The Colorado Department of Transportation will host a series of telephone town hall meetings providing the public with an opportunity to ask questions and provide input about their regional-transportation needs.

Residents will be called at random through an automated system and invited to take part in the telephone forums. Coloradans who choose to join will have the opportunity to express their thoughts about transportation, how CDOT should focus its funding, discuss the link between transportation and the economy, and weigh in on regional priorities.

Anyone who wants to participate but does not receive a call can call (877) 229-8493, PIN 112034. During the session, participants will be able to ask questions and discuss local issues with their transportation commissioner. In addition, people will be able to use their keypad to answer live polls during the forum.

The forum for Dolores, Montezuma, La Plata, San Juan and Archuleta counties will take place at 7 p.m. April 22.

Wine Experience to take place

The eighth annual Durango Wine Experience will take place from April 24-27 in downtown Durango.

The experience offers three days of educational seminars, wine dinners and tastings, featuring thousands of wines, artisan spirits and craft beers.

For more information and tickets, visit www.durangowine.com. Tickets also will be available the week of the event at the Durango Wine Experience event office in the back lobby of the Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.

Cystic-fibrosis prevention fundraiser to be held

Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will be held April 26 at Santa Rita Park.

Cystic fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease that causes life-threatening lung infections and premature death. Great Strides raises money to support vital research for a cure.

To register a team, visit http://bit.ly/1dvrXCJ.

Fort Lewis College board to meet Friday

The Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College will meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the Vallecito Room in the Student Union.

Executive session may be convened to discuss the employment contract of the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

For more information, call Peggy Sharp at 247-7437 or email [email protected].

Rod Cook to speak about weeds Saturday

The Animas Museum, 3065 West Second Ave., will host a presentation by Rod Cook from La Plata County Weeds Department at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Early residents planted gardens containing fashionable plants. Many of those are today considered noxious weeds. Learn more, and explore some of the “Victorian Beauty Products” that had their roots in the garden and sample herbal teas.

For more information, call 259-2402.

Title VII program to host run April 19

The Title VII Native American education program in Durango School District 9-R will host its first annual Spirit Runners 5K/1 mile “fund run/walk” April 19 behind Durango High School on the Animas River Trail at Rank Park.

Early registration will take place Tuesday. Money raised will support Native American students and families enrolled in the Title VII program. Title VII Native American education includes literacy support through cultural-literacy enrichment, collaboration with districtwide reading teachers, school-to-home connections, monthly parent meetings, outreach services/resources, tutoring, family feasts, guest speakers/mentors, community events, fundraisers and honoring Native American high school graduates with Pendleton blankets and eagle feathers at the graduation banquet.

For more information, call Lucinda Long-Webb at 946-1751 or email [email protected].

Herald Staff