The Durango Telegraph, Feb. 3,2022

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Feb. 3, 2022 Vol. XXI, No. 5 durangotelegraph.com

inside

T H E

O R I G I N A L

I N D I E

W E E K L Y

L I N E

O N

D U R A N G O

&

B E Y O N D

The $90M question

Not so dyno-mite

Mexican food mania

Why did Kinross pay in the Gold King spill? It’s complicated p7

BLM charged with driving over, ruining Moab dinosaur site p8

From street tacos to seafood, Durango’s got a full plate p10

Go ahead and lose yourself.

Issue 18 of The Gulch is out now!

Wherever you find the Telegraph or at www.gulchmag.com.

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2 n Feb. 3, 2022

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lineup

4

4 La Vida Local

Nice thoughts

4 Thumbin’ It

Using the compliment sandwich to take a bite out of modern rudeness

For-real follies

by David Feela

5 Word on the Street 6 Soapbox

7

7 Land Desk 8 Top Story

Murky waters Why Sunnyside paid $90M for an accident in a mine it doesn’t own

10 Let’s Dig In

by Jonathan Thompson/Land Desk

11 Murder Ink

8

12-13 Stuff to Do

Covering tracks

13 Ask Rachel

BLM receives flak for the destruction of dinosaur tracks near Moab

14 Free Will Astrology

by Jonathan Romeo

15 Classifieds 15 Haiku Movie Review

10

Some like it hot

On the cover: The cosmos spin around a lighted up greenhouse on a clear and cold winter night in Southwest Colorado./ Photo by Alex Krebs.

When it comes to Mexican food options, Durango’s got a full plate

by Sinjin Eberle

boilerplate

EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel missy@durangotelegraph.com ADVERTISING SALES: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com STAFF REPORTER: Jonathan Romeo jonathan@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

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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

thepole

RegularOccurrences

Well, another Snowdown has come and gone. And, as we all detox in the coming days, at least we’ll have the memories to look back on, like of those people dressed as medieval knights beating the hell out of each other.

And for some: a police record.

Oh yes, today we bring you the “Best of the Durango Police Blotter” from over the Snowdown weekend. But, we should note and emphasize, these oddities of human behavior are not necessarily because of Snowdown – no. Rather, they happened during the weekend of Snowdown.

Just an important distinction.

And without further ado: • A man was “acting delirious” at the Ranch.

Mhm, sounds about right.

• A man was reportedly “yelling at no one” at City Market. Also on par.

• An intoxicated man was reported “locked in the fish hatchery.” Probably a first.

• A man was fighting with the bar staff at the Wild Horse Saloon. Probably not a first.

• A fox was reported lying in the middle of a trail in Horse Gulch. OK, that’s kind of cute.

• A man was cursing at workers at the Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru. Maybe he was just hangry?

• A woman was passed out on a pool chair at a downtown hotel. The time was 9 a.m.

• A guy was reportedly passed out in the middle of College Drive and Main Ave. We’d rather have the pool chair.

• And two men were found climbing up the fire escape of the Main Mall. Maybe they were just trying to find the best view of the Light Parade?

Despite the unbecoming behaviors of a few, Snowdown was seen by event organizers as a major success. And to be sure, it was great to see the town alive again after the past couple years’ weirdness. So on to next year, with the theme “Shakespeare.” Get ready for codpieces, jerkins, kirtles and funny hats with feathers in them.

Smile, you son of a…!

In other related, and totally relevant, news: shark attacks are on the rise.

Yep, the University of Florida reports shark attacks on humans rose sharply in 2021, with the U.S. reporting more attacks than any other country (America!) with 47.

The reason? Scientists blame COVID. Fewer people visited beaches in 2020, resulting in fewer attacks. As the world started to reopen in 2021, more people visited tropical paradises where these apex predators lurk.

Luckily, we here in landlocked Southwest Colorado don’t have to worry about these bloodthirsty beasts. Though, my mother did once ask me if we have jellyfish here, to which I had trouble responding with a straight face. I did, however, ask the ticket guy at Lake Nighthorse, just to make sure. He, on the other hand, was not too amused, and answered straight-faced, “No.” Feb. 3, 2022 n

3

opinion

LaVidaLocal The polite revolution “Attitude is everything. Pick a good one.” – Sign in a New Mexico bar If a neighbor calls you a nincompoop, you needn’t consult a dictionary. Any word ending in “poop” reeks with meaning. I checked my thesaurus and found 83 synonyms for nincompoop including halfwit, ignoramus and moron. Sadly, Bugs Bunny’s generous addition to the nincompoop list has never been entered in a dictionary. When he declares, “What a maroon!” he means it. Some words just define themselves.

Living in a time when name-calling has turned into a stay-at-home sport, I thought it might be useful to take a closer look at the barrage of nonsense coming out of our collective mouth. Words that smack of kindness and innocent humor make us smile, but the calculated incendiary effects of sneering at public servants by calling them names are being launched like verbal mortars all across the political battlefields.

And they are not simply an understandable release of pent-up frustration due to COVID or economics either. They are a reckless attempt to shock and enrage, as if being angry by one’s self without antagonizing others to join in makes for a lonely existence.

This is not how a community should behave.

Francis Crick and James Watson received a Nobel Prize for uncovering the structure of our DNA, cracking its code and transforming our understanding of life, but it takes a scientist to meaningfully apply what our DNA reveals. When it comes to the language, it only takes a dictionary to reveal how easily our words signal the onset of a social disorder. Biology may depend on healthy DNA, but community hinges on how effectively we communicate, or more simply, mind our p’s and q’s.

These strands of discord are reflected in the news. Flight attendants punched by unruly passengers. Death threats recorded as phone messages sent to elected officials, as well as election officials; death threats sent by elected officials to humiliate other elected officials. Social media threads scratched like bathroom graffiti on the stalls of our internet walls. The list goes on but you understand, it’s a devolving story. It looks like a double helix in a funhouse mirror that increasingly wobbles out of control. It’s a three ring circus, arranged so the crowd under the big top can gasp when looking in any direction.

Could it be time for a polite revolution? An uprising that focuses on what we say? It’s an accepted notion that hate and fear are siblings, a comparison not intended to justify but simply to define the emotion that sponsors hate. For me it goes a long way in explaining how a little compassion might be the antidote for this linguistic disease we’ve all been living with. It must, however, be an honest compassion, not just a simpering whimpering with hidden agendas designed to camouflage a malicious intent. People filled with hate are also filled with mistrust and easily register somebody else’s insincerity.

Without true empathy those who are angry will likely become even more scared.

Imagine a terrified child, or better, a puppy cowering in a corner during a lightning storm, so afraid he will bite the hand that feeds him if it comes near. Shouting at the poor thing solves nothing.

Friends tell me I can be too critical, so I’m working on a new attitude, one that allows me to experiment with a healthy, more positive relationship in the community. I call it a “compliment sandwich.” I start by noticing something pleasant, and any disapproval I’m harboring fits into the middle. Then, I finish up with another bit of friendliness, which hopefully leaves the person I’m talking to sailing away on an upbeat note.

I almost tried it out for the first time at the grocery store when a shopper stopped in the middle of the cereal aisle, blocking traffic with his cart from either side while he stared blankly at the shelves.

“Excuse me,” I thought of saying, “that’s a fabulous looking watch you’re wearing.”

“Well, thank you,” he might have replied, “It was a present from my wife for my birthday.”

“Good for her. But I’m surprised she married a clown like you who seems to think whatever’s on his mind is more important than noticing these other shoppers around him trying to inch their carts past a stalled, fatassed contraption in the middle of this sugarcoated paradise.”

“What?”

“And that classy watchband perfectly complements the color of your shoes!”

I forced myself to only imagine ramming his cart on my way toward the deli, which helped me feel a little better. I know, the idea still needs fine tuning before I try it out, which is why I’m telling you about it, but I think we’d all live more peacefully if we added at least a modicum of politeness and patience into our negotiations with the world.

Thumbin’It

4 n Feb. 3, 2022

Sign of the Downfall:

Fort Lewis College receiving a $1.5 million grant to revive Native American languages. FLC students represent more than 180 Native American tribes and Alaska Native villages, the college said in a news release.

Reports that Ouray Hot Springs is running out of water, with ongoing drought on the list of suspected culprits, according to the Ouray Plaindealer. But… where are we going to soak our gams after a long day of skiing?

Reports that New Mexico wants to use part of its Gold King Mine blowout settlement to build a boat ramp at Cedar Hill on the Animas River. For years, the spot has been a missing link for river runners.

The ole Doomsday Clock moved up a few minutes because, you know, everything blows right now. Originally set at seven minutes to midnight (aka the end of civilization) in 1947, the clock is now at 100 seconds to midnight (not good).

Colorado requesting $25 million to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells. La Plata County has some of the highest concentrations of orphan wells, mostly from companies who left the region after the boom years.

– David Feela

A Jan. 6 panel member saying Trump “absolutely” tampered with witnesses.

Jeez, can’t a guy inspire an insurrection in peace anymore!

telegraph

Pass the chips ...

The “Hormel Chili Cheese Keg” is exactly what it sounds like: a one-ofa-kind, pressurized, full-sized keg with an internal heating element capable of melting 1,000 servings of Hormel Chili Cheese. That’s 80,000 calories and 13,000% of your daily recommended sodium intake.

Hormel is offering the monstrosity/marvel to only one lucky winner of an online sweepstakes, so it’s an obvious corporate phishing scam, but I signed up anyway because I sold out long ago. So, if I win, you’re all invited to come take a keg stand, because this is ‘Merica! (Side effects may include instant explosion or generational diabetes)

WordontheStreet With Groundhog Day trapping some in a time warp, the Telegraph asked, “What day would you want to live Cara over and over?” “My wedding on

Q

Aug. 30, 2003.”

Joe

“Going on a hike with my family in Whistler and eating Australian meat pies after.”

Sarah

“What’s that line from ‘Miss Congeniality?’ April 25, ‘because it’s not too hot, not too cold.’”

Cathy

“My first Grateful Dead concert in 1985.”

Kaylee

“My family vacation to the Outer Banks in 2013; it was the last time we were all together.’” telegraph

Feb. 3, 2022 n 5

D-Tooned/by Rob Pudim

SoapBox Wolves need our help

China controls supplies

All year I have been writing to protect wolves from the slaughter going on in some Western states. Now, Yellowstone wolves are being killed by snares, which involves a horrible, slow suffocation and leg holds, and only 84 wolves are left in an area where they have showed their importance as keystone species improving the entire ecosystem.

Alan Dowd documented some problems with China in The American Legion Magazine of December 2020, and I liberally quote from the article.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the adverse impact on the world attributable to China’s domination of the production of medicines, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies. Prior to the pandemic China produced “35.9% of America’s antibiotics, 49.8% of our medical bandages, 71.7% of our facemasks and 77.2% of our plastic gloves.” During the pandemic China “quietly managed to buy up much of the world’s N95 masks.”

China, a potential adversary, also controls the production of rare earth elements, which are used in the manufacture of a wide array of products, including “cell phones, televisions, vehicle engines, computers, lasers, industrial magnets, fiber-optics and superconductors.” They are also used in our military hardware such as “F-35 aircraft and our M1A2 tank.”

A number of friendly countries are working together to move the manufacture of critical supplies and elements away from China to facilities in Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, Europe and Latin America, but the U.S. cannot rely on foreign manufacturers for these critical products. We must speed up our manufacturing of these items in our country.

– Donald Moskowitz, Londonderry, N.H.

Montana Fish and Wildlife is allowing the killing of wolves on the border of Yellowstone, so wolves accustomed to people cross the border and are killed in record numbers. Please sign the Friends of Earth petition to Fish and Wildlife at foe.org.

Wolves’ status as endangered species was removed by the Trump administration, resulting in this slaughter. So far, the Biden administration has done nothing. Fish and Wildlife is going against its mission, which is to aid wildlife for enjoyment of the people. That’s not just hunters, but visitors to Yellowstone and other places who love seeing wolves.

Here in Colorado, we had one pack of wolves. And we voted for the reintroduction of wolves. All except one wolf in the pack was killed this year. Wolves must be given protection as endangered species, and there must be policies in place, so if the endangered species status is lifted, that species is not slaughtered by barbaric methods and in major numbers.

In Idaho, for example, their governor promoted killing 90% of wolves. Please help and give donations to Friends of Earth, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club and other organizations that have been tirelessly working to protect this keystone species.

– Margaret Mayer, Durango

Don’t be duped If the U.S. is really going to “Build Back Better,” the six states that were flattened this December in a series of tornadoes need to use higher quality mortar. The numerous

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6 n Feb. 3, 2022

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brick buildings could not even take the impact of this tornado. Underground power lines are not a bad idea.

Seems like previous tornadoes did not teach most folks the importance of using suitable building materials to rebuild and figure their home/business insurance policy will cover a duplicate place.

My home/rental insurance rates have sky-rocketed over the years because all of us who want to protect our properties pool money to cover tornado-prone places with stupid replacement policies.

The cutesy TV insurance commercials with mostly millionaire celebrities trying to convince us to purchase are insults to our intelligence. Hold insurance companies accountable.

– Sally Florence, Durango

LandDesk

Gold King settlement, explained Why did a mining company pay for an accident in a mine it didn’t own?

by Jonathan Thompson

T

he $90 million settlement relating to the 2015 Gold King Mine spill did not bring an end to the legal saga that has dragged on for years (lawsuits against the federal government are still pending).

But when the agreement is finalized, Sunnyside Gold Corp. – the owner of the nearby, shuttered Sunnyside Mine – will finally be free of the mess. Extricating themselves from any further liabilities has cost them about $67.6 million: $40.5 million to the feds; $6.1 million to Colorado; $11 million to New Mexico; and $10 million to the Navajo Nation. Not to mention the tens of millions they’d already spent cleaning up a century’s worth of mining mess.

In agreeing to the payments, Sunnyside and its parent company, Canada-based Kinross, have made it clear they are not admitting wrongdoing. They don’t own the Gold King Mine and never did. So why did the company fork out so much money?

The simple answer is that the bulkheads Sunnyside installed in the American Tunnel in the 1990s/2000s caused water to back up inside Bonita Peak and make its way into the Gold King Mine, resulting in the blowout. The truth is more complicated.

The real question is not whether Sunnyside’s bulkheads backed up water into the Gold King. That’s pretty much a given. More important is where exactly the water came from. And to get at that, we need to go back in time more than a century ago to the days when the Gold King Mine was one of the most profitable operations in Colorado.

A Timeline of the American Tunnel 1887: Olaf Arvid Nelson, while working a nearby mine, locates the original Gold King claim on the slopes of Bonita Peak.

1891: Nelson dies. A year later his widow, Louisa, patents the Gold King claim, taking title to it. In 1894, she sells the claim to Northeastern Capitalists for $15,000.

1898: The Gold King owners construct a lower-elevation, safer access to the mine several hundred feet below the current access adit, to be called Level #7. This is the level that will blow out in 2015.

1900: USGS notes Gold King is not draining water, which is highly unusual, guessing Level #7 was “deep draining” water from upper operations.

1906: A photo of Level #7 shows about 250 gallons of water draining per minute.

1908: The structures at the mouth of the Gold King #7 Level catch fire, killing six. In 1909, the new boarding house burns, killing one, and in 1911, an avalanche hits the boarding house, killing four. After that, operations are on-again, off-again.

1921: Gold King miners are working again to open the American Tunnel to provide a haulage tunnel for Gold King ore, thereby rendering the treacherous trams obsolete. But the connection to the upper

Aerial photo from KOB-Albuquerque shows the Gold King Mine spill waters. mine is never made. The tunnel “deep drains” the groundwater of Bonita Peak, leaving the Gold King virtually dry.

1922: Gold King owners go bankrupt.

1960: Standard Metals takes over the dormant Sunnyside Mine and revives it by extending the partially complete American Tunnel to access it. When it’s finished, the tunnel is 11,000 feet long, and brings mining and prosperity back to Silverton.

1978: On a Sunday, when no miners are working, the floor of Lake Emma collapses into the Sunnyside Mine, sending millions of gallons of water out the American Tunnel at Gladstone and shutting the mine down for months. To this day, some folks remain suspicious of the collapse, theorizing that it was planned by a beleaguered company looking for an insurance payout. Ultimately, Standard Metals goes bankrupt and sells the mine to Echo Bay, a Canadian company, doing business as Sunnyside Gold Corp.

1986: Gerber Minerals takes over Gold King. They apply for a mining permit but not a discharge permit, because: “No drainage occurs from any of the portals – the district is deep-drained by the American Tunnel located at Gladstone.”

1988: Sunnyside overhauls the old American Tunnel water treatment plant, cleaning the 1,600 gallons per minute.

1991: The Sunnyside Mine closes for good. A year later, the re-born Gold King suspends operations. A hydrological study concludes that bulkheads in the American Tunnel should not cause flooding of Gold King, and that it would take 150 years for mine pool water to reach Cement Creek.

1996: Sunnyside enters into a consent decree with the state, a sort of pollution trading scheme. Sunnyside will install three bulkheads in the American Tunnel. The state inspects the Gold King and finds it’s draining just 1 to 2 gallons of acidic, metal-

laden water per minute, a mere trickle.

1996: The valve is shut on the first bulkhead over 6,000 feet into the American Tunnel. Water backed up behind this will inundate the Sunnyside Mine workings and create “the Sunnyside mine pool.”

1998: An inspection finds that the Gold King #7 Level portal had collapsed and is impassible. It does not say how much water is draining from the mine.

2000: Steve Fearn buys Gold King. State inspectors note: “Though this year has been abnormally dry, the #7 Level discharge appears to have increased significantly … from around 30 gpm to around 45 gpm.”

2001: The Sunnyside Mine pool likely reached equilibrium. Sunnyside installs bulkhead #2, and in 2002, bulkhead #3. By now Sunnyside Gold has spent over $25 million on cleanup and reclamation. Discharges from both the Gold King and the nearby Mogul Mine – also mostly dry prior to the first bulkhead – continue to increase.

2003: Sunnyside water treatment plant is transfered to Fearn, allowing Fearn to treat Gold King water, and allowing Sunnyside to leave – in theory. Todd Hennis, owner of the Mogul Mine, acquires most of the Gladstone townsite. The deal will go bad a year later when Hennis evicts Fearn, and thus the water treatment plant, from his property at Gladstone, shutting down water treatment (proving detrimental to downstream fish).

Hennis eventually acquires the Gold King.

2005: Gold King discharges have increased to 200 gallons per minute or more.

The Animas River Stakeholders Group calls in the Environmental Protection Agency to help. Hennis warns of a “blow out of potentially impounded mine waters.”

2009: The State Division of Mining Reclamation and Safety calls the Gold King, now dumping nearly 200,000 pounds of metals into the watershed per year, “one of

telegraph

the worst high-quantity, poor-water-quality draining mines in the State of Colorado.”

The EPA backfills the mine portal, because it had collapsed and installs drainage pipe.

2015: EPA contractors excavate dirt piled up at the opening of Gold King Level #7 until the operator notices a “spring” spurting out. In minutes, the tiny fountain grew to a 3-million-gallon torrent of electric-orange, acidic, heavy metal-laden water.

So, yeah, I know: It’s about as clear as the Animas River in the days following the blowout. This puzzle will never be solved definitively. Bonita Peak’s hydrology is a tangled maze of fractures, faults and veins, a sort of lithic Swiss cheese comprised of hundreds of miles of drifts, shafts, crosscuts and tunnels, creating innumerable potential paths the water could follow.

But from the history we can conclude: • The Gold King had water flowing early on. When the first American Tunnel, aka #7 Level, was dug, it deep drained the upper levels, making them appear to be dry.

• About 200 to 300 gallons of water per minute flowed out of the #7 Level adit until the new American Tunnel was drilled under the Gold King in the 1920s, deep draining the entirety of Bonita Peak.

• It wasn’t until after Sunnyside installed bulkheads in the American Tunnel that drainage returned to the Gold King #7. It’s safe to conclude causation: The installation of the bulkheads caused drainage to return to the Gold King.

Not clear, though, is precisely where the water was coming from: Did the Sunnyside mine pool back up, then find a pathway to the Gold King? If so, then it would seem Sunnyside is at least partially responsible for the blowout. Or did the lower two bulkheads – on Gold King property – simply return Bonita Peak’s hydrology to a pre-American Tunnel conditions, or a “natural flow regime”? In that case, it is not Sunnyside’s water, it’s the Gold King’s, which would absolve Sunnyside of responsibility.

While conclusive answers to those questions aren’t exactly forthcoming, a look at the timeline suggests that the water that spewed from Gold King on Aug. 5, 2015, may have come from both sources. Drainage from the Gold King first started increasing – albeit only marginally – in 1997, after bulkhead #1 had been installed but before the next two were sealed. But flows remained pretty low until after the valves on bulkheads #2 and #3 were closed. It was only then that the Gold King became a major source of acid mine drainage, establishing conditions that would lead to the blowout.

But at this point, maybe it doesn’t matter. Whether Sunnyside is culpable or just in the wrong place at the wrong time is probably irrelevant. In either case, the company would have had to take responsibility or risk damaging its corporate image. That’s the price for playing the mining game.

Feb. 3, 2022 n 7

TopStory

The Bureau of Land Management is receiving backlash this week after photos surfaced of a contractor allegedly driving over fossilized dinosaur tracks with a backhoe at Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, outside Moab./ Photo by Jeremy Roberts

Not so dyno-mite BLM drives over, destroys 112-million-year-old dinosaur tracks

by Jonathan Romeo

D

inosaur tracks outside Moab that survived millions of years were destroyed in just a few days after the Bureau of Land Management drove a backhoe over the ancient relics, leading many to ask, “How did this happen?”

“The BLM destroyed these irreplaceable treasures,” Patrick Donnelly, the Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said. “If ever there was a paleontological emergency, this is one. They need to be held accountable.”

The situation has been unfolding all week.

Last Friday, reports started to come in that a company contracted by the BLM’s Canyon Country District was working on a construction project at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, one of the most significant and diverse areas for dinosaur tracks in North America, located about a 20-minute drive northwest of Moab.

On Sunday, a group of paleontologists visited Mill Canyon, confirming that about one-third of the fossilized tracks in the 30-acre area had been damaged by the backhoe, which was still on site along with other equipment.

As of Wednesday, it remains unclear if there’s any way to repair the ancient footprints of several species of dinosaurs, crocodiles and birds dating back 112 million years.

“No one knows why the BLM did this, and we need answers,” Jeremy Roberts, a paleontology enthusiast and volunteer who is involved in Mill Canyon, said. “We’re just in shock. How did this happen?”

That answer, however, has been difficult to come by.

8 n Feb. 3, 2022

Digging in dirt The Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite was first discovered in 2009 by a Moab resident and was immediately recognized by the world’s top paleontologists and researchers as a place of great significance in the study of ancient creatures who populated this once lush, marshy landscape.

Not only were the millions-years-old tracks incredibly well-preserved, the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite – in what’s known as the Cedar Mountain Formation – is the largest site of its kind. And, researchers say it’s arguably the most important relic in the world from the Early Cretaceous period (which followed the Mesozoic Era, that of “Jurassic Park” fame).

As it stands, Mill Canyon is ranked as the No. 7 most important dinosaur track site in the United States, based on the size and quality of the footprints, public visitation and diversity of species, among other factors.

A team of top paleontologists formed in 2013 to conduct the first excavation, drawing interest from international researchers. In all, about 200 tracks were discovered, but that was only the tip of the petrified primordial muck. Researchers noted, “the site has considerable potential for further excavation and future study.” As an example, tracks found on-site could not be placed to any known, documented species, opening up the possibility of future scientists solving the mystery.

Part of solving mysteries such as those, however, require the tracks actually remain intact.

“I’m definitely concerned (the recent damage) happened so suddenly without any consultation,” Martin Lockley, a world-renowned paleontologist who led the 2013 excava-

telegraph

tion, said. “But if there are repercussions for the BLM … that’s not for me to say.”

What happened?

Here’s what we know: After the 2013 excavation, the BLM decided to open Mill Canyon to the public in a concerted way. Previously, the area was vulnerable to damage from cattle, off-road vehicles and hikers (though a fence was installed in 2011), as well as natural processes like erosion.

As a result, a 262-foot-long, 2-foot-wide raised wooden boardwalk was built over the site so visitors could “walk with the dinosaurs” without stepping on or damaging the tracks. The boardwalk, however, was not routinely maintained and fell into relative disrepair, perhaps because of chronic underfunding that plagues most federal land management agencies.

However, in October 2021, the BLM approved a $250,000 restoration project claiming the boardwalk presented a “serious trip hazard” due to warping.

The BLM, in its own Environmental Assessment, determined the project would have no significant impact on the dinosaur tracks. The agency also said it would flag any tracks, if found, to avoid driving over them. But when paleontologists visited the site last Sunday, they said no such flags were found around the damaged fossilized tracks.

Curiously, too, the BLM did not appear to consult any paleontologists when planning the project. Many believe the gross oversights that resulted in the damage during the boardwalk teardown were, in part, because the Canyon Country District never rehired a staff paleontologist after the departure of Rebecca Hunt-Foster in August 2018.

“If we don’t have paleontologists to help manage these resources, they’re going to be compromised,” Lockley said.

“I didn’t know it was going to happen and was not approached to give input. By the time I was notified of the damage, everyone was upset.”

Irreparable harm Indeed, paleontologist circles on social media (yes, it’s a thing) have blown up as news spread.

“This is the equivalent of using a pressure washer to clean the Mona Lisa,” one very upset Twitter user said.

Tire tracks going through ancient footprints at Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite./ Photo by Jeremy Roberts Just reviewing the photos posted to Twitter, it appears the backhoe drove over several dinosaur tracks (OK dino nerds, here you go: they include hadrosaurus, theropods, sauropods and iguanodons, to name a few). Tire tracks were found over where an ancient crocodile rested before dipping in a body of water for a swim. The BLM’s contractor also appears to have dropped boardwalk pieces on fos-

silized footprints. And, tracks from some of the earliest bird species on Earth were also destroyed.

“It’s really bad,” Roberts said. “It’s so infuriating, because it was so not necessary. All these tracks you can’t believe are still there, and the BLM drove over it.”

Upon hearing of the damage, the Center for Biological Diversity sent the BLM a “cease and desist” order to stop all work on the site. It remains unclear, however, if the BLM plans to resume the project.

“The BLM rushed this job, told a contractor to go out and didn’t provide a paleontologist to supervise, so they ended up tearing everything up,” Donnelly said. “This isn’t some intentional bad actor. This is the continued, malignant neglect of our public lands.”

Oops So what’s the BLM have to say about all this? Not much, it turns out.

Rachel Wootton, a BLM spokeswoman for the Canyon Country District, sent a blanket statement to media late Monday, saying the heavy equipment on site was “absolutely not used in the protected area.”

“The Moab Field Office has completed a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis for this project and work is being conducted in accordance with that decision,” she said. “When work resumes, it will continue to protect the natural resources.”

This statement, however, raises a ton of questions, and the BLM has not responded to follow-up emails this week.

“The reality on the ground does not comport with the BLM’s statements,” Donnelly said. “There is photo documentation of dinosaur tracks that were destroyed.”

According to the BLM’s own NEPA analysis, heavy equipment was supposed to enter the site using an old Jeep trail, which had already been previously compromised over the years. But it is the BLM’s planned staging area, which hadn’t been damaged from historic use, that’s now in question.

The BLM is claiming the staging area is not within Mill Canyon’s designated “protected area.” But, with the presence of fossils and tracks, the staging area should automat-

ically become protected under federal law, such as the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act. “The map the BLM drew for their NEPA works against them,” Roberts said. “If fossils were there, it is protected by federal law, so they didn’t do the analysis and assumed tracks weren’t there. It shows they don’t understand the site, so they destroyed it.”

Now what?

Where the situation goes from here is also unknown.

Jim Kirkland, the state paleontologist for the Utah Geological Survey, did not respond to several requests for comment. Speaking to Science magazine, however, Kirkland called the BLM’s actions a “bureaucratic screw up.” And it appears Utah’s elected officials are getting involved.

“We are very concerned to learn of the damage,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement. “We spoke with the Deputy Secretary of the Interior and… we will continue to do everything we can to protect Utah’s precious fossils and ancient history.”

Lockley said many paleontologists, both inside and outside of the BLM, are hesitant to speak out, which has put him in a tough position. As the lead scientist in the 2013 Mill Canyon study, he’s most qualified to speak up for its protection, but at the same time, he hopes to maintain a respectful, working relationship with the BLM. “I tend to be someone who doesn’t attribute dastardly motives to other people, but at the same time, I’m not so naïve to think people don’t do things, which in retrospect, were ill-advised,” he said.

To start, several interviewed for this story believe Mill Canyon should be closed to the public while the situation is sorted out and resolved. After assessing the damage, many believe the BLM should plan a complete restoration project, to save what can be saved, at the very least.

“While we don’t know why they did this, we do know who did this,” Roberts said. “We know policies were ignored, laws violated and the people who did this need to be stripped of their ability to make decisions for the BLM. The public trust has been violated, and there’s no excuse.”

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telegraph

Feb. 3, 2022 n

9

Let’sDigIn

Mexican food mania One thing Durango doesn’t lack: tastes from south of the border

by Sinjin Eberle

chile so common across our neighbor state to the south. I spent eight years living in Albuquerque in the early 1990s, and thanks to my co-workers who knew all the nuances of that city’s food scene, I became indoctrinated in so many different choices across Albuquerque and Santa Fe, not to mention the tiny cafes and carnicerias in towns and villages across New Mexico. I think one of my favorite restaurants in the country is Cafe Pasquale’s in Santa Fe, but that is for another day. Gazpacho’s seems to be the most committed to the New Mexico style here, and I don’t know how many platters of green chile chicken enchiladas I have crushed over the years, but they are always an option if you are craving some Christmas (a red and green chile mix) any time of the year!

H

ere’s a simple question: What is it about Mexican food that makes it so enjoyable, so incredibly scrumptious, and so tricky to get just right? And why are there so many different opinions about what’s right or what’s wrong for a type of food that nearly everyone loves to at least some degree?

So many styles. So many different options. And so much opportunity for differences of opinion, points to debate and positions to stake out that you might wonder how anyone could ever be satisfied, let alone get a group to agree upon a spot to grab some enchiladas and a margarita. What is true Mexican food anyway? And does it even have to be “true” to be heartily chowed down late at night after a few too many cervezas? Is it possible for it to get all dressed up and dapper to be a highbrow option?

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Street tacos seem to be all the rage right now, with multiple brick-and-mortar shops and food Photo courtesy of Nayarit Restaurant trucks across town specializing in style craving. But clearly their strength is the simple, representative street food one with the seafood-influenced Pacific coastal might find on any corner in Juarez, Oaxaca style. I think their stews, like the Siete Mares or Juan Tabo (a big street in Albuquerque). I or the Molcajete de Mariscos, is where they recently had a couple of fish tacos from the really shine. These are the dishes I think are newly relocated Cuevas Tacos, now at Lola’s the most signature and unique in their Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave., and the fresh, bright, style. Every time one of those giant lava vibrant vegetables stacked on a supple, bowls full of octopus and shrimp and fish perfectly grilled slab of flaky white fish was and clams shows up in front of me, my a pleasant, energetic surprise. Seriously, the mind sparks back to standing on the sweetly acidic, vinegar pop of the pickled northern Colombian coast, where we onion and cilantro on that mildly spiced watched wooden fishing boats putter their but oh-so-tender grilled fish was divine. way back to shore loaded with the catch of When I moved here from Denver, one the day – and the tiny surfside huts with of the “features” I noticed right off the pots of boiling water, fresh tortillas and a bat was that Chipotle had not found our hot grill ready to get those lunches into the little dot on the map, and hopefully the competition from Zia, Nini’s and Macho’s hands of workers and tourists alike.

Hiding in the back corner of the Main keeps them away a while longer. I love Mall is another option with great seafood cruising into Nini’s between downtown choices: Los Amigos Del Sur, which claims meetings and grabbing a quick burrito – its roots in a more Southern they have enough options of fillings and Mexico/Oaxaca/Chiapas style, with salsas to create exactly what I am craving classics like their delicious shrimp ceviche when I walk through the door. Zia, too, and Botanas Los Amigos (snacks with does a great job, especially with the friends?), with fresh oysters, shrimp and excellent rooftop patio at the north fish ceviche, and shrimp aquachile (a location. You can’t go wrong with a trio spicier version of ceviche.) The Botanas of their carnitas soft tacos and a nicely dish is formidable, with plenty to go balanced margarita out of a canning jar. around for a group of friends, and both That place was made for crisp fall days the bartender and the waitress were on the patio. supremely friendly and welcoming.

Nayarit has been one of my favorites for years, featuring a broad enough menu that New Mexican food is its own animal of it can pretty much handle any Mexicancourse, with the traditional red and green

telegraph

Then there are the more family-oriented options like La Hacienda, Tequila’s and the new Mi Ranchito, which took over and remodeled the former Brew space early in the pandemic.

These spots focus on a solid plate of food for an affordable price, and with their blend of traditional Mexican and TexMex fare, they do a fine job for locals and tourists alike.

Lastly, while “fine-dining” Mexican may seem like an oxymoron, I think Cantera made a pretty good run at it before the pandemic wreaked havoc on the entire restaurant scene. Fortunately, they were able to pivot to a more take-out and streetoriented approach, rebranding as Taco Libre while keeping their lively and popular bar more or less intact. Let’s face it, those tamarindo margaritas are simply too delicious to give up, even if they may be more bougie than authentic. Regardless, Roberto’s bar is a lively spot to meet friends and wind down with a few of his signature cocktails. There was an upscale Mexican and tequila restaurant in Denver that I loved (Tamayo) and I think there could still be a place in the Durango market for another try at this when things stabilize.

So while we likely can argue all day long about what’s right and what’s not about Mexican food in general, it’s hard to deny that for a town our size, we have many options in a number of different styles. From the food trucks and the coastal style to the family-forward and the more upscale, there are more than enough choices to argue about what’s hot and what’s not. The real question is, where do you want to hang out next?

MurderInk

A classic whodunit In Japanese mystery/thriller, everyone’s a suspect

by Jeff Mannix

T

he dust-cover back panel on Minotaur Books’ December release of Keigo Higashino’s “Silent Parade” states that the author is the best-selling, best-known novelist in Japan and Asia, with more than 50 television and film adaptations of his work appearing in several languages.

In the literary crime fiction category, we’re seeing more Asian authors being translated and shoehorning their way into a market coveted by the mighty American and European publishers.

“Silent Parade” relies on the wit and instinct of its characters rather than the machinery of forensics and law enforcement entrapments. “Silent Parade” is what we call a locked-room mystery, meaning the drama doesn’t derive from gallivanting around or the use of special effects to build tension or find resolution. This is a character-driven whodunit that finds motive in just about every actor and suspicion in every act. And in “Silent Parade,” the cast is large enough and with unfamiliar names, that Higashino gives us a roster of characters along with the parts they play in the preface, illuminating like a well-lighted theater the cast, the stage and the culture.

The story takes place in Tokyo, the time is now and the narrative begins with getting to know Saori Namiki, the 19-year-old daughter of Yutaro Namiki and his wife, Machiko, and the popular restaurant they own in a colorful, crowded part of the city. Saori is gifted with a lovely voice and is taking singing lessons from a noted coach and impresario, Naoki Niikura.

Saori is smitten with a young suitor, Tomoya Takagaki, who is going broke eating out every night just to be around Saori.

Saori wants to be a singer, but Tomoya, too, is a focus of her yearning.

One day Saori doesn’t show up for her evening shift at the restaurant, nor does she return home that night, or the next, or ever. The neighborhood and the police search for leads to her disappearance. Tomoya is frantic to think what may have happened. Customers of their restaurant bemoan and whisper and drift away from the misery.

Three years later, Saori’s remains are found in a house burned to the ground, along with an old woman who owned the house and died years before. The woman was the mother of a quarrelsome vagrant, Kanichi Hasunuma, whom Saori and her parents knew from his lascivious attraction to Saori.

Hasunuma becomes the prime suspect in the death of Saori, particularly when police found out that he’d been tried for the murder of a 12-year-old girl 23 years earlier. He was not convicted in that murder for lack of evidence, and while detained in the local jail on Saori’s death, he boasts to fellow inmates that one can always get away with murder if one resists customary conventions and does not confess.

In the section of Tokyo where the book is set, there’s an annual street festival featuring an elaborate parade with entries from all over Japan. The day of this colorful and noisy parade, the entire neighborhood

around the Namiki family restaurant is involved in one way or another, even if just pushing through the crowded streets to find a viewing position. After the festivities, Kanichi Hasunuma is found dead.

Detectives investigating the disappearance and eventual discovery of Saori’s remains, and now uncovering the body of their prime suspect, find that everyone they interviewed had a motive to kill Kanichi, along with an ironclad alibi. Stymied, Professor Manabu Yukawa, known among Tokyo’s constabulary as Detective Galileo for his prescient criminal analysis, is requested to lend his scrutiny to a most puzzling turn of events.

Keigo Higashino is a master at suspense and as good a wordsmith as any. “Silent Parade” is a triumph of criminal inventiveness and a refreshing confusion of suspects.

Everyone involved in this mystery, even tangentially, is a likely perpetrator and at the same time an unlikely suspect. It’s a wonderful spin of imperfect lives. You’ll not be disappointed.

Ask Maria’s Bookshop for your 15 percent Murder Ink discount. “Silent Parade” is a hardback, so trust me that it’s worth skipping lunch downtown once to enjoy a book you’ll recommend and read again.

Looking for the perfect Valentine s gift?

(Advertise in the Telegraph.)

To learn more about our golden advertising opportunties, email: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com or call 970-259-0133

telegraph

Feb. 3, 2022 n 11

StufftoDo

Thursday03

Saturday05

Gary Walker plays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Jean-Pierre Bakery & Restaurant, 601 Main Ave.

Silverton White Out, 10-hour fat bike extravaganza, Silverton. www.silvertonwhiteout.com.

Julie Ann Ward: Transformative Light art show, opening reception 4:30-6 p.m. 1000 Rim Drive at Fort Lewis College. Exhibit runs until March 1.

Winterfest in Vallecito, events throughout the day.

Schedule at Vallecito Lake (Colorado) Winterfest Facebook page.

Bingo night, 5 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

McDonald’s Winter Triathlon, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Durango Nordic Center. For individuals or teams to complete a winter triathlon consisting of a ski, fat bike and snowshoe legs. www.durangonordic.org.

Monday07 Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Recycle, Repair and Reimagine Beading workshop, 6-8 p.m., Turtle Lake Refuge, 848 East 3rd Ave.

On-Snow Avalanche Rescue Course, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Andrews Lake. Featuring instruction from Leo Lloyd of San Juan/La Plata Search and Rescue. Pre-registration required. To register or for more info., go to www.thesanjuans.org.

Powerhouse Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio.

Demo Day, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., $20 for a full day of ski and snowboard demos. Purgatory Resort.

Live music, 5:30 p.m.., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Deadline for “Stuff to Do” submissions is Monday at noon. To submit an item, email: calendar@durangotelegraph.com

Women’s Ski/Ride Camp, 9 a.m., Purgatory Resort.

Life-Long Learnng Lecture: Why Pay Attention to National Security?, featuring Capt. Gail Harris, 7 p.m. Register at fortlewis.edu.

Women’s Ski/Ride Camp, 9 a.m., Purgatory Resort.

From the Heart Arts & Craft event, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Ignacio High School, 315 Ignacio Street.

First Thursdays Songwriter Series, 7-10 p.m., Outdoorsy Outpost, 934 Main Ave. Unit B. Featuring Nikki Moon, Alicia Hoelzer, Paul Hoffman, Silas Hamilton, Paul Cranfill, Alex Paul & David Singer.

Après Ski Science and Social, 2-5 p.m., meet at San Juan Mountains Association’s tiny house at Andrews Lake parking area, north of Durango, to talk about forest health, watersheds, climate change and snowpack.

Friday04

Catherine Russell plays, shows at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., The Lift at Cascade, 50827 Highway 550. Hosted by Durango Cool Jazz.

Maddy & Kev play, 4:30-6:30 p.m., James Ranch, 33846 Highway 550.

Catherine Russell plays, shows at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., The Lift at Cascade, 50827 Highway 550. Hosted by Durango Cool Jazz.

Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

El Ten Eleven & Sego play, 8 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 129 E. College Dr.

Manic Focus w/special guests, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 129 E. College Dr.

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Acoustic Music Jam, 5-7 p.m., all instruments and styles welcome, vaccinated players only, 11th St. Station.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Open mic night, weekly 7:30-9:30 p.m., Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Gardening Myths presentation, 12 noon. Register at csuhort.blgospot.com.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Occam’s Rose plays, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Great Decisions 2022 talk, topic is about climate change, 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Register at lwvlaplata.org.

Tone Dog plays, 5:30 p.m., Mancos Brewing Co.

Jack Ellis & Larry Carver play, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Smelter Mountain Duo plays, 6-9 p.m., 11 Street Station.

Tuesday08

Wednesday09

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

th

Beginner Aikido class, 6-8 p.m., DSBK Aikido, 121 W. 32nd St. #B. Free.

Ben Gibson plays, 5 p.m., Fenceline Cider in Mancos.

First Friday at Create Art and Tea, 5-7 p.m., Create Art and Tea, 1015 Main Ave. Art opening featuring new artists, light refreshments and live music.

Live music, 5:30 p.m., The Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. “Before Yellowstone: 11,000 Years of Native Americans in the National Park,” presentation, 7 p.m. Hosted by San Juan Basin Archaeological Society.

Register at SJBAS.org.

Sunday06

Ongoing

Winterfest in Vallecito, events throughout the day. Schedule at Vallecito Lake (Colorado) Winterfest Facebook page.

Chapman Ski Hill is open. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 3:30-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more info. go to: www.durangogov.org/chapmanhill.

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AskRachel

Stoned spasms, year-round X-mas & out-of-office Interesting fact: “Fraggle Rock” was HBO’s first original series, and you can clearly see its creative impact on such successors as “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City.”

Dear Rachel, I woke up with my back out and so I took a gummy to get me loosened up and pain-reduced for the day, but it was waaaay too much (possibly in conjunction with the salve I rubbed on my back) and now I’m far more interested in watching “Fraggle Rock” than going to work. I know you normally answer letters in the paper but I’m hoping you will write me back separate with help on how to handle this today?

– Gummed Up the Works Dear Gummies for Dummies, I spend six-and-a-half days a week tripping on all manner of combined substances. I emerge for a few brief hours to chug some water, touch up my deodorant and answer questions to make the world a better place. So, no, there is no such thing as an instant response, unless it comes from my out-of-office message, which I really should start implementing on a more permanent basis.

– Work your cares away, Rachel Dear Rachel, Christmas lights don’t need to be seasonal, right? Just thinking out loud here. Lights are pretty all the time. Like café lights. They’re just

big, round Christmas lights and they look pretty in August and April. So what if we started a new tradition? Snowmen and reindeer come down after the fat man visits, but twinkle lights stay up on our houses the whole year through?

– Bright Idea Dear Light Bulb, Sounds like someone’s got a case of the lazies. Don’t want to take down your lights? Boo hoo. You should never have put them up in the first place. That’s my approach. And not just for lights. It’s how I handle holidays in general. The entirety of my festive decorating is edible. Chocolates for Valentine’s Day, chocolates for Halloween, chocolates for Christmas. The seasonal colors on the packaging really spruce up my bedside table.

– How I wonder, Rachel Dear Rachel, I have lost the ability to unwind. Used to be that my entire life was spent drinking and hiking and floating and chilling. Now I get up, I put on some work clothes, and suddenly the day is over and I’m exhausted. I’m like, what happened? Did work even happen? Is it Tuesday?

How old am I? And what happened to my precious recreation? I see what makes people want to quit their lives and, I don’t know, move to Tibet and live in a camper van or whatever. Any advice for less drastic steps to win my life back?

– R&RIP

The Hive Indoor Skate Park is open, offering open skate and skate lessons.

Waivers required. For schedule and online waiver, go to www.thehivedgo.org

Guided snowshow/ski tour of Red Mountain Mining District, Feb. 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. More info. and registration at www.uncompahgrewatershed.org/events.

Upcoming

Healthy Snacks Drive, Feb. 12, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., healthy food donations collected at Durango Unitarian Fellowship, Pine River Library in Bayfield and Ignacio ELHI Community Center.

La Plata Electric Association town hall meeting, Feb. 10, 6 p.m. Preregistration at lpea.coop.

“The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” presented by Merely Players, 7 p.m., Feb. 11-12, 17-19, and 2 p.m. Feb. 13 & 20. www.merelyplayers.us.

Winter Bike to Work Day, Feb. 11, commuters are encouraged to bike to work.

Free legal clinic, Feb. 11, 4-5 p.m., Ignacio Library, 470 Goddard Ave. Jazz Jam, Feb. 11, 7-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Head for the Hills & Robin Davis duo play, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 129 E. College Dr.

Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com Dear Walking Dead, Two words: Fraggle Rock. You and Gobo up there need to mind-meld and become one mega-person capable of work/life balance, and also appreciating the finer things in life. Like being able to stare at a single color for hours. And also not caring if you lose your job. Jobs aren’t important anyway. What’s important is chocolate.

Now excuse me; I’ll be out of the office until next Thursday and will respond to e-mails then.

– Punching out, Rachel

Lisa Parker’s Animal Rescue fundraiser, Feb. 12-22. Register for auction at https://bit.ly/3IRSXDr. Alpine Bank Full Moon Howler, Feb. 14, 6-9 p.m., Durango Nordic Center. Trails pass required, rentals available. www.durangonordic.org Suzy Bogguss plays, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC. Telefestivus Telemark Festival, Feb. 19, free demos, Purgatory Resort.

Algorithm free since 2002.

(A good thing on so many levels.)

Bluegrass Jam, Feb. 20, 4-6 p.m., Mountain Monk Coffee, 558 Main Ave.

Giving you the news the old-fashioned way for nearly 20 years.

telegraph

Feb. 3, 2022 n 13

FreeWillAstrology

by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries actor Bette Davis said that if you want to improve your work, you should “attempt the impossible.”

That’s perfect advice for you right now. I hope to see you hone your skills as you stretch yourself into the unknown. I will celebrate your forays into the frontiers, since doing so will make you even smarter than you already are. I will cheer you on as you transcend your expectations and exceed your limits, thereby enhancing your flair for self-love. Here’s your mantra: “I now have the power to turn the impossible into the possible and boost my health and fortunes in the process.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ancient Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu wrote, “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”

You’ll be wise to make that your motto during the next five months, Taurus. Life will conspire to bring you more and more benefits and invitations as you take full advantage of the benefits and invitations that life brings. The abundance gathering in your vicinity may even start to seem ridiculously extravagant. Envious people could accuse you of being greedy, when in fact, you’re simply harnessing a crucial rule in the game of life. To minimize envy and generate even more benefits and invitations, be generous in sharing your plenitude.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “‘Because there has been no one to stop me’ has been one of the principles of my life,” wrote Gemini author Joyce Carol Oates. “If I’d observed all the rules, I’d never have got anywhere,” said Gemini actor Marilyn Monroe. “Play the game.

Never let the game play you,” so advised Gemini rapper and actor Tupac Shakur.

“Who I really am keeps surprising me,” declared Gemini author Nikki Giovanni. I propose that we make the previous four quotes your wisdom teachings during the next four weeks.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your animal symbol is usually the crab. But I propose we temporarily change it to the tardigrade. It’s a tiny, eightlegged creature that’s among the most stalwart on planet Earth – able to live everywhere, from mountaintops to tropical rainforests to the deepest parts of the sea. In extreme temperatures, it thrives, as well as under extreme pressures. Since it emerged as a species half a billion years ago, it has survived all five mass extinctions. I believe you will be as hardy and adaptable and resolute as a tardigrade in the coming months, Cancerian. You will specialize in grit and resilience and determination. PS: Tardigrades are regarded as a “pioneer species” because they take up residence in new and changed environments,

14 n Feb. 3, 2022

paving the way for the arrival of other species. They help create novel ecosystems. Metaphorically speaking, you could be like that.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I regularly ask myself how I can become more open-minded.

Have I stopped being receptive in any way? What new developments and fresh ideas am I ignorant of?

Have my strong opinions blinded me to possibilities that don’t fit my opinions? In accordance with astrological omens, Leo, I encourage you to adopt my attitude in the coming weeks. For inspiration, read these thoughts by philosopher Marc-Alain Ouaknin: “If things speak to us, it is because we are open to them, we perceive them, listen to them, and give them meaning. If things keep quiet, if they no longer speak to us, it is because we are closed.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Like all the rest of us, Virgo, you have limitations. And it’s important for you to identify them and take them into consideration. But I want to make sure you realize you also have fake limitations; you wrongly believe in the truth of some supposed limitations that are, in fact, mostly illusory or imaginary. Your job right now is to dismantle and dissolve those. For inspiration, here’s advice from author Mignon McLaughlin: “Learning too soon our limitations, we never learn our powers.”

phase when your instinct for making that happen will be at a peak.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): In the course of human history, three million ships have sunk to the bottom of the Earth’s seas. At one extreme have been huge vessels, like the Titanic and naval cruisers, while at the other extreme are small fishing boats. Many of these have carried money, gems, jewelry, gold and other precious items. Some people have made it their job to search for those treasures. I believe there could and should be a metaphorical resemblance between you and them in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. Now is a favorable time for you to hunt for valuable resources, ideas, memories, and yes, even treasures that may be tucked away in the depths, in hidden locations and in dark places.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “It is astonishing what force, purity and wisdom it requires for a human being to keep clear of falsehoods,” wrote author Margaret Fuller. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that your capacity for exposing and resisting falsehoods is now at a peak. Furthermore, you have a robust ability to ward off delusions, pretense, nonsense, inauthenticity and foolishness. Don’t be shy about using your superpowers, Capricorn. Everyone you know will benefit as you zero in and focus on what’s true and genuine. And you will benefit the most.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else,” counseled poet and activist Maya Angelou. Author Toni Morrison said, “The function of freedom is to free someone else.” Author and activist Nikki Giovanni wrote, “Everybody that loves freedom loves Harriet Tubman because she was determined not only to be free, but to make free as many people as she could.” I hope the wisdom of these women will be among your guiding thoughts in the coming weeks. As your own power and freedom grow, you can supercharge them – render them even more potent – by using them to help others.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “All things are inventions of holiness,” wrote poet Mary Oliver. “Some more rascally than others.” I agree.

And I’ll add that in the coming weeks, holiness is likely to be especially rascally as it crafts its inventions in your vicinity. Here are the shades of my meaning for the word “rascally”: unruly, experimental, mischievous, amusing, mercurial, buoyant, whimsical and kaleidoscopic. But don’t forget that all of this will unfold under the guidance and influence of holiness. I suspect you’ll encounter some of the most amusing and entertaining outbreaks of divine intervention ever.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Man, sometimes it takes you a long time to sound like yourself,” testified Miles Davis, one of the most unique and talented jazz trumpeters and composers who ever lived. Popular and successful author Anne Lamott expressed a similar sentiment: “I’m here to be me, which is taking a great deal longer than I had hoped.” If those two geniuses found it a challenge to fully develop their special potentials, what chance do the rest of us have? I have good news in that regard, Scorpio. I believe 2022 will be a very favorable time to home in on your deepest, truest self – to ascertain and express more of your soul’s code. And you’re entering a

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The year 1905 is referred to as Albert Einstein’s “Year of Miracles.” The Piscean physicist, who was 26 years old, produced three scientific papers that transformed the nature of physics and the way we understand the universe.

Among his revolutionary ideas were the theory of special relativity, the concept that light was composed of particles and the iconic equation E = mc squared. With that information as a backdrop, I will make a bold prediction: that in 2022 you will experience your own personal version of a Year of Miracles. The process is already underway. Now it’s time to accelerate it.

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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 www.durangotelegraph.com n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133 n 679 E. 2nd Ave., #E2 Approximate office hours: Mon: 9ish - 5ish Tues: 9ish - 5ish Wed: 9ish - 3ish Thurs: On delivery Fri: Gone fishing; call first

HelpWanted Seeking Advocate and Case Manager FLC Counseling Center seeks Professional Advocate & Case Manager to be part of a supportive team responding to the mental health and wellness needs of the diverse student body at Fort Lewis College.

Full-time $45k + great benefits. For detailed job info and online application process, please visit www.fortlewis.edu/jobs, go to Faculty & Staff Positions page, click on Professional Advocate & Case Manager link.

Application questions can be sent to PACM-Search@fortlewis.edu.

Classes/Workshops Yoga Basics Class Series Designed for beginners. Sundays Feb 6, 13 & 20 from 11:00-12:30. Taught by Michele Lawrence @ Yogadurango. Details and registration @ yogadurango.com.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Presentation Presented by Colorado Legal Services Tuesday, February 15th from 5:30 PM 7:00PM Please call 385-7378 ext 251 for details on how to attend or visit www.dur angovap.org/events Earn Your Master of Social Work (MSW) From the University of Denver (DU) here in Durango – for the two-year program starting in fall 2022. Classes on Fridays and Saturdays. For more info contact Janelle.Doughty@du.edu or www.du.edu/socialwork.

ForSale Power Tools 10” dual compound power meter saw, $125; table saw, $150. 970-533-7314.

Reruns Home Furnishings New inventory including dressers, side tables, rustic console, Urban Market in-

dustrial-style barstools, and rugs … Come in today! 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.

Dometic Electric Cooler CFX3 95DZ fridge/freezer 2021model, brand new 25% off retail $1,150. andydur ango83@gmail.com Classic 1996 Saab 900 S One owner, all records, no accidents.

Great condition. 80,000 miles. $8000.

Seeking Saab fan/car tinkerer. genie17 alice@gmail.com

Wanted Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.

Services Your French Trip Partner to France Traveling to France? I can be your trip partner! I am French, lived in Paris & Provence. fchpaillard@gmail.com Adulting Got You Down?

Therapy can help. Anne Hosey is a licensed professional counselor and therapist with a passion for supporting adults as they navigate adulting and its many challenges. Schedule your free 15 minute phone consultation at junipertreemental health.com.

experience. To schedule call Kathryn, 970-201-3373.

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Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199. massageintervention.life Voted best massage in Durango 18/19/20. Couples, cupping, local CBD. Reviews on FB + Yelp. 970-903-2984

CommunityService SJBPH Vaccine Clinics Free vaccine mobile clinic provided by San Juan Basin Public Health in partnership with Jogan Health. Pfizer (12+), Moderna (18+), and J&J (18+) are available. Contact 970-247-5702 or visit https://sjbpublichealth.org/covid-19-vaccine/ for more information.

Volunteers Needed Alternative Horizons is in need of volunteer advocates, including those who are bi-lingual, to staff our 24-Hour hotline. AH

‘Zola’ Much like the state where it takes place, this is not as much fun as you’d think – Lainie Maxson supports and empowers survivors of domestic violence. If you’d like to make a difference in the lives of others, join us March 30th through April 2nd, for a free, comprehensive training. For more information call the office at 970-247-4374.

Free KN95 and Surgical Masks SJBPH in Pagosa Springs and Durango are providing free KN95 and surgical masks to the public, five masks/person.

Masks available on first-come, first-served basis. Must wear a mask to enter SJBPH. SJBPH’s Pagosa Springs, 502 S. 8th St., Mon. - Thurs., 8 a.m.-12 noon and 1-5 p.m. SJBPH Durango, 281 Sawyer Drive, is open Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

NewspaperOrigami A penguin

Marketing Small and Local Businesses Media, website building and content editing, copywriting and editing, newsletters, blogs, etc. for small, local, independent or startup businesses. www.forward pedal.com or email jnderge@gmail.com Harmony Cleaning and Organizing Residential, offices, commercial and vacation rentals, 970-403-6192.

Lowest Prices on Storage!

Inside/outside storage near Durango and Bayfield. 10-x-20, $130. Outside spots: $65, with discounts available. RJ Mini Storage. 970-259-3494.

BodyWork Lotus Path Healing Arts Now accepting new clients. Offering a unique, intuitive fusion of Esalen massage, deep tissue & Acutonics, 24 years of

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Feb. 3, 2022 n 15

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