Here are the following places that the Las Animas/Bent County Chamber of Commerce 2011 Calendars can be purchased for $15.00:  Health Mart, Beauty Bar, Chamber of Commerce, and the Art Gallery.  For more information on purchasing a calendar please call 719-456-0453.

Update on the Valley-Wide Expansion in Las Animas

Bent County Development Foundation is providing an update on the Valley-Wide facility in Las Animas.

The expansion construction began in August of this year and is on schedule to be completed by early March of 2011. Danny Trujillo, the superintendent for the prime contractor Bassett Construction stated “We are on target but my goal is to be ahead of schedule.”

The expansion will add approximately 2,000 square feet to the existing facility. The exterior has a new look and includes a new façade, parking area, and the original car port area is now a part of the square footage adding a larger patient waiting area.

The new interior walls are in the process of being prepared for painting and the case work around the doors and windows will start. The next step on the exterior will include new stucco and landscaping.

Once completed, the facility will include a larger waiting room, two additional medical exam rooms, nurses work stations, lab area, administrative offices, a handicap accessible/equipped restroom, and staff-break room. In addition, there will be a new dental suite that will include two operatories, hygiene room and lab/x-ray area.

“I am very excited about all of the new changes and progress and hope that once we get into to the new facility we can have an Open House to allow everyone a chance to see our new offices,” said Heather L. Abrahamson, D.O. “We look forward to getting back to our own offices and are grateful for the use of these temporary offices.”

Throughout the renovations, Valley-Wide has continued to offer their services to the community by moving temporary to the northeast corner of the Bent County Health Care Center. The temporary address is 215 Maple and the clinic can be reached at (719) 456-2653. This relocation not only allowed for the facility to remain open but also helped in expediting the construction phase.

” We are very excited to have more room for the practice. It has been a pleasure to work with this community and we are certainly humbled by the help and support that has been extended to us,” said Louisa Sisnroy, Family Nurse Practitioner. “We are especially happy to be working side by side with dental and Southeast Mental Health Center to bring increased care to Bent County. Thanks to all!”

The expansion is made possible by a Community Development Block Grant awarded by the Department of Local Affairs and a Capital Improvement Program grant made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 both administered through a partnership between Valley-Wide Heath Systems, Inc. and Bent County.