The Durango Telegraph, July 27, 2023

elegraph

Pulling the wool

Domestic sheep are putting bighorns in peril

Oh, the humanity! It’s a barn burner

A (very busy) day in the life of a Forest Ambassador

Obit for an Obit and other summer music musings

5 A big deal

Domestic sheep put wild bighorns in peril in Colorado by Joe Lewandowski

8

Oh, the humanity

RegularOccurrences

4 La Vida Local

5 Wild Thoughts

6-7 Soap Box

8 Top Story

10 Kill Yr Idols

Ear to the ground:

“Even the mountains here look more expensive.”

– Ah, Telluride, where even scenery carries a hefty price tag

Smile!

One of Colorado’s premier landscape photographers, John Fielder, has collaborated with History Colorado to help take viewers through nearly every inch of the state, including here in the San Juans.

Created from 6,500 photos in Fielder’s Colorado Collection that was entrusted to History Colorado, the exhibit is called “REVEALED: John Fielder’s Favorite Place.” It is on display at the History Colorado Center in downtown Denver.

11 Bottoms Up

12-13 Stuff to Do

10

Obit for an Obit

Saying goodbye to a post-punk legend and other musical musings by Jon

E. Lynch

13 Ask Rachel

14 Free Will Astrology

15 Classifieds

11

Forest Ambassadors work to educate, prepare throngs of visitors by Jonathan Romeo On

Who’s your uncle?

Food truck offers sweet and spicy summer refreshment

by Lucas Hess

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ster powder days. We are wholly independently owned and operated by the Durango Telegraph LLC and dis-

15 Haiku Movie Review

California

by Andy High

According to History Colorado, over the past 40 years, Fielder has traveled to every one of Colorado’s 104,984 square miles, photographing all the peaks, pinnacles and creeks along the way. In the exhibit, visitors follow Fielder’s journey across glacial cirques, over 13,000-foot passes and down into desert valleys.

But the exhibit is only the first step. History Colorado has plans for the 6,500 photos Fielder entrusted to the nonprofit.

“This is just the beginning of the inspirational exhibitions and displays that will come about as a result of John’s incredible gift to the people of Colorado,” Dawn DiPrince, President/CEO of History Colorado & State Historic Preservation Officer, said in a statement. “In the future we will be dedicating the second floor mezzanine of the center to John’s work, incorporating his photography into exhibitions at our museums across the state, and ensuring everyone can view the Centennial State as he has and understand the ways our Colorado has changed in the past half century.”

Perusing the photos, on will find many familiar sights from here in Southwest Colorado: the Needle Mountains; Last Dollar Ranch in Ouray County; Hovenweep National Monument; and more.

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

Fielder, for his part, has used his photographs over the years to help conservation and preservation efforts. He has photographed 28 mountain ranges, all of the state’s major rivers and remote desert canyons, and even that weird part of the state no one talks about – the Great Plains. He’s been to all the wilderness areas and national forests, and most state parks and wildlife areas. as well as more than 500 local parks. Not a bad day job.

So, if you find yourself in Denver (god help you), carve out some time to check out the exhibit and see Southwest Colorado’s beauty on full display.

Oh, also, if you go, let us know so you can pick up some stuff for us at Trader Joe’s.

Retirement schemes

Let’s get uncomfortable and talk about money!

I know, I know, money is a taboo topic. It’s a given that one shouldn’t talk about money in public unless one has written a book about it with one’s evangelically happy headshot on the cover as large as the title itself, which is likely something like “Make Your Lazy Money Get to Work” or “Everything You Know About Money Is Wrong, Numbnuts.” Money is such a taboo topic that I cringe every time a cashier brings it up with me.

But it is time we normalize money, as in, make it normal that everyone has it. Especially me.

I would very much like more money. And for it to be not lazy. And for me to prove I still have sensation in my pecans. I do not, by American standards, have enough money. It occurs to me now that if I’d like an early retirement in, say, 10 years – which I very much would – I should start to consider thinking about preparing for it.

And that means revamping the way I invest.

Here’s how I handle investing: On all-too-rare occasions, I find myself stumbling into meeting all my basic needs. Like my dogs. Housing and utilities. Food – and I mean good food. Car and gas. Several varieties of insurance. Clothing – summer clothes, winter clothes, semi-formal clothes, business casual clothes, pajama clothes, loungewear, active wear, all-weather wear, and periodically underwear. Culture and entertainment. Brunch, the occasional plane ticket, ad-free apps and streaming services – because having ads forced into my eye- and earholes should not be the cost of being not rich.

(You might think I’m being facetious with this list. I’m not. Every life deserves some joy, some relaxation, some freedom to engage with the things that make life worth living beyond mere survival. Cut corners, by all means! Just leave some corners to cut, student loan payments be damned; I, for example, choose not to put toast under my avocados.)

After all that, I sometimes find a five in my coat pocket. I think, “Maybe I should invest this.” Money wisely apportioned can, in fact, grow. The right strategy can reliably double or triple your wealth each decade. So in 30 years, my fiver could be worth as much as $135, which will equate to ap-

Thumbin’It

An increase of riders using Durango Transit, with 37,305 passengers in June alone. And why not? It’s free!

Good ole boy Ammon Bundy ordered to pay $50 million in damages to Idaho’s largest hospital after armed protests last year led to a security lockdown.

President Joe Biden designating a national monument honoring Emmett Till, who was murdered in 1955 after falsely being accused of whistling at a white woman.

proximately $5 in today’s dollars.

This is still not enough to set me up for life. So I think I might as well buy an ice cream. Or if it’s a big enough windfall, a new guitar.

This has to change. Not the ice cream part, and not the guitar part, but the working-my-whole-life part that if we’re being perfectly honest, I am not cut out for. Don’t get me wrong – I do not see myself sliding into a monotonous, stagnant retirement existence. I have loads of work I WANT to do. I just want to do it without a boss, or set hours, or external expectations of any kind. On a beach at times. If I can afford the beach wear.

I have been working hard enough to deserve some hope of this kind of reprieve. Or if not hard enough, at least long enough.

When I started working, you could still go through airport security without a plane ticket. When I started working, car windows in my price range still had cranks. When I started working, gas cost a dollar and you had to rewind movies and calling a girl meant that literally anyone in her entire family might answer the phone.

I am OLD, and if I hope to retire before I hit 50, I need to get smart. Real smart. Like, savvy smart. And possibly cheap. And, above all else, I need to get very, very, very lucky. Because let’s face it: you cannot smart-and-savvy yourself into retirement within a decade. Neither can I. Not without damaging my health by working extra jobs and eating crappy food. Not without squandering the 10 youngest years I have left in hopes of, what? A strong economy, a mystery inheritance from an uncle kept secret from my parents for all these many years? Finding a rare Civil War-era $5 bill in my coat pocket?

Maybe this is why money is such a taboo topic. It seems entirely and increasingly possible that by not listening to the financial education I didn’t receive as part of my schooling, I made choices at 17 that now directly impact my ability to quit the labor force early with a reasonably high standard of living.

At this point, there’s only one thing that can make me feel better about my future. Say hello to the proud owner of a brand-new 12-string guitar. Hey, maybe now I can busk for my ice cream.

– Zach Hively

SignoftheDownfall:

The continued extreme heat wave over much of the country, with Phoenix reporting more than 25 consecutive days of temperatures over 110 degrees.

Google testing out AI technology that is able to write news articles. Hey, what the hell!

Texas installing a floating barrier in the Rio Grande to keep people from crossing the border. If we had a dime for every time Texas got a thumbs down for some stupid political stunt, we’d be retired and let AI write the Telegraph by now.

Barbie-Q

Conservative columnist Ben Shapiro suffered a meltdown after watching the new Barbie movie because it was “too woke.” So he bought a few Barbie dolls/cars and burned them in a trashcan on video to own the libs. Ben got a couple death threats, which should’ve shut him up. But he doubled down by saying the backlash was similar to that “of the Islamic people when someone burns a Quran in Sweden,” even though there’s a pretty big difference between the Barbie Dreamhouse and a jihad. However, if a Barbie super-fan did kill Shapiro, do you think someone would notify his next of Ken?

Pulling the wool

Wild bighorns in peril in Colorado

by Joe Lewandowski

I’ve been afforded the rare opportunity to kneel beside Colorado’s most iconic animal: the Rocky Mountain bighorn. When I worked for Colorado Parks and Wildlife as a public information officer, I attended capture projects where biologists examined bighorns and attached tracking collars.

I placed my hands on the bighorns’ thick, rough coats and observed them in awe. At the shoulder, most measured about 4 feet in height, their bodies solid and muscular, their hooves thick but pliable – providing the platforms needed for leaping among cliffs and steep slopes.

I thought of how they live, constantly enduring the punishing mountain terrain. For tens of thousands of years, bighorns have survived the unrelenting sun, harsh rain, wind, winter’s cold and deep snow. They nibble grass and shrubs, lick lichen from rocks, sip from streams, somehow obtaining nutritional needs from meager sources. Then to reproduce, the rams fight for dominance; the ewes give birth on mountainsides and nurture lambs through difficult conditions.

Based on the writings of pioneers, bighorns were once the most abundant ungulate in the Rockies – likely numbering in the hundreds of thousands in Colorado. Today, CPW estimates a total statewide population of only about 7,000, and the number is likely declining. To put that in perspective: CPW estimates the statewide elk population at 230,000 and mule deer at 600,000.

Habitat loss for bighorns is certainly a factor. But the biggest cause of the decline is respiratory disease caused by transmission of bacteria from domestic sheep. Thousands of domestic sheep graze in the alpine terrain favored by bighorns. While sheep producers argue otherwise, disease spread is a fact proven beyond a doubt.

Bighorns get in trouble when an adult, usually a young ram, wanders into a flock of domestics and picks up pathogens. When the wanderers return, the bacteria are spread. Bighorns have no immunity.

The effect is catastrophic. All-age dieoffs have occurred. Pregnant ewes that survive pass the pathogens to their offspring and infected lambs seldom survive more than a few months. Both scenarios result in significant population declines.

The resulting pneumonia causes an agonizing death. Infected bighorns are observed coughing and wheezing, trying desperately to breathe. Essentially, they drown as their lungs fill with fluid.

Domestic sheep use public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Leaders of those outfits know the problem full well, but they resist closing grazing allotments. Members of the CPW Commission, the body that sets policy for the state agency and is supposed to protect wildlife, is doing nothing to defend bighorns.

The non-action, of course, is heavily influenced by politics. Unfortunately, the few woolgrowers in Colorado hold inordinate political power, because their agricultural status is somehow held

sacrosanct by local, state and federal politicians. They, apparently, do not see the value of rare wildlife species. And to boot, the woolgrowers are subsidized by U.S. taxpayers through sweetheart grazing-fee deals: producers pay $1.35/month per “animal unit” comprised of five sheep.

An allotment northeast of Durango was closed a few years ago after the National Wildlife Federation worked a deal with the lease holder. The NWF spent $83,000 to obtain the allotment; the amount received by the rancher was not disclosed. The point is that a private organization paid for what should have been done by government agencies.

Producers say their heritage is at risk if they aren’t allowed to use public lands. They want to pass this agricultural relic to their kids. But it is the heritage of the natural world, a heritage that has been intact for tens of thousands of years, that is at risk of being lost. I want future generations to know that there will always be wild bighorns on the landscape.

This is the time of year when domes-

tic sheep swarm our public lands. Highcountry hikers will know when they get a whiff of a 1,000-head herd. Domestics consume wildflowers, trample the tundra, and their to-the-ground grazing habits cause significant erosion.

If you’re hiking and see a wild bighorn near a domestic herd, please contact CPW. That animal, if it is found – and that’s unlikely – will be killed in the futile hope it will prevent disease spread.

You can also participate in a citizen science effort coordinated by the Mountain Studies Institute (mountainstudies.org/bighorndetails) by reporting sightings through a phone app.

And if you are moved by the plight of these magnificent animals, call politicians, the Forest Service and BLM officials, and write to CPW’s commissioners. You never know, one of them might listen and attempt to do the right thing.

Joe Lewandowski worked as a public information officer for CPW for 16 years. Now retired, he lives in Durango.

SoapBox

Change is hard

Where are the Dalton Ranchers protesting the mess on Trimble Lane where a developer wants to put in 52 unaffordable houses next year? One of the Dalton Ranchers is claiming that the proposed RV Park should be denied based on density in the event of a fire. The protester claims that there will be a traffic jam of RVs exiting the park.Wait a minute; if there is an evacuation, how about the hundreds of people living in Dalton West, South, North or playing golf and using Trimble Lane? Aren’t they going to cause an even bigger traffic jam?

These are the same people that protested against a cell tower at the Sandco gravel site that claimed the tower would cause a drop in property values.

And let us not forget that it wasn’t all that long ago that Dalton Ranchers shared Trimble Lane from 6 in the morning until 6 in the evening with dump and cement trucks going in and out of two gravel plants, along with a batch plant.

Wonder if these Dalton Ranchers have noticed the increased traffic every night on Trimble and CR 250 when the Bar-D Chuckwagon opened for business on Memorial Day?

Tourists driving their living quarters are a lot easier to accept instead of half a dozen short-term vacation rentals.

– Dennis Pierce, Durango

Stand with Israel

The Evan-les-Bains, France conference of July 6-15, 1938, discussed the plight of Jews in Nazi Germany and was supposed to develop and implement a plan to rescue them. President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated convening the conference of 32 countries and 24 relief agencies.

Adolf Hitler said he would allow the Jews to leave Germany and immigrate to the 32 countries represented at the conference.

Unfortunately, 31 countries refused to take in any Jews. Only the Dominican Republic agreed to allow in some Jews.

by Rob Pudim

Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King said, “We must … seek to keep this part of the continent free from unrest and from too great an intermixture of foreign strains of blood.”

The British, who controlled what is now Israel, refused to allow the Jews to emigrate because of the conflict between Arabs and Jews. The French said they could not help. The U.S. State Department, which had a Jew-hater in a prominent position, blocked entry to the U.S. Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama said they wanted no traders or intellectuals. Argentina said it had enough immigrants from Europe. Australia said it had no racial problems and did not want to create any.

After the conference, a few countries allowed some Jews to emigrate, including 120,000 to the U.S. from 1938-40; Britain allowed 100,000; Australia allowed 15,000; and the Dominican Republic allowed 800.

From 1940-45, approximately 6 million Jews were murdered by Nazi Germany. (Note: Approximately 3 million Polish Christians and 5 million Russian Christians were also murdered.)

In 1948, Israel was established as a homeland and safe haven for Jews. It is the only country where Jews are 100% free of discrimination and persecution, and the Jews have learned their survival depends on having lots of guns and bullets.

– Donald Moskowitz, Londonderry, N.H.

Solution to opioid crisis

I am currently running for Colorado’s Congressional District 3 Republican nomination. My Democrat opponent in the 2024 general election is Adam Frisch, of Aspen. I believe it’s time for Aspen Adam to discuss actual policy proposals.

Last year, 920 Coloradoans died from opioid poisoning, along with 105,779 other young Americans of military age. That’s the equivalent of 35 9/11-style terrorist attacks every year. I have a close friend whose son perished after he attempted to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to an acquaintance who had just swallowed fentanyl.

Some 90% of the chemicals used to manufacture synthetic opioids are sold to two Mexican cartels by Chinese

chemical manufacturers. I have a fourfold solution.

First, seal our southern border by completing “The Wall.”

Secondly, implement massive, escalating tariffs on both Mexico and China until seizures and deaths decline significantly. Consider 50% tariffs on both countries that double every three months. After a year, tariff levels could reach as high as 800%; would you pay $360,000 to buy a $40,000 car assembled in Mexico?

Third, apply the harshest penalties possible to drug dealers who sell poisons that kill our kids.

Finally, triple legal immigration based upon merit. Last year, the U.S. allowed 1.13 million immigrants to legally move to our country. President Joe Biden has allowed 5.5 million unskilled, illiterate illegals into our country since taking office. We’ve checked that box. Let’s invite doctors, (no lawyers), nurses, code writers, etc. to enjoy the freedoms found in America.

I am curious where Aspen Adam stands on these (and many other) issues.

The Last Shot

We met for the last time at the El Rancho.

He looked flush from the whiskey and old resentments. His heart had been broken From a girl who Couldn’t handle the PTSD. He said, “You end up with weird stuff like spoons and bowls from France.”

I’m now just looking For blinking stars between clouds. It’s like chasing verbs. Your eyes can learn from those river of tears and I just find myself planting trees to forget what I’ve lost.

It’s somewhat soothing. It seems I’m just waiting for the stone to roll away, and you know, Vets just end up invisible. I guess I’ll take a vacation somewhere, because dreams for me, seem always to end up as shadows. A turquoise boat in blue water will do.”

– Russ Andrews, Carbondale

– Burt Baldwin, Ignacio

Day in the life

Hanging out with Forest Ambassadors, tasked with educating newbie hikers

by Jonathan Romeo

Ah, nature – contending with hundreds of people for the best Instagram shot, judging drivers while they struggle at parallel parking, watching out for a woman in a bikini brandishing a shotgun. The great outdoors are truly a place to relax and unwind.

Well, not really, but such is the state of the insanely popular Ice Lake trail west of Silverton, which was already exploding in visitation even before the pandemic brought unprecedented numbers of people into the mountains.

Luckily, there’s a saving grace: the San Juan Mountains Association’s Forest Ambassadors. The team of volunteers hangs out at busy trailheads in the region to intercept hikers in an attempt to educate them on best practices (and even simple ones, too, like bringing water).

“We try to teach people how to be in nature and respect it,” Paulette Schmalz, a Forest Ambassador, said. “They come here, because it’s a beautiful place, and we try to help them keep it that way.”

The Forest Ambassador program is an innovative tool in the toolbox to help mitigate the impacts of heavy use on trails. The thinking is – you can’t stop people from coming here to hike, but you can educate them on how to be responsible and respectful in these beautiful places.

The program began in Southwest Colorado in 2020, and now, Forest Ambassadors are stationed at highly trafficked areas, including Molas Pass, Highland Mary Lake, Blue Lakes, Animas Forks, Navajo Lake and much more.

But there’s perhaps no better poster child for a trail being loved to death than Ice Lake, as well as the adjacent Island Lake, two electric turquoise bodies of water that draw visitors from all over the world. On the busiest days, an estimated 250-350 people make the trek.

Forest Ambassadors are truly on the frontline to help people learn how to be outdoors, and hopefully, carry that with them on other adventures. Still, the volunteers encounter quite … interesting … situations.

So, we spent last Friday at the Ice Lake trailhead to see what they are truly up against (and yes, there was a rumored woman in a bikini walking around with a shotgun, apparently afraid of bears. The Telegraph could not confirm if it was Boebert).

Hiker preparedness

“Is there a fee for this trail?” asked one very stoked hiker, donning fresh, spanking-new gear, as he approached the Ice Lake trailhead.

“Yep, it’s $1,000. Cash,” answered the very energetic, good-natured and astonishingly patient Schmalz.

Schmalz and her husband, Charlie, have been volunteers with SJMA for more than 20 years. For the past several years, they’ve taken on the role of Forest Ambassadors and have seen it all: hikers with no water, no food, no proper gear or any idea how long the hike is.

“Most of the people we see are just not prepared and don’t realize this isn’t an easy hike,” Charlie said.

The parking lot at Ice Lake shows license plates from all over: New Mexico, Utah, Washington, Louisiana, Pennsylvania. Oh, and Texas. A lot of Texas.

With an unfathomable politeness, the couple greets people about to set out for the hike, effortlessly moving their way from general questions, like, “Where are you from?” to more telling ones, such as, “Do you have enough water?” or “Do you know where you’re going?” Some don’t.

Most of the conversation centers on preparedness and trail etiquette: what to do when someone passes; staying on trail to avoid trail braiding and erosion; and how to dispose of human waste and trash. And, just as

important, is explaining why these practices matter in protecting the land.

“Of course there are people who think the rules don’t apply to them and breeze by,” Paulette said. “But most people are receptive and cognizant of recreational impacts in the backcountry.”

Indeed, most groups do stop, more than happy to talk about where they are from (most are in the high country to beat the heat in southern states). And – this must be a result of her years of experience as a kindergarten teacher – Paulette is able to educate while not condescend.

“If you’re afraid of exposure, you might not want to make the additional trek up to Island Lake,” Paulette told a group from Louisiana and Texas.

“Exposure?” asked one wide-eyed woman.

“A cliff,” Paulette responded.

“Oh,” said the woman, now with the fear of god imprinted on her face. “I’ll hang out at Ice Lake.”

Partnering up

The Forest Ambassador program began in 2020 with

Hikers about to set off on the Ice Lake trail gather round Charlie Schmalz, a Forest Ambassador with the San Juan Mountains Association./ Photo by Meghann Burke/San Juan Mountains Association

support from San Juan County and a GOCO grant to address increased use and impacts in the San Juans as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, according to Mike Wight, associate director of SJMA.

Now, the program has 11 Forest Ambassadors who rotate around more than 40 trails and roads between June and October. And, Wight said the program has caught on elsewhere, including in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests.

Jon Erickson, the San Juan National Forest’s Recreation Program Manager, said the partnership is essential to help manage public lands, especially with the funding and staffing issues the Forest Service has experienced in recent years.

The problem has exacerbated since the pandemic brought a rush of new visitors to the outdoors, a rush that hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. For many sensitive areas, there runs the risk of destroying the beauty people come to see.

“A lot of creativity has been applied to help steward public lands,” Erickson said. “There’s a dance of trying to not have an overly regulated environment and allow people to access public lands, but at the same time, really take care of these places.”

More than ever, the Forest Service has been entering partnerships with local groups that can help take on the work. It’s

just one management tool among many, which can include permit systems to limit visitors, such as at Conundrum Hot Springs outside Aspen. Recently, the Forest Service implemented a parking reservation for the Lewis River in Washington State’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

“No forest has found some magic bullet to address issues all at once,” Erickson said. “But one of the ways we can respond to our limitations in funding and staffing is by helping support and invite partnerships as a way to steward public lands and protect them.”

All about respect

It’s hard to measure the Forest Ambassador program’s success. Even with a presence on the ground, visitors still engage in bad behaviors – leaving trash and dog poop, going off trail, not properly disposing of human waste. (A couple years ago, backpackers ripped apart a historic mining structure for firewood.)

But just imagine how much worse the situation would be if the volunteers weren’t there (also note: there have been no rescue missions at Ice Lake this summer).

“It’d be total chaos,” Paulette said.

Case in point: the family that showed up with no water or proper footwear. The hiker who worried about grizzlies. The guy who didn’t know the name of the trail or how many miles long it was. Paulette, rev-

ving up that kindergarten teacher power, explained it’s called Ice Lake, it’s about 8 miles roundtrip, takes 4-6 hours and has an elevation gain of 3,000 feet.

“I don’t like heights,” the man said. “So we’ll see how far I get.”

One woman said a Silverton local recommended she hike Ice Lake to escape tourists and crowds. To her dismay, she showed up to a full parking lot and hundreds of hikers. (Another big issue is offleash dogs. Recently, a man pulled a gun when approached by an aggressive dog.)

At the end of the day, though, SJMA volunteers are there for purely educational purposes, and there’s an element of personal responsibility when entering the backcountry. As a result, Forest Ambassadors encourage self-sufficiency.

“We want to make sure they have a good time and respect this place,” Savannah Remmich, a Forest Ambassador, said. “If they are more knowledgeable before going out, they are more likely to be respectful when no one’s watching. At least that’s the hope.”

Sustainable solutions

There’s no telling how to solve overcrowding in the backcountry; it’s a problem many agencies are dealing with. In fact, even Visit Durango, tasked with bringing tourists to the region, has started a robust effort to push sustainable

and responsible recreation.

Visit Durango recently launched a “Care for Durango” campaign that has reached millions of people. The agency also has partnered with SJMA to launch a junior Forest Ambassador program and set up a presence for educators at the Durango Welcome Center.

Even pulling into Durango, a large banner at Santa Rita Park encourages visitors to recreate responsibly. It’s a shift in messaging to invite more conscientious visitors, a demand by residents heard loud and clear by the tourism office.

“The perception is we want all the visitors, and that’s not really the case,” Rachel Welsh, PR & Communications Manager for Visit Durango, said. “Sustainable tourism is a priority, and we want residents to know we’re taking it seriously.”

As for Ice Lake, there has been talk of implementing a permit system. Erickson said that process is up in the air. Along with staffing challenges, the agency is looking at other regions for possible solutions. Everything’s on the table.

“There’s a contingent of employees and volunteers that have made Ice Lake and that area their interest area,” he said. “A lot of people really love and care about that basin and want to see it properly tended to. We just want to be thoughtful with what we do.” ■

It’s a barn burner

Despite the heat, some musical musings for your pleasure

by Jon E. Lynch

If this week’s column comes off as incongruous, scattered and non-linear, I’ll just blame it on the heat. Seems as though that’s the go-to lament these days, and conformity is uniformity – or something like that. Below are a handful of stray musical observations that came and went over the last month or so:

• Rick Froberg dying sucks. On July 2, I was driving east when I was bombarded by friends that Drive Like Jehu/Hot Snakes/Obits front person Froberg died in the days prior. It’s a terrible, gutting feeling when an artist you don’t know personally – but one that has crafted art exceptionally personal to you – dies. I’ve been listening to his bands for more than 20 years. He created the vast majority, if not all, of the album art for the full-length records I associated with his singular voice and guitar work. Walking into a record store and seeing his album art excited me. Moved me. Those feelings were fiercely intensified once I heard the cacophony of recorded music therein.

I vividly recall hearing the Obits’ debut, “I Blame You,” for the first time back in 2009. It stayed in heavy rotation for months, was eventually my Album of the Year, and if you stepped foot into the Olde Schoolhouse in the 18-month span after the album’s release, it’s highly likely you heard it there as well. Apparently, two weeks prior to his death, Froberg announced a new Hot Snakes record was near complete. Thanks to good, good friend TK, I’m now privy to and obsessing on his pre-Drive Like Jehu project Pitchfork. While I’m so thankful we all have a trove of his visual and recorded art to pore over, there’s still an oddly cavernous hollow. “Swami” John Reis, his longtime friend and collaborator in Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu and Hot Snakes, put it more succinctly when he simply said of Froberg, “His art made life better.”

• Have you been to a show at The Hive yet this summer? Pretty certain I heard in passing that there have been 30-plus shows at The Hive (1150 Main Ave. Suite A –next door to Taco Libre) this summer alone. That’s beyond impressive. That’s downright staggering. Running the sonic gamut, there has literally been something for just about everyone. Indie, punk, folk-punk, art rock, psych rock, hip hop, hardcore, metal, thrash and all the various interconnected and interwoven subgenres imaginable have been represented at one time or another. Creative Director Alex Vick, along with the entire staff, have been putting in work to keep Durango’s only all-ages/clean & sober/safe space/skate venue fully operational.

A few weeks ago, a friend informed me he’d be making the jaunt into town from the North County for a night of psych rock. Road (and general life) weary, I was dragging my feet/ass to make the show at all. I couldn’t be happier that I did. Kangaroo Court, The Crooked Rugs and Ora proceeded to play to a comfortably packed house, then burn said house down –metaphorically speaking. Check out www.thehivedgo.org for

Rick Froberg

upcoming events. Oh, and even if you don’t make a show, support the hell out of ’em as an integral, viable not-for-profit institution that makes our town better.

• Bad Weather California’s final full-length album is still the penultimate summertime record. This is just one person’s opinion, but back in 2012, the Grand Junction via Denver-based band Bad Weather California released what would become its final record, “Sunkissed.” Around the time of that release, the band opened for The Meat Puppets here in Durango at The Abbey Theatre (now, the Animas City Theatre). The album soundtracked much of that summer and sounds just as good today as it did then. Honestly, I just wanted to find a way to work that into the column because, hot damn, it is still such a great record.

Chris Adolf has been releasing tip-top music pretty darn consistently since then, most recently under the American Culture moniker. This past fall there was talk of a new record, and I have it on good authority that Wymond Miles (Sacred Bones Records, The Fresh & Onlys) is now a touring member. Which makes for pretty great rock and roll.

Speaking of which, can you name your favorite summer record? I’d sure like to know what that is. Send me your absolute favorite summer record today, in this very moment, to the email below. Along with questions, comments and gripes. Especially the gripes.

Jon E. Lynch is the program director at KDUR. Reach him at kdur_pd@fortlewis.edu ■

Fresh starts

Uncle’s Fixins offers yin-yang of fruity drinks, spicy elote

by Lucas Hess

Anyone who has been to Mexico has likely seen “aguas frescas” – translated in English to “fresh waters” – which are commonplace at most any street market. History of the agua frescas has been connected to the Aztecs, who, according to New Mexico Magazine, would travel the waterways of Tenochtitlán, where modern day Mexico City is, to gather fresh fruit to mix up for a refreshing drink.

Today, this can be accomplished at your local grocery store by using kiwis, pineapple, watermelon and any other fruit that will yield a fair amount of juice. The addition of sugar, herbs, such as basil or cilantro, and peppers, like a pinch of cayenne, can be a great way to add depth to your drink. However, if you are unable to talk yourself into going to find these ingredients or simply do not have the time to make one at home, there is a place in downtown Durango offering these delicious beverages.

Uncle’s Fixins, a food truck located at 11th St. Station, offers three choices: watermelon, pineapple and the “flavor of the day.” The day I visited, it was around lunchtime and the sun beamed down on me as I decided to go for watermelon. In addition to the cold beverage, I ordered their “Elote in a Cup” to compliment the refreshment.

The drink featured fresh watermelon and natural sugar cane, and the aroma transported me to summer days as a kid. The drink was not overly sweet, allowing for the fresh fruit to remain center stage.

As for the elote, it consisted of a 14-oz. cup of white corn covered in butter, mayo, chili powder, cotija cheese, lime juice and Valentina hot sauce. Since the elote is served in a cup, it made for easy eating as compared to corn on the cob. The butter, mayo and lime juice made the corn juicy and flavorful. The spicy additions of chili powder and Valentina hot sauce gave the dish just enough heat to add another

dimension of flavor, and the cheese balanced out any over-powering intensity. The combination of the refreshing drink and the semi-spicy elote complimented each other nicely for a great midday snack. After tasting these delicious treats, I needed to find out more. I was able to meet the co-owners of Uncle’s Fixins, Chris Chavez and Suzanne Vargas. Originally from Albuquerque, Chavez said he grew up drinking aguas frescas and became passionate about learning to make them on his own. Chavez

said he prefers to hand-pick organic fruit for his aguas frescas from local vendors whenever possible. He also mentioned that he uses Zulka Morena sugar cane instead of other granulated sugars. Zulka Morena is an all-natural, unrefined and non-GMO pure cane sugar.

Chavez said once the fruit has been prepared, he adds it to a straining bag to press and separate any pulp from the juice. When the juice has been separated, the natural cane sugar is added.

Traditional methods are used when preparing his drinks, including with the horchata, which the food truck also offers. For the horchata, a creamy, traditional drink featuring cinnamon, vanilla and milk (in this case, rice milk and cream), they use only Mexican vanilla and soak the rice for a minimum of 24 hours before squeezing it to produce the rice water essential to the drink.

The two started the food truck with the idea to serve only aguas frescas and paletas, a style of Mexican ice cream bars. However, that premise grew, and by the time Uncle’s Fixins opened in January, the menu had grown to include starters, soups and loaded potatoes in addition to their original dessert and non-alcoholic drink options.

Chavez said he is happy to be in Durango, and exploring the area has given him inspiration in the kitchen. He spoke about a recent trip to Spud Lake that gave him an idea for a new loaded potato that would include a mountain of fixings intended to serve at least two people. This platter of food is still being fine-tuned before it lands on the menu; however, there are a variety of other possibilities to choose from, and I look forward to my next visit.

Mocktail curious? Join Lucas for “Mixing Mocktails” this Thurs., July 27, from 5-6 p.m. Space is limited and registration is required by calling (970) 375-3380 or visiting durangogov.org/library. ■

Thursday27

Pickle Train & Lavalanche play, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard Ave.

Durango Green Drinks, 5 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Mixing Mocktails, 5 p.m., Durango Public Library.

Ryanhood plays, 5:30 p.m., Buckley Park.

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

Devin Scott plays, 6 p.m., James Ranch, 33846 Highway 550.

Ben Gibson Duo plays, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

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

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

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

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

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

Friday28

Free Friday Yoga, 8:30 a.m., Lively (a boutique), 809 Main Ave.

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

Quick & Dirty Downtown Walking Tour, 10 a.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot.

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

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

DACA & Citizenship Workshop, 4-8 p.m., FLC’s Student Union Building – Senate Chambers.

Mocktail Tasting, 4-6 p.m., Durango Sustainable Goods, 1259 Main Ave.

Escape the Badlands plays, 5 p.m., Gazpacho, 431 E. 2nd Ave.

“Dyketopia,” a two-person show featuring prizes, drag and comedy, 7 p.m., Fort Lewis College’s Mainstage Theater. Tickets at www.eventbrite.com, under Durango Dyketopia. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Ben Gibson Duo plays, 6 p.m., Fire Fox Farms, Ignacio.

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

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

Improv Night, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

KDUR Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

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

Saturday29

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

Legal Aid Assistance, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Meyer Law Office, 1099 Main Ave., Suite 215.

Ragged Oak plays, 11 a.m., Durango Coffee Co., 730 Main Ave.

Pine River Festival, 12 noon, featuring music by Lil’ Smokies, Sam Grisman Project and others, Bayfield.

Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

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

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

Latin Jazz Night, 7 p.m., FLC’s Community Concert Hall.

Improv Night, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

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

Sunday30

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

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

Ice Cream Social, 1-3 p.m., Gable House, 805 E. 5th Ave. Benefit for Animas Museum and La Plata County Historical Society.

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

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

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

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

Monday31

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

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

Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.

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

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

Tuesday01

Coffee Connections, 8 a.m., Durango Chamber of Commerce, 2301 Main Ave.

National Night Out, 4-7 p.m., Buckley Park.

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

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

Live music, 6 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

Lady cab driver, bait & ship, and cheap talk

Interesting fact: Mr. Rogers reportedly responded to every letter he received – from 50 to 100 a day. You should be happy I answer three a week.

Dear Rachel,

I need some help on the social etiquette of giving neighbors a lift. I live a little out of town. My neighbor needed to pick up her truck at the mechanic. Of course the neighborly thing to do is give her a ride. But the shop is only open in business hours. That’s when I’m at work. So I had to take an early lunch, drive home, pick her up, drop her off, get back to work, and eat at my desk. How many years is my obligation done for? And what if she does something nice? Do I then have to say yes again next time she asks?

– Cab Driver

Dear Rachel,

I bought something online recently and explicitly paid extra for fast shipping. When it arrived, it came in a standard envelope with standard shipping. I get paying a little extra for handling, those envelopes aren’t cheap unless you get the free ones from the post office. I don’t even care that the standard shipping still arrived in time. I have a grievance! I’m justified in arguing this up the chain, right? My family thinks I should just let it go.

– Bull Ship

Dear Cabbie Calloway,

You can get out of the neighborly obligation forever. Just print off an Uber sticker for your windshield. Now, giving people lifts IS your job. You can answer any request with “Sure, that’s $15” or “Sorry, I’m off work then” or “Strange, I’m not seeing your request in the app.” Or, and this is radical, you just embrace your inner Mr. Rogers and take satisfaction in a good deed done that you can lord over her forever.

– Hoofing it, Rachel

Live music, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Tashi Brundige plays, 6 p.m., James Ranch, 33846 Highway 550.

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

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

Andy Frasco & The U.N. play, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Wednesday02

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

Dear Cow Boat,

The zen part of me agrees that you should let it go. Let karma handle it, and find gratitude in your package arriving on time. But that part of me is very small. The rest of me wants you to fight for justice. Eradicate all injustice! Demand the difference credited back to your method of payment, and do NOT accept store credit!

– Fight the man, Rachel

telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

Dear Rachel,

Do you have experience with therapy? I’m finally going to a therapist. All the websites say you should try out a few to see who you connect with. But those websites aren’t paying the $150 an hour for all these “trial periods.” How am I supposed to afford a therapist after spending so much to find one?

– As Broke As My Wallet

Quick & Dirty Downtown Walking Tour, 10 a.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot.

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

Trivia Night, every Wednesday, 7 p.m., Bottom Shelf Brewery, Bayfield.

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

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

Ongoing

Durango Fiesta Days, July 27-30, info and schedule at facebook.com/fiestadaysdurango

Dear Don’t Fixit, Start Ubering! And treat your passengers like your therapist. So what if you pick up a customer in the middle of a memory? I’m convinced therapists have to pretend to know what you’re talking about half the time anyway. You’ll actually make money to spill your emotions. Until you get overrun with one-star reviews, but by then, maybe you’ll have saved up enough for an hour of real therapy.

– Same time next week, Rachel

Music in the Mountains, thru July 30, musicinthemountains.com.

“Pterosaurs: Ancient Rulers of the Sky,” 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1330 Camino del Rio. Exhibit runs until Sept. 17.

The Hive Indoor Skate Park, open skate and skate lessons. For schedule and waiver, go to www.thehivedgo.org

Upcoming

“American Hospitals: Healing a Broken System,” film screening, Aug. 3, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library.

Narc, Grim Earth and American Businessman play, Aug. 3, 8 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

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

Daily sales and markdowns • Brands like Athleta, Patagonia & Kühl

by Rob Brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You are about to read a thunderbolt of sublime prophecies. It’s guaranteed to nurture the genius in your soul’s underground cave. Are you ready? 1. Your higher self will prod you to compose a bold prayer in which you ask for stuff you thought you weren’t supposed to ask for. 2. Your higher self will know what to do to enhance your love life by at least 20%, possibly more.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In 1991, John Kilcullen began publishing books with “for Dummies” in the title: for example, “Sex for Dummies,” “Time Management for Dummies,” and my favorite, “Stress Management for Dummies.” There are now over 300 books in this series. They aren’t truly for stupid people, of course. They’re designed to be robust introductions to interesting and useful subjects. I invite you to emulate Kilcullen’s mindset, Taurus. Adopt a beginner’s mind that’s receptive to being educated and influenced.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I could be converted to a religion of grass,” said Indigenous author Louise Erdrich in her book “Heart of the Land.” “Sink deep roots. Conserve water. Respect and nourish your neighbors. Such are the tenets. As for practice – grow lush in order to be devoured or caressed, stiffen in sweet elegance, invent startling seeds. Connect underground. Provide. Provide. Be lovely and do no harm.” I advocate a similar approach to life for you Geminis in the coming weeks. Be earthy, sensual and lush.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I hereby appoint myself as your temporary social director. My first action is to let you know that from an astrological perspective, the next nine months will be an excellent time to expand and deepen your network of connections and your web of allies. I invite you to cultivate a vigorous grapevine that keeps you up-to-date about the latest trends affecting your work and play. Refine your gossip skills. Be friendlier than you’ve ever been. Are you the best ally and collaborator you could possibly be? If not, make that one of your assignments.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There are two kinds of holidays: those created by humans and those arising from the relationship between the sun and earth. In the former category are various independence days: July 4

in the U.S. and July 14 in France. Among the second kind of holiday is Lammas on August 1, a pagan festival that in the Northern Hemisphere marks the halfway point between the summer solstice and autumn equinox. In pre-industrial cultures, Lammas celebrated the grain harvest and featured outpourings of gratitude for the crops that provide essential food. Modern revelers give thanks for not only the grain, but all the nourishing bounties provided by the sun’s and earth’s collaborations. What’s ready to be harvested in your world?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): For many of us, a disposal company regularly comes to our homes to haul away the garbage we have generated. Wouldn’t it be great if there was also a reliable service that purged our minds and hearts of the psychic gunk that naturally accumulates? Psychotherapists provide this blessing for some of us, and I know people who derive similar benefits from spiritual rituals. Getting drunk or intoxicated may work, too, although those states often generate their own dreck. With these thoughts in mind, Virgo, meditate on how you might cleanse your soul with a steady, ennobling practice.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I’m wondering if there is a beloved person to whom you could say these words by Rumi: “You are the sky my spirit circles in, the love inside love, the resurrection-place.” If you have no such ally, Libra, the coming months will be a favorable time to attract them into your life. If there is such a companion, I hope you will share Rumi’s lyrics with them, then go further. Say the words Leonard Cohen spoke: “When I’m with you, I want to be the kind of hero I wanted to be when I was seven years old.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your theme for the coming weeks is “pleasurable gooseflesh.” I expect and hope you’ll experience it in abundance. You need it and deserve it! Editor Corrie Evanoff describes “pleasurable gooseflesh” as “the primal response we experience when something suddenly violates our expectations in a good way.” It can also be called “frisson” – a French word meaning “a sudden feeling or sensation of excitement, emotion or thrill.” One way this joy may occur is when we listen to a playlist of songs sequenced in unpredictable ways – say Mozart followed by Johnny Cash, then Édith Piaf, Led Zeppelin, Blondie, Queen, Luciano Pavarotti and Yellow Magic Orchestra. Here’s your homework: Imagine three ways you can stimulate pleasurable gooseflesh and frisson, then go out and make them happen.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Fire rests by changing,” wrote ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. In accordance with astrological omens, I ask you to meditate on that riddle. Here are some preliminary thoughts: The flames rising from a burning substance are always moving, always active, never the same shape. Yet they comprise the same fire. As long as they keep shifting and dancing, they are alive and vital. If they stop changing, they die out and disappear. The fire needs to keep changing to thrive! Dear Sagittarius, here’s your assignment: Be like the fire; rest by changing.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): There’s ample scientific evidence that smelling cucumbers can diminish feelings of claustrophobia. For example, some people become anxious when they are crammed inside a narrow metal tube to get an MRI. But numerous imaging facilities have reduced that discomfort with the help of cucumber oil applied to cotton pads and brought into proximity to patients’ noses. I would love it if there were also natural ways to help you break free of any and all claustrophobic situations, Capricorn. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to hone and practice the arts of liberation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Silent gratitude isn’t very much use to anyone,” said Aquarian author Gertrude B. Stein. She was often quirky and even downright weird, but as you can see, she also had a heartfelt attitude about her alliances. Stein delivered another pithy quote that revealed her tender approach to relationships. She said that love requires a skillful audacity about sharing one’s inner world. I hope you will put these two gems of advice at the center of your attention, Aquarius. You are ready for a strong, sustained dose of deeply expressive interpersonal action.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): According to the International Center for Academic Integrity, 95% of high school students acknowledge they have participated in academic cheating. We can conclude that just one of 20 students have never cheated – a percentage that probably matches how many non-cheaters there are in every area of life. I mention this, because I believe it’s a favorable time to atone for any deceptions you have engaged in, whether in school or elsewhere. I’m not necessarily urging you to confess, but I encourage you to make amends and corrections to the extent you can.

Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon. Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum. Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com

Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check.

(Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.) Ads can be submitted via:

n www.durangotelegraph.com

n classifieds@durango telegraph.com

n 970-259-0133

n 679 E. 2nd Ave., #E2

Approximate office hours:

Mon-Wed: 9ish - 5ish

Thurs: On delivery

Fri: Gone fishing; call first

Announcements

HelpWanted

Events Coordinator Position!

The Powerhouse is seeking an organized and proactive coordinator to plan, organize, and facilitate rentals and events. This person will also maintain member relationships and data through CRM program. Interested applicants, send cover letter and resume to sydnie@powsci.org!

Lost/Found

Lost: Backpack

Cherry Creek Road, Wed., July 19. Reward $100 for return of backpack, batteries, cables. Mike, 505-401-6038.

Services

Marketing Small/Local Businesses

Media, website building and content editing, copywriting and editing, newsletters, blogs, etc. for small, local, independent or startup businesses. www.the saltymedia.com or email jnderge@ gmail.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.

HaikuMovieReview

‘Wham!’

Damn, what these two were able to do in just four years is impressive

Our caring learning center provides one-on-one tutoring, evening child care and free hot meals! We also offer career counseling and job placement services. Call 970-385-4354 or email info@durangoadulted.org to register.

Learn to Square Dance

Wild West Squares invites beginners to our Monday eve classes in August from 5:30 to 7:00 pm every Monday at the Summit Church located at 2917 Aspen Drive. Call 970-903-6478 to register and for more info.

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

Classes/Workshops

Daylong Meditation Retreat

Daylong retreat on loving-kindness

meditation Sunday, July 30 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hosted by the Durango Dharma Center. Loving-kindness meditation can open the heart and calm the mind, bringing more joy, love and peace. More info and to register: durangodharmacenter.org. Beginners welcome.

Wanted

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

ForSale

Berry Plants for Sale

Elderberry, raspberry and cherry shrubs. Make your own elderberry syrup! Fresh elderflower and Nanking cherry available to make cordials or teas. So lovely and yummy! 970 9031026 or-mtberrymedicine@gmail.com

TaoTronics 4k Action Camera

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

Reruns Home Furnishings

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

BodyWork

Integrated Massage

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

Massage by Meg Bush

LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-7590199.

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.

CommunityService

Register for free classes this fall! at the Durango Adult Education Center! We have two class offerings: ESL (English as a Second Language) and GED preparation (to receive a high school equivalency diploma). Registration runs Aug. 2-16 and classes begin Aug. 21. Choose from day or evening in-person classes to fit your schedule.

Call for

Artists

Registration open through Aug. 11. Durango Open Studio Tour invites professional and emerging artists to take part in the Tour Sept. 22-24. Learn more and register at: www.durangoopenstudiotour.com/

Multimodal Volunteers Needed for Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project, Sept. 19-21 and 23. Volunteers will count the number of bicyclists and pedestrians that cross an intersection over a two-hour period. There are 11 intersections with morning and evening time slots. The city conducts counts at intersections every other year to collect data to know how our infrastructure is being used, and it is necessary for grant funding for projects such as sidewalks, bicycle facilities, and transit improvements. Sign up at volunteersignup.org/EQ9BH

Calling La Plata County Artists

The First annual Durango Art Week kicks off Sept. 15. Participation is open to anyone in the art field. Durango Art Week strives to provide a memorable and engaging experience by uniting the community through art and celebrating diversity. If interested, email art week@durango.org.

– Lainie Maxson