Durango Telegraph - July 19 2018 by Durango Telegraph

2 n July 19, 2018

telegraph

lineup

4 La Vida Local

Lighting the way

4 Thumbin’ It

LPEA slowly forges ahead on local renewable energy projects by Tracy Chamberlin

5 Word on the Street

6-7 Soapbox

Wildlife officials make plea to anglers, floaters to give fish a break by Missy Votel

12-13 Day in the Life

11 Mountain Town News

Up to their gills

16 Flash in the Pan 17 Top Shelf

12-13

Ear to the ground: “We don’t run from mudslides, we drink them.” – Local responding to the latest in a string of unfortunate local natural disasters

Purple power

thepole

RegularOccurrences

A new poll shows the growing influence of the “Outdoor Voting Bloc” among Western swing, aka purple, states. The new “Winning the West 2018” poll released Wednesday by the Center for Western Priorities reveals how public lands, parks and wildlife play a role in moving Western voters to the polls and influencing who they vote for. It may come as no surprise, but the Trump Administration’s policies on public lands are about as popular as the man himself, with a dismal 23 percent approval rating among Colorado voters, according to the poll. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke is not any better, with an upside down approval rating in all five of the Western

18-20 On the Town

‘Tis the season

20 Ask Rachel

Despite the apocalypse, there’s still plenty for local tourists to see and do photos by Stephen Eginoire

21 Free Will Astrology 22-23 Classifieds

23 Haiku Movie Review

Dating for dollars

Return to sender

‘Singles in Paradise’ auction to jump start local businesses – and love lives by Missy Votel

Taking over

New York ska/reggae outfit the Big Takeover parties in the park by Chris Aaland

boilerplate

EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel (missy@durangotelegraph.com) ADVERTISING AFICIONADO: Lainie Maxson (lainie@durangotelegraph.com) RESIDENT FORMULA ONE FAN: Tracy Chamberlin (tracy@durangotelegraph.com)

he Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, beckoning singletrack or monster powder days. We are wholly owned and operated independently by the Durango Telegraph LLC and

A letter to the editor last week gave an incorrect email for the D&SNGRR. According to the train, the correct email is contact@durangotrain.com. The train noted that every email is read and responded to, if necessary. And in regards to last week’s sign of the downfall, our friend, Seana the mail lady, informed us that the U.S. Postal Service is 100 percent funded by its own revenue. It receives no government subsidies, grants, taxpayer funds or bailouts. In other words, we the people did not have to pay for the Lady Liberty stamp eff up – at least directly anyway.

STAR-STUDDED CAST: Lainie Maxson, Chris Aaland, Clint Reid, Stephen Eginoire, Tracy Chamberlin, Jesse Anderson, Allen Best, Shan Wells and David Feela

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 332 Durango, CO 81302

VIRTUAL ADDRESS: www.durangotelegraph.com

E-MAIL: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

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distributed in the finest and most discerning locations throughout the greater Durango area. We’re only human. If, by chance, we defame someone’s good name or that of their family, neighbor, best

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.

PHONE: 970.259.0133

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Sec. of Interior Ryan Zinke is unpopular among outdoorsy Western swing voters, even in his home state of Montana. No shocker there. swing states polled (Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Montana.) “In 2016 we saw the rise of public lands and the outdoors as a wedge issue in several competitive races in the Mountain West,” Jennifer Rokala, director of the Center for Western Priorities, said. “With a peaking voter backlash against efforts to drill and mine recklessly on public lands or shrink national monuments, we expect to see outdoor issues playing an even more decisive role.” In fact, more than 80 percent of voters view public lands as important when choosing candidates. Among the most notable findings: • Seventy-seven percent of voters – including Republicans, Democrats and independents – were opposed to reductions in the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. Likewise, 74 percent oppose opening public lands near national parks and monuments to oil and gas; and 67 percent oppose rolling back environmental regulations on oil and gas development. • Colorado voters place heightened importance on the outdoor recreation economy, with 87 percent saying it’s important to the state’s economy; and 86 percent agreeing that public lands and the outdoor lifestyle are important to attracting good jobs and companies to the state. • Renewable energy is preferred over mining and drilling, with 84 percent of Colorado voters favoring investment in renewable energy sources. The online poll was conducted in June by an independent research firm. Complete poll results are available at WinningTheWest2018.org. The Denver-based Center for Western Priorities is a conservation policy and advocacy organization focused on land and energy issues across the West.

July 19, 2018 n

opinion

LaVidaLocal Urning to be free One thing you never expect to find in a thrift store is your parents, and I don’t mean an elderly couple strolling the aisles reminiscing over items they used to own when they were young. Parents, especially retired ones living on fixed incomes, appreciate thrift stores offering regular senior discounts. By now you are probably imagining sweet old people holding hands in a secondhand shop, searching for bargains. But no, the couple I’m referring to was situated on a shelf in two polished and permanently sealed funeral urns. Seriously. I picked them up and felt the heft of ash shift inside. I tipped them to peek at their bottoms where a volunteer had scribbled a price. $6. Each. To be clear, these were not my parents, nor may they have been anyone’s parents I have ever met, but I assure you they were two expensive cremation urns with three to five pounds of soft, loose something sealed inside – what I know to be the approximate weight of an incinerated corpse, minus pocket change. I carefully placed them back on the shelf, side by side, puzzled by what I’d found. Mark Twain characterized the hereafter as “Heaven for climate, hell for society.” Where ending up in a thrift store fits into these options is hard to say. A sympathy welled up inside me. I felt like handing the money over and taking these unwitting eternities home with me, maybe hammering their lids loose and scattering their remains in more traditional locations like beautiful meadows, shimmering lakes or rivers, or emptying them over the edges of a ruggedly alluring cliff. It would have been the proper thing to do, because all cultures seem to agree the dead deserve our respect. As I stepped back and sat on a slightly worn but perfectly serviceable couch that was itself hoping for a second life, I pondered what to do. I watched another customer pick up one of the urns, cursorily examine it, and return it to the shelf. Moving 6 feet to the left, she leaned forward to look deeply into a bathroom vanity mirror, as if testing the temperature of a quiet pond by touching its surface with one finger, then she wandered away. Soon a young man grabbed an urn and held it up to the light before putting it back. No sale. Life moves on. The thought of spending eternity in a thrift store prompted me to consider

those residents temporarily evacuated from their homes near Purgatory, not the theological way station between heaven and hell, but the ski resort. With summer fires incinerating over 50,000 acres, I can only imagine returning home after fire containment, understanding all too poignantly a future reduced to ash, as do the fire crews who spent so much time in harm’s way. It must have felt like an eternity. Thankfully natural optimism is not limited by acreage, so forests, given time, anticipate a better existence. Our own fate is more subject to speculation. The average funeral today costs between $8,000-$10,000, which partly explains why almost half of the dying opt for cremation. Anyway, I would have felt less comfortable finding two sealed coffins pushed up against a couch in the furniture section. To my delight, a friend related a personal insight when I related my tale about finding the urns. His experience helped me put a funeral home’s excessive add-on expenses associated with death into perspective. Personnel quoted a price of about $400 to purchase an urn. Can’t be helped, my friend thought, but while sorting his relative’s household to dispose to her worldly goods he discovered a beautiful piece of stoneware. He called the funeral home to ask if a piece of pottery could serve as an urn. Reluctantly, the funeral manager agreed, but apprised him of the legal requirement for putting any pottery in a burial box if it is be placed in the ground. My friend asked how much? About $400 was the reply. While continuing the excavation of his aunt’s belongings, he came across a surprisingly serviceable metal storage trunk. Would that do for containment? He called. Hesitantly, the substitution was approved. How these cremation urns turned up at the thrift store may have a completely reasonable explanation, but I’m not sure I really want to know. Until someone involved writes me a letter with another good story, I’ve decided that ending up where you never expected may be a happy alternative to our streamlined rest-in-peace industry. After all, as I witnessed while seated across from my mystery couple, the living are still inclined to hold you, sometimes tenderly, or they gently upend your complacency by shifting what used to be your bones like sand in an hourglass. I wouldn’t be opposed to a little more of this kind of existence before moving on to the greater and unquotable unknown.

This Week’s Sign of the Downfall:

Thumbin’It Signs that Utah prosecutors are likely to drop “cattle-killing” charges against Great Old Broad Rose Chilcoat, a longtime champion of public lands

Too much of a good thing, with monsoons creating destructive debris and mud slides across roads and sending a torrent of fish-killing ash into the Animas River

A silver lining to this summer’s natural misfortunes, with the drought sparing the bears’ wild food sources leading to far fewer bears in town than previous years

The possibility that the former Rocky Mountain Arsenal Site, scheduled to open to hikers and bikers, has not undergone adequate plutonium testing

A bill making its way through Congress that would give much-needed funding for a backlog of maintenance at national parks, including Mesa Verde, which needs $70M in work

4 n July 19, 2018

– David Feela

A surge in meth use in the state, with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reporting meth was found in the systems of 280 people who died of drug overdoses in 2017 – more than five times that recorded in 2012.

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No bull You know that famous “Charging Bull” statue on Wall Street? Well, a man named Jeff Jetton covered it with 130 um, “adult toys,” got on top of it, took his shirt off and put on a Vladimir Putin mask. The first cops on the scene laughed hysterically, but they still had to write him a summons because his protest wasn’t appropriate. But Jetton disagreed, and he issued the most noteworthy official statement of all time: “Anybody who tells you sex toys aren’t good tools of resistance has never had a bag of dicks and a little bit of ingenuity.”

WordontheStreet With summer’s mid-way point upon us, the Telegraph asked: “What’s your summer theme song?”

“‘Breezeblocks,’ by Alt J.”

Aaron Vanbuskirk

Chynna Talbott

“‘Want to Build a Snowman,’ from the ‘Frozen’ soundtrack.”

“Any Avett Brothers song.”

“Talking Heads ‘Take Me to the River.’” Jillian Kaulius

“‘Island in the Sun’ by Weezer.”

Mason Pritchett

Stella McNichols

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July 19, 2018 n 5

SoapBox

ReTooned/by Shan Wells

A new old approach to wildfires To the editor, People sometimes tell me that the USDA Forest Service isn’t aggressive enough in fighting fires. As a wildland fire professional with more than 30 years of experience, I disagree. Historically, wildland fire shaped the American landscape. Fires were once common, revitalizing and reinvigorating forests and grasslands. The American Indians used fire for purposes ranging from shaping habitats for desired species to reducing fuels to protect communities. Today, our nation has over a billion acres of vegetated landscapes, most of them naturally adapted to periodic wildland fire. In a backcountry area such as a wilderness, we might decide to monitor and manage a fire, using it as a land-management tool to reduce hazardous fuels and restore fire’s natural ecological role to the landscape. Our policy is to use every tool we have to improve landscape conditions, evaluating and managing the risks in conjunction with our state and other partners. Instead of waging a losing war on wildfire, we are learning to live with fire. Still, if a fire threatens lives, homes, property or natural resources, we put it out as fast as we can at the least possible cost. We make that decision while the fire is still small, and our rate of suppression success is phenomenal – up to 98 percent. These fires number about 7,000 per year nationwide. Two to 3 percent of the fires we fight escape our control. Some of them become huge conflagrations driven by winds through tinder-dry fuels. Such fires are impossible to stop until weather or fuel conditions change: they are bonafide natural disasters. So we evacuate areas at risk and use special techniques to steer such fires around homes and other points of value as best we can, and4

Stacked Rock Kennels Board-Train-Counsel (5 miles north of Mesa Verde National Park)

www.Stackedrockkennels.com Facebook: stackedrockkennels/ kimberlysilverkincaid Call/text: 970-317-5446

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we put the fires out as soon as we can. The Forest Service once tried to put out all fires, but we wasted taxpayer dollars by attacking backcountry fires where nothing was at risk but the lives of the firefighters themselves, some of whom paid the ultimate price. Today, we will commit firefighters only under conditions where firefighters can actually succeed in protecting important values at risk. The decisions we make are based on the safety of our firefighters: with our can-do culture, we expect our responders to fight fires aggressively, but we neither expect nor allow firefighters to risk their lives attempting the improbable. Whether a fire is in the remote backcountry or close to homes, safety is our highest priority: no home is worth a human life. Any other policy would be unconscionable, irresponsible and unacceptable to the people we serve. – Chief Vicki Christiansen, interim U.S. Forest Service chief, via email

Getting aboard electric train idea To the editor, Did the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad coal-fired train cause the devastating 416 Fire? We may never know, but we do know that fires get started – and put out – by the D&SNGRR often enough that every train is followed by a tender intended to suppress flames. Put that together with the fact that Durango is in an exceptional drought – an official classification that takes it beyond extreme – and it’s clear that Durango’s economic engine needs to find a new way to chug into the future. Wouldn’t it be great to develop an electric train that would be used in conjunction with the original coal-fired locomotives? Let’s imagine what a trip from the past into the future would look like. The experience would be exactly the same as it always has been at the Durango station and for the first 11 miles of the 46-mile trip. The locomotive would roll out in all of its loud, steamy, smoky majesty and the train would rum-

ble through town and chug its way up the valley, giving passengers the unique experience that only a steam train can provide. Then, before the climbing begins and the foliage becomes thicker, the coal-powered locomotive would be exchanged for a battery-powered electric engine. The vintage cars would rock back and forth and clunk along the old track just as if a steam locomotive were hauling them, but without the smoke and ash, periodic breakdowns and potential for starting a fire. For train enthusiasts who want to enjoy an authentic old-time train ride, there would be times when conditions would allow for the original steam locomotives to bring the train all the way to Silverton. The electric locomotive modules – call them ELMOs – would be designed to travel at low speed and create high torque for the climb to Silverton. ELMOs would be self-contained, using the same existing technology that can be found in other electric vehicles built by a growing list of companies that includes Ford, GM, BYD, Nissan and Tesla. Multiple ELMOs could be easily joined to one another depending on load size, similar to what is already common practice in freight trains. The return trip, almost all downhill, would offer plenty of opportunity to recharge the batteries using regenerative breaking. Many train passengers would certainly prefer a cleaner, less-polluting ride that all but eliminates the risk of fire. An even greener option that dispenses with a steam engine altogether – call it The Wilderness Express – would surely appeal to anyone who wants to use the train to get into the Weminuche Wilderness. As a bonus for everyone breathing our air, the batteries could easily be solar-charged. The large parking lot at the Durango station – a hot dusty expanse in summer and a snowfield in winter – could be covered with a roof fitted with solar panels. Another solar array could be placed at the north valley Hermosa depot, or near the wye at the south end of the Animas Valley. Enough solar energy could be produced to offset the carbon emissions emitted by burning coal.

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Why haven’t trains everywhere made the change to batteries? Very few electric trains need them; they get their power from a third rail or overhead line. Other trains – diesel, for instance – are designed to cover long distances. Recharging or exchanging batteries along the way would be expensive and cumbersome. The situation for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Rail Road is ideal – one charge could easily be sufficient to carry the train the 46 miles between Durango and Silverton. If this transition could really happen, it would be an amazing opportunity to enhance the experience for people who love to vacation here, and for those of us who live here. This concept is environmentally sound. It’s also a long-term solution to the problem of keeping the train running and the tourist dollars flowing through periods of extended and severe drought. I hope others in our community will give it consideration, including Allen, Carol and John Harper, and their management team. I will continue to gather more information about how a transition to a solar train might be feasible and invite anyone interested to join me in exploring this idea. – Spencer Compton, Durango

Waiting for an accidental tourist To the editor, “It’s a good thing we have life insurance,” grumbled a tourist cautiously maneuvering his way across the street with his family. Walking and driving in downtown Durango is a harrowing experience for all. The only reasonably safe place was College and Main, where pedestrians had their own light and were left in peace. But with great forethought that, too, has been turned into an accident waiting to happen. – Diane Dalton, Durango

July 19, 2018 n 7

TopStory

A majority of solar panels in the area serve to offset energy use for businesses and homes, like this array atop the Student Union Building at Fort Lewis College. LPEA’s new grant program – now open for applicants – would do the same for local nonprofits, helping them to lower electric bills./Photo by Steve Eginoire

Ray of light Despite debates and concerns, renewable projects inch forward by Tracy Chamberlin

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ll the bickering was just too much talk for one member. With an ever-changing energy landscape and very different ideas on how to tackle it, the Board of Directors for La Plata Electric Association began to get a disagreeable reputation. As discussions got more and more heated, an attempt was made to calm the storm by creating a new group. A group tasked with taking the long view and looking at the future of power. Called the Long-term Strategies Committee, the group of four directors – Bob Lynch, Britt Bassett, Guinn Unger and Dan Huntington – finished their factfinding mission recently and returned to the full board with a presentation in June. According to the committee members, they learned a lot about the specific subjects they were tasked with researching. Huntington, who served as the committee’s chair, said, “We need to be agile and able to change. It’s a fast-changing industry with new technologies and electronics … we’ve got to be resilient.” Bassett said although he didn’t think minds were changed, he was happy with the outcome. Still, the committee’s work did not – nor was it intended to – produce any specific policy changes. With some members of the community pushing for LPEA to in-

crease the amount of local renewable energy it produces, it seemed like just talk. “The bottom line is too much talking is going on and all the while time is going by,” Jeff Bork, retired telecom lawyer and LPEA coop member, said Wednesday. “Someone had to step forward and get something going.” So, Bork decided to reach out to companies who could fill the local need for renewable energy. The first company he approached seemed interested but was slow to respond. Bork then reached out to CalCom Energy, a California-based company with offices in Durango. One of CalCom’s founders is Durango resident and LPEA board member, Britt Bassett. He was also one of four directors who served on the Long-term Strategies Committee. Because of Bassett’s connection to CalCom, he acknowledged a potential conflict of interest and stepped away from decision-making on the issue during the board’s June meeting. However, concerns were raised by several coop members during their regular meeting Wednesday about Bassett and CalCom, some even suggesting Bassett step away from his position as a director altogether. In response to the questions raised, Bork sent an email to the Telegraph clarifying his attempts to reach out to CalCom. 4

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Playing the long game Each member of LPEA’s Long-term Strategies Committee was given a different aspect of the industry to research – like future power needs, electric vehicles, energy storage and the open marketplace for electricity. “It’s very simple looking in,” Committee Chairman Dan Huntington said of the industry. “But you get involved on the inside and it’s very complicated.” Take the open market for energy, as an example. Much like traders on Wall Street, power brokers buy and sell electricity on an open market. The City of Aztec and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in Taos, N.M., tapped a company called Guzman Energy to be their brokers and supplement their power needs by purchasing it on the open market, instead of signing a long-term contract with a wholesale provider like Tri-State Generation and Transmission. In theory, it’s a simple concept – those with extra power sell it in an open marketplace to those who need it. But, the reality of actually getting the electricity from a solar panel in the New Mexico desert to a home in Colorado is no simple task. Transmission gaps, limits on capacity and lack of storage are just a few details that affect pricing and probability. It’s by no means impossible, though. The open market for energy is a common and decades-old practice on the East Coast, and is quickly becoming so in the West. To find out more and read the committee’s presentation, go to www.lpea.coop and check out the Long-term Strategies Committee.

– Tracy Chamberlin

“I alone decided to contact CalCom,” Bork said in the email. “I did not tell anyone at LPEA – whether an employee or a board member (including Britt [Bassett]) – about this contact.” The proposal from CalCom is to build several 3.5-10 megawatt solar projects – with at least one in each of the school districts and counties in LPEA’s service territory – over the next three years. Together these systems would add 35 megawatts to the coop’s energy portfolio, and they include an energy-storage component. Bassett’s connection to CalCom isn’t just a concern because of competition with other solar companies or the nuance of negotiations, but the impact it could have on CalCom’s ability to be what’s called a qualifying facility. In the 1970s, when the oil crisis left Americans fighting over the last drop of gasoline at the pump, Congress stepped in

and passed the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA. This law was intended to encourage energy conservation, efficiency and the development of renewable resources. One way the law did this was to create “qualified facility” status, which allowed certain smaller power producers to get special rate and regulatory treatment. Today, this has translated into a way for coops like LPEA to increase their renewable energy portfolio without violating the contract they have with Tri-State Transmission and Generation, their wholesale energy provider. LPEA’s contract with Tri-State limits the amount of renewable energy it can get to just 5 percent of its total. The other 95 percent has to come from Tri-State. The window for qualified facilities opened when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, ruled in a case between TriState and another one of its coop members,

Delta-Montrose. In that case, Delta-Montrose wanted to work with a small hydroelectric power producer in its area but was limited by the same 5 percent cap. So they asked the federal agency to give the producer qualified facility status – and they did. In response, Tri-State created a new policy to get its lost revenues back, but FERC also said no to that idea. Tri-State appealed the agency’s decision, but it’s not known when FERC will take up the case. Delta-Montrose hailed the decision as a win, and word was out to other co-ops, including LPEA, that they too could expand their renewable energy portfolios by tapping qualifying facilities. One of the keys to this loophole, however, is that LPEA can’t seek out qualified facilities. They have to wait for the companies to come to them. That’s why Bassett couldn’t reach out to CalCom. LPEA’s manager of engineering and

member services, Ron Meier, said on Tuesday that the coop was approached out of the blue by three different companies looking to build solar projects. It was announced Wednesday that CalCom was one of those companies. The fact that Tri-State’s appeal is still out there does leave some risk on the table for qualified facilities and the coops they contract with. But it’s all part of the negotiations – who’s going to take the risk if something were to change? “That’s one of the challenges of any of this happening,” Meier explained. All three of the proposed projects are still on the table, and Meier, along with other LPEA officials, will be meeting with two of the companies in the coming weeks. One, two or all three of the proposed projects – including CalCom’s – could still be approved. “It’s the beginning of the process,” Meier said, “but we’re hopeful.” n

LPEA opens up renewable grant program to local nonprofits The door is open for local nonprofits needing a little help with renewable energy aspirations. La Plata Electric Association is accepting applications for its Renewable Generation Funds Grants Program now through Nov. 1. The program isn’t actually new. Rather, it’s an updated version of a long-standing one used in the past to help install solar panels on schools and low-income housing units. With more and more people knocking on LPEA’s door, however, the coop decided to make some changes and help out local nonprofits along the way. This latest evolution of the program is open to nonprofit organizations that are LPEA coop members in good standing. The

idea is to help with the cost and installation of renewable energy projects that would help the nonprofits with future energy costs. The projects can be big or small – or something in between. The coop has $40,000 to use for the program, so the amount of the grant awarded could be anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000, depending on how many nonprofits apply and how applications are approved. Preference will be given to applicants who’ve secured additional funding for the project. Dan Harms, manager of rates, technology and energy policy at LPEA, suggested in a press release that applicants “define the project.” Examples included solar panels for a homeless shelter, church or even kennels to keep rescue dogs warm in winter.

Although the proposed projects should be specific, Harms said the coop is willing to work with organizations to help tweak plans or iron out details. “Community-based is important to us,” Harms said. “We’re really looking for the candidate who in turn helps other people in the community.” Decisions are likely to be announced in December and funding can go out as early as January. Local nonprofits interested in applying can get the application online at www.lpea.coop. For more information, contact the coop at 382-3505 or email jbennett@lpea.coop.

– Tracy Chamberlin

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July 19, 2018 n

LocalNews

Anglers, floaters asked to give fish a break

by Missy Votel

o put it bluntly, the Animas River is a hot mess right now. And to help fish survive the onslaught of high temperatures, low flows, and ash and debris runoff from the 416 Fire, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are asking for angers help. On Tuesday, CPW announced it was asking anglers to cooperate with a voluntary closure on fishing from 12 noon - 7 p.m. on the river. This time coincides with the hottest temperatures on the river. According to the CPW, afternoon water temperatures have been reaching 70 degrees; temperatures in the mid-70s can be fatal to fish as they compete for oxygen and food. The historical mid-summer average temperature on the Animas is 58 degrees. “The temperature of the water does drop at night, so when the water clears we suggest fishing in the morning hours until noon,” John Alves, the CPW’s senior aquatic biologist, said. “The fish are already stressed because of the warm water and their stress level only goes up when they start fighting a hook and line.” Ash and debris from the 416 burn scar are not helping matters. On July 10, CPW confirmed a significant fish kill in the river north of Durango, which was originally reported by a local family. Wildlife officials

10 n July 19, 2018

determined that ash run-off from surrounding charred slopes killed the fish. Since then, there have been several reports of dead fish, north of Durango all the way through town. Most of the fish found dead were brown trout. “We inspected the fish and found their gills were coated in ash which caused them to suffocate,” Alves said. Alves said that ash and sediment run-off is likely to continue throughout the summer, and it could continue for more than a year. Compounding the problem is the river’s low flow. Despite a small spike on July 18 to over 500 cfs, the Animas River has been languishing below 300 cfs. The average flow for this time of year is about 1,000 cfs. “The water in the Animas River is so low that it can’t dilute the ash and sediment flow,” Alves said. And lastly, humans play a role in the situation as well. Trout can be stressed by float-craft on the river, including SUPs and tubes. When trout see something above them, they will seek cover in deep pools, behind rocks and under banks. But when they’re forced to move, they must use extra energy, and because there is so little water in the river, there are fewer places to hide. CPW offers these suggestions to reduce stress on fish: • Buy a small thermometer and take the

The Animas River turned black from ash Wednesday, although rafters didn’t seem to mind. Local fish, however, have been stressed, and anglers and floaters are asked to limit river activity to help fish survive./Photo by Stephen Eginoire temperature of the water. If the temperature is 70 degrees or above, stop fishing. • Fish in the morning when water is cool. • Fish high-elevation streams. • Use heavier tippet and land the fish quickly. Don’t “play” or tire fish. • Use barbless hooks that allow a quick release. Those using spinning gear, who

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don’t intend to keep fish, should press down the barbs of metal lures. • Release fish as fast as possible and minimize handling of fish. “Monsoon rains and, hopefully, snow next winter will help the river and fish recover,” Alves said. “But we can all do a little now to reduce stress on fish.” n

MountianTownNews Looking at wildfires through new lens ASPEN – Wildfires continued to be the story last week in Colorado, California and other western states. As of Sunday, 56 fires had burned more than 1 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Taking a broad view, fire historian Stephen Pyne suggested that the conversation about fire was wrongly framed. “Every major fire rekindles another round of commentaries about ‘America’s wildfire problem,’” Pyne wrote in The Conversation, an online news site. “But the fact is that our nation does not have a fire problem. It has many fire problems, and they require different strategies. Some problems have technical solutions, some demand cultural calls. All are political.” Pyne suggested the wonky phrase wildland-urban interface miscasts the reality. “It’s a dumb name because the boundary is not really an interface but an intermix, in which houses and natural vegetation abut and scramble in an ecological omelet.” We tend to think of such places as houses in wildlands. Better, he said, is to think of them as urban or exurban enclaves with peculiar landscaping. “Defining it as an urban problem makes solutions quickly apparent.” One of those intermix zones is Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley. There, the Lake Christine Fire had burned nearly 7,000 acres as of Monday after being triggered by two shooters at a range on July 3. Some 1,800 residents were evacuated from 664 homes in and around Basalt and El Jebel, an area heavily covered by piñon and juniper forests located 20 miles down-valley from Aspen. Only three houses burned, however, and no one was killed. In Oregon, there’s discussion of a bill that would allow chainsaws in a wilderness study area near Bend to thin juniper trees on about 800 acres. The sponsor of the congressional bill, Rep. Ron Walden, says the bill would make it easier to keep fires from spreading near an unincorporated subdivision with about 5,500 full-time residents. Dan Morse, of the Bend-based Oregon Natural Desert Association, told the Bend Bulletin that he sympathized with the threat perceived by the homeowners. However, he said, what needs to be done is manage risk through land use and fire-management planning. What is clear enough is that the number and scale of wildfires has been increasing in recent decades. While past forest management policies probably have something to do with that, as people like Pyne have been saying for decades, so does the changing climate. In California, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones told a science reporter for KQED that the growing risk of climate-related disasters is already hitting the insurance market. Insurers are developing ever-more sophisticated fire-risk models. “So they look at things like topography, slope, wind direction. It used to be that insurers had more generic approaches to try to figure out these risks. They would look at whole zip codes or whole counties or whole area codes. But now they’re able to do it on a home-by-home basis.” Should the state have a role in deciding where people live, in order to minimize risk to wildfire and other disasters. “There’s no question that the state of California, like every other state, does a lousy job of making land-use decisions,” Morse replied. “One of the big disconnects that’s resulting in more businesses and people living in harm’s way is that decisions about whether to put new subdivisions, homes or businesses on a floodplain, in a high-risk fire area or on top of an earthquake fault are made by local governments. And those local governments are not required to, nor do they have any financial liability for, those decisions. Probably the biggest single improvement we could make is saying, look, we’re going to require local governments to bear some of the cost of those decisions.”

River users asked to give trout a break STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – It was a hot, blistering June, but rain has finally arrived in Colorado. Fish in the Yampa River should appreciate that. Last week state authorities asked for anglers to quit fishing and tubers to quit floating the river, which flows past downtown Steamboat Springs. Low flows and hot temperatures together resulted in less oxygen in the water. The river has reached low flows of 14 percent of average this summer, reports Steamboat Today. Trout are cold-water fish that have evolved to function best in 50 to 60 degree waters, according to the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife. Upper lethal limits range from 74 to 79 de

AFewTooMany: A sign outside Eno Wine Bar beckons patrons with some punctuation humor recently./Photo by Missy Votel grees. Water temperatures in the Yampa River in early July exceeded 75 degrees. “When water flows are minimal, fish become concentrated in residual pool habitat and become stressed due to increased competition for food resources,” said Kris Middledorf, a wildlife manager. “Because the fish are already stressed, any additional stress from being hooked could make them even more vulnerable to disease and death.” In was hot in June. The average temperature in Colorado was 4 degrees warmer than the average from 1981 - 2010. Nationally it was the third warmest June on record. Becky Bolinger, Colorado’s assistant state climatologist, reports that June 2018 was tied with June 2016 for the third warmest June in the state’s 124-year record. Only 2012 and 2002 were warmer. For January through June, Colorado was also notably warm. The two warmest first-six-months were set in 2002 and 2012, both of them drought years. This year’s temperatures for those same six months tied 2016.

Ketchum looks to cap big-box stores KETCHUM, Idaho – Ketchum has been looking into capping the size of retailers in the community’s core, at the base of the Sun Valley ski area. The city’s Planning Commission proposes a cap of 36,000 square feet. The largest store currently is 17,000. However, a down-valley grocery store has 36,000 square feet. It’s not clear what prompted the cap. However, a report by a city planner noted the arrival of chain stores in mountain resort towns, including a 19,000-square-foot TJ Maxx in Jackson, Wyo., last year. A city planner also investigated expansion plans by Target, Walmart and other bigger-box retailers.

Whistler gets serious about water use WHISTLER, B.C. – Municipal officials in Whistler continued to push for greater water efficiency in the restaurant and hotel sector. A proposal being prepared at the direction of elected officials would prohibit the use and installation of once-through cooling devices. Once-through cooling devices are commonly used in certain types of air-conditioning and walk-in freezers. They rely on treated water to cool condenser coils. The reason the municipality wants the devices phased out is that they use a lot of water. Even a small to medium unit will, when operated 12 hours a day, use enough water to fill half an Olympicsized swimming pool.

– Allen Best

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July 19, 2018 n 11

WRISTBANDS FOR THE 416 FIRE

dayinthelife

POURING MONEY BACK INTO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY:

Just another roadside attract by Stephen Eginoire

here is no shortage of charming roadside a that grace the scenic highways and byways ing this fair town of ours. With just too man to be featured on these pages, here is a slight, but lection of our local favorites. Remember to tread li most importantly, drive safely!

LOCAL-FIRST.ORG/LET-LOVE-RAIN

Celebrating 25 years of serving Durango and the entire Four Corners region with Payroll, Timekeeping, and Human ,iÃ ÕÀViÃ ÃÕ«« ÀÌ° 7i >Ài iÀi Ì ÃiÀÛi Þ Õ Ã Þ Õ V> vÕ w the mission and purpose of your business or or organization. ganization. If we ar are e not alr already eady helping you – please contact us as we would love to!

Curbside composting is the easy and affor affordable way to reduce waste and start composting! Sign up, get your green bucket, and place curbside weekly for collection. We We do the work and you get the compost, all for just $15/mo. Sign up online with us today! today!

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A home-grown community business, specializing in 'signs of all kinds', graphic design services, and printed goods with multiple materials and substrates. Founded in 1984, we are advertising and marketing professionals with the experience to deliver top quality products products and responsive customer service. Contact us today to discuss your next project. project.

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Purchase a 10 class package for $110 during the month of July ($20 savings)! Durango’s Durango’s community yoga center since 2006. We believe in connecting people in healthy ways. As a welcoming place for people to explore, explore, grow and transform, we support all levels of practitioner, practitioner, providing high-quality experiences with exceptional instructors.

YogaDurango www.YogaDurango.com www.

Proud founding member of Local First with a commitment to local involvement, stylish apparel, and providing gifts > ` >VViÃÃ À iÃ Ü Ì i > y> À vÀ >À Õ ` Ì i Ü À `°

A locally-owned and operated network of independent health care care pr providers. oviders.

Animas Tr Trading Company www.AnimasTradingDurango.com www.Animas

Durango Network www.DurangoNetwork.com

Just west of Mancos is one of the oldest apartment buildings in the area. W landlord remains a mystery, it is presently managed by the National Park S side attraction is very popular among out-of-state visitors.

Re-Tail Boutique Boutiq ue

Benefiting the La Plata County Humane Society

Features a car efully curated selection of our highest end donations from jewelry to clothing and fur niture. All «À Vii`Ã Li iwÌ Ì i i iÃÃ > > Ã > * >Ì> Õ ÌÞ° “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”. Open Tues-Sat. Tues-Sat. 10am-6pm. 450 S. Camino del Rio, Suite Helen Keller ÓäÓ V>Ìi` Ã `i Ì i LÕ ` } Ì i ÃiV ` y À® Alpine Bank supporting local businesses for 45 years. Call 970-426-4099 for more info.

Re-Tail Boutique www.LPCHumaneSociety www.LPCHumaneSocie ty.or .org .or g

Alpine Bank www.AlpineBank.com www.A

We strive to produce a quality cannabis oil without V «À Ã } Ì i « Ìi VÞ À y>Û À° Ƃ / > ` concentrates are free from harmful additives and come in ecofriendly packaging. View our list of retailers retailers for Sweet CO2 Oil i>À Þ Õ ÕÀ ÜiLÃ Ìi > ` w ` - "1 /- E ÀiL>ÌiÃ v À our products with Cannopoly App App or or atCannopoly.com. Cannopoly Appor at at Cannopoly .com.

Passionate about providing high quality, quality, affor affordable primary care for the entire family. family. Proudly partnering with other local businesses to provide better options for employee health health car care.

Sweet C O2 Oil www.SweetCO2Oil.com www.S

Mountain View F Famil amily HealthCare .MountainViewTLC.com www.M www

Interested getting more In terested in ge tting mor e exposure exposure for for your your business at at an affordable affordable rate? r a t e? Contact director@local-first.org here next month! Con tact dir ector@local-first.org to to get get your your business listed listed her e ne xt mon th!

n July 19, 2018

Ava Kay Quade, of Austin, Texas, ponders the geothermal waters of the Pink Springs located north of Durango, off HWY 550. Laced with minerals and orful algae, this lovely site is not to be missed.

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tion

attractions surroundny classics t prime seightly and

This ancient gambel oak lives off HWY 160 atop Mancos Hill and must hold a state title for age. While we will keep its exact location somewhat obscure, hardwood enthusiasts will surely consider this beauty worthy of a pit-stop.

While the original Service. This road-

kerton not-so Hot painted with col-

graph

One can still make out the wagon-wheel ruts of the Old Spanish Trail located on the south side of HWY 160 between Mancos and Durango. This historic trade route was utilized until the 1850s connecting settlements of Northern New Mexico clear to Southern California.

July 19, 2018 n 13

thesecondsection The ladies of Local First, and instigators of the “Singles in Paradise” auction, from left: Kiki Hooton, Jennaye Derge and Hayley Krickman./Photos by Stephen Eginoire

All the single ladies (and dudes) Dating goes offline for Local First’s ‘Singles in Paradise’ by Missy Votel

hen it comes to dating in Durango, it’s a jungle out there. Or an arid desert, shallow eddy or barren mountain top, depending on your chosen pastime. The odds are good, the goods are odd. You don’t lose your partner, you just lose your turn … and the clichés go on. (At least that’s what I’m told, as the last time I dated, we still did this thing called meeting on the chairlift. And phones were affixed to the wall of your house. The horror.) But in today’s endless swipefest (I do know at least this much), finding the perfect mate from a be-sunglassed headshot and some scant, invariably embellished, details can be fraught with peril. What if you finally summon the cajones to meet someone, only to find out he or she is too tall, too short, skis in jeans, or worse, is wearing a MAGA hat. It’s enough to make one want to lead a cloistered life with their dog. Fortunately, Local First is here to help Durango’s lovelorn – heck, likelorn – remove those rose-colored Smiths and take some of the guesswork out of meeting prospective candidates. This Thursday, it will be hosting its first ever “Singles in Paradise” auction at the Balcony from 7 – 9 p.m. (or, if you’re lucky, all the way to last call.) “Dating can be scary,” Hayley Kirkman, Local First’s Creative Arts & Special Projects Coordinator, said. “We

14 n July 19, 2018

Justthefacts What: Singles in Paradise, fund-raiser for Local First When: 7 – 9 p.m., Thurs., July 19 Where: Balcony Backstage Info: www.local-first.org/singles-in-paradise thought this would be a fun way to engage people.” Wait a hot minute – Local First is getting into the hook-up business? Well not exactly. See, the ulterior motive here is to get folks out on the town and spending money at local businesses, whether it be renting paddle boards followed by cold beers; mini golf and pedicures; or – my personal idea of the perfect date – the margarita tubing tour. To that end, bidding starts at $30, with which each couple will be bestowed to execute their plans. One lucky, famished couple will win a gift card for $100 at the Ore House. Anything bid above and beyond $30 will go to Local First to help promote businesses hurting in the wake of the 416 Fire. Although the full economic ramifications from the fire won’t be known until the June sales tax numbers come out in August, the general consensus is that downtown businesses are smarting. “We had a meeting after the fire broke out and had several businesses that don’t usually show up, show up,” Kiki Hooton, Local First Programs and Member-

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ship Director, said. She said many downtown businesses make the bulk of their money during the three summer months. “One restaurant owner said he tends to lose money the rest of the year, but keeps his doors open to keep jobs,” she said. Alas, it’s not Durango’s style to wallow – at least too long. Which is why the whole point of the auction is to have a good time, rejoice in the monsoons and remember why it is you love this town in the first place. (Read: fun-loving, living, breathing human beings that you can converse with and even check out, albeit stealthily, face to face.) “I think a lot of people still have the notion that they’re going to meet someone in a real-world setting. It’s kind of an old-fashioned idea in this day and age, when you can hide behind a screen,” said Hooton. Kirkman, who incidentally will be on the auction block herself, is a fan of this old-fangled approach. She said the event is meant to be an antidote to the impersonal-ness of many online dating platforms. “We’re hoping to combat that,” she said. “I’m kind of a fatalist. I believe I’m supposed to meet people when I’m supposed to meet them.” Think of this as just helping to nudge the hand of fate. And, to help folks reach their destiny a little sooner, there will be a half-hour mixer (auctionees will be identifiable by their leis. And no, it’s not some kind of innuendo.) There will also be pre-game hula lessons and, of course, adult beverages. 4

“Everyone’s going to need the liquid courage,” said Hooton. To take the pressure off the brave souls putting themselves out there, in addition to beer, there will be two emcees, Hooton and regular Telegraphee, Joy Martin – to keep the banter going. Each single will enter to the song of his or her choosing while the emcees read a quick bio. And, since this is Durango, there will be costumes in keeping with the paradise theme: grass skirts, monokinis, furkinis, mankinis, what have you. (Speaking of which, if anyone has a coconut-shell bra, please call the Local First office.) “This isn’t a big formal scary event, this is supposed to be cool and fun,” said Kirkman. Although the cut-off to officially sign up to be an auctionee was Wednesday, if anyone shows up and decides they want to participate last-minute, they won’t be rejected. And speaking of the dreaded “r” word, just put that right out of your mind. “Everyone’s worst fear is no one will bid on them, that’s why we’re there, to facilitate the process,” assured Hooton. “Come bid on your friends. I think it will be a good time.” Besides, who knows? Maybe you’ll meet your soulmate. Or at least someone who has your same taste in music and doesn’t talk with their mouth full. Either way, no pressure, because remember, it’s all for a good cause. And bragging rights. “You don’t have to meet the love of your life, but if it is true love, Local First will take bragging rights,” said Hooton. n

And the rose goes to … Although we don’t want to spoil all the fun, here’s a sampling of the goods for Local First’s “Singles in Paradise” auction. To find out the rest, you’ll have to show up Thursday night at the Balcony. A little mystery is good. Name: Brian Catanese Age: 29 Years in Durango: 9 Why should someone bid on you at the Singles Auction? At the very least, you’ll get an awesome date and we’ll keep our economy running.

Name: Eric Berry Age: 26 Years in Durango: 4 If you could go on a date with anyone in the world, who would it be? Casey Brown, Anna Gasser, Zooey Deschanel, Melania Trump. There are just so many beautiful and badass women out there!

Name: Erica Fendley Age: 34 Years in Durango: 6 What was your best date? Hiking Ice Lakes during the peak flower season, followed by soaking in some hot springs! Seasoned with stimulating conversation and lots of flirtatious interludes.

Name: Ashley Garcia Age: 30 Years in Durango: 8 What is the scariest part about modern dating? How am I supposed to know what I’m getting into? Am I supposed to trust that is a real picture of you? Also, unsolicited d**k pictures… got to be weary of who you you give your number out to!

Music to wristbands: Other ways to show the love Out of the dating scene? It’s OK. There are plenty of other ways to support local businesses and nonprofits and have fun, all at the same time: • Community Concerts, 5 – 7 p.m., Wednesday thru Aug. 29, Rochester Secret Garden - A benefit for the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado, all proceeds from the $10 entrance go to a different local nonprofit each week. According to Community Foundation Director Briggen Wrinkle, local nonprofits need help now more than ever. “The 416 Fire will have long-term effects on our economy, including our local nonprofits” she said. “We have already heard that some nonprofits are considering cutting services due to lack of revenues.” Featuring a different band each week, the concerts make for a fantastic happy hour atmosphere, complete with sliders and beverages for purchase. “It's a fun and easy way you can support local nonprofits … coming together as a community is good for us all after challenging times,” she said. For a list of nonprofits and upcoming bands, go to: www.swcommunityfoundation.org. • Buy a “Let the Love Rain” wristband - Local

The Community Foundation hosts weekly Wednesday night concerts at the Rochester. All proceeds benefit a different nonprofit each week. First, in partnership with First Southwest Bank, has created wristbands that can be bought for $5 at participating businesses. (Wristbands are free to businesses.) All

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proceeds will go to support the local economy. Interested businesses can contact Kiki Hooton at kiki@local-first.org to make arrangements to help the “love rain.” • Fab Fridays, 5 – 8 p.m., July 20 and 27, Main Avenue - Sponsored by the Business Improvement District, these weekly “block parties” (minus the street closure) are meant to showcase a different section of Main Avenue businesses each week and get more folks out and about after the slow start to the summer. This week’s party takes place in the 800 and 900 blocks, with merchants offering a variety of specials, live music, discounts and events (for a full rundown, see p. 24.) The party moves down the street for July 27, featuring the 500-700 blocks. • Send it Silverton, Aug. 2 -5 – Obviously, Durango isn’t the only town hurting from this summer’s fires, with our neighbors to the north also suffering a significant hit. To help make up for it, the Town of Silverton is planning to “send it” with a weekend of festivities including a merchant market, block party, non-motorized and motorized trail rides, off-road demo course, beer garden, light parade, concerts in the park and more. For a schedule, go to www.senditsilverton.com.

July 19, 2018 n 15

FlashinthePan

Singing a new toum by Ari LeVaux

t’s easy to take garlic for granted, given how easy it is to find fresh all year. By “fresh,” we mean not preserved in any way, but simply still alive, despite being harvested last summer. Year-old garlic, which is what you will find today in the grocery store, is not to be confused with new garlic, which is very special and only available for a few weeks each summer – if you can find it at all. Unless you shop where local produce is sold, or know a grower, you aren’t going to find new garlic right now, which is a shame. Imagine it being tomato season, and not being able to find a fresh, local tomato. That’s how it is for garlic lovers right now, who are eating year-old garlic that was more than likely grown in China. Garlic ages the same way many other species do, by shrinking, and turning soft and yellow; the decline begins with a new organism growing in its core. Before the new germ appears, typically in late winter, the garlic is in a state of suspended animation, aka cured. Properly cured garlic is great. Storing fresh produce for year-round use is great. But, to bring up the tomato analogy again, there are things that can be done with fresh tomatoes that simply can’t be done with frozen, canned or sun-dried. From the moment you dig into a head of fresh garlic you can feel the difference. It’s more rounded and plump, as opposed to the gaunt, bony heads we’ve gotten used to in recent months. Peeling a new garlic clove is more like peeling an orange than a cured garlic clove; the peel isn’t made out of paper, but thick, spunky flesh. The brilliant white flesh is firm and crispy, and the cloves are notably juicy. The flavor of fresh garlic is more vivid and caustic when raw, and more sweet and mild when cooked, with

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16 n July 19, 2018

no bitterness. It can be added, and added, and added again to a dish with no consequence. As the garlic dries and cures, it will no longer be so bright and glowing. So garlic should be savored while still new. There are many ways to do so. One way is to give it more of a leading role: garlic as vegetable, rather than spice. Since new garlic cloves look like sea scallops, I’ve cooked them the way I like to cook those glorious mollusk muscles, in butter, bacon and olive oil with lemon and maybe oyster sauce. With something green wilted in there, I call it a meal. You can tell how new a head of garlic is by examining the point where the stem was cut off the bulb. That point of stem that separates plant from bulb is an umbilical cord of sorts, and it can tell us how recently it was birthed from the ground. Does the cut stem look sharp, with concentric circles of tissue, or does it more resemble a shriveled belly button? Is there any green left in the stem? Better yet, is the green stem, along with its attached plant, still connected to the bulb? There is, however, no better way to appreciate garlic than in a heavenly substance known as toum, or Lebanese garlic sauce. There are few recipes as life-changing as this one. It is a type of mayonnaise made with garlic as the emulsifier instead of egg yolk. It’s as fluffy and creamy as mayonnaise, with oil and lemon juice bonded in a stable embrace with the help of garlic. Toum is traditionally used as a marinade, dipping sauce or spread. But I find that when I have toum, I find many ways to use it. A splat in the pan, or stirred into a plate of hot noodles, or tossed into a salad as a pre-dressing. Toum can be used as a base for the creation of advanced sauces and condiments. Spices, chile powder, harissa, fresh herbs or even other condiments like mayo, mustard or sour cream, can be mixed with toum. The fla-

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vor, texture, versatility and ease of use make toum an absolute force in the kitchen. Like many great sauces, toum will expand a chef’s powers, allowing more delicious and creative things to happen more quickly. For example, take my latest creation: the toum-burger. It’s just hamburger meat mixed with toum and cooked like burger. And it’s a total showstopper. Many of the recipes I give are loosey-goosey, with quantities that are negotiable, substitutable, omittable or otherwise malleable. Not so with toum. This one must be followed with the precision of a chemist. After you’ve successfully made the stuff, then you can feel free to experiment, adding flavors creating variations and making your friends play “Name That Toum” until they have heartburn. Toum 1 cup garlic cloves, peeled and trimmed 2 teaspoons salt ½ cup fresh lime or lemon juice 4 cups olive oil. Some recipes call for canola, but, gross. A lighter oil will make a brighter toum, but whatever. I love the flavor of olive oil Procedure: Make sure all utensils are dry, and don’t let any water touch any of the ingredients. Ever. Add the salt and garlic to a dry food processor and pulse four times, about five seconds per pulse. Scrape down the garlic with a spatula. Now, turn the processor to on and leave it there. Add a half cup of oil, slowly, in a very thin stream. Then add two teaspoons lemon juice, and another half cup, slowly, also in a thin stream. Then two more teaspoons lemon juice, and another half-cup oil, and another two teaspoons lemon juice, etc. Continue this cycle until the oil and lemon juice are done, speeding up your pouring incrementally with each pour of oil. The toum will get increasingly fluffy and beautiful, until the processor is nearly full of this fabulous substance. Transfer the toum to a storage container and let it cool in the fridge, covered with a paper towel to avoid condensation dripping down into the toum, which would cause it to separate. After it’s cool, cover it. It will last a month or longer in the fridge. But good luck keeping it that long. n

TopShelf

Partying in the Park, Wailin’ Jennys and Grant Farm this year, recruiting such guests as Todd Schaeffer (Railroad Earth), Bill Nershi (String Cheese Incident), John Magnie (the Subdudes) and former Durango wordsmith Benny “Burle” Galloway. If Tony SUT’s 15th annual Party in the Park opens the gates at Rice and Bryan Sutton sat in the first chairs of the last wave of blueBuckley Park at 5 p.m. Friday, this time featuring a pair of risgrass guitar heroes, then Grant, Jon Stickley and Trey Hensley are ing stars in assorted world music genres. Since its inception, leading the pack of current up-and-comers. KSUT’s midsummer fling has focused on dance music rather than Get there early on Saturday, as a relatively new local band, the the folksy Americana acts that drive its Music Blend. Past performers Smelter Mountain Boys, opens. A project spearheaded by newcomer have included the likes of the Iguanas, Subdudes, New Orleans SusCorey Clark, the Boys focus on traditional bluegrass. Brendan pects, Todo Mundo, the Stooges Brass Band and Shinyribs, among Shafer, of the Six Dollar String Band, focuses on Scruggs-style banjo others. Signature cocktails from Durango Craft Spirits, tasty sangria rather than the clawhammer he’s courtesy of Wagon Wheel Liquors known for. Steve Labowskie, forand the omnipresent Ska brews merly of the Scrugglers, leaves his will be again be sold to fuel the washtub bass at home to stretch party. out on a full Kay bass. Pete DonHeadliner the Big Takeover ahue plays mandolin, and is a ska and reggae band based in Shafer’s Six Dollar mate, Tony New York’s Hudson River Valley, Holmquist, often joins on fiddle. and has been gaining momentum The popular free Concerts @ since forming in 2007. Led by the Park series is winding powerhouse Jamaican-born fedown, with its second-to-last male vocalist NeeNee Rushie, the show of 2018 taking place at Big Takeover focuses less on post5:30 p.m. tonight (Thurs., July punk ska and more on roots reg19) with Dublin-based I Draw gae and Motown while retaining Slow. The quintet formed in the trombone-and-sax energy of 2008, blending old-time Apska. KSUT has regularly played palachia, Irish and bluegrass the band’s latest album, “Silly into a style that appeals on both Girl,” ever since Rushie and comsides of the pond. Ever since, pany’s energetic Durango set a Big Takeover bring ska and reggae to Buckley Park for the they’ve drawn favorable comyear ago. The Big Takeover’s new 15th annual Party in the Park, Friday at 5 p.m. parisons to Gillian Welch and single, “Rainboots,” continues Allison Krauss. They first came where “Silly Girl” left off. onto my radar in 2014 with their album, “White Wave Chapel.” I Albuquerque’s Latin powerhouse group, Baracutanga, opens highly recommend them. the show. This septet arranges traditional South American rhythms Local promoter I-Gene has always showcased local talent, and with such influences as huayño, cumbia, Middle Eastern darbuka, this week is no different. At 9 p.m. Friday he brings Pagosa Afro-Cuban bata, Afro-Peruvian festejo and Andean zampoñas. Like Springs-based rockers Ragwater to headline a two-band bill at the Big Takeover, an energetic female voice powers the group. Peruthe ACT. Their eponymous debut, produced locally by Scooter vian songstress Jackie Zamora is the band’s beating heart. Bolivian multi-instrumentalist Kilko Paz (son of famed Bolivian activist Silvia Smith, is chock full of boisterous guitars and glorious harmonies that beckon back to hard rock’s ’70s heyday. There’s a bit of the Rivera Cusicanqui) and Ecuadorian multi-instrumentalist Carlos blues, a little jam and even some rural funk on the collection. Noboa set the tone musically, aided by an inventive cast on guitars, Opening band is the Casual Fridays. horns, flutes, accordions, vibes and other percussion. Their debut Then, at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Liver Down the River makes record, “Importados,” is catchy and diverse. its triumphant return to the ACT. I can’t get enough of this group. The Community Concert Hall produces a rare summer show What started as a bluegrass jam between mandolin player Patrick when the Wailin’ Jennys return at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Nicky Storen and fiddler Emily Winter has grown into a full-on Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse form the trio that sings funkadelic beast. What sets them apart from others is their pasclassic folk music with three-part harmonies and good, old-fashsionate following, first evident at overpacked club gigs around ioned melody. Their most recent album, “Fifteen,” was released town. There’s an energy between the band and crowd reminiscent last October and included an absolutely stunning version of Tom of Yonder Mountain String Band at the turn of the century. The Petty’s “Wildflowers.” We got our advance copy in radioland beStillHouse Junkies, fresh off their mainstage appearance in the fore Petty’s shocking death, and the Jennys’ rendition helped us Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition, opens. eulogize the rock & roll legend. The song was a timely reminder Music in the Mountains is winding down (Friday’s Pops of both the beauty of music and the fragility of life. Not that Night is sold out, as is tonight’s chamber performance by the they’re a one trick pony; the Jennys have been swinging for the Julius Quartet), but tickets remain to the final five shows taking fences since 2004. place through next Saturday, July 28. Grant Farm returns to town Saturday for a 9:15 p.m. show at Finally, Telluride Americana Fest is in full swing at the the Animas City Theatre. Fueled by the flatpicking wizardry of Tyler Sheridan Opera House. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ll get Grant, his namesake band has quietly and steadily risen in the Colto see Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Chris Smither, and orado jamgrass scene the past five years or so. Grant first appeared others this weekend. on our radar as a member of the Emmitt-Nershi Band a decade ago, The best thing I heard this week wasn’t on record, but rather playing bass and occasional lead guitar. I recall him picking at an the stunning performance by the Nightowls last Saturday night at all-night campground jam at RockyGrass around that time, as he the MITM festival tent at Purgatory. The nine-piece Austin ensemjammed alongside former members of the Broke Mountain Blueble had the largely white-haired crowd jumping to the sounds of grass Band. He cemented that reputation by playing a lengthy DuMotown, Prince and their own originals. rango Bluegrass Meltdown late-night set at the Durango Arts Center several years later. After three studio releases, Grant Farm dropped You belong somewhere you feel free? Email me at chrisa@gobrain its first live set, “Meeting on the Mountain: Live Volume 1” earlier storm.net. n

by Chris Aaland

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July 19, 2018 n 17

onthetown

Thursday19 Yoga Flow, 8 a.m., Pine River Library. Women’s Drop-in Tennis, 9 a.m., Durango High School courts. www.durangotennis.com. Beginner Tai Chi, 9:15-10:15 a.m., Durango Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

Open Art Studio, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ignacio Library. 563-9287.

Rob Webster performs, 6-8 p.m., Three Springs Plaza.

Preschool Storytime, 10:30-11 a.m., Durango Public Library.

The Black Velvet Duo performs, 6-8 p.m., Dalton Ranch Golf Club, Highway 550 North.

Intermediate Tai Chi, 10:30-11:30 a.m., every Friday, Durango Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

Powerhouse Pub Trivia, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio.

Baby Meetup, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Columbine House at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 419 San Juan Dr.

Acoustic Music Jam, 7 p.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield.

Office Hours with La Plata County Commissioner Julie Westendorff, 10 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield.

“The Florida Project” screening, along with the short film “Strawberry Milk,” 7 p.m., Sunflower Theatre in Cortez. www.sunflowertheatre.org.

Durango High Noon Rotary Club meets, presentation by ShelterBox Ambassador Liz Anderson, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., The Doubletree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.

The Julius Quartet Chamber Ensemble, part of Music in the Mountains, 7-9 p.m., Roshong Recital Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.musicinthemountains.com.

Toddler Storytime, 10:30-11 a.m., Durango Library. Old Fort Open House, noon-4 p.m., Old Fort in Hesperus. www.fortlewis.edu/oldfort.

Singles in Paradise Date Auction, fundraiser for Local First, 7:30 p.m., the Balcony Backstage, 600 Main Ave. www.local-first.org.

Read to Rover, ages 5 and up, 1-2 p.m., Teen Time: Sharpie DIY Suncatchers, 1-2 p.m., Durango Library.

Submit “On the Town” items by Monday at noon to: calendar@durangotelegraph.com

from Tomyris and more, 6-8 p.m., Mill Street in downtown Bayfield. 884-9544.

Open Mic & Stand-Up Comedy, 8 p.m., El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave.

Drop-in Tennis, all ages welcome, 4 p.m., Durango High School courts. www.durangotennis.com.

LEGO Club, 1-2 p.m., Durango Public Library. Screen-Free Playtime, 3-5 p.m., White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St. 259-2213. Free Mountain Bike Maintenance Clinic, 5 p.m., Mountain Bike Specialists, 949 Main Ave. 247-4066. Fab Fridays in July, block party featuring local businesses, 5-8 p.m., 800 and 900 blocks of Main Avenue. www.downtowndurango.org. Patrick Crossing performs, part of BID’s Fab Fridays, 5-8 p.m., Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave. 403-1200. iAM Music Fest! Summer Concert Series, 5 p.m.midnight, 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave. Rob Webster performs, 7 p.m., Blondies in Cortez. 4D3 performs, 7 p.m., Vallecito Resort. 884-9458.

Comedians Power Hour, featuring Tyrell Woodard vs. Kate McLachlan, 8 p.m. Steaming Bean, 900 Main.

“Doc Swords,” PTSD Social Club for Veterans, 4-6 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave.

Karaoke with Crazy Charlie, 8 p.m.-close, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave.

Farmers Market, 4-8 p.m., Three Springs Plaza.

Mister Riot, OHM, DeeJay Psycho Pat, Kron Jeremy and Jot Scripts perform, 9 p.m., Blondies in Cortez. 739-4944.

Lisa Blue with special guest Jonas Grushkin, 5 p.m., Kennebec Café in Hesperus.

Teen Game Night, 7-10 p.m., Mancos Public Library. Open Mic Night, 7-11 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave. 403-1200. DJ P.A. spins, 8:30 p.m., Blondies in Cortez. DJ Noonz, 8 p.m.-close, Moe’s, 937 Main Ave.

La La Bones performs, part of Burger & a Band Series, 5-8 p.m., James Ranch Harvest Grill, 33846 HWY 550. 676-1023.

Thursday Night Funk Jam, 9 p.m.-midnight, Moe’s, 937 Main Ave.

Ragwater performs with special guests the Casual Fridays, 9 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive.

Ska-B-Q with Little Wilderness, 5-8 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Friday20

Saturday21

Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run, July 20-22, Silverton, hardrock100.com

Durango Farmers Market, featuring live music from Jolie, 8 a.m.-noon, First National Bank parking lot, 259 W. 9th St. www.durangofarmersmarket.com.

Sitting Meditation, 5:30-6:15 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave. durangodharmacenter.org.

Durango Early Bird Toastmasters, 7-8:30 a.m., LPEA headquarters, 45 Stewart St. 769-7615.

Open House and Information Session for Animas High School, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Animas High School, 271 Twin Buttes Ave. 247-2474.

Free yoga, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Lively Boutique, 809 Main.

Concerts @ The Park features Celtic and Appalachian band I Draw Slow, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Buckley Park. www.durangoconcerts.com. Bayfield Block Party, featuring food, dancing, music

Zumba Gold, 9:30-10:15 a.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

Wildflower Walk & Oxeye Daisy Removal, hosted by Mountain Studies Institute, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Ophir Pass. Register at discovery@mountainstudies.org.

Kids Summer Reading Program: Rock Painting in the Park, 10 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield.

Miss Margie’s Arts & Crafts Festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Three Springs Plaza. 764-6000.4

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Drop-in Tennis, all ages, 9 a.m., Durango High School courts. www.durangotennis.com.

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Henry Stoy performs, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Café, 601 Main Ave. 570-650-5982. VFW Indoor Flea Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 1550 Main Ave. 247-0384. Grand Re-Opening for Baskin-Robbins, noon-4 p.m., Baskin-Robbins, 32 Town Plaza. Self Defense 101, 1 p.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Register at 884-2222. Picker’s Circle, all levels, 3-5 p.m., White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St. 259-2213.

Wanderer Fantasy: A Festival Orchestra Concert, part of Music in the Mountains, 7-9 p.m., Festival Tent at Purgatory. www.musicinthemountains.com.

Twin Buttes Farm Stand, 3-6:30 p.m., Tuesday and Friday, Twin Buttes Farm, Highway 160. Drop-in Tennis, all ages welcome, 4 p.m., Durango High School courts. www.durangotennis.com.

Monday23 Yogalates, 9 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Play days for caregivers and children, 10 a.m., also Wed., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Watch Your Step class, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Durango Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

Rotary Club of Durango, 6 p.m., Strater Hotel. 3857899. Knit or Crochet with Kathy Graf, 6-7 p.m., Mancos Public Library. 533-7600. Adult Board Game Night, 6-7:30 p.m., Durango Public Library. 375-3380.

Gentle Yoga, 1 p.m., Durango Senior Center. Black Velvet Duo performs, 5-9 p.m., Animas River Beer Garden at the Doubletree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.

Colorado Drought Task Force public listening session, 4:15 p.m., Durango Public Library.

Devin Scott performs, 5:30 p.m., Digs in Three Springs. Trivia Night, 7 p.m., Blondies in Cortez. Kirtan, 6-8 p.m., Studio 10, Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.

Folk Jam, 6-8 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave. 4031200. Raising Backyard Goats, 6:30 p.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 County Road 203. 385-5298.

Learn to Square Dance, with Wild West Squares, 78:30 p.m., Florida Grange, 656 Hwy 172. 903-6478.

DJ Crazy Charlie hosts karaoke, 6:30-10:30 p.m., Billy Goat Saloon in Gem Village.

Victorian Complex Open House, featuring counselors, therapists, integrative healers and others, 6-8 p.m., Victorian Complex Office Building, 2243 Main Ave.

Tuesday24

Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Blondies in Cortez. 920-5399998.

Baba Yaga: A Festival Orchestra Concert, part of Music in the Mountains, 7-9 p.m., Festival Tent at Purgatory. www.musicinthemountains.com.

Beginner Tai Chi, 9:15-10:15 a.m., Durango Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

The Angel: A Chamber Concert, part of Music in the Mountains, 7-9 p.m., St. Columba Catholic Church, 1800 E. 2nd Ave. www.musicinthemountains.com.

Zumba Gold, 9:30-10:15 a.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

Trivia Night, 7-10 p.m., Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave.

Nature Tours, hosted by San Juan Mountains Association, 9:45 a.m.-noon, meet outside ticket office, Purgatory.

The Wailin’ Jennys perform, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.durangoconcerts.com.

Tomyris performs, 7-11 p.m., Billy Goat, Gem Village. 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. Grant Farm performs, 9 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive. www.animascitytheatre.com.

Sunday22 Henry Stoy performs, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Café, 601 Main Ave. 570-650-5982. Walk with Presence: Tango with McCarson & Zach, four-week series for any experience level, no partner necessary, 3-4 p.m., Red Scarf Studio, 121 W. 32nd St., Studio C. 505-918-4187 or www.tangocontradiction.com. Adult Coloring & Afternoon Tea, 3-5 p.m., White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St. 259-2213. Black Velvet Duo performs, 6-9 p.m., Cyprus Café, 725 E. 2nd Ave. Blue Moon Ramblers, 7 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Yoga for All, 9 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield.

Card Making, hosted by Pine River Library staff, 10 a.m., Pine River Senior Center. Ballroom Dance, 10-11 a.m., Tuesdays thru Aug. 28, Durango Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave. Summer Reading Show: Steve Weeks hosts an interactive romp with music, humor and games, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Durango Public Library. 375-3380. Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Mancos Public Library. 533-7600. Teen Summer Reading Program, noon, Pine River Library in Bayfield. ICL Knitters, 1-3 p.m., Ignacio Community Library. 5639287. Baby Storytime, 2-2:30 p.m., Durango Public Library. Smiley Farmers Market, 3-6 p.m., each Tuesday, Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.

telegraph

Wednesday25 Morning Meditation, 8 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. 884-2222. Ophir & Chattanooga Fen Revegetation Day, hosted by Mountain Studies Institute, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., event also runs Aug. 4, Ophir Pass. Register at discovery@mountainstudies.org. StoryTime, 10-11 a.m., Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287. Intermediate Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Durango Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave. Story Hour, hear stories about farms and ranches, 10-11 a.m., Wednesdays thru Aug. 22, James Ranch. 767-1023.

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July 19, 2018 n 19

AskRachel Interesting fact: It doesn’t appear that “imperialcolonialism” is a common or recognized phrase, but compound nouns go as far back as Sanskrit, and I admittedly didn’t research back that far. Dear Rachel, Plenty of people are unhappy with the railroad right now because it apparently started the fire. But what about those of us who’ve been opposed to it longer than that? The train is an anachronistic relic of imperial-colonialism, when the United States seized land and resources without regard for who relied on them. That attitude prevails today, implicitly condoned by the continued service of the railroad that facilitated that plunder. When can we have that conversation? Huh? - Off the Rails Dear Picketer, I don’t disagree with your socio-historical assessment. I also have the emotional-cultural awareness to know that, to most people today, steam engines make them remember Lionel and not xeno-environmental destruction. It’s a complex political-economic issue that will require way more hyphenated words (and more money than the railroad) to even have a feasible conversation. – I’m all out of prefixes, Rachel Dear Rachel, I got a gorgeous woman’s phone number at the Ride Festival last weekend. Score! Problem

OntheTown from p. 19 Early Literacy Play Date, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Durango Public Library. Storytime, 11-11:30 a.m., White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St. 259-2213.

was, I was pretty well tripping on some combination of substances, and I don’t remember her name. Or… what she looks like. But I’m positive she was gorgeous. She may have even been a performer. I think I remember hitting on a few of them. So how do I initiate contact with someone I wouldn’t even recognize at a coffee shop? Help! – Clueless in Colorado Dear Dateless in Durango, News flash: She’s not interested in you. Gorgeous women these days don’t hand out anonymous phone numbers to potential nookie partners. They want to add you to their Instagram follower totals. A phone number means she’s not interested in you knowing even the most public information she has to share. Or so I hear. I draw the line at handing my usernames to any dudes at any festivals. And now I remember why. – Better luck next time, Rachel Dear Rachel, I need some serious help with my time-management skills. I see other people in this town hold down multiple jobs, sustain their passions for everything from music to art to marijuana, and still have time to go tubing before the thunderstorms roll in. I have only one job, maybe a single half-hearted passion, and yet I haven’t floated down the river in four years now. How can I get my butt in the water and still manage everything else? – Flooded

Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com Dear Running Dry, Take a look at all the little things frittering away your day. You think you’re trolling commenters on a sports blog for five minutes a day, but it’s actually an hour and a half. You watch one episode of a show on Netflix, and soon it’s asking you if you’re still alive to continue watching. You protest one measly imperial-colonial anachronism, and poof! There goes the summer. Cut out all those things that really matter, and then be willing to lose your job when your boss sees you on the water. – Stuck on a rock, Rachel

Adult Game Night, 6 p.m., Cornhole Tournament, 6 p.m., Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave.

Works by Sheila Maynard (Dan Groth’s mom), thru August, Raider Ridge Café, 509 E. 8th Ave.

Music in the Mountains Quartet, 6 p.m., Pine River Library’s Park in Bayfield.

“Collection,” works of Mary Ellen Long, thru Sept. 1, F.O.A.L Gallery, Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Jeff Solon Jazz Duo performs, 6-9 p.m., Cyprus Café, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

Bar D Chuckwagon, 5:30 p.m. nightly, 8080 CR 250. Live music, 5:30 p.m., daily, Diamond Belle, 699 Main.

Bluegrass Jam, 6-9 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave. 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.

Live music, 7 p.m., daily, The Office, 699 Main Ave. Gary Walker & Faith Evangeline perform, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Jean-Pierre Café, 601 Main Ave. True West Rodeo, featuring bareback, barrel racing, bull riding and more, 6:30-9 p.m., LPC Fairgrounds.

Knitting Group, 1-3 p.m., Smiley Café, 1309 E. 3 Ave. “Women in the Southwest” Summer Lecture Series, presentation on “Alice Eastwood: Pioneer Botanist in the Four Corners,” 1:30 p.m., Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, Lyceum Room. 247-7456. Animas City Farmer’s Market, 3-7 p.m., 2977 Main. Floor Barre Class, 3-4 p.m., Absolute Physical Therapy, 277 E. 8th Ave. 764-4094. J-Calvin’s Funk Express, part of the Summer Concert Series, 5-7 p.m., Rochester Secret Garden, 726 E. 2nd Ave.

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. Liver Down the River and Stillhouse Junkies, 9:30 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive.

Upcoming

Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams play the Concert @ the Park, July 26, Buckley Park. durangoconcerts.com. Dave Mensch performs, 6-8 p.m., July 26, Three Springs. Mancos Days, July 27-29, Boyle Park, Mancos.

La La Bones plays the Summer Concert Series to benefit the Community Foundation, Aug. 1, Rochester Hotel. Pine River Brewfest, 12 – 7 p.m., Aug. 4, Eagle Park, Bayfield. Benefits the Be Frank Foundation.

Ongoing

“Southwest Impressions,” works by Cheryl Berglund, thru July 28, Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Pete Giuliani performs, 5-9 p.m., Animas River Beer Garden at the Doubletree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.

“Intransigent Stratum,” works of Jave Yoshimoto, thru July 29, Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Thank the Veterans! potluck, Peter Neds and Glenn Keefe perform, 5:30-8:30 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave.

Music in the Mountains, thru July 29. www.music inthemountains.com.

Autoimmune Support Group, 5:45 p.m., Living Tree Live Foods, 680-B Main Ave.

Improvisational Quilters Group Show, thru July 31, Durango Public Library.

20 n July 19, 2018

Karaoke, 8 p.m., Thur-Sun, 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E 8th.

telegraph

Deadline for “On the Town” submissions is Monday at noon. To submit an item email: calendar@durango telegraph.com

FreeWillAstrology by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Take a lover who looks at you like maybe you are magic.” Whenever that quote appears on the Internet, it’s falsely attributed to painter Frida Kahlo. In fact, it was originally composed by poet Marty McConnell. In any case, I’ll recommend that you heed it in the coming weeks. You really do need to focus on associating with allies who see the mysterious and lyrical best in you. I will also suggest that you get inspired by a line that Kahlo actually wrote: “Take a lover who looks at you like maybe you are a bourbon biscuit.” (If you don’t know what a bourbon biscuit is, I’ll tell you: chocolate buttercream stuffed between two thin rectangular chocolate biscuits.) TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Here’s what author Franz Kafka wrote in his diary on Aug. 2, 1914: “Germany has declared war on Russia. I went swimming in the afternoon.” We could possibly interpret his nonchalance about world events to be a sign of callous self-absorption. But I recommend that you cultivate a similar attitude in the coming weeks. In accordance with astrological omens, you have the right and the need to shelter yourself from the vulgar insanity of politics and the pathological mediocrity of mainstream culture. So feel free to spend extra time focusing on your own wellbeing. (P.S.: Kafka’s biographer says swimming served this role for him. It enabled him to access deep unconscious reserves of pleasurable power that renewed his spirit.) GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Am I delusional to advise a perky, talkative Gemini like yourself to enhance your communication skills? How dare I even hint that you’re not quite perfect at a skill you were obviously born to excel at? But that’s exactly what I’m here to convey. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to take inventory of how you could more fully develop your natural ability to exchange information. You’ll be in robust alignment with cosmic rhythms if you take action to refine the way you express your own messages and receive and respond to other people’s messages. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Self-described skeptics sometimes say to me, “How can any intelligent person believe in astrology? You must be suffering from a brain dysfunction if you imagine that the movements of planets can reveal any useful clues about our lives.” If the “skeptic” is truly open-minded, as an authentic skeptic should be, I offer a minilecture to correct his misunderstandings. If he’s not (which is the usual case), I say that I don’t need to “believe” in astrology; I use astrology because it works. For instance, I have a working hypothesis that

Cancerians like myself enjoy better-thanaverage insight and luck with money every year from late July through the month of August. It’s irrelevant whether there’s a “scientific” theory to explain why this might be. I simply undertake efforts to improve my financial situation at this time, and I’m often successful. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Here are some of the fine gifts you’re eligible for and even likely to receive during the next four weeks: a more constructive and fluid relationship with obsession; a panoramic look at what lies below the tip of the metaphorical iceberg; a tearjerking joyride that cracks open your sleeping sense of wonder; erasure of at least 20 percent of your self-doubt; vivid demonstrations of the excitement available from slowing down and taking your sweet time; and a surprising and useful truth delivered to your soul by your body. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): During the last three months of 2018, I suspect you will dismantle or outgrow a foundation. Why? So as to prepare the way for building or finding a new foundation in 2019. From next January onward, I predict you will re-imagine the meaning of home. You’ll grow fresh roots and come to novel conclusions about the influences that enable you to feel secure and stable. The reason I’m revealing these clues ahead of time is because now is a good time to get a foreshadowing of how to proceed. You can glean insights on where to begin your work. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A reader asked Libran blogger Ana-Sofia Cardelle, “How does one become more sensual?” I’ll ask you to meditate on the same question. Why? Because it’s a good time to enrich and deepen your sensuality. For inspiration, here are some ideas that blend my words with Cardelle’s: “Laugh easily and freely. Tune in to the rhythm of your holy animal body as you walk. Sing songs that remind you why you’re here on earth. Give yourself the luxury of reading books that thrill your imagination and fill you with fresh questions. Eat food with your fingers. Allow sweet melancholy to snake through you. Listen innocently to people, being warm-hearted and slyly wild. Soak up colors with your eager eyes. Whisper grateful prayers to the sun as you exult in its gifts.” SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “If people aren’t laughing at your goals, your goals are too small.” So says bodybuilder Kai Greene. I don’t know if I would personally make such a brazen declaration, but I do think it’s worth considering – especially for you right now. You’re entering into the Big Bold Vision time of your astrological cycle. It’s a phase when you’ll be wise to boost the intensity of

your hopes for yourself, and get closer to knowing the ultimate form of what you want, and be daring enough to imagine the most sublime possible outcomes for your future. If you do all that with the proper chutzpah, some people may indeed laugh at your audacity. That’s OK! SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): This mini-chapter in your epic life story is symbolically ruled by the fluttering flights of butterflies, the whirring hum of hummingbird wings, the soft cool light of fireflies, and the dawn dances of seahorses. To take maximum advantage of the blessings life will tease you within the coming weeks, I suggest you align yourself with phenomena like those. You will tend to be alert and receptive in just the right ways if you cultivate a love of fragile marvels, subtle beauty and amazing grace. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I swear the astrological omens are telling me to tell you that you have license to make the following requests: 1. People from your past who say they’d like to be part of your future have to prove their earnestness by forgiving your debts to them and asking your forgiveness for their debts to you. 2. People who are pushing for you to be influenced by them must agree to be influenced by you. 3. People who want to deepen their collaborations with you must promise to deepen their commitment to wrestling with their own darkness. 4. People who say they care for you must prove their love in a small but meaningful way. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You will never find an advertisement for Nike or Apple within the sacred vessel of this horoscope column. But you may come across plugs for soul-nourishing commodities like creative freedom, psychosexual bliss and playful generosity. Like everyone else, I’m a salesperson – although I believe that the wares I peddle are unambiguously good for you. In this spirit, I invite you to hone your own sales pitch. It’s an excellent time to interest people in the fine products and ideas and services that you have to offer. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Would you do me a favor, please? Would you do your friends and loved ones and the whole world a favor? Don’t pretend you’re less powerful and beautiful than you are. Don’t downplay or neglect the magic you have at your disposal. Don’t act as if your unique genius is nothing special. OK? Are you willing to grant us these small indulgences? Your specific talents, perspectives and gifts are indispensable right now. The rest of us need you to be bold and brazen about expressing them.

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July 19, 2018 n 21

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 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.

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 Barber Needed For At-Risk Youth 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 Peggy.McMahan@ROP.com or apply at 720 Turner Dr, Durango. Maintenance Technician 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 Kimberly.Todd@ROP.com or apply at 720 Turner Dr, Durango.

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$1,000 Sign-On Bonus Interested in Psych, Human Services or Corrections Careers? Work with at-risk students in a secure detention facility. - Coach Counselor (FT/PT days/nights). Open Interview/Tour at DeNier Youth Services, Tuesdays 10:00 am, 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. Communications Coordinator Great Old Broads for Wilderness, a national non-profit, seeks a part-time communications coordinator to support our marketing communications efforts. www.greatoldbroads.org/employment FLC Mental Health Counselor Fort Lewis College seeking 2 mental health counselors in the Counseling Center. For detailed job information including the online application process, please visit www.fortlewis.edu/jobs and go to the Employment Opportunities page, then click on the appropriate job link, Fort Lewis College is an AA/EEO employer. Apps. rec’d by August 8, 2018 will be given full consideration. Durango Wood Company is seeking an experienced wood manufacturing professional with a background in molding, planing, shaping and finishing custom wood products for large scale building projects. Pay DOE. Email Resumes to danielle@durangowoodcom pany.com

Classes/Workshops 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, Aug. 13-16. on-pointmindfulness.com or call JoAnne at 970-749-4912 Hope Chiropractic and Yoga Presents: Help Heal Your Hurting Hips: 5 things you need to know. Sat July 28th. Smiley Studio 10. Pre-register. Class size limited to 10. Early bird by 7/21 $65, $75 there-

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after. 416 Fire partial scholarships available. Dr Keneen Hope DC. 970-305-3239 www.hopechiroyoga.com Coaching with Horses Ready to take charge of your happiness and stop the cycle of unwanted thoughts and behaviors? Come for a free “meet and greet” to see what this amazing work can do for you. Call or email Trish at Joy Rides Coaching: 970-9467835, joyrides.dgo@gmail.com Finding Calm in the Chaos Parenting workshop Thursday, July 26 at Summit Psychology 5:30pm - 8:30pm. This workshop gives parents tools that can be used immediately to put an end to arguing, backtalk & whining. Join other parents and improve your relationship with your kids while raising kids who are respectful, responsible and fun to be with. Register by calling Dr. Doug Miller at 970/382-2680 or email at dougmillergroup@gmail.com. Cost is $90/pp or $170/couple. Mommy and Me Dance Class Come join the fun! Now registering for classes. Call 970-749-6456. mom myandmedance.com.

Flying Picards Studio of Music Etc. Now re open after 20 years! 390 E.12th Street in an open and bright studio. Piano, flute, ukulele, saxophone. Private and group lessons. All ages. 3-5 year old small group music classes. French language conversation class all levels. Music for weddings, funerals, events. K-12 certified music and French teacher with over 30 years experience. 970-259-4383 or tra cymaui@aol.com Low Price on Inside/ Outside Storage Near Durango, RJ Mini Storage. 970259-3494. 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. Spray Tans! Organic and beautiful! Meg Bush, LMT 970-759-0199. 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

Services Freelance Graphic Designer Brochures, catalogs, logos and more! www.theartstation.net Cedar Creek Construction LLC Remodels, new construction. Excavation to painting. 25+ yrs experience, insured, local references available. Ben 970-554-9860, Jerry 970-749-5664. Pet/House Sitting Exp, very reasonable, exc references, all animals. Lisa 970-903-5396. Mediation Generate options – Create agreements – Resolve issues. Save $ as parties split the fee. E: Tricia – DurangoMedia tor@gmail.com

BodyWork Insight Cranial Sacral Therapy Quiet, relaxing, deep. Don 970-7698389. Massage by Meg Bush, LMT 30, 60 & 90 min. 970-759-0199. massageintervention.life 25 years experience. Couples, sauna, cupping. Reviews on FB + Yelp. 970-9032984. Massage with Kathryn 20+ years experience offering a fusion of esalen style, deep tissue massage with therapeutic stretching & Acutonics. New clients receive $5 off first session. To schedule appt. call 970-201-3373.

RealEstate Radon Services Free radon testing and consultation. Call Colorado Radon Abatement and Detection for details. 970- 946-1618.

Garage/YardSale Garage Sale/Edgemont Ranch Sunday July 22nd, 737 Eagle Pass 9-3.

ForSale Grass Fed Ground Beef and Soup Bones Ground Beef $6.75-7.50/# Soup Bones $5/# Local, Happy Cows offfamilyranch.com 970-259-5366. 99 AWD Astro Van Runs great, good tires/breaks. 155k miles, $2,600.00. 970-884-2635. Durango Wood Company Saw dust available. $10/cu yard. Call to schedule appointment 970-247-2088. Colorado Paddle Boards are at the Durango Outdoor Exchange on College Drive. 10.6, 9.6, and 11.0 board packages! Starting at $799. 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, lanterns, garden pots, tablecloths & yard art. And indoor furniture: mid-century pieces – chairs, side table, teacart & several nice dressers. 572 E. 6th Ave. 385-7336.

ForRent Mancos House For Rent In town. One large bedroom, one bath. Fenced yard. $950 includes water, sewer, and trash. Tenant pays gas and electric. Available August 1st. 970-799-2019. 2BD 1 BA Downtown Hot tub w/d storage deck yard etc 1,950/mo 970-799-1868 avail Aug 1.

CommunityService

sponse to the 416 Fire, the Community Emergency Relief Fund’s goal is to support local people and relief efforts. Funds are being raised to help 750-1,000 people in La Plata and San Juan counties with bridge funding (immediate expenses) for food, transportation and shelter. Who are we going to help? Core hourly wage workers (32-40 hours/week) and flex hourly wage workers (25-31 hours/week) – all whom have lost their jobs due to 416 Fire. To request funds, fill out application at https://swcoda.org/. Durango Public Library Seeking Businesses for Card Discount Program Each September, the library partners with local businesses to celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month. The discount program promotes shopping locally as well as encouraging people to sign up for library cards. To participate, local businesses offer discounts and incentives for customers who show their library card when visiting their location. In turn, businesses receive free advertising as well as more local community

Powerhouse Volunteers Needed! The Powerhouse Science Center is looking for front desk volunteers for as little as one hour a week! If interested, email Teresa@powsci.org. No calls please.

Free Transportation to Durango Food Bank for People with Disabilities During the 2nd week of every month, sign up and schedule your trips at Southwest Center for Independence, 473 Main Ave, #23. (The elevator is at the east end of the building.) On the days you are scheduled, meet us at the office and we’ll take you to the food bank and then home. First come, first served. Call Dave at 970-903-5971.

HaikuMovieReview ‘Vannin’’ Ever wondered what goes on at a creepy van owner convention? – Lainie Maxson

Get in the Guide! Durango Telegraph Dining Guide listings include a 50-word description of your establishment and your logo for the screaming deal of just $20/week.

Lost Work Due to 416 Fire? The Community Emergency Relief Fund is set up for broad-based community emergencies in Southwest Colorado. In re-

No need to be sheepish.

members discovering what they have to offer. The Durango Public Library has over 30,000 active card users. Free to participate. Contact Daisy Grice at 970-375-3387 or daisy.grice@durangogov.org for info.

For info, email: lainie@durangotelegraph.com

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. $

Issue 3 is out! Wherever you find the Telegraph or at www.gulchmag.com. To find out about advertising opportunities, email steve@gulchmag.com

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. Hours: Sun.-Thurs.11 a.m. - 9p.m., & Fri. & Sat.11 a.m. to 10 p.m. $$

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