Don’t miss out on Families Flying Wild! a free kid-friendly event this weekend at the Cultural Center.

Southwest Health System, Inc is offering an interactive hands on, practical babysitter’s certification course for children 11 and older.

In this class, students will learn about:

• Responsible babysitting
• Basic child development
• Infant and child care
• Safety and injury prevention
• How to handle emergencies
• Age-appropriate toys
• Business tips
• What parents expect

This class is intended for teens and preteens, ages 11 to 16. Preregistration is required. You can register by calling Robyn Bragg at 564-2243 or email rbragg@swhealth.org.

Location: Southwest Memorial Annex Building, 20 S Market Street
Time: 0900-1200
Date: 5/31/14
Cost: $30.00

The class is taught by experienced RNs and All participants will receive a babysitting certificate from the American Health and Safety Institute.
All proceeds will go to the Montelores Cancer Fund to assist cancer patients in Montezuma County.

Southwest Open School (SWOS) will again present the Edible Book Festival, in cooperation with the Cortez Public Library. Last year’s event featured creative entries from K-12 students and school staff, but coordinator Rita Stramel is hoping for broader community participation at this year’s event.

The library will again host the festival, on April 12 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

The International Edible Book Festival is held each year in countries around the world on or about April 1. The official website, www.books2eat.com, describes it as an “ephemeral global banquet, in which anyone can participate.” The first event, in 2000, was inspired by French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), who wrote Physiologie du goût, a witty meditation on food. The author’s birthday is April 1, “the perfect day to eat your words and play with them as the ‘books’ are consumed on the day of the event,” according to the site.

The late date of the local event is due to the timing of spring break (March 29-April 6) and the fact that Saturday is most convenient for the majority of the population.

SWOS director Jennifer Carter says the festival is a good vehicle for promoting literacy, besides being “just fun.” Stramel adds,“Making edible books really stretches the imagination. But I’ve found that once people wrap their heads around the concept, they can usually come up with more than one idea.”

For those who doubt their own creative ability, SWOS will hold a short workshop to help stimulate ideas and plan book-building strategies. Stramel, an avid cook, will be there to suggest materials and “construction” methods. The workshop will be held at the school on April 8 from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Meanwhile, Stramel suggests browsing through photos of creations from past years, posted on www.books2eat.com. There are few rules; every entry must be “bookish,” whether in form, content, or inspiration, and they must be edible. Other than that, the only limitations are individuals’ creativity and culinary ambition.

Entries may be dropped off at the library on April 12 between noon and 1:00 p.m. The edible books display will begin at 1:00. At 2:30 prizes will be awarded for the best entries in the following categories: Best Entry under 12 years old, Best Entry 12-18 years old, Best Entry over 18 years, Most Appetizing, Least Appetizing, and Best Group Entry. Afterwards festival-goers will eat the “books.”

Cortez’ Edible Book Festival is supported by a federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. The fun isn’t reserved for students, though. Anyone in the community may participate.

“Let’s Communicate!” is the April theme of Raising Readers Storytime at the Cortez Public Library, located at 202 N. Park St., Cortez, CO.

Storytime is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. for preschool-aged children.  Older children are welcome to join us for the craft at 11:15 a.m.

“Babar, An Old Friend” is the subject on Thurs., Apr. 3rd.

“Signing with Lillian Orbke” will be introduced on Thurs., Apr. 10th.

“Mudge Redux” will be discussed on Thurs., Apr. 17th.

The Storytellers will wrap up the month with “Fairies” on Thurs., Apr. 24th.

Raising Readers Storytime offers songs, stories, crafts and silliness and uses the Early Childhood Literacy Initiative program. For more information, contact the library at 970-565-8117.

Attention all four-year-olds! Come by the Cortez Public Library between April 7th and April 21st and receive a free book courtesy of the Colorado State Library. One Book 4 Colorado, now in its third year, will give out the same book, over 75,000, across Colorado. The book giveaway is part of a push for early literacy in the state.

“One Book 4 Colorado is the result of collaboration between the Office of Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, Serve Colorado, the Denver Preschool Program, Reach Out and Read Colorado, the Colorado State Library, public libraries, the private sector and the foundation community. It is modeled after the successful Preschool One Book One Denver program originated by the Denver Preschool Program and presented by Denver Public Library, and Reach Out and Read Colorado. Both programs are premised on the idea that providing young children with access to quality books promotes early literacy and helps families serve as their children’s first and most important teachers.” (From a 2013 press release from Gov. Hickenlooper’s office.)

The Cortez Public Library is located at 202 N. Park St., Cortez, CO. and can be reached by calling 970-565-8117.