Celebrate Local Businesses, Solar, and Transition to Fall

October 02, 2024

The Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency invites you to come tour solar initiatives in the Durango area Saturday, Sept. 5! Learn about different sustainable energy initiatives throughout the tour, and wrap up the day with an evening soirée at the Smiley Building from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Keep your eyes out for the colorful balloons of the Animas Valley Balloon Rally Oct. 18-20. The annual event will feature two mass ascensions, several balloon glows, and free tethered balloon rides from the Animas Valley. The family-friendly event is free and open to everyone. San Juan Mountains Association is asking for donations of lightly used or new winter gear for it’s youth programs. All children’s sizes are accepted, to help keep the outdoors accessible to all regardless of background or economic status. Are you a book lover? Come join the Durango Public Library for the 12th Annual Literary Festival Oct. 5-19. The event will feature keynote speakers like Durango Poet Laureats Esther Belin and Zoe Golden, as well as signings with local authors, conversations, and writing workshops. All events are free, although some will require pre-registration. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino and M&R Plumbing.

Learn More...

Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency - https://fourcore.org/

Smiley Building - https://smileybuilding.com/

Animas Valley Balloon Rally - https://animasvalleyballoonrally.com/

San Juan Mountains Association - https://sjma.org/

Durango Public Library - https://www.durangoco.gov/1749/Library
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Sky Ute Casino - https://www.skyutecasino.com/  

M&R Plumbing - https://www.mandrhomeservices.com/  

Read the Full Transcript

Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency, 4CORE, invites you to join them for the Beyond Solar Tour and Evening Soiree, Saturday, October 5th, celebrating sustainable energy initiatives in Durango. The Animas Valley Balloon Rally returns October 18th through 20th. Whether you prefer late evening balloon glows or early morning ascensions, there will be something for everyone. Durango Public Library invites you to its 12th Annual Library Festival, October 5th through 19th, with keynote events and speakers, featuring local and regional authors. And San Juan Mountain Association is hosting a winter clothing drive for its winter children programs. You're watching the "Local News Roundup," brought to you by the Sky Ute Casino and M&R Plumbing. I'm Sadie Smith. 4CORE is hosting a Beyond Solar Tour to celebrate local sustainable energy initiatives in the Durango area. The tour will feature seven local businesses and families who are using innovative solar and net zero technologies in their homes and places of work. Each stop will highlight how sustainable energy initiatives can help cut costs, reduce consumption, and increase property values. The tour is self-guided, beginning at 10:00 AM. Make sure to finish by 6:00 PM when the evening soiree will begin at the Smiley building. Like the other six locations on the tour, the Smiley building has taken advantage of energy alternatives with the over 70-year-old building now 95% powered by solar energy. The soiree will feature dinner and cocktails and live music from the Family Reunion band. Tickets are $15 for the tour, $60 for the soiree, or $75 for both events. The Animas Valley Balloon rally returns October 18th through 20th. Enjoy colorful balloons over the Animas Valley as we celebrate the transition to fall. The event kicks off with a balloon glow at dusk, starting at 6:00 PM on Main Avenue in front of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the General Palmer Hotel. Bright and early on Saturday and Sunday morning, there will be a mass ascension from Hermosa Meadows. Stay after the launch to take advantage of tethered balloon rides on the launch field from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. On Saturday, October 19th, there will be a drive-by balloon glow in Animas Valley between Dalton Ranch Country Club and PJ's Market at Trimble. Check out participating balloons and pilots and view the full schedule online. Durango Public Library will host the 12th annual Literary Festival October 5th through 19th. The event will feature readings, book signings, conversations, and writing workshops from local and regional authors. Keynote events will offer light refreshments and book signings in partnership with Maria's Bookshop. Speakers will include poet laureates, Esther Belin, and Zoe Golden, as well as Heather Hansman, Ramona Emerson, Scott Graham, and more. All events are free and open to the public, although some will require pre-registration due to space. Thanks to funding from a Durango Creates grant, there will be simultaneous Spanish interpretation at all author events from October 14th through 16th. Find the full list of events and timing online. San Juan Mountain Association is collecting new and gently used winter clothing for its student education programs. It is looking for waterproof gloves, base layers, mid layers, snow pants and rain shells in sizes children's extra small to extra large and adult small. The clothing will ensure that children from all backgrounds can stay safe and warm exploring the San Juans this winter. Drop off donation items at the San Juan National Forest Headquarters in Durango between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Learn more about these and other stories online at durangolocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of the "Local News Roundup." I'm Sadie Smith.

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