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 real estate agent, 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, real estate agents and insurance agents.

The next class will be held in three sessions from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 30, Oct. 7 and Oct. 14. Registration is required.

To register, call 259-1418. For more information, visit www.rhalpc.org.

Bookmark contest seeks submissions

The deadline for all submissions to the Bookmark Contest sponsored by the Friends of the Library in Durango is Wednesday.

The contest is open to all students from elementary through high school. A Kindle Paperwhite will be awarded to the winner in each of two categories, elementary/mid-school and high school. Contestants should create an illustration accompanied by a relevant book or reading quote. Artwork must be capable of size reduction for bookmark production. A total of 2,500 bookmarks will be printed of each of the two winning bookmarks, with the artist’s name and school included. Applications with rules are available at all schools and at the front desk in the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave. The Friends of the Library will announce the winners on Oct. 10.

Education center to host training

The Durango Education Center will host a volunteer orientation training from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the center, 701 Camino del Rio, Suite 301.

People interested in volunteering for the 2014-2015 school year are requested to attend this orientation before volunteering. The orientation will cover the volunteer application as well as specific program needs and expectations. Volunteers are needed to assist GED and English as a second language classes. Volunteers also assist with special projects and fundraisers. Volunteers are needed during all hours of operation, Monday through Thursday.

For more information, call Libby Baumchen at 385-4354, ext. 108.

New Moon Astro-Tour to be held today

Durango Nature Studies will host a New Moon Astro-Tour at 9 p.m. today at the Durango Nature Center.

The tour is free for members and $10 for nonmembers. Astronomer John Buting will lead the tour. This program also will include a presentation on Navajo skylore and mythology and how differently from traditional western astronomy the earliest inhabitants of the Four Corners viewed the night sky and its celestial inhabitants.

To register, email [email protected], call 769-1800 or visit www.durangonaturestudies.org/wildwords.htm.

Daybreak Rotary to meet Wednesday

Durango Daybreak Rotary will hear about the book Dead Man Walking and Fort Lewis College’s common reading experience from Bridget Irish, director of the program at 7 a.m. Wednesday at Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave.

Each year, FLC provides incoming freshmen a common intellectual experience with a chosen book and presentation by its author. This year’s chosen reading is Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean. The public is welcome.

For more information, call Mary Oswald at 749-6332.

Herald Staff