against terrorism.”

It is important that we never forget the events of 9/11. In New York City, family members again this year read off the names of their lost loved ones at the site of an amazing memorial built in their memory. The FDNY academy class of 2019 observed this anniversary as it inducted thirteen children of fallen NYC firefighters. Others have gone before, but this class has the largest number of legacy firefighters to date.

Our own community recognized 9/11 with flags lowered to half-staff at all public buildings. Flags were placed along both sides of our Main Street, and the new director at the Welcome Center set out flags along the walk leading into the building. For the fourth year in a row, the Lewis-Arriola Fire Department challenged EMS, law enforcement, and fire fighting staff throughout the county to participate in their annual stair climb in memory of those emergency responders who lost their lives. Thirty-two participants climbed this year – the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs in full gear, which is the number climbed by NYC first responders. Perhaps you shared a memory of 9/11 with a friend or family member or simply said a silent prayer for all those lost and all those left only with memories. It was a sad day; a day we must always remember.

Karen Sheek is the mayor of Cortez, a position elected by Council members. Reach her at [email protected] or during her office hours from 12:30-1:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.