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. Please join Mayor Dave Moore and Mr. 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).

William and Bobbie Merriwether of Glenwood Springs can use a little help. William, a longtime photography instructor at Colorado Mountain College, will be having a stem cell transplant in January, and has been undergoing chemotherapy as well.The couple is looking for help with travel to Denver, and a fund has been set up for donations at Alpine Bank under the William Merriwether Fund. William needs to make one more trip to Denver for a chemotherapy in December in preparation for the stem cell transplant next month. He will be hospitalized for four to six weeks after the transplant.For more information, call Mary Williams at 984-2446.

This tour offers area residents the opportunity to travel to Denver at the holidays without driving over the passes. A luxury bus will pick up at the Glenwood Springs Community Center at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, returning clients to the same location the evening of Sunday, Dec. 16. Ancient Excursions will provide everything from a gourmet breakfast and movie en route to a matinee performance of White Christmas at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, a plated dinner and accommodations at the Curtis Hotel, a tour of the holiday lights at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and the choice on Sunday to get your holiday shopping done at the Cherry Creek Mall or to visit the Titanic Exhibition.Call 888-906-TOUR now for tickets, there are only a few seats left and Ancient Excursions has recently reduced the cost of the trip.

The 2008 Colorado Weed Calendars are now available, and can be picked up, free of charge, at any of the Garfield County Public Libraries in Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Parachute, Rifle, and Silt. This years calendar theme is Weeds in Our Community. The calendar is produced by the Glenwood Springs-based nonprofit, Colorado Big Country Resource Conservation and Development. For further information, contact Steve Anthony at 625-8601.

Renick Stevensons Circle of Friendship: Poetry and Music will be presented free of charge from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts.Bring your poetry (original or favorite classics), music making stuff, and an inspired mind.For more information call 945-2414.

Carbondales Business After Hours will be held 5:3 0-7 pm. Wednesday, Dec.19, at The Pour House, 351 Main St. Entertainment by Doc Eason Magic; and music provided by KUUR. Call 963-1890 for information.

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.

Moes has set out to be Colorados neighborhood burrito place and 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 until Dec. 20.

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 .