Housing Solutions for the Southwest is the new administering agency of the Community Emergency Assistance Coalition, a one-time emergency financial-assistance program.

In order to apply, applicants must now call Housing Solutions for the Southwest to schedule an appointment. Applications are considered by the committee on a weekly basis.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 259-1086.

Discovery Museum announces programs

Durango Discovery Museum, 1333 Camino del Rio, announces these programs:

Navajo Skies, a portable planetarium STARLAB, will be installed inside the museum Thursday and show times will take place at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Presented by Nancy Maryboy and David Begay from the Indigenous Education Institute, Navajo Skies will approximate traditional Navajo ways of passing on the knowledge of astronomy. The cost is $7.50 for adults, $6 for children older than 2, and museum members are free. To reserve tickets, call 259-9234.

Laura Peticolas, physicist at UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory, will join Maryboy and Begay for “Aurora: Earth-to-Sky Physics,” highlighting the science behind the electromagnetic phenomenon of auroras on Friday. The doors open at 6 p.m.

“Totally Inappropriate Date Night” will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 14. Participants will dissect a heart. The cost is $20 per couple.

Life-Long Learning series continues

The Life-Long Learning Lecture Series at Fort Lewis College will present “Understanding the Science Behind Vaccines and Their Impact on One’s Personal Health” at 7 p.m. Thursday in Noble Hall, Room 130.

David Blake, professor of biology at FLC, will discuss how vaccines work and why they are beneficial to society. He will also identify the strengths and weaknesses of various vaccines, including those used against H1N1 (the causative agents of the seasonal flu), bordetella pertussis (the causative agent of whooping cough) and HIV (the causative agent of AIDS).

For a schedule of lectures, visit www2.fortlewis.edu/professionalassociates.

Senior center to host computer workshops

These computer workshops will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Durango/La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.:

Participants will review iPad systems 6 and 7 and learn apps on Thursday. Students must have an iPad. The deadline to sign up is today.

Basic Computer Literacy will take place Tuesday. Participants will learn the basics of using a computer. The deadline to sign up is Thursday.

The cost is $15 per class. For more information, call 382-6428.

Pine River Library announces programs

The Pine River Library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive, will host these programs:

Firefighter Storytime will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday. Firefighters from the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District will read stories and introduce kids to their specialized gear and vehicles.

A musical storytime event with a book-signing will take place at 10 am. Feb. 13. Melanie Milburn will sing children-oriented songs and sign copies of her book, Imagination, It’s Up To You!

“Fun with Science” and “Fun with Science Junior” will take place the first Saturday of each month. Fun with Science runs from 2:30 to 4 p.m. and is for kids in third-grade or above and Fun with Science Junior runs from 1 to 2 p.m. and is for kids in Kindergarten through second-grade. A snack is served. March’s topic will be Fun with Simple Machines: Catapults and Ramps.

For more information, visit www.prlibrary.org, call 884-2222 or email [email protected].

Handbell Choir to host fundraiser Saturday

The 18th annual Handbell Choir fundraiser “Bella Notte” Italian Dinner will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the St. Columba School gym, 1801 East Third Ave.

There will be live performances by the St. Columba Handbell Choir, The Parish Ringers and The Harmony Handbell Ensemble. The menu will include spaghetti with a choice of meat or vegetarian sauce, tossed green salad, Italian bread, sparkling punch and ice cream with a cookie for dessert. There also will be homemade baked goods for sale at the Italian Marketplace. Tickets are $8 per plate, and children 4 and younger eat free. Tickets are available from Handbell Choir members or at the door.

Mercy to host class on prediabetes

Mercy Regional Medical Center will offer a class concerning prediabetes with Sheena Carswell, and Marge Morris, from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday in Suite 140 of the medical office building at Mercy.

Attendees will learn how to manage prediabetes and help prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. People diagnosed with prediabetes are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Effectively managing prediabetes can help prevent diabetes.

To register, call Jan Wesley at 764-2720.

FLC committees to meet Thursday

The Business Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday followed by the Academic & Student Affairs Committee at 3 p.m.

The Ad-Hoc Investment Advisory Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. The meetings will be held in the President’s Conference Room, 2503 Berndt Hall at FLC.

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

Nature Studies to host winter social

Durango Nature Studies will host Winter Social and Dine-Out from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave.

Carver’s will donate 15 percent of all the food and drink served during the social. The event will feature trivia games, scat guessing, summer camp raffle and a list of activities that are planned for the year. Bluegrass music also will be performed by Scott Roberts.

Herald Staff