2 n April 26, 2018
telegraph
lineup
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4 La Vida Local
Rough waters Citizen Superfund group ready to serve EPA with community goals by Tracy Chamberlin
4 Thumbin’ It 5 Word on the Street
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Ear to the ground: “At least we’re exceptional at something.” – Silver lining to the recent code-red drought level for the Four Corners
Do it for Wiley
thepole
RegularOccurrences
Durango is rallying around a community member in need the best way it knows how: biking, paddling, running, working out and having fun. This Sun., April 29, Crossfit Catacombs and Ska Brewing are hosting “We Fight for Wiley,” a fund-raiser for 15-year-old Durango High School student Wiley Corra.
6 Retooned
Saving the San Juans Is third time the charm for Southwest Colorado wilderness act? by Margaret Hedderman
6-7 Soapbox 11 Mountain Town News
12-13
12-13 Day in the Life
Main squeeze
North Main in the spotlight at citysponsored celebration photos by Jennaye Derge
16 Flash in the Pan 17 Top Shelf
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Rainbow connection After three years, Rainbow Youth Center grows in mission, outreach by Stew Mosberg
20 Ask Rachel 21 Free Will Astrology
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22-23 Classifieds
Baby heads
Exploring America’s latest lettuce obsession by Ari LeVaux
boilerplate
EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel (missy@durangotelegraph.com) ADVERTISING AFICIONADO: Lainie Maxson (lainie@durangotelegraph.com) RESIDENT FORMULA ONE FAN: Tracy Chamberlin (tracy@durangotelegraph.com)
T
he 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
18-20 On the Town
23 Haiku Movie Review STAR-STUDDED CAST: Lainie Maxson, Shan Wells, Chris Aaland, Clint Reid, Jennaye Derge, Jesse Anderson, Allen Best, Margaret Hedderman, Joy Martin, David Feela & Stew Mosberg VIRTUAL ADDRESS: www.durangotelegraph.com
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 332 Durango, CO 81302
Wiley, an avid athlete and member of Durango Devo and Durango Nordic, was seriously injured in an accidental fall over spring break in Utah. In addition to various skeletal and soft-tissue injuries, he also sustained a traumatic brain injury and spent nearly three weeks in ICU in Salt Lake City. He transferred to Craig Hospital in Denver last week, where he is continuing his hard-fought recovery with physical and speech therapy and rehabilitation. Throughout the ordeal, his parents Janet and Andy have been at his side. To help support the Corras on the long road to recovery, locals are asked to participate by running, riding, paddling or WOD-ing. Those interested in participating should show up to register at Catacombs (1162 Main Ave.) at 2:30 p.m., ready for their chosen sporting endeavor. Workout activities will take place from 3 – 5 p.m., with the ride, run and workout starting at Catacombs. The river run will start from 32nd Street, and 4 Corners River Sports will provide the shuttle. Merriment, food and drink will follow from 5 – 7 p.m. at Ska, with the Six Dollar String Band providing bluegrass for your listening pleasure. 4 Corners will also be giving away a SUP. There is a $20 suggested donation for the whole shebang. Other sponsors include: Animas Orthopedics; Cold Stone Creamery; Zia Taqueria; Ken and Sue's; and Nature's Oasis. For more info, go to: www.durangonordic.org/ we-fight-for-wiley/. For updates on Wiley, check out his blog at www.caringbridge.org.
PHONE: 970.259.0133 E-MAIL: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
REAL WORLD ADDRESS: 777 Main Ave., #214 Durango, CO 81301
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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.
telegraph
The other Meltdown May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and to kick it off, La Plata County 4-H is hosting a Mental Health Mardi Gras at 6 p.m. next Wed., May 2, at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. The event is co-sponsored by the CODY (Communities Overcoming Depressed Youth) Project, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of all children. The evening includes guest speakers, a resource fair and food. But the highlight will be the Meltdown extreme wipeout game (think bouncy house meets American Ninja.) For more on the event, check out “Cody Project” on Facebook. For a sneak peek at the Meltdown madness, google it on Youtube.
April 26, 2018 n
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opinion
LaVidaLocal Poets Anonymous I headed for the podium. The audience fell silent, all eyes pivoting toward the front of the room where I stood. Working up the courage to face them, I pulled my shoulders back, stood tall and recited the words I alone had to hear. Hello, my name is David, and I am a poet. I mention this because National Poetry Month is almost over, and despite having more than two decades of appreciation for the largest literary movement in the world, would you believe some people have never heard of it, never picked up a poetry book, or never even attended a reading? Some even snort and ask if it’s all just an April Fool’s joke. A few dare to scrunch up their faces and mutter something like, “A whole month?” Yes, it lasts the entire month and nobody needs to pretend dealing with the thought of poetry for that long is any worse than a lethal dose of March Madness. People don’t realize how millions of poets suffer for 11 tedious months trying to find an audience willing to listen. No pharmaceutical magic bullet exists that can be swallowed as an antidote. We poets have to deal with it, each in our own way. Shakespeare may have suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous poetry, but sadly, somebody ended up burning down his theatre. I’m certainly not recommending arson. I would, however, like to see more people cultivating a glazed expression that could be mistaken for a passing interest. It’s nearly impossible for aspiring poets not to end up at open mics. Either a metaphorical arm reaches out of the cosmos and places them there, or news of an upcoming event surfaces and inspires a fresh avalanche of white notebook paper. Poets are attracted to these gatherings like moths drawn to an old sweater hanging in a closet. We can’t help it. We’re addicted. There’s nothing worse than sitting at a literary event where a moderately receptive audience suddenly cringes, their faces contorted into an expression of WTF was that? I sympathize. I’ve wondered too. Somebody responsible ought to say something. Obscurity has long been the demon of poetry. A gentle audience, genuinely trying to follow the figures of speech along a narrow path running treacherously close to an unfathomable abyss, hopes the poet will lead them to safety. But no, the reader reads on, long past the recommended two or three minutes until the crook of a cane reaching up from of the abyss is all the audience can hope for.
Maybe you’ve listened to those unseasoned readers who hardly practice their delivery before reciting. The mumbling meter of monotone, sentimentalizing or unleashing such outrageous emotions they ripple the listener’s scalp. Be forewarned: the words themselves won’t work like an elixir if administered like castor oil. Poetry is my nemesis too. So many poems reside in obscurity, confined to my notebooks. They are not – and should never be – released for aural consumption. They keep too intimate company with the spirits of depression, the statues of ego, or like an internet god, seek to sell my personal information to perfect strangers. If people show up to listen, what a blessing! No performer should ever take such a gift for granted, even if the audience is packed with readers anxiously waiting their turn. Once I was graciously invited to a reading and the only person who showed up turned out to be the librarian who organized the event. We waited. We laughed. We justified. Eventually we headed back to our respective homes. The memory still humbles me. I keep it close and protect it like a candle flame. The literary establishment never got around to crediting a founder for Poets Anonymous. I think it should have been Emily Dickinson. She wrote over 1,800 poems, published only 10 (anonymously) during her 55 years on this planet, and to my knowledge she never read before an audience other than her family, never stood at a podium to introduce herself, never heard the applause she deserved. Despite a total lack of recognition for her powerful and beautifully rendered poems, she still possessed the resources to imagine her listeners as she stood at her Amherst window, staring out at the world, shaping words to fit so perfectly inside a stranger’s heart. While Poets Anonymous will never preach abstinence, its mission must stay focused on advocating sober preparation. Ask poets to stop writing? Impossible. And poetry is unlikely to destroy any other life than the poet’s. It has, however, turned far too many listeners away. Like secondhand smoke, a room filled with what amounts to jibber-jabber endangers the health of our future audiences. Maybe with some meaningful tutoring and training, by next April we poets will earn the opportunity to stand before a room filled with enthusiastic patrons, not just a few people anxious to bolt for the exit and reconvene at the nearest saloon.
This Week’s Sign of the Downfall:
Thumbin’It A 90-day reprieve for DACA recipients, with a federal judge ruling this week that protections for the Dreamers must stay in place and the government must resume accepting new applications Possible protection at last for some of Southwest Colorado’s most iconic vistas, with last week’s introduction of the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act Silverton taking steps to diversify from its mining past by cataloguing trails with the hopes of expanding recreational opportunities
4 n April 26, 2018
– David Feela
La Plata County’s ozone levels receiving an “F” on a recent report card from the American Lung Association, with an average of seven unhealthy ozone days in 2016 The continued sacrifice of America’s treasures for extractive industries’ profit, with Hovenweep the most recent monument to see oil and gas leasing right outside its doors Another scary harbinger of 2002, with the region declared to be in “exceptional drought” – the most severe level – and no relief in sight until the monsoons kick in
telegraph
Pro-nut Platform UC Berkeley used to be a beacon for bright young minds, but now, it has elected a squirrel named “Furry Boi” to the student senate. The squirrel is actually a sophomore named Stephan in a squirrel suit, but people are pissed he got elected because qualified candidates lost to a rodent who promised to create a new mascot named “Nutty McNut Nut” and used the hashtag #ImWithFur. But most are just laughing it off, because if you think about it, we’re not doing much better on a national level.
WordontheStreet With Fort Lewis graduation this weekend, the Telegraph asked: “What advice do you have for the graduates?”
Q
“Get money.”
Demi Hardison
Keiya Fields
“Do what you want. Don’t get too caught up in using your degree.”
“Push until the very end. It’s not over until it’s over.”
“Come work for us at Animas Trading Co., we’re hiring.” Taylor Smith
“F*** it, get drunk.”
Matthew Leach
Emily Prigmore
telegraph
April 26, 2018 n 5
ReTooned/by Shan Wells
SoapBox Helping out rivers, homebuyers To the editor, Two bills I am shepherding through the Legislature will have a positive impact on Southwest Colorado; a third was just signed into law. The first, HB18-1301, will help ensure our rivers are never again polluted by acid mine drainage. The bill will prohibit new mine owners from self-bonding; they cannot simply promise to pay for soil and water remediation after they leave the mine, but will have to have recoverable assets put up front. When the mine company leaves, the water must be flowing clean, with no perpetual water treatment. Taxpayers will save the millions of dollars that must be spent every year when mining operators declare bankruptcy, leaving no resources to clean up their mess. Many Colorado taxpayers do not know that in 2022, we will be on the hook for $2.2 million every year for the Summitville Mine perpetual water treatment. The bill will not affect historical mines and it will not prohibit mines from opening again. It just clarifies what the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act already does with soil remediation, making sure that water is included as well. The bill, which I am sponsoring with Rep. Dylan Roberts (D-Eagle), has passed through the House Agriculture, Finance and Appropriations Committees. I am also working on a bill to help minimize the housing shortage in rural Colorado. HB18-1315 will give tax relief to people buying manufactured homes. Currently, owners pay a sales tax when they purchase one of these homes, just like they would if they buy a bicycle. But they are taxed twice, as the homeowners also pay the same property and other taxes owners of traditional houses do.4
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6 n April 26, 2018
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telegraph
Manufactured homes do not have wheels. They are not small homes, modulars or trailers; they are made off-site and taken to a concrete slab. Manufactured homes make up about 4 percent of private homes in Colorado and are primarily in rural areas where land is more available. The average manufactured home costs about $66,000, and the homeowner averages a $30,000-a-year income. They will save about $1,000 with this tax break, money that could be used to help pay the mortgage, buy furniture or add to a savings account. This bill is designed to help hardworking Coloradoans become homeowners. The bill passed through the House Finance and Appropriations Committees. Rep. Jon Becker (R-Fort Morgan) is my co-sponsor. The governor signed another bill I sponsored with Rep. Marc Catlin (R-Montrose) last week, which will be a tremendous help with water storage in Colorado. The Ground Water Commission now has permission to research aquifer storage and recovery plans and will create an application for those interested. Aquifer storage and recovery is when reclaimed or potable surface water supplies are directly injected into an aquifer for later storage and use. Rivers are not dammed and reservoirs don’t need to be built; they are an efficient use of resources. I am enjoying being a voice for Southwest Colorado, a part of the state particularly interested in clean water, affordable housing and water storage. – Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango
Bassett understands renewables To the editor, I’m writing to express my support for Britt Bassett, who is running for re-election to the LPEA Board of Directors. As someone who works full-time in the solar industry out of Durango and who believes that renewable energy must become a priority as our main source of power, I can confidently say that Britt Bassett is who we
want on the Board. With a degree in nuclear engineering and his experience working in commercial solar for large agriculture, he also has the technical expertise to assess the complexities of LPEA’s relationship with Tri-State. He can advise us on how we can best adapt to the future, which is expected to bring higher prices on coal and lower rates on wind, solar and hydro. Please vote for him when you receive your ballot. – Steve Porvaznik, Durango
Tipton should be more like Reagan To the editor, President Reagan’s environmental record set an example for our current-day politicians. Reagan signed more wilderness bills than any other president since the Wilderness Act was enacted in 1964 – 43 bills that designated more than 10 million acres of wilderness areas in 27 states. He supported the Montreal Protocol, which produced significant climate stewardship benefits because it limited ozone-depleting chemicals and global carbon dioxide emissions. But perhaps Reagan’s commitment to the environment is best stated by his own words: “What is a conservative after all, but one who conserves, one who is committed to protecting and holding close the things by which we live … And we want to protect and conserve the land on which we live – our countryside, our rivers and mountains, our plains and meadows and forests. This is our patrimony. This is what we leave to our children. And our great moral responsibility is to leave it to them either as we found it or better than we found it.” More drought, heat and wildfire, all amplified by global warming, are not our friends in Southwest Colorado. I urge Rep. Scott Tipton: Break your silence on climate change and follow Reagan’s leadership. Take a stand on global warming and support market-based solutions. Protect our country, our atmosphere and our people. – Ed Atkinson, Durango
telegraph
Wheeler will move away from coal
To the editor, The upcoming La Plata Electric Association election is an important but often overlooked election that can have a significant impact on our community. This is a crucial time for LPEA. Renewable power is now less expensive than our traditional coal powered electricity. A report published recently by Moody’s Investors Service found that the coal plants that provide the electricity from our wholesale electric supplier, Tri-State G&T, are more expensive than renewable energy. However, Tri-State forecasts continued rate increases over the next 10 years because they have huge investments in coal-powered generation facilities. We need new leaders on the LPEA Board who will promise to do all they can to allow us to access the new, lower-cost renewable power opportunities the changing market provides. Tim Wheeler, LPEA District 4 candidate, has promised to diligently pursue a future that moves us away from costly coal and toward lower-cost and clean, renewable power. This is the leadership I want on the LPEA Board. Please vote for Tim Wheeler. – Hallie Slivon, Durango
“We’ll print damned-near anything” The Telegraph prides itself on a liberal letters policy. We offer this forum to the public to settle differences, air opinions & undertake healthy discourse. We have only three requests: limit letters to 750 words, letters must be signed by the writer; and thank-you lists and libelous, personal attacks are unwelcome. All attempts are made to run letters in a timely and orderly fashion. Sometimes high volume dictates your letter may not run the week it was received. Send your confoundities to: PO Box 332, Durango, 81302; or e-mail your profundities to: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com. Let the games begin ...
April 26, 2018 n 7
LocalNews
Uncharted waters As citizens Superfund group finalizes proposal to EPA, members question group’s future role
by Tracy Chamberlin
the 48 sites within the Superfund boundaries. n the waning summer months When that treatment plant was of 2017, four local leaders were in operation, the Animas was home looking for a way to keep the to a healthy trout population. communities affected by the Gold Today, the river is dead from SilverKing Mine spill and the Bonita ton all the way to where it hits CasPeak Superfund site involved, encade Creek near Electra Lake. gaged and, most of all, heard by the Churchwell said they know this federal agency in charge of it all. goal can be achieved because it’s With the goal of giving those been done before. “There’s no quescommunities a voice, the leaders of tion we can attain that water qualthe Animas River Partnership, Aniity,” he added. mas River Stakeholders Group, AnAll four of the workgroup’s goals imas River Community Forum, were intended to be broad and genand Durango chapter of Trout Uneral, Churchwell said. They can get limited formed the Citizens Superinto the specifics later – like which fund Workgroup. modern technologies would work Their first meeting was in late best for achieving the 1999-2003 August with only four additional levels or exactly what level of cadmeetings on the schedule, and the mium the community is comfortagendas covered the history of able with. mining in Silverton, the spill and The next step is to take those the Superfund designation. goals to elected officials and the The ultimate goal was to create EPA’s top brass. a list of all the things people afChurchwell said they’ll head to fected by the spill and the SuperDenver in the coming months to fund wanted the Environmental deliver their list to Doug BenProtection Agency to accomplish evento, EPA administrator for Reover the next 15-20 years, which is gion 8, which covers six states the typical lifespan of a Superfund. including Colorado. Then, they’ll After all, the problem wasn’t just head to Gov. John Hickenlooper’s the Gold King Mine or the EPA’s office to give him a copy. subcontractor who unleashed milNext up is a trip to the nation’s lions of gallons of bright orange capital. Churchwell said they plan mine waste into the Animas River In the early 2000s, there was a treatment plant in the to give EPA Administrator Scott on Aug. 5, 2015. The real issue was Gladstone area along Cement Creek north of Silver- Pruitt and his second-in-command the hundreds of abandoned mines ton. The mines at Gladstone – which includes the the memo before stopping by the draining into the Animas water- Mogul, Red and Bonita (pictured above), American offices for each member of ColTunnel and Gold King mines – are considered the orado’s congressional delegation. shed every day. Many in the community worst polluters of all the 48 sites within the SuperAs the workgroup’s leaders try to wanted to make sure the federal fund boundaries./File photo make the community’s voice heard funds and technical support that in Denver and Washington, its comes with a Superfund designation were not squandered but members continue to contemplate the group’s own future. put to good use by addressing those root causes. Without a community-driven group, how can those affected With all this in mind, the Citizens Superfund Workgroup got continue to be a part of the Superfund conversation? Should they to work. stick together and stay on top of the EPA’s progress? Or, should Seven months and seven meetings later, they’ve been able to they evolve into something else altogether? put together a list of four specific goals for the EPA. Within the EPA’s official framework for community involve• Improve water quality and aquatic life below Silverton to ment in Superfunds is something called a Community Advisory conditions documented in 1999-2003. Group, or CAG. These CAGs are supposed to be diverse and in• Demonstrate transparency and accountability to local resi- clusive. Their purpose is to provide “a public forum for commudents, downstream communities and taxpayers. nity members to present and discuss their needs and concerns • Develop and test innovative technologies for addressing related to the Superfund decision-making process,” according to mining-influenced water and mine waste. the EPA. • Support and enhance local stewardship of the community The federal agency does not require anyone to form a CAG, and environment. nor do they tell them how to do it. But, they do have plenty of According to Ty Churchwell, San Juan Mountains Coordinator suggestions. for Trout Unlimited and one of the four leaders who originally For example, a community can form as many official CAGs as formed the Citizens Superfund Workgroup, the one goal that eas- they want. Since the mine waste draining into the Animas affects ily rose to the top was returning the Animas to 1999-2003 condi- everyone downstream, residents from Silverton all the way to tions. Lake Powell are impacted in some way. At that time, there was a treatment plant in the Gladstone area With such an extensive list of stakeholders, CAGS could be along Cement Creek north of Silverton. The mines at Gladstone formed by every community along the river or one for each – which include the Mogul, Red and Bonita, American Tunnel county or even one for each state. But, the EPA warned that it’s and Gold King mines – are considered the worst polluters of all better to have only one group as a contact point 4
I
8 n April 26, 2018
telegraph
Fearn
Losing a valuable source Fearn remembered for ‘institutional knowledge’ of area Steve Fearn, a founding member of the Animas River Stakeholders Group, passed away last week at his home in Silverton. He was 74. “Steve and I had different visions on different things, but he was always willing to work together,” Peter Butler, who co-founded the group in 1994 with Fearn and Bill Simon, said. “We’re going to miss him a great deal.” Over the decades they worked to catalogue the hundreds of abandoned mines littering the mountains around Silverton, addressed water quality issues in the upper Animas River Basin, and even implemented remediation projects. Fearn had been involved with water quality issues since 1969 and the mining industry for more than four decades. His engineering skills and mining- and water-related knowledge took him from Colorado to New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Indonesia in the 1980s. It’s believed Indonesia is where he contracted a dormant strain of malaria that led to his death. Butler said the community lost a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge about the mines surrounding Silverton with Fearn’s passing. Although Fearn, who once owned the Gold King Mine, wanted to bring mining back to Silverton and was a longtime opponent to Superfund status, he also championed water quality efforts. Specifically, Fearn advocated for water quality in the upper Animas River Basin as a board member of the Southwestern Water Conservation District. Butler said he was instrumental in pushing for water quality projects in the SWCD’s area, and even spearheaded funding efforts to improve water quality. Butler said the best way to honor Fearn would be for “people from different perspectives to listen to one another, cause that’s always what he did.”
– Tracy Chamberlin
between the agency and area residents. So, members of the workgroup are left to ponder who would best represent all those affected by the Superfund and where would they meet? Another point for the Citizens Superfund Workgroup to consider is whether or not transforming into a CAG would give them more sway at the EPA. Taking community input is one of several items the EPA is required to check off its Superfund to-do list, but that input doesn’t have to come from a CAG. Churchwell said for all intents and purposes, the workgroup is already acting like a CAG. One of the key differences, though, is the CAG’s ability to tap into special grant funding and other resources the EPA offers to official citizen groups. One of those resources is called a Technical Assistance Grant – a $50,000 grant to help community groups pay for technical assistance. Another resource is the Technical Assistance Services for Communities, in which the EPA offers its own technical support with scientific, regulatory or policy inquiries. Peter Butler, co-coordinator for the Animas River Stakeholders Group and another founder of the Citizens Workgroup, said there are pros and cons to becoming a CAG. One benefit is that it offers more long-term stability, something that would benefit a community facing the prospect of a 10- to 15-year Superfund lifespan. On the flipside, it would be a challenge to come up with a limited number of individuals to represent all the communities that stretch across three states and hundreds of miles of rivers. “This is exactly what needs to be discussed,” Butler said. n For the latest updates on the workgroup’s efforts, visit www.sanjuancleanwater.org. To check out the EPA’s website on the Bonita Peak Mining District, visit www.epa.gov/superfund/bonita-peak.
SWCD loses suit over in-stream flows on Dolores The state water board won the latest legal round in a battle over in-stream flows in the Dolores River – but it might not be the last round. The case began in 2015 when the Colorado Water Conservation Board dedicated a 900 cfs minimum standard for in-stream water flows on the lower Dolores River. The actual amount of water that can be called for under this new water right varies depending on the time of year. During peak spring flows or low flows in the winter, it can be anywhere from 100 cfs to 900 cfs, according to those familiar with the case. The flows will not affect releases from McPhee Reservoir. They apply to a section of river much farther downstream, running about 33 miles between the confluences of the San Miguel River, north of Uravan, to West Creek in Gateway, near the Utah border. The idea was to keep a minimum standard in that section of river in order to protect three native fish – flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and roundtail chub – and keep them off the endangered species list. Although the in-stream flow is a junior right to all other existing water rights, it would be senior to future claims. The Southwestern Water Conservation District, which covers the southwest corner of the state, argued the standard was too high. In times of drought, for example, those minimums couldn’t be met. “This claim was one of the largest in-stream flow appropriations in the State of Colorado,” Bruce Whitehead, executive director for the Southwestern Water Conservation Board, said. The SWCD also expressed concerns over the affect the board’s decision would have on future development, as well as those who had water rights downstream. “SWCD was concerned that the (state board’s) appropriation of such a large amount of water at the lower end of the basin could impair small-scale future development within the San Miguel and Dolores River basins,” Whitehead said in an email. “An in-stream flow call by the (state board) could extend upstream to junior water right owners throughout the basins.”
telegraph
Dolores River Initially, the SWCD requested the state board set aside a 1 percent allocation of all flows, called a depletion allowance, for future water users. The state board, however, decided there wasn’t enough evidence to support the request. Following the denial for the depletion allowance, the SWCD filed suit, questioning the board’s authority to allocate the in-stream flow. Not everyone agreed with the SWCD’s decision to fight the state board in court. Several conservation groups were pleased with the court’s decision to side with the state water board. “We believe this decision not only protects the beautiful Dolores River, but affirms the use of this vital tool to leave a legacy of healthy rivers throughout Colorado,” Jimbo Buickerood, public lands coordinator for the San Juan Citizens Alliance, said in a press release. It’s unclear if the SWCD will appeal the case to the Colorado Supreme Court. Whitehead said he was unable to comment at this time. With the decision handed down in early April, the district has until the end of May to decide on next steps.
– Tracy Chamberlin
April 26, 2018 n
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RegionalNews
Saving the San Juans Will third time be the charm for Southwest Colorado wilderness act? by Margaret Hedderman
W
hen former Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., introduced an act to expand wilderness areas in the San Juan Mountains, political battles over remote landscapes in the American West weren’t often the subject of national news. That, of course, was before the largest reduction of federally protected land in U.S. history. The recent reduction of Bears Ears National Monument pushed the conversation to center stage. Since then, debates over public lands have become intensely ideological and partisan. It is in this politically charged climate that Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., re-introduced the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act last week, a bill that has twice fizzled in the halls of Congress. The question is, will the third time be the charm or will the bill fall victim to what many call an anti-conservation Congress? The bill is set to expand and create new wilderness and special management areas in the North San Juan Mountains. It’s a landscape where blue mirror lakes reflect glacier-carved cliffs and mountains unfurl into desert badlands.
SJWA: By the numbers • Mount Sneffels Wilderness Additions - 20,438 acres • Lizard Head Wilderness Additions - 3,350 acres • McKenna Peak Wilderness - 8,600 acres • Sheep Mtn Special Management Area - 21,620 acres • Naturita Canyon Mineral Withdrawal Area - 6,000 acres “We must do our part in Washington to push this bill across the finish line,” Bennet said in a statement. “Not only are these iconic landscapes vital to outdoor recreation and local economies, but they also stand as a symbol of our public lands legacy in Colorado – a legacy we must pass onto our kids and grandkids.” The act would add 20,438 acres to the Mount Sneffels Wilderness Area – where the current boundary bisects the fourteener’s summit and excludes the imposing facade of Whitehouse Mountain. Near Telluride, the Lizard Head Wilderness Area would see small additions to round out the borders and add the west face of Wilson Peak, another prominent fourteener in the region. Historically, wilderness area designations have often favored high-elevation mountain vistas; whereas low-lying pinon and juniper desertscapes are frequently overlooked. “Those types of areas are underrepresented in the wilderness system,” Jeff Widen, of The Wilderness Society, says. “However, one of the goals of the system is to protect a range of natural ecosystem types.” To that end, the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act will also designate the northern half of the existing McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Area in San Miguel County. Here canyons and arroyos cut through the grey Mancos shale and Mesa Verde sandstone. Cactus and hardy desert plants dot the landscape below the bare, crusty slopes of McKenna Peak. Such a designation is unique as it would be the only desert wilderness and the only wilderness area overseen by the BLM in Southwest Colorado. Proponents have lauded the collaborative, communitydriven efforts to create the act. During negotiations with stakeholders in the area, various concessions were made to accommodate recreation use (like the Hardrock 100 race course), mining activities and motorized travel. The Sheep Mountain Special Management area – which includes the iconic Ice Lakes Basin and the headwaters of South Mineral Creek – will not become a wilderness area in part because of existing helicopter skiing operations in the area.
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The popular Ice Lakes area near Silverton would be included in the proposed 21,620-acre Sheep Mountain Special Management Area. The area is one of the largest roadless areas in Colorado not designated as wilderness. The Special Management Area would be similar to the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Area in that it would be closed to future mining and new road construction./File photo The act will also protect municipal water supplies in Naturita Canyon, a tributary to the San Miguel River. The socalled Naturita Canyon Mineral Withdrawal will remove 6,000 acres from future oil and gas development. According to Widen, wilderness areas are traditionally a nonpartisan issue, and in Colorado every designation has had support across party lines. “We as a country have decided that preserving areas in their natural state is a good and positive thing,” Widen says. “Good for protecting clean water supplies, clean air and wildlife habitat. It’s almost a spiritual respite from the modern world.” When the Wilderness Act was signed in 1964, the country was in the throes of change. The environmental movement was coming into its own, inspired by growing concerns over atomic waste, chemicals and air pollution. Americans were also tuning into the damaging effects of timber and extractive industries, particularly in the West. The Wilderness Act drew much of its inspiration from writers like Henry David Thoreau, John Muir and Aldo Leopold. In its most famous passage, the act seeks to define wilderness as an area “where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” A wilderness area receives the highest level of federal conservation protection available. In fact, American wilderness areas are among the most protected landscapes in the world. And preserving wilderness for wilderness’ sake is a very American concept. In much of the developed world – Europe, for example – wild places on the map were erased centuries before they could be valued as such. That we still have something to protect is what makes the Wilderness Act so unique. The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act was first introduced into Congress in 2009 after several years of negotiations with local businesses, landowners, residents and
telegraph
municipalities. In 2010, it passed the House Natural Resources Committee with a unanimous vote, and in 2013, it passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It was first spearheaded by Salazar and later by Sen. Mark Udall. After Udall was defeated by Cory Gardner in 2014, Bennet picked up the banner. The act has been supported since the beginning by San Juan, San Miguel and Ouray counties, as well as numerous regional conservation organizations including the San Juan Citizens Alliance and Great Old Broads for Wilderness. Telluride Ski Resort, Telluride Helitrax, and a slew of other regional businesses have praised the legislation. It is likely opposition will arise from motorized recreation groups like snowmobile and OHV advocates who say the wilderness act would cut access to trails. A bigger threat, however, may be ideological opposition to wilderness designations, says Widen. “It used to be that if you had a house member who had a wilderness proposal in their own district, the two senators would support it as well,” he says. “That doesn’t happen anymore. It’s become so ideological.” Mark Pearson, executive director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance, says it remains to be seen if Colorado’s Republican Sen. Cory Gardner will get on board. “He’s the only senator in Colorado history to never sponsor a wilderness bill,” Pearson says. Alternatively, the backlash to increasing attacks on public lands and environmental regulations could also have a positive effect by galvanizing political involvement in the run-up to mid-term elections. “We are hoping that after November we have a conservation-friendly majority at least in the House, if not the Senate,” Widen says. “We would go from having zero chance to a really good one.” For more detailed info and maps, go to: www.sanjuanciti zens.org/san-juan-mountains-wilderness-act n
MountainTownNews Plenty of jane dumped at airport gates ASPEN – A Pitkin County sheriff’s deputy recently emptied two boxes at the local airport installed to allow travelers to rid themselves of cannabis products before going through federal security gates to board airplanes. The Aspen Daily News says that the contents of the boxes suggest that “many people are wildly overestimating how much they can consume during a vacation here, had second thoughts about trying to take marijuana home, or both.” Showing a photo of the contents of the two boxes, the manager of a marijuana store in Aspen estimated the discarded bud, vape pens and 30 joints were worth $15,000 to $20,000. Also discarded was a product called “aphrodisiac chocolate.” Pitkin County installed the amnesty boxes at the airport in January 2014, when legalized sales of marijuana began in Colorado. Federal law, however, continues to frown sternly on possession of marijuana. “With a lot of what we see, it’s clear someone made a bulk purchase, consumed a small amount, and then the rest gets dumped,” Pitkin County Undersheriff Ron Ryan said. “Either they didn’t know what they were getting into, or they changed their mind. There’s a lot of brand-new unwrapped product.” The Aspen Times reports that the city has five cannabis dispensaries, and two more applications have been filed, including for one business called the Green Joint. Last year the marijuana shops sold $11.3 million of cannabis products, topping the $10.5 million generated by liquor stores.
Students march in snow for gun control ASPEN – While cannabis smokers were celebrating 4/20 last Friday, students in Aspen remembered something nobody celebrates: the 19th anniversary of the shootings at Columbine High School. About 250 students at Aspen High School participated, roughly half the student body. The Aspen Daily News reported they walked through fresh snow to a park, where they heard speakers, including Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo. DiSalvo said he believed that military-grade assault rifles should not be available to civilians. He predicted the movement started by students after the massacre at Parkland, Fla., in February will lead to that change. Local politicians were also in the metaphorical sights of the students. Tullis Burrows, a sophomore in the school, called out U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, a reliable opponent of gun-control legislation, for taking campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association. “We know how you are, and we know what you’ve done, and we are coming for you,” said the student. Tipton represents Aspen and many of the other ski towns, islands of liberal blue in western Colorado’s sea of conservative red. In New Mexico, students from Taos High School and other local schools also left classrooms to march through sleet and snow while carrying signs such as “This is Not Normal.” The Taos News reports that opposition to the march was limited to a few people shouting derisive comments from passing vehicles as the students walked to the town plaza. During the march, students chanted rhymes deriding the NRA. In Aspen, students who left classes for the march will be assessed for unexcused absences. The same would have applied to the public school in Taos, except the town had a water problem so students had been dismissed anyway.
Utah counties join lawsuit over opioids PARK CITY – Two more Utah counties have joined Summit County in filing lawsuits against some of the county’s largest manufacturers and distributors of opioids. The laws name 25 businesses and individuals from nine major opioid manufacturers and distributors as defendants. The latest allegations by Salt Lake and Tooele counties parallel those made by Summit County, of which Park City is the largest municipality. They say they have had to spend an “exorbitant amount of money” as part of the county’s struggle with the opioid epidemic as a direct result of the actions of the defendants. Margaret Olson, attorney for Summit County, told The Park Record she expects at least a half-dozen other Utah counties will be signing with the legal firms that have filed the lawsuit. She said the additional jurisdictions will improve the chances of a settlement
for Summit County and also spread the out-of-pocket costs among them, too. The three law firms that have filed the lawsuits are working on a contingency fee agreement. They will be paid 50 percent net of whatever may be awarded.
Lawsuit targets fossil fuel companies TELLURIDE – Colorado’s San Miguel County has linked arms with the City of Boulder and Boulder County to bring suit against ExxonMobil and Canada’s Suncor Energy over the costs associated with climate change impacts. The Boulder Daily Camera points out that the legal waters into which the Colorado plaintiffs have plunged are already being tested by eight counties and city governments in California, including San Francisco and Oakland, and also New York City. The lawsuits target a variety of fossil fuel companies. The Colorado lawsuit is described as the first from the nation’s interior. But, in common with those on both coasts, it seeks compensation for battling the effects of climate change. The San Francisco lawsuit, for example, mentions the projected cost of $5 billion in improvements to the city’s sea wall. The lawsuit says that Suncor and Exxon have “known about the consequence of fossil fuel use for more than 50 years,” according to a news release that outlines the complaint, “yet they continued to promote and sell their products, while deceiving the public and policymakers about the dangers.” San Miguel County Commissioner Hilary Cooper told the Telluride Daily Planet that the county is committed to spending no more than $5,000, and that’s only if the Colorado governments lose the case and the judge awards legal fees. “We will not spend any more than that without a public vote, and San Miguel County can drop out of the case at any time,” Joan May, another county commissioner, said. The three Colorado jurisdictions, similar to those along the coasts, argue that impacts caused by a warming climate burden them. The suit cites “increases in extreme hot summer days and minimum nighttime temperatures, precipitation changes, larger and more frequent wildfires, increased concentrations of groundlevel ozone, higher transmission of viruses and disease from insects, altered stream-flows, bark beetle outbreaks, ecosystem damage, forest die-off, reduced snowpack, and drought,” the lawsuit says. The governments also allege they will, as May told the Daily Planet, have to spend “money out of our limited budget to address climate change impacts that are partially the consequences of extraction by, and emissions from, fossil fuel producers.” The Boulder Daily Camera reported that oil and gas industry advocates dismissed the lawsuit as a “political stunt,” in the words of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. The group said oil and natural gas operators “should not be subject to liability for doing nothing more than engaging in acts of commerce while adhering to our already stringent state and federal laws.” Mark Squillace, a University of Colorado Law School professor, told the Daily Camera the most applicable precedent for the new lawsuits was legislation against the tobacco industry. The 1998 settlement resulted in $206 billion to be split among 46 states over 25 years. “In that case, though, there were just a handful of large tobacco companies,” Squillace said. “But while ExxonMobil in particular is a huge company, it is hardly alone in producing massive quantities of greenhouse gases. And that is why the plaintiffs will have some difficulty showing a causal connection between Exxon and Suncor’s emissions and the plaintiff’s alleged injuries.” Suncor has a refinery in Colorado, north of downtown Denver, which produces up to 98,000 barrels a day of gasoline and diesel fuel, but also jet fuel used at Denver International Airport. A fifth of the oil produced at the refinery comes from the Athabascan oil/tar sands in Alberta. The Denver Post was unimpressed with the lawsuit. “Without fossil fuels, transportation would stagger to a halt, agriculture productivity would plummet, millions would suffer from cold and hunger, and untold legions would suffer premature deaths,” the newspaper said in an editorial. “That’s why any comparison between fossil fuel companies and the tobacco industry whose product is a health disaster with no redeeming economic value, is so wide of the mark.”
– Allen Best
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April 26, 2018 n 11
dayinthelife
Northern exposure by Jennaye Derge
D
urango's historic downtown may be
quaint, and the southside will always have a certain charm, but it's high time
the north side got a little of its own glory. Last Saturday, the City of Durango and the Business Improvement District organized The Main Event, meant to pay homage to the oft-underrated North Main strip. For four hours, sidewalks from 26th to 30th streets were closed off to make room for food booths, games, socializing and plenty of live music to keep shoes tapping. With hundreds on hand, the Main Event was such as success, the city has given the green light for yearly occurrences so Duran-
Kyra Schofield and Marley Rinehart at Durango Balloon Co.’s booth.
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n April 26, 2018
teleg
A giant chess board in the Rec Center parking lot provided plenty of entertainment. It’s your move, Ethan Elliott.
Finn Lang learns the art of the corn hole toss at a young age.
A friendly and fuzzy reminder to be bear smart and lock garbage cans
Local bluegrass band People We Know performs on the Main Stage.
graph
Christian Stagg proves bubbles are always a good time. April 26, 2018 n 13
thesecondsection Rainbow Youth Center founders Rowan Blaisdell and Jennifer Stucka-Benally at the center last week. The center – which is in a nondisclosed location for security – has outgrown its space and is looking for a new home./Photo by Jennaye Derge
A safe place Rainbow Youth Center continues to grow in mission, outreach by Stew Mosberg
Justthefacts
W
ith legalized same-sex marriage, everyone from Olympians to politicians coming out and pride parades in virtually every city, perhaps there has never been wider acceptance for LBGTQ youth. Yet, as many know, navigating the teen years – let alone as LGBTQ – is certainly no parade, even in progressive-leaning Durango. “I used to be bullied horribly,” said a 15-year-old high school student who is gay. “I’d be hit,” another student, 16, chimed in. “Someone punched me in the face.” The two were among a handful of teens who talked, on the condition of anonymity, about their experiences growing up LGBTQ in Durango. They were hanging out at the Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center, which opened in 2015 to provide a safe, nonjudgmental place for local LGBTQ youth to connect, get support – and most importantly, learn they are not alone.
What: Rainbow Youth Center annual fundraiser When: 6 - 10 p.m., Fri., April 27 Where: Powerhouse Science Center Tickets: Available at Maria’s Bookshop or rainbow youthcenter.org The students tell their stories with candor, tinged with sadness, yet a sense of humor. “I’m more comfortable with myself, because I know I’m not the only one,” one attendee, 14, who has yet to come out publically, said. Such stories were all too familiar for Sarah St. John and Jennifer Stucka-Benally, two former counselors at Durango High School. According to Stucka-Benally, there was a high rate of bullying of LGBTQ students at the school. As a result, in the spring of 2015, St. John came up with the idea for a place for LGBTQ kids to meet and be safe among their peers. To gain a better
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understanding of the circumstances surrounding the issue, she and Stucka-Benally conducted focus groups in the meeting room at Durango Joe’s and invited the public to participate. Local psychologist Rowan Blaisdell was among those who attended. “I showed up at the focus groups because I was looking for resources for my daughter (who identifies with LGBTQ community),” he said. After the meeting, Blaisdell ended up joining the women in their quest. “The results were largely that this was a need and we should move forward with trying to make it happen,” he recalled. “Honestly, at that point I don’t think we understood the depth of the need.” Based upon the need demonstrated by the focus group, the three went on to found the Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center. The center was located in a church in the Main Mall, where they were allowed to hold weekly meetings. After just a few weeks, the center received a donation that would cover a year’s rent 4
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The rainbow connection The rainbow was first used to represent the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer) community by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker (1951–2017). In 1978, Baker was commissioned by San Francisco Mayor Harvey Milk to design a flag for the annual pride parade. Baker’s colors, in addition to reflecting the mixed constituency, were said to represent life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony/peace and spirit. Students paint at the Rainbow Youth Center. The Center offers activities, mentoring and peer support./ Photo by Jennaye Derge and was able to relocate to another space just off Main Avenue (the location is not publicized for security reasons). Now, three years in, the center is once again looking to expand, as it has already outgrown this space. The ideal location would be easily accessible via foot, bike or public transportation since not all of the attendees have the acceptance of their families. The center is growing in other ways as well. Originally aligned with the Four Corners Alliance for Diversity, in the last few months it has gained its own nonprofit status. Its new mission statement is to provide a safe, nonjudgmental, visible space in the community for LGBTQ and questioning youth ages 13 to 18, as well as their families and allies. In addition to offering a place to gather, the center also works within the community to demystify stereotypes and empower teens, mostly through peer-led
activities. Rainbow Center alumni or graduates of Durango High School frequently return as mentors for the younger members. Blaisdell, who now shares Durango Psychotherapy with Stucka-Benally, which works with LGBTQ youth and adults, explained that at any given time, the center can have up to 18 teens in the space. Typically, they’re engaged in anything from art to conversation and support. Stucka-Benally points out that while conversation among the kids is not necessarily focused on the gay lifestyle, it might occur organically. With a limited staff and a handful of volunteers, the center is only open a few times during the week. Currently, there are “Dropin Mondays” for 13- to 18-year-olds, with Tuesdays set aside for support for parents and children ages 5 to 11. The age groups are kept separate because of their disparate levels of maturity. In addition, one Saturday a month
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is offered and might include a hike, picnic, ice skating or volunteering. In addition, the center offers an outreach program to area schools, which includes training for 9-R school nurses geared toward better serving LGBTQ youth. It includes identifying risk factors, proper terminology use and how to be the best ally possible “Most teen-agers want their voice to be heard, and the center gives them that chance,” said Stuck-Benally. It also allows them to process their sexuality on their own terms and, perhaps most importantly, just lets them be teens. “I do expect a lot of problems (coming out),” said the 14-year-old. “I am not out; there’s no need to come out. Straight kids don’t have to come out. There’s more to me than being gay.” Concurring, the 15-year-old acknowledged that some of the center’s attendees
who have come out are having difficulty being accepted by their families. “Some of my family is cool with it,” he said, shrugging. This prompted the 16-year-old to wonder aloud, “Why can’t (we) just be?” And indeed, some of those teens have been able to find that elusive sense of peace. “Some people just go with it, they’re not too nosy,” one student remarked. “There’s more acceptance at my school,” said another. “People understand it’s not really their business.” In closing, the kids were asked what else they would like to tell people. One joked, “Be sure to drink lots of water!” But then the tone turned a little more serious. “We’re very open here, we talk to one another,” said the 16-year-old. “Kids reading this (should) know they can come to us.” For more information or to donate to RYC, visit www.rainbowyouthcenter.org n
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Flashinthepan
The big deal over lettuce by Ari Levaux
T
he market for fresh greens is being disrupted by a small, colorful assortment of European dwarf lettuce heads that are small in stature when fully mature. What they lack in size they make up in texture, flavor and remarkably dense foliage – along the lines of what you might expect from radicchio or even cabbage. These miniature lettuce heads are sometimes erroneously labeled as “baby” lettuce. The fact that one variety is named Bambi probably doesn’t help clear this up, and that’s probably intentional. Despite being grown-ass lettuce, these heads nonetheless cater to the American appetite for babies. Mini lettuce has been on my radar for about 10 years, since I visited a Bambi farm in Kona. Since then, I’ve watched the popularity and availability of these delicious plants take off. Family farmers have been bringing them to market and selling them to highend chefs. Johnny’s Seeds, one of the more popular seed suppliers to small and mid-sized veggie farms, sells a colorful assortment of 10 mini lettuce varieties, including Mini Romaine, Mini Bibb, and others. According to the Johnnys’ number crunchers, adding mini lettuce to a farm’s offerings can be a good move financially. They can be planted more than four times as densely and have a 33 percent shorter growing cycle. Over the course of a 120day period, Johnny’s estimates, the same 10-by-4 foot bed could produce 120 full sized heads or 720 mini heads. Despite being so amazing, mini lettuce can be difficult to find. My friend Mirella, a European mini lettuce head, has a hard time finding them in NYC. Surprisingly, one of the more reliable places to acquire mini lettuce are box stores like Walmart and Costco, both of which carry “artisan” lettuce produced by California-based grower Tanimura and Antle (T&A).
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According to taproduce.com, the original mini romaine seeds came from Europe, and growers with the company have been saving their seeds ever since. Last year T&A launched an offshoot, 3 Star Lettuce, a seed company that specializes in marketing mini lettuce seed to other growers. Multiple varieties of mini lettuce are grown in alternating rows in the same fields, producing the spectacle of long green and red stripes across the landscape. The crop is processed and boxed in the fields, sometimes with multiple varieties packed together in the same box. Field packing saves the lettuce a potentially hazardous detour through a processing facility. The fact that they are sold whole, rather than cut, is important from a food safety perspective as well. When food is cut, microscopic particles that had been on the outside of food can be introduced inside. For this reason, some food safety experts will go as far as to request their water without a lemon slice when dining out. Inside the lemon peel it had been sterile and safe, but the knife may contain pathogens, as could the hand that holds both lemon and knife (with cooked food, precautions are relaxed considerably). Any time food is cut, the chances for contamination increase, which is why most food safety experts avoid cut or chopped bagged veggies like a plague of raw oysters. The recent outbreak of E. coli linked to chopped romaine lettuce hammers this point home, and makes field-packed mini heads all the more attractive. The contamination is thought to have occurred in a packing facility in Yuma, Ariz., which handles lettuce from many different fields. Such places introduce myriad variables and opportunities for E. Coli to flourish; the chopping step quickly spreads the problem. While cutting food introduces the possibility of contamination, it also exposes the cut ends to oxygen, which begins a downward slope of deterioration known as oxi-
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dation. Rust, fire, even rotting are all examples of oxidation in other contexts. In the case of lettuce, it can mean discoloration, loss of water content (aka wilting), changes in flavor, and other steps down in quality. In addition to the benefits of field packing and nonchopping, the mini lettuce plants themselves are also naturally dense in antioxidants and other compounds, which extend the shelf life of lettuce, and possibly the eater as well. A 2014 report in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis details the biochemical analysis of 16 varieties from three general categories of lettuce. Seven varieties of romaine, seven little gem types, and two mini romaine varieties were analyzed. The research was done at the University of Murcia in Spain, which is the world’s largest exporter (and third largest producer) of lettuce. The Murcia region is where most of Spain’s lettuce is grown. The team looked at the presence and composition of a number of classes of molecule, including organic acids, which impact flavor, phenolic compounds, which extend shelf life, antioxidant activity, which has both nutritional and shelf life implications, and others. Big romaine showed the highest levels of phenolic compounds, vitamin C and folate. Phenolics are great for shelf life if the head is left whole, the authors note, but work against you when the plant is cut, as these same compounds will speed the browning process. Mini romaine had the most organic acids, aka flavor, as well as the most carotenoids and chlorophyll. Little gem, interestingly, presented the highest nitrate content, “...which can be considered a negative characteristic of this lettuce type,” note the authors. My local Costco has bags of T&A Artisan Organic Romaine, five heads to a bag, seven bags in a box. I plucked apart a nice looking specimen and found 42 leaves inside, some as small as my thumb. Sliced in halves or quarters, the dense, crinkly interior leaves are sponges for dressing. Left to my own devices, I do little more than dip wedges in a cup of dressing – I like olive oil (two parts), balsamic and cider vinegar (adding up to one part) and soy sauce (one part). The size, shape and general beauty of mini lettuce also present the opportunity to serve mini lettuce in whimsical, striking ways. Load them like boats, with aioli and cubes of mortadella like my friend Mirella does, or drizzle wedges with your favorite Caesar dressing. Some people grill their mini lettuce, others just chop them up and toss themselves a salad. And when the cutting is done at home, and under circumstances that you can control, slice and toss to your heart’s content. n
TopShelf
CeleFunktion, Mayors Ball and Elmore’s Corner Wofford’s fascination with the music of Johnny Cash, Link Wray, Lou Reed and Nick Cave. They’ll be joined on a handful of tunes by Gummersall, one of La Plata County’s musical treasures whose he long and winding road to CeleFunktion finally arrives voice is both whiskey smooth and maple syrup sweet. at its destination tonight through Saturday at the Animas Carute Roma and the Afrobeatniks will perform at the City Theatre and Balcony Backstage. It’s a block party, with Living with Wildfire resource fair, FireWise auction and dance music filling all the stages at College & Main. Let’s break it down party from 1-9 p.m. Saturday at Mancos day-by-day (single-day and weekend Brewing. Obviously, this summer has the passes are available at various price levels). potential to be an especially dangerous Elder Grown and Liver Down the fire season, and FireWise Southwest ColRiver highlight tonight’s bill. Elder orado is committed to education and preGrown, of course, is known for its fusion vention. Admission is $10 at the door, of funk, rock, hip-hop and pop and is with kids 16 and younger free. Carute driven by the Brothers Hoffman (Josh, Roma plays Gypsy music from 3-5, with John & Paul), with sax player Sam Kelly the Afrobeatniks bringing their world fuand multi-instrumentalist Brandon Clark sion vibe from 6-9. rounding out the quintet. Liver Down the Erik Nordstrom & Bubba Iudice, the River has reached the rarified air of mass two singing guitarists from Farmington regional success that few Durango groups Hill, have a new acoustic duo project have attained, what with their blend of they’ve named Elmore’s Corner. Catch bluegrass, funk and psychedelic sounds. them at Raven House Gallery (120 Grand I’m a big fan of theirs. The Jack Cloonan Ave. in Mancos) from 5-9 p.m. Friday as Band opens the ACT. Meanwhile, Panpart of the Spring Hat Gala, which celedasaywhat, Melody Lines and Ralphsta brates local art and music. The Nord’s perform at the Backstage. sweetie, Crazy Hat Lady Shanti, will UK-based dub and downtempo comsell her handcrafted hats at the event. poser, producer and engineer Ott headAllie Wolf returns to the Henry lines the ACT Friday, with Blockhead Strater Theatre for the third year with the bringing distinctive, funky and emotive fierce drag performances of DRAGRANGO music from New York City. The undercard at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. This is a strictly 21is The Monogahela, Astrologic and Dancand-over event. ing Arrow. Meanwhile, JCalvin’s Funk The Met: Live in HD concludes its seaExpress holds court at the Balcony Backson at 10:55 a.m. Saturday with Jules stage Friday. Massenet’s “Cendrillon.” It’s the inauguIt all concludes on Saturday with the ral Met performance of Massenet’s interCeleFunktion Block Party at the ACT, BalU.K. dub artist Ott headlines Celefunktion pretation of the Cinderella story, which cony & Backstage. The ACT hosts Atomga, on Friday night at the ACT. features Joyce DiDonato starring in the Dubskin and JCalvin’s Funk Express while lead role. Run time is approximately 2 the Backstage gets rocked by Farmington Hill, Robby Overfield & hours, 47 minutes, with one intermission. the Breaks and the Crags. Keeping it classical, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship welLast year, outgoing mayor Christina Rinderle decided to comes the Southwest Piano Trio at 7 p.m. Friday in the launch a new tradition, the Mayors Ball, to raise money for fourth of its recital series this year. The trio features Kay Newnam local charities. This year, it benefits KSUT Capital Campaign, (violin), Bonnie Mangold (cello) and Marilyn Mangold Garst which raises money for the NPR affiliate to move into a new, (piano), with special guest Lori Lovato (clarinet). They’ll tackle modern facility in Ignacio. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams the works of Haydn, Stravinsky and Brahms. with special guest Tyller Gummersall will entertain, with appetizThe best thing I’ve heard this week is the debut album from ers from DuranGourmet, beer from BREW Pub & Kitchen and Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore, “Downey to Lubbock.” I wines from Four Leaves Winery also available. The $50 ticket inhelped bring these two Americana veterans to town 14 months ago cludes food and two drinks, with a cash bar available for those for a sold-out concert at the Hank. The meeting of Alvin’s bluesy who choose to indulge. Doors open at 5 p.m. Saturday at the rock & roll and Gilmore’s country twang came across as a campfire Powerhouse Science Center, with music running through 10:30. pick between two old souls, swapping their originals and collabo“Durango black tie” is the suggested dress, meaning blue jeans, a rating on favorite covers. In the studio, the laid back feel is mostly Western shirt and cowboy boots will suffice for those who don’t gone, replaced by a polished, rootsy sound. Alvin’s two originals, want to dress to the nines. the autobiographical “Downey to Lubbock” and the outlaw protest The Hi*Beams are no strangers to the Four Corners, having anthem, “Billy the Kid and Geronimo,” are standouts. The remainplayed countless festival and bar dates here through the years. Fronted by Wofford, whose classic country voice and clever song- der is made up of covers – many of which Alvin & Gilmore performed live at the Hank. Gilmore’s urgent wail on Woody Guthrie’s writing drive the quintet, the Hi*Beams are both retro and con“Deportee” showed border racism dates back decades; Lloyd Price’s temporary … no surprise, since Wofford considers country “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” retains its N’awlins stomp; Alvin proves yet songwriting icons Cindy Walker, Harlan Howard and Don Gibson as his primary influences, yet points to Paul Burch, Jim Laud- again his tenderness as a balladeer on Steve Young’s “Silverlake” and John Stewart’s “July, You’re a Woman”; and traditionals like erdale and Gillian Welch as recent role models. Steel guitarist “K.C. Moan” and “Stealin’” are given a contemporary treatment Bret Billings and multi-instrumentalist Greg Schochet are two of while retaining their rootsy origins. This is my early favorite for the best Colorado roots musicians, while the rhythm section of Ben O’Connor (upright bass) and Damon Smith (drums) keep the Album of the Year. time. Having been together nearly two decades, these guys are Peace and love, beans and brown rice? Email me at chrisa@go tight. Last summer, the group dropped their first new album in brainstorm.net. n four years, the concept album “Missing Link,” which explored
by Chris Aaland
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onthetown Submit “On the Town” items by Monday at noon to: calendar@durangotelegraph.com
Thursday26
Friday27
High School courts. 769-3772.
Celefunktion, part of FLC Graduation weekend, April 26-28, events held at Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Ave.; the Balcony and Balcony Backstage, 600 Main Ave. www.animascitytheatre.com or durangomassive@hot mail.com.
Food Justice Symposium, featuring keynote speeches from M. Karlos Baca and Rowen White, 6-8 p.m., event also runs April 28-29, near Dolores. Register at www.icollectiveinc.org/food-justice-symposium.
Henry Stoy performs, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Café, 601 Main Ave. 570-650-5982.
Yoga Flow, 8 a.m., Pine River Library.
Durango Early Bird Toastmasters, 7-8:30 a.m., LPEA headquarters, 45 Stewart St. 769-7615.
MakerSpace Skill Sessions, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287. VFW Indoor Flea Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 1550 Main Ave. 247-0384.
Baby Meetup, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Columbine House at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 419 San Juan Dr.
Free yoga, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Lively Boutique, 809 Main Ave.
Little Readers Storytime, 10 a.m., Pine River Library.
Zumba Gold, 9:30-10:15 a.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
Older Adults Coffee Klatch, 10 a.m.-noon, Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287.
Caregiver Cafe, 10 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. 884-2222.
Toddler Storytime, 10:30-11 a.m., Durango Public Library.
Open Art Studio, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287.
Drop-in Tennis, all ages welcome, 4 p.m., Durango High School courts. 769-3772.
Preschool Storytime, 10:30-11 a.m., Durango Public Library.
Kidz Klub, after-school activities for elementary school kids, 4-5 p.m., Ignacio Community Library.
Write Your Congressman Letter Writing Party, hosted by Colorado United for Families, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library.
Leah Orlikowski performs, 5:30 p.m., Digs at Three Springs. 259-2344.
STEAM Lab: Art Aliens, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Durango Public Library.
Hunting Film Tour, sponsored by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. www.huntingfilmtour.com.
After School Awesome, 3:30 p.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. 884-2222.
Durango Green Drinks, hosted by Conservation Colorado and Thrive! Living Wage Coalition, 5-6:45 p.m., Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave.
Comedy Cocktail open mic stand up, 8 p.m., Eno Wine Bar, 723 E. 2nd Ave.
Pete Giuliani performs, 5-8 p.m., El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave.
Sunday29
Sitting Meditation, 5:30-6:15 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave. 764-8070 or durangodharmacenter.org.
Elmore’s Corner performs, an acoustic duo from Farmington Hill, 5-9 p.m., Raven House Gallery in Mancos.
Pushing the Limits: Heritage, reading, viewing and discussion program for adults, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Ignacio Community Library.
Black Velvet performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
“Doc Swords,” PTSD Social Club for Veterans, 4-6 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave. Tony Evans performs, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Open Mic Night, 6-8 p.m., Eno Wine Bar, 723 E. 2nd Ave. “A Café,” five Willowtail poets read and talk about their work, 7 p.m., Mancos Public Library. “Godspell,” musical performed by DHS Theatre Troupe 1096, opening night, 7 p.m., show also runs April 27-28 and May 3-5, and 2 p.m., April 28 and May 5, Durango High School. 259-1630 or troupe1096.weebly.com. “The Butterfly’s Evil Spell,” 7:30 p.m., show also runs April 27-28, Sunflower Theatre in Cortez. www.sun flowertheatre.org.
Spring Benefit for Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center, 6-10 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio. Southwest Piano Trio violin, cello and piano with Lori Lovato on clarinet, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 419 San Juan Drive. 385-8668. Teen Game Night, 7-10 p.m., Mancos Public Library. 533-7600.
The Met: Live in HD, featuring Massenet’s “Cendrillon,” 10:55 a.m., Fort Lewis College Student Union, Vallecito Room. www.durangoconcerts.com. Meet the Author: John L. Kessell, author of Whither the Waters: Mapping the Great Basin, from Bernardo de Miera to John C. Fremont, Animas Museum, 3065 W. 2nd Ave. 259-2402. Living with Wildfire, resource fair and fundraiser for Firewise of Southwest Colorado, featuring music from Little Brother, Carute Roma and Afrobeatniks, 1-9 p.m., Mancos Brewing Co. www.southwestcoloradofires.org.
Henry Stoy performs, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-Pierre Café, 601 Main Ave. 570-650-5982. We Fight for Wiley, community event and fundraiser for Wiley Corra, workout, run, bike or paddle, 2:30 – 5 p.m., Crossfit Catacombs; after party with music and food, 5 – 7 p.m., Ska Brewing. April Silver Ball Pin-Off Pinball Competition, head to head competition, 2-strikes, 6 pinball machines, all ages and skill levels, 4 p.m., J.Bo’s Pizza & Ribs, 1301 Florida Road. Durango Natural Foods Co-op’s annual meeting, featuring “Zombie Agriculture” with keynote speaker Keri Brandt Off, 5-8 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio. www.durangonaturalfoods.coop. Blue Moon Ramblers, 7 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic Night, 7-11 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave. 403-1200.
Monday30
DJ Noonz, 8 p.m.-close, Moe’s, 937 Main Ave.
Yogalates, 9 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Open Mic & Stand-Up Comedy, 8 p.m., El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave.
Saturday28
Karaoke with Crazy Charlie, 8 p.m.-close, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave.
Fort Lewis College Spring Commencement, address by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, 8:30 and 11:30 a.m., Whalen Gym at Fort Lewis College. www.fortlewis.edu/graduation.
Thursday Night Funk Jam, for experienced musicians, 9 p.m.-midnight, Moe’s, 937 Main Ave.
Drop-in Tennis, all ages welcome, 9 a.m., Durango
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Jammin’ Juniors, 10 a.m., also Wed., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Gentle Yoga, 1 p.m., Durango Senior Center. Sitting Mediation and Talk given by John Bruna (visiting teacher), 5:30-7 p.m., Durango Dharma 4
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Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave. durangodharmacenter.org. Salsa/Bachata/Merengue dance classes 6:30 p.m.; social/practice time 8-9 p.m., VFW Hall, 1550 Main Ave. www.salsadancedurango.com. Meet the Author: Will Hobbs, author of Hercules and Peaches, celebrating Children’s Book Week, 6:30-8 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave. 247-1438 or www.marias bookshop.com. Learn to Square Dance, with Wild West Squares, 78:30 p.m., Florida Grange, 656 Hwy 172. 903-6478.
Tuesday01 Yoga for All, 9 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Zumba Gold, 9:30-10:15 a.m., La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave. Little Readers Storytime, 10 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. Storytime, 10 a.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave. Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Mancos Public Library. 533-7600. May Luncheon, hosted by The Club: La Plata Democrats on the Move, featuring La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith, noon-1 p.m., Durango Double Tree Hotel, 1333 Camino del Rio. theclubdems@gmail.com. ICL Knitters, 1-3 p.m., Ignacio Community Library. 5639287. Baby Storytime, 2-2:30 p.m., Durango Public Library. Free Legal Clinic, 2-3:30 p.m., Mancos Public Library. 533-7600. Tuesday Too Cool, gaming and STEAM programming, 3:30 p.m., Pine River Library. 884-2222. Drop-in Tennis, all ages welcome, 4 p.m., Durango High School courts. 769-3772.
Twitterpated for carbon: SR Salon debuts in Durango What: Social Responsibility Salon presented by the Sherpa Institute When: 3:30–6:30 p.m., Thurs., May 3 Where: Strater Theatre Tickets: $20, srsalon.eventbrite.com Despite April's lack of showers, May flowers will get a different kind of refreshment, thanks to a green breeze blowing into town next Thursday. The locally based Sherpa Sustainability Institute will debut its Social Responsibility Salon (SR Salon) at the Henry Strater Theatre on the afternoon of May 3, and hope can't help but bloom in the hearts of those depressed by "gloom porn." Yeah, I'd also never heard the phrase, but don't Google it, unless you want to see things you can't un-see. Just know that it represents all the things rampant in the news that remind us of how climate change is an imminent disaster looming o'er head, ready to take the first born of our children's children and cover Bear's Ears in soot and ashes while the Colorado River evaporates to oblivion. Take a sip of water. The SR Salon isn't here to preach politics or even introduce a Congress-bound petition. Rather, it's a conversational setting based on the format of old-fashioned pop-up meetings. At the turn of the 20th century, ladies weren't welcome in universities, so they would gather in each other's parlors, or salons, and discuss the world's happenings. One hundred years later, this salon soiree isn't exclusive to women, and people "of all persuasions and perspectives" are invited to a discourse on the role of business innovation in reversing climate change. The question for this first series is, "if humanity changed the climate by mistake, can we change it with intent?" "Imagine if everybody's work place was looking at the social and environmental as well as profit centers,” Claire Attkisson, who founded the SR Salon with Andrea Hoffmeier, said. The Salon opens with a presentation from Billy Ingram, of U.S. company Interface, known for is FLOR carpet tiles. Since Adult Board Game Night, 6-7 p.m., Durango Library.
Inklings Book Club, 3rd-5th graders, 4-5 p.m., Ignacio Community Library.
Folk Jam, 6-8 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave. 4031200.
Terry Rickard performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.
DJ Crazy Charlie hosts karaoke, 6:30-10:30 p.m., Billy Goat Saloon in Gem Village.
“Escape the Lunch Lady Arms” workshop, 5:30-7 p.m., Bloom Spot Pilates, 163 E. 10th St. www.thebloomspot durango.com. Super Ted’s Trivia Night, 6:12 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr. www.animascitytheatre.com. Rotary Club of Durango, presentation by Al Harper, of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 6 p.m., Strater Hotel. 385-7899. Knit or Crochet with Kathy Graf, 6-7 p.m., Mancos Public Library. 533-7600.
1994, the company has reduced carbon emissions by 95 percent, cut water use by 93 percent and now sends zero waste to landfills. Product development comes from 100 percent raw, bio-based, recycled materials. Even better? The carpet tiles are produced by sequestering carbon. While carpet tiles may sound even less exciting than gloom porn, Interface is pretty radical. As leaders in the "industrial re-revolution," its mission flips our relationship with carbon on its head to see it not as the nail in the coffin but as a plentiful resource, pulled from the skies in a process called "decarbonization." Yep, never heard that term either. But that's the point of the Salon: to introduce innovative ideas and engage the community in conversation about what we can do next. After Ingram's presentation, a panel discussion (facilitated by Local First Managing Director Monique Digiorgio among others) will explore social responsibility, “lean” products and change management methods – because nothing says spring like a little sustainability pillow talk. Still thirsty? A cocktail hour follows. – Joy Martin a.m., Pediatric Associates, 1199 Main Ave., Suite 205. www.Breathworkswithjoy.com. StoryTime, 10-11 a.m., Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287. Pine River Valley Centennial Rotary Club, noon, Tequila’s in Bayfield.
Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Blondies in Cortez. Trivia Night, 7-10 p.m., Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave. Open Mic Night, 8 p.m.-close, Moe’s Lounge, 937 Main.
Free Trauma Conscious Yoga for Veterans and Families, noon-1 p.m., Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave. MakerSpace, noon-4 p.m., Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287. Open Knitting Group, 1-3 p.m., Smiley Café, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.
Wednesday02 Morning Meditation, 8:30 a.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. 884-2222. Free Kids Yoga with Joy Kilpatrick, for ages 3-7, 9-9:45
Teen Cafe, 2-5:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Ignacio Library. 563-9287.
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April 26, 2018 n 19
AskRachel Interesting fact: Bluegrass music as we know it started around 1940 with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Ten minutes later, the first people got tired of listening to bluegrass and walked out. Dear Rachel, I seriously fail to understand the hype around bluegrass in this town. To me, bluegrass is the very definition of a sum less than its parts. The musicians are technically exceptional, the genre allows for originals and unique takes on cover songs … but my god, who can take the twang and the frenetic pace for more than 10 minutes, let alone an entire weekend? No wonder everyone gets so hammered to survive the Meltdown. – Yeehaws for Yahoos Dear Pickin’ and Frownin,’ I remember the first time I took a sip of my dad’s red wine. Holy hell, that stuff was gnarly. Why, I wondered, did people drink this stuff every night? Then I matured beyond the age of eight and discovered, all on my own, that wine is delicious. It may be that you need to acquire the right taste for banjo music in order to appreciate it. And, yes, drink water between each set to avoid a nasty hangover. – My grass is blue, Rachel
Dear Rachel, My mother often sends me texts with horrible autocorrect mistakes. Sometimes they’re just illegible, but sometimes there’s pure gold. You know, talking about her neighbor’s f&$#er
OntheTown from p. 19 Tween Time: Minecraft, 4-5 p.m., Durango Public Library. 7th annual Youth Expo, booth-styled event with info for local teens on high schools, volunteer opportunities, employment and internships, 4-6 p.m., Buckley Park. “Ignite Gratitude, Live Grace,” presented by Dr. Melaney, 5:15-5:45 p.m., R Space at the Rochester Hotel, 726 E. 2nd Ave. Greg Ryder performs, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave. Thank the Veterans! potluck, Peter Neds and Glenn Keefe perform, 5:30-8:30 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave. 8287777. Literary Festival Event: The Changing Face of Journalism, 6 p.m., Durango Public Library. Author Talk, featuring Stew Mosberg, author of Good Days, Bad Days – A Collection of Short Stories, 6-7 p.m., Pine River Library in Bayfield. 884-2222. Bluegrass Jam, 6-9 p.m., Steaming Bean, 900 Main Ave. 403-1200. Terry Rickard performs, 7 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave. Yoga en Español, 7:30-8:30 p.m., YogaDurango, 1140 Main Ave. Karaoke, 8 p.m., Blondies in Cortez.
20 n April 26, 2018
spaniel dog, or wanting to bone her customers. I keep screen captures of all the best ones, which means my question now is, what are the ethics of posting these to the internet? Free game to embarrass her at will? Or should I respect her privacy and her generational inability to use technology? – Mother Ducker Dear Autocratic, I love stumbling upon photographs of my grandparents and other ancestors. These snapshots are rare glimpses into their lives and beautiful time capsules of what life was like in decades past. For future generations, your mother’s text messages will be that glimpse. I’m not a legal counsel or anything, so don’t quote me to a judge, but come on. These mangled messages are God’s gift to the masses. Share away. – I meant SHOT, Rachel
Dear Rachel, Fort Lewis College just laid off two of my dear friends. What the actual frig is the college doing? It’s hard enough to make a living in this town, and there used to be no job like a gubmint job. Now their lives are ruined because some administrators suck at their jobs. And my friends are entirely unemployable in the real world after working at a college. What can they do now? – Will Sit at Desk for Food Dear Un M. Ployed, Your friends are in luck, because in Durango, you don’t need a resume to land a job! There’s probably still Karaoke with Crazy Charlie, 8 p.m.-close, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. 2nd Ave. Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8:30 p.m., BREW Pub & Kitchen, 117 W. College Dr. 259-5959.
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com time before summer for them to get in as river guides, jeep guides, walking guides, campground hosts, servers and bartenders. I don’t mean one or the other of those; I mean all of the above. Because that’s the only way to make it work. And in their spare time, I recommend they start learning the banjo. – Now hiring, Rachel “The Wall,” a collaborative gallery installation, artist reception, 5-7 p.m., May 4, exhibit runs thru May 26, Barbara Conrad Gallery at Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. www.durangoarts.org. Blue Lotus Feet Kirtan, 6-8 p.m., May 4, Yoga Durango, Florida Road.
Ongoing
Graduating Art & Communication Design Majors Exhibition, exhibit runs thru April 27, Fort Lewis College Art Gallery. 382-6925. Durango Spring Cleanup, through May 4. www.durangogov.org/cleanup. “Splendor of the Rockies,” plein air works by artist Carolyn Dailey, thru May 5, Eno, 723 E. 2nd Ave. 385-0106.
Teen Time, 3:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, Pine River Library. 884-2222.
Farm Field Day at the Old Fort, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., May 5, Old Fort at Hesperus. 385-4574. Movie Night for Teens, 7-10 p.m., May 5, Mancos Public Library. 533-7600. Veterans Breakfast, 9-11 a.m., May 6, Elks Club, 901 E. 2nd Ave. 946-4831. Writers’ Workshop, 2 p.m., May 6, Ignacio Community Library.
Live music, 5:30 p.m., daily, Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.
Help for Health First and CHP+, sponsored by San Juan Basin Health, 9:30 a.m.-noon, May 7, Durango Public Library.
Live music, 7 p.m., daily, The Office, 699 Main Ave. Karaoke, 8 p.m., Thur-Sun, 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E 8th Ave.
Interest Meetings on FLC Teacher Education Graduate Program, 4:30-5:30 p.m., May 9, Durango Public Library. graduate.fortlewis.edu.
Upcoming Less Jargon, More eBooks & Audiobooks, 1-5 p.m., May 3, Ignacio Community Library. 563-9287. Powerhouse Pub Trivia, 6:30-8:30 p.m., May 3, Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio. www.powsci.org. Narrow Gauge Day, May 4, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. www.durangotrain.com.
telegraph
Deadline for “On the Town” submissions is Monday at noon. To submit an item email: calendar@durango telegraph.com
FreeWillAstrology by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): Imagine you’re one of four porcupines caught in frigid weather. To keep warm, you all have the urge to huddle together and pool your body heat. But whenever you try to get close, you prick each other with your quills. The only solution to that problem is to move away from each other, even though it means you can’t quell your chill as well. This scenario was used by psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud as a parable for the human dilemma. We want to be intimate with each other, Freud said, but we hurt each other when we try. The oft-chosen solution is to be partially intimate: not as close as we would like to be, but only as much as we can bear. Now everything I just said, Aries, is a preface for better news: In the coming weeks, neither your own quills nor those of the people you care about will be as sharp or as long as usual. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “The Simpsons” is the longestrunning American TV sitcom and animated series. But it had a rough start. In the fall of 1989, when producers staged a private prerelease screening of the first episode, they realized the animation was mediocre. They worked hard to redo it, replacing 70 percent of the original content. After that slow start, the process got easier and the results got better. When the program completes its 30th season in 2019, it will have aired 669 episodes. I don’t know if your own burgeoning project will ultimately have as enduring a presence, Taurus, but I’m pretty sure that, like “The Simpsons,” it will eventually become better than it is in the early going. Stick with it. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The coming weeks might be an interesting time to resurrect a frustrated dream you abandoned in a wasteland; or rescue and restore a moldering treasure you stopped taking care of a while back; or revive a faltering commitment you’ve been ignoring for reasons that aren’t very highminded. Is there a secret joy you’ve been denying yourself without good cause? Renew your relationship with it. Is there a rough prize you received before you were ready to make smart use of it? Maybe you’re finally ready. Are you brave enough to dismantle a bad habit that hampers your self-mastery? I suspect you are. CANCER (June 21-July 22): The Hollywood film industry relies heavily on recycled ideas. In 2014, for example, only one of the 10 top-grossing movies – “Interstellar” – was not a sequel, remake, reboot or episode in a franchise. In the coming weeks and months, Cancerian, you’ll generate maximum health and wisdom for yourself by being more like “Interstellar” than like
“The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and the six other top-10 rehashes of 2014. Be original! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Long ago, in the land we now call Italy, humans regarded Mars as the divine protector of fields. He was the fertility god who ripened the food crops. Farmers said prayers to him before planting seeds, asking for his blessings. But as the Roman Empire arose, and warriors began to outnumber farmers, the deity who once served as a kind benefactor evolved into a militant champion, even a fierce and belligerent conqueror. In accordance with current astrological omens, Leo, I encourage you to evolve in the opposite direction. Now is an excellent time to transmute aggressiveness and combativeness into fecundity and tenderness. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You sometimes get superstitious when life is going well. You worry about growing overconfident. You’re afraid that if you enjoy yourself too much, you will anger the gods and jinx your good fortune. Is any of that noise clouding your mood these days? I hope not; it shouldn’t be. The truth is, as I see it, that your intuition is extra-strong and your decisionmaking is especially adroit. More luck than usual is flowing in your vicinity, and you have an enhanced knack for capitalizing on it. In my estimation, therefore, the coming weeks will be a favorable time to build up your hunger for vivid adventures and bring your fantasies at least one step closer to becoming concrete realities. Whisper the following to yourself as you drop off to sleep each night: “I will allow myself to think bigger and bolder than usual.” LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The bad news is that 60 percent of Nevada’s Lake Mead has dried up. The good news – at least for historians, tourists and hikers – is that the Old West town of St. Thomas has re-emerged. It sunk beneath the water in 1936, when the government built the dam that created the lake. But as the lake has shrunk in recent years, old buildings and roads have reappeared. I foresee a comparable resurfacing in your life, Libra: the return of a lost resource or vanished possibility or departed influence. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I hope the next seven weeks will be a time of renaissance for your most engaging alliances. The astrological omens suggest it can be. Would you like to take advantage of this cosmic invitation? If so, try the following strategies. 1. Arrange for you and each of your close companions to relive the time when you first met. Recall and revitalize the dispensation that originally brought you to-
gether. 2. Talk about the influences you’ve had on each other and the ways your relationship has evolved. 3. Fantasize about the inspirations and help you’d like to offer each other in the future. 4. Brainstorm about the benefits your connection has provided and will provide for the rest of the world. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Now is one of the rare times when you should be alert for the potential downsides of blessings that usually sustain you. Even the best things in life could require adjustments. Even your most enlightened attitudes and mature beliefs may have pockets of ignorance. So don’t be a prisoner of your own success or a slave of good habits. Your ability to adjust and make corrections will be key to the most interesting kind of progress you can achieve in the coming weeks. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn author Simone de Beauvoir was a French feminist and activist. In her book A Transatlantic Love Affair, she made a surprising confession: Thanks to the assistance of a new lover, Nelson Algren, she finally had her first orgasm at age 39. Better late than never, right? I suspect that you, too, are currently a good candidate to be transported to a higher octave of pleasure. Even if you’re an old pro at sexual climax, there may be a new level of bliss awaiting you in some other way. Ask for it! Seek it out! Solicit it! AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Can you afford to hire someone to do your busy work for a while? If so, do it. If not, see if you can avoid the busy work for a while. In my astrological opinion, you need to deepen and refine your skills at lounging around and doing nothing. The cosmic omens strongly and loudly and energetically suggest that you should be soft and quiet and placid. It’s time for you to recharge your psychospiritual batteries as you dream up new approaches to making love, making money and making sweet nonsense. Please say a demure “no, thanks” to the strident demands of the status quo, my dear. Trust the stars in your own eyes. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I believe it’s a favorable time for you to add a new mentor to your entourage. If you don’t have a mentor, go exploring until you find one. In the next five weeks, you might even consider mustering a host of fresh teachers, guides, trainers, coaches and initiators. My reading of the astrological omens suggests that you’re primed to learn twice as much and twice as fast about every subject that will be important for you during the next two years. Your future educational needs require your full attention.
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April 26, 2018 n 21
classifieds
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 classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133 n 777 Main Ave., #214 Approximate office hours: Mon., 9ish - 5ish Tues., 9ish - 5ish Wed., 9ish - 3ish Thurs., On delivery Fri., 10:30ish - 2ish please call ahead 259-0133.
Lost&Found Lost – Ski Mitt Black and white Hestra. Lost somewhere between Purgatory and downtown Durango … we think. 970-749-2595.
Announcements
and employee positions are posted at www.purgatoryresort.com The Perfect Gift for your favorite dirtbag. Literature from Durango’s own Benighted Publications. The Climbing Zine, The Great American Dirtbags, American Climber, Climbing Out of Bed and Graduating From College Me are available at: Maria’s Bookshop, Pine Needle Mountaineering, the Sky Store, or on the interweb at www.climbingzine.com.
Pets Love Your Dog! At the Durango Dog Wash behind Liquor World in the Albertson’s parking lot. Open every day!
LPC Democrats Roosevelt Dinner Support the LPC Democrats. Attend our Roosevelts Dinner, Friday May 11th Fort Lewis Ballroom 5:30 pm featuring keynote speaker Bob Baer, author, former CIA operative, CNN commentator. Catered sit down dinner, cash bar, silent and live auction $75 single tickets, $20 students www.laplatadems.org
Wanted
Win 2 Tickets to Vegas Fight Follow me on Instagram and leave a comment for a chance to win 2 tickets to my championship fight this July in Las Vegas! swifteagle_thaddine
Maria’s Bookshop Community Relations Manager Fast-paced managerial position connecting books, authors, publishers and the community. Promote book sales and cultivate bookshop’s community presence. Responsible for book signings, reading groups, and offsite events. Manage marketing, community donations, store displays, website, digital newsletter, and social media. Active member of bookselling staff. For more information visit mariasbookshop.com. Position open until filled.
Purgatory Summer Hiring Fair Join us to learn about the variety of open positions this summer at Purgatory Resort. From food and beverage positions to childcare and lift operations, spend your summer providing guests with a vacation they’ll never forget...in the most stunning environment in the world! Saturday, April 28 | 10am - 2pm 2615 Main Ave | 2nd Floor (Please enter through Purgatory Sports- North Main) Summer employees receive a free winter pass. Save time by applying online ahead of the job fair. We’ll have your application printed and be ready to chat! All open volunteer
22 n April 26, 2018
Turn Vehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc. Into Cash! at RJ Metal Recycle, also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.
HelpWanted
Receptionist Needed at Amaya call Don 970-769-8389. Horse Care Part time ranch hand, weekends plus two half days. Contact: cell 719 502 7199 call or text. Interested in Psych, Human Services or Corrections Careers? Work with at-risk students in a secure detention facility. *Detention specialist/coach counselor (FT,PT, days, nights) Open interview/tour at DeNier Youth Services, Mondays 9:00 am or
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5:30 pm, Thursdays 3:00 pm or 5:30 pm. Must be 21 yo and pass drug/background tests incl THC. Email resume Karen.Doyle@ROP.com or apply at 720 Turner Dr, Durango
Classes/Workshops Yoga Camp for Teens June 4-25 &/or July 9-July 27 Teaching tools for anxiety & stress from social, emotional & scholastic pressures. Noncompetitive environment at 4 Corners Yoga. Ages 13-18. Scholarships available. Early registration: 769-2508 marthaev ers.com Hope Yoga Studio: Age Gracefully and Live Vibrantly Dr Keneen Hope McNiven D.C. Posture, pain and injury rehab, uplifting Anusara certified yoga classes. Punch passes available. Smiley Studio 10 NewMore classes now available. Pre-Register at www.hopechiroyoga.com or 970-3053239 Blacksmith Classes Learn the art of blacksmithing in a working blacksmith shop in Mancos, CO. Beginning to advanced classes. More info www.cowboyforge.com Mommy and Me Dance Class Come join the fun! Now registering for classes. Call 970-749-6456. mom myandmedance.com.
Services May Specials! Qigong & BodyTalk™ Mellow Mondays-book a Qigong energy healing session for any Monday in May (starting 4/30) and pay by donation(any amount). Throwback Thursdays-book a BodyTalk™ session for any Thursday in May (through 5/24) for my 2008 fee-$75 (normally $125). julie@juliegentry.com Gorgeous Spray Tans at Spa Evo! Get your glow on at Spa Evo with a spray tan color-customized exclusively for you. Expertly applied by Durango’s only Gold-Certified Spray Tan artist. 6 years exp. Read my reviews on Yelp & FB. Text or call 9702590226 to schedule. www.spaevo.com Botanical Hi-Altitude Skin Care A drug free approach to metabolic,
hormonal signs of aging, and environmental damage. Private and personal. Monie Schlarb lic. esthetician. 970-7644261, leave message. R & D Landscaping and Masonry Early season deals for all aspects of landscaping, masonry, concrete, excavation, etc. 970-529-3034. Harmony Organizing and Cleaning Services Create harmony in your space this year by organizing and cleaning your home, vacation home or office. Martee 970-403-6192. Advanced Duct Cleaning Air duct cleaning specializing in dryer vents. Improves indoor air quality; reduces dust and allergens, energy bills and fire risk. 970-247-2462 www.advancedductcleaninginc.com Typos Are Your Worst Enema A good editor is your ally. Full-service text editing for websites, businesses, books, papers and tattoo ideas. Write to zach@zachhively.com
BodyWork Ally in Health Mel Higbee, L.M.T. offers nourishing massage, skillful awareness, & respect for the subtle needs of body, mind, and spirit. 11 years of practice. Specializing in advanced myofascial treatment. For scheduling, contact (970)238-0422 or go to melhigbee.fullslate.com Meg Bush, LMT & Emily Coker, LMT have Moved across the St. to 1075 Main Ave, #215. Great new space, same awesome massages! 30, 60 & 90 minutes. Edward Coons ~ Massage Therapy Advanced bodywork for athletes and people of all walks and ages for 15 years. 512-731-1836. massageintervention.life 25 years experience. Couples, sauna, cupping. Reviews on FB + Yelp. 970-9032984.
Massage with Kathryn Downtown location. Introductory rate $65/hr. Offering deep tissue, therapeutic stretching and acutonics. 970-201-3373 for more information.
RealEstate Radon Services Free radon testing and consultation. Call Colorado Radon Abatement and Detection for details. 970- 946-1618.
ForSale Isuzu Trooper LS $1,950. Warranty, 2017 tires and battery, 20 mpg, 216k. Dependable, Thule bike rack, room for lots of gear. ’96 but runs great. 903-9812. Inflatable Kayak Fleet! Like new 50% off - $499+ only used 1-2 times. GravityPlay.com - 970-403-5320. TreeNet Willy Retreat and reconnect with nature with TreeNet Willy’s custom rope plateforms built in the comfort of your own back yard. 970-403-2012 for free estimate.
Hot Tub – New 6HP pump, 50 jets. Cost $8,000. Sell $3,650. 505-270-3104. Reruns Home Furnishings Store full of furniture & décor – Patio sets, vintage bouncy porch chairs, fire pits, plant stands, West Elm rug, Crate and Barrel entryway storage bench, Pier 1 Asianstyle dresser. Cool teak, mid-century tea cart, gorgeous carved armoire, antique dressers. & more. Daily markdowns. 572 E. 6th Ave. 385-7336.
ForRent Share Dwtn OFC Big room w/waiting area. Quiet/ground flr. Ideal for therapist or health prof. 2479076.
CommercialForRent Fulton Building 11 X 10 Office Available now, 11 x 10 office downtown in the Fulton building, 842 1/2 Main Avenue, $350/month. Great location!
HaikuMovieReview ‘The House’
Tristan’s Stained Glass Specializing in repairs, custom orders. Sheet glass and art glass supplies. 970- 4032011.
A truly vapid comedy with a couple of snort-worthy scenes
Drinking&DiningGuide Himalayan Kitchen 992 Main Ave., 970-259-0956 www.himkitchen.com Bringing you a taste of Nepal, Tibet & India. Try our all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. The dinner menu offers a variety of tempting choices, including yak, lamb, chicken, beef & seafood; extensive veggies; freshly baked bread. Full bar. Get your lunch punch card – 10th lunch free. Hours: Lunch, 11am-2:30 pm & dinner, Sun. - Thurs., 5-9:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. ‘til 10 p.m. Closed 2:30 to 5 daily $$ 11th Street Station 1101 Main Ave., 970-422-8482 www.11thstreetstation.com A culinary collective in the heart of Durango that offers five food trucks, a coffee shop, and a bar. Our food vendors offer everything from sushi to pizza. Come on down - there’s a little something for everyone! Hours: Daily, 6 a.m. – 12 a.m. $$ BREW Pub & Kitchen 117 W. College Drive, 970-259-5959 www.brewpubkitchen.com Experience Durango’s award-winning brewery & restaurant featuring unique, hand-crafted beers, delicious food - made from scratch, wonderful wine & cocktails. Happy Hour, Mon.- Fri. 3-6 pm & all day Sunday with $2 off beer, $1 off wines & wells & 25% off appetizers. Hours: Sun.-Thurs.11 a.m. - 9 p.m., & Fri. & Sat.11 a.m. to 10 p.m. $$
– Lainie Maxson
Get in the Guide! $20/week. Email: lainie@durangotelegraph.com
When words don’t do justice.
The suffering is over ...
Add a color photo to your Telegraph classified ad for just $20/week. (Just like Craigslist ... but a lot less creepy.) For more info, email:classifieds@durangotelegraph.com or call 970-259-0133
Issue 2 is here! wherever you find the Telegraph or at www.gulchmag.com. To find out about advertising opportunities, email steve@gulchmag.com
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April 26, 2018 n 23
When you SHOP and DONATE to local, independent stores you support our local economy and the community at the same time!
REDUCE, RE-USE
& RECYCLE!
Curbside composting is the easy and nd afffor fordable way to reduce waste and start composting! Sign Si up, get your green bucket, and place curbside weekly for collection. W We e do the work and you get the compost, all for just $15/mo. Sign up online with us today!
Help Us, Help Them, One Paw at a Time. Adopt, shop and donate 7 days a week! We offfer fer pick-up and delivery services 5 days a week. Second location coming soon! New Stor ew Stor re, e, new look and new location.
Table to F Farm arm Com Compost www w.TableToFarmCompost.com
La Plata County y Humane Society www w.LPCHumaneSocie .L ty y.orrg
Second Time Around is a locally-owned consignment shop specializing in new and gently used brand-name clothing and household goods at fantastic prices. Come see us soon!
Amazing treasures in both stores - clothing/jewelry and household/furniture. Spring clearance and deals on furniture and fun garden and patio items! Located at 572 E 6th Ave. Find us on Facebook!
Second Time Around ango.com www w.ST ST TADur AD rango
Reruns erunsDurango www w.F Facebook.com/R aceb b
Your local consignment shop for outdoor ou utdoor gear gear r,, sports sports equipment and apparel with the goal of of pr pr roviding oviding access access to to new adventures!
Durango Outdoorr Exchange www w.DurangoOutdoorExchange.com
Based on our green business model, we want reuse, recycle and reclaim home fur nishings. If you are remodeling, redecorating, moving or downsizing, {re}Love is the perfect place to shop or to consign. Join us on May 1st for our relocation to to110 110E 5th E 5th Street, Str Durango, CO.
Join us in making dreams come true for La Plata County struggling households! Your thoughtful ReStore donations of gently used furniture, appliances, household items and construction materials generate funds to build homes! SHOP at the ReStore to directly impact home ownership of deserving local households. Pick-up and delivery available by calling 970.382.9931. Most appreciative of YOUR support!
Habitat fforr Humanity ReStore www.HabitatLaPlata.orrg
Phoenix Recycling LLC provides world class recycling with small town service in and around Durango, CO. We offfer LEED accredited recycling for new construction, onsite sensitive document shredding, and weekly curbside service for rural customers.
{re} Love Consign Consign www.ReLoveConsign.com
Phoenix RRecycling .PhoenixRec www w.P cycling.com
Ever wondered whether that pizza box can be recycled? Or whether your City of Durango recycling collection will fected by a public holiday? Go to DurangoRecycles. be afffected V Ì w ` Ì i > ÃÜiÀÃt - } Õ« v À V iVÌ Ài `iÀà > ` w ` ÕÌ Ü Ì Àië à L Þ ` ë Ãi v > ÞÌ } Õà } our new search tool.
SR Salon Inaugural Keynote: Director Lean Product Development – Interface. "Climate Takeback: Takeback: We changed the climate by mistake; we can change it with intent". Panel Discussion and Reception follow w.. May 3rd from 3:15pm-6:30pm. m. Use code: TELE5 for $5 ffof f tickets! tickets! srzsalon.eventbrite.com
Durango Recycles! www w.DurangoRec cycles.com
SHERP PA Sustainability Susta Institute - SR Salon www w.SherpaS .Sherp ustainabilityInstitute.orrg
Interested getting more In terested in ge tting mor e exposure exposure for for your your business at at an affordable affordable rate? r a t e? Contact director@local-first.org here next month! Con tact dir ector@local-first.org to to get get your your business listed listed her e ne xt mon th!
24 n April 26, 2018
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