The Durango Telegraph, Marcy 31, 2022

We pity the fool

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March 31, 2022 Vol. XXI, No. 13 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

L I N E

O N

D U R A N G O

&

B E Y O N D

Hey, Boebert

A unified front

Tracing time

Tele editorialista throws down gauntlet to Colorado rep. p4

Purgatory Ski Patrol on track to unionize for better pay p7

Craig Childs’ new book dives deep into history of rock art p9

2 n March 31, 2022

telegraph

lineup

4

4 La Vida Local

Throwing down There’s only so much a mild-mannered editor can take

State of the Animas

5 Word on the Street 6 Soapbox

7

7 Local News

Joining ranks Purgatory ski patrollers vote on whether or not to unionize

9 Between the Covers

by Jonathan Romeo

11 The Plug-iN

9

12-13 Stuff to Do

Tracing time Craig Childs’ latest book ruminates on enduring mystery of rock art

by Zach Hively

13 Ask Rachel 14 Free Will Astrology 15 Classifieds

11

15 Haiku Movie Review

Taking the stage Are you an aspiring songwriter? Even Bob Dylan had to start somewhere

On the cover: A foggy morning near Mancos as a spring storm settles over the Four Corners./ Photo by Alex Krebs

by Ted Moore

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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

“Sometimes I smell, I burp and I fart.”

– Local woman cutting through the BS and getting real with a recent Tinder date.

4 Thumbin’ It

by Missy Votel

EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel missy@durangotelegraph.com

Ear to the ground:

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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.

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thepole

RegularOccurrences

What started out more than a century ago with Woodrow Wilson giving the first presidential speech to Congress since Thomas Jefferson ended the tradition, the State of the Union has become a sort of political spectacle.

And it’s brought some memorable moments, like Bill Clinton declaring, “the era of big government is over” (umm, didn’t happen). In 2015, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fell asleep during Obama’s speech, later admitting she and other justices were “not 100% sober.” Oh, and who could forget, this year a certain Republican dream team heckling Biden. Ah, politics in America.

Thursday night’s State of the Animas should prove less controversial, although there will be a good discussion on our beloved river and some hard cider available (pour some out for RBG).

Starting at 6:30 p.m., Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s Jim White and Mountain Studies Institute’s Scott Roberts will talk about the current health of the river, which has seen some troubles in recent years.

Since Western settlement, the Animas has been on quite a journey. Up until the 1970s, the Animas was essentially a drainpipe for mine activity in Silverton and agriculture farther down valley. It wasn’t until the environmental moment in the ’70s/’80s that the Animas started to get cleaned up, eventually becoming the mecca for fishing, rafting and recreatiing we now know and love.

But that doesn’t mean threats to the waterway are over. Most recently, the Animas was severely impacted by floods off the 416 Fire burn scar, causing a near complete die-off of fish in the river. It turns out, however, you’ll hear some good news Thursday: the Animas is recovering.

Fires, and subsequent floods, are natural processes, acting as a sort of reset for the environment. Most studies show that rivers rebound three to five years after a fire, and with the 416 Fire happening in 2018, we’re right on track.

White said the die-off allowed wildlife officials to start from scratch managing the river.

Previously overrun by brown trout, CPW filled the river with rainbows. Also, the reset allowed native fish, such as sculpin and bluehead suckers, to reclaim their habitat naturally.

Roberts, too, said a robust research effort has found the Animas is on a “relatively rapid trajectory toward pre-fire conditions.” Aquatic insects, a great indicator of stream health, are coming back in force, and water quality rarely exceeds health and safety standards.

While all this is good news – of course, there’s a caveat: climate change and drought.

Less water and higher water temperatures bring a whole host of issues for river health and aquatic life.

“This is not something going away, and we’re going to have to try to manage around it,” White said.

So if you’re interested to learn more, head to Outdoorsy, 934 Main Ave. If you have too much cider and fall asleep, don’t get caught.

March 31, 2022 n

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opinion

LaVidaLocal Sun’s out, guns out It’s not often that I use this pulpit to air my personal agendas. OK, maybe it is.

But this one’s legit. I want to use this platform to lay down the gauntlet, if you will.

I want to challenge the woman who puts the “twit” in the Twittersphere, the West Slope’s very own Q-Anon darling, Rep. Lauren Boebert, to a gun fight. No – not with bullets and those funny leg strap things. But with armies – as in my right arm-y or my left arm-y, womano y womano (after discerning that we both meet the stringent definition, of course). That’s right, I’m talking a good old, all-American arm wrasslin’ match to settle differences, which include… well, pretty much everything.

Truth be told, this was not my brilliant idea, but that of someone who likes Boebert possibly as much as I do. And like any bad, half-assed, thoroughly unvetted and potentially disastrous idea, I’m totally game.

It’s all in good fun, of course – we could even serve Jell-O shots and pork sliders to add to the good times. And what better time to partake in this all-American spectacle than on the 4th of July? Preferably after the recitation of the Declaration of Independence but before the Lyle Lovett concert. Of course, it will have to occur outside working hours, since the leftist media never sleeps – or gets federal holidays off.

Anyway, this three-month cushion should give me plenty of time to Google “how to arm wrestle” and get back in the gym since letting my membership lapse during the “plandemic.” (They actually wanted us to wear masks and wipe down equipment with sanitizer. Tyranny, I tell you.) It will also give me time to track down Barry Bonds’ doctor for some uh, April Fool’s? Maybe ... maybe not. “supplements,” get a few get sweet stick-on tattoos of snakes and wolves and naked ladies, and maybe even shave my armpits.

Of course, like any good contest, there will need to be a wager. Which is why, if I win, Boebert will have to hang a giant rainbow flag outside Scooters, er Shooter’s Grill, in perpetuity (as in forever, and ever.) And if she loses, she has to hang a giant rainbow flag outside Shooter’s and maybe some Bob Marley and Grateful Dead tapestries inside, and put a veggie burger on the menu. She’ll also need to agree to a group hug with The Squad and lastly, get a tattoo of Anthony Fauci on the cheek of her choosing (right next to the one of Donald Trump).

If this seems a little lopsided, not to worry. If I get my ass kicked, I will have to suffer the abject humiliation of losing to someone who wears gold lamé pumps and acid-wash jeggings in total seriousness outside of Snowdown. “You’ll probably have to move out of town, maybe even the state,” a so-called friend offered. So, there’s that: public ostracization – that and I’ll have shaved my armpits for nothing.

Anyway, not to worry, Boebs. People have said I have wrists like a baby bird (a

mediocre one at that) and they’ve seen better arms on a clock. I also have raging tennis elbows, dodgy shoulders and eyebags older than you. Although, true story, I almost did an entire pull-up once. Without the band. I also get plenty of an upperbody workout schlepping newspapers and having my arms pulled out of the sockets on a regular basis by my dogs, who think they’re competing in the Iditarod every time we go for a walk.

Plus, if you’re anywhere near as strong as your rhetoric, I think it’ll be a fairly even match. I mean, the way you accused Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black female Supreme Court nominee in U.S. history (a subject learned in high school, but not important right now) of being a pedophile? Truly amazing!

Speaking of amazing, in my 30 years living on the West Slope, I never thought I’d actually miss Scott McInnis or Scott Tipton. But lately, I’ve been yearning for the bad old days, which I owe all to you. And let’s not forget the notoriety you have heaped on the Third Congressional District. Now, whenever I travel and tell someone where I live, they immediately recognize it as, “where Kookie Pants is from.” So thank you, for putting us on the map as the Land of Kookie Pants, even though I assure everyone we are not all as unbelievable as you are.

I mean, like how stumped everyone with your whole “Prince John” thing on Fox News. But I knew exactly where you were coming from. You were brilliantly referring to John John, who will return from the dead (or Vegas, where he’s rumored to be hanging out as an Elvis impersonator) to seat King Donald on his rightful golden USA throne (which is rumored to look a lot like the one in his NYC royal depository). As a show of gratitude, King Don will anoint John John as Prince John, and they will officiate many a late-night wedding followed by strip clubs and all-you-can-eat buffets. Duh. Sure, by now, some of you may be saying, “Wait a minute. Missy has never even come close to doing a pull-up. This is April Fool’s Day bunk.” And, even more astuterer readers may see it for what it really is: fake news and a thinly veiled attempt to push critical space theory, the progressives’ openly subversive agenda to teach our children that the lunar landing was real.

But just in case this is all completely above board and Boebs and I really do throw down, I plan to swap out my arms at the last minute with ones from a dead guy, whose muscles are infused with code from China. And Bill Gates. So, I guess it’s a good thing I got the vaccine after all.

Like I said, Boebo, all in good fun. And maybe when we’re done, we can hang out and read some hilarious excerpts from your new book – hope there’s lots of pictures!

– and shot gun a beer, no ammo required.

Thumbin’It

Sign of the Downfall:

Lake Nighthorse is set to open April 1, so get your swimsuits, umbrellas and sunscreen out. Oh wait, just checked the weather guy; maybe stick to skis, jackets and gloves for a little longer …

Further proof every season is fire season, with yet another wildfire near Boulder last week (which has since been mostly contained). Oh, and I guess the Broncos stadium also was on fire, not in a good way.

All signs pointing to the appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson, who would become the first black woman on the Supreme Court – despite asinine questions from some members of Congress on child porn and what defines a “woman.”

A recent poll finding nearly 60% of Coloradoans believe rising global temperatures will impact the state and likely lead to a water shortage. Hey, uh, other 40%... I think we need to talk.

The U.S. announcing it would take in up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing from war, as Russia said it would ease up on attacks.

While trusting the word of a mad man isn’t great, we can hope, right?

4 n March 31, 2022

– Missy Votel

Oh, America: a new report shows that during the pandemic, CEO pay jumped nearly 20%, while workers were laid off, had pay slashed and dealt with rising rent/home prices and inflation. Anyone have a good mantra we can borrow?

telegraph

Teddy Scare No, the “teddy bear made out of chicken for sale so your kids will finally eat their dinner” post you’ve seen recently on Facebook isn’t real.

This viral scam has been popping up every few years since 2013, but this year’s fake post promises a $10 discount if you supply the chicken, and tiny chicken bear clothes are said to be available, which is another novel twist. The “Chicken Bear” is actually a piece by Russian artist Viktor Ivanov from nearly a decade ago, so it’s not for sale, but it still proves we should’ve been paying more attention to Russia all along.

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March 31, 2022

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SoapBox

D-Tooned/by Rob Pudim

No one above the law According to recent polling, 84% of voters – Republicans and Democrats – agree that no president, regardless of party, should be able to obstruct and undermine the will of the American people or exploit weaknesses in our political system for their personal gain. In our polarized politics, that bipartisan support is a huge deal.

So what can we do to protect our democracy from presidential corruption? Pass bold legislation like the Protecting Our Democracy Act. If passed, it would prevent future abuse of presidential power and corruption, increase transparency and ensure presidents of either party can be held accountable.

If the average person used their public office for personal gain, they’d go to jail. So why should the president be allowed to act with impunity?

That’s why I’m urging Congress to pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act. We must prevent future presidents of any party from abusing the power of their office.

– Matt Cornell, Durango

Programming human failure The toxic masculine portion of patriarchy programs failure in fellow people. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry rolled out the red carpet for the private prison industry, which has handsomely supported him. Now Gov. Greg Abbott denies women access to equal rights and reproductive health care. Republicans cut spending on education, school meals, child care, decent pay, etc. – programming failure in about 20% of our children. The womb to prison industry that profits corporations and Republicans programs failure in our nation.

The lies concerning pro-life stances rival the Republican lie that Jan. 6 was legitimate political discourse, Putin’s lie that he is liberating Ukraine and the Taliban lie

that they will allow girls in school. We still embrace slavery. We are guaranteeing failure. We will know true prolifers when they stop owning women and start offering them $600,000 trust funds to provide for their unplanned embryos.

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Removing the Republicans arrogant hand of God from women’s access to reproductive health care is the first step we must take to address climate change, inequality and guard democracy.

– Ann T. Johnson, Durango

LocalNews

With increasing cost of living and stagnating wages, Purgatory Ski Patrol is following suit with many other rescue teams across the West in an attempt to unionize. The hope, ski patrollers say, is to then begin negotiations with the resort./ Photo by Missy Votel

A unified front Purgatory Ski Patrol moves to unionize for better pay, benefits

by Jonathan Romeo

S

ki patrollers at Purgatory Resort appear set to join the growing ranks of rescue teams across the West in establishing a union to collectively push for better wages, compensation and benefits.

After years of discussion, Purgatory Ski Patrol sent out ballots to about 50 of its members to vote on whether or not to unionize. Though the majority of ballots have been turned in, an official decision won’t be announced until sometime in April.

However, Jason Moore, a ski patroller at Purgatory, said an informal poll of the team before ballots went out found that about 90% of members favor unionizing, an encouraging sign the move for a unified voice is on the right track.

“Right out of the gate, we had pretty high support,” he said. “We thought it would be worth organizing and giving ourselves a better opportunity for a collective voice.”

Unionizing discussions at Purgatory, as well as at ski resorts across the West, have taken place for years, though in most cases failed to gain momentum. But the past two years, specifically, have seen a tipping point for patrollers who say their work is under-

paid and underfunded.

At Purgatory, for instance, the starting wage for a ski patroller is just $13 an hour (minimum wage in the state is $12.56), which has led to high turnover rates. And, several members interviewed for this story said the department – whose tasks include emergency rescue, medical calls and avalanche mitigation, to name a few – is chronically under budget.

“The reason we do this job is because we love it,” Bob Rydiger, who has worked for Purgatory Ski Patrol for 40 years, said. “But we’ve noticed the prices going up for everything, and our wages haven’t been following that bottom line. We’d like to be better compensated.”

A growing problem In February, Purgatory Ski Patrol notified Mountain Capital Partners, the entity that owns and operates the resort, that it was going to hold a formal vote on whether to unionize. This move, it appears, was the culmination of years of longstanding issues and frustration over funding.

One of the obvious issues, Moore said, is that the starting wage is $13 an hour for a position that requires a number of medical certifications and emergency training requirements. Other ski mountains, like Vail and Aspen, have recently raised initial

wages to $20-$21 an hour. Purgatory ski patrollers don’t have a set starting wage in mind at the moment, but will come to a number in line with other resorts, Moore said, likely during negotiations.

Ski patrollers also seek an increase in gear stipends. This year, for the first time, Purgatory gave members a stipend for gear (that price was not disclosed). But given that ski patrollers, usually out on the slopes 100 days a season, supply their own skis or snowboards, boots, helmets and other equipment, this money goes quickly and is not nearly enough, patrollers say.

And, the department’s chronic underfunding on equipment like ropes, snowmobiles, drills and tools needs to be addressed, Rydiger said. Several ski patrollers also noted that Purgatory’s radio system – a pretty important tool for emergencies on the mountain – barely works.

“Our radio system was pretty hit or miss this year,” Rydiger said.

All of these issues have led to rampant ski patrol turnover. The team had to replace 14 new patrollers in 2020, and 10 new members in 2022. That amounts to almost 50% turnover in the past two years, with many leaving for jobs with Mercy Hospital or Durango Fire Protection District that offer better pay and benefits. New or less ex-

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perienced patrollers, of course, lead to more safety concerns and more time spent on training.

“It takes a couple years to grow a patroller to where they are a solid, real-world experienced patroller,” Moore said. “I know for a fact we could keep a lot more people with better wages and benefits.”

Why now?

Ironically, the influx of new patrollers, some from resorts that have unionized and seen success, is what helped build momentum at Purgatory. Add on the fact that the cost of living in Durango and La Plata County has skyrocketed over the past two years, and the situation reached a breaking point.

Put simply: the long-held stereotype that patrollers are ski bums who do it for powder days on the mountain, not the pay, just wasn’t cutting it anymore.

“Most of our team would do whatever they could to make ends meet and still do this job, because they love it,” Moore said.

“But we lose so many people, because (our wages) can’t compete, and it’s just not financially viable for them.”

Unionizing, ski patrollers said, will give the team a unified voice for negotiating. Rydiger said ski patrol isn’t a year-round career, but increased benefits and March 31, 2022 n 7

PurgatoryUnion from p. 7 incentives will help grow members within the patrol and keep them on board year over year.

“Way back in the day, we had little turnover, and everyone came back in the winter,” Rydiger said. “But now, it’s harder for younger people to stick around.”

Butte, Park City, Steamboat and Telluride, all of which boast higher wages and better benefits. But in recent years, several other ski areas started the push, with both Breckenridge and Big Sky unionizing this year. Keystone, however, fell short last year in a 42-36 vote.

Notably, ski patrollers at Park City threatened to strike this January if conditions were not improved. Ultimately, Vail Resorts (which owns Park City) raised the team’s wages to $19 an hour, along with other benefits.

Purg’s response Purgatory, through Mountain Capital Partners (coowned by James Coleman, who took over in 2015), sets the budget for ski patrol. Resort officials said they were unable to speak about this story, given legalities.

A labor union acts as an intermediary between employees and the business that employs them, through collective bargaining. Typically, companies oppose the unionization of workers.

Dave Rathbun, general manager of Purgatory, did, however, provide a written statement that said “this effort came as a complete surprise to me and our management team, as we have always worked hard to maintain a positive working relationship with all our employees and have invested significantly in our ski patrollers and their department resources.”

While Purgatory believes the most effective relationship is a direct one, Rathbun said the resort respects the right of employees to choose to be represented by a union. Whether unionized or not, Rathbun said the resort is committed to treating employees with respect and listening to their concerns.

“Nonetheless, someone or something has persuaded our ski patrollers that a union can negotiate better terms and conditions of employment for them than they could have gotten for themselves, had they approached their manager, Human Resources or me directly,” Rathbun wrote. “We are understandably disappointed by this turn of events, but again, we recognize our employees’ right to bargain collectively and will respect the results of the election.”

Blayne Woods, director of Purgatory Ski Patrol (who is not eligible to vote), did not return a call seeking comment.

Patrols of America/Communications Workers for America, which manages unions for patrol teams, were not returned.

A day in the life These calls to unionize come at a time when visitation at ski mountains is exploding. At Purgatory, the resort is on track this season to be 12% above the average annual visitors from 2015-20 (though those years included the severe drought year of 2017-18 and the COVID-19 pandemic year 2019-20).

On a typical day, about 15 patrollers are responsible for covering the entire mountain. A 10-hour shift requires team members to check for hazards before opening around 8 a.m. Then, they are responsible for not only injuries, but situations ranging from drug overdoses to people falling in parking lot and fights in the lift line. At the end of the day, they’re back on the mountain for a final sweep to make sure everyone is down safely.

Ski patrollers said they were not authorized to provide the specific number of rescues on a typical day, but it’s in the double digits. During holidays, which can bring 5,400 visitors a day, the amount of calls can significantly increase.

“We are a catch-all as far as dealing with the public,” Rydiger said. “People come out here to vacation and they want the best and safest experience, and we want that for them. And we believe we should be fairly compensated for that work.”

Tally it up Once all the votes are in later in April, the National Labors Relation Board (which did not return requests for comment) will count the votes. If members vote yes, Purgatory Ski Patrol becomes a union and then intends to start negotiations with the resort. If votes come back no, the patrol team is back to square one.

But with an informal vote showing 90% supporting unionization, Moore said it’s likely a unified front is on the way. While a few members were concerned that if they attempted to unionize, Purgatory could retaliate or replace them with volunteers, Moore said those fears were quelled once they heard support from other emergency personnel in the community.

Across the West “We all believe the local community appreciates If you’ve kept up with the news in the past two If you’ve been up at Purg this season, you may have noticed years, you know Purgatory is not alone in its attempt ski patrollers, and even guests, wearing these pins showing what we do and wouldn’t volunteer to work our jobs for free and put 49 people out of work,” Moore said. to unionize. Ski patrollers across the West are fed up support of unionizing./ Photo by Missy Votel More than anything, Purgatory Ski Patrol is with low wages and benefits and are demanding fair adamant on improving conditions for its staff, while compensation, especially given high costs of living in “The business model needs to change in the ski in- at the same time, keeping good relations with resort manmountain towns.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ski dustry, and unionization is the way to do that,” Joe agement.

“We’ve emphasized we don’t want this to be an adpatrollers make an average of $13 an hour, which ranks Naunchik, a Park City ski patroller, told The Colorado Sun. in the bottom 3% of wages nationally (other medical jobs “Unions are the best chance we have for making this a versarial thing; we want a tight-knit, collaborative relapay nearly $18 an hour). Many believe this is far too low career and not being treated like a second-class seasonal tionship,” Moore said. “And I really think the union given the danger, hardships and responsibilities of the employee. I think the momentum is swinging back our construct will give us the ability to be heard a little more way. People are tired of being exploited.” and be pushed up the priority chain when we ask for cerjob.

Requests for comment to the United Professional Ski tain things.”

Previously, only select resorts had unions – Crested

SUCCESS FOR NATIVE AMERICA Monday 4/4 2022 5-6:30pm Fort Lewis College Vallecito Room & Online Refreshments will be served

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8 n March 31, 2022

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BetweentheCovers

The author Craig Childs doing research for his latest book, ”Tracing Time: Seasons of Rock Art on the Colorado Plateau.” Childs will be in town for a book-signing on April 6 at the Rochester Secret Garden./ Courtesy photo

Written in stone Craig Childs’ latest book finds new meaning in rock art

by Zach Hively

portunity to interact with long-deceased artists in a time when he was isolated from living people. It also offered other chances to connect: time spent camping out with his son, for instance, awaiting the predawn light to draw certain images out of the rock.

“For that moment (of the pandemic), we were bonding under a similar experience,” he said. “We were all experiencing the same bigger impact. A lot of people a thousand years ago would have been in that situation. Communities were tighter. The world was smaller. And people were experiencing (the world) all in the same way.”

“Tracing Time” plays with the duality between shared experience and cultural diversity. In the way that a handprint left on a rock face can evoke a human connection across untold years, readers feel a commonality, and immediacy when Childs describes having to wear masks and Zoom with experts living within closed Pueblo borders.

And Childs is our conduit; his trademark empathy and consideration place us on rock ledges with him, and we feel his resonance with people of other times.

He takes us with him, and yet he doesn’t; “Tracing Time” is explicitly not a guide book. It obfuscates the location of certain panels and declines to provide definitions of common rock art depictions. Instead of presenting himself as an expert, Childs arrives as a supplicant, seeking interaction and understanding from this art that endures centuries.

C

raig Childs, a celebrity author in this corner of the world, returns to Durango on April 6 on his first book tour since, you know, the Before Times. His new book, “Tracing Time: Seasons of Rock Art on the Colorado Plateau,” ventures into the way-before times, considering that rock art has been made in these parts for at least 4,000 years.

But it’s also a book of the present. Rock art is not solely an artifact of the past. Native Americans are still making petroglyphs and pictographs. And that rock art – to the surprise of many an ignorant non-Native person, me included – still communicates with people, is still open to interpretation and is very much alive. And the book itself is very much a product of the present moment.

“I don’t know if this book would have happened if the pandemic hadn’t happened,” Childs said in a phone interview. “The time that I would have been out working on the road was transferred into time spent looking at rock art.

Time on the ground. I made more contact with rock art than I made with live human beings over that period.”

The height of the pandemic, as difficult as it was in the lives of many, offered Childs a unique perspective on rock art. He describes how the art itself can reveal whether times were bountiful or rough for the artist. It also offered the op-

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March 31, 2022 n

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for interpretations, perspectives and context. And also why these written explorations circle so much around his personal experiences, including his own intellectual transformation. from p. 9 He didn’t expect his basic understanding of rock art to He builds each chapter around a particular motif, such as change in the process of assembling the book. He figured he birthing scenes, spirals, rain and figures with ducks on their would write some stories, reflect on different perspectives and heads. He describes the art, of course, as well as the context compile it into a cohesive volume. He thought he knew what of the landscape where he encounters it. But the chapters rock art was, after spending his whole life around it. reach beyond the existential fact of rock art to converse with “That wasn’t the case,” he said. “I see it as a source of it. Why would someone choose this spot; what does the art Native identity in a way that I didn’t before. I thought convey about the people who made it; what does it say to us, there would be more of a break between ancient rock art here, now, the people lucky enough to stand before it? and contemporary Native thinking. But I found that In typical Childs fashion, the that’s not true, that there are questions reach beyond the rock many stories identical to what art itself. He asks for guidance from I’m seeing on the rock art, and the Native peoples whose relatives, those stories are still being told.” however distant, made the art. He Ultimately, “Tracing Time” talks with scholars and enthusiasts shows how rock art maintains the and enlists other contemporary power to move us in ways we do artists to mine their thoughts. Benot expect. Don’t come here seekcause he knows that when it ing finality; you will find more comes to rock art, no one person – questions than answers. But the himself included – can claim aubook leaves you with a humming thority. sense that what rock art means mat“I am certainly a foreigner here, ters less than the fact that it exists, even though I feel a great belong- Artwork by Gary Gackstatter intentionally, in the first place. ing in this place, and this is my “Sometimes it’s enough to see homeland, where I was born and raised,” said Childs, who rock art and know people were here for this long, and lives near Norwood. “But there are people who tie back to they imbued this with a deep meaning,” Childs said. being born and raised thousands of years before me in this “Even if I don’t know what the meaning is, I know there place, and they are still here. I look around and say, who is is meaning here.” ■ still here, and who has relationships with these images? … I think we all see it differently, and I see it as an interloper JusttheFacts who’s looking for contact here, who’s trying to understand What: Presentation and book signing with Craig Childs, the land under his feet.” author of “Tracing Time: Seasons of Rock Art on the ColChilds anticipates questions about what right he, a nonorado Plateau,” presented by Maria’s Bookshop Native person, has to discuss Indigenous rock art in this area.

Where: Rochester Hotel Secret Garden That’s part of why he avoids prescribing definitions to the art When: 5:30 p.m., Wed., April 6 he talks about – part of why he always looks outside himself

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Childs said without the pandemic, his latest book would probably not have come to be. “The time that I would have been out working on the road was transferred into time spent looking at rock art ... I made more contact with rock art than I made with live human beings over that period.”/ Courtesy photo

telegraph

ThePlug-iN

The Gathering at Mountain Monk Coffee is one of many opportunities to share songs./ Courtesy photo

Sharing is caring Creative exchange of songwriting grows community

by Ted Moore

T

he title songwriter conjures different images – anything from a college student busking on a corner to Bob Dylan, a Nobel Laureate who has written more than 500 songs and sold more than 125 million records.

Songwriting generally falls between those two extremes. Most songwriters have day jobs and don’t share beyond a small circle of friends, if at all. Countless songwriters don’t sing or play guitar. I have a student who each week is eager to show me a new Ryan drum beat. He may not know it, but he is writing songs – songs without words, but that fulfill his need to express himself.

Songwriter stereotypes prevent many folks from pursuing their inclination for musical expression. Until recently, local musician Michael Ryan had never shared his songs. Now, he’s a compelling advocate for the benefits of plugging in creatively and overcoming fear. As a regular attendee at iAM Music’s Songwriter Series and founder of The Gathering, at Mountain Monk Coffee, Ryan talked about the excitement available to the nascent or hidden songwriters among us.

What’s your background in music?

I bought a guitar when I was 18 years old because that’s what you do when you’re 18.

You think you’re going to be a rock star. So I bought a 1978 Yamaha 12-string acoustic for $250 and took a couple of lessons. I just set it in the closet and would take it out every now and then. And then a long stretch of life happened. Thirty years just came and went. I never played. But about six years ago I started playing again.

What does songwriting mean to you?

Songwriting has been my therapy, my meditation. It’s where I find comfort. And I would sing (by myself, of course) and I would always feel lighter afterwards.

You’ve been a regular at iAM’s Songwriter Series. What’s that like?

Typically about seven musicians come in and perform two or three original songs.

The Songwriter Series was one of the inspirations that helped bring me out of my shell. I had turned 60 and I had gone to a couple of those and thought, “Goddamn, I’ve always wanted to do that! I’ve got to get the courage to do this.”

How is The Gathering different from the Songwriter Series?

When we do the Songwriter Series, the artist gets on stage and has their time. With The Gathering, I have three guests along with myself as host. We take turns each playing an original song. Before and after the song we engage in conversation about the song, the process, the individual. We dig a little bit into the songwriting process, what it means to them, what their day job is, what influence music has had on them.

The audience can ask questions. Everybody so far is just totally digging it because it validates what they do and gives them an opportunity to talk about what they do, instead of just performing.

What have you learned about songwriters?

Durango has an incredible amount of talent. I am blown away. At the end of each show I’m inspired and I’m intimidated, because they’re just that good. The other thing I’ve learned is that we share a common thread – we’re all passionate about it, we just have to write songs. Nobody’s making a living at it. Everybody has a day job.

There are also differences in song styles. I tend to be a very emotional songwriter. I write a lot about experiences that happened to me – the hard stuff, the heavy stuff.

Other songwriters are just more open to things that are happening to them around the world. For them, it doesn’t have to be something bad. They can pull a song out of it. And that fascinates me. You mean they don’t all have to hurt?

You learn about each individual’s process and how they go through it.

What would you say to someone with their own 1978 Yamaha 12string sitting in the closet?

I would say: Is it a passion inside of you?

Does it bring you joy? Is it something that you really want to do? If so, do it. Literally: Pick it up.

If the creation of songs is integral to your life, our April challenge to you is to share one of your songs and listen to someone else’s – a creative exchange grows our community and ourselves.

Until next time, we’ll see you on the scene.

telegraph

March 31, 2022 n 11

StufftoDo

Thursday31

Circus Funtastic, 4:30 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Lost Boys String Band plays, 4-6 p.m., Mountain Monk Coffee, 558 Main Ave. Durango Green Drinks, 5-7 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Mexican Logger Release Party, featuring live music by the Lawn Chair Kings, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing HQ, 225 Girard St. Downtown’s Next Step open house, 5-7 p.m., Fort Lewis College Center for Innovation, 853 Main Ave., Suite 225. Learn about future vision for downtown Durango.

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

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

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. State of the Animas River presentation, 6:30-8:30 p.m., featuring presentations from Colorado Parks & Wildlife and Mountain Studies Institute. Outdoorsy, 935 Main Ave. No Man’s Land Film Festival, 6:30 p.m., Fort Lewis College’s Student Union Ballroom.

Bingo Night, 6:30 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Powerhouse Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio. Mike Dillion Band featuring Brian Haas & Nikki Glaspie play, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 129 E. College Dr. Sweeny Todd: The Demon of Barber Fleet Street, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.

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

Friday01

Southwest Water Seminar: Navigating Shortage, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio. Gary Walker plays, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Jean-Pierre Bakery & Restaurant, 601 Main Ave. Live music, 4:30-6:30 p.m., James Ranch, 33846 U.S. Highway 550.

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Community Yoga, 6-7 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd., C-201. Donations accepted.

“Capturing the Light” art show, 4:30-7:30 p.m., St. Barnabas Church, 110 W. North St, Cortez. Exhibit runs through May 21.

Sweeny Todd: The Demon of Barber Fleet Street, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.

First Friday, 5-7 p.m., Create Art & Tea, 1015 Main.

Durango Pride’s First Friday, April 1, 5:30 p.m., Olde Tymers Café, 1000 Main Ave.

People We Know play, 8 p.m., Avalanche Brewing, Silverton.

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. Ru Paul’s Drag Race watch party, every Friday, 6-8 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave. Blue Grouse plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Fur Trappers Steakhouse, 701 E. 2nd Ave. Nathan Kalish plays, 7 p.m., Smiley Café, 1309 E. 3 Ave. Part of FLC’s Pop Up Performances series.

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Gangstagrass with People We Know play, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 129 E. College Dr. Comedy Show with Rick Izquieta & Zhivago Blea, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. Sweeny Todd: The Demon of Barber Fleet Street, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.

Hip Hop Night, 10 p.m., The Hive, 1500 Main Ave.

Saturday02

Tack and Consignment Sale, hosted by Four Corners Backcountry Horsemen, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. Live music, 2 p.m., Bear Bar at Purgatory Resort.

Zarfha plays, 5 p.m., Mancos Brewing Company.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Haro in the Dark plays, 6-8 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Open Mic Night, 6-8 p.m., Mountain Monk Coffee, 558 Main Ave.

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telegraph

G-Life, Poet, Tones, Diabolical Sound Platoon, Flowmatik, UBO of Ill Methods play, 8 p.m., Enterprise Bar in Rico.

Sunday03

Veterans Benefit Breakfast, 9-11 a.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave. End-of-Season Pond Skim, 1-2:30 p.m., Purgatory Resort.

Sweeny Todd: The Demon of Barber Fleet Street, 2 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.

Live music, 2 p.m., Bear Bar at Purgatory Resort.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Brother Ali with MC Supernatural & DJ Last Word play, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 129 E. College Dr.

Monday04

Success for Native Americans panel discussion, 56:30 p.m., Vallecito Room, Fort Lewis College.

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

Tuesday05

Great Decisions presentation, topic is “Myanmar and ASEAN,” 11:45 a.m. More info at lwvlaplata.org Acoustic Music Jam, 5-7 p.m., all instruments and styles welcome, vaccinated players only, 11th St. Station.

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

AskRachel

Dodo don’ts, no pain/all gain & final plunge Interesting fact: The dodo bird went extinct in 1662, and while reports about the final cause of death are inconclusive, it was probably quicksand.

Dear Rachel, I’ve noticed a lot of ANGER at dogs and dodo on the trails. NO PICK UP. I have heard a rumor that the city may require a DNA sample of dodo from your dog to get a license. They say they can then ID the dog and owner and fine them. Just a RUMOR or in the DOG HOUSE THEY GO. Just asking. I think they are barking up the wrong tree.

– Hound Dog

This is the kind of workout regimen I can get behind. But is there any way it’s really real?

This seems like it’s too good to be true, but then again, it is the NYT, and they bought Wordle, so they’re obviously not hurting for bottom-of-thebarrel clickbait stories. What do you think?

– Mr. Universe Dear Flash, If three seconds of real effort is all it took to experience noticeable results, I’d still be with my last boyfriend. Hey-o! I’d also be way more successful at traditional wage-based employment. My family dynamics would be both stronger and quicker. But hey, when’s the last time I went Full Monty on a workout for even three seconds? This might be worth a shot. Hang tight and I’ll let you know.

– Back in three, Rachel

Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

Dear Rachel, I just read a genuine New York Times story about how you can make yourself stronger in literally three seconds a day of intense effort.

Dear Rachel, Is quicksand the existential crisis for kids today like it was for me growing up in the ‘80s?

I seriously thought that quicksand lurked in pathways all over the world, sudden spots of invisible mud waiting to slurp you into the earth.

But now I am in my 40s and have never actually seen quicksand (though I did lose my Merrells to mud season once). Were we lied to? Or am I just one of the lucky ones?

– Suspecting Victim

Dear Mud Pit, I am with you a thousand percent on this one. I think the world would be a lot cooler with more quicksand.

Imagine if it could camouflage itself, like it could take over a square of sidewalk and make itself look exactly like a sidewalk until the meter maid walks by and GULP no more parking tickets. Or, tar pits. I would take tar pits too. I remember learning that tar pits killed tons of dinosaurs but I haven’t seen a single one. Maybe these are good punishments for people who leave extinct birds on the trail.

– Grab my stick, Rachel

Ben Gibson plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

High Step Society with Nu Bass Theory play, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 129 E. College Dr.

Local First Member Celebration, April 8, 6-8 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio.

Pulitzer Prize poet Natalie Diaz, 6 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.

Ongoing

Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering fundraiser, April 8, 6 p.m., Durango Cowboy Church, 1867 Highway 172.

Dear Ain’t Nothing Butta, Who’s afraid of dodo on the trails? Not even with modern DNA and cloning technology have we been able to resuscitate the most famous extinct bird since Tyrannosaurus Rex. If we could, though, it would make a fine centerpiece attraction for… what would we call it…

Early Modern Park? I wouldn’t get your hopes up, though. No way could we even fund a program to pick up dog turds, let alone the coolest non-lethal theme park ever.

– Ain’t never caught a rabbit, Rachel

Rotary Club of Durango, featuring speaker Ryan McGee, 6 p.m., Strater Hotel, 6 p.m.

Storytelling & Songwriting night, every second and fourth Thursday, 6-8 p.m., Mountain Monk Coffee, 558 Main Ave. More info at iAMmusic.us

Durango Elks Lodge Pub Trivia, 6:30 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave. Non-members welcome.

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

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

Shock Wave Drag Night, first and third Friday of every month, 9 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave. 18+

Wednesday06

61st Annual Student Juried Exhibition, with guest juror Derrick Velasquez, The Art Gallery at Fort Lewis College.

Exhibit runs until April 12.

Open Bluegrass Jam, every Wednesday, 5-8 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Author Craig Childs presents “Tracing Time,” 5:30 p.m., Rochester Hotel, 726 E. 2nd Ave.

Upcoming

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

Creativity Festivity – A Celebration of Children’s Art Throughout Our Community, grand opening April 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. Events run thru April 30, more info at durangoarts.org

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

Free legal clinic, April 8, 4-5 p.m., Ignacio Library, 470 Goddard Ave.

Elder Grown with Ben Brock play, April 8, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 129 E. College Dr. Beatles Uke Jam, April 11, 6:30 p.m., Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. Pulitzer prize poet Natalie Diaz, April 12, 6 p.m., Fort Lewis College Ballroom.

CSU Extension Gardening webinar, April 13, 12 noon, featuring talk on “landscape irrigation.” Register at fortlewis.edu/oldfort

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

E-mail your stuff to: calendar@durangotelegraph.com

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1904, it wasn’t illegal to use performance-enhancing drugs during Olympic competitions. Runner Thomas Hicks took advantage of this in the marathon race. The poison strychnine, which in small doses serves as a stimulant, was one of his boosters. Another was brandy. By the time he approached the finish line, he was hallucinating and stumbling. His trainers carried him the rest of the way, and he was declared the winner. I recommend you make him your inspirational role model in the coming weeks. How might you cheat to gain a great victory?

APRIL FOOL! I Lied. While it’s true that a meaningful triumph is within your reach, you’re most likely to achieve it by acting with total integrity, following the rules and imbibing no stimulating poisons.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Science fiction aficionado Wil Wheaton suggests that all of us should have the following: 1. A nemesis; 2. An evil twin; 3. A secret headquarters; 4. An escape hatch; 5. A partner in crime; 6. A secret identity. Dear Taurus, I have doubts that you possess any of these necessities. Please embark on intensive efforts to acquire all of them. Your deadline is April 21. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. There’s no way you could add all those things to your repertoire in such a short time. See if you can at least get a secret identity and a partner in crime. It’s time to have wicked fun as you add to your potency and effectiveness.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I hate being on my best behavior,” wrote Gemini author Colleen McCullough. “It brings out the absolute worst in me.” In the coming weeks, I hope you avoid the danger she describes. Don’t be on your best behavior! Emulate Gemini filmmaker Clint Eastwood, who said, “I tried being reasonable, but I didn’t like it.”

APRIL FOOL! I lied. Here’s the real truth: Being kind, generous and reasonable will be your secret weapon in the next three weeks. Doing so will empower you to make interesting and unforeseen progress.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A Tumblr blogger named Alyssa complains, “I’m still peeved that I can’t fly or set things on fire with my mind.” You might share that feeling, Cancerian. But here’s the good news: I predict that you could soon acquire, at least temporarily, the power to fly and set things on fire with your mind. Use these talents wisely, please! APRIL FOOL! I lied. In fact, you probably won’t be able to fly or set things on fire with your mind anytime soon. However, you may acquire other superpowers that are only slightly less fantastic. For example, you could change the mind of an ally who

14 n March 31, 2022

has been ridiculously stubborn. You could uncover a big secret that has been hidden. You could mend a wound you thought would never heal. Any other superpowers you need right now?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I suspect that only a Leo would say what Leo filmmaker Stanley Kubrick once asserted: “You know, it’s not absolutely true in every case that nobody likes a smart ass.” In accordance with astrological omens, I authorize you to prove his assertion. Be the kind of smart ass that people like. APRIL FOOL! I’m half-joking. The truth is, I hope you will be the kind of smart ass that people absolutely adore and get inspired by.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In honor of your arrival in the most lyrical and soulful phase of your cycle, I offer you advice from poet Richard Jackson: “The secret is to paint your own numbers on the clock, to brush away those webs that cover the wild country of the soul, to let your star hover between the flowers of the moon and the flowers of the sun, like words you have never spoken yet always hear.” APRIL FOOL! I partially lied. I don’t think you should paint your own numbers on the clock. But the rest of what Jackson said is totally applicable and useful for you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I want excitement,” declared Libra novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, “and I don’t care what form it takes or what I pay for it, so long as it makes my heart beat.” In the coming weeks, I hope you will make that statement your motto. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. While I do foresee you being able to gather a wealth of excitement, I hope you won’t be as extreme as Fitzgerald in your pursuit of it. There will be plenty of opportunities for excitement that won’t require you to risk loss or pay an unwelcome price.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “If you can’t make fun of yourself, you don’t have a right to make fun of others,” said comedian Joan Rivers. I agree! So if you are feeling an irresistible urge to mock people and fling sarcasm in all directions, please prepare by first mocking yourself and being sarcastic toward yourself. APRIL FOOL! I lied. I will never authorize you to make fun of others. Never!

In the coming weeks, I hope you’ll do the opposite: Dole out massive doses of praise and appreciation toward everyone. To prepare, dole out massive doses of praise and appreciation toward yourself.

telegraph

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): In the traditional opera performed in China’s Sichuan province, magical effects were popular. One trick

involved characters making rapid changes of their masks. The art was to remove an existing mask and don a new one with such speed that the audience could not detect it. An old master, Peng Denghuai, once wore 14 different masks in 24 seconds. This is an antic I think you should imitate in the coming days. The more frequently you alter your persona and appearance, the more successful and popular you’ll be. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. I recommend that you gleefully experiment with your image and exuberantly vary your self-presentation. But don’t overdo it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A nutritionist named Mark Haub decided to try losing weight by eating only sugary treats. For 10 weeks, he snacked on junk food cakes, cookies and sweet cereals. By the end, he had lost 27 pounds. In accordance with astrological omens, I suggest you try the metaphorical equivalents of this project. For instance, work on deepening your relationships by engaging your allies in shallow conversations about trivial subjects. Or see if you can enhance your physical fitness by confining your exercise to crossing and uncrossing your legs as you sit on the couch watching TV. APRIL FOOL! I lied. Here’s your real horoscope: For the next four weeks, take better care of your body and your relationships than you ever have before in your life. Make it a point to educate yourself about what that would entail, and be devoted in providing the most profound nurturing you can imagine.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarius-born Giordano Bruno (1548–1600) was bravely heretical in his work as a philosopher, poet, mathematician and friar. He angered the Catholic Church with his unorthodox views about Jesus and Mary, as well as his belief in reincarnation, his practice of occult magic and his views that there are other stars besides our sun. Eventually, the authorities burned him at the stake for his transgressive ideas. Beware of a similar outcome for expressing your unusual qualities! APRIL FOOL! Luckily, no punishment will result if you express the rich fullness of your idiosyncrasies in the coming weeks. I’m happy about that, since I’m encouraging you to be as eccentrically yourself as you want to be.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Life is too complicated to accurately comprehend. There’s too much to know! It’s impossible to make truly savvy and rational decisions. Maybe the best strategy is to flip a coin or throw the dice or draw a Tarot card before doing anything. APRIL FOOL! While it’s a fact that life is too complex for our conscious minds to fully master, we have massive resources available on subconscious and superconscious levels: our deep soul and our higher self. Now is an excellent time to enhance your access to these mother lodes of intelligence.

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 Tack & Consignment Sale Sat. April 2nd - 9am-3pm - LPC Fairgrounds - 2500 Main Ave. Durango, CO. Saddles, tack, trailers and more. Consigners check in Fri. April 1st - 9am-7pm. Benefits 4 Corners Back Country Horsemen.

For more info call 970-884-2355 or email jksherer1@outlook.com 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

Business Improvement District is looking for friendly, outgoing and knowledgeable people who love our community to be Downtown Ambassadors. We are looking for candidates that have great interpersonal skills, are familiar with our community, have strong communication skills, and are self-motivated. This is a seasonal, part-time position, June-September. To apply: www.downtowndurango.org/jobs Application deadline is April 10.

Environmental Professional Durango-based environmental consulting firm seeks qualified environmental professional for PT position (possibly FT for right person). Applicant must have at least two years of consulting experience in CWA, ESA, NEPA or hazmat compliance work. BS/BA min. in biology, botany, geology, soil science, or related field is required. Must have good written/verbal communication skills and GIS experience is a plus. Please send resume and salary history to: smoore@smeenv.com No phone calls please.

Sales Help Wanted Looking for sociable self-starters to join our professional sales team. Prior retail exp preferred, beading exp a plus! Wage DOE. Apply in person 840 Main Ave.

2021 Yuba Boda Boda E-Bike For Sale Brand new Yuba BodaBoda cruiser style cargo E-bike and accessories for sale for $3,800. Professionally assembled by a local Durango bike shop in November 2021. Has been ridden less than 5 miles and stored indoors. Being sold for only the price of the bike and includes more than $600 worth of free accessories (bamboo deck, bamboo sideboards, foot pegs, waterproof saddle bag, passenger handlebars, and pin lock. Bike is in perfect condition - just not a good fit for our family.

Please call (303) 941-2841 for more details if you are interested.

telegraph

‘CODA’ I’d like to thank the Academy for picking a sweet film for once – Lainie Maxson 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 Harmony Cleaning and Organizing Residential, offices, commercial and vacation rentals, 970-403-6192.

Lowest Prices on Storage!

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

BodyWork Lotus Path Healing Arts Now accepting new clients. Offering a unique, intuitive fusion of Esalen massage, deep tissue & Acutonics, 24 years of experience. To schedule call Kathryn, 970-201-3373.

Hand-Peeled Logs Very dry, ready for pick-up. Call or text for sizes/prices (970) 769-1947

Wanted

Searching for House and Pet Sitter Must be mature, kind, responsible and trustworthy for one small and sweet dog.

The home is located on Delwood Avenue in Durango. Willing to pay $45 per day.

Minimum of one week at a time. If you are interested, please send an email to sonnyjonz@gmail.com. Serious inquiries only.

HaikuMovieReview

ForSale

Reruns Home Furnishings New inventory including patio sets, bistros, garden pots, yard art, two awesome Sundance poufs, benches, side tables, lamps, rugs, art and more … Come in today! 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.

Walking Softer An environmental nonprofit is seeking a full-time Event & Logistics Coordinator.

Learn more at https://walkingsofter.org/ careers.

Now Hiring Downtown Ambassadors Do you love Durango? The Durango

Studio Apt. In-Town Cozy studio apt. Full bath, privacy in a lovely setting. $975/mo. utilities incl.

Email: specula1@gmail.com.

PA or NP Position Basin Clinic in Naturita, CO, is looking for a full-time or part-time PA or NP to join our team. Benefits and limited housing available. Send CV to or request information at cpierce@basinclinic.org or call 970-865-2665 x3.

Wanted

Work Outside This Summer!

Lawncare company hiring reliable, friendly laborer for mowing, trimming, yard cleanup. Pay DOE. Must have valid drivers license. Full time M-F April-Nov. Call Pat 970-946-8823

ForRent

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

Services RSE Handyman Service Home repair - Yard work - Odd Jobs 970-903-0449

Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.

CommunityService PlayFest Seeks Submissions Durango PlayFest is seeking full-length play submissions for the 2022 festival, Aug. 4-7. Prior playwriting experience not required. Playwright will collaborate with local director to develop work. Plays should be 60-90 pages long and up to five characters. Playwrights must be from Southwest CO or the Four Corners area.

Must be available for rehearsals in late July and during the festival. E-mail submissions (Word doc or PDF) to durango playfest@gmail.com. Deadline April 15 Earn Your Master of Social Work (MSW) From the University of Denver (DU) here in Durango – for the two-year program starting in fall 2022. Classes on Fridays and Saturdays. For information email Janelle.Doughty@du.edu.

March 31, 2022 n 15

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