elegraph
Trump’s playbook
This time, sentiment, laws are on public land’s side
Flying high
The man, the myth
Fiddler phenom on jazz, bikes & covering a legend
Deciding which relationships are worth salvaging in the wake of the election by Doug Gonzalez
A serendipitous encounter with the scrappy California condor by Jonathan P. Thompson / The Land Desk
Local fiddler extraordinaire on jazz, bikes and covering a legend by Stephen Sellers
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The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky
Telluride passes measure to raise taxes to keep free gondy spinning by Nathaniel Minor / Colorado Public Radio
On the cover
What is the last super moon for many moons (the next one is in October 2025) rises over the waters of Lake Powell./ Photo by Andy High
Ear to the ground:
“It’s like a colonoscopy for your face.”
– Ah, the dreaded “chemo cream” that Durangoans know all too well as the price of too much fun in the sun
Dream machine
There’s going to be a big, new rabbit on the trails of Vallecito this winter. That is if fundraising efforts for a new Favero Snow Rabbit 3X grooming machine succeed. The Vallecito Nordic Club recently launched a fundraiser for the new compact snowcat with blade and tiller, which would greatly enhance the club’s grooming efforts on the 15k of trails northeast of Durango.
“We have been dragging heavy things behind snowmobiles for almost 30 years, and we'd like to upgrade to a real grooming machine,” John Byrd, Vallecito Nordic Board member, said.
The club is at a point where the frequency of grooming (seven days a week), snow conditions and maintaining conditions is stressing out current equipment and volunteer groomers. The “SR3X,” as it’s called in snowcat circles, will increase the quality of the skiing surface for both classic and skate while reducing the time volunteers groomers spend out on the trails. The machine will also increase the number of skiable days and is ideal for Vallecito’s narrow trails and snow conditions, according to the club.
“It would enable the club to provide a superior grooming product for your winter skiing adventures,” the club said on its website.
Of course, such superior skiing comes at a price: The Snow Rabbit would cost about $190,000. As of Nov. 17, the Club had raised more than half of that – $111,000 – but still needs more donations to put it over the top. Donations can be made on the Vallecito Nordic website, www.vallecitonordicclub.org. If you don’t do digital, you can mail a check to P.O. Box 4431, Durango, 81302 or drop a check off any at Alpine Bank branch, and tell them it’s for the Vallecito Nordic Club Snow Rabbit fund.
Although the Vallecito Nordic trails, obviously, have yet to open for the season, snow is in the forecast, so get hopping.
opinion
LaVidaLocal
To keep or not to keep
“So, what now?” is a question that might be bubbling below the surface of your thoughts. Or maybe it’s so consistently on your mind that you wonder if it has become your new mantra. Although it has only been two weeks since the confirmation of a second Trump presidency, it feels like it is both longer and shorter than that. I am reminded of the “off” feeling during the pandemic, when time didn’t quite make sense anymore. The calendar said months had gone by, but I wasn’t quite sure where they had gone. Perhaps this is how trauma is experienced – as happening and not happening all at once.
Regarding the question posed earlier, several scenarios have played out in my head. Admittedly, some of them uncreatively resemble the end of the doomsday Netflix film “Don’t Look Up.” With an asteroid on course to hit the planet, the characters partake in debauchery, connect with family or take a spaceship to the nearest inhabitable planet. With a less grim prognosis than the film, what do we do? Do we take the trips that we’ve been holding back on? Do we take this time to reconnect with loved ones? Or do we sever ties with the people who voted red instead of blue? To my surprise, I find myself focusing on the latter question.
To many, myself included, it feels like severing ties is the easiest and best solution. It’s a way of cutting out the relationships with the family and friends who voted in a way that feels like they sold your rights, health and welfare for some cheap gas and eggs. The answer seemed pretty cut and dry for me, although the feeling has recently become unclear. I now hear this annoying voice in my head, asking, “Does emotional severance wound us in ways that we can’t comprehend? And does it pose a risk of us then bleeding out?”
being perceived as a “good son” and a “good brother.” But when he died, I realized how little fruit these relationships bore. The veins, so to speak, had so little blood flowing that it became dangerous to keep the appendage they once fed. Amputation became a way of self-preservation.
More recently, over the summer, I cut ties with an online friend group that I’ve played video games with since the start of the pandemic. As someone who built my own desktop PC (i.e. a big nerd), I gamed with them frequently. I mostly enjoyed our time together, although our differences became clear when politics entered the discussion. I stayed, because I felt like I had a real chance of changing their minds. I shared videos of my drag performances, countered their ill-conceived arguments, and when they made “gay jokes,” I would chime in at the end with, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that!” Ultimately, the change I envisioned didn’t happen.
I wonder if they also initially stayed in hopes of changing my mind? I can’t envision that happening – them staying in hopes of swaying me by their arguments. It begs the question, do people ever change, or is change a lofty ideal to help make tomorrow seem less grim? Or does change simply take time, making it all the more difficult to perceive?
I’ve cut ties with family before. When my father died, the incongruent connections I had with his side became even more apparent, unbearably so. Previously, these relationships had been propped up with a sense of duty to keep
Thumbin’It
Durango School District 9-R recently installed solar panels at six schools. The panels are expected to offset energy costs for the district by 58% and reduce the district’s carbon footprint.
Well, it was a good run – literally – for Skyhawks men’s and women’s soccer and DHS boys soccer this year, with all going to their respective tournament championship – the first time since 2009 for FLC. All teams lost in close matches but will always be winners in our book.
OK, so Colorado’s recycling rate still sucks, at about 50% of the national average. But there is a silver lining: in 2023, we threw away less, to the tune of nearly half a pound a day per person. So maybe there’s hope for us after all.
I was told over the weekend by the one online friend that I kept that another was missing me. I know that friend voted red. I know he views the world differently than I do. And yet, I still find myself wanting to reconnect. Is this a chance for him to change? Is this a chance for me to change? Not in my political beliefs, but in allowing myself to be close and vulnerable to someone who indirectly votes against my rights? In traditional Diné culture, there is a word for the kinship system that brings about communal harmony, K’é. It’s a way of recognizing that we belong to one another, despite our differences. I’ve been trying to apply this to my post-election life, which has been difficult. It might also not be appropriate in all situations, but I wonder if it is in this one? Is there a place where it might be appropriate for you?
We would like to unsubscribe from the reality TV show about a crazy millionaire president who appoints a child predator/ sex trafficker, a TV doctor/snake oil salesman, a talk show host and a pro wrestling maven to his cabinet, but it seems we are locked in for the next four years.
The latest trend of robo realtor phone calls saying they have a “cash buyer” for your house. Sure, people gotta make money in this town, but … yuck.
DIA is now the sixth busiest airport in the world behind Dallas-Fort Worth, Heathrow, Tokyo, Dubai and Atlanta. Some might see this as good, but when you’re trying to make a tight connection from the hinterlands of the B Concourse, not so much.
SignoftheDownfall:
– Doug Gonzalez Robart Ai-Da is an artificially intelligent robot made by Engineering Arts in 2019 for the specific purpose of creating art. Her most recent piece, “AI God,” is a hand-painted portrait of 20th century English mathematician and “grandfather of AI” Alan Turing. The work sold for more than $1 million at a Sotheby’s auction two weeks ago, which makes Ai-Da the first (and richest) humanoid robot to sell art at an auction. When asked about her work, Ai-Da said that it invites viewers to reflect on the “godlike” nature of AI, which totally makes sense given that someone just paid millions of dollars to a fake entity that we made up.
by Jennifer Rokala
PTrump’s public lands playbook
This time, public sentiment, law are on conservation’s side
resident Donald Trump’s first term was a disaster for America’s public lands. While the prospects for his second term are even more bleak, Westerners across the political spectrum – even those who voted for Trump – stand ready to oppose attempts to sell off America’s public lands to the highest bidder.
As for Trump’s pick for Interior Secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum: If Burgum tries to turn America’s public lands into an even bigger cash cow for the oil and gas industry, or tries to shrink America’s parks and national monuments, he’ll quickly discover he’s on the wrong side of history.
Public lands have strong bipartisan support in the West. The annual Conservation in the West Poll, last released by the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project in February 2024, found that nearly three-quarters of voters – including Republicans – want to protect clean water, air quality and wildlife habitats, while providing opportunities to visit and recreate on public lands.
That’s compared to just one-quarter of voters who prefer maximizing the use of public lands available for drilling and mining. According to the poll, which surveyed voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming – 80% of Westerners support the national goal of conserving 30% of land and waters in America by the year 2030.
Bipartisan support for more conservation and balanced energy development has been a cornerstone of the poll’s findings since it began in 2011. Under the leadership of President Joe Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the current administration has made progress over the past four years in bringing public land management in line with the preferences of Western voters. That includes better protecting the Grand Canyon, increasing accountability for oil and gas companies that operate on public land, and putting conservation – at last – on par with drilling and mining on public land.
The president-elect may find it hard to immediately block what Westerners want. After Trump took office in 2017 promising to transform public land management, his team was unprepared and used its power to benefit its own interests, ignoring the wishes of the American people.
Trump’s first Interior secretary, Ryan Zinke, misused his position to advance his dream of owning a microbrewery in Montana. Trump’s second Interior secretary,
oil and gas industry lobbyist David Bernhardt, put his finger on the scale in the interest of a former client. Trump’s choice to run the Bureau of Land Management, William Perry Pendley, served illegally without being confirmed by Congress.
We worked hard to shed light on this corruption and defend public lands from Trump’s attacks. Still, Trump’s Interior department allowed oil and gas companies to lock up millions of acres for bargain basement prices.
In his second term, Donald Trump will attempt to shrink national monuments like Bears Ears in Utah and permit drilling and mining in inappropriate areas. The president-elect has already committed to undoing President Joe Biden’s energy and environmental policies.
Project 2025, the policy handbook written by former Trump officials, clearly lays out a plan to gut the Interior Department and remove environmental safeguards that ensure the health of our public lands.
Project 2025 would give extractive industries nearly unfettered access to public lands, severely restrict the power of the Endangered Species Act, open millions of acres of Alaska wilderness to drilling, mining and log-
ging, and roll back protections for spectacular landscapes like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. It would also remove protections for iconic Western species such as gray wolves and grizzly bears.
What can we do about this assault? The law and public opinion are on our side. Public land protections are stronger today than ever, thanks in large part to the grassroots efforts of tribes, local community leaders and conservation organizations.
We know much of what’s in Trump’s public lands playbook, and we will fight back. We’ll continue to shine a light on corruption within the Trump administration and hold it accountable.
Our partners will work in Congress to stop bad policies and projects from going forward. We are ready to take action in the courts and in the streets. And we’re not waiting until Inauguration Day to start.
Jennifer Rokala is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about Western issues. She is executive director of the Center for Western Priorities, a nonpartisan public lands advocacy group. ■
The Citadel in Bear’s Ears National Monument, which Trump drastically shrunk during his last presidency. Will it happn again or have public opinions shifted enough to prevent it? /Photo by David Marston
Shop small this season
As we head into the final stretch of 2024, a recent survey of small business owners found that our local job creators feel more uncertain than ever. Between rising costs, few qualified applicants and a massive federal tax hike scheduled to take effect next year, there are plenty of reasons why the mood on main street feels gloomy.
But here’s the good news: you can kick off the holiday season by shopping small. Saturday, Nov. 30, the day after Black Friday, is Small Business Saturday. What began in 2010 as a way to promote local businesses recovering from the Great Recession has blossomed into one of the most robust shopping days of the year.
That’s good for our small employers, their employees and the communities they call home. Here in Colorado, small businesses are the foundation of our economy, accounting for 99% of businesses in the state and employing more than a million working Coloradans, according to the Small Business Association.
When we shop small, we’re supporting our friends and neighbors. Roughly 67 cents of every dollar spent at a small
business stays within the community where it’s spent and creates another 50 cents in local business activity. When we shop small, family-owned businesses are better able to host school fundraisers, donate to charity and keep our communities thriving.
Becoming a loyal customer is just one of the ways we can support Main Street businesses this holiday season. With nine out of 10 small businesses facing a massive tax hike next year, Congress must make the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent as quickly as possible.
Since becoming law in 2017, this deduction has empowered small business owners to overcome a host of economic challenges we’ve seen these past few years. We know small business owners used the tax savings to increase worker pay, expand their operations and create more jobs.
If Congress fails to act, the expiration of this deduction represents a massive tax hike on more than 30 million small businesses. Main street businesses, and the communities they support, will pay the price.
Recent analysis estimates that if Congress were to make the deduction per-
manent, it would create 26,000 new jobs each year for the first 10 years and 50,000 annually every year after in Colorado. We can’t jeopardize those jobs or the economic growth it would bring to the Centennial State.
Tell Congress to make the expiring 20% Small Business Deduction permanent
And, this holiday season, don’t forget to shop small. Our local businesses keep our communities strong and our economy growing. That’s why I’m encouraging everyone to shop small on Sat., Nov. 30. Because when we help small businesses, we help everyone.
– Dawn McVea, regional director, National Federation of Independent Business
Trump appointees need vetting
Rushed cabinet appointments for the next Trump administration are happening a few days after the presidential election with jaws dropping from the left and a few from the right.
Thousands of civil servants will be replaced by loyalists that need a quick course in what they know nothing about, before Jan. 20, 2025. For example, Matt Gaetz, who passed the bar with limited courtroom experience, has Trump’s blessing to be our next attorney general. Both sides of the aisle are wondering if there will be an opportunity to have a normal senate hearing to scrutinize applicants, such as Gaetz, who has a history of unethical sexual behavior (as witnessed on his personal cell phone for colleagues to gawk at).
Trump would rather “recess hearings” where his choices are made, period.
Biden congratulated Trump, and I did, too, in a postcard to Mar-a-Lago by offering my services as a speech writer, without mentioning my horse-whispering intentions.
– Sally Florence, Durango
We must act to defend planet
It should not have come to this. Trump should have been removed by a two-thirds vote of Congress following the insurrection for violating the 14th Amendment of our Constitution. It’s absurd this didn’t happen. But the liar/felon is now going to be president, and those of you who care about wildlife, public
lands, climate change and reducing fossil fuels must act and give substantially to charities that work tirelessly to defend nature and our planet. Donate all you can to Friends of the Earth, Earth Justice, Defenders of Wildlife, Western Environmental Law Center, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Animal Wellness and many more. Sign petitions, call congressmen, be involved for the future.
The U.S. is 89th among nations in climate change actions and being environmentally conscious, and this will get worse. Act.
– Margaret-Ann Mayer, Durango
Bitcoin furthers human rights
In today’s world, discussions concerning human rights often revolve around issues of freedom, security and access to essential resources. One topic that deserves more attention in this context is Bitcoin. While often seen as an investment asset or technology, Bitcoin has profound implications for human rights, particularly for those living under oppressive regimes or in countries with unstable economies.
First and foremost, Bitcoin provides financial freedom. In many parts of the world, people are subject to economic controls that prevent them from accessing their own money, transferring funds or protecting their wealth from rampant inflation. Bitcoin operates outside of government control, providing a decentralized form of currency that enables individuals to store and transfer value freely, without the threat of confiscation or interference.
For individuals living in countries with corrupt or authoritarian governments, Bitcoin offers a way to escape financial repression. In nations where the local currency is constantly devalued or subject to hyperinflation, Bitcoin allows people to preserve their wealth. Additionally, it enables those facing persecution or censorship to make international transfers without relying on banks that may be pressured to block or report transactions.
Another critical human rights benefit is the protection of privacy. Financial surveillance is a common tool used by governments and institutions to control populations, often infringing on personal freedoms. While Bitcoin transactions are transparent, the identities of the parties involved can remain pseudonymous, allowing people to engage in commerce and maintain their privacy.
Moreover, Bitcoin enables financial inclusion. Billions of people worldwide are unbanked, with no access to basic financial services. For these individuals, traditional banking infrastructure is either inaccessible or prohibitively expensive. All one needs to use Bitcoin is a smartphone and internet access, allowing people to participate in the global economy regardless of where they live or their financial status.
In conclusion, Bitcoin is more than just a digital currency. It represents a powerful tool for promoting human rights by offering financial freedom, protection from oppression and a path to economic inclusion. As the global economy becomes increasingly digital, it is vital that we recognize the potential of Bitcoin to support and enhance human rights worldwide.
– Hank Reardon, Durango
The condors of Marble Canyon
A serendipitous encounter with the imperiled and elusive raptors
by Jonathan P. Thompson
On a recent morning, I did a little tour around the high desert crossroads town of Holbrook, Ariz., awed by the weirdness of it all. I don’t mean that in a bad way. Holbrook, with its Bucket of Blood Street, grinning plastic dinosaurs and mid-century kitsch, is truly unique, the product of the interstate, railroad, Route 66 and nearby Petrified Forest National Park.
I headed west, doing my best to avoid I-40. This led me to no fewer than three dead ends, forcing me to backtrack. But it also took me down some cool, if defunct, segments of Route 66. Eventually, I veered away from the Little Colorado River and headed south across the Navajo Nation, up to Hopi, past Moenkopi, and through Tuba City before continuing south on Hwy. 89.
Whenever I’m in this part of Arizona, I try to get to Navajo Bridge, which is actually a pair of bridges spanning Marble Canyon on the Colorado River downstream from Lees Ferry. One of the bridges was built in 1929 and is now for pedestrians. The other was built in 1993 and is for vehicle traffic. They resemble the bridge that crosses the Colorado just below Glen Canyon Dam, but the Navajo Bridge is a place of serenity. You can stand on it, unimpeded by chain link fences, and look straight down on the deep, murky waters of the Colorado and do a bit of vertiginous meditation. The light was crisp, almost harsh, on this visit, and the parking lot almost empty. I got out of the Silver
Condors 6Y and 2A (I’m sure they have their own, more interesting names) at the Navajo Bridge. According to condorspotter.com, 6Y is a male born in March 2019 at the Oregon Zoo. And 2A is a female hatched at the World Center for Birds of Prey in May 2021. / Photo by Jonathan P. Thompson
Bullet, stretched and ambled toward the bridge. There was a trio looking intently downriver through binoculars as if they were studying the engineering of the automobile bridge. I followed their gaze to a trio of giant birds perched on the steel beams, 470 feet above the river, doing a bit of meditating of their own (or perhaps waiting for carrion to float by).
The magnificent creatures, their pink bald heads jutting out from brown-feathered bodies, are California condors, descendants of birds released in the area starting in 1996. They are huge – sporting up to 10foot wingspans – but live a fragile existence. After being driven near extinction, wildlife officials began rearing California condors in captivity and reintroducing them throughout the West. Now there are more than 500 California condors in the wild, but humans continue to imperil them.
Perhaps the greatest threat is lead poisoning, which comes from ingesting carrion contaminated by lead ammunition. Lead ammunition is designed to shatter and fragment when it hits an animal. These fragments end up in the animal’s flesh and guts, which hunters often discard in the field to be eaten by scavengers. This fall, a condor in Zion died from lead poisoning, and wildlife officials say nearly every condor they test
has lead in its bloodstream.
Federal and state-level efforts to ban lead ammunition for hunting have run into strong resistance from gun rights advocates who claim (erroneously) the initiatives are aimed at stopping all hunting. Some states, including Arizona and Utah, have implemented voluntary programs that incentivize hunters to use non-lead ammo and dispose of gut piles in a scavenger-safe way. In 2019, California prohibited the use of lead ammo for hunting but did not ban the sale of the ammunition.
I spent a good part of the afternoon mesmerized by the birds, hoping they would spot something dead, rotting and delicious, so I could witness one in flight. It didn’t happen, but I consider myself fortunate nonetheless: As I was preparing to leave, I looked straight down from the bridge for one last glimpse at the mighty Colorado, and there, about 10 feet below, sat a young condor, pink beak protruding from a fuzz of black feathers.
The Land Desk, a thrice-weekly newsletter from Jonathan P. Thompson, longtime journalist and author of “River of Lost Souls,” “Behind the Slickrock Curtain” and “Sagebrush Empire.” ■
Condor X8, a female hatched in 2018, sits on a Navajo Bridge beam. / Photo by Jonathan P. Thompson
*Yes, it’s fine if you want to bring one to your nextdoor neighbor, friends, grandma, etc. Just don’t poach the whole stack. That’s lame.
If you need extra papers for fire-starter, piñatas, hamster cages, gift wrap or stuffing in your walls, we keep backstock at many of our racks around town including:
• The Durango Post Office
• Peerless Tire
• Tele HQ, 679 E. 2nd Ave.
Or give us a call at 970-259-0133 & we’ll try to hook you up.
Paying the way
Telluride gondola will carry on after voters approve tax increase
by Nathaniel Minor Colorado Public Radio
Voters in the Telluride area approved a ballot measure that will help secure the future of the town’s hugely popular, free gondola.
The gondola opened in 1996 and transports more than 3 million people a year – more than many of the RTD’s light rail and commuter rail lines in the Denver metro. It’s the only free public transit system like it in the United States, local officials say, and is used by locals and tourists alike.
“It’s accessible, free, high-quality, frequent transportation for everybody that walks up to the door,” David Averill, executive director of San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation, said. “You don’t have to be special to ride it. That’s a great equalizer.”
The gondola carries passengers between Telluride and Mountain Village in 13 minutes, faster than drivers can make the 8-mile trek by road. Averill credits it with reducing traffic congestion and parking issues in both communities.
“It’s probably the biggest bang for the buck in greenhouse gas emission (reductions) in this region,” he said.
But the gondola’s age, popularity and looming financial hurdles meant it needed investment.
It runs for about 5,000 hours a year, Averill said, far more than a seasonal ski lift, and lines to ride can last for over an hour during busy holidays.
The gondola’s construction and operations have largely been funded by fees collected by the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association. But with the association’s 30-year agreement expiring at the end of 2027, local officials and businesses decided to ask voters across the region to take on the collective burden of shoring up the gondola’s future.
They obliged, by a somewhat narrow margin, by passing Measure 3A, which will increase property, sales and lodging taxes to raise $8.2 million a year.
Most of that new money will enable the regional transportation authority to take over responsibility for the gondola in 2028 and also allow it to start saving money for a replacement that could cost between $60 million - $100 million, Ave-
rill estimated. It’s not clear when that will happen, but planners want a new gondola capable of moving more people to meet the ever-growing demand.
Campaign finance records show that the measure’s backers received $60,000 from a Florida-based developer that is planning a nearly $1 billion Four Seasons resort near a gondola station in Mountain Village, and another $10,000 from Wyoming-based Shaw Construction.
In addition, about $1 million a year of the new tax revenue will fund improvements to bus service to down-valley communities where many workers live. In all, the regional transportation authority’s annual revenue of about $2 million will jump to about $10 million once the new tax kicks in, Averill said.
“I think it’s just sort of a natural evo-
lution of things, but this is quite an inflection point for the organization. There’s no doubt about it,” he said.
Not everyone is excited about more taxes. More than 1,700 voters cast their ballots against 3A, including Erin Ries, who works in marketing and advertising and has lived in Telluride for 35 years. Ries said she sees the value of the gondola but believes Mountain Village should pay the bulk of its expenses.
“I’m just saying, they’re building a huge hotel. The onus is on them. They’re the ones that need it,” she said in an interview with CPR News.
Telluride, like most Colorado ski towns, is already an extremely expensive place to live, she said. Though her home on main street is “probably worth $4 million,” Ries said she isn’t wealthy. The
house was a ski-bum crash pad when she and her partner bought it for less than $1 million more than a decade ago, and the couple put lots of sweat equity into it.
“We got lucky,” she said, adding: “It’s hard to live here … I want people to be able to buy here and live here. And things like this make it very difficult for locals.”
Averill said the groups that drafted the ballot language – local governments, the Telluride ski resort, the Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association and the transit authority – all compromised with each other to come up with the ultimately successful measure.
“This is the best way that leadership thought we could get there,” he said. “So that’s what we went for.”
For more from Colorado Public Radio, go to: www.cpr.org ■
Telluride’s iconic free gondola takes passengers roughly 2 miles up and over the ski area to nearby Mountain Village. Since opening in 1996, the gondola has largely been funded by the Mountain Village Owner’s Association. But that agreement is expiring at the end of 2027, and area voters recently passed a measure to raise taxes to help fund the gondola going forward./ Photo by Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
BetweentheBeats
The man, the myth ...
Brendan Shafer on jazz, bikes and covering classic Bill Monroe album
by Stephen Sellers
Greetings, dear readers! This column’s subject is a man equally skilled with fiddle, banjo, guitar, Civil War history, bikes and even modern geopolitical analysis. He is none other than Brendan Shafer, enigmatic renaissance man and a true polymath who can wheelie for miles on end. Chances are you’ve seen him perform in one of the many bands he has played in. Brendan is also one of my best friends and longtime bandmate in the Six Dollar String Band. He once taught me how to sing barbershop quartet harmonies in the stairwell of Reed Library, in between his engineering and math classes, so we could propose to his then-girlfriend, Anna Leyden, through song. (She said yes!)
Part ethnomusicologist, part divine channeler of rhythms and melodies, Brendan’s pursuit of music borders on obsession. And now, his piercing, mysterious eyes are set on performing the legendary bluegrass album “Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe” at the Animas City Theatre this Fri., Nov. 22, with the likes of Robin Davis, Alex Graf, Tony Holmquist and yours truly.
Did I mention the show will also mark Brendan’s 40th birthday? It’s going to be a party! I sat down with this local legend to capture his thoughts for posterity. After all, what else are friends for?
SS: Let's take it from the top. How long have you lived in Durango, and how did you get here?
BS: I've lived in Durango for over 20 years. I came here from Connecticut to go to Fort Lewis. I had a friend who was already going to Fort Lewis, and when I was finishing high school, he recommended I go to Fort Lewis, because he thought Durango was a great place. I’d never been out west for anything.
SS: I know cycling in all its forms has been important in your time in Durango. You’re definitely a local cycling celebrity in my book. I’m dying to know: what is your proudest Strava moment?
BS: Well, the Strava account I used when I was actually able to, uh, go fast – I don't have access to anymore. I made a new account, and now I am not proud of anything I do. But I do like Strava for some of the cool little data points.
SS: We've been bandmates for 15 years. What are my strengths as a bandmate and my weaknesses?
BS: I’m not answering that.
SS: I knew you’d say that. Fine. What draws you to live music?
BS: It's a chance to share your passion with people. I think live music is a great way to have inclusive experiences. More than other things, live music brings a lot of different types of people together, and you can form relationships outside your personal sphere of beliefs or backgrounds.
SS: Something people might not know that really rocks your socks is New Orleans jazz. How does that fuel you, as a musician who doesn’t play jazz out?
BS: I'm working on changing that. New Orleans music was the first music I really loved. I was really interested in James Booker as a kid. Some might say jazz is different from country,
Brendan
with
will take the stage Friday night
Cajun or bluegrass. But, really, they all have a lot of common threads that aren't necessarily visible at the surface. But if you dig a little deeper, they connect in all kinds of amazing ways. So, just because I’m not living in New Orleans and playing that style of music, it’s very much related to the style of music you and I play in Six Dollar String Band.
SS: What's lighting your fire about “Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe?”
BS: The album is super classic. Anybody who wants to understand bluegrass really needs to listen to that album. It’s the prototype for modern instrumental bluegrass. You see a lot of younger people in bluegrass coming from colleges – actually going to college for bluegrass – and these people will record solo albums with virtuoso-level performances. And I think “Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe” was the precursor to doing that.
SS: Tell us a little bit about the big show.
BS: Doors open at 7 p.m., and Cody Tinnin is opening. Then, myself, Alex Graf, Robin Davis, Tony Holmquist and you are going to come out and play the album in its entirety! ■
Durango’s own “bluegrass brothers,” Stephen Sellers, left, and
Shafer at a gig in Silverton. The two, along
others,
at the ACT to cover “Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe. / Photo by Abie Livesay
Thursday21
“Navajo Solar Sunrise” film screening and talk, 1-5 p.m., FLC Art and Design Building, #15
Natural Plant Dye Demonstration with Diné artist Venancio Aragon, 1-5 p.m., FLC Art and Design Building, #156
Recovery Yoga, free series, 4:30-5:45 p.m., Thursdays thru Nov. 21, Smiley Building. Registration at innerpeaceyogatherapy.com
Rob Webster plays, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., Hutton Broadcasting 99X FM 92.9FM The Point, 1911 N. Main Ave., Ste. 100
Hiking and Backpacking Safety, presented by City Ranger Tosh Black, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Rec Center
Women & Finance conversation, 5:30-6 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main 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.
Charlie Henry plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Poetry Open Mic, 6-7:30 p.m., Durango Sustainable Goods, 1259 Main Ave.
Backcountry Film Festival presented by San Juan Citizens Alliance, 6-9:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1330 Camino del Rio
Nerds Night Out Trivia, 6:30-8:30 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
Life Long Learning Lecture/Recital in memoriam of Shostakovich and Soviet trauma, 7 p.m., FLC Recital Hall
Open Mic Night, 8-11 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 East 8th Ave.
Friday22
Durango Early Birds Toastmaster, 7:15 a.m., FLC Innovation Center, 2nd floor of the Main Mall, 835 Main Ave., Suite 225
Transgender Day of Remembrance, 5-7 p.m., Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave.
Black Velvet Duo with Nina Sasaki & Larry Carver plays, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Atlas Alive 2.0 a benefit to support the Navajo Reservation, 5:30 p.m., Atlas Specific, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., #108
Maria’s After Dark fundraiser for Maria’s Literary Foundation, 6-8 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.
Mike Testa plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“Suites for Sweets” tasty music with the Southwest Civic Winds, 7-8:30 p.m., FLC Community Concert Hall
Vintage Swing Social Dance, 7 p.m. beginner lesson, 8-10 p.m. social dance, Florida Grange #306, 656 County Road 172, Ignacio
Brendan Shafer plays “Kenny Baker plays Bill Monroe” presented by KDUR & Jimmy’s Music, opening act Cody Tinnin, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Three Band Night: Community Pancake, Animal Soul & The Cheese Wizards, 8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
Aria’s Pizza Party, 8:30-9:30 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave.
EDM Night hosted by DJ Sona, 9 p.m.-12 midnight, Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
Shawn Blues Band plays, 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio
Saturday23
Harvest Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., TBK Bank, 259 W. 9th St.
Artisans Holiday Gift Show & Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Strater Hotel Oak Room, 699 Main Ave.
Pet Photos with Santa benefitting LPCHS, 2-4 p.m., Creature Comforts, 305 S. Camino Del Rio
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 – Ragtime plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Bluegrass by Dennon and Homies, 7-10 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
Family Reunion plays, 8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
Leah Orlikowski plays, 8 p.m.-12 midnight., Sky Ute Casino, Ignacio
Sunday24
Christmas Bazaar, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Summit Church, 2917 Aspen Dr.
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.
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Joel Racheff plays, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Monday25
Free Strength and Balance Yoga for cancer survivors, 9:30-10:20 a.m., Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. 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.
Comedy Open Mic, 7 p.m., The Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Swing & Brewskies dance lessons, 7-9:30 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Tuesday26
Terry Rickard plays, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Randy Crumbaugh plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Wednesday27
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.
Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic with Leigh Mikell, 7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
AskRachel ’70s slapping, dental dilemma and a new waste of time
Interesting fact: Two L.A. Dodgers, Glenn Burke and Dusty Baker, are credited with inventing the high five in October 1977. Burke was also the first openly gay MLB player. I want to weaponize this Interesting Fact against every conservative family member this Thanksgiving – after high fiving them, of course.
Dear Rachel,
The high-five is timeless – the simplest, most primal way to celebrate with another human being. I can just imagine two mammoth hunters bringing down a mighty beast, turning to each other, and slapping the ol’ hand skins together. Yet I just learned from my grandpa that he was alive for the onset of the high-five. (And not because he is ancient either.) Is this really a modern invention? What other lies am I living with?
– Up High, Down Low
Dear Fiver,
Yup, the modern high five originated in the late 1970s in a baseball game. I mean, sure, with billions of people on the planet, someone smacked someone else’s hand at some point. But those weren’t televised. Let’s just be happy it’s the high five that took off and not the coach/athlete butt slap.
– Give me some skin, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I see that people want to take fluoride out
Trivia Night, 7 p.m., Bottom Shelf Brewery, 118 Mill St., Bayfield
Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Ongoing
“There Was Always the Forest” solo exhibition by Crystal Hartman, thru Nov. 23, Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
“Low Light Conditions” fine art featuring Nathan Bennett, thru Nov. 29, Blue Rain Gallery, 934 Main Ave., Unit B
Cowboy Tuesdays, every other Tuesday, Nov. 5April 15, 12 noon-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
“Given Time: Sensory Aesthetics of Reclamation,” exhibit exploring Indigenous relationships to land, FLC Center of Southwest Studies. Show runs thru April 24, 2025.
Upcoming
Thanksgiving Dinner at Purgatory, Thurs., Nov. 28, 4:30-8:30 p.m., Purgy’s
of our water. Do you think it’s a dental insurance company making its move to sell more insurance? Maybe a bunch of people who want to open a silver mine to make fillings like in the old days? More dental offices to fill the vacant shops downtown? I know you have a mouth full of answers.
– Tooth Decay
Dear Ginger Vitis, Way more than the fluoride in our water, I want the cadmium out of my Lindt chocolate. Like, seriously. I have bars of the stuff from the last time it was on sale after a major holiday. I eat some every day. The fluoride gives me strength to resist my chocolate cavities, but I have no defenses against the heavy metals in my sweets. So I’m pro fluo. Although, if de-fluoriding can bring jobs back to Silverton, maybe that’ll ease the housing woes.
– Grinding my molars, Rachel
Dear Rachel, Everyone I know is now jumping over to Bluesky, some newfangled social media thing that’s like Twitter but not. They’re posting on Facebook about their new accounts on Bluesky, and never have I felt like the world is actually just made up and nothing is real. Are you on Bluesky? Should I be? What is even happening?
– Sky High
Shop Local on Black Friday and Holly Jolly Gift Card Drawing, Fri., Nov. 29, all day, Downtown Durango
Reindeer Scavenger Hunt, Fri., Nov. 29, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Downtown Durango
Singing with Santa, Fri., Nov. 29, 5:30 p.m., Buckley Park
Black Light Neon Dance Party with DJ Wise Man, Fri., Nov. 29, 8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
Armchair Boogie with Lavalanche, Wed., Dec. 4, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Backpacking and Hiking Etiquette, presented by City Ranger Tosh Black, Thurs., Dec. 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Rec Center
Blues Night with the Ed Squared Blues Band, Thurs., Dec. 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mancos Brewing, 484 Hwy 160 E. Frontage Rd.
Tune and Brews ski tuning meetup, Thurs., Dec. 5, 6-8 p.m., Durango Tool Library, 278 Sawyer Dr., Unit 4A
The ArtRoom Collective First Friday Noel Night, Fri., Dec. 6, 4-7 p.m., The Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
Dear Airhead, Everything old becomes new again. There is nothing new under the sun. Bluesky will become a Right Wing means of controlling information, just like Twitter and Fox did before that, just as my Uncle Al did before that. It’s no different than the high five; I promise you there is some medieval ghost lingering about and telling all their friends, “Hey, we were doing that in 871, before it was cool!”
– Inimitably, Rachel
Noel Night, Fri., Dec. 6, all day around Durango
Taste of Christmas, Fri., Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m., Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts, 465 Goddard Ave., Ignacio
Opening Reception and Artist Demo with Raymond Gibby, Fri., Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m., Blue Rain Gallery, 934 Main Ave., Unit B
“Holiday on the Hill” FLC Performing Arts Department Holiday Concert, Fri., Dec. 6, 7 p.m., FLC Community Concert Hall
Festival of Trees & Wreaths, benefiting Community Connections and Our Own Lives, Dec. 6-8, D&SNG Railroad Museum
The ArtRoom Collective Holiday Bazaar, Sat., Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Smiley Building, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.
Round Dance & Native American Arts Market, Sat., Dec. 7, 12 noon-11 p.m., Durango High School Gym & Cafeteria, 2390 Main Ave.
Vincent Antone with Phyphr & Forest Thump, Sat., Dec. 7, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Odds-N-Ends Christmas Bazaar, Sat., Dec. 14, 2-6 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F Nov. 21, 2024 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was born and raised in the U.S. But he has said, “I don’t make movies for America. I make movies for planet Earth.” I applaud his expansive perspective and recommend you cultivate your own version of it in the coming weeks. You will generate good fortune for yourself as you enlarge your audience and your range of influences. It will be an excellent time to transcend previous notions of who you are and what your life’s assignments are. The frontiers are calling you to open your mind wider than ever as you leap to the next higher octave of your destiny.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Earth knows no desolation. She smells regeneration in the moist breath of decay.” Author George Meredith said that, and now I’m conveying it to you. Why? Because you’re entering a phase when you will have maximum power to ensure that decay leads to regeneration. My advice: Instead of trying to repress your awareness of what’s decomposing, tune into it energetically. The sooner you embrace the challenging but interesting work to be done, the faster and more effective the redemption will be. Here’s your battle cry: Turn rot into splendor!
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Mercury will be your sticky companion in the coming weeks, Gemini. Whether or not you believe he is a god in the spiritual realm, I trust you will acknowledge that he is a vivid archetype. He symbolizes forces that facilitate communication and promote connection. Since he is constantly traveling and conversing, he also represents boundarycrossing and thresholds. I encourage you to summon his assistance whenever you want to lubricate links and foster combinations. He can help you unify disparate influences and strengthen your network of allies.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Utility poles may seem to be indestructible towers, but they have a limited life span. A factor in their gradual demise is woodpeckers. The birds drill holes that over time weaken the wood. Their handiwork allows moisture to seep in, causing rot, and creates access points for small animals to burrow in and cause further disintegration. I bring this to your attention, because I want to encourage you to launch a woodpecker-like campaign against any seemingly impregnable structures that oppress and restrict you. It might take a while to undermine their power, but now is an excellent time to begin.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): As an American, I’m jealous of how many festivals the Japanese people celebrate. By some estimates, there are over 100,000 events every year –an average of 274 per day! They may feature music, theater, dancing, entertainment, karaoke, sumo matches, games, delicious food, colorful costumes, spiritual observances and parades of floats and shrines. If you are a Japanese Leo, you’re in luck. The astrological indicators suggest that in the coming months, you should take extra advantage of your culture’s revels, parties and social merriment. If you’re not in Japan, do your best to fulfill your cosmic mandate to frolic and carouse. Start as soon as possible!
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “The Flintstones” was an animated TV comedy show broadcast in the U.S from 1960-66. It was colossally silly and wildly popular. It portrayed cavemen and cavewomen living suburban lives in the Stone Age with dinosaurs as pets and cars made of wood and rocks. The chirpy theme song for the show was stolen from a piano sonata written by the classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to steadily carry out the opposite of that conversion. Transform what’s daft or preposterous into what’s elegant and meaningful. Change superficial approaches into righteous devotions. Move away from trifling diversions and toward passionate magnificence.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I invite you to compose three lyrical messages in the coming days. One will be a psalm of appreciation for a person who enchants your imagination and inspires you to be your best self. Another will be a hymn of praise that you address to yourself – a gorgeous boast or an outpouring of gratitude for the marvel of you. The third salutation will be an address to a higher power, whether that’s God, Goddess, Nature, your Guardian Angel, Higher Self or Life itself. If you can find it in your brave, wild heart to sing or chant these exaltations, you will place yourself in close alignment with cosmic rhythms. (PS: In general, now is a fantastic time to identify what you love and express your feelings for what you love.)
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Greek term pharmakon has a set of meanings: scapegoat, poison, remedy and recipe. According to my astrological analysis, all of these could soon be operative in your life. One surprise is that a metaphoric “poison” you are exposed to may ultimately serve as a remedy. Another curiosity is that a scapegoat may reveal a potent recipe for
New Winter Hours:
Monday - Thursday, 12 noon - 8 p.m.
Friday - Saturday, 12 noon - 10 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
redemptive transformation. A further possibility: You will discover a new recipe for a very fine remedy. I’m not certain exactly how the whole story will unfold, but I’m betting the net effect will be a lot of healing
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Museum of Broken Relationships is in Zagreb, Croatia. It collects castaway objects left behind after intimate relationships have collapsed. Among its treasures are love letters, wedding rings, jars of bitter tears, stuffed animals, feather-filled quilts and matching sweaters. Inspired by this sad spectacle, I invite you to create a very different shrine in your home: one that’s dedicated to wonderful memories from times of successful togetherness. Making this ritual gesture of hope and positivity will prepare you well for the potential relationship growth available for you in the coming months.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s the Soul Retrieval phase of your long-term cycle, Capricorn. Have there been people, either alive or dead, who wounded or pirated parts of your treasured essence? Have you experienced painful events that weakened your connection to your inner riches? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to undertake meditations in which you carry out repair and restoration. You will summon curative agents whenever you reclaim lost and missing fragments of your soul. Be aggressive in seeking helpers who can synergize your own efforts.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Wistaria Vine in Sierra Madre, Calif., is the world’s biggest blooming plant. Spread over an acre, it weighs 250 tons and teems with over 1.5 million blossoms. I propose we regard it as your inspirational symbol for the coming months. Why? I expect you will be more abundantly creative and generative than maybe ever before. Your vitality will overflow. Your vigor will be delightfully lavish and profound. Homework: Start planning how you will wield and manage all that lushness.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean playwright and songwriter Robert Lopez is the only person to have won all four of the following awards more than once: Oscars, Tonys, Emmys and Grammys. He was also the youngest person to have won all four. I propose we make him your role model in the coming weeks and months. According to my astrological analysis, you are primed to ascend to new levels of accomplishment in your chosen field – and to be acknowledged for your success. Think big! Then think even bigger.
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
ForSale
Mobile Home for Sale
Located in Hermosa/Durango, at Lone Pine Trailer Park. See website for details: sanjuanhighlands.com $55,000, lot rent per month $600. Near hot springs, Purgatory ski mtn, golf course. Ready to move in
Classes/Workshops
Yoga and the Aging Process
Aging is a process unique to everyone. In this 1 ½ day workshop, you will construct a yoga practice that effectively addresses your unique process. Smiley Building Rm 20A, Sat Dec 7 (9-4); Sun Dec 8 (9-1) Facilitated by yoga therapist Matthew Sommerville. Call 970-6321188 to sign up and for more info. Or go to www.TreeOfLifeYogaTherapy.com.
Wanted
Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970259-3494.
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/trade/sell (970) 259-2213
Announcements
Sat., 11/23, Strater Hotel
Public Comment Period
Southern Ute Indian Tribe Proposed Revisions to Water Quality Standards: A 50-day public comment period on proposed revisions to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s water quality standards will be held from November 12, 2024, to January 2, 2025.
These revisions have been proposed as a result of a triennial review of the Tribe’s water quality standards and reflect updates as necessary to comply with applicable federal regulation or to meet Tribal water quality goals. For all interested individuals, a public hearing regarding the Tribe’s water quality standards proposed revisions will be held on: Thursday, January 16, 2025
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
To attend in person:
Large Conference Room, Southern Ute Environmental Programs Department 71 Mike Frost Way Ignacio, CO 81137
To attend the hearing online, please register at: http://bit.ly/3NXTng7 before the event. After the event, the live online hearing will be recorded and posted to the Tribe’s website.
The proposed water quality standards revisions can be found on the Tribe’s website at: www.southernute-nsn.gov/ govern ment/departments/epd/public-comments/
You can submit your comments two ways: On the Tribe’s website at: https://www.southernute-nsn.gov/government/departments/epd/public-com ments/ or via email: wqs@southernutensn.gov (preferred)
Applications for Advanced Standing
MSW Program Students with a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) are eligible for a one-year Masters of Social Work program through the University of Denver. The program starts summer 2025 and classes are taught in Durango. Stipends for child welfare, integrated behavioral health care are available. Native American tuition support to eligible students is also available. For more info contact Janelle.Doughty@du.edu or www.du. edu/socialwork.
Services
Need Help With Yard Work? and raking leaves or shoveling snow? Call Chris 970-317-5397. Hourly rate plus a flat rate if I haul debris off to the dump
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.
Electric Repair
Roof, gutter cleaning, fence, floors, walls, flood damage, mold, heating service.
HaikuMovieReview
‘Martha’ Say what you will but she’s a self-made billionaire and total badass – Lainie Maxson
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Lost/Found
My Cat Cid is Missing Long hair, white with black spots, green eyes. Last seen near 18th St. and E. 2nd Ave. Reward. Call 970-403-6192
CommunityService
Engaging Volunteer Opportunity
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Alternative Horizons in need of volunteers to staff our hotline. Training and support provided. For more info., visit alternativehorizons.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.
Americorps is Hiring
Our partner organizations are concentrated in La Plata and Montezuma counties and span through May or August 2025. To learn more, visit unitedway-swco.org/americorps.
Nov. 21, 2024 n 15
Best Show!
Boiler Service - Water Heater Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
