The Durango Telegraph, Jan. 13, 2022

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Jan. 13, 2022 Vol. XXI, No. 2 durangotelegraph.com

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T H E

O R I G I N A L

I N D I E

W E E K L Y

365 days a year The Marshall Fire and redefining the notion of fire season p8

L I N E

O N

Road to recovery For men fighting addiction, Rescue Mission is a lifeline p9

D U R A N G O

&

B E Y O N D

The new not normal Are declining snowpack baselines blunting climate reality? p10

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telegraph

lineup

4

4 La Vida Local

Change of calendar doesn’t always promise fresh start (but one can hope)

4 Thumbin’ It

New year, same s***

Ear to the ground: “How do I know if I’m sick or just hungover?”

– Local on Snowdown’s announcement that the games will (mostly) go on, with vaccination wristbands and a request that people who feel ill stay home

Shop & Ski

by Kirbie Bennett

5 Word on the Street 6-7 Soapbox

8

8 Land Desk

Endless fire season Deeper look at Front Range fires shows grim reality of year-round risk

9 State News

by Jonathan Thompson / Land Desk

thepole

RegularOccurrences

If I’ve learned anything about my homeland of New Jersey, it’s that my people don’t like being outside, and we’ve a long history of recreating the natural world in an indoor setting to better suit our delicate sensibilities.

It all started when Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in Menlo Park, N.J. in 1879, thinking hey, why not bring the sun’s powers inside? Then, in the 1920s, Haviland Carrier (better known to friends as Willis) patented the air conditioner, because in no just world should Mother Nature be in control of the thermostat. In more recent years, tanning salons have proven indispensable, both in winter and summer, to maintain the tanned TV orange glow people know and love.

10-11 Top Story

9

12 Stuff to Do

Beating the odds Living with addiction no easy task, but some hardfast on better life

by Claire Cleveland / Colorado Public Radio

13 Ask Rachel 14 Free Will Astrology 15 Classifieds

10

15 Haiku Movie Review

Reality check

On the cover: Local skier Christopher Trimble stares off wistfully at Velocity Basin during a recent backcountry tour./ Photo by Stephen Eginoire

Do new snowpack averages for the West blunt reality of climate change?

boilerplate

by Jonathan Romeo

EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel missy@durangotelegraph.com

STAR-STUDDED CAST: Kirbie Bennett, Jonathan Thompson, Lainie Maxson, Rob Brezsny and Clint Reid

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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.

telegraph

And now, it appears the people of New Jersey have found a way to control when we want our powder days – which apparently is every day – while not having to sacrifice a stop at Nordstrom and a freshly baked Auntie Anne’s pretzel. As the self-proclaimed Garden State ambassador to Durango, I introduce to you, “Big Snow American Dream,” North America’s first and only indoor ski resort, fittingly located in a New Jersey megamall.

Big Snow, which opened in 2019, is a 16-story ski/snowboard park, boasting “real snow” yearround. It has 4 acres of skiable terrain, four lifts and a capacity for 500 people. (For reference, Durango’s Chapman Hill Ski Area is 7 acres, but again, it’s outside, and anything can happen out there ...)

While other unlucky outdoor ski resorts have to deal with weather and diminishing snowpacks driven by climate change, NJ’s ski-mall-utopia has the ability to crank out 4.4 tons of snow an hour and a massive cooling generator that keeps the place at a steady 28 degrees, 365 days a year.

Sure, there have been complications, like in September when a fire broke out on a ski slope (not sure how that happens), which has indefinitely closed the park. And yeah, there’s a lawsuit after a woman injured on the slopes claimed park employees left her alone on experienced terrain while she was in a beginner ski course (don’t even start drawing “Class Action Park” comparisons!).

Resort officials, for their part, say the easy access and relatively affordable skiing area is introducing new people to the sport. And hey, some people like it, like one local woman who told a TV news station she sought shelter there amid a heat wave. “It is the best thing that they could’ve ever invented here in New Jersey,” she said.

So, moral of the story (if there is one?), don’t be too quick to dismiss. Whatever the case, it’s not like Durango has some big, vacant mall that could be going to other good uses, like a year-round ski resort (or affordable housing?) for an endless winter. Oh wait…

Jan. 13, 2022 n

3

opinion

LaVidaLocal Mixed feelings on another new year More than a century ago, Italian socialist Antonio Gramsci wrote an essay titled, “I Hate New Year’s Day,” wherein he expressed his disdain for such celebrations, and all the resolutions and expectations they bring. “You end up seriously thinking that between one year and the next there is a break; that a new history is beginning,” Gramsci wrote. “You make resolutions, and you regret your irresolution, and so on, and so forth. This is generally what’s wrong with dates.” And every year I find myself agreeing.

Needless to say, 2021 grossly overstayed its welcome. As that grim year drew to a close, one tragedy after another took hold – from another violent gun shooting fueled by racist, misogynistic white male rage to drought-empowered wildfires that ravaged suburban Denver, destroying more than 1,000 homes. All of these are heart-wrenching reminders of the various social and environmental crises that we deeply need to confront.

On top of processing and grieving through these tragedies, as I write this, reporters and historians are reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the rightwing Capitol insurrection of January 2021.

At this point, it’s a little traumatizing stepping foot into a new year.

Personally, I have not had the best start to this new calendar of days. We’re only about two weeks through, and I’m already desperate to fast forward to the parts of the year that will be good to me, like the release dates for new books and music I’m anticipating, or those random days of overwhelming joy and good news from friends and family. Or the days when plague variants aren’t multiplying like gremlins.

Because they seem so few and far between, I now uncontrollably desire those days when life shouts into my ears, “Yes, hope and joy still exist, and here they are for you.” But it doesn’t work that way. We’re always navigating through an indifferent, immovable present, and the actions we take here and now are the only way forward to better or worse days.

Though I’m often in the habit of waking up feeling eternally damned, the pressure of a new year can’t help but compound such anxiety, especially when the grim and gloomy paint skylines and headlines. So perhaps it’s worth taking a step back to acknowledge the arbitrariness of this particular epoch. For me, the poetic Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano often provides such illuminating reminders. In his 2012 book “Children of the Days,” commenting on the way we usually view January 1 as the start of a new year, Galeano writes, “The date was chosen by Rome, imperial Rome, and blessed by Vatican Rome, and it would be an overstatement to say that all humanity celebrates today as the crossing from one year to the next.”

In my own Diné culture, the New Year begins in October (the month is called Gháájí, indicating a division of seasons), and this marks the end of harvesting, giving way to preparations for the cold months of winter.

Of course, the Diné New Year is just one of many similar celebrations that take place around the world at different points in time to herald a new beginning. With that said, maybe it’s the result of being subsumed in a Western-centric worldview, but one can’t resist becoming immersed in the New Year’s Day of January. One can’t help but curiously desire the party others are talking up. But why stop there? Why remain so static and linear, allowing the ashes of Imperial Rome to continue haunting our days?

To acknowledge the multiplicity of new beginnings is to acknowledge the multiplicity of possibilities we can collectively create and nurture. In Gramsci’s essay, there’s a moment where he writes, “I want every morning to be a (new year) for me. Every day I want to reckon with myself, and every day I want to renew myself.”

I am not wishing to return to any previous year (and honestly, to do so would be delusional). And as we hurtle deeper into this century, we continue to navigate through a world fractured by climate change, fascism and diminishing safety nets, among other alarming issues. Which is to say: as we move further in time, we are running out of time.

There’s an old anarchist slogan that declares, “Another world is possible.” And more so than before, we must work toward making that statement a reality, by organizing and fighting for a world free of the violence, exploitation and domination that currently has us set on a death-drive of self-annihilation.

And along the way, we must never lose sight of the joy innate to every possibility. Because even though the New Year’s Day of January leaves much to be desired once the horror of reality sets in, I appreciate such celebrations for the gift they present us: it gives us another reason to believe again; to collectively turn toward the sun and take stronger steps forward.

In Galeano’s reflection on January 1, though he’s aware of the Eurocentric/imperialist construct to this moment, he writes, “We ought to acknowledge that time treats us rather kindly. Time allows us, its fleeting passengers, to believe that this day could be the very first day, and it gives us leave to want today to be as bright and joyous as the colours of an outdoor market.”

There’s no guarantee to what any year can bring, and I can only sing my imperfect offering: More so than before, the world dims to a weep. More so than before, we must do our part in creating a better world of solidarity and harmony – one righteously guided by radical, borderless love. And more so than before, we must let our emergency hearts beat louder now.

– Kirbie Bennett

Sign of the Downfall:

Thumbin’It Snowdown announcing some extra precautions amid a surge in COVID. Organizers say if you aren’t feeling well, have a headache or sore throat, please stay home.

The anti-vax movement now telling people to drink their own urine as an alternative to the COVID vaccine. Do it. Drink your own pee, make the ‘rona go away.

God speed!

As of March, kiteboarding will now be allowed at Navajo State Park, after approval from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Sure, it may be a little chillier than the shores of Hawaii, but we’re mountain people; we can handle it.

4 n Jan. 13, 2022

An uptick in reports of people feeding wildlife. One person, in Forest Lakes, left their garage door open so deer could come in and eat from hay bales. Surely you have someone else, ideally a human being, you can invite to dinner, no?

Durango Police forced to limit some nonemergency services as COVID-19 cases spike in the community. Calling 9-1-1 for a chicken nugget emergency still not OK. U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rising more than 6% from 2020-21, kind of the opposite direction that statistic should be headed, given, you know, climate change and stuff like that.

telegraph

Slay, Alexa If you have an Echo in your home, and you say, “Alexa, give me a challenge,” it’ll tell you to do something fun. But last weekend in Minnesota, when Kristin Livdahl’s daughter asked Alexa for a challenge, it told her to “plug a charger halfway into an outlet and then touch a penny to the exposed prongs.” The craziest part is that Amazon didn’t deny the incident, saying only that they’d fix it. No answer was given as to why the speaker/robot tried to kill the girl, but it’s probably because it couldn’t resistor.

WordontheStreet With the passing of Bob Saget (RIP), the Telegraph asked, “Who should be America’s next wholesome dad?”

Q

Deen

“Anyone as long as it’s not Donald Trump.”

Andrew

“George Clooney, because he’s handsome and hot.”

Kyla

“Nick Offerman.

He’s warm yet stern.”

Damon

“Ryan Reynolds.

He’s getting older and getting more rugged, dad good looks. ”

Sanford

“Kevin Hart.

He’s funny, smart and incredibly helpful.”

telegraph

Jan. 13, 2022 n 5

SoapBox

D-Tooned/by Rob Pudim

Jan. 6 insurrection reverie I understand the rage. I do not condone it, but I understand it. It is the rage of the ages, of all of those who have been berated, cut down and wounded; of all of those who were betrayed by anyone who was supposed to bear witness to the truth for them; by anyone who was supposed to unconditionally love them, protect, defend, understand, and stand by for them, but didn’t.

I understand the rage, but its outlet and medium and element is not more violence imposed on the believed betrayers. Might the rage instead be tempered and restructured and put forth as unending energy for change? Can those who rage against the incorrectly-believed injustice find a more rational weapon in their arsenal? Perhaps; perhaps not.

– Dolores T. Mazurkewicz, Hesperus

Making a difference in the world Recently my wife, Suzanne, and I attended an event at Fort Lewis College as a benefit for the Village Aid Project.

The Village Aid Project (VAP) was started nearly 20 years ago by Professor Don May to engage students and faculty in serving unmet needs in Third World countries.

The focus has always been on water, sanitation, schools and engineering-based projects that utilize the expertise of Fort Lewis College faculty and volunteer group Professional Associates.

This program represents a peak of efficiency, effectiveness and heart. Students gain practical work experience while serving others. Professors volunteer their time in a non-classroom setting with students and feel the rewards of service. Rural Third World communities, with their invitation and full involvement, receive sustainable water, sewer systems and, in some cases, new schools.

6 n Jan. 13, 2022

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A total of 90% of funds raised are used to buy building materials. Students volunteer their time and those who travel to the project communities cover their own travel costs. Fort Lewis College provides in-kind support to this uplifting program for students, professors and the world.

Over nearly 20 years, VAP has built projects in 29 communities in five countries. A total of 1,600 families now have clean and safe drinking water; 150 latrines have been constructed; and three schools have been built. VAP also pledges a five year commitment to return, educate and support the communities it serves.

Local leadership and engagement is paramount in identifying and pursuing proposed projects. Future projects may include sustainable energy systems such as solar panels. Each year, two to three projects are built with a total VAP budget of $50 to $60,000. Talk about a cost-effective program!

You can learn more by visiting the Village Aid Project on the Fort Lewis College website (fortlewis.edu). Please consider making a donation. I promise your support will be efficiently and effectively used.

– John Gamble, Durango

Danger on the mountain I was run into by a snowboarder on Jan. 2. I guess the snowboarder thought she was being cool while trying to cut me off on lower Demon at Purgatory Resort. There was no apology, and she and her friend rode off, laughing at my indignation. I was not badly hurt, but I did have to crawl upslope to gather my ski and pole that I lost in the collision. Now I have begun to notice that it seems to be some sort of a challenge to snowboarders to ride as close as possible to skiers – intimidation of the most juvenile kind.

Why is this even allowed to be an issue? Am I not permitted to enjoy myself on the mountain – as is the right

of anyone – without fear of an injury caused by someone else? And why is there not more monitoring to stop this kind of behavior? I echo the opinion that, “Slow zones need to be seriously enforced by pass removals.” That goes for no-jumping areas as well. Something must be done before someone is seriously injured.

I applaud Purgatory owner James Coleman’s idea of upgrading the lifts. But perhaps he should invest first in hiring more staff for the mountain and see to it that we are not terrorized, needlessly, by dangerous behavior.

– Adele Riffe, Hesperus

Wannabe G.I. Joes While reliving via TV the Jan. 6, 2021, Insurrection, I was reminded of the similarities between the Jan. 6 “patriots” and the harassers of the Black Lives Matter peaceful protesters in Durango. They both toted American flags, brandished items to be used as weapons, looked a lot like adults pretending to be grown-up G.I. Joes and espoused their cause as something to do with democracy and freedom. What was most interesting to me was the simple fact that both groups apparently wanted to be poster children for America’s low-scoring level in the Programme for International Student Assessment ratings provided by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Congratulations, to all of you.

– Martin Carlson, Bayfield

The 2% vs. the have nots As we goose-step through the latest “crisis of fear,” I can’t help but take a look back in time. As a youngster I would think: “How could those horrible events happen in and around Germany during the 1930-40s?” I soon learned it was an ideology founded upon eugenics and

sponsored by international wealthy sources. It turns out that the dictum “War (physical, monetary, medical, etc.) occurs to transfer wealth from one entity to another,” is just that. Although one very good outcome of World War II was the establishment of the Nuremberg Code.

Investigating the John F. Kennedy murder in 1963 taught me the genuine power of propaganda. There were plentiful mortal and character assassinations during that time that have now been perfected. Truth, truly, is stranger than fiction! Intellectual discovery (critical thinking) has been replaced by dogma via coercive media domination. Those prone to fully accept the common narrative abdicate their decision-making process to others. My take on this is simple. As Hunter Thompson would proclaim: “Cui Bono” or who benefits, versus those offering an opposing point of view. I lean toward those not profiting (unlike the 2%) from current events who also offer ethical and scientific reasoning. Shame on me.

The Fourth Estate has failed us miserably. Instead of offering multiple points of view we are now “lucky” to get two. Red or Blue, For or Against, Believe or Not Believe. Gone is the gray area of inquiry. The CIA’s Mockingbird Project is now all grown up and thriving. It seems they were jealous of the manner in which China and Russia controlled “the workers.”

Partial answers: Stop participating. Form a good and decent community, and defend it. Promote civil and critical discourse. Enforce the Hippocratic Oath. Reverse the direction of wealth flow. Seek truth using uncommon sources. Understand that “divide and conquer” is the ruling class go-to card. This is accomplished via outright control of 90% of media sources. Know that if there is a societal disruption that this is a top-down direction. It’s the 2% haves and their minions versus the have nots – always has been.

– Lenny Papineau, Durango

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telegraph

Jan. 13, 2022 n 7

LandDesk

Marshall Fire, in context Redefining the wildland-urban interface and the notion of fire season

by Jonathan Thompson THE NEWS: The fast-moving Marshall Fire tore through suburbs on Colorado’s Front Range on Dec. 30, destroying 991 structures and damaging 127 others. One person died, another remains missing. The source of the fire is still under investigation. Early reports that a downed utility line provided the original spark have been debunked. But there is little question that climate change-induced drought, weather whiplash and warming temperatures set the stage for the wintertime conflagration.

THE CONTEXT: Just six months before the blaze, when Colorado’s fire season normally would be in full swing, starting a grass fire around Boulder would have been a challenge. The region had been doused by heavy, spring snowfall and early summer rains. By late June, drought conditions in eastern Colorado had been completely alleviated, even as nearly all of the remaining West (including the western half of the state) suffered from severe to exceptional drought.

But big rains would prove no match for above-average temperatures all summer long. And when the rain stopped in August, early summer’s thick, tall grasses dried out. By late September, drought had spread across eastern Colorado once again.

After making it through the summer virtually fire-free, a blaze broke out near Estes Park at 7,500 feet above sea level, forcing residents to flee. Denver didn’t even get a smidgeon of snowfall until Dec. 10, the latest snowfall on record.

I had been following the Front Range’s journey in and out of drought all year, but I didn’t really understand it until I went on a winter solstice run in south Boulder’s open space. I had dressed appropriately for the season – so I thought – in tights and a thermal top. But as I made my way up toward the Flatirons, it became sweatily clear I had dressed too warmly for the conditions. The mercury would hit 62 degrees that day, and the next, and the day after

that. I searched the high slopes in vain for a patch of snow, but saw nothing but beige and brown all around. The grass on either side of the trail was brittle and tinder-dry and, just as alarming, knee-high. A big wind storm the previous week had left ponderosa branches scattered about, and I witnessed several trees that had been toppled by the gusts. I shuddered as I imagined what would happen if someone tossed a cigarette butt into the grass during a wind event. Later that day, my wife, daughter and I drove through the cookiecutter developments of Superior on our way to somewhere, and I was as baffled by all the new construction – in a place that not so long ago was probably ranch land – as I was by the near total lack of snow on the distant figure of Longs Peak, elevation 14,259 feet.

I was haunted by a sense of uncanniness and seasonal confusion, which was only heightened by my trip Dec. 22 to western Colorado, where the mountains, at least, were blanketed with snow.

Five days later, the Oak Fire broke out

west of Denver, burning about 150 acres, shutting down a major highway and forcing evacuations. Three days after that, when wind was gusting up to 100 miles per hour, something sparked the Marshall Fire. I was in Paonia at the time, where snow was piling up, and happened to check the Colorado Department of Transportation site to see if the storm had shut down any highways. You can imagine my shock when I saw that several major arteries outside of Boulder were closed, not by snow but by high winds and fire (McClure Pass near Paonia was closed later that day due to avalanche hazard). The fire raced through the grass into the suburban sprawl of Superior and Louisville, jumping parking lots and strip malls, filling the air with smoke, burning through nearly 1,000 homes and redefining the collective notion of the urban-wildfire interface and wrecking any concept of a fire season that has an end and beginning.

If this event would have occurred a few years earlier, much of the media coverage probably would not have even mentioned

climate change. But by the end of 2021, a year that saw all kinds of weather extremes, the verdict was clear and swift.

Here’s longtime television meteorologist Mike Nelson: “The terrible firestorm was a result of a very warm, dry period combined with an extreme high wind event.

There is a clear connection to CLIMATE CHANGE! TV (meteorologists) – especially chiefs and prime weather talent MUST make the connection with their viewers!”

Eerily, just two days before the Marshall Fire, the National Interagency Fire Center posted this. While they don’t explicitly mention climate change, it’s pretty damned clear what they’re talking about.

“Fire season has become longer due to conditions like winter snows melting earlier & rain coming later in the fall. A 4month fire season now lasts 6-8 months.

Fires in the winter are becoming part of the norm. This is how fire seasons have evolved into fire years.”

And this from Becky Bolinger, Colorado’s assistant state climatologist: “How many unprecedented events happen before we accept climate change is here?

And yes. This is me admitting climate change is playing a role.”

A disaster like this is tragic at any time, but the timing of this one – aside from occurring in the wrong season altogether – was especially bad. Evacuees had to crowd into shelters even as a highly infectious pandemic raged. Hundreds of people lost their homes during a severe housing crunch. Building materials are at a premium due to supply chain issues, and construction workers are in short supply. It could be years before rebuilding even begins.

On New Year’s Eve, a day after the destruction, snow finally fell on Boulder, blanketing the still-smoldering ashes in white.

Jonathan Thompson is a fourth-generation Durangoan who runs the Land Desk, a thriceweekly newsletter: visit www.landdesk.org. He is also the author of “River of Lost Souls,” “Behind the Slickrock Curtain” and “Sagebrush Empire.”

We put the “win” into “winter.”

Hours: mon - Fri 11-6 & Sat 11-5: www.jimmysmusic.supply 1239 Main Ave • 970-764-4577 8 n Jan. 13, 2022

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StateNews

Road to recovery For men fighting addiction, Denver’s Rescue Mission is a lifeline

by Claire Cleveland Colorado Public Radio

O

n Christmas Day, Evan Bontrager sat at his sister’s dinner table cutting chocolates for his family to share.

He bought a box from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and wanted to make sure everyone tried them.

He sipped sparkling water, which he loves. Christmas carols played in the background as his family sampled the chocolate and told jokes. He looked around the table feeling full of gratitude, he said.

This Christmas was special.

For many, the start and end of a year means setting goals and celebrating accomplishments. This year, Bontrager, 32, had big milestones to celebrate: seven months of being sober and reconnecting with his family.

After years of missing family gatherings because of his drug and alcohol addiction, he was finally back among his loved ones.

“I was just like, I’m here right now and things are good,” he said.

He credits his ongoing recovery to the New Life Program at the Denver Rescue Mission, a project that since 1994 has been helping men struggling with substance abuse and homelessness get back on their feet.

Last year, 36 men graduated. In 2020, the number was nearly twice that at 62. The COVID pandemic forced the program to downsize, and in February 2021, the buildings where the program is housed flooded from burst pipes, which resulted in fewer participants when the men had to move to a nearby hotel. Despite those troubles, men are graduating from the program.

The results speak for themselves: 86% of graduates are sober and housed one year after completing the program.

“I think people think you can beat addiction on your own, like it’s all about your willpower,” Jonathan Soweidy, director of residential programs at the Mission, said.

“But really it’s about relationships and letting people in and connection.”

Bontrager joined the program after being arrested in Fort Collins for breaking and entering last June. He was sleeping in an abandoned frat house.

“Oh, it was so embarrassing,” he recalled.

“I wouldn’t be sleeping in a frat house if I wasn’t, you know, on drugs or in a dire situation.”

He’d been drinking and using drugs since college at that point. He grew up in Limon, which he said was boring as a teenager, and was in trouble for shoplifting and vandalism in high school.

In 2008 when he went to college, he started drinking. He thought it was harmless partying. That escalated to him using multiple drugs, including heroin. He slowly realized he felt like he needed drugs and al-

Evan Bontrager stands in the cafeteria at the Denver Rescue Mission's The Crossing facility on Jan. 4. / Photo by Kevin J. Beaty - Denverite cohol to get through the days.

“Eventually it was like, ‘oh, this is, because you’re trying to get outside the feelings that you’re feeling,’” he said. “So drown it with alcohol.”

He dropped out of college the following year and would couch surf, or find somewhere cheap to rent. He spent weeks and sometimes months without a place to stay.

He tried every drug he could get his hands on and struggled to keep a job.

His parents, Ellie and Warren Bontrager, quickly realized that bailing him out or giving him money and a place to stay enabled his drug and alcohol use.

“We would try to minimize the damage though,” Warren said. “I would drive five hours to find something that he, you know, left behind and collect it and store at our house, again, waiting for him to… get back out of prison and start over again.”

The Bontragers were thrilled when their son decided to join the New Life Program.

But they’ve maintained cautious optimism.

They say they pray he will stay the course.

“It’s just a day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute struggle for these guys,” Ellie said. “It’s just a very, very tough thing for them and their families.”

But the Bontragers are hopeful that the New Life Program and Evan’s commitment means he’s finally overcome his addiction.

Evan has taken classes, undergone therapy and even joined a running club through the program. His success meant he could stay off-site for Christmas. For weeks, he helped plan the gathering at his sister’s house in Glenwood Springs. He made gifts for his family and asked his case manager for a white slip to go off-site.

“I was actually really excited for him because he’s a really caring guy,” Kelsea Nelson, Evan’s case manager, said. “It’s really obvious when you talk to him that he cares

a lot about people and he cares about his family. And so I was excited for him to reach this other goal or step in improving his relationships with his family.”

Nelson talked with Evan about the triggers that sometimes come with seeing family and counseled him on calling for support if he was struggling with temptation during the trip.

He did face temptation. On the drive to his sister’s, Evan said he noticed every pot shop, and at her house, there was alcohol.

Some in the form of little liquor-filled chocolates.

“And so my thought was like, ‘Hey, you can probably go eat a couple of those. They look good. Like they won’t get you blitzed or anything,’” he thought to himself.

But he resisted. He didn’t drink or use drugs on the trip. He said it was easier this time, even though his brain told him otherwise. “I didn’t have anything to hide or cover up, so I didn’t have to worry about my story,” he said. “Just be yourself, tell the truth, it’s the easiest way to do it.”

Evan is on track to graduate from the New Life Program this month. His next step is to get his license back and then find a job. He can stay in the Denver Rescue Missions’ residential housing called The Crossing until he has enough money for his own place.

He’s interested in energy sustainability and hopes to one day get training to work on wind farms. Evan also wants to help people and travel the country. He wants to see what lies beyond Colorado.

“I want something to be proud of,” he said. “I look forward to living a normal life and not needing something to change how I feel or make my feeling better, you know? I can live without that hook, you know, without that dependence on something else.”

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

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Jan. 13, 2022 n

9

TopStory

Snow blankets the San Juan Mountains. The baseline used to calculate snowpack averages, which is based on 30 years of data, was recently adjusted. Instead of being based on the wetter period of 1981-2010, it is now based on the much drier 1991-2020 period.

As a result, what’s considered “normal” today is not necessarily indicative of what was “normal” 40 years ago, possibly leading to a false sense of security about the climate./ Photo by Stephen Eginoire

The new not normal The West has new 30-year snowpack averages, but do they blunt reality?

by Jonathan Romeo

B

efore the holidays, snowpack in Southwest Colorado was hovering well below the historic average for this time of year, heightening concerns the winter was not off to strong start.

Fortunately, a weeklong series of snowstorms between Christmas and New Year’s dumped several feet on the San Juan Mountains, causing snowpack averages to jump from around 80% to more than 140%, according to data from the National Resource Conservation Service.

Unfortunately, these numbers don’t tell the whole story of Colorado’s snowpack. This year, Colorado, as well as the entire West, is basing snowpack averages on updated numbers that reflect the drier years the West has been experiencing because of climate change-driven drought.

True, the updated snowpack averages are important for researchers and hydrologists in their work to better understand current climate conditions. The problem for some, however, is that by continually calling degraded conditions from climate change “normal,” both scientists and the public adjust their sense of normal to a situation that is anything but.

“It mutes the effects of climate change because we’re constantly shifting the baseline to reflect the new normal,” Michael Remke, a lecturer of biology at Fort Lewis College, said. “If we become normalized to it being dry, and then we have a dry year reported as 120% of normal, then people are like, ‘Great, a wet year.’ But the reality is we’re trending in a dry direction.”

10 n Jan. 13, 2022

In the weeds – erhm, snowpack The National Resource Conservation Service calculates “historic averages” of snowpack based on a 30-year period of record (mostly through SNOTEL stations in the high country). These are updated every 10 years to reflect the most current conditions.

For the past 10 years, however, these averages have been based on snowfall recorded from 1981-2010. But as of this October, the data set was updated to include snowpack averages from 1991-2020. Essentially, the data set switched out the 1980s (considered a wet period) to include the 2010s (a very dry period).

The updated numbers make sense for snow researchers and scientists working in related fields, said Joel Atwood, a hydrologist for NRCS’s Colorado Snow Survey. “It’s important to capture changes as we move forward. When you have 30-year intervals, you can capture some of those changes, and the last chunk of 30 years are more comparable to present conditions.”

One of the most important uses for the data is to monitor and predict runoff in the spring – a critical piece of information to gauge how much water may be available for municipalities, agriculture and other uses.

“A lot of people who follow snowpack in Colorado rely on that percentage of normal,” Graham Sexstone, a research hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, said. “It’s really important to make this update so this 30-year normal is more representative of current conditions, because we are seeing pretty large changes in our snowpack and stream flow.”

telegraph

What’s normal?

The problem, some believe, is that the new snowpack averages are shared through social media or the nightly news, and the full context and nuances of the data is not well understood by the public.

For Southwest Colorado, the baselines from 1981-2010 are below the standards now in effect from 1991-2020. This early in the winter, there’s no great disparity between the two for snowpack averages. But that could change come peak season in April, when the snowpack on Red Mountain Pass is an inch below the water-snow equivalent from previous standards. In other areas, the changes are more drastic.

“It’s debatable whether that word – ‘normal’ – should even be used, because what is normal?” Atwood said. “We define normal as a 30-year chunk of time, but it’s a good questions, especially on a climate perspective: How is normal changing over time and what human impact is it having?”

Snowpack isn’t the only data set updated every 10 years.

Various agencies, like the USGS and NOAA, also update things like temperature and precipitation norms every decade. But the wrench of the impacts from climate change are increasingly complicating how to interpret and use all this information.

“If the climate is changing, it can paint a distorted picture of what normal is,” Russ Schumacher, Colorado state climatologist and director of the Colorado Climate Center, said. “As the climate warms, for example, our normal temp now in this 30-year period is higher than it would have been in the past.”

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The San Juan River as it flows into Lake Powell, which, as we all know, is at historic lows. The National Resource Conservation Service updates 30-year snowpack averages every 10 years to reflect current conditions. Data is used to predict such things as runoff and water availability in the West./ Photo by Stephen Eginoire.

A shifting baseline This issue is no new phenomena – in fact it has a name: shifting baseline syndrome.

Also known as SBS, it was first coined in 1995 after a scientist studying what would be a sustainable catch level for commercial fishing found each generation of fishery scientists used the current conditions as their baselines, not taking into account the degradation that had occurred from past over-fishing.

“The shifting baseline syndrome is the situation in which, over time, knowledge is lost about the state of the natural world, because people don’t perceive changes that are actually taking place,” Dr. E.J. MilnerGulland, who authored a paper on SBS, said in 2009. “In this way, people’s perceptions of change are out of kilter with the actual changes taking place in the environment.”

In more recent times, a study was conducted on Twitter to see how people reacted to unusually hot or cold days. Proving people have short memories, the study found the baseline for “normal” was weather experienced within the past two to eight years, not nearly the time span it takes to understand the grasp of climate change.

To put it simply, what we may consider as a healthy environment now, past generations would see as degraded, based off their perceptions. And, what this generation sees as a degraded climate, the following generation will see as the new normal.

As a result, with ongoing environmental degradation, the accepted thresholds for environmental conditions are continually being lowered. And consequentially, accepting these norms can increase a tolerance for environmental degradation.

“That tendency to adjust our baselines … (has) serious downsides for our environment and our willingness to protect it, because the result is that we accept in-

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creasingly high levels of environmental degradation,” Brian Burke, a professor of Psychology at FLC, said.

Skewing reality The new snowpack averages are a relatively small piece of the puzzle, but it does warp our reference point, Remke said, because the newer data reflects drier years that are now the new standard. “This is an important issue to be aware of,” he said.

The situation grows ever more complicated when taking into account the tools and technology for measuring snowpack (there’s a lot of variability in numbers, methods, etc.). And with only 700 or so SNOTEL sites across the West, mostly installed in the 1980s, data is limited.

But, according a report in Forbes, some climate scientists are urging agencies to stick with a 30-year time period, rather than update the standards every decade and reinforce shifting baselines. And, a report on SBS said it could be combated by environmental restoration, increased data collection, education and quite simply, having more people interact with nature.

All this is important to think about, Burke said: Basing snowpack data on the past 30 years will likely yield more accurate predictions of next year’s snowpack, and may make us feel better about this year’s numbers. But it will also obscure the seriousness of the drought in which we currently find ourselves.

“So it depends on what the purpose of the data is,” he said. “Looking at statistics from a decade ago will only show you how far they have fallen and will not be useful for predictive purposes. But in the case of the environment, of course, it is likely essential for us to see the full unabashed facts of the shape the world is in, and moving the snowpack or other metrics to only the last 30 years will clearly blunt that reality.” ■

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Jan. 13, 2022 n 11

StufftoDo

Thursday13 Bingo night, 5 p.m. every Thursday, Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Performance, Jan. 21, 7 p.m., Smiley Café. Presented by Community Concert Hall. www.durangoconcerts.com.

Open Mic, 5 p.m., Fenceline Cider in Mancos.

On-Snow Avalanche Awareness Course, Jan. 22 or 23, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Andrews Lake. Free, pre-registration required. To register or for more info., go to www.thesanjuans.org.

Tim Sullivan plays, 5:30 p.m.., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, and Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Alpine Bank Full Moon Howler, 6-9 p.m., Durango Nordic Center. Trails pass required, rentals available. www.durangonordic.org

Horseshirt plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Beam Me Up Starlight Trivia, weekly 7:30-9:30 p.m., Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave. Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8-10 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.

Deadline for “Stuff to Do” submissions is Monday at noon. To submit an item, email: calendar@durangotelegraph.com

Bluegrass jam, 4-6 p.m., Mountain Monk Coffee, 558 Main Ave.

Friday14 Business Improvement District’s monthly Coffee & Conversation, 8:30 a.m., TBK Bank, 259 W. 9th St. Free legal clinic, 4-5 p.m., Ignacio Public Library, 470 Goddard Ave. Lacey Black plays, 5-8 p.m., Lone Spur Café, 619 Main Ave. Jack Ellis & Larry Carver play, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5:30 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Jazz jam, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station. Hosted by iAM Music.

Saturday15 People We Know play the Bear Bar, 2-4:30 p.m., Purgatory base area.

Après Ski Science and Social, 2 p.m., Andrews Lake parking lot. Snow-shoeing, hot beverages, bonfire and learn about environmental issues in the San Juans. Hosted

by San Juan Mountains Association.

Lacey Black plays, 5-8 p.m., Lone Spur Café, 619 Main Ave. One Stan band plays, 5 p.m., Mancos Brewery.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, and Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Vintage Brew plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

The Lil Smokies play, 9 p.m., Sheridan Opera House in Telluride.

Sunday16 Open Mic, 1 p.m., Mancos Brewery.

Six Dollar String Band plays the Bear Bar, 2-4:30 p.m., Purgatory base area.

Joel Racheff plays the Bear Bar, Jan. 22, 2-4:30 p.m., Purgatory base area.

Intentional Consciousness for the Future w/Eiwah, Jan. 23, 2 p.m., Mountain Monk Coffee, 558 Main Ave.

Monday17 Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, and Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Durango Great Decisions International Affairs Discussion Program, begins Jan. 25, with meetings on different topics every other week on Tuesdays from 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. at the Durango Public Library. More info. can be found at the League of Women Voters website at www.lwvlaplata.org.

Tuesday18 Acoustic Music Jam, 5-7 p.m., all instruments and styles welcome, vaccinated players only, 11th St. Station.

Magical and Mystical Snowdown, Jan. 26-30. www.snowdown.org.

Remembrance for Indiana Reed, 5-7 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.

Chuck Hank Duo plays, Jan. 27, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Live Music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Mystic Coffee House Party, Jan. 28, 5:30-8 p.m.

Mountain Monk Coffee, 558 Main Ave.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Vaccine Speaker Series, 6-7:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio. Marc Masor will speak in the first in a three part speaker series on vaccines.

Open mic night, weekly 7:30-9:30 p.m., Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

DJ Calvin plays, Jan. 28, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Nicolo Spera plays, Jan. 28, 7 p.m., St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 910 E. 3rd Ave. 4Corners Riversports Red Hot Relay, Jan. 29, 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Durango Nordic Center. Proceeds go to the youth Nordic program. www.durangonordic.org.

Wednesday19

Dustin Burley plays the Bear Bar, Jan. 29, 2-4:30 p.m., Purgatory base area.

Psychedelic Club of Durango meets, 5 p.m., Mountain Monk Coffee, 558 Main Ave.

Tone Dog plays, Jan. 29, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Catherine Russell plays, Feb. 4 & 5, shows at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., The Lift at Cascade, 50827 Highway 550.

Hosted by Durango Cool Jazz.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Silverton White Out, 10-hour fat bike extravaganza, Feb. 5, Silverton. www.silvertonwhiteout.com.

Ongoing Chapman Ski Hill is open. Hours: Mon. – Fri., 3:30 8 p.m.; Sat. – Sun., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more info. go to: www.durangogov.org/chapmanhill.

The Hive Indoor Skate Park is open, offering open skate and skate lessons. Waivers required. For schedule and online waiver, go to www.thehivedgo.org

McDonald’s Winter Triathlon, Feb. 5, 9 a.m. – 12 noon, Durango Nordic Center. For individuals or teams to complete a winter triathlon consisting of a ski, fat bike and snowshoe legs. www.durangonordic.org.

Deadline to submit for “Stuff to Do” is Monday at noon.

Upcoming Six Dollar String Band plays, Jan. 20, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Email your stuff to: calendar@durango telegraph.com

Jack Ellis & Larry Carver play, Jan. 21, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Singer/songwriter Carter Sampson Pop Up

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12 n Jan. 13, 2022

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AskRachel

Wet January, doggy nail-biter and streak freak Interesting fact: Despite the Sonoran sensation in your maw, marijuana does not actually dehydrate you.

Unlike alcohol. So really, drinking booze should mean you’re “dry,” not the other way around? I give up.

Dear Rachel, Can you really drink THC beverages during dry January? Seems kind of self-defeating of the whole cleanse idea and a cop out – I won’t get drunk but I’ll still get all high’d up. Then again, if THC drinks are allowed, sign me up.

– Sober Curious Dear Curious George, I bet THC drinks leave your mouth feeling pretty cottony, so hells yes they’re allowed. So are dry cabernets.

I’ll be honest, I’ve never understood how people way back when got so creative with language that they decided to characterize anything liquid as “dry.” Also, since “dry” means “sober,” does “not sober” mean “not dry” mean “wet?” God, we better not print in the newspaper that I’m wet, or that’ll open up a whole new cask of problems.

– Decidedly moist, Rachel Dear Rachel, My dogs are wild beasts who spend their days with me on trails, in parks, in yards. Basically anywhere that’s not paved. Yet I still need to cut their toenails. The vet says I need to walk them on the sidewalk to wear them down. But coyotes and wolves don’t walk on sidewalks! Do

they get their manicures at the ranger station?

Or are short nails a sign of domesticity, and I should just let my dogs grow free?

– Clawing for Answers Dear Dog Scratch Fever, You’ve hit the nail, as it were, on the head. Or is it on the bed? Do dogs even have nail beds like we do? Anyway, I have to think that coyotes sit in their dens with nail files actually sharpening their claws, rather than wearing them down. Rabbit fur is so darn soft that it’ll slip right out from under your paws unless you have fish hooks for nails. If dirt wore down their canine deathhands to innocent little nubs, they’d starve to death.

Your dogs, however wild, are not predators. Cut their nails already.

– Scratching the surface, Rachel Dear Rachel, What’s the etiquette on maintaining a Snapchat streak? My sister coerced me into Snapping with her the day she got a new cat, and now we have Snapped for 247 days straight.

I want to go on a digital cleanse this month, but now I can’t take a phone break without breaking the streak, which might be the longest commitment my sister has ever maintained. Can I, like, hire some teen to send Snaps for me while I’m on hiatus?

– Snap Crackle Pop Dear Snapple, Is a digital cleanse month like the techie version of

Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com dry January? Because if so, you just gotta keep it analog.

Take pictures with a Polaroid, then send snaps of that print via your phone, and it’s a whole lot less digital than… oh, forget it. Just go dry already. Apologize for the streak, promise you’ll cut her cat’s nails in penance, then put the phone down and run off into the desert with enough THC water to survive the apocalypse.

– Oh snap, Rachel

Algorithm free since 2002.

(A good thing on so many levels.)

Giving you the news the old-fashioned way for nearly 20 years.

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Jan. 13, 2022 n 13

FreeWillAstrology

by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): The coming months will be an excellent time for you to explore the art of Soulful Bragging. Do you deserve any of the titles below? If so, feel free to use them liberally throughout 2022. 1. Practical Idealist with Flexible Strategies. 2. Genius of Interesting Intimacy. 3. Jaunty Healer with Boisterous Knowledge of the Soul’s Ways.

4. Free-Wheeling Joker Who Makes People Laugh for Righteous and Healing Reasons.

5. Skillful Struggler. 6. Empathy Master with a Specialty in Creative Compassion.

7. Playful Reservoir of Smart Eros. 8. Purveyor of Feisty Wisdom and Cute Boldness. 9. Crafty Joy-Summoner.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Most people who use tobacco products are at risk of having shorter life spans than they might have otherwise had.

Smoking is detrimental to health. Those who smoke in their 20s and 30s may cut 10 years off their longevity. But here’s some good news: If you kick your tobacco habit before age 40, you will regain most of those ten years. I bring this to your attention because I’d like it to serve as a motivational tale for you in 2022. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will have more power than ever before to escape any harmful addictions and compulsions you have – and begin reclaiming your full vitality.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In May 1974, the Grateful Dead introduced a new wrinkle to their live musical performances. Playing at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, they amplified their music through a “Wall of Sound” – 604 speakers piled high, together channeling 26,000 watts of energy. Had any band ever treated their fans to a louder volume and crisper tones? I’d like to make this breakthrough event one of your top metaphors for 2022. According to my analysis, it will be a great year for you to boost your signal. I invite you to distribute your message with maximum confidence and clarity. Show the world who you are with all the buoyant flair you can rouse.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Philosopher Emil Cioran said he despised wise philosophers.

Why? Because they practice prudent equanimity, which he regarded as empty and sterile. In Cioran’s view, these deep thinkers avoid strong feelings so they can live in cool safety, free from life’s nerve-wracking paradoxes. I agree with him that such a state is undesirable. However, Cioran contrasted it with the lives of the normal people he admired, who are “full of irreconcilable contradictions” and who “suffer from limitless anxiety.” My question for Cioran: Are there no other options between those two extremes? And my answer: Of course there

14 n Jan. 13, 2022

are! And you can be proof of that in 2022, Cancerian. I expect you’ll be full of deep feelings, eager for new experiences and infused with a lust for life – with less anxiety and fewer irreconcilable contradictions than ever before.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In 1838, 29-year-old naturalist Charles Darwin was early in his career. He had not developed his theory of evolution, and was not yet a superstar of science. He began ruminating about the possibility of proposing marriage to his cousin Emma Wedgwood. If married, he wrote: “constant companion and a friend in old age; the charms of music and female chit-chat – good things for one’s health.” If not married: “no children; no one to care for one in old age; less money for books, loss of time and a duty to work for money.” I bring this to your attention, Leo, because I suspect that in 2022, you may be tempted and inspired to deeply interweave your fate with the fates of interesting characters. A spouse or partner or collaborator?

Could be. Maybe a beloved animal or spirit guide? Have fun making your list of pros and cons!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): What were your favorite toys when you were a child? Now would be a good time to retrieve fond memories of them, and even acquire modern versions so you can revive the joy they gave you. In my astrological analysis, you’ll be wise to invite your inner child to play a bigger role in your life as you engage in a wide range of playtime activities. So yes, consider the possibility of buying yourself crayons, Legos, dolls and puppets, video games, squirt guns, roller skates, yo-yos, jump ropes and board games. And don’t neglect the pleasures of blanket forts, cardboard boxes, mud pies, and plain old sticks.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In his novel “The Story of a Marriage,” Andrew Sean Greer asks, “Does love always form, like a pearl, around the hardened bits of life?” My answer would be, “No, not always, but when it does, it’s often extra sweet and enduring.” One of my wishes and predictions for you in 2022, Libra, is that love will form around your hardened bits. For best results, be open to the possibility that difficulty can blossom into grace. Look for opportunities that are seeded by strenuous work.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “It is worth living long enough to outlast whatever sense of grievance you may acquire.” Author Marilynne Robinson wrote that, and I recommend her thought as one of your uplifting meditations in 2022. According to my reading of the astrological omens, the coming months will be a favorable time to dismantle and dissolve as many old

telegraph

grievances as you can. This could and should be the year you liberate yourself from psychic grunge – for the sake of your own mental, physical and spiritual health as much as for the sake of others.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Some critics view author Diana Wynne Jones as a genius in her chosen field: fantasy novels for children and young adults. She had a generous spirit, asserting, “I have this very strong feeling that everybody is probably a genius at something; it’s just a question of finding this.” If you are still unsure what your unique genius consists of, Sagittarius, I believe 2022 will show you in detailed glory.

And if you do already know, the coming months will be a time when you dramatically deepen your ability to access and express your genius.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn biologist Robin Wall Kimmerer wrote a meditative book about moss. It was her response to questions she had been wondering about: Why has this inconspicuous plant persevered for 350 million years? While so many other species have gone extinct, why has moss had staying power through all the Earth’s climate changes and upheavals? And what lessons does its success have for us? Here are Kimmerer’s conclusions: Moss teaches us the value “of being small, of giving more than you take, of working with natural law, sticking together.” In accordance with astrological omens in 2022, Capricorn, I believe moss should be your role model.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Author Joyce Carol Oates has been very successful and has won several major awards. But she describes her job as arduous and time-consuming. “I work very slowly,” she testifies. “It’s like building a ladder, where you’re building your own ladder rung by rung, and you’re climbing the ladder. It’s not the best way to build a ladder, but I don’t know any other way.” I wouldn’t always recommend her approach for you, Aquarius, but I will in 2022. As long as you’re willing to accept gradual, incremental progress, you’ll get a lot of fine work done.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I’ve selected a quote for you to use as one of your guiding principles in 2022. I urge you to undertake a specific action in the next 24 hours that will prove you mean to take it seriously. Here’s the wisdom articulated by Piscean rabbi and philosopher Marc-Alain Ouaknin: “People must break with the illusion that their lives have already been written and their paths already determined.” It’s reinvention time, dear Pisces.

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 www.durangotelegraph.com n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133 n 679 E. 2nd Ave., #E2 Approximate office hours: Mon: 9ish - 5ish Tues: 9ish - 5ish Wed: 9ish - 3ish Thurs: On delivery Fri: Gone fishing; call first

Announcements Divorce & Custody Clinic Free Divorce & Custody Clinic Presented by Colorado Legal Services Tuesday, Jan. 18th from 5:30 pm to 7 pm via Zoom Please call 385-7378 ext 251 for details on how to attend or visit www.durangovap.org/events

our 1 acre farm for the 2022 season. Must have 2 seasons of experience at a minimum and be familiar with growing in the southwest climate. Farm manager is responsible for hiring and directing farm staff, generating a crop plan and harvest schedule, coordinating with wholesale accounts and managing the farm’s marketing efforts. Position begins in February.

Interested applicants please send a cover letter and resume to thefarm@twinbuttesofdurango.com Join a Growing Team The Community Foundation SW CO is seeking community-minded individuals to fill two full-time positions in January.

The executive-level Finance & Operations Director requires 3 years minimum finance experience. The entry-level Community Outreach Manager for marketing & events requires 1 year minimum events/marketing experience. Benefit packages included. Find details to apply at swcommunityfoundation.org/blog.

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

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CommunityService SJBPH Vaccine Clinics Free vaccine mobile clinic provided by San Juan Basin Public Health in partnership with Jogan Health. Pfizer (12+), Moderna (18+), and J&J (18+) are available. Contact 970-247-5702 or visit sjbpublichealth.org/covid-19-vaccine/ for more information.

Classes/Workshops

Harmony House Music Studios offers enjoyable lessons on guitar and other fretted instruments to students of all ages and abilities. Over 30 years’ experience as instructors and performers in Durango and the Four Corners. Terry Double and Richard White provide lessons for most styles of music, from jazz to rock, folk and classical. We also offer studies in music theory and composition. Our spacious studios are located in Bodo Park at 570 C Turner Dr. For more info. and scheduling, call Terry, 970-903-8738 or Richard, 970-749-6854.

Insight Meditation Class Calm your mind and connect with your heart through insight meditation.

Six-week class starts Tuesday, Feb. 1. 6:007:45 p.m. Hosted by the Durango Dharma Center both in person and online. Visit durangodharmacenter.org for details.

NewspaperOrigami

A penguin

ForSale Reruns Home Furnishings New inventory including dressers, side tables, rustic console, Urban Market industrial-style barstools, and rugs … Come in today! 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.

Wanted HelpWanted Parade Help Wanted Seeking friendly, enthusiastic people to appear in costume in the Snowdown parade. Good appearance important. Must be 21 yrs of age. The Green House Dispensary, Durango. Send email to: marketing@jandjinc.net.

Organic Farm Manager Twin Buttes of Durango is seeking an experienced organic farmer to manage

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

Services Marketing Small & Local Businesses Media, website building and content editing, copywriting and editing, newsletters, blogs, etc. for small, local, independent or startup businesses. www.forward pedal.com or email jnderge@gmail.com

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