Meeting set to resurrect Ignacio Historical Society
The Ignacio Community Historical Society will meet at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 in the Ignacio Community Library Butch McClanahan Meeting Room. All interested are invited.
This is a re-organization meeting. "We haven't met for two or three years, and we want to get it started again," said Jean McClanahan. For information call her at 563-4420.
Heritage Day organization meeting set for April 15
The next organizational meeting for Bayfield Heritage Day will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 at the Riverside RV Park community building (first building as you enter). Any community groups, businesses, or individuals who want to keep this community event going are invited.
Pine River Rotary and Bayfield Lions Club representatives and interested individuals met on March 31 to discuss how to organize planning for Heritage Day and how to get more people on site to make it happen on the last Saturday in September. The goal is to get more groups and individuals involved, spread the work load, and avoid burnout in the few people who have been making the event happen. This year's event is set for Sept. 27. For information call Carole at (970) 442-0093.
LPEA schedules lighting workshop for April 23
LPEA will host a free Lunch and Lights lighting information workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23 at LPEA's Durango headquarters at 24 Stewart St. in Bodo Industrial Park. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP to Ray Pierotti at 382-7770 or rpierotti@lpea.coop.
The presentation will include the latest developments in lighting technology. Pierotti said, "We will share the latest information with our members and hope to answer a lot of questions, especially concerning how to identify the appropriate LED bulb for each application." LPEA's rebates for efficient lighting upgrades also will be discussed.
He notes that the price of LED bulbs is dropping, but it is still higher than other lighting sources, so it pays for members to do their homework before buying LEDs.
Knitting club to learn about felting
The Ignacio Community Library will host a felting demonstration with special guest JoAnn Sloan during the weekly Knitters Club. The meeting is at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Annual Easter supper set for April 19
Mt. Allison Grange is hosting its annual Easter Supper on from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19. The menu is the usual delicious assortment of ham, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, hot rolls, tossed salad, homemade pie, coffee, and punch. Tickets are available at the door; $10.50 for adults, $4 for children, and kids under six eat free. Contact Shirley at 883-2483 if you have any questions or need directions to the Mt. Allison Grange Hall.
BMS hosting basketball fundraiser for student
Bayfield Middle School will host a staff vs. student basketball game from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 17. Donations will be taken at the door, and concessions and baked goods will be offered. Proceeds will be donated to the Crane family, who is travelling to Denver for their daughter Aria's cancer treatments.
Farm Bureau to meet Wednesday
La Plata County Farm Bureau will meeet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 at the Pine River Library in Bayfield. Jesse Lasater will speak on Harvest Funders, a new funding resource for farmers and ranchers. Lori Kester will follow with a presentation on strengths-based leadership, becoming a "leaderless" organization, and capitalizing on social media.
The meeting is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.
League of Women Voters hosting panel on local agriculture
The League of Women Voters has organized a panel of farmers and ranchers to discuss their operations and their current and future concerns in a warming and drying climate. The meeting will be held Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the program room of Durango Public Library. Dryside farmer Trent Taylor of Blue Horizons Farms; Patti Buck, recently elected president of American National Cattlewomen; and Maria Baker, a member of the Southern Ute ranching family, will describe their agricultural operations, current problems and future concerns. Steve Harris of Harris Water Engineering will discuss irrigation water issues and Darrin Parmenter, CSU extension agent, will talk about smaller, non-traditional and/or organic farming operations around the county.
Speakers have been invited to discuss their views on the continuing success of full-time farming or ranching, irrigation water, changing climate, technology, financing, government regulation, markets, competition, transportation/distribution, etc. After introductory remarks by each speaker, the audience will be invited to ask questions of the panel.
Mercy to offer free presentation on neck pain
Mercy Regional Medical Center invites the public to join spine surgeon Dr. Douglas Orndorff for "Neck Pain Explained: Causes, Treatments, and Innovative Procedures," a free community presentation. Dr. Orndorff will explain causes of neck and arm pain, numbness, and weakness associated with degenerative changes in the upper spine. He will also describe treatments and procedures that can provide relief. The presentation will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, at the Durango Public Library.
Space is limited; please RSVP to David at davidbruzzese@centura.org or 764-3910.
No wilderness sign-in for now
The San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests are postponing required registration that was supposed to start this summer for visitors to the Weminuche Wilderness.
Brian White, wilderness team lead for the San Juan National Forest, said, "A recent shift in budget priorities has affected our ability to implement this important project right now. The Forest Service acknowledges that the resource and social issues driving the need for the registration project still need to be addressed, and we will continue working to manage negative impacts to natural resources and visitor experiences."
The Forest Service has been collecting data for 15 years on natural resource and social impacts across the Weminuche Wilderness. Many heavily used areas are suffering degraded campsite and trail conditions, degraded water quality, and less opportunity for solitude.
Instead of installing registration boxes at trailheads and requiring visitors to sign in this year as originally planned, the focus will be on wilderness patrols, trail clearing, and improved trailhead information to educate visitors on regulations and "Leave no Trace" ethics.
For more information contact Brian White at 385-1246 or brianwhite@fs.fed.us.
