Briefs for March 11, 2010

Huerfano County Chamber to meet

WALSENBURG- There will be a meeting of the Huerfano County Chamber of Commerce on March 11, 2010 at the Eagles Lodge at 614 Main Street starting at 5:30.

Romanoff for Senate campaign staff visiting

WALSENBURG- On Friday evening, Mar. 12, at 6 pm, Mercedes Aponte, representing the Romanoff for Senate campaign will visit Walsenburg at Corine′s Restaurant.  She will be bringing t-shirts (for sale) and campaign materials.  Those intersted in learning more about Romanoff or interested in helping with his campaign is encouraged to attend.

Volunteers for Change meeting

COLORADO CITY- Sangre de Cristo Volunteers for Change will hold its March meeting in Colorado City at the Metropolitan District building, 4497 Bent Brothers Boulevard in Colorado City, on Saturday, March 13, at 3:30.  Agenda items at this meeting include volunteering at the Visitor Information Center at I-25, progress on the Walsenburg Community Garden, food collection and an Open Pantry for in Colorado City/Rye, Walsenburg food distribution, fire mitigation beginning March 20th at the gravel pit in Rye, helping tutor students at Craver Middle School, Rye Elementary, and Peakview Elementary, cleaning the roadside at the Huerfano Butte, visiting and gardening with vets at the Colorado State Veterans Home, knitting and needlework projects for the vets and others, support of our libraries, progress on a Ride Board, Lathrop State Park cleanup, and the VFC second annual yard sale.   Call Susan at 676-4493 or 250-6097 for more information.   Light refreshments.  Carpooling from Walsenburg is available, Call Dorothy at 719-738-2181 to arrange a ride.

Walsenburg economic development

WALSENBURG- Bring a sack lunch and join other citizens for an organizational meeting of the Walsenburg Economic Development Group.  The meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 15, 12  noon at the Spanish Peaks Library.   If you are concerned about Walsenburg’s future economic growth, please show your support by attending  this preliminary meeting.  Grant opportunities and economic incentives will be discussed.

Crop disaster assistance deadline Mar. 15

    Producers interested in participating in the Farm Service Agency′s (FSA) Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) need to be aware of the March 15th 2010 application deadline that must be met for NAP qualification.

    To be eligible for the new disaster assistance programs in 2010, specifically Sure,  producers must sign up for crop and livestock related insurance (at least CAT coverage) or NAP.  "If producers do not sign up and pay for NAP (or have crop insurance) on crops that they will certify in 2010, they will not qualify for the new disaster program (SURE) (regardless of any other crops insured)." Stated CED, Chuck Hanagan.

    NAP was designed to reduce financial losses that occur when natural disasters cause catastrophic losses of production or prevented planting of eligible crop by providing coverage equivalent to catastrophic (CAT) insurance.

•  The Mar. 15 deadline is for all spring seeded crops such as haygrazers, canex, vegetables, oats, dual purpose grain sorghum, peas, sunflowers, corn and soybeans.

•  The deadline for fall seeded small grain for grazing is Sept. 1.

•  The deadline for fall seeded non FCIC insurable small grains for grain or grazing is Sept. 1.

•  Perennial crop deadline on fruit and other crops such as Orchards, grapes is Nov. 20.

•  Asparagus and garlic  is Sept. 1.

•  Honey is Dec. 1.

•  Grasses for haying, grazing and alfalfa is Dec. 1.

    Producers still need to file a crop report and/or inventories by the prescribed deadlines for the crops. Those currently with coverage on 2009 NAP crops may choose to continue coverage on the same crops for 2010, if the applicable service fee is submitted by the application closing date. A new CCC-471, application for coverage, is not required to be signed when applying for continuous coverage of the same crop or crops. However, if producers choose to add new crops or remove crops from the previous year′s coverage or change crop shares, a new CCC-471 must be filed with signatures and the applicable service fee paid.

    The 2009 NAP fees are now $250 per crop with a limit of $750 per county. The national limit is $1,875 per producer if farming in two plus counties.

    Producers may request a waiver of the fee if they are limited resource farmers.  Producers who, in 2007 & 2008, had direct or indirect Gross Farm Sales less than or equal to $142,000 per year, and had total Household Income less than the $22,050.00 may qualify for a waiver.  Anyone considering a waiver request should contact the FSA office for more information.

    Producers with NAP coverage must remember to file acreage reports and/or inventories in a timely manner, and keep track of harvested production using acceptable methods. To qualify for NAP, a "Notice of Loss" must also be filed within 15 days of when a loss due to drought, hail, flood, etc. becomes apparent.

    For information, contact the Las Animas /Huerfano  County FSA Office at (719) 846-3681, ext. 2.

Public meeting for trail from Fiesta Park to Lathrop Park

WALSENBURG- Huerfano County is considering applying for a grant to determine the alignment for a trail from Fiesta Park to Lathrop State Park.  A public meeting is scheduled at 6 pm on Thu. Mar. 18 at the Huerfano County Community Center.  The meeting will be informal with maps of proposed corridors.  Please come and share your input with us.

A Roadkill Supper and a Hootenanny-who could ask for more?

WALSENBURG- Forget about spaghetti suppers, come to a Roadkill Supper and Gospel Hoot-Tin-Annie at the United Church of Walsenburg on Sat. Mar. 20, from 5 to 8 pm.  Only $5 for adults, $3 for children for all you can eat- featuring Hsalunag (goulash) and unshot chilli (chilli) poor man′s bread, yodel stew, biscuits, frog-eyed salad and dirt cake with snow, the delicious supper will be accompanied by music.  Guest artists are welcome, bring your instruments, music, voices, ears and appetites and join in the country-style hoot and holler music with a bit of footstomping thrown in.

    Remember, all this happens at the United Church of Walsenburg (across from Loaf ′n Jug) Saturday, March 20, 5 to 8 p.m.  Adults are $5 and children $3 with tickets available at Southern Colorado Land, 701 Walsen.  Hoot, holler, praise God and eat.

Saint Joseph’s Day Table

Trinidad- The Feast Day of St. Joseph will be celebrated with a St. Joseph’s Day Table on Sun. Mar. 21, at Holy Family Hall at 308 Church Street.  Everyone is invited to view the table between 8 am and 3 pm.  Joseph, step-father of Jesus and husband to Mary, is much beloved among Catholics worldwide.      The actual feast day is on Fri. Mar. 19, but the table will be held the following Sunday so more people can attend.  Father Becker or Father K. C. will bless the table after the early mass at Holy Trinity Church.

    If you wish to donate baked goods or other items for the table, please bring everything to Holy Family Hall, from 10 to 2 pm, on Sat, Mar. 20.

    In keeping with the tradition to support those in need, non-perishable food from the table and any monetary donations collected will be given to the Open Door Soup Kitchen.   Joseph is also the patron of the poor, orphans, widows, workers, carpenters, pastry chefs, and the Universal Church.

    He also is patron of Sicily, where his special day is observed with beautiful home altars, also called tables, laden with breads, vegetable omelets, fish, fruit, vegetables, fava beans, sprouted wheat, and desserts.  Flowers, candles, and religious images, especially of the Holy Family, adorn the altars.

    The women of the family are in charge of the tables intended to thank Joseph for his assistance with the recovery of a loved one who had fallen ill, suffered another hardship, or returned safely home from war. 

    Sicilians who migrated to the United States, including Trinidad, brought the tradition to their new country.  As it grew in popularity, Catholics from other ethnic groups and even non-Catholics adopted the custom, which has changed in other ways as well.      Holy Trinity Parish and the Trinidad Italian Club, cosponsors of the event, invite everyone, regardless of ethnicity or beliefs, to experience this beautiful tradition.  The only admission fee is goodwill toward others.

Writing workshop

WALSENBURG- Calling all Huerfano and Las Animas County Women!  Join us for the 10 week Writing Workshop “Creative Woman, Powerful Woman.”  No previous writing skills or experience required!  This is a program of honest, empowering discovery, promoting wellness and balance in mind, body and spirit, through the process of cereative writing.  It is an opportunity to look and see who you may become and to know the unique purposes you alone possess in this world. 

    At the Family Resource Center, 615 Russell Avenue (Corner of 7th), Walsenburg.  Beginning March 22, 6-8 pm.  Register by calling 738-2378.  All materials and program provided free of charge.

Take flight on spring break!

PUEBLO- How does it all fly? Students and family members will find out, with the Family Science Days over Spring Break, sponsored by Pueblo Rotary Club #43. The Steelworks Museum of Industry and Culture, Pueblo Zoo, the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo and Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum will be the sites of special days dedicated to enriching the lives of students, young and old, to experience the joy of science.

    Participants will learn the basics of aerodynamics through the construction and flying of kites.

    Session Times: 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Age: Participants must be in or have passed grade 4, or above. Location: Steelworks Museum. Reservation Required. Call 719-564-9086; tickets available in advance, space is limited.

    Other days in the Family Science Series include : Celebration of Flight at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum on March 22 & 24.  The Hole Story at the Nature & Raptor Center of Pueblo and WOW! World of Wings at the Pueblo Zoo on March 23 & 25.

    Tickets to each session are $3, or purchase a ticket to all four sessions for $10! Tickets are available at each participating organization. Reservations are required and can be made each individual site.

    Pueblo Rotary Club #43 has a long history of community service in Pueblo including providing every third grader a hardcover dictionary, reading to the students at Irving Elementary, and helping with the Knowledge Bowl for area high school students.

WALSENBURG– The Huerfano Youth and Arts Foundation and La Plaza de los Leones, Inc. are sponsoring a concert by Sonny Boy and  Money on Mar. 27 from 8-11 pm.  Tickets are $10 (adult), $8 (16 and under).  Come out and support the Arts Council and La Plaza de los Leones.  Tickets are available from La Plaza or  Huerfano Youth and Arts Foundation members or from Main Street Office Supply.  Check out Sonny Boy and Money at:  www.myspace.com/sonnyboyandmoney.