The Voyager Youth Program and the Ridgway School District will host the Grand Opening of the Ridgway School Climbing Wall Tuesday, Feb. 1, 6-8 p.m. at the Ridgway Secondary School Gymnasium. The climbing wall project, in the making for almost seven years, has finally become a reality through the hard work, financial contributions and determination of Ouray County community members, with more than 200 hours of volunteer construction labor and almost $30,000 in-kind donations ranging from climbing holds and ropes to structural design and engineering. Additionally, over $20,000 has been raised locally through business, organization and individual contributions.

St. Patrick’s Church Supports Native Americans

St. Patrick’s supports several organizations on nearby reservations, including St. Michaels Association for Special Education, serving about 100 handicapped Navajo children in Window Rock, Ariz.; the sunrise school for Ecological Living located in Defiance, Ariz.; St. Michael Indian school (K-12 Catholic School for Navajo Children) and the Hopi Senior Center in Moenkopi, Ariz.

THESE ORGANIZATIONS NEED THE FOLLOWING:

St. Michaels Association for Special Needs:
Medical supplies, especially replacement eyeglasses, feeding pumps, suction pumps, infrared thermometers, medication trays and oximeters. Estimated cost: $4,000.

Funding for Special Olympics competitions, art supplies, and high school kids to work in local stores as part of school training. Estimated cost: $6,000.

Sunrise School: Completion of the interior of the greenhouse, including a small bathroom with a shower and a wheelchair lift to allow entry into lower greenhouse area. Estimated cost: $15,000.

St. Michaels Indian School: (Sr. Kathleen Kajer, SBS- Director) Funding to help with several projects to make the over 100-year-old building more energy efficient. Project includes replacing single pane windows, adding insulation, and changing light fixtures to energy efficient modern ones. Estimated cost: $15,000.

Hopi Senior Center: Funding for crafts and art supplies for senior activities. Estimated cost: $2,000.

DONATIONS OF USED ITEMS:

St. Michaels for Special Education: Warm clothing for children, toys exercise equipment, books, craft supplies, a hospital bed, washer and dryer for group homes, towels and bedding.

Sunrise School: Towels and bedding.

Hopi Senior Center: warm clothing for seniors; arts and crafts supplies, kits and yarn.

Please contact Deacon Michael Doehrman 970-728-3387 for information, or send donations to St. Patrick’s Church, P.O. Box 398, Telluride, CO 81435.

Telluride Elks Lodge Announces Prizes for Essay, Poster Contests

Thanks to the generosity of Alpine Bank, the Telluride Elks Lodge is awarding two $50 US Savings bonds to the first place winners of our Drug Awareness Essay and Poster Contest. The theme of this year’s contest is “Not Now – Not Ever!”

Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 may compete in the poster contest. Entries must be no larger than 11 by 24 inches and copyrighted characters are prohibited.

Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 may compete in the essay contest. Essays must be no longer than 200 words, and must be hand-written or hand-printed on 8.5x11-inch paper.

A winner from each grade will be submitted to the state level competition. The US Savings Bonds will be issued to the single best poster overall in grades 3-4 and the single best essay overall in grades 6-8. Second place winners in each category will receive a $10 iTunes gift card.

All entries will be judged on closeness to the theme, neatness, originality and grammatical structure. Each entry must have on the back of the submission student’s full name, address, phone number, school, and grade. For the complete set of rules, please visit the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks website at www.elks.org/dap/activities.cfm.

Entries are due Friday, Jan. 27, at 5 p.m., and may be dropped off at the

Telluride Elks Lodge, 472 W. Pacific St., Telluride, or in Norwood, at 1740 Pearl St.

For info, call 970/728-6362 or email elkugly@yahoo.com.