Partying for a cause is a Durango tradition, and the holidays offer a perfect opportunity to do just that. Coldwell Banker Heritage House Realtors has a longstanding tradition of inviting clients and friends to a bash while asking for voluntary contributions at the door to the year’s cause.

This year, the firm partnered with the Mercy Health Foundation to raise money for its new sports helmet program. The goal is to make sure active children and young adults have and wear helmets when engaging in physical activities by providing free ones when necessary – and they’re pretty cool ones at that.

The 401 guests – yes, they kept that much of a count – brought the donation total to nearly $4,000. (Yes, John Mahoney, someone should have kicked in the last $10 to get you to $4K!)

Guests noshed on Chuck Norton’s specialties such as bread pudding while enjoying the feeling of being outdoors in the atrium at the Main Mall. It was a great chance to catch up with half the town.

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Here’s wishing birthdays of light to these people who celebrate at the darkest time of year – Jane McLaughlin, T.J. Trump, Laurie Barker, Madison Hening, Bob Patterson, Mina Willemin, Richard Smith, Kelly Miller, Susan Tait, Jeni Mimmack, Danielle Erickson, Brody Smith, EllenBalzer, Rich Weigman, Marj Martinson, Patrick Armijo, Mary Sieger, Ava Hobby, Maria Meyer, Estelle House, Ryan Phelps, Jim Marentette, Lynne Mueller and CarolConnelly.

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Here’s a Christmas gift of poetry, courtesy of the winners of Durango Mountain Resort’s annual kids’ contest. The theme this year was “Flakes and Friends.”

Jola Schraub tells me they had the most entries ever, 263. Ten employee-judges, Kelsey Cavanaugh, Hollie Code, Lisa Foster, Ashley Kelso, Laura Miller, Leah Mumford, Becky Rockwell, Margaret Wanner, Heidi White and Schraub, had their work cut out for them.

b Caitlyn Chapman, 7, took the prize in the 6- to 9-year-old category.

Flakes are as cold as ice

My friends are all real nice

Flakes are as white as a bunny

My friends are quite funny

Flakes are as beautiful as a sea shell

I have two friends named Michelle

Snowflakes have many different shapes

My friends are from many different states

I love flakes and my friends.

b Nate Curmano, 13, won the 10-13 age group.

“Shake - n - Flake”

Every year, we gather round,

To perform something only our eyes can see.

In a secret part of our secluded town,

We do a dance to let the flakes run free.

Never has this ritual failed.

Because the snow gods listen and grant wishes.

Only once did something go wrong, and it hailed

But that still brought fun, and it beat dishes.

So we dance and dance and shake and shake

My friends and I, we shake for hours.

And finally, we see our first flake.

Then what is revealed, the snow gods’ power.

Now it’s time, in this December,

To bring a storm D-town will remember.

My friends and I, we’ll gather round,

In a secret part of our secluded town.

We’ll dance and dance, and shake and shake,

And we’ll call down our worshipped flakes.

bAustin D. Sifford of Farmington, 16, was the “poet laureate” of the 14-18 age group. (Austin’s poem is quite long – and beautiful – and I didn’t have space to run it in its entirety. Visit www.durangomountain resort.com/poetry to read the real deal.)

“Sun Beneath the Clouds”

A thick cloud rolls overhead

Shadowing the ground

Everything seems grey and dead

On the grown-up faces ’round

But as I lift my eyes and smile

They just don’t understand

Because in just a little while

My world will be more grand

Than anything imagined

Than any story dreamed

As the clouds above so lavish

Prove vastly better than they seem

Refrain: Through the dreary clouds above

The heavens will provide

A white shroud binding love

In companions side by side

’Fore long it starts to fall

A veil of magic dust

Pure gifts for each and all

And so for this I must

Enjoy each tiny star

Every gleaming little diamond

Carrying me afar

To the secret land of wise men

This place alone I want to be

This place where boredom’s made to fun

This world of the majestic, bright, white sea

The wondrous land that shines like the sun

(Refrain)

The world around is washed away

With a million tiny miracles

Creeping low, they dance and sway

And hopeful dreams deem possible

(Refrain)

In this place my heart’s wounds mend

In this world where my acquaintance

Becomes my cherished friend.

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Celebrating wedding anniversaries at this special time of year are Tom and Ashley Creyer, Ted and Nancy Wiedermann, Dick and Jane Pearson, Jim and Carla Mulkey, Rickey and Melissa Cooksey, Roger and Erika Good, Bob and LillianBoe, Larry and Merrillie Hock, Peter and Judy Olson and John and Kathy Cohen.

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abutler@durangoherald.com