Lower fees for cross-country ski programs

The Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club has announced a new lower fee for its NordWarriors junior cross-country ski program at Spring Gulch in Carbondale.

The NordWarriors program will meet Wednesday afternoons at 4 p.m. Jan. 13 through March 3. The program is open to grades 1-12. Classic technique will be primarily taught but more advanced skiers will have the opportunity to try skating later in the season. In addition, all participants will receive an AVSC team jacket. The fee is $100. AVSC is also offering a Kinder program for kindergartners and first-graders. Parent participation is mandatory. The fee is $60.

There will be an informational meeting for parents on Monday, Jan. 4, at 5:30 at the Carbondale Recreation Center. Anyone interested in enrolling their child is encouraged to attend.

Please go to www.teamavsc.org/Nordic for more information and to register online or contact AVSC Nordic Director John Callahan at 205-5140.

Carbondale Christmas tree recycling

The town of Carbondale will once again sponsor a Christmas Tree recycling program. Starting Dec. 26, Carbondale residents may bring their once-live Christmas trees to the parking lot on the northeast corner of Fourth Street and Colorado Avenue (across from Town Hall). Please place them in the designated area. No artificial trees, flocked trees, sprayed trees, wreaths, garland, ornaments, tinsel, plastic bags, wire, rope or lights are accepted — bare trees only.

Literacy tutors needed for adult learners

Make a difference this year. Help an adult learn to read. Literacy Outreach is looking for volunteers to tutor people eager to improve reading, writing, math or English speaking skills. Volunteers who can spare two hours per week need only the ability to read and speak English and the desire to help someone who wants to learn. Call Literacy Outreach at (970) 945-5282 for more information, or attend one of the following brief information sessions:

Glenwood Springs Library on Jan. 5 at 5:30 p.m.

Glenwood Springs Library on Jan. 13 at 1 p.m.

Rifle Starbucks on Jan. 6 at noon

Rifle Branch Library on Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m.

Carbondale Library Jan. 5 at noon

Christmas tree drop-off

The city of Glenwood Springs is coordinating the gathering of Christmas trees. Please remove all wires and decorations prior to the tree chipping process. After being chipped, the trees will be combined with other compost material at the South Canyon Composting site. The location for tree drop-off is at the former Rodeo Grounds on Airport Road. There are no daily closing hours, and trees will be accepted until late January. Call 384-6366 with questions.

Castle tours

Ongoing throughout the winter are guided tours of the historic Redstone Castle, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Special holiday tour: Jan. 1. Tickets are available at Tiffany of Redstone and the Redstone General Store. $15 for adults and $10 for seniors/children over 5 years. More info: 963-9656 or www.redstonecastle.us.

Artist's reception

The Artist's Mercantile and Gallery, 720 Cooper Ave. in Glenwood Springs, will host an artist's reception on Friday, Jan. 8, from 6-8 p.m, for the featured artist of the month, Barbara Courtney. Barbara is an expressionist landscape oil painter, painting the local mountain scenery.

Everyone is welcome to attend the reception and meet the artist. Snacks and beverages will be served. Her show will run from Jan. 2 through Feb. 5.

For more information, call the Artist's Mercantile & Gallery at 947-0947.

Mountain Family Health offers Saturday clinics

Mountain Family Health will begin offering Saturday clinics beginning Saturday, Jan. 9, at 1905 Blake Ave., Suite 101 in Glenwood Springs. The clinics offer a reliable, low-cost alternative to visiting hospital emergency departments for minor injuries and infections and nonlife-threatening illnesses like coughs, colds and flu. The Saturday clinic will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a walk-in basis, and no appointment is necessary. Mountain Valley welcomes any person in need of care, regardless of ability to pay, accepting most private insurances, Medicare and Medicaid and offers sliding-scale programs and other assistance programs for any person who is uninsured.

Mountain Valley Health Centers is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to providing high quality primary health care in the communities they serve, with special consideration for the medically underserved and uninsured. They have offices in Black Hawk and Glenwood Springs, with a new facility for Rifle in the planning stages. To schedule an appointment on weekdays, please call 945-2840.