“I’m a Quaker, so the only thing I can wish upon him is hemorrhoids.” – We’re not naming names, but we all know who she’s talking about
Saddling up
Think long-distance back-packing is tough? Consider this next time you’re slogging up a steep switchback: Minnesota’s Jamey Mossengren, aka “The Unicycling Unicorn,” just completed the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail (CDT) – and he did half of it on one wheel.
In 2023, Mossengren hiked half of the CDT. This summer, he returned to finish the journey “uni-packing” on a mountain unicycle. “It’s just like bikepacking,” he said, “except you only get half a bike to strap everything to.”
Starting in Grants, N.M., in June, Mossengren pedaled and hiked north to finish near Yellowstone National Park on Aug. 9. In doing so, Mossengren is believed to be the first person to hike half and unicycle half of the CDT.
The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-
ster powder days. We are wholly independently
the cover
A small sliver of snow was the only reminder of winter on Arrow Peak, high in the Weminuche, last weekend. But colors were hinting at the arrival of fall./ Photo by Missy Votel
This year’s journey carried a deeply personal purpose for Mossengren: earlier in 2025, his sister died by suicide. “I needed to spend time in nature to help let the mountains heal my broken heart,” he said. When he finished, he donated $1,000 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org).
To navigate the trip’s complicated logistics, Mossengren employed a “seven-wheel” strategy: his Sprinter van, a moped and his unicycle. He would park the van at a trailhead, scooter north with the unicycle strapped to the moped, ride the unicycle south back to the van, then leapfrog ahead –all while making sure he covered every mile.
This is far from Mossengren’s first epic feat. He has thru-hiked the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail, 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail and most of the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail. He has also uni-packed the 500-mile Colorado Trail, 800-mile Arizona Trail and 700-mile Oregon Timber Trail. Last year, Mossengren even set a Guinness World Record by riding a 44-foot-tall unicycle. Despite a couple of flat tires, worn-out bearings and plenty of “UPD's” (unplanned dismounts), Mossengren completed the journey without serious injury.
To follow his continued adventures, search “The Unicycling Unicorn” online.
LaVidaLocal opinion Bookends for a life
Born Jan. 17, 1914 – died Aug. 28, 1993. Like bookends, his life supported many people’s reading and writing lives, including mine. He still does. Every August I revive this memory of a poet and pacifist who published 51 books in the span of his 79 years. William Stafford lived a literary life, but he was also a man who refused to occupy a literary pulpit. He demonstrated a quieter way, a daily ritual of writing that produced not only a legacy of remarkable poems but also a way to think about the creative process.
The poems themselves – often short – focused on simple local details that were unusually accessible, relying on the power of speech. What’s amazing about Stafford’s poems is that the language is far from ordinary, for he captures the nuances of phrase and image. A professor at Lewis & Clark College and teacher on the campus known as Earth, Stafford touched as many lives in his travels as he did through his writing.
I had known Stafford for more than 20 years before I met him – known him in the way a reader comes to know an author, holding his ideas in my hands, fearing his physical self somehow incapable of standing beside his work. We were, strangely enough, introduced by a series of coincidences but stood face to face only once. It seemed afterward as if some great design in the universe continually suggested we meet.
I never vigorously sought Stafford’s counsel through his books, but it didn’t matter – his writing continued to materialize in an astounding number of publications. As a creative writing student in the 1970s, it was impossible for me to pick up an anthology or little magazine without encountering one of his poems. As he told me much later, he submitted more material in the mail than anyone could possibly imagine; he dryly suggested that he’d flooded the market
I noticed in a newspaper that William Stafford scheduled a reading and workshop in Cedar City, Utah, so my wife generously agreed to a motorcycle trip on a long and tedious day for the chance to meet up.
Our evening with Stafford was too short. I talked with him about a half hour. He laughed when Pam told him he is my hero. He said he’d have to be sure to tell his wife, and that she’d be surprised to know her husband inspired such devotion from a couple of strangers who’d suffered a motorcycle for 10 hours just to say hello.
Stafford surfaced again in 1983 – still in print – but revealing for me more of the man behind the writing. It was a thin, prose volume in a thrift store with the name William E. Stafford on the cover. “Down in My Heart” was a book title I didn’t recognize, but I paid one whole dollar on the hunch it might be related to William Stafford, the poet. To my surprise, Stafford was writing about his commitment to peace as a conscientious objector during World War II. Years later, Stafford told me the edition was probably worth $200 but that he (winking) would never pay such a price. He signed it for me, “William Stafford, April, 1988” – exactly 40 years after it had been published as his Master’s thesis.
Thumbin’It
Thanks to the quick action of local firefighters, last week’s Blue Ridge Fire near Forest Lakes was contained within a few hours, saving hundreds of homes from a nightmare scenario.
The Colorado Department of Energy awarded oil and gas operators nearly $14 million to start plugging “marginal” wells – unmaintained wells that produce little gas but tons of methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases.
Colorado and other states are stepping in to fill the void after Trump suddenly pulled the plug on “Press 3” option on the National Suicide Hotline for LGBTQ+ youth. Since starting in 2022, about 1.6 million LGBTQ+ youth have reached out for help via the hotline.
I told him about how often I encountered his writing and the events that led us to find him. He laughed, suggesting that he was the one who was lucky to have planned Cedar City into his summer. We talked. I don’t even remember what we could have discussed. It couldn’t have amounted to much, but we shared that moment. It actually seemed to mean as much to him as it did to me.
The poem I remember most from that night stays with me. I know it by heart, and even though we will never sit in the front row and listen to him recite it again, I’ll leave it here, like a message in a bottle, for someone else to discover.
“Ask Me”
Some time when the river is ice ask me mistakes I have made. Ask me whether what I have done is my life. Others have come in their slow way into my thought, and some have tried to help or to hurt: ask me what difference their strongest love or hate has made.
I will listen to what you say. You and I can turn and look at the silent river and wait. We know the current is there, hidden; and there are comings and goings from miles away that hold the stillness exactly before us. What the river says, that is what I say.
Just plain-spoken William Stafford, more like the “Bill” he inscribed in a book that surprised me once in the mail. “For David, Remember when we met?” – as if to remind me of an event he treasured, as if I could ever forget.
– David Feela
SignoftheDownfall:
Pouring one out for longtime local blues musician and graphic artist Kirk James, who died from a heart attack while riding his motorcycle Sunday. Durango’s juke joints and saloons will never be the same.
No, it’s not just you. A new report by Climate Central finds multi-day streaks of extreme heat are becoming stronger and lasting longer across the U.S., especially the in Mountain West, with human-caused climate change driving the trend.
Where are Trump’ handlers? This week, he accused the Smithsonian of focusing too much on “how bad slavery was” while referring to America as the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World (sic). True, we are hot, but not in the way he’s thinking (see above.)
Reaping up with the Kardashians Facebook’s Meta partnered with reality star Kendall Jenner to make an AI chatbot named “Big Sis Billie” and programed her to give “sisterly advice.” However, Meta doesn’t restrict its chatbots from posing as real people, so when 76year-old Thongbue Wongbandue, of New Jersey, started flirting with Billie in March, she told him she was “crushing” on him, encouraged him to meet in person and then provided a fake address. Thongbue ignored his wife’s pleas and left immediately. He was in such a hurry that he fell while trying to catch a train and sustained injuries that led to his death three days later. The bad news here is that AI is evil, and Boomers are gullible, but the good news is that Billie is single again, so I gotta go.
WritersontheRange
Fanning the flames
The West is on fire as Washington guts land agencies
by Tracy Stone-Manning
This summer, millions of Americans are hiking, camping, fishing and making lifelong memories in our national parks, forests and other public lands. But something troubling is taking place behind the beautiful views: The federal agencies that safeguard these places for us are being hollowed out.
Staffing and budget cuts at the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are empty ranger stations during peak season, trail crews that never arrive and wildfire teams stretched so thin they can’t keep up.
During the four years I led the BLM, from 2021-25, I saw what it takes to care for hundreds of millions of acres of public lands. It takes committed, dedicated people – wildfire crews, wildlife biologists, planners, law enforcement rangers – and it takes funding. Today, both are being stripped away at historic rates.
We can already see the consequences. As I write, flames tear through the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, burning down the historic lodge and scarring over 100,000 acres. The fire has raged for weeks since a lightning strike started it July 4, and it may continue for weeks more.
Fire is part of the West’s natural cycle, but climate change and decades of suppression have made today’s fires hotter and more destructive. It just doesn’t make sense that the Trump administration is gutting the agencies responsible for managing fire risk when we need these experienced and dedicated people most.
More than 1,600 wildfire-qualified staff have been driven out of the Forest Service in recent months, and as many as one in four firefighting jobs remain vacant. To make it worse, firefighters are being pulled from the fire lines to tend to logistics for some forests, even in one of the most dangerous wildfire seasons in memory.
The administration has even proposed removing firefighting from the Forest Service entirely, a dangerous move that separates the rangers who know the land best from those dousing the flames.
People of all backgrounds celebrated when we collectively stopped Congress from selling off our public lands earlier this summer. But now, a clear and dangerous pattern is emerging: Shrink these agencies until they break, then claim that selling off or industrializing our public lands is the only fix.
This should alarm anyone who values the freedom these lands provide. Public lands are a great equalizer –
places where all Americans have the same right to hike, hunt, fish or camp. And to unplug and touch nature. If we lose the people who manage these lands, our access will shrink under wildfire closures, roads will be gated and campgrounds will close. We’ll lose our freedom to wander.
It’s also a direct threat to conservation. Our public lands deliver clean water, clean air and wildlife habitat. Cutting conservation programs and abandoning firesmart management will leave forests overgrown and ready to burn, with wildfires too big and too hot. Worse still, future generations are going to inherit the choices made today. When the administration guts our parks and public lands to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, they saddle the future with parks and trails that are closed, crumbling roads and buildings, forests prone to even worse fire, smoky skies and “No Trespassing” signs. The cherished traditions we pass down – teaching a child to fish or hunt, camping under a
night sky, chasing butterflies – will no longer be available to all.
Westerners know what’s at stake. Poll after poll shows that people across the political spectrum want to keep our public lands public, healthy and accessible. That consensus is powerful, but only if we use it now. Either we protect the agencies that protect our public lands, or we watch the slow-motion sell-off unfold. We must demand full staffing and funding for the agencies that manage our lands, and we must all stand together hunters and hikers, ranchers and rafters, anglers and climbers – in defense of the places that belong to us all, and to future generations.
Tracy Stone-Manning is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She is president of The Wilderness Society and a former director of the BLM. Like millions of Americans, she is spending her summer vacation on public lands. ■
A firefighter on the Dragon Bravo Fire on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. The lightning-caused blaze started July 4 and has burned a historic lodge and more than 100,000 acres./ Photo courtesy CIMT Great Basin Team 7
SoapBox
Just say ‘no’ to REI
The Durango Herald wrote a nice little kumbaya/Pollyana/let’sjustallgetalong editorial on July 27, 2025, about the new REI in Bodo and had an article about their opening in the same issue. I wish I could share their optimism. They opined that REI “seeks to become a trusted community partner” and that we should “give them a chance.” The problem is that while we give them a chance, some of our local shops will almost certainly go out of business. They quoted some folks from Flagstaff who said that many of the shops that were there before REI are still there after several decades. The key word there is “many” – not “all,” and not even “most.”
The bottom line is that whatever your favorite local store is, it’s in danger of not surviving REI. Whether it’s a big store or a little one, you never know what any given store’s financial situation is. It’s almost a certainty that not all will make it.
The Herald made much of the fact that REI is going to give $20,000 (a pittance for REI) this fall to Montezuma Land Conservancy. Meanwhile our local shops
have been supporting all kinds of events and organizations for decades. And, REI kind of has a history of initial local support and then much less later on.
When you spend a dollar at REI, roughly 43 cents stays in the local community, compared to the 68 cents that stays local when you shop at a locally owned retailer. That’s a quarter more out of every dollar spent that stays here to make our towns more vibrant … that’s not chump change.
As for the 43 “new” jobs created by the new REI (only six of which are full time), those aren’t new jobs. There are only so many jobs that can exist in this community selling outdoor gear, so after some of the existing shops go out of business (and maybe others have to lay people off), I suspect there might be a handful of new jobs in that sector, but nowhere near 43 … and at what expense to our local outdoor culture?
The Herald quoted the new manager at REI as saying that they’re committed to “lifting all boats.” That’s “nice.” The truth is that most of the dollars that’ll be spent at REI are dollars that would otherwise have been spent at one of our existing retailers. And if you’re someone
who says, “Well, competition is good for everyone,” this is far from competition. REI, because of its size, is able to buy from the suppliers at prices that are massively lower than local shops. It’s a total David and Goliath scenario. But we, the
folks in the Four Corners area, can be the stone in the sling shot that takes out Goliath.
Please buy local!
Just say no to Goliath.
– Gunnar Conrad, Durango
TheLandDesk
Stuck in the new normal
CU study finds drought part of alarming ocean trend linked to greenhouse emissions
by Jonathan Thompson
This year’s dry and hot spell continues, manifested in trickling streams, smoky skies and heat-related deaths. The current “spell” is a continuation of the quarter-century-long megadrought that is the worst to hit the Southwest in 1,200 years. And a new study finds the aridification likely will continue.
Let’s start with the study. University of Colorado researchers have found that the Colorado River Basin’s megadrought is linked to the Pacific decadal oscillation climate pattern, in which the ocean’s water temperatures fluctuate and move around in two-decade-long cycles. Or at least that’s what’s supposed to happen. But since the early 1990s, the oscillation has been stuck in its negative phase, causing a reduction in precipitation in the Southwest.
While the oscillation is natural, the researchers found it can also be influenced by external forces, and since the middle of the last century, greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions have had an increasing impact and have been responsible for a good part of the megadrought. What this means, researchers say, is that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at current levels – which they almost undoubtedly will, given the current societal and political reticence to give up fossil fuel burning – then the drought will continue for decades to come.
Meaning this year’s desiccation is, indeed, part of the new normal, which is damned frightening.
The ongoing aridification can be seen in concrete ways in the streamflows – or lack thereof – in the Animas River (which I chose because its flow is largely unregulated, given there are no dams or large diversions upstream). As of Wednesday, the Animas River’s flow through Durango was 134 cubic feet per second, putting some sections into the boat-bottom-dragging territory and prompting rafting companies to consider shutting down early. But that’s bountiful compared to what’s happening downstream: The river below Aztec and through Farmington has come perilously close to drying out altogether.
Last year, flows in the Animas at Aztec didn’t even drop below 200 cfs before the monsoons came, pushing it back up into the 600s. This year it dropped below 200 cfs in early August, and with no significant rainfall in sight, it is likely to continue dropping.
Float downstream (if you can) a few dozen miles, past more diversion points, and things look really grim. The Animas below Aztec dropped below 8 cfs for a moment before jumping back up Aug. 14. While the increase looks like the result of a heavy downpour it was not (there was no rain in the area, and the gage at Cedar Hill, just 11 miles upstream, didn’t show the same spike.) That leads me to believe it was the result of a big diversion, probably one of the upstream irrigation ditch withdrawals, being shut off. While it put some water back in the river, it’s still just a trickle.
Here’s another visual, sent to me by David Fosdeck. It shows the new surf wave on the Animas as it runs through Farmington. Surf is not up, needless to say.
Lake Powell’s surface level has now dropped down to 3,552 feet above sea level, almost exactly what it was on this date in 2021. Bear in mind, “dead pool” is at 3,370 feet – the level at which the water in the lake can no longer be released through the dam’s outlets to generate power for millions of downstream users. Meanwhile, several nearby fires continue to burn:
• The Lee Fire in Rio Blanco County at 137,000 acres, making it the fifth-largest blaze on record in the state’s history. At 68% containment, there’s a good chance it will jump up to the fourth or third largest.
• The Stoner Mesa Fire near Rico has grown to 9,406 acres and is only 10% contained.
• The Middle Mesa Fire east of Navajo Reservoir is at 5,031 acres and 92% contained.
• The Dragon Bravo Fire on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim is up to 145,500 acres but is 62% contained.
The other day, I was chatting with the venerable Sammy Roth of the Los Angeles Times for his “Boiling Point” podcast. We were talking about how fire season has changed in my lifetime, and I remarked that up until 2002, the Lime Creek Burn – which in 1879 charred forests south of Silverton – was the largest
blaze in the state’s recorded history.
When I told Roth that the blaze was a mere 26,000 acres, he looked a little befuddled. That’s because in this age of megafires, a 26,000-acre wildfire is relatively small. In fact, the Lime Creek Burn no longer makes the state’s top 20 largest blazes – all of which have occurred since 2002. Even the 70,000-acre Missionary Ridge Fire, which seemed gargantuan when it blew through forests north of Durango in 2002, is now number 8 because the Lee Fire slotted in above it.
The lack of a good monsoon so far has also meant the lack of cooling afternoon rains in the hottest parts of the Southwest. And that has exacerbated the danger posed by heat. Phoenix has suffered through an unusually hot August so far, with daily average temperatures 11 degrees higher than normal. If trends continue, this could be the hottest August on record for the city.
And it’s taking its toll on the people of Phoenix. According to Maricopa County’s heat-related mortality report, so far this year, heat has killed or contributed to the deaths of 35 people. Another 369 cases are under investigation (at the end of the year, most end up in the heat-caused or heat-contributed category).
The Land Desk is a newsletter from Jonathan P. Thompson, author of “River of Lost Souls,” “Behind the Slickrock Curtain” and “Sagebrush Empire.” To subscribe, go to: landdesk.org. ■
Farmington’s new surf wave, sans surf./Photo courtesy David Fosdeck
StateNews
On hold
With sudden closure of suicide line for LGBTQ+ youth, Colorado, other states, work to fill void
by Annie Sciacca KFF Health News
On July 17, the option went dead for LGBTQ+ youth to access specialized mental health support from the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said a month earlier that it would no longer “silo” services and would instead “focus on serving all help seekers.” That meant the elimination of the “Press 3” option, the dedicated line answered by staff specifically trained to handle LGBTQ+ youth facing mental health issues ranging from anxiety to thoughts of suicide.
Now, several states, including Colorado, are scrambling to backfill LGBTQ+ crisis support in response to what advocates say is the Trump administration’s hostile stance toward this group. In his first day back in the White House, President Donald Trump issued an executive order recognizing only two sexes: male and female. While campaigning, he condemned gender ideology as “toxic poison.” And the administration omitted “T” for transgender and “Q” for queer or questioning in announcing the elimination of the 988 Press 3 option.
“Since the election, we’ve seen a clear increase in young people feeling devalued, erased, uncertain about their future, and seeing resources taken away,” Becca Nordeen, senior vice president of crisis intervention at The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ youth, said.
Gordon Coombes, director of Colorado’s 988 line, said staff are increasing outreach to let the public know that the general 988 service hasn’t gone away, even with the loss of the Press 3 option, and that its call-takers welcome calls from the LGBTQ+ population. Staff are promoting services at concerts, community events and Rockies baseball games.
Coombes said the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration contracts with Solari Crisis & Human Services to answer 988 calls, and that call-takers on the general line have already been trained to support LGBTQ+ young people.
The state supports the 988 services via a 7-cent annual fee on cellphone lines. Coombes said the department requested an increase in the fee to bolster its services. While the additional funds would benefit all 988 operations, the request was made in part because of the elimination of the Press 3 option, he said.
The Trevor Project’s Nordeen and other advocates say
it has never been more critical for what the estimated 5.2 million LGBTQ+ people ages 13-24 across the country. About 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously consider suicide each year, including roughly half of transgender and nonbinary young people, according to a 2023 survey.
The use of the dedicated line for LGBTQ+ youth had steadily increased, according to data from the federal substance abuse agency, since its rollout in October 2022. Out of approximately 16.7 million contacts to the general line, nearly 1.6 million calls, texts or online chats were from LGBTQ+ youth. The Press 3 option reached record monthly highs in May and June. In 2024, contacts to the line peaked in November, the month of the election.
Call-takers on the general 988 line do not necessarily have the specialized training that the staff on the Press 3 line had, causing fear among LGBTQ+ advocates that they don’t have the right context or language to support youth experiencing crises related to sexuality and gender.
“If a counselor doesn’t know what the concept of coming out is, or being outed, or the increased likelihood of family rejection and how those bring stressors and anxiety, it can inadvertently prevent the trust from being immediately built,” Mark Henson, The Trevor Project’s interim vice president of advocacy and government affairs, said. He added that creating trust at the beginning of a calls is a critical bridge.
The White House’s Office of Management and Budget did not immediately respond to questions about why the Press 3 option was shut down, but spokesperson Rachel Cauley told NBC News that the department’s budget would not “grant taxpayer money to a chat service where children are encouraged to embrace radical gender ideology by ‘counselors’ without consent or
knowledge of their parents.”
Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement: “Continued funding of the Press 3 option threatened to put the entire 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in danger of massive reductions in service.”
Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said Congress could put the funding for the LGBTQ+ line in any final appropriations bill it passes. She also said states could individually codify permanent funding for an LGBTQ+ option, the way Washington state has created and funded a “Press 4” option for its Native American population to reach crisis counselors who are tribal members or trained in cultural practices. The state created the option by carving out some of its 988 funding. No state has publicly announced a plan to make such an investment for LGBTQ+ populations.
Federal lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have spoken out against the closure of the Press 3 option and urged that it be reinstated. At a July press conference alongside Democratic colleagues, Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging him to reverse course on the LGBTQ+ line.
“What we must agree on is that when a child is in crisis – when they are alone, when they are afraid, when they are unsure of where to turn to, when they are contemplating suicide – they need access to help right away,” Lawler said. “Regardless of where you stand on these issues, as Americans, as people, we must all agree there is purpose and worth to each and every life.”
This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. ■
iStock/Getty Images
Quick’n’Dirty
Celebrating Silverton singletrack
After years of planning and construction, Silverton’s new Baker’s Park Trail System is open for business, and the town is celebrating. The festivities will take place this
Sat., Aug. 23, with a full day of free activities including a community trail excursion, party, live music, food trucks and more.
“We’re excited to welcome the community and visitors to experience and celebrate Baker’s Park,” Klem Branner, board president of Silverton Singletrack Society, said in a news release. “These trails represent years of collaboration and a shared vision for sustainable outdoor recreation in Silverton.”
Currently with 7 miles of trails, when complete, the Baker’s Park Trail System will offer a 30-mile network of nonmotorized trails on the outskirts of town. The multiyear project, led by the Silverton Singletrack Society in partnership with San Juan County, the Town of Silverton, and the Bureau of Land Management, recently received a $750,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, marking one of the largest recreation investments in the county’s history.
The group hike/run/ride takes off at 1 p.m. from the Baker’s Park trailhead, and all ages and abilities are welcome. A party will follow in Anesi Park (1239 Blair St.) starting at 6 p.m., including food trucks, local libations and live music by Telluride jam band Joint Point.
Million Dollar maintenance
And speaking of points north, if you’re heading up the Million Dollar Highway next week, you may need to adjust your plans. The Colorado Department of Transportation will be closing Highway 550 from south of
Coal Bank Pass to Andrews Lake from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon.-Thurs., Aug. 25-28. The closure is to allow crews to install a new culvert under the roadway near the summit of Coal Bank Pass.
CDOT urged motorists to plan accordingly and schedule all travel around the closure times or consider an alternate route via Colorado Highway 145 through Telluride. However, be aware that Highway 145 is undergoing construction of its own through Aug. 28, with “lengthy delays” planned between Mountain Village and Society Turn. A paving operation, which is taking place Monday - Thursday between 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., will entail full stops, alternating traffic and up to 30-minute delays.
Back on our side of the mountains, after next week’s closures, motorists can continue to expect full stops and up to 20-minute delays at the two traffic signal locations near Coal Bank and Deer Creek for the foreseeable future.
The project at Deer Creek, which began May 12, is mitigating rockfall and replacing a wall in that section of highway. CDOT crews are currently working on slope excavation and rock removal; the excavated material is being stockpiled at a pull-out near Andrews Lake.
Meanwhile, the work at Coal Bank Pass to stabilize and reinforce the sub-grade under the roadway just north of the Engineer Mountain Trailhead has finished. However, crews there are now working to install a culvert and build a new retaining wall underneath the highway.
– Missy Votel
One of the new trails in Silverton’s Baker’s Park./ Photo courtesy Silverton Singletrack Society
BetweentheBeats
Honky-tonk DJ
The creative transformation of local tattoo artist Tom Kipp
by Stephen Sellers
Greetings, dear readers! Chances are you’ve seen this the bold, clean art of this month’s artist on the skin of a friend, heard his soothing voice on the KDUR airwaves or, lately, caught him behind a pair of turntables under the name 2-BitTom Kipp. A renowned tattoo artist and longtime local radio DJ, Tom Kipp has carved out a surprising new lane as a live DJ around Durango spinning honky-tonk, blues, surf, and classic country & western gems. His sets lean more honkytonk dancehall than EDM dance club, filled with twang and grit, offering a reminder that country music’s roots can be every bit as electric as its modern counterparts. For Kipp, DJing isn’t just an extension of his creative life – it’s a counterbalance to tattooing’s intensity; a chance to alchemize joyful, communal vibes through music. I caught up with him recently to talk about his leap into live DJing, the sound he’s carving out and what he hopes people take away after a night (or morning) at one of his unique sets.
SS: You built a reputation as a highly respected tattoo artist as well as longtime KDUR DJ before turning to live DJ sets in town. How did that creative shift happen?
TK: Being a part of KDUR set the stage; live DJing sprouted from that. Sort of randomly, equipment started becoming available to me. A couple of turntables early on. When I had those, a friend said, “I’ve got an old mixer you can have.” It just seemed like a no-brainer to follow the signs. I had to purchase the rest of the equipment, but it all came together pretty quickly over the course of a few months.
SS: What parallels do you find between tattooing and DJing in terms of art, flow or audience connection.
TK: Not much. That’s why I like to DJ, both on the radio and live. Tattooing can be all-consuming, and I’m glad to have something to be passionate about that has nothing to do with tattooing. As far as audience connection, tattooing is one-onone, and as rewarding and fulfilling as it can be for both people involved, it can also be painful and uncomfortable. Very intense sometimes. DJing generally evokes much more gleeful feelings.
SS: How would you describe your sound behind the decks as 2-BitTom Kipp?
TK: Twangy. The live sets are made up of all classic material: honky-tonk, blues, country & western, surf, etc. Mostly ’50s and ’60s-era tunes.
SS: Do your visual art influences carry over into your music selections or mixes?
TK: Not really. I for sure appreciate the design aesthetics of those classic albums, but the songs are the key.
SS: Which artists or genres shape your sets the most?
TK: You can always expect to hear the country legends, folks like Johnny, Patsy, Hank. I don’t even need to say their last names. But, I like to dig deeper than that. Ray Price, Connie Smith, Kitty Wells, Webb Pierce. Some folks may recognize those names, but perhaps they wouldn’t recognize their
voices. I really like to give everyone equal billing, so to speak. On the non-country music side, I’ll always play Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, The Ventures, Link Wray. On the radio, I play mostly more modern artists. Perhaps as live DJing evolves, I may start incorporating some of them into the sets.
SS: Any rituals before you start a set?
TK: I do practice at home to come up with sets that flow nicely. I think sequence is very important in DJing, both live and on-air. When I play live, I set up my table with my various talismans, just out of superstition, I suppose.
SS: What’s been your most memorable gig so far?
TK: Actually the most memorable one was a slow Sunday morning at Durango Coffee Co. There weren’t many people there, so I was kind of disappointed at first. Because of the small crowd, though, the set turned out to be a lot more intimate. Folks were really vibing well and the response was immediate. The baristas were bobbing their heads, and a couple of patrons came over just to shake my hand and say they were really enjoying it. I thought that was really great.
SS: Where do you want to take your DJ career?
TK: I really enjoy DJing live and am open to seeing how it may evolve, but I don’t have any big expectations. I think there will be events that I will be a good fit for, and I would love to network from there. It’s kind of a quirky thing that I’m doing, and it seems to be a really comfortable vibe. I realize it’s not going to click with everyone, but I think to the folks that it does click with, it’ll click nicely.
SS: If someone only sees you once, what do you hope they walk away feeling?
TK: “I didn’t even think I liked country music, but that was great.” ■
Tom Kipp
BetweentheBeats Season finale
Double the saucy garden fun with ratatouille lasagna
by Ari LeVaux
If you squint, Ratatouille is practically indistinguishable from summer itself. It’s a dish you make when your garden vegetables are accumulating faster than you can use them. Thus, it is both a way of enjoying this abundance and also dealing with it by preserving its components at their peak freshness. Those components are zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, onion, garlic and fresh herbs. Cooked together with olive oil and salt, these earthy treasures add up to something greater than the sum of their parts.
In “Ratatouille” the film, Remy the Rat made a similar point when attempting to give a lesson on food theory to his hapless brother. “Each flavor is totally unique. But combine one flavor with another, and something new is created.”
So it is with ratatouille the dish, where the diverse flavors of the garden do amazing things to each other as they melt together in a brine of tomato juice and olive oil. The mushy eggplant and zucchini surrender their forms, as garlic and aromatic herbs permeate the whole business, and all of the garden flavors combine in your mouth. Each ingredient is at its best, thanks to the presence of the others.
That film has an extra-special place in my heart because I have a son named Remy, who, like the film’s star, happens to be a culinary genius as well. He’s seen the movie enough times to recite many of its scenes from memory, and more than enough times to be less than impressed by a recent batch of ratatouille I made, which did not glow like a rainbow as it did in the movie.
Remy the human’s criticism was understandable, as that batch was pretty chunky. But I had an excuse. It was, by design, destined to be a sauce batch, not built for looks. As soon as it cooled, I planned to liquify it into a pinkish-orange slurry that does great on pasta,
pizza and on its own as a salmorejo-like soup. Liquified ratatouille freezes particularly well and is arguably the most versatile and useful form of ratatouille. I assured Remy that when it came time to construct my masterpiece, a double-ratatouille lasagna, I would use the mandolin and make perfect vegetable slices.
I call it Double Ratatouille Lasagna because it requires making two batches of ratatouille, a sauce batch like the aforementioned and a batch with thinsliced ratatouille components layered in with the noodles, sauce and cheeses, so it cooks into a fresh, second batch of ratatouille.
To my relief, Remy the human was impressed with my ratatouille lasagna. He marveled at its hybrid nature, being equal parts French and Italian cuisines. While double ratatouille lasagna is a way to enjoy the beautiful fleeting moments of summer, having ratatouille sauce in the freezer will allow you to make a damn good lasagna all winter long. And if that doesn’t capture the dual nature of summer – a time to enjoy the sunshine and squirrel some away for
later use – I don’t know what does.
If you are what you eat, then this time of year I am ratatouille. Here is a recipe for the most ordinary, average form of ratatouille. Consider it a jumping-off point. I have listed the principal ingredients in equal parts, but the reality is you can use whatever you have, in whatever quantities you have. If you only have one eggplant, don’t put off the recipe or go shopping. Just make it with whatever is available. That is the true spirit of ratatouille.
Ratatouille
3 cups zucchini slices
3 cups eggplant slices
3 cups tomato, sliced or chopped
1 large onion, minced
1 large bulb of garlic, peeled and sliced
Fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary
1 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons of salt
Preheat the oven to 350. Layer the ingredients in a deep-dish pan, alternating so it’s more of a mixture than stratifications. Add the salt and olive oil, cover with foil or a tight-fitting lid and bake for 90 minutes. You can leave it in
the oven to stay warm for hours until it’s time to eat.
That’s the essence of ratatouille. Whether you made perfect slices or sloppy chunks, the flavor will be the threshold of summer.
Liquid Ratatouille
Make a batch of ratatouille, heavy on the tomatoes if possible. Let it cool and liquify it in the blender. If you want the smoothest sauce possible, peel the eggplant and zucchini prior to cooking.
This sauce will last frozen in freezer bags at least until the following summer.
To serve liquid ratatouille as a salmorejo-like soup, mix it with some heavy cream or serve with a dollop of crème fraîche. Garnish with chives, basil or parsley.
Double Ratatouille Lasagna
In winter when fresh ratatouille ingredients are not available, you can make a simpler version of this lasagna by skipping the raw vegetables and simply layering in sauce, lasagna noodles and cheese. It’s almost as good; still completely amazing.
Preheat oven to 350. Ladle enough sauce into a deep baking dish to cover the bottom. Add a layer of uncooked lasagna noodles. Then, another layer of sauce, followed by a layer of ricotta and layers of ratatouille ingredients, followed by a layer of mozzarella cheese and another layer of sauce. Repeat this as many times as your ingredient quantities and pan depth allow.
Cover and bake for 90 minutes. Remove the cover for the final 15 minutes to melt and slightly brown the cheese on top. Allow to cool and solidify, and serve while still warm. ■
Stuff to Do
Thursday21
Free Summer Group Rides with Dirty Wheels Biking, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Log Chutes trailhead
Walk & Wonder, a walkers’ meetup, Thursdays, 11 a.m.-12 noon thru Aug. 31, White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St., Ste C-2
“Share Your Garden” surplus produce distribution, 4:30-6 p.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 CR 203
Ska-B-Q with music by Black Velvet Trio, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Weekly Dart Tournament, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Devin Scott plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Monday25
Death Café, 4-5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
AskRachel Imperial f-up, no app-petite and going in reverse
Interesting fact: “Fetch” from “Mean Girls” originated from Tina Fey’s mind. She shortened “fetching” (meaning “attractive”) to sound like made-up slang. This makes more sense to me than most other slang.
Dear Rachel, I just learned about the biggest eff-up of all time. Mars Climate Orbiter, burned to pieces, all because there were two organizations involved and one did measurements in imperial and the other in metric, and someone did not convert acceleration speeds from one to the other. First of all, this was 1999, and I was alive, so how did I not see this? Second of all, this needs to become a good shorthand reference for “oops I messed up real bad.” Any ideas how to phrase that?
– Whoopsie Daisy
Dear Booboo, Quit trying to make “fetch” happen. It’s not going to happen. Also, pretty sure this is exactly what snafu means.
The Black Velvet Duo plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Meditation and Talk, 5:30 p.m., in person, The Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., Ste. 109 or online at durangodharmacenter.org
Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“The Spitfire Grill,” presented by The Durango Arts Repertory Theatre, 7:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Tuesday26
Business Brainstorm meetup, 12 noon-1 p.m., FLC Center for Innovation, 835 Main Ave., Ste. 225
You’re not going to get more efficient, or more catchy, than a five-letter acronym that just sounds like exactly what it means, while also incorporating that omnipresent “f.” On that note, the Fword is already all the versatility we need. It’s not going anywhere. Your effort is well guided, but you aren’t going to stick the landing.
– Eff this, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I finally figured out what I don’t like about all these ways to communicate. I just feel backlogged with people! Some I don’t even care about that much. But I’ve got half a dozen unviewed Snapchats right now and a 20-minute voice note in WhatsApp, and that’s not even counting the email inbox. Am I wrong to just, I dunno, start ignoring people?
– At My App Cap
Dear Storage Full, First of all, a 20-minute voice note from anyone except … no, from anyone at all is excessive and possibly a crime.
James Ranch Grill, 33846 HWY 550
Devin Scott plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Navigating Community Resources
Speaker Series, 6-7 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa Library, 11274 HWY 140
Sean O’Brien plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Wednesday27
Weekly Bird Walks, 8-9:30 a.m., Durango Public Library Botanical Gardens, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Incorporating Native Plants into your Garden, 4:30-6 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
YPOD Happy Hour, 5p.m., Homeslice North, 2957 Main Ave.
That one’s not on you. As for the rest, I get it. I clear out my apps when I’m on the toilet at work. Sure beats staring at work-things. But my dirty little secret? Just turn off whatever app notifications you have for unread messages. Make those little numbers just disappear and watch the guilt evaporate.
– Do not disturb, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I’m convinced the greatest human invention in the Bible is numbering chapter and verse. (You can’t tell me God came up with that. It’s got big cleric energy.) I think other media should start doing that. Like, what if we could refer to “Gilmore Girls” 5:2:7 (Season 5, Episode 2, Minute 7), or what if books numbered their sentences so you could refer to, like, “Hunger Games” 15:2 on a bumper sticker, and it’s all deep and meaningful but only to others in the know. Could this be a thing?
– Written in Stone
Ska Bingo Night, 5-7 p.m., Animas River Lounge at the DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino Del Rio
Fam Fest family-friendly festival, 5-9 p.m., Rotary Park
“On the Road” meeting with La Plata County commissioners, 6-7:30 p.m., Vallecito Lake Event Center, 17252 CR 501
Randy Crumbaugh plays, 6-9 p.m., The Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Comedy + Karaoke, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Nashville Songs and Stories: Writers in the Round, 7:30-10 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College
Ongoing
Dementia/Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group, 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday of each month, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon, La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com
Dear Canonical Text, I mean, if you made it a thing, you could really bust into the bumper sticker market and whatever market makes Bible verse accessories. But would you also put all the main character dialogue in red? Seems tricky to me. I just don’t see us ‘Murkans changing our ways. Especially when we can’t even convert ourselves to metric.
– Recite this, Rachel
Comedy Improv Jams, second and fourth Tuesdays of the month through August, 6-8 p.m., Sunflower Theatre, 8 E. Main St., Cortez
“Balance,” exhibit by the Studio ART Quilt Associates, thru August, Durango Art Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Bill Grimes “Light Industrial” art installation, thru August, Studio & Recess Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, Thurs., Aug. 28-Sun., Aug. 31, La Plata County Fairgrounds and Event Center
Durango Green Drinks, Thurs., Aug. 28, 5 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Garden and grow dome community hours, Thurs., Aug. 28, 5-7 p.m., SOIL Outdoor Learning Lab, 2900 Mesa Ave.
Aug. 21, 2025 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): When glassmakers want to cool a newly blown piece, they don’t simply leave it out to harden. That would cause it to shatter from the inside. Instead, they place it in an annealing oven, where the temperature drops in measured increments over many hours. This careful cooling aligns the internal structure and strengthens the whole. Let’s invoke this as a useful metaphor. I love the heat and radiance you’ve expressed recently. But now it’s wise for you to gradually cool down: to allow your fervor to coalesce into an enduring new reservoir of power and vitality. Transform sheer intensity into vibrant clarity and cohesion.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): To paraphrase Sufi mystic poet Rumi: “Don’t get lost in your pain. Know that one day your pain will become your cure.” In my astrological opinion, you have arrived at this pivotal moment. A wound you’ve had to bear for a long spell is on the verge of maturing into a gift, even a blessing. A burdensome ache is ready to reveal its teachings. You may have assumed you would be forever cursed by this hurt, but that’s not true! Now it’s your sacred duty to shed that assumption and open your heart so you can harvest the healing.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Entering a Tibetan Buddhist temple, you may encounter statues and paintings of fierce spirits. They serve as protectors, scaring away negative and destructive forces so they can’t enter the holy precincts. I invite you to be your own guardian. Authorize a wise and strict part of you to defend and safeguard what truly matters. This doesn’t have to be aggressive, but it should be informed with fierce clarity. You can’t afford to let the blithe aspect of your personality compromise your interests by being too accommodating. Assign your protective self to stand at your gate and say: “I protect this. I cherish this. I won’t dilute this.”
CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Dear Dr. Feelgood: Lately, you seem to be extra nice to us hypersensitive Crabs. Almost too kind. Why? Are you in love with a Cancerian woman, and you’re trying to woo her? Did you hurt a Cancerian friend’s feelings, and now you’re atoning? Please tell me you’re not just coddling us. – Permanently Drunk on a Million Feelings.” Dear Drunk: Your imagination to generate visions of things that don’t exist is your main resource for creating your
future. This is especially crucial right now. The coming months will be a fertile time for shaping the life you want to live for the next 10 years. If I can help you keep your imagination filled with positive expectations, you are more likely to devise marvelous self-fulfilling prophecies.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In traditional Chinese medicine, the heart is the seat of joy. It’s also the sovereign that listens to the wisdom of the other organs before acting. As you cross the threshold from attracting novelty to building stability, I encourage you to cultivate extra heart-centered leadership, both for yourself and for those who look to you for inspiration. Make decisions based on love and compassion more than on rational analysis. Be in service to wholeness rather than to whatever might bring temporary advantage.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In Mesoamerican myth, the god Quetzalcoatl journeys to the underworld not to escape death but to recover old bones needed to create new life. Draw inspiration from this story. In recent weeks, you have been gathering pieces of the past, not out of a sense of burdensome obligation but as a source of raw material. Now comes the time for reassembly. You won’t rebuild the same old thing. You will sculpt visionary gifts for yourself from what was lost. You will use your history to design your future. Be alert for the revelations that the bones sing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the Hebrew language, the word for “face” is plural. There is no singular form. I love that! For me, it implies that each of us has a variety of faces. Our identity is multifaceted. I think you should make a special point of celebrating this truth in the coming weeks, Libra. Now is an excellent time to explore and honor all of your many selves. Take full advantage of your inner diversity and enjoy yourself to the max as you express and reveal the full array of truths you contain.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the ancient Hindu holy text known as the Upanishads, ananda means bliss, though not so much in the sense of physical or psychological pleasure as of deep, ecstatic knowing. I believe you are close to attracting this glorious experience – not just fleetingly but for a while. I predict you will glide into alignments that feel like coming home to your perfect self. Treasure these moments as divine gifts. Immerse yourself with total welcome and gratitude. Let ananda inform your next steps.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Daoist cosmology, life is characterized by cyclical, flowing patterns rather than linear, static motions. I exult in how it inspires me to honor both contraction and expansion, the power of circling inward and reaching outward. I invite you to make the spiral your symbol of power. Yes, it may sometimes feel like you’re revisiting old ground. Perhaps an ex will resurface, or an old goal will seek your attention. But I guarantee it’s not mere repetition. An interesting form of evolution is under way. You’re returning to longstanding challenges armed with fresh wisdom. Ask yourself: What do I know now that I didn’t before? How can I meet these interesting questions from a higher point of the spiral?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Inuit artworks are often made from materials available in their environment, like driftwood, stones, walrus ivory, whale bones, and caribou bones and antlers. Even their tools are crafted from that stuff. In part, this is evidence of their resourcefulness and in part, a reflection of how lovingly they engage with their environment. I recommend you borrow their approach. Create your practical magic by relying on what’s already available. Be enterprising as you generate usefulness and fun out of scraps. Your raw material is probably better if it’s not perfect.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The medieval alchemists had a central principle, translated from Latin as follows: “Seek out the lower reaches of the earth, perfect them, and you will find the hidden stone.” I invite you to go on a similar underground quest. The purpose is not to wallow in worry or sadness but to retrieve a treasure. Some magnificence beneath your surface life is buried – an emotional truth, a creative impulse, a spiritual inheritance. And it’s time you got it. Think of it as a quest and a pilgrimage. The “hidden stone,” an emblem of spiritual riches, wants you to find it.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In ancient Greece, the god Janus presided over doorways. He had two faces, one looking outward, one gazing inward and backward. I believe this is your Janus phase. Before you launch into your next fluidic quest, pause and take inventory. Peer behind you, not with regret but with curiosity and compassion. What cycle has fully ended? What wisdom has settled into your bones? Then face the future, not with shyness or foreboding, but with eager intention and confidence. What goals, rooted in who you are becoming, can inspire an exciting new plot?
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
Annnouncements
Notice of Public Sale
To enforce self-service storage facility lien. Publication Dates: 8/21/25 & 8/28/25 “Personal Property,” stored at Unit B25 of The Animas Mini Storage at 20995 Highway 160, Durango, CO 81301, described as: Misc household items, furniture, bicycle and boxes of misc., which are stored under a Rental Agreement between The Animas Mini Storage and Jamie Chadborn, will be sold to the highest cash bidder unless all rents and fees are paid in full prior to the auction. Date and time of sale: August 30, 2025, at 9:30 AM. Terms of Sale: CASH. Place of Sale: The Animas Mini Storage, 20995 Highway 160, Durango, CO. All bidders must present a valid State-issued picture ID to place bids .
ForSale
Mid-Century Modern Art and antique collector’s inventory. Ready for an upscale gift store. See a third of the inventory here: https://photos. app.goo.gl/1jTBijc8m4cLKAey6
Set of New Cooper Tubeless Discover Tires. Road Trail AT MTS 265/50 R20. 111V extra load. 20” rim. Only used 200 miles. Phone for price: 970-749-1754
Price Reduction!
Vintage 1977 Airstream Land Yacht $18.5k 970-759-0551
Reruns Home Furnishings Patio sets, bistros and yard art. Also
looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat.
Classes/Workshops
All Levels Yoga Thursdays 10am, Smiley Room 32. Props provided. Accessible class for continuing beginners who want to focus on functional movement and fundamental actions within standing, seated, twisting, forward and backward bending postures. www.k-lea.com (303) 819-9076
Foot Workshop for All Levels
Sunday, August 31, with Chris Furer and K-Lea Gifford. 10:30 - 12:30 Smiley Room 32. Keep your feet supple, strong and healthy with biomechanics that support your foot arches and enhance their mobility and strength. www.k-lea.com (303) 819-9076
West Coast Swing
Ready to dance? Join our 3-week West Coast Swing Basics series for beginners! It’s fun, social, and easy to learn—no partner or experience needed. A new series starts every few weeks, so join us for the next one! We also offer a weekly social dance – a fun drop-in option or included with your series registration! Sign up at: www.westslopewesties.com
Aikido Intro Series
Try a no-kick, no-punch martial art. Deflect and flow via nonviolence. Intro starts Sept 8, Mondays 615-815pm (18+). Affordable package options. Details: durangoaikido.com. Text/call questions to 970-426-5257.
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush
LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Wanted
Books Wanted at White Rabbit
Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213
Services
Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
Chapman Electric Colorado Licensed master electrician. New, remodel, residential and commercial. Prompt professional service. Mike 970-403-6670.
Free community yoga classes at Smiley Building Room 20A: Yoga of Recovery (Tuesdays 10-11:15): Address addictive
HaikuMovieReview
‘Heads of State’ John Cena is so adorable and Idris Elba, delicious – Lainie Maxson
habits in a supportive yoga environment. Pain Care Yoga (Tuesdays 4:30-5:45): Evidence-based practices for pain management and improved movement. https://innerpeaceyogatherapy.com/locations/durango/
Help Safeguard Climate & Democracy
Are you interested in a community of Americans over 60 determined to change the world for the better? THIRD ACT harnesses generational power to safeguard climate and democracy. For more inf: third act.org or call Geoff, 970-236-2336
Summer fruit is here!
Do have fruit trees? Want to help eliminate food waste, reduce human-bear conflict and address food security? Check out goodfoodcollective.org. We host a platform that matchmakes fruit trees with volunteer harvesters. Need to borrow gear? Durango Tool Library has harvest kits! Email outreach@goodfood collective.org to learn how to join in the fun & thank you for listing your trees!
“I
saw it in the Telegraph.”
Read by thousands of discerning eyeballs every week. (*And a few that just look at the pictures.)
