Mainstreet Steamboat Springs will be hosting a, Candidates for Steamboat City Council, forum in the form of a town hall meeting at The Chief Theater at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The event will provide an excellent opportunity to ask questions and understand the candidates’ views on the issues that matter, according to Lisa Popovich, Mainstreet program manager.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the house will remain open one hour after the forum concludes. Questions can be submitted in advance by emailing info@main

streetsteamboat.com or calling Popovich at 970-367-7060. 

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Program builds foundation for readers age 3 to 7

Bud Werner Memorial Library is hosting a special program for beginning readers and their parents at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Parents will meet in the library coffee shop for an informative session about best practices, strategies and tips for parenting a beginning reader led by Kim Schulz, of Key to Learning. Kids, age 3 to 7, will enjoy a story and craft activity led by a children’s librarian and middle school volunteers in the Storytime Room.

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End-of-summer river clean-up seeks volunteers

Friends of the Yampa is hosting its third river clean-up of the summer at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18. Students at the Yampa Valley Science School will assist with the effort in Steamboat Springs and at Yampa River State Park. Volunteers are invited to meet at Backdoor Sports and will then be assigned to one of five sections of the river. Pizza, provided by Soda Creek Pizza, will be served to volunteers at 5 p.m. at Backdoor Sports, 841 Yampa St.

Questers chapter seeks new female only members

The Steamboat Springs Questers Chapter is seeking several new members. Founded in 1975, Steamboat Questers is a group of women who support historic preservation and appreciate antiques and collectibles. The chapter currently has a membership of 15 and hopes to expand.

Questers is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the study, conservation and preservation of historical objects for the benefit of Wednesday and tomorrow. The Steamboat chapter has supported numerous Routt County historic preservation projects through contributions and grants. It has also donated to statewide preservation endeavors and national scholarship funds.

The Steamboat chapter holds morning meetings nine times per year. Members pay annual dues of $30. Every two years, each member is required to host a meeting and present an educational program.

Call Christine McKelvie at 970-879-2854 for more information.

Webinar emphasizes need for exceptional service

Mainstreet Steamboat Springs will offer a Brown Bag Lunch webinar about “Exceptional Customer Experience — Bridging the Gap between Expectation and Execution” featuring Pamela Herrmann from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Citizens Hall, 124 10th St.

The presentation will focus on the premise that a profitable business district rests on the ability to bring in a consistent flow of visitors who come often, stay longer, buy more and tells others by creating an exceptional customer experience. The webinar is free and is for owners, managers, sales staff, servers, front desk and housekeeping staff.

For more information or to set up a private screening, call Lisa Popovich at 970-367-7060 or email info@mainstreetsteam

boatsprings.com.

VNA offers tips to avoid foodborne illnesses

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association is advising precautions to avoid foodborne illness, particularly through the summer and fall.

The VNA recommends the following precautions to reduce the risk of contracting foodborne illness.

■ Always wash your hands with soap and water before preparing food.

■ Cook meat, poultry and eggs thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to measure internal temperature of meat.  

■ Wash hands, utensils and cutting boards after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry and before they touch another food.

■ Refrigerate leftovers that won’t be eaten within four hours. Bacteria can grow quickly at room temperature.

■ Wash produce in running tap water. Remove outermost leaves of a lettuce or cabbage. Bacteria can grow well on the cut surface of a fruit or vegetable. Take care not to contaminate produce while slicing on a cutting board, and don’t leave cut produce out for many hours.

■ Keep food away from flies and insects.

Common symptoms of foodborne illness include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and chills. Avoid preparing food for others if you have these symptoms. For more information, visit cdc.gov/foodsafety/facts.

Veterans benefits/claims information now available

Anyone wanting information on veterans benefits or who needs assistance filing a claim for veterans benefits can contact Michael T. Condie, Routt County Veterans Service officer, at 970-870-5469 or mcondie@co.routt.co.us. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays.