Sheriff to address Rotary Club

La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith will speak to the Rotary Club of Durango at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave., about changes at the Sheriff’s Office during his first year.

Smith will discuss his reinvention team, leadership selection process, reorganization, fiscally responsible problem fixing and the future.

With a background in law enforcement both in La Plata County and Oklahoma, Smith was elected to office in November 2014. He holds a degree in public safety administration from Grand Canyon University.

Visitors are welcome. For more information, call Bruce Rodman at 385-7899.

Christmas in Vallecito announces events

Christmas in Vallecito announces these activities:

The Giving Tree will be available through Dec. 19 at the Lake Vallecito Country Market, 18071 County Road 501. For more information, call 884-0844.

The 4-Legged Giving Tree will be available through Dec. 19 at the Hideaway Grill, 18044 County Road 501. For more information, call 884-9717.

The Festival of Trees Home Tour will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. For more information, call 884-7253.

The Cookie Shack will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 12 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Rocky Mountain General Store, 17454 County Road 501.

A pancake breakfast will take place from 7 to 11 a.m. Dec. 12 and 13 at the Lake Vallecito Country Market.

A kids party with Santa and the Lions Club train will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Vallecito Lake Community Event Center, 17252 County Road 501.

A Poker Run will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 12 at The Lake House, 17460 County Road 501.

Wild Country will play from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Hideaway Grill.

Vallecito Church’s Living Nativity will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 at 17576 County Road 501.

The Pete Giuliani Band will play and the Ugly Sweater Contest will take place at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at The Lake House.

The home lighting contest winner will be announced at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at The Lake House.

An NFL ticket give-away will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 13 at the Hideaway Grill and The Lake House.

Present wrapping will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Hideaway Grill.

For more information, call 884-9717, 884-0999, 884-7253, 799-0533, 884-0844 or 769-2706.

County commissioner to hold office hours

La Plata County Commissioner Julie Westendorff will hold office hours for the public to meet with her from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Pine River Library Conference Room, 395 Bayfield Center Drive in Bayfield.

Bayfield-area residents are invited to share their interests and concerns.

For more information, call 382-6219.

Writing group to meet Wednesday

Writers and Scribblers will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Commons Building, 701 Camino del Rio.

Melissa Stacy will present “Best Writing Tips of 2015: Craft, Inspiration and the Unexpected.” Guests are welcome.

Veterans committee to serve breakfast

The Durango Elks Lodge Veterans Committee will serve breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. the first and third Sunday of the month at the Durango Elks Lodge, 901 East Second Ave.

Participants should use the Ninth Street entrance. The cost is $5 for veterans and $6 for others.

Health coalition to meet Friday

The Community Health Action Coalition will meet from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Friday in the Eolus Room of the Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave.

For more information, visit www.chaclaplata.org, email Pattie Adler at pattie@chaclaplata.org or call 799-0218.

Library invites adults to coloring event

“Coloring for Grown-ups!” will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

For more information, email Abby Lambert at abby.lambert@durangogov.org.

Dharma center offers daylong retreat

Erin Treat will offer a daylong retreat called “Refuge Here and Now” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12, with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., at the Durango Dharma Center, 208 East Animas Road (County Road 250).

This program invites participants to touch and be touched by life through the practice of sati, or mindfulness. Through periods of sitting and walking meditation and dharma reflections, participants may pause and reconnect with the direct experience of body, heart and mind. The teachings will focus on experiencing the totality of human life through only the present moment.

Scholarships are available by emailing Terry Leonard at tleonard@frontier.net or calling 799-0084.

To register, download the form from www.durangodharmacenter.org and mail it with check payable to the Durango Dharma Center to: Heidi Trainor, 883 County Road 125, Hesperus, CO 81326.

Herald Staff