The Marvel Grange will host an ice-cream social honoring veterans at 3 p.m. Saturday at the home of Pat Greer, 8097 County Road 100.

Participants should bring homemade ice cream to share. If the weather is bad, the event will be moved to the Marvel Grange Hall, 217 County Road 133A.

Living-wage coalition to meet Monday

The La Plata County Thrive! Living Wage Coalition will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Commons Building, 701 Camino del Rio, in the first-floor conference room.

Thrive’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in La Plata County through fair and just wages for all. Through its Employer Recognition Program, a total of 45 employers are now certified and paying a living wage to their employees. The group is recruiting people who make lass than a living wage ($12.40 for a single person) to attend the coalition meetings or be on the Steering Committee.

For more information, or to donate to help fund the coalition’s part-time employee in charge of the Employer Recognition Program, visit thrivelaplata.org.

Volunteers of America Back Home relocates

The Volunteers of America Back Home program for veterans has relocated to the Commons Building, 701 Camino del Rio, Suite 100.

People can learn about the program’s services from 3 to 4:30 p.m. July 23. Light refreshments will be provided. Participants should park in visitors parking.

Tickets available for Chuck Wagon Cook-Off

Tickets are available for the La Plata-Archuleta Cattlemen’s Chuck Wagon Cook-Off at Basin Coop, 26103 U.S. Highway 160.

The cook-off will be held on July 25 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, under the trees just south of the Durango/La Plata Senior Center. Each meal will consist of meat, potatoes, beans, fresh bread and a dessert. Eight wagons will be competing this year, and all food will be prepared over open fires. Judging of the wagons will begin at 10 a.m., and the judging of the food will take place at 5 p.m. Serving to the public will begin at 5:15 p.m. The grounds will be open to the public.

Mindfulness retreat will be held July 25

Educators and parents interested in exploring ways of teaching youth how to live and grow with strong minds and hearts are invited to a retreat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 25 at the Durango Dharma Center, 208 East Animas Road (County Road 250).

In this workshop, “Creating a Climate of Mindfulness in Schools and Homes,” participants will learn simple lessons that cultivate compassion, empathy and wisdom. They also will gain techniques for helping students and children develop the ability to pay attention and self-regulate emotions.

The workshop will be led by Kate Munding-Janke, a meditation teacher and mindfulness-education specialist. She is the creator of Heart-Mind Curriculum and consults worldwide with educational institutions and organizations. Participants will have access to her webpage database, including lessons and references for further learning.

The workshop is suitable for people at all levels of mindfulness.

To register or for more information, visit www.durangodharmacenter.org. For more information, call Terry Leonard at 799-0084 or email [email protected].

Herald Staff