Wilderness study areas to be discussed

In honor of Wilderness Celebration Week, San Juan Mountains Association in partnership with the Tres Rios Bureau of Land Management Field Office will sponsor a lecture by Chris Barns, Wilderness Specialist with the National Landscape Conservation System from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Center of Southwest Studies Lyceum at Fort Lewis College.

Barns will speak on “Wilderness Study Areas – Past, Present, and Future.” The Four Corners is home to 11 very remote wilderness study areas, more than any other BLM field office in Colorado.

For more information, email Kathe@sjma.org.

CDOT announces road maintenance

Colorado Department of Transportation will perform maintenance on these area roads:

Highway shoulder work will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today through Thursday south of Durango on U.S. Highway 550 from Mile Point 6 to 9. The speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph. Drivers should expect single-lane, alternating-traffic and some travel delays.

Shoulder work will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 3 from Cascade to Ouray on U.S. Highway 550. Drivers should expect single-lane, alternating traffic and 15-minute delays.

For more information, visit www.coloradodot.info.

Rotary Club of Durango to meet Tuesday

Two representatives from Fort Lewis College will speak to the Rotary Club of Durango at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.

They will speak about a new direction for Continuing Education at Fort Lewis College and its strategic plan to provide certificate programs to the community. Presenting will be Gigi Baty, director of continuing education, and Dave Kerns, director of alumni relations. Included will be a new FLC Professional Development Program conducted in partnership with the La Plata County Economic Development Alliance that will offer training tracks for both employee and managerial development beginning Oct. 6. Visitors are welcome.

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

Ignacio Library to host Englehart reception

Ignacio Community Library, 470 Goddard Ave., will host a Stanton Englehart Reception at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Participants will be able to view three of Englehart’s paintings now hanging the library through the generosity of the Englehart Family Trust. Music will be performed by Michael Kunz. All are welcome.

For more information, call 563-9287.

Oktoberfest to take place Saturday, Sunday

First National Bank of Durango’s 11th annual Oktoberfest Durango will take place from noon to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Durango Transit Center parking lot, 250 E. Eighth St.

Music will be performed. Alpine Bank will host the Kinderplatz Kids Area featuring face painting, bubble-making, Strider bike course, pumpkin explosion and apple bobbing. Sutherland Farms Market will create a Pumpkin Patch, and additional weekend activities include the 99x and 92.9 the Point Polar Plunge dunk tank; Kissing Booth sponsored by Rent-a-Man and Urban Market; giant Klackers game sponsored by XRock; and Skateboard Exhibition sponsored by Concrete Sk8 Shop. On Saturday only, competitions will include the German Costume Contest sponsored by Animas Trading Co.; Brat Eating Contest sponsored by Sunnyside Meats; and Stein Relay Race sponsored by El Rancho Tavern.

Participating breweries will be Bottom Shelf Brewery (Bayfield), Brew Pub & Kitchen, Carver Brewing Co., Durango Brewing Co.; Great Divide Brewing Co. (Denver), New Belgium Brewing Co. (Fort Collins) and Odell Brewing Co. (Fort Collins); Wolfe Brewing Co. (Pagosa Springs) and Santa Fe Brewing Co. Wine from Wines of the San Juan and cocktails from Wicked Hard also will be available. Proceeds from Oktoberfest will benefit the activities of the Durango Business Improvement District.

For more information, visit http://oktoberfestdurango.com.

Animas Museum to offer free admission

Animas Museum, 3065 West Second Ave., will open its doors free of charge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 10th annual Museum Day Live!

A nationwide event, Museum Day Live! offers free admission to visitors presenting a Museum Day Live! ticket at a participating museum or cultural institution. The Museum Day Live! ticket may be downloaded at www.Smithsonian.com/museumdaylive. Visitors who present this ticket will gain free museum admission for two for one day only. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address.

For more information, visit www.Smithsonian.com/museumday/venues or call 259-2402.

Herald Staff