In the second installment of their monthly Mesa de Charla series, Pine River Library will be hosting a festive storytime and community potluck in honor of Las Posadas, a Latin American holiday, on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature a special storytime highlighting the roots of the celebration. There will also be a children’s activity. Community members are invited to bring their favorite dish to share as a part of the potluck meal.

Las Posadas, meaning “the inns,” is traditionally celebrated between Dec. 16 and 24. The holiday commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, with children dressed in robes and carrying candles participating in nightly processions. Members of the procession stop at homes, singing songs asking for shelter, and each night usually ends with a feast of traditional holiday foods and piñatas for the children.

Brooke Smith, library services coordinator, said, “During our second Mesa de Charla event we invite the community to learn about the traditional Mexican festivities surrounding the Christmas holidays, Las Posadas, and we’ll share stories about our own traditions while feasting on all of our favorite holiday dishes. Please bring a dish to share, and we’ll have our very own holiday celebrating our community!”

This event is funded through the Latino Americans: 500 Years of History Grant provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. The program series will continue through February 2016 with showings of installments of the PBS documentary series Latino Americans, featuring interviews with nearly 100 Latinos and more than 500 years of History.

Free Tdap vaccines for adults available Wednesday

A free clinic offering Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccines will be offered to the community from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. San Juan Basin Health is coordinating this free clinic for adults with community partners. twenty-six cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have been reported in Southwest Colorado this year, including a student at Bayfield High School.

Both SJBH and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend tetanus, and pertussis vaccination in both youths and adults. The Tdap booster is suggested every five years for adults to maintain pertussis immunity, while tetanus boosters are needed every ten years.

For more information on tetanus and pertussis, visit www.sjbhd.org or www.cdc.org.

Ignacio Christmas event is Dec. 4

Ignacio’s Taste of an Old Fashioned Christmas will be Friday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the ELHI Community Center (old elementaryy school) downtown. There will be a light parade through town at 5 p.m., horse-drawn carriage rides from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Christmas bazaar with kids’ photos with Santa, family fun crafts and a gingerbread house contest with prizes. Bring your homemade entry.

The Los Colores de Ignacio Dancers will perform at 6:30. Southern Ute Royalty also will attend. Kids will receive a free gift bag. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available.

Parade entry, bazaar space or other information is at 563-4753. Or e-mail Lindsay Box at [email protected] or Cassandra Sanchez at [email protected]. Event sponsors are the ELHI Community Center, Sky Ute Casino Resort, the Boys and Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and the Ignacio Community Library.

Dancing Spirit fundraiser is Dec. 4

Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center will hold its 6th annual Fill Your Bowl for Art fundraiser on Dec. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the ELHI Community Center in downtown Ignacio. It will be in the cafeteria at the south end of the building; turn right after coming in the west doors.

There will be an assortment of homemade soups, breads, and desserts. Get a wheel-thrown bowl and dinner for $12 and keep the bowl. The house band, One Lane Highway, will provide live music.

The Dancing Spirit Gallery, studio and class spaces are now anchor tenants at the ELHI. For information call 563-4600.

Bayfield Christmas event is set for Dec. 5

Bayfield’s Old Fashioned Christmas family event will be Saturday, Dec. 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the old community gym on South Street. There will be photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, stocking giveaways, face painting, ornament decorating, a bouncy house and more.

There will be free red and green chili, cookies, nachos, popcorn, and hot chocolate.

Attendees are invited to support the Bayfield Food Bank by bringing non-perishable food items that they can exchhange for raffle tickets. Two items will get one ticket, with a maximum of 10 tickets. Tickets also will be sold for $2.

For information call Bayfield Parks & Rec, 884-9544.

Navajo State Park open house is Dec. 6

The Navajo State Park Visitors Center near Arboles will hold a holiday open house on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be hot cider, hot chocolate, coffee, holiday cookies and more. Visitors can get 15 percent off all books, puppets, games, stuffed animals, apparel and other gift items. Parks gift certificates also will be available. There is no park admission charge to go to the visitor center. For information call 883-2208.

Ignacio Library Board applicants needed

The La Plata County Commissioners are seeking interested individuals to serve on the Ignacio Community Library District Board. The board oversees the operation and administration of the library. Terms are five years, and applicants must live within the library district boundaries. This position is advisory and is not monetarily compensated.

An application and board description may be obtained online at: http://co.laplata.co.us/departments_and_elected_officials/boards_commissions or from the County Administration Building at 1101 E. 2nd Avenue, Durango. Applications are due by December 15. For more information please call 382-6219.

Volunteers needed to help sell trees

San Juan Mountains Association is looking for volunteers to help on the Silver Bells Christmas Tree lot. Trees will be sold from Nov. 27 to Dec. 23 at the corner of Camino del Rio and College Drive. Light and heavy duty volunteers are needed to help sell trees to excited families at the lot. Many slots are available, but heavy-duty volunteers are especially needed. To volunteer and see what slots are available, contact [email protected] for details. SJMA is a non-profit supporting education and stewardship on our public lands.