A free six week belly dancing class starts tomorrow at the Pine River Library. Serena the Dancer will teach the class from 10 to 11 a.m. Classes will continue through March 5. The classes are sponsored by Pine River Shares. Call 970-759-5446 to sign up.

Bayfield Chamber will meet Feb. 11

The Bayfield Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly business and socializing meeting on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. at Valley Feed & Ranch Supply in Gem Village. All Bayfield area business people or people interested in Bayfield’s business climate are invited. For information call Melanie at 884-2331.

Learn about avalanche safety at library

The mountains in Southwestern Colorado can be deadly as well as beautiful in winter. Pine River Public Library is offering a free, basic avalanche awareness program called “Know Before You Go” on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 6 p.m.

Participants will witness the destructive power of avalanches, learn about why and how they happen, and have a chance to ask questions about these dangerous forces of nature. This program is organized through the Friends of the San Juans, a Durango non-profit, and will feature guest speaker Jeff Davis, CAIC Backcountry Avalanche Forecaster for the San Juans.

For more information on “Know Before You Go” Avalanche Awareness, contact the library at 884-2222 ext. 510.

Thrift store to award scholarship

Applications are now open for an educational scholarship from the Methodist Thrift Store in Durango. The application deadline is March 15.

The Thrift Store Board established the scholarship to help local individuals further their education. Applicants are considered on church involvement, leadership, community service, extra-curricular activities, and personal attributes. Applications are available at local high school counseling offices or at the thrift store, 986 E. 2nd Ave.

Latino series continues at Pine River Library

The next installments of The Latino Americans: 500 Years of History film series will be shown at the Pine River Public Library on Friday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. and then on March 4. This award-winning series chronicles Latinos in the United States from the 16th century to present day.

The film series is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

For more information on these and other Latino Americans events call the library at (970) 884-2222, ext. 510.

Mercy recruiting pets for therapy program

Mercy Regional Medical Center’s Volunteer Services is hosting a recruitment meet and greet for Mercy Super Dogs pet therapy program. The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Feb. 10 at Mercy Regional Medical Center, 1010 Three Springs Blvd., in conference room A on the garden level. Persons interested in attending should contact volunteer coordinator Erica Kelly by calling 764-3536 or [email protected].

Dave Spencer Ski Classic seeks sponsors

The 18th annual Dave Spencer Ski Classic on will be held Feb. 26-28 at Purgatory. The classic honors its founder, Dave Spencer, and participants ski with regional businesses, snow sport enthusiasts and individuals with and without disabilities. This is the Adaptive Sports Association’s biggest fundraiser of the year and supports winter and summer programs. Skiers create a team of five, raise money and don their best best costumes (theming it to Purgatory’s 50th anniversary) while wining prizes and racing down the ski slopes. Business sponsorships have a meaningful impact; to receive the numerous sponsor benefits, businesses must submit by Feb. 8th. Please contact Karen at 259-0374 or [email protected].

Library class to teach photo editing

“Photo Editing Basics” will be taught from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Ignacio Community Library.

The class will cover the basics of downloading, installing, and using some of the basic features of GIMP, a free and open source alternative to the popular photo editing program Photoshop.

Horsemen to discuss equine disease  

The Four Corners Back Country Horsemen will hold their monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11 at Bayfield Town Hall.   

Dr. Ben Hufnagel will give a presentation on Emerging Equine Diseases. If you want to learn what could be coming our way this spring and how to be prepared for it, you won’t want to miss this.

The Four Corners Back Country Horsemen works to perpetuate commonsense enjoyment of public lands by horsemen and pack stock users. To learn more, go to www.4cbch.org or contact Cathy Roberts, chapter president, at 749-0316.