Durango Telegraph - January 20, 2020

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elegraph the durango

FREE Jan. 23, 2020

Vol. XIX, No. 4 durangotelegraph.com

inside

T H E

O R I G I N A L

I N D I E

W E E K L Y

Broadening horizons Sand, metal, rust and the evolution of a painter p8

Ho

L I N E

O N

D U R A N G O

&

B E Y O N D

The Yocal

First impressions

Get your Snowdown on like a local p11

Durango artist tapped to demo work at Monet exhibit p16

This one goes to

11

(Issue 11 is has landed.)

Wherever you find the Telegraph or at www.gulchmag.com.

To find out about advertising opportunities, email: steve@gulchmag.com

2 n Jan. 23, 2020

telegraph

lineup

boilerplate

4 La Vida Local

Different strokes Local painter shifts brush from homes to abstract art

4 Thumbin’ It

by Missy Votel

5 Word on the Street

11-14

6-7 Soapbox

The Yocal

How to Snowdown like a local

8 Local News

by Local First

11 The Yocal

15

Up in the air

17 Top Shelf

by Stephen Eginoire

18 On the Town

16

21 Free Will Astrology

First impressions

Durango artist Holly Hagan to demonstrate work at Monet exhibit

by Zach Hively

23 Ask Rachel

The gentleman poet

On the cover: Hot air balloons fill the skies over the southeastern Utah desert./ Photo by Stephen Eginoire

Homage to David Olney, Kitchen Dwellers and acrobats

by Chris Aaland

RESIDENT FORMULA ONE FAN: Tracy Chamberlin (tracy@durangotelegraph.com)

T

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

22 Classifieds 22 Haiku Movie Review

17

ADVERTISING AFICIONADO: Lainie Maxson (lainie@durangotelegraph.com)

Miles to go

The Emerald Mile’s record is still safe.

Earlier this month, a team of rafters attempted to break the historic wooden dory’s speed record for an oar rig on the Grand Canyon. But, when the hybrid raft-atamaran reached Pearce Ferry on Jan. 11, 37 hours and 55 minutes after launching from Lee’s Ferry, it was an hour and 7 minutes off the Emerald Mile’s pace.

According to a story in Adventure Journal, the modern rig, an eight-person inflatable catamaran with outrigger oars, had one major disadvantage from the record-setting run in 1983. When the Emerald Mile set sail, flows were at an astonishingly thumpy 72,000 cfs. When the 40-foot cataraft launched, flows were at a comparatively anemic 14,500 cfs.

15 Day in the Life

Taking to the skies above Valley of the Gods

EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel (missy@durangotelegraph.com)

Ear to the ground:

“I am not sure if I met you at the bar or church.”

– Idle chairlift chit chat or the worst pick-up line we’ve ever heard

thepole

8

RegularOccurrences

STAR-STUDDED CAST: Lainie Maxson, Chris Aaland, Clint Reid, Stephen Eginoire, Jesse Anderson, Tracy Chamberlin, Zach Hively, Shan Wells and David Feela VIRTUAL ADDRESS: www.durangotelegraph.com

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 332 Durango, CO 81302 PHONE: 970.259.0133 E-MAIL: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

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distributed in the finest and most discerning locations throughout the greater Durango area.

We’re only human. If, by chance, we defame someone’s good name or that of their family, neighbor, best

friend or dog, we will accept full responsibility in a public flogging in the following week’s issue.

Although “free but not easy,” we can be plied with schwag, booze and flattery.

telegraph

This wasn’t the first attempt for captain John Mark Seelig and much of his crew, many of whom are members of the U.S. Whitewater Rafting Team. Three years ago, they also attempted the record – and failed – in a similar craft. That time, Lava Falls claimed the crew, flipping the raft and causing a costly delay for repairs.

For the second push, the crew designed and built a custom cataraft, rigging it with six slidingseat rowing setups similar to racing shells. It also came equipped with a steering oar, like sweep boats on the Salmon River. This time, they enlisted the help of veteran Grand Canyon guides Justin Salamon, Lyndsay Hupp and Omar Martinez to help navigate through the Canyon’s 130-odd rapids, most of which were run in the dark.

Although the nighttime run through Lava was spot-on, it wasn’t enough for the win. It was, however, a victory for Grand Canyon Youth. The trip raised more than $13,000 for the organization that provides river experiences to young people in the Southwest.

The overall speed record for all manner of craft on the Grand was broken in 2016 by none other than Durango native Matt Klema. An offthe-couch run by he and a group calling themselves “Team Beer” – armed with borrowed kayaks and a bucket of fried chicken – crossed the finish line in 35 hours and 5 minutes. However, like the chicken, victory was fleeting. Three days later, solo kayaker Ben Orkin, in a carbonfiber sea kayak, beat their time at 34 hours, 2 minutes. Orkin still holds the record to this day.

Will the rafta-maraners try again?

Seelig confided that during the run, morale was low. “We’re yelling in the boat, ‘Screw this!

We’re going to burn this boat!’” he told AJ. But, there’s nothing like a hot shower, dry clothes and the light of day to change a river-runner’s outlook. “As soon as the sun came up, we all started talking about what could be different. I for one would be there in a heartbeat,” Salaman said.

To read more, go to adventure-journal.com.

Jan. 23, 2020 n

3

opinion

LaVidaLocal ‘Hey Reader’ At the annual winter solstice bonfire, we stood around a mound of dry limbs, wrapped in layers of material warmth, anxious for that moment when the fire finally catches and the crisp branches burst into bright orange flames, all of us just waiting to be overwhelmed by a rush of fire and light. The man beside me, blowing into his ungloved hands as if he held a bird’s nest, leaned toward me to ask a flinty question.

“At what exact time does the solstice finally begin?”

December 21st is usually the shortest day of the year, but at what point in time the curtain between autumn and winter gets drawn is anyone’s guess. At least I had no idea. Leaving my hands jammed deep into my pockets, I leaned back and shouted very loudly at the starspeckled sky.

“Hey Siri, what time does solstice begin?”

Suddenly I became the center of attention. Eyes shifted from the woody mound. I shrugged. The man beside me stepped away, just a bit. Then he clapped his hands and laughed.

“I get it, a cosmic technology joke!”

And just then the fire rushed up its rickety ladder of limbs and stood nearly 50 feet tall, a behemoth clothed in light.

I thought, well, maybe now is as good a time as any.

I’m actually pleased that Siri wasn’t listening via any plug-in to the stars, and that Alexa was napping, perhaps in the back of an Amazon delivery truck, or that Google Assistant had more important inquiries, like discovering its own moniker, and that Microsoft’s Cortana hadn’t yet fully answered to its role as the universe’s personal assistant. You see, if I wanted a voice-activated secretary, I would probably have adopted a dog. Possibly a pit bull.

So hackers be warned, those who have broken new ground into the surveillance world by illegally accessing home cameras. Ring devices, for example, have been named in a class action lawsuit which cites a lack of due diligence by Ring, and especially Amazon, in providing “robust” security protections for their customers. I don’t know which side will prevail in the lawsuit, but sadly – despite the absurdity of revealing one’s presence by talking to his victims – the hackers are not being sued or held accountable for their actions.

Smart phones, iPads and android tablets, smart televisions and even your not-so-smart ding-dong doorbell contain serious flaws, enough to allow

criminals into your personal world without much technical effort, partly because users often fail to update security protocols, and especially because we are often too lazy or uninformed about changing the default passwords that came with our devices. Manufacturers continue to defend themselves by explaining in no uncertain terms: default is yours.

A bonfire, though, is the antithesis of technology. It’s a primitive combustible pile of organic fluff that will burn anyone and anything that gets too close. A spectacle so hot any terms of service or privacy policy would not allow the user to get close enough to agree to the risks. Sleepy, disoriented neighbors glancing out their windows, for instance, might mistake the glow for sunrise. Police and fire personnel might grow anxious if the party’s host fails to call ahead, advising them of their plans.

Yet if we take all the obvious precautions, rake debris from around the bonfire so sparks won’t ignite a brushfire and arrange a garden hose within easy reach, we are still in danger. To be prepared for an emergency my friend showed me how to locate the faucet valve and turn the hose on. You could say he retrofitted the old technology and invented a smart faucet. The mistake he made without realizing it is that he told me.

Maybe the instinct to surround ourselves with cameras and automated, instantaneous answers to our every whim has been instinctively lodged within us since the beginning of human time. You know, that endless “search for meaning” in the chaotic universe. Our cave forefathers and foremothers stared into the fire like we gaze into our backlit phone screens and hope that someone is actually listening.

Of course, theological and technological presences are hardly the same thing. The parable of Steve Jobs, for instance, lacks a moral depth when compared to the Book of Job. Profits and prophets are so easily confused, though biblically Job does end up with all his money returned, plus additional wealth for obeying the directive. His economic boon allows us to disregard his misery.

As technologies advance at an unprecedented pace, we may have reason to feel disoriented or “disconnected” by our social media. We may have, as the old 1990s Virginia Slims cigarette commercial phrased it, “come a long way, baby” but surely – whatever its design – we are still playing with fire.

Thumbin’It Last weekend’s Womens March drawing hundreds of participants locally and thousands more around the country, as demonstrators turned out to demand equal pay and treatment for all, regardless of gender

4 n Jan. 23, 2020

– David Feela

This Week’s Sign of the Downfall: Regional blood supplier Vitalant, the nonprofit that supplies Mercy Regional Medical Center, reporting a shortage of blood supplies, with less than a day and a half stock of certain types of blood.

Project Merry Christmas – which has decided to call it quits – working to make the holidays brighter for local families in need for the last 34 years

The deadly corona virus rearing its head, with cases popping up in at least four countries besides China, including the United States, leaving more than 400 infected and at least 17 dead

FLC professor Heidi Steltzer’s work on climate change helping to call attention to the issue and what it could mean for water resources in a drier and hotter West

Recent resident listening sessions hosted by the City of Durango finding that even in 2020, racism is rampant in Durango

telegraph

Uintah Sex?

Public officials with the Utah Department of Health recently used taxpayer money to commission 130,000 custom condoms with state-themed puns on the packaging to raise HIV awareness, and they were awesome. For the funniest, the abbreviations for the state and its capitol were combined (SL, UT), and for the raciest, two of Utah’s towns were mentioned together (Filmore and Beaver).

However, the stereotypical buzzkill governor of Utah found out about the campaign and ordered an immediate halt, but not before 42,000 condoms had already been distributed. Thank you, Utah, for putting “your arch into it.”

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Jan. 23, 2020 n

5

SoapBox

ReTooned/by Shan Wells

The GOP elephant in the room To the editor, Sen. Cory Gardner, seeking reelection in November to another six-year term, clings to the elephant in the room while pretending not to see it.

The “elephant” is Trump’s abuse of power; not just any abuse of power, but gross abuse. It comes in the form of conditioning release of Congressionally authorized and legally mandated military-defense funds to Ukraine on that country’s president’s participation in a fraudulent campaign to malign Trump’s political opponent. This was all done for Trump’s personal gain and directly contrary to the security interests of the United States.

The “pretending not to see it” is Gardner’s strategy of stepping up emails to his constituents, extolling his accomplishments while remaining silent about the paramount issue facing our country – the impeachment trial of Donald John Trump.

– Edward Packard, Durango

Health care facts versus fiction To the editor, Many politicians and pundits oppose Medicare for All (M4A) because they say Americans are “happy” with their employer-provided private insurance. Recent surveys have shown that a large portion of those workers (40 percent of Americans) have huge gaps in their coverage, causing them to skip or delay treatment because of cost. It’s hard to find a single example of a worker or union-negotiated health plan that can match the great benefits and a nationwide network of doctors and hospitals that are currently in both M4A bills.

Private health insurance adds no value to worker’s 4

6 n Jan. 23, 2020

telegraph

health care. Private insurance drowns us in confusing complexity, causing excessive and costly paperwork. Plus, many small businesses are being crushed by insurance costs themselves.

M4A would relieve employers who currently spend huge amounts on health care, to instead offer much needed wage increases to their employees. It would provide a pathway to recover sunken wages from earlier negotiations.

What workers loathe worse than their insurance company is the fear of going without insurance. Opponents of M4A capitalize on this misleading fear and have turned it into a mythical love affair with private insurance. Both M4A bills have either a two- or fouryear transition period, where certain people would be immediately covered, but no one would lose their insurance. Before you vote, remember that M4A means never losing your comprehensive health care EVER. The sooner we can work on it, the faster we can prevent the suffering, unnecessary deaths and financial ruin imposed by the current system.

– Jan Phillips, Durango

Look for property tax notices soon To the editor, You should receive your property tax notice by the end of January. These notices are mailed to the address on file with the county assessor. Even if you do not receive your notice, you are still responsible for the tax payment. You may obtain a duplicate notice on the La Plata County website or by calling the Treasurer’s Office. This notice is for your records.

Many homeowners have a mortgage and an escrow account with their bank. If you do, check with your bank as to when they will be paying your taxes. You are paying your taxes through your mortgage payments. If you both

pay the property taxes, we will refund the money to the person or entity that paid second. Why? Because….

We pass on all property taxes collected to the local taxing authorities, such as the school districts, library districts, fire districts, etc. the month following our collection of taxes from you. School teachers and firefighters depend on you!

You may pay taxes in two half payments (March 2 and June 15) or in one full payment (April 30). Partial payments will be returned. Interest accrues after the payment deadlines, per the schedule on your tax notice.

Also, on the back of your tax notice is information on the senior and veteran exemptions. For an application, contact the Assessor’s Office. Applications are due by July 15.

Please contact either the County Treasurer Office (970382-6352) or Assessor Office (970-382-6228) for more information or clarification.

– Allison Aichele, La Plata County treasurer and public trustee

Time for Trump to hit the road To the editor, No American is above the law, including the President of the United States. Donald Trump’s attempts to pressure Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election demonstrate that he is a danger to our democracy. Thanks to public testimony during the impeachment hearing, we have irrefutable proof that Trump abused his power – threatening to withhold $400 million in security aid unless Ukraine complied with his request.

If any other American or public servant committed these crimes, they would be behind bars. Now that the House of Representatives has voted to impeach Trump, it’s up to the Senate to hold Trump accountable. Lawmakers are bound by oath to defend the Constitution, and Trump’s behavior, as outlined in the House’s articles of impeachment, make it clear that he’s unfit to remain in office.

telegraph

Poll after poll demonstrates that the American people are sick and tired of Trump’s assault on the rule of law.

The way forward is clear: removal.

With the integrity of our elections and the health of our democracy at stake, it’s the right decision to make.

– Jan Clark, Durango

The end of animal oppression

To the editor, On Jan. 27, the world will observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The date marks 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Hitler’s largest death camp.

A key question facing historians is how could an enlightened society that produced our civilization’s greatest philosophers, poets and composers also produce its most notorious mass murderers? How could it get millions of ordinary citizens to go along? Was the Holocaust a peculiarly German phenomenon, or are other enlightened societies capable? Why are we Americans willing to subsidize unspeakable atrocities in our own factory farms and slaughterhouses?

Jewish Nobel laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer concluded that: “To the animals, all people are Nazis.” His message was that we are all capable of oppressing the more vulnerable sentient beings in our midst, frequently without giving it a second thought.

Indeed, our own enlightened society has translated the arbitrary Nazi dictum “the Christian lives, the Jew dies” into an equally arbitrary “the dog lives, the pig dies.”

Only the victims’ names have been changed. The blissful ignorance of death camps and slaughterhouses in our midst remains.

On the long road to end all oppression our very first step must be to drop animals from our menus.

– Dante Gomez, Durango

Jan. 23, 2020 n 7

TopStory

“November Canyon,” a 24x46-inch mixed media on sheet metal by Joe Schafer. He recently sold the piece to a woman from Maine, who saw the work hanging in 81301 Coffee and bought it to give to her daughter, who lives in Durango.

Broadening horizons Sand, metal, rust and the evolution of a painter (with a little channeling of Stanton)

by Missy Votel

F

or the last couple of decades, Durangoan Joe Schaefer has held a paintbrush in his hand. So perhaps it’s not surprising that the house painter by trade started dabbling in the fine arts.

What may be surprising – especially to Schafer – is that since he started making large-scale abstract landscapes a year and a half ago, they’ve sold almost as quick as he can finish them.

“It’s cool. I think I’m at 22 or 23,” he said of the number of paintings JusttheFacts What: Abstract landscapes on he’s sold. “But I never sat down and said ‘I sheet metal by Joe Schafer want to be an artist.’”

When: 5 -7 p.m., Fri., Jan. 24 Instead, it was his Where: Animas Chocolate & wife, Becca, the Coffee Co., 920 Main Ave. bonafide artist in the family with an art degree from Fort Lewis College, who saw the potential.

As Joe tells it, he was working on some metal countertops for a client when he started experimenting with various paints, acids, stains, dyes and sanding techniques.

“I’d get these kind of cool effects,” he recalled. “I had a few of these pieces sitting out, and Becca said, ‘You should think about doing paintings.’”

As those who’ve met Joe or who have ever attempted to keep up with him on the skintrack or singletrack know, he is not one to dilly dally. With the family – he has two teen-

Joe Schafer inside the Animas Chocolate Co. where he’ll be hosting an opening for eight more of his paintings on Fri., Jan. 24./Photo by Missy Votel agers, son, Leit, and daughter, Sadie – away for a week, he hunkered down in his Mayday workshop like a mad artist.

“Next thing I knew, I had a piece I really liked, and I sent Becca a photo and she was like, ‘Don’t touch it!’” he said.

“I said, let’s see if we can start making paintings.”

And make he has – since tapping into his artistic side, Joe has produced about 50 works, including a few that were commissioned. His art now adorns the walls of the Animas Chocolate & Coffee Co. downtown as well as 81301 Coffee uptown. This Fri., Jan. 24, he will be hosting a reception for his second show of work, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Animas Chocolate, 920 Main Ave. Although he has sold pieces to clients from as far away as Albuquerque and Seattle, Joe said the majority of his pieces have gone to locals. He jokes the he “sells paintings in parking lots” since that’s where many of the transactions take place. Just last week, he got a call from a woman from Maine who saw his piece, “November Canyon” at 81301 Coffee. She ended up buying it for her daughter, a smokejumper who lives in Durango.

“It’s usually locals or people who are identifying with what we have here,” he said. “They see something in the place that they like… some connection to land or sky.”

This is not by accident. Schafer’s preferred subject matter is the Colorado Plateau, somewhere he has called home since moving to Durango from Denver in 1983 to attend FLC. “It’s a wonderful place, geographically, I love the area,” he said. “I love the mix of terrain between the San Juans and La Platas fading into canyon country.”

Perhaps this is also why Schafer’s paintings – stark, textured vistas evoking big sky and land (not a cow or horse in sight) – are vaguely reminiscent of another Southwestern landscape painter from Durango. You know, that guy 4

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named Stanton Englehart.

And while Schafer didn’t set out intentionally in the master’s footsteps, like the happy accident of his first experiments in his shop, it sort of grew organically.

“I got done with my first painting and said, ‘It kind of looks like a Stanton. Is that good or is that bad?’” he recalled.

For Joe and Becca – both big fans of Stanton and former students of his at the Fort – it was good. And probably not 100 percent coincidental, given how ubiquitous Engelhart’s work is throughout the area. Call it artistic osmosis, if you will.

“I’ve always loved his work,” said Schafer of the painter who died in 2009. “You see his work wherever you go. There are similar things between his and mine.”

But unlike Engelhart, Schafer uses a variety of products and techniques, gleaned from his years as a house painter. And he often experiments with media that don’t always play well together – say oil and water – for interesting and surprising results.

“You get all kinds of cool things that happen,” he said. “I want it to separate and do things, things that are a little out of my control.”

Then there’s the issue of rust – all of Schafer’s paintings are done on sheet metal.

He’ll often apply a treatment only to return and find rust, in the familiar shades of orange and red, but sometimes in rarer hues of blue and green.

“That happens a lot, and then I go over the top with texture,” he explained of how he incorporates the natural oxidation into the work.

And speaking of texture - his favorite

medium for that? Run-of-the-mill desert sand. In fact – “not to sound too goofy” – Schafer’s been known to scoop up Colorado River sand in doughnut hole containers on river trips or scrape desert clay off his daughter’s car after a trip to Cedar Mesa.

“Sadie brought home all this orange to reddish mud stuck to her car,” he practically gushed. “It was wonderful.”

As such, it’s almost like Schafer’s paintings come to life – one can practically reach out and feel the desert grit, the sheer sandstone face and the wispy cirrus clouds. A tangible piece of the Southwest in one’s own living room.

But not all of his works make it that far.

Because as with life and art, getting there is half the fun. Or not.

“All of my paintings have had many incarnations,” he said. “I’ll get really close, and really like something, and I’ll f*** it up.”

Sometimes a well-intentioned experiment goes awry; other times, pieces fall off the wall and crumble on the floor before his eyes. “I’ve learned to try not to get too attached,” he said. “I don’t want it to get like house painting where I get stressed.”

Speaking of which, Schafer’s art has taken off so much, that he has cut back his day job to three days a week. At 55, he said the change of pace is welcome. It also allows him to work on several paintings at once, but unfortunately, it has eaten into some of his other favorite Durango activities. But that’s OK, too.

“I don’t even own a road bike or mountain bike right now,” he said. “Art has taken all of my time and energy.”

He said now the trick is finding balance

Two of Joe Schafer’s recent landscapes hang on the wall of Animas Chocolate this week. A house painter by trade, he started focusing his brush on art a year and a half ago, applying his techniques to sheet metal./Photo by Stephen Eginoire – between the house painting, art, wife, family and being able to sneak away for a ski, run or ride. After all, that is where he finds his best inspiration, which someday you may be lucky enough to gaze upon while you sip your coffee and dream up adventures of your own.

“I’ve spent a lot of time outside,” he said.

“When you are in a place for a certain amount of time, and you are watching the sun fade and the shadows are popping up or ridges are fading, or the way the snow

telegraph

will lie – part of that is from a life of being outside and appreciating it.”

He hopes that appreciation is something he can share with others, too.

“People see a painting, and next thing you know, they’re relating to something in the painting. That connection has been really fun.”

To see more of Joe Schafer’s work, check out www.joeschaferstudio.com or check him out on the Insta.n

Jan. 23, 2020 n

9

ColoradoNews

Brick by brick

CU scientists create ‘bio bricks’ that may one day move the needle on climate change

by Grace Hood Colorado Public Radio News

H

eat-trapping gas that can seep from Colorado buildings is the thirdlargest source of emissions statewide. It’s a concern for environmental groups, which are rushing to restrict natural gas inside homes and make office buildings more energy efficient. While that’s the most obvious avenue for change, one engineering professor at the University of Colorado Boulder has a different approach that could maximize emissions reductions.

Engineer Wil Srubar is creating new potential building materials that could one day suck carbon dioxide out of the air.

Deep inside the lab, Srubar is using temperature and humidity to grow bacteria, which, when mixed with sand and other materials, can create a “living” brick.

Here’s how it works: The mix sucks C02 from the atmosphere while forming a rigid structure that’s strong enough to bear loads similar to regular bricks.

“I envision a future in which we’re not burning the limestone to make the cement, we’re not melting the sand to make the glass, we’re not mining the ore to make steel,” said

University of Colorado Boulder Structural Engineer Wil Srubar holds a building brick he developed that has cyanobacteria, which has been proven to absorb the heat-trapping gas carbon dioxide./ Photo by Grace Hood

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10 n Jan. 23, 2020

Srubar, who was co-author on a paper about the subject. “We’re using biology to grow materials that we choose to build with.”

The bricks look like a type of cement mixed with coarse sand, but they’re sturdy enough to stand on. They can take up many shapes, and under hot and humid conditions, these bricks grow. That’s because they contain living bacteria. Also, these bricks can multiply on their own using cyanobacteria. Under the right conditions, they can absorb C02.

If the bio bricks eventually replace steel and cement in building construction, they could yield another benefit: Even more reductions in C02. Manufacturers of both steel and cement emit a lot of carbon dioxide when they produce the materials.

“It’s pretty crazy,” said Srubar. “You can leverage the exponential growth of bacteria to exponentially manufacture materials. So you can split one brick into two. Two into four. Four into eight.”

Srubar developed the concept with a team that included other engineers, a biochemist and graduate students. The paper was published in the journal Matter. n To read more from Colorado Public Radio, go to www.cpr.org.

telegraph

yocal presented by

How to Snowdown Like a Local A LOCAL’S GUIDE TO STAYING ANNONYMUS

I

could give or take Halloween. It’s a holiday that I generally approach halfheartedly and usually only a day or two in advance. When the clock starts ticking on the eve of, I’ll open up my closet and try to find some ensemble that would sort of maybe resemble...something (my name to fame is carrying a table lamp and calling myself a one night stand). Yes, it’s a cop out, yes I get an “F” for effort, but I do it every year and yes, I would consider being a one night stand again.

How to Snowdown Like a Local First, and at the last minute, find the perfect costume to render yourself unrecognizable.

Animas Trading Company, The Sparrow, ReRuns, Second Time Around, La Plata County Humane Society Thrift Store

It’s true, Halloween is a bit hollow for me, but for some gosh-darned reason, I freaking love Snowdown.

Start off the official Rock’n Snowdown week by dancing next to your boss at Derailed Pour House during their annual Snowdown Costume Contest on Wednesday. That is, after you told each other you “weren’t feeling well” and you “might have to go home” just a few hours before.

Snowdown is sort of like Halloween on steroids so I guess it’s not so strange that I love it more in comparison. The fact of the matter is that Durango’s midwinter dress up week is way better than some sugar-induced ghost and goblin day anyway.

Next, go to 11th Street Station for a round of Butt Darts and partner up with that girl who didn’t call you back. Make sure to give her a high five at the end to ensure she knows it’s you, and to make sure she knows how awesome you really are.

Snowdown is four full days when drinking from breakfast to dinner (and beyond) is totally acceptable, if not encouraged. Every day is chalked full of fun events; games, races, competitions. All week people are laughing, cheering, screaming at things such as Mario and Luigi riding mechanical bulls. Grown adult men are wearing fake breasts and racing around on tiny trike bikes. One year I cheered on an elderly man twerking in a gold thong and another year I found myself on the stage with drag queens and air guitarists.

Then, grab your cute neighbor that you’ve always been too shy to talk to and invite them to compete in the Wing Eating Contest at Animas City Theatre on Thursday. Sit directly across the table from him/her and stare them in the eyes the entire time you’re scarfing down those wangs. Never lose eye contact. Write your number on a napkin when you’re done and throw it at them, Rock Star Style.

It’s total mayhem and I love it, but what really sets Snowdown apart for me is that I, and everyone else, can spend a week in various forms of anonymity. I can put on a wig and lipstick and cheer on my dentist who is wearing fake boobs and riding around on a tiny bike. I can hop on the mechanical bull in my Mario costume while my city councilor waits in line behind me and the beauty of it all is that none of us will ever know the wiser. We don’t recognize each other under our alien costumes which means we can be whoever we want to be and do whatever we want to do. It means we can freely drink cocktails during the breakfast-time mini golf and then stuff ourselves into a porta potty at noon and still face our bosses with dignity the next day. It means we can casually bump into that guy we forgot to call last week in the bathroom line and all we have to do under blue wigs and purple lipstick is smile and not have to give an explanation for why it’ll never work out. For four days, we don’t have to tiptoe around each other and when we do see our mayor tilt one back on the catwalk during the 11AM Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, we can all cheer and laugh along with her before we rub our lipstick off and then go back to our regularly scheduled meetings on Monday.

Go nuts on Friday, but remember to slow down and get some food at Fired Up Pizzeria. Just kidding! Enter into Fired Up’s Drink Up Relay and drink your lunch.

At this point of Snowdown, it doesn’t even matter who your team members are.

Grab the closest people; it could be your ex, it could be your college professor.

Don’t ask their names, you’ll never remember.

Saturday go to Local First’s fundraiser, Snowdown Rock’n Date Auction at The Garage and put yourself up for auction. No one will really recognize you in your rock’n hot David Bowie wig any way and you’ll hopefully meet people who aren’t your boss, your ex, your ex boss, or the guy you stared at in the eyes while you both devoured chicken wings.

Wake up on Sunday with black lipstick smeared across your face. Is it yours?

Maybe. Leave it that way for the Rock and Roll affect. Meet up with a group of people you think look like your friends to play the Outlaw Jose Pete’s Golf Tournament hosted by Animas Wine & Spirits and The Bookcase & Barber.

Finish the whole week off by watching your yoga instructor win an award at the Building a Bong Award ceremony at Prohibition Herb. Go home, wipe your makeup off, put your rock and roll outfit permanently away and never speak about your Snowdown week to anyone. Ever.

-JENNAYE DERGE

11

LOCAL FIRST’S ROCK’N DATE AUCTION Q: DO WE HAVE TO GET MARRIED? A: YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO HUG

★ Do I have to be single to participate?

Nope! We are hoping to encourage everyone to “get to know your local” as a friend, couple, romantically, in a group activity, whatever oats your boat! Local First is hosting this event to get folks out on the town at local, independent businesses and provide a uni ue opportunity for awesome locals to meet each other. Whether you want a hot date or a “friend date”, you’re bound to have a memorable experience.

★ What happens if I don’t get bid on?

All participants are guaranteed to get bid on. The Localista girls are prepared to get the bids rolling and take you on a date if no one swoops you up!

★ What will the date be and when do we have to go?

The person who is being bid on is in charge of the date. The only rule is, you have to go on your date within 2 weeks from the auction (contact information will be shared after the event).

★ Auctioneers and auctionees also have a chance to win prizes and gift certificates that could in uence their date spots and bring them to local, independent businesses!

★ Do I have to marry the person who wins me in the bid?

No. You don’t even need to hug them. It’s just one date and there are no expectations, guarantees, or promises besides attendance.

★ Where is the money going to?

Proceeds from the auction will go to benefit Local First and programming to support local and independent businesses in La Plata County.

★ I’m nervous, what can I do to get the guts to get up on stage?

Grab a drink (or three), put on your Rock & Roll costume that makes you feel confident, and invite your friends to come hang with you throughout the night! The nerves will only last a moment, but the memory of the night will last forever. We will have props on stage so you aren’t just standing there awkwardly and our emcees are there to keep the energy up, the vibes positive and will surely make you laugh!

★ Is this better than online dating?

Absolutely -making genuine connections with people, whether as friends or romantically is difficult to do. At the very least you’ll have the experience to laugh at and bond over!

You’ll get to know people amidst the fun vibe of Snowdown and help benefit a local non-profit! ring your little black book to jot down some numbers.

★ SIGN UP, SIGN YOUR FRIENDS UP, WE DARE YOU. WWW.LOCAL-FIRST.ORG/EVENTS/SNOWDOWN/

LOCAL FIRST’S SNOWDOWN ROCK’N DATE AUCTION & DANCE PARTY SATURDA FE . ST THE GARAGE

W. TH ST.

PM - LATE WEAR YOUR SNOWDOWN COSTUME!!

12 12

Will You Be My Friend?

LOCAL FIRST STAFF AND ROCK’N DATE AUCTION EMCEE’S GIVE US IDEAS FOR FRIENDLY LOCAL DATES.

Name: Monique DiGiorgio Looking for: A ski partner My dream date is skate skiing with dogs at Vallecito Nordic Center. Bring your compostable doggy bags to clean up after Fido, and enjoy spotting bald eagles while working your tail off in the quiet, beautiful snow.

After a couple hours of skate skiing, head to the Weminuche Grill or Ska Brewing for a cold beer and some yummy local Durango eats. End the outing with some hot chocolate at Animas Chocolate Company and enjoy that relaxed, tired feeling of a day outside in the Durango backcountry.

Meet Rock’n Date Auction EMCEE Matt Clark!

I would have to say my ideal date would be either going to Purgatory or skiing in the backcountry....then coming back to downtown and going out to eat somewhere that makes a good cocktail like El Moro...then hit the Ranch!

Name: Kiki Hooten Looking for: New friends in Durango!

My dream friend date: I love meeting new people in town and getting outdoors, so why not combine both for this dream date? We’ll meet up and weather permitting, pack our backpacks with some great local beer and snacks before heading to Purg to ski some fresh pow. There’s always time to talk on the lift and what better bonding experience than peeing in the woods together? We’ll skip the trees and head back into town to play board games at Union House while we warm up over some Backcountry Gourmet french fries. Full bellies and tired legs, this friendship is sure to last.

Meet Rock’n Date Auction EMCEE Sam Emerson My ideal date starts at The Palace for some of the most amazing lobster mac n’ cheese you’ll ever have plus a delicious bevy. After the food settles, I would whisk my lady over to the Wild Horse for a few drinks and a little close dancing. Live music, great energy, unique crowd. There is a cover charge, but it’s worth it. If there is any time left in the evening, we could get some ice cream/coffee and chat the rest of the night away.

Name: Hayley Kirkman Looking for: Friends that go with the flow.

My ideal friend date starts with a delicious brunch at El Moro, followed by a stroll down the Animas River Trail as I probe you with deep questions about yourself and the human experience. Following that, we’ll find a spot to do arts and crafts and waste the day away making nothing in particular. Finally, we’ll grab a hot chocolate from Animas Chocolate Company and head down to 11th Street Station to dance the night away!

13

FIVE TOTALLY LEGITIMATE REASONS TO PUT YOURSELF UP FOR BID AT LOCAL FIRST’S SNOWDOWN ROCK’N DATE AUCTION 1) Because if you have to swipe “no” on Tinder one more time, your thumb is going to get arthritis.

2) Eating a Backcountry Gourmet breakfast burrito alone is starting to make you a little...round.

3) You can’t play Settlers of Catan by yourself and playing Twister alone is weird.

4) You’re tired of having to figure out if that girl looks familiar because you matched on Bumble or because you already dated her..

Don't forget your 2020 Be Local Coupon Book when you're shopping for costumes at the thrift store, for getting accessories at local retail shops, or for when you're looking for great deals on food and drinks throughout the week!

AlpenglowProperties

Join us at 11th Street Station for a plethora of Snowdown events. Lego walk, adult tricycle race, butt darts, latte design, treadmill challenge, our famed quaffing tournament, and more! Come to one, come to all of them for a guaranteed good time.

11th STREET STATION

www.11thStreetStation.com

Locally-owned full service real estate brokerage specializing in residential and commercial property sales/leasing. We pride ourselves on high-energy "outside the box” marketing creativity. Whether you’re looking for your new home or your next business space, we would love the opportunity to shine light on your greatest investment.

ALPENGLOW PROPERTIES

www.AlpenglowProperties.com

5) Because your might look like he’s listening, but let’s face it. He’s just a dog. You need a friend.

We are a locally-owned company, helping businesses and families with their insurance needs since 2003. We specialize in Group Benefits, Medicare Supplements, and Individual/Family plans. Stop by our office, next to Bread, or give us a call at 970-247-8617.

Eye.D. is a specialty optical boutique, offering an exquisite frame selection, expertise in optics and personalized frame styling. Located at 140 E 12th Street.

DURANGO INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS

EYE.D | EYEWEAR DURANGO

Supporting your journey of health and wellness, rooted in traditions of classical Chinese medicine. Integrated and customized care, just for you: acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, bodywork, cupping, and so much more.

BALANCE, HEAL, THRIVE.

Dr. Pakhi Chaudhuri and Nurse Practitioner Jessica Rensner at Pediatric Associates of Durango are passionate about setting a new standard for health that empowers children to reach their full potential.

GROUNDSWELL ACUPUNCTURE

PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES OF DURANGO

www.DurangoInsurancePros.com

www.EyeDDurango.com

The Yocalistas Arching Architect - Jennaye Derge Queen Whip Snapper - Monique DiGiorgio Empress of Grammar - Lisa Mastney Local First’s Localistas Monique DiGiorgio Kiki Hooton Hayley Kirkman Jennaye Derge

Visit LOCAL-FIRST.ORG to learn more about Local First!

Interested in featuring your local business in Yocal?

Email: jennaye@local-first.org 14

www.GroundswellAcupuncture.com

Call UltraSteam for courteous, smiling service from IICRC Certified Professionals who truly love making your home shine!

Mention this ad for $100 OFF Water and Fire Damage Restoration through February.

ULTRASTEAM CLEANING & RESTORATION

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From Basic Manners to Scent Detection, we’ve got you covered. Small classes and one-on-one attention done with loving care to build a bond between you and your best friend. Don't forget to use our coupon in the Be Local Coupon Book!

WAG BETWEEN BARKS

www.WagBetweenBarks.com

dayinthelife

LIGHTER than AIR

by Stephen Eginoire

K

nown as the first human-transporting flight technology, hot air ballooning affords the surreal experience of floating upon gentle currents of prevailing wind in a wicker basket. Every January, the Bluff International Balloon Festival celebrates all things balloon, when cold, calm, clear conditions offer enthusiasts the opportunity to float weightless above one of the Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great landscapes, Valley of the Gods, Utah. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a look:

telegraph

Jan. 23, 2020 n 15

ArtsScene

Shaking her Monet-maker Durango painter featured as demo artist at Denver Art Museum

by Zach Hively

A

ll creative artists work alongside their many influences. It’s impossible to escape our inspirations – yet it’s another thing to work in their shadows. Imagine building a house next to a Frank Lloyd Wright residence, or writing poems at Mary Oliver’s table. Durango painter Holly Hagan is about to experience that thrill (and that pressure) firsthand this weekend, when she takes up shop as a featured artist at the Denver Art Museum’s Claude Monet exhibition.

“I’m excited. Nervous,” Hagan said. “I hope I get some glow off the high everyone’s going to be on from walking through Monet’s exhibit.”

The Weekend Artist Demonstration program gives visitors a chance to witness creative types – traditionally a reclusive bunch – doing their thing. This Saturday and Sunday, Hagan will set up a temporary studio near the entrance to the museum, rather like an artist in the zoo. She’ll work on a painting in progress, in her signature fractured-light style, with three of her finished pieces on display. Museum visitors are welcome to enter the space and talk with her about her process, but most guests are likely to observe from the outside.

Hagan, like most artists, is used to working in solitude, but she’s also anticipating the challenge and the opportunity of connecting with a wider audience in real time. With her spectators in mind, she’s strategized a game plan for how to conduct her demonstration.

She considered working on a nearly finished piece during the weekend: “Sempervirens” (Redwood Giant) is her best work to date, she said, and she wanted to put her finest forward for the event. However, she finished that painting in the fall and opted to include it in the event alongside other completed pieces, “Communion (Cormorants)” and “Path” (from her “Interconnectedness” series). So, she went bold and started an entirely new painting for her weekend residency.

“Why don’t I give people an opportunity to see the whole thing in different stages?” Hagan figured. “I actually have sections of the painting that are drawn in line, and then sections that have the first stage of what I call my map, which is a monochromatic painting. Then I have the next stages where I start to lay down color.”

In the end, she’ll be working on a 16x16-inch section of a 30x40-inch canvas, with the rest showing these different strata of her work. This new painting is inspired by an autumn trip Hagan took to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, where the flora caught her eye even more than the geology. Thus, it’s actually a scene of oak trees in the sunset light, set up by the uncharacteristically dark blue canyon.

How that will translate to her spectators, she’s not certain. “It’s hard to know what somebody’s doing when you see a work in progress,” Hagan acknowledged. “Especially on a big painting with a lot going on in it. I have a feeling this painting will seem a bit abstract. Seeing the finished products there might help tie the whole process together.

I’m hoping people will walk by and think there’s something worthwhile in what I’m doing.”

Working alongside a collection of Monets would be a

16 n Jan. 23, 2020

Above: Holly Hagan works on “Sempervirens” (Redwood Giant) at her Durango studio this week.

She’s bringing that piece as well as “Communion” (left) to Denver this weekend for an art demonstration in conjunction with the Monet exhibit./Photo by Steve Eginoire

highlight of any painter’s career. It’s particularly notable for Hagan, though, considering she never considered herself a painter until about half a dozen years ago. She studied

telegraph

drawing in college, then went on to become a nurse and left art entirely. The artistic work she’d done didn’t feel like capital-A “Art” to her, though, because those pieces weren’t the sort of creations that could transform their viewers.

Then, in the last decade, she took up painting. That’s when all her styles and visions fused together to create her own personal style and voice. She finally felt that she was building bridges through visual imagery – moving people into the unknown, opening them to other kinds of experiences.

“It’s nice to look at a pretty painting,” Hagan says. “But I think it’s far more powerful when the viewer is encouraged to move beyond the painting into the realm of myth, where the big questions are. That’s what gets me fired up. I hope when people look at my work, even if they don’t articulate it, that it moves them or stirs them in some way off the point where they started.”

Hagan’s painting style clearly stands out – as it would even if the Denver Art Museum had never heard of her. She describes her process as “drawing with paint” and calls herself “not a very painterly painter.” Her work emphasizes color and light, which were considerations in the selection for the Denver Art Museum’s demonstration program. She embodies a spirit of twinkling magic on the canvas not dissimilar to Monet’s. But unlike the famous impressionist’s softness, Hagan’s paintings fracture the imagery with stark colors and strong lines. There’s perhaps a greater sense of mystery living in the realms as she paints them.

But the fractures in the world don’t tend to leave viewers feeling broken themselves.

In fact, Hagan sees how society and technology have isolated humans from nature and from each other. And in the landscapes of the Four Corners, where she draws most of her inspiration, she finds the unity that can bring us back together.

“With fragmenting my work, I’m really not showing separation,” she explained. “I’m showing that everything works cohesively together … It’s all interconnected. There’s a radiance that flows through all life. It’s what makes us alive. It’s that spark.”

Hagan is naturally curious to see what lies ahead for her after this momentous weekend in Denver. Some things are already coming together: she has a comprehensive solo show at ReCreative Denver in July, for instance. For now, though, she’s thrilled at the opportunity to present her work to the public and to represent the far corners of the state in a program primarily reserved for Metro-area artists.

She’ll be posting about her experience on her Instagram story, for those curious to follow along from Durango, and she hopes those in the area will swing by to say hi.

“I’m so humbled. I’m honored,” Hagan said. “I’m still walking around with a smile on my face. I just think creating the art is really the journey, and I feel glad to be able to share with other people.”

Holly Hagan will be demonstrating her art outside the “Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature” exhibit (which, sadly, is long sold out) at the Denver Art Museum from 12 noon – 3 p.m.

Sat. – Sun., Jan. 25-26. Check out more of Hagan’s work at theartofhollyhagan.com/ or on Instagram: @hollyhagan59. n

TopShelf

The final curtain call of a poet laureate

by Chris Aaland

D

avid Olney sat on a stool in a songwriters-in-the-round at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Florida last Saturday night, swapping tunes and stories with Amy Rigby and Scott Miller. It was a low-key, acoustic performance that allowed listeners an insight into the songwriter’s muse. On this night, the audience witnessed a singer’s final curtain call.

Olney suffered a heart attack during one of his songs, paused, apologized, closed his eyes and died. He didn’t fall off his stool, and his fingers clutched that final chord into eternity.

“It was as easy and gentle as he was,” recalled Miller. “He was very still, sitting upright with his guitar on, wearing the coolest hat and a beautiful rust suede jacket,” added Rigby. “I just want the picture to be as graceful and dignified as it was.”

I booked Olney a couple of times in the late 1990s, when he was releasing a string of acclaimed albums for Rounder’s Philo imprint.

He played shows at the old Diamond Circle Theatre for Durango Society of Cultural & Performing Arts – a nonprofit group that brought hundreds of like-minded folkies to town back in the ’90s and 2000s.

When Olney took the stage, you could hear someone breathe from across the room. These were not rowdy affairs, but rather opportunities to hear one of Nashville’s poet laureates spin tales.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, he attended college in Chapel Hill before deciding his real classroom was Nashville. In the mid1970s, he roomed with a young Steve Earle, where they both paid the bills as pizza delivery guys.

Earle penned “The Devil’s Right Hand” on the back of one pizza box.

Olney was rumored to have done the same. Townes Van Zandt listed him as one of his top influences, alongside Mozart, Dylan and Lightnin’ Hopkins … high praise, considering Van Zandt was the most revered country wordsmith of his time.

After the first Strater show, I retired to the Diamond Belle Saloon to have cocktails with Olney and a few of my fellow DSCPA board members.

Olney got my signature on the check for his performance. I presented him with a nearly complete collection of CDs from his career, including a handful of rare European imports. He was impressed, and gladly autographed each. He noted I was missing one, though, a long out-of-print rock & roll record he cut with his old band, the X-Rays.

Then we went back to talking about sports, music, books and whiskey.

A year later, I picked Olney up at the airport for a second DSCPA show. I shuttled him to radio stations for live interviews and performances, and then to the Strater to check into his room. While waiting at the front desk, he stopped to pull something out of his suitcase. It was a well-used vinyl copy of “Contender,” that long-lost X-Rays record. He said it was his personal copy, but that he thought it belonged in my collection. I was shocked that a musician cared so much for a fan to make such a gesture.

While Olney was never well-known outside of serious folk cir-

cles, he was beloved within the songwriting community. His tunes were recorded by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, the Wailin’ Jennys, the Del McCoury Band, Laurie Lewis and many others. These songs, many of which were spoken-word ballads, hung in the air. I’d often finding myself listening to his final exhale on the fading last chord of his albums.

Little did I know, that’s how he’d die at age 71. Goodbye, old friend.

The breakout progressive bluegrass band Kitchen Dwellers is back with a new record called “Muir Maid,” which they’ll share with rabid fans and thirsty listeners at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Animas City Theatre.

The album, which was produced by banjo player Chris Pandolfi of the Infamous Stringdusters, allows them to reach new heights in the studio and beyond. Their last David Olney album, 2017’s “Ghost in the Bottle,” was a similar affair that enlisted Leftover Salmon’s Andy Thorn as producer. That one featured a Who’s Who of guests, including Little Feat’s Bill Payne and Greensky Bluegrass’ Anders Beck.

High County Hustle gets the party started.

The widely popular Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats return to the Community Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Thurs., Jan. 23). According to the New York Times, their “beautifully choreographed routines showcase their amazing skills and physicality, accompanied by a score of traditional Chinese music filtered through New Age sensibility.” Expect gravity-defying acrobatic skills, juggling and a wide variety of props ranging from ladders to giant spinning wheels.

Marvel Years brings his unique hybrid of EDM that combines glitch, retro-funk, classic rock, soul, jazz and hip-hop to the Animas City Theatre at 9 p.m. Friday. The stage persona of Vermont-based artist Cory Wythe, Marvel Years has packed such venues as Red Rocks with his soulful creations. Special guest Funkstatik opens.

The latest installment of Erik & Friends brings the Nord and his former Lawn Chair Kings bandmate Hap Purcell to Fenceline Ciders in Mancos from 5-7 p.m. Sunday. The banjo-plucking Purcell has played with many Durango bands through the years, including Rock & Rye, Outta Hand String Band, Jack Ten High and many more. More recently, he’s sat in with Fellowship of the Strings and the Smelter Mountain Boys.

The seventh annual permit party and silent auction for the Dolores River takes place from 6-10 p.m. Friday at the Dolores Community Center. This year’s event features a film documenting the historic 1948 first-ever full run of the Dolores River, along with local beer, wine and food, auction items, and live music by Carute Roma. River permit information will also be available.

Elsewhere: Black Velvet duo returns to the Diamond Belle at 5:30 p.m. Friday; and the Robin Davis Duo plays Durango Craft Spirits at 6 p.m. Friday.

Then there’s that little old thing called Snowdown, which officially begins Wednesday. For 42 years, Durangatangs have let their freak flags fly. This year, revelers are asked to dress as their favorite rock & roll musicians, no doubt meaning I’ll wear my fading 1984 Van Halen Tour of the World T-shirt to music trivia.

Snowdown.org has all the dirt.

When my body dies, darlin’ I could never leave you lonely? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net. n

telegraph

Putting the pieces together is my passion.

Let me help you with the real estate puzzle.

Gillian Arnwine

970-749-3704 gillian@wellsgroupdurango.com

Jan. 23, 2020 n 17

onthetown

Thursday23 Baby Meetup with Durango Café au Play, 9:30-11:30 a.m., 2307 Columbine. 749-9607.

Groove & Grow, featuring music, games and more for young children and their caregivers, 10:30 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield.

Free yoga, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Lively Boutique, 809 Main Ave. Zumba Gold, 9:30-10:15 a.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.

Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon, part of the Community Foundation’s Making a Difference speaker series, 7 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.durangoconcerts.com.

Ecstatic Dance with DJ Uplifter, 7-10 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave. Karaoke, 7 p.m.-close, VFW, 1550 Main Ave.

Living Your Best Life with Disabilities: Finding Housing, co-hosted by Southwest Center for Independence, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Durango Public Library.

Ski Meetups, part of Winter Pride 2020, 10:30 a.m., event also runs Jan. 25-26, meet at Lift 1 at Purgatory Ski Resort. www.durangopride.org.

Marvel Years performs,9 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. www.animascitytheatre.com.

“Hat on a Hat” by Trey Duvall, hosted by FLC’s Art & Design Department, artist talk, 2:30-3:30 p.m., opening reception, 4:30-6 p.m., exhibit runs thru Feb. 20, Fort Lewis College Art Gallery. 247-7167.

Apres Ski, part of Winter Pride 2020, 2-5 p.m., event also runs Jan. 25, Purgy’s at Purgatory Ski Resort. www.durangopride.org.

Fresh Powder Drag Hour, part of Winter Pride 2020, 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m., Down the Rabbit Hole, 640 Main Ave. www.durangopride.org.

STEAM Lab: Pinch Pottery, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Durango Public Library.

Saturday25

Bonita Peak Community Advisory Group meets, 2:30-5:15 p.m., Durango Rec Center. bonitapeakcag.org.

Thursday Afternoon Social Club for veterans, their spouses and supporters, 4-6 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main.

Durango Green Drinks, hosted by all 2020 hosts, 56:45 p.m., Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave. Tim Sullivan performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

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

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

Securing Our Water Future: What’s Next With the Colorado Water Plan? presented by the Colorado Outdoor Business Alliance, doors open, 5:30 p.m., event begins, 6-8 p.m., 4Corners Riversports, 360 S. Camino del Rio. conservationco.org.

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

Spanish Speaking Parents & Littles Fridays, 4-6 p.m., Durango Café au Play, 1309 E. 3rd Ave., Room 201. durangocafeauplay.org.

“Retrospective Art Show: 1960-2020” from Peggy Cloy, exhibit opening, 4-7 p.m., exhibit runs thru March 24, Smiley Building second floor, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. Mixed Media on Sheet Metal with artist Joe Schafer, opening reception 5-8 p.m., exhibit runs thru Jan. 30, Animas Chocolate & Coffee Co., 920 Main Ave. Lacey Black performs, 5-8 p.m., Lone Spur Café, 619 Main Ave. 764-4280.

The Black Velvet Duo performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Robbie Overfield performs, 6 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Dinner Meet & Greets, part of Winter Pride 2020, 5:30-6:30 p.m., event also runs Jan. 25, Paradise Pizza at Purgatory. www.durangopride.org.

Open Mic Night, 6-8 p.m., Eno Wine Bar, 723 E. 2nd Ave.

Gary Watkins performs, 6 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Golden Dragon Acrobats perform, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.durango concerts.com.

Live music, 6-9 p.m., DJ Hakan 9 p.m.-close, Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

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

Dolores River Boaters Permit Party and Silent Auction, featuring live music from Carute Roma, 6-10 p.m., Dolores Community Center. doloresriverboating.org.

Karaoke, 8 p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave.

“The Lion King,” screens 6:30 p.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield.

Friday24 Winter Pride 2020, includes skiing, aprés and socializing, drag show, and more, Jan. 24-26, Purgatory Ski Resort. www.durangopride.org.

Rob Webster performs, 7 p.m., Blondies in Cortez.

An Evening with Erik Weihenmayer, author of No

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18 n Jan. 23, 2020

telegraph

Indivisible Durango General Meeting, 10 a.m.noon, Durango Public Library.

Henry Stoy, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Restaurant & Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave. NTLive: All My Sons, 11 a.m., also runs 1 p.m., Jan. 26, Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. www.ani mascitytheatre.com.

Coffee and Conversations: A shared meal with local homeless and food-insecure residents, 12:302:30 p.m., Schneider Park. 236-2313 or www.community compassionoutreach.com.

OUT & About Ice Skating, part of Winter Pride 2020, 1:15-3:15 p.m., Chapman Hill Ice Rink. www.du rangopride.org.

Jake Genualdi performs, 5-8 p.m., Lone Spur Café, 619 Main Ave. 764-4280.

Robin Davis performs, 6 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave. Robbie Pepper performs, 6-10 p.m., Seven Rivers Restaurant, Sky Ute Resort, Ignacio.

Kirk James performs, 7-10 p.m., 550 Brewing in Aztec.

Winter Pride Talent Show, part of Winter Pride 2020, 8-10:30 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive. www.durangopride.org.

DJ Side Affex, 9 p.m.-close, Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave. Winter Pride Dance, 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive. www.durangopride.org.4

Sunday26 Free Ski Sundays, Jan. 26, event also runs Feb. 23 and March 29, Kendall Mountain in Silverton. www.skikendall.com.

Henry Stoy, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Restaurant & Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave. Snowdown Opening Ceremony at Purg, 12:30-2 p.m., on the beach at Purgatory Resort. 426-7274.

Traditional Irish Music Jam, 12:30-4 p.m., Irish Embassy, 900 Main Ave. Hap Purcell and Erik Nordstrom perform, 5-7 p.m., Fenceline Ciders in Mancos.

Blue Moon Ramblers, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Joel Racheff performs, 6 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave. Open Mic Night, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Hermosa Coffee Roasters, 738 Main Ave.

Monday27 Yoga Storytime, 9:30-10:45 a.m., Smiley Building Studio 10, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. Watch Your Step class, 10:15 a.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, Durango Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave. Joel Racheff performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Rob Webster performs, 6 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave. Aikido, the art of peace, 6-8 p.m., event also runs Jan. 29, Mountain Middle School, 108 W. 31st St. www.duran goaikido.com.

Trivia Night, 7 p.m., Blondies in Cortez.

Contiki Party with the Aussies, 9 p.m.-close, Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Tuesday28 Groove & Grow, featuring music, games and more for young children and their caregivers, 10:30 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield.

“Climate Change and the Global Order” with Guinn Unger, part of the Great Decisions Discussion Group, 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m., Durango Public Library. www.fpa.org.

Terry Rickard performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Leah Orlikowski performs, 6 p.m., The Office, 699 Main.

Rotary Club meets, presentation from Charles Leslie, director of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, 6 p.m., Henry Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave. 385-7899.

The blind side: Adventurer Erik Weihenmayer shares story What: Erik Weihenmayer, part of Community Foundation Serving SW Colorado’s “Making a Difference” speaker series When: 7 – 8:30 p.m., Fri., Jan. 24 Where: Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College Erik Weihenmayer has an outdoors resume to make even the most diehard adventure junkie green with envy. In 2001, the Golden, Colo. – based adventurer summited Mount Everest. In 2008, he joined an elite group of 150 mountaineers by completing the Seven Summits, the highest points on every continent.

In 2014, he solo kayaked the thunderous whitewater of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.

And he did it all without the benefit of sight.

The athlete and best-selling author of No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon, will be in Durango this Friday to share his inspirational story and message of resiliency.

Blind since the age of 14 due to a degenerative condition, Weihenmayer has also co-founded a nonprofit called No Barriers, with a motto of “What’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way.” The mission is to help people turn into the “storm of life,” face barriers head on, embrace a pioneering and innovative spirit, and team up with great people to

Erik Weihenmayer contribute their absolute best to the world.

“Erik didn’t let his loss of sight stop him from conquering challenges, and his message of resiliency is truly inspiring,” Briggen Wrinkle, Executive Director of the Community Foundation, said. “We expect everyone who attends this event to come away empowered and hopeful, recognizing the true potential we have in our community.”

Tickets for this family-friendly event can be purchased at the Durango Welcome Center at 8th and Main, at durangoconcerts.com or by calling 970-247-7657.

Super Ted’s Super Trivia, 6:12 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave. 403-3068.

Series featuring Nordic skiing, snow shoeing or fat biking, 6 p.m., Purgatory base area. www.purgatoryresort.com.

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

VOICES: Women Braving it all to Live Their Purpose, a talk with authors Karen Lovelien and Chloe Rachel Gallaway, 6:30-8:30 p.m., R Space Durango, 734 E. 2nd Ave.

Latin Dance Night, 8 p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave. salsadancedurango@gmail.com.

Kitchen Dwellers perform, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. www.animascitytheatre.com.

Dr.

Open Mic Night, 7:30 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Karaoke, 8 p.m., Blondies in Cortez.

Open Mic Night, 8 p.m.-close, Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

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

Wednesday29

Ongoing

Donny Johnson performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Thank the Veterans potluck, 5:30 p.m., Peter Neds performs, 7-8:30 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave. 828-7777.

Terry Rickard performs, 6 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave. Twilight Night Triathlon, a Snowdown twist to the Durango Nordic Ski Club’s McDonald’s Twilight Nights Race

telegraph

4th annual Winter Art Show by Looking Glass Art Collective, benefit for Local First, runs thru Jan. 30, Smiley Café, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. LPCHS Powder Hounds Snowboard Art Auction, through Feb. 3. lpchumanesociety.org.

“Inside Out: Visions from the Artist’s Mind,” thru April 2020, Southern Ute Museum, 503 Ouray Dr. www.southernutemuseum.org.

More “On the Town,” p. 234

Jan. 23, 2020 n 19

A Rockin’ Snowdown 2020 • Jan. 29-Feb. 2 • www.snowdown.org.

Events for Wed., Jan. 29

6:30 p.m., Durango High School, 2390 Main Ave. 609-6479565.

Snowdown Scavenger Hunt, pick up lists 10 a.m.-8 p.m., return items by Jan. 31, Billy Goat Saloon in Gem Village. 903-0090.

Ping Pong Tournament, 6:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave. 880-0214.

Bebop Butt Darts, 7 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave. 749-7204.

Open Mic Night, 7:30 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.

Snowdown Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, 11:15 a.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building. 759-5513.

Snowdown Costume Contest, 2 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave. 247-5440.

Sports Trivia, 7:30 p.m., Cuckoo’s Chicken House, 128 E. College Dr. 259-6322.

Snowdown Rocking House of Cards, 4 p.m., Office Depot, 331 S. Camino del Rio. 371-5479.

Snowdown Teen Follies, 7:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center Theater, 802 E. 2nd Ave. 259-2606.

Rockin’ Guitar Picks for Teens, 4 p.m., Durango Public Library. 375-3385.

Lip Sync Contest, 8 p.m., El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave. 749-1816.

42nd annual Snowdown Jokedown, 8 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave. 247-5440.

Swingin’ Rollin’ Parent LEGO March, 4 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave. 749-7204.

Guinness Games – Operation, 8 p.m., Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave. 403-1200.

42nd annual Snowdown Bartenders Contest, 4:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave. 880-0214.

Karaoke, 8 p.m., Blondies in Cortez.

Snowdown Kids Follies, 4:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center Theatre, 802 E. 2nd Ave. 259-2606.

Snowdown Cribbage Tournament, 5 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave. 247-2296.

p.m., Purgatory base area. www.purgatoryre sort.com.

Spellebration, 5:30 p.m., Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave. 385-4354.

Scotch Doubles Billiards, 6 p.m., The Garage, 121 W. 8th St. 719-649-7263.

Snowdown Bicycle Roller Races, hosted by the FLC Cycling Team, 5:30 p.m., Irish Embassy, 900 Main Ave. 4031200.

Snowdown Beer Trivia, 6 p.m., Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave. 259-2545.

Twilight Night Triathlon, a Snowdown twist to the Durango Nordic Ski Club’s McDonald’s Twilight Nights Race Series featuring Nordic skiing, snow shoeing or fat biking, 6

OntheTown from p. 19

Snowdown Euchre Tournament, 6 p.m., VFW Durango Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave. 259-1375.

Magical Musical Mystery Tour, 6 p.m., The Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave. 769-2872.

Rock, Stop and Roll, concert and costume contest,

Mystery Science 3000 Live: “The Great Cheesy Movie Circus,” 7:30 p.m., Feb. 13, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.durangoconcerts.com.

Karaoke with Crazy Charlie, 8 p.m.-close, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave. Mechanical Bull Riding Contest, 8:30 p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave. 405-245-9968.

Klackers, 9:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave. 880-0214.

Guinness Games – Hungry Hungry Hippos, 10 p.m., Irish Embassy, 900 Main Ave. 403-1200.

DJ and MC Battle, 10:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave. 749-7231.

15th annual Durango Independent Film Festival, March 4-8, around Durango. www.durangofilm.org.

Sticks-N-Thorns performs, 8 p.m., Feb. 14, Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. www.animascitytheatre.com.

One-Man Trunk Show and Native American Film Reception featuring Ray Tracey, March 5-6, Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave. 247-3555.

Veterans Breakfast, 9-11 a.m., Feb. 2, La Plata County Fairgrounds. 946-4831.

The High Kings perform, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 15, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.durangoconcerts.com.

“Come to Your Senses,” presented by Pilobolus Dance Theatre, 7:30 p.m., March 9, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.durangoconcerts.com.

Free Kids Yoga Class hosted by Chloe Dudley, for ages 3-7, 9-9:45 a.m., Feb. 5, Pediatric Associates of Durango, 1199 Main Ave., Suite 205. 259-7337.

Play & Learn kindergarten readiness workshops, theme on Break the Code: Early Literacy, 10:30 a.m., Feb. 19, story time room, Durango Public Library. 375-3380.

Upcoming

Animas High School Information Night, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Jan. 30, 271 Twin Buttes Ave. 247-2474.

International Guitar Night 20th Anniversary Tour, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 6, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.durangoconcerts.com.

The Actors’ Gang: “The New Colossus,” directed by Tim Robbins, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 25-26, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.durangoconcerts.com.

The Lil Smokies perform, doors opens, 7:30 p.m., show begins, 8:30 p.m., Feb. 6-7, Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. www.animascitytheatre.com.

ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience performs, doors open, 7:30 p.m., show begins, 8:30 p.m., Feb. 26, Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Ave. www.animascitytheatre.com.

The Met: Live in HD, featuring Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” 10:55 a.m., Feb. 8, Student Union Vallecito Room, Fort Lewis College. www.durangoconcerts.com.

Joint Advisory Meeting on E-Bikes, 5-7 p.m., March 4, Durango Rec Center. www.durangogov.org.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival, 1 and 3:30 p.m., Feb. 9, Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. durangoccl.org.

Donny McCaslin performs, 7:30 p.m., March 4, Community Concert Hall. www.durango concerts.com.

20 n Jan. 23, 2020

telegraph

Leftover Salmon perform, 7:30 p.m., March 12, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.durango concerts.com.

Deadline for “On the Town” submissions is Monday at noon.

To submit an item email: calendar@durango telegraph.com

FreeWillAstrology

by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) declared that English writer Lord Byron (1788-1824) was the greatest genius of the 19th century.

Here’s an interesting coincidence: Byron regarded Goethe as the greatest genius of the 19th century. I bring this to your attention, Aries, in the hope that it will inspire you to create a similar dynamic in your own life during the coming months.

As much as possible, surround yourself with people whom you think are wonderful and interesting and enlivening – and who think you are wonderful and interesting and enlivening.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus-born Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was a renowned German composer who lived most of his life is Germany and Austria. He became so famous and well-respected that England’s Cambridge University offered him an honorary degree if he would visit the campus. But Brahms was too timid to risk crossing the English Channel by boat. (There were no airplanes and Chunnel in those days.) He declined the award. I beg you not to do anything even remotely like that in the coming weeks, Taurus. Please summon the gumption necessary to claim and gather in all you deserve.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the coming weeks will be one of those rare times when you can safely engage with influences that might normally rattle you. You’ll be protected as you wander into the unknown and explore edgy mysteries. Your intuition will be highly reliable if you make bold attempts to solve dilemmas that have previously confounded and frustrated you. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to get a bit wild and exploratory, this is it.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) is regarded as one of England’s greatest painters. He’s best known for his luminous and imaginative landscapes. His experimental use of light and color influenced the Impressionist painters who came after him.

But the weird thing is that after his death, many of his works were lost for decades. In 1939, a famed art historian found over a hundred of them rolled up like tarpaulins in the basement of an art museum. Let’s apply this event as a metaphor for what’s ahead in your life, Cancerian. I suspect that buried or lost elements of your past will soon be rediscovered and restored. I bet it will be fun and illuminating!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In my early adult life, I lived below the poverty line for many years. How did that impact me? Here’s one example: I didn’t own a mattress from ages 23 to 39, but rather slept on a 2-inch thick foam pad that lay directly on the floor.

I’m doing better now, thank you. But my early experiences ensured that I would forever have profound empathy for people who don’t have much money. I hope this will serve as inspiration for you, Leo. The next seven weeks will be the Empathy Building Season for you. The cosmos will reward you if you build your ability to appreciate and understand the pains and joys of other humans. Your compassion will be tonic for both your mental and physical health.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Ancient Greek author Theophrastus was a scientist before the concept of “scientist” existed. His writings on botany were influential for hundreds of years after his death. But some of his ideas would be considered unscientific today.

For example, he believed that flute music could heal sciatica and epilepsy. No modern research suggests that the charms of the flute can literally cure physical ailments like those. But there is a great deal of evidence that music can help relieve pain, reduce anxiety, reduce the side effects of drugs, assist in physical therapy and even make you smarter. And my reading of the current astrological omens suggests that the therapeutic effects of music will be especially dramatic for you during the next three weeks.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Learning to love is difficult, and we pay dearly for it,” wrote the serious and somber author Fyodor Dostoevsky. “It takes hard work and a long apprenticeship,” he added. All that’s true, I think. To hone our ability to express tenderness and warmth, even when we’re not at our best, is the most demanding task on earth. It requires more courage than that of a soldier in the frenzy of battle, as much imagination as a poet, and diligence equal to that of an architect supervising the construction of a massive suspension bridge. And yet on the other hand – contrary to what Dostoevsky believed – sometimes love is mostly fun and inspiring and entertaining and educational. I suspect that the coming weeks will be one of those phases for you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): How well do you nurture yourself, dear Scorpio? How diligent are you in providing yourself with the sustenance that ensures your body, mind and soul will thrive?

Are you imaginative in the ways that you keep yourself excited about life? Do you take strong measures to avoid getting attached to mediocre pleasures, even as you consistently hone your focus on the desires

that lead you to joy and deep satisfaction?

The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to meditate on these questions.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Seven books of the Bible’s Old Testament refer to a magical place called Ophir. It was a source of exotic finery & soulful treasures like gold, peacocks, jewels, frankincense & precious sandalwood. One problem: No one, not even a Biblical scholar, has ever figured out where it was. Zimbabwe?

India? Tunisia? Its location is still unknown.

I am bringing this to your attention because I suspect that in 2020 there’ll be a good chance you’ll discover & gain access to your own metaphorical Ophir: a fount of interesting, evocative resources. For best results, be primed and eager to offer your own skills and riches in exchange for what this fount can provide to you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn filmmaker Steven Soderbergh says it’s crucial for us to have a welldeveloped story about who we are and what we’re doing with our lives.

It’s so important, he feels, that it should be the trigger that flings us out of bed every morning. We’ve got to make our story so vivid and interesting that it continually motivates us in every little thing we do. Soderbergh’s counsel is always good to keep in mind, of course, but it will be even more so for you in the coming months. Why? Because your story will be expanding and deepening, and you’ll need to make the necessary adjustments in how you tell your story to yourself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I’m a big fan of self-editing. For example, every horoscope I write evolves over the course of at least three drafts.

For each book I’ve published, I have written but then thrown away hundreds of pages that I ultimately deemed weren’t good enough to be a part of the finished text. And yet now and then, I have created a poem or song in one rapid swoop. My artistic artifact is exactly right the first time it flows out of me, with no further tinkering needed. I suspect you’re now entering a phase like that, Aquarius. I’m reminded of poet Allen Ginsberg’s operative principle: “first thought, best thought.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Who don’t you want to be, Pisces? Where don’t you want to go? What experiences are not necessary in your drive to become the person you were born to be? I encourage you to ask yourself questions like those in the coming weeks. You’re entering a phase when you can create long-term good fortune for yourself by knowing what you don’t like and don’t need and don’t require. Explore the positive effects of refusal.

Wield the power of saying NO so as to liberate yourself from all that’s irrelevant, uninteresting, trivial, and unhealthy.

telegraph

Jan. 23, 2020 n 21

classifieds

Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon.

Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum. Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com. Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check.

(Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)

Ads can be submitted via: n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133 n 777 Main Ave., #214

Free

Approximate office hours: Mon., 9ish - 5ish Tues., 9ish - 5ish Wed., 9ish - 3ish Thurs., On delivery Fri., 10:30ish - 2ish please call ahead: 259-0133.

School or Child Care Group Free HP Envy 5012 and/or Epson Stylus Photo R200 printers, both in fine working order. Contact bobrosenberg 65@gmail to arrange pick up in town.

Announcements

Lowest Prices on Storage!

Inside/outside near Durango and Bayfield, RJ Mini Storage. 970-259-3494.

Services

Harmony Organizing and Cleaning Services Home and office 970-403-6192.

Himalayan Kitchen 992 Main Ave., 970-259-0956, www.himkitchen.com. Bringing you a taste of Nepal, Tibet & India. Try our allyou-can-eat lunch buffet. The dinner menu offers a variety of tempting choices, including yak, lamb, chicken, beef & seafood; extensive veggies; freshly baked bread. Full bar. Get your lunch punch card – 10th lunch free. Hours: Lunch, 11am-2:30 p.m. & dinner, Sun. Thurs., 5-9:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. ‘til 10 p.m.

Closed 2:30 - 5, daily.

The Perfect Gift for your favorite dirtbag. Literature from Durango’s own Benighted Publications. The Desert, The Climbing Zine, The Great American Dirtbags, American Climber, Climbing Out of Bed and Graduating From College Me are available at: Maria’s Bookshop, Pine Needle Mountaineering, the Sky Store, or on the interweb at www.climbingzine.com.

HelpWanted Phlebotomy Certification (Blood Drawing) $350, Farmington, Feb. 8 and 9. sw phlebotomy.net, 505-410-7889.

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

22 n Jan. 23, 2020

Marketing Small and Local Businesses Media, social media, website content, SEO, etc. for small, local, independent or startup businesses. Email jnderge@ gmail.com Advanced Duct Cleaning Air duct cleaning specializing in dryer vents. Improves indoor air quality; reduces dust and allergens, energy bills and fire risk. 970-247-2462 www.advanced ductcleaninginc.com

Classes/Workshops Thai Yoga Partner Workshop Sat, Feb 15th; 1:00 - 4:30 PM with Joy Kilpatrick for more info & to register: YogaDurango.com Yoga for Knees Workshop With Kathy Curran. Saturday, January 25, 9-noon. Drop ins welcome! Smiley Building, Room #32 www.4corners yoga.com 970-259-4794

massageintervention.life Voted best massage in Durango 201819. Couples, cupping, local CBD. Reviews on FB + Yelp. 970-903-2984 Massage with Kathryn 20+ years experience offering a fusion of esalen style, deep tissue massage with therapeutic stretching & Acutonics. New clients receive $5 off first session. To schedule appt. call 970-201-3373.

ForSale Reruns Home Furnishings Cozy furnishing! Lots of fun new arrivals: vintage snow scoop, lamps, rugs, art, night stands. Beautiful glassware and linens. Cool vintage dishes – Pyrex & Fiestaware. New great stuff and daily markdowns. 572 E. 6th Ave. 385-7336.

RealEstate Radon Services Free radon testing and consultation.

Call Colorado Radon Abatement and Detection for details. 970- 946-1618.

ForRent Affordable Housing Homes for sale, less than $20K. Homes for rent, less than $800/mo. Mobile home sites, $285/mo + W/S. Clean, safe, family friendly community in Aztec, NM. Only 45 min from Durango. 505-334-7100 sunsetvillagemhc.com. We can help you move your home!

Beautiful, Furnished Shared Office Space Downtown, avail Fridays $200/mnth.

Melaney 970-382-1188.

CommunityService

BodyWork

Rocky Mountain PBS is seeking volunteers of all ages to assist with our Feb. 1 Snowdown event, as well as other upcoming screenings and community events! Do you value public media? We need your passion and your know-how! Call Debbie Higgs at 970-2358701 or email debbiehiggs.rmpbs.org.

Healthy Massages!

30, 60 or 90 min Meg Bush, LMT 970759-0199.

Recycle Christmas Trees at Santa Rita Park through Jan. 31.

Please note there is no curbside pick-up

Mommy and Me Dance Class Come join the fun! Now registering for classes. Call 970-749-6456. mommy andmedance.com.

telegraph

HaikuMovieReview ‘Bringing Down the House’ I can’t review this because I don’t want people to know I saw it – Lainie Maxson of trees. Residents may drop-off natural trees free of ornaments and tinsel at the drop-off site near the large playground.

The trees will be recycled into mulch, which will be available to residents in the spring. For more info, contact the City Parks and Rec Dept. at (970) 375-7321 or rec@DurangoGov.org.

The Free Bag, Bag Free Project Needs old T-shirts to turn into reusable shopping bags. If you have some, please contact durangobeyondplastic@gmail.com DAC Announces 10th annual 10– Minute Play Contest The Durango Arts Center invites both emerging and professional playwrights to submit 10-Minute Plays by the Feb. 29 deadline. A staged reading of the Top Five Finalists takes place in the spring followed by the 10–Minute Play Festival, featuring the winners and finalists of the DAC 10-Minute Play Contest staged in full production in the fall. For contest guidelines, rules, schedule of events and link to submit plays, visit DAC’s website at www.DurangoArts.org.

For more info on the 10–Minute Play Contest, contact Mandy Gardner at mandy @durangoarts.org.

La Plata Thrive! Living Wage Coalition is seeking steering committee members! Are you passionate about social justice? Do you have a knack for nonprofit organizing? Apply today at thrivelaplata@gmail.com or visit thrive laplata.org!

Earn Your Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Denver (DU) here in Durango – for the two-year program starting in fall 2020. Classes on Fridays and Saturdays. For more info, contact Carla Hase at 247-9773 or Carla. hase@du.edu.

AskRachel Interesting fact: There is no cure for the cold because 160 different strains of rhinovirus cause colds. No word on when or why we started swapping snot with rhinoceroses.

Dear Rachel, I think I figured out why it’s so hard to speak up for what’s right in the world. It’s because we don’t want to hurt people’s feelings. How messed up is that? We’ll let people hurt other people because we don’t want to make the first set of people feel bad about themselves. I really want to make the world rise up and start doing better by the poor and downtrodden. But, I’m also worried the world won’t like it very much.

Help?

- Pardon Me Dear Pardonne Moi, I think only the president has the power to pardon you. (Dad joke!) And speaking of dads, we can probably blame our parents for this. We can blame our parents for pretty much anything that goes wrong with us. And not in an “OK, boomer” way, though that way is also pretty universally valid. I mean because our parents imprint us with values that we simultaneously ingrain and rebel against, which causes us to do all kinds of crap, like allowing injustices to continue and becoming so-called advice columnists.

You’re pardoned, Rachel Dear Rachel, I’m somehow the only person on the planet who hasn’t caught the plague yet this winter. I

like to think it’s because I put honey in my tea and eat citrus fruit every day. My friends tell me that it’s probably because I have no friends and never actually see people. Whatever the reason, I feel like my hot streak could go cold (haha) any day. Should I start stocking up on the cold medicines advertised on my favorite podcasts? Or keep doing what I’m doing?

- Preemptive Strike Dear Premature Vaccination, I tried to play off “preemptive”à “premature” there, but there are so few words that a) relate to infectious diseases and b) evoke the word “ejaculation.” So vaccination it is, even though there’s no cure for the cold. I’d keep doing whatever you’re doing, and just add whiskey to it. It won’t actually help, but trust me, it will make this piss-poor response to your letter go down better.

– Your spoonful of sugar, Rachel Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com Dear Rachel, I have a European friend who works with clients around the world, and he applied a full year ago for a visa to come to Durango (and other places in the U.S.) Well, he just cancelled his visit, because the visa STILL hasn’t been processed. They haven’t denied him entry, they just haven’t bothered to look at it yet. Should he just fly to Mexico and jump the wall like everyone else? Or should we just blame the president and move on?

– American Express

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Dear Mastercard, Two words: Thanks, Obama. Kidding! Kidding kidding kidding, and then silently weeping into my porridge.

Things were so much better not so very long ago, when presidents pardoned people who deserved to be pardoned and personally signed visas for every upstanding European who wanted to come work with clients in Durango. I’m a little disconcerted, however, by the lack of explanation for your friend’s work. Unspecified “clients” makes me think your amigo is either a hooker or a killer.

Maybe both?

– Not everywhere you want to be, Rachel

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*Yes, it is fine if you want to take a few for friends and family. Just don’t poach the whole stack. That’s lame.

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“Helping you burn brighter since 2002.”

A blowfish telegraph

Jan. 23, 2020 n 23

24 n Jan. 23, 2020

telegraph