The Vallecito Nordic groomers will be celebrated and thanked for their work and commitment at 4 p.m. March 29 at the home of Buck and Joanna Madden, 3617 County Road 225.

Participants should bring a dish to share. Drinks will be provided.

Directions are available at http://vallecitonordic.org.

Water Seminar will run through DoubleTree

Water experts will speak at the Southwestern Water Conservation District’s annual Water Seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 3 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.

A broad range of topics will be covered at the seminar, including Colorado River basin contingency-planning efforts, agriculture’s future, the state water plan and water conservation strategies. Registration is $35 in advance or $40 at the door.

To register, visit http://swwcd.org/programs/annual-water-seminar. Mail-in registration forms also are available on the website. Registration at the door will open at 8 a.m. April 3.

For more information, call Laura Spann at 247-1302 or email [email protected].

Wine and cheese gala to benefit nonprofits

A “Red, White and Blue Wine and Cheese Gala and Fundraiser” will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. April 4 at the Durango Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.

The event will benefit Operation Second Chance and The Colorado Adventure. The cost is $15 for singles and $25 for couples.

Tickets are available at Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main Ave., or call Kayla Story at 759-4016.

Come sail with me, for scholarship

A benefit for The John Barry III Gecko (Giving Every Child Knowledge of the Outdoors) Sailing Scholarship will take place at 6 p.m. April 2 at the Irish Embassy, 900 Main Ave.

Participants will be entertained by a presentation of Barry and his crew’s adventures at sea. There also will be a live auction. Entry to ‘The Lounge’ at The Irish Embassy is $5, which will go to the scholarship. A percentage of all food and drink purchased also will go directly to the scholarship.

GECKO aims to get kids off the couch, unplugged and outside. The scholarship will send a local teenager on a month’s sailing trip with National Outdoor Leadership School.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 731-0211 or 946-6216.

‘From the Workbench’ to model trains

The Silver San Juan Division of the National Model Railroad Association will hold a spring recruiting meeting at 9 a.m. April 4 at the Farmington Museum, 3041 E. Main St., Farmington.

The program will include presentations on the history of railroading in the Farmington area, a presentation on the Rio Grande Southern Railroad and clinics on making model trees and other modeling tips.

An expanded version of “From the Workbench,” where modelers display and discuss their current projects, is planned.

All are invited to bring a model, a plan or a photo of their current projects to present to the group. A favorite train contest, where modelers display their favorite train, will be held. Swap tables will be available for members, as well.

Durango’s world fair needs your help

The Durango Education Center is seeking volunteers to assist with the sixth annual Around the World Multicultural Fair from 3 to 6 p.m. April 11.

The fair will include food and drinks from various countries along with educational information about each represented country. The fair will raise funds needed to support the Durango Education Center’s English as a Second Language program. Volunteers are needed to assist with an activity booth, selling tickets and/or passports at the entrance, set up tables and chairs on Saturday morning, clean up and break down after the event and hang up posters around town the week of April 6.

For more information, call Kelly Quach at 385-4354, ext. 15, or email [email protected].

Herald Staff