The Durango Telegraph, Aug. 24, 2023

the durango

Game of thrones

An American in London on the Queen’s passing

On the water

Amid increased use, Vallecito recreation plan in works

Summer swan song

Late-summer music abounds near and not-so far

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Long live the queen

An American in London reflects on the Queen’s passing by David Feela

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Far afield

Remembering a quintessential Colorado outdoor photographer by Betsy Marston / Writers on the Range

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On the water

Amid increased use, Vallecito recreation plan in the works by Jonathan Romeo

4

Ear to the ground:

“If you’re not scared, are you really boating?”

Ah, kayaking … not the most relaxing sport out there

Adventure awaits

The sixth annual Women Outside Adventure Forum is returning to Durango on Sept. 22-24, bringing a lineup of storytelling and hands-on activities.

The theme for this year’s forum is “Living in Alignment,” and, as in years past, it will kick off Friday night with a local adventurer story night featuring local women. Then, women (and brave men, too) will have the chance to turn that stoke into action with a series of outdoor clinics.

“Since 2016, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and learn from some incredible women,” forum organizer and founder Margaret Hedderman said. “They’ve inspired me to pursue big, life-changing adventures, and I hope this year’s event will help other women to do the same.”

Hedderman explained this year’s theme as “that feeling when everything in your life starts falling into place” and how adventure and the outdoors can inform that.

“It’s like flow. It’s an awesome feeling that many of us experience for the first time in the outdoors,” she said.

The forum is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where participants can grow confidence, connections and skills that enhance their outdoor pursuits, said Hedderman. By facilitating the exchange of stories, expertise and knowledge, the forum seeks to ignite a passion for adventure.

Summer swan song

Whether hitting the road or staying home, plenty of late-summer music by Jon E. Lynch

EDITORIALISTA:

Missy Votel missy@durangotelegraph.com

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STAFF REPORTER:

Jonathan Romeo jonathan@durangotelegraph.com

STAR-STUDDED CAST: David Feela, Jonathan Thompson, Jon E. Lynch, Rob Brezsny, Lainie Maxson, Jesse Anderson & Clint Reid

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A member of the local fauna samples some of the local flora – hopefully not from your garden./ Photo by Alex Krebs

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Over the course of the weekend, participants will have the opportunity to get fired up for outdoor fun at various clinics, including:

• “Mountain Running: Skills & Safety” with Arcelia Valle, of La Plata County Search & Rescue, and Maggie Guterl, of Tailwind Nutrition

• “Introduction to Lead Climbing” with Mia Tucholke of San Juan Expeditions

• Group gravel ride with Nichole Baker

• Audio storytelling with Cat Jaffee

• “Adventure Dog First Aid” with Riverview Animal Hospital

There will also be a special clinic on “Living Your Purpose” with Stephanie Pace, a local wellness practitioner. In addition, the weekend will feature prizes from Osprey, Outdoor Research, Fjallraven and Backcountry Experience. All proceeds from the event benefit the San Juan Citizens Alliance (last year’s event raised $1,000 for the local nonprofit.)

T

he Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-

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

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

The event is organized by Backcountry Experience and is sponsored by a slew of local and national businesses.

For more details or to register, visit www.womenoutside.org.

The book of folly

“The highest form of bliss is living with a certain degree of folly.” – Erasmus. Quite a few years ago, we traveled to Malta for a two-week holiday, the same year two Libyan pilots defected and landed their jet fighters there, refusing the Libyan military’s orders to bomb protestors. The next year, we booked a trip to Sicily, only to have Mount Etna erupt in the news with yet another dangerous period of volcanic activity. Last year, deciding to play it safe, we visited the U.K. for an entire month, a country where we could at least speak the language. Seven days after we arrived, the queen died. We were speechless.

The bedsit we leased in Oxford, named Folly Bridge Studio, sat right beside an 1849 building called Folly House. It was a perfect example of an architectural style with expensive ornamental flourishes that serve no practical purpose. And this folly was situated on the 1826 reconstruction site of the historic 1485 Folly Bridge that spanned the Thames River, which thankfully did not collapse during our stay. For the record, I don’t believe in folly. It serves no constructive purpose. But for some reason, folly believes in me.

The queen’s death was a big deal in the U.K. Ending seven decades as the longest-reigning British monarch, her legacy stands, and I can report she must have been loved by her people based on the outpouring of tributes I saw and the crowds of mourners and well-wishers that gathered, even in the streets of Oxford. Succeeded by her eldest son in a very old British game of thrones, Charles already holds his own record: at the age of 73, he is the oldest ascending British monarch in the country’s history.

I never had a chance to meet the queen, but my birth and Elizabeth II’s official coronation both took place in 1953. Pam and I considered traveling to London to participate in the queen’s state funeral, but standing in the street beside the hundreds of thousands of well-wishers, throwing flowers and cheering and clapping would have felt not only chaotic but impersonal. She didn’t attend my baptism, and we didn’t attend her funeral.

We did, however, celebrate the queen’s life by accepting a lunch invitation from an elegant British landlady who had graciously offered to hold a £200 lodging deposit we’d made until we were able to cross the pond and pick it up.

Thumbin’It

The gaping earthen eyesore on E. Second Ave. destined for a hotel finally taking shape after four years of sitting vacant, much to the chagrin of neighbors and passersby

India moving to the front of the space race, making history Wednesday becoming the first country in the world to land a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole, an uncharted territory that scientists believe could hold vital reserves of frozen water

FLC doubling down on its promise of reconciliation with area tribes ahead of investigation into the school’s Hesperus boarding school, which operated around the turn of the last century

She’d received our money before COVID prevented our travel. Lodging in her home was unfortunately not available when we finally could travel in 2022. She is a beautiful lady and, inspiringly, at the age of 86, still acts as the portal guardian where travelers passing to or through Oxford may stay or leave, all by the appointment of Irene. When we arrived for our lunch, we were invited to sit on her couch. We talked and laughed for half an hour while her personally prepared lunch finished baking, and we felt luxuriously welcomed. Sitting in her upholstered chair across from us, buttoned in her cardigan vest and surrounded by her photos – the faces of so many loved ones we’d never met – she demonstrated how resplendently simple hospitality could be.

Ten years younger than the queen, she had graciously stepped in to welcome us. Somebody had to. This was England after all. A glass of wine? A cup of tea? Then salmon, new potatoes, asparagus and cherry tomatoes bright as the Crown Jewels, with an apple crumble for dessert, topped by a dollop of rich whipped cream. How like Elizabeth, how sweet, this audience with Irene.

Eventually we said our goodbyes at the door, thanking this reigning hostess for inviting us to her home. It proved to be important, a memorable part of our trip that satisfied our appetite for adventure. On the walk across Oxford, back to the room we ultimately leased, we speculated about our canceled holiday – the one we had missed – how our original plans could have been irreparably lost. Of course, most of our visit hadn’t been affected, like touring the museums, hiking along the ancient Thames, taking pictures of buildings where the architecture revealed an antiquity we rarely see in America. We boarded trains that took us to Stratford-on-Avon and Bath, stared into the heavens of stained glass cathedrals, stood silently beside the graves of literary heroes, like Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Agatha Christie.

We did most of the things we likely would have done had we arrived in 2021, and except for that one royal revision that tripped up the entire country while they mourned their loss and celebrated the life of their longest-reigning monarch, we might have never understood how the ending of a life can reveal the character of a living nation.

– David Feela

SignoftheDownfall:

The recent death of a La Plata County resident from West Nile virus, the state’s second West Nile death this year, with infected mosquitoes at the highest numbers in years.

And so it begins, the first debate of the 2024 election took place in Milwaukee on Wednesday night absent Donald Trump, with Republican hopefuls vying for the No. 2 spot. God help us.

The British Museum announcing last week it had fired a staff member suspected of looting ancient gems and selling them on e-bay. Seems like the world’s largest online sales platform may not be the best place to keep your crime a secret.

Robocock

A 2018 study predicted that more autonomous vehicles on the road would lead to more sex while driving. Five years later, lo and behold, Cruise, a robot-taxi startup in San Fransisco, is reporting that more and more people are using

their autonomous robot-taxis for sexual encounters. The company even pointed out that it only works because their taxis are controlled by roof-mounted guidance systems, so it doesn’t matter if the windows get fogged up (which kind of sounded like a commercial). However, this is probably just a fad, because sex in a small, electric, autonomous taxi sounds uber-uncomfortable.

John Fielder

The man who loved natural beauty

by Betsy Marston

If you’ve ever bought a calendar or coffee table book featuring the grandeur of Colorado’s 14ers, the stunning color photographs were almost certainly by John Fielder.

His output was stupendous. During his career as a nature photographer, which began in 1981, he published more than 40 books of Colorado landscapes. No doubt he had many more books to produce before pancreatic cancer took him on Aug. 11, 2023. He was 73.

One book, though, became his blockbuster, appealing to almost everybody’s curiosity about how Colorado had changed over the past 130 years. Called “Colorado, 1870-2000,” the large format book paired 156 historic photos by William Henry Jackson along with Fielder’s contemporary re-photographs.

In introducing the book, Fielder credited Eric Paddock, photo curator for the Colorado Historical Society, for the book’s genesis. Fielder was looking around for his next book, due out in 2000, when he called Paddock about Jackson’s iconic photo of the Mount of the Holy Cross, outlined in snow. When Paddock told him he had that negative along with 22,000 others of Jackson’s work, Fielder said he felt he’d won the

jackpot. He could make more than a century of history come alive by showing how landscapes altered – or mostly stayed the same – over time.

For months, he pored over the negatives, selecting those he thought were most striking and reproducible. Then, with the help of student Eric Bellamy, he drove more than 25,000 miles and hiked 500 miles, carrying 70 pounds of equipment, to get the shots he needed.

Sometimes he had to climb mountains – it took two trips up 13,248-foot Notch Mountain to capture Jackson’s photo of Mount of the Holy Cross. Other times he photographed from office buildings or knocked on the door of someone’s house to ask if he could stand on their roof. He said he needed two landmarks to be confident he was photographing from the correct spot.

But Fielder wanted his historic book to include more than photos; he also wanted people to get other perspectives about the history of Colorado.

He asked Eric Paddock to write about Jackson’s life and time; historian Roderick Nash to write about civilization’s impact on nature; and Ed Marston to write about coming with his family to Colorado from the wilds of New York.

Marston titled his first chapter, “A slow motion invasion of the rural West”

by environmentalists like himself, starting in the 1970s. Old mining towns with unpaved streets like Crested Butte were being discovered by ski bums and other young people, he wrote, who thought they’d found a promised land. Of course, what they found they immediately wanted to change.

He also wrote about the boom – and bust – of oil shale, along with the changing roles of federal agencies. From their emphasis on mining, logging and grazing, the Forest Service and BLM were coming to the reluctant realization the West needed restoration, not exploitation.

Marston said it was a treat working with Fielder, another workaholic, and to his surprise, the book’s huge sales actually made Fielder some money.

The book’s well-publicized debut in

Denver was a heady time for Fielder and the book’s writers, and all were on hand at a long table to sign each copy. Some people even bought multiple copies as the line snaked around the block.

It was Fielder’s vision and stamina that led to the success of “Colorado 1870-2000.” He’d masterminded a wonderful book that still shows up on coffee tables and at banks and title companies.

Fielder said he always sought to celebrate the beauty of the natural environment while also inspiring people to become advocates for the land. Now, thanks to his generous donation of 7,263 of his images to History Colorado, much of his work will live forever.

Betsy Marston is the editor of Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an nonprofit dedicated to spurring conversation about the West. She lives in Paonia.■

Photo courtesy Gary Wockner

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Coming up with a plan

PRID seeks to address recreation use, impacts at Vallecito

by Jonathan Romeo

After more than 80 years in operation, Vallecito Reservoir is getting a formalized recreation plan, a much-needed move to help manage the incredible increase of use at the lake in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials say.

“There are an enormous number of people who want to come recreate, and that translates into one word, and that word is ‘impact,’” Ken Beck, superintendent of the Pine River Irrigation District, or PRID, the organization that manages recreation at the reservoir, said.

The 125,400-acre-foot reservoir sits in an idyllic valley in the San Juan Mountains, about 25 miles northeast of Durango. It offers year-round recreation,

including fishing, hiking, boating and camping in the summer, as well as Nordic skiing and ice fishing in the winter.

Like most outdoor places, however, visitation has exploded since the pandemic. In 2022, for instance, nearly 34,000 people bought permits from PRID to recreate on Vallecito Reservoir. However, that number only reflects people who actually bought passes, and the real number of users is probably much higher, Beck said. In 2019, that number was at about 27,000.

Though recreation has been part of the reservoir’s history since it was built in 1942, there has never been a formalized plan that spells out the rules and regulations for recreational use, Beck said.

“This should have happened years

ago,” he said. “But back then, you could be out fishing all day and see no one. Now, on some weekends, like the Fourth of July, it’s practically shoulder to shoulder around the lake.”

The impact, Beck said, is more pronounced in recent years, with more trash, graffiti, trail damage and potential risks to water quality (such as boats not properly refilling gas tanks) – which is important to downstream water users such as farmers and municipalities.

“If we want this lake to be as pristine and beautiful for our kids and grandkids, we have to be on our toes,” Beck said.

Beck said the lack of a formalized plan over the years has led to confusion, and at times conflict, among user groups. Most recently, part of the Nordic ski trail system on the east side of the

The Pine River Irrigation District, which manages Vallecito Reservoir for the Bureau of Reclamation, is developing a plan to manage recreation at the increasingly popular spot./ File photo

lake, which crosses both Forest Service and PRID land, was closed over a dispute about jurisdiction and user fees. (That dispute has since been settled, but more on that later.)

The recreation plan, Beck said, aims to eliminate future uncertainty and disagreements. Interested stakeholders have spent the last year taking into account all the different forms of recreation and demands on the area, and consolidated rules in a centralized document.

“We basically formalized the process,” he said, “so it isn’t open to question or speculation.”

One of the big points of contention, Beck said, is whether PRID has the jurisdiction to implement user fees. Long story short: it does. Around 2020, it was determined that PRID, the reservoir’s operating body under authority of the Bureau of Reclamation, has the legal authority to charge fees for those recreating on its land.

Beck said Vallecito Reservoir’s user fees – $5 a day or $50 for the year – is in line with similar lakes in the area. Both Lake Nighthorse and Navajo Lake, for instance, charge $10 for the day or $80 for the year. And the fees are justified, Beck said.

“It’s expensive to maintain a recrea-

tion site,” he said. “I don’t know any public areas that don’t charge some sort of fee to maintain their facility.”

Beck stressed that the fee is for recreational use, not a parking permit, which is a common misconception. And, he said the money will be used to maintain and mitigate all the impacts from the uptick in visitors.

“We think there’s no more pristine place to recreate in the Four Corners than Vallecito,” he said. “But we’re trying to offer that at a real value and keep our fees middle-of-the-road.”

Down the line, the management plan calls for exploring options to extend the boat ramp at the marina by 40 feet to accommodate launching at low water levels. The marina is currently operated by Vallecito Conservation and Sporting Association through a contract with PRID. The association did not return a call seeking comment on this story.

Ethan Scott, lands and recreation manager for the Bureau of Reclamation, said the recreation plan will plainly outline operations on the lake, including invasive aquatic species inspections, which areas are closed, off-road vehicle usage and more.

“With it all written down, it is as easy as possible for the public to find, so they

know what the rules are,”

he said.

After the plan is approved, people can find a defined process if they want to propose, say, a special event such as an ice fishing tournament or race, like the Vallecito Lake Heavy Half Marathon. And, it will lay out the rules for certain licenses, like for fishing guides.

“We’ve been talking about this for some time, and thought now was a great time to work on it and get it done,” Scott said.

Indeed, one of the most notable disputes arose in 2017, when the Nordic skiing trail on the edge of the water, known as “the beach” – considered the most scenic of the routes – was closed by PRID, effectively eliminating nearly 50% of the groomed terrain in the area. For years, Nordic skiers had enjoyed free use of the trails, which were on PRID and Forest Service land, with donations being collected for the Vallecito Nordic Ski Club, which maintains and grooms the trails.

PRID wanted to implement a fee for people using its land, but after years, was not able to resolve whether it had authority to do so. As a result, the trails on PRID land were closed until 2020, when it was determined PRID did have the right to charge a fee (at the above-men-

tioned rate of $5 a day, $50 for the year).

Gary Gianniny, Vallecito Nordic Ski Club president, said in an interview with The Durango Telegraph that the club is happy with the proposed recreation plan. The only request was to specify that the Nordic trails are open to Nordic skiing only. He said that feedback was incorporated into the latest draft of the plan.

“There are separate trails for hiking and snowshoeing, and bikes can do an amazing amount of damage to groomed trails,” he said. “We were glad to see that; it just makes it clear.”

PRID will hold an open meeting to discuss and receive feedback on the plan at 5 p.m. Wed., Aug. 30, at the Vallecito Lake Community Center, 17252 CR 501. It’s expected the plan will be finalized and adopted in time for next summer. As for the public meeting, bring your ideas, Beck said. Already, one comment he received was from a woman who wanted to see more walking paths cleared of snow along the reservoir to allow more places to exercise during the winter.

“That’s a great idea,” he said. “We want to hear where we can improve what we’re already doing and see if we can do a better job in other places.” ■

Seasonal shift

Musical offerings to ease the back-to-school slog

by Jon E. Lynch

Even as a kiddo, I dug going back to school. That is not to say I didn’t enjoy my summers – oh, I did – but growing up in the oppressive humidity of the Midwest, I always looked forward to autumn and cooler, more temperate weather. And truth be told, I was one of those who genuinely enjoyed the routines of the academic environment. It was usually a slog as many transitions can be, but it was a welcome one.

By the time this goes to print, students in all the surrounding counties will have returned to the classroom, with Fort Lewis College not far behind. It tends to take me a solid five to seven weeks to navigate back into the rhythm of the school year and the influx of bodies and vehicles on the mesa, but it’s

generally welcome. One of the more easily embraced transitions is the everso-slight drop in tourist energy in town. It mostly seems like a non-existent shift now – but maybe I’m just hopeful.

Huzzah for hope!

I was discussing this with a friend while patronizing a small business in town (support your local ski/skate shops) where the friend worked. Perhaps I’m more comfortable with winter visitors; they tend to be a more specific, conscientious sort. This particular, name-withheld-for-anonymity-storekeep seemed to concur, but that seasonal changeover is much further off. We’ve got some fall to enjoy first. Being brained the way I am, the seasonal shift whets my appetite for the slew of some-certain, some-rumored forthcoming record releases (more on

that in coming months) and the tours/live music that tend to coincide. The closest metropolitan area(s) in our neighboring state to the south tend to be a hub and crossroad for nationally touring acts. I can’t stress this enough: take the time and effort to see live music

in New Mexico. There are a handful of venues in both Santa Fe and Albuquerque worth the drive, and they run the gamut from intimate dive-type bars to large-scale seated spaces. In downtown Albuquerque, on Central alone, you’re within walking

Cousin Curtiss kicks off the San Juan Brewfest on Friday night with his rootstomping sounds Vecchio Amaro del Cappo

distance to a half-dozen venues. One such, Sister Bar, isn’t just a helluva spot to play pinball, it draws several top-tier bands to its stage. The room holds just under 400, so you get up close and personal to the artists and, on a packed night, fellow concertgoers. Osees, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Holy Wave, and Wolves in the Throne Room are all playing the month of October. Just down the road at the Sunshine Theater, you can see Boris/the Melvins, Melt Banana or Baroness/Primitive Man/Midwife – and none of these coincide with any of the Sister events.

If guitars and heavier-leaning music isn’t your bag, look into the El Rey, Kiva Auditorium or The Launchpad for something that is.

Santa Fe also has options for live music, though I miss the days of the VFW, Corazon and Santa Fe Brewing (still hosting some, just not many). The Railyard has a smattering of live, local music most weekends. Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery is a great new-ish space with a diverse offering: Pato Banton, Black Joe Lewis, Mapache and Bombino(!!!) are all playing in the next two months.

Meow Wolf is a heavy draw – bands want to play that room – but tickets sellout FAST. For those planning on heading down for Yo La Tengo, the show’s been cancelled but will be rescheduled for early 2024. Bully, Matt & Kim, and Youth Lagoon are but a few playing soon.

The Santa Fe Opera has a couple worthwhile gigs with Lyle Lovett and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra (Sun., Sept. 3); Sylvan Esso (Sat., Sept. 9); and Modest Mouse (Thurs., Sept. 21).

Don’t sleep on music here in our own back yard,

either. Bay Area hip-hop legends Souls of Mischief will grace Animas City Theatre this Thurs., Aug. 24, (fresh off a sold-out Meow Wolf show the night before), celebrating the 30th anniversary of their breakout album “93 ‘til Infinity.” This is not one to miss. I just hope you read it here/bought your tickets in time.

Over in Pagosa, the Four Corners Folk Fest returns to Reservoir Hill on Sept. 1-3 with an impressive lineup including Bruce Cockburn, Gangstagrass and Jim Lauderdale.

I hear Tico Time has a couple festivals left this summer, too, with the Sunfire Festival – “a galacticinspired and indigenous-infused event” – happening this weekend, Aug. 25-28, and the sober Serenity Festival on Sept. 15-18.

The Hive and 11th St. Station have been hosting music all summer with little signs of slowing . Check their websites for the most current happenings.

San Juan Brewfest takes place in Buckley Park on Friday night and Saturday, with the rootstomp music of Cousin Curtiss on Friday night and one of my local favorites, The Crags, opening for Longmont-based jam band The Buzz on Saturday.

For those of you sticking around Labor Day Weekend, I highly recommend the triple bill of Neighborhood Skeletons, Acid Wrench and Townies at Anarchy Brewing on Sat., Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. Townies are “pretty damn good for a band from Trinidad, Colorado” fresh off the release of their latest EP “Revolver.” Full disclosure: this is an event “presented by KDUR,” but we’re in no way benefitting from it fiscally, and I’d be there even if there weren’t a few tangential ties to the gig. I like loud, female-fronted

rock and roll, and you’re getting it in tandem with Acid Wrench opening. So, go. Support local bands in your town, all the time. It’ll be an all-out gas. If I’m wrong, you can let me know after. Or, if you prefer to hide behind a keyboard (you know who you are), email me, along with questions, comments and gripes – especially the gripes – at: KDUR_PD@fort lewis.edu. ■

Bay Area hip-hop legends Souls of Mischief celebrate their 30th anniversary tour with a stop at the Animas City Theatre tonight, Thurs., Aug. 24.

Thursday24

Share Your Garden, bring extra fruit & veggies, 8:30 a.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 CR 203.

Casual Fridays play, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard Ave.

Community Harvest, fruit gleaning, 5:30-7:30 p.m., location at goodfoodcollective.org/harvest-fruit

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

Bob Hemenger plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station.

You Knew Me When plays, 6 p.m., Three Springs.

Devin Scott plays, 6 p.m., James Ranch.

3 Way Street plays, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Karaoke, 6 p.m., Grassburger South, 360 Camino del Rio.

Bluegrass jam, 6 p.m., 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.

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

Ecstatic Dance w/Coop Mahndala, 7-9 p.m., Durango Rec Center Outdoor Amphitheater.

Souls of Mischief play, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Friday25

Sunfire Festival, Tico Time, near Aztec, N.M.

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

San Juan Nature Hikes, 10 a.m., Andrews Lake. Hosted by San Juan Mountains Association.

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

San Juan Brewfest, 5-8 p.m., Buckley Park.

Out On Work Release plays, 6-9 p.m., Fire Fox Farms, Ignacio.

Reeder and Spencer play, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Hoodfoot plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Persephone, Crimson Kiss and more play, 8 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

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

Saturday26

Sunfire Festival, Tico Time, near Aztec, N.M.

Thirsty 13 Half Marathon, 6:30 a.m., info at thirsty13durango.com

Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m., TBK Bank parking lot, 259 W. 9th St. Live music by 3 Way Street.

Tour de Farms Bike Ride, 9 a.m., Riverview Elementary. mannasoupkitchen.org

San Juan Brewfest, 1-5 p.m., Buckley Park.

Summer Art Series, 1-6 p.m., Fox Fire Farms, Ignacio.

Aztec Ruins Program, featuring historian Fred Blackburn, 1 p.m., Animas Museum, 3065 W. 2nd Ave.

Ben Gibson plays, 5:30 p.m., The Office, 699 Main.

State 38 plays, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Karaoke, 6 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice, 3000 Main Ave. All levels welcome.

Smelter Mountain Boys play, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

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

Bootleg Ball, DJ Panacea spinning tunes from the ’20s-’30s, 7 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Suite E.

Basilaris plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th St. Station.

Silent Disco, 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m., 11th St. Station.

Sunday27

Sunfire Festival, Tico Time, near Aztec, N.M. Durango Flea Market, 8 a.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Women’s Ikebana plus Japanese Swords Workshop, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Durango Aikido, 121 W. 32nd St, Unit D. Register at durangoaikido.com

Vinyl Sundaze, 12 noon, Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Devin Scott plays, 12 noon, 11th St. Station.

Live music, 12:30-2 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice, 3000 Main Ave. All levels welcome.

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

“Nashville Songs and Stories,” 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

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

Monday28

Sunfire Festival, Tico Time Resort, near Aztec, N.M.

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

Community Harvest fruit gleaning, 5:30-7:30 p.m., location at goodfoodcollective.org/harvest-fruit

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

Tuesday29

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

AskRachel

Sugar fixated, hockey on meth and bad dog parents

Interesting fact: Until the pandemic, Halloween candy season typically lasted six weeks. Now it’s 10 or 12. At least Covid gave us this one good thing.

Dear Rachel,

What the H are we doing? I see that the grocery stores are stocking candy for Halloween. Heck it’s not even Labor Day. Oh I guess we don’t do much labor anymore, only smartphones with fingertips. I think the candy industry has gone bonkers. Most people bitch about gas prices but buy candy like it’s not going to be around. No wonder our kids are out of shape, no labor and more candy. What? Next month Christmas trees?

– Sugar Plum

Dear Rachel,

I’m fascinated by what gets left behind in lost and founds. I have been in situations, but never one where I leave without my shoes. Or Grandma’s ashes. Do some people just live oblivious? Or is this some form of recreational excitement I should be trying?

– Found Objects

Dear Dancing Visions,

I don’t think the reason our kids are out of shape is a lack of manual labor. In fact, I’m pretty sure Labor Day itself is, in part, a celebration of the fact that children are not forced to labor any more. Though if I had to labor as a kid, the candy factory would have been a pretty sweet gig. Just short each bag of Halloween mini Snickers by one little bar. No one would know, and I’d be well stocked.

– Fun-sized, Rachel

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

Rotary Club of Durango, featuring geologist Jeff Brame, 6 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.

Desert Child Duo plays, 6 p.m., James Ranch.

Live music, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.

Leah Orlikowski plays, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

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

Wednesday30

Restorative Yoga for Cancer, 9:30-10:45 a.m., for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, Smiley Building,

Dear Get Lost,

If your list of lost items don’t include your teeth, then there are definitely forms of recreational excitement you haven’t tried yet. Like hockey. Or meth. Or hockey on meth. Or hockey with a bunch of Canadians on meth. Do they even have meth in Canada? It goes against their image. Maybe you should try poutine instead of meth. I hear it’s tasty.

– Gap-toothed, Rachel

telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

Dear Man’s Bestie,

Dear Rachel,

My neighbors (think Cousin Eddie from “Vacation”) mentioned offhandedly they might get rid of their dogs because they’re bored with them. I hope they do rehome the dogs, because they are terribly neglected. But what kind of person gets bored with dogs? – Dog Gone It

1309 E. 3rd Ave. cancersupportswco.org/calendar.

Animas City Night Bazaar, 5-8 p.m., 2901 & E. 3rd.

Ben Gibson plays, 5:30 p.m., Public House 701, 701 E. 2nd Ave.

Open Mic Poerty, 6 p.m., 81301 Coffee House and Roasters, 3101 Main Ave.

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

Writers in the Round, 7:30 p.m., FLC’s Community Concert Hall. Proceeds go to Search and Rescue.

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

Ba Back to schooool!

Any distribution of the human race will have an edge of the bell curve that hates puppies, scams the elderly, kicks cats, makes fun of babies, cuts down trees just for fun, and stocks Halloween candy in the stores before Labor Day. All I can say is, maybe you should lure the dogs into your own car with dogcandy before things get any worse.

– Here boy, Rachel

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

Ongoing

Merely Players present “A Slow Crawl Toward Heaven,” Fri. - Sat., 7 p.m.; sun., 2 p.m. Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr.

“Bye Bye Birdie: The Musical,” Aug. 25-26 & Sept. 1-2, 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 27 & Sept. 3, 2 p.m. Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Upcoming

Ecstatic Dance w/Smiley Coyote, Aug. 31, 7-9 p.m., Durango Rec Center Outdoor Amphitheater.

High Altitude Blues play, Sept. 1, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Rob Brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): None of the books I’ve written has appeared on the New York Times best-seller list. Even if my future books do well, I will never catch up with Aries writer James Patterson, who has had 260 books on the prestigious list. My sales will never rival his, either. He has earned more than $800 million from the 425 million copies his readers have bought. While I don’t expect you Rams to ever boost your income to Patterson’s level, either, I suspect the next nine months will bring you unprecedented opportunities to improve your financial situation. For best results, edge your way toward doing more of what you love to do.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Addressing a lover, D. H. Lawrence said that “having you near me” meant that he would “never cease to be filled with newness.” That is a sensational compliment! I wish all of us could have such an influence in our lives: a prod that helps arouse endless novelty. Here’s the good news, Taurus: I suspect you may soon be blessed with a lively source of such stimulation, at least temporarily. Are you ready and eager to welcome an influx of freshness?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Humans have been drinking beer for at least 13,000 years and eating bread for 14,500. We’ve enjoyed cheese for 7,500 years and popcorn for 6,500. Chances are good that at least some of these four are comfort foods for you. In the coming weeks, I suggest you get an ample share of them or any other delicious nourishments that make you feel wellgrounded and deep-rooted. You need to give extra care to stabilizing your foundations. You have a mandate to cultivate security, stability and constancy. Here’s your homework: Identify three things you can do to make you feel utterly at home in the world.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): On Instagram, I posted a favorite quote from poet Muriel Rukeyser: “The world is made of stories, not atoms.” I added my own thought: “You are made of stories, too.” A reader didn’t like this meme. He said it was “a nightmare for us anti-social people.” I asked him why. He said, “Because stories only happen in a social setting. To tell or hear a story is to be in a social interaction. If you’re not inclined towards such activities, it’s oppressive.” Here’s how I replied: “That’s not true for me. Many of my stories happen while I’m alone with my inner world. My nightly dreams are some of my favor-

ite stories.” Anyway, Cancerian, I’m offering this exchange to you now, because you are in a story-rich phase of your life. The tales coming your way, whether they occur in social settings or in the privacy of your own fantasies, will be extra interesting, educational and motivational.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Author A. Conan Doyle said, “It has long been my axiom that the little things are infinitely the most important.” Spiritual teacher John KabatZinn muses, “The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” Here’s author Robert Brault’s advice: “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” Ancient Chinese sage Lao-Tzu provides a further nuance: “To know you have enough is to be rich.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “I don’t believe that in order to be interesting or meaningful, a relationship has to work out – in fiction or in real life.” So says Virgo novelist Elizabeth Curtis Sittenfeld, and I agree. Just because a romantic bond didn’t last forever doesn’t mean it was a waste of energy. An intimate connection you once enjoyed but then broke off might have taught you lessons that are crucial to your destiny. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to acknowledge and celebrate these past experiences of togetherness.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The amount of rubbish produced by the modern world is staggering: more than 2 billion tons per year. To get a sense of how much that is, imagine a convoy of fully loaded garbage trucks circling the earth 24 times. You and I can diminish our contributions to this mess, though we must overcome the temptation to think our personal efforts will be futile. Can we really help save the world by buying secondhand goods, shopping at farmer’s markets and curbing our use of paper? Maybe a little. And here’s the bonus: We enhance our mental health by reducing the waste we engender. Doing so gives us a more graceful and congenial relationship with life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I hope that in the coming weeks, you will wash more dishes, do more laundry and scrub more floors than you ever have before. Clean the bathrooms with extra fervor, too. Scour the oven and refrigerator. Make your bed with extreme precision. Got all that, Scorpio? JUST KIDDING! Everything I just said was a lie. Now here’s my authentic

message: Avoid grunt work. Be as loose and playful and spontaneous as you have ever been. Seek recordbreaking levels of fun and amusement.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Dear Sagittarius the Archer: To be successful in the coming weeks, you don’t have to hit the exact center of the bull’s-eye every time – or even anytime. Merely shooting your arrows so they land somewhere inside the fourth or third concentric rings will be a very positive development. Same is true if you are engaged in a situation with metaphorical resemblances to a game of horseshoes. Even if you don’t throw any ringers at all, just getting close could be enough to win the match.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I suspect you are about to escape the stuffy labyrinth. There may be a short adjustment period, but soon you will be running half-wild in a liberated zone where you won’t have to dilute and censor yourself. I am not implying that your exile in the enclosed space was purely oppressive. Not at all. You learned some cool magic in there, and it will serve you well in your expansive new setting.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Though my mother is a practical, sensible person with few mystical propensities, she sometimes talks about a supernatural vision she had. Her mother, my grandmother, had been disabled by a massive stroke. It left her barely able to do more than laugh and move her left arm. But months later, on the morning after Grandma died, her spirit showed up in a pink ballerina dress doing ecstatic pirouettes next to my mother’s bed. My mom saw it as a communication about how joyful she was to be free of her wounded body. I mention this gift of grace, because I suspect you will have at least one comparable experience in the coming weeks. Be alert for messages from your departed ancestors.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Those who know the truth are not equal to those who love it,” said the ancient Chinese sage Confucius. Amen! Seeking to understand reality with cold, unfeeling rationality is at best boring and at worst destructive. I go so far as to say that it’s impossible to deeply comprehend anything or anyone unless we love them. Really! I’m not exaggerating or being poetical. In my philosophy, our quest to be awake and see truly requires us to summon an abundance of affectionate attention. I nominate you to be the champion practitioner of this approach to intelligence, Pisces.

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

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@fortlewis.edu or call 970.247.7261

Classes/Workshops

West Coast Swing Dance

6-week class starts September 6. Learn the basics of West Coast swing. Registration is required at www.west slopewesties.com

Wanted

Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum

Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.

ForSale

Small Sailboat for Sale

See: https://robdawes.com/trimaransailboat-for-sale/

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 space with furniture and décor for moving in like nightstands, rugs, lamps and coffee tables. Looking to consign smaller furniture pieces … 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.Sat. 385-7336.

Services

Need a Painter? -25 years experience -floor to ceiling painting -deck staining -drywall, texture & repairs. 970-708-7451.

Free Astrology Consult

Visit AnimasAstrology.com to request a free consultation with a local astrologer to review and analyze your birth chart (the location of the planets at the moment of your birth). Clients new to astrology are preferred. Spaces are limited.

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.

BodyWork

Lotus Path Healing Arts

Offering a unique, intuitive fusion of Esalen massage, deep tissue & Acutonics, 24 years of experience. To schedule call Kathryn, 970-201-3373.

Bodywork Special

Deep tissue, therapeutic, myofascial bodywork specials! Downtown Durango. 60 min for $75, 90 min for $100. Call or text Dennis @ 970.403.5451

Massage by Meg Bush

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

CommunityService

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.

HaikuMovieReview

'Fun Mom Dinner'

Four moms smoke weed with Paul Rudd and get drunk with that creep from Maroon Five

– Lainie Maxson

There are 11 local intersections with morning and evening time slots, totaling 77 slots. The city conducts counts at intersections every other year to collect accurate 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