Good morning, Grand Junction.

Mesa County is seeking Clifton-area volunteers to join the Community Center Citizen Advisory Committee to help plan recreational, educational, and charitable events at the Clifton Community Center; terms are two years and appointments will require a background check, and residents should apply online with the county.

The Art Center of Western Colorado will host the 56th Annual Holiday Art & Craft Fair Nov.

20-22 at The Art Center, featuring juried artists selling original art and handmade gifts; members get a preview Nov. 20, 6 to 8 p.m., and the public can attend Nov. 21-22.

Cross Orchards Historic Site (3073 F Road) will host the first GJ Día de los Muertos celebration Oct.

30-Nov. 1, with 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 30-31 and noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 1, featuring food, activities, art, and five artist-made ofrendas to honor loved ones.

A free job-search workshop for people 50 and older will be held Thursday, Oct.

29, 9–10:30 a.m. at the Mesa County Workforce Center (512 29½ Road) to cover resumes, interviews, and connecting with age-friendly employers; register on Connecting Colorado or call 970-248-7560.

Mesa County is accepting bids for a $1 million wetlands-restoration project on a four-acre parcel between the River Trail and the Colorado River off 30 Road and C 1/2 Road to create a mitigation bank that will offset future road and bridge impacts.

Work is expected to start this winter and the River Trail will remain open with some truck crossings.

The city uses compressed natural gas from the Persigo Wastewater Treatment Plant to fuel garbage trucks, street sweepers, dump trucks and some pickups, and at about $1 per gallon this year it provides a stable rate to help shield city budgets as gasoline climbed to about $4.29.

City Manager Mike Bennett reversed a proposed closure and will keep the Senior Recreation Center open at 550 Ouray Ave., he announced at the Oct.

21 council meeting. The city will revise its recommended 2027 budget to continue space for the nonprofit and expects a new agreement by January 2027.

Animal ER moved to 2558 Patterson Road in early October, tripling to (7,200 sqft) with two surgery suites, a larger ICU, triage and comfort-care rooms, and plans to grow support staff to about 45 and add board-certified specialists so locals avoid drives to Denver or Salt Lake.

Respiratory-illness season is under way, and Mesa County Public Health will publish biweekly hospitalization updates through March 2027 plus new outbreak reports for schools, childcare, and long-term care; employers should promote staying home when sick, handwashing, surface disinfection, and vaccines (call 970-248-6906 to schedule).

Mesa County recorded 197 residential sales in September 2026, down from 213 a year earlier, while active listings jumped 34.7% to 1,090 and inventory rose to 5.5 months as the median price held near $414,000.