The Durango Telegraph, June 16, 2022

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June 16, 2022 Vol. XXI, No. 29 durangotelegraph.com

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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

Wayne says ...

Balancing ACT

Cryptobiotic crisis

Brushes with greatness and the quest for the Cup p4

Music venue discusses decision to change up summer offerings p8

Delicate desert crust the latest victim of climate change p10

2 n June 16, 2022

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lineup

4

4 La Vida Local

Getting my GOAT Brushes with hockey greatness and the quest for the Cup

by Missy Votel

4 Thumbin’ It 5 Word on the Street 6 Soapbox

8

8 Top Story

Mixing it up Due to low concert sales, theatre tries new approach to summer

Ear to the ground: “Half of the team was injured before warm-up was over.”

– Local thirtysomething discussing why most of us stop playing kickball after 4th grade

Dirty business

thepole

RegularOccurrences

Here’s a Public Service Announcement we never thought we’d have to write: When you relieve yourself in the woods, don’t set the toilet paper on fire afterward, especially when the entire West is burning.

But alas, this comes too late for Matthew Riser, a 57-year-old Louisiana man who authorities arrested on suspicion of starting the massive Pipeline Fire raging outside Flagstaff.

From Arizona’s Channel 5 News: “Riser reportedly admitted to lighting toilet paper, which he called ‘sh**’ paper, and had tried to put it out with his sleeping bag, which was 80 yards from where the fire started.”

10 Land Desk

by Jonathan Romeo

11 RockNRoll Sweetheart 12-13 Stuff to Do

10

13 Ask Rachel

Don’t tread on me Critical part to the desert ecosystem at risk of climate change, recreation

by Jonathan Thompson / Land Desk

14 Free Will Astrology 15 Classifieds 15 Haiku Movie Review

11

Hardcore encore

On the cover: Evening fish session at Mancos State Park. Read all the fly-fishing guides you want; some days, your wife is just luckier with the catch./ Photo by Alex Krebs

It ain’t easy playing obscure genres in Durango, but some make it work

by Alex Vick

boilerplate

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

T

he Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, beckoning singletrack or monster powder days. We are wholly owned and operated independently by the Durango Telegraph LLC and

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We’re only human. If, by chance, we defame someone’s good name or that of their family, neighbor, best

friend or dog, we will accept full responsibility in a public flogging in the following week’s issue.

Although “free but not easy,” we can be plied with schwag, booze and flattery.

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That firefighting tactic, obviously, did not work. As of Wednesday, the Pipeline Fire had burned more than 20,000 acres, just two days after igniting, and was the reason Durango looked like the end times on Monday.

Anyway, what we’re trying to say is, the entire region is at a heightened risk for wildfire, so please don’t burn the place down. On June 15, the San Juan National Forest and La Plata County entered into stricter Stage 2 Fire Restrictions. The following activities are now prohibited: 1) Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, including fires in developed recreation sites (campgrounds and picnic areas), charcoal grills and barbecues, coal and wood burning stoves, and sheepherder’s stoves.

2) Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, trailer or building.

3) Blasting, welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame.

4) Operating or using any internal combustion engine without an effective and properly installed USDA- or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)- approved spark arrestor.

5) Operating a chainsaw without an effective and properly installed USDA- or SAE- approved spark arrestor, a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum of 8 oz. capacity and rating of 2A) kept with the operator and a round point shovel with an overall length of at least 35 inches readily available for use.

6) Using an explosive. This includes but is not limited to fuses, blasting caps, fireworks, exploding targets, tracers and incendiary ammunition.

7) Possessing or using a motor vehicle off established roads, motorized trails or established parking areas, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the vehicle.

And I guess we have to add an 8th: Don’t light your used s*** paper on fire.

June 16, 2022 n

3

opinion

LaVidaLocal Brush with Greatness “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” Wayne Gretzky famously said.

Heeding this sage advice, I handed my phone to the guy sitting behind me who had a slightly better angle of The Great One, who was a mere three rows from where I was sitting in Ball Arena.

There were some other guys with him, too, like BizNasty, of “Spittin Chiclets” podcast fame, who seemed to be especially popular with the younger dudes. But no shade to Biz – who later would shave the top of his head after losing a humiliating wager against the Avs – all eyes, and phones, were on Gretzky. In fact, people had stopped trying to take the “pretend selfie” altogether and were just blatantly paparazzi-ing the hockey god in their midst.

Aside from having quite possibly the best flow ever in the sport of hockey, Gretzky, of course, is the greatest human to ever put his stick on the ice. And other than once passing a guy who I’m convinced was Joe Sakic at DIA, this was the closest to hockey greatness I had ever come. I would treasure those fuzzy iPhone pixels of Gretzky’s likeness for life – of course after posting it to Insta so everyone knew how cool I was.

The Gretzky sighting was the icing on a hockey pilgrimage of sorts. A few days earlier, a friend in Denver had called me to say she had extra tickets to an Avalanche playoff game. Her husband, who had season tickets, was going to be out of town and said she could invite friends, “as long as they like hockey.” Which I do – as in driving-six-hours-across-the-state-at-a-moment’s-notice-to-see-my-guys kind of like.

OK, so maybe I’m obsessed – at least more than the average mild-mannered mom should be about a professional sport where sweaty men regularly beat the crap out of each other. But in my defense, I grew up in the Northland, immersed in the culture of ice rinks, mullets and missing teeth. Despite this, I never played hockey growing up – it just wasn’t an option in those dawning days of Title IX. Instead, I figure skated – that is, until it was discovered that I had the grace not of a gazelle but a giraffe.

After accepting that “Ice Castles” and Robby Benson weren’t in my future, I finally got the opportunity to play hockey on a women’s team several years after I hung up the toe picks. By now, I was living in Colorado, where I had adopted the Avalanche as the only sports team I really cared about. (My original guys were the Minnesota Northstars, who later moved to Dallas and became dead to me, a tragic tale for another day.)

Anyway, it wasn’t until playing – or attempting to play – that I truly got an appreciation for how badass the sport of hockey really is. As if figuring out how to put on all the gear isn’t hard enough, then you have to flail around on a sheet of ice swatting at a

small, fast-moving piece of rubber with a long projectile whilst wearing sharp blades on your feet and trying not to kill yourself or anyone else. Oh, and the whole time you’re feeling like you’re going to have a heart attack, because even though you skate slightly faster than paint dries, it is hard work to get all the gear and body parts moving in the right direction, only to have to stop and go in a completely different direction. The whole thing kind of gives new meaning to “miracle on ice.”

And sometimes, let’s just say, things don’t go as planned. Over the years, I have sustained a sprained cankle from a slap shot I stupidly tried to stop, two dislocated shoulders, a bloody ear (taped up by the Zamboni driver), a pulled hammie, a pulled groin and more hits to the head than a person my age should sustain.

It’s a silly, ridiculous, awkward, brutal, humbling and impossibly frustrating sport.

But, there are those occasional glimmers of greatness that keep you coming back – like the goal I once scored off a lucky bounce from my, uh, lady parts, which will forever be known as the “immaculate deflection.”

However, in the capable hands and feet of a gifted athlete, the sport of hockey is a thing of beauty. It’s a brilliant display of strength, speed, strategy and silky smooth moves that brings tears to the eyes of us mere mortals who struggle just to get over the boards.

Case in point, Avs defender Cale Makar, aka the baby-faced assassin, who at 23 has the hockey world rightfully fawning all over him. Although Cale and I both have been playing about the same amount of time, he is going to the Stanley Cup, whereas the only cup I’ll ever see is in my shorts. (Yes, girls wear them, too – no one wants to take a puck to the junk.)

And speaking of pucks to the junk, I am sorry to all the other fans out there whose guys didn’t make it to the finals – especially the fan of a certain losing team who works in my office. But I won’t salt the wounds, even though it’s a good thing his team lost, because it would have made for weird workplace dynamics when I sang “We are the Champions” as he cried into his Rangers jersey. And whether you like the Avs or not, I think we can all get behind universally hating an ice hockey team from Tampon Bay. Oops, I mean Tampa – thank god for spellcheck! – even if they have that Stamkos guy from “Full House” and his fabulous mullet.

Of course, by the time you read this, the Avs will have played their first game.

And I will have aged another 10 years, my dogs will be suffering PTSD from all my screaming, yelling and antics, and I might be eating my words for (accidentally) referring to the opponents as feminine hygiene products. But then again, it’s hockey – where colorful chirping is celebrated. And, like the GOAT says, you miss 100% of the pot shots you don’t take.

SignoftheDownfall:

Thumbin’It Reports that the monsoon season could start as early as this weekend.

For those that need a refresher, the monsoons bring rain; rain is a liquid in the form of water droplets that falls from the sky.

Longtime Telegraph contributor Zach Hively’s poetry collection “Desert Apocrypha” receiving top honors from the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association.

Father’s Day on Sunday, celebrating everything our fathers gave us: a love of Dire Straits, dad jokes, a national shortage on ties and a tyrannical conviction on how we should manage our lawns and thermostats.

4 n June 16, 2022

– Missy Votel

Another failed attempt to find a managed camp for those experiencing homelessness in La Plata County, after the site near the Durango Dog Park proved unworkable.

The United Arab Emirates banning Disney’s new “Toy Story” spinoff – “Lightyear”– allegedly because of a same-sex kiss in the film. What’s wrong with a little toy-on-toy action?

FBLie

China heightening tensions over Taiwan. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is anyone else having déjà vu over that other time there was a war in Europe and Asia? Everyone be on high alert for a man with a funny mustache.

Back in ’18, Finders Keepers, a professional treasure-hunting outfit, led the FBI to a site near Dent’s Run (northeast of Pittsburgh) where an 1863 shipment of Union gold was thought to be stolen/buried. A geo-survey confirmed a 9-ton buried mass that would be worth $500M, but now, the FBI is saying they didn’t find anything, and they lost all the videos of the excavation. So, the treasure hunters are suing for their finder’s fee and crying foul all over social media, which is ironic, given that Finders Keepers should understand, “losers weepers.”

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WordontheStreet

Q

With fire bans in place on public lands, The Telegraph asked: “What’s your campfire alternative for hanging out at night?”

Paul

Zane

"I just got off the river, and we brought a propane fire pan, so no sparks.

Good way to deal with reality of fire bans."

"Stargazing is always a good one."

Joe Dakota

“Mountain biking, especially with how hot it is during the day.”

"I work in wildnerness therapy, so a lot of therapeutic group talks."

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June 16, 2022

n

5

SoapBox

D-Tooned/by Rob Pudim

Threat to democracy In mid-May, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) had its annual meeting where GOP movers and shakers plan and strategize for their desired future for America. What’s telling is that they met in Hungary and had that country’s president, Dictator Viktor Orbán, as the keynote speaker.

Orbán has eliminated freedom of the press. The only media allowed are proOrbán. We know ex-President Donald Trump would love that. Trump loves hanging out with dictators around the world, kindred spirits. Orbán is one of them.

Orbán has packed the courts, as has the GOP. Orbán has promoted “Christian heritage” and cranked up repression of LBGTQ+ people. The pro-GOP religious right wants that in the U.S. But I challenge you to find “Christian heritage” in the Constitution.

The GOP works tirelessly to expand and solidify single party democracy in the U.S. The CPAC gathering in Hungary shows they are being more and more open about their goal, despite all the GOP candidates like our own Lauren Boebert who campaigns on protecting “freedom,” whatever that means these days. Not women’s reproductive freedoms, it seems.

Following Trump’s ongoing lie about a stolen 2020 election, GOP states are busy making it harder for people to vote in the bogus guise of election integrity and harder for people’s votes to mean anything, thanks to political gerrymandering.

And, the GOP is making it easier for partisan election officials and state legislatures to overturn election results they don’t like.

The GOP is rooting out state and local election officials committed to free and fair elections, and running candidates such as Tina Peters, who supports Trump’s election lies and promises to make sure votes go the way the GOP wants. They are the ones trying to rig elections.

On June 9, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 violent coup attempt made their first big public presentation.

Congressional Republicans trotted out various shiny issues to try to distract Americans from how close we came to the overthrow of democracy, instigated by Trump so he could stay in power.

No surprise at the attempted distraction, because a majority of Congressional Republicans did their part to support the overthrow of election results from inside the Capitol – including Boebert, who had sworn just days before to protect and defend the Constitution. The GOP has worked hard to whitewash what happened on that day.

Lots to ponder as we approach July 4 and the fall election, where these antidemocracy Republicans are expected to take control of Congress. The threat to democracy continues.

– Carole McWilliams, Bayfield

6 n June 16, 2022

Health care is a right Since the 1980s, Americans have been told that inserting private health insurers as middlemen between patients and physicians will save money and improve care. After 40 years, that theory has failed at both.

Our six largest health insurers have been consolidating for many years, buying up smaller competitors and merging with big pharmacy benefit management companies (e.g. CVS merging with Aetna).

Their revenues have quadrupled, and profits have grown from about $12 billion in 2010 to more than $60 billion in 2021.

Insurers are also buying up physician practices and clinics. UnitedHealthcare is the largest physician employer in the country. This results in them steering us to providers that they own and/or operate.

With their supersized profits, insurance companies are spending more to influence public opinion, sometimes using misinformation to influence public policy as well as elections.

These companies are also making us pay more and more out of our own pockets through cost-sharing deductibles, copays and co-insurance before they pay a penny in actual healthcare. They aren’t paying nearly the same percentage of claims or the amounts of claims they used to pay because of their ability to shift more of the cost to us.

Most Americans don’t even have $400 in the bank, much less more than $17,000, which is the maximum out-ofpocket for a family policy. This has caused more than one million Americans to file for bankruptcy when they receive care – 80% of medical bankruptcies are individuals or families that have employer insurance.

Currently, our overall health care financing system is largely funded by the taxpayer in the U.S. Americans pay higher health care taxes in the U.S. than any other developed country. We have a $4.3 trillion annual health care economy in the

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U.S., and approximately $3 trillion of that comes from the U.S. taxpayer.

The supersized revenues of the big six health insurers last year totaled $1 trillion.

They take the profit margin on that revenue and reward shareholders and top executives, and still have plenty left over to spend on media, political contributions and lobbying our legislators. Very little is used to lower premium prices or offer better coverage.

Americans are also being priced out of pharmaceuticals these days. More than 45 million Americans forgo medications due to cost. Historically, Pharma quotes the cost of Research & Development as to why these prices are so high. The truth is that drug prices are not set according to R&D costs, but how much the market will bear.

The largest pharmaceutical companies spend sometimes twice as much on marketing than R&D. Pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars buying off competitors to stay away from their most profitable drugs and to keep them out of the market and delay generic production. Insurance and medication inflation is due to unregulated monopoly power.

So what do we do about this bleak picture of health care? Pay attention to candidates running for office in each party.

Attend town halls and Zoom forums, and ask hard questions. Ask if they’re taking money from healthcare special interest groups and PACs. Ask our current legislators if they do. Health care is not about political parties; it’s about the legislators who write our laws in favor of corporations and don’t enforce anti-trust laws. Indifference is how they maintain the status quo, which can cost us our lives and life savings. Voting is our power.

Health care and public education should be considered infrastructure. Education and health care is something everyone needs in their lives and makes both our country and economy stronger. Our voice is our vote.

– Jan Phillips, Durango

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June 16, 2022 n 7

TopStory

Balancing ACT Durango’s only true music venue discusses decision to cut summer concerts

by Jonathan Romeo

C

iting low turnout for concerts in the summer months, one of downtown Durango’s longest-standing venues, the Animas City Theatre, has decided to forgo hosting live music and instead offer a magic show four days a week until Labor Day. “Basically, the attendance is historically low for music during the summer, and we’ve lost money every year,” Michele Redding, who has co-owned the ACT for nine years, said.

“We’ve tried all different things over the years trying to get people in the door, and it just hasn’t happened.”

Redding said the abundance of outdoor concerts and festivals, both locally and across the region, coupled with the fact most Durangoans are out enjoying the mountains, deserts and rivers, leads to low ticket sales in the summer.

Still, the absence of shows at the ACT, which many see as the town’s only classic music venue, has come as a disappointment to some local music lovers.

“We have gotten some harsh responses,” Redding said.

“But we try to respond positively about our reasoning.”

Summer slump Historically, the ACT has done well with ticket sales from September through April or May, Redding said. Then, as schools let out and families go on vacation, and Durangoans take to the outdoors, there’s a steep drop off.

When taking into account the cost of hiring bands, staffing to run the show and other operational expenses, Redding said the ACT’s previous owner would just shutter its doors over the summer.

“I prefer not to do that,” she said. “We want our staff to stay employed. That’s a biggie for me.”

In her tenure, Redding said the ACT has tried most everything to lure people to shows. They brought in national touring acts. They tried hosting shows later at night, after bars started to wind down. One summer, the ACT booked just local bands for a $5 cover. And, the ACT has tried booking headliners en route to major festivals in the region on weekdays.

Nothing has seemed to work, Redding said. As a result, on average, the ACT sells around 60 tickets per show during the summer, which is nowhere near enough to cover expenses and turn a profit.

It’s not just the ACT that finds difficulties booking shows in the summer, either. Charles Leslie, director of Fort Lewis College’s Community Concert Hall, reiterated many of the same issues, which is why the venue rarely hosts shows from June to August.

Due to low sales in the summer, the Animas City Theatre will host a magic show./ Photo by Jonathan Romeo “There is so much outdoor activity in Durango that hosting indoor concerts has never proven to be super successful,” Leslie said.

Risky business It might be helpful here to lay out the landscape for booking music in our (somewhat) remote corner of the world. For starters, Durango is a relatively small market that’s not located on an interstate or generally on the way between major markets, such as between Denver and Albuquerque or Salt Lake City.

As a result, places like ACT or the Concert Hall have to pay more to lure artists, which drives up ticket prices. If people don’t show, promoters still are on the hook to pay bands, staff, utilities, hotels, meals and other expenses.

“It’s a risk every time you book an artist,” Leslie said. “Because if people don’t show, you are in trouble financially.”

Venues generally try to land artists who have either successfully played Durango before or are considered up-and-

Summer shopping Jimmy’s, aren’t you?

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Hours: mon - Fri 11-6 & Sat 11-5: www.jimmysmusic.supply 1239 Main Ave • 970-764-4577 8

n June 16, 2022

coming. But then you have to factor in the other curveball: Durango crowds are notoriously finicky.

“If you figure that out, you’re gonna make millions,” Leslie joked. “But that is the ongoing question: How do you know if artists are going to do well?”

Of course, people in the community always say: book better acts, and turnout will improve. But, seeing as everyone has their own definition of what is “good” music, this logic is subjective. So, the onus falls on the booking agent, who tries to appeal to what he or she thinks will draw the biggest crowd.

Accounting for taste Eugene Salaz, who has been the booking manager at the ACT for 12 years, is sort of a gatekeeper to the music Durangoans are exposed to and get to enjoy. And he’s aware people have strong opinions on his music choices, to say the least.

“Everyone has something to say about everything, and they’re not afraid to hold back,” Salaz said. “I’ve been getting

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hate mail, and I’ve just accepted the fact you can’t make everyone happy.”

Hey, sounds like running a newspaper.

The ACT gets 20-30 emails a day from bands – both smaller and larger acts – interested in playing Durango, Salaz said. But he has to weigh a number of factors: Have they performed here before? Does the band’s available date conflict with a major outdoor festival?

“If we think it has some sort of a risk, we’ll pass,” he said. “And we take into account Durango is probably one of the most unpredictable markets in the music industry in our state.”

Despite public perception, the ACT does not cater to Fort Lewis College students, Salaz said. Instead, he said he books genres he knows are palatable to Durangoans: bluegrass, funk, jam, reggae and electronica.

Josh Bensik, who managed the Abbey Theatre (now the ACT) in the early 2000s, said it’s often too risky for booking agents to branch out on genres. Bensik, at the time, successfully brought in a lot of notable hiphop acts. But when he tried putting on indie music shows, for instance, people simply wouldn’t come out.

“People typically don’t show up for an artist they haven’t heard of, which was my biggest challenge when booking music,” Bensik said. “And that limits a venue’s ability to bring larger, more notable acts.”

Salaz, for his part, said he has tried booking other genres, like indie and punk, but he maintains the market just isn’t there to make those shows viable.

“We want to extend our reach to every genre, but if people don’t come out, and we

lose money, we have a huge hesitation to bring that style back,” he said. “That’s why you see a lot of the same styles; that’s what is selling in our market.”

Venue shortage?

Still, others say there’s a shortage of “traditional” venues in town, which limits the diversity of music. It’s a hard statement to definitively prove or disprove.

Of course, there are plenty of bars that host live music, and it seems every other day there’s a concert in Buckley Park. There are also niche popup venues, like The Hive, catering to the garage punk scene, and iAM’s iNDIGO Room, which hosts singer/songwriters in a more intimate setting.

But as far as a regular, dedicated venue, the ACT appears to be it, especially after the Summit closed in 2013 (though the space hung under the Balcony Bar & Grill’s management for a few more years). In 2020, the Henry Strater Theatre, too, closed, with the future of that iconic venue also uncertain.

“I don’t think there’s a shortage of places to play,” Bensik said. “But when I think about a true music venue, in my mind, we only have the ACT; that’s the only one that’s left in town.”

The ACT, generally speaking, is what brings the biggest names to town. But to be able to make money on a bigger act, the venue, which holds 270 people, would have to charge $60-$100 a ticket. It poses a tough question: will Durango show to make it profitable, or will high prices turn people away and cause a loss?

Given all the complications for venues and booking agents in Durango, Bensik, who now runs Toast Records & Bake, said the ACT

does a great job for a community our size.

“It’s extremely challenging to please a community as large as Durango,” he said.

“Our community is so isolated, and on top of that, everyone’s taste is so different, so it’s tough to make everyone happy.”

Pandemic rebound Of course, COVID-19 added to the problem. The ACT was closed for 15 months during the pandemic and was only able to survive because the building’s owner didn’t charge rent.

Now out of the pandemic, Redding said attendance has slowly rebounded. Unable to afford losing money over the summer, as has been the case historically, the ACT decided to try a magic show in the hopes of drawing in tourists (and yes, locals, too) in the evenings. This way, Redding hopes the venue can continue to pay its staff and make some money over the summer.

“We felt it would be worth giving a try,” she said. “We thought we could fill a niche and give families something to do in the evening.”

Ticket sales, so far, have been increasing for the magic show, hosted by Durango local Mysto the Magi, which features rope and card tricks, optical illusions, a female assistant getting cut in half and even some solid dad jokes (yes, I attended a show for journalistic purposes, and I can see how it would be far more entertaining for kids than the typical parenting plan of letting them play on a brewery floor while Mom and Dad drink beer).

And music will return – soon, Salaz said.

Already, the ACT has booked shows for the fall and winter months, and even into 2023.

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Mysto the Magi

“The way ticket sales have gone in the summer in the past, it would be cheaper just to close our doors and pay rent; after 12 years, the numbers don’t lie,” Salaz said. “But music is coming back, and it’s going to be huge.”■

June 16, 2022 n

9

LandDesk

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Cryptobiotic crisis The thing that ‘holds the place in place’ latest victim of climate change

by Jonathan Thompson

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The Alter native Resource 10 n June 16, 2022

W

hen I was a youngster and my family went to southeastern Utah, which we did often, we had a few immutable rules: Don’t pocket potshards or other artifacts, don’t throw rocks off the cliff if you don’t know who or what’s down below, and do whatever you can to avoid trampling the cryptobiotic crust.

We followed the first and third rules religiously. And I know I must be a curious sight as I do my cryptobiotic crust dance: zigzagging through the trees, tiptoeing along narrow game trails, ungainly jetéing from slickrock patch to slickrock patch.

The crust, a critical component of the desert ecosystem, is alive, and when crushed by a cow or person, it can take years or decades to recover. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that it’s not just cattle and people imperiling the crust, but also climate change.

At first glance, the crust looks just like, well, dirt. Bend down and look more closely, however, and you’ll see a miniature, living world – a symbiotic mingling of lichens, mosses, soils and cyanobacteria. Filaments bind together to form a sort of cap that, as renowned cryptobiotic researcher Jayne Belnap puts it, “holds the place in place.”

And when the crust is destroyed, it leaves the fine red desert earth vulnerable to erosion and winds. This can ultimately push an ecosystem across a critical tipping point, the authors of the study note. “Such tipping points ... make it extremely difficult or even impossible for an ecosystem to return to its original state.”

White settlers’ livestock trampled vast swaths of the stuff beginning in the mid- to late-1800s. Approximately 90% of the Colorado Plateau has been grazed by livestock since, according to the study. Hikers, OHVs, oil and gas, bulldozers, and invasive species have also taken a toll.

That makes it tough for researchers to find a patch of never-grazed grasslands to study.

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Luckily, one such place exists: Virginia Park in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Ringed by cliffs, it was inaccessible even to Al “Mormon Cowboy” Scorup and his rugged livestock. After the park was established, land managers put it off limits to people, too, with the exception of permitted researchers.

Biocrusts in Virginia Park have been studied since 1967, and in the 1990s, researchers set up long-term monitoring sites.

Authors found, unsurprisingly, that it’s getting warmer out there, with mean annual temperatures increasing at a rate of .27 degrees Celsius between 1967 and 2019, but there have not been similar “systemic patterns or directional changes” in annual precipitation across the same period.

As temperatures have warmed, the lichens in the crust have declined in both richness and the amount of ground covered. “Nitrogen-fixing lichen cover declined from 19% mean cover in 1967 and 1996, to 5% mean cover in 2019.” At the same time, mosses have increased.

More concerning, still, is that the lichens may not bounce back, even in the unlikely event that the climate starts cooling, the authors say: “For lichens (there was) an apparent tipping point around 2003, after which the population was unable to recover.”

Warming temperatures have thus reduced the lichen cover in Virginia Park to about 5% of total ground cover, making it similar to that of nearby areas that have been grazed and trampled by hikers, “potentially marking a shift in the ecosystem that may persist after the current drought abates.”

It’s yet another reason to stop burning fossil fuels, to reduce carbon emissions, and to slow or halt the warming trend. And it also makes the cryptobiotic crust avoidance dance more important than ever.

The Land Desk is a newsletter from Jonathan P. Thompson, author of River of Lost Souls, Behind the Slickrock Curtain, and Sagebrush Empire. To subscribe, go to: www.landdesk.org

RockNRollSweetheart

Turning it up Durango screamo band heads to the Ranch

by Alex Vick

T

ime signature changes, deep breakdowns, wailing guitar work, hammering basslines and punch-in-the-face vocals all come together to create American Businessman, a Durango three-piece screamo project. Recently, the trio left for a short tour through Texas and New Mexico.

“The climate of Durango’s music scene is very dry, and unless it’s a punk or metal band, very dry,” said Sandro Zambrano-Villa, drummer for American Businessman, giving a sort of musical weather report on our town.

The reason for the lack of diversity in the music scene may be the result of a “hyper focus on one demographic,” Zambrano-Villa said. Perhaps, he said, it’s time for music lovers to create a new paradigm. Or, in American Businessman’s case, to hit the road.

The band has only played a handful of shows in and around town. “I didn’t think this music would be received well, and I’ve appreciated folks being open to it,” said Zambrano-Villa, reflecting

fondly on Durango shows (For the unacquainted, “screamo” is a more aggressive subgenre of emo music, with, you know, a lot of screaming).

Tapping out local venues, American Businessman decided it was time for the band to expand its reach. ZambranoVilla’s approach is simple: “Hit the ground running, record your own music, make connections and book a tour. It’s not as hard as you think.”

Simple, but not always easy. I’m grateful to know the gang from American Businessman; these are all caring, wellintentioned, talented people. Nick Black, who plays guitar, said this while considering the impact that music has on his life: “If I go without playing and pursuing music, I ask myself, ‘What am I doing with myself?’ I do it ’cause I gotta feel, otherwise I become stagnant.”

So the band packed it up and took a tour to Houston, San Antonio and Albuquerque. “Only way I know how to be in a band is on the road,” Black said. “If it’s not touring, what are we doing?” In fact, the desire to have a farther reach is present in most musicians, myself included.

American Businessman Playing in other communities is a way to become connected in the scene.

One of the connections for American Businessman came from playing a show at The Hive alongside touring bands Power Violence and Shitstormtrooper.

“It’s a blast to see new faces in new places and be appreciated for playing,”

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Zambrano-Villa said.

Locals can get a chance to rock out to American Businessman on Sat., July 2, at El Rancho Tavern.

Zambrano-Villa leaves us with this: “The soil is ripe for sowing for those who love to turn it up!”

June 16, 2022 n 11

StufftoDo

Thursday16 Telluride Bluegrass Festival, June 16-19, more info at bluegrass.com/telluride Kirk James plays, 4-7 p.m., Hillcrest Golf Course.

Love Your Commute Celebration, 5-7 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. Part of Clean Commute Week.

Ben Gibson & Larry Carver play, 6 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave.

Ska-B-Q with the Last Reel Hero, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Smelter Mountain Boys play, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Sean Harrison plays, 6 p.m., James Ranch Grill, 33846 Highway 550.

Author in the Parklet: Stephen Moffe, 5:30 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

Movies in the Park Series, featuring “Mulan,” movies begin 20 min. after sunset, Durango Recreation Center Lawn.

Silverton Summer Sounds with Taylor Scott Band, 6 p.m., Memorial Park, 1800 Greene St., Silverton.

Jeff Solon Jazz Duo plays, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 East 2nd Ave.

Author in the Parklet: Gretchen Dubit, 5 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

Freestyle Friday, weekly, 5:30 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Bike Parade to Ska Brewing, 4:30 p.m., meet at Powerhouse Science Center, 1295 Camino del Rio. Part of Clean Commute Week.

Taylor Scott Band plays, 5:30 p.m., Buckley Park.

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

Hello Dollface plays, 5:30 p.m., Mancos Brewing Co.

Lawn Chair Kings play, 6-9 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Kirk James, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave. DJ Spark Madden & DJ Pearly play, 6 p.m., Taco Libre, 1150 Main Ave. Community Yoga, 6-7 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd., C-201. Donations accepted.

Brothers Brew play, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Ru Paul’s Drag Race Watch Party, every Friday, 6-8 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave.

Noodle & Pass the Butter play, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

One Roof Blues play, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Merely Players present “The Children,” 7 p.m., located at Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. More info at merelyplayers.org

10-Minute Play Festival Readings, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Spaghetti Western, 6 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Powerhouse Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio. Wild Roses play, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Merely Players present “The Children,” 7 p.m., located at Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. More info at merelyplayers.org Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr. Comedy Show, 9 p.m., Olde Tymers Café, 1000 Main Ave.

Friday17 Silverton Arts Festival, June 17-19, more info at SilvertonCreativeDistrict.org San Juan Nature Hikes, 9-11 a.m., meet at Andrews Lake upper parking lot. Hosted by San Juan Mountains Association.

Gary Walker plays, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Jean-Pierre Bakery & Restaurant, 601 Main Ave. Author in the Parklet: Cheryl Clay, 4 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

Nu Bass Theory plays, 9:30 p.m., iNDIGO Room, 1315 Main Ave. Part of iAM Music Festival.

Merely Players present “The Children,” 7 p.m., located at Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. More info at merelyplayers.org

Sunday19

Local King in Gray & Matt Pless (folk/punk/rock), play, 7:30 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

DUST2 Bike Trails Skills Training, Pagosa Springs. For more info visit talktous@dustx2.com

Ecstatic Dance with Gratitone, 7:30-9:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 878 E. 2nd Ave.

Durango Flea Market, 8 a.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Saturday18

Father’s Day Brunch, 9 a.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave.

DUST2 Bike Trails Skills Training, Pagosa Springs. For more info visit talktous@dustx2.com

Terry Rickard plays, 1-4 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m.–12 noon, featuring story time from 9-10:30 a.m. and music from Darryl Kuntz, TBK Bank parking lot, across from the Transit Center.

San Juan Mountain Boys play, 2 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, Vallecito.

Merely Players present “The Children,” 2 p.m., located at Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. More info at merelyplayers.org

Bayfield Farmers Market, 8 a.m., 1328 County Road 501.

Mancos Burro Fest, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., events around Mancos. For info at mancoscreativedistrict.com/burrofest-event

Juneteenth Celebration, 4 p.m., Buckley Park.

Chad MacCluskey plays, 1-4 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Lisa Gordon Art Opening, reception 5-7:30 p.m., Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave. Exhibit runs thru June 30.

Vallecito Vibes, featuring Smelter Mountain Boys, Barry Ward & Broken Chair, 4-7:30 p.m., Vallecito Church, 17576 County Road 501.

Author in the Parklet: Rhonda Muckerman, 5:30 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

The Afrobeatniks play, with performance by Secret Circus Society, 5 p.m., Buckley Park. Part of iAM Music Festival.

Open Mic Night, 5 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Devin Scott plays, 6 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Badly Bent plays, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Jazz/Funk/Soul Jam, 6 p.m., 11th Street Station.

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AskRachel

Lighten the load, avo-present & soiled saddles Interesting fact: We burn about 100 calories running a mile. An avocado can have 200-300 calories. A $2 avocado therefore is still a worse bargain than gassing up your car.

Dear Rachel, I talked to a nice young police officer in Durango. I looked at the uniform and saw the following: Gun and holster, taser/holster, cuffs, extra bullets, radio, cell phone, bulletproof vest and a shiny belt to hold all. Is a pain doctor on call when they get off shift? It appears to be about 30 pounds of extra weight. Can you help them get a lighter load?

– Dr. Feel Good Dear Dr. Strangelove, Frankly, you sound a little turned on. This could be the premise of a porn film out there (and probably is).

“My oh my, officer, all that equipment looks a little… heavy. Why don’t I help you take a load off? I don’t know how a big, strong man like you walks around with all these heavy things on your belt all day.” It’s probably because you have such a HUGE fear of being approached by normal citizens, so police culture now dictates you appear intimidating instead of helpful.

– Can you believe I’m single, Rachel Dear Rachel, At the restaurant where I work, we offer a chocolate mousse on the dessert menu. It’s delicious. I had a customer who agreed with me Comedy Show, 6:30 p.m., Olde Tymers Café, 1000 Main Ave.

Monday20 Cheese Making Course, hosted by Susan Vidal of Brightwood Farms, 6:30 p.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 County Road 203 and 7271 CR 203 and via zoom at: us02web.zoom.us/j/82639720340

Tuesday21 Twin Buttes Farm Stand, every Tuesday, 35:30 p.m., 165 Tipple Ave. Pete Giuliani Band plays, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Durango Elks Lodge Pub Trivia, 6:30 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave. Nonmembers welcome.

Open Mic Night, weekly 7:30-9:30 p.m., Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave. Comedy Open Mic, weekly, 8 p.m., 11th St. Station.

about that. But then she followed up “It’s so good!” with “Is it made with avocado?” Since when the eff is mousse made with avocado? Or is avocado in everything good and wholesome, kind of like corn, and I just never knew? I’m questioning everything now.

– Avocadont Dear Overripe, I’ve never knowingly eaten avocado mousse, but if everything were made of avocado, it would go a long way toward explaining the financial crisis being endured by everyone, especially Millennials. I mean, if avocado toast is the reason they can’t afford houses, then imagine the detriment of avocado mousse. Avocado shampoo. Avocado wine. Avocado cars! If they would just stop buying avocados, they could afford like a whole extra gallon of gasoline.

– The pits, Rachel Dear Rachel, I went to the Men Who Grill on Saturday at Buckley Park. I then drove down E. 2nd Ave. behind a boy on a horse. The horse dropped horse biscuits on the street. WOW. Well, I told him to pick it up, but he said he did not have the green bag so … GO to XXXX. Well, I checked to see if there was any violation and can’t find one. Is he required to pick up the horse biscuits by law?

We need help from the Horse Lady.

– Sea Biscuit

Email questions to telegraph@durangotelegraph.com Dear Ocean Cracker, You missed a prime wordplay opportunity. You could have called yourself Streetbiscuit, and we all would have understood the joke and felt like members of your club.

Instead, I’m left with two things to discuss: AGAIN with the green bags this week? Is everyone in town obsessed with these things? And… how did I become the Horse Lady? Is it because of that one time I ordered oats for breakfast? And why should I know the law? Go find an officer; just don’t call them Horse Lady, mmkay?

– Your friendly neighhhbor, Rachel

Wednesday22 Español en el Parque (free Spanish conversation group), every Wednesday, 4 p.m., Iris Park, all levels welcome.

Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. Live music, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave. Filmed by Bike film festival, 6-8 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1295 Camino del Rio. Tickets at: bikedurango.org Dustin Burley plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Ongoing Storytelling & Songwriting Night, every second and fourth Thursday, 6-8 p.m., Mountain Monk Coffee, 558 Main Ave. More info at iAMmusic.us The Hive Indoor Skate Park open skate and skate lessons. Waivers required. For schedule and online waiver, go to www.thehivedgo.org

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June 16, 2022 n 13

FreeWillAstrology

by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): “The whole point for me is to change as much as possible,” says Aries actor Keira Knightley. What?! Is she serious? Her number one aspiration is to keep transforming and transforming and transforming? I guess I believe her. It’s not an entirely unexpected manifesto coming from an Aries person. But I must say: Her extra bold approach to life requires maximum resilience and resourcefulness. If you think that such an attitude might be fun to try, the coming weeks will be one of the best times ever to experiment.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus poet May Sarton relished “the sacramentalization of the ordinary.” What a wonderfully Taurean attitude!

There is no sign of the zodiac better able than you Bulls to find holiness in mundane events and to evoke divine joy from simple pleasures. I predict this specialty of yours will bloom in its full magnificence during the coming weeks. You will be even more skillful than usual in expressing it, and the people you encounter will derive exceptional benefits from your superpower.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Here’s a message I hope you will deliver to the Universe sometime soon: “Dear Life: I declare myself open and ready to receive miracles, uplifting news, fun breakthroughs, smart love and unexpected blessings. I hope to be able to give my special gifts in new and imaginative ways. I am also eager for useful tips on how to express my dark side with beauty and grace.

One more perk I hope you will provide, dear Life: Teach me how to be buoyantly creative and sensitively aggressive in asking for exactly what I need.”

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CANCER (June 21-July 22): In August 2021, a Canadian man named Jerry Knott bought a ticket for a lottery.

He stuffed it in his wallet and lost track of it. Two months later, he found it again and checked to see its status. Surprise! It was a winner. His prize was $20 million. I propose we make him your role model for now, my fellow Crabs. Let’s all be alert for assets we may have forgotten and neglected. Let’s be on the lookout for potentially valuable resources that are ripe for our attention.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Hundreds of years ago, people in parts of Old Europe felt anxiety about the summer solstice. The sun reached its highest point in the sky at that time, and from then on would descend, bringing shorter and shorter days with less and less light. Apprehensive souls staged an antidote: the festival of Midsummer. They

burned great bonfires all through the night. They stayed awake till morning, partying, dancing and having sex. Author Jeanette Winterson expresses appreciation for this holiday. “Call it a wild perversity or a wild optimism,” she writes, “but our ancestors were right to celebrate what they feared.” Winterson fantasizes about creating a comparable ceremony for her fears: “a ritual burning of what is coward in me, what is lost in me. Let the light in before it is too late.” I invite you to do something like this yourself, Leo. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo author Elizabeth McCracken says, “I don’t dream of someone who understands me immediately, who seems to have known me my entire life.” What’s more meaningful to her is an ally who is curious, who has “a willingness for research.” She continues, “I want someone keen to learn my own strange organization, amazed at what’s revealed; someone who asks, ‘and then what, and then what?’” I hope you will enjoy at least one connection like that in the coming months, Virgo. I expect and predict it.

Make it your specialty!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran author Stig Dagerman said that when he was sad as a child, his mother kissed him until his mood lightened.

When he was older and sad, his mama said, “Sit down at your desk and write a letter to yourself. A long and beautiful letter.” This would be a good task for you right now, Libra. Whatever mood you are in, I invite you to write a long and beautiful letter to yourself. I further recommend that you carry out the same ritual once every six weeks for the next nine months.

This will be a phase of your life when it’s extra crucial that you express soulful tenderness toward your deep self on a regular basis. You may be amazed at how inspirational and transformative these communications will be.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Sometimes, the arrival of a peculiar event in your life is a good sign. It may mean that Fate has sent an intervention to disrupt a boring phase of inertia or a habitbound grind. An unexpected twist in the plot may signal a divine refreshment. It could be a favorable omen announcing a helpful prod that’s different from what you imagined you needed. I suspect that an experience or two fitting this description will soon materialize in your life story. Be alert for them. Promise yourself you’ll be receptive to their unexpected directives.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Sagittarius author Edna O’Brien long ago shed the strict Catholic faith in which she was raised. But she still harbors spiritual feelings colored by her tradition. She says, “Ideally, I’d like to

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spend two evenings a week talking to (novelist) Marcel Proust and another conversing with the Holy Ghost.” I suspect a similar balance of influences will be healthy for you in the days ahead, Sagittarius. My advice is to connect with an inspiration you drew sustenance from while growing up. Spend equal time consorting with deep-feeling smart people who will stimulate you to rearrange the contents of your rational mind.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’ve composed a message for you to deliver to your best allies. It will help you be clear about the nature of your energy exchanges. Say something like this: “I promise to act primarily out of love in my dealings with you, and I ask you to do the same with me. Please don’t help me or give me things unless they are offered with deep affection. Let’s phase out favors that are bestowed out of obligation or with the expectation of a favor in return.

Let’s purge manipulativeness from our dynamic. Let’s agree to provide each other with unconditional support.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Author Lauren Collins tells us, “Bilinguals overwhelmingly report that they feel like different people in different languages. It is often assumed that the mother tongue is the language of the true self. But if first languages are reservoirs of emotion, second languages can be rivers undammed, freeing their speakers to ride different currents.” I bring these thoughts to your attention, Aquarius, because the next 12 months will be an excellent time for you to begin becoming bilingual or else to deepen your fluency in a second language. And if you’re not ready to do that, I encourage you to enhance your language skills in other ways. Build your vocabulary, for instance. Practice speaking more precisely. Say what you mean and mean what you say 95% of the time. Life will bring you good fortune if you boost your respect for the way you use language.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean-born Robert Evans has been an amateur astronomer since he was 18. Though he has never been paid for his work and has mostly used modest telescopes, he holds the world record for discovering supernovas – 42. These days, at age 85, he’s still scanning the skies with a 12-inch telescope on his back porch. Let’s make him your role model for the coming months. I have faith you can achieve meaningful success, even if you are a layperson, without massive funding. P.S.: Keep in mind that “amateur” comes from the Latin word for “lover.” Here’s the dictionary’s main definition: “a person who engages in a study, sport or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons.”

classifieds

Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon. Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum. Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com. Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check.

(Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)

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

Classes/Workshops Outdoor Meditation Retreat Join us for a day of loving-kindness meditation in the forest near Durango on Saturday, July 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hosted by the Durango Dharma Center, the day will include sitting meditation, walking meditation and dharma talks.

Learn more at durangodharmacenter.org Divorce & Custody Clinic Free Divorce & Custody Clinic Presented by Colorado Legal Services Tuesday, June 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Durango Public Library and via Zoom Please call 385-7378 ext 251 for details on how to attend or visit www.durango vap.com/events/ Learn to Letter!

Improve your handwriting, learn brush lettering and more! Visit The ArtRoom or bit.ly/letsletterinperson

HelpWanted

deluxe grow box, $1,000. 970-382-1696.

Reruns Home Furnishings New inventory including lots of patio treasures, bistro sets, garden pots, patio tables, trellises, vintage kitchen art, Asian style chest and lots more … Come in today! 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.

Wanted We are in hell!

We’re a young couple who has lived and been gainfully employed in Durango since 2015, but decided now was the perfect time to start looking to buy a home because we’re idiots. But, if you are selling your home and would rather sell to people who have been here long enough to know what the Arc of History is, contact us at San.Juaner1122@gmail.com Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494.

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

HaikuMovieReview ‘The Electrical Life of Louis Wain’ Social ruin, debt, cancer, madness, death, oh and creepy cat paintings – Lainie Maxson

CommunityService $5 Adoptions at the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter Pet adoption fees will be reduced to $5 at the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter thru Sat., June 18, from 11:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. For more info, call (505) 5991098 or visit fmtn.org/AnimalShelter.

Volunteer Hotline Advocates Alternative Horizons is looking for volunteer advocates, to staff our 24-hour hotline. Make a difference in the lives of others, join us for a free comprehensive online training July 11- 14 For more information call the office at 970-247-4374.

Free Alzheimer’s Webinars Designed to help families better under-

stand the changes that come with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Registration required.

To register, go to tinyurl.com/yc7fay9k or call the Alzheimer’s Helpline at 800-272-3900.

• “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia” – 4 - 5:30 p.m. Thurs., June 16.

• Effective Communication Strategies – 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tues., June 28.

• “Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors” – 5:30 - 7 p.m. Thur.s, June 30.

• Legal and Financial Planning for Alzheimer’s – 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Wed.,

NewspaperOrigami

Services RSE Handyman Service Home repair - yard work - odd jobs 970-903-0449 Marketing Small and Local Businesses Media, website building and content editing, copywriting and editing, newsletters, blogs, etc. for small, local, independent or startup businesses. www.forward pedal.com or email jnderge@gmail.com Harmony Cleaning and Organizing Residential, offices, commercial and vacation rentals, 970-403-6192.

Join Our Team at Mercy Hospital!

Join our team at Centura Mercy Hospital! We are currently looking for full, part time and PRN candidates for our RN, Radiology Tech, Echo Tech, Sterile Processing, Medical Assistant, Housekeeping, Food Service and Cook openings. Sign on bonuses available for some roles. Learn more and apply today at www.centura .org/careers. EOE.

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.

ForSale

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

Antique John Deere Corn Shiller $2000. Philco radio, $600. Super closet

BodyWork Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.

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