The City of Durango has installed a new self-help kiosk at City Hall to better assist city residents when the cashier is otherwise unavailable. Durango Parks and Recreation with Durango Fire Protection District are planning prescribed burns in Dalla and Overend Mountain Parks this December, and it’s already time to start planning Snowdown activities. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Service Master Restore and Tafoya Barret & Associates

TBK Bank has partnered with Housing Solutions for the Southwest to help bring the holiday spirit a little closer to home for 15 families this holiday season. Until December 16th, check out angel trees at various TBK Bank locations in Durango and Bayfield to adopt a family or donate gifts (financial and otherwise) directly to your closest branch. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck & RV Center and 2180 Lighting and Design Studio

SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab will replace the closed Ohana Kuleana community garden when it opens next spring at Riverside Elementary School. The project includes four phases and organizers are still looking for volunteers and donors. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by StoneAge Tools and The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

When Sarah Kautzman was looking for a new addition to her family, she had an idea of the type of dog she wanted. After going to the shelter, Kautzman found a sweet puppy the shelter said would be a labradoodle. After taking home their new family member, the family quickly realized that she was definitely not a labradoodle, but a loving addition to the family just the same. Kautzman decided to write the short story “Accidental Tiny Dog” about the experience, which will be hitting bookshelves near you this holiday season, with proceeds going to support local animal shelters and rescues, encouraging the message “Adopt, don’t Shop”. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barret and Associates and Service Master Restore

All-Ability Parks address parts of the community that often have issues accessing more traditional playgrounds and parks. Spurred by community advocates, the City of Farmington plans to take the site of the former Tibbetts Middle School on Apache Street and transform the space from the dirt lot, track, and old building into a space reflecting the needs and wants of all individuals in the community - no matter how they get around or interact with their environment. The park, the first of its kind in San Juan County, is planned to break ground in the Fall of 2023. By Hannah Robertson This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware of Farmington and Boon’s Family Thai BBQ