The Durango Telegraph July 15, 2021

Giving you the side eye since 2002

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T H E

O R I G I N A L

I N D I E

W E E K L Y

L I N E

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D U R A N G O

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B E Y O N D

High & dry

Who ya gonna call?

Sleuthing the slaw

Some Westerners look to flee climate change – but where? p7

As search & rescue costs mount, state considers funding p9

Piecing together the secret sauce when sources won’t talk p11

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H C L U HE G ISSUE 16

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The search is over.

2021

Issue 16 of The Gulch is out now!

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2 n July 15, 2021

ert. the des

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lineup

4

4 La Vida Local

Ear to the ground: “It is my preference not to be sober.”

– Man unabashedly speaking his truths

In the dog house

Backsliding When easing out of pandemic slump, key is to start slow and taper

4 Thumbin’ It

by Zach Hively

5 Word on the Street 6 Soapbox

7

thepole

RegularOccurrences

As an aside to this week’s feature story about search and rescue, we asked the old timers: What’s the strangest mission in La Plata County Search & Rescue history?

Here’s the unanimous answer.

It was the 1980s – New Wave music, big hair, Ronald Reagan, Chernobyl. One day, a frantic wife reported her husband, who allegedly spent his weekends searching for gold in La Plata Canyon, did not come home. This set off an extensive SAR mission, with even the military kicking in.

7 Land Desk

High & dry

8 State News

No easy solutions in flee from climate change

by Jonathan Thompson / Land Desk

9 Local News 11 Flash in the Pan

9

12-13 Stuff to Do

As search and rescue costs mount, state looks to step in

13 Ask Rachel

Rescue me

by Jonathan Romeo

14 Free Will Astrology 15 Classifieds

11

15 Haiku Movie Review

Slaw sleuth

Piecing together the secret sauce from an unwilling accomplice

On the cover: A marmot scopes out a campsite in search of something valuable of yours to chew on./ Photo by Alex Krebs

by Ari LeVaux

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EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel missy@durangotelegraph.com ADVERTISING AFICIONADO: Lainie Maxson lainie@durangotelegraph.com STAFF REPORTER: Jonathan Romeo jonathan@durangotelegraph.com

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STAR-STUDDED CAST: Zach Hively, Ari LeVaux, Rob Brezsny, Clint Reid, Lainie Maxson and Jonathan Thompson

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

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

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

telegraph

The car the man drove was immediately found, and that’s where things got weird. The vehicle, it turned out, belonged to his co-worker. And despite long days of seasoned SAR crews scouring every nook and cranny of La Plata Canyon, not a single trace was found of the man, or his dog.

This went on for an entire week, said retired LPCSAR member Keith Roush. “The mountains are big but not enormous,” he said. “If he was out there, there’d be something somewhere.” Meanwhile, the search was making headlines. “The Herald ran an article every day,” he said. “People were really following it.”

The wife, oddly, wouldn’t allow the release of her husband’s name for a week. But once she did, he was found within an hour, and the man’s shaky story came crumbling down.

It turns out, the man created an elaborate story, both to his wife and work, about his weekend treasure hunts. Instead of prospecting, however, the man would take the co-worker’s borrowed car every weekend to the La Platas, park it, and then take his own car stashed there down to Albuquerque, to see his, ahem, other love interest. This particular weekend, for some reason, the man chose not to come home.

Once his name was released, a worker at the animal shelter in Albuquerque connected the dots to a recently impounded dog that had a chip. It showed the dog belonged to the man. She contacted law enforcement, and it was soon deduced that the man was not missing at all, but staying with his mistress in New Mexico. The man’s best friend, in this instance, was his downfall.

“It was the weirdest one because it baffled people who have done this (SAR) forever,” Roush said. “We didn’t find anything because he wasn’t there. It was this elaborate rouse.”

Roush said LPCSAR has only had a couple of weeklong searches in its history, so this one stands out. Ultimately, the man didn’t break the law, so it ended there. “It wasn’t a criminal case,” Roush said. “He just walked out on his wife and was an asshole. God knows what he was telling his wife every Sunday when he came back.”

July 15, 2021 n

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opinion

LaVidaLocal Backsliding Let me start by thanking everyone who contacted me after my previous column, in which I lamented how age plus a pandemic turned my physique from a thin-crust pizza to a stuffed-crust pizza. I especially want to thank those who insisted I must be speaking hyperbolically; while your intentions were kind, I assure you that I really and truly could not button my once-baggy britches while also, at the same time, wearing underwear.

But even if my pizza bod were baked with skim-milk mozzarella (it’s not), and even if I really did look the same as before (you’re lying), I would not care about my measurements so long as I felt good in my body. Which, it seems, I do not. However, I would still choose this reality over the alternative of feeling good outside of my body, because that is a condition known in the medical community as being “dead.”

So, I have resolved to become more active once again.

I’ve been swimming. I’ve been paddleboarding. I went grocery shopping and parked two spaces farther from the front entrance. I went for a hike. That was on Day 8 of Being More Active, most notable not for the hike, but for its dual accomplishment of being Day 1 of Being Less Active, because I tweaked my back.

Now I must admit that I have never given birth. I can conceptualize that, for all the love and joy surrounding bringing a new life into the world, childbirth must really freaking hurt. But I cannot actually imagine the hurt. Just trying to conceive of any of my orifices dilating to doubledigit centimeters and I’m already begging for the epidural.

If you are blessed enough by the gods and stars above never to have hurt your back, then similarly, you cannot truly imagine how it has to hurt at least as much as triplets.

Back pain is even more painful because it’s an invisible ailment, seldom stemming from sex or another cool origin story. I have tweaked my back by sneezing. I have tweaked my back by sitting on the toilet too long because I was an hourly wage worker. I have tweaked my back by scaling a sheer rock face, which sounds cool until I tell you just how far up I was.

This time, I tweaked my back because I stubbed my toe.

One moment, I’m strolling along an intensely moderate trail, not even particularly distracted by thoughts of lunch. The next moment, I can no longer move my leg independently of my torso.

Through sheer willpower and also shock-induced stupidity, I made it back to the trailhead. No way was I going to stay out there and form the basis of “127 Hours: The Sequel.”

Then I tried to get in the car, and I very nearly, shall we say, felt good outside of my body.

The only force that could contort me into the driver’s seat was the fear of encountering subsequent hikers at the trailhead and being coerced into their conversations. Once I Lamazed myself enough to shut the door, I felt startlingly fine. That interlude was rather like the calm between contractions. I just had to get myself home, where, if I had to die, at least no one would see me.

Again, I am not speaking hyperbolically. I did not know with any certainty that I would be able to open the car door. In fact, I knew with greater certainty that I could not. Nor could I think as far ahead as exiting the vehicle, or climbing the three steps to my front door, or turning the knob to enter my own home. Because when your back is tweaked, the small stuff will absolutely murder you.

Some people sit in their cars after arriving home to finish a gripping story on NPR. I sat there wondering how long I would survive in the heat after the car ran out of gas and could no longer run the A/C. I eventually drifted from such thoughts to some other pink-dancing-hippopotamus dissociative happy place, which is not quite like feeling good outside of my body but close enough.

Eventually, though, I took advantage of a gust of wind to open the car door.

I gritted my teeth and emerged into the world much more easily than the first time, even though the first time my mother was in labor for 12 hours.

This rebirth was, once again, not hyperbolic. That very moment, I vowed that I would take better care of myself to prevent my back from ever going out again. I swore I would sit with better posture and take more standing breaks. I promised I would lead a more active lifestyle – for real this time.

But first, I need somebody to let me in.

Sign of the Downfall:

Thumbin’It Durango in the limelight on the world cycling scene, with wunderkind Sepp Kuss becoming the 11th American ever to win a stage in the Tour de France and a bevy of local youth racers winning podium spots in last week’s National MTB Championships in Winter Park

Pine River Shares’ new geodesic dome, which will allow year-round produce to be grown for food insecure residents

That liquidy stuff is falling from the sky.

That’s good. Keep it up.

4 n July 15, 2021

– Zach Hively

The land that houses Durango’s only community garden, Ohana Kuleana, up for sale and possible real estate development The driver accused of hitting and killing professional cyclist Ben Sonntag in March 2020, Cordell Schneider, being arrested again recently after allegedly crashing a motorcycle and trying to flee the scene The federal government, for the first time ever, expected to declare a water shortage on the Colorado River, which is unable to meet all the water demands placed on it in the Western U.S.

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Sucky Charms In this fourth and final Downfall centered on Crocs, we’ll be talking about “croc nuts,” aka “crocticles,” because things simply cannot get worse. Just when Crocs were becoming kinda OK again, people starting 3Dprinting “charms” (little plastic shapes/emojis that stick in Croc holes) to accessorize them. But then someone said, “hey, let’s print testicles for these slippers,” and now Crocs suck again. Croc nuts/balls come in all colors imaginable online, including glow-in-the-dark and “American flag,” and they’re unbelievably cheap, just like the people who wear them.

WordontheStreet

Q

With the billionaire space race happening, The Telegraph asked: “Who or what would you like to launch into space?”

Cole

“Truffle oil. It tastes like dirt and we put it on too much.”

Roberto

“The full DVD box set of ‘Parks and Recreation’ because it’s a great representation of humanity.”

Alex

“Left lane drivers.”

Hamilton

“More scientists.”

Landon

“Myself.”

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July 15, 2021 n 5

SoapBox 9-R should weigh options (The following is a letter that was sent to the 9-R School Board and copies to the Telegraph.)

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments for the future use of the 9-R Admin Building as the city of Durango considers its options. I grew up in Durango and was shaped by the education structures the community is fortunate to have. I became interested in the process of public policy- and decision-making in the city, which has resulted in a passion for lifelong learning as a planner. I understand the City’s need for updated infrastructure and the importance of prioritizing public health, safety and welfare in the community. That being said, I encourage you to carefully consider the legacy that you want to leave the future learners, professionals and families of Durango.

I strongly believe the Shaws’ history of civic involvement, sustainability, community-led creativity, activation of space and ability to maintain historic structures has benefited the community of Durango immeasurably. I advocate for their involvement with the future design and use of the 9-R Admin Building site. By activating and preserving this beautiful relic of Durango’s history, I believe the community (past, present and future) and its visitors will benefit. What the Shaws have proposed is an exciting opportunity that would otherwise not be possible to achieve without their leadership and drive to better this town.

One of Durango’s assets is its ability to carefully preserve the stories of its foundational past while sustainably planning for a future that will stand out and benefit the people that represent the city. Prioritizing our teachers, makers and future artists is one way that the city can continue this legacy and maintain its goals of sustainability, connectivity and mixed-use active spaces. My sister and I were both selected (in separate years) to have pieces of art hung in the 9-R Admin Building. This was the first oppor-

tunity I had to get to see and briefly experience the building; years later, the idea of teachers and leaders of our community having an opportunity to live in a building that has shaped the education systems of Durango is incredible. A creative opportunity to provide affordable deed-restricted housing is a responsibility that the community cannot continue to pass along; there needs to be a fundamental shift in how we consider the use of land including physical buildings and local housing.

Durango has immense assets and unique, creative partnerships that can locally address ongoing infrastructure, housing and employment projects. The Admin Building represents much more than a 4.3-acre parcel. The future use of this building sets the tone for how the character of Durango and its collaboration with stakeholders will evolve. Durango is unique, and I believe that the voices of the community hold a special place in the public process. I hope that 9-R takes its time in carefully considering the weight of this decision and the impact that it can have on the community at large.

– Lily Oswald, Community Development Coordinator, City of Ouray

‘Patriotism’ and the flag Regarding David Feela’s column in the July 8 issue, several times this year I have sat in traffic behind a tricked-out Jeep/truck/Hummer pasted with a decal mashup of The Punisher skull and a Blue Lives Matter flag. I’m sure it looks cool to the owner, but the irony is: The Punisher, a siren of vigilantism, is melded with an insignia of law and order.

Dumb, I know, but there’s a greater force at play here besides lacking the general knowledge of the things you could have learned in school.

In second grade, we were taught how to handle and care for the flag, and a stint in Boy Scouts affirmed those

traditions, as it did Mr. Feela, and I have become increasingly alarmed at the defamation of our flag. How have so many “patriots” become so distanced from the respect and honor our flag deserves? Guaranteed that awesome bald-eagle-on-the-star-spangled bought at Walmart wasn’t made in America.

– Jack Leggett, Durango

After the Rain Once busy, Once obliviously driven, The rainbow chase Of ambitions and regret.

All is quiet now!

Reflection and hope And desperation; Mixed colors of despair.

The moment holds The future, a heavy uncertainty.

The past a framed rose.

The path forward, A light of love Which transcends The dark and returns Us homeward!

– Burt Baldwin, Ignacio

“We’ll print damned-near anything” The Telegraph prides itself on a liberal letters policy.

We have only a few requests: letters must be limited to 750 words; and writers must “sign” letters using their real names and place of residence. Thank-you lists and personal attacks are unwelcome. Send your insights to: tele graph@durangotelegraph.com. Let the games begin ...

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LandDesk

Escape from climate change With the West in extreme drought, locals look to flee – but where?

by Jonathan Thompson

O

ver coffee this spring, sitting just a stone’s throw from the banks of a river already reduced to a trickle, some friends of mine told me they were preparing to escape from Western Colorado. It’s too dry, they said, too vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

That was in April, before all hope had been lost for a little reprieve from the dry winter – something, perhaps, to renew my friends’ faith in the habitability of my Homeland. Relief never arrived.

Now the entire Western Slope of Colorado is in severe, extreme or exceptional drought, as is the case in Utah, Arizona, Nevada and a good portion of New Mexico. “Notable impacts include increased wildlife encounters in California, Nevada and Utah, as drought has driven snakes and/or bears in search of food and water into urban areas in those states,” notes the National Drought Mitigation Center in its weekly summary. “Drought-stricken ranchers are selling cattle due to poor forage conditions and a lack of feed. On top of this, grasshoppers have been denuding trees and competing with cattle for food.”

Irrigation ditches are being shut off, depriving farmers of their life-blood long before their crops are ready to harvest, prompting some to throw in the towel. Colorado wildlife officials are asking anglers to refrain from fishing certain stretches of river because the water is too warm for non-native rainbow and brown trout. The Animas River through Durango is running at less than half its normal flow for this time of year, and the water temperature reached 68 degrees in early July and surely will keep climbing. The water temperature in the Dolores River – or what’s left of it – as it joins the Colorado River is a whopping 85 degrees (upstream a little ways, at Bedrock, the river is bone dry).

Lake Powell is rapidly shrinking due to low inflows, rising demand and crazy levels of evaporation – more than 17 billion gallons per month. It should hit the record low level, set in 2005, in a matter of weeks, if not days. Brad Udall, a climate and water researcher at Colorado State University and an expert on the Colorado River, expects the reservoir to lose 5 million acre feet of water this year, dropping perilously close to losing all hydropower generating capacity.

It’s no wonder, then, that my friends want to flee. I asked them where they would go. The Northwest, they said, which at the time seemed reasonable. Yet in the ensuing months, even that one-time refuge from aridity and heat has fallen victim to warming temperatures. The heat wave that hammered that region recently left hundreds of people dead and killed billions, literally, of sea creatures. Now the entire Northwest is in drought, too, along with an unprecedented 93 percent of the West.

Heat waves have always happened, of course, even in

Oregon and Washington. Yet this one was a doozy, a once-in-1,000-years sort of event. And it would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change, according to a recent analysis by a global team of 27 scientists. They go on to conclude: If global warming continues at its current pace, which is likely, heat events of this magnitude could occur every five to 10 years – as early as 2040.

If not the Northwest, then where? I might suggest the only place I know that could use a heat wave or two: Silverton, where the high temperatures rarely surpass 85 degrees, even these days, and where it can drop down to nearly freezing, even in July. Plus, it’s near the headwaters of the Animas River, meaning the residents should be just fine, water-wise.

Or maybe not. It turns out that Silverton’s founders weren’t all that conscientious and thereby failed to secure water rights back in the town’s early days. As a result, the town’s rights to its drinking water supply is “junior” to those of many downstream users. So if the river drops low enough – and it surely will sooner or later – the senior downstream users can force Silverton to shut off its intakes. There is no escape, it seems.

And who benefits from this? The same fossil fuel companies that helped get us into this mess in the first place.

Hydropower generation capacity shrinks along with reservoir levels, and reservoir levels are at record lows in California, diminishing hydropower by 37 percent from 2020. Meanwhile, electricity demand soars alongside temperatures as folks crank up the air conditioners to stay comfortable – and alive. In order to fill the growing abyss between power supply and demand, grid operators turn

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to natural gas. When burned for power, natural gas emits carbon dioxide; and when it is extracted, processed and moved, methane – a potent greenhouse gas – is emitted, contributing to global warming.

Meanwhile, as demand for natural gas shoots up, so do prices. And when natural gas prices climb, coal power becomes more desirable, from an economic standpoint, for utilities. Even though dozens of coal plants have shut down and the industry is in decline, coal consumption is ticking back up this year.

But at least two utilities will have a little less coal power to choose from as the next heat wave grips the Southwest. Late last month, a cooling structure at San Juan Generating Station in northwest New Mexico suddenly collapsed, taking one of two of the plant’s units offline indefinitely.

Public Service Co. of New Mexico, the operator of the plant, would not confirm the collapse for more than a week, according to NM Political Report, which first broke the story. That silence is odd given the significance of the failure: The entire structure, which is 400 feet long and 75 feet wide and made up of a series of low towers, completely crumpled, slashing the plant’s total generating capacity nearly in half.

Perhaps it doesn’t matter that much. After all, the collapse occurred exactly one year before the plant is slated to shut down for good. PNM eventually confirmed the collapse, and told the Farmington Daily Times they were working diligently to repair it. But you’ve got to wonder: Why bother spending all of that cash on something that’s going to be useless in a matter of months?

The collapse is yet another hurdle in the path of Enchant Energy’s quest to take over the plant and keep it running so it can spend billions to equip the already economically unviable plant with carbon capture. Just weeks ago, the firm acknowledged that it had failed to meet critical benchmarks and therefore planned to run the plant without carbon capture for years, trying to sell the polluting power as a merchant operator. But even that would require competing with a growing number of solar installations for space on high-voltage transmission lines, securing water rights and finding customers to purchase the power (PNM has said it doesn’t want any coal power, whether it benefits from carbon capture or not).

That one unit can go down without setting off alarms at either PNM or Tucson Electric Power, the unit’s co-owner, shows that they’ve already acquired enough resources to keep the lights on without the plant. That does not bode well for Enchant. If the plant is not needed during these times of high demand, when will it be?

The Land Desk is a thrice-weekly newsletter from Jonathan P. Thompson, longtime journalist and author of River of Lost Souls, Behind the Slickrock Curtain, and the forthcoming Sagebrush Empire. To subscribe, go to www.landdesk.org.■

July 15, 2021 n 7

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New law to restrict teen marijuana use faces legal challenge

by Bente Birkeland Colorado Public Radio

T

he parents of a medical marijuana user in Colorado say a new law that aims to curb young people’s access to highly potent marijuana is unconstitutional.

Nineteen-year-old Benjamin Wann uses medical marijuana to treat his epilepsy. A lawsuit filed earlier this month on his behalf in Denver District Court states that the law is “...unlawfully restricting patients from accessing their constitutionally protected right to the amount of medical marijuana provided.”

The law, HB21-1317, would limit how much medical marijuana adult users can purchase per day to no more than eight grams. The previous daily purchase limit was 40 grams. Eighteen- to 20-year-old users could purchase no more than two grams per day.

The bill, which unanimously passed its first committee May 18, would also create a statewide tracking system for medical users to make sure people don’t do an end run around those limits by purchasing from different dispensaries, a practice known as “looping.”

“We think (looping) is leading to diversion and leading to a high amount of marijuana concentrates on high school campuses and within high school circles,” House Speaker Alec Garnett said in May. “I certainly think that the weed of today is very different from the weed we had of yesteryear. And I think this is one way of making sure that nobody is purchasing over the daily allotment.”

Recreational buyers would not be similarly tracked.

There are several exemptions to the bill: a physician's authorization, a significant physical or geographic hardship, a homebound patient, or a medical user who had a card before age 18.

While Wann would be exempt from the purchase limit, his attorney Alex Buscher takes issue with a statewide seed-to-sale tracking system for medical marijuana being used to monitor patient data to ensure people don’t purchase more than the daily legal limit. The tracking system, which has patient information, would issue an error message if the daily limit was exceeded.

Buscher added that the requirement for physicians to authorize a maximum potency level, dosing and type of medical marijuana product is especially problematic because those provisions could be seen as a prescription under federal law.

“A lot of doctors in Colorado are seeing these new certification requirements and they're saying, ‘Well, this is a prescription.

And if I were to comply with these require-

In an effort to stem teen use of highly potent marijuana, HB21-1317 would limit medical marijuana users to purchasing 8 grams a day, down from 40. There would be several exemptions to the bill: a physician's authorization, a significant physical or geographic hardship, a homebound patient, or a medical user who had a card before age 18./Photo by Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite ments that are now required by the legislature, and the (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment), I'll have my DEA license pulled,’” Buscher said “Doctors have flat out stated that they will not comply with this.”

Gov. Jared Polis was the only defendant listed in the lawsuit as of Friday although Buscher said other government agencies will be added in the coming weeks. CPR News reached out to Polis’ office and legislators. They declined to comment for this story citing pending litigation.

Hashim Coates is the executive director of Black Brown and Red Badged, a coalition of licensed Black and Brown marijuana business owners. While his group supported the intent of certain provisions in the legislation, he said in a statement that he’s not surprised by the lawsuit.

“The speed at which the bill was rushed and the exclusion of critical stakeholders, like patients, was always going to create unintended consequences,” Coates said.

“BBRB fought hard to ensure patients’ voices and the concerns of Black and Brown business owners were listened to.

Unfortunately, they were not.”

Coates said he is glad the law puts more money into potential new research on the

telegraph

impacts of highly potent marijuana and promotes safe consumption and efforts to prevent youth from gaining illegal access to marijuana.

Researchers say 80 percent of legal pot sales go to the 20 percent of customers who are regular users. And they’re not just buying joints or marijuana flower that’s become steadily more potent over the years.

Concentrates, like hash oils and waxes, can have upwards of 80 percent THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana. Not a lot is known about the health risk of concentrates, but there are some concerning anecdotes from parents and physicians.

Ultimately Buscher, the attorney, takes issue that the measure tried to curb youth access by solely focusing on the medical side as the source.

“I don't doubt that some of it is coming from the medical system, just like I don't doubt that a lot of it is coming from the retail and recreational system, but we need to have a workable, comprehensive solution, not just throw patients under the bus,” he said.

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

TopStory

Who ya gonna call?

State considers permanent funding for strapped search & rescue teams

by Jonathan Romeo

F

or decades, search and rescue teams in Colorado have been spearheaded largely by volunteers, but with the sheer number of people now in the backcountry in need of help, has the time come to change to a more sustainable model?

It appears so.

“We can’t function the way we’ve been functioning,” La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith said. “The fact is, the structure that’s been in place was just accepted, but the demand is increasing and we can’t keep it up this way.”

No one in the search and rescue community is necessarily calling for full-time, paid teams of emergency workers – that would be too expensive and not exactly practical, seeing as crews work on an as-needed basis.

But modest compensation, such as expenses for gas and equipment, seem reasonable enough for emergency workers who put their lives on hold – and on the line – to save people lost or injured in the backcountry, Smith said.

In recent weeks, the state of Colorado has acknowledged this funding gap, dedicating more resources to local search and rescue teams. There’s even been a push to address the mental toll the job takes on crews. But long term, many search and rescue officials say a stronger structure needs to be put in place.

“Search and rescue nowadays is a statewide service, and what we put these volunteers in is crazy if you think about it,” Jeff Sparhawk, president of the Colorado Search and Rescue Association, said. “We’re good at running up and down mountains, but asking for money is not our forte.”

Out of pocket In Colorado, county sheriffs are responsible for providing search and rescue capabilities for their jurisdiction, which includes federal and public lands where most people head out for recreation.

But as a sort of unwritten rule, these teams for the most part have been comprised of community volunteers, who dedicate countless hours and thousands of dollars out of their own pockets. About 2,500 volunteers make up an estimated 50 teams across the state. Sparhawk said the average crew member spends around $4,500 a year on expenses and logs about 200-plus hours on calls.

While this model has worked for years, the landscape is changing as record numbers of people head into Colorado’s backcountry, with many of those visitors new to recreating in the outdoors, resulting in more rescues.

Some Colorado counties that used to respond to about 20 calls a year are now receiving more than 200 calls, Sparhawk said. And to ask volunteers to pick up this heavy load, and not offer some sort of compensation, isn’t viable.

“It’s just snowballing, and it’s really tough on volunteers,” Sparhawk said. “We don’t want to get away from the volunteer model, but what we’re facing is not sustainable and we have to figure out a better way to organize this.”

This year, Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill to fund a study on developing a long-term, sustainable structure for search and rescue teams in Colorado. Recommendations are expected in January 2022.

Southwest Colorado search and rescue crews had a harrowing winter this past season after several avalanche fatalities in the backcountry. Recently there’s been a push to better fund search and rescue teams, both for missions and to provide mental health services./ San Juan County Search and Rescue courtesy photo Get ready, go Like most of the state, the early days of search and rescue in La Plata County relied on a network of seasoned outdoorspeople, always at the ready to head into the San Juan Mountains, no matter the time of year or weather conditions.

“There were always people there,” Butch Knowlton, who worked for La Plata County emergency management since the 1970s, before retiring last year, said. “That’s the good thing about this community, people are always willing to help.”

In 1978, efforts were made to formalize what’s known today as La Plata County Search and Rescue. By the following decade, a management team, which included Knowlton, was established to better coordinate missions.

“We built a more cohesive structure of people, and it turned out great,” he said. “It would have been impossible to staff all these people. So you have to sit back and admire the hundreds of people who give up their private lives.”

Dan Bender, who retired in 2017 after nearly 40 years with the Sheriff’s Office, also served on that team in the

telegraph

1980s. He, too, said La Plata County has always been able to attract team members with specialized skills. But the job’s demanding.

“All these volunteers have to leave their job to go out on a call, and then go at their own expense, with their own vehicles, to help others in need,” he said. “It takes a special person to do that.”

Holding steady For whatever reasons, La Plata County Search and Rescue hasn’t seen an uptick in missions like other parts of the state, said president Ron Corkish. With an average of about 60 missions annually, this year is on track with 26 missions to date.

“We’ve just been fortunate we haven’t seen that spike,” Corkish said.

Still, the complexity and difficulty of rescues hasn’t changed, and the region has seen the effect of new visitors to the backcountry getting themselves into sticky situations that require emergency help.

Just this past weekend, Corkish said two men from Florida flew to Durango with their mountain bikes, took4

July 15, 2021 n

9

Search&Rescue from p. 9

an Uber to Molas Pass at nearly 11,000 feet in elevation, and then tried to bike through the rugged and remote backcountry to Moab, a more than 200-mile journey over several mountain passes. Just one day and 20 miles into their trip, the men gave up and called search and rescue for help.

“This was their first mountain experience, unprepared, untested and unseasoned as to what a backcountry experience is really like,” he said. “That’s the most egregious we’ve had in a couple of years.”

But for the most part, rescue missions have focused on people with injured knees or ankles, suffering from altitude sickness or lost on the trail. On July 4, three people attempting the waterfall jumps at Cascade Creek also needed help out.

While other teams in Colorado counties are experiencing a lack of volunteers, with many aging and no younger people to take their place, La Plata County, on the other hand, boasts a robust network of about 105 people. In fact, so many people want to volunteer, Corkish said LPCSAR had to close new membership.

“We’ve been blessed,” he said. “But it’s grueling work, and it takes a toll on people in different ways.”

It’s not the old days Indeed, more attention – and funding – is being directed at providing mental health services to emergency workers who see some of the worst situations, many times involving fatalities and body recoveries.

“Volunteers give a huge amount of time and pay out of pocket, and on top of that, we’re asking them to do ridiculously stressful things,” Sparhawk said. “All of these things add up.”

Mental health services would help train emergency workers to cope with the trauma and stress of the job, to make sure they have the tools available to deal with difficult situations, Sparhawk said. But resources would also go to help those who need services after missions.

“I don’t think SAR is all that different from the rest of society – it used to be, you had a hard call, had a beer and talked about it, and if it was still an issue, you were supposed to suck it up as part of the job,” Sparhawk said. “We’re recognizing that’s not the way to deal with the stress

With more visitors in the backcountry, search and rescue teams across Colorado are receiving more calls, prompting emergency management officials to call for a more sustainable structure for funding at the state level. / Courtesy photo everyone is under.”

Search and rescue teams in Southwest Colorado, too, had harrowing and difficult rescues this past winter after two backcountry skiers from Durango were killed in an avalanche outside Silverton in December 2020. Then, in February, three backcountry skiers died in a slide, also outside Silverton.

The recovery missions took days to complete. Many of the rescue workers in the tight-knit community knew the deceased and were forced to dig through snow and ice for hours on end to recover the bodies.

Jim Donovan, with San Juan County Search and Rescue, was not available for comment this week. Corkish, however, said it was a brutal experience for his team members, who helped San Juan County SAR on the mission. “We need to figure out a better way to address the mental health piece,” he said.

Money, money, money While maybe not wholly sufficient, search and rescue teams do have some sources of funding at the state level. Any-

one who buys a hunting or fishing license in Colorado also pays a 25 cent surcharge that goes to search and rescue operations, but that fee hasn’t been increased since the 1980s.

People can also buy a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue (CORSAR) card for $3 a year, which goes into a fund that helps reimburse teams for mission costs. The fund typically has about $350,000 annually, far below the nearly $1 million requested from the 50 teams in the state.

“It’s a drop in the bucket to what we’re talking about,” Sparhawk said.

LPCSAR receives about $10,000 a year from the CORSAR fund. The team was given an added boost when Smith was elected in 2014 after he started dedicating $10,000 a year for search and rescue training. And, local fundraising efforts, like the Pancake Breakfast during Snowdown help, albeit modestly.

“That’s not nearly enough,” Smith said.

“We’re hoping this study will produce

something genuine to say, ‘This is the funding we need, and this is the mechanism to get it.’”

To tide LPCSAR over in 2020/21, a time when the team could not hold the Pancake Breakfast because of COVID-19, the state did award $17,000. And search and rescue officials are hopeful a $2.5 million jolt from the new state park Keep Colorado Wild Pass will help with future funding needs.

What’s the value?

Here’s a quick breakdown of house and senate bill jargon related to search and rescue.

Senate Bill 21-245, “The Backcountry Search and Rescue Bill,” directs the state to explore future funding models for search and rescue, as well as conduct training for the physical and psychological support of volunteers. House Bill 21-1326 directs about $2.25 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to search and rescue teams.

“Our state’s largely volunteer search and rescue system helps make our outdoors accessible, supports and is supported by local government first responders, and the many difficult situations our backcountry first responders encounter can have deep and lasting personal impacts,” Elizabeth Kosar, a spokeswoman for Polis, said.

Search and recues officials always emphasize people will not be charged for missions, not wanting to discourage people from calling 911 for help. Corkish could only recall four times in more than 30 years someone had been fined, all backcountry skiers who intentionally went out of bounds.

Regardless, larger questions loom for emergency responders as traffic in the backcountry explodes.

What is the value of service of search and rescue in the context of the state’s $60 billion a year outdoor recreation economy?

Should funding be more organized at the state level, instead of county by county?

Could modest retirement plans for longserving volunteers be added? And with so many of the rescues involving tourists, should there be some weighted system for out-of-towners to shoulder the costs?

“Across the Western U.S., we’re all facing the same problem, and we’re trying to break new ground to figure this out,” Sparhawk said. “Because we don’t see that trend breaking anytime soon. It seems like people have discovered Colorado and they’re coming here.” ■

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telegraph

FlashinthePan

Sleuthing out the secret slaw

by Ari LeVaux

W

hen I ask a chef for a recipe to print in this column, I know it’s a big request. It is the core blueprint of their business. A storehouse of value and trade secret all in one.

Amazingly, most do. But when I showed up at Tia’s Big Sky Artisanal Mexican Restaurant to pick up an order of takeout, I had already come to the conclusion that Tia would not be cooperating.

The counter girl looked up at me from my order: one tamale, one hibiscus aguafresca, and two large sides of coleslaw.

“Are you the guy who called earlier today?” she asked.

“Yup.” “Kim says no.”

“I had a feeling,” I said. “That’s why I ordered all this coleslaw.”

Back when I was a restaurant critic for an Albuquerque newspaper, I used to dream about a restaurant like Tia’s that would serve Mexican food made with high-quality, local ingredients. You can make a fine meal out of anything on the menu, even a side order of beans, flavored so enticingly with coriander and pork.

Every dish at Tia’s bears the marks of many little tricks.

So when Kim, or “Tia,” as I call her, shot me down, I didn’t blame her. It’s her intellectual property, her choice. Plus, it makes for a more interesting story if she won’t talk.

“She once traded the recipe for $500 worth of art,” said the counter girl, Kari, who is a partner in the business, as I paid the tab.

I’d barely pulled out of my parking spot when Kari appeared in the parking lot with a whistle that would stop traffic in Albuquerque’s South Valley.

I’d left without my aguafresca, and so I went inside to claim it. “I thought you came out to tell me Tia had changed her mind,” I joked. That’s when Tia, shiny with sweat, appeared behind the counter.

“You’re the one who wants to know how to make the sauce?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Got 500 bucks?”

“I’m not saying it isn’t worth it. But I don’t pay for recipes and I don’t marry them. I only date recipes.”

At home, I got to work on trying to replicate Tia’s secret sauce with my wife, who is my secret weapon. She’s a better taster than I, with a particular talent for salad dressings.

We ate Tia’s coleslaw and wondered what it was, beyond the obvious cumin and lime.

There was sweetness, obviously, and chile spice. But was there also garlic? And some kind of vinegar, in addition to the lime?

Was there mustard powder, perhaps a drop of fish sauce, or maybe a sprinkle of brewer’s yeast behind that subtle umami?

Was it Thousand Island dressing? A drop of ketchup? That’s it, right?

A few days later, I showed up at Tia’s for an order of takeout. She was behind the counter.

“How’s it going?” Tia asked, sweetly.

“We kind of wonder if there’s a bit of tomato,” I tried.

Tia looked thoughtful. “Well maybe a bird flew over the sauce with a tomato in its mouth,” she speculated.

At home, I asked my wife if she thought Tia was omitting the part where the bird drops the tomato into the sauce. “No. I think she’s giving us a hint,” said my external salad-sleuthing sensor.

She kept munching on the slaw. “It’s just a little nutty,” she concluded.

We got to wondering. Sesame oil?

Peanut oil?

“Almond butter,” she announced. “No. Tahini. Of course it’s tahini. It’s in millions of salad dressing recipes.”

We started with almond butter because we had it on hand. My salad detector chewed slowly. Then she sent me to the store for tahini.

We concluded they both work, as both support the cumin like a stage, amplifying the cumin flavor without calling for obscene amounts.

Everything about this slaw is understated, like the creator of the original secret sauce. And that’s why it works. Did we decode the slaw? Only one or two people know for sure, but this peanut gallery is happy with where we ended up: a light, almost mayo-free slaw. I use Vegenaise, an egg-free mayo, but whatever you use, the key is to add the smallest amount possible.

This is not a creamy coleslaw, but it does have creamy little secrets.

Tia-Wannabe Slaw The Sauce ½ cup safflower or other neutral light oil ½ teaspoon tahini 1 teaspoon Vegenaise (or mayo of choice) 2 teaspoons cumin powder (preferably toasted and home ground) 1 teaspoon celery salt 1-2 teaspoons chile pepper of your desired spice level 1 teaspoon soy sauce or Maggi (Mexican soy sauce) 2 teaspoons honey Juice of a good lime, about 4 tablespoons 1 teaspoon rice vinegar The Salad 1 pound cabbage (I like a mix of 2/3 pounds green cabbage, 1/3 pound red cabbage), grated on the largest setting into thin sheets, with the remaining heels chopped as best you can 1 medium sized carrot, grated in different coarseness 2 leaves curly kale, ribs removed, chopped or ripped into small pieces First, make the sauce. Add the oil to a jar with a tight-fitting lid, followed by the tahini and Vegenaise. Stir and then shake vigorously to combine. Add the cumin, celery salt, chile, soy sauce and honey. Stir in the honey until it dissolves and shake again. Add the lime juice and vinegar, shake again and set aside.

Assemble the greens in a large bowl and dress generously with sauce. Toss to coat.

Allowing the slaw to sit in the fridge a while will help flavors marry. ■

telegraph

July 15, 2021 n 11

StufftoDo

Thursday15 Cafe au Play free outdoor baby group, 10 a.m.12 p.m., 495 Florida Road (behind Christ the King church). 970-749-9607 for info.

Say Hello to a Horse, 10-11:30 p.m., Pine River Library, Bayfield.

Reception for “Summer Color,” paintings by Patrice DeLorenzo, 3-5 p.m., Animas Chocolate & Coffee Co., 920 Main Ave. Exhibit runs thru July 31.

SkaBQ, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. Terry Hartzel, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Jose Villareal, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

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

Breastfeeding Workshop, 6-8 p.m. via Zoom. Email drjoynd@gmail.com for link.

Black Velvet duo plays, 6 p.m., Dandelion Café, 725 E. 2nd Ave. Live music, 6-8:30 p.m. every Thursday, James Ranch, HWY 550, Hermosa.

Trivia night 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio. Third Thursday Speaker Series: Kathryn Wilder, author of Desert Chrome, 6:30 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Bound for Learning Book Club: The Dine Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature, 7-8:15 p.m., Durango Adult Education Center, 701 Camino del Rio, Ste 301, Classroom 1. For info. or to register, go to: www.durangoadulted.org/bookclub.

Brendan Shafer plays, 7 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Beam Me Up Starlight Trivia, weekly 7:30-9:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run, July 16-18.

More info at www.hardrock100.com

Afrobeatniks play, 5 p.m., Mancos Brewery. iAM Music Festival, 5 p.m., Buckley Park. Featuring Alex Blocker, Elder Grown, Secret Circus Society and more. www.iammusic.us.

iAM Music Festival, 4:30 p.m., The Nugget Bar, featuring Secret Circus Society. www.iammusic.us Spaghetti Western plays, 5 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Devin Scott plays, 5 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Terry Hartzel, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Terry Hartzel plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Dustin Burley, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Matt Rupnow plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Bush’s Pump Track Fun Race, 6 p.m., Pagosa Springs, sponsored by DUST2. Info or register at: www.dustx2.org

Larry Caver & Jack Ellis play, 6 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, Vallecito.

Disco Night, 6-9 p.m., Chapman Hill Roller Rink.

Gary Walker plays, 6 p.m., Dandelion Café, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

Friday Nights at Fox Fire Farms, music, food and wine, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms, 5513 CR 321, Ignacio.

Durango Tire Fire plays, 6-9 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Silverton Summer Sounds Concert Series: Whitewater Ramble plays, 6 p.m., Columbine Park.

Durango Pride Dragrango, 7-9:30 p.m., The Powerhouse. Watch talented drag performers compete for crowns and the titles of Mr./Ms/Mx. Dragrango.

Tickets: bit.ly/dragrango21.

Disco Night, 6-9 p.m., Chapman Hill Roller Rink.

Escape the Badlands play, 7:30 p.m., Tico Time River Resort.

Sunday18 Durango Art Market, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., 11th Street Station. www.durangocreativedistrict.org.

The Assortment plays, 7 p.m., Vallecito Resort, 13030 County Road 501.

Take3: World Music Concert, 7 p.m., Community Concert Hall, Fort Lewis College, www.muiscinthemountains.com.

“Finding Nemo,” 7:45 p.m., free Movie in the Park, Durango Rec Center lawn.

Veterans Benefit Breakfast 9 a.m., VFW Post 4031.

Sounds True Duo plays, 12 noon, 11th Street Station.

Open Mic night, 4 p.m. every Sunday, Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Ally Venable plays, 7 p.m., Tico Time River Resort.

Hash Cabbage play, 9 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive, free.

Blue Moon Ramblers play, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Saturday17

Leah Orlikowski plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8-10 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.

Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Saturdays through October. TBK Parking Lot, 259 W. 9th St. www.durangofarmersmarket.com

Friday16

Conquer the Springs Adventure Race, Pagosa Springs. Details at: tinyurl.com/y7e6x3np

Reeder and Spencer play, Music Under the Tent, Vallecito.

Friends of the Library Book Sale, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Durango Public Library north patio. $1 a pound, proceeds benefit Durango Public Library.

Animas Valley Grange yard sale, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 7271 County Road 203.

Meditation and Dharma Talk, 5:30-6:15 p.m.

Online at www.durangodharmacenter.org

Gary Walker plays, 10 a.m., Jean-Pierre Bakery & Restaurant, College and Main.

Rocky Mountain Surf Report plays, 3-6 p.m., Purgatory Resort.

Adam Swanson plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. 4

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AskRachel

Space invaders, animal instincts and small talk Interesting fact: The United States government claims it cannot explain 143 out of 144 unidentified flying objects spotted during military flights. They got one!

And people say the feds are incompetent.

Dear Rachel, Have you read any of the declassified UFO reports? I haven’t, but I want to find someone who has and will summarize the findings in 100 words or less. Basically, I want to know if UFOs are real, if they’re really aliens, and what this means for the future of humanity as we know it. You seem like the perfect person to give me the straight info. So, will you be my Cliffs Notes?

– The Truth is out There Dear End of the World, I hate to disappoint you, but this ain’t high school, and I’m sick and tired of doing people’s homework for them. I mean, I never did their homework for them in high school either, but the thought of it makes me want to gag on a shovel. Of course UFOs are real. But they are, by their very nature, unidentified. So I’m speculating – bear with me here – that the whole unclassified part of the files does nothing to further identify them.

– I want to believe, Rachel Dear Rachel, I don’t know how some people think animals do not have opinions, and thoughts, and desires.

Rob Webster plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Aikido, 6 p.m., 121 W. 32nd St. #B, durangoaikido.com Larry Carver & Jack Ellis play, 6 p.m., Fur Trapper’s Steakhouse in Durango.

Wolf reintroduction listening session, 5 p.m., FLC Student Union Ballroom, hosted by Colorado Parks & Wildlife.

Tuesday20

They just need to watch my dad’s dog when they come to visit. Or rather, when they try to leave.

His dog Samwell loves it here so much that he runs away from my dad when it’s time to get in the car. And if my dad leashes him first, he dead-weights it. This is the only place Samwell behaves that way. Anywhere else, he’s excited to go home. So my question is, how special am I? – Dog Whisperer Dear Most Modest, Dogs are complex creatures with various desires: namely food, love, toys and peeing on things. Does Samwell get more of any one of these foundational needs at your house than any other? Dogs are also really good at picking up on their humans’ needs and emotions. Maybe it’s your dad who really doesn’t want to leave. Samwell’s just being a good wing-dog and helping him out since he can’t say it himself.

– Cue the awwws, Rachel Dear Rachel, Now that I’m seeing people more regularly, they are all having the same conversations with me. They all want to know what I read over the pandemic, and if I watched anything good. How can I tell them that I only read and re-read the entire Harry Potter series, and that instead of trying something new I just watched “30Rock” reruns until I fell asleep?

– I Know What I Like Rotary Club of Durango meeting, 6 p.m., Brenda Macon of Durango Arts Center will talk, Strater Hotel.

Acoustic Music Jam, Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m., Rotary Park, all instruments and singers welcome. Info: 970-259-3408.

Wednesday21 Spanish Conversation Hour, 1-2 p.m., Pine River Library, Bayfield.

Trail Work: Overend Mountain Park, meet at Leyden Trailhead, 4:30-7 p.m. Info. at www.durangotrails.org.

Twin Buttes Farm Stand, Tuesdays - October, 3-6 p.m., 165 Tipple Ave., www.twinbuttesfarm.com

Adam Swanson plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Adam Swanson plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Terry Rickard plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave

Terry Rickard plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Music in the Mountains, dinner and family concert, 5:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. www.musicinthemountains.com Trivia night, 6 p.m., Wednesdays, Mancos Brewery.

Bitcoin Study Group, Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m., Zia North patio. For info., 970-426-2464 or email bitcoinstudygroup@protonmail.com

Dear Stuck in a Happy Rut, When I need to get out of answering inquiries about my past, I simply lean in and whisper, “I’m not at liberty to say.” If that doesn’t shut them up, I respond to further peppering by saying, “I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but the time in question overlapped with my abduction. You know, my ‘abduction.’” And I make vague little gestures up toward space, and then I clam up and refuse to say another word. But I’ll keep staring weirdly and meaningfully at them the rest of the social engagement. Tends to work like a charm.

– Doo doo doo doo, Rachel “Diné Survivance and Old Leupp Boarding School” discussion, hosted by San Juan Basin Archaeological Society, La Plata County Fairgrounds, more info. at sjbas.org Cash’d Out play, Johnny Cash cover band, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Ongoing Telluride Theatre presents “Macbeth,” July 17-25 (no show July 21), 8 p.m., Town Park. www.telluridetheatre.org

Six Dollar String Band plays, 3-6 p.m., Purgatory.

Teen Program: Crafting with Horse Hair, 11a.m. noon, Pine River Library, Bayfield.

Bingo night, 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

The Jeff Solon Jazz Duo plays, 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays thru Sept. 8, Dandelion Café, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

telegraph

Family Magic Show with Mysto the Magi, Fridays thru the summer, 7 p.m., Tico Time Resort.

“Summer Color,” new paintings by Patrice DeLorenzo, thru July 31, Animas Chocolate Co., 920 Main Ave. Mamma Mia! runs thru Aug. 1, Lions Wilderness Amphitheatre, Farmington. Info at: www.fmtn.org/shows.

Sunnyside and Fort Lewis Mesa libraries open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri. thru Aug. 20. Summer reading Wednesdays at 10 a.m. thru July 28. 375-3816.

Upcoming Fresh Air Meditation with Katie Siber, July 22, 6:30 p.m., Claire Viles Park, more info. at durangodharmacenter.org

July 15, 2021 n 13

FreeWillAstrology

by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): In his poem “Litany,” Aries poet Billy Collins testifies that he is “the sound of rain on the roof.” He also claims to be “the moon in the trees, the paper blowing down an alley, the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table, and the shooting star.” He does make it clear, however, that he is not “the bread and the knife” on the table, nor the “crystal goblet and the wine.” What about you, Aries? What are all the earthy and fiery phenomena that you are? Are you, as Billy Collins suggests, “the dew on the morning grass and the burning wheel of the sun and the marsh birds suddenly in flight”? Now would be an excellent time to dream up your own version of such colorful biographical details.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Why else keep a journal, if not to examine your own filth?” wrote poet Anne Sexton. And yes, Sexton did have a lot of filth to explore, including the physical abuse of her daughters. But most of us don’t need to focus so obsessively on our unlovely aspects. Keeping a journal can also be about identifying our ripening potentials and unused riches. This approach would be especially fun and wise for you Tauruses right now. The coming weeks will be an auspicious time for deep introspection that frees capacities and powers you have only partially activated up until now.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Journalist Sam Anderson marvels at his young daughter’s project: a small plastic domelike structure that houses a community of ladybugs. All they need to consume, for weeks at a time, are “two water-soaked raisins.” I don’t think you’ll need to be forever as efficient and hardy as those ladybugs, Gemini, but you may have to be like that temporarily. My advice?

Don’t regard it as a hardship. Instead, see it as an opportunity to find out how exquisitely resourceful and resilient you can be. The skills you learn and refine now will be priceless in the long run.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian poet Linda Hogan says she doesn’t like to be parched. She wants to be like “a tree drinking the rain.” I think every Cancerian has similar dreams: to be steadily immersed in engrossing feelings, awash with intimate longings, flowing along in rhythm with the soul’s songs.

The coming weeks will be prime time for you to relish these primal pleasures. It’s probably best to avoid an outright flood, but I think it’s wise to invite a cascade.

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14 n July 15, 2021

skills. She loved the fact that he told her, “Fail, and then fail better.” Why? “That kind of environment, where failure is an option, is magical,” she said. It allowed her to experiment freely, push herself beyond her previous limits, and focus on being true to the character she was playing rather than trying to be a “good actor.” I think these are excellent principles for you to keep in mind during the coming weeks.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo-born Wayne Shorter is a legendary jazz composer and saxophonist. He has been making music for over 60 years, often with other legendary creators like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. The New York Times described Shorter as “jazz’s greatest living small-group composer and a contender for greatest living improviser.” Bass prodigy Tal Wilkenfeld, who is 53 years younger than Shorter, tells the story of a show she performed with him. Just before going on stage, Shorter came up to her, sensing she was nervous, and whispered some advice: “Play eternity.” Now I’m offering that same counsel to you as you carry out your tasks in the coming days. Be as timeless as you dare to be. Immerse yourself in the most expansive feelings you can imagine. Authorize your immortal soul to be in charge of everything you do.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran author Paula McLain says the word “paradise” is derived from the ancient Persian word pairidaeza, meaning “walled garden.” For her, this association suggests that making promises and being faithful to our intentions are keys to creating happiness with those we care for. Paradise requires walls! To scrupulously cultivate freedom, we need discipline. If we hope to thrive in joyous self-expression, we must focus on specific goals. I bring these thoughts to your attention because now is a pivotal time to work on building, refining and bolstering your own personal version of paradise.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Thousands of 28-pound bars of 24-carat gold are stored in the Bank of England’s underground vault. To gain entry to the treasure trove, bankers use metal keys that are three feet long. They must also utter a secret password into a microphone. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you Scorpios can now gain access to a more metaphorical but nevertheless substantial source of riches. How? The key is a particular scene in your imagination that has recently begun to coalesce. It is an emblem of a future triumph or breakthrough that you will accomplish. As for the password, which you will also need, it’s vigorous rigor.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Actor Lupita Nyong’o had a starring role in Steve McQueen’s film 12 Years a Slave.

She praised his directorial

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Somehow, I have lived all these years without ever coming across the rare English word “selcouth.”

Today, as I meditated on the exotic astrological portents coming up for you, that word appeared—arriving on my phone via text message from my Sagittarius friend, Lila. She told me, “I have a feeling that life is about to get intensely SELCOUTH for us Sagittarians.” I looked up the unfamiliar word and found these synonyms: unusual, marvelous, strange, magnificent, scarce, wondrous, weird, rare, and exotic. Those terms do indeed coincide with my interpretation of your immediate future. So Happy Selcouth to you, dear Centaur! Celebrate with awed appreciation!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Lexicographer Jonathon Green provides us with the following 19th-century slang words for the sex act: horizontal refreshment, strumming, playing at romps, cully-shangie, taking a turn at Mount Pleasant, dancing the blanket hornpipe, honeyfugle, giving a hot poultice for the Irish toothache, and—my favorite—fandango de pokum. In accordance with astrological potentials, I recommend that you consider trying them all out in the next four weeks. In other words, experiment with shifting your approach to belly-bumping and libido-gratifying. If you don’t have a human partner, do it alone or with an angel or in your fantasy life.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If a lover or spouse is perpetually churning out fantasies of you in their imagination, they may be less than totally tuned in to the real you. Instead, they may be focused on the images they have of you—maybe so much so that they lose sight of who you genuinely are and what you are actually doing. The same possibility exists for other allies, not only lovers and spouses. They may be so entranced by their stories about you that they are out of touch with the ever-changing marvel that you are always evolving. That’s the bad news, Aquarius.

Here’s the good news: The coming weeks will be a decisive time to correct such distortions—and revel in the raw truth about you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Here’s how art critic Walter Pater characterized the work of Piscean artist Michelangelo: “sweetness and strength, pleasure with surprise, an energy of conception which seems to break through all the conditions of comely form, recovering, touch by touch, a loveliness found usually only in the simplest natural things.” I’ve been waiting for the arrival of astrological aspects that would mean you’d be an embodiment of that description. And now they are here. Congrats! For the next 13 days, I will visualize you as a fount of ever-refreshing grace—as a fluid treasure that emanates refined beauty and wild innocence.

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 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 Want Loose Stones For your unique one-of-a-kind jewelry creation? Lanka Blue Jewelry has large inventory, at 701 Main Ave.

HelpWanted We’re Screwed!

After 17 years, the Telegraph’s esteemed advertising sales aficionado is moving on.

If you’re interested in filling these sassy, gogetter shoes, we want to hear from you.

Good command of English language, broad knowledge of pop culture and darkish sense of humor a plus. Great pay and fun times! Send resume to: telegraph@du rangotelegraph.com Laundry Customer Service 1-2 very responsible, reliable, friendly, multi-tasking, self-directed team players with strong customer service skills are needed! Responsibilities include doing laundry, helping customers, cleaning, etc. ~20-40 hrs/wk. Training is provided. $12.50+/hr DOQ (plus wash/dry/fold commissions of roughly $1-$2+ per hour, tips and free personal laundry)! Nice facility, customers, co-workers, and owners!

Please apply in person at the College Plaza Laundry, 509 E. 8th Ave. Caregivers $20/hr Disabled man needs help with care.

Call Johnny, 970-749-2692.

Hiring for a Variety of Positions MUNIRevs is a rapidly growing Software-as-a-Service platform that automates the collection of sales and lodging tax payments for businesses. In addition to the tax and licensing system, MUNIRevs also offers LODGINGRevs, a vacation rental compliance software. Currently hiring for a variety of positions. Visit www.munirevs.com/job-opportunities for full job descriptions.

ForSale Stihl Chainsaw MS270C 16inch bar, case, checked by Kroegers, hardly used. Retail $419, asking $275. 505-879-8777 Want Loose Stones For your unique one-of-a-kind jewelry creation? Lanka Blue Jewelry has large inventory, at 701 Main Ave. Reruns Home Furnishings Summer is here! Great selection of yard furniture, yard art and garden pots.

Cool retro cabinet. Tall bar-style dining table, vintage desk, nightstands, lamps and side tables. Come in today. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.

Classes/Workshops

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

HaikuMovieReview ‘No Sudden Move More double-crosses than a drunk sees on a Dos Equis neon sign – Lainie Maxson

Services Friendly Carpentry and Painting Stucco repair, 707-806-3456.

BodyWork

RSE Handyman Service Home repair - yard work - odd jobs, 970-903-0449.

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.

Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199. massageintervention.life Voted best massage in Durango 18/19/20. Couples, cupping, local CBD. Reviews on FB + Yelp. 970-903-2984 Lotus Path Healing Arts Offering a unique, intuitive fusion of Esalen massage, deep tissue & Acutonics.

To schedule call Kathryn, 970-201-3373.

NewspaperOrigami

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Medicinal Mushroom Workshop Aug. 14 & 15 at Wild Cooperative Permaculture Demonstration & Educational Site, Crawford, CO. For more info or to register: https://www.osadha.com/rockymountain-mushrooms-medicine-nutrition/ Walks; medicine making; cooking; learn local edible, medicinal, and poisonous mushrooms. Camping available.

Summer Spanish Class Now accepting students for beginner thru advanced Spanish starting in June.

Finally, in-person learning is back! Call 970-309-5966 or visit www.espanola hora.net

Wanted Rental House n Durango Wanted Retired couple seeks home for rent.

Ideal property has two bedrooms, two baths and a one car garage. One older, well-behaved cat. Please email lovnfly fishing922@gmail.com with available home info.

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July 15, 2021 n 15

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