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.

Saturday, Dec. 21

Santa Claus is Coming to Town, he will be arriving Dec. 21, high noon until 1 p.m. at the corner of Market & Main. Santa will be handing out presents and goodies to good little girls and boys.

The public is invited to attend the official Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new M-CHS on Dec. 21 from 12 to 1 p.m. at the new M-CHS site (Behind Wal-Mart on Sligo St. and 3rd St.) Enjoy Hot Cider; cookies; remarks from local dignitaries; performance by the drum ensemble “Red Sky”; the National Anthem and School Fight Song performed by the M-CHS Marching Panthers; and the ceremonial “first dig”.

Dec. 21 and 31

The public is welcome to two Holiday Yoga Gatherings Saturday, Dec. 21, winter solstice, and Tuesday, Dec. 31 New Year’s intention: 3 to 6 p.m. Stretching and yoga from 3 to 4 p.m.; meditation, discussion and refreshments follow at 40594 Road G. White Wind Ranch, Mancos. Suggested donation $15-$20. For more information, call 946-1267.

Wednesday, Dec. 25

The public is invited to the Community Christmas Dinner that will be held on Dec. 25 at the Montezuma County Annex from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The dinner is free but donations are appreciated and can be dropped off at Vectra Bank or Citizens State Bank. For more information or to volunteer, call 565-1151.

Through December

Kaleidoscope Wellness at 233 Park St. in Mancos will have Zumba on Dec. 12 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Dec. 14 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and Dec. 17 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. They will have Morning Yoga on Dec. 11 from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Community Drum Circle on Dec. 12 from 6:30 to 8 a.m. and Mancos Meditation Group from 8 to 9 a.m. For questions, call 533-1100.

“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.

“NEWSFLASH” One day in 1963, a history told in teletype by Royce Atkinson through Dec. 21.

“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, contact the library at 565-8117.

Monday, 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.

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.

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.

“How Can Christianity Contribute to the Evolution of a Better Society?” will be the topic on Thursday, January 9th 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 (corner of North and Elm). Wine and cheese will be served. Call 565-7865 for information.

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

First Monday

Southwest Center for Independence Second Chance Brain Injury group meetings will be the first Monday of every month at noon at the Cortez Office at 2409 E. Empire. For more information, call Rose at 759-2347.

The Cortez Emblem Club No. 261 meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month (except January and February). For more information, call 565-2197.

First Tuesday

American Legion Ute Mountain Post 75 meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the American Legion Hall, 320 N. Harrison St. For more information, call the Legion at 565-8151.

First Wednesday

At noon the first Wednesday of each month, the Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its business lunch forum. For more information and locations, call 565-3414.

First Thursday

Montezuma County Republican Central Committee meets at noon the first Thursday of every month at Shilo’s Steakhouse. For more information, email Nicci Crowley, secretary, at [email protected] or call 570-9372.

First Friday

The first Friday of each month, the public is invited by the Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce to participate in a leadership development program at First National Bank, 2258 E. Main in Cortez. For more information, call Dena at 565-3414.

Second Wednesday

Southwest Inter-Tribal Voice and Montelores Human Rights Committee meets at 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at the Community Meeting Room in First National Bank. Email Art Neskahi at [email protected].

Second Thursday

The Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce will hold Business After Hours at various locations from 5 to 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. For more information, call 565-3414.

Republican Women of Montezuma County invite the public to meet at noon every second Thursday at Shilo’s Steakhouse at 5 Veach St., in Cortez. For information, call Rosemarie Beall at 564-1576.

A Free legal self-help clinic for Montezuma County parties without an attorney will be held the second Thursday of every month from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Mancos Public Library, 211 W. First St. Volunteer attorneys will assist one-on-one, via computer link. First come first-served basis.

Third Sunday

Jennifer Hope will host Literary Explorations, a free ongoing discussion group exploring all kinds of writings, both fiction and nonfiction, upstairs at the Cortez Cultural Center at 6:30 p.m. every third Sunday of the month.

Third Wednesday

The Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon will be held at noon the third Wednesday of the month at Shiloh Steakhouse. For more information, call 565-3414.

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 Thursday

The public is invited to have a free dinner at 6 p.m. every Thursday until Friday, Nov. 15, in Cortez at Cortez Family Worship Center Foursquare Church, 500 N. Washington. There will be a Holy Spirit Bible Study after the dinner. No one is obligated to attend. Call 749-9774 for more information.

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].

Fall Semester

The Cultural Center is offering after-school programs for creative kids and adults for ages 6 and older. Classes slated for the fall semester are: Feel for Art, visual art program, Silent Storytelling the Art of Mime, Young Playwrights, Actor’s Studio and Story Arts, storytelling. Registration and course descriptions can be found on the website. Partial Scholarships are available.