Bobbi Black, coordinator for the Mancos Valley/Mesa Verde Country Balloon and Arts Festival came to the Chamber of Commerce board of directors meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12. She gave updates on the festival and reported things are moving forward.

“We still need volunteers who can help launch the balloons,” she said.

She said volunteers also are needed to help with set-up and cleanup for the Saturday evening banquet on Sept. 28.

According to Black, 12 balloonists have been invited to the Mancos Valley balloon event. Launches are planned for the mornings on Friday, Sept. 27, Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29. A balloon glow is scheduled for Sunday evening, Sept. 29. She also reported that Chavolo’s Mexican Restaurant will do a fajita buffet dinner at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, before the balloon glow. Tickets for the Saturday banquet and the buffet at Chavolo’s are available at the Mancos Visitor Center. Property owners who would like to have a balloon land on their property can register to win a free balloon ride through Landowner’s Lottery. The lottery registration can be done at the Visitors Center. The drawing will be held at the Saturday, Sept. 28, banquet.

The Mount Lookout Grange is one of the newest members of the Chamber of Commerce. Its membership has been very busy creating classes about canning and preserving at the Grange Hall at of Spruce and Grand. So far students have made pickled beets, canned tomatoes and homemade salsa. If you would be interested in joining, the Mount Lookout Grange meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, Oct. 7.

Growing our own food locally has become an important resource in the Mancos Valley. The Farmers Market is every Thursday in Boyle Park from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. It is winding down for the season so be sure to get there this week for your fresh produce. The Mancos Public Library is doing a Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Boyle Park. If you want more information, you can call the Library at 533-7600.