Skip to main content

Durango Telegraph Nov. 5, 2020

Page 1

So close yet so far

­elegraph the­­­­durango

FREE

Nov. 5, 2020 Vol. XIX, No. 41 durangotelegraph.com

inside

T H E

O R I G I N A L

I N D I E

W E E K L Y

Heads and tails Sorting through the results of Tuesday’s record turnout p8

L I N E

O N

D U R A N G O

&

B E Y O N D

Swap till you drop

A forever-read

Hesperus ski swap returns in new COVID-conscious format p9

German novel will stay with you long after the last word p11


Coming full circle.

Issue 14 of The Gulch is out now! Wherever you find the Telegraph or at www.gulchmag.com. To find out about advertising opportunities, email: steve@gulchmag.com

2 n Nov. 5, 2020

telegraph


lineup

4

4 La Vida Local

A fine line

4 Thumbin’ It

Deciphering the new “thin line” flag phenomenon by David Feela

5 Word on the Street 6-7 Soapbox

8

9 Local News

Making sense of Tuesday’s record voter turnout

11 Muder Ink

Getting in the vote

by Colorado Public Radio/ Telegraph Staff

12-13 Stuff to Do

Ear to the ground: “I yearn for the days of the subprime mortgage meltdown.” – Local bemoaning the current state of pandemics, race riots and contested elections

Sea me ski

thepole

RegularOccurrences

Often criticized for being slow to catch up with green innovation, the ski industry is boldly jumping into the 21st century with … wait for it … skis made from algae. Last year, Matt Sterbenz, the founder of 4FRNT skis, launched a new line of skis, WNDR Alpine, made from a proprietary high-density algal core that drastically cuts back the use of petrochemicals in ski manufacturing. WNDR is partnering with Berkeley, Calif.-based biomaterials company Checkerspot. “Since the introduction of biobased resins, ski building simply hasn’t kept pace with other outdoor categories and adjacent industries,” Sterbenz wrote on his website. “True innovation requires a complete shift of focus while taking a bold step into uncharted terrain.”

13 Ask Rachel

9

14 Free Will Astrology

Snow time 15 Classifieds

Hesperus Ski Swap lives on in COVID-tweaked format by Missy Votel

15 Haiku Movie Review

Correction: Last week’s story on chasing ghosts in Durango misstated the first name of Molly Ferrer, owner of Old Tyme Photography at Thru the Lens Photography. We apologize for the mistake.

11

Coming home German author’s Dear Child engrossing storytelling at its finest

On the cover: Two leaves tinged with frost signal the inevitable change of seasons in Durango./ Photo by Missy Votel

by Jeffrey Mannix

boilerplate

EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel (missy@durangotelegraph.com) ADVERTISING AFICIONADO: Lainie Maxson (lainie@durangotelegraph.com) STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Stephen Eginoire (steve@gulchmag.com)

T

he Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, beckoning singletrack or monster powder days. We are wholly owned and operated independently by the Durango Telegraph LLC and

STAR-STUDDED CAST: Lainie Maxson, Jeffrey Mannix, Shan Wells, Jesse Anderson, David Feela and Clint Reid

REAL WORLD ADDRESS: 679 E. 2nd Ave., Ste E2 Durango, CO 81301

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 332 Durango, CO 81302

E-MAIL: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

VIRTUAL ADDRESS: www.durangotelegraph.com

MAIL DELIVERY AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: $3.50/issue, $150/year

distributed in the finest and most discerning locations throughout the greater Durango area. We’re only human. If, by chance, we defame someone’s good name or that of their family, neighbor, best

friend or dog, we will accept full responsibility in a public flogging in the following week’s issue. Although “free but not easy,” we can be plied with schwag, booze and flattery.

PHONE: 970-259-0133

telegraph

WNDR Alpine launched its first ski in 2019, the Intention 110, a lightweight, reverse-cambered backcountry ski. This year, it also launched the Vital 100, a traditional-cambered ski meant for the resort. Both skis employ WNDR’s “AlgalTech” core, designed to reduce weight while improving stiffness and stability – essentially replacing what carbon does for a ski in a more environmentally friendly package. But how do they ski? Writing last February for Powder magazine (RIP), Lily Krass reports: surprisingly good. “Like many in the industry, I was intrigued, albeit a little skeptical that swapping carbon inserts for some algae substitute would perform as well on snow,” wrote Krass, who tested them during a record-breaking January storm cycle in the Tetons. “I have to say, it’s probably one of the most fun skis I’ve ever hopped on.” Krass noted that the Intention felt smooth, stable and much damper than many other carbon backcountry skis she’s tried. She also found it easier to negotiate tricky terrain and link turns in tight and steep situations. “I found myself survival skiing through breakable crust … and was astounded at how easily I could hop in and out of turns. It wasn’t pretty, but it wasn’t nearly as terrifying as it should have been,” she wrote. In addition to earth-friendly materials, the skis also come in a reusable ski bag to minimize excess disposable packaging. WNDR also has a “Takeback Program” that allows customers to send back skis within three years for a 20 percent discount off upgrades and encourages folks return their skis at the end of their life so they can recycle and repurpose the materials. If all this sounds Tesla-like spendy, the WNDRs are surprisingly reasonable, going for $699. Being the first one on the lift or skin track on algae skis: priceless. To learn more, go to www.wndr-alpine.com. Nov. 5, 2020 n

3


opinion

LaVidaLocal Fledgling flags While out for a brisk walk – also known as my morning constitutional – I paused across from a flag that hung beside a neighborhood front door. It resembled an American flag, but this one fluttered grey, as if it had been rolled in a scuttle of cold ashes. I rubbed my eyes, thinking I’d suddenly gone colorblind, then noticed a single bright blue stripe on the field of grey. I scratched my head, convinced an appointment with an optometrist was long overdue. Returning home, however, I decided to search the internet for an answer and found that a fleet of freshly manufactured flags has become popular. These flags, labeled “thin line flags,” are available for purchase from many online sites, a product that transforms our stars and stripes into a declaration of preference instead of independence, like the blue stripe version that pledges an allegiance to the police. Other thin stripe color options vary, from green to purple, from silver to orange, and from red to yellow to black. Each color designates a separate allegiance tacked to a diminished field of what has uniformly been honored for over 200 years as the old red, white and blue. Even the veracity of Betsy Ross’ role in designing the first Stars & Stripes has been questioned by historians, but it cannot be denied that she did make flags for 50 years following the Revolution. Garrison flags for the U.S. Arsenal and ship flags for the Pennsylvania Naval Fleet are just two historical records of payment made to her for flagmaking, so we know the flags didn’t come from China. An apocryphal story about her involvement with our first flag describes a meeting with George Washington. He showed up at her house with a sketch for a flag, seeking an upholsterer who could stitch this new nation a durable emblem for its future. His sketch offered a circular pattern of 13 six-pointed stars, one for each of the colonies, all white and all unified on a field of blue. Ross demonstrated how it would be quicker for her to cut five-pointed stars, and Washington saw the merits of her suggestion. Negotiations never flagged, and a deal was struck. America had its symbol of freedom. Unfortunately, understanding our “thin line flags” requires the viewer to interpret a new color code. We can assume the online customer knows what his or her flag stands for when ordering it, but neighbors may be scratching

their heads once it gets hoisted up the pole. For those like me who might be a little confused, I thought a color key might help: • A green line represents support for federal agents, park rangers and border patrols; • A blue line identifies an allegiance to the police; • A yellow line embodies support for security guards and tow truck drivers; • A silver line designates support for corrections officers; • A red line stands for fire department support; • A gold line denotes support for 911 operators and police dispatchers (as opposed to just the police); • An orange line symbolizes support for the search & rescue and EMS personnel; • A purple line personifies support for persons who died or suffered great injury while in political office due to violence. See what I mean? You need a secret decoder ring to figure out what you’re saluting. I’ve omitted a few stripes, because my dictionary is running out of synonyms for the word “represents” and not surprisingly, the manufacturers have an ample variety of colors. Even more frustrating is that a customer can combine color options on the same flag using shorter stripes crammed into a single line to express support for multiple organizations: the thin blue/red/green line, for example. So much for an American flag that once sought to unify a nation. Now we can assemble and declare our allegiances like a jigsaw puzzle. The thin stripe flag is really a marketing idea hoisted up the flagpole, a Go-Fund-Me event for patriotism. Since I completed my research to figure out what each color represents, the pop-up ads keep appearing like digital flags flying all over my browser screens. Still, my search made me wonder, what color, for instance, is the stripe of support for America’s teachers? I hunted for one, perhaps a chalky white stripe with a cluster of gold stars for good behavior? I couldn’t find it, despite the 4 million Americans who have dedicated their lives to this essential public service. And what about other worthy champions, like our nation’s investigative reporters or our peaceful protesters, who fail to meet the prerequisites for earning their stripes on a murky field of grey? You see, I think the problem with these new flags is simple: some of our nation’s heroes simply stand a little too far to the left of that thin line that seeks to divide us.

Sign of the Downfall:

Thumbin’It

4 n Nov. 5, 2020

Ignoble Downfall

Centura Health-Mercy Regional Medical Center receiving a $100,000 grant to go toward local suicide prevention

COVID continuing to rear its ugly head in La Plata County, with a surge in cases as well as quarantines at many local schools

A bright spot in election results, with $90 million in new bonds approved for Durango School District 9-R buildings, facilities and capital improvement projects

Donald Trump’s attempt to delegitimize the election process and plunge the country into greater chaos by declaring victory Tuesday night before all the votes had been counted in several key swing states

Signs that La Niña may be loosening her grip on Southwestern Colorado, with more precipitations entering the forecast this weekend

– David Feela

A resurgence in terrorist attacks across the world last week, with brutal killings on innocent civilians in France, Austria and a school in Afghanistan

telegraph

The 30th annual Ig Noble winners – weirdo scientists who receive from actual Nobel laureates a 10-trillion Zimbabwean bill and a trophy for studying strange things – were announced last month. One winning group locked alligators in airtight aquariums and pumped in helium to see how it’d affect the alligator’s “bellowing.” Another group won for seeing what would happen to earthworms that vibrated at high frequencies. But one of the most talked about winners was a group of researchers who made frozen poop knives to see if they could be used as weapons (the answer turned out to be “no,” because frozen poop is pointless).


WordontheScreen With election day over, the Telegraph asked, “What are you going to do with all the leftover yard signs and mailers?”

Q

Jeremy

“Insulate the walls of my van, down by the river.”

Katie

“The mailers have been recycled and I’m replacing the political signs with a ‘Choose Love’ banner.”

Dusty

“Well, toilet paper is out of stock again, so good timing!”

John

“I don’t want to be sad to see my signs or appear to be gloating, so they are already in the trash.”

Laurel

“Use them to build a little free library and stock it with Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree.” telegraph

Nov. 5, 2020 n 5


SoapBox

ReTooned/by Shan Wells

‘Harvest’ facts on gas project To the editor, I write today to bring your readers’ attention to a major new natural gas facility proposal. Harvest Four Corners LLC is proposing to install and operate a large 15,000 hp methane compressing and midstream processing station in southeast La Plata County about ½ mile north of the intersection of C.R. 525 and C.R. 523. The site is on private land but immediately adjacent to the southern boundary of the Saul’s Creek part of the San Juan National Forest. It is classified as a major industrial facility by the COGCC. Because the proposed site for the station is on private land, the permitting of the proposal falls under the responsibility of the La Plata County Community Development Services with a final decision to be made by the county commissioners. Presumably it will be voted on by the county commissioners in 2021. The proposal has been under review by the Planning Department since its initial submission in 2019. Harvest has been granted an extension until Dec. 29, 2020, to complete its proposal. Extensive information including proposal documents, agency comments and public comments is available on the Planning Department project portal under the reference number PL20190170 or PL20200237. The facility is titled the “El Toro Compressor Station.” The El Toro Compressor Station is a large facility with potential major impacts on the county as a whole, on the environment via greenhouse gas emissions, as well as on the residents nearby. Anyone with concerns about any of these issues would find it informative to visit the project portal and read the information publicly available there. – Patrick Delaney, Bayfield 4

Free Tenant Rights Clinic

Thank You for Voting Us the Best!

Presented by Colorado Legal Services

Tues., Nov. 17, 5:30 - 7 p.m. via Zoom Topics include best rental practices, evictions, security deposits, etc. Please call (970) 247-0266 for details on how to attend

&+

$

$

$ ")

&"# !

& "

Variety of Strains • Hash/Concentrates • Edibles • Tinctures • ATM Bodo Park

Recreational: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Medical: 9:00 AM - 6:45 PM 72 Suttle Street, Units F/G , 970.259.3674

6 n Nov. 5, 2020

Grandview (HWY 160 East)

Recreational Adult Use Only: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM 37 CR 232, 970.426.4381

telegraph

#

& $

(

"$ "$ $ "! ! '$ % "$ $ ! # '% $ * $ "$ $% &" % & '# & #!

The Alternative Resource

##$

&

&

$$$

"%

! "

& "! (


Close forests during extreme drought

To the editor, With the 500-acre fire near Ice Lakes and no lightning or storms occurring, the most likely cause was people camping with a campfire which was not allowed, or a match or cigarette. In this drought with tinder dry forests, one match or spark can cause a forest fire. Hikers at Ice Lakes had to be airlifted out by helicopters – all at major expense. Already fire fighters are spread thin, sent to the myriad fires in the West. Since people (and it may be only one, but that’s enough for a forest a fire) are not obeying the fire restrictions, the Forest Service should close the forests to public use. I am an avid hiker and love being in our beautiful mountains, but actions must be taken to prevent another fire. I was a fire lookout in California’s Mount Lassen National Park when a 100,000-acre fire occurred. A Caterpillar working in the woods hit a rock causing a spark, igniting a blaze that took off before the man could jump off and put the fire out. Arizona closes their forests during drought conditions, and so should we. Please close our national forests to save our forests and wildlife. – Margaret Mayer, Durango

Thanks for Manna donations

To the editor, The Durango Daybreak Rotary Club would like to thank the following groups for their support of our recent Chip Huntoon Memorial

Food Drive to benefit Manna. Thanks to The Wells Group for allowing use of their truck to transport food donations from the Fairgrounds to Manna; Basin Printing for designing and printing our banner and signs at the event; and Emily Spencer and staff at the LaPlata County Fairgrounds for their support of holding the event at the Fairgrounds. The Food Drive raised over $1,450 in cash donations and filled half the Wells Group truck with food donations to support Manna’s programs. We sincerely thank the compassionate members of our community for showing up to help those in need. – Dave Smiley, Durango Daybreak Rotary Club

Ignacio Autumn Winter will come to close the barn door, and that may be just as well. The long-haired horse waits as grasses are baptized brown. An old newspaper drifts over the field. I snatched it! There, a faded quarterback seems to be running off the page. Frayed horse blankets stained in memory hang by the stall, while outside, the grey-worn granite perseveres another ageless weathering. We pray for silver rains to dampen the blue cedar smoke wafting over sacred lands. – Burt Baldwin, Ignacio

TalkingSh**:

A sign in downtown Durango uses the humorous approach to encourage dog walkers to clean up after their pets./Photo by Missy Votel

Business up front, socially distanced party in back?

Ads in the Telegraph let your customers know you’re open for business! Call Lainie to mullet over: 970-259-0133 or lainie@durango telegraph.com

telegraph

Nov. 5, 2020 n 7


ElectionNews

Winners, losers and too-close-to-calls Results from Tuesday’s record-setting local and state elections

W

hile the dust may still be settling from Tuesday’s election, what we do know is that Colorado voters turned out in record numbers this year. As of Wednesday morning, 3,222,676 ballots had been returned out of an active voter roll of 3,780,115 – a turnout rate of 85 percent. Unaffiliated voters, who make up a majority of Colorado’s electorate, continued their trend from 2018 of dominating turnout. They cast 1,246,120, ballots, followed by Democrats with 997,835 ballots and Republicans who turned in 928,993 ballots. According to the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder, 35,600 votes were cast locally in Tuesday’s election, an 86 percent turnout. This broke the previous voter turnout record for La Plata County of 84 percent, set in 1984. By now, you’ve probably had more than your fill of election results. But in case the Telegraph happens to be your only news source (in which case, we encourage you to branch out), here is a recap, courtesy Colorado Public Radio, of ballot issues (other than the “Big One,” which we’ll leave to the Big Dogs):

Passed Amendment B: Gallagher Amendment Repeal Colorado has voted to repeal part of the Gallagher Amendment, which limits residential property taxes to 45 percent of the statewide tax base. The passing of the measure prevents automatic cuts to residential property tax rates in the future. Homeowners’ bills won’t go down, but funding for schools, rural fire districts and other entities that rely on property taxes will stay steady. Originally added to the state constitution in 1982, Gallagher effectively forces the state to lower residential property tax rates in order to keep residential tax revenue “balanced” with commercial property revenue. Amendment 76: Citizenship Qualification of Electors Colorado voters have approved Amendment 76, which amends the State Constitution to explicitly require that Colorado voters must be U.S citizens. The state already bans noncitizens from voting, so opponents say this would accomplish little in practice. But its supporters argue that language needs strengthening and point to a handful of cities in other states that allow noncitizens to vote in some local elections. The State Constitution currently says that “every citizen” may vote, while the amendment would change it to say that “only citizens” may vote. Amendment 77: Approval of Gaming Limits in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek Voters across the state favored Amendment 77 by nearly 20 points. When Colorado voters approved gambling in these three historic mountain mining towns, it came with a lot of limits: casinos can only offer slots, blackjack, poker, craps and roulette, and as of 2008, individual wagers are capped at $100. The passing of this measure allows local voters in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek – the only Colorado cities with legal gambling – to approve higher betting limits and more types of games. It also ear-

8 n Nov. 5, 2020

marks the revenues to go to community colleges. Proposition EE: Tax on Vape and Nicotine Products Proposition EE will raise an estimated $168 million next fiscal year by creating a new tax on nicotine vaping products and raising existing taxes on tobacco products. Vaping product taxes would start at 30 percent of the manufacturer’s price and eventually rise to 62 percent. The tax on cigarettes would ramp up from $0.84 a pack today to $2.64 a pack by 2027. Taxes on other tobacco products would grow from 40 percent today to 62 percent by 2027. The minimum price for cigarettes would be set at $7 per pack beginning in 2024. For the first two and a half years of higher taxes, the bulk of the money would go to K-12 education, with a boost for rural schools. A smaller portion would go to housing programs and eviction assistance. Those measures are intended to address the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposition 116: State Income Tax Reduction The passing of Proposition 116 means the state’s income tax rate will drop from 4.63 percent to 4.55 percent. A person making $50,000 would see their tax burden fall by about $40 a year. This change would reduce the state government’s revenue by an estimated $170 million in the next fiscal year. Supporters argue it would boost businesses and consumer spending, while opponents say it would weaken government and social services already severely hurt by the downturn. The measure was originally intended to counter a progressive tax measure that failed to make the ballot. Proposition 118: Paid Family and Medical Leave This initiative mandates that employers provide 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for many Colorado workers, plus an additional four weeks in case of complications. The leave could be used for childbirth and other family medical situations. The law would offer paid leave benefits to workers who have earned at least $2,500 at their job and guarantees people won't be fired while they're on leave if they have been on the job at least 180 days. When they are on leave, workers’ wages would be partially covered through a state-administered fund. The money in that fund would be supplied by premiums paid by employers and workers, amounting to 0.9 percent of each worker’s wages. Businesses with fewer than 10 people would be exempt from the employer premium, and companies could opt to go with their own leave program instead of participating in the statewide program. The fees would take effect in 2023 and the program would launch in 2024.

Failed Proposition 115: 22-Week Abortion Ban This measure would have banned women in Colorado from having abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy, except when there’s a risk to the mother’s life. These types of abortions are only about 1.3 percent of all procedures and often are a result of parents receiving a life-altering diagnosis about

telegraph

the fetus. This is the fourth time in 12 years that an abortion initiative has been rejected on the Colorado ballot.

Awaiting Results

Proposition 113: National Popular Vote Compact Colorado voters can choose to affirm or reject the legislature’s 2019 decision to join the National Popular Vote Compact. The Democratic-backed law could eventually bind Colorado and other states to commit their presidential election votes to the candidate who wins the most votes nationally, rather than the candidate who wins the state. Proposition 114: Restoration of Gray Wolves Should Colorado reintroduce gray wolves on certain lands west of the Continental Divide? If approved, it could help an endangered species recover its place in Colorado’s ecology, but the measure faces criticism from ranchers who fear they’ll lose livestock to the predators. Proposition 117: Voter Approval for Certain Fee-Based Enterprises This would add a new TABOR-like provision to state law, requiring the state government to get voter approval before creating major new “enterprises,” which are partially funded by fees. Colorado voters already have authority over tax increases and rarely approve them. The state Supreme Court has held that a fee is different from a tax because it is reasonably connected to a specific purpose. And in the years that TABOR has been in effect, lawmakers have used them as a way to raise money without raising taxes. Critics see fees as an end-run around TABOR’s spending limits. Amendment C: Expand Charitable Bingo and Raffles Added to the ballot by the State Legislature, this measure would change how charitable gaming activities are managed. It would shorten the time a nonprofit must operate in Colorado before it can apply for a charitable gaming license, from five years to three. It would also allow licensees to hire paid staff to operate their bingo games or raffles. n

Crossing the finish line: local and state races U.S. Senator from Colorado: John Hickenlooper (D) vs. Sen. Cory Gardner (R) U.S. Congress Colorado District 3: Lauren Boebert (R) vs. Diane Mitsch Bush (D) Colorado State House, District 59: Barbara McLachlan (D) vs. Marilyn Harris (R) La Plata County Commissioner District 3: Matthew Salka (D) vs Charly Minkler (I) Awaiting results: La Plata County Commissioner District 2: Marsha Porter-Norton (D) vs. Jack Turner (I)


thesecondsection Hesperus Ski Patrol Director Trent Meshew discusses a pair of skis with a potential buyer Monday at the swap. Instead of just going for a weekend, the swap is being spread out over a month this year. You have until Nov. 14 to score a deal on some used (and new) gear and until Nov. 13 to sell your stuff./ Photo by Missy Votel

The swap must go on Hesperus Ski Patrol pulls off fund-raiser in new COVID format by Missy Votel

door swap was considered, but also scrapped due to attendance restrictions. s of now, there’s at least one thing you can count on “Even if we were outdoors, it was going to be limited to not getting cancelled because of COVID: winter. (Of 175 people at a time,” said Meshew. “It just became a logiscourse, whether or not Old Man Winter keeps up his tical nightmare. We got to a point where we decided it wasn’t end of the bargain remains to be seen.) Another thing you worth it because we weren’t going to make any money.” can count on: the Hesperus Ski PaThat’s when Bill came up with the trol Ski Swap, which is taking place idea to rent a space and spread the JusttheFacts through Nov. 14 downtown in the sale out over a month. That way, strip mall at 1365 Camino del Rio What: Hesperus Ski Patrol Ski Swap they could generate attendance When: 3-6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (next to Pizza Hut and Auto Zone). numbers without trying to cram it Yes, COVID has put a wrench in weekends, thru Nov. 14 all into one day, as is usually done. the format of ski swaps of years past Where: Shopping mall at 1365 Main Ave. The sale, which officially started Oct. – 56 to be exact. But like the hardy (next to Auto Zone and Pizza Hut) 19, features Ski Barn’s new merchanmen and women they are, Hesperus Info: www.hesperusskipatrol.org dise up front and the swap’s (mostly) ski patrollers weren’t about to give used gear in the back (sort of a ski up on No. 57. The annual swap, trasale mullet, if you will.) ditionally held the weekend after Halloween at the La Plata Meshew said the swap features more than 500 used items, County Fairgrounds, is the all-volunteer patrol’s main money including everything from alpine and skinny skis to cross maker for the year. Funds go to pay for things like emergency country boots and a few lonely pairs of tele boots (cheap to outdoor medical training and supplies. a good home.) Unlike in years past, there will be no entrance “Our annual budget is $20,000-$25,000 a year,” Patrol di- fee to the swap, although it’s $1 per item to sell, with the Parector Trent Meshew said Monday. “What we hope to do trol taking a 20 percent cut of the sale price. In addition, folks with the swap is generate at least that much plus a little bit can drop off used gear to sell up until the second-to-last day, extra, to have in the savings.” Nov. 13 (to expedite the drop-off, fill out the form at When it became apparent this fall that the Fairgrounds www.hesperusskipatrol.org ahead of time.) Masks are rewasn’t going to work because of COVID attendance restric- quired and social distancing will be practiced, although tions, Meshew and swap partners, Bill and Angie Brown, of Meshew said the crush of buyers hasn’t been a problem. Yet. Ski Barn, began looking for alternatives. The idea of an outWhy should you go, you may be asking? Well, for 4

A

telegraph

Nov. 5, 2020 n

9


SkiSwap from p. 9 starters, there’s no better place to be during a pandemic than noodling around the woods on a pair of skis. Secondly, used gear is hot – and what better way to test the flex, clomp around in the boots and make sure those pants don’t make your butt look big before you buy? But most importantly, it’s to help support those badass dudes and dudettes who brave the dark scrub oak to make sure your night skiing experience is safe. With about 30 members, the Hesperus Ski Patrol is part of the vaunted 82-year-old National Ski Patrol, a volunteer organization. Although numerous on the East Coast, Hesperus is the last all-volunteer NSP crew in the Rocky Mountains. Which is pretty cool when you think about it. Not only that, but the Hesperus patrol is among the oldest, too. Fun fact: Hesperus ski area (b. 1962) is actually older than Purgatory (b. 1965), which recently bought the small mom-and-pop operation. Meshew said now that Hesperus is free to Purg season pass holders, there has been a big uptick in skiers. “There’s definitely a lot more skier traffic,” said Meshew, who’s patrolled at Hesperus for 13 seasons. Of course, more skiers means everything from more bumps, bruises and lost skis to more severe mishaps involving the dreaded toboggan ride. (Which it turns out, from personal experience, is really not nearly as bad as you think it’s going to be.)

Left: A homemade sign touting one of the myriad benefits of cross country skiing. Right: Hesperus ski patroller Evan Tyler gladly models a vintage rabbit fur vest, one of the many great finds at the swap. The swap runs through Nov. 14 at the mall at the three-way intersection of Main Ave., Camino del Rio and 14th Street, in downtown Durango./ Photos by Missy Votel Meshew said all Hesperus ski patrollers patrollers on staff on any given night. How- to get free skiing for the family, it’s the receive outdoor emergency certification ever, he did note there has been some attri- best (non-paying) job you’ll ever love. But (aka OEC), with several more receiving “ad- tion to the Purgatory Ski Patrol as of late, then again, if it was about the money, vanced degrees,” such as outdoor emer- and Hesperus is always looking for a few most of us wouldn’t be here in the first gency transportation certification (OETC) more good men and women (you can also place, would we? and avalanche training. get more info on this at www.hesperus “I’ve always wanted to be a ski patroller. Over the years, numbers on the patrol skipatrol.org.) It’s a fascinating position,” he said. “That’s have waxed and waned. Last season was According to Meshew, who started pa- the reason why we all volunteer. We love it. among the patrol’s best, with a solid three trolling when his kids were little as a way We love patrolling.” n

Telegraph classified ads can be placed online at www.durangotelegraph.com and cost a mere 10 cents a character. (We don’t know how to say this, but it’s kind of a big deal.)

"' #" ' & # ##

*$ % &

To place them the 1990s way: classifieds@durangotelegraph.com To place them the 1970s way: call 970-259-0133

10 n Nov. 5, 2020

)))

telegraph

,!

) &' # '

'# ' # '%

' + #(" & "

#

'

%

'&

'& #!


MurderInk

A forever-read German author’s ‘Dear Child’ will be remembered long after the last word

by Jeffrey Mannix

S

creening books for “Murder Ink” columns is a ruthless labor of love. I’ve talked about this one way or another more than a few times, but today it needs reinforcing. With each advance reader’s copy sent by publishers hoping for a favorable review, I apply my taste test on page one. If a writer can’t stimulate my taste buds on the opening page, they shouldn’t give up their day job, and I can’t waste my time hoping that the sour mixture will get better. It falls under the maxim that you never have a second chance to make a good first impression. My next escape is on page 15 – if I’m able to be stimulated to consume more, I’ll continue to read. My final fixed appraisal is page 50; if the book is undercooked at this point in the meal, I quit and start again with a new chef. In years past, I’d average eight to 10 books before I’d find one I’d be eager to read past page 50, much less recommend to “Murder Ink” readers. In recent years, as crime fiction has achieved prominence and has attracted crossover talent, the percentage of mediocre books has been cut in half, and probably half of what’s left are in the excellent category. From that category, there are the very few that rise above a sustained expectation of excellence and are candidates to be conspicuously preserved for posterity. “Murder Ink” has featured many books that take your breath away, and every book reviewed in this column is worthy of a five-star rating. Today, I have a sixth star to award, to German author Romy Hausmann on her first English translation, Dear Child, and concurrently to her brilliant translator, Jamie Bulloch, and the editors of Flatiron Books who sanded every rough edge off every word of this certain prize-winner published last month. Dear Child is the story of Lena, who was abducted 15 years ago, kept as a wife in a remote cabin, and bore two children before vanishing and being replaced by another wife who was also called Lena. The new Lena isn’t quite so docile as the mother of Hannah and Jonathan – she hasn’t the motherly instinct for keeping her children as safe as possible in captivity – and this second Lena bashes the head of her “husband” with a snow globe, takes the children, who are reluctant to leave their father, and flees. In a panic to get away, she

runs into a street where she’s struck mightily by a car and ends up in critical condition in a hospital with no identification and two preteen children standing by, mute but not dumb. We are now on page 14 of a 350-page book. The book is narrated in the first-person alternately by

each of the characters, including the father of Lena, who knows immediately upon seeing Lena II unconscious in intensive care that she is not his daughter who disappeared 15 years ago, and that Hannah is absolutely his granddaughter and he wants her home. Hannah is stoic and calculating and can repeat definitions of things as would be found in a dictionary. She is obviously gifted in a way that perhaps is seen as autistic or having Asperger’s syndrome. She is the Dear Child in Dear Child, and after her replacement mother regains her faculties, the story goes to places and unfolds experiences and feelings that heretofore have been attempted in clumsy mysteries and bad science fiction. This is a breakthrough novel. While Lena II is recovering from life-threatening injuries, the children are brought to what can be called an orphanage, where they’re looked after by a doddery Dr. Hamstedt, who is relentlessly pestered by Hannah’s grandfather Matthias to release Hannah (not Jonathan) to his custody. While sitting in Dr. Hamstedt’s office, Matthias observes: “Hanging in frames on the wall behind her were countless accolades identifying her as a ‘professional,’ while on the windowsill to her left, a spider plant with limp, yellowed leaves proved that this supposed ‘professional’ wasn’t even capable of looking after an undemanding houseplant.” The time and place and dialogue go back and forth between present and past, and the story winds through the most fascinating human conditions to be found in circumstances we don’t want to ever find ourselves. I found myself having to put the book down frequently and take a break to catch my breath, the storytelling is so wonderfully powerful and affecting. Hollywood is not going to knock themselves out to make a movie of Dear Child – it’s not movie material, the characters are drawn from the inside out and more vividly than film can capture. But Dear Child could be a stage play, where actors can be seen in three dimensions. But, as we book readers know, no theatrical performance can match the narrative a book creates in our minds. Dear Child will be the best theatrics your mind has attended, perhaps forever. Get your hands on Dear Child at Maria’s Bookshop, and don’t forget to ask for your 15 percent “Murder Ink” discount. n

Proudly serving Fahrenheit Coff ffe ee and Espresso! Fresh baked goods daily! 1099 Main Ave., under the big clock Mon.- Thurs., 7am-3pm and Fri., 7am-1pm

telegraph

Nov. 5, 2020 n 11


StufftoDo

Thursday05 Gary B. Walker plays piano, 9-11 a.m., Jean-Pierre Bakery & Restaurant, 601 Main Ave. Ian Lennox plays, 5-8 p.m., 11th Street Station. Tim Sullivan plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. “How to Find Happiness in the Age of COVID,” a Zoom event with FLC Psychology Professor Brian Burke, 7 p.m. part of the Lifelong Learning Lecture Series. https://tinyurl.com/y57vl6s6 “Beam Me Up Starlight,” drag trivia, every Thursday, 7-9 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave. Social distancing observed, masks required.

Friday06 CPW’s annual Kokanee Salmon Giveaway, 3 p.m., Lake Nighthorse. Anyone wanting fish must have a 2020 Colorado fishing license; kids under 16 will also be given fish. COVID protocols will be practiced, masks required. Giveaway also takes place Nov. 13. For info., go to: cpw.state.co. Jack Ellis and Larry Carver play, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Dustin Burley plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Deadline for “Stuff to Do” submissions is Monday at noon. To submit an item, email: calendar@durangotelegraph.com

Bad Goat plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Saturday07 Henry Stoy plays piano, 9 a.m.-12 noon, Jean Pierre Wine Bar, College Drive and Main. Free Jedi training, Learn the Japanese weapons and techniques seen in “Star Wars,” new time and location: 9:45-10:45 a.m., the Pavilion at LPC Fairgrounds. Masks required. www.durangoaikido.com Joel Racheff plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the Durango Independent Film Festival and Durango Farmers Market are sponsoring a free online screening of “Gather” though Nov. 15. The documentary follows the revitalization and re-creation of Indigenous food systems in America, taking viewers to tribal communities where members are actively working to improve Native food sovereignty. For link and password, go to www.durangofilm.org and click on “Native American Heritage Month.”

Matt Rupnow plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Joel Racheff plays, 5:30–8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Larry Carver & Ben Gibson play, 6 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave.

Blue Moon Ramblers play Americana/bluegrass every Sunday, 5:30–8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Sheryl & Beau play, 6 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Sunday08 Henry Stoy plays piano, 9 a.m.-12 noon, Jean Pierre Wine Bar, College Drive and Main. Irish music jam, every Sunday, 12:30-3 p.m., Durango VFW, 1550 Main Ave. Free. “Observing Space from Earth,” free virtual event, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Featuring FLC profs Callie Cole and Charley Hakes discussing space research and discoveries. Tune into live Facebook stream @powscicenter.

12 n Nov. 5, 2020

Monday09 National Scrapple Day Meditation and Dharma Talk with Brian LeSage, 5:30-7 p.m. online at www.durangodharmacenter.org/ Rob Webster plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Joel Racheff plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

telegraph

Tuesday10 7 Rivers Farmers Market, indoor winter farmers market, Tuesdays, 12-3 p.m. featuring local farmers, food vendors and artisans, La Plata County Fairgrounds. Masks and social distancing required. Sean O’Brien plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Terry Rickard plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Rotary Club of Durango Zoom meeting presents Jackson Clark II, owner of Toh-Atin Gallery, 6 p.m. For link, email: mtnman16@gmail.com.

Wednesday11 Veteran’s Day

4


AskRachel

Road rage, Amazonians and fuzzy handcuffs Interesting fact: Bobby pins really are the best way to break free from handcuffs. Gents, if you think you pissed off your wife, you may want to start accessorizing. Dear Rachel, I’ve made it my game lately to tally the outof-state plates on my regular drive between Durango and Pagosa. I routinely see five different states, and not just the usual Texas and New Mexico. Tennessee is a surprising regular. The other day though, I counted 11. That’s almost a quarter of this great union out and about when we’re meant to be limiting out-of-house travel, let alone out of state. I’m about to set up roadblocks to protect Colorado, I get so mad! What can I do to stay calm about these wanderers from afar? – Tourist Tags Dear All the Road Rage, Here goes. My best advice for staying calm about all those motorists you see who shouldn’t be leaving their houses is … well … don’t leave your house. – Up on blocks, Rachel

Bezos’ pockets based on my charitable donation, and … well, I’ve come to Jesus. I could be supporting smaller businesses and donating to charity my own damn self. But now it’s a habit. How can I break it before it’s too late? – In the Amazon Dear ’Zoned Out, What great philosopher could have predicted that the downfall of personal ethics would be precipitated by convenience? Most any of them, actually. But not one of them understood the allure of two-day shipping (even if it’s more like five-day shipping to this part of the world) and promotional credit applicable to any purchase in the music store in the next 90 days. You’ve got to go cold turkey. Block that domain on all your devices. It is your only hope. – In my Prime, Rachel Dear Rachel, My husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage this week. Or we would be. He just admitted to me that he hated the glasses I wore when we met as teen-agers. I don’t care about that. I care about how now that he’s let that cat out, he can’t stop talking about it. He brings up the thick rims apropos of nothing, mocks the retro horns, laughs at my dorky appearance. Yeah, I was a dork, but now I want to punch him right in his beautiful no-contacts ocean blues. Any ideas for averting mariticide? – Honey Don’t You Dare

Dear Four Eyes, If you divorce him before you murder him, then it’s not technically mariticide. That’s one way to avoid it. Another way would be to pull out the fuzzy handcuffs on your anniversary, lock him to the bed, bring him close to nirvana, then walk out, shut the door, get in your car, and drive out of state for a week or two. I bet he’d forget to criticize your teen-age glasses for a while. Just don’t drive through Pagosa on your way. I hear those drivers are all kinds of ragey. – Happy Ann, Rachel

Donnie Johnson plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Nov. 16. Buy tickets at www.lposc.org or in person at 102 E. 8th St., Suite 202.

on view by appointment through spring 2021, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC. swcenter.fortlewis.edu/

Terry Rickard plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

“Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas,” a traveling exhibit from the American Museum of Natural History, Powerhouse Science Center.

Upcoming:

Dear Rachel, I’m starting to feel really guilty about how much I use that rainforest-themed online retail giant. They fooled me by saying a percentage of my purchases will go to a charity I choose. That’s great. But I just did the math on how many thousands of dollars I’ve pumped into

Free circuit workout, every Wednesday, 6 p.m. lead by physical therapist Andre Botha. Masks required. Ohana Physical Therapy, 130 Rock Point Drive, Unit C in the Tech Center. RSVP at: 970-247-7895.

Ongoing The Durango Learning Lab Session 2, a communitywide educational program for students, begins Nov. 9. Register at www.durangolearninglab.com. Hesperus Ski Patrol Ski Swap, through Nov. 14, 3-6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends. 1365 Main Ave., next to Pizza Hut and Auto Zone. www.hesperus skipatrol.org.

Sunnyside and Fort Lewis Mesa libraries are open, providing books, movies, music, audio books and internet, Mon.-Fri., 2:30-7 p.m. or call 970-375-3816. Curbside service also available. Fort Lewis College 2020 Faculty Biennial exhibit, viewing every Wednesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and by appt. thru Nov. 19. For info: www.fortlewis.edu/art-design/artgallery. Episode 2 of the “Actor’s Journal,” free recordings of original works, essays, poems, remembrances by various actors. Six new actors featured every month. www.durango playfest.org/actors-journal

Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

Randy Crumbaugh plays solo, Nov. 12, 5-8 p.m., 11th Street Station. Tim Sullivan plays, Nov. 12, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. “GMOs: The Science and the Non-science,” a Zoom event with retired professor of molecular biology Deborah Lycan, Nov. 12, 7 p.m. part of the Lifelong Learning Lecture Series. https://tinyurl.com/y57vl6s6 Jose Villareal plays, Nov. 12, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Free Legal Clinic, Nov. 13, 4-5 p.m. Call the Ignacio Library at (970) 563-9287 to sign up.

“Gather,” a film on indigenous food systems in America, will be screened online for free through Nov. 15. Sponsored by the Durango Independent Film Festival and the Durango Farmers Market. For info, go to durango film.org.

Durango Public Library Weekly Activity Kits available for curbside pickup every Tuesday. Kits include supplies for one project for preschool, elementary and teen-age students. A new kit is released every Tuesday while supplies last. To request, email reference@DurangoGov.org.

Goal-setting-Playshop, hosted by life coach Brooke Smith, Nov. 13, 6 p.m., Pine River Library, Bayfield. Free. calendly.com/dreamweaverlifecoach/tortoise-step-goal-workshop”

Win a Stay at The Blake Hotel in Taos, a raffle fundraiser for the La Plata Open Space Conservancy. Drawing

PIVOT: Skateboard Deck Art exhibit, over 100 skateboard decks painted by 30 different Native American artists,

Dustin Burley plays, Nov. 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

#'- +4, (' -" 0 1

Deadline to submit items for “Stuff to Do” is Monday at noon.

+ - , % -#(' ( + ' , %#$ + ' & +-0((% (% + $ + ++ %% ' &(+ . # , ,0 - +, ,$# ) '-,

(&

.+'#,"#'!, 2 %(-"#'! 2

%(-, ( ((-,

,,(+# , 2

)-#'! ! '-%1 0(+' *. %#-1 )) + % 1 ))(#'-& ') ' ('

-3

0 %+1

E-mail your stuff to: calendar@durangotelegraph.com

-" /

telegraph

Nov. 5, 2020 n 13


What Kate & Nate wear on their day off

FreeWillAstrology by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries poet Charles Baudelaire championed the privilege and luxury of changing one’s mind. He thought it was natural and healthy to always keep evolving beyond one’s previous beliefs and attitudes, even if that meant one might seem inconsistent or irrational. “It is lamentable,” he once proclaimed, “that, among the Rights of Human Beings, the right to contradict oneself has been disregarded.” I bring these thoughts to your attention, dear Aries, so that you will feel at peace with the prospect of outgrowing rules, strategies and approaches that have worked well for you up until now – but that have outlived their usefulness. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The horoscopes I write are my love letters to you. As I compose them, my goal is to celebrate your beauty and strength even as I discern what’s lacking in your life and what confusions might be undermining you. In my philosophy of life, that’s how love works at its best: remaining keenly aware of the good qualities in the beloved while helping them deal with their problems and heal their wounds. I suggest that in the coming weeks you adopt my approach for use with your own close relationships. Your allies are in special need of both your praise and your rectifications.

... and you can too. (Even if your name isn’t McKinnon. Or MacKinnon.) In a variety of sizes for all your exploits on and off the red carpet. (Also available in muscle T to show off your pipes.)

T-shirts: $15 Tanks: $12 Hats: $20 (plus shipping and handling)

Order yours today at: durangotelegraph.com or email telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

14 n Nov. 5, 2020

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): When Charles de Gaulle was 15 years old, he wrote “General de Gaulle,” a short story in which he envisioned himself, many years in the future, as a general in the French army. Thirty-five years later, his imaginary tale came true, as he became a general of the free French army fighting against Germany in World War II. In the spirit of de Gaulle’s prophecy, and in accordance with current astrological omens, I encourage you to compose a comparable tale about your own destiny. Have fun as you visualize in great detail a successful role you will play months or even years from now. CANCER (June 21-July 22): In 1903, archaeologists digging in a cave in Cheddar Gorge, England, found the fossilized remains of “Cheddar Man,” a person who had lived there 9,000 years earlier. In 1997, DNA tests revealed that a teacher named Adrian Targett, who was living a half-mile from the cave, was a direct descendant of Cheddar Man. I propose that we invoke this scenario to serve as a metaphor for you in the coming months. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, your ancestors are likely to play a bigger role in your life than usual. Connections between you and them will be more vivid and influential and worthy of your meditations.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): According to the film “Amadeus,” composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756– 91) and Antonio Salieri (1750–1825) were adversaries who disliked and undermined each other. But there’s evidence that this was not entirely true. In fact, they collaborated on creating a cantata that was performed by Nancy Storace, a famous singer they both admired. It’s unlikely they would have cooperated in such a way unless they had a working relationship. I suspect that a comparable correction is due in your world, Leo. It’s time to dissolve a misunderstanding or restore a lost truth or fix an old story that got some of the facts wrong. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to ask for help and seek support. I urge you to be forthright in doing so! Resources that have been inaccessible before may be more available now. I suspect you will be able to capitalize on the luck and skill of allies who have benefited from your favors in the past. Their successes could bring you blessings and their breakthroughs should inspire you to instigate breakthroughs in your own life. Be straightforward: Ask them to lend their influence on your behalf.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Actor Gary Busey is quirky and kooky, but his peculiar rants sometimes make good sense. Here’s one that I suspect might be useful for you to consider during the next two weeks: “It’s good for everyone to understand that they are to love their enemies, simply because your enemies show you things about yourself you need to change. So in actuality enemies are friends in reverse.” I don’t mean to imply that your adversaries and nemeses are totally accurate in their critiques of you. But there may be a thing or two you can learn from them right now that would truly improve your life. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Musician John Coltrane described one of his life goals as follows: “There are forces out here that bring suffering to others and misery to the world,” he said. “But I want to be the opposite force. I want to be the force which is truly for good.” Even if that’s not an intention at the core of your long-term plans, Capricorn, I recommend you consider adopting it during the next few weeks. Being a vigorous and rigorous force for good will be especially needed by the people with whom you associate – and will also result in you attracting interesting benefits.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the 1970s, an Englishman named Stephen Pile founded the Not Terribly Good Club. It was designed to be a gathering place for mediocre people whose lives were marked by inadequacy and incompetence. To organize his thoughts about the club’s themes, Pile eventually published a book entitled The Book of Heroic Fallures. Unfortunately, it sold so many copies that he got expelled from his own club. He had become too successful! I suspect that in the coming months, you may have an experience akin to his. The odds are good that you’ll find interesting success in an area of your life where you have previously been just average.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Known as “the bad boy of bridge,” Aquarian Geir Helgemo is a champion in the card game of bridge. At times he has been the top-rated player in the world. But in 2019, he was suspended from the World Bridge Federation for a year because he tested positive for testosterone supplements that are banned. Why did he do it? He hasn’t said. There is some research suggesting that testosterone may boost cognitive function, but other evidence says it doesn’t. I’d like to use Helgemo’s foolishness as a teaching story for you, Aquarius. According to my astrological analysis, you’re approaching the peak of your competence and confidence. There’s no need for you to cheat or sneak in an effort to seek an even greater advantage. In fact, righteous integrity will enhance your intelligence.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “At every crossroad, be prepared to bump into wonder,” Scorpio poet James Broughton wrote. I believe that’s stirring advice for you to keep in mind during the coming weeks. Broughton’s words inspired me to come up with a corollary for you to heed, as well: “At every turning point, be ready to stumble into an opportunity disguised as a problem.” I’ve got one more clue for you. Last night in my dream, my Scorpio poetry teacher offered a thought that’s well-suited for you right now: “Whenever you want to take a magic twisty leap into the big fresh future, be willing to engage in one last wrestling match with the past.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “I might really have gone round the bend,” Botswana author Bessie Head confessed. “I mean people who get visions and see a gigantic light descend on them from the sky can’t be all there, but if so I feel mighty happy. If one is happy and cracked it’s much better than being unhappy and sane.” Although I don’t expect your state of mind in the coming weeks will be as extreme as Bessie Head’s, Pisces, I do suspect it will have resemblances to her dreamy cheerfulness. If I had to give a title to this upcoming phase, it might be “Wise Folly.” And yes, I do think your “craziness” will generate useful insights and fertile revelations.

telegraph


classifieds

Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon. Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum. Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com. Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)

Ads can be submitted via: n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133 n 679 E. 2nd Ave., #E2 Approximate office hours: Mon: 9ish - 5ish Tues: 9ish - 5ish Wed: 9ish - 3ish Thurs: On delivery Fri: Gone fishing; call first

Announcements Interest in Shared Land Ownership? Interested in working with others to figure out how to build homes on a shared piece of land with shared space for gardening, or leasing to a farmer, or creating a community building. There are models of shared land ownership that can be legally robust and not as scary as people believe. I'm interested to learn more and to explore this with other folks. Reaching out isn't a commitment, just a starting point. Email: rileyneugebauer@ hotmail.com. The Perfect Gift for your favorite dirtbag. Literature from Durango's own Benighted Publications. The Desert, The Climbing Zine, The Great American Dirtbags, American Climber, Climbing Out of Bed and Graduating From College Me are available at: Maria's Bookshop, Pine Needle Mountaineering, the Sky Store, or on the interweb at www.climbingzine.com.

Guitar Repair Services Guitar and other stringed instrument repair, as well as fine custom guitars. Setups, re-frets, crack and ding repair, you name it. Located in N. Durango. www.bluespruceguitars.com 970-9010087 RSE Handyman Service Home repair. Yard work. Odd jobs. 970-903-0449. Lowest Prices on Storage! Inside/outside storage near Durango and Bayfield. 10-x-20, $130. Outside spots: $65, with discounts available. RJ Mini Storage. 970-259-3494 Harmony Organizing and Cleaning Services Home and office 970-403-6192. Marketing Small and Local Businesses Media, social media, website content, SEO, etc. for small, local, independent or startup businesses. Email jnderge@ gmail.com

forming tele-tech binding on the market. 460 grams per binding, only used a few times! $250 ($500 new, at least.) Call/text 970-749-2595

RealEstate

Tele NTN Bindings Free the heel! 22 Designs Outlaws, free-pivot performance with true step-in and pole-activated release/walk-mode that makes jumping in and out of your skis a cinch, size small, used only one season, $200 ($399 new.) M Equipment Meidjo 2.0 touring bindings, Dynafit style toepiece combined with dual underfoot springs and latching spring box that connects to the "second heel” offering the lightest-weight, highest-per-

Radon Services Free radon testing and consultation. Call Colorado Radon Abatement and Detection for details. 970- 946-1618.

HaikuMovieReview ‘Cabin in the Woods’ An assortment of every scary movie trope ever imagined – Lainie Maxson

NewspaperOrigami

BodyWork massageintervention.life Voted best massage in Durango 2020. Couples, cupping, local CBD. Reviews on FB + Yelp. 970-903-2984

Classes/Workshops Myo Fascial Release & Embodiment Classes offered Tuesdays in Nov. 5:457pm at Studio E4 - 225 8th Ave, Unit B 435-229-9705 for more info.

Wanted Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.

Services Covid Got You Down? Got some bad habits? Low confidence? Take charge of your life with Susan Urban's Transcendental Hypnosis. Now offering phone and limited in-office sessions in downtown Durango. Free phone consultation. 970-247-9617.

ForRent House for Rent Older, funky 2 BR, + small office, 1 BA, lge. fenced yard with great views. Quick drive to Durango or New Mexico. $975, plus deposit, utilities. Lge. garage available for $300 more. 970-247-9617.

ForSale Reruns Home Furnishings Be ready for an alfresco winter season – beautiful, multiple-piece, white iron vintage patio set! Mexican style cabinets, console tables, turquoise cabinet, handmade native drums. Lots of Asian art, ceramics, art glass and much more. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.

telegraph

A squirrel Nov. 5, 2020 n 15


Hesperus

57th Annual

Ski Patrol Ski Swap !

- &(

# , '2*

, &%

+

&'&*

-0 &%,%%%

!

"

4 /

2* $$

1

!

. 3& 2

!!!-

3)-

2

*Yes, it’s fine if you want to take a few for friends, neighbors, grandma, etc. Just don’t poach the whole stack. That’s lame.

If you need extra papers for fire-starter, paper mache projects, makeshift COVID masks, etc., please call us at 970-259-0133 or email telegraph@durangotelegraph.com and we’ll hook you up.

16 n Nov. 5, 2020

telegraph


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Durango Telegraph Nov. 5, 2020 by Durango Telegraph - Issuu