The Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County offers a free monthly Homebuyer Education Class.

The class is an eight-hour program designed to help participants purchase and own a home. Topics will include: buyer readiness, budget/financial management, credit reports and scoring, mortgage lending, working with a realtor, homeowners insurance, home inspections, the closing process, home maintenance and foreclosure prevention. The class is facilitated by the alliance with contributions from local professionals such as loan officers, realtors and insurance agents who teach participants about their specific field of expertise.

The December class will be held in two sessions: Dec. 3 and 5. Registration is required. To register, call 259-1418. For more information, visit www.rhalpc.org.

Bear Smart to host member party

The first-ever Bear Smart Durango Member Party + Silent Auction will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Steaming Bean, 915 Main Ave.

The silent auction will close at 7 p.m. Food and beer will be available from The Steaming Bean. Wine will be available courtesy of Wildcat Canyon Liquors. Music will be provided by Durango Darlings, Classical Duo. The cost is $10 per person. Children are free. Tickets will be available at the door.

For more information, visit bearsmartdurango.org.

High Noon Rotary Club to meet Thursday

The Durango High Noon Rotary Club will meet from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the DoubleTree, 501 Camino del Rio.

The cost for lunch is $15. This meeting will be a Club Assembly which will include committee reports.

Fort Lewis College board to meet Dec. 4

The Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College will conduct a public meeting at 9 a.m. Dec. 4 in the Vallecito Room of the Student Union at Fort Lewis College.

Executive Session will be convened for purposes of discussing personnel matters and matters involving individual students where public disclosure would adversely affect the persons involved. Executive session may be convened for purposes of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions that may arise during the discussion.

For more information, call Peggy Sharp at 247-7437 or email [email protected].

St. Mark’s to host Christmas bazaar

St. Mark’s Christmas Bazaar will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 5 at St. Mark’s Parish Hall, 910 East Third Ave.

Fine quality handcrafted items from practical to beautiful will be fore sale. St. Mark’s kitchen will have its famous cinnamon rolls and homemade chili. A newer feature is the Estate Boutique which will offer top quality, used decorative items at garage sale prices.

For more information, call 247-1129.

Travel to be affected on Florida Road

The city of Durango has contracted with Monarch Energy Group to replace two damaged light poles on Florida Road between East Animas Road (County Road 250) and Folsom Place.

The work is scheduled to take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. The southbound travel lane will be impacted. Motorists should expect delays in the area and may want to consider an alternative route.

For more information, call Tom Kramer at 375-4909.

Prostate cancer support group to meet

The Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

Anyone with prostate issues is welcome.

For more information, call Jim Duresky at 247-1292.

State wildlife area closures to begin

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds recreational users that seasonal closures on two Durango-area state wildlife areas take effect Tuesday.

Public access into those areas is prohibited during the closure period, which is set to protect wintering wildlife and peregrine falcons. Violation of the closures could result in a citation and fine. Signs indicating the closure restrictions are clearly displayed at popular trailheads at these areas.

Bodo State Wildlife Area, Perins Peak State Wildlife Area on the west side of the Dry Fork Road (County Road 208) and the Bureau of Land Management tracts at Perins Peak, Animas City Mountain and the Grandview area are closed from Tuesday through April 15. The portion of Perins Peak SWA on the east side of Dry Fork Road is closed Tuesday through July 31.

One exception to the closures is on the steep Smelter Mountain trail on the east side of Bodo SWA above the Animas River. It is open year-round, but from Tuesday to April 15, the trail is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dogs are prohibited.

For more information, visit http://cpw.state.co.us.

Las Posadas event at Bayfield library

In the second installment of its monthly Mesa de Charla series, Pine River Library will host a storytime and community potluck in honor of Las Posadas, a Latin American holiday, from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive in Bayfield.

Las Posadas, meaning “the inns,” is traditionally celebrated between Dec. 16 and 24. The holiday commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. The event will feature a special storytime highlighting the roots of the celebration, and there also will be a children’s activity. Community members are invited to bring a dish to share as a part of the potluck meal.

For more information, call 884-2222.

Herald Staff