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2 n May 24, 2018
telegraph
lineup
9
4 La Vida Local
Changing gears Hogan Koesis wants to get more butts in the saddle – including yours by Tracy Chamberlin
4 Thumbin’ It 5 Word on the Street
13
6-7 Soapbox
Keep Smiley-ing Durango’s rags-to-riches community hub celebrates 20 years by Joy Martin
16-17
11 Mountain Town News 16-17 Day in the Life 20 Flash in the Pan 21 Top Shelf
The big dogs
Brush with mountain biking fame inspires local kids to get out and ride photos by Jennaye Derge
24-26 On the Town 27 End of the Line
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28 Ask Rachel
One and done This man will probably beat you to Silverton – on one wheel by Missy Votel
29 Free Will Astrology 30 Classifieds
22
31 Haiku Movie Review Onthecover
Getting salty
Riders wanted: A vintage Schwinn awaits some action along a fence in Durango this week./ Photo by Jennaye Derge
Soak away your troubles at Durango’s new flotation center, salt 360 by Stew Mosberg
boilerplate
EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel (missy@durangotelegraph.com) ADVERTISING AFICIONADO: Lainie Maxson (lainie@durangotelegraph.com) RESIDENT FORMULA ONE FAN: Tracy Chamberlin (tracy@durangotelegraph.com)
T
he Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, beckoning singletrack or monster powder days. We are wholly owned and operated by the Durango Telegraph LLC and dis-
CONTRIBUTORS: Lainie Maxson, Ari LeVaux, Allen Best, Shan Wells, Chris Aaland, Jennaye Derge, Clint Reid, Joy Martin, Missy Votel, Zach Hively, David Feela and Stew Mosberg
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friend or dog, we will accept full responsibility in a public flogging in the following week’s issue. Although “free but not easy,” we can be plied with schwag, booze and flattery.
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telegraph
Ear to the ground: “I think I’d rather die than ride my bike to Silverton with hemorrhoids.” – A game of “would you rather” gone perhaps one step too far
Moving on
thepole
RegularOccurrences
After seven years with the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center – five at the helm – Executive Director Rachel Landis is moving on. “I, in true Millennial form, am embracing my next phase of professional development and personal growth. This decision has been an incredibly hard one to arrive at – as any of my friends on speed dial can attest to – and I will miss the EC and its work deeply,” wrote Landis in a “Parting Shot” email sent out Monday. Landis officially steps down this Fri., May 25. Filling her shoes will be Marty Pool, the EC’s assistant coordinator of the last two years. During her time at the EC, Landis has been a passionate champion of local food and activism. Among the programs she helped launch during her tenure was the “Real Change Initiative,” a how-to blueprint for students to put their big ideas into action. In 2013, she also played a key role in getting the school on board with the “Real Food Challenge,” a national campaign aimed at encouraging healthy, fair and green food systems on campuses across the country. Fort Lewis College was the first school in the Landis Southwest to officially commit to the challenge at the time and one of only 17 nationwide. In addition, she also involved the school with the area’s annual “Homegrown Retreat,” which was held in conjunction with Growing Partners of the Southwest. “Our projects have shifted the landscape of this region in a thousand meaningful ways – from launching city recycling to pushing for carbon neutrality to feeding hungry folk to revolutionizing the food system,” she wrote. “And, perhaps, most powerful and lasting, is the transformative education that the EC has provided to all of us.” Never one to sit still for very long, Landis – who is also a member of the La Plata Electric Association Board and runs an outdoors program for girls – will be reporting to her new job at the Durango Regional Food Recovery Hub on Monday. “I will begin my new role building a regional food security and recovery initiative,” she wrote. The purpose of the Hub is to increase access to locally produced agricultural goods, develop marketing opportunities for local farms and ranches, and increase regional food security. It will also work to increase access to local food for low-income families while also reducing conflicts with bears through efficient harvesting and distribution of gleaned fruit and vegetables. The Hub is operating under a three-year USDA grant that covers La Plata and Montezuma counties. “In this ‘me’ era where disparities continue to grow and the climate continues its steady arc of change, this is perhaps the most valuable impact any entity can have,” Landis wrote in closing. “For me, spending my day-to-day in such an inspired environment has only strengthened my desire to support and build our community, to fight for social justice, to battle the causes of climate change.”
May 24, 2018 n 3
opinion
LaVidaLocal The osprey has landed My daily bicycle ritual usually takes me north of town, past the hospital to pedal along our rural county roads. On a windy day at the end of April, a most unusual scene unfolded as I headed out. I stopped to gawk at a crane grabbing hold of an osprey and lifting it almost 30 feet off the ground. Before crying fowl, let me explain. The osprey weighed 2,500 pounds. I know this because the crane operator shouted the information out his truck window while he manipulated the crane’s hydraulics with the skill of a pinball wizard. The osprey was already familiar to me, a commissioned sculpture designed and assembled by local artist Bill Teetzel at his studio north of town, before it arrived for installation at the newly constructed Osprey headquarters, just across the street from our newly constructed court building. Osprey is Cortez’s sanctuary for backpacks, not birds. The company designs, manufactures and sells a trademark with greater recognition than most actual ospreys. A half dozen men scrambled to orchestrate a gentle landing for the sculpture after its awkward flight from a flatbed trailer, suspended by cables, swinging and swaying slightly as it came closer toward its permanent concrete perch. Famous for its expansive 6-foot wingspan, the osprey is impressive, but the record for any living bird’s wingspan is held by the wandering albatross, which can spread its feathers up to 12 feet. But who would want to go hiking with an Albatross backpack. Teetzel’s osprey stands 9.5 feet tall and 18 feet wide. It, too, is impressive, constructed out of three gnarly sheets of half inch crusher screen slightly arced then welded in layers to form a 3-dimensional background relief. The company’s skeletal trademark bird is fastened to that wired slice of sky and once the lighting gets electrified, Osprey headquarters parking lot might feel more like some kind of theme park or tourist attraction. While I admire the sculpture very much, what I admire even more is the way a community came together to make it happen. Osprey could have easily outsourced the art project but they opted to work with local talent, ingenuity and sweat. Standing among a growing crowd of onlookers, I recognized many faces involved in the undertaking. The crane operator whom I first met at parentteacher conferences while his boys studied their way through high school – the same school district where his wife and I taught. A teacher who spends some of
his retired hours volunteering at the county jail instructing inmates wandered over to see what was going on, then vanished before I could say hello. The crew included a former manager from our local Empire Electric Co-op, a young Osprey employee assigned an eight-hour construction shift, and some friends who have worked with Teetzel for years, including Joanne, his wife, a nurse with a career in Four Corners public health. The scene smacked not of a business venture but of a neighborhood celebration. Bill Teetzel has a vision he shared with me, of finding common ground between art and community, encouraging both to occupy the same gallery. His salvage yard installation stands as a case in point. It occupies a roof at Belt Salvage south of town depicting two enormous metal vultures gutting the carcass of an overturned car placed up there, no doubt by another crane. Three companion vultures survey the highway nearby, as if waiting their turns or sizing up a fresh menu. The sculpture constitutes a reality adjustment, a lens where Bill adds perspective and humor. To a stream of amused tourists passing through, Teetzel’s vultures stand as goodwill ambassadors for the city of Cortez. The word connectivity could be a source of confusion for those trying to grapple with the concept of community. Social platforms, followers, postings and traffic shape internet relationships for users trying to grow an audience. Donald J. Trump boasts over 51 million Twitter followers. He follows about 48 users. Katy Perry holds a Twitter record with almost 110 million fans. She scrolls through about 200. Apparently, these social media communities run mostly with one-way streets. To people growing a physical community, a social platform might be as simple as a neighbor’s deck where food gets grilled and glasses refilled. Followers are not encouraged, especially at night when we’re walking alone. Postings usually occur at the Post Office, or on a public bulletin board if a pet disappears or some possession loses its charm and needs to be sold. As community traffic increases, we might be advised to put in a few more signal lights, slow down, become more attentive. A hit on the internet is not the same when it happens while crossing a street. Eventually I bicycled home, because the serious work of drilling concrete and installing 6-inch bolts gave me the willies. Building relationships can be constructive, but I’ve never been attracted to wearing a hardhat.
This Week’s Sign of the Downfall:
Thumbin’It The official death knell sounded for La Niña this week, with rains returning to the Four Corners and NOAA forecasting a wetter-than-normal monsoon season this year Southwest tribes and legislators working to put an oil and gas drilling buffer around Chaco Canyon to protect irreplaceable historical and cultural sites A watershed moment in U.S. politics, with Stacy Abrams winning the Georgia Democratic primary to become the first black woman to make a bid for governor
4 n May 24, 2018
– David Feela
Carnage on local passes, with a truck driver dying after plunging off Wolf Creek and a car narrowly teetering on the edge of Red Mountain Predictions that due to drought, stretches of the Rio Grande, home to the endangered silvery minnow, will run dry as far north as Albuquerque A lack of transparency in the Colorado governor’s race, which is shaping up to be the most expensive in state history, with TV stations not required by law to disclose what superPACS are paying for what ads
telegraph
Not so smart Seems the cake morality police are at it again. A South Carolina supermarket censored a cake for a teen’s high school graduation, summarily demoting the 4.79 GPA student from graduating with honors, to graduating without. Yep, the store took out the “cum” in the cake’s “summa cum laude” because, well, everyone knows it’s a naughty word. The grad’s mom, Cara Koscinski, who ordered the cake online, shared pictures of the censored cake on Facebook. “I seriously couldn’t make this crap up!!!!” she wrote. “Funny – not funny.” Also not funny: having to explain to her son and her 70-year-old mother why the word was omitted. Talk about a sticky situation.
WordontheStreet
Q
With thousands of cyclists enduring long hours in the saddle this weekend, the Telegraph asked, “What chaps your hide?”
Jordan June
“Noise from large crowds and traffic.”
Nick Fontaine
“People walking six abreast on the sidewalk down Main Ave.”
Forrest Stone
“Chapping my hide really chaps my hide.”
Alex Frazier
“When people don’t throw their trash away.”
Ruby Connelly
“200 thread-count sheets.”
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May 24, 2018 n 5
SoapBox
ReTooned/by Shan Wells
Be involved, stop school shootings To the editor, A former FBI agent on TV said a young student responsible for the 10 shot dead last week at Santa Fe High School in Texas also had easy access on the Internet to learn how to build bombs, similar to the 2013 Boston Marathon explosives. I would say that bomb-making knowledge is much like “screaming fire in a theater” and these how-to-create-instant-death-sites should be taken down immediately. Red flag legislation should have passed, and if there can’t be common sense to ban bomb-making sites, something is truly wrong in our world. Does a high level political figure need to be taken out by a pressure cooker explosion before real legislation is passed? Last year, Congressional Republicans were close to being wiped out by a lone gunman on a baseball field. Had there not been a body guard present to keep that disaster from happening, there would have been a massacre. I am proud to be a part of organizations, Moms Demand Action and Be Smart. There is a rally for gun violence awareness and survivor awareness at Buckley Park on June 3 from 2-3 p.m. Remember our neighbor, the Aztec High School shooting less than a year ago and the most recent tragedies. Be involved to keep these horrible incidents from happening. – Sally Florence, Durango
The facts about Jameson Drive To the editor, In the Telegraph’s May 10 edition, Luke Angel accused the Durango City Planning Commission of not4
6 n May 24, 2018
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listening to the concerns of residents of Jameson Drive. Mr. Angel conveniently offers no facts to back his accusations. The Planning Commission did listen to the residents; and to explain how, here are the facts. The proposed development for the former Puckett Electric property came before the Planning Commission three times. The first time the developer asked that the property be annexed into the city. After listening to extensive testimony by Jameson’s residents, and after listening to an inadequate proposal by the applicant, the Planning Commission voted against the annexation. The applicant then took the proposal to City Council. After negotiations, the council approved the annexation. When the developer appeared before the Planning Commission the second time with a development proposal, the commission again took testimony from the residents. Again, the commission rejected the proposal. On his third try, the developer presented a plan that adequately addressed project density and parking issues. The commission approved that plan. This is an infill project; and all of these types of projects are controversial with some residents in the affected neighborhoods. The job of the Planning Commission is to balance the concerns of neighborhood residents with the needs and goals of the city. To do that, the members of the planning commission listen. – Joe Lewandowski, vice-chair, Durango City Planning Commission
An unsustainable health-care fiasco To the editor, Our current health care system is out of control. In La Plata County, many farmers, small businesses and individuals spend $25,000 to $45,000 per year in health insurance premiums and deductibles. And, it just keeps getting more expensive every year.
Our legislators seem to be uninformed and unwilling to help us in our struggle with the enormously expensive, inadequate coverage and narrow network of providers in our current profit-driven system. Nothing is moving forward at the federal or the state levels to address the problem. The one action our legislators accomplished ensures that we will have even higher costs next year by removing the individual mandate. Many feel that they don’t want more government involvement in health care, and that less regulation will lead to more private competition and lower premium costs. That won’t happen as long as private insurance is profit driven. We need to advocate for ourselves by electing legislators who truly care about creating a workable health care solution that doesn’t cause medically induced bankruptcies. We need to work together and be a force that decides who we elect this November. And we need to keep working until we have people in Denver and D.C. who will help us out of our current unsustainable healthcare fiasco. There are options that are already being successfully used in the U.S. (Medicare) and many other countries around the world. To learn the facts about how we pay for healthcare in the U.S. and what are workable options visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WvWHF35t58 – Jan Philips, Durango
crop yields, adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems including fisheries, and potentially significant climate change.” In a recent interview, Shultz said that we need to protect our climate and solve our political gridlock. He stated “We have a lot of scientific data. I think it’s pretty convincing that we have a genuine big-time problem. This is a matter of observation. I think we should be taking out an insurance policy.” He explained that back in the day, Reagan wanted an “insurance policy” in case the scientists were right about the ozone depletion. There were people who thought there was a problem, others who doubted. They agreed there was a big consequence if it happened. So Reagan said, “Look, let’s take out an insurance policy.” And so the Montreal Protocol was born. Due to our continued use of fossil fuels and our greenhouse gas emissions, we’re causing global warming. Shultz proposes we convert our economy to one based on carbon-free electricity with a legislative revenue neutral carbon pricing plan. Thank you, Mr. Shultz, for being a climate hero! – Susan Atkinson, Durango
LettersPolicy “We’ll print damned-near anything”
An unlikely Reagan-era hero
The Telegraph prides itself on a liberal letters policy. We offer this forum to the public to settle differences, air opinions & undertake healthy discourse. We have only three requests: limit letters to 750 words, letters must be signed by the writer; and thank-you lists and libelous, personal attacks are unwelcome. Send your insights by Tuesday at noon to: PO Box 332, Durango, 81302 or e-mail your profundities to: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com. Let the games begin ...
To the editor, Conservatives aren’t usually at the forefront of climate solution proposals. I applaud the former Secretary of State in President Reagan’s administration, George Shultz, a leading elder statesman. In 1989 he worked closely with Reagan on negotiating the Montreal Protocol – an international treaty to prevent the degradation of the ozone layer. His memo to Reagan stated, “Environmental effects of stratospheric ozone depletion could include decreased
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telegraph
May 24, 2018 n 7
8 n May 24, 2018
telegraph
TopStory
High roller Purg’s new bike boss kicks off first summer with new trails, big ideas by Tracy Chamberlin
A
nybody can do it. And, if Hogan Koesis, the new mountain bike director for Purgatory and its sister resorts, has his way, everyone will be. Riding, that is. “I feel like I come from the old era of mountain biking, and I’m passionate about creating a new way, about growing the sport,” he said. The goal for Koesis is to create diverse trail systems at Purgatory and its sister resorts that cater to all types of riders. Whether it’s pros training for competition or tourists taking their flea market finds on the trails for the first time, everyone will be able to enjoy the ride. That’s his vision. Inexperienced or novice riders, for example, often have an image in their heads about what a “green” What’s going on? mountain bike trail Purgatory Resort opens this would look like. but weekend for the Iron Horse Bioften, they find themcycle Classic, and will be open selves faced with jumps daily for the summer season or other features they’re from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. just not ready for. Activities include the alpine The experience ends slide, bungee trampoline, ziup being intimidating, pline, climbing wall and more. awkward or even painful They’ve also got paddle boards, – and the novice never canoes, kayaks and pedal boats rides again. at Twilight Lake on the other Instead of losing those side of Highway 550. potential fans of the sport, To get the events calendar, Koesis is creating a trail system that allows everyprices and more, check out one to have the experitheir website at ence they’re looking for. www.purgatoryresort.com. As part of that effort, he’s planning to add four new trails this summer to Purgatory’s official offerings – the first of which is a 6.4-mile green trail called Shangri-La. It will start at the top of Lift 1 on the frontside and meander around the backside, finishing at the base area. “It’s going to be the trail that someone imagines when they’re at the top,” he said. “I want my 5-year-old to ride it.” But, just because Koesis is making the sport more accessible does not mean his parks won’t make the pros sweat. In addition to Shangri-La, he’s asked officials with the San Juan National Forest to approve three other trails – two “black diamond” and the third, a double diamond, or expert-only trail. The expert trail is the 1.8-mile World Cup Downhill
Hogan Koesis was hired as mountain bike director for Mountain Capital Partners, which manages Purgatory and several other resorts, last August. He’s been loving life on two wheels since he was 12 years old and heads into his first summer at Purg with a passion for mountain biking and big plans for its future./Photo by Jennaye Derge course. It’s actually been in use since the early 2000s, but with Forest Service approval, he’ll be able to make it official. Koesis said the resort is hoping to get the OK from the federal agency by the beginning of June, but there’s no word yet on the exact date. Whenever the Forest Service does give him the go-ahead, he said they’ll be ready to hit the ground the same day. With the World Cup course, Koesis plans to do a bit of rerouting and basic maintenance. The biggest change, though, will be on the lower portion of the trail. He said crews will bring it out wide near the finish in an effort to avoid crossing other trails, like Yellow Brick Road. Of course, this new one won’t be the only World Cup trail on the mountain. Durango held the first ever UCI World Cup Mountain Biking event in 1990, and that course
is still used today. The new World Cup Downhill course, along with the two black diamond additions, Links and Pirate, signal the resort is shifting back to its competitive roots. Koesis hopes to host more events in the future that are sanctioned by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), the world’s governing body for cycling. In fact, there’s one already on the schedule this summer. The Pro GRT series, or Pro Mountain Bike Gravity Tour, makes its debut at Purgatory over Labor Day weekend. The UCI-sanctioned event, which features dual slalom and fourcross (a new style of racing with four racers on a purpose-built downhill course), is a professional mountain bike series. Another highlight in Purgatory’s two-wheeled events calendar is the Scott Enduro Cup, presented by Vittoria in 4
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Now accepting new patients and offering acupuncture services by appointment We look forward to seeing you! 970.382.0100 • 42 Cr 250 (next to Bread) • aspentreeacc@gmail.com telegraph
May 24, 2018 n 9
BikeBoss from p. 9 mid-July. This event will feature racers of all abilities – from first-timers to pros – on backcountry rides and lift-accessed races. Koesis is also bringing in the Rocky Mountain Race Series, which debuted last weekend at New Mexico’s Pajarito Mountain, one of Purgatory’s sister resorts. The competition features dual slalom, cross country and downhill courses, and comes to Durango in mid-August. Koesis has been loving life on two wheels since he was 12 years old. The native Iowan said the sport is both natural and noble. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever done in my life that mixes recreation with health,” he added. “I’ve always benefitted from riding bikes, so I’ve never stopped.” He’s been on the business side of the sport for just more than 10 years. Last August, Koesis, along with his wife and son, decided to make Durango their home – where he believes he can make a difference. Before that, Koesis spent seven years as the mountain bike director for Angel Fire Resort in northern New Mexico, just east of Taos. During this time, he was able to increase the resort’s offerings, standing in the sport and attendance. It’s something he plans to do at Purgatory, too.
He said the bike park industry in general isn’t really approachable. But, that’s what he wants to change. Koesis said Purgatory has some of the best mountain bike terrain in the country. The scenery, natural features, topography, connectivity and even soil are just some of the attributes that make it so inviting. He can see what’s possible at Purg and wants to make it a reality. “We’re going to change every trail to maximize the human experience,” he added. No one builds a trail and never touches it again, Koesis explained. Every trail goes through multiple stages of refinement. Some changes, like on a jump section of the Divinity Flow trail, are made to create multiple routes for a variety of riders. On the flow trail, Koesis said, they refined some of the jumps to give inexperienced riders a chance to slow down and take it easy. They also added some bonus jumps for advanced riders who want a challenge. It might not be the experience of riding a trail that inspires the change, though. It could be the surrounding environment: building berms bigger or digging out turns to control water flow. Koesis is looking at each trail with an eye on sustainability. Along with his efforts on the mountain, Koesis also worked with Trails 2000, the city and others, to help build the Skills Center and surrounding trails at the new Spur Line Trails system at Three Springs.
The Spur Line system includes 5 miles of introductory singletrack and a small pump track, just off Wilson Gulch Road. Trails 2000 officials said Koesis had an integral role in building the new trails. “Purgatory has been a fantastic partner, acting as the high country hub for trail experiences,” Mary Monroe Brown, executive director for Trails 2000, said in a statement. “We’ve built many of the trails on the mountain and now that Hogan is onboard, we’ve been able to expand our partnership to a higher level.” He’s also somehow found the time to hit up pretty much every trail around Durango. Koesis said he enjoys every single one and they all have something to offer, but when asked for some standouts – beside the ones at Purgatory – he gave up two in particular. A favorite after-work trail is the 7-mile downhill at Stevens Creek off Missionary Ridge. Another top choice was the Colorado Trail, picking it up around Molas Pass and taking it all the way to town. Less than a year in, and Koesis has already built trails at Three Springs, improved trails and offerings at Purgatory, and is working on a mountain bike master plan for all of Mountain Capital Partners resorts. All this with a passion for the sport and a drive to make it accessible to everyone. “I’m definitely doing it for the mountain biking,” he said. “And, the future of the sport.” n
Going rogue: Forest Service looks to cut unsanctioned trails off to bikes Last year, officials with the San Juan National Forest closed off what’s been called a rogue trail in the Hermosa Creek Special Management Area north of Durango. Rogue trails are generally created by riders on the fly or over years of use. In turns out two of the trails in Purgatory Resort’s fourpack of new offerings this summer started out rogue as well – the Links and Pirate trails.
10 n May 24, 2018
Purgatory Resort put in a request with the Forest Service to make these trails official and put them on the map for good. Some trails in the Durango area, though, might be looking at a different fate. According to Matt Janowiak, district ranger for the Columbine Ranger District, the Forest Service is looking at closing off more trails to mountain bike use this summer due
to sustainability concerns. Because they’re built on the fly, rogue trails don’t get the attention and maintenance of designated trails. One such example is the Long Hollow Trail, which was located near the lower campground at Hermosa Creek. It stretched for about a mile and was likely used for years. However, after gaining popularity on Strava, the trail became overused, leading to user
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conflicts, erosion and other problems. “We have limited resources to take care of trails, and we’d like to use those resources constructively,” Janowiak explained. He said the issue with rogue trails is that they wash out and rut out when they’re not built with sustainability in mind. “They tend to just scar the land,” he added.
– Tracy Chamberlin
MountainTownNews
Grand Lake grocery to curb plastic bags
GRAND LAKE – A grocer in Grand Lake, at the west entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, plans to phase out the use of most plastic bags this summer. “I have been talking about doing it for years. It was time to put up or shut up,” Brenda Schoenherr, co-owner of the Mountain Food Market, said. She told the Sky-Hi News the response has been positive. “I would say 90 percent of people who see my little note about it give me fist bumps, high-fives or ‘atta-girls,’” she said. Grand County has six towns, and none have taken action against distribution of free plastic shopping bags. The county’s two largest stores, a Safeway in Fraser and a City Market in Granby, together distribute 2 million bags each year, according to a 2016 study. In Colorado, an estimated 2 billion disposable bags are distributed to shoppers every year. Lately, an activist group called Infinite West has been showing the film “Bag It!” and talking with local officials. Fraser, the old railroad town, might adopt a 10-cent fee, stopping short of a ban. Jeff Durbin, Fraser town manager, said a modest fee would encourage people to take their own bags. But for those who elect to pay the fee, that money could be used to help pay for the recycling program in Fraser. Still a consideration is that the fee will encourage customers to instead buy groceries in Winter Park, 2 miles away, or Granby, 14 miles away. Avon is the most recent Colorado town to limit distribution of plastic bags. Its ban went into effect May 1. Telluride was the first Colorado town, and it has been followed by Aspen, Boulder, Breckenridge, Carbondale, and Vail. Basalt’s elected officials adopted a ban. However, the ban was overturned by voters. The margin was 17 votes. Meanwhile, in Aspen, the Supreme Court upheld that town’s fee for paper bags. In 2011, the Aspen City Council adopted a law that prohibited grocery stores from providing disposable plastic bags to customers. Grocery stores could still provide paper bags, but at a cost of 20 cents. Aspen adopted the fee after considering a San Francisco study that showed the cost of subsidizing the recycling, collection and disposal of plastic and paper bags there was 17 cents a bag. Aspen nudged the figure to 20 cents based on its distance to recycling markets, the smaller size of its waste stream and community input. But some sued, arguing the fee is in violation of Colorado’s Taxpayers Bill of Rights, or TABOR, which prohibits tax increases without direct consent of voters. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled in favor of the fee on Monday in a 4-3 ruling that upheld a lower-court ruling. But there were dissenting opinions. “In all meaningful respects, Aspen’s ‘waste reduction fee’ is in the nature of, and functions entirely as, a ‘sin tax,’” said one of the dissenting opinions.
Are ski towns ready for driverless cars?
WHISTLER, B.C. – Driverless cars will be coming soon. Is your community ready for them? That was the gist of a recent presentation at a conference in Whistler. Lawyer Don Lidstone cited a projection by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Technology that only half of the people who currently own vehicles will still own one in 12 years. “The cost of owning vs. operating will be dramatic,” he explained. “If you own, it will cost more than twice as much than if you just order a vehicle every time you want a limousine.” Town and cities will have to completely rethink their planning. Instead of curbs, lanes and signals, the planning must now consider how the cars will talk to the infrastructure. He also said that government agencies will have to figure out regulations governing self-driving cars.
Vail employers want foreign laborers
VAIL – The seasonal immigrant laborers working under the federal government’s H-2B visa program haven’t arrived yet in Vail and the Eagle Valley. In March, Congress approved an increase in the number of visas issued, but the Trump Administra-
tion has delayed issuing new visas. The number of visas had been capped at 33,000 every six months. Local landscaping and paving contractors who depend upon seasonal workers tell the Vail Daily they wish the federal government would hurry up. Mike Stephens, who has a nursery and landscaping company, said he’s missing about 20 people. He says he would hire American citizens, but “they’re just not out there.” Michael Hasse, who owns an asphalt and coatings company, tells the Vail Daily the same story. He won’t hire illegal immigrants but he also finds it hard to find American workers, and it’s become worse in this booming economy, with low unemployment rates.
Santa Fe hottest second-home market SANTA FE, N.M – Christie’s International Real Estate has proclaimed Santa Fe as the world’s “hottest” second-home market in 2017. Published last week, the company’s “Luxury Thermometer” found that Santa Fe topped Muskoka, Ontario, the weekend getaway for Toronto’s well-heeled, as well as Sarasota, Fla.; Sun Valley, Idaho; and the Bahamas. The Christie’s report did not identify the criteria used for appointing Santa Fe with the distinction. It also did not define what constitutes a luxury home. However, David Barker, owner of the Christie’s affiliate in Santa Fe, told the Albuquerque Journal that homes selling for $1 million or more would constitute luxury. By that measure, there were 158 luxury sales in Santa Fe 2017. Barker estimated that half of luxury homes sold in Santa Fe are used as second homes. The report said that Monaco, with an average price of $6 million for second homes, tops the world residential market. Down the list somewhat are Sun Valley at $3.3 million; Telluride at $2.4 million; Park City at $2.2 million; and Big Sky at $1.8 million. Average prices at Santa Fe were $1.6 million. As is common in such reports, the Christie’s document said that for the world’s wealthiest individuals, a luxury residential purchase remains a lower-risk and higher-reward investment, especially when compared with the volatility of the stock market. Who has the money? Worldwide there are 1,083 billionaires who are Baby Boomers, aged 54 through 72. But Millenials are starting to make a dent: there are now 43 millennial billionaires, those aged 22 through 37.
Climate change part of Sierra drought SACREAMENTO, Calif. – Climate modelers have been confident of their projections for broad areas, such as continents or regions, such as the Great Plains. Mountains pose a greater challenge. The vertical topography creates microclimates that can only partially be replicated by even the most powerful computers. But researchers from the University of California Los Angeles recently took more than a year to model the predicted impacts on the Sierra Nevada. The study by UCLA’s Center for Climate Science concluded that springtime temperatures by the century’s end will be 7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than they are today and snowmelt runoff will come 50 days earlier if greenhouse gas emissions continue to pile up in the atmosphere. If the global civilization can figure out how to tame the emissions, the warming might only be half as much. In an interview with Water Deeply, researcher Neil Berg said the middle ranges of the Sierra Nevada, around 5,000 to 8,000 feet in elevation, will be the most vulnerable to warming temps. “Those middle elevations tend to be located where that freezing line, that 32 degree Fahrenheit line, lies within the Sierra Nevada,” he said. Even small changes in temperatures of 1 to 3 degrees significantly change the type of precipitation in mid-elevation, he said, producing more rain and less snow. The highest elevations, above 8,000 feet, are so high that they in many cases will remain sheltered from even a significant amount of warming in the future. The base area of Squaw Mountain is 6,200 feet, that of Heavenly 6,255 feet, and Northstar is 6,330 feet. Kirkwood is a little higher, with a base elevation of 7,800 feet. Higher yet is Mammoth, with a base of 9,000 feet.
– Allen Best
telegraph
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LocalNews
Putting a Smiley on our faces since ’98 Smiley Building celebrates 20 years as community’s Cinderella story by Joy Martin
I
n December 1997, Charles Shaw was reading the morning paper when an article caught his eye about the ole 9-R junior high school building on E. Third Avenue. The 45,000-square-foot mellow-yellow brick edifice was for sale, and the offers seemed too low to be true. Charles nudged his brother, John, and the two went for a walk through the cavernous structure. It was love at first sight. Built in 1936, the former city-owned property oozed history and sparked imagination. West-facing windows framed the La Plata Mountains in the distance, while the rest of the nearly 300 windows flooded with natural light. From nooks and crannies to a
JusttheFacts What: Smiley Building 20th Anniversary When: 4 – 7 p.m., Thurs., May 3. Guided tours at 4 & 5:30 Where: 1309 E. Third Ave. Dets: Demonstrations, performances, mini classes, refreshments, live music, tie-dye, and samplings from the Smiley Cafe. gymnasium and theatre, the Smiley Building had all the spokes of a future hub for community in downtown Durango. A plumber and jack-of-all-tradesman, Charles had just finished rebuilding a dance school on Florida Road for his wife, Lisa. When he called Lisa to tell her about the prospective new studio space, it didn’t take long for the dancer to see the vision unfolding in her husband’s mind. Despite public skepticism, the trio of entrepreneurs bought the Smiley Building for $427,000. After the papers were signed, they embarked on a seemingly endless journey to turn the run-down beast into one of the greenest, most efficient places in town. With the assistance of restoration grants from the Colorado Historical Society, the renovations began. Re-roofing. Reconditioning of the maple floors. Painting. Installation of new electrical, plumbing and heating systems. More painting. Rotting window frames were replaced. Replicas of the original oak doors were built in the basement, which quickly morphed into Charles’ workshop and the birthplace of a gazillion projects to come. With the bones of the building intact, the debut tenants moved in three months after the purchase date. Charles turned his attention to his first passion: making the space as sustainable as possible. While he held a degree in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara, he had no specific training in energy efficiency, much less installing solar panels. Nevertheless, he and John proceeded to build the region’s first and largest photo-
The Smiley Building today. The old junior high was in disrepair when the Shaws bought it in 1997./ Photo by Jennaye Derge voltaic system. The project was such a success that John would go on to found Shaw Solar, selling his portion of the Smiley Building to Charles and Lisa in 2005. Beyond supplying the entire building’s electrical needs, the solar panels produce a surplus of energy, feeding clean power back into the local grid. Energy-efficient retrofits also include LED lighting, ground-sourced pumps for heating and cooling, and, Charles Shaw eventually, stations in the next-toto charge electric zero net carbon cars. building. Nowadays, the Smiley is next-tozero net carbon. While better for the planet, these energy savings also reflect in Charles’ pocketbook, reducing utility costs from $5,000 per month to less than $100 per month. Lower energy costs mean lower lease rates for the 50 starving artists, nonprofit directors and optimistic entrepreneurs who work at the Smiley. From ice cream to solar power, lactation classes to yoga sutras, the Smiley also offers
something life-changing for struggling hopefuls: opportunity. Ask any tenant at the buzzing community center, and they’ll happily recount their Smiley story. Some might even be moved to tears as they recount the time Charles took a chance on their dream. Twenty-six-year-old Vivienne Yeagy is one of those hopefuls. As one of four sisters homeschooled in Indiana, Yeagy was raised to take care of whomever was smaller than her, so she babysat while earning her degree in education at Fort Lewis College. One of her clients was Sarah Shaw (John and Charles’ sister), who encouraged Yeagy to grow her babysitting services into a bona fide business. In 2012, 20-year-old Yeagy asked Charles if she could rent a picnic table from him in the Smiley Building’s lobby to use as her babysitting basecamp. At the Smiley, Yeagy had everything she needed: a beautiful back yard, a water source, bathrooms,
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shelter. The picnic table would be a central place for parents to drop off and pick up their kids. Charles said she couldn’t rent it, but she could use it for free. The picnic table inspired Yeagy to establish her business, the Nifty Nanny. A nanny, says Yeagy proudly, is someone who is not just supervising but providing extracurricular enrichment for children. Think Mary Poppins. Much like Poppins, Yeagy’s programs are whimsical and, er, nifty, with art projects, science experiments, nature walks, bike rides and story time. Prompted by parents, Yeagy expanded to year-round programs. She spent two years based at the picnic table and then asked Charles if she could rent a closet. After outgrowing the closet, she approached Charles again –this time, about renting a room. “He just looked at me and said, ‘It’s going to be a lot more than what you’re paying for the closet,’ and I just told him, ‘It feels like what I’m supposed to do with my life. I won’t know unless I give it a shot.’” The risky move paid off, and the Nifty Nanny blossomed. In November 2016, Yeagy moved into Room 201, which parents filled with donated classroom items. The Smiley, named after the late Durango School District Superintendent Emory E. Smiley, had ceased being a school in 1994. Yet Yeagy’s Nifty Nanny, along with the previous intro of 4 May 24, 2018 n 13
The bustling Smiley Café./Photo by Jennaye Derge
SmileyBldg. from p. 13 Durango Montessori in 2005, has spawned an educational revival. But the Nifty Nanny shuffle of musical chairs wasn’t done yet (a common theme for Smiley Building tenants). In March 2018, Yeagy moved to a coveted first floor room replete with comfy chairs, a little library, hooks for little coats and – bonus – the smell of brownies, thanks to its prime location next to the Smiley Cafe. The magician behind those brownies is yet another entrepreneur. In April 2016, Carrie Hladik partnered with her friend, Franci Stagi, to buy the Smiley Cafe. While Hladik worked her nine-to-five desk job during the day, Stagi ran the cafe. At night, Hladik baked brownies, scones, quiches, muffins and other heavenly bites. In summer 2016, Hladik quit her admin job and bought out Stagi. Besides pastries baked in-house, the cafe brews 81301 coffee, procures local greens, tomatoes, carrots and potatoes and purchases Boar’s Head meats from a local family distributor. “The secret recipe is the building and what Charles and Lisa have created here,” says Hladik. “They are the most gifted, generous, intentionally moving, living people I’ve ever met. It’s not about them. It’s about what they’re doing.” Rather than Charles splashing the Shaw name all over the building, tenants like Hladik comment on how they’ve heard him tell people he’s the custodian – a claim that’s not too far from the truth. While Charles says he loves all the jobs he commissions himself to do at the Smiley, his current favorite task is trimming the trees he planted 20 years ago. Those trees have helped turn the oncebarren grounds surrounding the Smiley into a verdant oasis sought by birds and brides alike. Fifteen years ago, Jimbo Buickerood, of the San Juan Citizens Alliance, performed his first wedding on that very lawn before these trees grew to their present-day majesty.
14 n May 24, 2018
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Jimbo’s been a tenant in the Smiley for five years. He rattles off precious Smiley anecdotes, like that time tenants decorated a coffin built in Charles’ shop for beloved Smiley-based artist, Karen Pittman, who passed away a few years ago. Or about a piece of clothing that’s been hanging in an undisclosed location for more than two years. “Whoever’s garment it is, if they remembered where it was or happened to go past it at some time, it would still be there, waiting for the return of its owner,” he says mysteriously. For anyone who questions the coolness or value behind why it’s still there, Jimbo retorts: “Anyone who enters the building gets blessed by the honesty fairy.” Like all good stories, the Smiley’s is never-ending, and the noble duty to collect these treasures has fallen to Drew Semel, owner of IlluminArts media production. Based in the Smiley since 2016, Semel was hired by Charles a month ago to put together a Smiley documentary. While Semel would normally spend four months on such a lofty project, he’ll have four weeks total to compile the colorful narrative. Semel and his crew, including two Animas High School interns, have been running around the building, unearthing history and pure community passion. They’ve scoured yearbooks stashed in a musty vault at the 9-R Admin Building next door and sat down with former Smiley students, like 50-something Jack Turner and his 90-something father, Rod. The documentary premiers at the Smiley’s 20th anniversary soiree May 31. With such a gigantic story to tell, Semel is fueled by the expressions of gratitude he hears from the Smiley community – not just about the creative energy or spontaneous sounds of a concert pianist playing in the cafe – but of Charles in Charge, dancing Lisa and their smiling son, Raleigh, who’s grown up here. Because, in the end, it’s not about the real estate or even the solar power. “It’s the people doing their thing and connecting with each other that makes it special for me,” says Charles. “I’m not sure why it all works, but it does.”n
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May 24, 2018 n 15
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Riding with the big dogs
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hile exercising one’s mind is important, so is exercising the body. For a group of students at St. Columba School, the opportunities to do so rolled in four years ago, when teacher Nicole Schnee had the idea to start an after-school bike program. With the help of school principal, Kevin Chick, she began the St. Columba Mountain Bike Club. The club offers a noncompetitive learning environment for fifth- to eighth-graders in hopes of getting students comfortable enough to ride on trails with friends and family – or special guests like Troy Wells. Last Wednesday, the local icon and professional cyclist joined the club for its season in Test Tracks. Wells offered advice, signed helmets, and, hopefully, inspired kids to keep on riding.
Local cycling p ride up of the y
Sometimes, it’s
Coach and creator of the St. Columba Mountain Bike Club, Nicole Schnee, le the pack.
16 n May 24, 2018
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prodigy Troy Wells pays a special visit to the St. Columba Mountain Bike club’s last year.
s uphill both ways.
It was a perfect day last ride of the school year.
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Troy Wells signs helmets for the bike crew. May 24, 2018 n 17
thesecondsection
The iron hoss One-wheeled wonder to make bid for fifth Iron Horse by Missy Votel
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s you board the struggle bus to Silverton this Saturday and find yourself digging deep over Coal Bank, remember this: Mike Tierney is riding uphill, both ways, with no hands. In other words, he is riding a unicycle. (For the uninitiated, unicycles are fixed gear, meaning riders must work to pedal up, and down, hill.) Even better, this will be his fifth ride to Silverton on one wheel. If, like me, the questions are flooding in (like, where does he keep his water bottle?), sit tight. They will be answered in due time. But first, a little back story. Like how the heck does one embark on such a journey, literally and existentially? Well for starters, hopping on a unicycle for the Iron Horse is not a game-time decision, like what flavor GU to bring or what color socks to wear. “My wife jokes that I created my own category, that way I can win,” jokes Tierney, an Aspen resident who spends his winters ski patrolling at Aspen Highlands (which, like unicycling to Silverton, is also not for sissies.) But, his love for the one wheel goes much deeper – to his childhood, as most of these types of stories do. When Tierney, 58, was growing up in Tempe, Ariz., a friend threw down the gauntlet. “He challenged us to both learn to unicycle over the summer,” he recalls. They joined a unicycling club – which, presumably, there are in large cities – and the two quickly took to their newfound endeavor, appearing in various parades and the like. “It was more the circus side of it,” he admitted. Mike Tierney atop Italy’s storied Stelvio Pass – all 48 switchbacks of it – with his trusty uni./Courtesy photo Alas, he did not run off to Barnum & Bailey – “I really got into it,” he said. “I started riding stuff I Pike’s Peak and Mount Evans’ hill climbs, which he instead running off to Colorado, where he pursued the counts as among his top three.) His first Iron Horse quintessential ski and river bum existence. Eventually, rode on two wheels and having success.” This included not just paved roads, mind you, but was in 2005 – goaded by fellow unicyclist and former in 1982, he ended up in Aspen, where he settled down with a regular gig patrolling in winters and running his singletrack and gnarly, rocky trails that might make Trails 2000 guru Bill Manning. fully suspended two-wheelers squirm in their cleats. “I showed up and there were eight of us,” recalled small solar company in the off season. It wasn’t until 2001, when his wife – having seen the (This subgenre is known as “MUNI,” for “mountain Tierney. “Bill made it to Purgatory. The rest just rode down main street.” old photos of his unicycling glory – brought home an unicycling.”) But by far, his preferred terrain was the monster As for Tierney – he went all. The. Way. And while antique uni from a yard sale that his fondness was climb; the more switchbacks the better. In fact, his fa- surely there was plenty of guts, not to mention muscle rekindled. “I got on and rode off into the sunset,” he recalled. vorite climb of all time is Italy’s Stelvio Pass, all 48 cramping, meditating and going to his “happy place,” switchbacks (but who’s counting?) there was little glory. “It’s true what they say.” So, it’s only natural that Tierney would gravitate “It was before they turned people back on the From there, the spark grew into a full, burning pasto the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic (along with the passes,” he said. “I was riding down from Molas to 4 sion.
Know Kn ow y your our rrights ights • Do you regret signing the recall petition? • Do yyou ou believe bbelieve yyou ou w ere misled iinto nto signing? were Remove Remove your your name from from the petition petition with just one email. email. y gy • Tiffany Parker: tiffany.parker@co.laplata.co.us • Dave Peters: savelaplataland@gmail.com
18 n May 24, 2018
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Silverton with traffic.” you haven’t noticed, there’s no “can’t” in Tierney’s vocab. When he arrived in Silverton, it was a ghost town. Instead, he rides his uni down the ski runs until he can “There was a sign on one of the restaurants that said, ‘Free start training in the Grand Valley sometime around Febfood to Lance Armstrong and ruary. unicyclists,’ but by the time I And, he has brought his love of showed up, they were closed,” unicycling to Aspen kids, offering a he remembered. program at the local schools. “I’ve But instead of being crestgot hundreds of kids to ride in fallen, he was strangely town here,” he said. And why elated. “As the bus with the wouldn’t they? Among the benefits riders was going back to Silof unicycling Tierney extols are an verton and passing me on excellent core workout, good cross my way down, people were training for skiing and, perhaps hooting and hollering out best of all, convenience. “You can the windows,” he said. park it in front of a store, and it’s It wasn’t until 10 years usually there when you come out,” later, in 2015, that an older, he said. fitter and wiser Tierney atAnd while he dreams of riding tempted the fete again. in the Pyrenees some day and “This time I had it dialed in. eventually tackling all of the I started early with the old world’s hardest hill climbs, one of people, although I guess I the highlights is right here in Duam now one of the old peorango, USA. ple,” he said. “The Iron Horse is my favorite But don’t let that “old” event,” he said. “There’s nothing funny business fool you. like it – going down Greene Street Tierney now has four Iron with everyone going nuts. It’s a Horses in his seat bag, typiwhole other level of enthusiasm,” cally finishing in about twice he said, adding that he never the time as the fastest twothought he could do one race, let wheeled honches. He’s ridalone five. He credits the beautiful den every pass over the scenery and the camaraderie – not Continental Divide in the ... and atop the Big Island’s Mauna Kea volcano. to mention lack of cars – for getting state, and then some. He’s /Courtesy photo him through. “It’s all because we tackled high passes in Europe support each other. When I go by and set a world record for his sea-to-summit of Hawaii’s the other riders they yell, ‘go unicycle,’ and I say, ‘go rider.’ Mauna Kea volcano, a 13,888-foot gain in 42 miles. That’s awesome. It’s a big ride for me, a lot of pedaling. But And when he can’t ride due to snow? Well, in case the event is incredible.” n
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Things you need to get to Silverton on one wheel (and other helpful hints) Camelbak with 100-oz bladder, Hammerhead drink powder and all clothes for myriad weather conditions, including snow, sleet, graupple, torrential downpours, 50mph winds and locusts (just kidding)
Quads of steel for the ups, hammies of steel for the downs
A head start – you can’t beat the train, or the cars, if you don’t leave early
A good attitude – unicycling is not for posers
Comfy shorts for 5ish hours in the saddle
36” wheels, a slick/knobby hybrid tire for allterrain conditions
May 24, 2018 n 19
FlashinthePan
A new way to ‘mow dandelions’ by Ari LeVaux
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e are born into this world loving dandelions. We grow up playing with them, blowing seed heads and rubbing the yellow flowers on our faces. Our country was born loving dandelions, having been brought – intentionally – on the Mayflower by the pilgrims, presumably as an easy source of nutrition but also perhaps for its medicinal value as a digestive aid, blood thinner and its many other uses. Somewhere along most of our personal journeys, the grownups manage to convince us that dandelions are actually bad, not good, because of what they do to the grass monocultures that most Americans cultivate instead of food. My wife is the outlier who would have me veer the lawnmower around a dandelion, which are like the sacred cows of our yard. But unlike most people who worship sacred cows, she eats the object of her reverence. In fact, she’s got the whole family doing it, which is no mean feat. Human beings may be born with an appreciation for the aesthetics of dandelions, but not so much for the flavor. You could say it takes work to overcome that bitter hump, but it’s really a matter of appreciating the benefits and associating them with those bitter flavors, as I’ve managed to do with bitter foods like beer, chocolate, coffee and other bitter foods that make me feel good. I try to pay as much attention to how something makes me feel afterwards as I do to how it tastes, and dandelions make me feel good. So it isn’t surprising to learn they are full of nutrients like carotenes, antioxidants, calcium and vitamin A. The secret to eating dandelions is a decadent sauce. The entire plant is edible, from the tip of its tenacious taproot to the bright yellow pollen in the blossom. While bitter is the dominant flavor throughout, there is complexity as well. The flowers have an aromatic flavor that has been likened to banana or licorice. Some dairy farmer friends of mine say that their butter becomes noticeably more yellow after the dandelion flowers appear in spring. When you drop a dandelion in butter, dandelion-tinted or not, some magical stuff happens. The flower waves its petals for a few minutes like a dying creature, and slowly browns, absorbing butter,
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shrinking down to a crispy nub that tastes like artichoke with a faint, intriguing note of bitterness. There are two basic approaches to dandelion eating: bury the bitter flavor, or work with it. Either way, a rich sauce is involved. Most examples of burying involve cooking, while the more daring approaches leave the plant raw. We consume bitter greens with a salad dressing
of olive oil (2 parts) soy sauce (1 part) and mixed vinegars (balsamic, cider, white, lime, 1 part). But for many of us, the right sauce may be that into which we dip our batter-fried dandelion blossoms. Or perhaps it is the bitter beverage that washes down this most spongy of beer sponges. The only food I like deep-fried is seafood, which is why I batter my dandelions with a hint of the ocean. I hit the supermarket for a box of Tony Chachere’s seasoned Creole fish fry mix, which contains a mix of corn flour and corn meal, in addition to seasonings. The checkout guys were excited about my dandelion plans. The cashier told me he likes making dandelion leaf tea with cinnamon. The bagger said it’s crazy people hate them because they are an important source of nectar for bees at times when no other flowers are open. “Sometimes dandelions are, like, the only option.” At home, I made an egg wash so the batter would stick to the dandelion flowers. It contains one beaten egg with a splash of cream, a shake of garlic powder, a
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few drops of fish sauce and a teaspoon of oyster sauce. Oil from a jar of anchovies would work too. I dumped the Creole corn coating in a pan, and went outside for some dandelions. It was sunset time, and the sky was beautiful. My wife was in the garden, and all of the dandelion flowers were gone. Every single one. I assumed she was responsible, but she informed me that dandelion flowers close up at night, so I needed to look a little more closely. And sure enough, there they were, tight buds, pointing straight up, with tufts of yellow poking out the tips. Plucked them in my socks reaching in from outside the garden. To deep fry open or closed flowers, first wash them and let them dry. Drop the blossoms in the egg wash, pull them out one at a time, and roll each flower in the breading. Heat an inch of olive oil to 300 degrees, and drop the flowers in. Cook until they are golden brown all around. Remove and drain. They really do taste like little animals, like insects would taste if insects tasted good. I ate them as fast as I usually eat fried calamari, dipped in a sauce of mayo mixed with salsa. Another approach to eating dandelions is to just eat the yellow petals. If you pinch and squeeze the sepal area behind the petals, you can work them out. They can be added raw to anything, from salad to sushi to pancakes. They make a striking garnish for a soup, and the way they dress up rice is perhaps my favorite way to eat dandelion flowers. Tossing those bright stamen into the grains of jasmine or basmati rice is kind of like a poor-man’s saffron rice, with a similar pollen-y glow. Whole dandelion buds can be added too, raw or cooked, to any dish at virtually any point, as can the leaves, typically chopped. Topped with some crumbled nori sheets, soy sauce, sesame oil and hot sauce, the bitter dandelion flavors disappear into a symphony of other strong, wonderful notes. My wife’s favorite cooked dish is dandelion leaf mashed potatoes. The bitter power of the dandelion can give pizzazz to the bland and balance any strong flavor, be it spicy, sweet, salty or fatty, and even more bitter. The key is to get yourself some dandelion parts from a young plant that hasn’t been sprayed by the nozzle of a pesticide applicator or territorial animal. This can be a challenge in the city, but if you understand the habits of dogs it’s possible to find pristine specimens in public spaces – including some tasty shade-dwelling varieties – throughout the summer. They are free, they are handy and frankly, they are pretty dandy. n
TopShelf
Carbo-loading, Amy Winehouse and a bike race by Chris Aaland
J-Calvin (aka Jesse Ogle of Hello Dollface fame) presents an Amy Winehouse Tribute. The event features local lead singer or those of you who like to play the license plate game, be Sarah Pumpian as well as a nine-piece band and burlesque show. grateful. Peak tourist season is upon us, meaning you’ll be Doors open at 9 p.m., with special guest Bad Goat Disco taking able to augment sightings of Texas, California, New Mexico, the stage at 10. A troubled genius, Winehouse sang some of the Utah and Arizona plates with flatlanders from Rhode Island, most important music of the early 2000s before drinking herself Delaware, Alabama and Mississippi. to death in 2011 (toxicology reports showed a 0.416 blood alcoThat’s right, summer is here! Famihol content at the time of her passlies from across this great union and ing). One could only imagine the beyond will descend upon D-Town to music Winehouse would have ride the train, drive through Mesa recorded in coming years, what with Verde, buy kind chocolates and political turmoil in England and gummy bears, negotiate Red Mountain America, the #metoo movement and Pass at 5 MPH while white-knuckling more. She truly was a once-in-a-generthe entire way, and generally look conation talent. fused at our assortment of one-way On Wednesday, the ACT hosts Emstreets, green bicycle turn lanes and inence Ensemble, a Denver-based double left turns. (Hopefully they sextet that takes listeners down the don’t chomp the edibles before setting rabbit hole with genre-bending music, out over Red Mountain Pass … the soulful vocals and playful lyrics. The paranoia is overwhelming, trust me.) band refuses to be pigeonholed, showAn armada of two-wheeling freaks ing interest in nearly every genre and descends upon town Friday afternoon taking its fans along on a musical for the 23rd annual Faceplant Ale journey. You’ll hear influences from tapping. The collaborative brew be’80s hard rock, ’70s soul and funk, tween Steamworks and Ska is a highand contemporary R&B. Nikolai is light on each spring’s drinking also on the bill, bringing hip-hop to calendar. It all starts at 4:20 p.m. at Ska the evening’s mix. Rize Tha Rebel Brewing World Headquarters in Bodo opens at 9:30 p.m. Park; Rally point No. 2 is Steamworks If you want to escape the craziness Brewing at the intersection of 2nd & around Durango, head west for the 8th. Then it winds down in Buckley first of this summer’s Mancos Grand Park for a big throw down. Dress in a Summer Nights, which takes place funny costume, ride your bike from from 5-8 p.m. Saturday on West Local artists pay tribute to the late Amy Winehouse Grand Ave. in downtown Mancos. points A to B to C, get a free comat the ACT this Friday night. memorative pint glass and Faceplant Hurricane Jake’s One Man Band beer and maybe even win a door prize. will perform, plus there will be a In Buckley, there’s a joint effort beer garden from 3-6 Friday after- gallery crawl, magnetic poetry, interactive art and food. Hurrinoon, plus music from DJ CodeStar and Radio La Chusma. cane Jake is a bluesman out of Cortez who sings, plays guitar and OK, maybe the tapping party isn’t the reason most of the riddrums at the same time, and weaves swing, jazz, rockabilly and ers come to Durango each Memorial Day weekend. Maybe it’s the blues into a big ol’ sound. He looks the part with sideburns and a Iron Horse Bicycle Classic itself that attracts the throngs. This cool logo featuring skull and crossbones, only the bones are actuwhole shindig started when Tom Mayer challenged his brother ally wrenches. Remember … Life is what you Mancos. Jim to a bike race over the passes to Silverton decades ago. When If you go, you might want to check out the Four Corners’ the train whistle blew, off they rode. Little did they know that newest purveyor of adult beverages, Outlier Cellars, located they were starting an event that would play a central role in Dujust a block south of Grand on Main. If you know where the Abrango’s history. solute Bakery & Café is on Main, simply walk diagonally across In 1972, a group of 36 riders decided to celebrate the first run of the street to arrive at the cidery. Outlier is drawing rave reviews the train in the spring by accepting the challenge. In the decades for its Fenceline Cider, made with Montezuma County apples, as since, the Iron Horse has become one of the classic bicycle events well as for its quaint outdoor patio adjacent to the Mancos River. in the West. Durango, being centrally located between Denver, AlThe best thing I’ve heard this week is “Providence Canyon,” buquerque, Phoenix and Salt Lake City, was a natural staging point the sophomore major label release from Georgia-born outlaw and gracious host. The event grew into a Memorial Day tradition Brent Cobb. He’s the latest in a string of neo-traditionalists in the and the town soon became synonymous with cycling, eventually vein of Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and Margo Price. His becoming home to dozens of international riders and Olympians. music and persona owes equally to outlaw country icons like WayThe Iron Horse became more than just a 50-mile ride that parlon Jennings and Southern rockers like Lynyrd Skynyrd. The cousin ticipants must complete while meeting minimum times to the of Nashville’s most in-demand producer, Dave Cobb, he broke summits of two daunting mountain passes (Coal Bank and through in 2016 when his big league debut, “Shine on Rainy Day,” Molas). Through the years, there have been criteriums, circuit was nominated for a Grammy. With a voice sweeter and softer than races, tours, BMX events, trials, dual slaloms, team trail rides and most of his peers (think Willie Nelson meets Al Green) and layers of mountain bike races. The Narrow Horse Swim (presented by the Americana and bluegrass, Cobb tackles issues ranging from relationDurango Swim Club on Friday), the Narrow Horse Triathlon (Friships to booze. “Mornin’s Gonna Come” is a standout, with its preday) and the Narrow Horse 10k Run (Sunday) are among the dictions of next-day regret after a night of binge drinking, while other competitive activities, while parties and kids’ activities dot “Ain’t a Road Too Long” explores the never-ending cycle of perthe calendar. Ironhorsebicycleclassic.com serves as a good reforming in lonely, faraway places. source for a complete schedule and description of events. Don’t believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman? Email me at Get your groove on Friday at the Animas City Theatre, where chrisa@gobrainstorm.net. n
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(970) 769-3590 May 24, 2018 n 21
NewinTown
Owners of salt 360, from left, Rocco Bruno, Cassidy Bruno and Patti Salomon stand in the lobby. Clients are escorted to rooms absent of all external stimuli where they slip into a shallow tank of magnesium-rich salt water. /Photo by Jennaye Derge
A salty solution Flotation studio salt 360 promises to float your troubles away by Stew Mosberg
“T
he lights fade … silence … you begin to drift. Unsure of where your body ends and your surroundings begin … the voice inside quiets. The mind opens to oneness as you float motionless. The restorative effects, both mental and physical, begin to take hold … .” It may sound like the beginning of a “2001: A Space Odyssey,” but it’s actually the description of the latest re-
22 n May 24, 2018
laxation trend. And best of all, one need not travel to outer space to experience the sublime benefits of weightlessness. In fact, soon all it will require is a trip up North Main to immerse oneself in complete and heavenly relaxation. As of June 1, Durango will be home to salt 360, a newly opened floatation studio at 3750 North Main Ave. Locally owned and operated, salt 360 was created and designed by Rocco and Cassidy Bruno and Patti Salomon to provide customers with the “preeminent” floating experience. The offbeat name, while specific to the facility’s content and
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purpose, helps differentiate the business from local rafting companies, which in most places in the world would not be a problem, quips Bruno. If you’re new to this whole idea of flotation, think of it as a good soak in a giant tub of warm water and Epsom salt to ease fatigue and those aching muscles. Except, in this case, you’re totally weightless. Unfortunately, short of using kilos of Epsom salt, it is unlikely you will rise to the surface of your bath water at home. Sure, there are entire bodies of water with naturally high salt content – the 4
Dead Sea, for example, is famous for its salt content that makes it easy to stay afloat – but a trip to the Middle East may not be in the cards for most. Fortunately, that’s where salt 360 comes in. In fact, the relaxation and restoration starts as soon as a client walks in the door. The bright, contemporary lobby is inviting, clean and apportioned to function. Its white and aqua color scheme is reminiscent of clear, pristine water creating instant positive energy. From the calming lobby, clients are escorted to small, darkened rooms absent all external stimuli where they slip into a shallow tank filled with magnesium-rich Epsom salt water warmed to the body’s temperature. The salt (1,000 pounds of it) allows them to float without effort in a procedure known variously as sensory deprivation, floatation therapy, isolation chamber or restricted environmental stimulation therapy (R.E.S.T.). As the Brunos explain it, 90 percent of the mind is consumed with the effects of routine environmental stimulation: light, sound, temperature, touch and gravity, all of which assail your brain capacity on a daily basis. “Experiencing salt 360 helps void outside stimuli in a space where you are able to completely quiet the mind and find ultimate relaxation and calm,” says Salomon. According to Cassidy Bruno, floating allows the ultimate “you time” for people to focus inward and concentrate only on their breath and the present moment. “Our float studio offers a unique, hard-to-duplicate experience that sets one’s self in a near weightless environment, removing all
sound and light to allow your mind and body the opportunity to recover and reset,” she said. Justin Feinstein, the director at LIBR Float Clinic and Research Center in Tulsa, Okla., and a noted authority on floatation therapy, described flotation as a powerful form of stress reduction. In addition to reducing blood pressure and overall levels of the stress hormone cortisol, he describes the floatation experience as “serenity.” Visitors can also rest well knowing that salt 360 takes special pride in its high-tech filtration system, which can be viewed outside each flotation chamber as a complex of tubing, stainless steel, gauges and pumps. “Before every user, each float lab is sanitized by a patented disinfection filtration system,” Cassidy explained. In addition, each visitor must take a pre-float shower. Although the Brunos have lived in Denver the past 10 years and Salomon is from St. Louis, Patti and Cassidy – who are related – were familiar with Durango because they have family here. They decided it would be the perfect place to start their business. “We believed Durango would be a good fit for a float center, because people are so active and athletic here as well as holistic in many ways,” said Cassidy. In addition, the closest float facilities outside Durango are in Albuquerque and Denver. Having one in our back yard, overlooking the Animas Valley, is what the owners are banking on to establish their business. “We did our due diligence and worked through a pretty extensive business plan to make sure the market would support it,” Cassidy said. “So far the response
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Cassidy Bruno opens up a pitch black non-sensory tank where folks go to float./Photo by Jennaye Derge has been great, and everyone we’ve talked to is intrigued by the concept and excited to try it out.” The cost for a session is about $75, commensurate with a full-body massage or acupuncture treatment. Various memberships are also available. “It’s been really great coming together; each of us had the same vision and focus, we have different strengths and skill sets so
it’s made for a nice team dynamic,” Cassidy Bruno said. Jumping into the fray, salt 360 is a sponsor of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic and will have booths in Durango and Silverton during events. For more information and pricing structure, discount plans and an introductory offer, go to: salt360float.com or call 970-422-8284. Sessions are by appointment only, so call ahead. n
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onthetown
Thursday24
Karaoke with Crazy Charlie, 8 p.m.-close, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave.
Yoga Flow, 8 a.m., Pine River Library.
Thursday Night Funk Jam, 9 p.m.-midnight, Moe’s, 937 Main Ave.
Women’s Drop-in Tennis, 9 a.m., Durango High School courts. www.durangotennis.com.
Friday25
Here to Hear: Office Hour with Councilor Dick White, 9-10 a.m., Steaming Bean, downstairs at The Irish Embassy, 900 Main Ave.
Durango Early Bird Toastmasters, 7-8:30 a.m., LPEA headquarters, 45 Stewart St. 769-7615. Free yoga, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Lively Boutique, 809 Main Ave.
Baby Meetup, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Columbine House at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 419 San Juan Dr.
iClean Durango, help cleanup downtown ahead of the summer season, 8:45-11 a.m., meet at the Durango Chamber of Commerce tent, in front Keller Willams at the corner of 7th Street and Main Avenue.
Little Readers Storytime, 10 a.m., Pine River Library. Older Adults Coffee Klatch, 10 a.m.-noon, Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287.
Zumba Gold, 9:30-10:15 a.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
Toddler Storytime, 10:30-11 a.m., Durango Public Library.
Caregiver Cafe, 10 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. 884-2222.
Drop-in Tennis, all ages welcome, 4 p.m., Durango High School courts. www.durangotennis.com.
Open Art Studio, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287.
Submit “On the Town” items by Monday at noon to: calendar@durangotelegraph.com
Kidz Klub, after-school activities, 4-5 p.m., Ignacio Community Library.
Preschool Storytime, 10:30-11 a.m., Durango Public Library.
“Doc Swords,” PTSD Social Club for Veterans, 4-6 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave.
Using soil pigments for painting, free presentation by Mesa Verde Artist-in-Residence Gwen Sullivan, 1-3 p.m., Chapin Mesa Museum at Mesa Verde National Park. www.mesaverde.org.
The Black Velvet Duo performs with Nina Sasaki and Larry Carver, 5 p.m., Dalton Ranch Golf Club, 589 County Road 252. Ska-B-Q with Afrobeatniks, 5-8 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
STEAM Lab: Build a Spinning Top, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Durango Public Library. After School Awesome, 3:30 p.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. 884-2222.
Kirk James performs, 5-8 p.m., Kennebec Café in Hesperus.
ica (Abridged),” 6:30 p.m., event also runs 10 a.m., May 26, performance in July, Sunflower Theatre in Cortez. www.sunflowertheatre.org. Disco Night, 6:30-9 p.m., Chapman Hill Skate Rink. www.durangogov.org. The Black Velvet Trio performs, 7 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave. Open Mic Night, 7-11 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave. 403-1200. Karaoke and dance with Mr. Soul, 8 p.m.-midnight, Blondies in Cortez. DJ Noonz, 8 p.m.-close, Moe’s, 937 Main Ave. J-Calvin presents an Amy Winehouse Tribute, with special guest Bad Goat Disco, doors open, 9 p.m., show begins, 10 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Ave. www.animascitytheatre.com.
Saturday26 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, May 26-28, events around town. www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com. Durango Farmers Market, featuring live music from Jeff Haspel and Jason Thies, 8 a.m.-noon, First National Bank parking lot, 259 W. 9th St. www.durangofarm ersmarket.com. Drop-in Tennis, all ages welcome, 9 a.m., Durango High School courts. www.durangotennis.com. Henry Stoy performs, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Café, 601 Main Ave. 570-650-5982. MakerSpace Skill Sessions, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287.
4D3 performs, 5-9 p.m., Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave. 247-3396.
Animas High School Graduation, 4 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.animashigh school.com.
VFW Indoor Flea Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 1550 Main Ave. 247-0384.
The Ben Gibson Acoustic Duo performs, 5-9 p.m., The Animas River Café at the Doubletree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.
Kirk James performs, 5-8 p.m., patio at Serious Texas BBQ South.
The Black Velvet Band performs for RiverFest, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Little Pavilion at River Reach Terrace in Farmington. 505-716-4405.
Sitting Meditation, 5:30-6:15 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave. 764-8070 or durangodharmacenter.org.
RiverFest, featuring food, drinks, music, river events, tractor rides, fun run, duck race, family friendly activities and more, 5-9 p.m., event also runs 10 a.m.-8 p.m., May 26, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m., May 27, Berg and Animas parks in Farmington. 505-716-4405.
“Taste of Spring” Festival, featuring carriage rides, baby animals, BBQ, farm tours, artwork, live music and more, 1-6 p.m., event also runs May 27, Fox Fire Farms in Ignacio. 563-4675 or foxfirefarms.com.
Bar D Chuckwagon opening night, 5:30 p.m., The Bar D Chuckwagon, 8080 County Road 250.
Kirk James performs, 5:30 p.m., Digs at Three Springs. 259-2344.
Open Mic Night, 6-8 p.m., Eno Wine Bar, 723 E. 2nd Ave. Open Mic & Stand-Up Comedy, 8 p.m., El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave.
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The Black Velvet Duo performs with Nina 4
Sasaki and Larry Carver, 5:30 p.m., Animas River Café at Doubletree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.
The 47th annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic
Comedy Cocktail open mic stand up, 8 p.m., Eno Wine Bar, 723 E. 2nd Ave. DJ Noonz, 8 p.m.-close, Moe’s, 937 Main Ave.
Sunday27
nd
Veterans Breakfast, 9-11 a.m., Elks Club, 901 E. 2 Ave. 946-4831.
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, May 25-27, for updates on events and road closures throughout the weekend, www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com.
Silverton Finish Live Festival, beer garden, food, vendors and more, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Memorial Park in Silverton.
Friday25
Kid’s Treasure Hunt, 10 a.m., Memorial Park in Silverton.
Narrow Horse Triathlon, 1,500 meter swim, road ride and 10-mile run, around Durango.
Henry Stoy performs, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Café, 601 Main Ave. 570-650-5982.
Veterans Memorial Ceremony, 12:30 p.m., Memorial Park in Silverton.
Narrow Horse 1,500 meter swim, presented by Durango Swim Club, Durango Rec Center. www.teamunify.com.
4D3 performs, 1 p.m., Fox Fire Farms in Ignacio. 5634675. The Pete Giuliani Trio performs with Richard Leavitt and Schyler Healy, 2-5 p.m., Trimble Hot Springs, 6475 County Road 203.
Sunday27
Final racer packet pickup, 3-7 p.m., Buckley Park. Steamworks Faceplant Party, featuring live music, beer, vendors, bike parade and more, 3-8 p.m., Buckley Park.
Blue Moon Ramblers, 7 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Iron BMX, unique multi-lap format BMX race, registration 5 p.m., race start 6 p.m., Durango BMX track at Cundiff Park.
Monday28 Memorial Day
Saturday26
Yogalates, 9 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Memorial Day Services, to rededicate the veterans memorial in honor of all fallen heros, 10 a.m., Pine River Cementery in Bayfield.
Durango Coca-Cola Road Race, 47-mile road race from Durango to Silverton, race start 7:30-8 a.m., starting line, Durango High School, Main Avenue and 24th Street.
McDonald’s Citizens Tour to Silverton, 50-mile tour from Durango to Silverton, race start, 8 a.m., starting line College Drive and Camino del Rio.
Jammin’ Juniors, 10 a.m., also Wed., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Gentle Yoga, 1 p.m., Durango Senior Center.
Quarter Horse to Purgatory, 25-mile tour from Durango to Purgatory Resort, race start 8:15 a.m., College Drive and Camino del Rio.
Sitting Meditation and Talk, 5:30-7 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave. 764-8070 or durangodharmacenter.org.
MBS King/Queen of the Mountain, road race and mountain bike race omnium, May 26-27, around Durango.
Salsa/Bachata/Merengue dance classes 6:30 p.m.; social/practice time 8-9 p.m., VFW Hall, 1550 Main Ave. www.salsadancedurango.com.
Bike pickup for road race and tours, 3-7 p.m., Durango High School.
Learn to Square Dance, with Wild West Squares, 78:30 p.m., Florida Grange, 656 Hwy 172. 903-6478.
Storytime, 10 a.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave. Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Mancos Public Library. 533-7600.
Tuesday29
Narrow Gauge Run, 10mile, 4-mile and 1-mile kids courses, followed by post-race party with food, drinks, live music and more, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., around Fort Lewis College campus and along Animas River Trail. La Strada La Plata Gravel Ride, gravel, dirt and paved roads around La Plata County, race start 9 a.m., start line, 9th Street and Main Avenue. Morehart Murphy Subaru MTB Race, singletrack, pavement, manmade features and more running downtown and through Steamworks Brewery, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., start line Main Avenue and 9th Street. Sprite Kids Race, for ages 3-10, registration 8 a.m., race runs 9-11 a.m., start line 9th Street and Main Avenue. Alpine Bank Kids Village, face painting, bouncy house and more, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., downtown Durango. BP BMX Straight Rhythm, BMX course built on Main Avenue with start gates and main event stage, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown Durango. Durango Cyclery Cruiser Crit, full costume cruiser parade, 5 p.m., starting line, Main Avenue and 9th Street. Durango Downtown Bike Festival, featuring kids activities, live music, vendors, racing and more, all day, downtown Durango. 3:30 p.m., Pine River Library. 884-2222. Drop-in Tennis, all ages welcome, 4 p.m., Durango High School courts. www.durangotennis.com.
Yoga for All, 9 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Inklings Book Club, 3rd-5th graders, 4-5 p.m., Ignacio Community Library.
ICL Knitters, 1-3 p.m., Ignacio Library. 563-9287. Zumba Gold, 9:30-10:15 a.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
Baby Storytime, 2-2:30 p.m., Durango Public Library. Tuesday Too Cool, gaming and STEAM programming,
Little Readers Storytime, 10 a.m., Pine River Library.
Terry Rickard performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave. 4
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May 24, 2018 n 25
OntheTown
Bigger than life: the Notorious RBG
from p. 25
Rotary Club of Durango, presentation by Veronica Cortes about Liberty School, 6 p.m., Strater Hotel. 385-7899.
Knit or Crochet with Kathy Graf, 6-7 p.m., Mancos Public Library. 533-7600.
Adult Board Game Night, 6-7 p.m., Durango Public Library.
Folk Jam, 6-8 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave. 4031200.
DJ Crazy Charlie hosts karaoke, 6:30-10:30 p.m., Billy Goat Saloon in Gem Village. Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Blondies in Cortez.
Trivia Night, 7-10 p.m., Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Open Mic Night, 8 p.m.-close, Moe’s Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Wednesday30
Morning Meditation, 8:30 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. 884-2222.
StoryTime, 10-11 a.m., Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287.
Pine River Valley Centennial Rotary Club, noon, Tequila’s in Bayfield.
Free Trauma Conscious Yoga for Veterans and Families, noon-1 p.m., Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.
What: “RBG,” documentary on Ruth Bader Ginsburg When: Various times thru Thurs., May 31 Where: Animas City Theater, 128 E. College Drive Tickets: $10, available at the door or www.animascitytheatre.com Witch. Monster. Evil-doer. Zombie. At the age of 85, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been called it all. In “RBG,” a film documenting Ginsburg’s impact on the America’s legal system, codirectors Julie Cohen and Betsy West open with a montage of insults endured by the diminutive (5’1”), quiet warrior for equal rights. Confirmed to the court in 1993, Ginsburg has unassumingly built a breathtaking legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. Her likeness has been slapped on everything from T-shirts to internet memes. She has even earned the highest form of pop culture praise: her own SNL impersonation by Kate McKinnon. But without a definitive Ginsburg biography, the unique journey of her rise to the nation’s highest court has been largely unknown, even to some of her biggest fans. “RBG” is a revelatory documentary exploring Ginsburg ‘s life and career while also telling the unwavering love story between her and her late husband, Marty, who passed away in 2010.
MakerSpace, noon-4 p.m., Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287.
“Healthy Bones, Healthy Body: Your Guide to Fracture Prevention,” a free presentation with Dr. Kim Furry, Clayton LaBaume and Phil Rambo, 6 p.m., Mercy Sports Medicine, 327 S. Camino del Rio. 764-3999.
Open Knitting Group, 1-3 p.m., Smiley Café, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.
Bluegrass Jam, 6-9 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave. 403-1200.
Teen Cafe, 2-5:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Ignacio Library. 563-9287.
Floor Barre Class, 3-4 p.m., Absolute Physical Therapy, 277 E. 8th Ave. 764-4094.
Terry Rickard performs, 7 p.m., The Office, 699 Main. Yoga en Español, 7:30-8:30 p.m., YogaDurango, 1140 Main Ave. Karaoke, 8 p.m., Blondies in Cortez.
Pete Giuliani performs, 5-9 p.m., Animas River Beer Garden, Doubletree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.
Greg Ryder performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.
Zia Town Series Shocker Enduro, hosted by Durango Devo. B Race, 5:30 p.m., A Race, 6 p.m. devotownseries@gmail.com.
Thank the Veterans! potluck, Peter Neds and Glenn Keefe perform, 5:30-8:30 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave. 8287777.
Autoimmune Support Group, 5:45 p.m., Living Tree Live Foods, 680-B Main Ave.
26 n May 24, 2018
Karaoke with Crazy Charlie, 8 p.m.-close, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave. Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8:30 p.m., BREW Pub & Kitchen, 117 W. College Dr. 259-5959. Eminence Ensemble featuring Nikolai and Rize Tha Rebel, doors open, 8:30 p.m., show begins, 9:30 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Ave. www.animasci tytheatre.com.
Ongoing
“The Wall,” collaborative art installation, thru May 26, Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. www.durangoarts.org.
telegraph
“He was the first boy I ever knew who cared that I had a brain,” Ginsburg says in the film of her college sweetheart. An official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, “RBG” follows the story of the pioneering Ginsburg from law school, back when almost no women went to law school, let alone joined the Harvard review, to raising a toddler and nursing Marty through testicular cancer. She pumps iron (3-pound barbells), does “real” pushups and holds plank while wearing a “Super Diva” sweatshirt. She compares herself to another famous Brooklynite, the Notorious BIG. “I think we have a lot in common,” she quips. Variety’s Amy Nicholson writes, “‘RBG’ colors in that knowledge gap, showcasing the Ginsburg who argued for equal rights in front of the Supreme Court before ‘SNL’ was even on the air. This spry celebration reveals that the real Ginsburg is neither beast nor badass, but an even-tempered, soft-spoken mediator – not typically the traits that inspire rousing high-fives, but qualities that honor the slow, uphill slog of positive change.” The film also includes interviews with other American womens rights icons, including Gloria Steinem and Nina Totenberg. Check out the film’s trailer on YouTube. “An Affinity With Wildlife,” works by Edward Aldrich, show runs thru May, Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave. 2473555. Mariah Kaminsky oil portrait series, exhibit runs thru June 10, Animas Chocolate Co., 920 Main Ave. 317-5761. Teen Time, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, Pine River Library. 884-2222. Live music, 7 p.m., daily, The Office, 699 Main Ave. Karaoke, 8 p.m., Thur-Sun, 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E 8th.
Upcoming Smiley Building’s 20th Anniversary Open House and Celebration, featuring tours, performances, live music, refreshments and more, 4-7 p.m., May 31, Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. www.smileybuilding.com. Film Night & Animas River Days Kickoff Party, 6 p.m., May 31, downtown Durango. www.animasriverdays.com. “What’s New and True: An Explanation of the Election Process in La Plata County,” hosted by the League of Women Voters, 6 p.m., May 31, Pine River Library in Bayfield. 884-2222.
EndoftheLine
The Iron Horse tango
I
have this recurring nightmare every year in the months leading up to the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. I’m all lubed up, and so is my bike. I’m standing astraddle my steed at the starting line at dawn, when I realize, I have not trained for this ride, not one single solitary bit, and I am now as boned as a walrus penis. Every year, that is, except this year. This spring is the first time in six years I haven’t had that nightmare, that I haven’t woken up grasping for my protein bars and electrolytes like I was just visited by the Ghost of Race Day Future. I have no idea why the nightmare has avoided me this year. But, if I had to venture a guess, I would suppose it’s because I haven’t technically ridden my bike at all this season. There’s no nightmare to have, because it turns out that NOT bike riding in preparation for the Iron Horse is the most comfortable way to do it! But just because I haven’t actually ridden my bike since last year’s Iron Horse doesn’t mean I haven’t trained. Quite the contrary, my darling readers. I have simply been dancing the Argentine tango instead. For all the other forms of crosstraining already out there, all the myriad options for training without riding a bicycle, I imagine you’re thinking, “I wish I had thought of that first!” Because I gotta tell you, tango is where it’s at. It’s less sweaty than running, it requires less snow than cross-country skiing, and it breaks fewer ribs, on average, than mixed martial arts. Besides, road cycling is always such a solitary activity, especially once the first rolling hill separates the men with creative training regimens from the ones who have only been riding bicycles every day. One sails onward without close companionship for hours at a time, relying on the meditative rhythm of pedaling and the soothing natural sounds of frogs and birds and trucks giving one nowhere near the 3 feet of legally required clearance. Dancing tango is the perfect way to both defy and complement that road-cycling experience. On the one hand, there’s music, so one’s not left to one’s own thoughts, which one finds really disconcerting after several hours of subsisting on sports water at high elevation. And on the other hand, one still gets the benefits of solitude. You wouldn’t think so, right? I mean, any YouTube search of “tango videos” shows that most dancers, like bicyclists, also do not receive the 3 feet of legally required
clearance. But the beautiful thing about tango is, you can enter your own flow state, where nothing else exists in the world, and you are finally at peace within yourself. That’s why the old saying goes, “It just takes one to tango.” Plus, tango has many other benefits as outlined in articles on the internet. It reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s, improves balance and coordination, builds tolerance for instruments in the accordion family, and reveals any long-repressed appreciation for fine leather shoes. All this from what amounts to, essentially, walking! And every bit of it absolutely applicable to rocking the Iron Horse, probably. Sure, there’s other people in the room that you have to put up with, just like there’s other people riding bikes on the road. But where other people waltz into tango thinking they’re going to learn cool moves they saw on “Dancing with the Stars,” I step onto the dance floor with the right attitude: I’m here to improve my butt. For all the deep emotional/philosophical reasons that dancing tango is legitimate training for the Iron Horse, none are more applicable than toning those glutes. I learn as much in every class, when invariably the instructors instruct certain dancers – namely, the followers – to engage their buttocks. Normally in life, I am a leader. And in social dances, men (of which I am one) are leaders. But for the sake of making it to Silverton, I decided to learn to follow. And I now have a newfound respect for women having to listen to men all the time, because following is shockingly challenging. Squeezing your butt (without the use of hands, mind you) certainly helps, but there’s so many other aspects to dancing as a follow. For starters, did you know women dancers have to walk backwards? And there’s something there too about opening your heart, and caring for your fellow dancer, and trusting other human beings with your exposed toenails, and so on and so forth. But none of it is as daunting as going backwards. Anyway, I got so engrossed in learning tango that it became the entirety of my Iron Horse training. And I’m feeling really good about my chances this weekend. That is, chances are good I’m following each and every one of you into Silverton. But at least I’ll be doing it backwards.
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– Zach Hively
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May 24, 2018 n 27
AskRachel Interesting fact: Studies suggest up to a third of all customers have stolen items at self-checkout counters. And I can’t say I blame them. Dear Rachel, I’m a pretty financially savvy guy. But I find that I won’t use a coupon if it doesn’t save me enough. I’m not sure what the threshold is, but this week, I wouldn’t use one because it only saved me $3, and yet I fought another store because they wouldn’t accept my $5 coupon because of terms and conditions. Or, I’ll use a 15 cent coupon in the grocery store, but won’t use a 20% off coupon at a local restaurant. Is my pride getting in the way? – What’s the Deal
Dear Penny Pincher, Perhaps you just don’t want to appear to be a cheapskate in front of other people. After all, it’s easy enough to offer a coupon to the self-check counter at the grocery store, except that those self-check machines screw everything up. They yell at you for not bagging your groceries fast enough, or for bagging your groceries too fast, and they steal jobs from real people, and what the hell was I talking about again? – Thank you for shopping, Rachel
Dear Rachel, The Iron Horse is finally this week, and I was feeling pretty good about it all spring. But now that it’s upon us, this first-timer is wetting her
28 n May 24, 2018
bike shorts. Who am I, a measly monkey, to think I can conquer mountains and not wipe out an entire peloton of riders much more graceful than myself? What last minute advice can you give a gal about to do the craziest thing she’s done since college? – Deflated Dear Iron Donkey, Just breathe. You’ll be fine; you got this! I mean, do you see the people who complete the Iron Horse every year? There’s skinny people and obese people; there’s preteens and octogenarians. There’s people in tutus and people on mountain bikes. There’s a guy who does it on a unicycle, for crying out loud. My advice is, start at 6 a.m. so you can stay far away from all of them. – Pump you up, Rachel Dear Rachel, My dad’s coming to visit for Memorial Day, which he does every year. Sometimes he meets up with his other old-man friends in town, which is cool by me. But this year, Dad’s bringing his Peter Pan friend, who just announced that he’s tacking his “girlfriend” onto the trip. The air quotes are my dad’s, by the way. So Rachel, what does it mean to be a “girlfriend” in your 50s, and how do I handle this injection of middle-aged sex life into my private domicile? – Hosed Host Dear National Lampoon, I’m pretty sure “girlfriend” is Dad-language for “I’m a man, so I can’t ask my friend about his feelings, so I don’t
telegraph
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com know what’s going on in his heart.” Or else, “girlfriend” means “boyfriend.” But you should give “her” a chance. “She” may impress you. And if “she” doesn’t, just ask “her” to pay for everything, and don’t even offer “her” a coupon. – Mi casa es su casa, Rachel
FreeWillAstrology by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Aries poet Anna Kamieńska described the process of writing as akin to “the backbreaking work of hacking a footpath, as in a coal mine; in total darkness, beneath the earth.” Whether or not you’re a writer, I’m guessing that your life might have felt like that recently. Your progress has been slow and the mood has been dense and the light has been dim. That’s the tough news. The good news is that I suspect you will soon be blessed with flashes of illumination and a semi-divine intervention or two. After that, your work will proceed with more ease. The mood will be softer and brighter. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Do you know what you are worth? Have you compiled a realistic assessment of your talents, powers and capacities? Not what your friends and enemies think you’re worth, nor the authority figures you deal with, nor the bad listeners who act like they’ve figured out the game of life. When I ask you if you have an objective understanding of your real value, Taurus, I’m not referring to what your illusions or fears or wishes might tell you. I’m talking about an honest, accurate appraisal of the gifts you have to offer the world. If you do indeed possess this insight, hallelujah and congratulations! If you don’t, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to work on getting it. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Now is a favorable time to worship at the shrine of your own intuition. It’s a ripe moment to boost your faith in your intuition’s wild and holy powers. To an extraordinary degree, you can harness this alternate mode of intelligence to gather insights that are beyond the power of your rational mind to access by itself. So be bold about calling on your gut wisdom, Gemini. Use it to track down the tricky, elusive truths that have previously been unavailable to you. CANCER (June 21-July 22): “A poem is never finished; it is only abandoned,” wrote poet W. H. Auden, paraphrasing poet Paul Valéry. I think the same can be said about many other kinds of work. We may wish we could continue tinkering and refining forever so as to bring a beloved project to a state of absolute perfection. But what’s more likely is that it will always fall at least a bit short of that ideal. It will never be totally polished and complete to our satisfaction. And we’ve got to accept that. I suggest you meditate on these ideas in the coming weeks, Cancerian. Paradoxically, they may help you be content with how you finish up the current phase of your beloved project.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I highly recommend that you spend the next three weeks hanging out on a beach every day, dividing your time between playing games with friends, sipping cool drinks, reading books you’ve always wanted to read and floating dreamily in warm water. To indulge in this relaxing extravaganza would be in maximum alignment with the current cosmic rhythms. If you can’t manage such a luxurious break from routine, please at least give yourself the gift of some other form of recreation that will renew and refresh you all the way down to the core of your destiny. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Contemporaries of the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras told colorful stories about the man. Some believed he was the son of a god and that one of his thighs was made of gold. When he crossed the Casas River, numerous witnesses testified that the river called out his name and welcomed him. Once a snake bit him, but he suffered no injury and killed the snake by biting it in return. On another occasion, Pythagoras supposedly coaxed a dangerous bear to stop committing violent acts. These are the kinds of legends I expect you to spread about yourself in the coming days, Virgo. It’s time to boost your reputation to a higher level. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): My counsel may seem extreme, but I really think you should avoid mildness and meekness and modesty. For the immediate future, you have a mandate to roar and cavort and exult. It’s your sacred duty to be daring and experimental and exploratory. The cosmos and I want to enjoy the show as you act like you have the right to express your soul’s code with brazen confidence and unabashed freedom. The cosmos and I want to squeal with joy as you reveal raw truths in the most emotionally intelligent ways possible. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): French novelist Honoré Balzac periodically endured intense outbreaks of creativity. “Sometimes it seems that my brain is on fire,” he testified after a 26-day spell when he never left his writing room. I’m not predicting anything quite as manic as that for you, Scorpio. But I do suspect you will soon be blessed (and maybe a tiny bit cursed) by a prolonged bout of fervent inspiration. To ensure that you make the best use of this challenging gift, get clear about how you want it to work for you. Don’t let it boss you. Be its boss. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Ancient civilizations waged war constantly. From Mesopotamia to China to Africa, groups of people rarely went very long without fighting other groups of people. There was one ex-
ception: the Harappan culture that thrived for about 2,000 years in the Indus River Valley, which in the present day stretches through Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Archaeologists have found little evidence of warfare there. Signs of mass destruction and heavy armaments are non-existent. Art from that era and area does not depict military conflict. One conclusion we might be tempted to draw from this data is that human beings are not inherently combative and violent. In any case, I want to use the Harappan civilization’s extended time of peace as a metaphor for your life in the next eight weeks. I believe (and hope!) you’re entering into a phase of very low conflict. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Every human being I’ve ever known, me included, has to wage a continuous struggle between these pairs of opposites: 1. bad habits that waste their vitality and good habits that harness their vitality; 2. demoralizing addictions that keep them enslaved to the past and invigorating addictions that inspire them to create their best possible future. How’s your own struggle going? I suspect you’re in the midst of a turning point. Here’s a tip that could prove useful: Feeding the good habits and invigorating addictions may cause the bad habits and demoralizing addictions to lose some of their power over you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Some books seem like a key to unfamiliar rooms in one’s own castle,” said author Franz Kafka. I suspect this idea will be especially relevant to you in the coming weeks, Aquarius. And more than that: In addition to books, other influences may also serve as keys to unfamiliar rooms in your inner castle. Certain people, for instance, may do and say things that give you access to secrets you’ve been keeping from yourself. A new song or natural wonderland may open doors to understandings that will transform your relationship with yourself. To prep you for these epiphanies, I’ll ask you to imagine having a dream at night in which you’re wandering through a house you know very well. But this time, you discover there’s a whole new wing of the place that you never knew existed. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Just for now, let’s say it’s fine to fuel yourself with comfort food and sweet diversions. Let’s proceed on the hypothesis that the guardians of your future want you to treat yourself like a beloved animal who needs extra love and attention. So go right ahead and spend a whole day (or two) in bed reading and ruminating and listening to soul-beguiling music. Take a tour through your favorite memories. Move extra slowly. Do whatever makes you feel most stable and secure. Imagine you’re like a battery in the process of getting recharged.
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May 24, 2018 n 29
classifieds
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon. Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum. Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com. Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)
Ads can be submitted via: n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133 n 777 Main Ave., #214 Approximate office hours: Mon., 9ish - 5ish Tues., 9ish - 5ish Wed., 9ish - 3ish Thurs., On delivery Fri., 10:30ish - 2ish please call ahead 259-0133.
Announcements Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Volunteer course marshals needed for the Iron Horse MTB race 5/27/18. Contact volunteer@ironhorsebicycleclassic.com for info and to sign up. The Perfect Gift for your favorite dirtbag. Literature from Durango’s own Benighted Publications. The Climbing Zine, The Great American Dirtbags, American Climber, Climbing Out of Bed and Graduating From College Me are available at: Maria’s Bookshop, Pine Needle Mountaineering, the Sky Store, or on the interweb at www.climbingzine.com.
Hiring Director of Education The Powerhouse Science Center is hiring a new Director of Education who is responsible for the overall administration of the organization’s science education grant and non-grant funded programs and services. Visit our website for more information: https://powsci.org/blog/2018/05/14/director-of-education-position-available/ CO Teacher for At-Risk Students Must have SPED within 1 yr of hire. Open interview/tour at DeNier Youth Services. Tuesdays 10:00 am or 5:30 pm, Thursdays 3:00 pm or 5:30 pm. Email resume Karen.Doyle@rop.com or apply at 720 Turner Dr, Durango Interested in Psych, Human Services, Corrections Careers or Cooking? Work with at-risk students in a secure detention facility. *Cook, PT *Detention Specialist/Coach Counselor (FT,PT, days, nights) Open interview/tour at DeNier Youth Services, Tuesdays 10:00 am or 5:30 pm, Thursdays 3:00 pm or 5:30 pm. Must be 21 yo and pass drug/background tests incl THC. Email resume Karen.Doyle@ROP.com or apply at 720 Turner Dr, Durango
Pets Love Your Dog! At the Durango Dog Wash behind Liquor World in the Albertson’s parking lot. Open every day!
Wanted Turn Vehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc. Into Cash! at RJ Metal Recycle, also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.
HelpWanted Bed and Breakfast Help Bed and breakfast needing help with housekeeping and kitchen duties. Must have reliable car. Fun, supportive atmosphere. Email inquiresforbandb@gmail.com Detailed Cleaners Needed Local company seeks P/T detailed cleaner. $15/hr to start, must have smart phone and your own vehicle. Please respond to rjhsteam@gmail.com.
30 n May 24, 2018
Classes/Workshops Ashtanga Yoga Mysore practice group join us Sunday May 27th 8:30am to 10am Smiley Building Studio 10. $8 all levels welcome 970 759-3761 Steve. Help for Low Back, Hip and Knee Issues, including sciatica. Hope Chiropractic and Yoga presents: 5 things you need to know. June 2nd 9-12, Smiley Studio 10. Pre-register and class size limited to 10. $55 Dr Keneen Hope DC. 970-305-3239 www.hopechiroyoga.com Yoga Outside with Lily with live music! @ the Smiley Building Backyard. June 6, 13, 20, 27; July 11, 18, 25. 5:45-7PM, $10 drop in. 847 819 2039. The Art of Mindfulness Summer Kids’ Camp Prepare for the upcoming school year, as a life skill, and just plain fun! Mindfulness through art/nature/communication/acting, and more Ages 6-12 August
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13-16 on-pointmindfulness.com or call JoAnne at 970-749-4912 Mommy and Me Dance Class Come join the fun! Now registering for classes. Call 970-749-6456. mom myandmedance.com
Services Deb Can Do It! Baby/pet/house sitting and personal assist. 40 yrs in area, w/ref. Flexible, P/T 970-946-6632. Spray Tans! Organic and beautiful! Meg Bush, LMT 970-759-0199. Botanical Hi-Altitude Skin Care A drug free approach to metabolic, hormonal signs of aging, and environmental damage. Private and personal. Monie Schlarb lic. esthetician. 970-7644261, leave message. Harmony Organizing and Cleaning Services Create harmony in your space this year by organizing and cleaning your home, vacation home or office. Martee 970-403-6192. Advanced Duct Cleaning Air duct cleaning specializing in dryer vents. Improves indoor air quality; reduces dust and allergens, energy bills and fire risk. 970-247-2462 www.advanced ductcleaninginc.com
BodyWork Massage Teacher Gifts! 30, 60 & 90. Meg Bush, LMT 970-7590199. Edward Coons ~ Massage Therapy Advanced bodywork for athletes and people of all walks and ages for 15 years. 512- 731-1836. massageintervention.life 25 years experience. Couples, sauna, cupping. Reviews on FB + Yelp. 970-9032984. Massage/Healing Studio to Share Looking for a massage therapist, hypno-therapist or energy worker to
share my studio. Great downtown location. Must be clean, responsible & respectful of the space. Available September 1st looking for a minimum commitment through January. Please Call Kathryn for details 970-201-3373.
RealEstate Radon Services Free radon testing and consultation. Call Colorado Radon Abatement and Detection for details. 970-946-1618.
ForSale TreeNet Willy Retreat and reconnect with nature with TreeNet Willy’s custom rope platforms built in the comfort of your own back yard. 970-403-2012 for free estimate. Premade portable nets available $200. Tristan’s Stained Glass Specializing in repairs, custom orders. Sheet glass and art glass supplies. 970403-2011. Colorado Paddle Boards are back! 10.6 Colorado board package comes with board, pump, paddle and backpack. $799. New for this year......Big Fish Board (one very large SUP). Available at the Durango Outdoor Exchange on College Dr. Inflatable Kayak Fleet! Like new 50% off - $499+ only used 12 times. GravityPlay.com - 970-403-5320. Hot Tub – New 6HP pump, 50 jets. Cost $8,000. Sell $3,650. 505-270-3104. Reruns Home Furnishings We’ve got you covered for patio season with tables, chairs, bistros, umbrellas, patio rug, lanterns, garden pots, table cloths & yard art. Cool indoor furniture, too - retro record cabinet, dressers & kitchenware. 572 E. 6th Ave. 385-7336.
RoomateWanted Male Only, In-Town Clean, quiet. No smokers, pets, partiers. $550 including utilities, plus deposit. 970-759-0551.
ForRent Country Life, 2 BR 2 BA Home on quiet ranch near Navajo Lake. $1025 + utils. 970-553-9332
CommercialForRent Large OFC Quiet, 1st FL. Private room 14 X 14 w/waiting area. Full or PT. 247-9076. Office Suite Available Southeast corner, 8th and Main, 2nd floor, 21’ by 13’ windows, waiting room. Call Joanie, 970-759-6606 for more info.
CommunityService Naturalist Training for Tours at Purgatory Do you like sharing your love of nature with others? Come to this free naturalist training at Purgatory Resort and learn what you need to help guide a few tours throughout the summer. The training is Thurs., May 31, at 9:30 a.m. with San Juan Mountains Association. Meet inside the ticket office. The guided tours are every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:45 a.m.-noon starting June 5 and running to mid-August. Contact mk@sjma.org or call 970-759-9113 for more info. Adaptive Sports Association Volunteer Training Adaptive Sports Association (ASA) is hosting summer program volunteer train-
ings. ASA is a Durango-based non-profit sports and recreation outfitter for people with disabilities. Volunteers are needed to assist with daily programming including whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, cycling, camping, rock climbing, and more. Trainings are free and no prior experience is necessary. Volunteer canoe and kayak trainings are May 24 and 29. Rafting trainings are May 25 and 31. Cycling trainings are May 30 and June 1. Interested volunteers call 259-0374, visit asadurango.com, or email program@asadurango.com to RSVP and to get more info. Trails 2000 Seeks Volunteers for Trail Impact Study Trails 2000 seeks volunteers to help conduct a Trail Impact Study during the 2018 season to gain insight into annual trail use in Durango. Volunteers are needed to administer the survey at various trailheads around Durango from May to October; sign up is now available at Trails2000.org (Trails2000.org/2018/04/study/) for shifts starting Sunday, May 20, through Monday, July 30. In addition to volunteers, Trails
HaikuMovieReview ‘Dude’ Kinda like a “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” but for Generation Z
2000 will offer paid positions for individuals who can commit to a minimum of four volunteer shifts (20 hours). Volunteers must be 18 or older and have transportation available to them. To sign up, please visit Trails2000.org/2018/04/study/. The study is funded and facilitated by Trails 2000. Advantage PT’s “Odds and Ends” Drive for the Durango Community Shelter. Advantage Physical Therapy will be collecting new and gently uses items thru May 31 inclduing: earbuds, flip flops, twin size comforters, canned tuna and canned chicken. Items can be dropped off at Advantage Physical Therapy at 3600 Main Ave., Suite A.
Kars for Kids A car that that has lost its worth still has value to early education in Ignacio. Any model and age car can be donated to make a lasting gift to Kars for Kids, a program to fundraise for Friends of Ignacio Head Start. Donating is easy and your vehicle will be picked up, free title services provided, and a receipt will be mailed. Call 866-628 -2277 or visit www.SUCAP.org. Cooking Matters needs Volunteers Come learn more about how you can help fight hunger in Colorado! Or visit co.cookingmatters.org/ways-you-can-help for more info. New Volunteer Training: May 21 and June 25 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 862 Main Ave, Suite 223.
Drinking&DiningGuide Himalayan Kitchen 992 Main Ave., 970-259-0956 www.himkitchen.com Bringing you a taste of Nepal, Tibet & India. Try our all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. The dinner menu offers a variety of tempting choices, including yak, lamb, chicken, beef & seafood; extensive veggies; freshly baked bread. Full bar. Get your lunch punch card – 10th lunch free. Hours: Lunch, 11am-2:30 pm & dinner, Sun. - Thurs., 5-9:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. ‘til 10 p.m. Closed 2:30 to 5 daily $$ Crossroads Coffee 1099 Main Ave., 970-903-9051 Crossroads coffee proudly serves locally roasted Fahrenheit coffee and delicious baked goods. Menu includes gluten-free items along with bullet-proof coffee, or bullet-proof chai! Come in for friendly service and the perfect buzz! Hours: Mon.- Fri., 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. $
– Lainie Maxson
The suffering is over ...
11th Street Station 1101 Main Ave., 970-422-8482 www.11thstreetstation.com A culinary collective in the heart of Durango that offers five food trucks, a coffee shop, and a bar. Our food vendors offer everything from sushi to pizza. Come on down - there’s a little something for everyone! Hours: Daily, 6 a.m. – 12 a.m. $$ BREW Pub & Kitchen 117 W. College Drive, 970-259-5959 www.brewpubkitchen.com Experience Durango’s award-winning brewery & restaurant featuring unique, hand-crafted beers, delicious food - made from scratch, and wonderful wines & cocktails. Happy Hour, Mon.- Fri. 3-6 pm & all day Sunday with $2 off beer, $1 off wines & wells & 25% off appetizers. Watch the sunset behind Smelter Mountain as the train goes by. Hours: Sun.-Thurs.11 a.m. - 9p.m., & Fri. & Sat.11 a.m. to 10 p.m. $$
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