The Dolores Chamber isn't slowing down this winter. It's full steam ahead.

The Chamber's Annual Spring Banquet will be March 1 in the Community Center. The bar opens at 6 p.m., and dinner is at 7 p.m. This is to raise money for Scholarships for the 2014 graduating seniors of Dolores High School. Tickets are available at the Visitors Center or from any Chamber board member. Call 882-4018 for more details. Mardi Gras is our theme for this year.

Annual awards

The Dolores Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for their annual awards of Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year. Nominations may be sent to the Dolores Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 602, Dolores, CO 81323 or emailed to dolores [email protected]. Deadline is February 12, 2014, and the awards will be handed out at our spring banquet.

Nominations shall be written, 100 words or less. They may be signed or made anonymously. Contact the chamber at 882-4018 for the full criteria for nominations.

Monthly membership meeting

Our monthly membership meeting is scheduled for Wednesday Feb. 26 at the Ponderosa at noon. The Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance is tentatively scheduled to be our speakers. Then the very next night, Feb. 27, is our business after hours from 5-7 p.m. at the Rio Grande Southern. In conjunction with this, the Rio Grande Southern is announcing their grand reopening for the winter with Rita back in the kitchen on Friday Feb. 28. It's the famous "all you can eat" Friday night Fish Fry. It will be from 5-9 p.m. every Friday night. All you can eat for just $9.95 with dessert included.

Love Your Library

There is a Love your Library celebration, a Wine and Chocolate Party, Thursday, Feb. 13 6-8 p.m. in the Dolores Public Library. Come share some wine and chocolate and learn about volunteer opportunities on the library board and with the Friends of the Library.

Call Debra Ely for more information at 882-4127.

QuickBooks Class

Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Dolores Chamber is tentatively offering a QuickBooks Class from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Dolores Library. The Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center is providing the instructor.

Cortez Cultural Center

From the Cortez Cultural Center: Yucca House and Snider's Well "The untold story."

Feb. 12, 2014, 6:30 p.m. program in the Gallery, free to members, $5 for all others.

Fred Blackburn will reveal a story through photographs and current research regarding history of ownership and archaeological history and questions regarding the discovery in 1893 and 1894 of a large kiva filled with massacred bodies and the resulting theories of these people's potential demise, and possible connections to Meso America.

Business course

The Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center, announces a Business Management and Planning Course inviting you to Master Essential Skills for Starting, Managing and Growing your Business Wisely.

The NX Level Leading Edge for Entrepreneurs Strategic Planning Series course is excellent for beginning or experienced business owners of all types including agriculture and nonprofits.

The course starts on Saturday, Feb. 15 in Cortez and continues through Saturday March 22, 2014.

Held at the Cortez Welcome Center, the six sessions begin at 9:15 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m. The Top Reasons to attend include: Learn how to plan for profit, not just hope for one, taking the mystery out of budgeting and accounting, establishing best pricing and marketing practices, addressing organizational and risk management needs, networking and learning from others and gaining access to valuable resources and people.

Register online at: https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=170340002 or Call 970-247-7009.

Mild to Wild

And Happy New Year from the Mild to Wild family! 2014 marks our 20th year in business here at Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Trail Tours. So, to make the year one to remember, we have some great new trips and some terrific giveaways!

Monthly Trip Giveaway: To start the celebration, we're giving away an adventure trip each and every month this year. Entering is easy.

Just visit the Giveaway app on our Facebook page.

See you next month.