Habitat for Humanity will hold an orientation for people interested in its Home Ownership Program at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pine River Library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive.

Applications will be available. No RSVP is needed, and children are welcome.

For more information, call 382-2215.

Mesa Verde conducts prescribed burn

Mesa Verde National Park will conduct a prescribed fire through Feb. 29, weather permitting.

The Chapin Mesa area fire is being conducted to dispose of material created during fuel reduction projects last summer. The burn is 1 acre in size, and fuels primarily include gamble oak, piñon and juniper.

Burning at this time of year should produce low-intensity fire behavior while achieving desired fuel-reduction goals. Ignition operations should take one day, but the burn may produce smoke for several days afterward.

Visitors to Mesa Verde may see smoke in the southwestern part of the park during these activities. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health.

For more information, visit www.colorado.gov/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health or call Keith Krause at 529-5062.

Mesa Verde entrance fee waived for King holiday

Mesa Verde National Park and all 409 national parks across the country will waive entrance fees Monday in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The African American Heritage section of www.nps.gov contains a series of travel itineraries, essays and lesson plans.

In addition to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the National Park Service will waive entrance fees on 16 other days, from April 16 to April 24; Aug. 25 to Aug. 28; Sept. 24; and Nov. 11.

Veterans breakfast served Sundays at Elks Lodge

The Durango Elks Lodge Veterans Committee will host breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. the first and third Sundays of the month at the lodge, 901 East Second Ave.

People should use the Ninth Street entrance. The cost is $5 for veterans and $6 for non-veterans.

Durango police chief to address GOP group

Southwest Republican Women will welcome guest speaker Durango Police Department Chief James Spratlen at noon Tuesday at the DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.

Spratlen will speak about local law enforcement’s mission to protect and serve the community. A question-and-answer period will be held after his talk.

Lunch will cost $17 for members and $21 for non-members.

For more information and to make reservations before Sunday, email [email protected]. A meet-and-greet will take place from 11:30 a.m. to noon.

Fort Lewis College invites you to celebrate MLK

Free activities for the community will be held in tradition of celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the Fort Lewis College.

The traditional March of Solidarity will begin the celebration at 12:15 p.m. People who want to participate should gather at the Center of Southwest Studies. The march will wind through campus, ending inside the Student Union, where the FLC Choir will perform at 12:30 p.m.

A number of social justice workshops will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.

Activists from the Black Lives Matter movement will give presentations and address the history of black liberation campaigns. There will also be hip-hop and dance performances.

Evening events will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.

For more information, call Nancy Stoffer at 247-7170.

Democratic Party to host Soup and Soul potluck

The La Plata County Democratic Party will host Soup and Soul, an annual potluck dinner featuring homemade dishes and a local program of inspiration and hope, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday at Manna Soup Kitchen, 1100 Avenida del Sol.

The program will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Participants whose last name begins with A to M can bring a dessert to share; N to R can bring soup, stew or chili; S to Z can bring salad, vegetable or side dish.

Essential oils class to be held Tuesday

Durango Olive Oil Company will host a free essential oils class at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Perins Room at the Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave.

The class will talk about essential oils and explain how to use them.

All participants receive a free oil for coming. To RSVP, email [email protected] or call or text 749-5332.

Herald Staff