A property-tax exemption is available for the tax year 2014, affecting taxes payable in 2015 for qualifying seniors, the surviving spouses of seniors who previously qualified and for disabled veterans.

For people who qualify, 50 percent of the first $200,000 of the actual value of their primary residence is exempt. The state pays the tax on the portion that is exempt from property tax. Seniors and disabled veterans already receiving the Property Tax Exemption need not reapply. To verify if a person is already signed up for the exemption or if people would like to receive an application or brochure, call the La Plata County Assessor’s Office at 382-6228. The application deadline for the senior exemption is July 15.

Disabled veterans should contact the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs for an application. The application deadline for disabled veterans is July 1 with the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Healthy Homes workshop to be held

The Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) and the Pine River Library will hold a free “Healthy Homes” workshop about low- or no- cost methods to improve the air quality in a home at 6 p.m. Thursday at the library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive.

Participants will receive free carbon monoxide alarms and free radon test kits. This program is a partnership between 4CORE, the EPA and the Pine River Library.

For more information, call Sandhya Tillotson at 259-1916, ext. 115 or the library at 884-2222, ext. 510.

Drag-racing event to be held in N.M.

Four Corners Drag Racing Association, a nonprofit organization, will present the Porter Smith Raceway “Meet us at the Track Day! from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the track, 440 New Mexico Highway 527 and New Mexico Highway 64.

The track is about 40 minutes north of Bloomfield. There will be hot dogs and drinks, music and side-by-side tours down the track.

AARP driver-safety classes available

These Smart Driver Safety classes, defensive driving classes sponsored by the AARP Driver Safety Program, will take place:

From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pagosa Springs Senior Services.

From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 23 in the Pine Room at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

The class is a nationwide Department of Motor Vehicles accredited, defensive driving program that highlights recognizing and compensating for naturally occurring age related changes. The certificate is good for three years. Auto-insurance discounts apply for drivers age 55 and older for the three years. The cost for AARP members is $15 and $20 for nonmembers and includes all class materials and light refreshments.

For more information and to register, call Lois O’Dell at 759-8232.

Chipper-rental rebate program available

FireWise of Southwest Colorado is offering a chipper-rental rebate program for residents needing to reduce slash from wildfire fuels mitigation on private land.

The program is open to all residents in La Plata, Montezuma, Archuleta, Dolores and San Juan counties. It will reimburse residents the lesser of $100/day or 50 percent of the chipper-rental cost or a mitigation company providing the chipping services. Homeowners associations that sponsor a neighborhood chipping day can receive the lesser of $250/day or 50 percent of the chipper rental cost. The program is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and will run until Oct. 31 unless money is expended sooner. Rebate forms are available in local equipment rental shops and at www.southwestcoloradofires.org.

For more information, call 385-8909 or email [email protected].

Herald Staff