Mya Balerio, top, and Amie Montoya enjoy some time in the Children’s Secret Garden at the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens.

Judy Gustafson, physical education teacher at Wingate Elementary School, participated in her last Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser this spring for the American Heart Association. During her 30-year career, Judy raised more than $180,000 in donations for Jump Rope for Heart. 

13 of Lisa Bush’s piano students participated in the 2010 National Piano Guild Auditions and 11 were given Top Talent Scores.

These are some “real live dolls” wrote Linda Cabler fo her granddaughters Carly Lopez and Simmer Spiegel. 

Pamela and Quentin Baker of Moab, Utah, received the Conservation and Preservation Award at the American Rock Art Research Association’s annual conference in Del Rio, Texas, in March.

Emily Gerry met Riar Geer, Fruita Monument High School graduate, former University of Colorado tight end and Denver Broncos prospect, at the Broncos Bunch summer kickoff at Invesco Field at Mile High.

The GJ Mavs 10-and-under team won the Triple Crown JUCO baseball tournament on June 6 at the Fruita Little League fields. The Team won 9-8 over the Spanish Fork Extreme of Spanish Fork, Utah.

Carol Watkins, LS FRA unit 244 secretary/treasurer, presents a wreath to float on the Colorado River in memory of family members who were veterans. The Colorado West FRA Branch 244 hosts the wreath-floating ceremony every Memorial Day to honor deceased branch/unit members and all veterans of the sea services. Also pictured are Chuck Watkins, branch secretary; Jim Stafford, branch president; retired Marine Corps Col. Roger Hagerty; Scott McInnis; Heinz Park, branch president-elect; and Ken Dillard, branch member.

Brittany Warden and Elizabeth Collins, both with Grand Valley Bikes, were at the barbecue for the Colorado Environmental Coalition.

The Colorado Environmental Coalition had its third annual barbecue an May 14 at Rancho Durazno on the eastern edge of the Grand Valley. There were 140 people at the barbecue, enjoying music, food and springtime views. In this photo, coalition staff member Kate Graham strings lights for the event. 

The Grand Junction Veterans Golden Age Team participated in the recent Veterans Golden Age Games in Des Moines, Iowa. In the back row, from left, are Eric Rosenquist; Tom Jenkins, silver medalist in air rifle; Don Jenkins; Joe Replogle; Darrel Chapman, gold medalist in visual-impaired golf and bronze medalist in shuffleboard; and Emma Folnsbee, silver medalist in shot put, bowling, dominoes and horseshoes. In the front row, from left, are coach Henry Bullock, Richard Wright and Chuck Akerman.

Ken Watkins, Grand Junction Fire Department chief, was inducted into the Horizon Sunrise Rotary Club on May 27. Watkins is a first time Rotarian. The Horizon Sunrise Rotary Club meets at 7:15 a.m. every Thursday at Bookcliff Country Club.

Natalie Sorrentino is training and raising funds for the 39.3-mile Avon Breast Cancer Walk from Keystone to Breckenridge on June 26-27. Sorrentino, a nurse in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, needs to raise $1,800 for the walk.

Rodeo royalty was chosen on May 8 for the 2010 Garfield County Fair and Rodeo. Amber Baker, 17, was selected as queen for the fair and rodeo scheduled for Aug. 4-7. Holly Lynch, 17, was chosen as the queen’s attendant and Shalie Ryan, 12, shown, was selected as princess.

Garry Brewer, district commander for the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of Colorado/ Wyoming, stands at the grave of the unknown Civil War veteran in Grand Junction Veterans Cemetery. The grave of the veteran was found in 2006 and the remains of were moved to Veterans Cemetery in 2007 by the Sons of Unions of the Civil War and Legions of the West Camp No. 7. The groups also paid for the headstone.

On June 3, 15 people graduated form the Mesa County Leadership Program, completing more than 80 hours of instruction in leadership and community issues. Pictured at bottom from left to right are Karen Troester, Scott Aker, Erik Myers and Holly Nash. In the middle row are Grace Logsdon, Kristi Adams, William Roth, Maggie Mooreland, Dale Peck, T.J. Reece and Jon Maraschin. Adam Detlinger stands at top.

Rodeo royalty was chosen on May 8 for the 2010 Garfield County Fair and Rodeo. Amber Baker, 17, was selected as queen for the fair and rodeo scheduled for Aug. 4-7. Holly Lynch, 17, shown, was chosen as the queen’s attendant and Shalie Ryan, 12, was selected as princess. The three young ladies will participate in the fair/rodeo parade and community service activities.

Rodeo royalty was chosen on May 8 for the 2010 Garfield County Fair and Rodeo. Amber Baker, 17, shown, was selected as queen for the fair and rodeo scheduled for Aug. 4-7. Holly Lynch, 17, was chosen as the queen’s attendant and Shalie Ryan, 12, was selected as princess. The three young ladies will participate in the fair/rodeo parade and community service activities. For more information about the royalty, go to http://www.garfieldcountyfair.com.

This team of 8-year-olds took second place in the 9-year-old division of the Grand Mesa Invitational Soccer Tournament at Canyon View Park on May 22-23. The team had to play a division up because there wasn’t a division for 8-year-olds. They “surprised themselves and their opponents by taking home the second place medals. Way to go girls!” wrote Jennifer Campos.

The Fire FC Premier ‘97 girls soccer team won the Colorado State Cup.

Pictured with scholarship recipient Cayla Bresch are Bobbie Warrick, her mother; Karen Sparks, a family friend; and Adelaide Currier with the Dickson estate.

A raft full of Mesa County Partners kids and adult mentors enthusiastically pose for this photo taken by Ruth Beach, a mentor.

Pictured here with Christopher Cochran, left, are Dave Mayberry, Cochran’s grandfather; Kathy Sanders, mother; Dave Cochran, brother; Hap Mayberry, grandmother; and Adelaide Currier. Chris was one of the graduates who are receiving the Beye-Lotz Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1247 and the Donald Awesome Dickson estate award.

Officer Frasier with The Grand Junction Police Department and his dog participated in a career night put on by the Mesa County Partners.