Mark Berkley owner of Berkley Automotive in Grand Junction, serves up some hot chili at the South-West ArborFest at Lincoln Park Saturday afternoon. A chili cookoff, live music, microbrews food, “Touch-a-Truck” and seedling trees giveaway were part of the fun.

Frank McGee, an officer with the Division of Wildlife fishing with his four-year-old daughter Bridget, during the Outdoor Heritage Day at Riverbend Park in Palisade Saturday afternoon. The event is geared at getting families and kids active in the outdoors, from hiking to fishing, rock climbing and more. The event was free and 1,000 fishing poles were given away.

John McConnell shows the new mobile science center van called, SITHOK- Science in the Hands of Kids, a new addition to the John McConnell Math and Science Center. McConnell is going back to his roots - driving around to schools to give science demonstrations.

Rick Cohee, a worker with the Salvation Army, fills food boxes at the Salvation Army food bank.

Karen Lee Kiefer of Rainbow Artistry demonstrates the art of stained glass to Jamie Satterfield’ first grade class from Orchard Avenue Elementary School during Spring Art Week at The Art Center. Professionals in the fine arts have been demonstrating their talents in music, drawing, batik, theater, stained glass, blacksmithing, pottery and sculpting to about 3,500 area children during the annual event this week.

In honor of her husband, Elinor Bergman, wife of Bus Bergman throws out the ceremonial first pitch Friday night at Suplizio Field.

Julie Johnson of Grand Junction walks the bank of a pond as her dog Ammo swims at Canyon View Park. The dog loves the water so she uses a long lease to “swim the dog” up and down the bank.

Fog lifts from Wedding Canyon and Independence Monument just after sunrise this morning. Today is Earth Day. The first Earth Day was celebrated 40 years ago toady. In 1969 U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, D-Wis., announced that the “National Teach-In on the Crisis of the Environment” would take place on April 22, 1970. On January of 1970, the event was renamed “Earth Day.”

Students from Mesa View Elementary School stand in the kaleidoscope at the newly renamed John McConnell Math and Science Center of Western Colorado in Grand Junction. The change honors McConnell, founder of the 10-year-old center.

With the group’s EPA Carbon Cop smart cars providing a background, Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, talks to a crowd of about 70 people during a stop by AFP’s “Regulation Reality Tour” at a downtown parking lot west of First Street. The event was to alert citizens to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed global warming regulations.

Jenny and Bob Dalley of Grand Junction have no problem rounding the children up for a game in their home in Grand Junction. They have adopted two boys Ashton, 9, left, and Brendan, 7, right. Rhianna, 2, on her foster mom’s lap is in the process of being adopted and Daniel, 6, (black shirt) is biological.

Grand Junction High School’s Ashley Wallace, right, grimaces after colliding with Central’s Arianna Herrera (9) Thursday in the first half at Walker Field.

Wearing padded sumu wrestler suits, freshman James Coburn, left, and sophomore Nicole Bacon face off in the ring during the first day of Unity Fest at Mesa State College.

Independence Monument is one of the rock formations you will come upon when you hike along Monument Canyon Trail, which is a premier hike in the Colorado National Monument.

Grand Junction High School student Juliana Liddle gets her photograph taken with Mesa County School District No.51 Superintendent Steve Schultz during a luncheon Monday afternoon at Two Rivers Convention Center. Graduating high school seniors who have achieved a 4.0 cumulative GPA or better over the course of their four years in high school.84 Grand Valley students were honored.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, center, was appointed to the seat by Gov. Bill Ritter, which Ritter defended, even with criticism by Democrats because “you understand he has a vision… There was a real difference between Andrew (Romanoff) and Michael to articulate a vision for where they wanted to go.” Bennet is shown at the Mesa County Democratic Party Spring Fling dinner Friday.

Central High School’s Joe Smith celebrates after sliding into home for a score Wednesday in the second inning at Suplizio Field. Central tallied four runs in the inning.

Denise Brown, sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, reflects in a story of her sister during Brown’s address to a crowd about domestic abuse Thursday evening at the Avalon Theatre.

Briana Board, left, a ranger with the Colorado National Monument leads a class of third graders from New Emerson Elementary school on the Devils Kitchen trail as part of Junior Ranger Day 2010 at the Colorado National Monument. The supervised hikes for students continue through this week.

This is the site where Gateway Canyons is planning to build 340 homes on the east side of Hwy 141 in Gateway.

Central High School’s Spencer Hicks slides into home after a wild pitch by Grand Junction’s Tyler Standford (9) Tuesday in the fourth inning at Suplizio Field.

Andrew Romanoff meets Democrats during their regular meeting Friday at Main Street Bagels. Romanoff has greater delegate support than Michael Bennet for the U.S. Senate nomination.

Jason Miles soars above the competition as he goes airborne over a hill during the 28 and over intermediate qualif

Grand Junction firefighters battle a blaze on a frame structure at the Rocky Mt. Court at 1211 South Fifth Street early this morning. A man living there fell asleep with a lit cigarette while on oxygen, which investigators believe started the fire. With the help of neighbors, the man and his dog escaped.

Central High School’s Jamie Pomansk, with the discus at Lincoln Park.