Winter closures on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Managements Glenwood Springs Field Office are in effect to protect critical big game winter range and prevent road damage.These seasonal gate closures occur annually from Dec. 1 to April 30 at several points in the Castle Peak area in Eagle County, East Elk Creek in Garfield County, and Light Hill and the Crown in Pitkin County.All of the areas continue to be open to non-motorized recreation opportunities such as hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding and skiing.The lower gate at Transfer Trail above Glenwood Springs will be closed Dec. 6 to maintain snow conditions for snowmobiling.We appreciate the publics cooperation in helping us protect wildlife and public lands, said Jamie Connell, Glenwood Springs Field Manager.At the request of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, BLM is continuing to allow motorized access through one gate at Windy Point near State Bridge, and two gates in Gypsum Hills through Jan. 15 to facilitate more hunter harvest of elk. Normally these areas are closed to motorized access Dec. 1 as well.BLMs Wolcott and Gypsum campgrounds are closed for the winter and will reopen this spring when conditions allow.For additional information or to report violations in these areas, call the Glenwood Springs Field Office at 947-2800.

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.

The Colorado Department of Transportation has closed the Glenwood Canyon Bike Path for the season. The path will be closed from Glenwood Springs at mile marker 116.8 to mile marker 131, on the east end of Glenwood Canyon.

The Glenwood Springs Association of Realtors has announced it has funds available for qualified Garfield County nonprofit organizations that provide housing services to moderate to low-income persons. Grant applications will be accepted through Jan. 15. CARHOF, a nonprofit foundation established by the Colorado Association of Realtors, collects interest from earnest money held in home purchases. By law, brokers cannot earn interest on escrow trust accounts. With CARHOF, the interest can be gathered and made available as grants aiding affordable housing programs, crisis shelters and other housing-related projects. To be eligible for funds, organizations must be based in Colorado, have a housing-related mission, and be a nonprofit agency with a 501(c)(3) status or a public agency.For more information on the local grants, call Cat Kullberg-Martin at 625-9999.

Preschool Story Time at the Rifle Branch Library is canceled for Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 26 and 27. Story Time will resume the following week as normal. Call 625-3471 with questions.

Moes has set out to be Colorados neighborhood burrito place and has partnered with Toys for Tots to help collect toys to directly benefit the deserving children from the area it serves. Drop off an unwrapped toy between now and Dec. 20.

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.

Habitat for Humanity plans to break ground on its 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.

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 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. 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.

The town of Silt is formally welcoming the Holiday Inn Express to the community with a groundbreaking ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12. Join Mayor Dave Moore and Jack Wright, Silt Hospitality LLC, for a celebration at the new hotel site south of the intersection of County Road 311 and River Frontage Road (south of I-70).