The Durango Telegraph, Sept. 22, 2022

THE

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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

RegularOccurrences the

Ear to the ground:

“I got nothing. But, you know what? I’m good at nothing.”

– Well, as Clint Eastwood once said, “A man’s gotta know his limitations.”

Action!

It may be one of Durango’s best-kept secrets (or maybe not so secret), but Durango High School’s Troupe 1096 puts on really, really amazing theater productions.

And we’re not just talking goofy, oh-there’smy-kid kind of plays. As many Durangoans have discovered, Troupe 1096’s productions are an event not to be missed, whether you have kids on stage or not. Troupe 1096 has been led by a seasoned directors, including Mona Wood-Patterson and Kristin Winchester, and now Benjamin Mattson and Jenny Fits Reynolds. And with another school year upon us, the lineup for the upcoming season has just been released.

First up is “Anastasia,” based on the 1997 animated film (which was responsible for many a nightmare for my 9-year-old self). “Anastasia” tells the legend of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, amid the turmoil of the Russian revolution. Anastasia’s entire family was killed by Bolsheviks in July 1918, but at the time, it was rumored she escaped the massacre. Don’t Google it. Go see the show first.

“Anastasia,” the play, tells the story several years later through an amnesiac orphan named Anya, who hopes to find a trace of her family. The play version of “Anastasia” first premiered in April 2017, and, well, seems pretty appropriate for the times. The show runs Oct. 28-Nov. 12.

Then, from Jan. 5-6, Troupe 1096 will put on “Underclassmen Showcase,” a collection of student-directed work that showcases freshmen and sophomore actors that also gives juniors and seniors the chance to produce and direct shows.

The next major production is “Peter Pan Goes Wrong,” in which actors and crew are part of a fictitious group called The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society that tries to put on the actual play “Peter Pan.” Yet, as the name implies, everything goes awry. The show runs Feb.17-25, and with all the real Peter Pans in Durango, expect this show to sell And,out. to close out the season, Troupe 1096 will host the classic “Little Shop of Horrors.” The story follows a florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. Or, as one critic for Collider put it, the play is “a cautionary tale about how the pursuit of monetary gain and social status can corrupt what’s most valuable in life.”

Also fitting for the times.

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.

You have a couple options for purchasing tickets, too. You can become a “Patron of Troupe 1096,” which gets you first pick at seating for every play throughout the year. It also gives you a bit of a discount, bringing the cost of a ticket from $15 to $12 a show. Or, you can buy individually. For more information, check out Troupe1096.Weebly.com.

After the death of my father last December, I often find myself wondering, “How do you honor someone who has passed?” How do you choose which parts to remember and which to forget? Do you honor them by doing exactly what they would have expected if they were alive, or do you allow them to step into a different version of themselves – one that you hope they would become if such a thing as an afterlife exists?

My relationship with my father was, like I’m sure it is for many, complicated. As if being the only disco-dancing, fashion and video-game-loving child of my father wasn’t tough enough, there was also a significant age gap between him and I. Born 50 years before me, he was part of the Silent Generation, although silent he was not. Loud and boisterous amongst his family, he would often high-five himself when he thought his jokes (usually in the form of teasing) were just too funny to not be celebrated.

When I was young, he would always arrive home with candy from his work’s snack bar, which contributed to me having a shiny smile filled with silver-capped teeth. He also gifted me my first DSLR camera in college, which was a beautiful gesture of support for my photography. He expected good grades and good behavior from me, and I tried hard to never fall short of these expectations. However, I was often teased by my sisters for being the “favorite,” and from a young age, I found myself both loving and feeling guilty for the gifts and affection that he gave me. But I reluctantly understood why my sisters labeled me as the favorite – I, too, felt like things weren’t distributed evenly in our Therehousehold.weremany times when I wished his gifts were based not on materialism, but on our relationship and ability to connect. His strict view that prayer and faith were necessary for life after death weighed heavily on me. With this, I couldn’t fathom how he would be able to view me, his gay son, and not see me as a walking embodiment of sin. Hiding this part of myself was a way of preserving our relationship. However, it made me yearn for the day that I would be gifted his Shortlyacceptance.aftercollege, I came out to my stepmother, who in turn told my father. She feared, “How he might react” if I told him. I spoke to him briefly on the phone that day, but I can’t recall the details about what was said. At the time I felt a small sense of relief, but it was also mixed with anger that I would never be able to tell him myself. Coming out felt like a rite of passage because it required courage to say the words “I’m gay” and the strength to know that it may not be well-received. After that, we rarely spoke about it, and I never dared bring home any boyfriends or dates. I was not yet brave enough.

FathersThumbin’Itandsons

The reopening of the Durango-La Plata County Airport after successfully repaving the runway. Siri: Find the most remote island on the planet where no one can find me.

Colorado’s minimum wage increasing to $14.65 per hour next year, representing an 8.68% increase as workers continue to struggle with inflation and the rising cost of living.

A panel of health experts recommending all adults under 65 be screened for anxiety, highlighting the mental health crisis in the U.S. But, we have to ask, is there anyone out there without anxiety? Tell us your secrets.

During my first major relationship, I shared with my then-partner all the fear and insecurities I had with bringing home someone to meet my dad. But it was a fear that we both knew I had to face. On the first trip home, my dad was hesitant to call my partner anything other than my “friend.” On the next trip, this time during Christmas, my partner wrote a carefully worded letter thanking my father for raising his children to become the people they are today. This simple letter was able to warm my father’s view on our relationship enough to include him in the blessing at dinner. It was the best Christmas ever.

A year ago, my father’s health started to take a major decline. A blood cancer that he had fought over a decade ago had come back, and the prognosis was grim. The doctor had given him a few months to live, but the cancer seemed to be spreading quickly. My father, who was 81 years old, decided to not pursue chemotherapy again, and would instead seek treatments when his pain was high.

On a Tuesday in December, he was admitted to the hospital for the last time. My sister and I made plans to arrive later that week with the intention of being there for a couple of days. But on Wednesday afternoon, I received a call.

“The doctors said he has very little time left and may not make it through the night. Can you come now?” The last flight from Durango back home to Texas had already left, and we wouldn’t be able to reach Albuquerque in time.

Durango is many things, but emergency-travelfriendly it is not. I switched our flight to Thursday morning and found myself praying that leaving at 6 a.m. would be early enough to get us there in time. It wasn’t.

My father passed before the sun had risen, and I was still on the road to the airport. Feelings of guilt started to seep into my mourning, punctuated by this question: How am I to honor him in a way that feels authentic? After a chaotic and eye-opening weeklong stay with family after his death, I had to return home.

The funeral service was delayed by several days due to the pandemic, and I wouldn’t be able to attend in person. Worst yet, the streaming access that I was depending on to join virtually was removed. In turn, we had a small service at my home, with my sister and former partner. I was able to mourn him exactly how I wanted with the people that I wanted. It felt like a moment of truly honoring him because I was also able to honor myself.

Just a few weeks before he passed, I asked him, “Did you ever celebrate Día De Los Muertos when you were younger?” I recall his answer mentioning that it was one of his favorite childhood memories, when his mom would take him to the cemetery with sandwiches and candy, and they would pray for their deceased loved ones. This year, I hope to honor him by revisiting the tradition that brought him joy when he was young and one that I hope will bring me comfort as I age.

– Doug Gonzalez

The highly invasive zebra mussel discovered in Colorado for the first time. Once established, they threaten native fish, wreak havoc on infrastructure, and are impossible to eradicate.

The newest social media challenge, cooking chicken in NyQuil and, yes, eating it. This follows the last challenge to swallow Tide pods. Could the next challenge be not to be an idiot?

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis using human beings as political pawns, sending stranded migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. Perhaps DeSantis’ time would be better spent eating NyQuil chicken paired with a nice glass of laundry detergent pods.

SignoftheDownfall:

iGrow

The newest craze to hit Silicon Valley is paying a plastic surgeon $75K to break your legs to make you taller.

Kevin Debipasshad of Las Vegas started his leglengthening practice “LimbplastX Institute” in 2016, and he’s a pro at the procedure: after cutting open and breaking the leg, he inserts metal nails into the ends that are extended every

day for three months with a magnetic remote control. Kevin has been practicing for years, but he says business boomed after the pandemic, and it was fueled by male tech company employees. Probably because it’s the only way the rest of us would ever look up to them.

The GOP theocracy agenda

In reference to Karen Pontius’ letter on Sept. 15, our Rep. Lauren Boebert said, “The church is supposed to direct the government, the government is not supposed to direct the church … I’m tired of this separation-ofchurch-and-state junk. This is not in the Constitution,” despite what the First Amendment says. Centuries of legal experts confirm our founding fathers’ intention: to keep The People’s government free from the control of any church.Boebert’s close ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene recently said, “I say it proudly, we should be Christian nationalists,” thereby openly embracing this white supremacist terrorist ideology identified with Nazism.

Shelli Shaw, candidate for Colorado HD59, embraces and aligns with Boebert on stage, social media and political signs. She moved here from Texas last year with a strong mission to rectify Coloradans’ lifestyles. From her Facebook: “I am in this to fight for the protection of our God-given rights against a government that wants to create a dependent and thoughtless society.” From her website: “Our Bill of Rights is a list of rights given by God, not by government,” so she is committed to “dismantle Colorado’s devasting (sic) anti-life law and replace with a pro-lifeThoselaw...”God-given rights apparently include pushing public funding of religion-centered charter schools such as Ascent Academy. She also intends to “encourage oil and gas production in Colorado” to “unleash the state’s vast energy resources through the reduction of government regulations and restrictions.”

Let’s keep Barbara McLachlan in the State House and elect Adam Frisch for Congress.

– Kirby MacLaurin,Durango

Boebert: Unfit for public office

In Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, independent voters make up 43% of registered voters and hold the key to the election. Independents register that way for a reason – they make up their own minds on the issues facingiColorado and the nation. I hope Independents will consider carefully their choice in the November election.

Lauren Boebert wants “the church” to tell the government what to do; she denies that climate change exists; she’s against health care for veterans affected by the toxic burning pits in Iraq; she voted against infrastructure improvement for Colorado and the nation; she’s against women’s rights; she voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices for seniors. She’s a puppet of Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. And these are just a few reasons why she’s unfit to represent the people of Western Colorado in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Adam Frisch is a no-nonsense, common-sense leader who understands the real issues facing Colorado and the nation. Getting things done for the citizens of Colorado is the reason he’s running for Congress. And he knows that getting things done requires thoughtful analysis and reaching across the political aisle.    Independents, please look at the facts in this election.

– Joe Lewandowski,Durango

Vote Texas out of Colorado

Texas is attempting to export its unrepresentative and repressive government into Colorado.

Do we want doctors to risk jail time for saving the life of a pregnant woman? Vote for reproductive freedom!

Do we want people in prison for four ounces of cannabis? Vote for decriminalization and personal liberty!

Do we want it to be more difficult to vote? Vote for safe and secure mail-in voting!

Do we want someone representing us who moved here

last year from Katy, Texas, and believes that the white guys who stormed the capital on Jan. 6, 2021, carrying Confederate flags, were with Black Lives Matter? Vote for the rule of law, not wild lies!

Shelli Shaw is running for Colorado Representative in our district. She wants to impose the tyranny of big government over us. She is for making abortion illegal even in cases of rape and incest.

By contrast, our current Rep. Barbara McLachlan used her time in the government to make our lives better. She passed legislation that supports small businesses with grants and loans. She sponsored bills to finance public schools, to address teacher shortages, to improve math education and to hire more law enforcement officers. She actually works to build a better future, rather than the GOP aim to tear down social good.

Stand for freedom and common sense! Don’t let a Texan move here and gain public office to restrict freedom and impose lying authoritarianism. Vote for McLachlan as our Colorado Representative.

- SteveDurangoSelf,

ments had to go through a formal procedure to be declassified or reclassified (up or down). The agency originating the classification had to initiate the declassification or reclassification, and agencies and departments utilizing the documents had to provide input to the formal procedure.

Why did Trump take these documents? Was he planning on utilizing them to approach Vladimir Putin and negotiate real estate deals in Russia? Or maybe in China?

Or in North Korea? After all, Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un are Trump’s communist tyrant friends.

Trump absconded with highly classified documents that could be used against the U.S. He is untrustworthy, un-American and a threat to our national security.

– DonaldLondonderry,Moskowitz,N.H.

McLachlan – a proven leader

Trump’s ‘top secret’ plans

The FBI search of Trump’s Mar-A-Lago home was conducted based on a legal search warrant. The search retrieved boxes of documents which should have been handed over to the National Archives, including more than 300 classified documents, some classified top secret. Documents included national security information involving intelligence gathering, clandestine operations in foreign countries, nuclear capabilities and defenses of foreign countries. Could any foreign intelligence agents have accessed these documents?

Trump says he declassified the documents. Is there something in writing referencing his declassification process? When I was in the Navy in the ’50s and ’60s, I held a topsecret cryptographic clearance. Classified docu-

Barbara McLachlan has served the people of southwest Colorado for nearly 50 years. First as a teacher, then as a legislator, and always as a leader. Her opponent moved here a year ago from Texas, she has no track record of caring for the people of Colorado.

McLachlan has been an effective leader in Colorado’s statehouse. She understands water issues, she’s successfully worked to provide teachers with better pay, she’s helped pass legislation to bring harsh penalties to fentanyl dealers, and she’s working to put more teachers in Colorado’s rural areas.

To put it simply, McLachlan is one of us. She’s made Southwest Colorado her home for five decades, she knows the challenges and issues facing this region, she cares about the people here.

We need to send McLachlan, a true Coloradan, back to the statehouse.

– SamanthaDurangoBrow,

by Jonathan Thompson

Ithink it’s actually going to happen: One of the Colorado Plateau’s biggest polluters is about to stop polluting. After nearly 50 years of belching tons upon tons of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, mercury and planetwarming carbon dioxide into the air, the last operating unit on the San Juan coal plant in northwest New Mexico is shutting down for good at the end of this month.

It’s not exactly news, as the closure’s been in the works since 2017. But it hasn’t always been a sure thing. See, an upstart company called Enchant Energy and the city of Farmington have been conspiring for the last few years to hijack the closing plans, takeover the plant, keep it running (and polluting) as is until they can scrape up the cash to install carbon capture equipment, after which they would keep it running (and polluting) for an indefinite period of time. The scheme was always a long shot. Even so, officials from Farmington and Enchant Energy have continued to express confidence in the takeover.

So, yes, there’s still a possibility that the power plant will continue to run after Sept. 30, and maybe I’m jumping the gun to write this now. But the reason I’m doing so is because I received an email from Four Corners Economic Development announcing an employment fair in light of the plant’s closure for the estimated 225 workers set to lose their job. Westmoreland, the owner of the coal mine that feeds the plant, clearly is planning to shut down operations at the end of the month and lay off most of its workers. Unless Enchant is planning on getting its coal from some other mine, I’d say this is a good indication that the plant will shut down as planned.

That’s a good thing. It will significantly reduce the pollution burden on the people

who live in the communities near the plant, from Shiprock to Waterflow, from Hogback to Nenahnezad, from Kirtland to Farmington. It should reduce view-obscuring smog throughout the Four Corners and less ozone-forming pollution in Farmington. And it’s not just air pollution: The plant kicks out millions of tons of solid waste – from clinkers to sludge to fly ash –every year that is tainted with mercury, arsenic and other heavy metals and can even be radioactive. It can leach into groundwater and seep into domestic wells and poison those who drink it or blow as fine dust into the air, settling on countertops and in peoples’ lungs. And it sucks up billions of gallons of San Juan River water each year –water that can be put to better use now. Carbon capture equipment would only increase water consumption.

But it’s also a major loss. Some 225 workers will lose their jobs in a couple of weeks. Those workers, many of them unionized, make on average $86,000 per year or more with benefits. Maybe some will find jobs locally with another branch of the energy industry, but many may have to move away for work, leaving holes in their respective communities. The local school district could lose dozens of students and more than $3 million in property tax revenue.

Beyond that, such an extensive operation needs services and equipment, much of which it acquires locally, as was revealed a few years back when Westmoreland filed for bankruptcy and its expenses became part of the public record. In just one quarter, the company spent $27,000 at a local shoe store, $47,000 at a machine shop and $118,000 at a soil remediation firm. One study found the plant had a $356 million per year economic impact (another says $117 million) – most of which will disappear when the plant closes. “Now your foundational economic driver is going

down,” Arvin Trujillo, the CEO of Four Corners Economic Development, told me a few years ago. “It’s like a spider web, with the coal plants in the middle. When all these $70k to $80k jobs disappear, what do we do then?”Tohelp answer that question, advocates and state lawmakers passed the Energy Transition Act in 2019 to help the affected communities during the transition. It allows PNM to issue bonds to fund the power plant’s abandonment, which will include about $40 million for local economic development and displaced worker assistance, and another $30 million for coal mine reclamation, which should keep some workers employed. The act also requires PNM to build some of the replacement power facilities in the same area. Planned solar installations near San Juan Generating Station will help make up for some, if not all, of the lost property tax revenues and will provide temporary construction jobs and a handful of permanent ones.

The fossil fuel industry, for better and for worse, has had a tremendous impact on northwestern New Mexico’s economy, culture and even its communities’ identities. It has left scars and plenty of gaping, unhealed wounds. The boom-bust rollercoaster frayed the social fabric and the industry’s dominance stifled efforts to diversify the economy. But industry also helped

build up a middle class and funded schools, libraries and infrastructure. And it held off the downsides of the amenity economy, such as ridiculous housing costs and predominance of low-wage service jobs.

That’s why Farmington officials and others fought so hard to keep the plant open.

It’s understandable. But it has also distracted them from the necessary work of diversifying the economy and putting the pieces in place to ensure a just transition.

Now, when the closure does occur, they’ll find themselves unprepared and far behind where they might have been had they read the writing on the wall years ago.

Now, the corporations that profited off of pollution for decades will exit unscathed, as will their CEOs and shareholders. The far-off cities that flourished on cheap power for so many years won’t even know that anything’s changed. And the same communities that were victims of the industry’s pollution and misdeeds will now be hurt the most by the corporations’ abandonment. That’s simply wrong.

So by all means celebrate the death of polluter. But also mourn the dearth of justice that’s inherent in the whole goddamned system.

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

by Missy Votel

After a two-year COVID hiatus, Durango’s Women Outside Adventure Forum is back. And this time, they’re not taking things sitting down.

This year’s event, Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, not only offers the usual slate of rad local women talking about their outdoor exploits, it also offers the opportunity for others to get out there and dare to be rad themselves.“Sinceour 2020 event was cancelled by the pandemic, I decided it was time to step back and reimagine Women Outside,” event founder and organizer Margaret Hedderman said. “The event was always about inspiring women to try a new sport or tackle a dream adventure, but now we’re giving them the tools to do it.”

The theme for this year’s event is “Permission Slip,” Hedderman said, with the idea of women allowing themselves permission to go out – even if they don’t have the best or newest gear or credentials – have an adventure, do something new and, most importantly, have fun. (Just don’t get hurt.)

“Sometimes giving yourself permission to try a new sport or pursue a dream is hard,” Hedderman said. “This year’s event is all about giving women a permission slip to stop waiting and start doing.”

And there will be lots of chances for “doing” at this year’s forum.

“The speaker presentations are important, but I wanted to have clinics so you can do something with that inspiration, put it into action,” said Hedderman.

Options (free!) include an intro to packrafting on the Animas River (almost full); bike-packing field repair; desert backpacking; nature photography 101; and creative nature writing. Session leaders include award-winning author and journalist Annette McGivney; bikepacker, writer and

photographer Eszter Horanyi; and local author MK HeddermanThompson.said she got the idea to move away from the speaker-heavy format of years past to more of a hands (and feet) on format after hosting a womens ice climbing clinic last March. The clinic was sponsored by Backcountry Experience, which also deserves a shoutout as the longtime organizing sponsor of Women Outside, along with other local and national businesses.“Itwas really refreshing,” Hedderman said. “I had always wanted to have a more interactive element. It was a fun way to play with the idea.”

Also new this year, the forum was moved

from March to September to take advantage of prime fall weather in the Four Corners.

“It used to be in shoulder season, but I moved it to fall to have more opportunities to spend time outside,” Hedderman said.

In order to fuel the stoke for the weekend’s outings, Hedderman has lined up an impressive array of local female badassery to rally their fellow women (and you too, dudes) for a story night Sept. 30 at the Powerhouse. The eight guest speakers are tasked with telling a 10-minute tale about a pivotal outdoors experience in their lives. Think of the evening as a butt-kicking pep rally (one you should RSVP for, BTW.)

“The idea with story night is these women are like your neighbors and

friends,” Hedderman said. “There’s so much you can learn and get inspired by to do your own adventure. There’s something special about celebrating the women from around here.”

This year’s speakers include, in no particular

•order:Anna “Frosty” Frost, world champion ultrarunner originally from New Zealand now residing in Silverton. She’s won the Hardrock 100. A couple of times.

• Bee Mathis, local climber and belowthe-knee amputee who kicks more ass with her prosthetic than most of us do with two legs.

• Debra Van Winegarden, local hiking diva, blogger and writer. Chances are,

Ultrarunner Anna Frost on a casual jaunt. When not starring in photogenic shoots, she’s busy winning Hardocks and the like, and – more recently – raising daughter Skyler. Frost will be among the speakers at the Women Outside Adventure Forum story night on Sept. 30 at the Powerhouse./ Courtesy photo

if there’s a peak in the San Juans, she’s bagged it.

• Hannah Green, artist and super stud runner who also has a few Hardrocks under her belt.

• Heidi Steltzer, FLC professor whose studies on mountain science relating to snowpack have gone all the way to the UN study on climate change.

• Jenny Vierling, co-founder with her husband, Jeff, of Tailwind Nutrition, which we all have on our kitchen shelves, packs or water bottles as we speak.

• Maryrose Milkovich Ewing, runs the Durango-based Ewing School with her husband, Bob. The school focuses on leadership training, public speaking and all-around dream pursuit.

• MK Thompson, local author, llama wrangler and forest ambassador for the San Juan Mountains Association since 2009.The

kick-off evening, which is totally free, will also include a chance to win prizes, with proceeds going to the San Juan Citizens Alliance, as well as a round of “Adventure Buddy Bingo.” The goal of the game is to help folks make new friends to explore the outdoors with and maybe relive it over beers afterward.

“We hosted a similar event – Adventure Buddy Speed Friending - in June,” said Hedderman. “The level of excitement in the room just goes to show how important it is to offer opportunities for locals – no matter how long they’ve lived here – to make new connections in town.”

Then, of course, after everyone’s connected and amped on adventure, the next step is to get out there and get after it.

“I think a lot of women wait to be told it’s OK to get outside … the whole idea is to stop waiting and start doing,” said Hedderman

For the full Women Outside schedule, go to: www.womenout side.org.

Call of the wild

Life lessons in the mountains with Debra Van Winegarden

What does it take to be a woman of the outdoors? Well, for local hiker extraordinaire and writer of the “Earthline” blog, it was all about starting young.

Van Winegarden, who started hiking with her family in the Sierras as a wee gal, had a Half Dome under her belt before most of us could tie our shoes. That early experience –eight-day, 80-mile jaunts were de rigueur – fueled a fire for the mountains that continues to this day. She clocks in an impressive 80-90 hikes a year – her favorites are Snowden and Lavender Peak, in the La Platas. And she has managed to pass the passion along to her son, Forester, as well.

“I’ve climbed a lot of mountains with Forester,” said Van Winegarden of her son, now 32. “He’s as crazy about mountains as I am.”

Van Winegarden, who has called Durango home for the last 30 or so years, will discuss her love, and respect for, the mountains at the Women Outside Story Night at the Powerhouse on Fri., Sept. 30.

She said she will be taking this year’s theme of “permission slip” and turning it on its head, just a little bit.

As Van Winegarden explains, there are usually but a few defining experiences in one’s life.

“There are usually two or three that move us so profoundly that our life was indelibly altered,” she said.

For Van Winegarden, one of those moments came in the 1990s. She was living in Crested Butte at the time and set out with some friends to hike Avery Peak. What they thought would be a scramble turned into a near-fatal experience on a Class 5.7 pitch.

“Let’s just say, we got into a tight spot,” she said. This was before cell phones and gps trail apps, and before folks could just look up routes on the internet, mind you.

“The experience still informs my life to this day and changed my relationship with mountains,” she said. “I learned it’s a reciprocal relationship.”

Which is where the whole theme of “permission” ties in.

“Now, each time I go out, I ask the mountain to grant me permission and safe passage,” she said.

With such an impressive climbing resume, one may wonder if there are any mountains out there she hasn’t done. Surprisingly, the Weminuche’s Vestal Peak tops that list.

“I kept trying to go this summer but got rained out,” she said, adding she has her eyes on the west side of the mountain rather than the notorious Wham Ridge. Other than that, she has no specific agenda. “I just want to go mess around in the Grenadiers.”

Check out Debra’s blog at: debravanwinegarden.blogspot.com.

National Public Lands Day

This year, we celebrate Bighorn Sheep, iconic symbols of the American West and a highly valued part of our national and state wildlife heritage. Great Old Broads for Wilderness believes bighorn populations that are healthy, interconnected and naturally expanding are a strong indicator of the overall health of our treasured public landscapes.

Grazing domestic sheep on public land in historic bighorn sheep habitat endangers wild sheep. Domestic sheep carry pathogens that can be transmitted to wild bighorn sheep resulting in pneumonia-caused allage die-offs and reduced lamb success that can last for decades.

Let’s honor National Public Lands Day and protect our wildlife heritage by encouraging state and federal agencies to conserve and enhance bighorn sheep populations in SW CO by recommending closure of domestic sheep allotments in occupied or historic bighorn habitat.

Van Winegarden at the ever-Instagrammable (but best left admired up close in person) Columbine Lake.

FlashinthePanEat your weeds

by Ari LeVaux

Perking purslane

Pity the misfit tomatillo. Most cooks don’t know what to do with that swaddled orb that looks like a paper lantern and tastes like some underripe fruit. Green salsa is the most common application, but I usually prefer tomato salsa, in part because tomatillos can be a bit slimy.

So where does that leave the poor tomatillo? Our misunderstood, underappreciated hero is like the last kid picked to play kickball. Luckily, tomatillos can stay fresh for a long time, because they might languish in the fridge.

My go-to use for tomatillos is chile verde, where pork is simmered in a tomatillo sauce, with peppers and spices. I like to make it with a variety of peppers of various colors and heats, which creates a seamless complexity that’s hard to quit. Once, we dropped a finished batch on the floor. The five-second rule was suspended as we scooped it back into the pot. It had simmered too long, and developed too much flavor, for us to have any other option.

I recently found myself contemplating another misfit of an ingredient: purslane, a succulent that is often considered a weed. I often find myself wanting to crave purslane more than I actually do. This nutrient powerhouse contains antioxidants and minerals, and happens to be the plant with the highest recorded levels of omega3 fatty acids on earth. Purslane is easy to

forage, as the tender stalks give up without a fight, making it a most eligible ingredient on paper. But in practice, not so much. The flavor isn’t bad – it’s salty, crunchy and plump with tart juice, none of which are terrible characteristics. The problem is that purslane, like the tomatillo, is slimy.

Interpolating, I speculated that chile verde might be a great context to enjoy purslane, as the texture would be absorbed by the flavors of this fragrant stew, and its earthy, bitter flavor might offset the sweetness. Indeed, the purslane improved the verde, which can otherwise border on too sweet if you aren’t careful.

To be clear, you don’t need to go hunting through some vacant lot for purslane to cook this dish. With or without the world’s healthiest weed, chile verde is definitely the thing to make with tomatillos. Their tartness penetrates the meat, tenderizing and imbuing it with flavor. If you aren’t a pork eater, you can substitute pinto beans to balance the sour/spicy sweetness.

My recipe includes apples, because everyone knows they go with pork, and they create a redundant complexity.

Chile Verde Serves 8

2 lbs pork, something tough and marbled like stew meat, shoulder (a.k.a. butt), country-style ribs (which are cut near the shoulder-end of the rib cage) or even uncured belly if it’s not too fatty.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, minced

1 tablespoon whole coriander seed

1 teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons cumin

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon garlic powder

½ lb sliced apple

4 large cloves of garlic, chopped

1 lb tomatillos, cut into quarters

2 cups chopped chili peppers (the greater the variety the better; I like a mix of red, green, hot, mild, fresh, dried, thin and thick. Anything but bell or sweet peppers.)

Salt and pepper

1 cup lager beer, such as Pacifico

1 cup purslane, cleaned and chopped

Cut the pork into inch-cubes. Heat the oil in an pot with a tight-fitting lid, and then add the pork. Cook on the stovetop, over medium heat, until brown and tender. Add olive oil if the pork isn’t fatty enough.

When the pork is cooked, add the spices and onions, and stir it together. When the onions become transparent, add the tomatillos, apples, garlic, peppers and two cups of water. Add the beer and cook on low with the lid on for one hour.

(Alternatively, for a smoother sauce, blend the tomatillos, apple, garlic and peppers, and add that. You can also blend half and leave the other half chunky.)

Season with salt and pepper, and possibly more cumin. When the flavor is right, spoon into bowls with rice, beans and chips, and garnish with purslane.

Thursday22Rise&VibeFestival

, Tico Time Resort, near Aztec. ticotimeresort.com.

Share Your Garden Thursdays, bring extra veggies and fruit for people in need, 8:30 a.m., Animas Valley Grange, 7271 CR 203.

Ska-BQ with The River Arkansas, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

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

Dustin Burley plays, 5 p.m., Fur Trappers Steakhouse, 701 E. 2nd Ave.

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

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

Dusty Grannis plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Friday23Rise&VibeFestival

, Tico Time Resort, near Aztec. ticotimeresort.com.

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

Artists in the Parklet: Johnny Brill, 4 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

Haro in the Dark plays, 5 p.m., Mancos Brewing Co..

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

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

Ru Paul’s Drag Race Watch Party, every Friday, 68 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave.

The River Arkansas plays, 6 p.m., Fenceline Cider, Mancos.

Lacey Black plays, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms, Ignacio.

Ben Gibson plays, 6 p.m., Fur Trappers Steakhouse, 701 E. 2nd Ave.

Merely Players present Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” 7 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. merelyplayers.org

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Chile Azul plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Ecstatic Dance w/Sheena Medicina, 7:30-9:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 878 E. 2nd Ave.

Get the Led Out plays, 7:30 p.m., Fort Lewis Col-

lege’s Community Concert Hall. durangoconcerts.com

Heavy Rock & Metal Show, featuring Arsenic Kitchen, Weapon of Pride & Crimson Kiss, 8 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Saturday24Rise&VibeFestival

, Tico Time Resort, near Aztec. ticotimeresort.com.

Durango Fall Blaze, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., bicycle race fundraiser for FLC Cycling Scholarships. durangofallblaze.com

Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, TBK Bank parking lot, live music by Rim Trio.

Bayfield Farmers Market, 8 a.m., 1328 CR 501.

Chimney Rock National Monument Celebration, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., celebrate the monument’s 10th anniversary with guided hikes, traditional dances and presentations.

Canyon of the Ancients Clean Up, meet at Sand Canyon Pueblo at 9:45 a.m. to carpool to Big Point Overlook Camping Area.

Cortez National Drive Electric Week Event, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Cortez Visitors Center, 928 E. Main St.

Wines of the San Juan’s Harvest Wine Festival, 12-7 p.m., live music by The Foggy Memory Boys & Breezin’. Blanco, N.M. winesofthesanjuan.com

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

Artists in the Parklet: Parrt Tharp, 4 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

The One Stan Band play, 5 p.m., Mancos Brewing.

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Artists in the Parklet: Katayoun Medhat, 5:30 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.

Jack Ellis Band plays, 6-9 p.m., Fur Trappers Steakhouse, 701 E. 2nd Ave.

Community Yoga, 6-7 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd. Donations accepted.

Matt Rupnow plays, 6 p.m., The Office, 699 Main Ave.

Durango Elks Lodge ’80s Prom Night, 6-10 p.m., Durango Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.

Merely Players present Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” 7 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. merelyplayers.org

’80s Video Dance & Costume Party, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, 7

p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Bluegrouse plays, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Silent Disco w/DJ Squoze, 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m., 11th Street Station.

Sunday25Rise&VibeFestival

, Tico Time Resort, near Aztec. ticotimeresort.com.

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

Wines of the San Juan’s Harvest Wine Festival, 12-6 p.m., live music by FAB and Julie & the Boyz. Blanco, N.M. winesofthesanjuan.com

Reeder & Spencer play, 1-4 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Merely Players present Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” 2 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. merelyplayers.org

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

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

Jazz Jam, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Devin Scott plays, 6:30 p.m., The Office, 699 Main. Comedy Show, 6:30 p.m., Olde Tymers Café, 1000 Main Ave.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, 7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.

Monday26Livemusic

, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

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

Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Tuesday27TwinButtesFarm

Stand, every Tuesday thru Oct. 6, 3-5:30 p.m., 165 Tipple Ave.

Kids Pick in the Park, 5 p.m., Rotary Park, State 38 plays, 5 p.m., Durango Hot Springs.

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

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

Jordan World Circus, 6 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.

Open Mic Night, weekly 7:30-9:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Comedy Open Mic, weekly, 9 p.m., 11th St. Station.

AskRachelPay to piss, toys for tots and pickle

Interesting fact: In other countries, it’s common to pay a bathroom attendant the equivalent of anything from 10 cents to $2 to use the facilities. I’m thinking of opening my bathroom to the public.

Dear Rachel,

After reading that some homeless people are using the streets and alleys to relieve themselves and shops have “no public restroom” signs, I got an idea. In Prague, Czech Republic, they solved the issue. They have public port-a-johns at some trolley stops. Yeah 50 cents or tokens. This is hooked up to the city sewer. Cleaned and cared for by the city. Does this pass the smell test for you? Your thoughts. Maybe the only ones in Colorado.

– Alley Sweeper

party soon. The last time I was around 2-yearolds was when I was 2-years-old. I have no concept of what 2-year-olds are like. I mean, are they using sentences? Can they sit upright? Do they need chunky cardboard books, or can they be trusted with regular paper? They can’t have normal Legos, I’m pretty sure, because even adults swallow that crap. Help!

– Terrible Twos

Dear Adult,

You know that sentiment that it’s the thought that counts? Well, stop thinking. It’s time to fall back on a classic gift: stuff the kid can’t use now but will really appreciate in 20-plus years. Think a bottle of wine that will age well. Or, whiskey that will age well. Or, a bottle of wine that the parents could really use right about now.

– Staring gift horses in the mouth, Rachel

Emailinterventionquestionstotelegraph@durangotelegraph.com

Dear Alley Cat,

My thoughts might be the only ones in Colorado? Seems harsh, but sometimes it also seems true. Particularly when I comb through the letters I get c/o the Telegraph. I’m all for public restrooms. Everyone deserves the dignity of being human. But we have way more issues to solve for the public good before this could work. Like, who is going to distribute crapper tokens to the unhoused? And who’s going to teach children of all socioeconomic strata what coins are?

– Legs crossed, Rachel

Dear Rachel,

Dear Rachel,

I have to buy gifts for a 2-year-old’s birthday

Wednesday28GreatGardenSeries:Bees & Honey, A Sticky Conversation, 4 p.m., Durango Public Library.

La Plata County Candidate Forum, 5-7 p.m., Fort Lewis College’s Innovation Center, 835 Main Ave., Suite 225 and also via Zoom at bit.ly3B23kCf. Hosted by La Plata County League of Women Voters.

Live music, 5 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave.

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

Spanish Hour, 6 p.m., Macho’s North, listen and interpret music. Sponsored by Word Traveller’s Language School. www.espanolahora.net

Animas City Night Bazaar, 6 p.m., alley near 2977 Main Ave. animascitynightbazaar.com

Catching Flies, Smiley Coyote & White Saeculum play, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8 p.m., The Roost, 128 E. College Dr.

OngoingThat’sSoDurango, art show thru Sept. 29. Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. durangoarts.org.

Shock Wave Drag Night, first and third Friday of every month, 9 p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main Ave. 18+

The Hive Indoor Skate Park, open skate and skate lessons. Waivers required. For schedule and online waiver, go to www.thehivedgo.org

Hi ho Schneider Park we go … YEAH, picked best pickleball court location in Durango. Hey, how about the pickleball folks save pickle juice and break a bottle for the opening of the courts? Not wine, beer or champagne. Let the pickles fly that day. Use real pickles for the opening whack of the paddle. Your thoughts on the great event to happen in Durango? The train could toot the opening, and we all would be happy this location was found. Next project charging stations for e-bikes

– Pickle Me Pink

UpcomingMerelyPlayerspresent Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” Sept. 29-30 & Oct. 1 at 7 p.m., Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. merelyplayers.org

Four Corners Comedy Festival, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, fourcornerscomedyfestival.com

Nu Bass Theory plays, Sept. 29, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Durango Vintage Festivus, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, vintage clothing festival, Tico Time Resort, near Aztec.

Four Corners West Coast Swing Weekend, Sept. 30Oct. 2, westslopewesties.com/events

Six Dollar String Band plays, Sept. 30, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Jack Ellis & Larry Carver play, Sept. 30, 6 p.m., Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave.

Marilyn Mangold Garst (pianist) plays, Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 419 San Juan Dr.

Desert Child w/ Cousin Curtiss play, Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre.

Clear Spring Jazz Trio plays, Sept. 30, 7-10 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Josie Loner, Spyderland, Mommy Milkers, Mad Libby & the Saints and The Happy Club play, Sept. 30, 8 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Drive Out Domestic Violence Golf Tournament, Oct. 1, 10 a.m., Hillcrest Golf Course. Golfhillcrest.com

Dear WHATObsessed,THEACTUAL EFFING EFF IS GOING ON HERE. I like to think I have my finger on the pulse, but I don’t know whose pulse it’s on, because it certainly isn’t pickled. I’m legit about ready to change this feature to a pickleball chat board. People send in their comments and replies, I’ll reprint them the following week. It’s a lot slower than a newfangled internet chat room (which I guess is just Reddit now?) but that’s fine, because all these pickleballers clearly don’t have the time for synchronous communication because PICKLEBALL PICKLEBALL PICKLEBALL public potty break PICKLEBALL PICKLEBALL.

– Sourly, Rachel

Tarantula Day at the Nature Center, Oct. 1, 10 a.m.2 p.m., events all day celebrating tarantula migration, Durango Nature Center, 63 County Road 310.

Rob Webster plays, Oct. 1, 6-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.

Hip Hop Night, featuring Cody Kelly, Frayzie, DJAAY, Animas Lucid, Tesh G & DJ Phish, Oct. 7, 8 p.m., The Hive, 1150 Main Ave.

Apple Days Festival, Oct. 8, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Durango Farmers Market, TBK Bank parking lot.

Rivers for Resilience, Oct. 8, 9 a.m., Santa Rita Park. River cleanup, lunch, presentations on stewardship, education and community action to protect Animas River. https://bit.ly/RiversforResilience

Parker’s Animal Rescue’s “Suitcase Party,” Oct. 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., info at parkersanimalrescue.com

Durango Open Studio Tour – Taster Art Exhibition, Oct. 14, 5-8 p.m., Smiley Café, 1309 E. 3rd Ave.

Deadline for the

FreeWillAstrology

by Rob Brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

Even when your courage has a touch of foolhardiness, even when your quest for adventure makes you a bit reckless, you can be resourceful enough to avoid dicey consequences. Maybe more than any other sign of the zodiac, you periodically outfox karma. But in the coming weeks, I will nevertheless counsel you not to barge into situations where rash boldness might lead to wrong moves. Please do not flirt with escapades that could turn into chancy gambles. At least for the foreseeable future, I hope you will be prudent and cagey in your quest for interesting and educational fun.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In 1946, medical professionals in the U.K. established the Common Cold Unit. Its goal was to discover practical treatments for the familiar viral infection known as the cold. Over the next 43 years, until it was shut down, the agency produced just one useful innovation: zinc gluconate lozenges. This treatment reduces the severity and length of a cold if taken within 24 hours of onset. So the results of all that research were modest, but they were also much better than nothing. During the coming weeks, you may experience comparable phenomena, Taurus: less spectacular outcomes than you might wish, but still very worthwhile.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

Here’s a scenario that could be both an metaphorinvigoratingandaliteral event.

Put on rollerblades. Get out onto a long flat surface. Build up a comfortable speed. Fill your lungs with the elixir of life. Praise the sun and the wind. Sing your favorite songs. Swing your arms all the way forward and all the way back. Forward: power. Backward: power. Glide and coast and flow with sheer joy. Cruise along with confidence in the instinctive skill of your beautiful body. Evaporate thoughts. Free yourself of every concern and every idea. Keep rambling until you feel spacious and vast.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

I’m getting a psychic vision of you cuddled up in your warm bed, surrounded by stuffed animals and wrapped in soft, thick blankets with images of bunnies and dolphins on them. Your headphones are on, and the songs pouring into your cozy awareness are silky smooth tonics that rouse sweet memories of all the times you felt most wanted and most at home in the world. I think I see a cup of hot chocolate on your bedstand, too, and your favorite dessert. Got all that, fellow Cancerian? In the coming days and

nights, I suggest you enjoy an abundance of experiences akin to what I’ve described here.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): For 15 years, Leo cartoonist Gary Larson created “The Far Side,” a hilarious comic strip featuring intelligent talking animals. It was syndicated in more than 1,900 newspapers. But like all of us, he has had failures, too. In one of his books, Larson describes the most disappointing event in his life. He was eating a meal in the same dining area as a famous cartoonist he admired, Charles Addams, creator of “The Addams Family.” Larson felt a strong urge to go over and introduce himself to Addams. But he was too shy and tongue-tied to do so. Don’t be like Larson in the coming weeks, dear Leo. Reach out and connect with receptive people you’d love to communicate with. Make the first move in contacting someone who could be important to you in the future. Be bold in seeking new links and affiliations. Always be respectful, of course.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

“Love your mistakes and foibles,” Virgo astrologer William Sebrans advises his fellow Virgos. “They aren’t going away. And it’s your calling in life – some would say a superpower – to home in on them and finesse them. Why? Because you may be able to fix them or at least improve them with panache – for your benefit and the welfare of those you love.” While this counsel is always relevant for you, dear Virgo, it will be especially so in the coming weeks.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

Tips for making the most of the next three weeks: 1. Be proud as you teeter charismatically on the fence. Relish the power that comes from being in between. 2. Act as vividly congenial and staunchly beautiful as you dare. 3. Experiment with making artful arrangements of pretty much everything you are part of. 4. Flatter others sincerely. Use praise as one of your secret powers. 5. Cultivate an openminded skepticism that blends discernment and curiosity. 6. Plot and scheme in behalf of harmony, but never kiss ass.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Poet Mary Oliver wrote, “There is within each of us a self that is neither a child, nor a servant of the hours. It is a third self, occasional in some of us, tyrant in others. This self is out of love with the ordinary; it is out of love with time. It has a hunger for eternity.” During the coming weeks, Scorpio, I will be cheering for the ascendancy of that self in you. More than usual, you need to commune with fantastic truths and tran-

scendent joys. To be in maximum alignment with the good fortune that life has prepared for you, you must give your loving attention to the highest and noblest visions of your personal destiny that you can imagine.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Tips to get the most out of the next three weeks: 1. Use your imagination to make everything seem fascinating and wonderful. 2. When you give advice to others, be sure to listen to it yourself. 3. Move away from having a rigid conception of yourself and move toward having a fluid fantasy about yourself. 4. Be the first to laugh at and correct your own mistakes. (It’ll give you the credibility to make even better mistakes in the future.) 5. Inspire other people to love being themselves and not want to be like you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.

19): Capricorn poet William Stafford wrote, “Saying things you do not have to say weakens your talk. Hearing things you do not need to hear dulls your hearing.” Those ideas are always true, of course, but I think it’s especially crucial that you heed them in the coming weeks. In my oracular opinion, you need to build your personal power right now. An important way to do that is by being discriminating about what you take in and put out. For best results, speak your truths as often and as clearly as possible. And do all you can to avoid exposing yourself to trivial and delusional “truths” that are really just opinions or misinformation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are an extra authentic Aquarius if people say that you get yourself into the weirdest, most interesting trouble they’ve ever seen. You are an ultragenuine Aquarius if people follow the twists and pivots of your life as they would a soap opera. And I suspect you will fulfill these potentials to the max in the coming weeks. The upcoming chapter of your life story might be as entertaining as any you have had in years. Luckily, imminent events are also likely to bring you soulful lessons that make you wiser and wilder. I’m excited to see what happens!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In a poem to a lover, Pablo Neruda wrote, “At night I dream that you and I are two plants that grew together, roots entwined.” I suspect you Pisceans could have similar deepening and interweaving experiences sometime soon – not only with a lover but with any treasured person or animal you long to be even closer to than you already are. Now is a time to seek more robust and resilient intimacy.

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 telegraph.comclassifieds@durango

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

Announcements2022TheNewAxis of Evil

Desantis/Abbott.

Nadya/Tron Art Sale

Bayfield Pine River Library, 50% off. Sale thru Sept. Personal tours – 970-5631042.

Lost/FoundSunglasses Found

Near St. Columba Park. Email: spec ula1@gmail.com

HelpWantedADifferent

Kind of Bank…

1st Southwest Bank, a locally owned CDFI community bank, is seeking a commercial lender, marketing, loan & retail operations staff. FSWB offers competitive compensation, generous benefits, & career development. Join FSWB’s awardwinning team dedicated to supporting rural Colorado’s agricultural, nonprofit and small businesses. For details and to apply, visit our website at fswb.bank/who-we-are/careers. EOE.

Classes/WorkshopsLearnSpanishToday

Open registration for fall Spanish classes at The Hive offered by Word Travellers Language School. Visit www.esp anolahora.net or call (970) 749-6002.

Happiness is a Skill

Half-day meditation retreat at the Durango Dharma Center on October 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more info, visit durangodharmacenter.org

Insight Meditation Course

Meeting the Challenges of Life with Grace: An Introductory Insight Meditation Course on the Buddhist Teaching of the Paramis. The paramis are ten universal qualities of heart, from wisdom and kindness to determination and patience, that help us navigate the ups and downs of life. Five weeks starting Wednesday, Sept. 28, 6:00-7:45 p.m. For more info, visit durangodharmacenter.org

ForSaleGordon

Smith LongboardFibreFlex

A classic – sweet, smooth ride for cushy cruising. Been around the block but still in great shape. 42” long. $50 Text: 970-749-2595.

Vassago Jabberwocky Singlespeed

17” steel frame, black, hardtail, front Fox 32” fork. Set up for tubeless, decent rubber. Super fun, light and zippy bike –great for in-town rides, Phil’s or more. $700 Text: 970-749-2595.

GoPro Camera

Hero 5. A few years old but only used once or twice and otherwise just sat in a drawer. It is deserving of a more exciting owner! $150 OBO. Text 970-749-2595

Reruns Home Furnishings

Cozy up your home: vintage dressers, mid-century modern, nightstands, patio sets, coffee tables, cool art and décor, kitchen items … Come in today! 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.

Wanted Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum, Etc.

at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970-259-3494. Carpentry and Painting Stucco repair, 707-806-3456.

ICAN Reopening

Susan Urban, CEO of ICAN, announces the opening of her new office in Junction Creek Commons, Durango, offering professional hypnosis, motivational speaking, and life coaching. Urban has more than 35 years of experience working with human potential development, the sub-conscious mind, and mind/body/spirit technologies. Hypnosis can help you: *Quit smoking *Gain confidence *Lose unwanted fears, habits and behaviors *Pain management *Stress reduction *Inner child work *Panic attacks *Past life regressions *Call 970-247-9617 for free phone consultation! “Anything the mind creates, the mind can transform!”

Marketing Small and Local Businesses

Media, website building and content editing, copywriting and editing, newsletters, blogs, etc. for small, local, independent or startup businesses. www.forward pedal.com or email jnderge@gmail.com

Harmony Cleaning and Organizing

Residential, offices, commercial and vacation rentals, 970-403-6192.

Lowest Prices on Storage!

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

BodyWorkLotus

HealingPathArts

Now accepting new clients. Offering a unique, intuitive fusion of Esalen massage, deep tissue & Acutonics, 24 years of experience. To schedule call Kathryn, 970-201-3373.

Massage by Meg Bush

LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.

CommunityServiceVolunteersNeeded

Alternative Horizons is in need of volunteer hotline advocates. AH supports survivors of Domestic Violence. Call 970247-4374 for more details.

Online at durangocowboygathering .org. No entry fee. Parade Oct. 1, 10:30 a.m.

Durango Cowboy RegistrationParade

HaikuMovieReview‘TheHistoryofFutureFolk’ Snider Lainie Maxson