The Writers and Scribblers will meet from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Pine River Valley Bank in Durango.

“Blogging, Book Publishing, and Digital Marketing” will be presented by professional blogger and web designer Dr. Alta Graham. Guests are welcome.

Southwest Studies to host benefit party

Center of Southwest Studies will host a summer benefit party from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rochester Hotel & Bar, 726 East Second Ave,.

There will be a cash bar and music from Robby Overfield, with light fare provided. This event is free and open to the public, with donations welcomed.

For more information, call 247-7456 or visit http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu.

Republican Women to meet Aug. 19

Southwest Republican Women will feature Toni Anne Dashiell, national committeewoman from Texas, as the luncheon speaker and workshop presenter at their meeting at noon Aug. 19 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.

Lunch is $16 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The 90-minute workshop is an additional $10.

The speaker at the Sept. 16 meeting will be Mary Ann Smith, Colorado Federation of Republican Women District III Southwest director.

Reservations can be made until Thursday by email to [email protected] or by calling Teri Oliger at 749-8546.

Archaeological society to meet Thursday

The next meeting of the San Juan Basin Archaeological Society will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College.

In connection with the Four Corners Lecture Series, Grant Smith, archaeologist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, will present “Late Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers in Utah and Promontory Cave.” The public is invited.

DHS Class of 1964 to plan reunion

Durango High School Class of 1964 will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday in the 49er Lounge at the Sky Ute Casino Resort Event Center in Ignacio for lunch to plan its 50th class reunion.

The reunion will include a picnic and get together at 5 p.m. Sept. 5 at Sharon Schoser-Hamer’s ranch; all members of the Classes of 1963 and 1965 are invited to this Friday night get-together.

A dinner and dance also will take place at 5 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Sky Ute Casino Resort Event Center.

For more information, call Teresa Malbrook Rockett at (505) 330-9359.

Comments sought about health care

The Southwest Center for Independence, a local nonprofit that helps people with disabilities live well in the community, has teamed up with Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition and the Rocky Mountain Health Plans to meet with community members to get their say about how health care is delivered. People or those with a family member on Medicaid and have a disability are asked to share their thoughts about health care and about Medicaid services.

The get-together will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Animas Room of the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. Lunch will be provided in exchange for feedback.

To RSVP and request accommodations, call 403-1463.

School supplies to be collected at Walmart

A collection of school supplies will take place Friday at the Durango Walmart, 1155 S. Camino del Rio.

The public will be asked to purchase and donate school supplies for its 16th annual Back To School Back Pack Program.

The supplies will be distributed to elementary school students in families served by La Plata Family Centers Coalition. The Family Centers offer this program to help defray these expenses and to get children properly prepared for school.

One hundred backpacks will go to students in Bayfield, and the remainder will be given to students in Durango and Ignacio.

Radio station 99X in Durango is sponsoring the event and will be airing a live telecast at Walmart from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday.

The school supplies drive is being supported by United Way of Southwest Colorado, La Plata Electric Association and Durango Education Foundation. Volunteers are needed to distribute the backpacks from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

To volunteer, call 385-4747.

Herald Staff