The Durango Telegraph, Nov. 30, 2023

Not our first Noel

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FREE Nov. 30, 2023 Vol. XXII, No. 48 durangotelegraph.com

inside

T H E

O R I G I N A L

I N D I E

W E E K L Y

L I N E

O N

D U R A N G O

&

B E Y O N D

Decking the halls

The green team

Fear and loathing

Reflecting on traditions – and starting new ones p4

4CORE launches sustainable business certification p8

Rolling with the moving chaos that is the ART p11

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2 n Nov. 30, 2023

telegraph

lineup

4 La Vida Local

Thou shalt not pass

Decking the halls Holidays are a time to re-evaluate traditions and start new ones

5 Writers on the Range

by Doug Gonzalez

6 Soap Box

5

8 Top Story

On the hunt

10 Colorado Wonders

Private landowners play crucial role in conserving habitat

11 Gossip of the Cyclers

by Lesli Allison / Writers on the Range

8

12-13 Stuff to Do

4CORE program now offers green certification to local businesses

14 Free Will Astrology

13 Ask Rachel

The green team

by Kathleen O’Connor

15 Classifieds

10

15 Haiku Movie Review

Roll with it

On the cover Local artist Jon Bailey keeps the good times rolling with this week’s cover illustration, “Band Practice.”

Fear and loathing on the River Trail – and how to deal with it

boilerplate

by Jennaye Derge

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4

RegularOccurrences

We may sound like a broken record (if anyone remembers what a record is) but some things bear repeating: winter wildlife closures on certain public lands in Durango go into effect starting Dec. 1. The closures will remain in effect through the end of April to protect wintering deer and elk who have a much harder time surviving than you with your down puffy, warm house and stocked fridge. Just saying.

“Every year the BLM partners with the City of Durango and CPW to close key areas to provide conditions that enable wildlife to make it through the tough winter months,” Tres Rios Field Manager Derek Padilla said.

And if you don’t comply? Well aside from the certain shame that comes from getting busted and endangering Bambi, wildlife officers can issue fines that most of us would rather spend on new bike gear next spring.

These trails are closed to public use: • Grandview Ridge and Grandview BLM trails (accessed from Three Springs) • Big Canyon and Sale Barn trails • South Rim Trail and portions of Sidewinder and Cowboy trails accessed from Carbon Junction or Crites • Animas City Mountain above the lower loops (approximately 1.5 miles past the 32nd Street trailhead) • Twin Buttes upper trails as marked • Bodo State Wildlife Area (exception: Smelter Mountain Trail is open from 10 a.m.

- 2 p.m.; but no dogs allowed.)

In addition to wildlife closures, the Durango Mesa Flow Trails will also be closed Dec. 1 – April 30 to minimize damage and erosion to the sweet new trails. However, the Mesa Connector, Telegraph Connector and Meadow Knob Connector trails will remain open.

The good news is, in the trails-half-full scenario, plenty of areas will remain open for your winter recreating pleasure, including: • Horse Gulch, including Telegraph, Crites, Meadow, Stacy’s and Mike’s • Raider Ridge Trail to Medicine, Ben’s Down and Out, and Charmed trails • Carbon Junction to Telegraph via Crites • Dalla Mountain Park • Overend Mountain Park • Rim, Lions Den, Squawker, Tawker, Powerline, Skyline and Sugar trails • The Colorado Trail • Lower portion of Animas City Mountain and Twin Buttes And last but not least, please consider alternative routes or activities if trails are muddy to prevent trail damage – no one likes ruts in their singletrack. You’ll thank yourself later.

Nov. 30, 2023 n 3

opinion

LaVidaLocal Tradition within change The snow storm from this past weekend ushered in quite a few changes for me – the switch to heavier jackets and sweaters, utilizing four-wheel drive in my vehicle and updating my space with Christmas decor pulled from storage. I celebrate Christmas for more of the basic reasons: the food, the lights, the nostalgia. It might even be one of my favorite times of year. When I was 4 years old, I recall decorating a medium-sized house plant to look like a Christmas tree – in July. Yoyo string acted as a garland, and my dinosaur figures were the ornaments. If this didn’t tip my parents off that I would grow up to become a gay man with a penchant for decorating, I’m not sure what else would.

When my dad passed in December 2021, I unexpectedly found myself decorating for the holiday season. Two days before Christmas, I stumbled upon a large and pre-lit tree from Kroegers Hardware for 40% off. As a lover of deals, I thought, “Why not?” It was the first time I purchased a fake tree of my own. I completed decorating in one night, fueled by the mourning of my late father. Looking at the completed tree through the faint tears in my eyes, the lights glowed hauntingly beautiful. I felt really proud that night.

This year, as I started to unpack the tree and the ornament boxes, I looked around my apartment. The furniture looked more mismatched than ever. The dust on the wooden floors showed more than usual. The lights on the tree started to look too yellow. “What is happening here?” I thought. Trimming the tree, which felt so magical just two years prior, now felt lackluster and overwhelmingly tedious.

Have you found yourself with a similar feeling? Frustrated by the things that surround you? Not because they’re broken or not serving their purpose, but frustrating because you feel like they misrepresent you? Like you’ve changed too much?

I know that change is an important law of nature, bringing about life as we know it today. However, has change become too familiar a concept in modern society? How often did early humans experience fluctuations in their world? Anatomically modern humans have existed for more than 150,000 years, with the cognitive capabilities of people today starting 50,000

years ago. And yet, there have been frighteningly exponential strides in industrialization in the past 250 years. In comparison, the Ice Age spanned a period of 2.4 million years, ending only 11,500 years ago.

I also think about the social changes of the last century and how they compare to what was experienced by early civilizations. I find myself feeling both thankful and frustrated. I would not want to be a queer person of color in any other time or place, but I also know there are still attitudes in this country that are dangerous for people like myself. It feels like we are in a constant ebb and flow with social justice, with systems like the Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality in 2015, while also reversing protections for vulnerable people just this year. The political pendulum seems to be swinging faster than ever – and we the people seem to be strapped to the table beneath it. If humans were given “perfectly balanced change,” what might that look like? And how would the changes we’re going through compare?

For you, what stands the test of time? Is it an item? A core value or tradition? Maybe tradition fights the laws of nature by being something that does not change.

When I was younger, the word “tradition” made me feel squeamish. “Why not change and try something new?” I always thought. Not only that, I knew the person I would become existed beyond the borders of tradition. I needed to make room for myself, so tradition became something I resisted. But as I’ve grown older and have become more secure in myself, I find myself redefining what tradition means to me.

I’ve begun to see tradition as the tree trunk from which the branches and leaves of change in our lives grow. It provides the stability that allows us to navigate a world that changes like the seasons, and oftentimes quicker than that. It provides a safe space to return to, where we don’t have to navigate something new.

Perhaps tradition and knowing oneself is one and the same. And like the tree trunk, tradition must change and grow, but slowly. Even if it temporarily lost its sparkle and shine, I’ve come to feel that decorating a tree has become one of my traditions. It is a tradition where I can feel joy and authenticity, as well as where I can be vulnerable, cry and mourn.

SignoftheDownfall:

Thumbin’It Shhh – don’t look now, but it seems El Niño is in the house. Time to put away the bikes and bust out the skis. Unless you’re one of those weirdos who likes to put on a full-body skinsuit and road ride in a blizzard. In which case, you should be psyched, too.

Efforts to bolster local holiday sales in the face of increasing online competition, with Noel Night this Friday and the Business Improvement District’s annual shop local rewards program. Now get out there and shop till you drop.

The celebrated life of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died last week at the age of 96, and was fondly remembered as a humanitarian, activist and all-around class act.

4 n Nov. 30, 2023

– Doug Gonzalez

Revelations, despite the state of Wyoming’s attempt to squash information on wolf killings, that hunters have lured wolves across the Colorado border into Wyoming, where it’s legal to kill them.

A troubling development that doesn’t exactly bode well for our upcoming reintroduction efforts.

The hopes and dreams of CU Buffalo fans dashed with a very “sub-Prime” season of 4-8. But we still believe in you, Coach Prime – these things take time. There’s always next year. Or the year after.

The shooting of three innocent Palestinian college students while on Thanksgiving in Vermont. Although not officially declared a “hate crime,” seems hard not to connect the dots to the current climate of hate and intolerance.

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Farfrömmissing According to a recent YouGov survey, Germany tops the list of countries with the most men who sit down to pee.

Forty percent of German men reported being a “sitzpinkler” (someone who always sits), while countries like England wiggled in at only 15%. The pro here is that German women reportedly appreciate the lack of splatter, but the con is a lack of public water-saving urinals – in fact, German restroom signage discourages standzpinkling, or whatever it’s called. Obviously, the USA didn’t even make it into the top 22, because we’ve been pissing on things we shouldn’t since 1776.

WritersontheRange

Hunting for solutions Non-resident hunters, private landowners play crucial role in conservation

by Lesli Allison

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disgruntled hunter wrote a “Writers on the Range” opinion recently about Westerners getting fed up with the many out-of-staters coming in and buying up draw licenses to shoot bull elk, deer, bear and other big game animals.

As a hunter myself, I understand their frustration.

But reducing non-resident tags, as Andrew Carpenter suggests, takes us in the wrong direction. The greatest threat to hunting now and in the future is the loss of habitat.

Private lands provide up to 80% of habitat for all wildlife species, including critical winter range that’s the limiting factor for most big game populations. Yet these family farms and ranches are struggling for economic survival, and in many places are under immense development pressure.

According to the American Farmland Trust, Colorado is on track to lose approximately a half-million acres of open land in the next two decades. Other states have similarly alarming projections. As these lands disappear, so does the wildlife they support.

Income generated by providing access and outfitting services to out-of-state hunters is one of the few economic lifelines keeping ranches and habitat intact.

As New Mexico rancher Jack Diamond explained, “Without non-resident hunters, we couldn’t survive at this point in the ranching business. I don’t want to see this place subdivided, but we’d have to consider that as a last resort.”

David Olde, also a rancher from New Mexico, concurred: “We ended up with so many elk that we had to reduce our cattle. If I can’t sell hunts, what can I do – turn it into ranchettes?”

For the fourth-generation Bramwell family ranch in Colorado, hunting income is an integral part of their operation.

“Our out-of-state clients have been coming here to hunt for generations,” Darla Bramwell said. “These migratory animals do not care whose grass they are eating or whose fences they tear down as they come from forest lands to eat in our hay meadows at night. Without the income from the non-resident hunters, something would have to give.”

Most states already heavily favor resident hunters, both in draw quotas and license fees. In Colorado, for example, residents are now allocated 75% of licenses

while non-residents receive only 25%. Further, nonresidents typically pay hundreds of dollars more per license than residents. In Colorado a resident bull elk tag is $61. A non-resident bull elk tag costs $760.

Several things happen when non-resident licenses are further reduced. First, it squeezes the bottom line of family farms and ranches that support wildlife and depend on hunting for a portion of their income.

Second, it harms local livelihoods and rural economies. Visiting hunters outspend resident hunters by a large margin, supporting local restaurants, hotels, stores, outfitting services and the local tax base in rural communities.

As Bramwell said, “When our out-of-state hunters come here, they not only support our family but they support our community. They buy local gifts, food, fuel, lodging, meat processing and taxidermy work.”

Diamond’s operation supports between seven to 10 guides from August through December. “These are good-paying jobs, and the money generated is all spent locally in the two counties we live in,” he said.

“We buy gas, propane, groceries. We also pay state gross receipts tax on the entire hunt.”

Third, state wildlife agencies depend on the high license fees they charge out-of-state hunters.

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Fourth, the loss of visiting hunters would remove incentives for prospective ranch buyers to invest in conserving and managing land for wildlife.

Finally, it would also mean more hunters crowding public lands and forcing elk to seek refuge on private lands, reducing hunter opportunity and creating a lower-quality hunt experience.

Pulling the economic rug out from under private lands and wildlife isn’t the answer. So, what is a better solution?

We need to increase, not decrease, incentives for landowners to conserve habitat and provide hunting opportunities. We should bolster, not undermine, the role of hunting in supporting agricultural lands and rural economies. And we need to improve wildlife habitat on public lands with better management of our forests and rangelands.

The future of hunting – and wildlife – both depend on landowners and sportsmen working together to sustain our remaining wild and working lands. ■ Lesli Allison is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring conversation about the West. She is CEO of the Western Landowners Alliance, an organization that supports working lands, connected landscapes and native species.

Nov. 30, 2023 n 5

SoapBox

Small towns rely on hunting and fishing

Hunters rejoice when the air starts to cool and the days become shorter, and so do small-town businesses and outfitters. To many small-town businesses across Colorado, a successful hunting season means money in their pockets and food for their families.

Dave and Karen Hammer, who own Kremmling Mercantile, Moose Café and Bear Mountain Outfitters in Kremmling, count down the days until hunting season each year. “Not only do we appreciate, but we depend on the hunters and anglers that come through our businesses throughout the season,” Dave Hammer said. “Each year, we’re grateful to see new and returning hunters and anglers that fill up on groceries and other items for their trip. Without their business, there would be a noticeable impact.”

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to hunting and fishing in the Centennial State. Home to more than 960 species, Colorado boasts one of the most diverse and abundant wild-

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D-Tooned/by Rob Pudim life populations in North America.

Many of Colorado’s wildlife management efforts, including habitat conservation, wildlife reintroductions, and threatened and endangered species programs, are supported through revenue generated from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Each year, hunting and angling generate over $3.25 billion for the state from small businesses to manufacturers and the tourism industry. Additionally, hunting and angling support more than 25,000 full-time jobs across the state.

The Colorado Wildlife Council was formed in 1998 by the Colorado Legislature. Twenty-four years later, the goal of the council remains the same: to educate the general public about the benefits of wildlife, wildlife management and wildlife-related opportunities – especially hunting and fishing.

The council was formed by and remains a diverse group of anglers, hunters, farmers, ranchers, conservationists, outdoor recreationists and community leaders, all working together to ensure a bright future for Colorado’s wildlife. The council currently consists

of nine volunteers who represent various groups throughout the state.

To learn more about and stay up to date with the Colorado Wildlife Coun-

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cil’s work and impact, please visit www.cowildlifecouncil.org/take-action.

– Lani Kitching, Vice Chair, Colorado Wildlife Council

MoreSoapBox

The necessity of poetry

(Editor’s note: The City of Durango recently established its first ever Poet Laureate program, funded by the Lodgers Tax Arts and Culture Fund. The program is meant to create a vibrant platform for local poets to share their voices and engage with the community. The winners of the two Poet Laureate positions, an adult and a young adult, will be announced in December.) oetry is the language of the heart.

Without poetry, all our lives would lose the beauty and grandeur of honest expression. Poetry is a necessity as simple as an embrace. The problem with poetry, and figurative language as a whole, is that it is not emphasized or even recognized as a critical part of our culture. In most cases, poetry is glossed over in academics. If one would travel to such nations as Russia or Poland, he or she may be surprised to find that poetry is not only an integral part of their culture but is highly regarded as a prized expression of their everyday lives. It is not uncommon to see poets on street corners reciting their passions in verse.

Poetry has always had a place in the

P

politics of the day. Poets have risked their lives, not only to express their beliefs, but to rally the citizenry to seek the truth in matters of government. Poets such as Whitman, Lowell, Lorca, Mandelstam and Akhmatova have put their reputation and lives on the line with a poem.

Such great anti-war poets as Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen have left us a first-hand account of the terrors of war. Throughout history, scholars and poets were the first to be arrested by fascist regimes, for they were always the first to speak out against injustice.

I am reminded of Victor Jara, the Chilean poet, who was executed by General Pinochet – his hands cut off before execution as to set an example – or

of Boris Pasternak’s beautiful collection of love poems that were censored during Stalin’s tyrannical rule.

I am always amazed by the diverse talent in writing that is found in the youth of today. After reading many young poets during my tenure as a teacher, I am honored to have witnessed their words and how they ignited a soul’s thirst. They have shown true feats of brilliance! In spite of the standard complaint, which I have heard numerous times by students, that “Writing is too hard, and I cannot put down my ideas in a way that people would understand,” I found this obstacle easily removed when the student truly realized that writing is enjoyable.

Learning to write poetry is not a chore, it is a gift! This is a facet that

many teachers of literature fail to realize. Poetry provides such an avenue of creativity but is seldom explored. Poems are malleable. They bend with the thought, and oftentimes grammatical conventions can be de-emphasized. This is not to say that writing good poetry disregards proper diction and rules, but it does give the word its power, and in many ways this alleviates the pressures of convention, especially for the novice writer.

Poetry is a necessity if we are to remain a cultured society. It is a way to show our dreams, fears and hopes through the word. Sometimes our worlds are troubled, yet verse enables us to express what is inexpressible. Intense vision, emotional relief and a sense of identity are all attributes of the poem. The poem is power, highly individualistic and humble. When a poet writes a poem and reads it to an audience, it is no longer his. It has transcended its purpose. It has been given away. It has become a true gift.

– Burt Baldwin, Ignacio

It’s not hairy shopping at Jimmy’s.

Hours: Tues. - Fri. 11-6; Sat. 11-5 • www.jimmysmusic.supply 1239 Main Ave., Durango • 970-764-4577

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Nov. 30, 2023 n 7

TopStory

Sustainable levels Program makes it easier for local businesses to go green

by Kathleen O’Connor

T

he Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency, aka 4CORE, wants to help you and your business save money, save energy and go green.

Last year, the local nonprofit launched its Green Business Certification Program in partnership with the City of Durango.

The program works with businesses aspiring to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce waste and optimize overall operations in an effort to achieve more environmentally friendly business practices.

For businesses, that’s a good thing. Recent consumer surveys indicate that many prefer to patronize businesses prioritizing sustainability, care about the environmental impact of the products they purchase and specifically look for more sustainable options.

Colleen Wilcox, 4CORE’s green certification program manager, agrees. “The majority of customers are aware of whether or not a business they’re walking into is sustainable,” she said. As a popular tourist destination, Durango attracts approximately 1.3 million visitors each year, many of whom likely favor businesses committed to sustainable practices. “People recognize the importance of patronizing businesses that go the extra mile to do something different for the earth,” Wilcox added.

4CORE offers four levels of Green Business Certification – Bronze, Silver, Gold and the highest level, Platinum. Each level reflects varying points earned across 14 categories that include such things as energy efficiency, climate and carbon footprint, waste and transportation.

Within each category, businesses can choose from a range of criteria or tasks to accumulate points. For instance, under the energy efficiency category, business owners can earn points by adopting LED lightbulbs (10 points), conducting a

8 n Nov. 30, 2023

Durango Outdoor Exchange is one of three local businesses that obtained the highest status – Platinum level – for its sustainability efforts. Eight area businesses in have received honors within the program’s first year. /Courtesy photo Building Performance Institute (BPI) energy audit and blower door test (15 points), or developing an energy conservation plan (10 points).

Businesses can attain points through simple or more complex tasks. For example, under the climate category, they can complete easier tasks like calculating their carbon footprint and purchasing carbon offsets or do something more extensive, like installing solar panels.

What if your business already utilizes solar panels? Then, those points automatically contribute to your overall points and percentage score.

In addition, participating businesses can receive various rebates from the City of Durango, LPEA and Atmos Energy, depending on the tasks implemented. For example, if you get a BPI energy audit and implement at least one of its recommendations, Wilcox said, LPEA will

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refund almost all the audit’s cost. The City of Durango also offers rebates that assist with initial costs of participating in the program while other rebates help offset the cost of easy, eco-friendly upgrades such as installing WaterSense aerators into bathroom faucets, signing up for composting through the City’s partner, Table to Farm Compost, or installing a bike rack.

For business owners interested in

Green Business Certification, the process begins with a self-assessment, examining the sustainability tasks listed under each of the 14 categories. From there, certification-level goals can be set, measured and tracked. 4CORE assists with this initial stage by providing a complimentary business walk-through and consultation.

“This gives us baseline information about where the business currently stands in relation to each of the 14 assessment categories,” Wilcox explained. “We can then calculate which, if any, of the certification levels the business is currently at and set goals from there.”

Coaching and resources from 4CORE are provided throughout the process. Participating businesses also receive marketing services from 4CORE, including a listing in Durango’s Sustainable Business Guide, recognition from the City of Durango, a listing on Visit Durango’s Responsible Tourism page and shoutouts on 4CORE’s social media pages. Certified businesses will also be prominently displayed at the downtown Durango Welcome Center.

Last month, 4CORE hosted its first annual Green Business Awards Ceremony, celebrating eight local businesses that achieved various levels of certification during the program’s first year. Durango

Outdoor Exchange was one of three local businesses that reached Platinum level for its sustainability efforts. These included installing an electric vehicle charging station and roof solar panels, which generate almost enough energy to offset the store’s annual electric bill.

“We have operated our business with three guiding principles that drive our operations and decision-making. Those are community, adventure and environment,” Durango Outdoor Exchange president and co-owner Chase LaCroix said in a statement. “By obtaining a Platinum Green Business Certification, we are living our values by protecting the environment.”

LaCroix also commented on the usefulness of 4CORE’s certification process.

“I most enjoyed having a platform to review how we operate our business objectively and to understand where improvements can be made,” he added.

Other businesses around town achieving Platinum Certification include: Columbine Landscaping Co., a woman-owned landscaping company specializing in ecologically minded designs; and Desert Sun Coffee Roasters, an organic, fair-trade roaster committed to supply chain sustainability.

Dorothy Parker Design was one of four

local businesses achieving Gold Certification, along with The Sweaty Buddha, Phoenix Physical Therapy and Manna the Durango Soup Kitchen. For Parker, sustainable business practices have always been a driving force in her entrepreneurial journey. “Sustainability has long been a top value of mine,” she said. “I want to communicate through my business my commitment to sustainability and set clear, measurable metrics as part of my goals. It made sense to partner with 4CORE to develop and improve upon these objectives,” she added.

Sage Fresh Eats closes out the list of green-certified businesses, achieving Silver Certification for its dedication to sustainable practices, such as more environmentally friendly take-out packaging and cutlery. You won’t find Styrofoam take-out containers here.

As 4CORE enters the second year of its Green Certification Program and works with four new businesses striving to become green-certified, Wilcox feels a sense of warmth and camaraderie within the community and participants. “I am so excited to be in this role,” she said, smiling.

“I can be the glue, bringing these businesses together to share their challenges and helping each other become more sustainable. I view my role as pulling to-

Dorothy Parker Design earned a gold certification at this year’s awards ceremony. /Courtesy photo gether the leaders in this movement, which will ultimately contribute to making Durango a green city.”

For more information on 4CORE’s Green Business Certification Program, visit www.fourcore.org. For a complete listing of sustainability-focused businesses around town, visit www.sustainabledurango.com ■

ENJOY SOME HOLIDAY CHEER!

20th

Annua l

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Nov. 30, 2023 n 9

ColoradoWonders

Western state of mind Defining the elusive Western Slope – or is it West Slope?

by Stina Sieg / Colorado Public Radio

H

ave you ever skied at Steamboat? Hiked to the jewel-tone waters of Ice Lake? Floated the Colorado River through Ruby/Horsethief Canyon? If so, you’ve been to the Western Slope.

Or have you?

“What is the extent of the Western Slope?” Grand Junction resident Scott Braden wrote into Colorado Wonders. “What are its boundaries?”

Braden also asked about the region’s “official” name: “Is it Western Slope or West Slope?”

These might feel like cut-and-dry questions for a geography expert like Dara Seidl, associate professor of GIS at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville. But can Seidl say where the borders of the Western Slope truly lie?

“I would love to tell you yes,” she said, with a knowing laugh. “But as a geographer, I have to tell you no, there is no definitive answer.”

10 n Nov. 30, 2023

And yes, she’s heard, like you may have, that the boundary line is the Continental Divide. Seidl and the state demography office agree while that does make good shorthand, there’s actually nothing official about what makes the Western Slope the Western Slope.

“I feel it’s more about the emotional sense,” Seidl said.

In that way, the public’s definition of the Western Slope means just as much as an expert’s. So we asked you, CPR listeners and readers: Where do you think the Western Slope is?

And you wrote and called in from all over Colorado and beyond – with all sorts of answers.

Ryan Grange of Littleton said when he hears Western Slope, he pictures the Grand Valley, home to Grand Junction, Palisade and Fruita. “It’s the peach orchards and hiking the Monument and the view of the Book Cliffs,” he said. “It’s magical.”

Grand Junction’s Wendy Videlock scalled to say the designation felt “fairly nebulous,” but she had always heard it was everything west of Breckenridge.

Many of you, including Dave Fishell and Kent Diemer, both of Grand Junction, felt strongly that the true border is the Continental Divide.

Others had a much narrower view. Marisa Connors, who lives in Fruita, was one of several people who said that Glenwood Springs felt like the true border “even though the Continental Divide is over in the Silverthorne area.” Elizabeth Tice, from Grand Junction, however, made clear she did not think Glenwood was part of the Western Slope.

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And all the way from Portugal, former Moab resident Franklin Seal had one of the most specific definitions of all. “I’ve always understood it to be the realm west of the actual central Rocky Mountain region wherein the 14ers lie,” he wrote on Facebook. “Driving west on I-70, Vail is not, but Glenwood Springs is, and Eagle is in the gray area.

On 40, Steamboat Springs is a gray area, Craig is on the Western Slope. On 50, Gunnison, yes, but Salida, no. In the south, Pagosa Springs, yes, but further east, no.”

The area’s name is one thing most of you agree on.

“It’s definitely the ‘Western Slope,’” Jeremy Simon, who used to live in Carbondale, said.

There were only a few dissenting opinions on that, including this short and sweet one from Ellis in Hotchkiss: “It’s the Best Slope.”

Oh, and there’s one more: “Sunset Slope,” which has fallen out of favor, wrote Alex Finkelstein, who teaches history at Western Colorado University in Gunnison.

As for Braden, who asked the original questions, he sees the Western Slope (yes, he calls it that) as a place “John Denver maybe didn’t sing about, that is much more a province of sagebrush and cowboys and maybe not so much snow and skiing.”

And maybe he’s right – just like everyone who contributed to this piece. Because, as it seems, the only real boundaries of the Western Slope are the ones that live in your heart. ■ For more from Colorado Public Radio, go to www.cpr.org.

GossipoftheCyclers

The art of the ART Fear and loathing on the River Trail – and how to get over it

by Jennaye Derge

A

fter spending the majority of my rental house days living on the northwest side of Durango, I recently moved a few blocks to the east. I usually commute around town via the west streets and avenues, whether it be by bike or walking my dog along sidewalks. However, my new rental home is situated directly on the Animas River Trail, so unless I want to cross Camino del Rio every day, multiple times a day, my path of least resistance is along the ART. “How lucky!” you might be thinking. To be directly on the river trail seems fortuitous for someone like me who rarely drives a car and gets around predominantly by bicycle. But truth be told, I have avoided commuting on the ART like the plague, because much like the plague, the River Trail can be dangerous and chaotic – an almost certain death waiting to happen.

I stopped riding my bike along the River Trail about eight years ago after I had a run-in with a loose dog who played chicken with me near the Rotary Park bridge. When I slowed down, the dog slowed down; when I went forward, it went forward. The dog got away, but I crashed in front of a family who was still yelling at Sparky to “come here, now!”

I wanted to let them know that there is a simple solution for getting your dog to come to you quickly in a public space, but seeing the leash dangling freely from their hands let me know that they were already aware of the solution. They just chose not to use it.

After that incident, I spent years happily riding my bike safely on the streets of west Durango. Rarely was there a dog that jumped in front of me, groups of folks sauntering five abreast across the entire road or skateboards shooting sideways from underfoot. I could commute the way a proper commuter could: freely forward, and it was nice. Until now.

The first day I reintroduced myself to the Animas River Trail, I was on foot walking my dog. I was excited that I no longer had to watch for cars while crossing streets, but just as I started to relax, none other than a cyclist came whirring up behind me and caused a “my ’lanta!” to escape my startled lips. Then,

a gas-powered motorized scooter buzzed by. Soon, a skateboarder surfed toward my dog, nearly scratching him on his ears before turning back down the path.

I wanted to lift my walking cane and yell damnations to those whippersnappers through my toothless pie hole, but then I remembered that I am a spry 30something, and I am just hoping for a little decency.

Next, I tried riding my bike downtown via the River Trail, and it was exactly how I remembered, but worse.

Groups of all sorts were going different speeds, zigzagging in directions other than forward, and I was gripping my handlebars waiting for what would jump out of the bushes. It just solidified what I already knew.

The Animas River Trail is terrifying. It is each man for himself. It is total and complete anarchy. I would choose to ride a vehicle-trodden street any day before putting my life in the hands of the ART. Give me a 25mph trafficked avenue, or give me death.

But, I live on the northeast side now, where I am funneled onto the trail, so – while I love anarchist tendencies – I do feel like it is time to brush up on a little trail-sharing etiquette and get this madhouse in order.

First of all, motorized vehicles are prohibited on the Animas River Trail. Yes, I’m talking to you bearded guy who buzzes that exhaust pipe across the high school bridge every day.

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Second, for my fellow cyclists whom I will always give special treatment to because supporting you is my life’s calling: slow down when you are passing pedestrians. Stop pedaling, ring your bell, say “on your left!” give a little wave, say thank you, and then go on your merry way.

Furthermore, if you are coming up behind a group of pedestrians (or anyone going slower than you), please yield to other oncoming cyclists or pedestrians.

This means, you may have to slow down and wait for oncoming traffic to pass before you can go around.

Don’t all try to squeeze through at the same time.

Bottlenecking is for chumps.

Secondly, if you don’t want to yield or bottleneck, if you want to cruise smoothly, if you don’t want to stop, if you are late and need to throw it into high gear and go super fast, try riding on the streets with traffic. Go fast, just look for cars. Trust me, streets are great for that.

Third: If you are a pedestrian, please try to stay on the right side of the path. I know there usually isn’t a painted delineator indicating lanes on the ART, but from about the age of 15½ we were all taught that slow traffic stays on the right so that we may all pass on the left. Let’s keep doing that.

Also, please be aware that someone saying “on your left” means they are passing on your left. It, however, does not mean you should jump to your left, then your right, then stop and scream. It might feel like it, but no one is trying to run you over and kill you.

Fourth: please leash and clean up after your pets.

The Animas River Trail is a great resource to be used, and we are lucky to have it. It connects almost the entirety of town (yes, we are still waiting for the SMART 160. Don’t worry, it’s coming) by a continuous off-road path, and it allows all nonmotorized uses – for now.

Please don’t be that person to ruin it for the rest of us.

Just watch where you go, watch where other people are, wave, smile, say thank you – and please, for the love of all things holy, put a leash on your dog. ■ Jennaye Derge is the executive director of Bike Durango, a local organization dedicated to bicycle advocacy, education and outreach, www.bikedurango.org.

Nov. 30, 2023 n 11

StufftoDo

Thursday30

Thursday Night Sitting Group, 5:30-6:15 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave, Suite 109.

“Surviving King Solomon: An Avi Accident Discussion,” 6 p.m., Pine Needle Mountaineering.

Sponsored by Friends of the San Juans.

Bluegrass Jam, 6 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice, 3000 Main Ave. Trivia Night, 6:30 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center

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

Drag Trivia Night, 7:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Friday01

Noel Night, activities in and around Durango.

Free Friday Yoga, 8:30 a.m., Lively (a boutique), 809 Main Ave. Gary B. Walker, 10:15 a.m. – 12 noon, Jean-Pierre Bakery & Restaurant, 601 Main Ave. Open Meditation, 12 noon-1 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave, Suite 109.

Festival of Trees, noon - 5 pm, D&SNG Railroad Museum, 479 Main Ave. Fund-raiser for Community Connections.

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, 1-5 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds Art Room Collective First Friday, 4-7 p.m., Smiley Building, 1309 E. 13th Ave. Jack Ellis & Larry Carver play, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle, 699 Main Ave. Cornhole Tournament, 5:30 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave.

Wood Belly with Jack Cloonan, doors at 6 p.m., Animas City Theater Merely Players presents “Hands on a Hardbody,” 7 p.m. Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. www.merelyplayers.org Aria PettyOne presents Aria’s Pizza Party, 8:30-9:30p.m., Father’s Daughters Pizza, 640 Main

Sunday03

Durango Flea Market, 8 a.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. Veterans Benefit Breakfast, 9 a.m., VFW Post 4031, 1550 Main Ave. Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds

DJ Party, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Roxy’s, 693 Main Ave. Vinyl Sundaze, 12 noon, Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd

Saturday02

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds

Festival of Trees, noon - 5 pm, D&SNG Railroad Museum, 479 Main Ave. Fund-raiser for Community Connections.

Art Room Collective Holiday Art Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Smiley Building, 1309 E. 13th Ave.

Turley Town Open House, 12-6 p.m. Wines of the San Juan, Blanco, N.M., 505-632-0879.

Festival of Trees, noon - 5 pm, D&SNG Railroad Museum, 479 Main Ave. Fund-raiser for Community Connections.

“Hands on a Hardbody,” presented by Merely Players, 2 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. www.merelyplayers.org

Turley Town Open House, 12-6 p.m. Event also takes place Dec. 3. Wines of the San Juan, Blanco, N.M., 505-632-0879.

Feed the People! free aid for homeless community members, 2 p.m., Buckley Park.

Opening Reception: “Ec(h)o,” woodwork and art of Ted Moore, 5-8 p.m., 11th Street Station.

Durango Choral Society presents “Sparkling Lights,” holiday concert, 3 p.m., Fort Lewis Community Concert Hall

“What Inkling This Time?” presented by The Incubator for Emerging Artists, 5:30 p.m., Stillwater Music, 1316 Main Ave., Ste C,

The Hive presents Teton Gravity Research, “Flying High Again” and Visit Durango’s “Send It Like A Local, Dec. 3, 6 p.m. films, 8 p.m. live music by ORA, Rodeo Odyssey 1437 E 2nd Ave

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

Sunday Funday, 6 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main

“Hands on a Hardbody,” presented by Merely Players, 7 p.m. Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. www.merelyplayers.org

Monday04

Jimmy Buffett Music Video Night, doors at 7:30 p.m., Animas City Theater

Ukulele Jam, 5 p.m., Durango Coffee Co., 730 Main Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard

EDM Party, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Roxy’s, 693 Main Ave. Friday Dancing, 6 p.m., VFW. Instruction followed by open dancing at 7:45 p.m. DurangoDancing.com.

Silent Disco, 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m., 11th St. Station.

Meditation and Dharma Talk, 5:30 p.m., Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave.

Holly Jolly Toy Drive at DO! Drop off a new toy or clothes for a child age 0-17 by Dec. 10th and get 10% Off your purchase.

Warm up on Noel Night with a hot toddy under our outdoor heaters

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ONLINE

GREAT STRAIN SELECTION • HASH & CONCENTRATE • EDIBLES • SEED • CLONES PIPES • SMOKING ACCESSORIES • APPAREL • MJ LITERATURE & CONSULTING • ATM ON SITE

12 n Nov. 30, 2023

1135 Main Ave. • DGO, CO

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Winter hours: Mon. - Thurs., 12-8pm • Fri., 12-10pm Sat., 11am-10pm • Sunday 11am-6pm

AskRachel

Too much of a good thing and holidayed out Interesting fact: The Mayo Clinic says that four cups of coffee a day seems to be a healthy limit for most adults. They have yet to reply to my inquiries on Christmas overdosing.

Dear Rachel, Is it possible to drink too much coffee? Not in a single go. Obviously, that is possible. I mean cumulatively. I stayed with extended family for Thanksgiving, and they had a pump-a-cup carafe just sitting there all day. I never felt buzzed, but now that I’m home, it’s like the thought of coffee makes me ill.

Matter of fact, I started my day today without it. I just drank water and had tea. Tea! Herbal tea! Can I be cured?

– De-Caffed Dear Bottomless, This is the very definition of too much of a good thing. One time, I took myself to see a movie, and I bought the biggest bag of Skittles they had. I ate that entire damn pouch like a horse with oats. And I felt sick until I digested some greens in penance. I loved that bag of Skittles, and I will do it again, first chance I get. But boy, I could not not not have done that again within the same calendar month. Just give it time, and either your taste will come back, or you’ll be doomed to chamomile for all eternity.

– My cup overfloweth, Rachel

Dear Rachel, I have heard that you are cuter than a basket full of kittens. So, what’s with TV ads showing two cats eating on a counter top in the kitchen with a woman? I have to eat my food on the floor in my bowl. I know you are friends with some top cats. Your thoughts?

– Hound Dog Dear Dirty Dawg, I have heard that you are comprised of a greater flea-proportion than the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It’s a wonder you are allowed in the house. Heck, it’s a wonder anyone feeds you, going around thinking that complimenting people with “you are prettier than a bunch of baby animals trapped in a woven box” is some kind of flattery. BTW, cats’ paws are nearly just as gross and should also not be allowed anywhere near a countertop.

– Get down, Rachel

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Dear Rachel, I just ain’t feeling the Christmas spirit this year. Don’t wanna pull out the light-up village, don’t wanna book the Polar Express, don’t wanna hear Mariah Carey, don’t wanna watch Rudolph. Don’t even really want to do presents for the kids (though I will). I don’t feel grinchy, exactly, or depressed or anything. Just like, blah, not into it, can’t be

bothered. This isn’t really such a crime, is it?

– Meh-ry Christmas Dear Ebenezer, No, it’s not a crime. Least it better not be, because I don’t think I have been into Christmas for several years now. I think it’s just the affliction called adulthood. Or maybe it’s that time is actually shrinking, and we genuinely don’t get the Christmas recovery period we used to. Like drinking too much coffee and having to convert to having no joy left in your life.

– Ho ho hum, Rachel

Comedy Showcase, 7:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.

“Nutcracker” featuring the San Juan Symphony, Dec. 8-10, Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall

Tuesday05

Ongoing

Winter Wonderbands: Stillwater Youth Band Showcase, Dec. 9, 12 noon-5 p.m., The Light Box, 1316 Main Ave.

Community Yoga, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Yoga Durango, 1485 Florida Rd. Donations accepted.

Slow Bluegrass Jam, 5:30-7:30 p.m., General Palmer Hotel, 567 Main Ave. Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main

“Sine Language” exhibit by Christine Cassano, 4:30-6 p.m., FLC’s Lyceum, Center for Southwest Studies.

Thru Dec. 8 The Polar Express, thru Jan. 1, 2024

”Ec(h)o,” woodwork and art of Ted Moore, thru

Holiday Farmer’s Market, Dec. 9, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds Pet Photos with Santa, Dec. 9, 2-4 p.m., Creature Comforts, 1111 S Camino Del Rio

Jan. 5, 2024, 11th Street Station.

“Hands on a Hardbody,” presented by Merely Players, 7 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr. www.merelyplayers.org Jazz Ensemble, 7 p.m., FLC Ballroom.

“The Return of the Force,” FLC’s Center for Southwest Studies. Thru August 2024.

Merely Players “Chicago” auditions, Dec. 11-12, 5:45-9:30 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Drive.

Toy Drive, Durango Treasures and Twilight Toys, 900 Main Ave., Suite A or 600 Main Ave., #105

“A Christmas Carol - A Radio Play,” Dec. 13-17, Fort Lewis College Main Stage Theater

Wednesday06

Restorative Yoga for Cancer, 9:30-10:45 a.m., Smiley Building, register at cancersupportswco.org/ calendar

Upcoming CAIC fundraiser, 5:30 p.m., Dec. 7, Ska Brewing.

Open Mic, 6:30 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Trivia Night, 7 p.m., Bottom Shelf Brewery, Bayfield.

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

STEAM Lab – Winter Wonders! Dec. 8, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Durango Public Library Free Legal Clinic, Dec. 8, 4 - 5 p.m. Contact the Ignacio Library, (970) 563-9287

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Deadline to submit items for “Stuff to Do” is Monday at noon.

E-mail your stuff to: calendar@ durangotelegraph.com Nov. 30, 2023 n 13

FreeWillAstrology

by Rob Brezsny ARIES (March 21-April 19): As a child, I loved to go to a meadow and whirl around until I got dizzy and fell. As I lay on the ground, the sky and sun reeled madly, and I was no longer just a pinpoint of awareness lodged inside my body but was an undulating swirl in the kaleidoscopic web of life. Now, years later, I’ve discovered many of us love spinning. Scientists postulate humans have a desire for the intoxicating vertigo it brings. I would never recommend you do what I did as a kid; it could be dangerous. But if it’s safe and the spirit moves you, do it! Or at least imagine yourself doing it.

Do you know about the Sufi Whirling Dervishes who use spinning as a meditation? Read here: tinyurl.com/JoyOfWhirling TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your creature in the coming weeks will not be an eagle, wolf, or bear. I don’t advise you to dream of being a wild horse, tiger or crocodile. Instead, cultivate a deep bond with the mushroom family. Why? Now is a time to be like the mushrooms that keep the earth fresh. In wooded areas, they eat away dead trees and leaves, preventing heaps of compost from piling up. They keep the soil healthy and make nutrients for growing things. Be like those mushrooms. Steadily and relentlessly rid your world of the defunct and decaying parts – thereby stimulating fertility.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini novelist Geraldine McCaughrean wrote, “Maybe courage is like memory – a muscle that needs exercise to get strong. So I decided that maybe if I started in a small way, I could gradually work my way up to being brave.”

That is an excellent prescription for you: the slow, incremental approach to becoming bolder and pluckier.

For best results, begin practicing on mild risks and mellow adventures. Week by week, month by month, increase the audacious beauty of your schemes and the intensity of your spunk and fortitude. By mid-2024, you will be ready to launch a daring project.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian neurologist and author Oliver Sacks worked with people who had unusual neurological issues. His surprising conclusion: “Defects, disorders and diseases can play a paradoxical role by bringing out latent powers, developments and evolutions.” In not all cases, but more often than seemed reasonable, he found that disorders could be regarded as creative – “for if they destroy particular paths, particular ways of doing things, they may force unex-

pected growth.” Your assignment is to meditate on how the events of your life might exemplify the principle Sacks marvels at: apparent limitations leading to breakthroughs.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I am falling in love with how deeply you are falling in love with new ways of seeing and understanding yourself. My heart sings as I listen to your heart singing in response to new attractions. Keep it up! You are having an excellent influence on me. My dormant potentials and drowsy passions are stirring as I behold you waking up and coaxing out your dormant potentials and drowsy passions. Thank you, dear!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo journalist Sydney J. Harris offered advice I suggest you meditate on. He wrote, “Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.” I bring this to your attention because now is a favorable time to take action on things you have not yet done – and should do. If you put definitive plans in motion soon, you will ensure that regret won’t come calling in five years. (PS: It’s also an excellent time to dissolve regret you feel for the past.)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In contrast to false stereotypes, Medieval Europeans were not unhygienic. They made soap and loved to bathe. Another bogus myth says the people of the Middle Ages believed the Earth was flat. But the truth was that most educated folks knew it was round. And it’s questionable to refer to this historical period as backward, since it brought innovations like mechanical timekeepers, moveable type, accurate maps, the heavy plow, and illuminated manuscripts. In this spirit, and in accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to strip away misconceptions and celebrate facts in your own sphere. Be a scrupulous revealer and meticulous truth-teller.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio poet John Berryman said, “To grow, we must travel in the direction of our fears.” Yikes! I personally wouldn’t want to do that all the time. I prefer traveling cheerfully in the direction of my hopes and dreams. But then I’m not a Scorpio. Maybe Berryman’s strategy for fulfilling one’s best destiny is a Scorpio superpower. One thing I know for sure is that the coming weeks will be an excellent time to re-evaluate and reinvent your relationship with fear. I suggest you approach with a beginner’s mind. Empty yourself of all your previous ideas and be

Winter’s here!

Gear up for snowy days with boots, parkas and sweaters from great brands like Patagonia, Icebreaker & Sorel Buy • Sell • Trade • Consign ~ Home Furnishings ~ Clothing ~ Accessories ~ Jewelry 572 E. 6th Ave. • 970-385-7336

14 n Nov. 30, 2023

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open to healing new revelations.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian poet Nina Cassian said, “I promise to make you so alive that the fall of dust on furniture will deafen you.” I think she meant she would fully awaken the senses of her readers. She would boost our capacity for enchantment and entice us to feel interesting emotions we had never experienced. We might even reconfigure our understanding of who we are and what life is about. I am pleased to tell you, Sagittarius, that even if you’re not a writer, you now have an enhanced ability to perform these same services – for yourself and for others.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Sometimes I get lonesome for a storm,” Capricorn singer-songwriter Joan Baez says. “A fullblown storm where everything changes.”

That approach has worked well for her. At age 82, she has released 30 albums and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She has recorded songs in eight languages and has been honored by Amnesty International for her work on human rights. If you’re feeling resilient – which I think you are – I recommend that you, too, get lonesome for a storm. Your life could use some rearrangement. If you’re not feeling wildly bold, maybe ask the gods for a mild squall.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Neil deGrasse Tyson tells us that water molecules we drink have “passed through the kidneys of Socrates, Genghis Khan and Joan of Arc.” The same prodigious truth applies to the air we breathe: It has “passed through the lungs of Napoleon, Beethoven and Abraham Lincoln.” Tyson would have also been accurate if he said we have shared water and air that has been inside the bodies of virtually every creature who has ever lived. I bring this to your attention in the hope of inspiring you to deepen your sense of connectedness to others. Now is an excellent time to intensify your feelings of kinship with the web of life. Here’s the practical value of doing that: You will attract more help and support into your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I am saying a prayer for you. I pray to the Fates that you will not accept careless efforts from others.

You won’t allow politeness to be a cover-up for manipulativeness. I also pray that you will cultivate high expectations for yourself. You won’t be a perfectionist but will be devoted to excellence. All your actions will be infused with integrity. You will conscientiously attend to every detail with the faith that you are planting seeds that will bloom in the future.

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-Wed: 9ish - 5ish Thurs: On delivery Fri: Gone fishing; call first

Announcements Friday 7pm Dancing now at VFW Go to DurangoDancing.com to get on notification list.

KDUR is Celebrating 50 years of broadcasting in 2025. With that anniversary fast approaching, staff is on the hunt for past DJs. Maybe you did a show for one year, maybe you did a show for 10. However long that was, hopefully you have a fond memory, a story or maybe even some recorded material! If you do, please email station manager Bryant Liggett, Liggett_b@fortlewis.edu or call 970.247.7261

Classes/Workshops Do You Live with Anxiety?

Licensed psychologist Dr. Doug Miller, PsyD, is offering a free anxiety workshop for anyone living with anxiety on Tuesday, December 12th at 6:00 pm at Summit Church Durango, 2917 Aspen Drive. This interactive workshop will provide you with skills that can used immediately to live a less anxious life.

Wanted Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off.

970-259-3494.

ForSale TaoTronics 4k Action Camera New and in the box: waterproof housing, handlebar/pole mount,

mounts, battery, tethers, protective back cover, USB cable and lens cleaning cloth. $50. J.marie.pace@gmail.com

Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-7590199.

Lazy Boy Queen Pull-Out Sofa bed. Scotch-guarded. 970-3851945.

CommunityService

Reruns Home Furnishings Brighten up your space. Lots of new inventory including console table, nightstands, lamps and fun décor.

Great serving dishes and glassware for the holidays. Looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.

RealEstate

The Maker Lab in Bodo Park Workspace, tools, learning opportunities, metal and woodworking, laser cutting, 3D printing, electronics and sewing. Classes for all levels. To join or learn more, go to www.themakerlab. org or email info@themakerlab.org Grief Counseling The Grief Center of Southwest Colorado is offering free grief counseling services for children, teens and young

HaikuMovieReview ‘Frybread Face and Me’ A charming tale of family dysfunction and Jeff Bridges, kind of – Lainie Maxson

adults. Please contact: griefcenter swco@gmail.com or 970-764-714 2 Volunteers Needed Alternative Horizons is in need of volunteers to staff our hotline. Call 970-247-4374 or visit alternative horizons.org/

Own a Condo Here?

Better yet, serve on the HOA Board?

I want to talk to you & buy you coffee.

Txt 262-308-2968.

Services Marketing Small/Local Businesses Media, website building and content editing, copywriting and editing, newsletters, blogs, etc. for small, local, independent or startup businesses. www.the saltymedia.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.

BodyWork Lotus Path Healing Arts Offering a unique, intuitive fusion of Esalen massage, deep tissue & Acutonics, 24 years of experience. To schedule call Kathryn, 970-201-3373.

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Nov. 30, 2023 n 15

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