The Durango-La Plata County Airport will conduct a full-scale disaster drill Thursday. Beginning at 9 a.m., emergency responders from the airport and the surrounding area will respond to a simulated aircraft accident at the airport.

All Federal Aviation Administration Part 139-certified airports are required to conduct a full-scale disaster drill every three years. The exercise is designed to test airport preparedness in the event of an incident. As part of the simulation, emergency responders will extinguish a controlled fire and remove volunteer actors from an aircraft fuselage. Volunteers also will be treated for mock injuries and transported to local medical facilities. Airport patrons and area residents may witness a large volume of emergency vehicle traffic in addition to a small amount of smoke and fire. The exercise will not affect daily operations of the airport.

For more information, call Tony Vicari at 382-6052.

Alpine Bank will take your children’s books

Alpine Bank locations will accept donations of new and gently used children’s books, appropriate for ages from birth to eight years old, in support of the Colorado Business Reads book drive through April.

EPIC, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children, will deliver the books locally to children and families through schools, libraries, doctor’s offices and child-care centers.

For more information, visit http://www.coloradoepic.org/.

Medicare enrollment counselors needed

La Plata County Senior Services is seeking volunteers to assist seniors with Medicare Open enrollment for Part D.

Free training will be provided from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 13 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. Counselors are needed at the Durango/La Plata Senior Center, the Pine River Senior Center in Bayfield and the Southern Ute Community Action Programs Senior Center in Ignacio.

For more information, call Sheila Casey at 382-6442 by May 1.

Train whistle blows on the 2015 season

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad will kick off the Silverton season with the annual “Hot Dog Day” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday on the depot lawn, 479 Main Ave.

In addition to the complimentary picnic, there will be performances by the Bar D Wranglers, tours of premium-class cars, appearances from the Peanuts gang and photo opportunities with the T Rex Buddy. The D&SNGRR, with members of CarbonZero, will give away 300 tree seedlings.

The D&SNGRR will begin the Silverton season with its first train departing Durango at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. This opening day is known as “Silverton Salutations.” The railroad will host a complimentary continental breakfast in the Silverton depot at 10th and Cement streets in Silverton from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The train is scheduled to arrive into downtown Silverton at 12:15 p.m.

For more information, visit www.durangotrain.com or call (888) 872-4607.

Dance with the Stars at the Henry Strater

Community Connection’s second annual production of Dancing with the Stars will take place at 6:30 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave.

Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. show are $15 or $20 for box seats. Tickets for the 8:30 p.m. show are $25 or $30 for box seats.

For tickets or more information, visit www.henrystratertheatre.tix or call 375-1160.

Relief fund is set up for local Nepalese

A relief fund to aid the families of the local Nepalese community who were affected by the earthquake has been set up at the Bank of the San Juans, 144 E. Eighth St.

All proceeds will be distributed directly to the local Nepalese community members to help their families in reconstruction and repair of destroyed and damaged homes and to provide basic necessities during the recovery process. Donations are being accepted at any Bank of the San Juans location. Checks can be made payable to Bank of the San Juans, with “Nepal Community Relief Fund” in the memo line.

For more information, email Maureen May at [email protected].

Herald Staff