Once bitten, twice shy
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Aug. 29, 2019 Vol. XVIII, No. 35 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
Talking trash Bear-resistant cans a success, but more needs to be done p8
L I N E
O N
Yocal
How to grocery shop without going bananas p13
D U R A N G O
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B E Y O N D
The ripe stuff Gather round local foodies, harvest season is here p17
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Labor Day Weekend Deals! Ascend Concentrates Pop-up: Fri., Aug. 30, 3-6 p.m. (Bodo) Koala Bars Edibles Pop-up: Mon., Sept. 2, 11am-1 p.m. (Bodo) Oh Hi Sparkling Seltzers: Buy 2, Try 2 Fri. - Mon., Aug. 30 - Sept. 2
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2 n Aug. 29, 2019
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Recreational Adult Use Only: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM 37 CR 232, 970.426.4381
lineup
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4 La Vida Local
The nose knows City, wildlife officials credit new trash for keeping bears at bay by Tracy Chamberlin
4 Thumbin’ It 5 Word on the Street
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6-7 Soapbox
Rec yourself Group protects area’s outdoors industry and those who depend on it by Joy Martin
11 Mountain Town News 17 Day in the Life
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21 Top Shelf
Food for thought
Had it with the grocery store? How to survive without going bananas by Local First
22 On the Town
19
Meet the neighbors Introducing “Localphiles,” profiling the people you pass every day by Kathleen Rittenhouse
24 Ask Rachel 25 Free Will Astrology 26 Classifieds
21
Great White hope
Onthecover
’80s Labor Day revival, return to Reservoir Hill and Warsaw by Chris Aaland
Singletrack leads to a snow-dappled cirque on Indian Trail Ridge last weekend./ Photo by Stephen Eginoire
EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel (missy@durangotelegraph.com)
boilerplate
26 Haiku Movie Review
ADVERTISING AFICIONADO: Lainie Maxson (lainie@durangotelegraph.com) RESIDENT FORMULA ONE FAN: Tracy Chamberlin (tracy@durangotelegraph.com)
T
he Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, beckoning singletrack or monster powder days. We are wholly owned and operated by the Durango Telegraph LLC and distributed in the
CONTRIBUTORS: Lainie Maxson, Stephen Eginoire, Allen Best, Shan Wells, Chris Aaland, Tracy Chamberlin, Clint Reid, Kathleen Rittenhouse, David Feela and Jesse Anderson
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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.
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Ear to the ground: “I’m still holding out hope all this plastic will turn us into the super race, you know, like Elastigirl in ‘The Incredibles.’” – One possible way of seeing the plastic bottle as half-full, we suppose
Rockin’ at the free box
thepole
RegularOccurrences
Neil Young is getting the band back together. Or rather, he already did. Young recently brought his legendary backup band Crazy Horse to his sometimes home in Telluride for the recording of a new album. “Colorado,” which is expected to drop any day and streaming on Young’s website (neilyoungarchives .com), was recorded near Telluride last April. “We believe we have a great Crazy Horse album, one to stand alongside ‘Everybody Knows this is Nowhere,’ ‘Rust Never Sleeps,’ ‘Sleeps With Angels,’ ‘Psychedelic Pill’ and all the others,” Young wrote on his online news page, NYA Times-Contrarian. To make the album, Young, 73, summoned to the box canyon former bandmates bassist Billy Talbot, 75; drummer Ralph Molina, 74; and multiinstrumentalist, Nils Lofgren, the young whippersnapper of the group at 68. Lofgren and wife, Amy, took the roadtrip to Telluride from Scottsdale, he told the Colorado Sun. As a welcoming gift, each band member received oxygen tanks in their hotel rooms. “Neil wanted us there a few days early to acclimate,” Lofgren told the Sun. “I used oxygen every day.” Apparently, the oxygen worked, and the band’s still crazy for each other after all these years. “Whatever label this brand-new Crazy Horse album is on, it will be a proud moment for all involved, something we were not sure we would get to do,” Young wrote on his site. “We did it though, and it rocks! I am so thankful.” The album features 11 new songs, ranging from an uncharacteristically brief three minutes to a more Cowgirl-esque14 minutes. And, of course, it sounds best when played on a Pono Player. But if you didn’t happen to snatch one up when the getting was good, we’re sure vinyl will suffice just fine.
Whiskey business Hold onto your low balls. It seems the darling of the hipster yellow beer scene, Pabst Blue Ribbon, is getting into the whiskey business. Marketed tongue-in-cheek (as least we hope so) as “five-second aged whiskey,” the PBR website describes the newest entrant to liquor store shelves as “ready to mix … an 80-proof no-nonsense white whiskey with a smooth, clean finish.” Although we can’t guarantee the new elixir is totally palatable, the $25.99 price tag is. But, if you want to get your thirsty little hands on the new PBR hooch, you’ll have to first put them on the steering wheel (and please not after, duh). The PBR whiskey brrel is only being rolled out in select cities – including Denver and, according to the PBR website, Liquid Assets, in Cortez. Almost as surprising (or maybe not) is PBR’s entrance into the white-hot hard seltzer market (but at 8 percent ABV be forewarned, these are not your mom’s White Claws.) The 175-year-old brewery is also getting onto the lesser known arena of “hard coffee,” presumably to get you drunk and sober all at once. Aug. 29, 2019 n 3
opinion
LaVidaLocal Done with this planet? A few weeks after the Mars InSight touched down on the red planet’s surface, I clicked an audio link that captured 2 minutes and 27 seconds of a Martian wind. The idea of opening an electronic window and listening as a breeze at least 33.9 million miles away nuzzled NASA’s robotic sensors initially appealed to me, but in less than a minute I started getting bored. The recording was not so different from what I hear any day when the wind is blowing outside my earthly window. Will boredom be our species’ salvation? When Charles Darwin wrote, “Building a better mousetrap merely results in smarter mice,” he might have been thinking about our destiny. He also observed, “The world will not be inherited by the strongest, it will be inherited by those most able to change.” And we are changing, but for good or bad I’m not sure. A Microsoft Corp. study found that since the turn of the millennium our average attention span has reduced from 12 seconds to eight seconds. I can corroborate this finding. My paragraphs keep getting shorter. But the science of measuring attention spans has also been questioned, with good reason. The headline “You Now Have a Shorter Attention Span Than a Goldfish” is written for shock value. The facts lack some credibility, because the length of time during which one is able to concentrate or remain interested has always depended on the subject of focus, and goldfish lack the ability to provide scientists with a meaningful appendage to count web browser or remote control clicks with anything other than their tail fins. Is the Earth changing? Whether you believe polar ice is melting or that the ozone layer is receding faster than my hairline is not the point. It’s more important to note that a growing number of human beings are getting bored with even hearing about climate news. Once my father’s admonishment when I complained of boredom was, “There are no uninteresting things, only uninterested people.” A rather uncharacteristically thoughtful remark from my father. When I found out he stole that bit of wisdom from G. K. Chesterton I finally understood why he usually told me to go read a book. But really, I did make an effort to listen to the entire wind recording. I even closed my eyes and tried teleporting to the planet, as if Martian ghosts
gentled by immeasurable time might start whispering to me. Mind you, I’m not saying I discovered life on Mars. NASA isn’t saying it either. But that sound bite established some sort of bridge between our planets, reducing the imaginative distance that divides our worlds. Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles evokes the tragedy of conquest, earthlings fleeing one doomed planet for the sake of infesting another. Throughout the novel remnants of Martian civilization speak to the colonists in haunting voices, reminding them in both touching and horrific ways of what’s been lost. Bradbury’s book is fiction, of course, but told in such a way as to jog our memories, which also appear to be getting shorter when it comes to avoiding the colossal mistakes we have historically made. I can’t imagine anything more odious than volunteering to commute to a different planet for the sake of colonizing it. Besides, it would take at least half a year to reach Mars – in some cases even longer – and a mountain of in-flight peanuts. Some people might say it makes more sense to take the same interest in our own planet’s welfare, to commit to the notion that the Earth is a finite resource, that human beings themselves are increasingly becoming a disposable commodity. If we are merely bored with our globe, revitalizing and reinvesting in our human curiosity is a worthy goal. Certainly NASA research has benefitted humanity, providing new products and approaches for earthlings that don’t require us to occupy a space station or another planet to reap their benefits. But dismissing what science tells us about what’s happening to the Earth is folly. All our nifty little gadgets, even that short-lived mind-numbing fidget spinner fad, only occupy our fingers. Have we forgotten how to actually see with our eyes? Admittedly, we’ve been fascinated by space exploration for a long time, from Jules Verne’s vision of shooting a missile at the moon to the great space race between Russia and America that spawned Sputnik. Rockets ignited and tempers flared. Astronauts became heroes for putting their lives on the line and venturing into the unknown. But we need another kind of hero, one who is blessed with the kind of insight that’s not necessarily needed to drive a Mars rover, one that can translate what Mars has to say about us as caretakers of this planet. When I step out to the porch in the evening and stare at the sparkling heavens, nothing thrills me more than suddenly noticing that my feet are both firmly planted on this bedrock, this hearth, this home.
This Week’s Sign of the Downfall:
Thumbin’It
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– David Feela
The City of Durango taking bold steps to combat climate change and setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent over 2016 levels by 2050
The lasting local legacy of uranium, with elevated levels of radioactive materials found to be leeching from a buried uranium tailings site south of town
Gov. Polis’ new war against roadkill: a statewide effort to protect big game habitat and build more wildlife crossings in key migration corridors
A University of Idaho study that predicts longer fire seasons and more back-toback low-snow years in the West, with multi-year droughts becoming six times more common in coming decades
A happy ending for local Humane Society rescue pup Champ, who survived a risky surgery to remove an arrow that was embedded in his skull
An apocalyptic scene in Archuleta County, with the entire landfill catching fire Monday and nearby residents being advised to close their windows or leave the area to avoid the toxic smoke
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Hallelujah, it’s raining … plastic? A recent study showed that 90 percent of rainfall in the Denver/Boulder area contains shards of “micro plastic.” The findings were published in a federal report titled “It Is Raining Plastic,” but the news received little attention because the plastic can only be seen with a microscope, and most people can barely see their own litter. It’s thought that the rain-born plastic comes from dryer vents because most of our clothing is made from plastic, or from evaporating ocean water, because most of our ocean is made from plastic, too.
WordontheStreet
Q
With Labor Day upon us, the Telegraph asked, “What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?” Billie Watkins Jr.
“A nonstop nagging boss in a Durango restaurant.”
Paul Smith
“A retail job, but it’s ironic I had to work every Labor Day.”
Rochelle Begaye
“I’ve loved all my jobs.”
Carl
“A Coca-Cola bottling company... 14 hours a day for $1.30/hour.”
Rick Bean
“A bus boy before high school.”
Everything you need for your complete kitchen & bathroom remodel. 970-403-8577• SPLENDIDKITCHEN.CO telegraph
Aug. 29, 2019 n 5
SoapBox
ReTooned/by Shan Wells
Big thanks for often thankless jobs To the editor, Having announced my plan to retire in early 2020, I would be remiss to do so without recognizing the support and hard work of city staff. City employees do not get enough recognition for the work they do. There is a mean-spirited trend sweeping the country that is eroding civility and denigrating respect for public servants. One way to combat that trend is to encourage the public to think about all the tasks completed by city staff that make their lives better. While we were sleeping, patrol cars kept our neighborhoods safe, 911 Dispatch answered calls, and IS staff installed software upgrades. As Durango woke up this morning, people turned on the tap, flushed the toilet, then drove to work on well-maintained streets. Not to mention the efforts of airport staff who focus on safely navigating the horizon and library employees who expand our horizons. Let’s face it. The only time the public realizes what we do for them is when something breaks. The community places a high value on city services. The work performed by city employees is the foundation of the quality of life in Durango. Citizens might like to know: What makes our staff answer the phone to deal with a belligerent caller? Why do Collection & Distribution crews get up in the middle of the night to stand in freezing cold water to repair a broken sewer or water main? Who would want to put on a police uniform to face the uncertainty of potential lethal threats while working a patrol shift? The list goes on. City employees take pride in their work and in our community. They demonstrate high levels of professionalism and integrity. City employees want this city to be well run and a good value for the taxpayers. The4
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individual efforts of city staff contribute to the overall success of the community. Staff are not looking for public recognition and accolades, they do this because they believe they can make a difference. Honestly, there are parts about my job that I will not miss. However, I will miss working with the city staff. I would like to thank all members of Team Durango because you have made my job more rewarding and meaningful. – Ron LeBlanc, City Manager
Rip off the profit-motive band-aid To the editor, Last fall I met a retired couple living nearby in an RV. Their daughter had contracted a debilitating disease requiring costly treatments. Although they had health-care insurance, their daughter did not. Out-of-pocket expenses devoured their savings, their possessions and finally, their home. Care for the daughter was available, but their insurance company would not approve it, and she passed away. In addition to their deep grief and dire financial suffering, the couple carried a sense of guilt, as if they had failed their child. It’s a uniquely American scenario. In America, 62 percent of bankruptcies are due to medical bills. Over 1 million Americans go medically bankrupt each year, stacking financial ruin on top of suffering an often life-threatening illness. These days we hear hard-hearted political discourse designed to protect corporate profiteers and no one else. Well-funded think tanks pump out anger-stoking messages against “socialist” medical policy, pretending that caring for “the least of these” – what Jesus stood for – is a bad thing. Many uninformed voters, understandably angry at poor health care, are ready to blame someone. This think-tank propaganda fools some voters
into actually believing that we’re not all “the least of these.” All other developed countries love their universal health care. In 2004, Canada overwhelmingly voted Tommy Douglas, the originator of Canada’s universal health care system, to be “The Greatest Canadian.” America can also have a health care system that covers everyone. By removing the profit motive from health care, National Improved Medicare for All will cover us all and for less than we’re paying now. – Adele Riffe, Hesperus
Time to hold train’s feet to fire? To the editor, The local “daily” newspaper published an edited version of my letter Aug. 16. Unfortunately, they edited out the most important part. I think it is important to share with your readers also, especially after another recent fire at E. Second Ave and 30th Street, which the DSNGRR attorney insinuated was caused by transient butts. (Cigarette butts, that is.) Fortunately, Durango residents ably doused the blaze. On Aug. 5 at 10 a.m., a DSNGRR pop car followed the train through Hermosa. On the back of the car was a pump and a surprisingly small water tank. North of the Highway 550 crossing, the operator dismounted, went to the back of the car and turned off a valve to the water tank, which had apparently been left open. I could clearly see that there was only 4 inches of water remaining in the tank. The driver/fireman paused momentarily to give us a look, got back in the car and headed north. As we crossed the highway, I could see the trail of water left between the tracks headed south. I believe the next place to get water to refill the tank would be Rockwood, well beyond where the 416 Fire started. It seems that the fireman didn’t need water,
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which is a good thing because he had very little. This incident does not reflect the promises made by the DSNGRR to be responsible and proactive after the 416 Fire last year. Maybe it’s time to hold their feet to the fire. – Christopher Meyer, Hermosa
Sticking a fork in climate change To the editor, “Climate Change Threatens World Food Supply” was the lead story in recently leading newspapers. It was prompted by the release of a report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), staffed by more than 100 experts from 52 countries. The report details how climate change is threatening our world’s food and water supplies – turning arable land to desert, degrading soil and raising the frequency of devastating weather conditions. It concludes that avoiding wholesale starvation and mass migrations requires fundamental changes in current animal agriculture and land management practices, which account for 23 percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. The conclusions of the IPCC report match closely those by Oxford University in 2017 and by Chatham House in 2015. A 2010 United Nations report blames animal agriculture for 19 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, 70 percent of freshwater use and 38 percent of land use. All reports recommend a massive shift to plant-based eating. In an environmentally sustainable world, meat and dairy products in our diet must be replaced by vegetables, fruits and grains, just as fossil fuels are replaced by wind, solar and other pollution-free energy sources. Our next visit to the supermarket provides a superb starting point. – Dante Gomez, Durango
Aug. 29, 2019 n 7
TopStory
Trash talk Bear-resistant cans helping to reduce conflicts across the area by Tracy Chamberlin
W
hat’s working in the Southwest is nothing short of trashy. Over the past few years, the City of Durango has been swapping out its old trash cans for ones with wildlife-resistant locks, and it’s making a big impact. But, for some locals there’s more that can be done.
Bearing down As summer wanes and fall approaches, it’s time for the local bear population to start fattening up for the long winter’s nap. They become determined to devour the 20,000 calories they need each day, and the best way to do that is by following their noses. That’s why smell is the focus for Erin Bohm, the new educational outreach coordinator for Bear Smart Durango. When Bohm is making presentations to scout troops or in classrooms, she said she keeps the message simple and the spotlight on the nose. Bear attractants are all things that smell, she explained, like grease, dumpsters, dog food, bird seed and trash. All bears do is follow the scent to their next meal. “It’s all about the nose,” she added. Trash is by far the top attractant, so it’s been the goal for groups like Bear Smart to remind residents to lock up their trash bins, bring in the bird feeders or put up electric fencing around chicken coops.
What works The black bear population in Southwest Colorado is more than 3,000, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This healthy population is one of the reasons Durango was chosen in 2011 to be the site of a six-year bear study run by Parks and Wildlife researchers. The data from that study revealed things about the bears’ life span, habits, population and more – including how to reduce humanbear conflicts. Researchers learned that simply using bear-resistant trash cans could cut the number of conflicts in half. 4
A black bear, pictured above, has been spotted several times in the past two weeks near a grove of Gamble oaks off Florida Road, munching on some acorns. He’s not the only one wandering the area. According to Code Enforcement Officer Steve Barkley, a bear hanging out around Jenkins Ranch and Florida roads has actually figured out how to get into the city’s larger, 4-yard bins, which can hold more than 800 gallons of trash. The bear has learned how to tip it over and tuck its paws inside in order to pull out the calorie-rich trash./Photo by Ken Rice
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15th annual Jewelry Show benefiting local cancer patients Friday, Sept. 6 • noon - 6 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 2917 Aspen Dr. Featuring jewelry by: Nancy Conrad, Jama Crawford, Basia Daney, Susie Fisher, Pat Lorenzen, Nancy Macho, Carolyn Plested, Cindy Scholfield, Dana Wilson & Sally Wingate
1480 E. 2nd Ave. & 15th St. • 970-764-4577
Admission is free and at least 30% of sales will be donated to Cancer Coalition of Southwest Colorado.
www.jimmysmusic.supply 8 n Aug. 29, 2019
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In the years that followed the May plans to give them the destudy’s release, city officials intails next week. If it’s approved, vested in wildlife-resistant trash it will be a first for Bayfield. cans for a majority of neighborMore to be done hoods and even swapped out Joe Lewandowski, public incans used during the study for formation officer for Colorado new ones with automatic lockParks and Wildlife, agrees the ing lids. wildlife-resistant trash bins can Code Enforcement Officer work, and he’s noticed the imSteve Barkley said the number pact the new cans are making of violations have dropped drain Durango. matically since the new cans “The city’s bear-resistant trash were issued. containers really seem to be Instead of strewn trash across doing a good job,” he added. alleyways, there’s only a handful So far this year, Parks and of cans knocked over. The only Wildlife has not had to euthatime the bears get into the new nize a single bear within the city cans is when they’ve been overlimits due to aggressive behavior. filled, he added. In the two years prior, four bears “We’re definitely seeing less have been euthanized – three in violations for scattered trash,” 2018, a mother and her two cubs Barkley said. who broke into a Durango And, the news is spreading. home, and one in 2017. The Town of Bayfield is con“We don’t want bears that sidering a change to wildlifeare getting too comfortable beresistant trash cans. With its cause they can hurt people,” current contract with the waste Lewandowski explained. collection service WCA expirOnce a bear shows that it is ing, Bayfield Town Manager comfortable around people, like Chris La May said the town de- The bear pictured above was shot near Vallecito breaking into homes or cars, it’s cided to look into the cost of Lake in July. The bear had been trapped and relo- likely to become aggressive. wildlife-resistant cans. cated near Pagosa Springs after breaking into un- Lewandowski said wildlife offiCurrently residents are pay- secured coolers, but returned to the Vallecito area cials would rather not put down ing $11.15 a month for trash just a few weeks later./ Photo by Sarah Rose any bear, but they have to concollection. Switching over to sider human health and safety. wildlife-resistant trash cans would likely increase the Bear mortality is something the Durango City Council monthly rate by $1.50, according to La May. takes into account when making policy decisions. The The final decision will be up to the Town Council, and La Council is currently considering whether or not to hire an
telegraph
Getting fenced in The city currently has a ban on electric fencing – which is considered an effective way to keep bears away from backyard chicken coops and beehives – within the city limits because of the dangers it posed to residents in the past. However, materials have changed since the ban was passed. Durango Mayor Melissa Youssef said she would be interested in learning about new technologies and having a discussion on the issue, but the Council has not heard much from the community. “I’m not seeing a lot of requests on this issue,” she said. “We listen carefully to our residents, and getting community input is very important.” Whether or not the Council takes up the issue may depend on whether or not the community wants them to.
n Anyone looking to install electric fencing - outside city limits - can get help from Bear Smart Durango. The nonprofit will supply $100 worth of materials, and help with design and installation. For more info, visit bearsmartdurango.org. additional code enforcement officer to help address bearin-trash violations, as well as other needs. Durango Mayor Melissa Youssef said the Council will consider the data, like bear mortality, budget constraints and other department needs before making a decision in the coming weeks. Bear Smart’s Bohm said people sometimes need to experience consequences, whether its tickets, fines or warnings from enforcement officers. “Actual consequences speak the loudest,” she added. Bryan Peterson, executive director for Bear Smart Durango, said he supports adding an enforcement officer. “We applaud the city and all the cans they’re using, but you still need a mechanism that requires people to use them right, otherwise they’re just real expensive trash cans,” he added. “And, an enforcement officer would do that.” n
Aug. 29, 2019 n
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Quick’n’Dirty
SCAPE showcases newest class
It’s time for Durango to meet the new crop – of entrepreneurs that is. On Tues., Sept. 10, the Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs (aka SCAPE) will be hosting its annual startup showcase and investor social from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Fort Lewis College Ballroom. During the event, six new local startups will highlight their businesses for the curious and/or prospective investors. The startups include: • Moto Burly – Specializing in custom off-road teardrop, overland and toy-hauler trailers plus high-end overland and camping supplies; • EsoTerra Cider – Crafters of premium artisanal hard ciders, showcasing the region’s unique apple varieties and growing conditions. • Agile Space Industries – Developer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art propulsion systems for NASA, the U.S. government and the commercial space industry. • Expedition Outside – An online marketplace for outdoor enthusiasts, professional guides and private landowners to list, discover and book opportunities for recreational activities on private lands within the United States. • Impact Fenders - Marine fenders and dock bumpers made for the 21st Century, with a patent-pending design using stronger, more colorful, more durable, lighter-weight and form-fitting materials. • Versa Joint – A patented device that improves the performance and design of water-powered cleaning tools. In addition to the startup showcase, the event will also feature keynote speaker Erin Neer, CEO of MUNIRevs. Neer, a certified public accountant, launched MUNIRevs through SCAPE in 2011. The online system helps businesses remit and municipalities collect tax revenues from online sales and booking sites, such as Airbnb. SCAPE started in 2013 as a way to drive economic devel-
10 n Aug. 29, 2019
One of Moto Burley’s custom teardrop trailers that will be the envy of the camperhood. The business, located on Highway 3, is among the SCAPE startups that will be showcased Sept. 10 at FLC. opment in the region by offering mentorship and startup funds for aspiring new businesses. In that time, it has helped launch 31 companies, raised $19.5 million in capital and added 92 jobs to the area’s economy. For more information, go to www.goscape.org.
Hermosa plan begins deployment After more than 10 years on the drawing table, changes to the Hermosa Creek Special Management and Wilderness areas are starting to hit the ground. Earlier this month, nearly 40 road signs were installed
telegraph
in the Hermosa Park vicinity, denoting which roads are open and which are closed to motorized or mechanized use. Over the years, driving vehicles or bikes off road for dispersed camping was permitted along the Hermosa Park Road (Forest Road 578.) However, as per the new travel management plan, adopted in 2018, such off-roading is no longer allowed in an effort to protect the watershed. But this doesn’t necessarily mean folks now will have to hoof it into their former favorite car-camping spots. Many of the traditional camping spurs in the area were grandfathered into the plan as official roads and can still be used by vehicles. Local members of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers helped install the new road signs on Sat., Aug. 17. According to the Columbine Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest, the signage is just the beginning of the implementation of the area’s new rules. The plan places stringent wilderness protections on 37,000 acres in the western Hermosa drainage (Hermosa Creek Wilderness Area) and lessrestrictive rules on 71,000 acres in the eastern part (the Special Management Area), including a ban on new roads, mining, drilling or commercial logging. Although no vehicles or bikes are allowed in the wilderness area, they are allowed on designated routes within the SMA. Protecting the Hermosa watershed from development has been more than a decade in the works, with local stakeholders first meeting to discuss the topic in 2006. From there, a collaborative community process ensued, which ultimately recommended legislative action to protect Hermosa Creek and its environs. Lawmakers took note, and after several years of drafts, the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act was signed into law in December 2014. To view the plan and its use maps, go to www.fs. usda.gov/sanjuanand click on “Hermosa Creek Watershed Information.” – Missy Votel
MountainTownNews Manslaughter charged in trench cave-in GRANBY – Accusations of manslaughter have been filed against the employer of a man who died in a collapsed trench in 2018. Rosario “Chayo” Martinez-Lopez died in June 2018 when the trench he was working in outside a condominium building collapsed in Granby Ranch, a resort development associated with the ski area of the same name. The employer, Bryan D. Johnson, has a business in Avon called Contact One. Matt Karzen, district attorney in the 14th Judicial District of northwestern Colorado, said “thorough investigative work by the Granby Police Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed facts supporting a criminal prosecution for this job-site death. Worksite safety regulations exist for a reason, and here, we are reminded just how important it is for employers to adhere to those regulations.” Details, such as depth of the trench, have not been reported. Victor Marquez, a family member, last year told the Sky Hi News that the victim was “kind, funny, smart, hard-working and the sole provider for his family” in Mexico. To be convicted of manslaughter under Colorado law, a defendant must be proven to have been aware there had been a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death but nevertheless chose to engage in the risky conduct. Elsewhere in Colorado, two men died in a trench cave-in at Windsor, a town along the northern Front Range, in April. The Fort Collins Coloradoan reported that responders worked seven hours to rescue the men from the trench, which was 14 feet deep and 4 feet wide. Before he died, one of the men communicated with rescuers and family members after a PVC pipe was inserted into the ground to connect with him. In Wyoming, two men also died in a trench cave-in last year in Jackson Hole. There, prosecutors declined to press criminal charges, but families of the two victims have filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful deaths caused by the developer’s failure to provide safeguards. The developer, Jamie Mackay, says that he cannot get a fair trial in Teton County because of the extensive and prejudicial local media coverage both before and after the cave-in, reports the Jackson Hole News&Guide. The Wyoming victims, like in Granby, had relatives in Mexico. The victims in Colorado also had Spanish surnames, although the stories did not say whether they were from Mexico. The United States had 13 trench cave-in fatalities last year, 19 the prior year. In 2016, it had 23 deaths. OSHA requires protective systems in trenches 5 feet in depth or more unless the excavation is made entirely in rock. Excavators have three options. They can use a sloping technique that involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation. They can use a shorting technique, using braces between wooden sheets. Or they can use shielding devices, such as trench boxes.
Was David Koch a good guy or bad guy? ASPEN – Of the dozens of billionaires who have homes in Aspen and its suburbs, perhaps none had such a large national presence as David Koch. The death last week of Koch at the age of 79 and with a reported wealth of $50.5 billion was given front-page attention by the New York Times: “Mogul Whose Fortune Steered American Politics to the Right.” But the newspaper also pointed out to David’s Koch’s steady support for philanthropy, especially that of the arts and humanities. The Wall Street Journal had the news on page 2, but the editorial page, a reliable supporter of all things capitalistic, heralded his life. “Certainly he used his money to support causes he deemed worthy, and this included promoting liberty-loving think tanks and political groups,” the Journal said. But the bulk of the $1.3 billon he gave away went to medicine and the arts. “The defining aspect of Koch’s life,” the editorial went on to say, “is that he was a businessman … He helped his company make money, and he left the country richer and freer because he did.” “Good riddance,” was the theme of progressives in the echo chamber of Facebook, if some used language even less charitable. But at least one Trump supporter from the Vail area had equally wilting words: “One down, one to go.” David Koch and his brother, Charles, were painted with aciddrenched strokes by Jane Mayer in her 2016 book: Dark Money: The
Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right. In this view, the Kochs embraced libertarian views to further their chemical and fossil fuel businesses. “Lowering taxes and rolling back regulations, slashing the welfare state and obliterating the limits on campaign spending might or might not have helped others, but they most certainly strengthened the hand of extreme donors with extreme wealth,” she wrote. The Times noted that the influence of the Koch brothers peaked in 2015 when multiple Republican presidential candidates flew to Los Angeles to seek support from the two men. They did not include Donald Trump, who jumped on the dark view of government but whose efforts to sharply reduce immigration and diminish free trade were antithetical to Koch Industries. They did not support Trump’s candidacy. David Koch lived primarily in New York City but had a house in Aspen that, according to The Aspen Times, he purchased in 1989 for $1.9 million. The 8,100-sqare-foot property is now worth $16.1 million, according to county tax records. He also owned an adjoining house worth $7.4 million. Both homes overlook Aspen Meadows, home of the Aspen Institute, which holds a conference each June called the Ideas Festival. It’s a direct descendant of a conference held in 1949 in honor of the 200th birthday of the humanist Goethe. A skimpy Google search reveals that Koch and his wife, Julia, donated more than $1 million to the institute in the late 1990s. Over the years, Koch’s 6-foot-5 frame – which made him a basketball star at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a scoring record that stood for 46 years – took up a couple seats as Valerie Jarrett, advisor to President Barack Obama, and Paul Ryan, then speaker of the House, spoke. He also had been in the front row when another billionaire, Tom Steyer (this year a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination) spoke about climate change. The Aspen Times detailed Koch’s community engagement. John Bennett, Aspen’s mayor for much of the 1990s, said Koch “clearly cared about this community and wanted to support local nonprofits he believed in.” Among his projects was an ice rink that he wanted to install seasonally in Aspen’s largest park. The city council nixed the idea for logistical reasons. Many accused Koch of wanting to kill winter because of his efforts to block government efforts to address the root cause of global warming, the combustion of fossil fuels. “Koch Industries realized early on that it would be a financial disaster for the firm if the American government regulated carbon emission or made companies pay a price for releasing carbon into the air,” Christopher Leonard, author of Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America, wrote in an essay in the New York Times. With billions and potentially trillions of dollars at stake, he said, the Koch brothers “built a political-influence machine that is arguably unrivaled by any in corporate America.”
Why big bear received a death sentence ASPEN – If you’re a bear in Aspen, 90 seconds can get you life. Or so seems to be the story after a 400-pound bear was caught scrounging among the meaty remnants in the dumpster behind a restaurant called Steakhouse 316. The restaurant had received a citation in early August for failure to secure its garbage. The fine was $250. The manager, Brent Guthas, told the Aspen Daily News that he had been calling the trash company every day, seeking a new container. He said the employees had been instructed to keep the lid secured. But then, during about 90 seconds of lapse as employees returned inside the restaurant, he said, the bear dove into the dumpster. An employee told the bruin to scram, and it did – lacerating the leg of the employee on its way out. This is where the story gets interesting. The Aspen Times explains that state wildlife officials used the bear’s DNA in the wound to establish that a suspected bear that had been immobilized was indeed the culprit. Too, the bite marks on the restaurant employee lined up with those of the bear’s teeth. For this bad deed, the bear was put to sleep – for good. A necropsy revealed it was healthy.
– Allen Best
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Aug. 29, 2019 n 11
LocalNews
The business of fun Group forms to protect outdoor recreation and those who depend on it by Joy Martin
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et and wild. Hard and dirty. Public or private. Whichever way you prefer your outdoor recreation, Southwest Colorado offers the Baskin Robbins of flavors. For most of us, so long as our trails are maintained and accessible, our river permits occasionally won and our winters abundantly packed with powder, we might not give a moment’s thought to our civil right to pursue sun-soaked happiness. But for those whose livelihoods hang on the whims of the climate, the gifts of the seasons and the purse strings and policies of the federal government, outdoor recreation is serious business. The battles are personal and particular and range from economic bottom lines to conservation and stewardship, from education and workforce to health and wellness.
Justthefacts What: SWCORA Happy Hour When: 5 – 7 p.m., Thurs., Aug. 29 Where: Rochester Hotel Secret Garden Cost: Free entry, cash bar
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At least these four “pillars” are how the State of Colorado divides our sizeable outdoor recreation economy, which accounts for more than $37 billion in consumer spending, provides four times as many jobs as the oil and gas industry and introduces a host of fresh acronyms into an acronym-saturated world. Here are three new ones we’ll let soak in for a bit: OREC, SWCORA and COILSx. You’ve been warned, ADHD-ers. Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office (OREC) was launched in 2015 by former Gov. (and presidential candidate, sniff) John Hickenlooper as the second of its kind in the nation. Nowadays, there are 15 OREC’s, with New Mexico joining as the latest newb. OREC serves as a central point of contact, resource hub and advocate at the state level for the diverse businesses and communities that rely on the outdoor recreation economy. Our regional spinoff of OREC is a local, grassroots, nonaffiliated organization called the Southwest Colorado Outdoor Recreation Alliance (SWCORA). The year-old nucleus was created to support businesses, nonprofits and individual voices of our area’s very unique, very supreme, very humble outdoor recreation industry. And because our beloved peaks, alpine meadows, free-flowing rivers and pine-clad mesas can’t speak for themselves. In May, OREC partnered with SWCORA to present the first-ever Southwest Colorado Outdoor Leadership Summit (COILSx) at Osprey Headquarters in Cortez. After the event, which drew 60 local outdoor rec leaders, COILSx panelist Lisa Branner
The outdoors are big business, locally and throughout Colorado. Now, a group – the Southwest Colorado Outdoor Recreation Alliance, aka SWCORA – has formed to help protect the area’s outdoor recreational amenities and those who depend on them./ Photo by Stephen Eginoire stepped forward to lead SWCORA and sit on OREC’s Advisory Council. So Southwest Colorado now has a voice at the table and thus better access to potential funds and resources otherwise only allocated to I-70 and I-25 locales. A 10-year resident of Silverton, Branner is the community relations manager for the Town of Silverton and co-founder of Silverton-based Venture Snowboards, where she’s headed up sales, marketing and public relations since the company’s founding in 1999. Her career also includes work with natural science organizations, like Mountain Studies Institute, Durango Nature Studies and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Branner is currently spearheading the Kendall Mountain Recreation Area master planning process and the Silverton Area Trails Plan – both focused on economic expansion and year-round population growth through outdoor recreation. Folks can meet Branner and learn more about the plans at
telegraph
the next SWCORA happy hour, today, Aug. 29, from 5-7 p.m. at the Rochester Hotel Secret Garden. While this gathering will focus on Silverton, the overarching goal of SWCORA is to wrangle anyone who holds stake in Southwest Colorado’s outdoor rec industry, from manufacturers like Tailwind Nutrition and Alpacka Rafts to Fort Lewis College’s Adventure Education program and the newly formed 4C group collecting data on cycling industry economic impacts. SWCORA also welcomes those who go to the mattresses for the innumerable challenges facing our pretty little paradise, like bighorn sheep population threats, natural disasters, the suicide and mental health crises, ebikes on singletrack, and chainsaws in the wilderness. So if you can’t make it to this event, sign up for SWCORA’s monthly-ish newsletter at southwestoutdoors.org to stay in the loop, and share your news, updates, events, ideas and volunteer opportunities with swcora members@gmail.com. TTYL! n
dayinthelife
The Ripe Stuff by Stephen Eginoire
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arvest season is all about fresh wild-foraged right here in the Animas food, family and friends. When watershed, even better. Here’s a look at your food is locally grown or this season’s bounty:
The corn is from Olathe, but the wild oysters mushrooms and Sunnyside Farms skirt steak don’t mind sharing the platter with an out-of-towner.
Henry Goddard skims a few off the top.
A beauty from Rainbow Springs Trout Ranch.
Wild king boletes, onion, pine nuts, poblanos, blue corn and James Ranch aged Belford.
Foodie style points for the adobe oven.
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Aug. 29, 2019 n 17
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18 n Aug. 29, 2019
telegraph
Localphiles
Ticket to ride For mountain biker, adventurer Kylie Krauss all roads led to Durango by Kathleen Rittenhouse
Kylie Krauss
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arrived in Durango almost seven years ago with my nowhusband, a cat and a few cooking utensils. We drove into town in a GMC Yukon, which doubled as our house. This was before #vanlife existed, or at least before we knew it existed, and the fact that we had been camping and working out of the back of an SUV for a few years seemed both avant-garde and, well, cheap. It was early fall when the mountain frost ushered us off Wilson Peak and onto the Million Dollar Highway to look for a shelter without wheels in Durango. Now, two kids, six rentals and a handful of jobs later, I’m still here. My Durango migration story is not an uncommon one. This place is full of vagabonds and delightfully confused 20-somethings looking for adventure while remaining First World. Throw in some recreating yuppies and a rural crowd, and Durango is the equivalent of any Colorado town out of view of the I-25 corridor. While these identity assumptions include elements of truth, I wonder if attaching such stereotypes is endearing or simply lazy. By equating Durango with “another mountain town,” what life are we skimming over in the valleys? What diversity right outside our front doors are we tragically failing to recognize? What would we find if we look further than the kayaks being carried or the SUVs in front of mansions? In Localphiles, I endeavor to take an authentic look beyond the Durango “norm” and solidify the roots of this community through the people I meet. Each month in “Localphiles,” I will interview a member of the community to celebrate the power of social interaction and discuss and document the fascinating lives I encounter here. So without further ado, here is the first profile in the series: Kylie Krauss. Kylie Ann Krauss grew up in Cleveland and moved to Durango in what she thinks was 2011. One of her college friends was working for a landscaping company in town and convinced her to visit during summer break from graduate school. She decided to stay in Durango after that summer, and she now spends most of her time mountain biking, partaking in other general outdoor activities and running her own landscaping business. I began working with Kylie five years ago and feel fortunate to call her my friend. After spending countless days hauling rock and working in garden beds with her, I figured I knew Kylie pretty well. Still, I thought I could practice my interview skills and profile her as a “typical” Durangoan. At our meeting last spring at North HomeSlice, I found Kylie sitting at a patio table, writing in a pile of notebooks. She wore Chacos on her feet and a few jackets on top to
combat the brisk air. Kylie stands a few inches shorter than my 5’7”, but don’t let her small frame fool you. I have seen her move countless wheelbarrows of rock and mulch and carry flagstones half her size. Oh, and she is some sort of mountain bike guru. I am not even sure what mountain biking is, but she is really good at it. I bought Kylie a beer, turned on my recorder, and we started laughing uncontrollably. “Don’t worry, I am way more nervous than you are,” she told me. When I think of Kylie, “nervous” is the last descriptor that comes to mind. She is always the first to strike up a conversation or accept a challenge. But we weren’t in the workplace, on a ski slope or on a bike ride. We were staring at one another, sitting in the shade at a pizza joint, talking about her. Kylie’s parents divorced when she was young. Her father cheated on her mom, and her mom’s father cheated on her grandmother. This has all the makings of a melodramatic, good ole’ American, post- WWII family saga; Kylie’s grandmother found out about her husband’s infidelity, then proceeded to iron his shirts while tears streamed down her face. Kylie told me this story with a look of sadness and disbelief: sadness at the fact that her
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mother told her this story instead of relaying her own emotions; and disbelief at her grandmother’s resignation to a life of mistreatment based on false expectations. As a kid in Cleveland, Kylie started biking as a way of transportation – her mom and older brother usually claimed use of the family’s one car. In the open space near her home, she explored as much of the natural world as one can in a Midwestern city. As the painful grip of her teen-age years took hold, Kylie turned to biking as a source of solace and stability. By the time high school graduation rolled around, Kylie was ready to go anywhere but Ohio, and she attended college at Warren Wilson in North Carolina, majoring in biology. Durango often seems synonymous with mountain biking, and Kylie is mountain biking royalty. Before I knew her, I heard town folklore of her bike racing exploits and victories. I always figured Kylie was an adrenaline junky who liked competition and fitness. During our interview, I wanted an official answer: “Why do you like to bike?” Without looking away or taking a moment to think, she answered, “You know as a kid, when you got to go out for recess?” Yes. It’s freedom. When Kylie is on a bike, she is free. A human and her bike, one unit, riding into the sunset. Or sunrise. The evening chill crept up on our meeting. Kylie rubbed her hands together and reached into her pocket for a can of chewing tobacco. She packed some into her lower lip, a sight that has become endearing over the years. I asked her if she liked living in Durango. She does. She likes being so close to outdoor recreation opportunities, and she likes her work. With some amusement in her voice she added, “Some people are born where they are supposed to be.” Kylie wasn’t. It took her a long time to get here; she had no family grooming her for races or guiding her through steep terrain. She is the definition of “self-taught.” Kylie takes full responsibility for the path that brought her here, yet she remains humble that she has no idea where that path will lead. Our interview began to lose focus as we discussed the pros and cons of living in Durango and then started talking about our cats. I asked Kylie what she was going to eat for dinner. Burritos. What book is she reading? The Big Divide by David Lavender. We thanked each other for being friends by laughing and hoping for good weather. Then she took out her planner and started asking me what dates I would be available to work. n
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Aug. 29, 2019 n 19
FlashinthePan
Getting juiced by Ari LeVaux
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he most elegant cooks I know are farmers. Not elegant in the sense of overly stylish, but rather in the way a scientist discusses a solution or experiment that is so ingeniously simple it’s beautiful. When summer is in full swing on a farm, each meal is an elegant response to some burning questions. How do we feed an army of hungry bodies, without too much kitchen work or cleaning, while using as many free ingredients as possible? By “free,” of course, we mean home-grown produce, especially the stuff that is so in-season the surplus couldn’t possibly all be sold. Over the course of a summer, a farm kitchen becomes a lab for the evolution of culinary elegance. Visitors bring their own recipes, which take up residence in hospitable kitchen ecosystems, like the one I walked into the other day. I was there to learn about a salad called heirloom tomato juice, but first I had to get past a table laden with two steaming platters of rice noodles tossed in chimichurri. The noodles were unevenly tossed, with some patches that were almost pure green and scattered flecks of caramelized carrots and pieces of grilled fennel, broccoli and yellow squash. “It was a way of getting rid of too much parsley,” my friend Josh, a farmer and local county commissioner, said. Having spent time in the Peace Corps in Thailand, he knows his way around a fried noodle. Also on the table: a large bowl of romaine, tossed with onions that had been soaked in salt water. The let-
tuce and onions were drizzled in olive oil and “cheap white vinegar.” It had the fingerprint of a mutual farmer friend, and the Commissioner confirmed it was indeed her recipe. But I was there for the heirloom tomato juice, a salad that happens to be the most elegant way to juice an heirloom tomato. First, the Commissioner sliced an English cucumber, the long, slender kind we sometimes see wrapped in plastic. It has to be this and only this kind, he stressed. Not the cucumber slicers, even from his own farm, or the pointy picklers, no matter how crispy. None surrender their juices like an English. He spoke of the juice with a mix of reverence and fervor, his values having been fundamentally sculpted by the quest for juice. Things that increase the juice, by definition, are good. “I’m not shy with the salt,” he said, shaking copious amounts onto the chunked cukes. “It makes things taste good. And it brings out the juice.” Then he added thin slices of onion. It must be a WallaWalla or similar sweet, spicy salad onion. He teased apart the thin rings into a layer atop the cucumbers and gave it a good stir. Then he added the tomatoes, in chunks about the size of a pack of dental floss. There is a little more leeway with the tomatoes. They should be heavy, ripe heirlooms. Cracked and ugly tomatoes are welcome, and the darker, the better, like the green collared Cherokee Black. As this went on, family and farmhands wandered through the kitchen, ogling the growing spread. When the Commissioner told them my purpose – heirloom
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tomato juice – they sighed wistfully, reliving their encounters with this summertime salad. But they all declined to taste-test the Commissioner’s fresh batch, with variations on, “I can’t eat any more tomatoes right now.” The Commissioner nodded sympathetically, pointing to his lower lip. “I have a hole in my mouth, too.” After weeks of rushing face first into the tomato harvest, the acid was taking its toll, even with the low-acid heirlooms. Nothing says dog days of summer like tomato herpes in your mouth. When the three principal ingredients had been chopped and added to the bowl, the Commissioner poured olive oil and balsamic, and stirred. “Let them hang out and get to know each other for a few minutes,” he said. A moment later, he announced, “It’s already making juice. I can see it coming up.” The cucumbers were sinking in a rising sea, so fast you could almost see it happening. When the Commissioner ran out to the greenhouse, I started gulping it down. The juices were thick but nonpulpy, softly tangy and salty, thoroughly satisfying and delicious, like drinkable gazpacho. By then the tomatoes had all but vanished, as had the onions. The cucumbers remained, like bones in a pot of simmering stock, having already given their best stuff. Eat them anyway. Don’t be afraid to double the recipe. Leftovers are A-OK. Heirloom Tomato Juice Serves 4 2 English cucumbers, sliced into ½-inch rounds ¼ of a large sweet onion, thin sliced to an ⅛-inch or less 3 cups chopped heirloom tomatoes ½ cup olive oil ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon salt Add cucumbers to a bowl, along with 2 teaspoons of salt and the onions, teasing the layers apart into individual crescents. Toss. Add tomatoes, oil and balsamic, and toss again. Taste, add the remainder of the salt if needed, and wait for the juices to flow. It won’t be long. n
AUTUMN
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Cinnamon Kasnoff • Broker Associate Coldwell Banker Heritage House Realtors durangohomesandproperty.com
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20 n Aug. 29, 2019
telegraph
TopShelf
Challenging the throne, throwing horns & radio gaga
by Chris Aaland
as a member of the First Ladies of Bluegrass. This year’s festival will no doubt be melancholy for some. he 24th annual Four Corners Folk Festival takes place Munro & Appenzeller are turning the reins over to KSUT this OcFriday through Sunday on Reservoir Hill in Pagosa Springs. tober, as they now live in Oregon, where Munro has become exThis year’s lineup is as diverse as ever, with an equal mix of ecutive director of the Sisters Folk Festival. It’s tough to manage a longtime veterans and relative newcomers. This comes as no surfestival from a thousand miles away, which they’ve done for a prise: ever since the inaugural FCFF in 1996, promoters Crista number of years. Many of the folks who help put on the event Munro and Dan Appenzeller have balanced tried-and-true fahave been there from the start. While we’re excited about the opvorites with newer acts portunity we’ve been given meant to challenge their at KSUT, we realize that audience. Munro & Appenzeller are irTake, for example, Billy replaceable. We can only Strings, who plays at 8:30 hope to continue their p.m. Saturday. legacy of offering familyBorn William Apostol in friendly camping festivals Lansing, Mich., in 1992, that appeal to acoustic he’s quickly become a chalmusic audiences in the Four lenger for the throne of best Corners and beyond. (Full bluegrass guitarist formerly disclosure: I am also the deheld by Tony Rice and velopment director and an Clarence White (although on-air personality at KSUT.) Bryan Sutton arguably Things will be a bit holds that crown). The 26louder in Ignacio on Saturyear-old, performing under day night than they will in the “Billy Strings” stage Pagosa, as the Sky Ute name, is certainly woke. Casino presents Great Tunes like “Dealing DeThe ’80s make a come back Saturday as Great White rocks the Sky Ute White and Slaughter at 8 spair,” “Turmoil and TinCasino at 8 p.m. Slaughter opens. p.m. Both are veterans of foil” and the brand-new the ’80s heavy metal scene, “Taking Water” delve into the current state of American politics. I with Great White, in particular, holding a soft spot in my heart. caught him a couple of summers ago at the FirstGrass Wednesday Their tunes like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Rock Me,” “Save Your show prior to Telluride Bluegrass. It was an immediate WTF moLove” and “Call It Rock & Roll” were radio hits and MTV fament, as I stood next to the Mountain Village stage alongside vorites. Unlike many of their peers, Great White’s music was Liver Down the River’s Patrick Storen. Both of our mouths were more based in blues and hard rock than in glam-metal. Two origiagape, with our occasional full-on smiles and high-fives punctunal members – guitarist Mark Kendall and keyboard player ating our shared excitement. Billy Strings is the truth. He alone is Michael Lardie – remain from the classic lineup. Like Great worth the price of admission. White, Slaughter also charted some huge hits back in the day, Then there’s the Earls of Leicester, a bluegrass supergroup namely “Fly to the Angels” and “Up All Night.” led by dobro player Jerry Douglas and fronted by singer/guitarist The tale of Great White is a tragic one. Just as they were Shawn Camp. poised to make a leap into superstardom, that little thing called They’ll wrap up the whole fester at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Their grunge hit in the early ’90s. Listener tastes switched from hard name alone shows reverence to Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt rock and heavy metal to the plaid-shirt wearing crowd that (Leicester, the English city, is pronounced “Lester”), and their moshed to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. music is rooted in the extensive Flatt & Scruggs catalog. Formed All of a sudden, big arena tours dried up for ’80s rockers. By the in 2013, their current lineup features banjo player Charlie Cush2000s, most were relegated to the state fair circuit and tiny venman, fiddler Johnny Warren and bassist Daniel Kimbro. They’ve ues. Great White had broken up, reformed under lead singer Jack released a pair of studio records and a live collection in the six Russell, and began touring nightclubs. years since and have become festival darlings. Douglas is no One was The Station, a small bar in Rhode Island. On Feb. 20, stranger to Reservoir Hill, having played a couple of past FCFFs, 2003, the band’s pyrotechnics ignited the foam soundproofing albeit a decade or more ago. Camp blew away the crowd at Dumaterial in the ceiling and the venue erupted in flames. A hunrango Bluegrass Meltdown a few years back. dred people died, including Great White guitarist Ty Longley. While Billy Strings & the Earls of Leicester represent relative Sadly, many think of this tragedy rather than their music. The newcomers to the bluegrass and Reservoir Hill worlds, there are band and many of their ’80s contemporaries toured for several also longtime favorites on the bill. Perhaps no artist this side of years raising funds for victims. Eddie from Ohio has graced the Reservoir Hill stage more than Warsaw Poland Bros. return to town for a 10 p.m. show Darrell Scott (5:30 p.m. Sunday), a venerable singer/songwriter tonight (Thurs., Aug. 29) at the Animas City Theatre. A part of and multi-instrumentalist who has backed the likes of Robert the third resurgence of ska music, Warsaw has been playing DuPlant, Guy Clark and John Cowan through his career while sirango for decades, including legendary shows at the old, tiny Ska multaneously kicking out a strong catalog of solo records and Brewery and The Summit. Busters Ghost and Your Bones are also duo albums with Tim O’Brien. be on the bill. Other instantly recognizable names for the Pagosa crowd inWanna be a DJ? KDUR holds its DJ application meeting at clude Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley (2:30 p.m. Sunday), Amy 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in 125 Noble Hall. If you’re interested in Helm (6:30 p.m. Saturday) and the East Pointers (4 p.m. Sunhosting a music show on KDUR, showing up and completing a DJ day) give the people more of what they want. Other highlights application is mandatory. This is DJing in its most traditional sense: include Molly Tuttle (5 p.m. Saturday), the reigning IBMA Guispinning vinyl and CDs to Durango’s most discerning listeners. tarist of the Year and the first woman to win the award. She reYou’ve yet to have your finest hour? Email me at chrisa@gobrain cently wowed the Telluride crowd with her solo performance and storm.net n
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Aug. 29, 2019 n 21
onthetown
Thursday29
“Raising Leaders,” a free class to discover tools to achieve goals and teach children the same skills, 8:3010:30 a.m., Durango Public Library. www.facebook.com/DXColorado. Baby Meetup with Durango Café au Play, 9:30-11:30 a.m., 2307 Columbine. 749-9607. Community Connections’ annual Meeting and Community Celebration, recognizing community partners and employers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Pine Street House in Cortez. 385-3452. Drop-in Tennis, 4 p.m., Durango High School, 2390 Main Ave. Thursday Afternoon Social Club for veterans, their spouses and supporters, 4-6 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave. Fruit Glean Happy Hour, hosted by Good Food Collective, 5-7 p.m., meet outside the Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. info@goodfoodcollective.org.
Submit “On the Town” items by Monday at noon to: calendar@durangotelegraph.com
Durango Green Drinks, hosted by Citizens Climate Lobby & Good Food Collective, 5-6:45 p.m., Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave. The Assortment performs, 5-8 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. Terry Hartzel performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
‘Indian Horse’ – a small but huge story What: “Indian Horse” screening When: 3 p.m., Thurs., Aug. 29 Where: Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. “Indian Horse” is the highly anticipated film adaptation of the eponymous novel by acclaimed Ojibwe author Richard Wagamese. Produced by Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, the film has already won multiple awards – including the People’s Choice Award at the Vancouver Film Festival. The story starts in Ontario, Canada, in the late-1950s and follows the story of Saul Indian Horse, who is torn from his Ojibwe family at the age of 7 and committed to one of Canada’s notorious Catholic residential schools. In this oppressive environment, Saul is denied the freedom to speak his language or embrace his indigenous heritage or even keep his long hair. During his time at the school, Saul endures and witnesses countless acts of abuse at the hands of the very people who were entrusted with his care.
Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Sitting Meditation, 5:30-6:15 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave.
Warsaw performs with opening acts Busters Ghost and Your Bones, 10 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. www.animascitytheatre.com.
Open Mic Night, 6 p.m., Eno Wine Bar, 723 E. 2nd Ave.
Friday30
Animas Jazz Trio performs with vocal duo Jennie & Mollie O’Hare, 6-9 p.m., Jean-Pierre Restaurant & Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave.
Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, featuring stunt shows, racing, bike shows, giveaways, food, live music and more, around Durango, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. www.four cornersmotorcyclerally.com.
Trivia Night, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio. www.powsci.org.
Durango Early Bird Toastmasters, 7-8:30 a.m., LPEA, 45 Stewart St. 769-7615.
Robby Overfield performs, 7 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.
Free yoga, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Lively Boutique, 809 Main Ave.
Open Mic & Stand-Up, 8 p.m., El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave.
Zumba Gold, 9:30-10:15 a.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
Karaoke, 8 p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave. Plursday featuring DJ Spark Madden, 9 p.m.,
10th Street & Main Avenue Block Party, benefitting Building Homes for Heroes and part of the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., event also runs
Despite this, Saul finds salvation in the unlikeliest of places: the favorite Canadian pastime of hockey. Fascinated by the game, he secretly teaches himself not only to skate and play but develops a unique and rare skill. It’s as if he has eyes in the back of his head and can see the game in a way no other player can. His talent leads him away from the misery of the school to a Northern Ontario native league and eventually the pros. But the ghosts of Saul’s past haunts him. Forced to confront painful memories and revelations, Saul draws on the spirit of his ancestors and the understanding of his friends to gain the compassion he so needs to begin healing. “Indian Horse” is a survivors’ tale of the indomitable spirit of North America’s indigenous peoples in the face of aggressive assimilation policies and racism. It is also a story that still resonates today, helping to foster compassion and understanding among the various peoples that call this continent home.
Aug. 31, 10th Street and Main Avenue. www.four cornersmotorcyclerally.com. Spanish Speaking Parents & Littles Fridays, 4-6 p.m., Durango Café au Play, 1309 E. 3rd Ave., Room 201. durangocafeauplay.org. Ignacio Farmers & Artisans Market, 4-8 p.m., Fridays thru Oct. 4, ELHI Community Center in Ignacio. 563-4600. Terry Hartzel performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Durango Labor Day Street Party and Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Kick-off Party, benefitting Homes for Heroes and featuring live music from the Kirk James Blues Band, 6-9 p.m., 10th Street and Main Avenue. Friday Nights at Fox Fire, featuring music from Robby Overfield, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms in Ignacio. fox firefarms.com. Oblee performs, 6-9 p.m., DJ Hakan, 9 p.m.-close, Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.4
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Liver Down the River performs, 6:30 p.m., Mancos Brewing Co.
DJ Brap the Goat, 9 p.m.-close, Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Disco Night, 6:30-9 p.m., Chapman Hill Skating Rink. 375-7395.
Sunday01
The Black Velvet Trio performs, 7 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave.
Robin Davis performs, 7 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave. Karaoke, 7 p.m.-close, VFW, 1550 Main Ave.
Saturday31
Durango Farmers Market, featuring music from Devin Scott, 8 a.m.-noon, TBK Bank parking lot, W. 8th Street. www.durangofarmersmarket.com.
Drop-in Tennis, 9 a.m., Durango High School, 2390 Main Ave.
Henry Stoy performs, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Restaurant & Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave.
VFW Indoor Flea Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 1550 Main Ave. 247-0384.
Summer Picker’s Circle by the River, musicians of all levels welcome, 3-5 p.m., Saturdays thru August, White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St. 259-2213.
“Medicare for All: Myths and Misconceptions” presented by Guinn Unger of Healthcare Durango, 3-5 p.m., Durango Public Library. 759-2497.
Water and Wine, featuring Jenny Winegardner and Gary Watkins, 5-8 p.m., Nugget Mountain Bar, Highway 550 North.
Terry Hartzel performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Hooligan Dirt Dash, part of the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, 6-9 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds. www.four cornersmotorcyclerally.com.
Light Show Public Skate, 6:30-9 p.m., Chapman Hill. 375-7395.
Sean O’Brien performs, 7 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.
Comedy Cocktail Open Mic Stand Up, 8 p.m., Eno Wine Bar, 723 E. 2nd Ave.
Great White & Slaughter perform, 8 p.m., Sky Ute Resort, Ignacio. www.skyutecasino.com.
Durango Flea Market, 8:30 a.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds. Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade, 11 a.m., along Main Avenue. www.fourcornersmotorcyclerally.com.
Veterans Breakfast, 9-11 a.m., Elks Club, 901 E. 2nd Ave. 946-4831. Wine & Rails Train, featuring live music from People We Know, 10 a.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. www.durangotrain.com. Henry Stoy, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Restaurant & Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave. Motorcycle Hill Climb, part of the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, noon-3 p.m., Purgatory Resort. www.purgato ryresort.com. Free books! 5-year anniversary, hosted by Durango Book Rescue, noon-4 p.m., 923 Narrow Gauge Ave. Traditional Irish Music Jam, 12:30-4 p.m., Irish Embassy, 900 Main Ave. Writers’ Workshop, 2 p.m., Ignacio Library.
Zumba Gold, 9:30-10:15 a.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave. Free Creative Writing Workshop with Mesa Verde Artist-in-Residence Linda Rose, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Mug House at Mesa Verde National Park; 3:30-6:30 p.m., Sept. 10, Step House at Mesa Verde National Park. Register at wanderingroses.rose@gmail.com. “Current Affordable Housing Challenges and Opportunities in La Plata County: Hope on the Horizon” with Jennifer Lopez, part of The Club – La Plata Dems on the Move Luncheon, noon-1:30 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio. 403-5724. Drop-in Tennis, 4 p.m., Durango High School, 2390 Main Ave. Matt Rupnow performs, 5 p.m.-close, event runs each Tuesday, Pura Vida, 160 E. 12th St.
Sue Keller performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Rotary Club of Durango meets, presentation from BJ Boucher with the Canyon Country Discovery Center, 6 p.m., Henry Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave. 385-7899. “Durango’s Own Olga Little,” presented by Andy Gulliford, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library.
Blue Moon Ramblers, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Trivia Factory, hosted by Ben Bernstein, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.
Robby Overfield performs, 7 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.
DJ Crazy Charlie, 6:30-10:30 p.m., Billy Goat Saloon, Gem Village.
Monday02
Tim Sullivan performs, 7 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.
Labor Day
Yoga Storytime, 9:30-10:45 a.m., Smiley Building Studio 10, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. Watch Your Step class, 10:15 a.m., Durango Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave. Sue Keller performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Rob Webster performs, 7 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.
Latin Dance Nights, 8 p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave. salsadancedurango@gmail.com. Open Mic Night, 8 p.m.-close, Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Wednesday04 Early Literacy Playdate, through hands-on sensory activities, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Durango Public Library. Great Garden Series: For the Love of Herbs with Camilla Potter, 2-3:30 p.m., Durango Public Library.
Trivia Night, 7 p.m., Blondies in Cortez. Contiki Party with the Aussies, 9 p.m.-close, Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
REAL radio, REAL people DURANGO COMMUNITY RADIO AT FORT LEWIS COLLEGE
Tuesday03
91.9 93.9
Kennebec Market, featuring local farms, baked goods, handmade products and more, 2-6 p.m., each Wednesday, Kennebec Café in Hesperus. 759-7345. 4
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Aug. 29, 2019 n 23
AskRachel Interesting fact: Prices fluctuate, but the typical aluminum can might net you 1.7 cents wherever scrap is bought. Buy 100 Cokes, get the next one free! Dear Rachel, I just received a couple of primo ’90s-era suits as hand-me-downs from someone who no longer has a ’90s-era waistline. They are sweet and fit me like a dream. However, the pants have a few moth-nibbled spots in them. I don’t want to look a gift suit in the mouth. Nor can I afford a classy tailor to mend them, and my sewing abilities would butcher the suit. How can I pull off wearing these trousers anyway? – Holy Pantaloons, Batman Dear Sacred Slacks, Robin, I suppose it depends on where exactly your moth holes are located. On your inseam? Just don’t sit like a dude. (Which, if I may say, is generally good advice anyway, particularly for dudes. We all know your junk doesn’t need THAT much room.) On the outer seam? Stick on some red or yellow piping and pull off the Han Solo vibe. Below the knee? Two words: cut-off shorts. – TK, Rachel Dear Rachel, We’re all aware of bear troubles (or at least we should be by now). But I’m convinced that ravens are a bigger menace. Just this morning, I had two ravens scattering someone else’s garbage across my lawn, just to get at some old French fries in a to-go box. And I’ll tell you,
OntheTown from p. 19
Sue Keller performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
these birds looked mean. I’d rather shoo off a bear than risk these ravens pecking my eyes out. What can we do about these winged invaders? - Neighborhood Bird Watch Dear Anti-Bird Brigade, You know, I’m no corvid expert. I know they are crafty, clever beings, capable even of creating tools. But let’s be real. Bear-proofing trash ought to more than birdproof it too. It’s some freaky Hitchcock crap if ravens can start undoing latches on trash cans. Then I would start worrying more about my windows than my bins. I’m already terrified of octopuses working their way up my drains and suffocating me in my sleep. Now I have to think about black birds pecking my eyes out. Thanks for nothing. – Nevermore, Rachel Dear Rachel, I know people, liberal progressive green people, who have actually stopped recycling. They tell me about how expensive recycling is, which means cities that collect recycling don’t actually sell it to recycle centers, and it’s all going in the landfill anyway. I refuse to believe this is true. I have to believe in a better world, where all my milk cartons are turned into plastic boats that save the whales. How badly am I fooling myself? - Say It Ain’t So Dear Downcycled, I can’t know if your friends are right or wrong, though let’s be honest, we can all imagine the City of
Durango dumping recycling straight into the ocean because it’s cheaper. I do know that the Holy Trifecta is reduce, reuse, recycle – in that order. Reduce your use by cutting slacks into shorts. Reuse the cut-off legs as arm warmers. Recycle the cans people give you because, by now, you appear to need the funds. – It ain’t easy being green, Rachel
Ongoing
7 p.m., Sept. 20 during the Fall Gallery Walk. Exhibit runs thru Oct. 4, Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave. www.sorrelsky.com.
“Secret Life of Plants: Exploring the Botanical Connection,” works by Jenn Rawling, exhibit runs thru Sept. 1, Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Thank the Veterans potluck, 5:30 p.m., Peter Neds performs, 7-8:30 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave. 828-7777.
“Inside Out: Visions from the Artist’s Mind,” thru April 2020, Southern Ute Museum, 503 Ouray Dr. www.southernutemuseum.org.
Durango Diaries: Survival Stories, 6-7 p.m., Durango Public Library.
Upcoming
Loki Moon – Raw Experiments, 6-8 p.m., Eno Wine Bar, 723 E. 2nd Ave. Pub Quiz, 6:30 p.m., Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave. Gary B. Walker performs, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Jean-Pierre Restaurant & Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave. Terry Rickard performs, 7 p.m., The Office, 699 Main . Open Mic Night, 7:30 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr. Karaoke, 8 p.m., Blondies in Cortez. Karaoke with Crazy Charlie, 8 p.m.-close, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave.
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
WholeExpo 2019, the Four Corners showcase of holistic and ecological products, services & seminars, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sept. 7-8, La Plata County Fairgrounds. www.wholeexpo.com.
Men in Heels, fundraiser for the Women’s Resource Center and the Gena Rych Scholarship, 5:30 p.m., Sept. 5, 679 E. 2nd Ave. 946-3130. 15th annual Style ‘N’ Stones Jewelry Show and Sale, noon-6 p.m., Sept. 6, United Methodist Church, 2917 Aspen Dr. 14th annual Harvest Dinner, 5-9 p.m., Sept. 7, Smiley Building Lawn, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. www.local-first.org.
“Wine not Whine” wine tasting event to benefit Lisa Parker’s Puppies, 4-7 p.m., Sept. 8, Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main Ave. “Timeless West,” paintings from Jim Rey and sculpture from Star Liana York, exhibit opens Sept. 6. Artist reception, 5-
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“Welcome to Gwichyaa Zhee,” free documentary screening, 6:30-8 p.m., Sept. 9, Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. www.animascitytheatre.com. “New paradigms for timber and CLT in the built environment,” a community workshop hosted by Timber Age Systems, 2-4:30 p.m., Sept. 11, Durango Rec Center. info@timberagesystems.com. “Exploring Innovative & Fire-Retardant-Treated Local Building Materials,” a professional industries workshop hosted by Timber Age Systems and the Colorado State Forestry Service, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sept. 12, Durango Public Library. Register at info@timberagesystems.com. Community Cycle Rides, free and open to all levels and abilities, hosted by Adaptive Sports Association, 5:30 p.m., Sept. 16, meet at La Plata County Fairgrounds northeast parking area. 259-0374 or program@asadurango.com.
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FreeWillAstrology by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): Here are examples of activities I recommend you try in the coming days. 1. Build a campfire on the beach with friends and regale each other with stories of your most interesting successes. 2. Buy eccentric treasures at a flea market and ever thereafter refer to them as your holy icons. 3. Climb a hill and sit on the grass as you sing your favorite songs and watch the moon slowly rise over the eastern horizon. 4. Take naps when you’re “not supposed to.” 5. Sneak into an orchard at night and eat fruit plucked just moments before. 6. Tell a beloved person a fairy tale in which he or she is the hero. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The hardiest creature on the planet may be the bacterium known as Deinococcus radiodurans. It can endure exposure to radiation, intense cold, dehydration, acid and vacuum. I propose we make it your power creature for the coming weeks. Why? Not because I expect you’ll have to deal with a lot of extreme conditions, but rather because I think you’ll be exceptionally robust, both physically and psychologically. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to succeed at demanding challenges that require you to be in top form, now is a good time to do it. P.S. Deinococcus radiodurans is colloquially referred to as Conan the Bacterium, borrowing from the spirit of the fictional character Conan the Barbarian, who is renowned for his strength and agility. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In the yearly cycle of many Geminis, retreating into a state akin to hibernation makes sense during the end of August and the first three weeks of September. But since many of you are highenergy sophisticates, you often override your body’s signals. And then nature pushes back by compelling you to slow down. The result may be a rhythm that feels like constantly taking three steps forward and two steps backward. May I suggest a different approach this year? Would you consider surrendering, even slightly, to the invitation to relax and recharge? CANCER (June 21-July 22): If you decide to travel to a particular place via hot air balloon, you must be prepared for the possibility that your route will be indirect. At different altitudes, the wind may be blowing in different directions: toward the east at a hundred feet high, but toward the southwest at 200 feet. The trick for the pilot is to jockey up and down until finding a layer that’s headed toward the desired destination. I see your life right now as having a metaphorical resemblance to this riddle. You have not yet discovered the layer that will take you where you want to go. But I bet you will soon.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Considering how bright you have been burning since the Flame Angels designated you as the Hottest Cool Person of the Month, I hesitate to urge you to simmer down. But I must. Before there’s a meltdown in your vicinity, please lower your thermostat. Not a lot. Just a little. If you do that, everyone will continue to see your gleaming charisma in the best possible light. But don’t you dare extinguish your blaze. Don’t apologize for your brilliant shimmer. The rest of us need your magical radiance. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Shogun is a bestselling novel about an Englishman who transforms himself into a samurai warrior in 17th-century Japan. Written by James Clavell, it’s over 1,100 pages long. Clavell testified that the idea for the story sprang up in him when he read one line in his daughter’s school book: “In 1600 an Englishman went to Japan and became a samurai.” I suspect it’s highly likely you will soon encounter a seed like that, Virgo: a bare inspiration that will eventually bloom into a Big Thing. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran athlete Mickey Mantle is in Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame. He had a spectacular 18-year career, winning the Most Valuable Player Award three times, playing in 12 World Series and being selected to the All-Star team 16 times. So it’s astounding that he played with a torn ligament in his knee for 17 years, according to his biographer Jane Leavy. She quoted an orthopedic surgeon who said that Mantle compensated for his injury with “neuromuscular genius.” I’m thinking that in the next few weeks you’re in a position to accomplish an equivalent of Mantle’s heroic adjustment. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Most people who belong to the Church of Satan neither believe in nor worship Satan. (They’re atheists and don’t believe in the supernatural.) I think a comparable principle is true for many rightwing fundamentalist Christians. Their actions and words are replete with bigotry, hard-heartedness, materialism and selfishness: so contrary to what the real Jesus Christ taught that they in effect don’t believe in or worship Jesus Christ. I mention this, Scorpio, in hope of inspiring you to take inventory of whether your stated ideals are reflected in the practical details of how you live your life. That’s always an interesting and important task, of course, but it’s especially so for you right now. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to purge any hypocrisy from your system and get your actual behavior in close alignment with your deepest values.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): It’s the right time for you to create a fresh mission statement and promotional campaign. For inspiration, read mine: “My column ‘Free Will Astrology’ offers you a wide selection of realities to choose from. With 4,212 years of dedication to customer service (over the course of my last 13 incarnations), I’m a reliable ally supporting your efforts to escape your oppressive conditioning and other people’s hells. My horoscopes come with an ironclad guarantee: If the advice you read is wrong, you’re under no obligation to believe it. And remember: a panel of 531 experts has determined that ‘Free Will Astrology’ is an effective therapy for your chronic wounds and primordial pain. It is also dramatic proof that there is no good reason to be afraid of life.” CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Here are good questions for you to meditate on during the next four weeks. 1. How can you attract resources that will expand your mind and your world? 2. Are you bold enough to reach out to wise sources and provocative influences that could connect you with useful tricks and practical treasures? 3. What interesting lessons can you stir up as you explore the mercurial edges, skirt the changeable boundaries, journey to catalytic frontiers, and make pilgrimages to holy hubbubs? 4. How best can you encourage lyrical emotion over polished sentimentality? Joyous idealism over astringent zealotry? Exuberant integrity over formulaic kindness? AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “It is the beginning of wisdom when you recognize that the best you can do is choose which rules you want to live by,” author Wallace Stegner wrote, “and it’s persistent and aggravated imbecility to pretend you can live without any.” That will be an excellent meditation for you during the coming weeks. I trust you are long past the time of fantasizing you can live without any rules. Your challenge now is to adjust some of the rules you have been living by, or even dare to align yourself with some new rules – and then completely commit yourself to being loyal to them and enjoying them. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Given the astrological omens that will symbolize your personal story in the coming weeks and months, I think Piscean author Nikos Kazantzakis articulated the perfect prescription for you. I invite you to interpret his thoughts to fit your circumstances. “We’re going to start with small, easy things,” he wrote. “Then, little by little, we shall try our hand at the big things. And after that, after we finish the big things, we shall undertake the impossible.” Here’s an additional prod from Kazantzakis: “Reach what you cannot.”
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Aug. 29, 2019 n 25
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 777 Main Ave., #214 Approximate office hours: Mon., 9ish - 5ish Tues., 9ish - 5ish Wed., 9ish - 3ish Thurs., On delivery Fri., 10:30ish - 2ish please call ahead 259-0133.
Announcements
Classes/Workshops
Richard White (970)749-6854 or Terry Double (970)903-8738
Yoga Classes with Kathy Curran For students of all levels starting September 9. Drop ins welcome. Smiley Building, Room #32. 970-259-4794. www.4cornersyoga.com
Piano Lessons w/fun, expert teacher. Any level or age. Lawrence Nass 769-0889
Yoga for Teens A journey into the majesty and wisdom of the eight limbs of yoga for young women ages 12-18. Fridays 4:00-5:00, starting September 13th. Details at wildlotusyoga.yolasite.com Or call Diane at 970-759-6807 Healing Through Yoga 5 wk series focused on vulnerability & shame. Starts 9/8 7-9 pm, see www.thriv ingtherapyyoga.com or call Shelley at 970 946 1383
Himalayan Kitchen 992 Main Ave., 970-259-0956, www.himkitchen.com. Bringing you a taste of Nepal, Tibet & India. Try our allyou-can-eat lunch buffet. The dinner menu offers a variety of tempting choices, including yak, lamb, chicken, beef & seafood; extensive veggies; freshly baked bread. Full bar. Get your lunch punch card – 10th lunch free. Hours: Lunch, 11am-2:30 p.m. & dinner, Sun. Thurs., 5-9:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. ‘til 10 p.m. Closed 2:30 - 5, daily. 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.
Wanted Artist Seeking Studio Space in Town 500 + sq. ft. Windows that open and a bathroom. 970-247-0648 Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle, also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.
26 n Aug. 29, 2019
Music Lessons w/ Jeff Solon Sax flute clarinet harmonica beginning piano. Improv on any instrument. Composition arranging theory special projects all ages, levels, + styles. Returning to your musical passion after a long absence? Let’s talk. jeffsolon.com call/text 970-946-1992
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 Advanced Duct Cleaning Air duct cleaning specializing in dryer vents. Improves indoor air quality; reduces dust and allergens, energy bills and fire risk. 970-247-2462 www.advanced ductcleaninginc.com
ForRent
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It’s creepy to see Soon-Yi sitting at the kid’s Thanksgiving table – Lainie Maxson Cabin Next to Natl Forest Off-grid, $500/month 970-317-5863
BodyWork Massage “Special” 1 hr. - $50 / 1.5 hrs. - $75 - foot detox$35/ in town Durango/free parking/call or text Nancy R. @ (970) 799-2202 Massages by Meg Bush, LMT 30, 60 & 90 min. 970-759-0199 massageintervention.life Voted best massage in Durango 2018. Couples, cupping, local CBD. Reviews on FB + Yelp. 970-903-2984 Massage with Kathryn 20+ years experience offering a fusion of esalen style, deep tissue massage with therapeutic stretching & Acutonics. New clients receive $5 off first session. To schedule appt. call 970-201-3373.
RealEstate Radon Services Free radon testing and consultation. Call Colorado Radon Abatement and Detection for details. 970- 946-1618. Great Price on Nicely Maintained 3/2.5 Townhome Great location near Oxbow Park. W/D, 2 car gar. $1775/m + dep, 1-yr lease. Refs reqd. 970-759-2751
Services Harmony House Music Instruction If your instrument has strings and is plucked or picked we teach it. Guitar in all styles is primary, but we are also experienced with mandolin, banjo, and bass. We bring more than 30 years each as teachers and performing musicians. Our spacious new studios in Bodo Park are perfect for private lessons or small groups. Contact Harmony House at 570 Turner Dr., Unit C.
‘Hannah and Her Sisters’
Lowest Prices on Storage! Inside/outside near Durango and Bayfield, RJ Mini Storage. 970-259-3494
Tame Your Inner Critic Find Peace Tame Your Inner Critic and Find Peace and Balance: Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Date: 8 Wednesdays: 9/4 - 10/23 time: 5:30 - 8pm sliding scale fee- $250 $350 - scholarships available. Register by e-mail - MyahMindfulness@gmail.com or by phone- 970-946-5379. Myah Lee, Certified Mindfulness and MSC Teacher Mommy and Me Dance Class Come join the fun! Now registering for classes. Call 970-749-6456. mom myandmedance.com.
HaikuMovieReview
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EndoftheLine
Rusty: A summer bromance
I
came into the valley through the trailing breezes of summer. It was to become an incredible day, in another time, and in another world. It was a day of exploration. The grassy fields swayed in an undulating rhythm at my knees, as the light pulsed from the shadows of trailing clouds. I wondered as most boys of 12 would do, exploring the places adults were forbidden to traverse. It was during one of these sojourns that I came upon him. It would be a day branded in memory. I was hiking alone, along a meadow, when I noticed a commotion in the grasses. To my surprise, below me, in a pitiful state, was a fledgling redtail hawk! His entire body was trembling and his breathing was labored. The poor creature was in an exhaustive state. As I examined him, stepping back, I noticed that somehow, a wire had tangled around his talon. I quickly searched for a stick, hoping I could disentangle the wire. I maneuvered myself closer, carefully moving the stick under the wire. I kept a distance, for his beak was a formidable weapon. After a few tries, I finally managed to release his talon from the restraint. Feeling relief, I motioned him to fly off, but he remained motionless, wings extended, apparently in a state of shock. I decided to move away, letting him find his bearings, relieved that he was finally free. As I headed down the trail, the strangest thing happened. I heard a fluttering behind me. As I turned around, I was stunned to find that this bird was attempting to alight on my shoulder. In terror, I waved my arms and ran as fast as I could down the hillside. Out of breath, I stopped, only to look up and find him circling high above me.
The next morning, while eating breakfast, I noticed something peculiar. There he was, roosting on a limb of our sugar maple near the outbuilding. He was casually preening his feathers. Grandpa was enjoying his morning coffee as I pointed toward the tree. I told him about yesterday’s encounter. I received a lengthy tutorial of the dangers of toying with raptors. I was then admonished and told to stay clear of that bird or
We’d give you the shirts off our backs ...
there would be consequences! Boys will be boys and I didn’t listen. The bird seemed to roost on the same tree each evening. There was something different about this bird. I decided to call him “Rusty.” Chances would be taken, and out of sight of Grandpa, I fashioned a falconry glove out of some scrap saddle leather and work gloves. I headed toward Rusty, hoping to entice him with a piece of raw meat. I motioned him to land on my arm. Nothing happened. I tried the gesture for several days without much success, watching carefully so that the adults wouldn’t notice my game. Finally, after several tries, Rusty finally headed toward me and landed on the sleeve, tempted by my bait. He remained on my arm, so I slowly walked toward the porch, motioning my grandpa toward the screen door. Astonished by the sight, he muttered out an expletive and stared with amazement. I stood there, on the first step, pridefully. I didn’t utter a sound. Rusty looked around for a minute or so and then flew off. I was grounded by Grandpa and forbidden to go anywhere near that bird. Rusty would occasionally return to the maple, where I would secretly leave him a treat. Our friendship lasted about a month. Near summer’s end, Rusty flew off and never returned. I guess in our journey through life, and with the kindness we bestow on the living, we can be assured that grace has a deeper meaning. The memory remains, and occasionally while driving, I will notice a hawk in the distant horizon and remember that summer day that I found Rusty in the windy fields of New England.
– Burt Baldwin
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An owl telegraph
Aug. 29, 2019 n 27
28 n Aug. 29, 2019
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