People are encouraged to submit announcements about upcoming events for the Community Calendar. Send announcements to [email protected]. Items submitted less than two weeks in advance will be less likely to be published.

Monday, Dec. 30

Due to the contract with the Holiday Inn Express in Cortez, the RSVP date for the Dolores River workshop has been moved up to Monday, Dec. 30. If you plan to attend, email Kathy Sherer at [email protected] or call 970-247-8306 by Dec. 30.

Through December

“Dance into December” is the December theme of Raising Readers Storytime at the Cortez Public Library. Storytime is held at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday for preschool-aged children. For more information, call the library at 565-8117.

Mancos watercolor artist Jan Wright exhibits paintings of Mesa Verde at The Farm Bistro, 34 W. Main in Cortez, through Jan. 1, 2014.

Displays at the Cortez Public Library: Larry Condon and Carol Rhan are displaying their Christmas collection from around the world; Betty Ann Grip and Judi McDonald / featured artists for the month of December for the Southwest Artists League; Sharon Englehart, Deb Harriman and Darnell Bane through the end of December.

Monday, Jan. 4

There will be a fundraiser for Vickie Wallace, who was recently diagnosed with Metastatic Colon Cancer, on Jan. 4 at Lewis Arriola Community Center at 4 p.m. The event will feature: Cow Patty dinner, silent auction, dessert auction and chicken bingo. All proceeds will help the Wallaces to pay for medical bills. For more information, email [email protected].

Wednesday, Jan. 6

The Montelores Early Childhood Council (MECC) will hold their next monthly luncheon meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, at 11:45 a.m., at the Johnson Building, 525 S. Broadway, in the downstairs meeting room 110, Cortez. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to MECC’s coordinator, Vangi McCoy, [email protected] or [email protected], PO Box 1725, Cortez, CO 81321, phone 749-7017.

Dare to be you grand parenting support group (bring the kids) begins Jan. 6 at 5:30 p.m. upstairs at the Cortez Cultural Center and will continue every Monday in January. Pre-registration requested. Call Debie or Anne at 565-1151.

Tuesday, Jan. 7

Mesa Verde Back Country Horsemen will hold its general membership-planning meeting on Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 2100 N Dolores Rd, Cortez. New members welcome! Learn what we do to ensure public lands stay open to horsemen. Tacos can be purchased at 6:15 p.m. Call Sue for more information at 564-9454.

Wednesday, Jan. 8

There will be an African dinner and program on Jan. 8 at the Cortez Cultural Center. Dinner is $10 and will be at 5:30 p.m. The program is free to members, $5 for others and will be at 6:30 p.m. RSVP by Jan. 3 at [email protected].

Thursday, Jan. 9

The public is invited to the Dolores River Management Coordination (DRMC) Workshop held from 9 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Jan. 9 at Holiday Inn Express, 212 E. Main St. in Cortez. RSVP to Kathy Sherer at [email protected] or Marsha Porter-Norton at [email protected] or call 247-8306 by Jan. 7.

The Dolores River meeting will be held Jan. 9 in Cortez at the Holiday Inn Express. RSVP by Dec. 30 to Kathy Sherer at [email protected] or call 970-247-8306.

“How Can Christianity Contribute to the Evolution of a Better Society?” will be the topic on Jan. 9 at 6:30 for the next “How You Can Be Part of a Christian Community with Integrity and Not Believe All Those Things You Thought You Had to Believe” conversation held at St. Barnabas Church. Wine and cheese will be served. Call 565-7865 for information.

Colorado State University Extension is presenting an information session on Radon on Jan. 9 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Montezuma County Extension Office, 109 W. Main, room 102. To make reservations call 565-3123. The class is $5, which includes a Radon Test Kit. Radon is the No. 2 cause of lung cancer.

Friday, Jan. 10

Southwest Open School student exhibit will be Jan. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Gallery at the Cortez Cultural Center.

Saturday, Jan. 11

The League of Woman Voters of Montezuma County will hold a breakfast meeting at 9 a.m. on Jan. 11 at the Ponderosa Restaurant in Dolores. Melissa Brunner will discuss all the services the county provide, the funding sources and the county budget. For more information, call 564-0708.

Wednesday, Jan. 15

Barbara Grist, Nancy Sawyer, Roberta and Shelby Smith will present Travel Tips on Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center in the Gallery. Free to members, $5 others.

Thursday, Jan. 16

There will be a presentation going over judging changes that will take affect this year in the 2014 Montezuma County Fair in the Community Open Class Food Preservation. The presentation will be held at the Montezuma County Extension Office, 109 W. Main, Room 102 on Jan. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call 565-3123 to register ahead of time.

Sunday, Jan. 19

Jennifer Hope will present Literary Explorations on Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Exploring all kinds of writings both fiction and non-fiction upstairs at the Cortez Cultural Center. Free, donations are welcome. The ongoing discussion group is the 3rd Sunday of each month.

Wednesday, Jan. 29

William Hendrickson will discuss the history of oil and gas in Montezuma County on Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the gallery at the Cortez Cultural Center. Free to members, $5 to others.

Through January

“Snuggle Up in January” is the January theme of Raising Readers Storytime at the Cortez Public Library. Storytime is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. for preschool-aged children. Older children are welcome to join for the craft at 11:15 a.m. For more information, call the library at 565-8117.

Sunday, Feb. 1

The Cortez Cultural Center’s annual Sweetheart Ball fundraiser will be held Feb. 1 at the Cortez Elks. This year’s theme is “Abracadabra Sweetheart Ball” featuring dinner, auction, magic entertainment and dancing. Donations for the auction are being accepted Jan. 7 – 29 and can be taken to the center at 25 N. Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gift certificates faxed to 565-4075. For more information, call 565-1151.

First and Third Thursdays

Planning committee for the 10th Annual Ute Mountain-Mesa Verde Birding Festival meets at 10 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month upstairs at the Cortez Cultural Center. Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to attend. Call Anne Beach at 565-1151 for details.

Every Sunday

First United Methodist Church has a Native American Worship Service at 2 p.m. every Sunday with Pastor Norman Mark. Reverend Thomas Towns remains the presiding pastor of the church. For more information, call 565-3002.

Every Monday

The public is invited to join the Southwest Singers as they begin rehearsals for the fall season. The choir practices at 6:30 p.m. Monday evenings at First United Methodist Church in Cortez, 515 N. Park. For more information, call Director Ruth Wilson Francisco at 872-3870.

Every Tuesday

The Kiwanis Club of Mesa Verde meets at noon each Tuesday at Shiloh’s. For more information, email [email protected].

Every Wednesday

The Way Christian Church has a Bible Studies class every Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Every Thursday

Every Thursday the Community Drum Circle will be held at Kaleidoscope Wellness, 233 Park St. in Mancos. For more information, call 533-1100.

Every Friday

Every Friday at 6 p.m. the Tree of Life In Jesus Messianic Community (Etz-Chayim B’Yeshua) will begin a new Bible Study Series: “Survey of Messianic Judaism” at Baptist Chapel, 1509 Colorado Highway 145. For more information, call 970-562-4217 or email [email protected].