The Animas Valley Grange will host a chili and soup potluck dinner at 4 p.m. Sunday at 7271 County Road 203.

All are welcome. The grange has invited Brian Devine to give a brief introductory talk about water quality in the Animas River system and groundwater. Devine works for the San Juan Basin Health Department. He will talk about what rural residents can do to protect their health and their crops from water-quality risks. Participants are asked to bring a chili or soup. Hot and cold drinks, bread and dessert will be provided. For more information, call 385-5298.

Legal information offered at Jan. 21 fair

The 6th Judicial District Access to Justice Committee in conjunction with the Southwest Colorado Bar Association and the Southwest Bar Volunteer Legal Aid/Colorado Legal Services are sponsoring a free Legal Resources Fair from 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, 2500 Main Ave. It is open to the public.

Attorneys will answer questions about many areas of the law including: wills and probate; living wills, advanced directives, do not resuscitate; landlord-tenant; employment law; family law; estate planning; immigration; power of attorney; contracts; debt and bankruptcy; criminal-juvenile; veterans issues and more.

Legal-resource entities will be available to provide information such as Colorado Legal Services, court services, Department of Human Services, mediators, Housing Solutions and more. A Spanish interpreter will be on site. Refreshments will be available.

City announces holiday schedule

The following is the city of Durango’s schedule for Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

City administrative offices will be closed including City Hall, River City Hall, police station and substation, Durango-La Plata County Airport, Greenmount Cemetery, and Parks and Recreation administrative offices.

Durango Community Recreation Center, Chapman Hill and the Mason Center will all be open with regular hours and scheduled classes.

Durango Public Library and all branches will be closed.

Residential and commercial trash and recycling pickup will occur as scheduled, with all drop-off locations open. The Durango Recycling Center will be closed.

Transit buses and the trolley will run regular schedules on all routes. The Durango Transit Center’s parking and cashier’s window will be closed.

Downtown parking meters will be free.

Mesa Verde park hosts Winter Festival

Mesa Verde National Park will host the Winter Festival on Saturday and Jan. 23 with these activities:

Races, primitive skills demonstration, wildlife walk, kid’s activities and more will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Participants can learn primitive survival skills that the ancestral Puebloans used at Mesa Verde at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Adventure Corner featuring a snowy obstacle course and Earth art will take place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

A 3-mile Nordic fun race will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday. Classic and skate skiers ages 10 and older are welcome. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.

A guided ski and snowshoe hike will be held at various times Saturday. Participants will learn how to look for and identify animal tracks and signs. Visit the information table for available times.

A full moon ski and snowshoe will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 23 at Mesa Verde’s Morefield Campground, Meadow Bliss, and new Cottontail Loop trails.

Parking for all events will be at the winter activities parking lot in the Morefield Campground Village. A limited number of adult and child snowshoes will be available for checkout. There will be a drawing at both events for prizes donated by local businesses and organizations. For more information, call 529-4461.

Chili cook-off Saturday in Marvel

Marvel Grange will host a chili cook-off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Marvel Grange Hall, 217 County Road 133A in Marvel.

Participants are asked to bring 1 gallon of ready-to-serve chili (red or green chile or both) and $10 to enter the contest. Awards will be determined by the number of entries.

After the cook-off, there will be a dessert auction to raise funds to help local families struggling to pay electric or propane bills this winter. Anyone wishing to share a talent at the event should call 588-3325.

Herald Staff