Free Children's Screenings Offered at Upcoming Kids Fair

April 28, 2023

An early childhood festival and fair is scheduled for the last Saturday of April at the Cortez Recreation Center. McPhee Reservoir has announced new summer hours for boating. The seventh annual Hoedown fundraiser at the Mancos Opera House is back. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Big-O Tires and Southwest Health System

Learn More...

Montelores Early Childhood Council - http://monteloresecc.org/

Early Childhood Fair Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/595365805854725/

McPhee Reservoir - https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recarea/?recid=43052

Hoedown Fundraiser Event - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mstfps-7th-annual-hoedown-tickets-484014338917

Mancos Opera House - https://www.facebook.com/MancosOperaHouse/

Cortez Recreation Center - https://www.cortezco.gov/514/Recreation-Center

Read the Full Transcript

Learn about your child's development while enjoying a festival and concert at the Cortez Rec Center. It is time for boating season on McPhee Reservoir and dressed to impress for the annual hoedown to support the Montezuma School two Farm Project. You're watching the local news roundup brought to you by Big O tires and Southwest Health System. I'm Connor Shreve. A kids festival and early childhood fair will be held at the Cortez Rec Center on Saturday, April 29th from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Free vision, growth, dental, hearing, social emotional, and developmental screenings will be provided for children up to five years old. Community resources and activity booths will be part of the fun as well as the Touch A Truck Interactive Car Show, a live broadcast on KRTZ Radio and a live concert performed by Bentley Monk starting at 11:00 AM in the gazebo. Contact the Mano Lores Early Childhood Council for more information. Access to McPhee Reservoir is increasing as summer draws closer. The San Juan National Forests Dolores District is planning on opening the House Creek boat ramp on May 1st. Hours are from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday until October 1st. Access to the main McPhee boat ramp is already open and will remain open for motorized boating activities through October 31st. Current boat registration is required through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Aquatic nuisance species inspectors will be on site to conduct pre-launch inspections of trailers and motorized boats launching onto the reservoir to help stop the spread of invasive species. Boaters who need a full inspection and decontamination are urged to visit the lake during the weekday when the visitation is lower than the weekends. Boaters who do have tags from last year's inspections on McPhee will be able to enter the lake quicker than those who need inspections. For more information visit the San Juan National Forest boating webpage. The seventh Annual Hoedown is returning May 13th at the Minkus Opera House. Organizers are promising a night of live music, dancing, drinking, and auctions to support the Montezuma School two Farm project. Local musicians, the Spaghetti Western Band will play country covers and originals, a live and online auction featuring region specific items, as well as a specialty cocktail and mocktail bar with drinks designed by AmeriCorps service members. Dress in your finest Western wear for a chance to win best dressed in the west. Doors open at five and tickets are available online for 30 to $50. Learn more about these and other stories online at montezumalocal.news. Thanks for watching this edition of the local news roundup. I'm Connor Shreve.

Growing Community, Culture, and Climate-Adapted Crops

Pueblo Seed & Food Co. is a family-run organic farm and seed enterprise rooted in deep stewardship of land, seed, and community. Established in 1996 and now operating on irrigated acreage near Cortez, Colorado, the company grows a wide diversity of certified organic crops—open-pollinated seeds, chile peppers, varietal garlic, vegetables, legumes, and heritage grains—selling them as seeds, fresh produce, and handcrafted foods through their Seed & Bakehouse retail space. Their mission centers on renewing and strengthening community resilience by stewarding healthy seeds and food, guided by regenerative, biodynamic, and conservation farming traditions that honor both plant genetics and human stories. As winter approaches, Pueblo Seed & Food Co. invites its community to celebrate the Winter Solstice Fundraiser on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at their downtown Cortez Bakehouse. This festive gathering not only marks the seasonal turning point with music, hands-on milling and baking, and holiday shopping, but also serves as a kickoff to their exciting new initiative—the Pueblo Seed & Grain Hub, developed in partnership with the Onward! Foundation to expand regional capacity for drought-tolerant grain and legume production. Join in the spirit of the season with whole grain cookies, community, and support for food and seed security in the Southwest. By Paige Sparks. This story is sponsored by Choice Building Supply and The LOR Foundation.

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An Evening of Costumes and Community Celebration

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SWCO United Way Expands Mission as “Team Up”

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