July 13, 2023

4

Braided history

Hair and the fight for cultural independence & recognition by Doug Gonzalez

6

Short changed

4 La Vida Local

5 Big Pivots

6 State News

8 Top Story

10 Local News

Ear to the ground:

“I love cake. It doesnt love me back.”

– Local office worker lamenting the chocolate cake offering in the break room

Thou shall not pass

A major lunar event at Chimney Rock National Monument will be closed to the public to protect employees, natural resources and the public itself, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

11 Flash in the Pan

12-13 Stuff to Do

11

8 A perfect 10 Local runner seeks to join rarified ranks of Hardrock runners

by Missy Votel

The history of the Ute Mountain Utes’ water rights – and lack thereof by Ryan Warner / Colorado Public Radio On

13 Ask Rachel

14 Free Will Astrology

15 Classifieds

15 Haiku Movie Review

It’s called a “Major Lunar Standstill” (MLS), in which the moon rises between two sandstone spires: Chimney Rock and Companion Rock, as viewed from the Great House Pueblo atop the monument. Many archeologists believe the Ancestral Puebloans in part chose Chimney Rock because of this phenomenon (the Great House was possibly built in 1093, during an MLS event). However, this is still up for debate.

An MLS happens every 18.6 years, but here’s a caveat – at the end of each cycle, the moon pauses for about three years. The last MLS happened in December 2004 and lasted for three years. The moon is visible between the spires for a few days throughout the year over this three-year period. It’s obviously much more complicated than that, and you can read about more about the intricacies of the MLS at chimneyrockco.org.

Previously, the public could view the MLS from a fire lookout tower. But the tower was removed in 2010, and there is no place that can host visitors, the Forest Service said. With all the risks to the public, the agency decided to close off the monument.

Fired up Hunting for the mysterious and elusive morel mushroom by Ari

EDITORIALISTA:

Missy Votel missy@durangotelegraph.com

LeVaux

STAR-STUDDED CAST: Doug Gonzalez, Allen Best, Anne Poirot, Ari LeVaux, Rob Brezsny, Lainie Maxson, Jesse Anderson & Clint Reid

A caterpillar slinks its way across a bluebell wildflower./ Photo by Alex Krebs

REAL WORLD ADDRESS: 679 E. 2nd Ave., Ste E2 Durango, CO 81301

PHONE: 970-259-0133

“Hazards associated with hiking the strenuous upper mesa trail in the dark, significant 1,000-foot cliffs on both sides of the trail, and the lack of adequate safety lighting and cliff barriers have been determined to be beyond the agency’s ability to mitigate,” the Forest Service said in a statement.

Roads closure include FS Road 617 and 617.A, as well as the Great House Trail from 4:30 p.m. - 6 a.m. In 2023, the closure dates include: July 15-16, Aug. 11-12, Oct. 3-5, Oct. 31-Nov. 1-2, Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 25-26.

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The Forest Service said it is exploring ways to share the event in 2024-25, either through live streaming, still photography and/or video recording.

And we know what you’re thinking, and stop. Hiking in at night will do you no good, as the moon rise between the spires is only visible from a small area along a cliff edge. Plus, hiking in the dark puts you and others at risk. And, if that wasn’t enough, Forest Service staff will be hanging out to deter would-be scofflaws.

Almost cut my hair

“Tsk, he should know his language!” my grandmother said to my aunt with a frustrated tone. I was a teenager and traveling on the reservation with them and two of my older cousins. We had just left the hogan of a medicine woman that we were visiting. For much of the time, I was asking my aunt and grandmother to translate the conversations they were having with each other and the medicine woman. This eventually became too much for my grandmother, which prompted her to make this earlier statement.

I understood her frustration, and I felt ashamed that I didn’t know how to speak Diné Bizaad – the Navajo language. “It’s how the Holy People can hear you,” my aunt said to me in the ceremony the night before. Hoping that the Diyin Dineʼé would hear my prayers, I tried my best to mimic the words that were being spoken by the medicine woman. I then wondered, if the Holy People can hear me, would they even want to listen?

This might have been the moment when I realized how separate I felt from my native culture. Growing up in Utah, Texas and northern New Mexico, I only visited the reservation, but I never lived there. I told my mom, who also speaks Navajo, about what my grandmother said. She thought for a moment and said, “I’d rather you be able to speak English well and move easily in this world than not.” This statement was tinged with echoes from her past. My mother was put into a boarding school when she was not much older than a toddler. If she spoke her native language and not English, she’d get her mouth washed out with soap. One of the first things they did when she arrived was cut her hair. She said she cried because she looked like a boy and not like herself.

For the Diné, hair is an important aspect of the culture. It is even spoken about in the creation story. The hair of First Man and First Woman was made from the falling rain of storm clouds. Imbued in their strands was their wisdom, thoughts, attitudes and behaviors. By putting their hair in a bun, a tsiiyéél, they were able to gather these aspects of themselves and keep it close while they faced the challenges of their new worlds. By practicing this hair style, the Diné are able to connect with these first moments of creation.

My hair mostly followed the same formula as I grew up – short on the side, longer on top. My father would often tease me as it started to get long, usually referring to it as the “mop” on my head. After a cut, I felt rejuvenated and much

Thumbin’It

The proactive approach to enact Stage 1 Fire Restrictions in Southwest Colorado in response to epic heat, winds and growing fire danger.

Brazil taking steps to reverse the rate of deforestation in the Amazon jungle, kind of an important place for all life forms on Earth to exist.

U.S. inflation hitting its lowest point since early 2021 as prices ease for gas, groceries and used cars. Still waiting for that $20 burger to come down…

more confident than before. It helped me blend back into a Western standard of beauty that I had become accustomed to – one that was defined by the media, my peers and even some of my family.

I had been thinking about growing my hair out for a couple of years, with my first attempt in my last year of high school. At the time, I believed my hair could be different than what it was – coarse, thick and a bit wavy – and that it would eventually match the hair of the white models in my reference photos. After many salon visits and hoping for a miracle hair product, I grew weary of the “mop” on my head and decided a #2 fade with a trim on top was my best and only option.

That was until November 2020 when I decided to fully commit to “decolonizing” my hair. However, I didn’t realize that decolonizing my hair would also include deconstructing my own beauty standards and what it meant for me to look so different than I did before. I struggled for months while it grew out. I started to believe that I looked much worse with long hair and wondered if this was worth the journey.

Shortly after grappling with these feelings, my sister sent me a video. In it, a man braids his hair while the following dialogue plays: “I want to say to all the young (natives) out there: Wear your hair long, for all the times that they cut our hair. Speak your language for all the times that that was forbidden. Live your life to your fullest potential. Make your mind strong, your body strong, your spirit strong. Because when you do that, you will show the survivors the reward of what they have been fighting for all these years.”

This audio reinforced my decision as to why I started on this path. I started so that I could remember the little girl in the boarding school who held onto her identity despite the attempts to cut it away. I started so that I could honor those who have fought and continue to fight for recognition. I started so that I could feel connected to First Man and First Woman. And most of all, I started so that I could define for myself how to move through this world – in beauty.

In beauty I walk

With beauty before me I walk

With beauty behind me I walk

With beauty above me I walk

With beauty around me I walk

It has become beauty again

Volunteers forced to call off a public-led search and rescue mission for Ian O’Brien, who has been missing in the La Plata Mountains for more than two weeks.

The heat dome settled over the region. Monsoons? Hello? Are you out there?

Iceland warning tourists to say away from an erupting volcano with lava and noxious gases. The thumbs down isn’t for the warning itself, it’s for the fact people have to be warned away from an active volcano in the first place.

– A Navajo Way Blessing Ceremony Prayer

– Doug Gonzalez Handgag New York art collective MSCHF (the same group that made Satan Shoes with Lil Nas X) just sold a fake Louis Vuitton handbag that was smaller than a grain of salt for $63,750. It was billed as being able to “pass through the eye of a needle” and a commentary on “the impracticability of ever-shrinking luxury.” However, the handbag sold fin Paris earlier this month for 60 times the price of a real Louis Vuitton, which served to shrink luxury even further. However, the good news is that the handbag was just big enough to hold all the buyer’s common sense.

SignoftheDownfall:

Jobs bonanza

Front Range booms; West Slope not so much

by Allen Best

Every transition produces winners and losers. U.S. fiscal policy shifted in the 1880s, and the economy of Aspen cratered for decades. Some silver-mining towns never recovered. In the 1980s, newspapers were plentiful. Ink now stains far fewer printers and editorial wretches. Amazon thrives, but Sears and Kmart, no more.

How will Colorado’s coal-based towns transition as we quell emissions from energy production? Legislation of recent years seeks to deliver what lawmakers call a just transition, meaning that Pueblo, Craig and other coal-based communities will stay on their feet.

The newest round of job-producing investments in emission-free technologies, though, call into question how difficult that will be. Two new factories are to be created in Brighton, on metropolitan Denver’s northeastern fringe. The combined investment of $450 million will deliver more than 1,200 average- to better-paying jobs.

VSK Energy will manufacture solar panels and will employ more than 900 people. It is a result of incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which seeks to restore U.S. manufacturing of renewable energy components.

The second factory will produce a new generation of energy-rich lithium-ion batteries. The company, Amprius Technology, says that a new anode, which will use silicon mined in Montana, will double the range of a Tesla, allowing it more than enough capacity to roam Colorado and the ability to juice up to 80% capacity in six minutes. The company also says the new batteries will deliver value to drones and aircraft. Sounds like a game-changer.

Both companies cited proximity to interstates as a significant consideration in siting their factories. Availability of a large, skilled workforce was also cited.

Other companies are also carving out futures in this new energy economy along the Front Range. The Denver Business Journal cited three companies from Denver to Fort Collins that hope to stake a future with new batteries. And Lightning eMotors manufactures electric vehicles in Loveland.

Brighton has Vestas, which arrived in 2010 to manufacture nacelles, containing the gearboxes and drive trains for wind turbines. Vestas also built a factory in Pueblo.

CS Wind, now the owner of the Pueblo factory, this year began an expansion that will add 850 jobs. It cited Inflation Reduction Act that encouraged wind production.

Jeffrey Shaw, president of the Pueblo Economic Development Corp., said he expects announcements of other renewablesector projects coming to Pueblo and other

Food, Fun, Furry Friends

areas in the next 12-18 months.

Already, Pueblo County has been rapidly adding both solar and storage. But so far, the new tax base for Pueblo won’t balance that from Comanche. Xcel Energy, Comanche’s primary owner, has agreed to pay taxes until 2040.

Western Slope towns dependent on coal extraction and combustion are a harder sell. In Craig, there was hope on becoming a hydrogen hub, but Colorado has pinned its highest hope for federal funding on a project involving Rawhide, the coal-butsoon-to-become gas plant near Brush. Nuclear has its fans in Craig and beyond, and the Economist notes that the Biden administration is dangling billions in financial incentives nationally. That same magazine

also concludes that unresolved problems cloud the future of this technology.

As for new factories, Craig is 90 miles from the nearest interstate, at the end of a railroad and five hours from DIA. It does have a workforce with skills, but so far, no new applications for those skills.

At Nucla and Naturita, which lose their small coal plant in 2019, the challenge is even greater.

Maybe Craig, Hayden and the other towns will figure out new careers by working with the state and the utilities. But maybe not.

Find a deeper read at BigPivots.com, where Allen Best tracks Colorado’s energy and water transitions.■

How will Colorado’s coal towns fare in green future?/ Courtesy Big Pivots

Shorted

Access to water remains an issue for Colorado tribes

by Ryan Warner / Colorado Public Radio

The Dolores River gushed this spring, flowing in excess of 3,000 cfs thanks to strong snowpack. It barely flows most years, since the river has been dammed to serve communities nearby and climate change has generally reduced the snowmelt coming into Western rivers.

The high water this year means good boating, and it also means people with rights to the water – including on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe – are getting more of their allocation. As recently as 2021, the reservation’s farmland got only about 10% of the water it was owed on paper.

The tribe’s history of fighting for water illuminates what Indigenous communities throughout the Southwest face. It also highlights the challenges facing everyone who relies on the Colorado River, of which the Dolores is a tributary, as negotiations into the river’s future get underway.

Colorado Public Radio recently sat down with Montezuma County resident Amorina Lee-Martinez. She grew up in the Four Corners and completed her PhD in envi-

ronmental studies researching water management in the western U.S., specifically with regard to the Dolores River.

Ute tribes used to live all over what’s now Colorado. Where did they live?

Lee-Martinez: Ute tribal people lived in bands, which were basically family groups of 10 to 20 people, and lived nomadically all over Colorado and in a landscape that extended into all the states around Colorado. They kind of had homelands in different low country areas and then would travel into the high country in the summertime. And so movement was a really central part of Ute culture.

In the late 1800s, after the establishment of reservations, Ute people used the Mancos River in the Four Corners area. What happened when white settlers also wanted to use that water?

The Utes should have had the most senior water rights to the Mancos River. When settlers began to move into that area, after the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation was established, they began to divert the Mancos River upstream from where it would enter into the reservation. This was all done without consultation with the Ute people. And then in the 1950s, settlers built Jackson Gulch Reservoir on the Mancos River and further dewatered the Mancos River.

What happened after the Ute lost their access to the Mancos River?

They really didn’t get water. The Ute Mountain Ute Reservation had minimal to no good-quality water that the tribe could access as soon as the reservation was established, essentially. For about 100 years, water was trucked in to ensure that the tribe had some kind of good-quality water they could drink. When you have to truck in water, that’s more time and energy and expense to receive water, and less quality of life.

How did the Ute start using the Dolores River instead, then?

It’s important to understand the geography. The Ute Mountain Ute Reservation is in the very southwest corner of Colorado, and the Mancos River flows directly through the reservation and into the San Juan River, very close to the Four Corners.

The Dolores River never flows into the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. It flows south from the San Juan Mountains and comes into the town of Dolores, which is about 20 miles north, and then it turns north.

So, an important aspect of how the Utes acquired Dolores River water is that on paper, they had the most senior rights to the Mancos River. In negotiations in the 1970s and 1980s, they gained recognition from the United States government that they could claim their own water rights – since, historically, the U.S. government did not really acknowledge or make any effort to honor Indigenous water rights. So through all these negotiations, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe agreed to subordinate their rights to the Mancos River, meaning that they would not claim water that would harm the settler users upstream. In exchange for that, they gained a right to the Dolores Project, which includes McPhee Dam, and they gained the funding for the in-

Lee-Martinez

frastructure to deliver water from the Dolores River to the reservation, as well.

So the tribe gave up its senior rights to get junior rights on the Dolores. Does that explain why, in recent years, the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation gets delivered such small percentages of their allocated water from the Dolores?

Yes. In the way that water’s allocated in Colorado and in the West, the most senior water users can use all the water that they’re allocated. Those that are junior have to wait and see if they’ll get all of their water.

What has happened to the Ute in the span of time between when they were getting water trucked onto the reservation to when they had access to the Dolores River?

Almost immediately after receiving running water in the late 1980s, the tribe was able to start building businesses in a way they never were before. For example, they built a casino within the same year, I believe, and they established a construction company, and they have since built many other projects in the area. So businesses were able to be built with water in place.

With that also comes the ability to practice self-determination on a new, stronger level. This includes developing a school on their reservation that was recently opened, educating students in their own culture, in their own context, instead of having to send them north to Cortez, which is quite a trek, and there’s a lot of culture shock for youth going between Cortez and back onto the reservation. There’s also an effort to establish a fresh food market on the reservation, which is currently a food desert. So with running water comes economic development and cultural self-determination that was not

possible before.

Is it a common occurrence for tribes to not get their water rights fulfilled?

This is certainly a pattern that has repeated itself in the Colorado River basin. The tribes keep getting the short end of the stick for multiple reasons.

Now we are in a relatively wet year. But the longer trend with climate change is that we’re going to see hotter and drier weather. So, what

Hot July BOGO Deals!

is the future for Indigenous tribes?

What I see with tribes, especially with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, is that they are continuously requesting that they be present and incorporated and included in the discussions for the future of water management and not be treated as an afterthought or excluded from those conversations – as they have historically.

For more from Colorado Public Radio, go to www.cpr.org. ■

See Gunn run

Durangoan seeking to join rarified ranks with 10th Hardrock finish

by Missy Votel

Local runner Drew Gunn likes mountains. Really, really likes them – so much so that this Friday, he’ll be toeing the start line for his 10th Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run.

In the words of Ron Burgundy, and Hardrock Race Director Dale Garland, “This is kind of a big deal.”

For those of you not good at math, that’s 1,000 miles of Hardrocking – not to mention the thousands more that go into training. But the real eye-popping number here is 331,970 feet. That’s the cumulative Hardrock elevation Gunn will have gained when he crosses the finish line sometime late Saturday (running gods willing.)

To put it in perspective, at 330,000 feet in altitude, there’s something known as the Kármán line, sort of an internationally agreed upon imaginary line where the Earth’s atmosphere officially becomes outer space. In other words, Gunn will have literally run to outer space. (And back, when you factor in the training.)

Remarkably, Gunn is humble and unassuming as

heck over his terrestrial astronautical feats. By day, he works at Pine Needle Mountaineering, where chances are, he has fitted you for a pair of ski boots or maybe advised you on some Smartwools. He also has a side hustle, Drew Gunn Training, where other runners can tap into all his Jedi training secrets. But, predictably, during his other waking hours, you can find him bagging peaks, doing hot laps on Hogsback, or riding his bike from Silverton to Lake City to bag peaks over there.

So, how does one become such a veritable vertical maniac? Was he raised by a pack of mutant Yeti billy goats high in the Himilayas? Actually … try Alabama.

“My mom was a big runner,” Gunn, 49, said. While growing up, he ran regularly – later adding cycling and climbing to the repertoire.

“But I can never remember thinking that running 100 miles sounded like a good idea,” he said.

However, in his early 20s he was bitten by the mountain bug and moved to Steamboat Springs for a stint before moving to Durango in 2004. It was during this time he got his true calling: mountaineering.

“When I first learned about the Hardrock in 2009, the amount of vertical is what grabbed my attention – going up and down mountains all day long rather than just covering distance,” he said.

His first Hardrock was in 2012, and he has run it every year since that the race has been held. (*It was canceled in 2019 because of snow and in 2020 because of that pandemic thing.)

Of course, to run this many Hardrocks requires a lot of athleticism, grit, determination and very large lungs. And, perhaps, the ability to reach a certain Zen-like state that some of us landlubbers may interpret as, well, cray cray.

“I am very good at repetition; going out and getting in the zone for hours,” he admitted. “I rarely get bored.”

In fact, he doesn’t even listen to music while out there ticking off the miles – something many of us would find unthinkable. Music, he said, can throw him off his natural pace, making him run either too fast or too slow, and it can be distracting. “I like to be fully immersed,” he said.

Drew Gunn all smiles in 2017’s Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run./ Photo by Ben Brashear

Another thing that is required to do this many Hardrocks: pure, simple luck. Apparently, there are hundreds if not thousands of people every year who willingly want to subject themselves to traversing 100 miles through the mountains with no sleep. However, the Hardrock’s permit is only for 145, meaning the race must hold a lottery every year for entrants.

“I have incredible lottery luck. It’s kind of ridiculous,” he said. “I’m sure there’s people who see my name again and say, ‘How does that jerk keep getting in, and I don’t?’” he joked.

Of course, as we all know, luck may get you to the start line, but it won’t necessarily get you to the finish line. So just how does one get to kiss the Hardrock 30something hours later, inquiring recreational runners who barely survived the Imogene may ask?

Well, for starters, lots of preparation. Safe to say, after 10 years, Gunn’s got his system dialed, from shoes (Altras or Salomons) to sustenance (gels, bars, drink mixes and a breakfast burrito on the second morning) to socks and underwear (just kidding, we didn’t ask him about underwear). He also doesn’t like to be rushed, which is a good trait for someone about to tackle a very, very long distance by foot. Each year, he arrives in Silverton three days before the race to acclimate, relax and connect with his surroundings.

In fact, he’s so dialed in that, at the risk of jinxing him (Drew if you’re reading, skip to the next paragraph), he can’t really even think of anything bad that’s ever happened to him out on the course. No bear encounters, not a single blister and no puking (although he’s felt like it.)

“I’ve got a pretty good stomach,” he said. “I’m very lucky. In many ways it’s genetics, the people around me

and having fewer barriers. I get to spend a lot of time in the mountains and am used to the altitude. I feel more comfortable in the mountains than anywhere else.”

Gunn also noted that modern advancements – like GPS, cushy shoes, lighter and brighter headlamps, carbon fiber trekking poles and Gore-Tex, to name a few –have made the Hardrock a little less rocky over the years. These are all things his predecessors in the 1990s did not have the luxury of possessing.

“When the Hardrock started in 1992, it was just a few weirdos who gathered in the San Juans every summer,” he said. “People who did this in the early days – that was a different challenge; there were so many unknowns. They were a little tougher. That’s a good thing to keep in mind.”

However, with the explosion of aforementioned technologies, ultrarunning also took off, helping to put the Hardrock on the map. The sport has even spawned a few badass superstars, like current Hardrock men’s record holder Kilian Jornet (who will not be running in this year’s Hardrock) and Courtney Dauwalter (women’s Hardrock record holder fresh off a record at the Western States 100 as well).

Despite its popularity and notoriety on the ultrarunner bucket list, Gunn said the Hardrock will always be one of his favorites, not for the bragging rights but for the beauty. (And perhaps the commemorative “10 Hardrocks” jacket he’s rumored to get as well.)

“There are not that many other courses that are appealing to me,” he said, noting that Italy’s Tor des Géants –which is basically two Hardrocks – is a dream of his. “I’ve been spoiled by the Hardrock. We kind of take it for granted, because we live so close, but the San Juans are amazing mountains. The Hardrock is arguably one of the

Gunn descending into Ice Lakes Basin from GrantSwamp Pass, sometimes called the “spiritual center of Hardrock.”/ Photo by Ben Brashear

most scenic 100-milers in the world. It’s hard to beat.”

So, as long as the lottery luck continues, Gunn has no plans of quitting. Sort of like the Tom Brady of the running world (oops, wait – he retired? Again?)

“I’ve never predicted how long I would do it,” he said, noting that by endurance-running standards, he’s one of the “younger” ones. “I’ll keep doing it until I’m not having fun anymore. Maybe this will be my last one. Maybe I’ll go for 20. I have no idea.” ■

Southwest scourge

Tips in the battle against the pesky, persistent Siberian elm

by Anne Poirot

They grow from foundations, cracks in the pavement, barren lots and other dry, inhospitable places. Every spring, their button-sized, paper-thin seed pods take flight, floating from yard to yard, filling the air and covering the ground in white. They sprout almost overnight, and you cut one down, only to have its stump sprout several more branches like a vegetative hydra. Of course, we are talking about the ubiquitous and invasive Siberian elm, aka Ulmus pumila. And more than likely, you have one growing in your yard.

The Siberian elm is not native to Colorado. According to Ben Bain, La Plata County Weed Control Manager, the tree came from northeast Asia to the U.S. as early as the 1860s, used as a fast-growing windbreak across the Midwest. It was likely brought to the Southwest in the 1920s. The Siberian elm is now listed as a noxious weed in Colorado and is a bane to many residents. So, what can you do?

Well, first the “goods.” As mentioned, the Siberian elm grows quickly, is droughtresistant, provides shade and can grow in poor soil conditions. However, the trees are not good at sharing water with native species and other plants. The tree was defined by notable horticulturalist Michael Dirr as “one of, if not the, world’s worst trees … a poor ornamental that does not deserve to be planted anywhere.”

Another problem: Siberian elms produce billions of seeds every spring. If you’ve seen the piles of seeds in street corners, gutters or your garden, you al-

ready know that the germination rate is extremely high.

Once a Siberian elm takes hold, it quickly out-competes desirable native plants, especially in sparsely vegetated or disturbed areas, according to a U.S. Forest Service report. A high density of Siberian elm can reduce shade-intolerant species and decrease overall diversity.

According to Bain, Siberian elm also

have deep roots, which enables them to grow fast but also produces a weak tree with branches prone to breaking and falling, especially during heavy snow. Their root system also impacts pipes, sidewalks and other infrastructure. And with wood that burns very smokey, the Siberian elm is not even ideal for a campfire.

Trying to contain the seeds and trees spread may seem overwhelming, or even

hopeless. But knowledge is power. The aforementioned Forest Service report recommends hand removal of new sprouts, cutting back of additional growth at the base of larger trees, treating stumps and root systems with chemicals and “girdling” (cutting a deep ring around the trunk) of trees bigger than 3” in diameter.

The guide also includes tips to keep your Siberian elm population in check:

• Maintain healthy and diverse plant communities to prevent infestations.

• Limit disturbance and/or promptly revegetate disturbed areas with desirable perennials, especially perennial grasses.

• Detect and eradicate new populations of Siberian elm as early as possible.

• Combine mechanical and chemical methods for most effective control.

• Graze goats (if you can) along corridors of heavy new growth of seedlings.

Bain also recommends a treatment such as Rodeo Aquatic Herbicide (water-safe, but wear protective equipment), which has been tested by Mountain Studies Institute as an effective way to treat elm stumps.

Homeowners can receive assistance with a free weed control plan from the county and a 50% rebate on material costs. Bain said although other invasive species are higher on the list than the Siberian elm, it is important to pay attention to invasive trees as they are more difficult to remove once established than smaller plants.

But most importantly, don’t wait. Siberian elm can dominate new locations in a few years due to its adaptability, high rate of germination and rapid growth. Awareness is the first step, followed by action.■

Siberian elms have taken over the Durango Dog Park. But fear not, there are steps you can take to battle the pesky trees./ Photo by Missy Votel

From the ashes

by Ari LeVaux

Morel hunting and elk hunting have a lot in common. Namely “hunting.” Both pursuits take place in the mountains, in places that are inconvenient to access, require enormous effort and can take a toll on body, spirit, clothing, relationships and anything else of value. But we do it anyway.

We do it, because both morel and meat hunting offer edible rewards of the highest quality if you succeed, and success depends on reading the landscape. It helps to not get lost or run out of water or get trampled by a moose. Even if you don’t succeed, all you have to do is survive in order to experience some amazing moments and walk away stronger.

Whatever your prey, you find it by finding its habitat. Elk tend to prefer being as far away as possible from humans. The best morel habitat, meanwhile, is a burnt-out forest, the year after a fire.

We don’t know how or why morels appear after a fire, where the spores come from or how they survive the inferno if they were already there. Wilderness-dependent industries don’t attract much research money. Much of the knowledge of morel ecology is held by the pickers themselves, who are not always inclined to share what they know.

Like elk hunters, morel hunters will be loath to share information. Accurate information, anyway. When two pickers bump into each other in the woods, it can be an awkward, mutually disappointing encounter. You both have the right to be there, but each nonetheless feels protective of their spot.

Unlike elk or deer, which can be raised in captivity, morels have stubbornly refused all efforts at domestication, and they live only where they choose. This means that every single morel you’ll ever eat was hunted and harvested by hand, in the wild. They have a rich, forestal flavor and can hold so much sauce in their nooks and crannies. So easy to prepare and so easy to store, morels are truly the wild mushroom of choice.

I’ve gone after these freaky fungal fruits, plodding up and down the burned mountainsides of Montana, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and

Alaska. Morel habitat is treacherous. Burnt trees called “widowmakers” stand in wait, propped up on neighboring trees and needing very little provocation to fall on your head, while the charred stumps of saplings can poke through your boots. On a recent picking trip, one novel danger was the bark on downed lodgepole pines. It looked so grippy, and it was so tempting to step on it. But weeks of rain had turned the bark into a banana peel, ready to slide out from under you as soon as you put weight on it.

That particular day was more of a guided hunt. A friend had been scouting this burn, waiting for the right combination of soil moisture and temperature to converge, and with it the morels. My buddy even drove and didn’t make me wear a blindfold. But a guided hunt is still hunting. You still have to find your prey.

I wasn’t doing particularly well; I had maybe a quart when I ran into some pickers who were on the way out, loaded with fungus. They were friendly but wary when I asked where they were from. Turns out they were Mexican and didn’t want any trouble. They were also tired, hungry and thirsty.

I had put down my backpack a few hundred yards below us and was just carrying my bucket and bear spray. I told them where my pack was and invited them to help themselves to food and water. When I got back to my pack,

an elk sandwich was gone. And my pail had an extra 2 gallons of morels.

I took the morels and cooked them in sherry cream sauce, my go-to, and served alongside whitetail steak, washed down with red wine. It was the kind of meal that only a hunter gets to enjoy.

Morels in Sherry Cream Sauce

If you don’t have or can’t afford a lot of morels, one trick is to add button mushrooms. It will stretch out the morels without diluting the flavor. If you are using dried morels, toss a cup with ½ cup hot chicken broth and let sit for an hour, covered, to rehydrate before using.

2 cups fresh morels or one cup dried (see rehydration instructions above)

2 tablespoons butter

½ medium yellow onion, minced

¼ cup dry sherry

Zest and juice of ¼ lemon

Heavy pinch of nutmeg

¼–½  cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a heavy-bottom pan. Add onion and mushrooms. Cook together until onions are translucent, and the morels give up their moisture –about 10 minutes.

Add sherry, and let it cook off. Add nutmeg, lemon zest and juice. Stir around and cook a moment, then add the cream. Cook five more minutes, season with salt and pepper, and serve. ■

Thursday13

River Arkansas plays, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard Ave.

Patrick Crossing plays, 5 p.m., Purgatory Resort.

Black Velvet Trio plays, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Rochester Hotel’s Secret Garden, 726 E. 2nd Ave.

Bobby Marquez Band, 5:30 p.m., Buckley Park.

Thursday Night Sitting Group, 5:30-6:15 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave, Suite 109.

Ben Gibson Duo plays, 6 p.m., James Ranch, 33846 Highway 550.

Nu Bass Theory plays, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Bluegrass jam, 6 p.m., weekly, Durango Beer & Ice, 3000 Main Ave. All levels welcome.

Jeff Solon Jazz Duo play, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1330 Camino del Rio.

Pete Giuliani plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Goodbye Ranger, Myles Bullen and BlueRaspberry, 7:30 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Hauntings & History Ghost Tour, 8 p.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot.

Friday14

BID Coffee & Conversation, 8:30 a.m., TBK Bank, 259 W. 9th St.

Friends of the Library Book Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Durango Public Library.

San Juan Nature Hike, 9 a.m., Andrews Lake. Hosted by San Juan Mountains Association.

Gary Walker plays, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Jean-Pierre Bakery & Restaurant, 601 Main Ave.

Open Meditation, 12 noon-1 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave, Suite 109.

Free Legal Clinic, 4-5 p.m., Ignacio Library.

Ralph Dinosaur and the Fabulous Volcanos play, 5 p.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.

Black Velvet Trio plays, 6 p.m., Fire Fox Farms, Ignacio.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Resolve: Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra Concert, 7 p.m., FLC’s Community Concert Hall.

“The Complete History of America (Abridged)”, 7:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Saturday15

Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m., TBK Bank parking lot, 259 W. 9th St.

Friends of the Library Book Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Durango Public Library.

Wild Plant & Mushroom Identification Walk, 9 a.m., Pass Creek Trail (Engineer Mountain Trailhead at Coal Bank Pass).

American Indian Cultural Arts Festival, 10 a.m., Aztec Ruins National Monument.

Beer & Music Festival, 1 p.m., Purgatory Resort.

Art Mart Soiree, 4:30 p.m., Hermosa Café art lot, 736 Main Ave.

The Lizard Head Quartet plays, 5 p.m., Gazpacho, 431 E. 2nd Ave.

High Altitude Blues play, 6 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, Vallecito.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Community Yoga, 6-7 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd. Donations accepted.

West Coast Swing Party, 6:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra Concert featuring Tony DeSare, 7 p.m., FLC’s Community Concert.

“The Complete History of America (Abridged)”, 7:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

100 Year Flood plays, 6 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Sunday16

Durango Flea Market, 8 a.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Veterans Benefit Breakfast, 9 a.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.

American Indian Cultural Arts Festival, 10 a.m., Aztec Ruins National Monument.

Wolfwood Refuge Celebration and Fundraiser, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kennebec Café, Hesperus. www.wolfwoodfrefuge.org.

Vinyl Sundaze, 12 noon, Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

“The Complete History of America (Abridged)”, 2 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Feed the People! free mutual aid meal & gear drive for homeless community members, every Sunday, 2 p.m., Buckley Park.

Vibrant Virtuosos: Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra Concert, 5 p.m., FLC’s Community Concert.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Sunday Funday, 6 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

The Crooked Rugs, Kangaroo Courts and ORA play, 7:30 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Monday17

Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Meditation and Dharma Talk, 5:30 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., The Office & Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Blowing it, rocket man and no boundaries

Interesting fact: For several days in the Great Depression, the Colorado governor publicly proposed building a border wall with New Mexico, presumably somewhere between the “You’re leaving Colorado” sign and the “Welcome to New Mexico” one.

Dear Rachel,

Why have I known so many women who say they’re going to powder their nose when they go to the bathroom, especially in public? We’ve come so far in being able to talk about womanly things in public, and yet we apparently have so far still to go if women don’t feel they can say “I have to pee” or “Excuse me” or the old classic “I’m going to wash my hands” which is (I hope) true if not the whole truth. Can you shed some light on this euphemistic use of old makeup terminology in this day and age?

– Potty Broken

Dear Nosey, Me personally, I like to shout “What’s that?” and point across the room. Then, when everyone is distracted, I run the other way to what I hope is the bathroom. If the bathroom is in the direction I pointed, well, then everyone’s out of luck. As for this nose-powdering business, I didn’t realize it was makeup-related. I thought it meant “I’m going to go snort some coke,” and I’ve always been disappointed those people don’t invite me.

– Snort, Rachel

“Fermentation,” 6:30 p.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 CR 203.

Gutter Town, Cybearg, American Businessman & Moon Bandits, 7:30 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Comedy Showcase, 7:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Tuesday18

Community Yoga, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd. Donations accepted.

Slow Bluegrass Jam, 5:30-7:30 p.m., General Palmer Hotel, 567 Main Ave.

Rotary Club of Durango meeting, featuring speaker Grant Wilson, director of the Earth Law Center, 6 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.

Dear Rachel,

I keep thinking about that Russian coup that didn’t quite happen. I also keep thinking about what a similar coup would look like here. Would it be Elon Musk marching with all his Tesla diehards from charging station to charging station? Or would it be something much less sinister than that?

– T.N. Foil

Dear Saran Wrap,

Um, we know exactly what a miserably failed coup here would look like. It looks like a very few people going to jail and everyone else walking free, while practically everyone in elected office downplays what happened. At least Elon whatshisname would make headlines for longer. Though I wish he wouldn’t. I wish he’d go up in a rocket that takes a wrong turn in Albuquerque.

– Power to the people, Rachel

telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

Dear Poor Boundaries,

Dear Rachel,

The more I think about state boundaries, the more ridiculous I think the whole thing is. I mean, the lines between any of the Four Corners states seem arbitrary at best and horribly misplaced at worst. Durango should be right on a freaking border. Everything south feels like New Mexico, everything north feels like classic stereotypical Colorado. Is there some history lesson here I should give myself?

– Riding the Line

Sunset Yoga, 7 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1330 Camino del Rio.

Concerts in the Plaza – The Ben Gibson Band, 68 p.m., Three Springs Plaza, 175 Mercado St.

Black Velvet, 6 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

Horizon plays, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-8:30 p.m., James Ranch, 33846 Highway 550.

Open Mic, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Wednesday19

Open Meditation, 8-9:15 a.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave.

There are so very many ill-defined lines in our world. And they’re all invisible! The “You’re Leaving State X” sign and the “Welcome to State Y” sign are always close, but not touching. The state line is somewhere between them, but no one knows where! Same with the line between “making a joke about cocaine in the newspaper” and “not making a joke about cocaine in the newspaper.” My editor might have cut it out to save both our skins, but now that I’ve called back to it here, she’s stuck with it.

– Applying for statehood, Rachel

Restorative Yoga for Cancer, 9:30-10:45 a.m., no cost for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. Register at cancersupportswco.org/calendar.

Music in the Mountains Dinner & Family Concert, 5:30 p.m., FLC’s Community Concert Hall.

Walking Meditation, 6:30-7:15 p.m., Claire Viles Park, durangodharmacenter.org

Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.

Karaoke, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Ongoing

Music in the Mountains, July 6-30, musicinthemountains.com.

Beat at the he he heatat!

Great selection of shorts, tanks, swimsuits, sundresses & hats Daily

by Rob Brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Many astrologers enjoy meditating on the heavenly body Chiron. With an orbit between Saturn and Uranus, it is an anomalous object that has qualities of both a comet and a minor planet. Its name is derived from a character in ancient Greek myth: the wisest teacher and healer of all the centaurs. Chiron is now in the sign of Aries and will be there for a while. Let’s invoke its symbolic power to inspire two quests in the coming months: 1. Seek a teacher who excites your love of life. 2. Seek a healer who alleviates any hurts that interfere with your love of life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s high time for some high culture! You are in a phase to get rich benefits from reading Shakespeare, listening to Beethoven and enjoying paintings by Matisse and Picasso. You’d also benefit lavishly from communing with the work of virtuosos like Mozart, Michelangelo and novelist Haruki Murakami. However, I think you would garner even greater emotional treasures from reading Virginia Woolf, listening to Janelle Monáe’s music and enjoying Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings. Get cozy with the books of Simone Weil, listen to Patti Smith’s music, and see Frida Kahlo’s art.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The French phrase j’ajoute (translated as “I adjust”) is a chess term used when a player is about to adjust their pieces but does not yet intend to make a move. J’ajoute might be an apt motto for you to invoke in the coming days. You are not ready to make major shifts in the way you play the games you’re involved in. But it’s an excellent time to meditate on that prospect. You will gain clarity and refine your perspective if you tinker with and rearrange the overall look and feel of things.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “The Simpsons” animated show has been on TV for 34 seasons. Ten-year-old Bart Simpson is one of the stars. He is a mischievous rascal who’s ingenious in defying authority. Sometimes teachers catch him in his rebellious acts and punish him by making him write apologetic affirmations on the classroom blackboard. For example: “I will not strut around like I own the place. I will not obey the voices in my head. I will not express my feelings through chaos. I will not trade pants with others. I will not instigate revolution. I am not deliciously saucy. I cannot absolve sins. Hot dogs are not bookmarks.” In accordance with

your unruly astrological omens, Cancerian, I authorize you to do things Bart said he wouldn’t do. You have a license to be deliciously saucy.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Early in her career, Leo actor Lisa Kudrow endured disappointments. She auditioned for the TV show “Saturday Night Live” but wasn’t chosen. She was cast as a main character in the TV show “Frasier” but was replaced during the filming of the pilot episode. A few months later, though, she landed a key role in the new TV show “Friends.” In retrospect, she was glad she got fired from “Frasier,” so she could be available for “Friends.” “Frasier” was popular, but “Friends” was a super hit. Will there be a “Frasier” moment for you in the coming months, dear Leo? That’s what I suspect. So keep the faith.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The coming weeks will be a good time to seek helpful clues and guidance from your dreams. Take steps to remember. Here are a few possible dream scenes and their meanings. 1. A dream of planting a tree means you’re primed to begin a project that will grow for years. 2. A dream of riding in a spaceship suggests you yearn to make your future come more alive in your life. 3. A dream of taking a long trip or standing on a mountaintop may signify you’re ready to come to new conclusions about your life story.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In reviewing the life work of neurologist and author Oliver Sacks, critic Patricia Holt said he marveled at how “average people not only adapt to injury and disease but also create something transcendent out of a condition others call disability.” Sacks specialized in collaborating with neurological patients who used their seeming debilitations “to uncover otherwise unknown resources and create lives of originality and innovation.” I bring this up, Libra, because I suspect that in the coming months, you will have extra power to turn your apparent weaknesses or liabilities into assets.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): It’s a mistake to believe we must ration our love as if we only have so much to offer. The fact is, the more love we give, the more we have available to give. As we tap into our deepest source of generosity, we discover we have greater reserves of it. What I’ve just said is always true, but it’s especially apropos for you right now. You are in a phase when you can dramatically expand your understanding of how many blessings you have to dole out.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Home computers didn’t become common until the 1980s. During the previous decade, small start-up companies with adventurous experimenters did the grunt work that made the digital revolution possible. Many early adapters worked out of garages, preferring to devote their modest resources to the actual work rather than to fancy labs. I suspect the coming months will invite you to do something similar, Sagittarius: to be discerning about how you allocate your resources as you plan and implement your vigorous transformations.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m tempted to call this upcoming chapter of your life story “The Partial Conquest of Loneliness.” Other good titles might be “Restoration of Degraded Treasure” or “Turning a Confusing Triumph into a Gratifying One” or “Replacing a Mediocre Kind of Strength with the Right Kind.” Can you guess that I foresee an exciting and productive time for you in the coming weeks? To best prepare, drop as many expectations and assumptions as you can, so you will be fully available for the novel and sometimes surprising opportunities.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): By 1582, the inexact old Julian calendar used by the Western world for 13 centuries was out of whack, because it had no leap years. The spring equinox was occurring too early, on March 10. Pope Gregory commissioned scientists who devised a more accurate way to account for the passage of time. The problem was that the new calendar needed a modification that required the day after October 4 to be October 15. Eleven days went missing –permanently. People were resentful and resistant, though eventually all of Europe made the conversion. In that spirit, Aquarius, I ask you to consider an adjustment that requires a shift in habits. It may be inconvenient at first, but will ultimately be good for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean novelist Peter De Vries wrote, “Sometimes I write drunk and revise sober, and sometimes I write sober and revise drunk. But you have to have both elements in creation – the Apollonian and the Dionysian, or spontaneity and restraint, emotion and discipline.” In the coming weeks, you Pisces folks will be skilled at weaving these modes as you practice what you love to do. You’ll be a master of cultivating dynamic balance; a wizard of blending creativity and organization; a productive change-maker who fosters both structure and morale.

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 www.durangotelegraph.com

n classifieds@durango telegraph.com

n 970-259-0133

n 679 E. 2nd Ave., #E2

Approximate office hours:

Mon-Wed: 9ish - 5ish

Thurs: On delivery

Fri: Gone fishing; call first

Announcements

HelpWanted

Carpenter Needed in Durango

Can you: work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? (no weekends) Do you: have some tools, reliable transportation, and a phone? Are you: experienced in framing, siding, and some finish carpentry?

Can you: return phone calls, messages? Will you: be where you say you’ll be, when you say you’ll be there? We’ve got a place for you if the answers are YES! Good pay for steady hands - call Steve 970-769-1653

ForSale

Berry Plants for Sale

Elderberry, raspberry and cherry shrubs. Make your own elderberry syrup! Fres elderflower and Nanking cherry available to make cordials or teas. So lovely and yummy! mtberrymedicine@gmail.com

Jackson Antix 1.0 Medium

Whitewater kayak. Super fun river runner/surfer. Very good condition – all outfitting intact, no tears or rips, clean cockpit. In hot pink/orange/yellow fade. Downtown Durango. Message for dets: 970-749-2595.

TaoTronics 4k Action Camera

HaikuMovieReview

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” Indy’s key rules: don’t steal artifacts. Nazis and snakes are just the worst.

– Lainie Maxson

a unique, intuitive fusion of Esalen massage, deep tissue & Acutonics, 24 years of experience. To schedule call Kathryn, 970-201-3373.

Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-7590199.

Learn to Square Dance

Free intro on Monday nights in July, regular classes start August 7th. No partner needed. Call Carla at 970-9036478 for more info.

KDUR is Celebrating 50 years of broadcasting in 2025. With that anniversary fast approaching, staff is on the hunt for past DJs. Maybe you did a show for one year, maybe you did a show for 10. However long that was, hopefully you have a fond memory, a story or maybe even some recorded material! If you do, please email station manager Bryant Liggett, Liggett_b@fort lewis.edu or call 970.247.7261

Classes/Workshops

Dance Classes for Adults

The desire to dance is timeless. Dance adds variety, community, and joy to your fitness routine. Find out more at durangodance.com/releve

West Coast Swing Dance

6-week class starts July 19. Learn the basics of West Coast Swing. Registration is required at www.westslopewesties .com

Hire the Right People for You

We recruit the people you need. Visit: http://maryjanespeople.com and email us at hi@maryjanespeople.com

CommercialforRent

Beautiful Bodywork Space

Part time space available on weekends and Mondays in beautiful, clean, established building full of healers. Text 970-946-1051 if interested.

Office Co-Share Available

Furnished office, private bathroom, secure entrances and covered parking. Visit  snowhaven.org to reserve the space.

Wanted

Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.

New and in the box. Comes with user guide and all accessories that came with it: waterproof housing, handlebar/pole mount, mounts, battery, tethers, protective back cover, USB cable and lens cleaning cloth. $50. J.marie.pace@gmail.com

Reruns Home Furnishings

Brighten up your indoor and outdoor space –patio sets, bistros, cool garden art and décor inside and out. Looking to consign smaller furniture pieces … 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.Sat. 385-7336.

Services

Harmony Cleaning and Organizing

Residential, offices, commercial and vacation rentals, 970-403-6192.

Lowest Prices on Storage!

Inside/outside storage near Durango and Bayfield. 10-x-20, $130. Outside spots: $65, with discounts available. RJ Mini Storage. 970-259-3494.

BodyWork

Lotus Path Healing Arts

Now accepting new clients. Offering

Integrated Massage

Deep tissue therapeutic body work @ Durango Wellness Clinic Call/text 970.403.5451 to book a session with Dennis. Inquire about Telegraph discount.

CommunityService

Calling all La Plata County Artists curators and galleries. The First annual Durango Art Week kicks off Sept. 15. Participation is open to anyone in the art field. Durango Art Week’s strives to provide an engaging and memorable experience by uniting the community through art and celebrating diversity and accessibility. If you are interested in learning more or registering, email art week@durango.org.

Volunteers Needed

Do you want to make a difference in your community and the lives of others? Alternative Horizons is always in need of volunteers to staff our hotline. AH supports and empowers survivors of domestic violence. Training and ongoing support provided. Next training will be held on May 8th and 9th. For more info. call 970-247-4374 or visit alternativehorizons.org/