Briefs for August 27, 2009

We need help!

LA VETA- Upon The Rock Christian Camp is having Work Camp at our property (located west of Sulpher Springs on CR 420/421) Aug. 27-30, and we would love to have individuals and families from our community come to help with the many projects we have to do before winter sets in.  The project list includes jobs for all levels from easy to strenuous.  We feed you yummy meals and we provide all of the tools.  You bring yourself (slathered with sunscreen), a bottle or two of water, some work gloves and a song to whistle while you work.

    If you can come and help for a few hours, or for a day, let us know so we can be prepared with enough food and with enough jobs lined out.  719-742-6777

    If you’ve never heard of Upon The Rock, please check out our website at www.upontherock.com.

Colo. State Fair

PUEBLO-  The Colorado State Fair runs from Aug. 28–Sept. 7.  The 2009 Colorado State Fair will mark the Fair′s 137th year as Colorado′s premier celebration of agriculture.  In addition to showcasing Colorado agriculture, the annual event features one of the country’s largest traveling carnivals, artwork, crafts, food competitions, thrilling rodeo action, a wide variety of food and merchandise booths and a Fiesta Day honoring Colorado′s ties to Hispanic culture.

    For information, visit www.coloradostatefair.com.

Lathrop Park programs

Fri. Aug. 28, 7 pm 

Hopi Indians

    Pat Huhn will be with us to share her stories and experiences from teaching on Hopi reservation. Come hear all about the history of the Hopi tribe, their customs and special ceremonies, along with the troubles the tribe has faced adapting to life in the 21st century. 

Sat. Aug. 29,  8 pm

Geology: All you want to know about rocks.

    Join  Jon Sudar, a Walsenburg native, as we explore the rockin’ world of geology.  The program will identify the three basic types of rocks and what they consist of. Then  it continues  with the story of how these rocks arrived at their current location here in Huerfano County.  If by now you have been out exploring the park, you will be able to easily recognize the pictures of the various rock formations. 

    Both programs will be held at the Pinon Campground Amphitheater.

Huerfano Hometown Heroes bake sale

LA VETA- Huerfano Hometown Heroes is having a bake sale this coming Sat. Aug 29 in front of Charlie′s Market, 9 am to noon.  Come by & drop a note of support to our Huerfano Hometown Hero!

    Can′t make it Saturday?  We have boxes in the community at Grandma & Grandpa′s, Community Banks, the library & Journey Home/Adventure Trail Gift Shop in Walsenburg,

Communication Coalition

WALSENBURG-  It′s time for the Communication Coalition to come back together to share all of the wonderful things going on in Huerfano County. The Spanish Peaks Library District will be hosting the meeting on Thurs. Sept. 3 at noon. 

    The Spanish Peaks Outreach Clinic will be providing lunch for us, so we would like to encourage you to contact myself or Harlene Michaels to RSVP.  If you would like to have some agenda time, please let me know.  I′d like to encourage everyone to bring information to share with the group.

Community Youth Chorus

WALSENBURG- The Community Youth Chorus will be rehearsing a musical called Good King Wenceslaus for the Winter Youth+ Concert. It will be at 11 am, Sat. Dec. 19, downstairs at the United Church, 108 Kansas Ave. 

    Rehearsals begin on Fri. Sept. 4 from 1-2 pm at the United Church downstairs.  There are chorus songs, soloists, readers, acting and costumes all to be prepared.  We have fun as we learn our songs and parts, and even have an exercise period at the beginning of our time together.  You are invited to join us if you are between the ages of 6 and 15 (we are very loose about our ages).  For more information, call Carol at 989-0826.

Brass Check Day at Steelworks Museum

PUEBLO- The Steelworks Museum of Industry and Culture is honoring Labor Day this year with free admission on Sat. Sept. 5, 10-4 pm, to anyone who was employed at the Colorado Fuel & Iron Corporation (CF&I), or present employees of Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel.  All that’s needed is proof of employment in the form of a brass check, photo ID or pay stub.  Admission includes the museum and the 1882 CF&I Mine Rescue Car.

    The museum is located at 215 Canal Street in Pueblo (Exit 97A).

La Veta Library Golf Tournament

LA VETA- Sign up for the La Veta Library Open, a golf tournament at Grandote Peaks on Sept. 12 to benefit the library.  Cost is $95.  Call 742-3391.

Experimental drawing and painting class

LA VETA- The La Veta School of the Arts presents Peggy Zehring’s 5-day abstract drawing and painting class Sept. 14-18 at the art school across from the town park.

    This well-known, Kandinsky-inspired class emphasizes creativity, originality and mixed media materials.  Peggy has been teaching this class at the college level for 30 years.  Class runs from 9-4 each day with an hour for lunch.  Cost is $375.00 plus supplies. 

    For more information call 719-742-3421, e-mail LVArtSchool@yahoo.com or go to www.theLVSA.org

PUEBLO- Are you interested in composting your leftovers, leaves and grass clippings?  CSU Extension/Pueblo County will present information that can teach you how.  Topics will include backyard composting, worm composting, improving your soil and the environmental impacts of composting.  This class will be held at the CSU Extension/Pueblo County office on Tues. Sept. 15, from 6-9 pm and the cost is $15.  Pre-registration is required.  Call 583-6566 to sign

Coal Camp Excursion

CRESTED BUTTE- September 19th the Steelworks Museum will hit the road with an overnight excursion to Gunnison and Crested Butte.  Colorado Fuel and Iron (CF&I) operated the Jokerville mine outside of town, and later the Big Mine which dominated the local economy until the early 1950s.

    Little is left of the coal heritage that kept Crested Butte alive until the advent of the skiing industry, with the exception of the wonderful 19th century architecture seen all over Crested Butte. Today, the town is a year-round resort community with quaint shops, unique restaurants, fabulous scenery and a rock solid foundation with CF&I.

    We’ll leave the Steelworks Museum at 8 am on the Sept. 19.  First stop will be at Monarch Pass to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery.  Hopefully the fall foliage will be at its peak during the excursion.

    Next stop will be in Gunnison where everyone will be on their own for lunch. In the heart of downtown there are several good restaurants to choose from. From there we’ll head for Crested Butte and the Mountain Heritage Museum. A walking tour of the historic buildings along Elk Avenue is available, or you’re free to free to explore Crested Butte on your own.

    You’ll have your choice of Crested Butte’s many fine restaurants for dinner. Then we’ll return to our lodging in Gunnison at the Day’s Inn.

    Sunday morning breakfast will be provided at the hotel.  At 9 we’ll tour Gunnison’s Pioneer Museum featuring many inside exhibits and a narrow gauge train consisting of the Denver & Rio Grande Engine #268, a flanger, a gondola, boxcar, livestock car and caboose.

    We’re planning lunch in Salida, then to return to Pueblo by 7 pm.

    Cost for the excursion is $170 per person for members of the Society, $190 for non-members.  Reservations are based on double occupancy and are due, with payment, by Sept. 11.  Payment may be made by cash, check or MasterCard or Visa.

    The tour includes: motor coach transportation with refreshments, over-night lodging Saturday night, all admissions, commemorative souvenir companion tour booklet, breakfast Sunday morning and tour presentation on the bus.

    Please note that the elevation of Crested Butte is 8,924 feet, and there is some walking involved with the tours.  Reservations may be made in person at the Steelworks Museum gift shop, by mail and by phone – 719-564-9086.

Greek Festival

PUEBLO- St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church at 1010 Spruce Street brings the popular Greek Festival back to Pueblo Sept.19-20 from 11 am to 7 pm. The festival, which is held on the shady, grassy ground of the historical church, features Greek food, specialty booths, live entertainment, and free admission.

    The foods are crafted on site, and include gyro sandwiches, Greek shish ka bobs, Greek French fries, and popular Greek pastries (baklava, powdered sugar cookies, Greek doughnuts). The pastries are handmade by the members of the church community, using recipes that have been passed down through generations.

Spanish Peaks Celtic Music Fest

    Save September 25-27 for the fifth annual Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival in Walsenburg and La Veta just off I-25 between Pueblo and Trinidad in Colorado.  Enjoy harps, fiddles, pipes and whistles, dancing and storytelling, all against the fall colors of the beautiful Spanish Peaks.

    The Festival offers five different concerts, a ten-hour Celtic Harp Retreat, and a Sunday noontime “Burns Supper” in honor of Robert Burns’ 250 anniversary.  The weekend also provides a variety of workshops including singing, storytelling, Scottish and Irish ceilidh dancing, Irish step dancing, and numerous instrumental classes.  There are also free workshops for beginners in harp, bodhran and whistle.  And this year we can promise you session playing not only throughout the day, but also late night at the Parkside Gallery in La Veta.  Finally, there will be free ceilidh dancing Saturday and Sunday afternoons in La Veta Park.

    For more information see the Festival website:  www.celticmusicfest.com

Southern Colo. Watercolor Society exhibit

PUEBLO- The El Pueblo Art Alliance presents  "ANYTHING GOES", an all-media exhibit of works by members of the Southern Colorado Watercolor Society, and the Pikes Peak Pastel Society.  This is a juried show at the new High Vista Gallery in the El Pueblo History Museum from Aug. 14 – Sept. 27.

    Original works of Art will be available for purchase.  The El Pueblo History Museum is located at 301 North Union.  Gallery hours are Tues.-Sat. 10 am 4 pm.  No charge.  For information, contact Merlyn Jones at (719) 547-2185

Protect against H1N1 and influenza

DENVER– The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment today urged businesses to prepare now for the impact that H1N1 and seasonal influenza could have on the businesses’ employees and operations this fall and winter season.

    The updated guidance from the CDC was developed for employers of all sizes to use as they create or review their plans to respond to H1N1 or seasonal flu outbreaks. It includes the following advice.

    Allow sick workers to stay home without fear of losing their jobs. Employers should plan to encourage workers who have symptoms of flu or flu-like illness to stay home and not come to work until at least 24 hours after their fever has resolved. 

    Encourage frequent hand-washing and routine cleaning of commonly touched surfaces at work.

    Plan how to operate if there is a high level of absenteeism.  Identify essential business functions, essential jobs or roles, and critical elements within the operation. 

    Be prepared if schools or child-care programs close, requiring employees to stay home with their children.  Employers should try to make sick leave policies flexible to allow for these possible closures and for the need for parents to stay home with their sick children.

    Consider removing any policy that requires employees to obtain a note from their doctor regarding their illness.  These types of policies can needlessly tie up already over-burdened physicians’ offices.

    If the flu season begins to impact operations, consider canceling nonessential, face-to-face meetings and travel and spacing employees’ work stations farther apart.

    For more information about H1N1 and seasonal influenza, visit the department’s Web site at www.cdphe.state.co.us/ or www.flu.gov .

 Bar NI Ranch community

service grant

TRINIDAD- The Bar NI Ranch Community Service Fund is accepting grant proposals from both previous as well as new applicants.  Grants may be awarded in the areas of education, youth development, environment and conservation, health and human services and civic or public benefit.

    Grant awards will be made to 501c3, non-profit organizations in the Purgatory Valley with projects that serve to inspire awareness, expand horizons, create independence and foster personal growth.  We strongly encourage projects focusing on youth and environmental education.

    We look for projects exploring creative ways to ignite the spirit, facilitate dreams and address root causes of problems rather than just treat affected conditions.  Creative collaboration is encouraged.  Contact Tom Perry at 719 846-8380 or tomandlindaperry@gmail.com.  .

    The deadline for submitting proposals is Friday Oct. 9, 2009.  For anyone who needs extra help with the grant application forms and procedure or has any further questions, the Bar NI Community Service Fund Committee will be having a "help night" at the college to answer questions and help with the process.  This meeting will be on Thurs. Sept. 10, 5:30 – 7 pm in the Davis Seminar Room on the TSJC campus.