Food drive starts today

Mancos Student Council and National Honor Society will run its annual non-perishable food drive again Wednesday, Nov. 5 through Thursday, Nov. 20. All food will be donated to the food bank at the Mancos United Methodist Church.

The student council will go door to door Tuesday, Nov. 18 in the afternoon to pick up donated items. If you won't be home but want to contribute, leave a bag on your doorstep, and the student council will pick it up. Items may also be dropped off at Mancos High School or P&D Grocery.

Frack Free group hosts training session

Join Frack Free Colorado and Frack Free Montezuma for a two-day, Community Empowerment Training at the Mancos Public Library. This event is free (donations accepted for facilitators coming from Boulder) and will be held in two parts: Part 1 is Friday, 7 to 9 p.m.; and Part 2 is Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Community Empowerment Training was designed to help you learn how to make changes and have a say in what and how it's done. Frack Free Colorado offers training sessions across the state.

For representatives from Frack Free Colorado to facilitate the Community Empowerment Training we need at least 50 people to commit. Please RSVP as soon as possible to Joanie Trussel at 970-759-6606 or [email protected].

Library features Collins mounted prints

A series of mounted prints will be featured on the library's art wall through November. A series of mounted prints from artist Hardison Collins III is dedicated to Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins, his music, style and life.

On Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. The evening will feature music by Jack Tallmadge and friends as well as a medley of food and beverages. Tallmadge is a local multi-instrumentalist playing a blend of country, bluegrass, American tunes. Donations to the library are appreciated.

Christmas Bazaar set for Nov. 15

Annual Christmas Bazaar Saturday, Nov. 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Lions are looking for artists and craftsmen to set up booths at the Mancos Schools Cafeteria. A table top booth is $20 and if you are interested you can call Sandy Gregory at 970-533-7180.

Holiday Festival features Navajo Tacos

The Holiday Festival will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, starting at 9 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church at 515 North Park St. in Cortez. A highlight of the day will be Navajo Tacos made with fresh frybread starting at 11 a.m. Baked goods, candy, needlecraft, toys, holiday ornaments and decorations, as well as pie and coffee will be available all morning, and children will receive a free treat. There is no admission fee, and all are welcome.

The Holiday Festival is sponsored by the Cortez United Methodist Women. For more information, call Karen Bohn at 970-565-9273.

Church cookbook going on sale

Cookbook collectors, take note: Kathy Rousset, of Mancos, and Jane Westgaard, of Hesperus, will be selling the new cookbook that members of the Marvel United Methodist Church have produced.

The cookbook is a fundraiser for the renovation of the church. The Marvel community (south of Hesperus) is building a sanctuary and making renovations to its existing building as quickly as money will allow. The work is mainly by volunteers from the community.

Information: Pastor Bud Rousset at 970-769-4966.

Free legal clinic every second Thursday

A free legal clinic for parties who have no attorney, will be featured from 2-5 p.m. on Nov. 13 - and every second Thursday of each month - at the Mancos Public Library, 211 W. First St.

By computer link, volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help fill out forms and explain the process and procedure for all areas of civil litigation, including family law, property law, probate law, collections, appeals, landlord-tenant law, small claims, veterans issues and civil protection orders.

Walk-ins are welcome, and everyone will be helped on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mercy Medical receives 'A' rating for safety

Mercy Regional Medical Center was honored with an "A" grade on the fall 2014 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections.

The Hospital Safety Score is compiled under the guidance of experts about patient safety and is administered by The Leapfrog Group, an independent industry watchdog. The hospital safety rating is peer-reviewed in the Journal of Patient Safety. The rating is designed to give consumers information they can use to protect themselves and their families when facing a hospital stay.

The score is derived using 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single letter score - A, B, C, D or F - representing a hospital's overall capacity to keep patients safe.

For more information, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org.

Colorado ski season off to slow start

Businesses say Colorado's ski season is getting off to a slow start this year.

Frisco Lodge owner Susan Wentworth says early November is usually a slow time of year but right now even bookings for the upcoming busy Thanksgiving holiday are not looking as strong as years past.

Warm and dry weather delayed Copper and Keystone from a Halloween opening which would have driven the first weekend of November's ski sales around town. The weather has been so nice that bikes are still rolling at the door at Rebel Sports.

CDOT announces road maintenance

Colorado Department of Transportation will perform maintenance at these locations:

Repairing of roadside delineators will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday north of Dolores on Colorado Highway 145. There will be minimal traffic impact.

Repairing of roadside delineators will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday north of Red Mountain Pass on U.S. Highway 550. There will be minimal traffic impact.

For more information, visit www.coloradodot.info.

Computer upgrade to effect DMV

A computer network system upgrade will be implemented by the Governor's Office of Information Technology in support of the Division of Motor Vehicles beginning on the evening of Friday and lasting through Nov. 11.

The upgrade will have these impacts:

On Nov. 10, state and county motor vehicle title and registration offices won't be able to print titles over the counter or pull motor vehicle records from the state database.

Customers who do title transactions during this server upgrade will have their titles mailed to them.

Customers will still be able to renew their vehicles at www.colorado.gov/apps/dor/dmv/vehicle/registration/renewal/welcome.jsf.

For The Mancos Times