Routt County United Way has kicked off its 2015 season of giving and will be holding its first September $20K Day on Friday, Sept. 25 at Yampa Valley Bank. There will be a free taco bar and gelato from Ciao Gelato and live music with Brian Harvey from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On the same day last year, the local United Way was able to raise more than $46,000 with the help of generous contributions by the community and Yampa Valley Bank’s donation match of up to $10,000, which the bank will be doing again this year.  

All money Routt County United Way raises in Routt County stays in Routt County, directly helping local residents, agencies and programs. Donations can be made in person at Yampa Valley Bank or the Routt County United Way office, 443 Oak St. in Steamboat Springs, by texting “Community” to 91999, calling 970-879-5605 or online at routtcountyunitedway.org/donate2015.

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Summer Small Business Series set to conclude Tuesday

The Steamboat Springs Young Professionals Network will host its final installment of its Small Business Series from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Aurum Food and Wine.

On Tuesday, the topic will be “Growing Your Business Through Networking and Marketing,” and speakers will include Reed Jones, Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association, John Kuhn, Steamboat Springs Coffee & Tea Company, and Kathryn Pedersen, Fidelity Mortgage.

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The event will be held in Aurum’s upper room. It is free for YPN members, and $10 for non-members. E-mail Geoff Petis at gpetis@petislaw.com for more information.

Eclipse Watch Party offered by local astronomer, CMC

An Eclipse Watch Party, hosted by astronomer Jimmy Westlake, Colorado Mountain College’s SKY Club and the Steamboat Today will be held Sunday, Sept. 27 at CMC’s Alpine campus.

The indoor program will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Allbright Family Auditorium. Westlake, who writes the popular “Celestial News” column for Steamboat Today and the Craig Daily Press, will present a program entitled “Shadows in Space” about eclipses. Afterward, visitors will go outside onto the deck and patio where the rising moon will already be in partial eclipse over the mountain. Viewing will be available from totality at 8:13 p.m. to the very end of the partial eclipse at 10:23 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

SSHS Class of 1970 plans to host 45-year reunion

The Steamboat Springs High School Class of 1970 will hold a reunion the weekend of Sept. 25 to 27. Class members and friends will be meeting at the Gleasons’ home Friday, Sept. 25, before the Sailors homecoming football game. The class will also meet for coffee at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at The Egg and I. To RSVP or for more information, call Cheri Daschle, at 970-736-2602, or email dcdaschle@gmail.com.

Taxpayers who filed for tax extension can e-file online

The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers who previously filed for an extension of time to file their tax return that they can electronically file (e-file) their returns until Oct. 15.

About 10 million taxpayers nationwide file their tax returns after April 15. Last year, nearly 240,000 Coloradoans filed for an extension of time.

IRS e-file will be available through Oct. 15 to serve these taxpayers.

Those who wish to e-file can do so through:

■ A tax professional — Ask your tax professional if they participate in the e-file program.

■ A home computer — A computer with a modem or Internet access and tax preparation software are all that is necessary. E-filing via home computer can be done 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

■ Free File — Taxpayers earning $60,000 or less may be eligible to receive free tax return preparation and electronic filing through a partnership between the IRS and Free File Alliance LLC, a group of private sector tax software companies. Visit the IRS website’s Free File page for more details.

The extension granted extra time for filing the tax return only, not for paying any taxes due. Taxpayers will owe interest on any past due tax and may be subject to a late payment penalty if payment was not made by the original due date of the return. This year, the original due date for most taxpayers was April 15.

For more information on e-file, visit irs.gov/efile.

‘Empowering Women’ to be held at 7 p.m. Thursdays

A workshop entitled “Empowering Women: A Journey to Loving the Self” will be offered from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at Sundance Studio in Steamboat Springs. The workshop begins Thursday, Sept. 24 and will run through Thursday, Oct. 22. The five-week workshop is designed to examine women’s beliefs and learn how those beliefs enhance or diminish a women’s power and limit potential. The workshop incorporates group and individual exercises and activities. The cost is $100 for five weeks, and space is limited. Call Jennifer Zuccone at 602-820-5193 for more information.

Human service grant process open for applications

The human service funding from Routt County and the city of Steamboat Springs process is now open with grants due by 5 p.m. Oct. 16. Routt County United Way manages the process and is using the online software Community Force to accept applications. Any human service, nonprofit organization is eligible to apply at routtcountyunitedwaygrants.communityforce.com. Contact Kate Nowak at 970-879-5605 or kate@routtcountyunitedway.org for more information.

Nearly 700 digital forest maps available for e-users

Nearly 700 digital U.S. Forest Service maps now can be accessed via a smartphone by downloading the PDF Maps Mobile App, which is available for free from iTunes and the Android Play Store, according to a news release.

Through the app, users can purchase and download maps that are stored on their devices and can use the maps based on their location when GPS is available. The maps also will allow users to measure distance and area, find coordinates, open a current view in Google Maps, plot place marks, add notes, enter data and add photos, according to a news release.

Farm storage facility loans available through USDA

The USDA Colorado Farm Service Agency has Farm Storage Facility Loans available to area farmers and ranchers.

The Farm Service Agency offers low-interest loans to grain producers to build new or upgrade existing storage facilities and permanent drying and handling equipment. Loan opportunities include, but are not limited to:

■ New conventional-type cribs or bins, oxygen-limiting and other upright silo-type structures and flat-type storage structures designed for whole grain storage.

■ Perforated floors, safety equipment, quality improvement equipment, electrical equipment and concrete components considered essential for a fully functional storage facility.

Farm storage facility loans must be approved prior to site preparation, equipment purchase or construction and must be secured by a promissory note and security agreement. The new maximum principal loan amount is $500,000. Participants are required to provide a down payment of 15 percent, with CCC providing a loan for the remaining 85 percent of the net cost of the eligible storage facility and permanent drying and handling equipment.

Additional security is required for poured-cement open-bunker silos, renewable biomass facilities, cold storage facilities, hay barns and for all loans exceeding $50,000. New loan terms of seven, 10 or 12 years are available depending on the amount of the loan. Interest rates for each term rate may be different and are based on the rate that CCC borrows from the Treasury Department.

For more information, stop by the local FSA office or visit fsa.usda.gov.

Food boxes available for low-income seniors

Commodities Supplemental Food Program boxes are designed to supplement the diets of low-income seniors 60 and older. The boxes, distributed monthly by LIFT-UP of Routt County to area seniors, contain a variety of nonperishable food items and cheese. If you or someone you know may benefit from this program, call the LIFT-UP Food Bank at 970-870-8804 for more information.