The Annual Teacher of the Year awards for Grand Valley School District 16 were presented April 9. The 4 teachers honored were each given a golden apple, an engraved plaque and $1,000. The the primary level, Pattie Pitts received Teacher of the Year award; intermediate level, Amber Scott; middle school level, Beau Williams; and high school level, Dora King.

At the Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction’s open house, Warren Reams was recognized as being the oldest club member. He celebrates his 90th birthday this year. He has been a member for 55 years. Here, Warren prepares to cut the 30/20 club cake.

Elina (Elie) Marie James, 18 months, plays with bubbles at bath time. Elina’s photo was taken by her father, Joshua James.

Aeden Bain plays a concerto in D minor. Her great-grandmother Margorie Bain took this photo.

“Can anyone beat this?” queries this submission from Judy Beaudoin showing Larry and Diane Park’s cherry tomato plant. Beaudoin and the Parks are neighbors.

This morning, the Grand Mesa Chorus leaves Grand Junction for competition at the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs. The group’s competition songs are “By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful sea” (thus the 1890 swim costumes) and “Rain, Rain Go Away.”

Maynard Hesselbarth of Grand Junction received a lifetime achievement award on March 5 from the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers for his career in social work. Hesselbarth worked as a therapist, social services director, volunteer and advocate for children and families. Pictured with Hesselbarth are Wendy Tompkins, left, and Renee Rivera, executive director of the state social workers association.

Mesa County Human Services Department employees filled 40 Easter baskets for children with disabilities who are served through Mesa Developmental Services. To raise money for the baskets filled with goodies, the staff sold doughnuts, had a silent auction and fixed lunch for coworkers. This is the second year to staff has done this. Pictured from left are Alismary Ochoa Castejon, Dana Whiting, Connie Aguilera, Albin Escamilla, Debbie Escamilla and Eden Gil, MDS children’s case manager. Marilee Langifitt with MDS sent in this photo.

Frank Smith, with the Western Colorado Congress, and his fiance Caileen McDonnell greet people as the arrive for the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival on March 27 at Avalon Theatre. These photos were taken by Lee Gelatt, a volunteer organizer for the festival, which was hosted by the Western Colorado Congress.

Terry Hughes, left, of Delta and Jack Troyer of Ogden, Utah, stand at the South Kaibab Trail head on the Grand Canyon’s south rim. Hughes and Troyer hiked down to Phantom Ranch in early March.

Fourth-graders at Loma Elementary School learned about local artist Lyle Nichols in an Art Heritage unit and were inspired to create their own sculpture. Volunteers Mrs. Gueretta and Mrs. Copple assisted the students as the used old slides and other objects to create a Titanic sculpture complete with interior lighting. Connie Robbins-Brady submitted this photo.

Ann Buelow plays the part of Opal in the Grand Junction Senior Theater production of “The Last Doubloon” on March 26-27 at Central High School.

The Orchard Mesa Lions Club recently celebrated its 50th anniversary at the DoubleTree Hotel. Bob Frederick and one other Orchard Mesa Lion, was presented with the Progressive Melvin Jones award by International Director Dick Sawyer. This award is the highest given by the International Lions Club.

The Fruita Monument High School senior boys went on a cruise with Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas during spring break. Pictured sitting are Connor Rice, Jeff Cunningham and Matt Comerford. Standing are Zach Pfister, Will Stevens, AJ Meil, Borus (the boys’ waiter), Ryan Keeler and Steve Goff.

After hearing about the Haiti earthquake, Scenic Elementary School fifth-grader Jaren Gisner took action. He made sure every classroom at his school has a milk jug labeled “Help for Haiti” and encouraged students and staff to give change and bills. There was $663 raised, and on March 26 Jaren presented it to the American Red Cross for Haiti relief efforts. “Jaren was moved to help because, ‘We’re so fortunate over here and they didn’t have much before and then they had the earthquake,’” he told Jenny Hall, Scenic PTO president, who sent in this photo.

The Snowskippers Snowmobile Club took kids involved with Mesa County Partners out for a day in the snow on Grand Mesa on March 2. “The club is kind enough to round up 20-plus riders to take a kid for a ride and treat the kids to a spaghetti dinner,” wrote Maggie Mooreland with Partners.

During a swearing in event at the Bureau of Land Management Field Office in Grand Junction an April 9, 2010, Law Enforcement Ranger Ken Lloyd received the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism. State Director Helen Hankins presented the medal to Lloyd on behalf of the Army Corps of Engineers for his voluntary six-month tour in Iraq to assist with reconstruction efforts in 2009.

The A La Mode Pastry and Dessert Competition was April 1 with plenty of local chefs participating. The event is a Grand Junction Horizon Sunrise Rotary Club fundraiser. The competition winners are II Bistro Italiano, best desert; 626 on Rood, best presentation; and Gelato Junction, people’s choice.

Six generations celebrated Marian Dodge’s 99th birthday. Pictured from left to right in the back row are: Beatrice Tullio, Marian holding 5-month-old Isabella Migliori and Nancy Eriksen holding Elora Anderson. Others attending the event were Amy and Colby Migliori, Rachel Beilman, Tammy Jensen, Dylan Migliori, Amanda and Iren Anderson, Jessie Jensen, Macy Beilman and Landyn Anderson.

The Civil Air Patrol Cadets from the Thunder Mountain Composite Squadron in Grand Junction earned a number of trophies at the 2010 Rocky Mountain Region Cadet Competition on April 16-17 at Peterson Air Force Base. Among the cadets awards, is a first place overall in its category the Thunder Mountain Color Guard received. The color guard will represent the Civil Air Patrol’s Rocky Mountain Region at a national competition in July. Cadets pictured holding the flag during competition, from left, are Garrett Wachtel, Sydney Heart, Sharon Willison and Joe Szabo. Alternative Trevor Cox not pictured. Civil Air Patrol Capt. Scott Orr sent in this photo.

Melissa and Zachary Peterson show off a newborn colt and Nana and Grandpa Ed’s farm on Orchard Mesa.

Jasmine, a miniature donkey, is just as stubborn as a regular donkey. It took Sandy Leger pulling and Wendy Charlesworth pushing to get Jasmine where she was supposed to be.

Zoey Davis is 5 months old and a good reader of the colorful City Market ads. Zoey is the great-granddaughter of Carol Brown.

Ray Beckage finds an appropriate place to shop on the island on St. Marteen in the Caribbean.

The Colorado West Celtic Dancers perform before a sold-out crowd at an annual St. Patrick’s Day program on March 21. The performance was in the Glass Box Studio in the Moss Performing Arts Center at Mesa State College.