Round we go

The 23 and G Road intersection will be closed to traffic starting Monday, Feb. 6, for construction of a new roundabout.

M.A. Concrete of Grand Junction was awarded the construction contract for $722,761. The project is expected to be complete around mid-May.

Roundabouts have proven to be much safer intersections than traffic signals or stop signs. When accidents do occur, they tend to be at very low speeds and result in fewer injuries. There have been no fatalities at any of the 11 roundabouts installed in the City since 1998.

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Bowling for cash and prizes

The Mesa County US Bowling Congress will be holding its first ever Western Slope Open Tournament Feb. 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26 open to any adult USBC-sanctioned members. Entries may bowl as many as six doubles/singles and team events; prizes will be awarded based on scores.

Rules for the upcoming tournaments and entry information may be found at Orchard Mesa Lanes or Freeway Bowling Center or at 970-250-1647.

For more information, call Norm Reichen at 970-250-1647.

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Congrats, b-ballers!

Holy Family Catholic School eighth-graders won the middle school district basketball championship Jan. 28 beating Orchard Mesa Middle School 31-26.

Remarkable is the fact that there are only 16 eighth grade girls at Holy Family. Of those, nine play on the b-ball team.

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Help for parents of teen drivers

If you are the parent or guardian of a teenager who is learning how to drive, consider attending the “Teaching Your Teen to Drive” class which will be held at the Mesa County Health Department 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Motor vehicle crashes claim the lives of about 18 teens per day and more than 350,000 teens are treated each year in ERs for injuries. (Yeah, this class sounds like a good idea.)

Preregister by calling Brittany Kline at 683-6624 or e-mail teendriving@mesacounty.us.

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Be on a board

The Mesa County Board of Commissioners is recruiting a volunteer to serve on the Mesa County Executive Fair Board.

This is a seven-member volunteer board that plans, organizes and manages activities during the annual Mesa County Fair held each July.

For more information, visit the “Boards and Commissions” web page at www.mesacounty.us and download an application, which is due Feb. 10. Need help? Call Kathy Crane at 970-244-1860.

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Nice guys play lacrosse

Colorado Mesa University men's lacrosse team was chosen as the District 9 winner of the 2011 James “Ace” Adams Sportsmanship Award, as voted on by men's lacrosse officials.

The James “Ace” Adams awards are presented by the US Lacrosse Men's Collegiate Officials Committee to the college or university in each district whose coaches, players and fans exhibit the best sportsmanship during the season. Facilities for the officials and support for the officiating crew are also part of the criteria.

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Football and chili

Cactus Canyon nightclub is opening its doors at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, for its second annual Chili Cook-off to raise funds for The House (teen homeless shelter) and the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation.

Participants are asked to make their chili at home prior to arriving. Entry fee is $25. Prizes and trophies to be awarded.

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Nominations sought

At its annual breakfast in conjunction with Colorado Nonprofit Week, the Human Services Council of Mesa County presents the White Ribbon Leadership Award to a current or past board or advisory council member of a local nonprofit agency.

Additionally, an award will be presented to a local business, recognizing exceptional philanthropic contributions in Mesa County.

Nomination guidelines are available on the Human Services Council website at www.servingmesacounty.org. Deadline to submit nominations is Feb. 29, 2012.

Announcement of the winner will be made at the Human Services Council's White Ribbon Leadership Breakfast annual breakfast, which will be held March 20 at the DoubleTree Hotel.

For more information about the 2012 Business of the Year Award, contact Karen Loughman at 970-683-7044.

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‘Chocolate Wonderland'

What better way to treat your valentine than to an evening of good company and all the chocolate you can eat? This fun and delicious event is a fundraiser to support high school and college students of HOSA - future health care professionals.

The event will feature displays, flowers, music, a silent auction and of course, chocolate! Tickets are $10. The event will be held at Western Colorado Community College, 2508 Blichmann Ave., from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.

For more information, call Theresa Bloom, 640-9875.

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Komen Aspen rebels

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — In December, the Susan G. Komen Foundation pulled its funding for breast cancer screening from Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide.

But that's not going to stop the Komen Aspen affiliate with continuing to fund the Glenwood Springs Planned Parenthood clinic, located at 50923 Hwy. 6.

“Halting funding to Planned Parenthood is contrary to our mission,” the Komen Aspen board of directors stated in an advertisement placed in today's Post Independent and The Aspen Times.

Komen Aspen typically grants the Glenwood Springs clinic $40,000 a year for breast-related health care, said Monica McCafferty, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains spokeswoman. In the past year that money was used to educate 850 women on breast self-examinations, perform more than 300 breast exams, and to refer about 40 women for mammograms and help pay for those tests, McCafferty said.

Most women who use Planned Parenthood are in the 18 to 38 age group, and 86 percent pay directly for health care services because they are uninsured, she said. Aside from performing abortions, Planned Parenthood, offers birth control, women's pelvic health services, pregnancy testing, HIV/STD testing and more.

The Komen Foundation has cut off the $700,000 a year it provides to Planned Parenthood nationwide, citing a new Komen policy that bars the foundation from donating to any agency that is under investigation by local, state or federal government. U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., is conducting a congressional inquiry into how Planned Parenthood spends and reports its money.

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Looking for a few, good performers

The second annual Grand Valley Performing Arts Festival is being planned for July 12-15, 2012, at Colorado Mesa University's Moss Performing Art Center. The event will include a wide variety of entertainment, family activities, and workshops.

The GVPAF organizing committee is looking for performance artists, organizations, and groups to present new or re-staged work in the realms of theatre, dance, music, poetry, and collaborative performance art. In addition, the festival needs organizations and individuals interested in hosting classes and workshop events.

Participation in the festival is voluntary. Applications are available at gvperformingartsfestival.org or by contacting gvpaf@hotmail.com. For more information, contact Connie Monroe at monroe11@yahoo.com or 361-5867.