We’ve had a mild winter, but most of us are still quite ready for Spring and all that it brings. This year’s Durango Home & Ranch Show has so much to offer for all kinds of people and all kinds of homes. Many of our vendors will have drawings for great prizes at their booths, so be sure to go by each one and sign up! Our featured artist, Melissa Lewis-Barnes, makes handcrafted cowboy hats, and one of those hats graces our Event Guide cover and our show poster. As an added bonus, Melissa is giving away a full custom hat valued at $600 and made to order in the customer’s choice of style and color. Be sure to sign up for the drawing at Melissa’s booth, Durango Custom Hats & Saddles, in the Extension Building. Our co-sponsor is Alpine Lumber and Trus Joist Products, with displays in the outdoor lot and in the Exhibit Hall. See them before you build anything. It’s time to get out on the deck! On Sunday at 1 p.m., as part of their “Homes with Hearts” fundraiser, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado will hold a drawing for a playhouse built by Durango High School students. Raffle tickets are on sale for $5 at the Big Brothers/Big Sisters booth in the parking lot. Be sure to visit the La Plata County Humane Society booth, also in the parking lot, and cuddle with some of the cute dogs available for adoption. Spring is a great time to get a new pet! Gate proceeds from this show will benefit the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado, so you know your $2 admission donation will stay in our community. Norton’s Catering will be serving delicious breakfast and lunch goodies in the Exhibit Hall and the Extension Building – take advantage of their great food while you visit the show. Have fun and enjoy the show!
Sharon Hermes, Durango Home & Ranch Show Coordinator Publisher: Richard Ballantine General Manager: Ken Admundson Vice President of Advertising: Paul Hay Director of Sales and Marketing: Mark Drudge Marketing • Promotions • Events: Sharon Hermes Design Manager: Brady Sutherlin Magazine Editor: Karla Sluis Layout & Design: Laney Peterson Advertising Design/Prepress: Janelle Farnam, Jennifer Dickens Laney Peterson, Michelle Uhl Mitchell Carter, Tracy Willbanks
4 Featured Artist: Melissa Lewis-Barnes 5 Co-Sponsor: Alpine Lumber & Trus Joist Products 6 Dining: Norton’s Catering 8-21 Featured Exhibitors 12-13 Map & Exhibitor List 19 Event Beneficiary: Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado
Account Executives: Adam Adimoolah, Chuck Jillson, Darryl Hunt, Karolann Latimer, Ralph Macarone, Shawna Long Advertising Assistant: Cora Younie The Durango Herald uses reasonable effort to include accurate and up-to-date information for its magazine publications. However, all information comes from a variety of sources and may change at any time for any reason. To verify specific information, refer to the organzation or business noted. To see the online version of this guide, click the link at www.durangoherald.com Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 3
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Q A
: What inspires you?
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: You stress the uniqueness of your hats, why is that important?
Q A
: How does your cultural background as a Native American who grew up with a cowboy heritage influence your art?
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: What’s the most challenging thing about your work?
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: And the most rewarding thing?
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: Where can people buy your hats in the Durango area?
: My customers. I love it when people see that I have a passion for my work. It set me on the path that is needed to create a piece of wearable art. This is the detective part of my work. I want to know where the client will be wearing the hat, and which colors are favorites. I look at face shape, height, color of eyes and hair all of these details are intertwined, and that gets me excited and inspired with every hat.
Hats off to local artist
Customer’s personality shines in Melissa Lewis-Barnes’ wearable art form The cowboy hat is a symbol of the West. Its functional shape fits the landscape and weather, and its design details convey a powerful message of American individualism. Local artist Melissa LewisBarnes, owner of Durango Custom Hats and Saddles, has captured this spirit with her wearable works of art. She specializes in hand-producing custom-made cowboy hats. Her passion is creating the perfect fit, along with artistic accents such as beaded or braided bands, stampede strings and hand-painted designs to suit clients’ individual tastes and style. Lewis-Barnes is the featured artist of the 2012 Durango Home & Ranch Show, and her work is pictured on the cover of this guide. One of her hats will be a drawing prize at the event, held April 28 and 29 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Find out what inspires her in the Q&A interview below.
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:How did you learn your art?
: I was offered a sales job to work with a hat company that was located here in Durango many years ago. I was interested by the hands-on process of making hats. Back then, the guys did all the manual work, such as blocking and sanding, and the ladies did all the tailored detail work of sewing and shaping. From observing my surroundings, I was able to eventually take apart a hat and figure out how to reassemble it by myself. Believe me, it took a while; but I knew what a good hat needed to look like, and eventually the process came together.
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: How has your style evolved over the years?
: It has evolved so much. Ten years ago, my target base was only making hats for the demands of cowboys and outdoor enthusiasts. I found a formula that worked to build tough, durable hats that fit well. Now, even though a good fit is still a main feature, I am able to broaden my scope by creating hats that have flair, design and soul. I want every hat to speak for itself: to tell who the client is, where they are from and what they do. A lot of attention goes into the outside detail work, like hatbands, stampede strings, bead colors, leather color and painted designs. This is where I get to showcase the personality of the client through the hat.
4 – Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012
: Uniqueness, to me, says individuality! I don’t do cookie-cutter type hats. I get to explore different ways to make hats unique, such as braiding the hat edge, beading a hatband, or braiding a stampede string that has a beautiful beaded closure. Because I make all my own hat accessories, the world is the limit. I have yet to run out of ideas! I don’t know of any other hat-maker that does everything on the hats. I refuse to outsource, mainly because I use the leather, beads and paint to pull the theme together for a hat. I may sometimes start over several times before I create something that flows well.
: It inspires me! My grandfather started our family ranch in the 1930s, where he raised sheep and cattle. Eighty years later, it is still up and running. I spent a lot of time as a child with my grandparents helping out at the ranch. My grandmother was a traditional rug weaver, and my mother use to be a silversmith and a seamstress when she was younger. We are a hands-on type of family: We are always making things. I remember as a young girl watching as my mom or grandmother created designs, and how they used color to bring a piece of work alive. I guess it’s in my blood. I also surround myself with outstanding art. Every year, I am invited to participate at the Santa Fe Indian Market and Heard Museum Guild art show. Talk about wonders of the world! I can’t help but be inspired and proud of my culture.
: I get impatient waiting for the raw material to come in. All my material is special-ordered, so it takes a little while to gather all that is needed to start my projects. I get excited. It’s hard to wait!
: I love to hear the stories about where my hats have gone. Occasionally, a client will meet another hat client, and they exchange the “Did Melissa make you that hat?” It’s like my own hat club. Just recently, at the National Museum of American Indians in D.C., one of my clients from Massachusetts talked about my work with a security guard at the museum. It tickled me that the hat brought two unknown people together. I always say my clients are like extended family, and the hats are like my kids.
: I am represented by Rain Dance Gallery at 945 Main Ave. People can view the hats at www.durangocustomhatsandsaddles.com.
To get a strong, stable home, talk to the folks at Alpine Lumber Company about a Trus Joist® Engineered Wood Products home. The structural integrity of your home never goes out of style. Make sure that you have a stronger, more stable home – a Trus Joist® home. Alpine Lumber Co. in Durango is part of a family of lumber yards, truss plants and millwork shops stretched over two states, Colorado and New Mexico, in 16 operations, which include big yards in Denver and postage-stamp sized in Crested Butte. The Durango branch services contractors and owner-builders with building materials. Contractor products and services include: lumber, trusses, FastFrame, windows, doors, millwork, delivery, building materials, log home products, FSC products, and more. The dedicated employee-owners are committed to being the best suppliers of materials and related services to the professional builder. For more information, call 385-1855. Drop by the Alpine/Timbertech booth, Alpine/Durango Decks booth and the Alpine/Weyerhaeuser booth (Outdoor Lots) and learn how to create an outdoor living space with a deck that matches your house and lifestyle.
Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 5
Breakfast
at the Home & Ranch Show Hours: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (prices include sales tax) Cinnamon Roll ($2.50) Whole Fruit ($1.50)
orton’s Catering Company was created in 1989 by chef Chuck Norton. A native of New Orleans, Chef Norton creates flavors from a variety of food styles, such as Cajun, Italian, Mexican and Southwestern. Along the way, Chuck was co-creator and owner of restaurants in Louisiana, Aspen, Telluride, Ouray and Durango.
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Hot Croissant Sandwich w/Egg and Sprouts ($7.00) with, choose one: bacon, ham, Swiss, cheddar Norton’s Breakfast Burrito w/Salsa ($5.50) Sausage, Bacon & Green Chile; Spinach, Mushroom and Swiss; Ham with Jack and Cheddar; or Jack Cheddar Cheese
Lunch
After settling in Durango, his reputation for excellent food and service quickly established Norton’s Catering as one of the premier caterers in the area. With his highly trained staff, Norton’s Catering has become a logical choice for nearly any conceivable event, including corporate events and weddings. Serving 400 or more is not uncommon for Chuck and his team.
Hours: Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (prices include sales tax)
Since the opening in 2009, The Highway 3 Roadhouse and Oyster Bar has been a rousing success. With an excellent wine list, it’s all served in a laid-back style, embracing the warm and hearty style that bespeaks Chuck’s Southern roots.
Spinach Salad w/Fresh Fruit & Citrus Dressing with Bread ($6.50)
The Highway 3 Roadhouse and Oyster Bar, at 955 State Highway 3 in Durango. The bar is open at 4 p.m. and the kitchen is open from 4:30 til 8:00 p.m., Wednesday through Friday. Chuck’s tantalizing menu changes week-to-week, so visit www.nortonscatering.com frequently to review his current selections.
(substitute Caesar Salad for Chips, $.75)
at the Home & Ranch Show
SOUP Chicken Tortilla with Roll
SALADS
Caesar Salad w/Bread ($6.50) with Grilled Chicken (add $3.00)
SANDWICHES Cuban Sandwich w/Spicy Pork, Ham, Cheese, Pickle, with Chips ($7.50) Traditional Gyro w/Pita, Diced Tomato & Onion with Chips ($7.50) 8-oz Angus Burger on Ciabatta Roll w/Chips ($8.00), with Cheddar, Blue Cheese, Swiss or Green Chiles (add $.75) BBQ Brisket Sandwich w/Chips ($7.50) All-American 5-ounce Hot Dog w/Chips or Caesar ($6.00) Croissant Sandwich w/Chips ($7.50) with Blackened Chicken; Herb-Crusted Turkey; Provolone, Sprouts, Tomato, Roasted Red Bell (add $.75)
BEVERAGES Assorted Sodas, Coffee & Waters ($1.75 Assorted Juices ($2.75) Mango Mint Iced Tea or Lemonade ($1.75)
SWEETS Brownies ($2.50) • Assorted Cookies ($1.50)
6 – Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012
Recap of Home & Ranch 2011
Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 7
AJ Road & Landscape
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J’s Road and Landscape, owned by Alan Dickens since 2005, offers road building systems and water-drainage solutions.
For more information, visit Booth 146 or call (970) 759-3033.
With the cost of asphalt and concrete continuously increasing, AJ’s has come up with an environmentally friendly solution that is one-third the cost of hot, rolled, oil-based asphalt. Their product bridges the price gap between dirt road and asphalt road systems, and addresses most of the pros and cons of both systems. This is a step above the traditional 1” loose, clean, crushed gravel applied normally to reduce mud. Your snow plow driver will love you, and there will be no more piles of gravel at the end of the drive to clean up in the spring. The company binds three different loose-fill materials. The choices include: ¾” aggregate road base (dirt road), recycled asphalt, or 3/8” chips (chip seal), without using expensive oilbased products. The chip seal is crushed, clean 3/8” gravel. It is extremely colorful, and does not crunch when you walk on it. It forms a semi-ridged surface similar to asphalt. It has the same light and dark grays, and different shades of reds – all the colors of the rocks that surround us. For those who want a more natural look, and want their road to blend in with the surrounding terrain, this is the way to go. The crushed gravel provides an even, smooth surface.
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Above is the chip seal method with a retainer wall and steps added.
Cardwell Aukerman Photography ardwell Aukerman Photography is full-service photography studio specializing in environmental family portraiture and cutting-edge high school senior portrait photography. They also photograph newborns, children and select weddings. They offer a full range of products, from beautiful mounted, sprayed and textured portrait prints, to fine art gallery wraps, wall portraits, metal murals, family and senior albums, and an array of specialty items.
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“The number one unique factor of our business is our guarantee,” said owner Carol Cardwell. “We absolutely guarantee you’ll be thrilled, not just satisfied, with your photographs and our service.“If you aren’t thrilled, for any reason, we will either do whatever is necessary to see to it you are thrilled, or if you aren’t thrilled, we will cheerfully give you all your money back. No hassles, and no hard feelings, either.” Cardwell said one of the most rewarding things about her business is working with her daughter, Tiffany. “We have so much fun spinning off of each other’s ideas and pushing the other to do even better,” she said.
The other big reward is the satisfaction of sharing the joy and emotion of clients when they view their images for the first time. “We put our heart and our soul into creating emotional images to capture not only a moment in time, but also the emotions of the ones our clients love,” said Cardwell. The business is involved with many nonprofits, such as Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, Hospice of Mercy, Crossing Thin Ice, Women United in Christ. The business also donates to the La Plata Family Center Coalition, The Pregnancy Center and Habitat for Humanity. Cardwell Aukerman Photography is located at 556 Main Ave., open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (970) 259-5442 or visit www.DurangoPhotographer.com
Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 9
Custom Calligraphy & Frame
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eth Wheeler and Herb Folsom have been a collaborative calligraphy/picture framing team in the Mancos Valley since 1991.
Cultivating her childhood interest in letterforms, Beth first formally studied calligraphy in 1988 at San Juan College in Farmington. She continues this lifelong study by attending workshops at Ghost Ranch, N.M., nearly every summer, learning from the finest calligraphers in the world. She has also studied lettering and design in England. In addition to pen and Western brush, Beth works in Chinese brush lettering and the book arts. Herb apprenticed in the picture framing department of Toh Atin Gallery in Durango in the early 1990s. Shortly thereafter, he opened his own picture frame shop in Mancos. Herb attends the annual international picture framers’ conference to keep up with the latest techniques of the trade. Both Beth and Herb pride themselves in their attention to detail, which shows in the high quality of their work. They also challenge themselves by stretching the limits of their respective mediums. Beth has lettered on fly rods, silk, china, a mandolin, canoes and surfboards. In addition to conservation framing of fine art, Herb can frame anything from banjos to 17th-century swords.
10 – Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012
Be sure to stop by their booth, #121A in the Extension Building.
Eagle Block Company agle Block Company was established in 1951 by Gino Piccoli and his father, James Piccoli Sr. Today, the full-service masonry supply store is still a family business, with Gino’s sons and daughters as the main workforce.
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“We just try to offer the best service, the most in-stock items, and the best pricing,” said Don Piccoli, “and then let the customers decide if we deserve their business.”
“I enjoy looking at homes and businesses in Durango, especially those in the downtown area, and knowing that my grandchildren can tell their children that their great-grandfather had something to do with that building, and that one, and that one over there as well,” said Don Piccoli.
Eagle Block Company is also invested in the community. Every year, they donate to the United Way radiothon, and in the past they have worked with Women’s Resource Center, Dave Spencer Classic, Special Olympics and high school sports teams.
Eagle Block Company is a manufacturer of building-block materials of various sizes, as well as a retail location for rock, cement, lime, sand, landscape pavers and elements, fireplace components, brick, cultured stone, and glass block. They also have 13 types of flagstone, boulders, landscaping gravel and retaining-wall block. All block and some landscape pavers are made on-site by the Piccoli family, including some of Gino’s grandchildren. The company has two trucks with mounted forklifts for deliveries in the Four Corners.
Eagle Block Company is located at 16073 U.S. Highway 550 S. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, call (970) 247-3636 or visit www.eagleblock.com.
Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 11
102 Abracadabra 41 Alpine Lumber/Trus Joist Engineered Wood Products 147 Alpine Mobile Crete 146 AJ Road & Landscape LLC 5 Alternative Systems 143 Ambient, LLC 116 Artesanos Design Collection 109 Artistic Designs in Wood 70 Ashes Away, LLC 23 Atmos Energy 54 Authentic Saunas By Timo Lahdekorpi 12 – Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012
38 Best Cleaning & Disaster Restoration Services, Inc. 141 Big Brothers Big Sisters of SW Co 44 Black Canyon Builders 142 Bobcat of Durango 9 Budget Blinds 45,46,55,56 Building Specialties Store 135 CH Property Service 15 Cal Steel & Sheet Metal 39, 40 Cardwell Aukerman Photography 99 Chaparral Materials 59,60 Closets Plus
68 Colorado Parks & Wildlife 62 Commercial Floor Services, Inc. 120 Community Foundation Serving SW Colorado 29 Crazy Dog Window Washing, LLC 121A Custom Calligraphy & Frame 53 Custom Window Coverings 67 Dietz Market, Inc. 64 Directory Plus 34 Dogwatch of the Western Slope, LLC 106 Durango Custom Hats & Saddles 33,42 Durango Door & Cabinet Co. 4 Durango Electrical Services 6 Durango Handyman 65 Durango Herald 61 Durango Marble & Granite 124 Durango Nursery & Supply 105 Durango Sewing Center 133 Eagle Block Company 7 Eco-Safe Waste Water, LLC 118B Endless Energy Systems, Inc. 132 Exclusive Remodeling & Home Repair, Inc. 30 First Cut GC & First Melt Installations 52 Foam Insulation Specialists LLC Dining Area For the Birds 94-98 Four Corners Stoves & Spas 31 Galbraith Builders/Earth Source Geo LLC 21 Garrh’s, Inc. 79,80 Glass Doctor of Durango 144 Good Hands 122 Grasshoppers Landscape 1 Great Solar Works! 87,88 Green Mountain Technologies 145 Greenline Equipment Co. 86 Hall's Furniture and Hot Tubs 16,24 Healthy Gourmet 13 Hermosa Creek Homes 14 Hi Fashion Sewing Machines of Durango 43 High Country Flagpoles 129 High Plains Nursery 101 Home Builders Assoc. of SW Colorado 120A INFORMATION 111 Jill Creates 104 John’s Vacuum Service 47, 48 Kogan Builders 139 La Plata County Humane Society 27, 36 La Plata Electric Assn., Inc. 117 La Plata Quilters Guild 26, 35 Lewis True Value Mercantile 131 Lifestyle Homes
136 66 119 69 49, 50 28 22 78 150 72, 118A 110 12 37 2 121 148 3 18 140 112 137 128 81 82,83,84,85,89, 90,91,92,93 103 125 17,8 57 71A 51 94A 100 149 127 58 10,11 32 138 130 115 108 126 19 & 20 63 107 25
Living Solar Lorien Timberframes LLC Louisa's Movie House & Electronics M & M Enterprises, Inc. McCormick Tile & Stone Mercy Regional Medical Center Mesa Propane Mountain Oasis, Inc. Nature’s Way Driftwood Norton’s Catering Palo Duro Homes, Inc. Pasco, SW Peak to Peak Elevator LLC Phantastic Screens Pine River Valley Bank Precision Asphalt Precision Granite, LLC Prudential Insurance Quality Air, Inc. Reflections of the Southwest Rich's Performance Marine Riverview Landscaping/Cretescapes Sachs Door & Window, LLC Smart Enterprises Solar Today and Tomorrow Southwest AG Southwest Appliance Spectrum Construction/Real Log Homes Steve Gates Architect/E-Terra Construction Sunburst Horizons Sunflower Plant Service Sunglo Window Film Sunrose Landscaping Target Rental & Sales Task Masters of SW Colorado Inc The Tile & Carpet Store of Durango Three Springs Trex/Boise/Alpine Lumber Trex/Durango Decks/Alpine Lumber Transparent Watercolor Paintings by Joe Toledo Town & Country Cedar Homes Ute Country Homes, Inc. Water Furnace Westwood Culligan Wildshots, Inc. Wind River Timberframes, Inc.
Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 13
Garrh’s Inc. he business of heating and air conditioning is all in the family for brothers Mark and Travis Oliger. They have owned Garrhs Inc. for more than 28 years, and their father and grandfather were in business in the region since the mid-1950s.
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Garrhs Heating & Air Conditioning, located at 721 Turner Drive, has installed more than 2,500 indoor weather systems in the region. The company installs, services and supports residential and commercial heating and air-conditioning systems. They also do custom sheet-metal fabrication and restaurant kitchen ventilation. Garrhs provides custom plasma cutting capabilities from CAD drawings or through office professionals. They offer Carrier heating and air conditioning equipment. Garrhs services also include: preventive maintenance agreements, service for all makes and models, certified technicians; emergency service, and duct cleaning. Travis Oliger said the company specializes in high performance, state-of-the-art systems, including remote Internet monitoring of building systems. Garrhs also offers design and building services for commercial buildings, such as the Durango-La Plata County Airport, the Durango Discovery Museum and many other well-known facilities.
14 – Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012
“The biggest challenge of my business is keeping up with the changing technologies and client expectations,” said Oliger. “And although it’s challenging, it’s also fun.” He said the biggest reward of his business is being able to provide good jobs for employees and help solve customers’ concerns with innovative solutions. Garrhs gives back to the community as a sponsor of the Adaptive Sports Association and the Durango Youth Baseball Association. They also contribute to many other charitable organizations, such as the Manna Soup Kitchen & the Boys and Girls Club. Recently, Garrhs contributed over $30,000 to the Durango Discovery Museum. Garrhs is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (970) 259-5579 or visit www.garrhs.com.
Grasshoppers Landscape and Supply rasshoppers Landscape and Supply has been in business in Durango for 30 years.
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Services include lawn maintenance, spring and fall cleanup, mow and trim, pruning, fertilize, aerate, thatch and rake, grass seeding, sod instillation, landscaping, hardscape, water features, retaining walls, sprinkler instillations and repair, and snow removal.
The company contributes to the community by working with Habitat for Humanity and United Way. The retail office is located at 39738 Hwy 160 East. Summer hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from Memorial Day weekend through September from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (970) 884-9400.
The company offers full maintenance and landscape and also does retail sales at the office location in Gem Village. Retail items that are sold at the office location include: colored gravel, landscape boulders, flagstone, river cobble, landscape metal edging, shrubs, evergreen and deciduous trees, bark mulch, Soil Mender products, Yum Yum Mix products and Back to Earth products. The most rewarding part of the business, according to Grasshoppers worker Amy Briscoe, is seeing a job completed and others in the neighborhood requesting work to be done.
Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 15
Rich’s Performance Marine ince 2005, Rich’s Performance Marine has been in the business of selling fun. From boating to waterskiing, wakeboarding and towables to camping, it’s all about getting out there and enjoying the outdoors.
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RPM, owned and operated by Rich and Linda Dexter, is a fullservice boat and motor dealership featuring Crestliner boats, Cypress Cay pontoon boats, Mercury Marine outboards and sterndrive engines. RPM is proud to announce the arrival of the Livinlite line of ultra-lightweight towable campers. They feature 100 percent wood-free construction, are 98 percent recyclable , and can be towed with almost any vehicle. The company also has several Camplite hardside trailers and Quicksilver tent trailers in stock. RPM features a fully stocked accessory showroom with water toys, HO water skis, Hyperlyte wakeboards, ships’ store and camping accessories. They also stock replacement parts for Mercury outboards and Mercruiser engines. The service department at Rich’s Performance Marine has won Mercury Marines’ Customer Satisfaction Index award two of the last three years. This award is given to fewer than 2 percent of the dealers in North America. “Our philosophy is that all we really have to sell is service,” said Rich Dexter. “There is nothing in our store that someone has
16 – Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012
to own, so we do our best to take care of each customer, whether he is buying a boat, a spark plug or is just looking for some advice.” The current economic climate has been particularly difficult in the boating industry, with approximately 40 percent of boat dealers going out of business in the last three years. To meet these challenges, RPM strives to stay ahead of the competition by providing superior customer service and helping people make the most of their fun time. Rich’s Performance Marine is located at 39894 Hwy 160 in Gem Village, and it is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 am. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (970) 884-9635 or visit www.rpmarine.com.
Smart Enterprises
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Malaika Mestas’ parents founded Smart Enterprises in 1989.
“I have never forgotten our first years in business as a mobile windshield-replacement and repair company with a 25-year-old van and a tool box,” said Mestas. “Now, my three children are helping customers when they are in the store. When Mestas purchased the business in 1997, her parents had just expanded to include a full-service glass shop, picture framing, sunrooms and hot tubs to their product line up. They added these products because they could not find them locally. Mestas expanded further to include awnings, fireplaces, solar shades, pool tables, outdoor kitchens and barbecues. One of Mestas’ top priorities is to make sure her staff is completely trained and certified in all the products they sell and install. “Our customers feel confident we can do the job right the
first time,” said Mestas. “Our products are awardwinning in design and in energy conservation.” The shop, located at1400 Main Ave., has a large showroom with fullsize product displays. Builders and homeowners feel comfortable in the design center because they are working with knowledgeable staff. It is still a family business. Some employees have been with the company from the beginning. The business has always been active in the community and supported many nonprofits, such as The Durango Botanical Society, The Parade of Homes and various childcare facilities.
For more information, call (970) 247-2927 or visit www.smartenterprises.net.
Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 17
Target Rental
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im Duke, owner of Target Rental, is excited about the Durango Home & Ranch Show this year because his company is branching out this spring.
“We still have customers who don’t know we sell propane or offer small engine repair services,” said Duke. “This is why we decided to change the name of our new lawn and garden services division to Durango Outdoor Power Equipment. The name Target Rental didn’t reflect everything we have to offer out here.” Target Rental, which has been operating since 1983, specializes in renting construction-related equipment. The small contractor and DIYer is the company’s main clientele. Durango Outdoor Power Equipment started off as a small engine repair shop in the spring of 2011, and it has grown into selling and repairing all types of lawn and garden equipment. Duke said customer service sets his business apart from others. “Usually before you enter our doors, you will be greeted with a smile and this question: ‘How can I help you today?’ We consid-
18 – Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012
er our customers more like partners than anything else.” Customer satisfaction is Duke’s biggest reward. “Whether it’s a garden or a well site, people come to us because we have special tools that help make their jobs easier. It’s very rewarding to see customers bring back equipment and thank us for our advice and quality of the equipment.” Duke said Target Rental views the community as a reflection of itself. He donates equipment for many different reasons, including baseball field construction, BMX track maintenance, the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, and other nonprofits’ needs. Duke is a firm believer in the United Way and said the company is proud to sponsor one of their events. Target Rental and Durango Outdoor Power Equipment are located at 989 Camino del Rio, and they are both open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information on Target Rental, call (970) 247-0161 or visit www.targetrental.com. For DOP Equipment, call (970) 247-8889 or visit www.durangooutdoorpower.com.
Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado he Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado enhances the experience and impact of giving by making a difference through philanthropic leadership, nonprofit support, education, and initiatives.
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The Community Foundation administers an enormous range of grants locally, touching all segments of our community. In 2011 we granted $400,000 in grants, $354,000 in scholarships, and $561,000 in program grants. We are able to achieve this through the generous support of our believers who see us as the center of philanthropy in our five county region. Together we can continue to improve the lives of people within our community.
The Foundation manages over $2.1 million dollars in 96 Funds to meet donor and community needs. We are proud of our National Certification and pride ourselves on deep community knowledge and the ability to collaborate enabling partnerships so that the public at large benefits. In 2012 the Foundation is a proud part of the Downtown Durango Welcome Center and the School Based Health Centers. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Durango Herald and hope you enjoy the Durango Home and Ranch Show, and want to thank the Durango Herald for their support of the Foundation and the community. Please visit www.swcommunityfoundation.org or call 970375-5807 to be a part of the active link between philanthropy and need.
Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 19
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado
W
hen Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado does something for children, they do it BIG. Their annual playhouse project is no exception: The 8’ by 12’ structure has stucco, a stylish rusted-corrugated finish and a removable slide.
The local nonprofit is offering an exciting fundraising raffle called Homes With Hearts at the Durango Home & Ranch Show. At the show booth, you’ll see an amazing playhouse built by students at Durango High School. Tickets are only $5 each, and every ticket you purchase increases your chance of winning. Don’t have room in your yard for a full-size playhouse? You can still purchase tickets; and if you win, you can donate the playhouse to the Girl Scouts’ community garden or to a number of other local organizations. Winners will receive complimentary delivery service within 25 miles of Durango (must be easy access with truck and trailer). The drawing will be held at the show at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 29 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. For ticket information, contact the office at 247-3720. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado’s vision is successful mentoring relationships for all children who need and want them, contributing to brighter futures, better schools and stronger communities for all. Their mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable impact. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children with the friendship of an adult that will grow for many years. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a national and international movement that began in 1902 with the first Big Sisters agency. In 1946, the first national Big Brothers agency began, and 31 years later, the two organizations merged to form the first Big Brothers Big Sisters of America agency. There are currently over 507 national agencies as well as international programs.
For more information, visit: http://www.bbig.org/site/c.buIVJeNTKlL6G/b.8032597/k.9CD9/W in_a_playhouse.htm Playhouse built by Durango High School students’ for the 2011 Home & Ranch Show.
20 – Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012
La Plata County Humane Society ome furry friends will be strolling around the booths at the show this year. La Plata County Humane Society volunteers will let mutts strut their stuff in the hopes of being adopted. Watch for these dogs in their “adopt me” jackets, and take a minute to meet and greet them.
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Kitten season is coming up, and LPCHS always needs more foster parents to take care of kittens that are too young to be fixed. LPCHS provides everything needed to care for the kittens. Foster parents supply love and care. If fostering sounds like fun to you, call Becca at 2592847 or e-mail foster@lpchumanesociety.org and fill out the application. You can also foster puppies.
ing dogs, playing with cats, grooming and bathing, retail, administrative assistance, Mutts in the Mountains (hiking), doggy outings, helping with advertising (photography and videos), fostering and more. For more information, visit Booth 139 or www.lpchumanesociety.org.
LPCHS is a nonprofit organization created to enhance the quality of life in our community by encouraging the humane treatment of animals. LPCHS was created to provide shelter for homeless animals, to rescue animals in distress, to assist in the investigation and prosecution of reported cruelty and abuse, and to encourage kindness and responsibility toward all living things through humane education. LPCHS is always looking for help, and volunteering is wonderful work for people who love animals but can’t adopt a pet of their own. There are many volunteer opportunities, such as: walk-
Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 21
22 – Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012
Advertising Index 2 Alpine Lumber Co. 8 Kroegers 8 Mesa Propane 9 Three Springs 10 Lewis Mercantile 10 Waterworks Sprinkler Systems 11 Native Roots 11 La Plata Electric Association 14 Outdoor & Travel Expo 15 Aspen Design Studio 15 Closets Plus 16 Commercial Floor Services 16 Durango Door & Cabinet Co. 17 McCormick Tile & Stone 17 GreenScapes 18 Quilt Raffle 19 Buzztown 22 Southwest Ag, Inc. 23 Pasco/SW 24 Directory Plus Durango Home and Ranch Event Guide • April 22, 2012 – 23