Congressional candidate and former state Sen. Abel J. Tapia will host a meet and greet session from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the rooftop of Alpine Bank on the corner of 11th Street and Main Avenue above the La Plata Democratic headquarters.

Tapia will meet with voters and give some narrative about his campaign and why he believes he is the right candidate to represent the people of Colorado’s 3rd District.

Tapia also will address issues including a pair of bridges in Durango that have been deemed “fair,” meaning that they are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, by the Colorado Department of Transportation. A second opportunity to meet Tapia will take place at 2 p.m. in the same building. A volunteer drive will be launched out of the Democratic Headquarters, and Tapia is slated to give the volunteers a few words before they practice voter outreach efforts.

Diversity initiative seeking volunteers

Adults of all ages, including college students, are invited to join the Embracing Diversity Initiative, a youth-adult partnership with Durango High School’s Prejudice Elimination Action Team.

The mission of the group is to increase cultural appreciation and understanding in the community through trained youth-adult partner coaches who facilitate diversity and cultural competency workshops for community businesses and organizations.

Training is provided for volunteers through the Anti-Defamation League.

The group will meet from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Durango High School.

For more information or to join, email Lauren Patterson at [email protected] or call 259-1247.

Book club to meet at the Ignacio library

Ignacio Community Library, 470 Goddard Ave., will host the Evening Book Club at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The book club meets the third Thursday of every month to read a new book in a variety of genres. This month’s book will be The White Queen by Phiiippa Gregory.

For more information, call 563-9287.

Changes facing Zunis to be discussed

“A:shiwi A:wan Ulohnanne: The Zuni World?” is the title of Dan Simplicio’s presentation to take place at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Gates Building, 23390 Road K, Cortez.

Simplicio, a Zuni tribal member and former member of the tribal council, is the laboratory education coordinator at Crow Canyon.

He will focus on changes that are affecting the Zuni lifestyle, cultural practices and language.

The second portion of Simplicio’s talk will address the current state of Zuni life, including such issues as cultural practices that are now extinct, health problems and the shrinkage of the Zuni aquifer.

For more information, visit www.crowcanyon.org.

Kiwanis Club to host Pancake Day Thursday

The Kiwanis Club of Durango will celebrate the 59th annual Pancake Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, 2500 N. Main Ave.

Tickets are $10, and children younger than 12 eat for free.

The menu will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham steak, maple and fruit flavored syrups, green chiles, salsa, coffee, tea, orange juice and milk.

The Kiwanis Club of Durango supports programs and activities aimed at improving the minds, lives and futures of the youth of La Plata County. Tickets can be purchased at the door or from any Kiwanis member. Door prizes will be given away throughout the day, including gift certificates, gift cards and merchandise from local restaurants and retail stores.

Commodities to be handed out Monday

Commodities distribution & the Produce Bounty Project will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

People who earn 185 percent or less of the federal poverty income threshold can receive food distribution at the fairgrounds. In addition to the commodities provided by the USDA through the Durango Food Bank, local produce will be distributed as well.

These vegetables and fruits are donated by regional gardeners and farmers through the Produce Bounty Project.

Cooking Matters will provide cooking education to the families who will receive commodity foods and locally gleaned fresh produce.

Cooking Matters will set up a cooking station to prepare dishes for food recipients to sample and recipes to take home.

Drop off excess produce from a farm or garden from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall.

For more information, email Celeste Greene at [email protected] or Erin Jolley at [email protected].

Herald Staff