What's Happening - April 18-22

Thursday
April 18

WATERCOLOR: STILL LIFES April 18, 1 p.m. Observe how the light illuminates objects. Learn to use complementary colors to create and shade easy shapes. Registration required, limit 12.

EARTH SPIRIT BENEFIT CONCERT 7-10 p.m. Earth Spirit Benefit Concert featuring Seth Walker and Ray Bonneville performing Americana/blues music at the Old Church, 801 Harrison Ave., in Leadville, benefits Cloud City Conservation Center. Tickets available on a sliding scale donation of $20-$50 at c4leadville.org/events/earth-spirit-benefit-concert.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT AT SALIDA HOT SPRINGS AQUATIC CENTER 5-8 p.m. Family Fun Night at Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center, 410 W. U.S. 50, features water games such as basketball, ring toss, football toss, floating volleyball and more. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for youth, $2 for children. Memberships and access passes can also be used.

Friday
April 19

FIELD TRIP FRIDAY 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Salida Parks and Recreation hosts Field Trip Friday with a different theme and outing each week for ages 5-11, starting at Chisholm Park, 324 Hunt St. This week’s theme is “Feathered Friends.” Cost is $15. Details and registration at cityofsalida.com/parksrec. Look under Recreation: Current Classes, Events & Experiences.

CHAFFEE COUNTY FIRE OPEN HOUSE April 19, 12 p.m.-4 p.m. at 499 Antero Circle in Buena vista. Join Chaffee Fire at Station One for food and fun. Learn about district improvements and changes, sit in a fire truck, meet and greet the new Fire Chief, meet firefighters, and join the raffle! Contact Chaffee Fire at admin@chaffeecountyfire.com for more information. 

AARP SAFE DRIVERS COURSE 1-5 p.m. AARP Safe Drivers Course at Salida Community Center, 305 F St., promotes safe driving for seniors; completion may qualify for a discount on auto insurance. Cost is $20 for AARP members, $25 for others; payable by cash or check at the door. Register by calling 719-539-3351.

THE BARLOW AT THE LARIAT 8:30 p.m. The Barlow, a rugged, four-piece band, performs its own mountain-high version of Colorado country at The Lariat, 206 E. Main St. Tickets are $15 at TheLariatBV.com.

Saturday
April 20

CPR & FIRST AID April 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Earn CPR and First Aid certification from the American Heart Association & Chaffee Fire. Limit 9; registration required.

SPIRAL DRIVE RUN 9-11 a.m. Chaffee County Running Club hosts the Spiral Drive Run on CR 177, a 4-mile run with a 2-mile ascent and return, starting at the end of North F Street. Registration costs $15 in advance at chaffeerunning.org/spiral-drive-run-2024/ or $20 on race day from 8-8:45 a.m.

HIGH COUNTRY BANK SHRED-A-THON 10 a.m.-noon. High Country Bank, 516 U.S. 24 N., hosts a Shred-a-thon. Bring up to three copy paper boxes or kitchen trash bags of shreddable papers and a cash donation or nonperishable food items for the Arkansas Valley Christian Mission or The Grainery.

BV WOMEN’S CONNECTION April 20, 10-11:30 a.m. at the Casa del Rio Clubhouse Speaker: LaRee Bearss. Feature: Diane Burris, Cool River. Music: Sue Greiner & Brenda Covert. Please RSVP to Jan 719-395-3108 or Judy 719-395-8230.

EARTH DAY EDUCATION CELEBRATION/BENEFIT Noon-4 p.m. Earth Day Education Celebration/Benefit at Chaffee County Fairgrounds, 10165 CR 120, features presentations on Native American archaeology and archaeoastronomy, Dark Skies, star lore and Friends of Browns Canyon. Free admission but donations accepted. Proceeds benefit Badger Creek Ranch Community/Full Circle Alliance. 

MAD DOG AND THE SMOKIN JS 8 p.m.  Mad Dog and the Smokin Js perform American rock and roll at the Buena Vista Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1166, 27318 CR 314.  

JEFF CROSBY & THE REFUGEES AT THE LARIAT 8:30 p.m. Jeff Crosby & the Refugees perform Americana music at The Lariat, 206 E. Main St. Tickets are $15 at TheLariatBV.com.

Sunday
April 21

FAIRPLAY AMERICAN LEGION BREAKFAST 9 a.m.-noon. Fairplay American Legion Post No. 172, 601 Clark St., hosts its monthly breakfast. Cost is $12 per person.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION AT SACRAMENTO CREEK RANCH 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Earth Day Celebration at Sacramento Creek Ranch, 2234 Busch Run, features hiking and snowshoeing, wildlife viewing, picnic lunch, roasting marshmallows and information about upcoming programs. RSVP to malt@savetheland.org.

AVHS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT 1-3 p.m. Volunteers are invited to join the Ark Valley Humane Society on Sunday, April 21, for refreshments. Volunteer awards will be passed out at 2 p.m. 

GUNBARREL CHALLENGE 1 p.m. Gunbarrel Challenge on Monarch’s closing day features competitors climbing up the Gunbarrel Run and skiing back down. Fastest finisher receives the Golden Boot award. Register for free from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on the deck.

Monday
April 22

GARNA HOSTS: HISTORY OF PUBLIC LANDS WITH WALT DABNY April 22, 6 p.m. On Earth Day, the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA) presents The History of Public Lands with Walt Dabney at at A Church in Salida. Dabney is the former National Park Service Superintendent and Texas Parks and Wildlife Director. The event also serves as GARNA’s Annual Member Celebration and the evening will kick off with a short presentation of successes from the past year. Tickets are free and light refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is requested as space is limited. Visit GARNA.org or call 719-539-5106.

Looking Ahead

FLY FISHING 101 WITH ARKANGLERS March-June 2024. Perfect for the beginner and experienced angler alike, this one-day course is an exploratory session in fly fishing. The course fee is $175/person and includes a $100 gift certificate to ArkAnglers. Course dates will be 3/23, 4/6, 4/20, 5/4, 5/18, and 6/1. For reservations, call 719-539-4223 or email braden@arkanglers.com. Visit arkanglers.com.

INTERNATIONAL FLY FISHING FILM FESTIVAL April 25, 6 p.m. Benefitting Collegiate Peaks Trout Unlimited. Held in the Ivy Ballroom at The Surf Hotel, 1012 Front Loop, Buena Vista. Tickets at www.flyfilmfest.com or at the door if available.

ALPINE ORCHESTRA CONCERTS April 26, 7 p.m. at Old Church in Leadville, April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Salida Steamplant, April 28 at 3 p.m. at ClearView Community Church in Buena Vista. Free admissions, donations appreciated. 

HRRMC ANNUAL CANCER WALK April 27, 9 a.m. Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) Foundation is pleased to announce its annual Cancer Walk, taking place on Saturday, April 27 at 9 a.m. at HRRMC’s main campus, 1000 Rush Drive in Salida. Registration for the event is now live at hrrmc.com/cancerwalk. Registration is $35 per person, and event t-shirts are available for an additional $5 now through April 11. Call (719) 530-2218 for more information. more information.

3RD ANNUAL BEAT THE HEAT CHALLENGE April 27, 8 a.m. Register for this fundraiser event at konquer.club. Call 719-398-9206 for information. Weigh-ins: 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Doors: 12 p.m. First boug: 1 p.m. Admission is $20, 8 and under free. Held at Mount Princeton Hot Springs, 15870 County Road 162. Bring your swimsuit for the after party!

TRAP SHOOT COMPETITION April 27, 10 a.m. Support the Young Guns Trap Shooting Team at this event, hosted by the BV Sportsman’s Club. Lunch is available for purchase at the event. Registration is $20 at www.ccyoungguns.com. Competition includes Buzzard Busting, Flipping Birds, 5-stand Game and Instant Winner. Prizes include a Dickenson 12ga. Semi-auto gun, gift cards and cash prizes. The winner of the gun prize must pass a background check or forfeit the prize. All proceeds from the shoot and lunch will go towards helping with the costs for students to practice and compete. 

PLAY YOUR WAY THROUGH PERIMENOPAUSE April 27, 10 a.m. The Buena Vista Public Library hosts a unique class for women approaching, experiencing or curious about menopause. Play Your Way Through Perimenopause addresses a largely ignored and important chapter in women’s lives. Explore this important life phase and have fun with LEGO bricks. Perimenopausal humans and their partners are encouraged to explore this phase of life through the LEGO® Serious Play® method in a supportive environment surrounded by fellow perimenopausal and menopause-curious humans. Register at buenavistalibrary.org or call 719-395-8700.

XERISCAPE WITH NATIVE PLANTS April 27, 1-3 p.m. Support pollinators and wildlife using xeric plants native to the region.

BOOKAHOLICS UNANIMOUS - TEEN April 29, 6 p.m. Snacks and books! Meet with others in this teen-led book club. April’s free book: The 7 1⁄2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

CCCF COMMUNITY SUMMIT April 30, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Chaffee County Fairgrounds. Learning and connecting opportunity for nonprofit professionals with special perks and prizes throughout the day. The agenda includes keynote speaker, Denise Ackert, offering two sessions on the 2024 theme of “Building Bridges - Strengthening Community Connections.” New this year, the program will feature a Nonprofit Board Member Training from 1:15 - 3:15 pm. Open to nonprofit and community agency leaders from the Arkansas River Valley and surrounding regions. Register at https://www.chaffeecommunity.org/summit. Americorps members are always free to attend CCCF learning events. Nonprofit professionals seeking scholarships should contact Anna@chaffeecommunity.org.

MOTION EXCHANGE DANCE PRESENTS “COLLAGE” May 4, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Buena Vista High School. $10 tickets at the door. $25 Front Row tickets contribute to the scholarship fund. 

CCPH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND GO-KIT DISTRIBUTION May 14, 11 a.m. CCPH will be presenting a workshop on emergency preparedness and go- kit distribution open to all ages at A Church in Salida on Tuesday, May 14, from 11a.m.-noon. For more information and to reserve your spot, please contact Sophia Gibb at sgibb@chaffeecounty.org or 719-207-6563. Space is limited to the first 30 people.

BUENA VISTA LIBRARY

Homework Help Mondays, 6-8 p.m. Have a successful school year with Homework Help at the Library. Free in-person tutoring or assistance by instructors is available in reading, math, and science. Intended for students in grades 6 – 12. Quiet spaces available for study. Caregivers are welcome at drop off and pick up times.

Bilingual Yoga Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. Calm your mind and enjoy feel-good movement. Guidance provided in English and Spanish – yoga for your brain! Bring a mat if you have one. 

Reading to Rover Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. Reading to dogs boosts children’s reading skills while also supporting social and emotional skills. To sign up please call: 719-395-8700

Wiggles & Giggles Thursdays, 10 - 11 a.m. Unstructured, free play and socialization for littles and caregivers. Age 0 - 5 years old.

Story Time Fridays, 10 - 11 a.m. Introduce little ones to the lifelong love of reading and the joy of visiting the local library. After some stories, enjoy process art activities, songs, and games that support early literacy.

ONGOING EVENTS

CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER Sundays on Zoom, 5-6:30 p.m. We welcome anyone and everyone, near and far, to discuss the issues of the day in light of our spirituality and faith journeys, in an open, welcoming and non-judgmental forum. Topics are fluid and chosen by the gathered group with the guidance of the Faith Education Team and Pastor at CUCC. Email cucc.conversations@icloud.com to learn more.

STARDUST OPEN MIC TALENT NIGHT Thursdays, 6–9 p.m. Come on down to The Stardust every Thursday and check out our local talent! OR, get up on stage and entertain us! Sign-ups start at 5:30 p.m., performances start at 6 p.m. BYO snacks, apps and beverages! Held at The Stardust Event Center, 16450 County Road 306, in Buena Vista. 

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS first and third Sunday of each month, 2 p.m., open meeting at CUCC, 217 Crossman Ave., Buena Vista. Problems with food? Overeaters Anonymous (OA) can help. Call or text 719-937-1271 for details.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY MONDAYS, 6 - 8 p.m., Cornerstone Church, Buena Vista Campus, 205 S. San Juan. Questions: Lillie Jones, (719) 539-4182 www.loc8nearme.com/colorado/buena-vista/cornerstone-church-buena-vista-campus/6583425 

ARKANSAS VALLEY CHRISTIAN MISSION 122 Cottonwood Ave, Buena Vista. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: free lunch 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., food pantry and other resources 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, call 719-395-9321.

COMMUNITY COFFEE First Wednesday of the month, 8 - 9 a.m., Buena Vista Community Center, Aspen Room. Join local leadership for free coffee and updates on our town.

AGE STRONG CHAFFEE’S WEEKLY FILM CLUB Wednesdays, 2-4:30 p.m. at the Stardust, 16450 County Road 306 in Buena Vista. Each week, Age Strong will screen a film, followed by a brief presentation or discussion providing helpful resources and information to help you age strong and live your best life. Jan. 24: Black or White. Jan. 31: The Secret: Dare to Dream.  

AGE STRONG: CHAFFEE WALKS Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m., meeting at the Whipple Bridge in Buena Vista.  This is a 45 minute walk that encourages movement, connection with the community and our beautiful Chaffee County. FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT: Molly Bischoff at mbischoff@chaffeecounty.org

CHAFFEE WALKS: BV Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. Join us for walking and sharing with our fellow Chaffee county neighbors. Approximately 1.67 mile round trip walk. Strollers and well behaved dogs welcome. Check Facebook for updates/weather cancelations. Meet in Buena Vista by the Whipple Bridge (near the ball fields along the Arkansas River).

AGE STRONG FILM CLUB Wednesdays, 2-4:30 p.m. Each week we will screen a movie followed by a brief presentation or discussion providing helpful resources and information to help you age strong and live your best life. Popcorn is provided, bring your own snacks and drinks. Donations welcomed. Held at the Stardust 16450 CR 306, Buena Vista.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: BUENA VISTA 4:30-6 p.m. at the BV Library. Build a support system with people who understand. Alzheimer’s Association® Support groups, conducted by trained facilitators, are a safe place for people living with dementia and their care partners to talk through issues and ways of coping. 

ELEVATED VOICES MEMORY CHOIR Wednesdays, 4:30-6 p.m. Elevated Voices Memory Choir empowers people living with memory loss/cognitive impairment to find fulfillment and joy in being part of a chorus.  If you are someone that is experiencing dementia, you may find joining Elevated Voices Memory Choir an enjoyable and meaningful activity. Held at the Grace Church Parish Hall, (behind church) 203 W Main Street, Buena Vista.

AGE STRONG: YOGA FOR GROWN-UPS Wednesdays, 10:15-11:30 a.m. Slow down and connect your breath with your body, while completing slow mindful movements with zero expectations on results. Classes are FREE. Buena Vista Community Center, 715 E. Main St.

CUCC SHOWER MINISTRY Fridays, noon - 2 p.m., 217 Crossman Ave. Free showers. All are welcome. Soap, shampoo, conditioner, towels and washcloths are provided.

DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM Tuesdays, noon, at the Buena Vista Community Center and on Zoom. For more information or to sign up, call 719-530-2572.

HIKING CLUB. Hikes are most Fridays and are at a different location each week. To join, become a GARNA member and indicate your interest in the club. Then reach out to info@garna.org to be put on the list for times and meeting points.

NAMI CHAFFEE COUNTY - An in-person Family Support Group meeting held every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Salida United Methodist Church - 228 E. Fourth St. www.namichaffee.org for more information and registration or email info@namichaffee.org 

BRIDGE CLUB 1 - 4 p.m. every Thursday at the Community Center. Call Jim or DeDe Wiliams at 719-395-6530 or email dedeinbv@gmail.com by Tuesday night to reserve your spot in the weekly session. The registration fee is $1 per visit at the door.

BV HOPE MEETING every third Wednesday of the month, 3 p.m., in person at the public health building conference room at 112 Linderman Ave., Buena Vista; email buenavistahope@gmail.com for the Zoom link.