May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Colorado and across the nation. ABATE of Colorado reminds motorists to be aware of and look twice for motorcyclists and offers tips for motorists to enhance safety:

1) Allow extra space between vehicles and motorcycles. In most cases, cycles can start and stop much faster than an automobile; 2) Don’t throw cigarette butts out the window. While it’s never a good idea to do so anyway, it’s especially dangerous for cyclists that may be behind you; 3) Allow bikes the full lane that they’re occupying when passing them; 4) Use your turn signals; 5) Whenever turning into or across the path of oncoming traffic, look for motorcycles. Wait for oncoming traffic to clear before turning in front of it. Information: http://www.abateofcolo.org

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Forest Service announces road closures

The White River National Forest is closing Kobey Park roads 508 and 103 above Lenado to all motorized uses until July 1 to prevent soil damage and ensure public safety. Red Rim Road 534, also known as Triangle Peak Road, has been closed since November and will remain closed until July 15 unless conditions allow the road to open sooner. Capitol Creek Road 316 will be closed until June 15. Other temporarily closed roads include Basalt Mountain Road 524, Red Table Mountain Road 514, Cattle Creek Road 509 and Burnt Mountain Road 506. These roads will open when conditions permit. Information: 925-3445.

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RFVCHP makes it to final grant round

The national eHealth Initiative’s Connecting Communities for Better Health program has named the Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan as a finalist.

The Foundation for eHealth Initiative’s selection committee will determine the final portfolio of awards based on the scores from the technical review committee, as well as the strategic priorities of the Connecting Communities Program. The Foundation expects to announce the award of contracts to communities in May. Contracts will help the funded communities evaluate their projects and support the dissemination of these lessons as broadly as possible. The Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan includes physicians’ organizations throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, Valley View, Aspen and Grand River hospitals.

Work crews replace expansion joints in canyon

Colorado Department of Transportation maintenance crews and contractors will begin replacing expansion joints in two locations on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon on Monday, May 3. Work at the two locations will not be simultaneous, and one lane of traffic will be open at all times through each work zone.

Work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the speed limit through the work zones will decrease from 50 mph to 35. Motorists should prepare for slow traffic and possibly an occasional stop for equipment crossing.

Work on the eastbound bridge about four miles west of Hanging Lake Tunnel will take place from May 3 through approximately May 14. On May 17, crews will begin replacing the expansion joint on the westbound bridge at Bair Ranch. The roadway at this structure is 35.5 feet wide, so overwidth loads will be restricted to 14 feet from May 17-31.

Basalt Gallery holds student art show

The Basalt Gallery will donate space for Basalt Middle School students to show their work from 3:30-7 p.m. Monday, May 3, to Friday, May 7, with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 6. The Basalt Gallery is at 200 Center Circle, across from the Rainbow Grill.

NAREF to meet in Glenwood on May 6

The National Association of Retired Federal Employees will meet on Thursday, May 6, at Colorado Mountain College, 1402 Blake Ave. in Glenwood Springs. A program and meeting will follow lunch. Tim Heflin, director of Roaring Fork Hospice, will speak on the hospice, and NARFE District V vice president Gene Letterhos will attend. RSVP by May 4: 945-5526. Information: Viola Searcy, 625-0876.

Celebration of kids’ fine art continues

The 15th annual All Glenwood Kids Fine Arts Celebration will continue from Monday, May 3, through Thursday, May 6. The show is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday and 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, with Glenwood Springs High School band concerts at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and a concert by the Glenwood Springs High School choir at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Bureau of Reclamation holds meeting on reservoir

The Bureau of Reclamation will hold its annual Ruedi Reservoir operations public meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, in the Sopris Room of the Days Inn, 950 Cowen Drive in Carbondale. The meeting will focus on operations of the past water year and look ahead to the year to come. In addition to explaining water storage and release operations, including the recovery program for endangered Colorado River fish, the meeting will summarize the maintenance at the dam over the winter. It will conclude with a public question-and-answer period. Information: Kara Lamb, 962-4326 or klamb@gp.usbr.gov.

Pitkin County Senior Services celebrates Cinco de Mayo

Pitkin County Senior Services is having a Cinco de Mayo party starting at noon Wednesday, May 5, at the Senior Center on Castle Creek Road. Pablo Zelaya and his mariachi band will provide music. RSVP: 920-5432.

Community center offers social hour for toddlers

Children 18- to 36-months old can celebrate Mother’s Day with a craft, painting and social hour from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 6, at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. Information: 384-6301.

ACT registration deadline is May 7

College-bound high school students must postmark registrations for the June 12 ACT Assessment by May 7. There is a late registration postmark of May 21 with an extra fee of $15. The test fee is $26. Students can register for the ACT by getting materials from their high school counselors or visiting http://www.act.org.