The Civil Air Patrol Senior Squadron will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church of Mancos, 150 N. Walnut St. in Mancos.

This is the squadron covering adults in the Durango, Cortez and Mancos areas. Meetings are generally held on the third Thursday of each month.

For more information, call Darrin Guilbeau at 759-7012.

Christmas tree permits now available

Christmas tree permits, which allow people to cut their own tree on National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands, are on sale at these locations:

Bayfield: Columbine Ranger District, 367 Pearl St.

Cortez: City Market, 508 E. Main.

Dolores: Dolores Public Lands Office, 29211 Colorado Highway 184; and Dolores Food Market, 400 Railroad Ave.

Durango: San Juan Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett Court; and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware, No. 8 Town Plaza.

Mancos: Cox Conoco, 201 E. Railroad Ave.

Pagosa Springs: Pagosa Ranger District, 180 Pagosa St.

A permit, which costs $8, allows people to cut one tree up to 20 feet tall for personal use. The permit will expire Dec. 31. Permits come with a brochure explaining regulations and helpful tips. National Forest/BLM offices also sell maps and offer advice. Public land offices in Bayfield, Dolores, Durango and Pagosa Springs will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For road condition information, call 247-4874. For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan.

Marvel Grange to host potluck

Marvel Grange, 217 County Road 133, will host a potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Following the potluck, Lori Wicke will present the program “Investing 101.” Participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food for needy families.

Giving Tree accepting applications, donations

The 2013 Mancos Giving Tree, a community based, volunteer operated effort providing for members of the Mancos Valley who otherwise may not have a Christmas, is accepting applications and donations.

The Giving Tree collects and distributes Christmas gifts to about 150 Mancos-area residents each year. There are no age nor income tests for the tree. Residents of Mancos Valley and students in the schools are welcome to apply. Applications are available at Mancos schools, churches, the Visitor Center, Mancos Valley Bank, and www.mancosvalley.com. Participants should return the applications to the school office or nurse, to the Visitors Center, Mancos Valley Bank, or mail to P. O. Box 535, Mancos, CO, 81328. Applications must be received by Friday.

The trees will be at Mancos Library, the Columbine Bar, Mancos Valley Bank, P & D and Zuma. Donors may make monetary donations through Mancos Valley Resources at P.O. Box 204, Mancos, CO, 81328 or call 533-7434.

Cultural center hosting Christmas tree drawing

The Cortez Cultural Center invites people to visit from Saturday to Dec. 13 and enter in a drawing to win one of the Twelve Trees of Christmas.

Tickets are $1 each. Funds raised will support the following local non profits: Heart and Soul, School Community Youth Collaborative, Cortez Cultural Center, Bridge Emergency Shelter, Grace’s Kitchen, Montezuma County Historical Society, KSJD, Pinon Project and Civitan. The Twelve Trees of Christmas, each fully decorated, will be given away from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 13. Music will be provided by Newcomb High School Jazz Ensemble.

For more information, visit www.cortezculturalcenter.org or call 565-1151.

Thanksgiving farmers market to be held

The Thanksgiving Durango Farmers Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave., in the breezeway between the exhibit hall and extension building.

Area farmers and artists will be selling their goods.

Preschool hosting enchilada fundraiser

St. Paul’s Lutheran Preschool is holding its 11th annual enchilada fundraiser.

The cheese or cheese- and-onion enchiladas are packed fresh in a container with wax paper between each layer and a 12-ounce cup of sauce. The enchiladas freeze well and the sauce is from Tequilas Restaurant. The cost is $10 per dozen. All proceeds are used to directly benefit the local community children with scholarships, field trip funds, updated materials, and capital improvements. St. Paul’s is a nonprofit organization.

To place an order leave a message with a phone number at 247-1368.

Herald Staff