4 Hollywood dreams What’s better than a Nigerian prince? A Hollywood screenplay... by David Feela
Ear to the ground:
“Why do they all have boobs?”
“Because everyone loves boobs.”
– Sure, we like boobs as much as the next guy, but what ever happened to sticking a carrot in your snowman’s (or woman’s) nose and calling it good?
The Hive has found a new home. Last week, the local nonprofit youth organization announced it will be moving into a new location at 1175 Camino del Rio. The Hives lost its lease last summer at its former location at 1150 Main Ave.
The new location, conveniently located along the river trail and across the river from the skatepark, comes with a five-year lease and an option to renew for another five years.
The cracking point Eggflation may only be the beginning of Trump’s disastrous policies by David Marston / Writers on the Range 10 Pages to the people
Maria’s launches literary foundation, reading room by Jennaye Derge
9
Dirtbag dreamer
Sitting down with up-and-coming local musician Alicia Glass by Stephen Sellers
Two somewhat anatomically correct snowpeople grace the fields near the FLC dorms last weekend. Snowpeople of various sizes and shapes popped up all over Durango after the big storm but are fading fast./ Photo by Missy Votel
“This has been a challenging journey searching for the right long-term home,” Kelsie Borland, executive director and coFounder, said in a press release. “Since closing our downtown location in May of 2024, we have worked diligently on various location options. This building we chose is in a great location and has the space we need to thrive and grow!”
One of the most exciting aspects of the new space is that it will allow for a doubling of the size of the indoor skatepark, which will accommodate more young skaters and provide a better environment for skill development, according to Borland. Additionally, the new space will feature an all-ages music venue, something that was a point of contention with the last landlord.
“We are extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to bring The Hive back –stronger than ever – in a space that will serve our youth for years to come,” Borland said.
Since its founding six years ago, The Hive has sought to provide a safe, inclusive space for under-resourced and underrepresented youth to explore skateboarding, art, music and leadership. Borland said the relocation would not have been possible without the help of the community as well as contributions from the City of Durango, Creative District and Visit Durango Lodger’s Tax Funding, Community Foundation of Southwest Colorado, United Way and numerous local businesses.
“This reaffirms that our mission matters, and with the continued backing of our community, we are excited to provide a safe, creative and empowering space,” said Borland.
The new space is expected to open late spring, and in the meantime, The Hive is asking for help in bringing this new space to life with contributions for the skatepark, music venue and programming.
For more info., go to: www.thehive dgo.org or follow The Hive on social media.
LaVidaLocal
Polished predators
I’ve just got to share the news about the email I received. The subject line read, “We’re Interested in Turning Your Book Into A Short Film!” I nearly sprained my index finger clicking on it.
I remember listening to Dr. Hook’s version of Shel Silverstein’s “The Cover of Rolling Stone,” back when I’d just started college as an 18year-old freshman. The song inspired me. I sang it in the shower. The chorus said it all, despite my squeaky rendition: “Wanna see my picture on the cover, wanna buy five copies for my mother, wanna see my smilin’ face on the cover of the Rolling Stone.”
In the early 1970s, I could only play music on my radio or my turntable, but I bought a secondhand guitar anyway and tried to learn its secrets. By the time I graduated from college, that guitar and I decided to go our separate ways.
Now I’m in my early 70s again, retired. Since my college days, I worked as a teacher and writer. At least Rolling Stone is still in business. The email’s first sentence begins auspiciously: “One of our film scouts discovered your work through a shared Hollywood database, and we are interested in adapting it into a short film.”
Well, “Garsh, Sha-zam, Gall-lee!” I shouted, just like Gomer Pyle, as if preparing for an audition. Who knows if the short film might have room for a cameo appearance by the book’s author.
Having developed a less impulsive mind over the last 50 years, I didn’t respond by sending any money. Mr. Lewis, the Film Agent Executive, wrote, “We are committed to covering the majority of the production costs and festival registration fees. In return, we would ask for a modest contribution from you, equivalent to the share you would receive from any winnings earned at festival contests. These contest prizes can range from $10,000 to as much as $300,000.” While it’s not clear what a “modest” contribution would add up to, it’s probably less than what Rolling Stone would charge me if I paid them to put me on its cover.
Internet warnings about fraudulent activity abound, but I suspect fraudsters outnumber those sites that try to educate internet users. By consistently changing their approach, scam artists are sneaky. Phishing, malware, email compromise, romance scams, fake invoices and bogus job offers are just a few of the recognizable pitfalls. But any advice site, as helpful as it may seem, collects and stores my information through the use of cookies and other tracking tools. Even Wikipedia. It’s not just the bad boys who want to use my interest to serve their own. Every click – no matter how careful – reverberates on the web, and the spiders pay attention.
How likely is it that someone who has never published a book would receive a movie proposal like mine? The email never mentioned which of my books attracted their interest. I have published five books. Three are poetry collections, so it’s reasonable for me to eliminate them from consideration. The film agent did mention it would be a “short” film. Still, a screenplay based on lyric poem seems unlikely.
My other two books contain short essays, much like the one you are reading. Is it possible one of my narratives so captivated a film scout that it might be the basis for a short screenplay? The film company promises to submit my writing to other partners in order to secure a development deal, then it goes on to praise my work, saying it “holds significant potential to attract option deals from production companies or streaming platforms interested in developing it into a fulllength film or series.” Now that’s a sentence every writer wants to hear.
I’d like to imagine a dramatization based on an essayist who becomes wise, famous and wealthy. I might say “yes” to the offer, but I’m a little nervous about telling anyone what I did next. My friendly film agent surely felt my anxiety, because he ended his email optimistically: “Rest assured, any acquisition or licensing deal struck with major studios or firms for the purchase of your film rights will remain entirely yours to claim.” He even left a toll-free phone number, plus an email link if I wanted to connect personally with him.
I also looked up the corporate name, Film District Distribution LLC. Wikipedia writes, “...an American independent motion picture company based in Los Angeles, founded in September 2010, and it specializes in acquisitions, distribution, production and financing.” It didn’t say anything about specializing in scams, so that was good news.
The crack team of groomers at Hillcrest getting on last week’s snowstorm to provide a few precious and glorious, if not a bit crusty and soggy, days of skinny skiing for the hungry masses.
The Durango Betties women’s hockey team helping to raise $10,000 for the local girls hockey program with last week’s Valentine’s matchup with the DAYHA U19 team. Girls get sh*t done!
Over two months ago I replied with this single sentence: “Can you tell me which of my books your scout discovered on a Hollywood database?”
I’m being patient, waiting for Glinda the Good Witch of the Southwest to tell me when to stop clicking my heels and saying, “There’s no place like Hollywood.”
You may have to BYOTP and chainsaw if you’re headed into the outdoors, as some 3,000 NPS and Forest Service employees are the latest victims of the Trump bullDOGEr. Who needs trail maintenance and rangers, anyway?
News that an even bigger, better Hive is on the way, promising a larger indoor skate park, music venue and activities for local kids and teens
Last weekend’s walloping produced sketchy conditions in the San Juans, with some 60 slides – human caused and natural – reported over two days. Seems like a good time to ski the area.
And speaking of the ski area, we are all champing at the bit, but you are not so special that you can bypass the line of cars waiting to get into Purg, whip a u-turn and come in from the north. This is a dick move and may result in a severe pummeling in the parking lot.
– David Feela Blunder Downunder TDS, or “Trump derangement syndrome,” is real, and it’s spreading overseas. Ben Dawkins is a far-right member in Australia’s parliament, and he entered government as a liberal. But the party kicked him out after he pled guilty to 35 counts of domestic violence. Elections are approaching, and everyone hates Ben, because all he does is trash-talk gay people, so last month, he legally changed his name to “Austin Trump” to get attention. Granted, he’ll most likely end up in the news a month from now for molesting underage koalas, but now, he’s asking the real Trump to give him a call, which probably won’t happen given that the “Aussie Trump” waves normally instead of using a “Roman salute.”
Stagflation nation
How Trump’s disastrous policies could put us all in economic peril
by Dave Marston
Donald Trump’s platform was clear when he was running for president. He promised to make bold improvements – quickly raising revenue by imposing tariffs on foreign goods, slashing prices at grocery stores, and ending fraud and wasteful government spending through greater efficiency.
None of this is happening.
After a few short weeks, inflation is rising, potentially crushing economic growth. In January 2025, inflation expectations were 3.3%. February’s reading was a shock, with expectations rising to 4.3%, according to Barron’s Business Journal. A jump of this magnitude has happened only five times in 14 years.
Though he tabled early Mexico and Canada tariffs, China’s are in place. To make matters worse, on Feb. 10, Trump unveiled tariffs on steel and aluminum. The next day, the European Union, home to 450 million people, vowed retaliatory tariffs. Meanwhile, so-called “egg-flation” is on the rise in the United States. It is most pronounced in Colorado after a law passed in 2020 mandates that all eggs sold in the state must come from “cage free” hens.
The law went into effect last month, and combined with avian flu, Coloradans now pay up to $1 per egg. In recent years, it was $2 per dozen. Labor shortages from frightened undocumented workers staying home are also hurting egg prices.
Although deporting undocumented workers apparently pleases many supporters of the president, the government’s roundups could have an inflationary impact on basic living costs. Migrant workers do our toughest jobs, whether it’s picking fruit, processing proteins like eggs and meat or building Tesla’s Gigafactory.
Fake news narratives paint undocumented workers as a drag on America. The facts show that they pay into our retirement system and Treasury to the tune of $76 billion annually, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. These workers receive no benefits in return.
We are at 4.1% unemployment – a tight labor market. If we lose millions of these workers, we will see a dramatic rise in labor costs and a lessening of produc-
tivity. Combined with tariffs, these actions are stagflationary, contributing to cost increases while slowing growth.
Vulnerable Americans, those who rent and live paycheck to paycheck, have few options when the cost of goods rises rapidly. We import over 80% of our aluminum. Are we prepared for soaring prices on automobiles, electronics and packaged food products?
President Trump won in part on his promise to fix what he labeled a horrible economy. But thanks to his unnecessary tariffs, the only way to achieve lower prices here at home is through a recession.
Recessionary periods are hard on people. Job losses, home foreclosures and drug use typically spike during tough times. A recession combined with a trade war hark back to the 1970s, a
time when high prices and high unemployment – plus two energy shocks –battered Americans’ wallets and psyches.
Americans were so frustrated during that time that they elected Ronald Reagan, who cut taxes for the rich, emptied our mental institutions and gutted protections for labor. He also ushered in the billionaire class that today includes Trump and many in his cabinet.
Yet there was a time of hope instead of empty promises at the start of Trump’s first presidency. Steve Bannon, a conservative media executive, initially served as chief strategist to the president. His advice to Trump: Shake things up by raising taxes on billionaires and cutting taxes for working people.
Bannon was fired seven months later as Trump passed broad tax cuts, up for renewal soon, for the wealthy. His policies continue to favor the richest in America.
Running for office for the second time, Trump singled out the migrant community for persecution, demonizing them for exaggerated ills in the economy. What never got communicated clearly was that our economy was on an even keel, with prices steadying along with interest rate declines. Now we’re primed for an inflationary spiral.
Who will do the jobs that migrants do? Where will we source necessary foreign-made goods? How will we build needed housing? Undocumented workers make up 20% of the construction force.
And what is government efficiency when Trump allows people without security clearance to fight fraud by eviscerating federal agencies mandated by Congress?
Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring conversation about Western issues. He lives in Durango. ■
Great suppupply of winter r wear
Like new Sorel boots, Uggs, jackets, vests, sweaters and layers - Daily sales and markdowns
So-called “eggflation’ could be just the beginning of our financial woes. Labor shortages, tariffs and other changes in the political environment could lead to bigger concerns, like a recession. / AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson
Marston
SoapBox
Burning down the house
It’s really a strange feeling to have friends ask, “So, how are you dealing with things?” in reference to the ongoing barrage of Trump attacks on our government and his enemies.
I usually take a deep breath and say I first focus on what I’m grateful for, like still having free speech and the ability to vote, and a great community and environment in which to live. That keeps me on the happy and somewhat optimistic side of thinking.
But of course there are those attacks I mentioned and the need to not let what one’s grateful for slip away by avoiding it (the news), or feeling helpless (consider being a Venezuelan or Russian citizen). We can still voice our concerns to our elected officials by calling them, trying to stay informed and staying healthy so as to have energy for this fight.
Currently, I’m focusing on the Trump/Musk alliance. Both men have managed to maneuver into a spot where they can control the one thing that could control them, the government. Once you are in Trump’s position and have an ally with a similar problem set (being investigated) and similar skills, AND you have billions, you can then maneuver into a competitive authoritarian type of position.
Meaning this is where you can compete in elections, but as a billionaire incumbent with the richest man in the world as a partner, your abuses of power (pick any of Trump’s latest) then tilts the playing field to your advantage. I think that’s why we see Trump
by Rob Pudim
broadly attacking science, diversity, reporters and civil service/rights – the base of our democracy.
Specifically, in the areas of transportation, interior,
justice, agricultural, labor, equal employment, securities and exchange, defense, elections and government ethics. Not ironically, these are the agencies that
are investigating Musk and his companies and have been a thorn in Trump’s side.
So how to get rid of a thorn? Pull it out, like exempting Musk’s DOGE agency from FOIA requests, controlling the Justice Department with loyalists and de-funding Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This is about “efficiency” as Musk and Trump have said – efficiency in making the government serve the needs of you and your loyalists.
Pay attention, act and be grateful that even if the house is on fire, together we can try to save it from burning to the ground.
– Tim Thomas, Durango
Residents should get say in tax
The Durango Herald’s Jan. 21 story on the City’s audit of Visit Durango (VD)’s use of public funds leaves the impression that there was no evidence of misuse or conflicts of interest. The impression is misleading, because the audit was not designed to find such evidence.
The audit did find that VD lacked basic internal controls for financial management but identified only some overpayments for mileage and tips, missing documentation, and the like. Why? One reason is that VD didn’t keep good records, so the auditors couldn’t say how large chunks of money were spent. Another reason is that the City limited the audit to 20 bank disbursements to 11 vendors – some hand-selected by the City – and a small sample of purchases through a cardbased payment system that were made during a 10month period in 2024.
Remember that since 2022, VD spent millions of
public dollars; the audit covered only a fraction of that. Nor did the audit examine VD’s trips to Turkey, Mexico and New Zealand for the purpose of “recruit[ing] diverse visitors.” We still don’t know who went, what they did, how much they spent or what they spent it on. The audit also failed to examine VD’s use of lodger’s tax money to benefit businesses that VD’s board members owned or worked for.
Some undoubtedly will argue that the whole matter is water under the bridge now that the City has decided to absorb VD. That misses the point. The lodger’s tax is the public’s money, and it was imposed for the benefit of the entire community, not a single sector of the economy, and certainly not for the benefit of a few businesses.
Since the tax was collected, VD received the lion’s share of the money and used it to promote tourism. Only a fraction went to addressing the negative impacts. When faced with its own survey showing that a majority of city residents wanted to rebalance the allocation to address these impacts, the outgoing City Council in 2023 punted, reasoning that the incoming council should decide how to proceed. But since then, the council has said little about it.
Durango residents are not alone in wanting their elected officials to address the negative impacts of tourism. Since 2022, when voters were authorized to redirect lodger’s tax money from marketing to the negative impacts of tourism, they did so in nine of the 10 Colorado counties given the choice, including La Plata County.
Now there’s another opportunity to say how the City’s lodger’s tax money should be spent. In coming weeks, the City will introduce an ordinance to establish a commission to oversee tourism marketing. This commission could represent the community or it
could be controlled by the same self-interested clique. The citizen survey was a missed opportunity for the City to address the negative impacts of tourism. The audit was a missed opportunity for the City to be transparent about spending the public’s money. The City Council now has a third opportunity to show that it intends to use the lodger’s tax for the benefit of the community as a whole.
– Eric Ames, Durango
Stop the brutal stickering
I very much enjoyed Addyson Santese’s column about chairlift companions. But she forgot one – the mouth breather: his blue jeans tucked into ski boots, jacket unzipped, cowboy hat protecting that Australopithecine cranium.
The one who comes to our mountain on winter break so he can slap a “TRUMP 2024” sticker on every single goddamn lift tower. These people are sore winners just like they were sore losers before. I for one do not appreciate them making our piece of paradise into a celebration of ignorance.
Let James Coleman, CEO of Mountain Capital Partners, know your thoughts: 970-382-2890 or info@mcp.ski.
– Paddy Keelan, Durango
‘In appreciation’
Snowstorm pain storm pain, now gain Hillcrest open for Nordic It was worth it
– Karen Carver, Durango
Taking aim at gun violence
Bill that would ban certain semiautomatic guns heads to governor’s desk
by Jesse Paul / The Colorado Sun
This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at coloradosun.com and cpr.org
Abill that would ban the manufacture and restrict the sale in Colorado of certain semiautomatic rifles, shotguns and pistols that can accept detachable ammunition magazines is now on a glidepath to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk after clearing the state Senate on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 3 passed on a 19-15 vote, with three Democrats – Sens. Nick Hinrichsen, Tony Exum and Marc Snyder – joining all of the Republicans in the chamber in voting against the measure. Snyder and Exum were original co-sponsors of the bill but have since asked to remove their names from the legislation.
The Senate gave preliminary approval last week to the bill after adding a major carveout for people who complete a training offered through the state. The exemption, tacked on by Democrats in an effort to appease Gov. Jared Polis, represents a significant watering down of the measure. But proponents felt it was needed to advance the bill.
Some Democrats in the Senate were wary about voting for the measure if Polis was eventually going to veto it. With the carveout, the governor has signaled he will sign the bill if it passes the House, as is widely expected.
To qualify for the carveout, a gun purchaser would have to be vetted by their local sheriff through a process similar to what’s required to obtain a concealed carry permit. Then, if they already have a hunter safety certification, they would have to complete a roughly fourhour training course to be offered by a qualified firearms instructor through Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Without a prior hunter safety certification, a purchaser would have to complete roughly a dozen hours of training over two days.
The course would focus on gun safety and specifically semiautomatic weapons. It would also include information about gun deaths associated with mental illness and Colorado’s red flag law, which lets a judge order the temporary seizure of guns from someone deemed an imminent risk to themselves or others.
Eligibility for the exemption would be contingent upon people receiving a score of at least 90% on a test at the end of their training. Sheriffs would issue cards verifying completion.
Renewal through a shorter refresher course would be required every five years to continue to be eligible.
Another amendment would exempt a list of semiautomatic rifles, many of them historic military weapons and/or those commonly used for hunting, Those include the Benelli R1 Big-Game Rifle; M1 Carbine; Globco Tomahawk; Ruger Model 44; Springfield Armory M1A; and Winchester Model 1905, 1907 and 1910.
SB 3, even in its weaker form, still represents one of the biggest changes to Colorado gun policy in state history. It would affect AR-15 and AK-47 rifles, as well as
their long list of popular variants. It would also affect tactical shotguns and a small portion of handguns. The measure would not affect possession of these guns, meaning people who already own them could still keep and use their weapons.
“What we’re trying to do, and we continue to do, is try to save lives,” Sen. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, said during last week’s debate. Sullivan, whose son, Alex, was murdered in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting, is a lead sponsor of the bill. “We’re concerned about the next firearm. Not the ones you have.”
Sullivan held up a picture of the 100-round drum magazine wielded by the shooter who murdered his son during his impassioned speech for Republicans in the Senate to clearly see.
Sullivan has pitched SB 3 as a way to enforce the 15round limit on ammunition magazines that Colorado passed in 2013 in the wake of the Aurora shooting. But the limit has been widely flouted, and magazines with a capacity greater than 15 were used in two recent mass shootings: the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs and the Boulder King Soopers shooting
But the reality is SB 3 would have an effect on gun ownership far beyond enforcing the 2013 magazine law.
Yes, the measure would still allow people to buy the targeted weapons if they have fixed magazines with a capacity up to 15 rounds. But few manufacturers make firearms
compliant with the legislation, which requires that those magazines be epoxied, welded or soldered onto a gun. A fixed magazine is much slower and cumbersome to load. Bullets would need to be added one by one, whereas a detachable magazine allows a gun to be reloaded in a matter of seconds.
Republicans in the Senate spoke uniformly in opposition to the bill. They offered amendment after amendment, each of which was rejected by the Senate’s Democratic majority. “I just don’t understand how this is supposed to help enforce the magazine ban,” Sen. Byron Pelton, R- Sterling, said.
Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, told Democrats that “your gun laws aren’t working,” pointing to the continuance of mass shootings despite measures passed by the Legislature in recent years.
After the carveout was adopted, a spokesperson for the governor said, “Polis appreciates the sponsors working with our administration on amendments to help make Colorado safer while upholding our freedom and Colorado’s rich hunting and sport shooting culture.” Gonzales said the carveout was an acknowledgment of the concerns she and Sullivan heard.
Republicans complained that the change was made too late in the legislative process. They felt the bill should have been sent back for a committee hearing. If signed, the bill will go into effect in September. ■
An AR-15 with a detachable magazine at Bristlecone Shooting, Training and Retail Center in Lakewood on Jan. 16. Such guns will be banned under SB 3. /Photo by Jesse Paul/The Colorado Sun
BetweentheBeats Following the music
A conversation with local ‘dirtbag dream rocker’ Alicia Glass
by Stephen Sellers
For this week’s “Between the Beats,” I sat down with local “dirtbag dream rocker” Alicia Glass, whose 2024 EP “Close/Open” is without a doubt the best local music release you didn’t know you were missing. I cannot wait to see Glass’ record take off and feel a weird sense of humility in getting to bear witness to the rise of such a local talent. Full of ambitious garage and grunge anthems, replete with impressive production and undeniably catchy hooks, the album is an absolute local treasure from start to finish. It was largely self-produced, to boot. I recently sat down with Glass for a quick chat to hear more about her journey into music, collaborating with her partner and fellow musician Jeff Sontag, and her upcoming show at Cold Storage (formerly Channel 37) on March 1, along with fellow rockers Hotel Draw and ORA. Pause on the doom scrolling and go find Glass on Bandcamp or other digital streaming platforms as you enjoy our chat. As always, see you on the dance floor!
SS: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you come to live in Durango?
AG: I moved to Durango to go to college at the Fort, where I studied writing with a poetry focus. And yeah, I stayed in Durango for a while. I feel like I’ve been off and on for years. I try to leave, and then I always come back. I was in Hawaii for 3½ years, working on a goat dairy farm, and moved back in 2021.
SS: Were you a musical kid growing up?
AG: I played the flute in marching band, actually. I always loved music and liked to sing and write, but it was always just for my friends, family and myself. I feel like my aunt really got me into music. She’s 10 years older than me and moved in with us when I was four. I just remember sitting on the floor in her room, listening to Smashing Pumpkins, Alanis Morissette and No Doubt.
SS: Did you have a sense at that time, “I want to do this some day?”
AG: I was obsessed with Gwen Stefani when I was little. I definitely wanted to be her as a kid. But yeah, it took me some time. I always played guitar and stuff, but I only knew cowboy chords. I never really knew how to play. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I started really trying to learn music theory and all that.
SS: Was guitar your major tool for discovering music?
AG: Definitely. I always liked to sing and write. I think I always had this idea that I would need someone to collaborate with who would play guitar, and I could just sing and write. But that never happened, so I was like, well, I guess I need to learn to play guitar. So, I started teaching myself on YouTube.
SS: Tell us about the sound you’re trying to cultivate.
AG: I call it “dirtbag dream rock.” I guess the dirtbag element probably comes from living in RVs, especially in Hawaii. I lived in an RV for a while, and I was a surf bum, drawing inspiration from that. Then it evolved into rock. I started learning how to produce, but I was very much in the
indie dream-pop world. Then I started playing electric guitar and working with my partner, Jeff Sontag, who produced almost all of the EP. The sound started becoming more rockoriented. Those ’90s rock influences started coming out when we worked together, which was really cool.
SS: What was one of the greatest surprises of getting to collaborate with Jeff?
AG: I feel like we really get each other creatively, feed off one another, and inspire each other. Because we’re not in a band together – it’s kind of my stuff that we work on – it helps with not having relationship pressure.
SS: You’ll be playing at Cold Storage on March 1 with Hotel Draw and ORA. Are you playing solo or with a band?
AG: I’m so excited for that show – such an awesome opportunity. I’m going to play with a band for the first time, which is really exciting. I’ve got Cameron Wright on drums and Sam Zavislan on bass. We’ve been practicing for a few weeks now, and it’s been really cool to collaborate with other people, let more people in and see where the music goes. ■
Local musician Alicia Glass will be performing at Cold Storage on March 1./Courtesy photo
Eli Emmitt
A room of their own
Maria’s launches nonprofit foundation, reading room to bring books to those without
by Jennaye Derge
Many of us have attended a lavish party with Jay Gatsby and traveled through space and time with Madeleine L’Engle. Or we have lived on an animal farm with George Orwell or become friends with Holden Caulfield. We’ve reached these worlds and made friends with characters by having the opportunities to read books in a cozy and friendly space.
Now, Maria’s Literary Foundation, a new local nonprofit, is offering this opportunity to anyone who wishes to pick up a book and get lost in its pages. The nonprofit distributes new books to folks who might not have the opportunity to own their own and now also has a brickand-mortar reading room so kids and adults alike can have a comfortable and welcoming space to do so.
JusttheFacts
What: Grand Opening Maria’s Literary Foundation Reading Room
When: Fri., Feb. 21, 4-6 p.m.
Where: 145 E. College Dr., Ste. 10W
The Maria’s Literary Foundation was the brainchild of Evan Schertz, owner of Maria’s Bookshop. After mulling over his appreciation for the Durango community and how much it has shown up to support the local bookshop over the years, he wanted to do something to give back.
His idea for the foundation can be traced to other literary nonprofits, such as the World Literary Foundation and Room to Read, which provide free books to underserved communities.
After some research and applying for a seed-fund grant, the Maria’s Literary Foundation was solidified in the fall of 2024. It has been bolstered by a fiscal sponsorship from the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado and the logistical grit of Nina Lundstrom, now the Literary Foundation’s executive director.
Lundstrom has been working at Maria’s in various capacities for a few years, and in that time gained the knowl-
edge, experience, passion and figurative dirt under her nails to run the organization. Regardless of her depth of experience, though, she was a little surprised when Schertz asked her to be the ED of the new nonprofit.
“I said, ‘Heck yeah, I’d love to,’ and I also said, ‘I’ve never run a nonprofit before, are you sure you don’t want to pick someone who has?’” Nina jokes. Her humility shows through, but she’s obviously apt for the job. Day by day she is sifting through the slog of paperwork, logistics, program creation and grant writing – everything to make sure the organization grows and thrives. This has been her job since the foundation was announced at Maria’s 40th anniversary
party in September.
“Once we told people about it, we just hit the ground running,” Lundstrom said.
The announcement caused an onslaught of support that has helped the new nonprofit grow and connect with other local organizations. In four short months, the foundation has donated new books to Chapter One, a literacy program at public schools, and the La Plata Family Centers Coalition. It has installed a children’s book library near the food pantry at Manna, so while parents shop for food, kids can pick out a book. The foundation has also provided books by Indigenous authors for every Native American child at Park Elementary. They stocked a library full of books at
Seed Studio for their Art and Lit program – a program in which preschoolers read a book and make art inspired by the book.
In addition, the foundation has given out golden bookmarks – book vouchers – to individuals and organizations such as the Rainbow Youth Center so kids, adults or whoever, can come into Maria’s and buy a book at no charge.
Although Maria’s Literary Foundation is breaking new ground in Durango, a handful of bookshops around the country have created similar nonprofits. The King’s English, in Salt Lake City, created a nonprofit called Brain Food Books to expand book accessibility to the younger generation, as has Books & Books Literary Foundation in Key West, Fla.
Executive Director of Maria’s Literary Foundation Nina Lundstrom sits inside the nonprofit’s newly occupied space on College Drive called The Reading Room. The Reading Room is open to everyone to pick out books, read, write or just be amongst literary friends./ Photo by Jennaye Derge
It was a fortuitous connection when the latter helped create Maria’s Literary Foundation’s new Reading Room located at 145 E. College Dr. Ste. 10W (next to Lemonhead Salon).
“The plan was to slowly launch Maria’s Literary Foundation,” said Lundstrom. “We thought we’d donate some books and figure out exactly what our programming is going to look like, taking it one step at a time… we certainly had not planned on opening a secondary space this year.”
But when fate shows up at your door, as it did for the Maria’s Literary Foundation, you have to let it in. In this case, the owners of Books & Books happened to have a personal connection with the owners of a newly available downtown Durango storefront. When the space became vacant in the latter part of 2024, the owners hoped they could create something like what Books & Books had in Florida.
It was about this time that the property owners caught wind of Maria’s Literary Foundation and approached Shertz and Lundstrom about using the space as a safe space for kids to hang out and read.
“It was one of those wonderful moments where multiple people were seeing a need and thinking about the same thing all at once,” Lundstrom said.
The Literary Foundation moving into the space in mid-December 2024. Since then, Lundstrom has spent most of her waking hours preparing it for its soft opening Feb. 3 and its upcoming grand opening this Fri., Feb. 21.
The Reading Room is filled with cozy couches, chairs, soft lighting, rugs, coffee tables and, of course, shelves of books, games and writing tools. There are even a few typewriters.
Lundstrom plans on hosting writing workshops, classes, author events and even some game nights. (While I was visiting, two teens stopped in to ask about setting up a D&D night.) Whatever the community wants to see, Lundstrom said she is open to adapting the space as seen fit.
“It’s a work in progress,” she says. “Sometimes just being surrounded by books is enough to get you inspired to write or create some art or whatever. You don’t have to be reading while you’re in here.”
You don’t have to read, but it is advised that you at least admire the carefully arranged furniture (gifted from members of the community) and take note of all the nooks that coax you to sit down and go on an adventure with Huck Finn, Holden or Gatsby.
“I want it to feel like the magical ex-
perience of being in your indie bookstore, where it’s a carefully curated selection of new books,” Lundstrom said. “We’re try-
ing to give that experience to folks who would otherwise not be shopping in an indie bookstore.” ■
The cozy vibes in The Reading Room, located at 145 E. College Dr., across the street from Pedal the Peaks. / Photo by Jennaye Derge
Thursday20
“Coffee with Chris” meet LPEA’s new CEO Chris Hansen, 10-11:30 a.m., Pine River Library, 395 Bayfield Center Dr., Bayfield
Durango Rocks! Awards Celebration, 5-8 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College
Hiking and Backpacking Essentials, presented by City Parks Ranger Tosh Black, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Rec Center
Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Write Your Own Obituary workshop, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave., registration required
Matt Rupnow plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Adam Swanson Ragtime plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
“Sharon and the Groove” funky improvisational, 7 p.m., Durango American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
“Clown Sex Ed” theatre comedy performance, 7 p.m., Sunflower Theatre, 8 E. Main St., Cortez
“The Servant of Two Masters” directed by New York guest artist Virginia Scott, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Fort Lewis College Mainstage Theater
“What Music Is,” classical full orchestra, projections and narrator, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC
Sunday23
Irish Jam Session, 12:30-3 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
“Clown Sex Ed” theatre comedy performance, 2 p.m., Sunflower Theatre, 8 E. Main St., Cortez
Board Game Sundays, 2 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Weekly Peace Vigil & Rally for Gaza & Palestine, every Sunday, 4 p.m., Buckley Park
“Prelude in Song,” presented by the Diversitones, choir of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4 p.m., 419 San Juan Dr.
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“The Servant of Two Masters” directed by New York guest artist Virginia Scott, 2-4 p.m., Fort Lewis College Mainstage Theater
AskRachel ‘Pops’ psych, leggo my LEGOs and virgin territory
Interesting fact: LEGO is an abbreviation of the Danish “leg godt,” meaning “play well.” IKEA is an acronym for a bunch of words that sound like IKEA products.
Dear Rachel,
The stereotype is old people can’t use technology, right? Well, I just found out my father is relying on TikTok videos (shared on Facebook, of course) for relationship advice. On the one hand, yay dad! On the other, he’s getting advice from 20-year-olds about dating other 20-year-olds, with pop psych thrown in for good measure. He has a really sweet relationship, and I worry he’s going to break it for trying too hard. Tips on steering him in the right direction?
– The Dating Game
Dear Monopoly,
A man is TRYING, and we want to shut him down? Nuh uh. If this relationship is as sweet as you make it sound, it’s either working just fine – or his partner is going to wise up and ask him where he’s getting his intel. Trust me, they know enough by now to suss this out. Now if one of them wants help with reconfiguring the junk folder on their Hotmail account, as I was accosted to do by a person of a certain age the other day, then I am not the person to ask.
– Clickbait incarnate, Rachel
Monday24
Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Death Café, 4-5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Sunnyside Library Book Club, discussing “The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper” by Phaedra Patrick, 5:30-7 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR218
Joel Racheff plays, 5:30-10:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
“Home Emergency Medical Skills” with Steve Bumpus, paramedic with Durango Fire and Rescue, 5:45 p.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 CR203
Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Swing & Brewskies dance lessons, 7-9:30 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Dear Rachel,
I think you’re never too old for Legos. If these were really kids’ toys, they wouldn’t be so damn expensive. They also wouldn’t fit so easily down the vents. But my partner seems to really think less of me because I buy Legos for my own birthday. No one else does, so I have to! Please tell me if I’m way off base here.
– Missing Piece
Dear Full Set,
Here’s how I think of LEGOs for adults: If you can put together a pirate ship or a space ship or whatever kind of ship, from an instruction book? You can probably also assemble IKEA furniture. And that is a handy survival skill. What I can’t figure out is why all these European brands spell in all caps. Did all the lowercase letters come over on the Mayflower? Is this the influence of ABBA? Ask your partner THAT next time she gives you grief.
– Don’t step on me, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I was sent to get olive oil. They had virgin and extra virgin. I thought you are a virgin only once, so what’s with the two kinds of virgins? Explain, if you would.
– Oil Can
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
Dear Slick Customer, Duh, there are two kinds of virgins: The kind where you’ve never had, ahem, Italian food before, and the kind where you’re dating in your elder years and taking advice from influencers on the internet. You’ve probably had Italian food in your youth but not like they’re about to teach you. I do recommend having olive oil on hand for these adventures; it shouldn’t much matter whether it’s virgin or extra virgin.
– On high heat, Rachel
Tuesday25
“Coffee with Chris,” meet LPEA’s new CEO Chris Hansen, 8-9:30 a.m., Smiley Café, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.
Great Decisions “Artificial Intelligence and American National Security,” presented by the League of Women Voters, 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Cowboy Tuesdays, 12-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Midday Music Student Recital, 1-2 p.m., Fort Lewis College, Roshong Recital Hall
Jason Thies plays, 6 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Wednesday26
San Juan Resilience Youth Summit, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Fort Lewis College
Young Professionals of Durango Happy Hour, 5-7 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
David Yarrow One Man Show, 58 p.m., Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave.
Donny Johnson plays, 5:30-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Author Event and Book Signing with Doug Levy “Hero Redefined,” 68 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.
Open Mic with Leigh Mikell, 7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
International Guitar Night, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC
Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Ongoing
“Vintage Visions” artwork by Erin Clyne, thru February, The Recess Gallery at Studio &, 1027 Main Ave.
“Elemental” an open group show, thru March 1, Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
“Given Time: Sensory Aesthetics of Reclamation,” exhibit exploring Indigenous relationships to land, FLC Center of Southwest Studies. Show runs thru April 24, 2025.
Heartwood Cohousing 4th Friday Potluck, 6:30 p.m., 800 Heartwood Lane, Bayfield, heartwoodcohousing@gmail .com to reserve a tour
Upcoming
“Who is Wavy Gravy?” with Rock ‘n’ Roll Bob, presented by Life Long Learning, Thurs.,Feb. 27, 7-8:30 p.m., Nobel Hall 130, Fort Lewis College Feb. 20, 2025 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Hindu holiday of Maha Shivaratri is dedicated to overcoming ignorance and darkness. This year it falls on Feb. 26. Even if you’re not Hindu, I recommend you observe your own personal version of it. Astrological omens suggest that the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to be introspective, study your life and history, and initiate changes that will dispel any emotional or spiritual blindness. PS: Remember that not all darkness is bad! But some is unhealthy and demoralizing, and that’s the kind you should banish and transmute.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The blue whale is the most massive mammal that has ever lived. You could swim through its arteries. Its heart is 5 feet high and weighs 400 pounds. And yet, when diving, its pulse slows to four to eight times per minute. I propose we choose the blue whale to be your spirit creature in the coming weeks. May this magnificent beast inspire you to cultivate slow, potent rhythms that serve you better than hyperactivity. Let’s assume you will accomplish all you need by maintaining a steady, measured pace – by focusing on projects that require depth and diligence rather than speed.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): More than 10,000 years ago, someone walked for a mile through what’s now White Sands National Park in New Mexico. We know they did because they left footprints that were fossilized. Scientists believe it was probably a woman who mostly carried a child and sometimes let the child walk under its own power. Like those ancient footprints, your actions in the coming weeks may carry lasting significance – more than may be immediately apparent. I encourage you to proceed as if you are making a more substantial impact and having a bigger influence than you imagine.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): What’s the oldest known recipe? What food did our ancestors write down instructions about how to make? It was beer! The 4,000-year-old Sumerian text included a hymn to Ninkasi, the goddess of beer. It tells how to use the right ingredients and employ careful fermentation to concoct a beverage that lowers inhibitions and brings people together in celebration. In that spirit, I encourage you to meditate on elements you can call on to create merrymaking and connection. Now is a good time to approach this holy task with extra focus and purpose.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In November 1963, the captain of a sardine boat sailing near Iceland noticed a column of dark smoke rising out of the water. Was it another boat on fire? No, it was the beginning of a volcanic eruption. A few days later, steady explosions had created a new island, Surtsey, which still exists today. I suspect you will have a metaphorically comparable power in the coming weeks: an ability to generate a new creation out of fervent energies rising out of the hot depths. Be alert! And be ready to harness and make constructive use of the primal force.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson was a 10th-century Danish king. He united the tribes of Denmark into a single kingdom. His nickname originated in the fact that he had a prominent dead tooth that turned bluish-gray. More than 10 centuries later, engineers who created a new short-range wireless technology decided to call their invention “bluetooth.” They imagined it would serve electronic devices, just as the king once blended the many tribes. In the spirit of this, I’m urging you Virgos to be uniters in the coming weeks. You will have an enhanced capacity to bridge different worlds and link disparate groups. PS: An aspect that could be construed as an imperfection, like Harald’s tooth, could conceal or signify a strength.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran author Ursula K. Le Guin wrote, “Freedom is a heavy load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake.” I know from experience there’s truth in that. But I’m happy to tell you that in 2025, freedom will be less heavy and less burdensome than maybe ever before in your life. In fact, I suspect liberation will be relatively smooth and straightforward for you. It won’t be rife with complications and demands but will be mostly fun and pleasurable. Having said that, I do foresee a brief phase when working on freedom will be a bit more arduous over the next few weeks. The good news is, your emancipatory efforts will set the stage for more ease during the rest of 2025.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Always and forever, the world is a delicate balance of seemingly opposing forces that are in fact interwoven and complementary: light and shadow, determination and surrender, ascent and descent, fullness and emptiness, progress and integration, yes and no. The apparent polarities need and feed each other. In coming weeks, I invite you to meditate on these themes. Are there areas of your life where you have been overly focused on one side while
neglecting the other? If so, consider recalibrating. Whether you are balancing emotion with logic, rest with work, or connection with independence, take time to adjust. If you honor both halves of each whole, you will generate fertile harmonies.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The ancient stands of cedar trees on Japan’s Yakushima Island have a special power. They create weather patterns for themselves, generating rain clouds from the water vapor they release through their leaves. This ingenious stroke of self-nurturing provides them with the exact rainfall they require. I propose that we make these cedar trees your power symbol in the coming weeks. It’s an excellent time for you to dream up and implement more of the conditions you need to flourish.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Tardigrades are tiny, eight-legged animals known as water bears or moss piglets. Their resilience is legendary. They can thrive anywhere, from mountaintops to the deep sea, from Antarctica to tropical rainforests. They can live a long time without water, and even survive in outer space. I propose we make the tardigrade your power creature for the coming weeks. Your flexibility and fluidity will be at a peak. You will be hardy, supple and durable. It will be a favorable time to leave your comfort zone and test your mettle in new environments. Seemingly improbable challenges may be well within your range of adaptability.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In coming days, playing games could be good practice for life. Breezy exchanges and fun activities could stimulate clues and insights that will be useful in making important decisions. What appears to be ordinary entertainment or social engagement may provide you with profound lessons about strategy and timing. How you manage cooperation and competition in those lighter moments could yield useful guidance about more serious matters.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Have you been struggling to summon the motivation to start anew in some area of your life? I predict that in the coming weeks, you will find all the motivation you need. Have you been wishing you could shed the weight of the past and glide into a fresh project with unburdened mind and heart? I believe that destiny will soon conspire to assist you in this noble hope. Are you finally ready to exorcise a pesky ghost and dash jubilantly toward the horizon, eager to embrace your future? I think you are.
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon.
Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum.
Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)
Ads can be submitted via: n durangotelegraph.com n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133
Announcements
Applications for Advanced Standing
MSW Program Students with a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) are eligible for a one-year Masters of Social Work program through the University of Denver. The program starts summer 2025 and classes are taught in Durango. Stipends for child welfare, integrated behavioral health care are available. Native American tuition support to eligible students is also available. For more info contact Janelle.Doughty@du.edu or www. du.edu/socialwork.
Notice of Public Sale
To enforce self-service storage facility lien. “Personal Property,” stored at Unit C12 of The Animas Mini Storage at 20995 Highway 160, Durango, CO 81301, described as: Misc housekeeping supplies, which are stored under a Rental Agreement between The Animas Mini Storage and Irvin Lopez, will be sold to the highest cash bidder unless all rents and fees are paid in full prior to the auction. Date and time of sale: February 22, 2025, at 8:00 AM. Terms of sale: cash. Place of sale: The Animas Mini Storage, 20995 Highway 160, Durango, CO. All bidders must present a valid state-issued picture ID to place bids.
HelpWanted
Public Works Director – Silverton, CO
The Town of Silverton seeks a qualified leader to serve as Public Works Director, overseeing vital infrastructure and operations including water, wastewater, streets,
and sanitation. This position requires strong management, planning, and technical skills, with responsibilities in budgeting, compliance, staff supervision, and quality control. The Director will ensure the proper operation of critical systems and work closely with town officials and the community. Competitive salary of $85,000-$95,000 with excellent health/ dental/ life/ short-term disability/ and retirement benefits and a housing stipend. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred. CDL required within a reasonable time frame. Apply by sending a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to: mmarks@silverton .co.us and deputyclerk@silverton.co.us by February 24th, 2025. For inquiries, call 970-880-4087 and for a full job description please visit town ofsilverton. colorado.gov/employment
Lost/found
My Cat Cid is Missing
Long hair, white with black spots, green eyes. Last seen near 18th St. and E. 2nd Ave., by St. Columba. Reward. Call 970-403-6192
MeetMarket
I Met You at a Grocery Store parking lot on Saturday. If you want to meet again, email me the make & model of your car and where you told me you like to go camping. Thechalk@ yahoo.com
ForSale
Dry Firewood
Pick up or delivery. Call Gabe, 970403-2784.
Vintage Balloon Tire Bicycles from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Prices range from $100-$500 per bike. Call Bicycle Bob in Aztec at 970 769 9955
Classes/Workshops
Guitar Lessons
All ages. $30/hour. Call Seth 602-9084475
WCS Lessons!
Learn West Coast Swing. New series starts March 5th. Runs every 3 weeks. Register at www.westslopewesties.com.
Free English Classes Quieres aprender o mejorar tu Ingles sin costo alguno. Brian, 970-779-5304
Wanted
Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970259-3494.
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/trade/sell (970) 259-2213
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Services
Boiler Service - Water Heater Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
Chapman Electric 970-403-6670
Specializing in all things electrical. Colorado state licensed and insured
HaikuMovieReview
'It Ends With Us'
Whether the real life drama around this movie will end is unknown – Lainie Maxson
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.
Parker’s Animas Rescue urgently needs foster families to provide temporary homes for rescued dogs. We supply all necessary items and cover vet visits. You provide the love and guidance. Join our mission: parkersanimalrescue.com.
MOLAS Scholarship
The MOLAS Scholarship (Meaningful Opportunity through Learning and Advancement Scholarship) is a need-based scholarship for La Plata County students to cover up to 85% of tuition, room & board at any Four Corners or Colorado public college, university, trade school or vocational school. Deadline March 2 at: sw communityfoundation.org/scholarships.
Engaging Volunteer Opportunity
Alternative Horizons needs volunteers to staff our hotline. Training provided. For info., visit alternativehorizons.org Feb. 20, 2025 n 15 telegraph
