RIP Jackie
elegraph the durango
FREE Aug. 13, 2026 Vol. XXV, No. 31 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
L I N E
O N
D U R A N G O
&
B E Y O N D
Untapped potential
Keeping it weird
Creating chances
State exploring local parcel, others for geothermal p8
Cult Film group showcases Hollywood’s quirky gems p9
Nonprofit builds better lives for communities & kids p10
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telegraph
lineup
4 La Vida Local
Dig this
4 Sign of the Downfall
One Colorado bear’s ruminations on ursine fine dining
4 Thumbin’ It
by Addyson Santese
5 Writers on the Range
8
6-7 Soapbox 8 Big Pivots
Untapped potential
9 Artist in Residence
State explores using trust lands for geothermal and to fund schools
10 Local News
by Allen Best / Big Pivots
12-13 Stuff to Do
9
13 Ask Rachel 14 Free Will Astrology
Keeping it weird
15 Classifieds
Hollywood’s quirky gems alive and well with Cult Movie Federation
15 Haiku Movie Review
by Jennaye Derge When you assume ... Kirk James did not die in a motorcycle crash, as we erroneously stated last week. He died from sudden heart failure after safely parking his motorcycle at Purgatory while returning from a ride to Silverton. “True to Kirk, he kept things, including his bike, under control to the very end,” wrote his loved ones. Our apologies.
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Building opportunity Nonprofit fulfills community needs while fostering native youth futures
On the cover A riot of Rudbeckia means one thing: fall is near./ Photo by Missy Votel
by Tracy Ross / The Colorado Sun
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EDITORIALISTA: MISSY VOTEL missy@durangotelegraph.com PIT CREW: JENNAYE DERGE jennaye@durangotelegraph.com STAR-STUDDED CAST: Addyson Santese, Allen Best, Jennaye Derge, Tracy Ross, Lainie Maxson, Jesse Anderson, Rob Brezsny & Clint Reid
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Ear to the ground: “It’s prescription-grade stress and rage.” – One local’s weight-loss alternative to Ozempic
Carving a niche
thepole
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RegularOccurrences
The wooden folk art carvings of 1960s Navajo artist Charlie Willeto are coming home – or at least close to it. The Farmington Museum recently announced it had acquired a collection of 26 carvings by the celebrated Navajo artist (1897–1964). The collection was donated by T. Greg Marrion and the Marrion Family Foundation after decades of private enjoyment. Willeto spent his life in Nageezi, a chapter on the Navajo Nation, about 35 miles southwest of Farmington, where he served as a Hatááłii (medicine man). In the early 1960s, just a few years before his death, Willeto began carving and painting wooden figurines, taking inspiration from the traditional healing dolls used in Navajo sacred rites. The pieces, which he modified to create secular art pieces, were used as barter – a standard form of trade on the reservation – for groceries at the Mauzy Trading Post, near Lybrook, N.M. According to the museum, the gift highlights an uncommon Navajo art form, preserving a vital bridge between traditional Diné spiritual practices and 20th-century folk art. Though other Diné artists have produced painted wood carvings, Willeto remains the most famous and prolific figure of the genre, with more than 400 known works worldwide. The 26 carved figures – originally acquired from local trader Jack Beasley – include several rare and unusual examples of Willeto's craftsmanship. Notable pieces feature human figures wearing lion skins draped over their shoulders, alongside vivid animal representations including a tiger, owl, lizard and snakes. “We are profoundly grateful to the Marrion Family Foundation for entrusting the Farmington Museum with this extraordinary body of work," Nathan Augustine, Director of the Farmington Museum, said in a news release. "Charlie Willeto’s carvings represent a fascinating, distinct chapter in Navajo art history. Having these pieces in our permanent collection allows us to safeguard these treasures and celebrate a visionary Diné artist whose work continues to intrigue and inspire audiences." Aug. 13, 2026 n 3
LaVidaLocal Appetite for anything As the curtains of summer begin to close and fall draws near, bears looking to bulk up before hibernation all have one question: Where should I eat right now? What’s new? What’s hot? And perhaps most importantly, what’s easily accessible and not in one of those infuriating bear-proof trash cans? Look no further, fellow Ursus americanus. I might not be able to compete with gastronomic critic heavyweights like Grimod de la Reynière or Anton Ego, but I’m more than a foodie. I, Bearrito, am a gourmand. And as a 472-pound black bear with a refined palate who needs to consume over 20,000 calories a day, I live to eat – not to survive. So get ready to stuff your maw, because I’ve compiled a definitive list of any mountain town’s hottest diners, drive-ins and dumpsters. • Breweries: Every bear has heard of the Goldilocks Conundrum – one porridge is too hot, one is too cold, but one is just right. I wish I could say the same of most brewery oatmeals. Multiple breweries I’ve encountered choose the same presentation: the spent grain of their oatmeal stout is playfully served in giant barrels. Ultimately though, this meal is more about performance than substance. More often than not, the oatmeal is tepid, bland and utilitarian. While the oatmeal earns a place on this list for its heartiness and sheer volume, some cinnamon and honey would do this dish wonders. • Campgrounds: If you’re willing to hoof it for a memorable meal, campgrounds offer excellent variety as the menu changes weekly with each new set of campers. But be warned – the presentation of meals can be flirtatious, bordering on frustrating. You’ll often find food dangling from trees, held tantalizingly just out of reach. And a note for all cuisiniers: creativity doesn’t always translate to enjoyment (even if the burnt marshmallows and hot dogs are divine). Do your best to avoid swallowing roasting sticks. • Fairgrounds: One could be forgiven for assuming there must only be marginal variance between the culinary offerings at fairgrounds vs. campgrounds. After all, what, truly, is the difference between a hot dog and a corn dog? In this bear’s opinion? Everything. Ingredients are infused with the energy of their environment, and no environment is livelier than a municipal fairground. You can taste the salty sweat of the carnival ride operator in a foot-long corn dog. Smell the fear and excitement of the bull rider in a deep-fried Oreo. Feel the passion of a flea market vendor in the ropey fried squirts of dough humans call funnel cake. Fairgrounds are a
feast for the senses. • Unlocked Cars: There’s no sound more appealing to a rumbling stomach than the hospitable click of an unlocked car door. Not traditionally known as sites of fine dining, humans treat their cars as places to secretly consume their shame snacks. French fries. Donuts. Honeybuns. Doritos. Taco Bell beefy 5-layer burritos with fire sauce packets. Cars are the bear’s buffet! The next time you hit the streets, give those door handles a jiggle. You never know what guilty pleasures might be inside. • Tourist Airbnbs: One of the most joyous parts of eating out is getting to experience unfamiliar cuisines. Sadly, such is not the case for many Texans. Most of the Airbnb trash cans I frequent during peak tourist season feature the same tired lineup of barbecue leftovers, these visitors seemingly clinging to the comfort and familiarity of home. However, that’s not to say their unadventurous selection is without merit. This gastronome would never turn his big, wet nose up at a savory sampler platter of rib bones, half-eaten chicken wings, beef brisket gristle, and of course, cheezy potatoes. For a rounded-out flavor profile, top off the meal with my personal favorite flavor of Blue Bell ice cream: Moo-llennium Crunch. • Backyard Homesteads: Nothing beats the naiveté of the urban farmer for a true farm-to-forelegs meal. From start to finish, this dining experience is lush, abundant, and unencumbered because backyard homesteaders hate eyesores like fences and cages. The produce here is always in-season and fresh, never frozen. Fruit literally falls from the trees! Similar to Red Lobster, you’re encouraged to select your own free-range chicken from its coop. Note that some of the more intrepid homesteaders even offer delicacies like fresh honey thanks to their overconfidence with beekeeping. And when it comes to the hummingbird feeders, no need to drink moderately – for us bears, it’s always the freakin’ weekend! • College Student Summer Houses: If you’re looking for a true celebration of food, this fine dining establishment is a must-visit. The boldness of the chefs is exquisite. Their deconstructed instant ramen noodles come plated on a deteriorating pizza box, sprinkled with strains of both indica and sativa, along with a few potent roaches for a burst of resin flavor and sticky mouthfeel. This was, without a doubt, my favorite bite of the year. And with the mountains of McDonald’s wrappers strewn everywhere, you’ll feel like you’re dining at the White House. You won’t want to puff puff pass on this Michelin-star standout! – Addyson Santese
Thumbin’It Neighbors rushing in to help save another neighbor who had succumbed to smoke inside his burning apartment north of Durango early Sunday morning. It’s good to know there’s a few heroes still out there. A seemingly clandestine push to include the Texas-based “Bluebonnet” curriculum in Cortez schools was voted down this week. The curriculum favors a Christian narrative, including Bible stories, and apparently excludes the history chapter on Barak Obama. Here’s an idea: if you want your kids to learn about the Bible, send them to Bible school. And speaking of the fires of hell, it looks as though we’re getting a respite from scorching temps, with highs forecast in the 80s. Meaning we’ll actually be able to go outside during the day without melting!
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SignoftheDownfall: Jackie the she-eagle matriarch of Big Bear Valley, which provided hours of Instagram viewing pleasure, has died from unknown causes. OK, maybe we’re a little obsessed, but she was about the only symbol of America we could be proud of in recent years. It was not just your imagination: July was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous U.S., eclipsing the Dust Bowl’s July 1936 record. Another huge earthquake hit South America this week, where dozens are presumed dead after a 7.4 magnitude quake struck western Colombia. It comes less than two months after more than 6,000 people died in a pair of earthquakes in Venezuela.
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Carp-a-Demon Sarpa salpa is the fancy science name for the dreamfish, and if you eat one, you get ichthyoallyeinotoxism, which is obviously unpronounceable. Side effects include intense, 36-hour-long hallucinations that’re usually described as nightmarish and demonic. We’ve always known about this fish, but we’ve been ignoring it, because drugs are supposed to be fun. However, there’ve been three viral posts about this fish on different platforms throughout the past week, and if the comments are to be believed, dreamfish might be the new “it” drug for ’26. And really, that’s good news, because the ancient Romans started eating dreamfish brains to fuel their orgies right before the collapse of their society, so we probably won’t need to wait much longer.
WritersontheRange
Still on the edge Trump proposal could imperil recovery of one of West’s most vulnerable species by Wendy Keefover
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t’s no secret that grizzly bears in the Lower 48 live close to the edge of extinction. Now, with little explanation and almost no time for the public to respond, the Trump administration and three Western governors have proposed to make it easier for states to authorize the killing of these bears. The federal proposal would change regulations that now protect grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act, stripping away protections that keep grizzlies in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming alive. States that have repeatedly pushed to kill more bears would exercise far more control. The public has until Aug. 17 to comment. Lower 48 grizzly bears now live mainly in and near Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, with only about 1,000 bears in each of the parks’ ecosystems: the Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Continental Divide. That may sound like abundance, as recently suggested by Republican Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, but these figures represent a mere remnant. An estimated 50,000 - 100,000 grizzly bears once roamed the West until white settlers shot and trapped them to near extermination. Today’s populations are small and isolated, occupying a mere 6% of their historic range. The animals face inbreeding as well as disease killing one of their major food sources, whitebark pine. The Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide populations are not connected to each other, nor to other subpopulations. The smaller Selkirk and Cabinet-Yaak populations together hold about 120 bears. The Bitterroot and North Cascades – vast places that should have grizzly bears – have none. These gaps matter because isolated bears cannot find mates or rebuild the resilient populations contemplated by the En-
One of an estimated 1,000 grizzly bears who call Yellowstone National Park home. Although there are about 2,000 grizzlies in the Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide area – up from 800 bears 50 years ago – it is a far cry from the 50,000-100,000 that roamed the West before white settlers./ Photo by Wendy Keefover dangered Species Act. The proposed rule divides Lower 48 grizzly areas into three management categories: Tiers 1, 2 and 3. Each carries different rules for who may authorize killing bears and under what circumstances. Yet the proposal does not specify which ecosystems will fall into which category, or what would be allowed in each category. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would retain authority over bears living in places in Category 3 that it calls “No Tier.” Yet it would now allow trappers of
other species (wolves) to trap at times when grizzlies are presumed to be in their dens. As winters grow less predictable, this approach puts bears at clear risk. Bears in locations assigned to “Tier 1” will also be subject to traps set for other species, and this danger would be yearround and governed by federal-state agreements the public has not yet seen. Grizzly bears living in “Tier 2” receive the least federal protection of all. The locations would be where the Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded – based on information unavailable to the
telegraph
public – that bear populations have achieved objectives such as the number of breeding females. Management would be under state-federal agreements that have yet to be developed or made public. Given the three states’ history of hostile management, we know this will lead to a dramatic decrease in grizzly bears. In the Yellowstone area in the last two years, record numbers of bears were killed. As the West becomes hotter and drier, hungry bears push into humandominated areas, underscoring the need for smarter measures that work for protection rather than automatic killing. Moreover, this administration’s recent Roadless Rule repeal ramps up its campaign against bears by allowing more motorized vehicles in the backcountry. By fast-tracking approvals, the administration has also increased logging, mining and drilling on public land frequented by the bears. Americans love grizzly bears – including conservatives who live alongside them in rural areas. The bears provide huge economic benefits to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, bringing in millions of dollars annually through tourism. Handing over their management to states undercuts decades of conservation work and erodes the public’s trust. When grizzlies were first listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened in 1975, fewer than 800 survived in the Lower 48. Five decades later, that number has only grown to about 2,000 under federal oversight. Much more, not less, needs to be done to protect grizzly bears, and offloading management to states is absurd. Please comment on this rule by Aug. 17. Wendy Keefover is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She works as a wild carnivore advocate for Humane World for Animals. ■
Aug. 13, 2026 n 5
SoapBox Election security or manufactured distrust? By turning voting machines, classified intelligence and alleged foreign interference into political theater, the Trump administration is preparing voters to distrust an election that has not yet taken place. Donald Trump has never treated elections simply as contests to be won or lost. He treats them as tests of legitimacy, whose results are valid only when they confirm his political authority. His national address on the “integrity” of voting machines therefore should not be dismissed as another attempt to relitigate the 2020 election. It may represent something more consequential: an effort to establish, before the 2026 midterms, a rationale for challenging any result unfavorable to Republicans. The issue is not whether election systems should be protected. They should. Foreign governments have sought to influence American voters, spread disinformation and deepen existing political divisions. Voting equipment, like every form of critical infrastructure,
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D-Toon/by Rob Pudim also requires testing, oversight and investment. But election security becomes election sabotage when the government uses the language and institutions of national security to manufacture suspicion without presenting credible evidence. The Trump administration’s emerging campaign reportedly goes beyond a presidential speech. A White House task force has been reviewing classified intelligence and law-enforcement material concerning alleged election irregularities. Officials have considered releasing selected intelligence about foreign efforts to influence the 2020 election. At the same time, the federal government has increased pressure on state and local election authorities and expanded its scrutiny of election administration. Each step can be defended separately as a security measure. Taken together – and placed in the context of Trump’s continued refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of his 2020 defeat – they suggest a political strategy: create an atmosphere in which a future Republican loss appears suspicious before a
telegraph
single ballot is counted. That strategy depends on blurring a crucial distinction between foreign influence and the technical manipulation of votes. The National Intelligence Council’s 2021 assessment found no indication that a foreign actor attempted to alter “any technical aspect” of the voting process, including voter registration, ballot casting, vote tabulation, or the reporting of results. Reviews by the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security reached similar conclusions. Most votes are also backed by paper records that allow officials to audit electronic totals. Technical vulnerabilities can exist without proving a stolen election. A responsible administration would explain that difference carefully. It would identify specific risks, provide evidence, work with state officials and propose practical remedies. It would not use a prime-time presidential address to place an entire electoral system under a cloud of generalized vulnerability. This is not transparency. It is political curation backed by the authority of the intelligence community. Applying that model to domestic elections would cross a dangerous line.
Intelligence agencies possess extraordinary powers because they are supposed to defend the country from genuine threats – not determine which election outcomes citizens should trust. When intelligence becomes ammunition in a president’s campaign against an anticipated defeat, national security institutions cease to act as neutral guardians and become participants in a struggle over political legitimacy. The objective would not need to be proving fraud. It might be enough to keep allegations alive. That is the central political utility of election conspiracy theories. They do not require most Americans to accept one detailed account of how an election was stolen. They require only enough uncertainty to persuade millions that no adverse result can be considered final. Suspicion becomes the product, not an unfortunate side effect. This approach also hands foreign adversaries an extraordinary victory. The most effective attack on an election is not necessarily changing votes. It is persuading citizens that their votes no longer matter. If the White House amplifies unproven claims, exaggerates ambiguous intelligence, and portrays election officials as possible conspirators, it completes the work that foreign
disinformation campaigns seek to accomplish. Protecting elections requires vigilance against foreign interference. It also requires vigilance against a government willing to turn that threat into a weapon against democracy at home. – Ervin Hoskins is a freelance writer and peace advocate writing for PeaceVoice
Rollback of ESA a death sentence for animals The Trump Administration finalized the rule to remove habitat protection for endangered species when development, mining or logging occur in that habitat. The ESA (Endangered Species Act) has protected endangered species for decades by making it illegal to harm or destroy habitat of those species. Every species needs a certain habitat; if you harm that habitat, it spells a death sentence for that species. Habitat protection has brought the bald eagle, bison, grizzly bear and hundreds of other species back from the brink of extinction. I and countless others value our wildlife and the success stories of hundreds of endangered species. Just today, I was aware there’s a
telegraph
mass die-off of gray whales. Why? Their habitat is the ocean with a viable food supply. But, due to climate change, our oceans are warming, and El Niño is occurring, so there’s not enough food for the whales. I feel intense ecogrief as do others at the wanton destruction of our natural world and wildlife by this administration so fossil fuel companies can rampage without care or consequence over our lands and waters. Fossil fuels are causing climate change on our entire planet, and we are in an extinction crisis caused by man – us – and the Trump administration must be stopped in its insatiable appetite for fossil fuels. Climate change is real; one can’t ignore the wildfires and smoke. Health agencies are attributing the health effects and deaths to climate change. So be active and write your congressmen that the ESA must include habitat protection, and that we want renewable energy and planning involving climate change. Share this with others, and donate to environmental organizations and others who are defending the ESA in legal battles. Use your money to support the health of our planet and ourselves. – Margaret-Ann Mayer, Sierra Club SW Colorado Group
Aug. 13, 2026 n 7
BigPivots
Testing the waters Colorado looks underground for a new source of energy – and school funding by Allen Best
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State Land Trust parcel in eastern La Plata County may soon be tapped for geothermal energy. The resulting revenue would not only help offset carbon emissions but fund public schools. Across the state, the State Land Board manages 3 million acres of land with the principal goal to generate revenue for public schools. Last year, the Land Board requested information from private companies to see if tapping into geothermal resources on these lands was possible. Eleven companies responded “yes,” with interest in potentially 50,000 acres in various parts of Colorado. Among those, the Land Board identified parcels in five southern Colorado counties: La Plata; Las Animas (Trinidad); Alamosa; Rio Grande; and Saguache. Christopher Smith, assistant director for energy innovation, conjectured that the prevalence of sites in this region may have to do with something called the Rio Grande Rift, which has seen relatively recent volcanic activity. That geologic feature coincides with the eponymously named river as well as numerous hot springs in the area, a manifestation of heat closer to the surface. That heat found deep underground can be tapped to create electricity. This has been done for many decades elsewhere, including an area of northern California and Nevada. Fervo Energy, based in Houston, was one of the companies that responded to the Land Board’s request for information. It has been drawing interest in Colorado since at least October 2023, when a company representative spoke to the Colorado Rural Electric Association about drilling in Utah. In May, with more success under its belt, Fervo raised $1.89 billion in its initial public offering. Other companies are also in the hunt for turning the corner on the latest in geothermal technology, known as “enhanced geothermal.” Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) are engineered underground reservoirs that extract energy from hot, impermeable rock. Unlike conventional geothermal, which requires naturally occurring water and porous rock, EGS uses high-pressure fluid injection to create man-made fractures, allowing water to circulate and generate electricity anywhere. Although it uses the same principle as hydraulic fracturing, no proppants or toxic chemicals are used in EGS, as in oil and gas fracking. Rather, geothermal is a closed loop, using only water or recycled/brackish fluids, which
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Above: Hot springs such as this, along the San Juan River in Pagosa, can be more than a relaxing refuge. They can be a sign of untapped geothermic potential lurking beneath the surface./ iStock credit CampPhoto Left: A map showing the average temperature at 4.5 km depth, with areas of special EGS interest outlined in blue. Much of the Colorado Rockies is included./ Source: 2006 MIT study
are pumped down one well, moved through the new cracks to absorb heat from the hot rocks, and returned up a second well as hot water or steam. And, geothermal technology has the full blessings of the Trump administration, unlike other forms of renewable energy. In June 2024, Gov. Jared Polis predicted that enhanced geothermal could provide 4% to 8% of Colorado’s electricity by 2040. During the last year, managers of several electrical cooperatives in Colorado have indicated they believe it will help them reduce emissions. “I think that’s a resource there, and I think that, for one reason or another, it may be easier to access (on those parcels), whether that’s geologically easier or maybe it’s just easier to get it permitted within those jurisdictions,” said Smith. “We don’t know any of that for sure at this point.” The companies that responded to the Land Board’s previous request for information have not been publicly
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identified, although they will be, in time. They range from large to small companies that the Land Board staff had never heard of before, said Smith. They showed interest in other places in Colorado as well, including Craig and Pueblo County. The first step in putting out the request for information was simply to gather facts. The next stage is to send out a request of proposal, to get more specific about what’s possible, he said. “We’re in kind of our first round,” said Smith. “I think if this proves to be a successful line of business, then we hope to expand into other areas (of Colorado) that meet the criteria, not just for us, but for the individual counties, for the developers and for stakeholders like Colorado Parks and Wildlife.” Deadline for the RFP is Sept. 20. Each proposal will then be evaluated based on the applicant’s financial bid, experience, financing, project timeline, surface impacts, and community engagement and water plan. This story was edited to include information about enhanced geothermal systems, or EGSs. Allen Best is a Colorado-based journalist who publishes an e-magazine about the clean energy transition in Colorado called Big Pivots. Reach him at allen.best@comcast.net. ■
ArtistinResidence
Don’t call me Shirley Mancos’ Cult Movie Federation wants to keep Southwest Colorado weird by Jennaye Derge
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eenacting the dramatic scenes from “Airplane!” and saying things like, “This was the wrong week for me to stop sniffing glue” and “Don’t call me Shirley,” might not make you popular at parties, but it will make you friends with the members of the Cult Movie Federation of Mancos. The Cult Movie Federation is a group of underground movie lovers that has been around since October 2023. It is composed of five Mancos locals, and each member, on a rotating monthly basis, picks a movie to show to a very lucky audience that probably also enjoys spit-balling Leslie Nielsen lines. The Cult Movie Nights were originally inspired by a conversation between Erik Nordstrom, frontman for local bands the Lawn Chair Kings and Farmington Hill, and Mancos librarian Ryan Matthews. The two got on the topic one day because of the cult movie commemorative posters that Matthews was making. Matthews created artwork from movies such as “The Life Aquatic” and “Clerks,” and Nordstrom suggested they take it a step further and show those movies to a public audience.
JusttheFacts What: Cult Movie Federation of Mancos screening of “Best in Show’ When: Thurs., Aug. 20, doors 6 p.m.; film at 7 p.m. Where: Mancos Opera House “I’ve always liked cult movies, and I thought about doing some sort of Mancos movie night for a while,” Nordstrom said. Nordstrom and Matthews brought in others from the community to form the federation and partnered up with the Mancos Public Library in order to get the proper licensing agreements to show the films. In the fall of 2023, the group hosted its first Cult Movie Night, showing “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956), and the third-Thursday-night movies have been a hit ever since. “It’s been a nice community bonding experience,” Nordstrom said. “There’s the shared experience of watching – sometimes very strange – movies together; or good movies or sometimes really terrible movies, depending.” Which is actually, kind of, the exact definition of a “cult classic.” Often, the movies are so good that it creates a serious fanbase and some cosplayers. Or, the movies may be ahead of their time with complex ideas or cinematography. But more often than not, cult classics become “classics,” because the movies are actually so bad, bizarre or shocking that despite bombing in the movie theaters, they continue to be appreciated by folks who love off-center lines or gory or scary scenes in a way
mass audiences may not. “I think, at the best, these films are memorable in some way that may not be like your run-of-the-mill Hollywood movie. They make an impression on us,” Nordstrom said. “It could be because they’re so weird that they’re interesting to watch. It could be that they’re making a profound point that doesn’t fit in a typical rom-com … For me, it really gets back to what movies really stand the test of time.” The one that comes to mind for Nordstrom is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Not a lot of us know that this holiday
telegraph
movie actually flopped in theaters when it first came out. It received mixed reviews and was a financial disappointment at the box office. Because of that, the film did not renew its copyright and, therefore, became public domain. Once TV stations were able to broadcast the film freely, the movie was played so often that it ultimately gained a large audience and following that quickly turned it into a holiday cult classic. “So that ’40s movie keeps being appreciated by generations and generations of folks,” Nordstrom said. Other common cult classics include “The Breakfast Club,” “Drop Dead Gorgeous” and “Fight Club” (but shhh, don’t talk about it.) Also, anything by Quentin Tarrantino, Mel Brooks and Wes Anderson quality, as well as most films starring Jeff Goldblum. Arguably, however, the most famous cult movie is “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” where it’s almost required to dress up like the characters, dance along to the songs and shout the lines. Appreciation from the audience is the key factor. You can’t press play on “Spaceballs” not knowing anything about Mel Brooks, and you can’t go into “The Princess Bride” having not already watched Billy Crystal in “City Slickers” or fallen in love with Rob Reiner (RIP). I mean, I guess you can, but you shouldn’t. What Nordstrom really wants to drive home, though, is the idea that these movie nights are a community experience to share with neighbors and friends. Folks from around the region including Cortez, Dolores and Durango often attend, and there is an hour before each film where guests can mingle, listen to movie-themed music and nosh on movie-themed snacks. It’s BYOE (bring your own everything) and movie-goers really take that seriously, bringing what Nordstrom says are elaborate spreads, such as one memorable night in August 2025. “We showed ‘Cannibal! The Musical,’ and one patron brought in this, like, cream cheese with salami on top. And it was made to look like a human head to kind of test the cannibal theme,” he recalled. But don’t worry, if you don’t want to eat human head replicas, there is also popcorn for sale – made with an old Rocket Drive-in popcorn machine from the ’40s – and all proceeds from the night go to the Mancos Public Library. Some upcoming Cult Movie Nights to look forward to include September’s showing of the original 1933 “King Kong” and “People’s Choice” in November. Each movie night has a theme, and it doesn’t always involve cannibals, such as the upcoming Aug. 20 film, “Best in Show,” which, of course, will have a dog theme. “I think one of my themes is just to keep Southwest Colorado weird, and hopefully the movie nights are a part of that,” Nordstrom said. “We’re blessed to live in a unique area with great outdoor opportunities, but also, great community members. “It’s been a lot of fun, and it’s definitely something I want to keep going for as long as possible,” Nordstrom said. ■ Aug. 13, 2026 n 9
LocalNews
Kids work on their creations at the Cortez Makerspace, created to help students working with the local nonprofit Fundamental Needs. Founded by Justice Ramos in 2020, the nonprofit’s goal is to partner with underserved communities to address critical gaps in access to clean drinking water, electricity, education and vocational opportunities./ Photo courtesy Fundamental Needs
Building a better future Cortez nonprofit turns basic needs and creativity into opportunity for Four Corners youth by Tracy Ross / The Colorado Sun
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ust like in a Gabriel García Márquez novel, Justice Ramos was given a name that intertwines with his destiny. The 29-year-old grew up in Cortez to a mom who spent her childhood on the Navajo reservation, in the town of Rock Point, Ariz., (Tsé Nitsaa Deez’áhí in Diné) about 90 miles southwest of Cortez. Ramos’ grandparents were both teachers in Rock Point, which also influenced his fate. After graduating from the University of Colorado, he had plans to join the Peace Corps. But the pandemic ruined that, so he had to change direction. In 2020, he turned to helping people on the Navajo Nation, and with some assistance from his family, founded the nonprofit Fundamental Needs, which helps address critical gaps in accessing clean drinking water, electricity, education and vocational opportunities in
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A colorful mural graces the outside of the Cortez Makerspace at 209 W. Main St./ Photo courtesy Fundamental Needs underserved communities. The idea is that communityled approaches combined with practical solutions can empower individuals and families to overcome systemic
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barriers and, hopefully, create lasting change. During the pandemic, Fundamental Needs delivered relief to Navajo citizens in lockdown, including water, food boxes, firewood, clothing and personal protective equipment. These were critical back then, but they still remain a scarcity for many, with 30% to 40% of households on the Navajo Nation lacking access to running water in their homes and around 10,050 to 13,000 households lacking electricity on the 17.5-million-acre reservation that spans Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Ramos also wanted to help kids living in Rock Point, Cortez and Kirtland, N.M., another town just outside of the reservation that sits along the San Juan River. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics November 2023 study, the unemployment rate for American Indians and Alaskan Natives was 8.2% in 2021 compared with a rate of 5.3% for the United States overall. American Indian and Alaska Native people ages 16 to 24 living in tribal areas had a 17.2% unemployment rate, com-
pared with 11% for U.S. youth overall. “We wanted to build toward something more long-term, so we started building off-grid water systems,” Ramos said. They partnered with DigDeep, an organization that believes everyone deserves water, and built their first three systems in 2021. A year later, Ramos started a high school program at Rock Point Community School dedicated to doing the same. Now, both Rock Point and Kirtland have school-based programs in which Indigenous students build and donate these systems to households in need within an hour and a half of their schools. To date, more than 240 systems have been installed, Ramos said. The project trains and hires local high school students to build and install those systems themselves, turning infrastructural work into a pathway toward future careers. Students learn plumbing and electrical/solar installation and study topics like agriculture and financial literacy before receiving hands-on experience working in the field. They’re paid $100 stipends for every installation and $50 for every repair. “From there, the work grew,” Ramos said. “Food delivery, firewood distribution and the planting of apple trees in the Rock Point area followed. But the thread
connecting everything was the same: Find the need, find the people and build something that lasts.” He also created a youth entrepreneurship program in Cortez that teaches high school students to develop their own business plans and test their concepts in internships. To support the program’s participants, Fundamental Needs built Cortez Makerspace, a 14,000-square-foot building at 209 W. Main St. adorned with a mural of workers harvesting baskets of bright orange peaches. Inside is access to creative tools, technology and shared workspace. The center has 3D printing, laser cutting, textiles, silversmithing, virtual reality programs, large-format printing and digital design resources, along with space for workshops, classes and collaborative projects. Ramos’ latest endeavor is launching a creative contest that he hopes will raise money for Fundamental Needs. Artists, inventors and other creatives living within 150 miles of the Four Corners can “build anything. Robotics, wood, steel, cloth, paint, sculpture, sound, code, an invention, a thing nobody has a name for yet,” he said, and submit it. The creations are viewable on Fundamental Needs’ website. People can vote through the online portal. Come awards
A happy customer standing next to her new water system installed by students working with the nonprofit Fundamental Needs in Cortez./ Photo courtesy Fundamental Needs night, in late October, one maker will take home $5,000, and Ramos says the top creation, displayed for all to see, will become a community treasure.
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Aug. 13, 2026 n 11
StufftoDo
Thursday13 Thursday Morning Cribbage, 8-10 a.m., Just the Drip Coffee Shop, 1600 Florida Rd Elmore’s Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 306 Florida Grange, 656 CR 172 Commissioner Chat with Matt Salka, 4-6 p.m. Sunnyside Elementary Library, 75 CR 218 Baird & Segment 28 Client Bike Clinic, 4:30-7 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino del Rio Warsaw Poland Bros play Ska-B-Q, 5-7 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Submit items for “Stuff to Do” by Monday at noon at: www.durangotelegraph.com/send-us-your-stuff-to-do/
Leah Orlikowski plays, 5-8 p.m., El Rancho, 975 Main Ave. Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218 Dart Tournament, 5:30-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave. Anuraag Pendyal plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Jeff Solon Jazz plays, 6 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave. Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave. Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Thursday Night Rides, 6:30 p.m., Durango Harley-Davidson, 750 S. Camino Del Rio Trivia Night, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio Fresh Bits Comedy Open Mic, 6:30-9 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F Bluegrass Jam, 6:30-9 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice, 3000 Main Ave. Latin Dance Night, 6:30-9 p.m., The Rooftop Lounge at River’s Edge, 1521 Main Ave. Kirtan Chanting with GaiaShakti, 7-8:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 419 San Juan Dr. Stand Up Comedy featuring Sarina Ochoa, 7-9 p.m., Black Heron Lounge, 736 Main Ave.
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San Juan Nature Hike, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Andrews Lake upper parking lot
Train Day free train rides from Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge to The Powerhouse, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Intergenerational Art Show, 12:30-2 p.m., Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave.
Folk Jam, 1-2 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Friday Afternoon Club Market, 3-6 p.m., Breen Community Building, 15300 Hwy 140, Hesperus
Silent Book Club, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
iAM Music Student Showcase, 4:30-5 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Demolition Derby, 2 p.m., Sky Ute Fairgrounds, Ignacio
The Assortment plays, 5 p.m., Serious Texas South, 650 S. Camino Del Rio.
CO House District 59 Candidate Debate, 3-5 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Annual Veterans Benefit Fish Fry, 5-7 p.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.
Tibetan Buddhist Practice Group, 4 p.m., Dreams of Tibet, 988 Main Ave.
Leah Orlikowski plays, 5-8 p.m., El Rancho, 975 Main Ave.
Anuraag Pendyal plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Rooftop Live Music, 5-9:30 p.m., Rooftop Lounge at River’s Edge, 1521 Main Ave.
Nina Sasaki & Dan Carlson play, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Leigh Mikell plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Barons Creek Vineyards Tasting Room, 901 Main Ave.
Yes, No, Maybe plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Anuraag Pendyal plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
High Altitude Blues plays, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House 3062 Main Ave.
Matt Rupnow plays, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Matt Rupnow plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Jack Ellis & Out on Work Release play, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms Winery, 5513 CR 321, Ignacio
Animal Soul & The Cheese Wizzards plays, 7-9 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
“The Minutes,” performed by Durango Repertory Arts Theater, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E 2nd Ave.
Dustin Burley plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. The Other Brothers All Star Allman Brothers Tribute Night, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. State 38 plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave. “The Minutes,” performed by Durango Repertory Arts Theater, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Saturday15
’70s Disco Roller/Inline Skating Party, 8-10 p.m., Chapman Hill Rink, 500 Florida Rd.
Sunday16 Durango Flea Market, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds Veterans Benefit Breakfast, 9-11 a.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.
Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, TBK parking lot, 259 W 9th St.
Sunday Record Brunch Club, 12 noon-3 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Durango Nordic/DEVO Mountain Bike Biathlon, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Animas High School Factory Trails, 22 Osprey Way
Sunday Irish Jam, 12:30-3 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice, 3000 Main Ave.
Veterans Friday Morning Coffee, 8-10:30 a.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
Cast and Connect Fly Fishing Meet Up, 9 a.m.12 noon, Spud Lake
BID Coffee & Conversation, 8:30-9:30 a.m., TBK Bank Community Room, 259 W. 9th St.
Soft Opening and Makers Market, 10 a.m., The Lakehouse, 17460 CR 501, Vallecito
12 n Aug. 13, 2026
Little Wilderness with Alicia Glass play, 8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
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The Inaugural Kirk James Music Celebration and Benefit, 2-7 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. “The Minutes,” performed by Durango Repertory Arts Theater, 5 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
AskRachel
Costco, canine clairvoyance and beginner’s curse Interesting fact: The 10,000-hours-to-mastery rule has been debunked. The real amount of time required is simply “more than I personally have given to anything, ever.” Dear Rachel, I decided to take up painting, and I am truly horrible at it. That’s OK! You’re supposed to stink at something new. It’s just got me wondering about natural talent. We never hear about O’Keeffe or Monet or Dalí taking art classes. But surely they must have, right? Did they stink when they were new? – Rank Amateur Dear Baby’s First Brush, Let’s play with a hypothetical. If I ever got good as a writer, I’d burn everything I ever wrote beforehand. Including every back issue of the Telegraph in existence. I’d want no one to know that I ever wrote anything before my first meisterwerk, not even sweet notes in birthday cards to my grandparents. My own myth would be that this genius came out of me as easy as bleeding. And if I’m capable of it, I have to believe the same for Van Gogh and Warhol. – Still toiling, Rachel
Matt Lewis plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Monday17 Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. Meditation and Dharma Talk, 5:30 pm, Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., Ste. 109 or online www.durangodharmacenter.org Adam Swanson plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. The Monday Social with country swing & line dance, 6-8 p.m., The Durango Collective, 1315 Main Ave. Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Community Story Circle, 6:30-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave. Jazz Church, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave. “The Minutes,” performed by Durango Repertory Arts Theater, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Dear Rachel, Why is it wrong to take people up on their offers? I watered my neighbors plants for a couple weeks, and she offered to pick up some things for me on her next Costco run. It was a modest list of bulk tuna, toilet paper and so on. But my girlfriend is mortified and insists I was supposed to say no. What the heck? – This Is My Kirkland Signature Dear Face Value, There are so many unspoken rules that we should do away with. Why is there dishware we never use? Why must we never wear the prom dress or the wedding dress again? Why is “Can I get you another drink?” the code for “It’s time for you to leave”? And why, why, why is it not OK for your neighbor to do a favor for you after you did one for her? I think your girlfriend is nutters. You can probably find a better one, for cheaper, at Costco. Or, your neighbor sounds nice. – Members only, Rachel Dear Rachel, My dog barks at things that simply are not there. I know dogs have acute vision and smell and probably have senses we haven’t even discovered. But this little idiot stares out the
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com window onto an empty suburban street and goes haywire at literally nothing, and way too often for it to be rabbits or ghosts. What is happening in his little nugget of a brain? – Wrong Tree Dear False Alarm, Maybe your dog is not a little idiot. Maybe he’s just new at being a dog and still sucking at it. It takes a human 10,000 hours to be good at something, or so they say. And that’s with a human brain! A little idiot dog brain probably requires a hundred thousand hours, which is more waking hours than he’ll have in his life. So we can’t really judge him for never getting there. – Woof, Rachel
Tuesday18
Wednesday19
Cowboy Tuesdays, 12 noon-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Twin Buttes Farm Stand, 3-6:30 p.m., Twin Buttes of Durango, 165 Tipple Ave.
Clinic Defense at Planned Parenthood, 1 p.m., Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, 46 Suttle St.
Women’s Collective Night Out, 5 p.m., Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main Ave.
CreativiTEA, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218
Ska Bingo Night, 5-7 p.m., Animas River Lounge at The DoubleTree, 501 Camino Del Rio
5RTU Board Meeting & Trout Unlimited Monthly Chapter Meeting, 5:30-7 p.m., Berkshire Hathaway, 842 Main Ave.
Sound Bath for the 2SLGBTQ+ Community, 5:306:30 p.m., The Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave, Room 24
Twin Buttes Tuesday weekly group mountain bike ride, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Twin Buttes Trailhead Adam Swanson plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Book Club: “Speculative Fiction,” 6-7:30 p.m., Bread Downtown, 135 E. 8th St. Rob Webster plays, 6-8 p.m., Three Springs Plaza, 175 Mercado St. Tuesday Trivia, 6-8:30 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave. Randy Crumbaugh plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Adult Roller Skating, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Chapman Hill
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Walk to End Alzheimer’s Kickoff Party, 6-7 p.m., Mesa Verde Estates Senior Living, 380 Crader Ranch Rd. Word Honey Free Poetry Workshop, 6-7:30 p.m., The Hive, 1175 Camino Del Rio Leah Orlikowski plays, 6-9 p.m., The Oxford, 119 W. 8th St. Adam Swanson plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Devin Scott plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Blazin Boots Line Dancing Class & Free Open Dancing, 6:30-9 p.m., The Rooftop Lounge at River’s Edge, 1521 Main Ave. Aug. 13, 2026 n 13
FreeWillAstrology by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): At the post office, I mischievously plucked a crumpled piece of red paper out of the trash. I don’t usually do such things, but I sensed some horoscope material was lurking there. It turned out to be a handwritten love note addressed to “My Lush and Luminous Aries Laugh-Lover” and signed, “Your Flawed but Fiery and Funny Provocateur.” The Provocateur had written, “Let’s be rowdy investigators of wonders and miracles. Let’s hack our way through the frontiers to discover the wildest beauty and truth ever.” I was shocked that anyone would have discarded such a tempting proposal – especially an Aries. Please avoid making comparable errors in the near future. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The ancient Romans could be obsessive perfectionists in their approach to building. That’s why some of the roads they constructed are still usable today, 2,000 years later. Workers dug deep foundations, then layered stones, gravel and sand before placing the final surface. In the coming weeks, Taurus, I recommend that you, too, carry out meticulous groundwork as you upgrade your foundations and optimize your stability. Don’t you dare be lazy or hurried in doing this grunt work. Your dogged and ingenious attention to detail will make your future safety zone shatterproof and shockproof. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I appoint you to be Chief Role Model in charge of showing everyone how to be a smart lover in all situations, not only those involving romance. In addition, I bestow on you the title of Chief Administrator of Amazing Grace, hoping this will inspire you to make elegant interventions where you have influence. Finally, I exhort you to be devoted to seeing the beauty in everyone you encounter, even if you must work hard to find it. In asking you to carry out these humongous responsibilities, I’m interpreting the astrological omens. They have revealed to me that cultivating a generous spirit is crucial to you attracting what you want most. CANCER (June 21-July 22): I confess I have succumbed to a very modern misdemeanor: tossing the word “sacred” around more often than it deserves. To be fair, I haven’t stooped to the tacky depths of New Age hustlers hawking “sacred e-mail marketing” or “sacred dog-walking.” But still, I would prefer to invoke the word more sparingly, so that on the rare occasions I do, you will feel a genuine shiver of awe. Like now. I predict you will soon be stirred by marvelous encounters
14 n Aug. 13, 2026
and realizations that flood you with reverent feelings and turn your inner life deliciously upside down. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Given how vibrant and refreshed you have been feeling, I would understand if you had zero interest in confronting The Dilemma That Refuses to Fade. Why deliberately tangle with that stale, long-term energy drain when your spirits are so high? Here’s why: At this moment, you possess a new and unprecedented advantage over The Dilemma That Refuses to Fade. You may not manage to completely vanquish it, but then again, you just might. At the very least, you can now sharply curtail its ability to siphon your energy and meddle with your life. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo mathematician Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) was known as a “human computer” who specialized in carrying out large volumes of intricate calculations. She also had an uncanny ability to translate complex problems into elegant equations, which was why NASA called on her help to guide its early space missions. She said she simply asked the right questions until the numbers disclosed their hidden patterns. Be like her in coming weeks. Instead of forcing quick and simple answers, focus on dreaming up the smartest questions. Well-crafted inquiries will unlock sweet insights that brute effort can’t. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the art of mosaic-making, tiny fragments are fitted together into intricate patterns. Each piece is insignificant and meaningless on its own, but together they compose luminous images. Let’s deploy the mosaic as a metaphor for your life, Libra. I invite you to consider the possibility that you are assembling minor details and small clues into a big, beautiful masterpiece. You may not even be fully aware of how exactly you’re doing it or what it will ultimately look like and do. That’s fine. Your higher self is in charge of accomplishing this minor miracle. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Before launching spacecraft, engineers perform countless simulations of situations they hope will never happen. They repeatedly practice failures so success becomes more likely. This is a different version of your current assignment. Your task is not to worry about disaster but to rehearse courage. I encourage you to use your imagination to strengthen your resilience. Visualize yourself responding with creativity, grace and humor whenever life springs surprises and unexpected blessings. Your confidence will thrive because you will have lots of practice in collaborating adeptly with uncertainty.
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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The horizon line is always the same distance away from you, about 3 miles at sea level. If you walk toward it, you will never reach it because it moves with you. Now I’d like to propose that some of your personal goals work like horizons. They are orientations, not actual destinations. You’re supposed to move toward them indefinitely, never arriving. In the coming weeks, I invite you to distinguish between your horizon goals and your destination goals. Some aims are meant to be reached, while others basically guide your direction without ever needing to be attained. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Here’s my normally $600-per-hour advice, provided at a very low cost to you: Don’t get back to where you once belonged. Instead, go toward where you must belong in the future. Maybe the old place feels cozier because it’s familiar, even if it no longer fits the person you are now. But I recommend that you heed the subtle pull of the life that’s calling you from ahead. Who exactly is the even more beautiful self you’re on your way to becoming? Visualize in detail the situation where that sovereign majesty will thrive. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you’re single, the coming weeks will be one of the most auspicious periods for cultivating your own fan club of admirers. Your allure is turned up higher than usual, and the universe seems to have decided that what once might have counted as excessive is now perfectly appropriate. If, however, you’re happily ensconced in a lively monogamous bond, don’t sabotage it with daydreams of juggling multiple lovers. Instead, conspire with your partner to expand the range of flavors inside the relationship. Try stepping into different personas: Adopt new names, experiment with strange accents and imagine you’re living in 1453 Italy, 1506 Spain or 1685 Japan. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The speed of thought can zip along at more than 200 miles per hour. That’s the rate at which signals travel through neurons. Electrical impulses in computers, on the other hand, may travel much faster, at half the speed of light. So your thoughts are very leisurely compared to machines. But they do what computers can’t. They create meaning, not just move data. Their slowness is where the richest reality unfolds. Remember that in coming weeks. It’s extra important for your mental and physical health that you not imitate machines and algorithms. You need to ruminate and meditate and muse as gently and unhurriedly as you dare.
classifieds
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon. Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $10 minimum. Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)
Ads can be submitted by emailing: classifieds@ durangotelegraph.com Announcements Adult Roller Skating Check out the Chapman Hill Rink schedule. We have added adult skating on Tuesday nights 6:30-8:30pm and DJ parties one Saturday night each month. Durango Rollerskaters will be there to help you get rolling! Todd 970-799-0139
Classes/Workshops Outdoor Batik Art Class 2 days 3 hours each day. 8/22-8/23, 9noon. Contact Peg Kimple at pegkimple@gmail.com.
Services
Open Studio Tour is open Aug. 6-21. The Open Studio Tour takes place Oct. 17–18 and there is an Opening Art Exhibition Oct. 2 at the Durango Creative District. The Durango Open Studio Tour is a free, annual event that invites the public into the working studios of emerging and professional artists. Whether you're an established artist or just beginning, you'll join about 25 fellow artists in a collaborative celebration of creativity while benefiting from coordinated marketing. Register at: www.durangoopenstudiotour.com
ForSale GE Universal 30in Cooktop Vent GE 30" telescopic downdraft system. New in box. $1400 new. We'll take $1250 OBO. (512) 971-7814[
Dog Fosters Needed Parker’s Animas Rescue urgently needs
HaikuMovieReview ‘Dink’ It’s kinda dumb but likely more fun than you thought just like pickleball
– Lainie Maxson fosters to provide temporary homes for rescued dogs. We supply all necessary items, including crates, food, leashes, toys and behavioral support, and cover veterinary visits. You provide the love and guidance. parkersanimalrescue.com.
Electric Repair Roof, gutter cleaning, fence, floors,. walls, flood damage, mold, heating service
Reruns Home Furnishings Time to refresh your indoor and outdoor space. Rolling wooden bar, nightstands, mirrors, lamps, cool artwork and lots more! Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.
RealEstate
Boiler Service - Water Heater Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
Wanted
New kid on the block?
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213 35 Acres, Below Market Value 35 acres in Hesperus – priced well below market value! Looking for privacy? 35 secluded acres in the gated Vista De Oro subdivision in Hesperus. Enjoy yearround access, breathtaking mountain and valley views, electric at the lot line, and the perfect setting for your dream home or mountain retreat. Call Allison Klein 970-946-9409
(Don’t worry – the Telegraph is here for you step by step.)
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CommunityService Open Studio Tour – Call for Artists Registration for the 2026 Durango
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For details email: missy@durangotelegraph.com Aug. 13, 2026 n 15
16 nAug. 13, 2026
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