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Jan. 8, 2026 Vol. XXV, No. 1 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
A ‘force of nature’
Cracking down
Hot bets, cool nights
Remembering the legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell p5
City steps up enforcement of leash laws on trails p8
Winter refuge with Frasco, Desiderata & Mojo Birds p11
Newspaper
POACHERS SUCK
Instead of stealing our hard work or robbing your neighbors of the joy of reading the Telegraph every week, here are a few things other than a brand new stack of Telegraphs you can use to start your fire (courtesy Explore.com): 1. Egg cartons and dryer lint (we’re sure belly button and pocket lint would work just as well) 2. Cotton balls and petroleum jelly (think of the fun you could have!) 3. Hand sanitizer (not just for COVID anymore) 4. Waxed paper and dryer lint (twist both ends of the paper to look like a doobie, we know you know how to do that) 5. Chips (the greasier the better, think Hot & Spicy Pringles, Spicy Nacho Doritos and, of course, Flaming Hot Cheetos.) 6. Duct tape (yet another use for duct tape. We’re not sure if this sounds 100% safe, but hey, if in a pinch ...) 2 n Jan. 8, 2026
telegraph
lineup
4 La Vida Local
A political renegade 4 Sign of the Downfall Remembering the ‘force of nature’ that was Ben Nighthorse Campbell
4 Thumbin’ It
by David Marston
5 Writers on the Range
8
6-7 SoapBox
Taming the trail
8 Local News
City steps up leash enforcement on ART, parks and open space
10 Murder Ink
by Missy Votel
11 Between the Beats
11
12-13 Stuff to Do 13 Ask Rachel
Spy games Latest crime thriller from American writer comes with comedic twist
14 Free Will Astrology
by Jeffrey Mannix
15 Classifieds
11
15 Haiku Movie Review On the cover An upside to this year’s unseasonably warm and dry winter: the chance to explore the area’s cultural treasures in temperate conditions, such as the “Sunny Alcove” pueblo in Sand Canyon./ Photo by Missy Votel
Hot bets Mojo Birds, Desiderata and Andy Frasco offer respite from cold nights
by Stephen Sellers
boilerplate
EDITORIALISTA: MISSY VOTEL missy@durangotelegraph.com
PIT CREW: JENNAYE DERGE jennaye@durangotelegraph.com
STAFF REPORTER: SCOOPS MCGEE telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
T
he Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-
STAR-STUDDED CAST: Addyson Santese, Dave Marston, Stephen Sellers, Jeffrey Mannix, Jesse Anderson, Lainie Maxson, Rob Brezsny & Clint Reid
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telegraph
Ear to the ground: “I’m gonna be ‘Colorado sober.’” – One local’s approach to dry January, which applies to drinkables but not edibles
Winter of discontent
thepole
5
RegularOccurrences
As the stalemate drags on in Telluride over what is considered fair wages for the resort’s patrollers, local leaders say the strike and subsequent closure of Telluride Ski Resort is already exacting significant damage on the town’s economy. According to the Denver Post, Town Manager Zoe Dohnal said the number of lodging accommodations booked during the month ending Jan. 5 was down 41% compared to last year. And while some of this could be attributed to the winter that’s not really a winter, resorts across Colorado and Utah are only reporting drops of about 6.3%, she said. But the closure doesn’t just affect lodging owners, with everyone from the patrollers themselves to shop and restaurant owners and their staff, being affected. In an interview Tuesday with the Denver Post, president of the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association Graham Hoffman said it is unfair to pin the situation solely on the ski patrol. “This is a much bigger issue that we just happen to be at the forefront of,” he said, referring to the fact that the entire winter economy is driven by a single entity, the ski resort. “Just because we’re refusing to sacrifice our safety and our wellbeing for this does not mean we don't care. This is our profession; these are our lives.” Hoffman said bargaining continued last weekend, and the union countered an offer from the resort on Sat., Jan. 3. In the meantime, folks are stepping up to help those who are out of work. Multiple restaurants have offered free meals, and other ski patrols, including from Breckenridge and Park City, have sent groceries to be used in pop-up food banks. There is also $500,000 in the Telluride Foundation’s “Good Neighbor Fund” to help cover rent for locals impacted by the closure. In addition, a GoFundMe page has been set up for patrollers. Katherine Devlin, vice president of the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association, told the Telluride Times that some of the funds from GoFundMe, which had raised $155,000 as of Wednesday, will be transferred to the Good Neighbor Fund, which helps the entire community and not just patrollers. “What is appropriate for us is to really lean into the Good Neighbor Fund at this time,” the foundation’s President and CEO Jason Corzine, told the Times. “It can be the safety net support for everybody impacted by the strike, not just patrol. That’s the beauty of the Good Neighbor Fund – it is there to serve all community members.” Jan. 8, 2026 n 3
opinion
LaVidaLocal Yo ho ho To: karenwells@majormarketing.com Subject: New Drug Advertisement Concept Sent: Mon 1/5/2026 12:14 PM Hey boss, Just following up on our meeting last week about that pharmaceutical advertisement plan. I know I just graduated from college, and I’m new to the team, but I had a few thoughts about how we could enhance our marketing strategy. First, I understand that Tizenzapipraxulti was the most coherent drug name we could come up with, considering the jumble of random letters we drew from that hat. However, I have my doubts that consumers will associate Tizenzapipraxulti with mild foot pain. Maybe we could craft a shorter brand name that linguistically mirrors the condition being treated, like Feetosil or Walkitoff? Actually, that brings me to another point I wanted to mention. In the meeting, you specifically said, “People don’t expect realism from pharmaceutical advertisements – they expect magic.” Did you mean that literally or figuratively? I’m worried you meant it literally because most of the ideas you pitched centered around the main character building a ship in a bottle that later becomes a full-sized pirate ship in the ocean. Or paddling a cardboard raft across a manmade lake that also somehow later becomes a full-sized pirate ship in the ocean. Or chasing a paper boat along a gutter that goes through a complex sewer system, only to later become … a full-sized pirate ship in the ocean. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a neat pitch! I just don’t understand what piracy has to do with mild foot pain? Here’s my radical idea: what if instead of a Jack-Sparrow-derivative character, we showed a realistic, relatable example of an average person (from this century) living with this condition, and then depicted how much their life has improved after taking the drug? Like in the beginning, a regular guy has to sit out on dance lessons with his daughter, who’s clearly getting married. But then he meets with his doctor and gets prescribed Tizenzapipraxulti, and we see him get to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. From a financial standpoint alone, that would be more practical to film since we wouldn’t have to go on location to the actual ocean or charter a replica of a late 17th century pirate ship or come up with a CGI budget for both.
On the matter of costuming, I also had some thoughts. In the meeting, you said, “If we cast a Black guy in the commercial to appease the woke mob, we’ve gotta wardrobe him in something only a lame-ass white guy would wear so he comes off as nonthreatening.” Then everyone in the room took turns shouting out ideas like flannels, V-neck T-shirts and thick wool fisherman sweaters. At first, I thought the whole discussion was pretty appallingly racist, but then I was like, of course! A fisherman sweater and boat shoes would be the perfect ironic costume for a character who dreams of escaping reality to become a swashbuckler on the high seas! (Again, that’s if we’re sticking with your ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ concept. I’m still very much in favor of my emotional dad-at-wedding pitch.) Lastly, as I learned in Marketing 101 that 75-90% of any drug commercial needs to be budgeted to listing potential negative side effects (while a bastardized version of a beloved ’80s song plays in the background). What I don’t get is that the one-sheet the drug manufacturer sent us states that the side effects of taking Tizenzapipraxulti can include: “death, dismemberment and depression.” At the very least, don’t you think we should list those in ascending order of severity? Death seems like a pretty steep consequence for trying to address mild foot pain. I suppose if we’re really married to the whole pirate approach, we could tie in the side effects by showing one of the pirates refusing to take the medication and ending up with a peg leg. But in a whoopsidoodle funny kind of way? Anyway, I hope you like my ideas! I know I have a lot to learn about marketing. I’m looking forward to working with you on this project. All the best, Greg P.S. I think I got it! Jack Sparrow has that weird limp, which could be interpreted as foot pain. Is that what you were going for? To: gregdaniels@majormarketing.com Subject: Re: New Drug Advertisement Concept Sent: Mon 1/5/2026 12:16 PM Greg, you’re fired. –k
SignoftheDownfall:
Thumbin’It No matter how dark it gets, at least metaphorically, we will always be able to see the stars at Chimney Rock, which recently received designation as an International Dark Sky Park, becoming Colorado’s 19th national park to receive the certification. Apparently, a petition is being circulated to get Durango Hot Springs to offer a local’s discount. OK, we know it’s a private business, but we’re all in favor of locals being able to soak without, uh, getting soaked. Local badass Martha Iverson, 77, continues to prove age knows no bounds, winning her division at the 2025 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Arkansas on Dec. 10.
4 n Jan. 8, 2026
– Addyson Santese
We lost a few pillars of the local community last week, with the passing of Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who was instrumental in reaching across the aisle to get deals done, and Jim and Terry Fitzgerald, champions of the land and its people. Trump and Kristi Noem’s “ICE Capades” in Minneapolis turned deadly Wednesday, with an officer shooting and killing an unarmed woman at close range in “self defense,” although bystander videos show otherwise. Apparently, the United States is now in some sort of “situation” in Venezuela. Sure, Maduro is a bad dude, but we can think of a lot of other bad dudes that probably require more immediate attention (cough, cough, Putin, Epstein.)
telegraph
Tricky Minaj Most Americans have forgotten about the illegal immigration problem because they’re too preoccupied by the fact that our felon president is a senile pedophile who’s capturing other presidents as if they were Pokémon. But thankfully, 16-year-old Triston Hamilton, of Chicago, hasn’t been distracted. You see, Nicki Minaj is an illegal immigrant, and since she’s also a minority, she made the totally logical choice of aligning herself with Turning Point USA by saying homophobic things during a recent interview with Erika Kirk. So, like a real American, Triston started a petition to get Nicki deported along with all the other illegals, and thus far, nearly 200,000 signatures have been collected. However, since Nicki was born in the Caribbean and all her silicone implants were made elsewhere, nobody is quite sure where to send her.
WritersontheRange
A ‘force of nature’ How Ben Nighthorse Campbell bucked political norms and got things done by Dave Marston
B
en Nighthorse Campbell, the former U.S. senator and congressman from Colorado who served first as a Democrat and then a Republican, died of natural causes Dec. 30, 2025, at his ranch in Ignacio at age 92. A member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Campbell grew up poor and spent part of his childhood in a California orphanage, yet he led a life of excelling. He became a judo champion in 1963, winning a gold medal at the Pan-American Games; served in the Air Force for four years where he earned his GED; went on to get degrees in physical education and fine arts at San Jose State University; and honed skills as a silversmith and jeweler. His Western belt buckles were prized. He entered politics in 1982, first serving as a state legislator. He was next elected to the U.S. House of Dave Marston Representatives, serving rural Western Colorado from 1987-93, then was elected to two terms in the U.S. Senate. When Campbell switched from being a registered Democrat to a Republican in 1995, “the switch was shocking and traumatic to his staff,” Ken Lane, his longtime chief of staff, said. Lane quit soon after Campbell’s announcement. Lane said there was lots of speculation about why Campbell became a Republican. A major irritant for Campbell, Lane recalled, was what the senator called the “elitist” attitude of Democratic leaders in Denver and
Former Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell speaks at the dedication of the Little Bighorn Battlefield Memorial in Montana in 2003. He entered politics in 1982, first serving as a state legislator, going on to three terms as a U.S. congressman and two terms in the U.S. Senate. He died Dec. 30 at his ranch in Ignacio at the age of 92./ Photo courtesy U.S. National Archives and Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Boulder, who found him too moderate. Campbell’s main support always came from the union stronghold of Pueblo. It was known that Republican majority leader Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kansas, courted Campbell to make the switch, and once he did, Campbell was appointed chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. Campbell relished the job, advocating for tribal rights and spurring the creation of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historical Site in Colorado, where two of his ancestors had been killed by U.S. soldiers. Dea Jacobson, who worked in Campbell’s Grand Junction office when he was a Democrat, called him a force of nature. “He could do anything he put his mind to,” she said. He was a licensed pilot and also earned a commercial
driver’s license, which he used in 2000 and 2012 to drive Colorado Christmas trees to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Though his party affiliation changed, Jacobson said, Campbell’s politics remained the same: “He was pro-choice, pro-union and, despite criticism from some environmentalists, he backed key legislation protecting Colorado’s public lands.” Over the years, Campbell became known as someone who’d horse trade to pass the bills he cared about. One of his major victories was passage of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993, which designated or expanded 19 wilderness areas in the state. The landmark legislation had been 13 years in the making. Campbell also worked on the creation of Great Sand Dunes Na-
tional Park and helped make the Black Canyon National Monument a national park. Campbell had a major impact on Colorado’s Four Corners region. Working with local tribes, he helped complete the Animas-La Plata Water Project, fulfilling long-overdue water rights held by the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes. I’d called Campbell last October when I was writing a column about changes coming for the reservoir named after him – Lake Nighthorse – authorized by Congress in 1968 as part of the Animas-La Plata Project. I’d been told Campbell was in poor health, but he answered the phone, later telling me, “I’m suffering from old persons’ problems, so I’m not following water wars these days. But don’t forget what Mark Twain said about water: ‘Whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting.’” Jacobson wasn’t surprised that Nighthorse was affable in our conversation. “He loved newspaper people,” she recalled, and when they were on the road in rural Colorado, “he liked to stop in at a town’s weekly paper.” Though he didn’t drink, he might also visit a local bar or café to start a conversation with locals. Before long, she said, “he was holding court.” Lane’s recollection was equally warm. “Ben was funny, irreverent and endearing, and he connected with people of all backgrounds.” A private memorial service will be held by his family at their ranch in Ignacio. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his children Colin and Shanan; and four grandchildren. Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He lives in Durango. ■
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telegraph
Jan. 8, 2026 n 5
SoapBox Flock sacrifices liberty I want to respond with a few words in response to Chief Current’s recent piece about the “Flock” system that he and his department have initiated in this city. First, a quote from Ben Franklin: “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” If you watch a sampling of the thousands of police (as often as not violating constitutional rights) videos available on the internet, one of the most common phrases you will hear coming out of the mouths of law enforcement is “in this day and age ...blah blah blah.” What they mean by this is that because of the extraordinary danger we, as a society, currently face, police violating our civil rights to protect us from these extraordinary dangers in these extraordinary times is justified. The fact of the matter is, while the COVID pandemic led to societal stress and upheaval that resulted in a small but significant spike in crime, those spikes have been subsiding to pre-pandemic levels. Pre-pandemic crime rates
were at the lowest of my lifetime, which began in 1951. I do not feel any more unsafe now than at any other era of my life. I do not want extra police surveillance. I do not trust ANY law enforcement agency to not use collected data in ways that violate our civil rights. I want law enforcement to first and foremost protect and defend the Constitution as all law enforcement officers swore an oath to do. I want competent and legal law enforcement that relies on legal investigations and protections. No Flock for this citizen, thank you very much! – Brian Clark, Durango
We must stand up now “Governments – deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed – That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.” – Declaration of Independence The current government, this oligarchy, is more an enemy of the people
than ever, disregarding laws, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Our government, military and federal agencies have gone rogue and are completely ignoring the laws and the rights of every person in the United States. Our freedoms are our natural right as human beings and are not the privilege of the government to give or take away. The government is silencing the people by trampling our rights by censoring free speech, calling it hate speech if anyone dares to criticize them or speak out on subjects the government does not like. It is attacking people peacefully protesting if they are against the government’s views. It is demanding that journalists only report on what they feed them and not talk to other sources. The government is acting like a terrorist organization – kidnapping innocent Americans, holding them without charge or cause, driving unmarked vehicles while wearing masks and carrying machine guns – all without ever identifying themselves. They are arresting people who are not criminals and not following the rules of unreasonable
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6 n Jan. 8, 2026
telegraph
search or allowing them the right of due process under the law. Warrants are a thing of the past. We are all guilty until proven innocent. Using a country’s military against its own citizens is in direct violation of the law and our civil liberties while ignoring states’ rights. According to constitutional lawyer John Whitehead, “A government that answers only to itself is not a constitutional republic – it is a rogue state. Unchecked power is unconstitutional power. When dissent is rebranded as danger, and those who resist government narratives become subjects of investigation, when fear is weaponized to consolidate power doing everything it can to keep the public polarized and fearful knowing a unified populace poses the greatest threat to its power grabs, then we must cultivate a culture of resistance. The hard work of defending freedom rests as always with we the people.” We must unite and stand together to get rid of or change the government, or else we are consenting to this government and the atrocities committed against us. We must unite in mass noncompliance. We must not allow the
technocrats who have taken over to have complete digital control over our lives such as 24/7 surveillance, digital IDs and digital currency. This will allow them to control everything we do, everywhere we go, everything we purchase, everything we say and even where we can live. Tyranny reigns, and we the people need to take our country back and not sit back waiting for some new leader to save us. They never do; they never will. No one person can save our country nor ever has. We must do it ourselves. This is not about different parties. They are set up to divide and control us. We are all being attacked and threatened. We have the right to abolish our government, every branch of which is corrupt to the core. We the People are the only ones who can stop the tyranny, and we must do it now as it is almost too late. Martin Luther King warned that the gravest threat to justice is not the clamor of bad people but the appalling silence of good ones. Silence in the face of government brutality is itself a form of consent. We the People must unite. It is us vs. them. There are more of us than there are of them. Why are we allowing them to control us? – Susan C. Page, Hesperus
D-Tooned/by Rob Pudim
The future of politics
fire the emotion. Prime examples are where gridlock takes place when politicians are so bound by various types of favoritism. This creates a terrible angularity of moral conflict. And when politicians are put on notice, they usually give a petulant response. In our ever-growing technocratic society, the political process undoubtedly becomes clouded by secret resentments, twisted ego drives and mundane critical instruments. Each party seems to have the noblest aspirations, but neither seems to effectively be able to drive substantive legislation with fair-mindedness to their constituents. Today, politicians are not even quite sure what their party represents. Instead of reforming issues within their own party, they jump ship. Instead of re-evaluating ideologies, self-evaluating their role and emphasizing the virtues of their political credo, they opt for the expedient. Neither do they regenerate nor revitalize the workable aspect of their political heritage but instead embrace the pretentious obscurantism of another political posture. Undeniably, we are all seduced by the mystification of winning and having special privilege. The political paradox of modern democracy is where self-cannibalizing becomes an imperative over
It seems to many that the political climate in this country evokes in most citizens a feeling of discouragement, disdain or apathy. This is largely due to the fact that the issues that affect us all are derived from the stormy clash of incommensurable values. These values seem to be parted in the loose categories of liberal vs. conservative postures. It seems that liberals fear the erosion of civil liberties on one hand while the conservatives fear erosion of moral values on the other. The left moves to protect the permissive while the right pompously moves to protect the traditional. As people move farther from common goals in the political arena, there seems to become a psychic contraction which moves the public away from important understated goals that benefit all of society. Politics, like science in the modern world, is still caught up in deciding matters in that reductionist mathematical sense. Even cultural issues such as discrimination and affirmative action are being dismissed under the guise of so-called failed policies of the Great Society. Where such matters are ordained by their presentation to become inflexible, they are usually dismissed because they
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the greater struggle for the pursuit of happiness within the realm of dignity, justice and, foremost, accountability. For effective government to take place, we must hold those individuals who represent us accountable for their actions. We must focus on programs that effect positive change at the most basic levels of economic, political and social organization. How can this be done? Presently, the majority of our leaders in government are from the top 20% of the economic elite. They have their self-interest and know ways to subtly redesign policies and manipulate revenue systems. In most cases, they wash their hands of corruption by vaguely laying the blame for a “misuse” on technicians, bureaucrats or the State itself. With this in mind, it may be time that we abandon those questionable public officials and elect those who are concerned with the responsibility of statesmanship and have true compassion for their constituents and greater democratic ideals. For most of us, it is a real task to stretch the skin over our bones. Maybe it is time we are represented by those who master that daily task. Otherwise, we are at the hands of total authoritarianism. – Burt Baldwin, Bayfield
telegraph
Jan. 8, 2026 n 7
LocalNews
City Open Space rangers Scott Mango and Tosh Black (front) enjoy a foot patrol along the Animas River Trail on Tuesday afternoon while Ranger Sybert passes in his side-by-side. After an increase in complaints over human-dog conflicts on the ART, and other local trails, as well as a high-profile death involving an off-leash dog last May, the city took over animal control duties from the La Plata County Humane Society./ Telegraph photo
Cracking down City steps up leash enforcement amid takeover of animal control duties by Missy Votel
C
onsider yourself warned: there’s a new dog sheriff in town. On Jan. 1, the City of Durango took over animal control and protection duties within city limits from the La Plata County Humane Society, which had fulfilled the task for more than 20 years. Under the new arrangement, the City’s open space rangers will be responsible for enforcing the animal protection code, which includes everything from issuing off-leash citations to responding to reports of barking dogs, animal cruelty and vicious animals. They will still work with the LPCHS for sheltering. “We’re going to enforce. We’re going to be looking for dogs off leash, and that’s the law, that’s what we’re here to do,”
8 n Jan. 8, 2026
City of Durango head Open Space Ranger Tosh Black said. But first and foremost, rangers will be working on taming the wild west of the Animas River Trail, which, as of late, has become a hotbed of human-dog conflicts, among other things. (Looking at you, speedy two-wheeled scofflaws. Alas, a story for another day.) Although complaints from trail users have been on the rise for years, the decision to run patrol duties over to the city was cemented by the death of a man last spring when he swerved to avoid an off-leash dog on the River Trail and crashed. Since then, the city has dedicated one full-time ranger to patrol the River Trail, either by bike or a side-by-side, while the others also dedicate at least part of their time to the busy corridor.
“One of our rangers, his entire job is the Animas River Trail. His whole job is to just go up and down the river, looking for dogs off leashes,” Black said. “That’s his job 40 hours a week. And he said it could even be more. He’s so busy; he has his hands full.” Black has been in his position, which falls under the auspices of the Durango Police Department, for 2½ years. In all, there are five rangers, with two more scheduled to begin this week whose sole purpose will be to patrol the city’s trails and open spaces for leash infractions. After months of a “howdy neighbor” warning campaign, there is now a zerotolerance policy for off-leash dogs on the River Trail. Owners will be issued citations on the first offense. For now, Black said the City is taking
telegraph
more of an educational “warning” approach to letting users of Durango’s natural-surface trails know about the new, stepped-up enforcements. In fact, some trail users may have already encountered Ranger Scott Mango in his “weighted vest” (actually a law enforcement flack vest, although it is quite heavy, Black said) on the Sky Steps or at local parks. “Myself and Ranger Mango are going to be out on city trails looking for offleash dogs right now. It is kind of a warning thing, but we are going to be giving out citations,” Black said. “It’s going to be over 100 miles of trails we’ll patrol. We’ll usually be on mountain bikes when it comes to that.” And just what, pray tell, do these citations consist of? Well, for the first infraction, the fine will be $40 ($60 if the dog
is not spayed or neutered.) A second infraction will be $80 ($200 if not spayed or neutered; $120 is refundable if the animal is spayed/neutered within 60 days of getting the ticket.) And the third infraction? Go directly to jail, and do not pass go. Just kidding – but it does entail a mandatory date with the judge. In fact, the real kicker is that all citations, even the first, require a mandatory court appearance (for the human, not the dog). Sorry, don’t kill the messenger. “Any dog on the Animas River Trail who’s off leash is going to have a nice little citation. And these are municipal citations, meaning that they have to go see a judge. No ‘ifs’ ‘ands’ or ‘buts.’ It’s no joke,” said Black. “We’re doing that, because we’ve really had a campaign of warning. We’ve done a lot of warnings. For a few months, we were actually just giving nothing but warnings.” And lest you think you can weasel your way out with a flimsy excuse, just try. Black said he’s heard it all. By far the most popular is, “my dog would never do that,” although “my dog is friendly, don’t worry” is another popular refrain. “That’s actually happened before. Someone told me, ‘My dog is friendly, don’t worry,’ and all of a sudden, the dog goes and bites this guy on a skateboard,” Black said. The City budget for seven open space rangers is Tosh said the goal of the new policing campaign is roughly $523,000 a year, including benefits. Bear in not to put a damper on everyone’s fun but rather to mind, in addition to dog duty, the rangers are also remake sure your dog doesn’t put a damper on anyone sponsible for policing River Trail e-bike speed demons as else’s fun. Dogs, like people, have various temperaments well as homeless camps, and the budget does not inand demeanors, with some wanting to party while clude costs for larger camp or biohazard cleanups. However, $289,883 in annual funding previously others prefer to be left alone to sniff the flowers. “We’ve had a lot of dog fights. You know, dogs have contracted to LPCHS for Animal Protection officers will different personalities. They’re like us. Some like to be be redirected back to the City to help offset the costs. In addition to all this, Black said once the weather left alone. Some love to have fun; some are very social,” starts to warm, rangers he said. And lest you will also start patrolling think Black falls into the Lake Nighthorse as well “dog-hater” category, he’s as Oxbow, looking for got a wolf-hybrid of his open containers and dogs own, who just so off leash. (And this happens to fall into the should probably go withanti-social camp. out saying, but ignoring “My dog doesn’t like the “no dogs” sign at the other dogs. So, when Oxbow Preserve will be dogs approach wanting an automatic citation; no to have fun and be nice, get-out-of-jail free card.) she wants nothing to do “We are really paying with it. And that’s the attention to the Animas problem … some dogs are River Corridor, and we’re fine meeting other dogs, doing that for a lot of reaand some are not. So we sons. We’re doing that to have fights. We’ve had keep our beautiful Animas injuries. We’ve had people getting bit on the The Animas River Trail has become an increasingly busy River clean,” Black said. But, on any given day, Animas River Trail,” he corridor over the years, with hundreds using it daily for rangers could be just said. “So we’re really tak- both commuting and recreation./ Telegraph photo about anywhere. “We ing it seriously now. could be hiking one day. We could be on an emergency We’ve had a lot of complaints – and justifiably.” According to the La Plata County Humane Society, in call for a mountain biker that’s been injured the next,” 2024, officers responded to 1,366 calls, including 30 vi- Black said. “And then we’re going to be in city parks. cious animal incidents, 38 dead or injured animals, 51 We’re going to be all over the trail systems.” With this stepped-up surveillance, just what is a rambite cases, 78 barking complaints, 179 cruelty and neglect reports, 216 stray or abandoned pets, and 471 dogs bunctious Rover to do? Well, for starters, Black pointed off leash. Within the city in 2025, there were 50 officer- to the miles of nearby Forest Service and BLM trails, initiated dog-at-large offenses and another 23 reported where dogs are allowed to frolic off-leash if under voice through dispatch, for a total of 73. This is more than a control (excepting winter closures, of course.) And there 62% increase from dog-at-large offenses in 2024 – mostly is, of course, the dog park (which Black and rangers patrol at least twice a day), and there are plans for a new due to the addition of two open space rangers.
telegraph
Rank Park, seen here, was identified as a possible site for an off-leash dog park. However, there are issues with the location: namely its proximity to the high school and potential contamination of the nearby fish hatchery via a spring./ Telegraph photo one to open at Durango Mesa Park sometime in 2027. In addition, the City recently identified Rank Park, near the High School along the River Trail, as a potential new off-leash area. However, City Public Information Officer Tom Sluis said there are two concerns with that location: its proximity to the high school; and a watercollection system that goes from a spring under the park to the fish hatchery, which potentially could be contaminated by dog poop. “Given those concerns, for right now, that project is in a holding pattern,” Sluis said. Some residents have also proposed something similar to the City of Boulder’s “Voice & Sight Tag Program,” which allows dog owners to undergo online training, dog registration and proof of reliable recall and non-aggression to gain off-leash privileges in open space and mountain park areas. However, Sluis said while not off the table, this, too, offers challenges. “The City did look at Boulder’s approach that includes a certification program and medallion for animals that have been demonstrated to be under voice control, but Boulder is also a much larger area compared to Durango,” said Sluis. “There are some significant operational concerns that we would have to address, such as staffing requirements before such a program could move forward.” So, in the meantime, Black – who has a background in teaching – considers public education and adherence his biggest asset. “Right now, all I can really say is keep your dog on a leash,” he said. Oh, and please pick up your dog’s poop – that includes making sure the little baggy actually makes its way into the trash can. “I cannot tell you how many times people will watch their dog poop, put it in the baggy… and then leave the baggy. We find it after a week, and I’m like, ‘Oh, there’s the poop that I saw a week ago.’” And who knows? Maybe instead of spreading the ’do, you’ll be helping to spread the love. “I’ll even tell people ‘thank you so much for picking that poop up. I really appreciate it.’ Or I’ll say ‘thanks for keeping that dog on a leash,’” Black said. “It makes people happy and, you know, I have seen a big difference in dogs being on leash. That’s huge.” ■ Jan. 8, 2026 n 9
MurderInk
Comic relief ‘Pariah’ an entertaining tale of a washed-up comedian turned international spy by Jeffrey Mannix
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rime fiction, specifically American crime fiction, has become so popular that the majority of the gush of books published in that genre have been trending toward trumpery. It has been my mission to search for and present only the best of the crime fiction genre, drawing primarily from offshore writers. One might safely say that Europeans created the allegorical genre of crime stories, replete with exemplum of society’s corrosive elements. Regular readers of “Murder Ink” have heard me bluster on about how many of our homegrown crime fiction books are fatuous stories with little social commentary. They are so plot driven that we’re now prime clientele of inexperienced hacks who can spin a punchy story of cops and crooks or increasingly, unsuspecting schlemiels of the most simplistic of AI frauds. OK … I’ve petted my dog and chugged half a bottle of wine and I’m over it until the next time I get one of those books. But today, I have the most entertaining (not exciting, not frightening, not puzzling or mysterious) book I have read in years from an American writer. Misadventures would be the category, spiced with espionage, incompetents and a cast of boneheads, including an implied nod toward … well, let’s not go there should we offend the one jingoist reading this. Dan Fesperman’s 13th novel is titled “Pariah” and was released in cloth last July by one of the titans of the industry, Alfred A. Knopf. You’ve heard enough about my view of the overfed and gaseous category of crime fiction, so let me tell you what to expect in Fesperman’s remarkable allegory of foreign intelligence-gathering featuring Hal Knight, a veteran of humorous improvisation. At first, Hal’s fledgling standup routine chuckled-up some parties when Hal was of circulating age. Then he
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livened up a few bars, did a couple of talk shows, got known as a comic actor in Hollywood and eventually became a Congressman to freshen up his routine. Dissatisfied, he crashes like a Waymo by exposing himself onstage on the last night of his 40year career. So Hal takes himself to a Caribbean island to day drink, stare at the tanned and bikinied beachgoers, and hide from his ruined reputation. This is when Fesperman begins Hal’s life of a covert CIA asset. Hey, why not? Hal Knight is a celebrity with some notoriety, so a skilled CIA recruiter has more than a middling chance of inveigling a purveyor of stand-up comedy onto an international stage to prove his incredible improv skills. “Pariah” at this point, early in the Hal Knight story, is unquestionably skillfully written but sounds as if 350 pages will just be another CIA story oversold by field operatives believing a stagesavvy entertainer can be a clandestine agent. Many readers will skate through Fesperman’s articulate writing and persuasive plot layering and be pleased reading a thin but suspenseful story. We’re used to spy stories that are so illogical or so opaque that the intrigue has been blotted out by showboating or dimestore minutiae.
telegraph
But be on guard through this light but captivating story for scenes where events seem just a bubble off center. And don’t excuse Fesperman for bogging down a bit here and there, like you’re accustomed to when reading other undercover fictions. Fesperman is deceiving you into believing that defrocked Hal Knight can be a quick-study secret agent. Here’s the 30,000-foot view of what Hal Knight is recruited for: The president and dictator in the backwoods Baltic country of Bolrovia, Nikolai Horvatz, is a fan of Knight’s movies and jokes. The CIA, through in-country operatives, arranges for a state visit and standup performance for Hal. Cut through the recruitment on the beach and Horvatz’s invitation – very clandestine and professional – and he is on a plane with a few unlikely CIA operatives for a threeday trip to Bolrovia. Upon arrival, Hal is met by Horvatz’s top security engineer, Branko Sarič, who whisks Hal into a stretch limo with a half dozen roof antennas and window glass like transparent steel. In Bolrovia, everything in Hal’s hotel room is surveilled, and he finds that his closet has been filled with a wardrobe for every conceivable occasion. That’s all you’ll get from me, and I’ve given you a glimpse of Hal’s recruitment and the first day in Bolrovia. And we’re on page 81 of a 350-page book. Fesperman has written a brilliant satire. Don’t miss this one, and don’t miss Maria’s Bookshop’s 15% Murder Ink discount. ■
BetweentheBeats
Fired up January offers plenty of sonic refuge from the winter doldrums by Stephen Sellers
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reetings, dear readers! Happy New Year to you all! This winter has felt like a strange holding pattern so far: short, balmy days; long, chilly nights; and the constant question of “where the hell is the snow?” While things feel a little (or a lot) off-kilter – in the news or pretty much anywhere but your bed – our music scene is anything but out of balance. This January, the local calendar is as robust and fiery as ever. From the iNDIGO Room to Animas City Theatre, and everywhere in between, things are firing on all cylinders musically as the cold funnels us indoors. Album releases, stacked local bills and touring acts passing through are filling rooms and warming spirits. Whether you’re chasing heavy riffs, folk harmonies, electronic experimentation or simply a reason to get out after dark, January delivers options across the spectrum giving us strong momentum all the way into Snowdown. Consider this your nudge to circle a date, text a friend and show up. As always, see you on the dance floor! • Mojo Birds Album Release Party with special guests Dana Ariel and Ely Cartwright, Fri., Jan. 9, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre – This “funky flock” of local musicians just released its self-titled debut album. A year in the making, it was recorded in sing out. And now you have no excuse to not catch Nashville and produced by Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers. Come celebrate with a party, community and what may very well be the heaviest rock show to hit town in recent memory. Arsenic Kitchen alone is dancing your ass off. Their songwriting leans thoughtworth the price of admission, not to mention the ful and rhythmically textured, pairing naturally with other three stellar acts rounding out this bill. Metal, the intimate, song-forward styles of local artists Dana hardcore and punk-driven intenAriel and Ely Cartwright. sity collide in a night that’s guar• Alex Dunn & The Real, anteed to be loud, fast and and the Graf Yokel Duo, Fri., cathartic. Best of all, it’s an allJan. 9, 8 p.m., iNDIGO Room ages sober space, making it a true - Your favorite 60-person venue, diamond in the booze-soaked the iNDIGO ROOM, hosts a rough of Durango. roots-forward night that knows • Bluegrouse CD Release when to push and when to let Party with special guests things breathe. From Seattle to Snowy Plovers, Fri., Jan. 16, 7 now calling the outskirts of Aztec p.m., American Legion - Calhome, Alex Dunn is an incredible ling all bluegrass lovers! A homesongwriter. Expect a special Dutown release celebration for rango debut from Dunn and his Bluegrouse, supported by the band, The Real. Local melodic indie-folk of Snowy bluegrass/Americana duo Graf Plovers, made up of Erik Nordand Yokel counter with tight strom (Lawn Chair Kings, Farmacoustic interplay and a needed ington Hill fame) and wife, dose of Alexander Graf’s IBMANow calling Fort Collins home, local fa- Shanti. Bluegrouse has been on worthy playing. vorites Desiderata will return to Du- the scene for more than 10 years • Arsenic Kitchen, Death rango for two nights Jan. 16-17. and is one of Durango’s most beMantra, Watch This World loved acts. Community-focused Burn, Anarchy Hammer, and roots-forward, this one feels as much like a gathSat., Jan. 10, 7 p.m., The Swarm at The Hive - If ering as a show. you haven’t been to a show at The Swarm, you’re mis-
telegraph
Fresh off a recording session in Nashville, Durango’s Mojo Birds will be releasing their debut selftitled album this Fri., Jan. 9, at the Animas City Theatre. • Desiderata, Fri.-Sat., Jan. 16-17, 7 p.m., iNDIGO Room - Two nights at the iNDIGO ROOM give our beloved Desiderata space to stretch into nuance and mood. Though they now call Fort Collins home, we’ll always claim them as our own. Expect both nights to sell out and the room to stay glowing long after the last note that Autumn sings. • Andy Frasco and the UN, Sat., Jan. 24, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre - Roll out the red carpet for the band that has drafted local sax lord Sam Kelly and sent him around the world. Known for turning concerts into communal blowouts, Andy Frasco and the UN deliver funk, rock and unfiltered energy – plus, of course, my hero, Kelly. Expect sweat, Jameson shots, sing-alongs and a crowd that leaves smiling, hoarse and begging for more. • FlamingoSos, DJ Harry, DJ Matteo, Thurs., Jan. 29, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre - If you’re looking for something a little more groovy, disco-laden and soulful, this dance-focused show is one to circle. FlamingoSos bring bright, club-ready energy, with DJ support keeping things moving and spirits high – perfect for shaking off midwinter inertia. Making his Durango debut, I met DJ Harry over the summer and told him the story of my brother introducing me to his infamous String Cheese Incident Remix Project back in the early 2000s. Hell of a guy and a great DJ. You know DJ Matteo is gonna bring the sickest vinyl disco cuts you’ve never heard, too. ■ Jan. 8, 2026 n 11
StufftoDo
Thursday08 Gary Watkins plays, 5:30-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
“Route Planning: How Mapping Tools Can Level Up Your Recreation,” avalanche and backcountry skills presented by Friends of the San Juans, 6 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave. Avalanche Awareness Class presented by Friends of the San Juans, 6 p.m., Dolores Bike Hostel, 507 Central Ave., Dolores Bluegrass Jam, 6-9 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave. Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Comedy Open Mic, 6:30-9 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave. Songwriter Night, 8-10 p.m., The iNDIGO Room, 1315 Main Ave., #207
Submit items for “Stuff to Do” by Monday at noon to: calendar@durangotelegraph.com
Friday09 “Cover Your Eyes: An Exhibit of the Human Form,” opening reception, 5-7 p.m., Turquoise Raven Art Gallery, 104 E. Main St., Cortez Black Velvet Duo, with Nina Sasaki & Larry Carver, plays, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 669 Main Ave. Mountainfilm on Tour night one, 5:45-8:30 p.m., Kendall Mountain Community Center, Silverton Dustin Burley plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Leonard Davies “The Joys of Painting as a Pastime,” opening reception, 5-7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Yarn Swap & Meetup, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave. Parker’s Animal Rescue Adoption Event, 3-5 p.m., Creature Comforts, 305 S. Camino del Rio, Ste. O Studio 444 Performing Arts Academy Showcase, 5 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC Adam Swanson plays, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Mountainfilm on Tour night two, 5:45-8:30 p.m., Kendall Mountain Community Center, Silverton Matt Rupnow plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. A Night of Metal featuring Watch This World Burn, Anarchy Hammer, Death Mantra and AZ Arsenic Kitchen, 6:30 p.m., The Swarm at The Hive, 1175 Camino Del Rio The Jokers play “Ball at The Hall,” 7-10 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave. Contra Dance, instruction 7:30 p.m., dance 8-10 p.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave. Variety show, 8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave. Alex Dunn with Alex Graf perform, 8-10 p.m., The iNDIGO Room, 1315 Main Ave., #207 Durango Comedy Presents “A Big A** Variety Show,” 8-10:30 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
Sunday11 Molas Pass On-Snow Session, avalanche and backcountry skills presented by Friends of the San Juans, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Andrews Lake winter parking lot
Public Reception and Book Signing with Photographer David Yarrow, 5:30-8 p.m., Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave.
NFL Game Day viewing, 11 a.m.close, Sundays, VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.
A Night of Improv, 7-9 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Irish Jam, 12 noon-3 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Mojo Birds Album Release Party, with Dana Ariel & Ely Cartwright, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Memorial Service for Jim and Terry Fitzgerald, 1-5 p.m., Exhibit Hall, La Plata County Fairgrounds
Saturday10
New Year Somatic Release and Gentle Flow Yoga, 2-3:30 p.m., North Main Yoga, 2970 Main Ave.
Molas Pass On-Snow Session, avalanche and backcountry skills presented by Friends of the San Juans, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Andrews Lake winter parking lot “Railhead Animas City: To be or Not to Be?” historian Robert McDaniel discusses Animas City, 1-2 p.m., Animas Museum, 3065 W. 2nd Ave.
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Funk Jam Session presented by iAM Music, Jimmy’s Music Supply and Stillwater Music, 4-6 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave. Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
telegraph
Monday12 Sign Waving peaceful gathering, 4 p.m., corners of Camino del Rio and College Dr. Climate Support Group, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave. Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. Meditation and Dharma Talk, 5:30 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., Ste. 109 or online at www.durangodharmacenter.org Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Joel Racheff plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. ASL 101 Class, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218
Tuesday13 Getting Started with Sourdough, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave. Book Club: “Exploring the Self through Shadow Work,” 5:30-7 p.m., Wild New Way LLC, 813 Main Ave. Durango Parks and Recreation Director Scott McClain speaks to Rotary Club of Durango, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave. Tuesday Trivia, 6-8:30 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave. Jason Thies plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Sean O’Brien plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Barbershop Tryouts, every Tues., 6:30 p.m., Christ the King Church, 495 Florida Rd. Open Mic, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Wednesday14 Durango Daybreak Rotary Club Meeting with Beth Lamberson Warren, executive director of the Durango Arts Center, 7-8 a.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds Bingo Night, 5-7 p.m., DoubleTree Animas River Lounge, 501 Camino del Rio Writers & Scribblers, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave. Donny Johnson plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
AskRachel
Minus one, coup d’ink and petty parking Interesting fact: More than 90% of the newspaper industry uses soy ink instead of old-school petroleum-based ink. That’s the main reason we have not united to invade other countries. Dear Rachel, This is getting awkward. I’m part of a couple. We have this other set of couple friends. Her schedule is insane, so we are never really able to plan time together. But we like him better anyway. We want to invite just him over to play board games, have dinner, whatever. We also don’t want to make it weird – it’s not any kind of swinger or poly thing. It’s just always been a couples chilling with couples friendship. How can we make friends with one of them without making waves too? – Ménage a Friend Dear Tragic Trio, You’ve already given me the language you need to use in this sticky situation. “Do you want to come over to play board games, have dinner, whatever? We don’t want to make it weird! Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. “The Ancient Maya from a Frontier Perspective: Southern Belize,” presented by San Juan Basin Archaeological Society with FLC’s Mario Borrero, 7 p.m., FLC Lyceum Room
It’s totally not any kind of swinger or poly thing!” Direct communication is key when you want to imbalance the power dynamic in a couples’ friendship. – The Platonic ideal, Rachel Dear Rachel, I heard that the Herald offices are sitting on one of the largest ink reserves in Southwest Colorado. Now I know that relations between the Tele and the Herald cannot always be chipper. Maybe it’s time you send over a force of delivery folks to slip in and seize control of those ink assets. You could even run the Herald until you install new leadership. We could pretend it’s all about journalistic ethics, but really we know it’s for the ink. You in? – New World Order Dear Instigator, Oh, sure, it sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Just take over the ink. But what happens when we take over all the ink, and it turns out that we now have to run a daily paper in addition to Dementia/Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group, 1st, 3rd & 5th Wed. of each month, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon, La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
a weekly one? That’s so much work, and we, or at least I, am not prepared for that cadence and commitment. Plus, we like being able to take off for the holidays. – Extradited on charges, Rachel Dear Rachel, So I live in this row of units with assigned parking. We each get a numbered space, which alternates with an unnumbered guest space. It’s implied we each get the vacant space adjacent to ours. Well, this person two doors down refuses to park in her numbered space, instead parking in my neighbor’s guest space, bumping their two cars down into my guest space, so my guests have to park across the street. This feels so petty to be upset about, but I’m petty. How can I make her never want to park out of line again? – Squeezed Out Dear Richard Petty, This feels like an appropriate use of that asphalt spraypaint that utilities use. Plenty of ways to diagram, with arrows and circles and crude sketches, Snowdown Kids Follies, Sat., Jan. 17, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Upcoming
Durango Contra Dance, Sat., Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m., La Plata County Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
“Constellations of Place,” exhibition opening reception, Thurs., Jan. 15, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Center of Southwest Studies at FLC
Jason Leech with Future Joy and Michael Wilbur perform, Sat., Jan. 17, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
“Annuit Coeptis,” photo exhibit by Paul Pennington, thru January, Studio & The Recess Gallery,1027 Main Ave.
Trivia Night, Thurs., Jan. 15, 6:308:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
Snowdown Kids Follies, Sun., Jan. 18, 2 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
“Cover Your Eyes: An Exhibit of the Human Form,” Jan. 9-31, Turquoise Raven Art Gallery, 104 E. Main St., Cotez
Stand-Up Comedy with Chicago’s Dan Docimo (Lincoln Lodge Theatre, Zanies), Fri., Jan. 16, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
100+ for the Earth meeting, Jan. 21, 6 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Ongoing
Leonard Davies “The Joys of Painting as a Pastime,” exhibit, Jan. 9Feb. 28, 5-7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. “Constellations of Place,” histories and cultures of the Southwest exhibition, Jan. 15-Dec. 18, Center of Southwest Studies at FLC
Phyphr with 5AM Trio and McWavy perform, Fri., Jan. 16, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. A Night of Rock & Roll, featuring Animal Soul and Carute Roma, Sat., Jan 17, 6:30 p.m., The Swarm at The Hive, 1175 Camino Del Rio
Tools for Cancer Patients: “Managing Uncertainty & Fear of Recurrence” workshop, Jan. 22, 4:456:45 p.m., Cancer Support Community, Ste. C, 1701 Main Ave. Monthly Poetry Open Mic, Thurs. Jan 22, 5:30 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave.
telegraph
Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com where your neighbor ought to park. Or, kill them with kindness! Invite them over for dinner. Include the in-between neighbors. Just say, “Hey, since we’re all so squished in anyway, want to come over for board games or whatever? It’s totally not any kind of swinger thing!” That might buy you some space. (… Or not.) – Never between the lines, Rachel Meditation and Dharma Talk, Mon., Jan. 26, 5:30 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., Ste. 109, or online at www.durangodharmacenter.org “It’s Never Too Late to Paint,” discussion with local artist Leonard Davies, Thurs., Jan. 29, 1-3 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. A Night of Hardcore and Punk featuring Rez Bats, Bad Fix, Treaty, Heart Museum and Oroku Saki, Sat., Jan 31, 6:30 p.m., The Swarm at The Hive, 1175 Camino Del Rio
Deadline to submit items for “Stuff to Do” is Monday at noon. Please include: • Date and time of event • Location of event E-mail your stuff to: calendar@durango telegraph.com Jan. 8, 2026 n 13
FreeWillAstrology by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): The mystics drone on about letting go. But I’m here now to praise the art of holding on fiercely, tenderly, with full commitment. Some treasures deserve your passionate grip. Some people warrant your loyal devotion. Especially in the coming months, I invite you to devote yourself to your exciting dreams with ardent intensity. No surrender! Relentless perseverance! Uncompromising faith in the beauty and truth you love! What looks like stubbornness actually be fidelity to a vision others can’t yet see. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): As far back as the 19th century, daredevil college students in the UK have reveled in the practice of “night climbing.” They clamber up chapels, spires, towers and bridges under cover of darkness, mainly for adventure, mischief and altered perspectives. In coming months, you may be ready for your own symbolic version of night climbing. Seek out vantage points you’ve never accessed. Experiment with possibilities you’ve dismissed as off-limits or outside your range. Be safe, of course, but also be joyfully exploratory. The view from the frontiers will change you in inspiring ways. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In coming months, I’m confident you will see and understand subtleties that most people miss. You’ll be a maestro at tuning in to nuanced subtexts and hidden openings. Everyone else may assume that familiar situations will never change, but you will have the power to tease out creative possibilities. Use this superpower with as much kindness as you can. Some discoveries may tempt you toward clever mischief, but I hope instead you will choose inspired guidance. Your expanded spectrum, if spiced with compassion, can consistently reveal your next leap. CANCER (June 21-July 22): The honeyguide bird of Africa has a lucrative arrangement with humans. It calls out to honey-hunters, leading them through brush to wild beehives built into trees. The people harvest the honey, and the bird eats the leftover wax and larvae. This cooperation is passed down over generations and benefits both species. Let’s use this as a metaphor for your future in 2026. You will have extra power to notice where mutual benefit is possible, even with unexpected allies. They may be able to guide you toward resources you couldn’t find alone, and you will have value to give in return. Keep an ear out for signals that say, “Come with me, and we’ll both gain.”
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LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris took years to build. Work began in 1163 and continued till 1345. Generations of architects, masons and artisans contributed to the project, and those who began it didn’t live to see it completed. Yet they labored with devotion, trusting that the holy beauty they facilitated would endure beyond their lifetimes. I hope you’re inspired by this story, Leo. It’s an apt metaphor for you. In coming months, you could and should lay stones for creations you may not see fully accomplished for months or even years. I encourage you to redefine and refine what faith means and summon it in abundance. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Ready to decommission your inner censor? Interested in dropping the mask, relaxing your guard and rewilding your gorgeous but slightly inhibited self? That’s what I recommend. Here are ways to fully enjoy the liberating grace period of the coming months: 1. Don’t deny yourself pleasures that would be healthy to indulge. 2. Shed taboos that were smart safeguards once upon a time but are no longer. 3. Re-evaluate why you treat certain fun activities as questionable. 4. Be brightly compassionate toward aspects of yourself you regard as wounded or inferior. 5. Be receptive to rebellious urges. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 1839, French artist Louis Daguerre perfected the daguerreotype, an early type of photography. The images were so detailed that you could count the threads in a subject’s clothing. The only downside: They required minutes of perfect stillness to capture. A slight twitch or squirm could blur the picture. In this spirit, let’s make the long exposure your power metaphor in coming months. The most useful truths will reveal themselves if you give them time to develop. In conversations, resist filling every silence. In projects, don’t rush. Have patient fun lingering on the threshold as the mysteries coalesce and clarify. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1907, Scorpio artist Pablo Picasso painted Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. It was a work so radically different from his earlier art and from the era’s norms that even his friends were stunned. Some called it ugly; others, incomprehensible. Yet the painting became a foundation of Cubism and reshaped modern art. I suspect you may be on the verge of your own “Les Demoiselles” phase in 2026: unveiling novel approaches and innovative changes so original that they rattle comfortable assumptions. Don’t be discouraged if the initial responses don’t
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bring you appreciation. The root-shaking breakthroughs you’re consorting with may take others a while to recognize and welcome. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You Sagittarians are often drawn to teaching. You have a predilection and a passion for sharing what you have learned from your adventures and explorations. Many of you also possess a related gift: helping people make the journey to where enlightening lessons can best occur. You have a knack for opening their minds and clearing the way so they can awaken to new ways of seeing and imagining the world. I hope you will provide both of these blessings in abundance during the coming months. Your ability to inspire and educate will be at a peak. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming months are ripe for sacred audacity: boldness with a conscience and courage guided by kindness. Imagine you’re a Benevolent Initiator, whose superpower is to kindle beginnings without causing disruption and unease. Practice brilliant, incremental nudges and tweaks rather than grand interventions. If you’re hesitating to say what needs to be said, deliver a modest version now and a stronger one later. Make gradual momentum your ally. Homework: Identify a future scene you want to generate and take three elegantly simple steps toward it. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Safety isn’t the opposite of adventure. It’s the infrastructure that lets adventure be expansive. Keep that in mind in coming months, Aquarius. You will be wise to cultivate cozy bravery. You should relax deeply and nurture your strength. Build the support system for your future boldness. Then, in the second half of 2026, you will be well-prepared to launch a phase of experimental fun and exploratory learning. For best results, surround yourself with love and care. Decide who best supports you and make it attractive for them to support you. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the Andes Mountains, farmers have for centuries made chuño, a freeze-dried potato that can last for years. They leave the potatoes outside overnight to let the freezing temperatures draw out the water. In the daytime, the strong sunlight and dry mountain air evaporate residual moisture. By this process, a perishable food becomes a long-lasting staple. I propose we make the chuño your symbol of power. The coming months will be an ideal time to build reserves. I hope you will turn what you have grown and developed into resources that will nourish you well into the future.
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Ads can be submitted by emailing: classifieds@ durangotelegraph.com Announcements Annuit Coeptis Photo show by Paul Pennington. Studio &, 1027 Main Ave., all of January.
Classes/Workshops New Year, New You 2026 Train to win the battles within. Aikido offers self-refinement through self-defense. Starter Series kicks off Jan 19. Flexible price options. Details and registration at durangoaikido.com.
3-Step Plumbing LLC Emergency plumbing – same day service (720)-357-2788. Get scheduled today! Chapman Electric Colorado licensed and insured electrician. Mike 970-403-6670
BodyWork Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213
4 Snow Tires 235/75 R15, low miles, mounted on wht. spoke wheels, fit Ford Ranger, $250. Also: receiver hitch for Ranger, $50. 970259-9709. No texts. Like New! Gym Equipment RitFit heavy duty, high-density foam jumping box (no more skinned shins!), 30”x24”x20”, 440lb capacity, $75 (reg. $180); 16# Ziva leather medicine ball, $35 (reg. $76); 14# Titan leather medicine ball, $25 (reg. $60); 25# 2” Olympic barbell (never used!), $45 (reg. $70); 20# slam ball, $20 (reg. $50.) Text: 970-7492595. Reruns Home Furnishings Make your space festive for the holidays. Glassware, dishes, linens, bar ware and more. Plus nightstands, mirrors, lamps, cool artwork and lots more! Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat.
Give the Gift of Massage! Relax, be healthy & together we change the world! Therapeutic relaxation, acupressure tune-ups, calming and immune-boosting pressure points, deep tissue … recharge, renew, reset! Sliding scale prices available for service workers, farmers, teachers, students, changemakers & activists. Gift certificates available. Come get your qi flowing! Heart to Hands Massage Therapy, Darsi Olson, LMT, 970-259-9796, downtown.
‘One Battle After Another’ Stoner Leo, sage Benicio and very gross Sean, excellent! – Lainie Maxson
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ForSale Ready to make a difference close to home? The University of Denver GSSW Four Corners Program is now accepting applications for the 2026–2028 MSW cohort! Classes meet Fridays in Durango, so you can keep working while earning your MSW. Learn more at du.edu/socialwork/fourcorners. Change your community. Change your future. Start with DU!
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Electric Repair Roof, gutter cleaning, fence, floors, walls, flood damage, mold, heating service.
in Washington, D.C.. Four students will be selected – one each from Durango, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs and Ignacio. Applicants must live and attend school in LPEA’s service territory. Apply at lpea.coop/lpeayouth-tour. Deadline to apply is Jan. 2, 2026, winners will be notified in Feb. For info., email: youthtour@lpea.coop.
CommunityService SW Community Justice Coalition Support restorative justice in Southwest Colorado. In 2025, SCJC expanded community-based trainings and launched new pathways to promote healing-centered responses to harm. Learn more at southwestjustice.org or southwestjustice.org. LPEA 2026 Washington Youth Tour LPEA invites high school juniors to apply for the 2026 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, taking place June 15–21, 2026,
Yoga of Recovery: Free classes Tuesdays 10-11:15 a.m., Smiley Bldg, #20A. Gentle movement, breathwork and meditation. Find support for addictive tendencies, sober curiosity or your recovery journey. Registration req’d at innerpeace yogatherapy.com/locations/durango/ Dog Fosters Needed Parker’s Animal Rescue needs foster families to provide temporary homes for rescued dogs. We supply crates, food, leashes, toys and support and vet visits. Apply at: parkersanimalresuce.com.
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50% OFF one month of display ads* for new advertisers Ads start at just $80/week! Boiler Service - Water Heater Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
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