Bear Smart Durango receives donation
Bear Smart Durango, a local nonprofit, has received a donation from SME Environmental Inc. as part of the organization’s corporate sponsorship program.
Bear Smart is grateful for the $500 Black Bear contribution, which will be used to support efforts to reduce human-bear conflicts in the community.
For more information or to become a corporate sponsor, email Bryan Peterson at bp@frontier.net or call 749-4262.
Wells Group announces broker associate
Zane Wells has joined The Wells Group as a new broker associate.
After spending his last three years in commercial real estate in Denver, he is now back in Durango. After a successful collegiate career at Fort Lewis College where he graduated with a finance and economics degree, Wells pursued a professional soccer career and shortly after traveled to Ireland to attend University College Dublin, where he graduated with a Master’s of Science in Project Management.
For more information, call 375-3373 or email zane@wellsgroupdurango.com.
Rakita Tomsic announces addition
Rakita Tomsic Physical Therapy announces the newest addition to its physical therapy team, Janet Wells.
Wells obtained her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at the University of Tennessee in 1988, graduating magna cum laude. Wells received her Master of Science in Physical Therapy in 1991 from Boston University.
With more than 21 years of physical therapy experience in Southwest Colorado, Wells has served on the board of directors for the Colorado Physical Therapy Association. She also worked as an assistant clinical professor for the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
In addition, Wells has attained specialized training and accreditation in men’s and women’s pelvic floor dysfunction, management of difficult shoulders, aquatic therapy and custom foot orthotics.
For more information, visit www.rakitatomsicpt.com or call 259-0574.
Aesthetics shop announces move
WAXED has changed locations to 1185 S. Camino del Rio, Suite 140.
The business is celebrating five years in business and offers full-body waxing, makeup, eyelash extensions and airbrush spray tanning that is paraben-free and organic.
For more information, call 946-7229.
Workshop looks at starting a business
The Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center and First SouthWest Bank will sponsor the workshop “Starting Your Business” from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 12 at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.
This course is designed to help people navigate through the steps they need to take to start a successful business. Presenters include a small-business specialist, a marketing expert, a small-business banker, an attorney and an accountant. Topics will include business planning, legal structure, taxes, marketing, market research and finance options.
The fee for the workshop is $25 or $20 for Chamber of Commerce members.
To register, visit https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=170350017. For more information, call 247-7009.
S. Ute project earns tax-credit status
The Southern Ute Montessori Head Start Building project has been approved as an Enterprise Zone Contribution Project by the Colorado Economic Development Commission.
This designation allows all donor contributions above $250 to the Head Start building campaign to be eligible for a 25 percent state tax credit on cash donations, and a 12.5 percent state tax credit on in-kind donations.
The infrastructure project was approved for five years because the current facility is over a century old and, as the only child care facility in Ignacio, serves a critical community need.
In 1986, the Colorado Legislature approved the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit to assist economically distressed areas. In Southwest Colorado, all of Montezuma, Archuleta, San Juan, and Dolores counties are designated enterprise zone areas.
For more information, visit www.scan.org or call 247-9621. For more information on the Head Start, call 563-4517.
Grants available to nonprofit sector
The Payroll Department introduces the 10.4.2 grant, a new funding source for the nonprofit sector in Southwest Colorado.
The 10.4.2 grant is awarded in two grants, each up to $10,000 for two organizations that support efforts in one of these areas: education, environment and human services. Two key elements of the grant applications are a match of at least 50 percent of funds awarded and strong evidence of collaboration with other organizations is required. Applications must be submitted to www.swcommunityfoundation.org/grants by noon April 30.
The Payroll Department has engaged the Community Foundation to help it manage this new grant-selection process.
Pilates-Yoga adds instructor
The Pilates-Yoga Connection welcomes Nan Cresto.
After training and performing internationally in the dance world, Cresto became a Pilates instructor in 1993 when she finished her studies with Romana Kryzanowska in New York City. She also studied extensively with Eve Gentry in Santa Fe and taught Pilates Teacher Training seminars with Kelly Kane for 12 years before moving to Durango.
For more information, call 259-0089 or visit www.durangopilatesconnection.com.
Animator opens animation school
Rocky Mountain Animation Labs teaches students, ages 8 to 20, to bring their ideas to life through the art of animation.
Professional animator David Tart provides an engaging approach to learning animation, founded in his extensive experience working on films, including “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.” and “Finding Nemo” Drawing on 20 years of teaching experience, Tart makes learning animation fun.
Register now for the inaugural 10 week after-school class, starting the week of March 16. Students will learn CG character animation, stop motion, cut-out, cel and pixellation animation.
For more information, attend Rocky Mountain Animation Lab’s open houses from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and March 12 at its campus in the Smiley Building, 1309 East Third Ave., Suite 3B.
To register, visit www.rockymountainanimationlabs.com or email rmal.info@gmail.com.
Eyes and one’s health to be discussed
Four Corners Eye Clinic, 575 Rivergate Lane, Suite 212, will offer the community lecture “Your Eyes: A Window to Your Health” at 5:30 p.m. March 12 at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.
Dr. Karyn Bourke will lead the discussion. For more information, call 259-2202.
Keller Williams adds broker associate
Keller Williams Realty Southwest Associates welcomes Katie Aggeler, broker associate.
Aggeler was born and raised in Denver, attending the University of San Diego. In 1975, she and her family moved to Durango.
Aggeler has been active in the community, involved in various school and youth activities, the Chamber of Commerce, Snowdown, Leadership La Plata, and the Board of Southwestern Colorado Mental Health. A “local” for 40 years with 10 years of real-estate sales experience, she is pleased to be able to leverage the tools and worldwide network of Keller Williams Realty to help sellers and buyers.
For more information, call 560-0002.
Herald Staff
