‘Blue Christmas’ service to be held Dec. 17
Mercy Regional Medical Center will host its 11th annual “Blue Christmas” from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 17 in the Mercy Chapel.
The 30-minute service will offer a time of remembrance, readings, music, prayer and a message of hope for all who grieve.
For more information, call 764-2340.
AARP to host driver-safety program
AARP will host a driver-safety program from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Pine Room at La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.
Auto insurance discounts are available in most states through an insurance agent. The classroom refresher course is especially designed for drivers 50 and older. The cost is $12 for AARP member or $14 for nonmembers.
To register, call Lois O’Dell at 259-5589.
Community Christmas program to be held
An annual Community Christmas Program will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School, 11274 Colorado Highway 140.
This is an annual event sponsored by the six churches in this community with participation by members from these congregations. This year’s program is hosted by Marvel United Methodist Church. All are welcome, and refreshments will be served.
For more information, call Helen Ruth Aspaas at 385-4500.
Strater to host Morning with Santa
Morning with Santa will held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave.
A buffet breakfast will be served from 9 to 11 a.m. Christmas presents and a Santa sing-along will take place at 9:30 a.m. Attendees will be able to decorate pancakes, sing along with elves, make handcrafted art to take home and more. People are encouraged to bring cameras. Donations of hats, gloves and blankets are welcomed for the Strater Hotel Project Merry Christmas. Tickets for ages 0 to 10 are $10, and ages 11 and older are $19.
For more information, call 375-7160 or visit HenryStraterTheatre.com.
Teen treatment center gets OK to reopen
PUEBLO – Adolescent treatment cottages in Pueblo that were shut down by the state after allegations of children being placed in solitary confinement will be allowed to reopen.
The Chieftain reports that El Pueblo’s therapeutic intervention cottages were cleared for reopening Thursday by the Colorado Department of Human Services.
In April, the department shut down El Pueblo’s therapeutic intervention cottages, also called reflections cottages. The Colorado chapter of the ACLU filed a complaint that included allegations El Pueblo was placing children in solitary confinement.
During the last eight months, El Pueblo has been working to improve the physical structure of the cottages as well as the way it tracks residents and provides service to them.
It’s unclear how soon the cottages will be in use.
Alamosa theater reopens after flood
ALAMOSA – People in Alamosa can finally catch up on their holiday movie watching. The town’s only movie theater reopened Friday night after a devastating flood caused by broken water lines Thanksgiving morning.
Alamosa often ranks as one of the coldest spots in the continental United States. The Disney movie “Frozen” is one of the films now showing at the Ski Hi 6 Theatre.
Herald Staff and Associated Press
