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Also: Beers at WildEdge Brewing, weed reviews, and Supersuckers in Durango

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What’s inside Volume 4 Number 10 Thursday, January 3, 2018

Editor

4

Spaghetti Supersuckers

Angelica Leicht aleicht@bcimedia.com 375-4551

Fired Up

If you’re planning to attend the Supersuckers show in Durango, Eddie Spaghetti wants you to be prepared for a night of “a knockdown, drag-out, rock n’ roll party in the streets.”

Staff writer Amanda Push apush@bcimedia.com Sales Liz Demko 375-4553 Contributors Katie Burford Katie Cahill Christopher Gallagher

Eat

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Drink Mancos Brewing Co.

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WildEdge Collective 6 7

2019

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Sound

Supersuckers 8

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Travel

10 True Crime

Bryant Liggett

16 Weed

Jon E. Lynch Lindsay Mattison Patty Templeton

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Robert Alan Wendeborn

Reviews 16-18

Foria Lube

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19 Search and Rescue

Design/layout Colossal Sanders

6

Reader Services 375-4570

Take a walk on the WildEdge We ended up at WildEdge Brewing on the Saturday before New Year’s Eve, and it was immediately clear the little brewery, which sits just off the main drag in downtown Cortez, was somethin’ special.

Chief Executive Officer Douglas Bennett V.P. of Advertising David Habrat

18 Foria brings CBD to lube, and it’s killer

8 Supersuckers head to Durango and then Mars DGO is a free weekly publication distributed by Ballantine Communications Inc., and is available for one copy per person. Taking more than five copies of an edition from a distribution location is illegal and is punishable by law according to Colorado Revised Statute 18-9-314.

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If you had to reduce the Supersuckers to an acronym, it would be FU, according to Eddie Spaghetti, the band’s founder. Simple and to the point.

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[eat]

[from the editor]

FIRED UP PIZZERIA

Hey there, new DGO coverage areas

It may not be Jersey, but it’s GOAT for Durango Being Jersey born and raised, I’m somewhat of a pizza expert (self-proclaimed, of course). After all, I come from the place where they make the GOAT pizza: Jersey Shore. Those ridiculously large slices of heaven – thin crusted, cheesy, and perfectly sauced – are what keeps me homesick, even after two years of living in Durango.

Hi there, new coverage areas! We are so stoked to welcome Mancos, Farmington, Aztec, Dolores, Pagosa Springs, Ignacio, and Cortez on board.

This is our first official issue with all of our new coverage areas in tow, and we’re itchin’ to dig into the local vibe of each new place. Cortez, we’re ready to try all your beer and food. Mancos, we want to learn more about what makes your community awesome, unique, or just plain weird, and again, we want to drink your beer.

So, when this restaurant review assignment hit my desk, I knew I had to pick a pizza place, even though I tend to shy away from pizza here out of fear that my hopes will be crushed when it’s nothing like you find back home. Side note: Don’t even get me started on the bagels.

Walking down Main Ave in Durango, my friend and I decided to pop into Fired Up Pizzeria. It was lunchtime so there was a bit of a buzz, but my friend and I were greeted with a friendly, “Hello, I’ll be right there,” even before I could cynically think, “Uh does anyone work here?” That quick welcome garnered at least two stars in my book.

As we stood waiting to be seated, I took notice of the surroundings. It was pretty chill place with an industrial yet warm vibe. The bar had a sophisticated look to it, with a metal base, glass shelves, and dark trim. The exposed brick, wood, and metal tables, combined with a mix of metal chairs and booths, gave it a bit of a Brooklyn loft feel. I dug it.

I was starving by the time we sat down. I usually skip breakfast and by lunchtime, I’m ready to eat a 10-course meal, but I held my composure and just went for one appetizer: spinach and artichoke dip. If you ever go here, GET THIS. The creamy blend of mozzarella, goat cheese, and Parmesan cheese, which is mixed with organic spinach and artichoke and served with lightly grilled crostini, which is brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with Italian seasoning, was delicious. We devoured it. Really, I could have just added a side salad and that would have been plenty.

Their lunch special, available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is an 8” pick your base (tomato sauce, olive oil with seasonings, or pesto), with your choice of one topping and soda or salad, and it seemed like a solid choice. I placed my order for one 8” tomato base, which they call Margherita, with red bell pepper for my topping.

My friend ordered a large chicken Caesar salad. Clearly she had enough carbs with our appetizer, whereas I had not.

Prices are comparable to other restaurants on Main Av-

Jerry McBride/BCI Media file

enue in Durango. They aren’t cheap, but they’re not shocking. The selection is vast and you have a build-your-own option with a gluten-free or cauliflower crust for the nocarb fans. They do have artisan sandwiches, so if you are not a pizza person (we can’t be friends), you have options.

Before I go on to tell you how my pizza experience was, I must tell you that my server was on point. And I say this not just because he was a fellow East Coaster, but also because he was truly a perfectly balanced server, the kind who gives you enough time alone without being neglectful, and just enough attention without being overbearing. It’s a tricky task to conquer, but he did it.

When my pizza arrived, it was clear the fire grill had burnt it a tad around the edges, but it was crispy, and those giant round, fresh, melted mozzarella slices looked glorious topped with red bell peppers. Bearing no high hopes, I took my first bite. Hmm, not bad. I took another and realized the mozzarella and red bell pepper with spices was the perfect combination for my taste buds. The Margherita sauce that layered my crust tasted a bit like sweet roasted tomatoes.

The pizza was light, not bogged down with grease, and it was fresh. I was surprised. This pizza was good.

I ate about half of it and totally could have finished it, but I didn’t want to have that bloated, now-I’m-just-going-to-nap-at-my-desk feeling. So, I boxed it up and took it with. I actually reheated it at home and made a salad, poured a glass of wine, and enjoyed it again for dinner.

Dual purpose eating.

Overall, I’d say Fired Up Pizzeria could help to curb my homesickness, and that’s better than me giving it any amount of stars. Go, eat, enjoy.

—— Jamie Opalenik

We’ve already had some killer suggestions of what to cover in our new areas, too. Just the other day, a friend was telling us about a sushi place in Cortez that he frequents for bomb ass rolls and cheap lunch. He talked it up so much that we knew we had to get out there, so don’t be surprised if you read about that sometime soon. Farmington – you have so many cool restaurants we want to try. Pagosa Springs – there are a bunch of bars we hear we need to get to. Silverton – you have a funnel cake shop we’ve been dying to try for months. When does it open?! And Santa Fe and Albuquerque have some badass shows coming up, too. So many things to explore!

We want to do it all. We want to hear the weird legends, histories, and stories of the Southwest. We want to learn where the best places to eat and drink are. We want to seek out all the hidden gems and hole-in-the-wall things to do, places to see, and things to eat and drink – the places that aren’t necessarily in the guidebooks.

And, since you guys are the experts, let us know if there’s something in your area you think is just too good to pass up. We’re all ears.

In this issue, you’ll find stories on breweries in Cortez and Mancos, and some crazy anecdotes from the Search and Rescue heroes in La Plata County.

Next issue, who knows! The Four Corners world is ours.

So, with that, we extend a huge DGO welcome to all of our new coverage areas, and a loving hello to Durango, too. We can’t wait to meet you.

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[drink]

Take a walk on the wild side at WildEdge Brewing Collective Hey baby. Take a walk on the wild side.

And by wild side I mean the wild side of beer, which you can do at WildEdge Brewing Collective in Cortez. (Side note: If you haven’t been to Cortez lately, I highly recommend you make a trip out that way.

There are so many activities!)

I ended up at WildEdge Brewing on the Saturday before New Years Eve, and it was immediately clear the little brewery, which sits just off the main drag in downtown Cortez, was somethin’ special. I got there with a group of friends about two minutes after they opened, and there was already a table of patrons posted up at one of the small tables that flanks the bar. We snagged a table close by before ordering our beers, and it’s a good thing we did, cause that place got packed just a few minutes later.

By the time we sat down with four different sets of taster glasses, there were at least three other groups walking in.

Fifteen minutes after we’d arrived, most of the tables were full.

This brewery opened in mid-2017, but it’s always hopping, and the patrons aren’t all from Cortez, either. The table next to us was a mix of people from Mancos and out of state, and if the license plates in the parking lot were any indication, there were plenty more out of state beer drinkers where those came from.

swallow, but not once was the bright note of tropical fruit overwhelming or off-putting. I will be tracking that one down again for the warmer summer months for sure.

There’s a reason this place fills up as quickly as it does, though. The beer is freakin’ killer. The menu at the collective is extensive – there are fruit sours, semisweet milk stouts, and saisons, for starters – and each one is a “wild” take on your typical beer.

Take, for example, the Pomtastique, a tripel inspired ale fermented with Fenceline Cider, which is a cidery right in nearby Mancos. The Pomtastique was one of the beers I ordered in my taster of four, and I was pretty convinced I’d be the only one at the table who’d like it. I was hesitant to pass it around with all the cider haters at my table, but lo and behold, each one’s face lit up after a sip of this dry, semi-sweet brew. In fact, one of those cider-haters bought a crowler of it on the way out.

As we passed around each taster of beer, the excited commentary from our table compounded.

There was gushing over the Monkey Wrench, a pale ale brewed with Citra and Huell Melon hops, which

We tried just about all the beer options on WildEdge’s menu, including the Krieky, a fantastic oneyear-old barrel-aged sour beer made with tart cherry juice, lactose, and vanilla. No matter the style, every beer, with their crazy collaboration of flavors and ingredients, worked out seamlessly.

surprised us all with its smooth hint of melon and citrus, a killer twist on what could have been a Plain Jane pale ale.

Oh, and there was also a mass rave review of Island Dream, my personal favorite, a kettle soured ale re-fermented with guava and passion fruit. You could really taste the burst of guava at the end of each

You’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t try ALL of what this collective has to offer. It’s going to be hard for other breweries to live up to what these mad beer scientists are doing out in Cortez. Guava – GUAVA! – shouldn’t work as an ingredient in beer, but somehow they pull it off, and I truly can’t wait to see what these folks come up with next.

—— Angelica Leicht Details: WildEdge Brewing Collective, 111 N. Market Street, Cortez. Call 970-565-9445 or visit wildedgebrewing.com for more information.

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[drink]

MANCOS BREWING CO.:

The perfect intro for beer novices The ladies bathroom at Mancos Brewing Company is a strange one.

I know that’s an odd way to start off a story about a brewery, but it’s what kept coming to mind when I was pondering a lead for this story: the bathroom.

What, pray tell, is so weird about the bathroom, you ask? Well, let me tell you. I stopped by Mancos Brewing with a group of friends after the snow calmed down over the weekend, and we, of course, being at a brewery ordered a few beers. I opted for an espresso stout, which was one of the brewer’s reserve options – you know, the ones available for a limited time – as did two other people. But, before it came, I thought I’d check out the bathroom (i.e., wash my hands because of germs).

I didn’t expect much from the bathroom, obviously – bathrooms are bathrooms, right? – but once I’d finally tracked it down and made my way in, I found myself to be immediately puzzled. Picture this, you guys: You walk into the women’s restroom and are immediately faced with two toilets sitting side by side against the far wall, no stall door or curtain in sight. My brain was immediately filled with questions.

Did Mancos Brewing purposely set up two toilets side by side with no barrier? And if so, what was the thought process behind it? Do people really pee in tandem? I’m a chick so I know of our habits to hang out in the bathroom together (usually to shit talk whoever is at the table, just FYI), but we don’t, uh, pee together at the same time!

out about the moment I walked in.”

We spent the next few minutes conjuring up scenarios in which this two-toilets-one-stall business made sense, but we couldn’t come up with a solid answer.

Luckily, Mancos Brewing Company’s beers aren’t nearly as puzzling as their bathrooms. Upon my return to our table, my beer had arrived, and I really enjoyed how light the espresso notes were. I had just ingested a coffee stout at another brewery that was so heavy on the coffee that the porter flavor was lost in the mix, but the one from Mancos Brewing was a sensible, leveled amount of coffee to beer. I dug it.

Or, if it wasn’t on purpose, what happened?! Did they run out of money for the very last part of the brewery: the bathroom? Did the stall doors get confiscated at customs because they were made of some banned material or something? Did they contain pthalates?!

And, the only way to ensure another person doesn’t walk in on two people relieving themselves in tandem is to lock the door of the entire bathroom, meaning you’re either alone and locked in a room with two toilets, ensuring another person must wait outside when there’s a perfectly good toilet just sitting there unused, or you can

risk peeing alongside a stranger.

I do not understand how this happened. I made the other lady at the table head to the bathroom, and when she returned, her response to me was: “I knew (ha, ha, ha, ha) exactly (ha, hahahahaha, ha) what you were freaked

We all decided that while the espresso stout wasn’t mind-blowing, it was a solid choice, and one that would work well for a novice beer drinker or a fan of steadfast, old school beers. I have a feeling anyone – be it a craft beer fanatic or someone just venturing into the craft beer scene – would be

comfortable with the choices at Mancos Brewing.

We spent the next hour or so laughing about the bathroom and passing along taster glasses. We came to the same conclusion, whether it was the Desert Drifter rye ale or the Pagan porter. Mancos Brewing Company’s beers were safe, level-headed, and exactly what one would expect. They were just solid, status quo beers.

But hey. There ain’t nothin’ wrong with that. I like some wild, funky flavors in beer, but sometimes you just want something tried and true. The Old Reliable of beers. And that’s what you’ll get from the beer at Mancos Brewing Company. The bathroom is another story.

—— Angelica Leicht Details: Mancos Brewing Company is located at 484 Hwy 160 E. Frontage Rd in Mancos. Call 970-533-9761 or visit mancosbrewingcompany.com for more information.

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[2019]

The down and dirty guide to keeping your 2019 resolutions It’s that time of year again when we sit down and decide the many ways in which we’re going to change. Losing weight, keeping our commitments, quitting smoking, spending more time outdoors, changing careers; no matter what it is, a brand new year is capable of motiving us as nothing else can. Well, until mid-February comes around, of course, and we all magically forget about our intentions.

This year, make it happen instead of becoming a statistic. Here’s the quick and dirty way to do that.

Step 1: Define the goal.

This may sound as silly as standing in front of the mirror repeating “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!” But, it’s essential to your success. It’s not enough to want to lose weight; that’s too ambiguous. How will you know if you did it and when to stop? Instead, you want to lose 15 pounds, fit into a size four jeans again, exercise five times a week, or hit the trails every Saturday.

Once you define the goal, bring it into reality. Anything else is a pipe dream. I’d love to be rich one day, but it will always be a hypothetical goal unless I make it obtainable. Which brings us to our next step…

Step 2: Decide how you’ll get there.

So say I’m planning to get rich this year by winning the lottery. Don’t you judge me! It could totally happen if I come up with a plan to buy tickets every week because I’ll never win a game I don’t play. It works the same way with your resolutions: If you just hope to eat healthier, save money, get back into shape, or make new friends, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Come up with a strategy that details how you’ll get there. Switch to a whole foods plant-based diet, stop buying expensive Starbucks, walk 30 minutes a day, or join a club. Whatever it is, make a plan, write it down, and monitor your progress.

Step 3: Don’t expect miracles.

Now that you know what you want to do and how you’re planning to do it, make sure it’s all realistic. Can you really commit to that restricted calorie

menu you found online PLUS pick up a high-intensity workout plan? I’m gonna say no, and not because I don’t believe in you. Unless you have more willpower than most, you’ll probably only stick to a major change for a few days. Depriving yourself leads to cheat days and binge eating, which effectively nullifies all those days of sacrifice.

Try small, gradual changes that can actually stick instead. If you want to start an intense workout routine, plan to eat regularly for the first few weeks.

Or, start the diet first and gradually build in working out with gentle yoga or low-intensity walking. Realistic goals are not only easier to reach, but they’ll help you keep going. After all, what’s the point if you can never celebrate your achievements?

Step 4: Share, share, share.

Tell people about what you’re doing and share your progress along the way. I know we all feel that twinge of annoyance or jealousy when people over-share on social media, but don’t let those feelings stop you. At a certain point, no one wants to hear you talk about how much you love jujitsu anymore, but sharing helps you stick with your plans and follow through.

Step 5: Give yourself a break.

You’re going to fall, but Batman’s dad told us that’s just an excuse to learn how to pick ourselves up again.

So, when you don’t achieve your totally realistic goal, that’s okay. Take a look back on your journey and try to figure out why it didn’t work. Did you actually exercise three times a week like you said you would? Is it possible you fudged your calorie counts and ate more than you intended? Maybe you sneaked a few cigarettes while drinking or went drunk shopping on Amazon and spent your budget money?

No matter what happened – a temporary setback or a total failure – be kind to yourself. The only way to make change happen is with your own cooperation, so get back up there and smash your goals.

—— Lindsay Mattison

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[sound]

SUPERSUCKERS ARE HEADED TO DURANGO –

AND THEN MARS GO!

By Amanda Push DGO STAFF WRITER

If you had to reduce the Supersuckers to an acronym, it would be FU, according to Eddie Spaghetti, the band’s founder. Simple and to the point.

Much more to the point, Spaghetti and the rest of the rock/punk/country band – with ‘Metal’ Marty Chandler on guitar and vocals and ‘Captain’ Chris Von Streicher on drums – will perform Jan. 11 at the Animas City Theatre as part of their 30th Anniversary Tour. The Hangmen, a rock ‘n’ roll band from Los Angeles, will play as their opener for the evening.

If you’re planning to attend the show, Spaghetti warns you to be prepared for a night of “a knockdown, drag-out, rock n’ roll party in the streets.”

What: Supersuckers 30th Anniversary Tour with opener The Hangmen Where: Animas City Theatre Date: January 11 Doors open: 8 p.m.

Ticket prices:$18-20 Their Durango performance comes just a few months after the Seattle-based band’s latest album release, “Suck It,” featuring nine original songs and a cover of ZZ Top’s “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers.” Their irreverent melodies, along with Spaghetti’s raspy and expertly crafted lyrics, call to mind other classic rockers, like Rolling Stones and Motörhead.

It’s a mix of “all the usual influenc-

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»» From left, “Captain” Chris Von Streicher, “Metal” Marty Chandler, and Eddie Spaghetti of

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to the core. That’s how we do it,” said Spaghetti, who is on vocals and bass.

He ain’t wrong. “Suck It” boasts song titles like “(I’m Gonna Choke Myself and Masturbate) ‘Til I Die,” “What’s Up (With This Motherfucking Thing?),” and “Breaking My Balls.”

There’s a lot of sin to work with there.

As with their previous albums, the Supersuckers maintain their usual wry senses of humor on “Suck It” with lines like, “Everything happens for a reason. Such a stupid thing to say,” and, “Nobody gives a shit, at least not like they should, about knowing the difference between what sucks and what’s good.” They wouldn’t be the Supersuckers without it, and frankly, Spaghetti isn’t interested in switching up the band’s usual tongue-in-cheek tactics in favor of critical acclaim.

“Who doesn’t like to laugh? But being funny takes you out of consideration for any sort of ‘serious’ critical praise,” Spaghetti said. “Let’s face it, the comedy is never gonna win the Academy Award, but it’s the movie you’re gonna watch over and over again. I’d rather be that.”

As for what’s next for the Supersuckers after their 30th Anniversary Tour?

“We’re heading to Mars,” said Spaghetti. “We hear there’s a dirty shithole that needs rocking out there. It’s one place we’ve never been.”

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[travel]

RUB YOURSELF WITH EL SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO’S HOLY DIRT Quirky & cool spots in the Four Corners and beyond There’s a place in New Mexico that’s taking that saying, “God made dirt, and dirt don’t hurt” to another level. A heavenly level.

What do we mean by that? Well, we mean El Santuario de Chimayo, of course. Known to locals as “Chimayo,” this adobe church is a well-known Catholic pilgrimage site – in fact, it’s been called “the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States” – and its dirt is what many of the visitors are after.

Confused? Stay with us. We’ll explain. This sanctuary, located in Chamayo, New Mexico, about 90 miles outside of Albuquerque, receives about 300,000 visitors each year, many of whom are after the church’s “holy dirt.” That’s right, the dirt from a small room in the church, called el pocito, is believed to contain the power to heal people’s spirits, bodies, and minds.

This spot has long been considered a sacred place for healing, starting with the Pueblo Indians, who believed healing spirits lived in the waters of the hot springs. That Native American belief became entangled with Catholic folklore around the year 1810, when a friar said he saw a light springing from one of the hills near the Santa Cruz River in the same area the Pueblo Indians considered sacred. He, like any good friar, followed the light, and found

near it a crucifix with a dark-skinned Jesus on it.

The story goes that after the crucifix was found, local villagers paid their homage to the mysterious crucifix, and then – of course – removed it from its original resting place and stuck it in a church in Santa Cruz instead. But, the ol’ crucifix was having none of it, and supposedly returned to its original location that very night. Villagers tried to move the cross to the church a couple more times, but each time, the crucifix would find its way back to that place the friar found it.

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So, they did what any smart crucifix-chasers would do, and they built a chapel to house the crucifix in Chimayo instead. And, when the sacred Pueblo hot springs dried up, people didn’t stop believing in the power of the holy.

They just believed the dirt in the area contained healing properties instead.

In fact, people are such strong believers in the holy dirt that there’s a room adjacent to el pocito called the Prayer Room, where you can find ex-votos, photos, crutches, and testimonials from the people who say they were healed

by Chimayo’s magic dirt. True story.

These days, people from all over make the journey to Chimayo, oftentimes on foot from Santa Fe or Albuquerque during Holy Week to show their devotion. While at the adobe church, they’ll scoop up little piles of the holy dirt to take with them on their religious – and life’s – journeys. People used to eat the dirt, but now they either keep it or rub it on their bodies instead. Probably a wise move.

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COMING SOON: Durango Diaries Season 3 The Durango Herald’s twice-a-month storytelling series kicks off Feb. 6.

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[true crime]

The Mancos Murderinos’ mission:

DRINKING AND STORIES OF TRUE CRIME It’s after hours at Absolute Bakery & Cafe in Mancos, but the business is far from empty. A group of women have gathered here on a Sunday evening to sip wine and cider while holding pieces of paper containing hand-scribbled notes. They’ve come here to laugh. They’ve come to tell stories. And they’ve come to chat about murder.

These are the Mancos Murderinos, though their members are certainly not restricted to just Mancos.

These papers they’re holding? They’re the tales of true crime each member has brought with them, stories they plan to relay to the rest of the group.

“We just kinda wing right into it most of the time,” Melissa Blaine said to the newcomers, as the group settles into their seats.

This group, and thousands of other groups like it across the world, sprouted up as a result of the true crime/comedy podcast My Favorite Murder, hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. In each weekly episode, the two women from Los Angeles select a true crime story that they share with each other. Inevitably, the conversation heads down rabbit holes ranging from the backlog of rape kits to how the hosts themselves encountered potentially dangerous, similar situations to those experienced by the subjects of their stories.

The show debuted at #25 on the iTunes podcast charts and peaked at #3 on April 27, 2018.

The show has resonated with thousands of fans – mostly women – across the globe. For many, the podcast has normalized their interest in true crime, along with struggles with mental health and addiction, which both hosts speak openly about in reference to their own lives.

“One of my favorite things about the podcast is the camaraderie that seems to blossom from it. It’s like all us murderinos, near or far, have this one common denominator and unspoken bond,” said Hanna Marshall, a member of the Mancos group. “I think the honesty and openness that Georgia and Karen exhibit in each and every episode gives confidence to us listeners that we can all be ourselves and not ever have to apologize for that.”

tragic ends.

Now, you may be asking, “Isn’t that a little macabre to have a club dedicated to murder, let alone an entire podcast?” Or, “Isn’t it disrespectful to victims to mix murder and comedy together?”

Still, immersing ones self into true crime isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Some of the details of horrible crimes can be brutal. During the Mancos meet up, the shared stories are met with cringes, shaking heads, and murmurs of incredulity. At the center of the group are several candles meant to provide a little light to the dark subject matter. The members dedicate the lit candles to victims of their stories – a small offering of condolences for their sufferings.

“It’s not ‘favorite,’ like, I love this murder,” Hardstark said in an interview with Rolling Stone. “It’s the one I really want to talk to you about, because it’s so insane.”

Hardstark and Kilgariff dissect the misogyny and racism that play a role in many of the stories they tell, such as the murder of sex workers, whose deaths were – and are – often given less attention by police and the media. The hosts are careful to paint victims and survivors empathetically, while trying not to hold the perpetrators of the crimes on any kind of pedestal. They tow the tricky line of using true crime as a source of entertainment. But for many fans of the show and true crime followers, the fascination runs much deeper than entertainment – to write it off as an interest akin to keeping up with Real Housewives is missing the bigger picture.

Many women feel that to know more about the inner workings of a murderer’s brain and how their crimes took place is to arm themselves with knowledge in the hopes that they might not befall the same

“I’ve had anxiety my whole life and I think in a lot of ways it causes you to over-analyze and over-prepare,” Hardstark said in the interview. “Yes, the world is super fucked up. I don’t have the capacity to lie to myself and say it’s not. ... So [getting into true crime] is kind of like, here are the basic things you can do, to arm yourself with information. You’re doing your due diligence. And that kind of calms my anxiety – as does pills.”

“I do think that true crime is a love or hate thing.

You gotta have the stomach for it,” Marshall said.

“For me, I don’t take pleasure in hearing all the awful things that psychopaths and serial killers do, but I am so fascinated by the reasoning behind why they do what they do. How different everyone’s brains are wired, but also, how similar some are, too.”

Eventually, the conversation at Absolute Bakery wraps up. In true murderino form, as members begin to leave, the women call out the show’s infamous sign-off, almost as a protective chant over one another.

“Stay sexy!” the members call out to one another.

“And don’t get murdered!”

—— Amanda Push

10 | Thursday, January 3, 2019 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

T

he first rescue Search and Rescue veteran Ron Corkish ever went on was when a young man whose overeagerness to repel, despite his lack of experience, got him stuck on the side of a cliff.

The college-aged man had visited a climbing area near Turtle Lake to practice repelling, since he was new to the sport.

“All’s good, everything’s going great, except his rope is twenty-one-feet short of the bottom, and because it was just a repel and because he’s new, he has no way to ascend,” said Corkish, who now has 28 seasons of search and rescue under his belt. “So he’s hanging in his harness for almost six hours. Dead weight on his harness.”

Eventually, a Good Samaritan noticed him swinging in his harness, unable to get down, and called for help.

“Fortunately, he had a knot in the end of his rope, which sometimes that’s a major failure. You get the wrong rope, it’s shorter than you think, and you repel right off of it and you fall to serious injury or death,” Corkish said.

Corkish and his team made their way up to rescue the man who, at that point, was completely numb from the waist down from hanging there for so long.

“We brought him down and he was thankful and crying, you know, by then. … And I remember as we were putting him in the gurney, you know, young college kid, he says, “Am I going to be able to have kids?” That was his question. We laughed and that kind of brought the edge off of everything but that’s what was on his mind as he had no feeling from the waist down.”

BACKCOUNTRY

CRISES

12 | Thursday, January 3, 2019 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Though in retrospect the story might be amusing from the tomfoolery of it all and horrifying from the idea of hanging in a harness for six hours,calls like these take just as much precedence as any other emergency. Corkish has built an entire response philosophy around the idea that the team takes on every mission as though that’s their loved one on the other end of the line.

» Repelling,

climbing, and outdoor sports accidents keep Search and Rescue on their toes

“We’re out there in the middle of the night (for) a silly thing. But it doesn’t matter. … When the phone rings, the who’s, the what’s they’ve done, the ‘Wow, they really did that?’ – every call is my mom on the end of the phone saying, ‘Son, will you come help me?’ And everybody on the team would go and help their mom, regardless of whether it’s raining or snowing or darkness of night. You’re going to go take care of your mom,” Corkish said.

Today, Corkish is the president of La Plata County Search and Rescue, and his team of volunteers let us tag along in the snow during a ski lift evacuation training exercise at Purgatory Resort, where we swapped stories.

A day in the life in search and rescue As their name suggests, La Plata County Search and Rescue covers La Plata County, but they will also sometimes assist in San Juan County, too. The group, which works alongside the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, is Continued on Page 14

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, January 3, 2019 | 13

T

he first rescue Search and Rescue veteran Ron Corkish ever went on was when a young man whose overeagerness to repel, despite his lack of experience, got him stuck on the side of a cliff.

The college-aged man had visited a climbing area near Turtle Lake to practice repelling, since he was new to the sport.

“All’s good, everything’s going great, except his rope is twenty-one-feet short of the bottom, and because it was just a repel and because he’s new, he has no way to ascend,” said Corkish, who now has 28 seasons of search and rescue under his belt. “So he’s hanging in his harness for almost six hours. Dead weight on his harness.”

Eventually, a Good Samaritan noticed him swinging in his harness, unable to get down, and called for help.

“Fortunately, he had a knot in the end of his rope, which sometimes that’s a major failure. You get the wrong rope, it’s shorter than you think, and you repel right off of it and you fall to serious injury or death,” Corkish said.

Corkish and his team made their way up to rescue the man who, at that point, was completely numb from the waist down from hanging there for so long.

“We brought him down and he was thankful and crying, you know, by then. … And I remember as we were putting him in the gurney, you know, young college kid, he says, “Am I going to be able to have kids?” That was his question. We laughed and that kind of brought the edge off of everything but that’s what was on his mind as he had no feeling from the waist down.”

BACKCOUNTRY

CRISES

12 | Thursday, January 3, 2019 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Though in retrospect the story might be amusing from the tomfoolery of it all and horrifying from the idea of hanging in a harness for six hours,calls like these take just as much precedence as any other emergency. Corkish has built an entire response philosophy around the idea that the team takes on every mission as though that’s their loved one on the other end of the line.

» Repelling,

climbing, and outdoor sports accidents keep Search and Rescue on their toes

“We’re out there in the middle of the night (for) a silly thing. But it doesn’t matter. … When the phone rings, the who’s, the what’s they’ve done, the ‘Wow, they really did that?’ – every call is my mom on the end of the phone saying, ‘Son, will you come help me?’ And everybody on the team would go and help their mom, regardless of whether it’s raining or snowing or darkness of night. You’re going to go take care of your mom,” Corkish said.

Today, Corkish is the president of La Plata County Search and Rescue, and his team of volunteers let us tag along in the snow during a ski lift evacuation training exercise at Purgatory Resort, where we swapped stories.

A day in the life in search and rescue As their name suggests, La Plata County Search and Rescue covers La Plata County, but they will also sometimes assist in San Juan County, too. The group, which works alongside the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, is Continued on Page 14

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[search and rescue]

Jonathan Wilson

From Page 13

called to assist in everything from people lost in the wilderness to wildfires to avalanche rescues, and their training exercises take them anywhere from X Rock to Ouray’s Box Canyon.

Like firefighters and policemen, LPCSAR often has the gritty front row seat to the misfortune that can take place when one is exploring the outdoors, particularly in areas that are difficult to get in and out of.

The team assisted in rescuing a Durango man in May 2018 after he fell while climbing Animas City Mountain. Phillip Clark, 31, and a friend were hiking and had stopped to take photos. The ledge Clark was holding onto gave way and he tumbled 20 to 25 feet.

LPCSAR got the call for the injured hiker, but it took time for the team to reach Clark, and rescuers ended up having to hike up to him and carry rope gear up with them as well. Clark was extracted and then flown to Mercy Regional Medical Center, where he died the next day from his injuries.

In July 2016, LPCSAR was paged to assist San Juan County in a rescue that turned into a body recovery at Cascade Creek. Two people were rescued but another young woman died while jumping waterfalls.

Those days are rough, Corkish said.

Though tragedy seeps its way into many of the team’s missions, there are plenty of happy endings as well.

Corkish recalled an instance where an 11-year-old girl got separated from her camping group when she stepped away to use the bathroom and missed the trail on the way back.

“She was gone all night. … She was a special girl

because she had this crazy clown wig on and her jammies,” Corkish said. “But at night, it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. It was the last trip of the night.

It was ‘I’m just going to go over here.’ And I think so many people just do that. They’re just going to go over here. They’re just going out for the three-hour tour and then it turns into an ordeal.”

After the girl was found, watching the 11-year-old reunite with her parents was almost like watching a scene out of a movie.

“Gosh, it doesn’t get any better than that,” Corkish said. “And gosh, the stories just go on and on because we get called into so many different things. Kids always have a special place.”

In another instance, two 12-year-old girls were out playing in a field, Corkish said, but didn’t return back to their families. Their bicycles were found alongside a road, prompting questions about where the two had gone and whether someone had picked them up.

Were they now in a criminal investigation?

To the relief of their families and searchers, the girls had just gotten carried away and lost track of time, starting down at Turtle Lake and ending up in the Overlook area. It’s easy to lose yourself when you’re out in the wilderness, Corkish explained.

Adults do the same thing.

Man hours build camaraderie In 2018, the team put in more than 8,800 man hours, many of which came from the 416 Fire, which covered 54,129 acres and lead to a shutdown of the San Juan National Forest. The group participated in 123 training exercises totaling 533 hours, and they were called to 62 incidents throughout the year,

14 | Thursday, January 3, 2019 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Jonathan Wilson

which totaled 351 hours. It’s a position that demands a lot from its volunteers, but creates a unique kinship among the members.

The camaraderie between the volunteers is instantaneously notable. As they stood on the slopes of Purgatory Resort, the easy back and forth banter of the conversation made the chilly afternoon fly by. But while the friendly atmosphere and sense of teamwork seem like a given, especially considering the group relies heavily on one another in intense situations, multiple team members said they were lucky to be in a group that gets along so well. Many times, that’s not the case.

“And that’s a big thing. Not every county has that,” Corkish said. “I’m on the Colorado Search and Rescue Board so we have oversight for 54 counties, and they continue to be amazed at how we get along and play in the sandbox with everyone that comes onto the scene. Because it’s not turf. It’s, ‘How do we solve this issue? How can we get it done safely and get everyone out safely, quickly, and efficiently?’ And I think we play in that sandbox really well.”

»» La Plata County Search and Rescue team member Jonathan Wilson shoots a pop gun during the team’s ski lift evacuation training exercise at Purgatory Resort.

Amanda Push/DGO Mag

“We’re really lucky because in a lot of places, the search and rescue team and the fire department team don’t play well together, and here we train all the time,” said Jonathan Wilson, a member of the LPCSAR team and an EMT firefighter from Durango. “We do these joint trainings often. At least once a month.”

The team relies on one another when going into high-stakes situations. It requires honesty with the team and themselves.

When the body of Dawson W. Radau, 27, was found near the Durango Dog Park, LPCSAR assisted in moving his body. Radau, who died by suicide, had hung himself. When the call went out, dispatchers warned that anyone involved needed to be mentally prepared for the scene, said Cory Roman, a member of LPCSAR. “It’s a volunteer (position),” Roman said. “You have the ability to say, ‘I can’t handle. I can’t go to that.’”

In the midst of so much intensity – some missions ending in tragedy, others ending with sighs of relief – one begins to wonder how rescuers compartmentalize the stress of, at times, literally holding someone else’ life in their hands. However, if you’re not at least a little nervous going into a situation, you’re not taking into account all the different scenarios that could take place, Roman said.

“Training, training, training,” Roman said. “They have to know that when I show up, I’m going to be able to perform and do what needs to be done. … So GAR is a risk management protocol.

So basically every time the situation changes or before we go into the field onto mission we have to make sure everyone is comfortable with what we’re doing. Is everyone on the same page? Are we ready to go? Does anyone have any problems? And that comes in with the rapport … where everyone is buddy-buddy together. We give each other a hard time, but when it comes down to it and someone is like, ‘This doesn’t sound good,’ everyone is going to listen because we have that rapport built.”

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, January 3, 2019 | 15

[weed]

I hid in the garage with a bowl of Luther’s OG and it was awesome A couple days after Christmas, I hid in the garage and smoked entirely too much weed. I’d been stuck inside all day thanks to being inundated for hours by the snow, which had not ceased its downpour since the night before. My driveway was impassible – there was no point in snowblowing – and I couldn’t even leave for the office.

Needless to say, I was going effing nuts.

My head hurt, I was cursing the snow, and there was no way I was going to stand outside in a foot of snow and smoke a bowl. So, I went in the garage and angrily sucked one down instead.

It was a good call. I had picked up some Luther’s OG from Prohibition, a strain from their new premium line. It’s an indica dominant hybrid from the OG Kush fam, and as I quickly found out, it is very, very strong.

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It was only about 7 p.m. when I made my way out to the freezing ass cold garage, but after being stuck inside and pissed about the snow, it felt like midnight. I lit up a bowl alone and proceeded to smoke the entire thing, right down to the very last bit of flower. The taste was perfect – pine-heavy, flowery, and earthy, and the smoke was so light that I didn’t choke at all. Instant headache relief, too.

And, by the time I walked back inside my house, I was hella stoned. Like, the type of stoned where you only look out of the corners of your eyes and you allow them to dart from side to side instead of making eye contact. The family I had in town for the holidays IMMEDIATELY knew I was high as a kite and proceeded to laugh hysterically at me as I dug through the pantry for the stuff to make s’mores. (Side note: S’mores are the very best.)

I didn’t actually make it to the fireplace to make s’mores, though, because as soon as I found the chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers, my arms became floppy and stopped working correctly. Told you I was high. I was starving, but rather than drag my limp ass to rectify the situation, I threw myself on the couch in a human puddle instead.

Luckily, I have the powers of being very convincing, so I got someone else to make me four s’mores, which I shoveled down my throat post-haste. I

Details Where to find Luther’s OG: Prohibition Herb, 1185 Camino del Rio, 970-385-8622, prohibitionherb.com Price: $50 an eighth; available only on rec Caveats: Prohibition didn’t bribe us for a good review. Our opinions are all our own. then washed them down with a plate of homemade enchiladas and rice because again, I was goddang starving. Be warned: this weed will lead to a serious case of the munchies.

The body high continued to weigh my body down for what felt like hours, but in reality was just minutes. I spent the next half hour or so trying to read a story on my phone, but I inexplicably kept trying to scroll sideways on the story instead of up and down, which clearly did not work. At that point, the body high was epic and I could feel the glasses sitting on my face, which were starting to drive me insane on my nose. I ripped them off, spent the next half hour trying to do math problems in my head, and then passed out on the corner of the couch while everyone made (what I was later told) a shit ton of noise around me. I didn’t even stir as it happened.

This is some good weed, you guys.

I don’t know HOW it knocked me out like it did, or how it made my ears impenetrable to noise, but it did. There were like 15 people in my house but somehow this Luther’s OG worked holiday magic, and I dug it. Be aware, though, that if you’re going to smoke some – and I highly recommend you do – people will know you’re high. There ain’t no hiding it with this one.

—— DGO Pufnstuf

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[weed]

Guptilla, a strain for the munchies, laughter, and acts of sheer idiocy If you’re looking to toke on something that simultaneously makes you the biggest dumbass in the room, causes you to spill and knock over everything, makes you unable to get up off your couch, and leaves you shoveling food in your mouth like it’s your job, well, you might want to find yourself some Guptilla.

Let me explain.

Guptilla is an indica from Pagosa Therapeutics, aka the dispensary that always knocks me onto the couch with their potent-ass weed. It’s a punch-packing strain combo of Gorilla Glue #4 and “Dr. of Dankness” Gupta Kush that gives you that full-body high you look for when you’re smoking an indica. Guptilla is gnarly pungent – it’s what I would describe as a mix of gasoline and coffee with a garnish of earthy, floral tones. You can imagine how bad it stunk up the room. This particular batch contains about 25.5 percent THC, so yeah – hello, couch lock.

DGO Pufnstuf, our other pot writer, and I sneaked away to the garage to smoke. I was armed with the Pagosa Therapeutics’ strain, while Pufnstuf was looking to smoke one they had picked up from Chronic Therapy in Cortez. I had just returned from an out-of-state trip and was exhausted, my brain was already in a jumble, and I was tripping over my words as I chatted with my friend while loading the dry herb vape. We were excited to compare notes on our experiences.

Cut to five minutes later and we had already dissolved into fits of laughter at mostly nothing. We stumbled back inside, still cracking up at how funny we thought we were. Another friend who’d (mistakenly) declined to smoke with us rolled his eyes as we made our way to the kitchen, the munchies already taking full effect.

“God, you’re already high.”

Why yes, yes we were.

It was time for food, and lots of it.

We unapologetically loaded up our plates with the weirdest range of food that, frankly, I don’t disliked you enough to disgust you with. BUT I will say we decided that cooking s’mores over an open fire while stoned to high

Details Where to find Guptilla bud: Pagosa Therapeutics, 235 Bastille Drive, Pagosa Springs. Find them at 970-731-4420 or pagosatherapeutics.com Price: It’s on Pagosa Therapeutics’ premium shelf, so it’s $25 a gram heaven was a good idea. And it was. A few scorched marshmallows later and we were back on the couch, perfectly content, but not before making a complete and total mess of the kitchen and dropping our cups, plates, and utensils left and right. Indicas have a way of making you feel like all is right with the world. Responsibilities and stress be damned.

Our attempts at making conversation went nowhere fast. I couldn’t follow anything anyone was saying and I have a feeling no one else could follow what I was saying. (I’m told I have a tendency to mutter to myself when I’m stoned.)

It also made it difficult to follow the documentary we were watching. In my notes, I wrote a phrase I’d apparently picked up on during the doc: “Clean my weed.” No idea what that means. Not that it mattered much anyway, because it wasn’t long before I slipped into oblivious, sweet sleep – so sweet, apparently, that when my friend nudged me to wake up, I didn’t budge. Drool and all.

—— Sir Blaze Ridcully

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[weed]

A review of Awaken, the new CBD lube from Foria

Kandy Kush does the OG Kush family proud Earlier this week, I smoked some Kandy Kush from Chronic Therapy in Cortez and I felt like the rumbling of the air purifier in the garage was vibrating through my legs. I am dead serious. Here’s what happened.

So, thanks to the snow and all that biz, I had to split the strain reviews with our other pot writer, Sir Blaze Ridcully, and we both waited until last minute to smoke them. In our defense, we couldn’t make it out to either Pagosa or Cortez in a timely manner because, again, SO MUCH snow, so we procrastinated due to the weather and not laziness this time. Yes, there is a first time for everything.

If there was ever any doubt in your mind about cannabis and sex mixing, please delete that uncertainty from your brain. Thanks in part to Foria, a cannabis company out of California, the two most certainly go hand in hand.

Foria is best known for Pleasure, their THC-based arousal lube for women, but the company actually offers a ton of sexual health products, from suppositories for menstrual cramps to wellness tonics, like the one we reviewed a few weeks ago. Anyway, their sex products have been making headlines for a while now, and we were curious as to whether all the rave lube reviews were true, so we decided to give Awaken, their CBD lube, a ride around the ol’ proverbial block.

According to its website, Awaken is the first intimate massage oil for women made with broad-spectrum CBD, kava kava extract, and botanical and aromatic oils. It’s a lube meant to enhance sensations and pleasure while decreasing the tension, discomfort, and dryness women sometimes experience during sex.

Awaken is an amalgam of eight plant-based aphrodisiacs, and, well, that’s it. It’s a mix of broad-spectrum CBD from hemp that’s organically-grown in the USA, along with liquid coconut oil, organic whole-plant extracts, organic cardamom, peppermint, vanilla, and cacao oils.

There are 30-50 “servings” per bottle – you spray them on your junk liberally, hence the “servings” tag – and the product is THC-free, so unlike the Pleasure lube, it’s great for those of you looking to avoid THC in yo’ mouth or junk while bumpin’ uglies.

(Although...you know. Why would you want to do that? Different strokes, we guess.)

On top of all that, Awaken is edible, vegan, and gluten-free. Foria recommends a serving size of four-plus sprays that you apply directly to your lady parts...or your lady’s lady parts.

The one downside? The coconut oil

means that Awaken is not safe to use with latex condoms.

We always get to review the good stuff, though, so instead of hogging this product for ourselves, we decided to be Good Samaritans and share Awaken with a friend. Here’s her take on it.

On the smell: “It definitely has an essential-oil smell about it, which is super refreshing. I looked at the ingredients too, just to make sure it’s not like bad stuff for the secret places of wonderland. I can definitely smell the mint and cacao and cacao after-smell.”

On the texture: “It’s not gross and sticky with that jelly feel of regular lube. It doesn’t have a nasty after-feel either. It’s not messy at all. It drys pretty quick and it has a nice spritzer. Leaves a smell but very subtle, but drys quick. Doesn’t goop all over the place.”

On the use: “I would say it was relaxing, and knowing it’s not a shitty product makes it more calming. It has a spritzer like any other spray bottle. It was definitely runnier but not messy. It drys quick but in a hydrating way. I will say I washed my hands and can still smell the mint they have in it, but its super subtle. It says the suggested serving is four-plus sprays – I did one and it felt like that was plenty.”

—— Sir Blaze Ridcully

Anywho, we were hanging out and decided to just smoke our individual strains in the garage. I went first. I took a few puffs of Kandy Kush – which I’ve been calling Kandy Krush since picking it up – an indica hybrid created by crossing Trainwreck and OG Kush, and I was impressed by how sweet this strain tasted. I have been faithfully smoking the strains out of the dry herb vape these days because I feel like you get so much more of the terpene flavor profile that way, and in doing so, it made this strain taste so lemony and sweet.

And I just kept smoking and chatting, til before I knew it, the dry herb vape turned off, having effectively heated every last bit of the bowl. I handed the vape to Ridcully and that’s when I felt it. Whatever freaking air purifier or heater or whatever is plugged into the garage started pulsating through my legs and up my arms in tiny microbursts.

I. Was. High.

That high continued well after we emerged from the garage, too.

Ridcully was also super high, having drawn the super potent stick with Pagosa Therapeutics’ strain. (You can read Ridcully’s review in this issue, too.) We walked upstairs and I tried to argue that the container I was holding was not the one I sampled.

Finally, in a burst of expletives, they said: “READ THE CONTAINER! YOU SMOKED THAT ONE!” and I looked down in the most Cheech and Chong manner and said, “Oh yeah. I did.”

Then I burst into stoner laughter.

Details Where to find Kandy Kush: Chronic Therapy, 1020 S. Broadway, Cortez, chronictherapy.co.

That is how high I was.

I found out pretty quickly that Kandy Kush is one of those strains that makes you feel super smart about mundane deductions one draws while stoned, which I LOVED. I spent the next hour thinking deep thoughts with Jack Handy about pretty much everything, and then subsequently busting out revelations that were apparently common knowledge to everyone else in the room.

We later flipped on “Murder Mountain,” the Netflix documentary on the clandestine marijuana grows in Humboldt County, California, and spent the rest of the time I was awake in awe of the scenic car-on-Northern-California-roads scenes. Every time the camera would pan out to a shot from a drone of a lone car climbing the picturesque mountainside, I felt like I was watching a fake toy car climb a beautiful model mountain. I was mesmerized.

I didn’t end up passing out hard like I normally do with straight indicas, which I really liked. I stayed alert and high the whole time.

So, if you’re looking for a strain that will a.) get you super stoned, b.) make you feel like you’re watching fake scenery, and c.) leave you the world’s smartest stoner, Kandy Kush might be your jam. Just don’t call it Kandy Krush in a dispensary or everyone will side eye you. Trust. I now know from experience.

—— DGO Pufnstuf

18 | Thursday, January 3, 2019 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[search and rescue]

SAR SUPERHEROES

La Plata County Search and Rescue volunteers train to do what the rest of us can’t: save lives in the rain, sleet, and snow.

They’re kinda, sorta badasses, you guys.

Badasses indeed.

Jonathan Wilson (main photo); Amanda Push/DGO Mag

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Horoscope ARIES (March 21 to April 19) An unexpected opportunity to travel might fall in your lap this week. Or perhaps you will decide suddenly to make plans to travel in the future. Unexpected news in the media might catch you off guard.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Double-check all details related to banking, shared property, taxes, debt and insurance issues because something unexpected might impact these areas. Be in on what’s happening!

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A friend or partner might throw you a curveball this week. Get ready for anything. Possibly this person wants more freedom in the relationship. Who knows?

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

Bizarro

Your work routine will be interrupt-

ed this week because of computer crashes, power outages, fire drills, staff shortages – something. Give yourself extra time to have wiggle room to cope with the unexpected.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) Parents take note: This is an accident-prone week for your kids.

Therefore, be vigilant at all times. Stay sharp.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Small appliances might break down this week, or minor breakages could occur at home. Surprising news within the family might occur.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Pay attention to everything you say and do because this is an accident-prone week for your sign. However, you also can think outside the box this week, which is why you have these genius-like ideas!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Keep an eye on your money and wealth this week. You might find money; you might lose money. Something you own might be stolen, lost or damaged. Stay alert.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) You’re full of clever, original ideas this week, which is why you want to enlighten others about what you think.

Make sure you can find someone you enjoy talking to so you can share your thoughts.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) Some hidden surprises might take place this week. Meanwhile, you are a bit restless. No worries – this is shortlived. This is a temporary feeling that will be gone in 24 hours.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18)

A friend might surprise you this week by doing or saying something unusual. Alternatively, you might meet a real character. Could be anything.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Expect a few surprises when talking to bosses and parents this week. They might throw you a zinger. Don’t overreact. Don’t quit your day job.

BORN THIS WEEK You are restless and impulsive, but you are also dogged, hardworking and you never quit. This is the perfect year to explore meditation, yoga or any discipline that will help you get a better understanding of who you are. This is also a year of teaching and learning. What you learn this year will be crucial for your success next year. © 2018 King Features Syndicate Inc.

Search and Rescue stuff Doggy deductions Search and rescue dogs can find people through smell. Though the exact process isn’t known, it may include skin rafts, evaporated perspiration, respiratory gases, or decomposition gases.

Depending on the conditions of the area, an especially well-trained SAR dog can smell a target from a distance of up to a quarter mile or more away.

First SAR mission One of the earliest documented SAR efforts took place after the 1656 wreck of the Vergulde Draeck, a Dutch merchant ship, off the west coast of Australia. Three SAR mission trips were dispatched to the ship to rescue survivors. Unfortunately, the missions were unsuccessful, but it was the start of an idea that would eventually evolve to save thousands of other lives.

Different teams for different means There are a whole bunch of different types of search and rescue efforts.

There’s ground search, mountain rescue, cave rescue, urban, combat, and maritime search and rescue. Each involves different types of training and can vary based on the geographic location of the team.

22 | Thursday, January 3, 2019 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[movies]

[happening]

Holidays get old with current movie releases

Jan. 3

As is often the case with December movies, the last weekend of the year is usually lacking in new releases.

Usually movies given limited runs in theaters earlier in the month (particularly Oscar contenders) finally get wider, more mainstream releases. Rather than waste anyone’s time on giving critiques of “Holmes & Watson” or “Vice” – both of which are receiving polarizing, negative feedback – I think it would be interesting to examine an interesting, subtle theme instead.

Hollywood studios have a reputation for catering to young viewers, primarily families, teens and 20-somethings. This trend is especially prominent with big studio blockbusters, including those excessive reboots and remakes, like “The Grinch,” “Into the Spider-verse,” and “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” all of which are currently in theaters. But recently, I’ve also noticed quite a lot of new releases are actually targeting slightly older audiences. “Mary Poppins Returns” is coming to theaters 54 years after its predecessor, and while appropriate and aimed at families, the viewers likely to have Mary Poppins on their radar are the adults who grew up in the era of the 1964 Disney film and P.L. Travers’ book series. (Though this critic, who grew up at the end of the 20th century, was a little underwhelmed with the new retro musical.)

Little Women: The Musical, 7 p.m., $20-$40, Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 970507-0408.

Acoustic Music Jam, 7 p.m., Free, Pine River Public Library, 395 Bayfield Center Drive, 970-884-2222.

Jan. 4-6 Little Women: The Musical, 7 p.m., $20-$40, Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 970507-0408.

Jan. 6 Free Books!, noon, Free, Downtown Security Storage, 923 Narrow Gauge Ave. Skate Ski Clinic, 1 p.m., $25, Purgatory Nordic Center, across Hwy 550, just north of Purgatory Resort entrance.

Little Women: The Musical, 2 p.m., $20-$40, Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 970507-0408.

Jan. 10 Human Flow, 7 p.m., Free, Sunflower Theater, 8 E. Main Street, Cortez.

The Yawpers, 8 p.m., $12-$15, The Sherbino Theater, 604 Clinton Street, Ridgway.

Jan. 11 3rd Ave. Arts presents a concert of Flute Quartets, 7 p.m., $5-$20, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 910 E. Third Ave., 970-247-1129.

Jan. 12

Most surprisingly, though, has been delightful Transformers prequel “Bumblebee,” which is part of a franchise that has been accused of pandering to the lowest common denominator (i.e. middle schoolers).

Director Travis Knight and screenwriter Christina Hodson go back to basics, not only by setting the film in 1987, but also giving the action flick the same tone, humor, atmosphere, and character of an action flick made in 1987. The former 1980s kids who remember the old Transformers toys and cartoons will likely appreciate the new addition to the robot series. Similarly, Steven Wan’s “Aquaman” is clearly doing well with movie fans, and was the top movie at the box-office Christmas weekend. It’s a film that again has a superhero who once primarily appealed to fans from the 25+ crowd.

Coke Race, 10 a.m., $10-$20, Purgatory Nordic Center, across Hwy 550, just north of Purgatory Resort entrance.

Another popular actor among the 25+ age group is Jennifer Lopez, who stars in her first romantic comedy in a decade with “Second Act.” In this case, and with Clint Eastwood’s “The Mule,” the older target audience is holding the film back from doing well financially (although they’re also both mediocre features). The best movie in wide release right now might be Yorgos Lanthimos’ costume drama-satire “The Favourite.”

An early 1700s set period piece that might bore youngsters, this film has proven to be one of the most intriguing for grown-ups in 2018. So, for the first time in a long while, there are more movies in theaters this holiday season aimed at appealing to the parents more than the kids.

Jan. 13

— Megan Bianco

Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD, 11 a.m., $23-$26, Vallecito Room @ Fort Lewis College Student Union, 1000 Rim Drive.

Benton Yazzie Sand Painting Workshop and Artist’s Reception, 2 p.m., Free, Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park Street, Cortez, 970-565-8117.

Free Old Time Music Dance Party, 5 p.m., Free, Florida Grange, 656 Colorado Highway 172.

Beatles vs Stones - A Musical Showdown, 7:30 p.m., $35-$65, Farmington Civic Center, 200 W. Arrington Street, Farmington, 505-599-1148.

Montezuma Community Barn and Contra Dance, 3 p.m., $5-$10, Legacy Dance, 20 W. Main Street.

Jan. 14 Dolores River Anglers Chapter of Trout Unlimited, 7 p.m., Free, Wild Edge Brewery, 111 N. Market, Cortez.

Jan. 15 Freedom From Smoking, 6 p.m., Free, San Juan Regional Medical Center, 800 W. Maple.

Jan. 16 FRIENDS! THE MUSICAL PARODY Comedy, 7:30 p.m., $29-$39, Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall, 1000 Rim Drive.

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