Good morning, Grand Junction.

The Foundation for Cultural Exchange will celebrate 21 years of partnership with sister city El Espino on Saturday, Nov.

1 at the Lincoln Park Tower Hospitality Suite from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.—attendees will learn about scholarship successes, see Salvadoran art, and enjoy authentic cuisine. The city council will hold a town hall at Mesa County Libraries Central Branch on Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.—guests must RSVP for limited seating.

On October 25, Mesa County car enthusiasts gathered for the annual Toys For Tots Toy Drive Car & Truck Show and HD Dyno Competition to collect boxes of toys for local kids in need—organizers said the return was the largest yet and will help brighten the holidays for many families.

On October 25, car lovers gathered for the third annual Toys For Tots Toy Drive Car & Truck Show to raise many toys for children in need.

Event leaders said the turnout was the largest so far—three times as many cars joined and six to seven boxes of toys were collected to brighten the holiday season.

Fruita poet Alicia Rebecca Myers won the Cantor Prize for Poetry from the Talking Gourds Poetry Program with her poem 'On the Anniversary of My Due Date, You Ask to Braid My Hair'—she received a $1,000 cash prize while her husband Dan Rosenberg was a finalist with his poem 'The Covenant' and earned $250.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is taking steps to manage wild bison in the Book Cliffs as a new law has reclassified them as big game; the agency presented initial rules this month and the commission will adopt them in November.

The proposed rules will address disease risks, fence and range damage, and allow special hunts if needed—providing flexible measures to protect wildlife and local lands.

Colorado state staff have been monitoring zebra mussels in the Colorado River—after detecting adult mussels in public areas and private lakes near Grand Junction.

They continue to inspect waters from below Granby Dam to the state line and use decontamination measures—efforts that rely on steady funding to prevent further spread.

RECA Resource Fair

11 AM – 1 PM — Grand Junction Convention Center — Free entry — Explore valuable healthcare benefits for former uranium workers while enjoying a complimentary lunch.

Western Slope Cowboy Gathering

Two days of fun — Grand Valley Event Center — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate with top Cowboy Poets and Western Singers in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Confluence Center Grand Opening

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. — Confluence Center of Colorado — Free entry — Celebrate the opening of a new community hub dedicated to collaboration and conservation.

Schaffer Brothers Band Live Performance

9 PM - 1 AM — Cruisers Bar — Entry fee varies — Experience a night of raw blues and groove with the Schaffer Brothers Band.

November Meeting of the Art Quilt Association

10 AM – 12 PM — The Art Center — Free entry — Engage with fellow quilt enthusiasts at the monthly Art Quilt Association meeting.

Izzy Burns Live

8-11 p.m. — Mesa Theater — Check venue for ticket prices — Enjoy a heartfelt folk-pop performance by rising star Izzy Burns.