A new year gives us an opportunity to start fresh. For many this means new health or financial goals. Perhaps this year is the year we come closer as a community. Forgive friends and family for past grievances and build strong, lasting relationships within the community. We hope that this newsletter can help out by highlighting community events and news where everyone can unite and enjoy the freedoms that we have. Happy New Year!

In this edition:

• Minimum Wage Increase

• BLM Solar Plan

• 2024 Sports Recap Video

• New Year Activities

Housing

Residents will soon move in to a 200-plus unit apartment complex in downtown Grand Junction off 1st st.

The Junction Apartments at First Street and Rood Avenue has a total of 256 units with a variety of amenities for tenants.

Market Stats:

Average Sales Price: $453,989 (-$882 from last week)

Inventory Levels:

Number of New Listings: 15 (-12 from last week) Holiday Season Decrease

Average Days on Market: 93 (+4 from last week)

Total Number of Active Listings: 559 (-41 from last week)

_{Source: Skyler Kraai with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties}

News

Locals Respond to Colorado Minimum Wage Increase

The Colorado minimum wage increase started on the first of this year and is causing some mixed reactions. The minimum wage in Colorado increased $0.39 to $14.81.

Some residents say the increase will help those facing poverty.

Meghan Tenge, who supports the minimum wage increase, said, “I think it’s a good idea because increasing the minimum wage gives everyone a higher income, which can lead to more access to healthcare and food and necessities of living that maybe they wouldn’t have access to with a lower minimum wage. It just increases income, which I think improves poverty all around.”

Still, they’d like to see a bigger increase.

Said Tenge, “I think as high as we’re able to get is good just because it does help people that are making minimum wage have more access to you know, healthcare and the food and better options than they’re making right now or having right now.”

However, others don’t believe raising the minimum wage will help.

Christ Martin, who is against the minimum wage increase, said, “It’s a minor fix to a major problem, and it’ll just make things more expensive in the long run. And sure, you can bring the minimum wage up, but everything else is going to get more expensive anyway. And so it’s not really going to fix anything. It’s just going to make things more expensive.”

And some like Martin have a different approach to how people should be paid. Centering around the job you get done.

Said Martin, “I’d probably go for like a $7.00 minimum wage to where you are paid for what you are worth. And if you’re worth $14.00 an hour, that’s what we pay you. If you’re worth $70.00 an hour, that’s what we pay you. And it’s for the work.”

Even though there is disagreement about what the state minimum wage should be, one thing that is agreed upon is there needs to be change in the system.

Eureka McConnell Science Museum hosts expeditions for children to explore the world around them

“You have kids just really experiencing the beauty all around us and that sense of wonder that comes out when you’re able to connect science and ecology,” said Co-Director of Education for Eureka McConnell Science Museum, Kelsey Wells.

Eureka’s programs are designed to inspire a passion for science and exploration in youth, including its overnight expeditions. Children can fly fish on the Grand Mesa, explore the Oregon coast and rock climb the Rifle Canyon.

“We’re giving kids a really fun, awesome way to spend their summer and they become environmental stewards... they become caretakers of the beautiful places that we have available,” said Wells.

The trips last between two days to a full week and are open to kids of two age groups- ages 9-11 and 12-15. The deadline to register is four weeks before each expedition.

Business Highlight

Restaurant and Bar

Convivial tavern with a UK vibe, offering pints & hearty Irish & English fare, including brunch.

Many Grand Junction locals have been to this downtown favorite. If you haven’t, go today!

• 336 Main Street Grand Junction, CO 81503

• 970-985-4628

• [email protected]

Local Community

BLM finalizes solar plan for Western Slope

The Bureau of Land Management recently finalized a plan that makes more than 31 million acres of land in 11 western states available for utility-scale solar project applications, including nearly 600,000 acres in Colorado.

Western Slope Sports!

2024 Recap of Western Slope Sports

From Hail Marys to undefeated seasons, we had so many unforgettable moments.

View the video below for a full 2024 sports recap as we highlight:

• Fruita Boys Basketball

• CMU Men’s and Women’s Basketball

• CMU Baseball

• Montrose Girls Soccer

• JUCO World Series

• Grand Junction Jackalopes/Kelly Dugan

• CMU Football

• Grand Junction Football

• Delta-Palisade Game

• Montrose Football

• Caprock Hockey

Exciting Events: January

This section only includes local upcoming events. Feel free to submit yours!

Sports

• Kid's Winter Games

  • Location: 48338 Powderhorn Rd Mesa, CO 81643

  • Price:Free

  • Time: January 11th, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

  • Bring the kids to the mountain for some fun! We're setting up junior-sized features on the bunny hill for kids to slalom, curl, and shoot their way through the course.

• Grand Valley Racing League #1

  • Location:48338 Powderhorn Rd Mesa, CO 81643

  • Dates: January 17, 2025

  • Time: 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM

  • Grand Valley Racing League is hosting the first weekend of races! The Grand Valley Race League is a business-oriented event that is all about having fun in a low pressure environment. We will set up a dual slalom type course and will set up race gates. Racing runs from 1-3pm. Awards around 3:30-4:30 pm upstairs over in the Slopeside.

• Western Region Basketball Tournament

  • Saturday, February 15
    8:30 am – 6:00 pm

  • Location: Colorado Mesa University
    1100 North Avenue
    Grand Junction, CO 81501

  • Special Olympics Colorado is hosting the Western Region Basketball Tournament at Colorado Mesa University! Traditional Play, Unified Play and All Star Skills Challenge will be played.

Family Fun

• Line Dancing

  • 664 North Ave, 2310 West Ridges Blvd Grand Junction, CO 81501

  • Price: FREE

  • Time: 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM

  Recurrence:

  Recurring weekly on Saturday

• The Fab Four: USA Meets the Beatles

  • 645 Main StreetGrand Junction, CO 81501

  • Price: P4 $25.50, P3 $37.50, P2 $47.50, P1 $62.50

  • Time: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM January 5th, 2025

• Chess Club

  • Presented By: Montrose Regional Library Youth Services Department

  • 320 S 2nd St, Montrose, CO 81401

  • Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM

  • Free

  • Recurring monthly on the 1st Tuesday

Date Night 🎆

• Bourbon and BBQ Tasting

  • 2325 W Ridges BlvdGrand Junction, CO 81507-2456

  • Price: $88/Ticket Tax & Gratuity Included

  • Time: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM

  • Date: January 4th 2025

  • Join us for a 6 course pairing of decadent bourbons and delicious barbecue! Our pairing dinners are an immersive experience into the history behind each spirit, beer, or wine we feature accompanied by great company, ambiance, and flavors.

• Montrose Farmers' Market - Winter Market

  • 99 S Uncompahgre Ave, Montrose, CO 81401

  • Dates: 1/4/2025, 1/18/2025, 2/1/2025, 2/15/2025, 3/1/2025, 3/15/2025, 3/29/2025, 4/12/2025, 4/26/2025

  • Location: Centennial Plaza

  • Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

  • Price: Free

• Poetry Night

  • 443 N. 6th StreetGrand Junction, CO 81501

  • Price: $0

  • Time: 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM

  • Recurrence: Recurring monthly on the 2nd Wednesday

  • Poetry Night at the Library is a monthly program at the Mesa County Library. Each month poets are invited to read their work based on a previous month’s challenge, or any other poem they’d like to read. Then, a new topic is discussed and a new challenge is issued. Topics range from a particular poet, to a school of poetry, to a new tool for your poetry toolbox such as a form or poetic device. No poetry experience is required – all are welcome!

• Open Mic Night

  • 846 E. Main St, Montrose, CO 81401

  • Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Wednesday

  • Location: Horsefly Brewing Company

  • Time: 6:30 PM

  • Price: Free

Thank you so much for your support!

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