Old, un-used cell phones are being collected for a nonprofit organization that ships them to AT&T, who gives out pre-paid calling cards to the soldiers based overseas. Any brand, any age, any style of cell phones are OK. There is no deadline. Chargers and batteries are useful, but not necessary. The drop-off location will be at the Aspen Highlands Winter Artisans Market on the Aspen Highlands Mall for the next three weekends beginning Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 30.Those unable to make it to the market, please call Cyndy Love at 927-1108 in Basalt to arrange for other drop-off/pick-up times.

Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side conservation districts are offering seedling trees at a minimal cost to landowners who own more than two acres of land.Over fifty species of trees and shrubs for any growing conditions are available. The seedlings are grown in Colorado through the Colorado State Forest Service. Orders are taken throughout the winter, with delivery the last week of April.For more information, or to receive an order form, call 945-5494, ext. 105.

The 2008 Bridal Fair will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 17th in the Hotel Colorado. A wide variety of vendors will attend, including photographers, videographers, florists, DJs, officiates, caterers, bands, decorators, wedding planners and more.Those wishing to participate as vendors may call Virginia M. Cohagen, Hotel Colorado sales manager, Denver Sales Office, at 303-952-4015.

Renick Stevensons Circle of Friendship: Poetry and Music will be presented free of charge from 6-8 p.m. today, 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.

The Carbondale-Aspen Glen Rotary Club has contributed $2,500 to Challenge Aspen. The Challenge Aspen program provides recreational, cultural, competitive and educational experiences for individuals who have mental or physical disabilities. Its participants include disabled veterans, children with mental or physical disabilities, and other handicapped individuals. Participants in the Challenge Aspen program have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of outdoor activities, including summer hiking and rock climbing, as well as skiing and snow boarding in the winter. The Carbondale-Aspen Glen contribution was made in recognition of the importance of the work by Challenge Aspen to aid the disabled.The Carbondale-Aspen Glen Rotary meets every Thursday at noon at the Aspen Glen Country Club, and is open to all Rotarians and potential Rotarians. For more information, call Craig Rathbun at 704-1515, ext.101 or Vicki Peterson at 948-0083.

The 10th annual Rifle Gap Ice Fishing Tournament will be held Jan. 19-20.The grand prize winner has a chance to win $20,000 in cash. Categories include adult and youth adult rainbow trout, brown trout and yellow perch. Registered youth will be awarded prizes in two age brackets, 11- to 17-year-olds, and 10 years and younger for each of the three tournament fish species. For an official registration form or for more information, contact the Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce at 625-2085, ext. 2, or visit

Sunlight Mountain Resort is where youll want to be starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, for U.S. Banks Winter Carnival featuring a torchlight parade, a visit by Santa Claus, live music and free equipment demos. Celebrate the holidays by donating a non-perishable food item on the mountain that day and receive a $25 lift ticket. Santa will be skiing with all the good little boys and girls starting at 10 a.m. At 2:30 p.m., a parade will follow Santa (all children are welcome) down midway. Kids can meet with and talk to Santa and receive a free gift while their parents can take advantage of drink specials in the Last Turn Lounge. The Out of Bounds Grill will be open throughout the afternoon.The 20th annual Holiday Torchlight Parade is the highlight of the evening, with a possible sighting of Santa skiing or snowboarding. The torchlight parade begins at the top of the mountain at dusk, and winds its way down the darkened slopes to the Day Lodge deck, which is an ideal spot to view the show. If you are still looking for new ski or snowboard gear for the season, stop by the representatives from K2 Snowboards, Dynastar, Salomon, Nordica and Volkl starting at 9 a.m. on the front deck. Demo day is the perfect time to check out all the latest equipment. Take a couple of test runs and receive a 20 percent off coupon on any ski or board from the Sunlight Ski and Bike shop in downtown Glenwood Springs.

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 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.

Defiance Community Players will be holding auditions for a February production of Greater Tuna. Please contact the director, Jacquie Meitler, at 945-2174 for details.

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.