Tom Cornwell, president of the Colorado Pest Control Association, will be speaking to representatives from hotels and motels, Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle counties, and public and residential housing personnel and individuals from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec. 7, at the Glenwood Springs Community Center; and from 2-3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at 405 Castle Creek Road in Pitkin County. The event is sponsored by the Colorado Pest Control Association. Topics will include what to look for, why bed bugs are becoming an increasing problem, and ways to take care of the problem.For more information, call Mountain Pest Control at 945-5942.

Comfort Dental is a philanthropic organization year-round, but views Care Day as the ultimate gift, granting free smiles to thousands of less-fortunate people during the holiday season. This year, Care Day will be observed at 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 24, at all Colorado and national offices. Office locations can be found online at http://www.comfortdental.com .

Habitat for Humanity plans to break ground on their latest home-building project at noon Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Cleveland Place II subdivision off Eighth Street in Carbondale. Ceremonies will include an introduction to homeowners and partner family, the Smiths, as well as a tentatively scheduled address from Carbondale Mayor Michael Hassig. Jeff and Colleen Smith and their family were selected based on their housing need, an ability to pay a no-interest mortgage, and legal U.S. residency. Additionally, Jeff and Colleen are each required to work 250 hours of sweat equity toward the building of the house. The two-story, single family home will be constructed by Habitats volunteer base and will include eco-friendly heating solutions. Photovoltaic solar power technology and solar heated water will reduce heating expenses and cut carbon emissions. The solar heating option for the Carbondale home came to Habitat courtesy of a grant from the city of Aspen and Pitkin Countys Renewable Energy Mitigation Program (REMP). Work days for the Smiths home will be scheduled beginning in January. Individuals or groups interested in volunteering to help build the home can contact Habitat for Humanity at 945-7733 or via e-mail at volunteer.habitat@gmail.com.

Computers For Kids has received a $15,000 Daniels Fund grant to support its Partnering For Success program.Computers For Kids is an organization that helps prepare kids for future success. C4Ks Partnering For Success program brings high-challenge, authentic learning projects to students from elementary through high school. Partnering For Success teams complete projects for real clients in the community in areas such as marketing research, financial modeling, lifetime customer value analysis, strategic planning, identification of new products and services and more.For more information about Computers For Kids, call 963-7259 or visit c4kfoundation.org.

Allow the New Castle MOPS moms to watch your kids from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the Apple Tree Community Center in New Castle while you shop or just enjoy a couple hours to yourself this holiday season. Please provide lunch or snacks for your child. Donations will be used to benefit the New Castle MOPS chapter that will begin in September of 2008. Please call Audry at 984-2379 or Sheila at 984-2481 with any questions or more information about MOPS.

The Roaring Fork Family Resource Centers free parent workshops in December are entitled, Sibling Rivalry/Conflict Resolution. The workshops will be held from 6-8 p.m. on all evenings: Tuesday, Dec. 11, in Glenwood Springs; Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Carbondale; and Thursday, Dec. 13, in Basalt.

The documentary movie, Sicko, by Michael Moore will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at St. John Middle School, 460 Stone Quarry Road in Battlement Mesa. The free presentation is sponsored by the West GarCo Democratic Party.Please call 285-7791 with questions.

The Colorado West Recovery Center has moved from downtown Glenwood to the new location for its Transitional Living Center. The Detoxification unit is located at 6916 Hwy 82 in Glenwood Springs. Turn east at the stoplight on Highway 82 at the CMC turnoff between Glenwood and Carbondale. Immediately turn right and head south on the frontage road. Look for the Colorado West sign on your left, just beyond the gas station/market. This remodeled facility will have Ken Eielson returning to Glenwood Springs as the programs coordinator. Eielson can be reached for any questions at 945-8439.

Caring people can help brighten the holidays for children of local families facing economic hardship through LIFT-UPs Angel Tree program. Select an angel from an Angel Tree located at participating businesses throughout the area, purchase gifts for the children listed on the angel, then return the items unwrapped in a gift bag to the same tree by Dec. 8, or to any LIFT-UP office by Dec. 10. The presents will be distributed to area families from Dec. 15-22. LIFT-UP has provided vital assistance to families in need during the holidays and throughout the entire year for the past 25 years. Please call 945-2005 with any questions. Contribution to help with Angel Tree gifts and holiday meals for families in need may also be sent to: LIFT-UP, P.O. Box 1213, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602, or make a secure online donation at http://www.liftup.org.

Longtime Glenwood Springs High School cheerleading coach and Glenwood Springs graduate Kim Richardson has been battling cancer for the past several months. An account has been established In Kims name so people can help offset some of the mounting medical costs she has accrued. The fund will also help Kim with living expenses and transportation for her cancer treatments.Donations can be made at: Kim Richardson Benefit Fund Account # 1011946404, Alpine Bank, P.O. Box 10000, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602.