Have an event you want to connect Garfield County with? We can help you with that at postindependent.com.

The Glenwood Springs Post Independent rolled out a new online calendar event submission system to better connect our community with everything going on in Garfield County. To check out event listings or to submit an event, go to https://www.postindependent.com/entertainment/community-calendar/#!/

It’s important to note that this calendar does not use SpinGo, so you’ll want to make sure that you’re submitting events through the link above.

You can search events by town and also adjust how wide of a radius you want to search. For example, searching Glenwood Springs with a 25-mile radius would also include Carbondale, New Castle and Silt.

To submit an event, click on “Add event” on the right side of the calendar page, which will prompt a pop-up window where you can enter information about your event. You can also choose to pay for increased promotion of the event on the calendar website, but it is still free for events to be listed on the website and in the print edition.

For the first time in over two decades, the renowned Harlem Wizards are bringing their hardwood tricks and alley-oops to the court at Rifle High School this weekend.

“They have not been in western Garfield County for more than 20 years, I was a kid last time they were here in town,” Aileen Apodaca, Graham Mesa Parent-Teacher Association president said.

Apodaca, who has been on the PTA for six years, said people have suggested they bring the team back to Rifle the last few years, and they decided to give it a try this year. The Graham Mesa PTA is organizing the event at the high school.

Founded in 1962, the Harlem Wizards travel across the United States with their awe-inspiring show for youth, teens and even adults to help schools and nonprofits raise money.

Besides basketball, the show combines comedy, audience participation and spontaneity.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the game tips off at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Rifle High School gymnasium.

Apodaca said there has been a great response to the event so far and hopes to fill the 950-seat gymnasium at Rifle High School on Saturday.

Tickets can be purchased at Graham Mesa Elementary or online at harlemwizards.com.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children when purchased in advance or $15 and $12 at the door. Reserved seating is $20 and courtside plus tickets are $35 and can only be purchased online. 

Reserved seating includes the two rows above the front row and a free color poster for autographs. Courtside Plus seating in the front row also includes early entry, a meet and greet with the team, a color poster and photo opportunities.

Apodaca hopes the event will be a big fundraiser for Graham Mesa.

“We use the funds to buy things for the teachers, students, and the building. We help pay for field trips and different things like that,” Apodaca said.

Past fundraisers have helped purchase playground equipment and library books.

“District-wide it is more about getting the community involved with what’s going on at the schools and bringing them in for special events. Family time together, trying to bring back that family dynamic back with today’s busy lives,” Apodaca said.

The event is one of four big fundraisers the PTA does annually; Apodaca said they also do several small events just to introduce the families and staff.

“It’s not always about fundraising, we do free events like family night and different things like that at the school,” Apodaca said.

“It is more about getting families together to get to know the teachers and staff on personal levels.”

kmills@postindependent.com

Cactus Valley Elementary fifth Graders and the fifth-grade team are hosting the inaugural Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. The event will pit fifth-graders against parents and community members from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Cactus Valley Elementary in Silt. Questions will range from first to fifth grade and will include all content areas. 

There will be pizza and popcorn available for purchase, as well as beverages. Spectators will also be able to win prizes. 

Amazing talent in ‘Into the Woods’

Thank you to those who have come to see “Into The Woods” at the The Glenwood Vaudeville theater.

We have completed two of our eight weekend runs to sold-out crowds. Your laughter and applause creates a really fun experience for the actors.

I would love to read a review in the paper. As a student of theater we were required to read reviews of current shows. I look and look in our paper for reviews, but only see them in Letters to the Editor. Is there an entertainment editor at the paper who writes reviews?

There is such amazing talent in our little valley. Kudos from Little Red Riding Hood’s Granny.

Susan K. Anderson

El Jebel

Peiffers welcome son Conrad

Diana and Alec Peiffer of Carbondale are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Conrad Stanley Peiffer, at the Valley View Family Birth Center on Feb. 3, 2020. Conrad weighed 9 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 21 inches long at birth. Grandparents are John and Joey Stabers (Ocean View, Delaware) and Bruce and Cindy Peiffer (Downer’s Grove, Illinois).

The Glenwood Springs City Council meeting originally scheduled for Thursday has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Last Thursday’s meeting was canceled due to inclement weather.

Tuesday’s pre-meeting, which includes work sessions related to discretionary and tourism grants, broadband and spring cleanup will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Following those work sessions, city council’s regular evening session will begin at 6:15 p.m. in council chambers located at 101 W. Eighth St. in city hall.

After holding four public meetings in December and January to gather feedback Colorado River Fire Rescue and their citizen task force will recommend to the CRFR Board of Directors at the February Board of Directors Meeting on Tuesday to pursue a mill levy election this coming May.

The 6.099 mill proposal would have an estimated monthly tax impact of $3.63 per $100,000 of a property’s actual value.

CRFR formed a Citizens Task Force in 2019 to explore future funding issues.  

The fire district covers 851 square miles, including the communities of Rifle, Silt and New Castle.

From 2015 to 2018, the Fire District’s overall assessed valuation dropped from $1.1 billion to $674 million, reducing annual revenues by $2.6 million. 

In a news release, CRFR said revenues tied to an increase in the valuation of residential properties has helped, but CRFR still needs to make up more than $2.2 million in lost revenues to reinstate and maintain proper staffing levels as well as allocate a portion of other revenues to address equipment, apparatus and facility needs.

CRFR saw 10 employees leave for other fire districts this past year and currently has six open positions.

With the mill levy the district would address its highest-priority personnel, equipment and facility needs to ensure emergency services and response times are maintained. 

After presenting the extensive public feedback to the task force, they unanimously voted to recommend the CRFR pursue a mill levy.

Members of the task force will formally present their recommendation to the CRFR Board of Directors at this coming Tuesday’s meeting held at 6:30 p.m. at Station 41 in Rifle.

A single-vehicle rollover shut down one westbound lane along state Highway 82 about six miles outside of Glenwood Sprigns Monday afternoon.

According to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis, the accident occurred around 1:40 p.m. at mile marker 6 just south of Glenwood Springs, between the County Road 154 and CMC intersections.

According to Lewis, the accident involved a 2005 Dodge pickup. The vehicle’s lone occupant, a 41-year-old male, sustained minor to moderate injuries and was transported to the hospital.

Traffic was still moving through the area and the westbound lane was anticipated to reopen shortly.

Adopt-A-Family program a success

A huge thank you to all who participated and were involved in making The Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family program a success again this year.

Our generous donors include Mike Picore, Bay Equity Home Loans, Rifle and Glenwood Bank of Colorado, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Rifle and Glenwood ANB Bank, Smoke Modern Barbeque, Hotel Colorado, town of Parachute, Black Hills Energy and numerous personal donors.

You put big smiles on a lot of children’s faces and made the Christmas season very special for the families. It is a joy working with the businesses and families to make the holiday spirit someone’s reality.

With sincere gratitude,

Jill Wentling

The Salvation Army Adopt-a-Family coordinator

Coal Ridge High School will host a benefit chili and soup dinner for the Rienks family at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday before the Titans home basketball games against Grand Valley.

Scott Rienks, the head coach of Paonia High School girls basketball, was recently diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer.

The event is $5 per person, and donations will be accepted as well.

According to the Coal Ridge High School’s Facebook page the Rienks family have accumulated significant medical bills and need assistance. 

All proceeds will go to support the family.