The Durango Telegraph Aug. 18, 2022

Having our cake & eating it too THE ORIGINAL INDIE WEEKLY LINE ON DURANGO & BEYOND sidein elegraph Land rush Changes in tax laws leads to surge in conservation easements Microdosing moms Move over wine - stressed moms are turning to shrooms Who you calling old rag? A look back at how this crazy thing all got started

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A: “They don’t do that either.”

Q: “What about bathing? Do they bathe?”

– Interchange between a visiting couple and a local waitress regarding the art of the dreadlock The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, beckoning singletrack or monster powder days. We are wholly owned and operated independently by the Durango Telegraph LLC and distributed in the finest and most discerning locations throughout the greater Durango area. We’re only human. If, by chance, we defame someone’s good name or that of their family, neighbor, best friend or dog, we will accept full responsibility in a public flogging in the following week’s issue. Although “free but not easy,” we can be plied with schwag, booze and flattery.

Ear to the ground: “I accidentally Cloroxed my face.”

– Woman who lived to tell after realizing all of our greatest fears: mistaking the bleach wipes for the face wipes Tele time machine Oh, a lot can change in 20 years, but some things continue to ring eternally true. Of course, we here at the Telegraph are feeling a little nostalgic on our 20th birthday, and we’ve been looking back at some of our very first issues. Which brought us to, of course, our very first Pole on Aug. 22, 2002.

• Unless you have an ethical dilemma, apply antiperspirant to your feet.

Was it about the infamous No Child Left Behind Act? Ben Affleck being named People’s Sexiest Man Alive? Michael Jackson hanging his baby out of the balcony window of his hotel room? Or how much we were jamming on Nickelback’s, “How You Remind Me”?  Mmm, no. Instead we decided to tackle how to put an end to sandal stank. From our very own co-founder Will Sands:

“Summer is the season of weddings, sweet summer evenings and unfortunately the acrid smell of sport sandals. Around every corner, you find yourself assaulted by birkenstink, chacostench and the all too familiar tevabelch. Following are some techniques for taming these beasts.”

• If all else fails, toss the culprits in the dumpster and return to the realm of the closed toe.

A: “They don’t comb it.”

• Give your sandals a bath in bleach and water overnight once per week.

And hey, why not – here are the tips, which still be of help today:  • Soak your stinkers for 15 minutes a day in a small tub filled with warm water and a half a cup of baking soda.

• Use anti-bacterial soap, morning, noon and night would be wise, particularly in dark crevices.

EDITORIALISTA: Missy missy@durangotelegraph.comVotel ADVERTISING SALES: ads@durangotelegraph.com STAFF REPORTER: Jonathan jonathan@durangotelegraph.comRomeo STAR STUDDED CAST: Jonathan Thompson, Alex Vick, Lainie Maxson, Rob Brezsny and Clint Reid MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 332, Durango, CO 81302 VIRTUAL ADDRESS: www.durangotelegraph.com REAL WORLD ADDRESS: 679 E. 2nd Ave., Ste E2 Durango, CO 81301 PHONE: 970-259-0133 E-MAIL: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com MAIL DELIVERY AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: $3.50/issue, $150/yearboilerplate 4 La Vida Local 4 Thumbin’ It 5 Word on the Street 6 Soap Box 7 Land Desk 8 Top Story 10 State News 11 Rock ‘n’ Roll Sweetheart 12-13 Stuff to Do 13 Ask Rachel 14 Free Will Astrology 15 Classifieds 15 Haiku Movie Review RegularOccurrences telegraph Aug. 18, 2022 n polethe311 Turn up the tunes Wherever adventure leads you, make sure to have a soundtrack by Alex Vick lineup 4 An old rag A look back at how this crazy thing got started in the first place by Missy Votel 8 Forever protected Renewed interest in conservation easements protects private lands by Jonathan Romeo 7 Poison pill Biden’s new climate bill, while a success, has concerning caveats by Jonathan Thompson / Land Desk On the Cover Fly agaric mushrooms, which cause Mario to turn into Super form, in real life turn humans into sleep-forever form./ Photo by Missy Votel

Ground:Q:“How do they get their hair to do that?”

Twenty years later, we’re happy to still be providing you essential life hacks, whether it’s how not to get pulled over after spilling chicken nuggets all over yourself while driving, reminding you to not set toilet paper on fire after you have, you know, relieved yourself in the woods, or advising against taking the D&SNG as a commuter train between Durango and Silverton. (All real things, just within the past few months, we needed to address not out of our own imagination, but out of necessity). And, as an added bonus birthday treat for our readers, here’s the first ever Ear to the

The attack on author Salmon Rushdie, who was stabbed by a 24-year-old Muslim man before a lecture in New York. Rushdie has lived under a fatwa, calling for his death, since 1989 for his book “Satanic Verses.”

– Will Sands

– Missy Votel

opinion LaVidaLocal 4 n Aug. 18, 2022 telegraph

Who you calling an old rag? “Do you own the Telegraph?” It’s a question I hear surprisingly often – said with a mix of incredulousness, confusion and pity. “It owns me,” is often my refrain. Judging by the looks, I’m not sure if this does much to clear up the mystery. After all, as people come and go – as they tend to do in this town – origin stories can get lost in the recycling heap of history. So what better time than the occasion of the 20th anniversary of this fine publication to revisit its humble beginnings. Those of you who are good with Roman numerals or Super Bowls, may note that our masthead clearly states “XXI” – 21. This was the result of a possibly shortsighted decision in our first year to sync our volume number with the beginning of the year. As such, we flipped to “II” in January, only a few months after we began publishing. Maybe we thought it would make us look older or that nobody would notice. Whatever the reason, it seemed like a good idea at the time. What also seemed like a good idea was a free weekly paper, started by yours truly and co-founding father, Will Sands. We knew just enough to be dangerous and had the youthful audacity to give it a shot (much to the chagrin of our spouses who would have preferred we kept our day jobs). Thus, with the help of a few brave advertisers, on Aug. 22, 2002, out of the ashes of the Missionary Ridge Fire, stumbled the first issue of The Durango Telegraph Note I did not use the “phoenix rising from the ashes” metaphor, because, well, everyone thought we were gonna flop. And with good reason – up until then, weeklies had a track record like “Spinal Tap” drummers. At the time, Durango had a K-Mart and bowling alley, Hogan’s sold Western wear on Main, Purgatory was called “DMR” and mountain bikes had these horrible contraptions called bar ends. The burgeoning micropolis grappled with growth, low wages, an influx of newbies and soaring housing prices –proving the old adage that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Today, blue light specials, Wrangler snap shirts and bowling are left to our memories, bar ends luckily phased out before most of us could impale ourselves, and Will has moved on to the greener coasts of Maui. But somehow, miraculously, the Telegraph has survived – despite recessions, pandemics, fires and the infamous Martinigate. Unfortunately, what didn’t survive is an actual hard copy of that first edition, which contained a story on the return of the Iron Horse Motorcycle Rally (which elicited a less-than-cordial visit from one of its organizers), the short-lived mountain bike trail at Silverton Mountain (which almost killed us) and the even shorter-lived “Fashion Police” (which almost got us sued). Fortunately, a somewhat complete digital copy lives on. So, to all those who weren’t around, here’s the first words that ever appeared on this page – written by Will, all those starry-eyed years ago. And to those who were around, supporting us, reading us, greeting us on Thursday – we thank you, from the bottom of our ink-stained hearts.

And we’re off (reprinted from Aug. 22, 2002) “So you guys are really going through with this, huh?” a friend chuckled a few weeks and what seemed a lifetime ago. Our answer came in the form of two sheepish nods and a pair of stupid grins as we unpacked nearly 10 grand in hardware and prepared to hit the streets and try to sell something that did not exist. And yes, we’ve been chuckled at, eyed with suspicion and heard several different versions of our own impending bankruptcy. Doubtless, we’ve done a fair amount of upstream swimming since we hatched this idea. But now that the paper is out of the bag, times seem to be changing. We’re beginning to hear excited voices up and down Main Avenue like “That’s just what Durango needs.” And above all, a number of local businesses have put their faith in our vision and helped get this first issue on the streets. For that, we’re especially grateful. Aside from overcoming the baggage of past Durango weeklies, one of our trickiest charges was selecting an identity for this new animal. Over several late nights and more than a few beers, we jumped between options like “The Durango Rag,” “The Free Radical” and, believe it or not, “the Durango Nad” as well as the more traditional tags like “The Durangoan’ sand “The Durango Press.” When “The Durango Telegraph” finally sounded, it hit like a breath of fresh air. Several people have praised us for being “old-fashionedy,” and a few have actually blasted us for stealing the name of London’s blessed publication. However, our decision was partly rooted in reverence to local history but mainly driven by a passion for the trails of Horse Gulch and the local monument that is our telegraph line. So many of us at this paper and in Durango have been renewed by the Telegraph Trail. My fellow editor/publisher even went so far as to accept a proposal to take the plunge – as in marriage – from her now-spousal unit atop the lungbusting climb. And the greater Horse Gulch area is one of our town’s great assets. We’re hopeful that over time this paper will become another. We understand that the track record for weeklies in Durango has not been strong. But if there’s anything we’re sure of, it’s that there’s room for a fresh voice in this community. While the Durango Herald has done an admirable job of covering the community, there’s clearly room for a new and independent voice. We look forward to a competitive spirit that’s grounded in sportsmanship and mutual respect. As you will see, our take on newspapering goes well beyond the cold, hard facts. However, facts dominate the majority of this publication, and we take the integrity of our news and feature coverage seriously. We also know that it’s OK to crack a smile, and that life in towns such as Durango demands a sense of humor. We’re sorry, but the name choice was not an effort to be “old-fashionedy,” and our content might seem a little contrary to this notion. You also won’t read about easy ways to get into the high country in these pages. And we would recommend those hungry for world news hit up the Cable News Network. Because, above all, we endeavor to provide a weekly snapshot of the life and times of Durango and its community. So go ahead and turn the page, take a load off, enjoy the read and we’ll see you bright and early next Thursday.

The tragic death of a Colorado Springs man who fell 30 feet while climbing Windom Peak in the Weminuche Wilderness.

A new FDA rule that allows for hearing aids to be sold over the counter. Now, mothers have no excuse for yelling “WHAT?” while watching “Dancing with the Stars” and talking on the phone. Scientists saying Biden’s new climate bill, which holds massive incentives for clean energy, should reduce future global warming “not a lot, but not insignificantly either.” Well at least that’s clear.

The IRS increasing the deduction limit for the amount of money teachers spend on out-of-pocket school supplies to $300, up from the $250. Wait, this isn’t good news! Why do teachers pay anything??

A new study from Rutgers University estimating two-thirds of the world – or 5 billion people – could starve to death in the event of a nuclear war between the U.S. and Russia. Have a great weekend!

Thumbin’It SignoftheDownfall: All that’s left Ryann McEnany (Trump’s former Press Secretary’s sister) is the spokeswoman for “The Right Stuff,” a new “conservatives only” dating site launching this September. In her first commercial, McEnany promises there won’t be any pronouns on the site because “there are only two options,” the site will be “invite only” so woke lefties can’t join, and it’ll be free for women while men have to pay, just like dating back in the good ol’ days. So, if you’re still wearing one of those red hats and you can’t find a date because they keep running away screaming, maybe The Right Stuff will help you find someone new to fall in hate with.

telegraph Aug. 18, 2022 n 5 WordontheStreet

Andy “Marijuana. They freaked out and sent me to spend summer with grandparents.”my “Growing up in Iowa, my parents found a pipe bomb we were going to use to blow up that brown Iowa dirt.”

untyLa Plata Co -The Durango>> RRunway aehabilit ntio allsure toclo rt coairlinesAbitsresulting10-dayinarunwayerepavingrtwillirpohoatravel.mmercial ednesure WRunway clo , Sept 7esday org1000Durango,airport@durangogovCO81303RoadAirport 02, 2, Sept. 16Fridayto 2. Sept. 7 970.382.6051 .

Noah “A bottle of vodka. I was grounded and couldn’t go on a ski trip.”

Courtney “Mushrooms. And the worst part was my parents took them!” Doug “Don’t know if this counts, but in seventh grade, my school found my Circle Jerks records. They didn’t know why I’d have a recordthat...”about Patrick Q With the FBI raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, The Telegraph asked: “What’s the worst thing your parents ever found in your bedroom?”

The benefits large American corporations derive from federal spending priorities, pro-business legislation, foreign policy decisions and tariffs, and research funded by federal agencies and federal programs are enormous, and play vital roles in generating profits for big business. It’s time to deny access to these benefits to corporations who use their disproportionate clout in congress to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Start with the ones screaming like stuck pigs against this legislation. Chances are, they’re the biggest hogs at the trough.–Gregory Moore, Grandview

Just as the colonies had no voice in decisions made in England despite the taxes they paid to the crown, so have we as taxpayers lost our voices in a Congress that operates for the benefit of CEOs and large shareholders.

Almost every city, town and village in Europe enjoys bells to mark the passage of time each day. Having that same music in Durango has always given me comfort knowing that not only am I home, but also that we as a community are connected to the bigger world out there.

– Sally Florence, Durango Let them ring The whistle of the train, the laughter of playing children, the farmers market in the summer and fall, and the County Courthouse bells are just some of the things that unify us as a community, making Durango a unique, wonderful place to live. Living downtown, I really miss hearing the bells from the County Courthouse through the night and day. Having read in The Durango Herald last month that they have been silenced because of a few complaints makes me sad. It is akin to those folks who move to town saying they “love Durango” knowing about the historic train runs multiple times per day, and then crying out for the charming blast of the train whistle to be quieted because it bothers them. Or people that move next to an airport, and then complain about the noise.

Calling all heroes After Trump failed to secure a second presidential term, despite trying to solicit illegal help from Pence and the infamous Jan. 6 insurrection, he moved back to Mara-Loco, otherwise known as Mar-a-Lago. When he did, Trump took all the usual personal stuff, including 15 large boxes filled with top secret stuff. Apparently, the secret stuff was not returned, so after more than a year, the FBI arrived in Florida recently to get the boxes back. Seems like a long time to retrieve important papers that could have gotten into the wrong hands. Why wasn’t there a White House inspector or two looking inside the boxes before they left in the van for Florida? I would like to see more intelligence from intelligent officials. Looking back in the early 1990s at the scene in Waco, Texas, when a sexual child predator pastor could have been captured from his typical run of five miles in his short shorts. Instead, the communal compound got out of hand with the feds allowing flames to kill just about all of the brainwashed occupants, including children. Some 40 years later, a bunch of local and federal authorities allowed 77 minutes to pass before taking out an 18-year-old maniac with an assault rifle that shot two teachers and several fourth-graders in Texas. Many more horrible acts have happened where sound minds could have come to the rescue. We need more real heroes, not just on the big silver screen. Get it together.

Please bring back the bells, and let at least one of our town’s traditional, charming characteristics remain.

– Michael Peterson, Durango Regrets They linger in the shadow of They’rememory.the could’ve, eventswould’veshould’ve,that have long passed. They are the quiet waters, meandering under the bridges of yesteryear, or overtricklingthedam of forgetfulness. Only liars and fools say they have none as they ponder their own, mightpersonalhavebeen!

– Burt Baldwin, Ignacio

6 n Aug. 18, 2022 telegraph SoapBox

Tax the rich The howls from conservatives in Congress over a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that now requires corporations making $1 billion or more in profits to pay a minimum 15% in corporate income taxes are both predictable and tiresome. The primary objective of these representatives and senators is to manipulate legislation to ensure the corporations that finance their campaigns and pull their puppet strings pay as little tax as possible. In fact, many corporate giants pay no corporate income taxes at all, despite astronomical earnings.

It is time to revive the rallying cry that helped unite the original 13 colonies in their rebellion against British rule back in 1776, but with an ironic twist: No REPRESENTATION without TAXATION!

Devil’s in the details

by Jonathan Thompson Well, hot diggety damn, folks. It looks like the Democrats finally convinced that coal-lovin’ West Virginian Sen. Joe Manchin to get on board with a climate bill. Heck, even Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the once-progressive Arizona Democrat who has cozied up with corporations in recent years, is now saying she supports it. Getting the bill passed did require serious compromising on the Democrats’ part. This ain’t no Green New Deal. It isn’t even Build Back Better. It’s, well, the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes $369 billion to fight climate change. It also includes a provision that basically forces the feds to auction off oodles of acres for oil and gas development, which some folks understandably are upsetThere’sabout.alot of good in this bill (higher royalties for oil and gas, including on methane that’s extracted but not marketed; a methane fee; billions of dollars for environmental justice; and lots and lots of money for renewable energy). And some bad: The oil and gas leasing thing, for one. And I’m especially irked that it gives incentives for purchasing electric cars but not electric (or nonelectric) bikes. Why not pay people to not buy a car? Now that would be revolutionary. And then there’s 45Q. While everyone was fretting over oil and gas leasing, they missed what could amount to a much bigger giveaway to the fossil fuel industry: Changes to the section of the tax code (45Q) that subsidizes companies to capture carbon from industrial facilities like cement factories and power plants. Scintillating stuff,Well,no?it could be. The carbon capture tax credit is similar to solar or wind production tax credits, in which a company receives credit for each unit of power a facility produces. Only with 45Q it’s a credit for each ton of carbon captured: a $35-per-ton credit for carbon used for enhanced oil recovery and $50 per ton for geologically sequestering it without using it for oil production. The idea is to incentivize firms to install very expensive carbon capture equipment on, say, cement factories, which are tough to decarbonize. Companies also can sell their prospective credits on the tax equity market to finance a future project – if they can find willing buyers. That’s what Enchant Energy wants to do to pay for its plan to retrofit the San Juan Generating Station in northwestern New Mexico with carbon capture equipment. The plant’s last operating unit is slated to shut down at the end of September. Enchants, in cooperation with Farmington’s municipal utility, want to keep the plant running – without carbon capture – until it can raise enough money to begin construction on the carbon capture equipment. But with the deadline quickly approaching, Enchant has not been able to secure financing and missed multiple benchmarks. They might get help from the new bill. The section on 45Q looks like it came right out of the playbook of the Carbon Capture Coalition – which includes Shell, Valero, Peabody Energy and Arch Resources. If the bill passes, the subsidy (yes, a tax credit is a subsidy) would be upped to $85 per ton for geologically sequestered carbon and $60 per ton if it’s pumped into an oilfield. And, equally significant, companies can receive the credits as direct payments. Both provisions would be a huge boon to Enchant and its plan to keep a dirty old coal plant running, polluting and using billions of gallons of water each Enchant Energy claimsyear.it will be able to capture 95% of the carbon from the plant or nearly 6 million tons per year. If that were to happen – and it’s extremely unlikely if not impossible – the feds would hand Enchant about a half-billion dollars per year. Taxpayer dollars, mind you. And that’s on top of the millions of dollars the Department of Energy has already given Enchant to produce a front-end engineering study and look into the feasibility of geological sequestration in the San Juan Basin, where the geology has been perforated by 40,000 oil wells. There may be more: Since Enchant hasn’t been able to raise enough cash on its own to pay for the venture, it has turned to the federal government for up to $1 billion more in funding. All of this to keep a coal plant running and polluting for years, a coal plant that otherwise would be closing down altogether a couple months from now. Sure, it’ll keep the coal miners and power plant operators on the job, and that’s great. It’ll keep the property taxes coming to the local schools. That, too, is great.But I’ve got a better idea: Shut down the power plant so that it stops sucking water out of the drought-starved San Juan River and stops polluting the area’s air and harming people’s health. Take the millions or even billions of dollars that would have gone to Enchant Energy, and spend the money directly on the communities that have been harmed by the San Juan Generating Station and the Four Corners Power Plant for more than 50 years. Those people deserve it. An obscure New York City equity firm does not.

telegraph Aug. 18, 2022 n 7 Back to School Special: 10 Class Pass $120 through Labor Day (Regularly $140) www.pauseyogapilates.com 1305 Escalante Dr, Ste 202, Durango, CO Above Sunnyside Farms Market, in Purple Cliffs Wellness Center LandDesk

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.landdesk.org

The coal-tainted poison pill in President Biden’s new climate bill

There’s a lot of good and bad in President Biden’s historic new legislation to address climate change. Among the concerns are provisions that could extend the life of a coal plant in northwestern New Mexico./ Photo by Jonathan Thompson

Ayear after being passed, a new state law that increases the financial benefits of conservation easements has reinvigorated efforts, at unprecedented rates, of people who want to protect their land from development. In Colorado, a conservation easement is a voluntary agreement with a property owner in which the owner agrees to limit development on the land for the preservation of scenic views, wildlife habitat and watersheds, among other values that benefit the public. While an agreement to limit development can devalue the full potential of a property, in return, the property receives a tax advantage. In the past, landowners could receive tax credits up to 50% of the value of the land within the conservation easement. But in recent years, the incentive was not enough and interest waned, said Adrienne Dorsey, executive director of La Plata Open Space Conservancy.Insummer 2021, however, the state legislature passed House Bill 1233 to increase the tax credit up to 90%. The law has led to renewed interest and unprecedented demand for conservation easements. And it could not come at a more important time as development booms across the state, said State Rep. Barbara McLachlan, who voted in favor of the new law. “This bill forever protects the land,” McLachlan said in an interview with The Durango Telegraph this week. “It’s a good incentive for people who have a ranch and don’t want to sell it and have it turned into condos. Their land will stay a ranchOneforever.”suchrecent success story is a property known as “Weaselskin,” south of Durango on Florida Mesa, just off Highway 550. For years, the property owner, Jennifer Thurston, tried to get the land placed under a conservation easement, but the 50% tax credit just didn’t make the deal financially feasible. But the passage of HB 1233 pushed the project over the finish line. Now, 180 acres of farmland and piñonjuniper forest, an area critical for wildlife and home to untold numbers of Native American ruins, is protected under a conservation easement. And, the move is just the first of a multi-phase project to protect the larger Weaselskin property.

New tax incentives boost interest to conserve private lands

by Jonathan Romeo

Protected pastures

A vital role In the late 1990s, Colorado started offering conservation easements, recognizing private lands play a vital role in the protection of open space and ecologically important areas, and to promote the heritage of Colorado’s rural landscape. But it wasn’t until the early 2000s that it became more popular as an option for preservation.

About 180 acres south of Durango, known as the Weaselskin property, owned by Jennifer Thurston, were recently placed in a conservation easement, which protects the land from future development./ Photo by Jonathan Romeo

telegraph8 n Aug. 18, 2022

“We could have quit or stopped,” Thurston said. “But I said, ‘I will do this.’

TopStory

The program, it should be noted, has not been without serious issues. According to Colorado Politics, out of 4,000 easements granted from 2000-13, about 20% were rejected years later, because state auditors deemed the lands were of lesser value than originally appraised, forcing landowners to pay back credits and leading to bankruptcies. And, there has been concern over the years that some landowners take advantage of the tax break. But, for the most part, conservation easements have been a critical tool for protecting private lands that would otherwise be sold off to development. And, for ranchers and farmers, it significantly cuts down on annual operating costs, extending the life of the agricultural operation and making it more feasible to pass down to the next Conservationgeneration.easements, too, can take many forms. In 2016, the James Ranch family placed the bulk of its 420-acre property in the Animas Valley into a conservation easement to ensure the property continues to provide local meat and produce. In 2021, more than 700 acres northeast of Durango were conserved, mainly to protect the city of Durango’s water supply. And most recently, a Native American ruin site called Haynie, northeast of Cortez, received the designation.Buttheone common (and required) theme to properties that qualify for a conservation easement: they must have some

Hopefully, we’ll serve as a model to show other property owners conservation easements can happen and not feel like you’re giving away the value of the land in the process.”

swath of land atop Florida Mesa since the 1970s. Ever since, the landscape has remained largely unchanged, dedicated to agriculture and open space, and home to a vast network of archaeological sites. About 10 years ago, Thurston first approached LPOSC but was ultimately unable to make it work financially until this past year, when the tax credit increased. Although 180 aces are now in an easement, Thurston hopes to eventually conserve 700800 acres (though she admits that’s going to take some wrangling with family). In the meantime, Weaselskin continues its sod farm and hay production, as well as pasture for horses. Thurston said she’d like to start permaculture and offer organic food. Also, just as important, is having a public outreach and education component (though conservation easement properties are not open to the public). This past spring, Thurston hosted a group of Animas High students for a three-day course. At the beginning, when asked what would be the best use of the property, the students said they’d like to see a strip mall or golf course. But, after a few days working and connecting with the land, the students realized why saving the property from development was so important. “It changed their mind,” she said.

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telegraph public benefit quality.

Much like in La Plata County, Reimann said landowners in his region want to protect their farms or ranches from development. Some hope to pass the land onto their children or the next generation. Others simply want to conserve the landscape for views or wildlife habitat. “Just looking at how the world is changing, it provides peace of mind when their land is protected for the future,” Reimann said. The best use Peace of mind is exactly what Thurston wanted for Weaselskin. Thurston’s family has owned an 800-acre

As for LPOSC, Dorsey, who took over the reins as executive director in January, said with the new tax credit, some big projects are coming down the line. “We have some really exciting projects in the works right now,” she said. “As long as there’s a strong interest, we’ll continue to increase our efforts in strategic, impactful areas to conserve these lands.”

But it’s not just the tax credit that’s persuading them. More than ever, landowners are feeling a sense of urgency to protect open space amid the influx of people moving to Colorado and extreme development pressures in the wake of the pandemic. James Reimann, conservation director for Montezuma Land Conservancy, which covers Dolores, Montezuma and western San Miguel counties, said he’s received six calls in just the past two weeks. “We’re hearing from people who in the past were interested in conservation easements, but it didn’t pencil out,” Reimann said this week. “But now they’re calling back and asking about the 90% tax credit, which is helping these projects move across the finish line.”

“We’re here to preserve open spaces, but also the right places with value,” Dorsey said. Land rush In addition to limited tax incentives, interest in conservation easements over the years also waned because of fewer development pressures and the COVID-19 pandemic making it hard to connect with landowners, Dorsey said. But that all changed with HB 1233. “There has been such a huge uptick in interest because of that increased tax credit,” Dorsey said. “We’ve seen a surge in the number of people reaching out to place easements on their property.”

Photo by Jonathan Romeo

Jennifer Thurston talks about the Ancestral Puebloan ruins that are buried on the Weaselskin property./

Jackson, CEO of Unlimited Sciences, a psychedelic research company, is one of perhaps hundreds of mothers in Colorado who has begun a regimen of microdosing to ease the stress and anxiety of being a mother on the go. Some have joined support groups to help them with microdosing. Yet others microdose and do yoga, journal, take a walk with their kids or watch a Disney movie.

“Really we don’t have good epidemiological studies. There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Dr. Josh Woolley, an associate psychiatry professor in residence at the University of California San Francisco, said. Woolley is overseeing a clinical trial on higher doses of natural psilocybin on healthy people. “People who are using, who are microdosing … they’re basically experimenting on themselves.”

The moms interviewed for this story, many of whom wanted to use first names only because the drug is illegal, say the microdoses are so small they barely register a buzz.  They tout the mushrooms as safer and less high-inducing than a glass of wine or a beer. But they say the capsules, usually from 0.1 milligrams to 0.3 milligrams per dose, taken over a period of days, gives them more patience, ability to cope, organizational talent and happiness.  It dents some of the motherhood drudgery – laundry, bath time, temper tantrums – and brightens the good moments, creating newfound appreciation for life, they said. “It’s just 10% helpful,” Courtney, a mother of two who microdoses mushrooms, said. “You’re 10% more patient, 10% more joyful, maybe 10% more willing to roll around in the grass with your kids. And 10% goes a pretty long way. Sometimes that’s all you need.” Tracey Tee, a Denver mother of one, said since starting microdosing she feels like “Tracey 3.0.”

During Tee’s comedy shows for mothers, called “The Pump and Dump Show,” she often watched mothers come in gaggles and blow off steam with large numbers of drinks.

Those macro doses create psychedelic trips, which are described by users as eye-opening and life-changing. Sometimes they have visions that show what they’ve done in the past – one physician mother described a trip that revealed that she once covered up her daughter’s mouth while she took a work call. Others say it took them on a journey that changed their perspectives completely.  But less is known about the efficacy and safety of microdosing. For researchers, trying to suss out the effects on any healthy person is difficult.

“I can feel the wall coming,” Jackson, a mother of two south of Denver, said. “I need something to rest on.” That rest comes in the form of a tiny capsule of dried, powdered psilocybin – psychedelic mushrooms.

“It just changed my life,” said Tee, who runs Moms on Mushrooms, an online and in-person community offering microdosing courses and help. “Microdosing just brings all your emotions up and it puts them right in front of your face … you have to stare at them, and then when you do, you let it all go.”

“Moms are just struggling … but many of us have moved past, I think, wanting to gather and just guzzle five bottles of wine,” she said. “We’re craving something deeper, and we’re definitely craving community. Besides, with every day that passes, I can guzzle less and less alcohol.”

Even though the Food and Drug Administration designated psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy” in 2018 for treating depression, mushrooms and psychedelics remain illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act.  Denver County has decriminalized possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms, which means possession is a “low law enforcement priority.” It is still illegal to buy and sell them.

Jackson was having symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder when her son started having seizures again. Her heart was racing, she was sweating and panicking.  She did a larger dose of psilocybin with a therapist and a guide in 2016, and now marks her life before and after that experience. Afterward, she had a deep understanding her son wasn’t broken, and she was better able to care for him.

As for Jackson, she became curious about psilocybin after her special needs son relapsed with a severe seizure illness after seeing miraculous improvement from taking CBD. For four years, the teenager had moved out of hospice, where he was having more than 100 seizures a day, to being a happy teenager. Then the seizures started up again, and Jackson felt helpless. “I was a mess,” she said. “I couldn’t remember if I fed my kids dinner. I was really, really struggling.”

Heather Jackson calls it the “mother’s wall,” and it comes on very suddenly. She can’t make decisions, like what to cook for dinner. She realizes the kitchen trash is full and starts to go to take it out and then discovers something else needs to be done. She sets the trash bag down, only to discover it eight hours later.

After that, she microdosed 0.1 milligrams of mushrooms, three days on and four days off.

Jackson will often take several months off from it, until she feels that familiar wall coming up around her. She still sees a “Fortunately,counselor. I was able to save my kid,” she said. “And then I was looking for something to save myself.”

Moms say microdosing mushrooms makes life less stressful; experts urge caution

For more from CPR, go to www.cpr.org

“Parenting is freaking stressful,” Epperson said. “We have created a very stressful world and our physiology does not evolve as quickly as our environment.” But Epperson worries about microdosing mushrooms and measures to legalize access to them. “I feel like we have to slow down and do the research before we just … start opening up all these treatment centers and saying, ‘We know what we’re doing,’” she said.

Heather Jackson was having symptoms of PTSD after years of caring for a son who suffers from chronic seizures. Microdosing psilocybin turned her life around, she says./ Hart Van Denburg/CPR News

“Previously, I was very disconnected from my body. I would actually joke I could have a severed arm and I would still be, like, typing with one hand,” said Jackson, whose youngest son, 19, has special needs and requires round-theclock care. “Now that I’m very in tune with myself, I see it coming, and I know I need to take a rest.”

Throughout the United States and Canada, clinical trials have shown that larger doses of psilocybin help treat anxiety, depression and trauma. One recent trial showed synthetic psilocybin treated drug-resistant depression as effectively as escitalopram, a common SSRI, according to Scientific American and the New England Journal of Medicine.

Moms who microdose are among the fastest growing groups in the psychedelic movement, according to industry observers and academics studying psilocybin.

Dr. Neill Epperson, one of the world’s foremost experts on women’s mental health and the chair of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said the majority of people using SSRIs, or prescription antidepressants, are women. And she notes the World Health Organization has found major depressive disorder the leading cause of disease burden for women internationally.

Woolley, at the UCSF, is intrigued by the microdosing mommy movement because he understands their call for help. “How do you measure something that might make people have more patience with their children?” he said. “I have a 4- and a 6-year-old, and I certainly would like that … But to prove it in a clinical trial? We’re talking about small changes that may matter a lot, but they’re much smaller than if someone is severely depressed and can’t get out of bed.”

Mother’s little helper

That hasn’t stopped scores of moms from forming a largely secretive, burgeoning movement, complete with websites, social media support groups and doctors offering, on the side, to help people through the experiences.

10 n Aug. 18, 2022 telegraph StateNews by Allison Sherry / Colorado Public Radio

Tee launched Moms on Mushrooms, or MOM, after losing her business running comedy shows during the pandemic. When she began microdosing, she felt a need to create a space where mothers could talk about what they are going through. The notion of “mother’s little helper” goes back several generations. That phrase was coined by the 1966 Rolling Stones song about Valium. Today, gift stores are filled with “mommy’s sippy cups” and “mommy needs wine” T-shirts.

Aug. 18, 2022 n 11telegraph by Alex “NVick

RocknRollSweetheartRevving

o-no, no-no, no, no-nono” – a classic rock tune fired up alongside a guttural cough of exhaust pipes as the engine idled. I could smell gasoline and leather, and adrenaline coursed through my being. “Nobody But Me” by The Human Beinz pumped into my skull under the protection of my brain bucket: “Nobody can do the shing-a-ling like I do!” The freedom of 55 mph over Molas Pass down into Silverton accompanied by my favorite playlist offered a bliss unmatched. We serpentined into town watching rain clouds build like a crown over Red Mountain. My partner in love and motorcycle companion, Monica Louise, and I loitered outside of the gas station in Silverton to contemplate the weather over the best gas station burger in the state. “Motorcycle trips are a lot of strapping and unstrapping, followed by a lot of stopping, going, dressing and undressing,” Monica said. I am very new to long distance travel on a motorcycle, but Monica has the experience. “It’s always better to take the time to gear up than to try to tough it out,” she gently reminds me. I heeded her advice and put on the pants. We didn’t have motorcycle-specific rain gear, but we surely had well-worn snowboarding gear. When in Colorado… Part way up the pass, we could see lightning flashing as thunder boomed in the distance. I revisited the music selection to tailor to the experience – Metalcore seemed to fit the ominous presence of dark clouds. I chose “Hester Prynne” by As Blood Runs Black. The speed and heavy breakdowns perfectly matched the roar of the engine, the cracks of lightning and the building anxiety as I became peppered with raindrops. I was over-gripping the handlebars, and my Vans high tops were dripping all the way through Ridgway. By Delta, we encountered heavenly clouds lit with gold, and the sun splashed rays of calm and warmth on our shoulders. ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” came on as I celebrated, doing as much grooving as possible on a motorcycle. For ABBA, this means a lot of spirit fingers and jazz hands.Werolled through farm country with heightened senses. Iron Chic’s “Cutesy Monster Man” came on as we ascended Grand Mesa – a perfect ride with tight turns and tall pine trees. Iron Chic belts out, “I sold my soul, now I age but don’t get old, and to this day it’s the best deal I ever made.” Music has such a magical way of connecting emotion with experience. My musical tastes stretched as long as the horizon, and each song had its special moment along the ride. “Deep Cover” by Man Man began to sweetly whisper into my ears with a ukulele lullaby rocking us down into our destination. We unloaded at a cabin near Powderhorn Mountain Resort, full of smiles, nacho cheese dip and warm embraces. After an evening of good conversation, heavy tunes and a roaring fire, we pitched a tarp across our motorcycles nestled in a shady grove of scrub oak, drifting in and out of sleep under the light of a nearly full moon. The anticipation of the next day lurked on my mind. I wondered what I might listen to while riding. After bacon, quiche and goodbyes with new and old friends, we set back out on the road. A doubleheader of tunes by Diarrhea Planet led to fist pumps and feelings of euphoria. We jumped onto I-70, fear setting in, as it was my first time on the interstate. Ripping 75 mph with a throng of city folk in a rush and terrifying potholes left me puckered for most of the ride. Slowly, Elton John’s “Sweet Painted Lady” soothed me and the mach10 adrenaline slowed throughout myThen,bloodstream. boom! “Thunder bolts and lightning very, very frightening,” Freddie Mercury’s voice rings in my head. It was time to pull over and gear up once again. Rain was followed by backed-up traffic leading to the Eisenhower Tunnel. I attempted to hold my breath in the tunnel, wishing for smooth travel. I ran out of breath, and it seemed my wish was only half granted. When we stopped next for gas, we noticed a taillight had come off. I’ve heard it said that “there’s no adventure without adversity,” but remaining open helped the ride and communication between my partner and I, offering us a beautiful adventure. Back on the last stretch of the road, “Party Animal” by Mean Jeans welcomed us into Arvada. We had made it unscathed. After unpacking, we settled into a night of comforts with family, topped off with cake and ice cream on Grandma’s back porch.  Humility is key when learning new things, which I have found to be true in both playing music and riding motorcycles. I encourage you, dear readers, to find something new that captivates and enhances your life. If it’s intimidating, do it. If it pushes you out of your comfort zone, do it. Pursue your big and small dreams, all are worthwhile, and pair the creation of these dreams with an excellent soundtrack. “If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it. Anything you want to, do it. Want to change the world? There’s nothing to it.” Gene Wilder’s soothing voice takes us into the sunset as we start down another beautiful road with adventure at every milepost.

up Pair your life’s adventures with a kick ass soundtrack 552 main ave (near the train) durango, co l 970-259-4221 Open Mon. - Sat., 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Family owned and operated since 2002 Celeebratee tthee firrstt weeeek off sschhooooll wwiitthh naacchooss & maargss. (You can eveenn innvvitee thee kiids.)

Thursdays, 8:30 a.m., bring veggies for people in need, Animas Valley Grange, 7271 County Road 203. Ska-BQ with Pete Giuliani, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. Matt Rupnow plays, 5-8 p.m., Balcony Bar & Grill, 600 Main Ave. Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. The Jeff Solon Jazz Duo plays, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave. Dustin Burley plays, 6-9 p.m., Fur Trappers Steakhouse, 701 E. 2nd Ave.

Comedy Show, 6:30 p.m., Olde Tymers Café, 1000 Main Ave.

iAM Music Fest, 5 p.m., Buckley Park. More info at iammusicfest.us Authors in the Parklet: R.L. Sherman, 5:30 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

Authors in the Parklet: Ken Helfer, 5:30 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

Authors in the Parklet: Ann O’Brien, 4 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave. Chuckwagon Dinner, benefitting Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering, 5 p.m., 39036 Highway 160, Mancos. Advance tickets only at durangocowboygathering.com Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Concerts in the Plaza: Dave Mensch plays, 6 p.m., Three Springs Plaza. Maddy & Kev play, 6 p.m., James Ranch Grill, 33846 Highway 550. Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio.

Chad MacCluskey plays, 1-4 p.m., 11th Street Station. Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

DJ Vale, 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m., 11th Street Station.

Authors in the Parklet: Paul Brenner, 4 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave. Tall Poppy String Band plays, 5 p.m., Nugget Mountain Bar, 48721 Highway 550. That’s So Durango, opening reception, 5-7 p.m., show ends Sept. 29. durangoarts.org. Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Movies in the Park: “Cruella,” movie begins 15 minutes after sunset, Durango Recreation Center lawn, 2700 Main Ave. A Night of Improv, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. Earl Nelson & Company plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station. Ecstatic Dance w/ Smiley Coyote, 7:30-9:30 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave. The Mysto Really Big Magic Show, 7:30 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. Bat Walk, meet at 8 p.m. at Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio, walk the Animas River Trail and learn about local bats.

12 n Aug. 18, 2022 telegraph noon.atMondayissubmissionsDo”to“StuffforDeadlineStufftoDo item,ansubmitTo calendar@durangotelegraph.comemail:

Saturday20DurangoFarmers Market, 8 a.m.–12 noon, TBK Bank parking lot, live music by Sandstoners. Bayfield Farmers Market, 8 a.m., 1328 County Road 501. Mancos Valley Summer Brewfest, featuring music by The Crags, Lawn Chair Kings & State 38, 1-7 p.m., Cottonwood Park in Mancos. hoodfoot plays, 1-4 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Friday19Book&Bake Sale, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Durango Public Library (cash/check only). Gary Walker plays, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Jean-Pierre Bakery & Restaurant, 601 Main Ave.

Veterans Benefit Breakfast, 9 a.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.

Monday22Livemusic , 5 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Third Thursday Speaker Series: Lisa C. Taylor, 6:30 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos. Chuck Hank & Friends play, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station. The Mysto Really Big Magic Show, 7:30 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.

Tuesday23TwinButtesFarm Stand, every Tuesday, 3-5:30 p.m., 165 Tipple Ave. Four Corners Vinyl Record Club’s Record Swap, 4 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Maddy & Kev play, 6 p.m., James Ranch Grill, 33846 Highway 550.

Thursday18ShareYouGarden

Jack Ellis & Larry Carver play, 6-9 p.m., Fur Trappers Steakhouse, 701 E. 2nd Ave. Tall Poppy String Band plays, 6 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos. Community Yoga, 6-7 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd. Donations accepted.

Silverton Summer Sounds: The River Arkansas plays, 6 p.m., Memorial Park, 1800 Greene St., Silverton. Ru Paul’s Drag Race Watch Party, every Friday, 68 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave. Jack Ellis & Larry Carver play, 6-9 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave. The Assortment plays, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms, Ignacio. Donny Johnson plays, 6 p.m., Fur Trappers Steakhouse, 701 E. 2nd Ave. Tyler Adams Organ Trio plays, 6 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Open Mic Night, 5:30 p.m., Mountain Monk Café, 558 Main Ave. Devin Scott plays, 6:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Sunday21DurangoFleaMarket, 8 a.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Meditation & Dharma Talk with Erin Treat, 5:30 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave, Suite 109.

Garrett Young Collective plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station. The Mysto Really Big Magic Show, 7:30 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.

Ben Gibson plays, 6 p.m., Fur Trappers Steakhouse, 701 E. 2nd Ave.

Durango Blues Train, Aug. 26 & 27, more info at durangobluestrain.com

Red Light Cameras play, Sept. 4, 4-7 p.m., at the Powerhouse Rockin’ on the River Concert Series.

Comedy Open Mic, weekly, 9 p.m., 11th St. Station.

SSummer Cleearrance & Deeaalls forr Baacck too SScchooool Activewear, dresses and sandals

Ride & Drive, Aug. 25, 4-6 p.m., check out the new electric Lightning Ford 150, Durango Outdoor Exchange, 3677 Main Ave.

Concerts 4 Critters – A Beastly Music Series, Sept. 4, 7:30 p.m., Montezuma County Fairgrounds, Cortez. Featuring live music by Little Texas, Haley Reinhart & Levi Platero. 970-259-5811 • 26345 HWY 160/550 1 mile SE of Durango Mall • www.dietzmarket.com

– Rock me mama like a color wheel, Rachel Dear Rachel, I have a Mason jar of pennies on the counter. Let’s be honest, I am never going to do anything with them. I don’t walk into physical banks anymore, and with inflation my growing penny collection is probably worth less every year. So it won’t even be worth it to cash it out when I’m old. So it’s time to get creative. What are some home-improvement projects I could undertake with pennies?

Dave Mensch plays, 5 p.m., Anarchy Brewing, 225 E. 8th Ave. Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Community BBQ, 6 p.m., Buckley Park. Hosted by Durango Vineyard church.

Plaza: Lawn Chair Kings play, Aug. 25, 6 p.m., Three Springs Plaza. Tico Time Country Music Festival, Aug. 25-28, Tico Time Resort, near Aztec. For full lineup and info visit ticotimeresort.com.

Shawn Fisher & Jordan Jackson play, Aug. 26, 7 p.m., Smiley Café, 1309 E. 3rd Ave. durangoconcerts.com

Dear Common Cents, With that many pennies, you could buy a lot of thoughts. No idea what a prayer costs, but you could make a charitable contribution next time the world is sending thoughts & prayers to some tragedy. But if you don’t want to waste your copper, you could retile your bathroom with pennies. Melt them down for a Statue of Liberty replica. Fill a bag and sleep with it under your pillow as a tool of self-defense. Or, tip your least-favorite server. – Worthless, Rachel

– Colorbombed Dear Shady Unfortunately,Character,homedecoration crimes are not punishable by the law. Is it possible to be allergic to colors? You could always tell them you have no genetic tolerance for clown-nose red and see what happens. Otherwise, you could take a page from the fur-protestors’ book and splash bleach on the sun-sail things. Even if the colors don’t fade, bleach doesn’t leave fingerprints.

– Moneypenny

Open Mic Night, weekly 7:30-9:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Matthew Marcus McDaniel plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

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

Featuring great brands like Anthropologie, Eileen Fisher, Sundance & Madewell

The Mysto Really Big Magic Show, 7:30 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.

Interesting fact: You know that smell of a jar of pennies? That’s actually human body odor: sweat interacting with metal. Yum. Dear Rachel, I work at a dining establishment where the waitstaff shares tips. This is mostly a really nice system, except for the obvious loophole that someone could just pocket their own cash tips without pooling them. Welp, it happened. Guy gets caught pocketing cash when he forgets to cash out a ticket. He gets fired. But for months he has been stealing from me. Do I have any legal recourse here? Or must I resort to vengeance in the night? – Cashed Out Dear Tipper Gore, Oh, vengeance in the night, hands-down. Dress up and go wherever this d-bag gets another serving job. Order extravagantly, take up every spare minute of his time. Ask for ketchup. Ask for a clean fork. Ask for more ketchup. Ask for the other kind of sugar. Ask him to ask the chef about specific ingredients. Deny him an entire night of tips from other tables. Then pay using a credit card and leave zero tip. That’s what you meant by vengeance, right? – Don’t mess with me, Rachel Dear Rachel, My neighbor is using those sun-sail things to shade the patio. Now I happen to know these come in a wide variety of neutral colors: sand tones, earth hues, inoffensive forest greens and canvas tans. So why did they insist on colors too garish for a bouncy house? Sure, they will fade in time, but my retinas are fading right now from the barrage. I need to figure out how to talk them down, or else how to sabotage them without being traced back to me.

Wednesday24GreatGardenSeries:Gold from Garbage, 4 p.m., Durango Public Library.

PPottery Yarrd Saalee! 25% off all garden pots, wind spinners, cairn garden art and metal animals! Plus register to win one of our $40 gift cards. Buy • Sell • Trade • Consign ~ Home Furnishings ~ Clothing ~ Accessories ~ Jewelry 572 E. 6th Ave. • 970-385-7336

Tour De Farms, Aug. 28, 25-mile along County Road 250 starting at 8 a.m., after party at 12 p.m. More info at mannasoupkitchen.org

Email questions to telegraph@durangotelegraph.com

telegraph Aug. 18, 2022 n 13

Christian Festival, Aug. 18-21, Tico Time Resort, near Aztec. For full lineup and info visit ticotimeresort.com. Free Durango Transit, all of August, part of the statewide Zero Fare for Better Air initiative to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Shock Wave Drag Night, first and third Friday of every month, 9 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave. 18+

AskRachelServing up justice, throwing shade & penny pinching

UpcomingConcertsinthe

Open Mic Night, 6 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

OngoingFourCorners

San Juan Nature Hike, Aug. 26, meet at Andrews Lake upper parking lot at 9 a.m., hosted by San Juan Mountains Association. San Juan Brewfest, Aug. 26 & 27, Buckley Park, sanjuanbrewfest.com.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Whenever you are contemplating a major decision, I hope you raise questions like these: 1. Which option shows the most self-respect? 2. Which path would be the best way to honor yourself? 3. Which choice is most likely to help you fulfill the purposes you came to earth to carry out? 4. Which course of action would enable you to express your best gifts? Are there questions you would add, Virgo? I expect the coming months will require you to generate key decisions at a higher rate than usual, so I hope you will make intensive use of my guiding inquiries, as well as any others you formulate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You know more about how karma works than all the other signs. Scorpio-style intelligence typically has a fine intuitive grasp of how today’s realities evolved out of the deep patterns and rhythms of the past. But that doesn’t mean you perfectly understand how karma works. And in the coming weeks, I urge you to be eager to learn more. Become even savvier about how the law of cause and effect impacts the destinies of you and your allies. Meditate on how the situations you are in now were influenced by actions you took once upon a time. Ruminate on what you could do in the near future to foster good karma and diminish weird karma.

FreeWillAstrology

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You should never allow yourself to be tamed by others. That advice is always apropos for you Leos, and even more crucial to heed in the coming weeks. You need to cultivate maximum access to the raw, primal sources of your life energy. Your ability to thrive depends on how well you identify and express the beautiful animal within you. Here’s my only caveat: If you imagine there may be value in being tamed a little, in harnessing your brilliant beast, do the taming yourself. And assign that task to the part of you that possesses the wildest wisdom.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Kabbalistic writer Simon Jacobson says, “Like a flame, the soul always reaches upward. The soul’s fire wants to defy the confines of life. It cannot tolerate the mediocrity and monotony of sheer materialism. Its passion knows no limits as it craves for the beyond.” That sounds both marvelous and hazardous, right? Jacobson concludes, “Whether the soul’s fire will be a constructive or destructive force is dependent on the person’s motivation.” According to my astrological analysis, your deep motivations are likely to be extra noble and generous in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. So I expect that your soul’s fire will be very constructive.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian poet Danusha Laméris discovered that earthworms have taste buds all over their bodies. Now she loves to imagine she’s giving them gifts when she drops bits of apples, beets, avocados, melons and carrot tops into the compost bin. “I’d always thought theirs a menial life, eyeless and hidden, almost vulgar.” But now that she understands “they bear a pleasure so sublime,” she wants to help the worms fulfill their destinies. I mention this, Cancerian, because I suspect you may have comparable turnarounds in the coming weeks. Long-held ideas may need adjustments. Incomplete understandings will be filled in when you learn the rest of the story. You will receive a stream of interesting new information that changes your mind, mostly in enjoyable ways.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran blogger Ana-Sofia Cardelle writes, “I look back on past versions of myself with such love and tenderness. I want to embrace myself at different parts of my life.” I hope you’re inspired by her thoughts as you carry out the following actions: 1. Create an altar filled with treasures that symbolize major turning points in your destiny. 2. Forgive yourself for what you imagine to be old errors and ignorance. 3. Summon memories of the persons you were at ages 7, 12 and 17, and write a kind, thoughtful message to each. 4. Literally kiss seven different photos of your face from earlier in your life. 5. Say “thank you” and “bless you” to the self you were when you succeeded at two challenging tests in the past.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): My Aquarian reader Georgie Lee wrote to tell me what it’s like being an Aquarius. I offer it to you, because you are potentially at the peak of expressing the qualities she names. She says, “Accept that you don’t really have to understand yourself. Be at peace with how you constantly ramble, swerve and weave to become more of yourself. Appreciate how each electric shift leads to the next electric shift, always changing who you are forever. Within the churning, ever-yearning current, marvel at how you remain eternal, steady and solid – yet always evolving, always on a higher ground before.”

by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the coming weeks, I urge you to flee from stale and rigid certainty. Rebel against dogmatic attitudes and arrogant opinions. Be skeptical of unequivocal answers to nuanced questions. Instead, dear Aries, give your amused reverence to all that’s mysterious and enigmatic. Bask in the glimmer of intriguing paradoxes. Draw inspiration and healing from the fertile unknown. For inspiration, write out this Mary Oliver poem and carry it with you: “Let me keep my distance, always, from those who think they have the answers. Let me keep company with those who say ‘Look!’ and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Here’s a good way to build your vibrancy: Use your emotional intelligence to avoid swimming against strong currents for extended periods. Please note that swimming against strong currents is fine, even advisable, for brief phases. Doing so boosts your stamina and fosters your trust in your resilience. But mostly, I recommend you swim in the same direction as the currents or swim where the water is calm and currentless. In the coming weeks, I suspect you can enjoy many freestyle excursions as you head in the same direction as vigorous currents.

14 n Aug. 18, 2022 telegraph you,go,nggestsforrs. eher.)can’t Thank fanilowsourourbiggDurangyforbeinbiggestfor20years. e know(WWe w,, we believe it either

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the Spanish language, there’s the idiom pensando en la inmortalidad del cangrejo. Its literal translation is “thinking about the immortality of the crab.” It applies to a person engaged in creative daydreaming – her imagination wandering freely in hopes of rousing innovative solutions to practical dilemmas. Other languages have similar idioms. In Finnish, istun ja mietin syntyjä syviä means “wondering about the world’s early origins.” Polish has marzyć o niebieskich migdałach, or “dreaming about blue almonds.” I encourage you to enjoy an abundance of such explorations in the coming days, Capricorn. You need to fantasize more than usual.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A blogger named Chaconia writes, “I’ve cultivated a lifetime of being low maintenance and easy-going, and now I’ve decided I’m done with it. Demanding Me is born today.” I’m giving you temporary permission to make a similar declaration, Taurus. The astrological omens suggest that in the coming weeks, you have every right to be a charming, enchanting and generous version of a demanding person. So I authorize you to be just that. Enjoy yourself as you ask for more of everything. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The witch Lisa Chamberlain writes about the magical properties of colors. About brown, she says it “represents endurance, solidity, grounding and strength.” She adds that it’s used in magic to enhance “balance, concentration, material gain, home and companion animals.”

According to my reading of the astrological omens, the upcoming weeks should be a deeply brown time for you Geminis. To move your imagination in a righteous direction, have fun wearing clothes in shades of brown. Grace your environment with things that have the hues of chestnut, umber, mahogany, sepia and burnt sienna. Eat and drink caramel, toffee, cinnamon, almonds, coffee and chocolate.

AnnouncementsGuilty Alex Jones / Steve Bannon – making America great. Trump next. Lost/FoundMissing Keys On ring. Lost on 7th Ave. & 3rd St. either Friday or Saturday. If found call, 970759-9287. Lost: Scott Spark Mountain Bike Black, lost off a bike rack in Durango. 970-749-1589. Wanted CashforVehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.

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16 n Aug. 18, 2022 telegraph Voted Durango’s Best (and only) Weekly* “Giving locals something to do on sinceThursdays2002” *According to a very unscientific and impromptu office poll