Waiting to exhale
elegraph thedurango
FREE
Sept. 3, 2020 Vol. XIX, No. 32 durangotelegraph.com
inside
T H E
O R I G I N A L
I N D I E
W E E K L Y
L I N E
O N
D U R A N G O
&
B E Y O N D
Local color
Stay calm & folk on
Ciao, baby
Art Brigade brings walkable, outdoor art to downtown p8
KSUT streams virtual Four Corners Folk Festival p10
Escape reality with an Italian tale of intrigue p11
2 n Sept. 3, 2020
telegraph
lineup
4
4 La Vida Local
On the rocks
4 Thumbin’ It
Looking for signs of hope on a beloved climbing crag by Luke Mehall
5 Word on the Street 6-7 Soapbox
8
8 Local News
Walkable art
Art Brigade gives artists a chance to shine and locals a reason to get out
10 Top Shelf
by Missy Votel
Ear to the ground: “Didn’t you see how scratched up his legs were? Obviously, he is a local.” – Local barista explaining to co-worker her justification in giving a customer the local’s discount.
Changing it up
thepole
RegularOccurrences
The Washington Redskins are not the only ones dropping their derogatory name. Late last month, Lake Tahoe’s legendary Squaw Valley announced it will be no longer – at least in name. “After extensive research into the etymology and history of the term, it is undeniable that the word is now widely considered a racist and sexist slur. This is contrary to our company’s core values,” the company wrote on its website. The resort said it’s working on choosing a new name, which will be announced in 2021. Officials say the name will reflect the storied past of the ski area, which hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics and was where extreme skiing pioneer Scott Schmidt made his yellow onesie famous, while respecting all who enjoy the land. In the
11 Murder Ink
10
12-13 Stuff to Do
Head for the Hill KSUT to stream virtual Four Corners Folk Festival this Friday by Chris Aaland
13 Ask Rachel 14 Free Will Astrology 15 Classifieds
11
15 Haiku Movie Review
Ciao, reality
On the cover: Hermosa Creek meanders its way through a meadow near its headwaters./ Photo by Stephen Eginoire
Suspense, drama and mystery on an Italian yacht sure beat real life by Jeffrey Mannix
boilerplate
EDITORIALISTA: Missy Votel (missy@durangotelegraph.com) ADVERTISING AFICIONADO: Lainie Maxson (lainie@durangotelegraph.com) STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Stephen Eginoire (steve@gulchmag.com)
T
he Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, beckoning singletrack or monster powder days. We are wholly owned and operated independently by the Durango Telegraph LLC and
STAR-STUDDED CAST: Lainie Maxson, Shan Wells, Jeffrey Mannix, Jesse Anderson, Luke Mehall, Chris Aaland and Clint Reid
REAL WORLD ADDRESS: 679 E. 2nd Ave., Ste E2 Durango, CO 81301 PHONE: 970-259-0133
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 332 Durango, CO 81302
E-MAIL: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
VIRTUAL ADDRESS: www.durangotelegraph.com
MAIL DELIVERY AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: $3.50/issue, $150/year
distributed in the finest and most discerning locations throughout the greater Durango area. We’re only human. If, by chance, we defame someone’s good name or that of their family, neighbor, best
friend or dog, we will accept full responsibility in a public flogging in the following week’s issue. Although “free but not easy,” we can be plied with schwag, booze and flattery.
telegraph
Squaw Valley’s iconic Blyth Arena, which housed the hockey and skating events for the 1960 Olympics. The arena was demolished in 1983, and soon the ski area’s name will be a bygone, too. meantime, the resort will continue operating under its current name for the 2020-21 season. “With the momentum of recognition and accountability we are seeing around the country, we have reached the conclusion that now is the right time to acknowledge a change needs to happen,” Ron Cohen, president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, said in a statement. “Emotional attachments do not justify our continuing use of a word that is widely accepted to be a racist and sexist slur.” When the North Lake Tahoe resort was named in 1949, the name was a reference to the valley in which it was located. However, over the years, there has been mounting pressure to change offensive names not just in Tahoe, but across the country. In 1995, Minnesota was the first state to make it illegal to have “squaw” in a placename, with six more states following suit. In Tahoe, the Forest Service has declared the word offensive with respect to placenames, and the local Washoe Tribe has sought to remove it from its ancestral homeland as well. While the resort, which is owned by Alterra, is not seeking to impose the change on other area businesses, it is hopeful its leadership will convince them to do so as well. Resort officials also noted that while the name will change, the ski area will retain all the vertigo-inducing, kneeknocking charm of its KT-22 lift and famed Palisades cliff skiing.
Sept. 3, 2020 n
3
opinion
LaVidaLocal Goodbye cruel summer It was a weird night, during a weird month, and a strange summer. Just 30 minutes prior, at 8 o’clock on a Sunday evening a man was knocking on the door, saying he was with the United States Census. We’d filled out our census months before, so I wondered why the hell he was bothering us on a weekend evening. Quickly he explained that he was trying to find out how many people lived in the house next door. I thought that it was none of my business to tell him that, so I just told him I didn’t know. Thirty minutes later, my dog Hope was barking at the front door and I looked out to see what she was barking at. (Usually it’s the neighbor’s cat.) SomeSamson bouldering thing caught my eye on the front at Hartman Rocks./ porch – it was a dessert covered in aluminum foil – and I opened up the Photo by Luke Mehall front door to check it out. Sure enough, it was a crisp, accompanied by an anonymous letter, with a small clue of who it came from. We’d already had dessert, but since my fiancée, Amber, and I both have sweet tooths, we figured what the hell, let’s dig in. Second dessert, certainly not the worst thing in the world. We’d burn off the calories sooner or later. That gesture, which we shortly figured out was from our dear friend Haley, was the perfect way to close out the summer, as the calendar flips to September and fall is in the air. It’s been a weird summer, to say the least. I feel like Durango hasn’t been the Durango I’ve come to know over the last decade. Tourists have annoyed me more than ever; especially when I hear people saying they’ve come here to get away from COVID, or they have attitudes about following our mask order. I’ve felt disconnected and disgruntled, but luckily I haven’t felt depressed; though I can certainly empathize with people who are depressed right now. I have suffered greatly from depression in the past, and I have figured out how to manage my own mental health: primarily through exercise, a decent diet, good sleep, a job I love, and Vitamin D. I also feel fortunate to have a loving fiancée and dog, one of the many COVID-era puppies that brought joy to Durango. While I feel like I have a handle on depression lately, my anger is a bit more of a wild card. My anger was at an all-time high when Trump got elected. I was shocked that the United States would have elected someone like him. Nearly four years later, though, I get it. I have a better feeling for the temperature of our country and the systemic racism and economic challenges that plague our nation. To paraphrase
Michelle Obama, “I understand why people voted for Trump, but I don’t understand those people who did not vote at all.” I do my best to channel my anger. I don’t wish to be violent to any other human being. Being out in nature, and listening to hip-hop are my two current prescriptions (with a small dash of sativa). I also have been trying to focus on small acts and victories, because overall I feel like we’re losing. And when I say we, I mean those of us who are anti-racist, pro-environment, pro-democracy and for creating a more just country, a more perfect union. And though I vote Democrat, I feel like that party has to change as radically as many other things need to change in our country. The Democrats are often just as bad as the Republicans, and to paraphrase my favorite comedian Dave Chappelle, “they are missing the dunk.” While I will certainly be voting for Joe Biden in the presidential election, I’m mentally preparing for four more years of Trump, because I know he’ll do anything in his power – legal or illegal – to get re-elected. I’m also keeping a close eye on the race for Colorado’s third congressional district: Diane Mitsch Bush, a Democrat, who is running against Lauren Boebart, a Republican, who is a supporter of the dangerous QAnon conspiracy theory. If you aren’t familiar with QAnon, I suggest doing some research. The group is listed as a domestic terrorist threat by the FBI – and a confirmation that Trumpism can get worse, much worse. I’ll be voting for Mitsch Bush, that’s for damn sure! Back to the small battles: this last weekend I made a quick trip up to Gunnison and visited one of my favorite places in the world: Hartman Rocks. This area has become much more popular over the last few years, and I must say the Bureau of Land Management has done a decent job with maintaining the area and fighting off the impacts of increased visitation. Signage, assigned campsites and new toilets have all been welcome additions. But there’s one new campsite that drives me crazy, right by some of my favorite boulders to climb. The site is highly unnecessary in a place with so much space, and a bunch of vegetation was killed to create it. Local climbers have been working with the Bureau of Land Management to restore the site to its original glory, and I’ve added my voice, suggesting they remove the site and block off access to vehicles. I’ve got some hope the next time I visit this site will be on its way to being restored. And, if that does happen, it will soothe my worried soul, just a little bit.
Sign of the Downfall:
Thumbin’It Facebook shutting down a fake Russian news site this week, which had intentions once again of swaying the election toward Trump by exploiting and fanning the flames of America’s political divide
Colorado counties putting out 42 extra ballot-collection boxes for November's election, thanks to federal funding through the CARES Act
Signs that fire season may soon be coming to a close, with the first dusting of snow in the San Juans and across Colorado
4 n Sept. 3, 2020
– Luke Mehall
Worsening drought over the Four Corners as the summer monsoons once again failed to fully materialize
The latest victim of the coronavirus, Snowdown 2021, which announced this week it will be cancelling festivities due to the pandemic
Rocket Sham The illegal poaching last week of a trophy bull elk northwest of Cortez, which was shot, its head removed and the carcass left to rot in a farmer’s field
telegraph
If there’s one thing 2020 needs, it’s a superhero, but it looks like the one we’re getting is The Rocketeer. Two different pilots in L.A. recently reported seeing a man wearing a rocket pack flying at 3,000 feet – 50 times higher than what non-superhero rocket packs are capable of. Of course, The Rocketeer doesn’t have any actual super powers (besides landing Jennifer Connelly), but then again, he fought Nazis, so maybe his reappearance is apropos.
WordontheScreen
Q
With Labor Day Weekend upon us, the Telegraph asked, “What are you laboring over?” Kenneth
“Collecting and selling materials to pay off my house upgrades on Animal Crossing.” Renee
“Opening my new restaurant Mountain Munchies.”
Haley
“Trying to find a job.”
Rebecca
“My Diet Coke stockpile. I am worried it is the next toilet paper.”
Hannah
“Getting my degree.” telegraph
Sept. 3, 2020 n 5
SoapBox
ReTooned/by Shan Wells
An inconvenient political truth To the editor, Democrat Chair Carol Cure was correct in pointing out that my opponent in the race for La Plata County Commissioner, Marsha Porter Norton, has worked hard for many years in the community and within the ranks of the Democrat party. So I apologize for my misstatement that she is a “hand-picked” candidate. The correct explanation is that her nomination was arranged between her and party insiders like Cure. The day that Porter Norton announced her candidacy, Feb. 9, 2019 (nearly two years ahead of the election) she was already endorsed by the sitting county commissioners, a circumstance that could only be arranged ahead of time and a pre-emptive move against any contenders in her own party. While it’s technically possible that another Democrat could have entered the race, an arranged nomination makes it impossible to find out. No alternatives were offered in party caucuses, and only Marsha appeared on the primary ballot. This type of arrangement is standard practice by political parties. The insiders have worked for many years to be … THE insiders. Contrast the political party nomination practices to the citizen-oriented process for Charly Minkler and me to be on the ballot. More than a thousand people from all walks of life, all parties and all regions of La Plata County signed petitions for our nominations. Given the pandemic restrictions and safety precautions, it was a heroic effort on behalf of the citizens, volunteers and the candidates. It was costly in time, effort and finances – expenses that party candidates never face and never will. Pointing out these facts about traditional party politics is not negative campaigning or petty. It’s a real issue to voters across the country and here in La Plata County.
Whereas Independents were once viewed as fringe voters, they are now in the majority and have viable candidates. Even better is that Democrats and Republicans can vote for Independent candidates without defecting to their
Cheers to Labor Day.
traditional opponents. All four commissioner candidates agree that the function of county governance should be nonpartisan, but the party candidates engage in partisan campaign 4
$# ( ' &* ' ' # # $&" ( $# ! $# ) ( (+ # * &' $"")# (#( & '(' # ( # (' $* &#" #( ! % &(# &' & & # (*( ' (( $# ( ## '(& ( )% & )# ' ( # # ) # $)#(- $!$& $ &# "$& ( &&& # ! " " &' ")'( ! * # ( #" ' * & + ( &' %%$ #(" #(' & # & !!- $& ( & - &' ( # ' $ )& "$#( !- # & $% # ($ ( %) ! &$)% " " &' & , % ( ($ $ ' $# !!- & !$# ( # ! $ ) " #(' (( # "$'( " ( # ' # %& % & ($ % &( % ( # %) ! ' )'' $#'
Let us help you feel good!
" " #
($
'
#
# +( (
$!!$+ # " ( & !' " . & '' . $# " ! ! ' ! '( &$" ( ( $& ' !$+ + & -$) * '$" ,% & # & )!()& . # # # " ( $# . & ( $# . #* &$#" #( . # $ ! $* &#" #( $ ! )' # '' ) ! !(
The Alternative Resource Variety of Strains • Hash/Concentrates • Edibles • Tinctures • ATM Bodo Park
Recreational: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Medical: 9:00 AM - 6:45 PM 72 Suttle Street, Units F/G , 970.259.3674
6 n Sept. 3, 2020
Grandview (HWY 160 East)
Recreational Adult Use Only: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM 37 CR 232, 970.426.4381
! ' (( ' $&( ! (( & #$ !$# & ( # % ' & # -$)& ) ( $# # +$& $& *$!)#( & ,% & # ( ( " - % &( # #( ($ ( ! ' '% ($ -$)& ! (- ($ +$& + !! + ( $( &' + ( & #( % &'% ( * ' # ' & + - -$) +$)! ! ($ " " &$ ( !'$ %! ' (( & ')" )( #$ !$# & ( # (+$ % ' !
!
"
' !
telegraph
"
$! & %
tactics to get there. Matt Salka (District 3 commissioner candidate) admitted he changed registration from unaffiliated to Democrat because he thinks it’s the only way to get support and win a race. Porter Norton declared me to be a closet Republican because the DEM-REP acrimony is something that party candidates count on to win elections. She knows I’ve never been a registered Republican. My website, ElectJackTurner.com, has a fact check about partisan politics in our local elections and a partial list of the ways that the two major parties created advantages for themselves in election laws (see “Videos & Position Papers”). Alternatively, Independent candidates don’t owe any political party favors. We offer a nonpartisan, commonsense, fair approach to La Plata County government without favor or obligation to any special interest. I believe that a nonpartisan, inclusive approach to the election is the best way to serve a community the size of La Plata County. There are four qualified, remarkable, talented persons running for two seats on the La Plata County commission, not just two. Voters have a choice on Nov. 3 that isn’t a traditional pick-between-the-two-major-parties contest. We live in interesting times, eh? – Jack Turner, Independent candidate, La Plata County Commissioner (Dist. 2)
Marsha an adept problem-solver To the editor, We are blessed to live in such a beautiful and energetic part of Colorado, and I have been blessed to live here for over 40 years. I am proud of the history of La Plata County and its ability to move forward on solving so many community issues. Solving problems has kept our county on the leading edge of wonderful livability. Even though I am an unaffiliated voter, I will be voting for Marsha Porter-Norton for county commissioner from District 2. Marsha has a lot of experience with topics the county deals with each day. I met her working on a ballot cam-
paign, Ref. C in 2005. We were both volunteers, and through the effort, we helped successfully secure more State funding for local roads, K-12 education and other important services funded by our state. Marsha was adept at listening before deciding on solutions as we traveled the county discussing that successful ballot issue with voters. Her platform calls for specific things that will return our county to a strong economy. This is so important now in the time of COVID-19 when far too many people are out of work. She will also work for public health, smart growth and will stand up for our roads, bridges and infrastructure. You can find out more details at marshaporternorton.com. Our ballots will be mailed in early October. Please join me in voting early in the process for Marsha Porter-Norton. – Stephens Parker, Durango
Trump’s disastrous response To the editor, As of Aug. 22, 5.8 million Americans have been infected with coronavirus and over 180,000 have died. What’s tragic is that we had ample warning about the pandemic and could have taken steps to contain it. Instead, the incompetence of the current administration has led to disaster. COVID-19 first appeared in Wuhan, China, mid-November. By early January, U.S. Intelligence Agencies began issuing warnings about the virus in the President’s Daily Brief. Taiwan, just 81 miles from China, had far less warning than we did. But they acted sensibly – quarantining travelers from Wuhan, using government funds to increase mask production, and issuing daily press briefings to educate the public about coronavirus. So their outcomes were far better: of 23 million people, they had only 487 cases, seven deaths. By contrast, Trump downplayed the danger, saying the virus would “just disappear.” He failed to mobilize gov-
ernment resources to ramp up testing or to procure needed medical supplies. Trump divided the nation, turning the common-sense practice of wearing a mask into a political issue and pushing to open the economy before it was safe. The U.S. now leads the world in total coronavirus cases and deaths. Before the current administration, the U.S. would have been a leader in uniting the world in fighting the virus. It’s astonishing how far our global influence has shrunk in under four years. We need a leader who will take responsibility, tell the truth and unite us in times of crisis. It’s time to vote Trump out. – Philip Riffe, Hesperus
Smarts, empathy and integrity To the editor, I am voting for Marsha Porter-Norton for county commissioner from District 2. I have been friends with Marsha for over 20 years, and we worked together for five years. I think Marsha is far and above the most qualified and prepared to serve. Marsha is a former nonprofit executive director and a business owner for over 20 years. She gives her time to serve others volunteering on 10 boards and commissions. Marsha is always the one helping whether it’s organizing a food drive, volunteering at a nonprofit, or helping a neighbor, friend or family member in need. One of her priorities is using her leadership skills to help young families, workers and seniors on fixed incomes get more affordable housing. She also wants to grow good jobs, ones that families can live on. She doesn’t just talk about problems: she studies the issues, talks to all sides and develops specific proposals. She is not “all hat and no cattle” as the saying goes! I believe in Marsha. She has the smarts, the integrity and the empathy for others that will make her a great county commissioner. We need leaders like her right now. – Kathy Sherer, Bayfield
! !
"
telegraph
Sept. 3, 2020 n 7
TopStory
Local color Creative District ‘Art Brigade’ to bring walkable, outdoor art to downtown by Missy Votel
A
ttention yarn bombers, bump-out beautifiers and window bedazzlers: the Durango Art Brigade wants you to join its ranks. The Art Brigade will soon be storming downtown Durango with temporary public art projects, from gussied up newspaper boxes and murals to “pop-up” green spaces and whatever your wildly creative hearts can dream up. But hurry: deadline to submit your proposal is 5 p.m., this Fri., Sept. 4. The goal of the project, which is a collaboration of the Durango Creative District, City of Durango, Business Improvement District and Local First, is threefold: to add some flair to downtown; help support local artists; and coax pandemic-weary folks out of their quarantine doldrums for some socially distanced art appreciation. And speaking of artists, those whose projects are chosen will receive a stipend for their time and supplies. “COVID has wreaked havoc on our economy,” Durango Creative District Director Hayley Kirkman said. “Although it was not nearly as bad as we thought it would be, a survey we did of local artists found that 80 percent reported lost income in April and May.” Given that, Kirkman and fellow artist Elsa Jagniecki, who also serves on the City’s Creative Economy Commission, put their heads together. “We thought of ways we could use art to invite people back into the physical sphere and engage people through art,” Kirkman said. “We have a wealth of makers and creatives here, we wanted to give them a chance to share that.” The two also looked at what other creative districts around the state were doing as well as last winter’s success with the empty storefront project. Even- A chalk-board pyramid installation by Animas Craft Woodworks. One of the proposals by tually, they came up with the the Durango Art Brigade is to design a chalk drawing for the pyramid, which will be located outside Studio &. The artwork will be displayed for the month of October and idea for the Art Brigade. “It just made a lot of sense,” artists will receive a stipend for their work and materials./ Photo by Scott DW Smith, Imagesaid Kirkman. “We see it as a strat- smith Photography egy for economic recovery.” The idea is to have artists submit their ideas via an application the muse move you. “If something’s not on the list, artists can process, which will then go through a selection committee. The propose that, too,” she said. “This gives the opportunity for winning projects will be installed later this month and available artists to go out and say, ‘I’m inspired by this space.’” Another mission of the project is to involve local youth, for the public’s viewing pleasure for the month of October. Right now, the Art Brigade has identified about 10 sites and whose artistic outlets may have been cut short or scrapped all topotential projects (which is available on its website) although gether thanks to the pandemic. “Our second goal is to engage Kirkman notes these are merely suggestions. In other words, let youth,” said Kirkman. Right now, artist Debra Greenblatt, of4
8 n Sept. 3, 2020
telegraph
Show ’em what you got The Durango Art Brigade is accepting applications from local artists on temporary public art projects to be displayed in the central business district in October. The application deadline is 5 p.m., Sept. 4. Project ideas include but are not limited to: sculptures, pop-up furniture, popup “green spaces,” installations in empty storefronts, mini murals, mixed-media art, and performance art. To find out more or apply, visit durangocreativedistrict.org. The City of Durango has awarded the Art Brigade $3,000 for this initiative, to cover artists’ time and materials. Reimbursement will be determined on a project-by-project basis, but finalists can Dumpster Beautification Project fame, is coordinating with local schools on ways to get kids involved. The plan is for artists to be assigned student volunteers to help in creating their masterpieces. The selection committee will choose projects based on the following criteria: • Compatibility with site; • Engaging/interactive concept; • Meets a reasonable budget; • Project can be fabricated in twoweeks; • Business owner/property manager supports concept. Kirkman also said projects should be de-
expect stipends in the range of $50-$250, depending on the scope of their project and materials used. Finalists will be announced Sept. 14. Students interested in volunteering can email Hayley Kirkman at hayley@durango creativedistrict.org signed to be temporary in nature with an eye toward weather- as well as germ-repellency (i.e. projects that entail looking but perhaps not a lot of touching – although steps will be taken to ensure projects are sanitized for your protection.) However, she notes since this is the first time something like this has been tried downtown, it’s all a bit experimental. “I don’t know what to expect. It will be interesting to have artists have these parameters and make these spaces more beautiful, colorful and interactive,” she said Looking ahead, she said she hopes it’s something that catches on, like the bump-
An example of the modern crafting phenomenon known as “yarn bombing.” TheDurango Creative District, along with the City of Durango and the Business Improvement District, is asking locals to come up with their creative best for the Durango Art Brigade, which will bring “pop-up” art installations to downtown Durango in October. All proposals – which will be reimbursed – are due Friday. outs, which seem to be well-received by locals and visitors alike. “There’s so much benefit to promoting a pedestrian economy and seeing how vibrant it is down there,” she said. “I hope
this project catches on and gets people’s wheels turning on what art can do for our community. Even if it sparks joy … it’s a huge benefit.” n For info, go to duangocreativedistrict.org
La Plata County commissioners to consider new draft land use code for adoption Sept. 15!
## ) %"
!
$ %"
!& )
Please provide your comment on the code that aims to: 7 /,3&!" -/"!& 1 &)&15 +! &*-/,3"! "/1 &+15 ,# 1%" !"3"),-*"+1 -/, "00 +! ,21 ,*"0 7 &)&1 1" +! !&/" 1 $/,41% 1, --/,-/& 1" /" 0 7 *-/,3" 1%" /"3&"4 -/, "00 7 /1& 2) 1" )" / !"3"),-*"+1 01 +! /!0 7 1/" *)&+" 1%" !"3"),-*"+1 -/, "00 7 /,1" 1 +! /"0-" 1 1%" ,2+1580 *,01 3 )2"! 00"10 7 &+&*&6" 0-/ 4) Join us for the Board of County Commissioners’ special planning meeting to consider the new land use code for adoption at 12 noon, Sept. 15. Public comment will be taken.
)(" $&) ")&' ))$
,&+ 3&
’ check our website for hours: www.jimmysmusic.supply 1480 E. 2nd Ave. & 15th St. • 970-764-4577
,,* ,/ &+ -"/0,+ 0, & ) !&01 + &+$ +! * 0(0 /".2&/"! 1 1%" ,2+15 !*&+&01/ 1&,+ 2&)!&+$ +! 3" 2/ +$, ,,* )&+( %11-0 6,,* 20 '
" ! 1%" ,!" -/,3&!" &+-21 +! #&+! ,21 *,/" 1 %11-0 &1 )5
telegraph
Sept. 3, 2020 n
9
TopShelf
Stay calm and folk on KSUT streams virtual Four Corners Folk Festival this Friday by Chris Aaland
in-studio videos or Facebook Live performances that were one or two songs in length. t was a rough spring and summer for festivarians. Every single Virtual Four Corners combines elements of both Planet Bluemusic gathering was cancelled due to the pandemic. For me, it grass and Grey Fox. Internationally known artists like Michael was especially brutal. I typically attend 10-12 festivals per year Franti, Tommy Emmanuel and Rising Appalachia recorded short in Durango, Telluride, Pagosa Springs, Lyons and beyond. That sets for us. These will flank lengthier sets that we shot on Resermeant 30-40 days per year voir Hill last week from spent on my tarp or in my StillHouse Junkies, Caitlin campsite. Thirty days. Cannon and Alice Wallace. Think about that. Thirty The final two-hour package days of making new will also include a host of friends, meeting old ones KSUT emcees in between and getting away from the bands and a traditional Ute stress of work. blessing of the festival In a couple of those grounds from Eddie and years, I found my way to Betty Box. Town Park for all four It was a remarkable afmajor Telluride music festiternoon a week ago on vals – Bluegrass, Blues & Reservoir Hill when Drew Brews, Jazz and The Ride. Semel set his four cameras I’d attended Telluride Blueto shoot and Scott grass every year since 1997 “Scooter” Smith rolled tape and Meltdown every year on the performances. We since 2000; 12 of 14 Pagosa asked each artist to perFolk N’ Bluegrasses; 10 form the same 25-minute Four Corners Folk Festivals; set back-to-back, so that and all of the Ska anniverSemel could reset his camsary parties. There were eras from different angles. Alice Wallace, left, and Caitlin Cannon perform a set to a crowd-less lawn The finished product will others – Silverton Jubilee, at Reservoir Hill last week./Courtesy photo Silverton Jamboree, San include close-ups, far-away Juan Brewfest, Aztec Highshots, scenic views of the land Games, Durango Cowboy Gathering, Durango Independent South San Juans and even aerial footage from a drone. For nearly Film Festival, Mancos Valley Brewfest, Pine River Brewfest, KSUT’s two hours, I sat alone in the meadow on Reservoir Hill beyond Party in the Park, KOTO Doo-Dahs, Rockygrass, Rocky Mountain the video cameras and away from others who had gathered. I Folks Festival … and more that I’m surely forgetting. donned my festival hat, popped the top on a few Breckenridge I was saddened (but not surprised) to hear that next year’s beers, and watched and listened. Snowdown was cancelled. I’m waiting to hear what will happen Over in the trees southeast of the stage gathered about a dozen with spring highlights like the Durango Independent Film Festifolks who were part of Dan Appenzeller and Crista Munro’s festival (February), Durango Celtic Gathering (March) and Durango val crew for the past two-and-a-half decades. They were there to Bluegrass Meltdown (April). Will the venues they utilize survive? eulogize Dan as much as they were to catch the act, as AppenWe’ve already lost the Henry Strater Theatre and Irish Embassy. A zeller had died of cancer a week earlier. handful of other music bars and theatres are in limbo during the KSUT went all in, creating festival T-shirts to commemorate times of social distancing. the summer that wasn’t – one that encourages folks to “Stay Virtual events began springing up from the beginning. Back in Calm and Folk On” in a COVID-19 mask on the front. The back April, I put together a two-hour Virtual Meltdown for the KSUT lists the full lineups of the two Reservoir Hill festivals that airwaves that featured nearly every artist that would have been would’ve been. These will be available through the station’s Fall on the Meltdown’s lineup. It was a cathartic experience for the Membership Drive (Sept. 14-18) and through PayPal and online festival’s board members and fans, but especially for me. I’ve donations during the virtual event. been involved in that festival as an emcee or volunteer for nearly You can stream video and audio through the station’s website 20 years and felt a certain sense of ownership – even though I’ve (www.ksut.org), on Facebook Live, or on the airwaves. Eventually, never been a board member. the performances will be archived online. Through the summer and through my roles as development Contrast this with the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, which director and DJ at KSUT, I got involved in numerous other virtual plows through town at full steam, pandemic be damned, this events, including June’s Virtual Pagosa Folk N’ Bluegrass, which weekend. While it’s a fraction of the size of Sturgis, simple math included live, hour-long sets by Lucinda Williams and Tim proves the virus will be spread by the event. They’ve done a reO’Brien; the Community Foundations Concerts in Your Secret markable job of building a full slate of events for the weekend in Garden for three straight Wednesdays in July; the Virtual Party in times of uncertainty and political division. It’s safe to say many the Park, which culled live recordings from the past five years of of us don’t want to see them here and won’t be heading into midsummer classics in Buckley Park; and the Virtual Four Cortown during the rally. It’s equally safe to assume many want to ners Folk Festival, which airs on Facebook Live and KSUT airsee it happen – particularly small business owners who are strugwaves from 7-9 Friday evening. gling to keep the doors open. I’ve also watched or listened to numerous other virtual festiAll you can do is hope they come, have fun, stay safe and pavals and concerts this summer, including those from KOTO, tronize our local establishments … and that we continue to keep Planet Bluegrass and Grey Fox. With each, I drew inspiration. COVID cases low in La Plata County. For those who are masking KOTO taught me how to incorporate live bootlegs into an on-air up and respecting personal space when shopping, I thank you celebration; Planet Bluegrass showed you could use the festival’s and willingly do the same for you. For those who aren’t? I’ll let actual stage to shoot performances; and Grey Fox taught the lesyour imagination create the scowl under my mask. son of brevity by alternating between full archival sets and new, Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net. n
I
10 n Sept. 3, 2020
telegraph
MurderInk
Come sail away by Jeffrey Mannix
N
othing is anywhere near where it should be these days, seems everything has shifted or is floating and here we are, unmoored and flapping around like the astronauts at the space station. And so I thought it my duty to bring you a high-paced, tricked-out police procedural by a man who sure enough knows how to put down the words and plot a suspense that’ll keep you in the weight-gaining position for 300 pages. Hard Cash Valley by Brian Panowich will absolutely keep your mind off the entropy of government and the concomitant wasting of civilization by envy and germs. So I’m recommending Panowich’s exciting crime fiction if you need a break from bleak times or to ease up on the stress for a few nights. But while the unfortunately titled Hard Cash Valley was unquestionably an E-ticket ride for me, when I finished the book I felt as though I had left my post, gone AWOL, even given an ever-so-slight opportunity to viruses and gangsters to achieve herd domination. So I turned to a short book in the European noir genre to wallow in literary tragedy and hopelessness and remain in the funk that precedes the swirl of civilization gurgling down the drain. The Bishop’s Bedroom by Piero Chiara, published by the very selective and elegant New Vessel Press, in translation from Italian by Jill Foulston, will bring you back to reality with a better attitude about your dysthymia (better look that one up). When crime fiction became a genre of its own and broke out of the slapdash and lazy monikered “pulp” fiction, it muscled in to the category of literature beginning
in the late 19th and early 20th century. Now it vies for prominence among what would be indisputably called literary fiction. The Bishop’s Bedroom joins an oeuvre established by such luminaries as Georges Simenon, Pascal Garnier, Patricia Highsmith and another dozen I don’t have time to blow the dust off. First off, The Bishop’s Bedroom is a respectful 150-page paperback priced right, and just mentioning it will improve your status at your Zoom book club meeting. It’s a gem of a book that appeals to sophisticated readers. If you haven’t read any of the classic noir novels and think John Connolly or David Baldacci hung the moon, save your 15 bucks and stick with the made-for-movies novels. If, however, you’ve been reading “Murder Ink” regularly, this is a book for us. One of Italy’s oldest newspapers, La Stampa, called The Bishop’s Bedroom “One of Piero Chiara’s masterpieces.” With the afternoon breeze on Lake Maggiore in the summer of 1946, the sailing yacht Tinca slips into the scenic harbor of Oggebbio. Its owner and crew have plans to visit the well-known Vittoria restaurant before continuing their meandering of Italy’s famous deep-water lake bordering the Swiss Alps. As he is
mooring and stowing gear, an onlooker politely inquires about his boat. He introduces himself as Orimbelli and insinuates himself into the mariner’s evening, first with cocktails in a lakeside pub and then an invitation to join him, his wife and her widowed sister-in-law, Matilde, at their Villa Cleofe looming above the harbor. After three days of entertaining Orimbelli in day sails and himself being entertained at night in the Victorian villa, our nameless seafarer is moved into the bedroom made opulent for some waggish bishop. The two men begin taking longer voyages with the real intent of finding and entertaining women while the dour Signora Cleofe and the well-corseted Matilde busy themselves with tea and flower arrangements. The intrigue developing between Orimbelli, our wanderer, Matilde and women in various ports rises to a crescendo that bodes ill for everybody in a way that only an Italian writer of great talent can envision. As with all the fictions selected for presentation in “Murder Ink,” The Bishop’s Bedroom will enthrall and make you proud to be a reader of classic literary crime fiction. Ask for it at Maria’s Bookshop and get a 15 percent “Murder Ink” discount. n
Come by for a delicious cup! You deserve it, and we’d love to see you! Proudly serving Fahrenheit Coff ffe ee, Espresso, baked goods, teas and more! 1099 Main Ave., under the big clock Mon.- Thurs., 7am-3pm and Fri., 7am-1pm
#
"
! #
"%
% $ !" !" " #
telegraph
Sept. 3, 2020 n 11
StufftoDo
Thursday03 Rob Webster plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Dustin Burley plays, 5-8 p.m., 11th Street Station, Main Ave. and 11th St. “A Grain of Salt: Taking Feedback in Stride,” a virtual conversation with local creatives, 6-8 p.m. Zoom link info at www.durangocreativedistrict.org. Durango Drive-In Movie “Dazed and Confused,” gates open 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., D&SNG parking lot, W. College Drive. Tickets at www.durangodrivein.com.
Friday04 Badly Bent play, 4-7 p.m., The Nugget bar, south of Purgatory.
Deadline for “Stuff to Do” submissions is Monday at noon. To submit an item, email: calendar@durangotelegraph.com
Bad Goat DJ spins, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station, Main Ave. and 11th St. Lacy Black plays, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms, 513 CR 321, Ignacio. Sheryl and Beau play, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Gary B. Walker plays jazz accordion, 6-8 p.m., Dandelion Café, 725 E. Second Ave. KSUT’s Virtual Four Corners Folk Festival, 7-9 p.m., performances recorded for KSUT by Michael Franti, Tommy Emmanuel, Rising Appalachia, Stillhouse Junkies, Caitlin Cannon and Alice Wallace, as well as special performances from Reservoir Hill. Visit ksut.org of KSUT’s FB page. Durango Drive-In Movie “Why We Ride,” gates open 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., D&SNG parking lot, W. College Drive. Tickets at www.durangodrivein.com.
Saturday05 Durango Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8 a.m.-12 noon, in TBK Parking Lot, across from the Transit Center. Facemasks required. www.durangofarmersmarket.com. Free bokken (sword) and jo (staff) lessons, 9-10 a.m., Claire Viles Park. Masks required. durangoaikido.com
“PIVOT,” an exhibit of more than 100 skateboard decks designed by Native American artists, is on display at FLC’s Center of Southwest Studies now through spring 2021. Viewing is by appointment only, with groups capped at eight per 45-minute time slot. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday – Friday, and some Saturdays. Visitors are required to wear masks and maintain social distancing. There is also a virtual tour and interviews on the center’s YouTube channel and FB and Instagram pages. Up,” 1-5 p.m., pick up kits at Star Liquors. Tickets and info at: www.SanJuanBrewfest.com.
Free Books, 11 a.m.,, 923 Narrow Gauge Ave.
Devin Scott plays ukulele, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Chuck Hank plays solo, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station, Main Ave. and 11th St. Black Velvet plays, 6-8 p.m., Dandelion Café, 725 E. Second Ave. Drive-in Concert Series featuring Ben Gibson and Rob Webster, 1-4:30, La Plata Senior Center Parking Lot. $50/vehicles. Benefits La Plata County Humane Society.
Bo James plays solo, 12-2 p.m., 11th Street Station, Main Ave. and 11th St. Woodland Remedy plays, 4-7 p.m., The Nugget Bar, south of Purgatory. Blue Moon Ramblers play Americana/bluegrass, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Matt Rupnow plays, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Durango Drive-In Movie “Big Lebowski,” gates open 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., D&SNG parking lot, W. College Drive. Tickets at www.durangodrivein.com.
Lacy Black plays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 11th Street Station, Main Ave. and 11th St.
Durango Drive-In Movie “Easy Rider,” gates open 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., D&SNG parking lot, W. College Drive. Tickets at www.durangodrivein.com.
Middle Ground plays, 4 p.m., The Nugget Bar, south of Purgatory.
Sunday06
Monday07
Henry Stoy plays piano, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m., Jean Pierre Wine Bar, College Drive and Main.
Meditation and Dharma Talk with Erin Treat, 5:307 p.m. online at www.durangodharmacenter.org 4
San Juan Brewfest At-Home: “Keep Your Spirits
'* ,
12 n Sept. 3, 2020
telegraph
Bob Hemenger plays, 5-8 p.m., 11th Street Station.
, $
, "!% ! + " # ! "! &
'$! % ! % + "& ! + & ( ,
%%"$ % + ) $*
AskRachel
Rule 34, Big Mac attack and neighborly conspiracies Interesting fact: Fast foods, high in sugar and fats, stimulate the brain’s natural opioids. You literally can’t Just Say No. Dear Rachel, Do you know that old thing about imagining a polar bear? Tell someone not to think about a polar bear, and they’ll think about a polar bear. Well, I just learned about Rule 34. Do you know about this? It says that if you can imagine it, there’s already porn about it. It’s my new polar bear. I literally cannot stop thinking about this. I’m now pornifying everything in my sight lines. It’s ruined watching “Sesame Street” with my kid. How can I make it stop? – I Frighten Myself Dear Late to the Party, Um, have you tried thinking of the president? Anyone who’s ever thought of him sexually got paid hundreds of thousands of dollars of someone else’s money for the displeasure. Maybe you could get rich off of your curse. Otherwise… well, turn off PBS, for starters, before Mr. Rogers comes on. Watch the “Chainsaw Massacre” movies. Donate to feed a family in Africa. Listen to experimental jazz. You’ll either free yourself of the burden, or have some really niche kinks. – Enjoy, Rachel Dear Rachel, About 10 years ago, I decided to eat clean. I don’t think there’s a name for my diet, and I’m not some extremist. But the rules were pretty simple. No soda pop, no fast food, and minimize
corn syrups. Eat fresh and eat local when it’s feasible. Eat organic when possible. Stuff like that. Well, I was on a long haul recently, and we stopped for McDonald’s because it was there, and I thought I’d hate it. But it’s like crack cocaine spiked with meth and served in a Pixie Stick straw. I can’t stop craving it now. I’ve gone to the local arches three times now. How can I unhook myself? – Happy Meal Dear McAddict, Easy! Vegans are so passionate because simple foods, while they don’t light up our brains the same way as a freshly warmed quarter pounder, also taste bland and boring in comparison. You’d have to pep-talk yourself like a zealot in order to never cave in to a pouch of fries that might be cross-contaminated with hamburger grease. So get fired up for celery, my friend! It’s your only hope. – Bon appetit, Rachel Dear Rachel, I have a new neighbor who I’ve only met on walks and such. I’ll make the obligatory pandemic comments, which was a big mistake because now he’s sending me links to “news” “articles” written by people like Tyler Durden. You know, ye olde fictional fight club franchisor. His only commentary is statements like “See whatcha think” and “There’s misinformation everywhere!” Is he just trolling me to see if I’ll call him out on his BS? – His Name Wasn’t Tyler Durden
MoreStufftoDo
Main Ave. Reserve your spot at www.primidurango.com
from p.12 Rob Webster plays, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Backyard fruit harvesting with Good Food Collective, Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m. Meet at Manna Soup Kitchen. Bring water bottle, face mask and boxes/bags for any fruit you want to take home. Info at: goodfoodcollective.org/get-involved
Adam Swanson plays, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Free bokken (sword) and jo (staff) lessons, 5-6 p.m., Claire Viles Park. Masks required. www.durangoaikido.com
Ed Bolster plays live on the patio, 6-8 p.m., PRIMI Pasta & Wine Bar, 1201 Main Ave.
Devin Scott plays, 5-8 p.m., 11th Street Station, Main Ave. and 11th St.
Tuesday08
Terry Rickard plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“Top 10 Fatal Mistakes Small Businesses Make and How to Avoid Them,” free Zoom webinar, 9-10 a.m., sponsored by the FLC’s Small Business Development Center. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/yx9z7sxz
Jeff Solon plays jazz, 6-8 p.m., Dandelion Café, 725 E. Second Ave.
Leah Orlikowski plays, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Alison and Friends play, 6-8 p.m., Dandelion Café, 725 E. Second Ave. Rotary Club of Durango Zoom meeting, featuring local journalist and author Curt Brown, 6 p.m. Email: mtnman16@gmail.com. “Recent Developments in the Settlement of the Americas,” Zoom presentation by History Live and the San Juan Basin Archaeological Society, 7 p.m. Log-in info at: sjbas.org.
Wednesday09 Wednesday Wine Workshop, “Sicilian Wines” with sommelier Tracy, 4-5 p.m., PRIMI Pasta & Wine Bar, 1201
Ongoing PIVOT: Skateboard Deck Art exhibit, over 100 skateboard decks painted by 30 different Native American artists, on view by appointment through spring 2021, Center of SW Studies, Fort Lewis College. swcenter.fortlewis.edu/ “1918 Durango: The Pandemic, the War and the Peace,” bringing to life the impact of the Spanish Flu and World War I on Southwest Colorado, presented by KSUT Four Corners Public Radio. ksut.org/programs for details. “Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” exhibit on the history of 200 items from the Football Hall of Fame, Farmington Museum. Open Sun., noon-5 p.m.; Mon., Thurs., Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For info go to FarmingtonMuseum.org or call (505) 599-1174. “Inside Out: An Exhibit on Womens Fashion,” from the first bras to Lady Gaga’s boots, see original outfits
telegraph
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com Dear Lucky Recipient, I’ve lost enough faith in people this year that I truly believe no one is self-aware enough to send you misinformation ironically. And now that I pictured it, I also truly believe there is a COVID Club somewhere out there. It’s like porn: if you imagine it, someone else has already done it. No one can talk about COVID Club. You show up in a parking garage, circle up and spit in each other’s mouths. It makes you feel alive, at least until you’re dead. – Her name was Rachel, Rachel from fashion icons throughout American history, Farmington Museum. Open Sun., noon-5 p.m.; Mon., Thurs., Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For info go to FarmingtonMuseum.org or call (505) 599-1174. The Durango Art Brigade is holding an open call for artists to beautify the central business district through Sept. 4. Finalists will be displayed the month of October. Projects include but are not limited to: sculptures, pop-up furniture, pop-up green spaces with plants, installations in empty storefronts, mini murals, mixed media art, performance art, and more! To find out more, visit durangocreativedistrict.org/get-involved/dab Phoenix Art Project Community Exhibit, a community show on the challenges, resilience and strengths revealed by the pandemic, on display thru Sept. 20, Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. For info., email liz@du rangoarts.org or Jen@durangoarts.org . iAM Music Songwriting Contest, through Sept. 4. $25 entry fee. Sign up and submit at www.iammusic.us.
Upcoming: Jose Villareal plays, Sept. 10, 5-8 p.m., 11th Street Station, Main Ave. and 11th St. Sean O’Brien plays, Sept. 10, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Deadline to submit items for “Stuff to Do” is Monday at noon. E-mail your stuff to: calendar@durangotelegraph.com
Sept. 3, 2020 n 13
FreeWillAstrology by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): “A new idea is rarely born like Venus attended by graces. More commonly it’s modeled of baling wire and acne. More commonly it wheezes and tips over.” Those words were written by Aries author Marge Piercy, who has been a fount of good new ideas in the course of her career. I regard her as an expert in generating wheezy, fragile breakthroughs and ultimately turning them into shiny, solid beacons of revelation. Your assignment in the coming weeks, Aries, is to do as Piercy has done so well. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Every day I discover even more beautiful things,” painter Claude Monet said. “It is intoxicating me, and I want to paint it all. My head is bursting.” That might seem like an extreme state to many of us. But Monet was a specialist in the art of seeing. He trained himself to be alert for exquisite sights. So his receptivity to the constant flow of loveliness came naturally to him. I bring this to your attention, Taurus, because I think that in the coming weeks, you could rise closer to a Monetlike level of sensitivity to beauty. Would that be interesting to you? If so, unleash yourself! Make it a priority to look for charm, elegance, grace, delight and dazzlement.
% & !" , !, ! ' & ! "& % ' &'+ "& % ' + "*!
% % "! !
*' ! "# % '
&!
"
' ! ! &' $( %
! ) (% ! " " "(%&
% !
) %+
14 n Sept. 3, 2020
+
! %'
'% !
#
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Author Renata Adler describes a time in her life when she began to notice blue triangles on her feet. She was wracked with fear that they were a symptom of leukemia. But after a period of intense anxiety, she realized one fine day that they had a different cause. She writes: “Whenever I, walking barefoot, put out the garbage on the landing, I held the apartment door open, bending over from the rear. The door would cross a bit over the tops of my feet” leaving triangular bruises. Upon realizing this very good news, she says, “I took a celebrational nap.” From what I can tell, Gemini, you’re due for a series of celebrational naps – both because of worries that turn out to be unfounded and because you need a concentrated period of recharging your energy reserves. CANCER (June 21-July 22): “I like people who refuse to speak until they are ready to speak,” proclaimed Cancerian author Lillian Hellman. I feel the same way. So often people have nothing interesting or important to say, but say it anyway. I’ve done that myself! The uninteresting and unimportant words I have uttered are too numerous to count. The good news for me and all of my fellow Cancerians is that in the coming weeks we are far more likely than usual to not speak until we are ready to speak. According to my analysis
of the astrological potentials, we are poised to express ourselves with clarity, authenticity, and maximum impact. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Of all the mournful impacts the pandemic has had, one of the most devastating is that it has diminished our opportunities to touch and be touched by other humans. Many of us are starved of the routine, regular contact we had previously taken for granted. I look forward to the time when we can again feel uninhibited about shaking hands, hugging and patting friends on the arm or shoulder. In the meantime, how can you cope? This issue is extra crucial for you Leos to meditate on right now. Can you massage yourself? Seek extra tactile contact with animals? Hug trees? Figure out how to physically connect with people while wearing hazmat suits, gloves, masks and face shields? What else? VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “Like any art, the creation of self is both natural and seemingly impossible,” singersongwriter Holly Near says. “It requires training as well as magic.” How are you doing on that score, Virgo? Now is a favorable time to intensify your long-term art project of creating the healthiest, smartest version of yourself. I think it will feel quite natural and not-atall impossible. In the coming weeks, you’ll have a finely tuned intuitive sense of how to proceed with flair. Start by imagining the Most Beautiful You. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I propose we resurrect the old English word “museful.” First used in the 17th century but then forgotten, it meant “deeply thoughtful; pensive.” In our newly coined use, it refers to a condition wherein a person is abundantly inspired by the presence of the muse. I further suggest that we invoke this term to apply to you Libras in the coming weeks. You potentially have a high likelihood of intense communion with your muses. There’s also a good chance you’ll engage with a new muse or two. What will you do with all of this illumination and stimulation? SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Each of us has a “soul’s code:” a metaphorical blueprint of the beautiful person we could become by fulfilling our destiny. If our soul’s code remains largely dormant, it will agitate and disorient us. If, on the other hand, we perfectly actualize our soul’s code, we will feel at home in the world; all our experiences will feel meaningful. The practical fact is that most of us have made some progress in manifesting our soul’s code, but still have a way to go before we fully actualize it. Here’s the good news: You Scorpios are in a phase of your cycle when you could make dramatic advances in this glorious work.
telegraph
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): “Life is the only game in which the object of the game is to learn the rules,” Sagittarian author Ashleigh Brilliant observes. According to my research, you have made excellent progress in this quest during the last few weeks— and will continue your good work in the next six weeks. Give yourself an award! Buy yourself a trophy! You have discovered at least two rules that were previously unknown to you, and you have also ripened your understanding of another rule that had previously been barely comprehensible. Be alert for more breakthroughs. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “If you’re not lost, you’re not much of an explorer,” rambunctious activist and author John Perry Barlow said. Adding to his formulation, I’ll say that if you want to be a successful explorer, it’s crucial to get lost on some occasions. And according to my analysis, now is just such a time for you Capricorns. The new territory you have been brave enough to reconnoiter should be richly unfamiliar. The possibilities you have been daring enough to consider should be provocatively unpredictable. Keep going, my dear! That’s the best way to become un-lost. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Dreams really tell you about yourself more than anything else in this world could ever tell you,” psychic Sylvia Browne said. She was referring to the mysterious stories that unfold in our minds as we sleep. I agree with her assessment of dreams’ power to show us who we really are all the way down to the core of our souls. What Browne didn’t mention, however, is that it takes knowledge and training to become proficient in deciphering dreams’ revelations. Their mode of communication is unique – and unlike every other source of teaching. I bring this up, Aquarius, because the coming months will be a favorable time for you to become more skilled in understanding your dreams. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In June 1876, warriors from three Indian tribes defeated U.S. troops led by General George Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana. It was an iconic victory in what was ultimately a losing battle to prevent conquest by the ever-expanding American empire. One of the tribes that fought that day was the Northern Cheyenne. Out of fear of punishment by the U.S. government, its leaders waited 130 years to tell its side of the story about what happened. New evidence emerged then, such as the fact that the only woman warrior in the fight, Buffalo Calf Road Woman, killed Custer. I offer this tale as an inspiration for you Pisceans to tell your story about events that you’ve kept silent about for too long.
classifieds
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon. Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum. Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com. Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)
Ads can be submitted via: n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133 n 679 E. 2nd Ave., #E2 Approximate office hours: Mon: 9ish - 5ish Tues: 9ish - 5ish Wed: 9ish - 3ish Thurs: On delivery Fri: Gone fishing; call first
Announcements The Perfect Gift for your favorite dirtbag. Literature from Durango’s own Benighted Publications. The Desert, The Climbing Zine, The Great American Dirtbags, American Climber, Climbing Out of Bed and Graduating From College Me are available at: Maria’s Bookshop, Pine Needle Mountaineering, the Sky Store, or on the interweb at www.climbingzine.com.
Lost/Found Reward for Return! Of pair of men’s moccasins, rust buff suede with silver concho. Left in vicinity of Memorial Park Phase One by river So. 2nd St. Aug. 20 Kindly call/text 520-2168762 - Thanks!! Found Guitar on Lime Creek Road Found a guitar left at a campsite on Lime Creek Rd. If you can describe it to me it’s yours. Derrell 970-759-4939
Wanted Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.
Services Math Tutor Would you like some help passing that online/in-person/hybrid math class? Call or text Brendan at 970-769-4089. How Am I Going to Entertain Everyone? With a virtual or live/outdoor magic show, of course. Everyone loves magic and Mysto the Magi provides amazing magic with comedy that keeps everyone entertained at your next gathering. Get a world class magician from Denver right
here in Durango while he waits out the current world situation. (970) 759-5015 MystoTheMagi@hotmail.com Homeschool Consultant/Tutor With 12 yrs. classroom and 5 yrs. homeschool experience, I can help you develop a homeschool plan or tutor your child in grades K-6. s_5rankin@hotmail.com Landscape Services affordable mowing, trimming and construction services, Jon 970-799-4503. RSE Handyman Service Home maintenance & repair, yard work, odd jobs 970-903-0449. 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 Harmony Organizing and Cleaning Services Home and office 970-403-6192. Marketing Small and Local Businesses Media, social media, website content, SEO, etc. for small, local, independent or startup businesses. jnderge@gmail.com
kit with Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB interface, headphones, mic. and stand. $500 Contact Luke at 970-376-3116 or lukeme hall@gmail.com Reruns Home Furnishings Lots of items to cozy up dorm rooms and apartments. Midcentury dresser, dining table and chairs, mirrors, lamps, carved wooden room divider, bookcases, barstools, nightstands and more. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.
RealEstate Radon Services Free radon testing and consultation. Call Colorado Radon Abatement and Detection for details. 970- 946-1618.
CommunityService The Durango Art Brigade is holding an open call for artists to beautify the central business district
through Sept. 4. Finalists will be displayed the month of October. Projects include but are not limited to: sculptures, pop-up furniture, pop-up green spaces with plants, installations in empty storefronts, mini murals, mixed media art, performance art, and more! To find out more, visit durango creativedistrict.org/get-involved/dab Report Bears in Trash City residents can call 375-4930 to report incidents of trash accessed by bears. County residents should call Animal Protection via Central Dispatch at 385-2900. Contact Bear Smart Durango at bp@fron tier.net for more information.
HaikuMovieReview ‘The Binge’ Truly terrible drug movie but still not as bad as ‘Up in Smoke’ – Lainie Maxson
NewspaperOrigami
A bird
BodyWork massageintervention.life Voted best massage in Durango 201819. Couples, cupping, local CBD. Reviews on FB + Yelp. 970-903-2984
ForRent Bright & Beautiful Office Space available inside natural health care office. Perfect for body worker or therapist. Shared waiting area & bathroom. Free: pkg, wifi & util. $550/mo Call/ text 970.749.2815 Off Grid Cabin Next to national forest, 45 mins. from town. $500/mo. + $500/dep. Possible work exchange. snowdomeranch@proton mail.com
ForSale Recording equipment Rode NT1A complete vocal recording
telegraph
Sept. 3, 2020 n 15
16 n Sept. 3, 2020
telegraph