the durango
8
Digging in Mining could be returning to the La Platas – but likely not soon by Jonathan Thompson / The Land Desk
10
Oh, the horror
Heeding the creeper vibe can do more than save you from a bad date by Ann Marie Swan
The Road
A parable about politics and America (with apologies to Cormac McCarthy) by Zach Hively
9 Shift happens
Smoothing out life’s bumps with a little musical catharsis by Jon E. Lynch
EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel missy@durangotelegraph.com
ADVERTISING SALES: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
STAFF REPORTER: Scoops McGee telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-
STAR-STUDDED CAST: Zach Hively, Jonathan Thompson, Jon E. Lynch, Ann Marie Swan, Lainie Maxson, Jesse Anderson, Rob Brezsny and Clint Reid
P.O. Box 332, Durango, CO 81302
Ear to the ground:
“Must be hard getting hung up on all the time.”
– We said “telemarker,” but he probably gets hung up on a lot, too
A big save
Here’s a little bit of good news in a week where it seems like the world is going to, well, garbage. An iconic headwaters in the San Juan Mountains has been saved from getting trashed in perpetuity.
This week, the San Jan National Forest announced it has acquired 160 acres of “iconic mountain meadow” bordering the Lizard Head Wilderness, southwest of Telluride. Known as Dunton Meadows, with views of Mount Wilson and El Diente, the previously private land is important not only for its viewshed but because it serves as the headwaters of the Dolores River. The acquisition will help protect a crucial source of clean, cold water for native cutthroat trout in a Dolores River tributary called Coal Creek.
The deal was orchestrated by the Western Rivers Conservancy, which along with the SJNF, launched an effort to conserve Dunton Meadows in 2021. WRC purchased the property in May 2023 then worked with the Forest Service to secure funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and other sources. The land was then conveyed to the SJNF.
“In addition to being a spectacular alpine meadow with sweeping views, Dunton Meadows is a vital cold-water savings vault for the area’s fish and wildlife,” Allen Law, of the Western Rivers Conservancy, said. “Alpine wetlands like this are rarer than ever, so protecting what we still have is critical to river systems like the Dolores.”
On the cover
A mountain biker exhibits what happens when you fail to follow the “hydrate or die” advice./ Photo by Andy High
WORLD ADDRESS: 679 E. 2nd Ave., Unit 8 Durango, CO 81301
PHONE: 970-259-0133
E-MAIL: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
AND SUBSCRIPTIONS:
ster powder days. We are wholly independently owned and operated by the Durango Telegraph LLC and dis-
Dunton Meadows sits at roughly 10,000 feet in elevation about 25 miles from Telluride, between the East and West forks of the Dolores. The meadow serves as a cold-water “sponge” that collects, cools, filters and gradually releases snowmelt. The subalpine meadow is also habitat for elk, deer, bear, lynx and other fuzzy critters. In addition, the property is bisected by a road that connects hikers to two popular San Juan hikes: the Navajo Lake Trail and the Kilpacker Trail.
“Dunton Meadows is ecologically irreplaceable for the role it serves in the Dolores River watershed,” Dolores District Ranger Nick Mustoe said. “The property’s importance for fish and wildlife in the Dolores River system is only matched by its important contribution to water quality and quantity for downstream municipalities.”
The Dunton Meadows property has been a top priority for years, and keeping it intact allows it to continue its small but crucial role in the health of the Dolores River system, accoidng to the SJNF.
LaVidaLocal
Grab a shovel
Let’s try this out as a parable. Once, there was a dirt road. And this road, realistic as it was, was also entirely allegorical, lest my neighbors who live along it figure out I’m talking about them.
The dirt road had survived many years of traffic – walkers and wanderers, horses, cars, perfectly lovely assholes who never even once tore up the road (nor the once-pristine land alongside it) with their perfectly lovely ATVs. Sure, the dirt road got muddy and rutted from time to time. What dirt road doesn’t? But the neighbors, especially the retired ones with tractors and (more than anyone cared to admit) the youth, tended to put things back to rights.
Then, a season of rather intense rains came up. “This road is built to weather such storms,” the neighbors said. “Sure, we may notice some weak spots, but we can reinforce them. Besides, we have these sturdy culverts to serve as underpinnings of our democracy – ahem, that is, our road.”
The storm season dried up, as storm seasons do. But then it came back. (It was entirely unconnected to the impossibility of man-made climate change yet possibly, it was rumored, created by a man-made weather machine.) The rains poured more upon the earth than it could handle, and both of the road’s culverts plugged up with sand and other misinformation. Water overwhelmed the road in these two spots. It eroded the dirt that had made up the road ever since the Founding Fathers shoveled it there.
much as everyone else did. No one dared to challenge his perfectly lovely bluster, and he sure didn’t want to see other people benefiting in life when he, himself, was perfectly miserable and afraid deep down inside.
So, with one more rainstorm, the road fell open, and everyone who lived down-road from the culvert was stuck there forever, and no one from the rest of the world could get in, and the neighbors fell into an HBO-grade dystopia.
But maybe the allegoric neighbors aren’t stuck. Maybe they’ll fix the culvert, some way, despite the perfectly lovely asshole and his perfectly lovely gun collection.
Now the neighbors – who, like the road itself, must remain completely allegorical – who lived near the second culvert got to work. Even though, every now and again, their beloved road was traversed by migrants and single mothers and book-learned perfessers, they still whipped out a Bobcat and unplugged the culvert and did their darndest to repair the road.
However, the neighbors who lived near the first culvert felt paralyzed. That culvert rested on the property of a perfectly lovely asshole, and the neighbors held the perfectly lovely belief that he might shoot them for perfectly lovely trespassing if they so much as eyed the blockage. He was the sort of perfectly lovely asshole who let his perfectly lovely trash blow into his neighbors’ yards, among other perfectly lovely neighborly behaviors.
It didn’t matter that this perfectly lovely asshole relied on the dirt road as
Thumbin’It
Woohoo! After years of finagling and shoddy local weather forecasts, the county’s weather radar at the airport is up and running. It probably won’t change the fickle Colorado weather, but at least we’ll be prepared.
Colorado just received $66.4 million in federal transportation funds to prepare existing freight lines to also accommodate passenger rail between Denver and Fort Collins. We know, it’s far away, but fewer cars on the road benefit everyone.
Hey, there’s less than a week to go in one of the most grueling and torturous election seasons ever. That’s good news, isn’t it?
I don’t know how the parable ends. Because I don’t get to write the full ending. I’m just one of the neighbors, and there are millions of us.
But I do get one say in what we do with this beautiful dirty ol’ road of ours. Of course there are going to be other storms, other problems. Like those washboard ruts that can jostle a Taurus apart at the bolts – how do those even form?
But how we fix the road right now matters. Look. I’m not apolitical in my writing – I just don’t talk about politics very much. I stand for things that I think shouldn’t need to be stood up for, which becomes political. I started this piece off thinking I wouldn’t tell you how to vote, or who to vote for – not least of all because that is the damn surest way to get perfectly lovely votes for the other guy, for destructive causes.
But, I can’t. I can’t stay quiet. Holy hell, please vote. Please vote for the sake of the environment, the future, our own damn selves. Please vote.
We’re not debating on the best way to accomplish our goals as a community, a state, a nation. We’re not debating which method of taxation is best for stimulating the economy. We’re deciding whether we want to remain a democratic republic. Whether or not we value compassion. We are basically voting on whether we think people are people, or we think only some people deserve to be people. This isn’t new. It’s just that now the quiet parts are loud. If this makes me political, so be it: I am voting for treating people like people. So what if I – owing to appearance, lineage and a significant share of unearned privilege, will never have to travel the same dirt roads as they do? If the road gets washed out, we all get stuck. I don’t want to hear about imperfect choices. This is life, y’all. So vote. Vote like it’s the last time you’ll get to, so that it’s not the last time you’ll get to.
– Zach Hively
SignoftheDownfall:
Amazon gajillionaire Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post – whose motto is “democracy dies in darkness” – pulled the plug last-minute on the paper’s endorsement of Kamala Harris. Maybe the new motto should be “RIP democracy”...
Still not sure what to be for Halloween? Remember, cultural appropriation is never a good idea. (We also take issue with the “sexy-anything” genre, but maybe that’s just us.) Best to stick with something we are all afraid of, like the Tyrant Cheeto.
Well, the election is off to a rocky start in Colorado, with stolen ballots in Mesa County and the leaking of voting system passwords, all of which is sure to fuel the conspiracy theory dumpster fire.
Like a shot in the class
“Sexy Ozempic Pen” is by far the worst saucy costume for sale online this year, and it’s available for $39.95 on Yandy.com. But the worst costume overall is a couples’ set of body-sized Crocs complete with dumbass charms; the pair will cost you $98.99 via rastaimpasta.com. And of course, both sites are deathly afraid of the mega corporations they’re spoofing for profit, so the pen costume is called “Sooo Snatched,” and the Crocs are called the “Garden Clog Couple.” Because in America, a lawsuit is the scariest thing ever, even on Halloween.
Hunting is a critical tool
During my time working at Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the mission was to promote, protect, enhance and manage wildlife resources on behalf of citizens and future generations. We accomplished this using the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which considers hunting to be a cornerstone for managing and restoring wildlife and habitats. We were also guided by state statute, which directs CPW to use hunting and trapping as the primary methods of necessary wildlife harvests.
Proposition 127 seeks to take away hunting despite experts deeming it a critical tool to effectively manage lions and bobcats. While supporters of Proposition 127 argue that this hunting is inhumane – particularly that of mountain lion hunting, which utilizes dogs – I could not disagree more.
Wildlife research in Colorado must pass a review panel comprised of scientists, ethicists and veterinary health and welfare experts. They have consistently signed off on CPW research, including that which used dogs to capture lions. If using dogs was an inhumane practice, then these panels would have never given their approval. Despite claims made by supporters of Proposition 127, CPW has ensured all research is conducted in a humane and ethical manner.
Having been a wildlife professional for nearly two decades, I can tell you that mortality is inevitable, regardless of whether a species is managed with hunting. However, hunting remains an effective and humane tool for managing Colorado’s lions and bobcats. In a managed population, surplus animals can be harvested and utilized to create balance within the ecosystem. This balance limits other sources of undesirable mortality like starvation, being hit by a car, being killed by peers or being euthanized following conflict.
In Colorado, hunters are taught through hunter education how to make a quick, clean, precise kill. To me, this is far more humane than leaving our big cats vulnerable to undesirable instances of mortality.
Proponents of Prop. 127 are manipulating the public by using false claims about what this ballot measure actually does. Prop. 127 does not end trophy hunting, the hunting of endangered lynx or the suffocation and bludgeoning of lions and bobcats. All of these things are already illegal. Instead, Proposition 127 is a 100%
ban on the hunting of our state’s lions and bobcats.
Supporters are portraying every hunter as a person who supports or participates in these illegal and unethical acts. However, proponents are referring to the actions of poachers, not hunters. Poachers should be held accountable, just like anyone who breaks the law. However, we as a society do not ban driving because someone drove drunk; we hold that individual driver accountable. The same should be true when we consider our state’s wildlife management policies.
Hunting is a way to connect with our natural world and spend time outside with friends and family. It is a source of ethically raised and harvested meat. But lastly – and perhaps most importantly – it is a way to contribute to wildlife conservation.
As a conservationist and wildlife professional, I strongly encourage you to vote no on Proposition 127 so our state’s wildlife can be left to the experts at Colorado Parks & Wildlife. They are good people, and they are good at what they do.
– Crystal Chick, Durango
Protect cats from unfair chase
A yes vote on Proposition 127 will protect bobcats, lynx and mountain lions from hunting and trapping in Colorado. It will allow the killing of these animals under certain circumstances, such as livestock depredation.
As a lifetime hunter and fisherman and most importantly, wildlife conservationist, I understand both sides of this issue. Hunters and trappers want to protect the opportunity to hunt and trap. Wildlife advocates and conservationists are interested in the welfare of wildlife.
After spending more than 30,000 hours in the field studying and filming mountain lions and bobcats, I’ve learned that these animals, as keystone species, have an outsized positive impact on the ecosystem. They deserve wildlife management that supports their welfare and works to maximize the overall health of their populations. Mountain lions and bobcats do not benefit from being hunted or trapped. Only hunters and trappers benefit. Solid science and research supports the fact that big cats self-regulate their populations. There is no scientific evidence that hunting and trapping is necessary to control their populations.
The Colorado Park and Wildlife Commission Policy states that wildlife be managed for the use, benefit and enjoyment of Colorado visitors and residents. But,
every species has a set of biological and ecological factors they are dependent upon, and a wildlife management plan should support those factors. The current goal for management is simply maintaining a population that can be hunted and trapped. However, if hunting and trapping does not improve the welfare of these species, the activity should be called into question.
One of the most important biological factors that determines the health of wild feline populations is kitten survival. Each year, mountain lion kittens are orphaned when female mountain lions are killed by hunters. Mountain lion biologists and researchers will tell you no more than 22% of the harvest should be female lions of breeding age. In Colorado, 46% of mountain lions killed by hunters each year are female lions.
The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is often cited as the gold standard of wildlife conservation. It was a response to the market hunting that was decimating wildlife in North America. A key tenet of this model is elimination of markets for wildlife. Trapping and hunting of bobcats and selling their pelts is a clear violation of this tenet.
In addition, fair chase refers to the pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild game in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper or unfair advantage. The current use of lights, electronic devices, motorized ve-
hicles, drones, dogs and bait is considered unfair chase. A yes vote on Proposition 127 would maintain the flexibility of CPW to kill mountain lions and bobcats when they are preying on livestock and at the same time support the positive impact these animals have on the ecosystems they inhabit.
– David Neils,
Loveland
We don’t need sequel to Jan. 6
I do not have to look beyond our own family to acknowledge the stark political polarization that dominates this election cycle. My family is multi-generational Wyo./N.M. and mostly Colorado. The angry Red Hats are on one side, and old hippie Libs like me are on the other. If MAGA prevails in this election, it is going to be hard to almost impossible to have anything to do with them, as their elected Mesiah goes about implementing Project 2025. More than anything, this hurts. Family is family but even familial bonds can reach a breaking point.
If Kamala Harris and Tim Walz win a squeaker, but Congress remains under the control of the “freedom party,” MAGA will sabotage progressive legislation or worse, refuse once again to accept the results of the election. We have seen this movie, and it could be much uglier and even more violent than Jan. 6. I pray it goes the other way, so Democracy may survive. It is possible to reconstruct a legitimate conservative party that transcends the deeply flawed values expressed by the white Christian Nationalists that now dominate the Republican Party.
– Paul Rogers,
Durango
Democracy over dictatorship
To those who lament “the parties are the same” –what are you thinking? Compare their plans!
First, read Project2025.org or Rep. Barbara McLachlan’s excellent summary of it published here (Oct. 3, 2024). Then read about Kamala Harris’ policy proposals, below.
Project 2025 was developed by the Heritage Foundation and Trump’s former administration officials and associates. It specifically names Trump 300 times, laying out an explicit, detailed proposal to create a Christian Nationalist dictator president. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts called this a “second revolution” – bloodless “if the left allows it to be.” Combined with the total immunity the Supreme Court gave Trump for any “official act” – including assassinating his enemies – Trump would destroy the lifestyle and freedoms we cherish.
By contrast, Kamala Harris protects workers’ and family’s rights and needs. She will sign bills that ban the rampant corporate price gouging; restore Roe v. Wade abortion and extend the $35 cap on insulin.
While Trump will provide yet more welfare for his rich buddies – on our backs – Harris will work to reverse the divide between the super-rich and us underclass folks. She will provide first-time homebuyers with up to $25,000 for down payments, plus additional support for first-generation homeowners; build 3 million more rental units and affordable homes; and outlaw new forms of price fixing by corporate landlords. She supports small businesses by expanding their startupexpense tax deduction from $5,000 to $50,000.
How will she fund this? By rolling back Trump’s tax
cuts for corporations and the mega-wealthy. She will enact a minimum tax for billionaires, quadruple the tax on stock buybacks and increase the tax rate on long-term capital gains to 28% for those earning at least $1 million a year. Meanwhile, she protects those who actually work for a living by guaranteeing no tax increases for those earning less than $400,000 a year (this extends a Biden pledge). She also plans to expand the child tax credit to $6,000 for families with newborns, and make the Democrats’ tax credit enhancements for health care premiums permanent.
That’s not all. Harris will raise the minimum wage; establish paid family and medical leave; eliminate taxes on tips; end sub-minimum wage for tipped workers and people with disabilities; and end four-year college degree requirements for many federal jobs.
We all know that voting rights and access are under GOP attack through voter suppression, gerrymandering, and voter roll purges. Harris will sign the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, as well as the Equality Act to protect LGBTQ+ Americans. Among her many other significant pledges are addressing immigration by signing the bipartisan border security bill, which Trump blocked, and ending the siege on Palestine by securing hostage and cease-fire deals between Israel and Hamas.
Trump plans are to hand control of America to his uber rich class, today’s version of the monarchy we fought to be free from. Harris and the Democrats are clearly focusing financial resources on us – the workers who create wealth in America. Democracy works. Vote blue.
– Kirby MacLaurin,
Durango
by Jonathan P. Thompson
AMining in the La Platas?
Probably not anytime soon, but it’s worth keeping tabs on
few years ago, a concerned resident let me know about a Canadian company’s proposal to do exploratory drilling for copper in the La Plata Mountains west of Durango. I told him not to worry, at least not yet. Smalltime mining companies are notorious for staking a handful of claims and hyping pie-in-the-sky projects that will never come to fruition, and this one seemed to fit the bill.
This week another person asked me about the same project and whether I thought it was realistic. I was a bit slower to dismiss it this time. No, we’re not going to see the beloved mountain range gouged open for minerals anytime soon, but the company – and its plan –have become increasingly viable over time.
Metallic Minerals began acquiring and staking claims in the La Plata Mountains in 2019, and since then the company has amassed more than 500 patented and unpatented claims and other parcels covering some 12,000 acres, or 19 square miles. The company’s proposed La Plata copper project straddles and encompasses most of the western ridge of the range: If you’ve climbed Madden, Star, Gibbs or Helmet Peak, you’ve been on Metallic Minerals’ claims (or ones controlled by the firm but under a different claimant). In press releases, Metallic Minerals estimates the La Plata deposits contain as much as 1.2 billion pounds of copper, along with silver, platinum, tellurium and rare
earth elements.
The company began exploratory drilling in 2022 in what it calls the Allard deposit, and in June 2023, the firm filed a notice of intent with the U.S. Forest Service to do exploratory drilling on Montezuma Minerals’ 97 un-patented mining claims near the head of Bedrock Creek. That would include pulling up to 247,000 gallons of water per year from Boren, Bedrock and Madden Creeks, and then replacing the water – presumably trucked in – to the La Plata River where
it crosses Highway 160 to ensure downstream water rights are honored. The efforts would be funded in part by an investment from Newcrest Mining Limited, which was acquired by global mining giant Newmont last November.
This summer, the firm asked to reduce the number of boreholes it originally requested from 16 to four, although the company appears to be drilling on patented, private claims.
At this point, Metallic Minerals’ La Plata project seems to be no more than
an exploratory effort. The firm has released no plans beyond that. Of course, drilling has impacts: It can be noisy, requires water and land needs to be cleared to make room for the drill rigs. But the big impacts and concern comes from the potential for actual mining. But if it were ever to happen it wouldn’t be for years or even decades from now. The company would have to get permits from state mining regulators, federal land management agencies, the county and the state water engineer (for water rights). And there would be ample opportunities for public input.
So, based on that, I’d say it’s not worth getting too worked up about. That said, it’s become increasingly clear that Metallic Minerals is not a fly-bynight outfit that is only interested in mining naive investors’ pocketbooks. It has the backing of Newmont (the operator of the Cripple Creek & Victor gold mine in Teller County and large mines in Nevada), and it claims its drilling has uncovered rich deposits of ore (always to be taken with a grain of salt). But it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Area residents have a chance to learn more – Metallic Minerals is holding two open houses next week:
Breen Community Building, Thurs., Nov. 7, 5-7:30 p.m.
Mancos Community Center, Fri., Nov. 8, 5-7:30 p.m.
The Land Desk is a newsletter from Jonathan P. Thompson, author of “River of Lost Souls,” “Behind the Slickrock Curtain” and “Sagebrush Empire.” To subscribe, go to: www.land desk.org ■
The La Plata Mountains as seen from the slopes of Madden Peak. Most of the land pictured (except for the background ridge) is controlled by Metallic Minerals. / Photo by Jonathan P. Thompson
by Jon E. Lynch
HMusical catharsis
Shifts happen – music helps smooth them out
ey you. It’s been a minute. Semi-apologies for being absent these last two months. I tried desperately, and in vain, to scribble off my agreed-upon wordcount for this column, and it simply wasn’t happening. My mind and body had other agendas, and I’m just along for the welcomely disorienting, often jarring, ride. I’ve felt a series of upending shifts, some of which are only now starting to settle.
Thanks to anyone who’s bent an ear since mid-August. You know who you are, and you are loved and appreciated beyond adequate articulation.
Part of my personal catharsis has been aided by music – unsurprising to those who know me. In the past few weeks, I was fortunate to see a thing or two. Local legends and purveyors of Western garage-twang the Lawn Chair Kings segued us into fall at the Mancos Brewery. There was joy and reverie, and their sunsets are better over there.
Another highlight was arguably one of the greatest live rock and roll (and punk, psych, krautrock and avant f***-all) bands of the last decade, Osees (aka OCS, The Ohsees, Thee Oh Sees, Oh Sees.) They completely transmogrified the faces, hearts and psyches of attendees that overcame distance, time and space to catch the late, late gig at the Shiprock Chapter House in New Mexico. Immense thanks and sincere reverence to Manny and the Navajo Reservation for having me.
vivalist gothic country and post-punk. Hearing the new songs and harmonies with Slim’s son George were sweet. But it was the headliner, the inimitable Kid Congo – with his Cheshire grin, fabulous canary-sparkled blazer and wholly authentic self – that made it all worthwhile. At 65, the queer Chicano rock and roll icon exuded a youthfulness that belied his years. Hearing him play seminal songs from his former bands, The Cramps and The Gun Club, along with cuts from his latest release, “That Delicious Vice,” bound it all together with a hefty knot.
Last but no least, I’d like to relay my friends’ album recommendations for “joyful, solace or comfort” and was given many worthy listens to distract from the political discourse. These include but are not limited to: Carla Morrison’s minor chord laden and divinely swoon-able “Déjenme Llorar;” Chan Marshall aka Cat Power’s 2003 opus “You Are Free;” and Gillian Welch’s 2001 classic “Time (The Revelator).” There were also a few male-fronted picks, which I feel obliged to mention: The Magnetic Fields “69 Love Songs” (which was mentioned twice by two different friends); Sufjan Stevens’ “Illinoise;” Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York; Tom Petty “Wildflowers;” R.E.M.’s “Life’s Rich Pageant;” The Stone Roses “The Stone Roses;” and Grateful Dead’s “American Beauty.” If you’re feeling a little off, give any of these a spin. Can’t hurt.
Last week, Tucson’s Calexico helped usher in a year-long celebration of Durango’s finest college and community radio station, KDUR (Hey! I work there!) The band splendidly melded all the styles and sounds of the various tendrils of Latin rock, indie rock, Americana and more. Depending on whom you asked, I’m missing at minimum four other genre identifiers. Point is, everyone in the near sold-out Community Concert Hall had a total gas, and the band did too.
Just days ago, I rounded out the weekend at the Tumbleroot in Santa Fe with Slim Cessna’s Auto Club opening for Kid Congo Powers and The Pink Monkey Birds. SCAC shows are nearly always brilliant with their pointed, riveting take on re-
Which reminds me: are you doing OK? How are you holding up? Are you freaked the eff out by the election? Are you scared that deep-seeded patriarchal indoctrination, systemic racism and overt misogyny might keep our nation from the first female president? Yeah, me too.
Last week “Run the Jewels 2,” the second studio album from American hip hop duo Run the Jewels, turned 10. In honor of that, allow me to remind those against us of a somewhat infamous line from the song “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry.” Decorum and an uptight editor prevents me from writing it in this family paper, so you’ll have to google it.
As always, reach out with questions, comments and gripes. Especially the gripes. I’m guessing there are many. KDUR_PD@ fortlewis.edu ■
The Osees’ John Dwyer during a recent show in Shiprock. / Photo by Christopher Barbee
Frighteningly wrong
Heeding weird vibes can do more than save you from a bad date
by Ann Marie Swan
Netflix’s new thriller “Woman of the Hour,” by Ian McDonald, goes beyond horror movies’ jumpscare, visceral thrills and goofy Halloween antics. The movie, about serial torturerrapist-killer Rodney Alcala, who won an episode of “The Dating Game” in 1978, makes the scary all too real. As in horrible dates gone life-threatening.
An internet search of aired episodes from “The Dating Game” makes clear why. The show’s ’70s-style banter, saucy and sexually suggestive, along with kisses planted on lips and arms tight around those newly introduced, may have been acceptable at the time. Or tolerated. Now it looks wildly inappropriate. Most of all, the touching, the too-familiar behavior, the jokes laden with carnal puns, create expectations for that winning date.
The fact is, a new date – even if not romantic – means we’re eventually going to be alone with someone we don’t know well. Whether it’s in a car en route to a restaurant or on a hiking trail. At some point, we’re trusting this stranger with the most precious thing we have. Our life.
Nothing scary about the DO Difference. Shelves full of treats & friendly folks here to help.
Scan for photo menu and to order online.
PREMIUM
That’s frightening. A bad date isn’t even the worst of it. Women are too often assaulted.
The episode of “The Dating Game” with Alcala as a contestant was filmed during one of his murderous sprees. He was convicted of killing seven women and girls. But the actual number is unknown and may be closer to 130. Hearing the show’s canned, icky questions and answers gives a chill that’s tough to shake.
Here’s one exchange:
Cheryl Bradshaw, the bachelorette played by Anna Kendrick, asked Alcala: “I’m serving you for dinner. What are you called and what do you look like?”
Alcala responded, “I’m called the banana, and I look good.”
Bradshaw then said, “Can you be a little more descriptive?”
“Peel me,” Alcala said.
After Alcala wins the date, he gives Bradshaw a celebratory kiss on the lips, and the two stand together, arms around each other as the prize date is announced – tennis lessons, tennis outfits and a day at an amusement park.
Thankfully, Bradshaw passed on the date as she must have picked up on something. It’s notable that her instincts weren’t drowned out by the applause, bright lights and competitiveness of getting on a game show. In a move that might have saved her life, she told the contestant coordinator: “I can’t go out with this guy. There’s weird vibes that are coming off of him. He’s very strange.”
The movie version is modernized, giving agency to the bachelorette character, played by Kendrick who also directed. She asked, “What are girls for?” A
question that could be answered in ways that show depth.
I watched ABC’s daytime version of “The Dating Game” as a young girl, when I was home sick from school with my grandma. She set up a pile of my dad’s shirts and the ironing board in front of the TV to better size up each male contestant and pronounce their characteristics. Too polyester, too hippie, too something, she said. Too … (insert your least favorite political party here).
My grandma, using the back of her hand to push away her white locks, more curly from the steam, often yelled “Idiot!” to the TV when the bachelorette clearly selected the wrong guy. Her enthusiasm, along with the show’s flower power décor and confusing adult humor, filled out my fever dreams.
Sadly, too many date stories resemble horror-movie scenes. By the time I was a young woman venturing out on dates, my parents told me to bring change for a pay phone to call home, if things went sour.
On one occasion, I was sure glad I had shoved some coins into my pocket before going out. During a night of bar-hopping and dancing, I made the mistake of being alone with a guy who I thought coworkers knew better than they actually did. Having seen them chat with him, I assumed a level of screening that hadn’t happened. The guy was polite, educated and polished.
While crisscrossing New Orleans, we stopped at his house for a jacket. While I looked at his art collection – not even kidding – he knocked me down hard from behind. I couldn’t breathe, and he was suddenly on top of me.
Sparing the details, he momentarily loosened his grip, and I kneed the guy, then ran down a hallway for the door. With each stride I took, the hallway seemed to lengthen, the door farther out of reach. I heard him groan and curse my name as he began to get up. My legs were heavy, wouldn’t move fast enough. The door still far, far away.
I made it to the door with two deadbolts to pull and slide. But they wouldn’t give. The guy then limped his way into the hallway and called me a bitch.
I pulled the doorknob, yanked the deadbolts each way possible, before they released. From the second floor, I took multiple marble steps at a time, down this grand staircase that led away from a monster.
I kept running down quiet streets canopied by limbs of live oaks that didn’t let moonlight through. Eventually, I saw the glow of a pay-phone booth. I leaned into the collapsible door, pushed it opened and once inside, looked back into the dark, scanning for the monster.
Pressing one foot against the door, I secured it shut as best I could. With sweaty, shaking hands, I dug for quarters, then pushed them into the coin slot, one by one. Listening for them to drop, a quarter got stuck, and I smacked the side of the pay phone.
Finally, I heard the dial tone and pressed in my phone numbers, saying, “Pick up, pick up, pick up,” until I heard the voice of my dad.
Ann Marie Swan is a former opinion editor at The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez. She’s worked in newsrooms at the Rocky Mountain News, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Pacific Stars and Stripes in Tokyo. ■
Thursday31
Downtown Children’s Trick-or-Treat and Carnival, 4-6 p.m., downtown Durango
Recovery Yoga, free series, 4:30-5:45 p.m., Thursdays thru Nov. 21, Smiley Building. Registration at innerpeaceyogatherapy.com
Skalloween with High Country Hustle, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Team Segment28 and Visit Durango Social MTB Ride, 5-6:30 p.m., route tbd, follow @Teamsegment28 on social media for more information
Ross Douglas plays, 5-7 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Bluegrass Jam, 6 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Tim Sullivan plays, 6 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Poetry Open Mic, 6-7:30 p.m., Durango Sustainable Goods, 1259 Main Ave.
Nightmare on Elk Street Haunted House, 611 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.
Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1330 Camino del Rio
Halloween Dance Party, 7-9 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
The Rocky Horror Show, 7-9:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
BabyDel & Red Planet Halloween, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Zombie Bash, 9 p.m., The Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Forrest Thump plays, 10 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Friday01
First Friday art walk, 4-7 p.m., downtown Durango
Kitchen Jam Band plays, 5-7 p.m., Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main Ave.
“Low Light Conditions” opening reception featuring Nathan Bennett, 5-7 p.m., Blue Rain Gallery, 934 Main Ave.
“Spring Growth at Willowtail,” artwork by Cindy Miller Atchison, opening reception, 5-7 p.m., The ArtRoom, Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.
The Black Velvet Duo plays, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Dustin Burley plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Nightmare on Elk Street Haunted House, 610 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.
Bad Goat Disco Club II featuring DJs ANA M, Specific Heat, DJ Béeso andBad Goat, 7 p.m., The Black Heron Lounge, 736 Main Ave., Ste. 100
Agave plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
“Roots - Rejoice - Rebirth” choir concert, 7 p.m., FLC Community Concert Hall
High Step Society & Banshee Tree in concert, doors 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
“Mean Girls High School Edition,” presented by DHS Troupe 1096, 7-9:30 p.m., Durango High School Auditorium, 2390 Main Ave.
The Rocky Horror Show, 7-9:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Aria’s Pizza Party, 8:30-9:30 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave.
“Architecture of Durango Area,” 5-9 p.m., Create Art and Tea, 1015 Main Ave.
High Step Society & Banshee Tree in concert, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Saturday02
Hesperus Ski Patrol Ski Swap, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.
Fall Durango 5K by Girls on the Run, 11 a.m., Three Springs Durango Real Estate, 175 Mercado St.
Train Pull to support Special Olympics, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 479 Main Ave.
Chad MacCluskey plays, 11 a.n.-2 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Tracy Wiebeck plays, 2-5 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
“Stories in the Park” story time and nature walk hosted by Durango Parks and Rec and Public Library, 1-2 p.m., Folsom Park
Round Dance 101 informative session to explore the significance within Native American cultures, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Karaoke, 6 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Matt Rupnow plays, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Adam Swanson plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
“Mean Girls High School Edition,” presented by Troupe 1096, 7-9:30 p.m., Durango High School Auditorium, 2390 Main Ave.
The Rocky Horror Show, 7-9:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Live Music, 8 p.m., Lounge 49, Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio
Live DJ, 10 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
The Rocky Horror Show, 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Sunday03
Irish Jam Session, 12:30-3 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Board Game Sundays, 2 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Weekly Peace Vigil & Rally for Gaza & Palestine, every Sunday, 4 p.m., Buckley Park.
Loteria de Los Muertos Bingo night fundraiser for the Hive hosted by WoRd Travellers Language School, 6 p.m., Zia Cantina, 2977 Main Ave.
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
AskRachel
Getting salty, awkward accents and freedom of stickers
Interesting fact: Adults need about 1-2 grams of salt per day to function properly. You might need a larger pinch than that to take with my advice.
Dear Rachel,
Salt dehydrates you. But you need salt to replenish the salt you lose with sweating, etc. So don’t drink salt water, but put some salt in your water. Salt bad, but salt also good. I’m so confused. This doesn’t feel worth scheduling a doctor’s appointment to get an answer on, so maybe you can help.
– Salty Dog
Dear Salt of the Earth,
This is a classic issue of anything will kill you in quantity. Water, oxygen, sunlight. Country music, modern art, kittens. Too much time with your own parents. Too much nacho cheese flavoring. I’d like to test those for myself. Haven’t had the chance yet; maybe I can write a grant for it.
– Well peppered, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I take things literally sometimes. Not TOO literally. I don’t think it’s actually raining men in the song. But I have thought that “maintaining eye contact” means “stare a
WarmUp to Snowdown Connect 4 Tournament, 2-5 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E 2nd Ave.
Monday04
Free Strength and Balance Yoga for cancer survivors, 9:30-10:20 a.m., Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. Register www.cancersupportswco.org/calendar/
Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Joel Racheff plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Leah Orlikowski plays, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Singo with Devin Scott, 6 p.m., Grassburger South, 360 S. Camino Del Rio
Tuesday05
VFW Veterans Benefit Breakfast & Art Exhibition, 9-11 a.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave.
Rotary Club of Durango presents Bill Cartwright to speak on helping a FLC Village Aid water project in Zambia, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
Sean O’Brien plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
person right in the eye.” I keep not getting jobs, and my friends told me it’s really disconcerting the way I stare. I need help. How am I supposed to maintain eye contact without maintaining eye contact?
– Laser Beam
Dear Stare Master, I believe, wholeheartedly, that you can cover up all human behavioral faux pas with a mild and unplaceable accent. You’ll leave all your interviewers musing about your origins. When they ask where you’re from, don’t answer – tell them where you live, instead. This’ll add to your mystique.
– Looking through you, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I see that 9-R and Durango HS are having an issue with LGBTQ+ and Black Lives Matter flags in the classrooms. Well, what are they going to do with the stickers on the cars and trucks in the student parking lot (owned by the parents mostly)? Tow them, ticket them, arrest them? I want to know your thoughts. Well educated on the law? Or just stupid on human rights?
– Pink Panther
Jason Thies plays, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
“Mornings at El Moro” networking & learning, 7:45-9 a.m., El Moro, 945 Main Ave.
Cowboy Tuesdays, every other Tuesday starting Nov. 5 - April 15, 12 noon-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
4 Corners Poetry Event, 6-8 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Wednesday06
Free Restorative Yoga for cancer survivors, 9:3010:45 a.m., Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. Register www.cancersupportswco.org/calendar/
Donny Johnson plays, 5:30-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Word Honey Poetry Workshop, 6-7 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Chicken Sh*t Bingo w/Devin Scott, 6:30-8 p.m., Grassburger downtown, 726½ Main Ave.
Open Mic with Leigh Mikell, 7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
Dear Concerned Citizen,
I have no idea if you are well educated on the law. But you do know enough about human rights to know there are, you know, human rights issues at play. I’m no lawyer, so take it with a grain of salt when I say that a student’s personal property (even if it’s owned by a parent, and EVEN IF it’s parked on school property) is a whole other free speech arena than a classroom. Actually, maybe take that with a bucket of salt. Hydration be damned.
– Letting my freak flag fly, Rachel
Trivia Night, 7 p.m., Bottom Shelf Brewery, 118 Mill St., Bayfield
Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Ongoing
Halsey Berryman’s “Birds Eye View,” exhibit thru Nov. 21, FLC Art Hall Gallery
“Given Time: Sensory Aesthetics of Reclamation,” exhibit exploring Indigenous relationships to land, FLC Center of Southwest Studies. Show runs thru April 24, 2025.
Upcoming
Comedy Night: An Evening with Costaki Economopoulos, Thurs., Nov. 7, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Outdoor First Aid, presented by City Ranger Tosh Black, Thurs., Nov. 7, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Rec Center. Part 2 takes place Nov. 14.
Carsie Blanton in concert, Thurs., Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., FLC Community Concert Hall
Friends of Durango Public Library Fall Book Sale, Fri., Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Durango Public Library,1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Oct. 31, 2024 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Many people believe in the existence of ghosts. The spirit world is more open than usual to your curiosity and explorations. Keep in mind, though, that the contacts you make might not be with ghosts in the usual sense of that term. They might be deceased ancestors coming to deliver clues and blessings. They could be angels, guardian spirits, or shapeshifting messengers. Don’t be afraid. Some may be weird, but they’re not dangerous. Learn what you can from them, but don’t assume they’re omniscient and infallible. Halloween costume suggestion: one of your ancestors.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): When you attended kindergarten, did you ever share your peanut butter and jelly sandwich with friends who didn’t like the broccoli and carrots in their lunch boxes? If so, you may be well-primed to capitalize on the opportunities now in your vicinity. Your generous actions will be potent catalysts for good luck. Your eagerness to bestow blessings and share your resources will bring you rewards. Your skill at enhancing other people’s fortunes may attract unexpected favors. Halloween costume suggestion: philanthropist, charity worker, or an angel who gives away peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): For you, dear Gemini, the coming weeks could be the least superstitious time. There will be no such thing as bad luck, or good luck. Fears rooted in old misunderstandings will be irrelevant. Irrational worries about unlikely outcomes will be disproven. You will discover reasons to shed paranoid thoughts and nervous fantasies. I authorize you to put your supple trust in logical thinking, objective research, and rational analysis. Halloween costume suggestion:a famous scientist you respect.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Which sign of the zodiac is sexiest? Smoldering Scorpios, who are so inherently seductive they don’t even have to try to be? Electrifying Aries, who grab our attention with their power to excite and inspire? In accordance with current astrological omens, I name you Cancerians as the sexiest sign for the next three weeks. Your emotional potency and nurturing intelligence will tempt us to dive into the depths with you and explore the lyrical mysteries of intimate linkage. Halloween costume suggestion: sex god, sex goddess, or the nonbinary Hindu deity Ardhanarishvara.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In ancient Egypt, onions were precious because they symbolized the many-layered nature of life. Just as some modern people swear oaths while placing a hand on a Bible, an Egyptian might have pledged a crucial vow while holding an onion. Would you consider adopting your own personal version of their practice in the coming weeks, Leo? It is the oath-taking season for you – a time when you will be wise to consider deep commitments and sacred resolutions. Halloween costume suggestion: a spiritual initiate or devotee.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Two of the world’s most famous paintings are the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.” Both were made by Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), one of the world’s most famous painters. Yet the brilliant artist left us with only 24 paintings in total, many of which were unfinished. Why? He worked slowly and procrastinated constantly. In coming months, Virgo, I feel you will have resemblances to the version of da Vinci who created “The Last Supper” and the “Mona Lisa.” You will be at the peak of your unique powers. Halloween costume suggestion: Leonardo da Vinci or some great maestro.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “When you are faced with a choice between two paths, it’s always better to take the most difficult one.” What!? That’s not true! A shamanic psychotherapist gave me that bad advice when I was young, and I am glad I did not heed it. My life has been so much better because I learn from joy and pleasure as much as from hardship. Yes, sometimes it’s right to choose the most challenging option, but on many occasions, we are wise to opt for what brings fun adventures and opportunities for creative expression. That’s what I wish for you right now. Halloween costume suggestion: a hedonist, a liberator, a bliss specialist.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio painter Pablo Picasso has been described as a “masterfully erratic pioneer.” He influenced every art movement of the 20th century. His painting “Guernica” is a renowned anti-war statement. Though he was a Communist, he amassed great wealth and owned five homes. Today, his collected work is valued at over $800 million. He was the most prolific artist who ever lived, producing almost 150,000 pieces. I nominate him to be your role model in the coming weeks. You are due for a Season of Successful Excess. Halloween costume suggestion: an eccentric, charismatic genius.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Sagittarian Keith Richards, guitar player for the Rolling Stones, is notorious for his rowdy carousing. Lots of observers predicted he would die at a young age because of his boisterous lifestyle, yet he is 81 and still partying. But here’s his confession: “I never sleep alone. If there is no one to sleep next to, I’ll sleep next to a stuffed animal. It makes me feel secure and safe. It’s a little embarrassing to admit it. It’s important to me, though.” I bring this up, because I feel that no matter how wild and free you are, you will be wise to ensure that you feel extra secure and supported for a while. Halloween costume suggestion: a stuffed animal or a lover of stuffed animals.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Halloween offers a valuable psychological opportunity: we can pretend to perform our shadowy, wounded and unripe qualities without suffering the consequences. We can acknowledge them as part of our make-up, helping to ensure they won’t develop the explosive, unpredictable power that repressed qualities can acquire. We may even gently mock our immature qualities with humor, diminishing the possibility they will sabotage us. If you have fun playing with your control-freak fantasies, you will be less likely to over-express them in real life. Halloween costume suggestion for you: a dictator or tyrant.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Paganism and astrology have key affinities. They both understand that our personal rhythms are connected with the Earth’s cycles. I bring this to your attention because we are in the season that pagans call Samhain, halfway between the equinox and solstice. For Aquarians, this festival marks a time when you are wise to honor and nurture your highest ambitions. You can generate fun and good fortune by focusing on lofty goals that express your talents and unique gifts. Halloween costume suggestion: your dream career.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I like how you are opening, widening and heightening! I am cheering you on as you amplify, stretch, augment and burgeon. Here’s a small alert, though: You may be expanding so fast that it’s a challenge for less expansive people to keep up – even your allies. To allay their worries, be generous in sharing the fruits of your thriving spaciousness. Let them know you don’t require them to match your growth. Halloween costume suggestion: a broader, brighter, bolder version of yourself.
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 durangotelegraph.com n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133
Lost/found
My Cat Cid is Missing
Long hair, white with black spots, green eyes. Last seen near 18th St. and E. 2nd Ave., by St. Columba. Reward. Call 970-403-6192
Services
Electric Repair
Roof, gutter cleaning, fence, floors, walls, flood damage, mold, heating service.
Fall Clean Ups
Fall clean ups- leaf pick up, mulching, composting, trimming, pruning, and sprinkler blow outs. Call or text Josh @970-759-2332
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.
Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
Wanted
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/trade/sell (970) 259-2213
Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum
Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970259-3494.
ForSale
Reruns Home Furnishings
Lots of new furniture for home, office or dorm. Also looking to consign smaller furniture. 572 E. 6th Ave. Mon.-Sat.
ForRent
Professional Offices Downtown
Sunlit patio with park views. Lease terms negotiable. 970.247.1233
BodyWork
Stressed Over the State of the World?
Gift yourself a break and lower your cortisol with a Biotuning (sound and vibration) massage that will sooth your nervous system and reduce your stress levels. More info at Brain Yoga Durango 970 903 0797 brainyogadurango@ gmail.com. Ask for our election special!
Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
CommunityService
Engaging Volunteer Opportunity
Alternative Horizons has been empowering and supportive survivors of domestic violence since 1978. Become a volunteer hotline advocate. Flexible to fit your schedule. Training and ongoing support provided. Please call 970-247-4374 or visit alternativehori zons.org.
The Maker Lab in Bodo Park
Collaborative workspace, tools, learning and equipment featuring metal and woodworking, laser cutting, 3D printing, electronics and sewing. Classes for all levels. www.themakerlab.org.
HaikuMovieReview
‘The Purge: Election Year’
There is a Laney otherwise, zero stars and would not recommend – Lainie
Americorps is Hiring
Our partner organizations are concentrated in La Plata and Montezuma counties and span from September - May or August 2025. To learn more, visit unitedway-swco.org/americorps.
Maxson
