Looking for a holiday gift for the book lovers in your life? The Friends of the Pine River Library District have been saving up the cream of the crop from their donated books just for you! The Friends will be holding their annual Winter Book and Bake Sale on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Community Room.

“We have been setting aside the best of our donated books since our last book sale in June, and we’ve got some great titles this year! We’ll also have baked treats for sale as well,” says Friends of the Library president Judy Gotthelf.

Mercy offers Blue Christmas service

The holidays may not be the most wonderful time of the year for people who have suffered a loss, and Mercy Medical Center’s Blue Christmas Service is designed for those who are grieving. Patients and members of the community are invited to the 13th annual Blue Christmas Service at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, in the Mercy Chapel.

The 30-minute service, led by Mercy chaplains, will feature readings, a time of remembrance, live music, and a guest speaker offering a healing message. The service is for anyone who finds the Christmas season difficult because of the death or estrangement of a loved one, unemployment, loneliness, illness, loss of a pet, or other hardships.

For more information, contact the Mercy Department of Spiritual Care at 764-2340.

Meet commissioner at fairgrounds

County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt will hold her monthly office hours at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Extension Building on Monday, Dec. 14, from noon to 2 p.m. She invites members of the public to visit with her to discuss issues of interest or concern in the County.

County seeks Bayfield library board member

The La Plata County Commissioners are seeking interested individuals to serve on the Pine River Public Library District Board. The board oversees the operation and administration of the Pine River Public Library. Terms begin in February, 2016, and interviews are expected to begin in early January. Terms are five years. Applicants must reside within the boundaries of the Library District.

This position is advisory and is not monetarily compensated. An application and board description may be obtained online at: http://co.laplata.co.us/departments_and_elected_officials/boards_commissions or from the County Administration Building at 1101 E. Second Ave., Durango. Applications are due by Dec. 31. For more information please call 382-6219.

Hospice of Mercy offering widow and widower support group

Hospice of Mercy is offering a widow and widower support group for individuals who have experienced the loss of a spouse or partner. The group will meet at the Durango-La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Avenue in Durango, on the first and third Thursday of each month, from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., beginning Dec. 17.

Those interested in joining this group should contact Kati Bachman at 382-2032.

Ignacio library holds chess nights

Chess returns to the Ignacio Community Library at 5:30 p.m. every Monday. All ages and skill levels are welcome to the open group. Come play a game or two!

Mercy offering health insurance enrollment help

Open enrollment for the 2016 health insurance coverage purchased through Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s health insurance marketplace, is available through Jan. 31, 2016.  Mercy community health advocates are available for in-person assistance to the public and can help answer questions and find a health insurance plan to meet each individual’s needs, whether enrolling for the first time or renewing coverage.

To schedule an appointment with a Mercy community health advocate, call 764-3994. Appointments are available Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Youth basketball sign-up due today

Today is the registration deadline for Bayfield Youth Basketball for kindergarten through fourth grade players. Games are Jan. 9 to Feb. 6. The registration fee is $35, and forms are due at Bayfield Town Hall. For more information, call 884-9544.

Library holding local author open house

Do you still have names on your gift giving list this holiday season? The Pine River Library is here to help with a Local Author Open House on Friday, Dec.18 from 6 to 8 p.m. As the culmination of the Local Author display that has been up in the Library lobby all fall, Pine River will be hosting many of the authors featured in the display for an open mike and book sale and signing. The library will also provide refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.

BEEP Preschool auctioning three Broncos tickets

Bayfield Early Education Program is holding an auction for three tickets to the Bengals/Broncos game on Monday, Dec. 28, in Denver. The seats are in Section 125, Row 12, seats 5,6,7, on the lower level and close to the 30-yard line. To bid on the tickets, call 884-7137.

Dharma Center offering daylong retreat

Erin Treat will offer a daylong retreat titled “Refuge Here and Now,” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Durango Dharma Center, at the intersection of 32nd Street and County Road 250.

This program invites participants to touch and be touched by life through the practice of sati, or mindfulness. Through periods of sitting and walking meditation and dharma reflections, participants may pause and reconnect with the direct experience of body, heart and mind.

To register, download the form from www.durangodharmacenter.org and mail with check payable to the Durango Dharma Center to: Heidi Trainor, 883 County Road 125, Hesperus, CO 81326. Scholarships are available by contacting Terry Leonard at [email protected] or 799-0084.