The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water,
Ramble opens next to Phil’s World for well-equipped car camping by Missy Votel
CAST: Kirbie Bennett, David Marston,
On the cover
We know ski season – what there was of it – is coming to a close, but here’s one last powder shot to get us through till next season. This one, of splitboarder Eric VanMountain (which may or may not be his real name), was taken last week above Cement Creek, near Silverton./ Photo by Andy High
MAIL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 332 Durango, CO 81302
PHONE: 970-259-0133
telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
Feela’s fifth
Now for something from the shameless self-promotion department: our very own longtime columnist, poet and Montezuma County friend David Feela has published his fifth book.
Titled “Feelasophy,” it is a collection of 70 short, wry and often-sublime essays on life’s absurdities and blessings – many of which have appeared in these pages (and others) over the last 10 years.
From an overly cautious librarian's insistence on treating an internet password as if it were a nuclear code to the scent of skunks heralding spring, Feela finds ridiculousness and beauty in unlikely places. To each subject he brings a humorist's eye and a humanitarian's heart. The world at large and the world in the palm of your hand are equally fascinating, Feela posits. If he doesn't make you laugh out loud, he will certainly generate smiles.
But be forewarned, if you don’t find puns punny – well, first we can’t be friends – and secondly, this may not be the book for you. However, if you do and are someone who loves writing that focuses on the transformative power of life's little moments, settle in. Whether introducing you to a bus driver with a bad attitude on the Mediterranean island of Malta or "Joanne's Gum Gallery Museum" in Quartzite, Ariz. – all 4,000 pieces on display chewed by Joanne herself – Feela is a glib, engaging and bemused travel guide, uncovering what makes life interesting.
The typically humble Feela, a former teacher, is coy on tooting his own horn, but contemporaries are singing the book’s praises. Peter Anderson, author of “Riding the Wheel,” wrote, “Feela is a funny man with a poet’s eye for detail and a keen sense of the ridiculous. His writing is infused with good cheer and humor. He likes puns and isn’t afraid to use them. ‘Feelasophy’ is informed by his love of words and his delight in playing with them. All the better for his readers, as he takes us down the quirky and offbeat backroads of life.”
“Feelasophy” is available at Maria’s Bookshop and online at major book retailers.
LaVidaLocal
“If only Custer could see us now”
Consider the persistence of impossible beauty. By that, I mean even though the news brings much to despair over every day, there is beauty in the blue and green of spring. And of course, there is beauty when people rise against injustice and color the streets with protest. I’m thinking specifically about this part of the world in the spring of 1974 when Indigenous people gathered in downtown Farmington for seven consecutive Saturdays full of protests. The marches were in response to the brutal murder of three Diné men (John Earl Harvey, Herman Benally and David Ignacio), committed by a group of white Farmington teenagers. The slayings, which occurred in Chokecherry Canyon, came to be known as the Chokecherry Massacre. In the face of this heart-wrenching injustice, grieving Diné families took to the streets in righteous rage.
I grew up hearing about these events from my elders. Sometimes when passing through downtown Farmington, my imagination would take all the stories I heard about the marches and recreate scenes of Indigenous folks taking over the streets with Red Power signs and banners.
Once on a drive with my uncle David, he described a standoff between Native protestors and white police. “Here’s where it all happened,” he pointed up and down the road as we passed the Totah Theater. “AIM members blocked off the ‘Sheriff’s Posse Parade.’ People were pissed, and pretty soon everyone started rioting.”
itably, as my uncle recalled, a riot broke out.
In college, I would return to this protest event as a topic for creative writing classes, but finding photographs or footage remained elusive. Fortunately, some years later, I would finally come across photos taken by famed civil rights journalist Bob Fitch of the Main Street marches. The images reaffirmed what I had imagined: waves of Dinê families and organizers flooding Main Street with signs and banners. “THE RED MAN IS HERE TO STAY,” one sign declares.
See, during those weeks of marching, Native folks were waiting for justice. They wanted the murderers held accountable. However, a judge denied the request to prosecute the white youth as adults. They were instead sent to a reform school for the murders they committed. The day after the sentences were handed down, the city denied a permit for another Native protest because the annual “Sheriff’s Posse Parade” was already scheduled to take place. The parade intended to “honor the Old West” and featured white men wearing frontier uniforms, which felt like an insult to the Indigenous community already upset by the lenient sentences. Native activists tried to shut down the parade, and inev-
“The Great One” has now become “The Second Greatest One,” with Alex Ovechkin scoring his 895th career goal this week, bypassing Wayne Gretzky in all-time goals. Whether you love Ovechkin or hate him, he deserves a beer.
The millions of folks, including some who voted for Trump, turning out last week for the series of “Hands Off” protests across the county. Trump, for his part, was golfing, but you know he was secretly glued to the social media watching.
A win for freedom of the press and free speech. After being banned from the White House, the Associated Press was reinstated after a court order ruled that the government can’t punish news organizations for the content of their (free) speech.
What I cherish most about these photos is the Native children marching alongside their elders. One photograph features four Diné children holding a banner that says, “March for Navajo Liberation.” Crowds of elders and relatives are walking behind the children. This is what I consider beauty. And speaking of beauty, there’s another photo I must tell you about. It features a young Native girl displaying a big smile, ready to break into laughter. She’s holding a handpainted sign that reads “IF ONLY CUSTER COULD SEE US NOW.” Another young Diné person stands nearby; they too are captured with smiles.
Perhaps I don’t need to tell you why I hold this image close to my heart. This empire is annihilating itself, and I need those stubborn lights of beauty to guide me through the chaos and uncertainty. That’s why I love the transcendent message of Indigenous resistance coming through these photos. Yes, it’s a heavy history to carry, but we are still here fighting for justice and liberation. Yes, Custer’s ghost haunts courthouses and police departments on the stolen land of bordertowns. Yes, Custer’s legacy still lives on in settler violence like the Chokecherry Massacre. But you see, my people are still here fighting, the Native elders and youth together in the streets. Yes, there is much anger and sorrow, and there will be more tomorrow, but we’ll still find moments to pause and savor the miracle of a smile. The photo I’m thinking about could have been taken in the past or the future. See, I believe the smile on a Native child plants the seed for a better tomorrow. To all the Custers of the world, past and present, my people are still here fighting and thriving. We are still here.
– Kirbie Bennett
Oh no, measles in Archuleta County. Anyone else having pandemic PTSD?
We saw this coming, but now it’s all but official. Snowpack in the San Miguel-Dolores-Animas-San Juan basin – which peaked on March 23 this year, more than a week earlier than average – is ranging between 65% - 76%. No, there will be no Dolores release. Again.
So, now it appears Trump is reversing course on his disastrous tariff plan. Sure, this is a good thing, but could we have just done this from the get-go and avoided all the drama, chaos and heart palpitations?
Fanny Smackdown Ever since Liquid Death started selling pleather diapers, other brands have been jumping on the absurd novelty bandwagon to get attention. A few weeks ago, the Igloo cooler brand teamed up with WWE to re-
lease the “Heavyweight Champion Fanny Pack Cooler” for $44.99. It’s big enough to hold four beers, but the branding is redundant because if you’re the type who wears coolers, everybody already knows your weight class. However, the true champion of absurdity is Arby’s, because their limitededition Dungeons & Dragons dice set sold out in seconds April 3, despite being listed for $40. And this last one makes absolutely no sense, because after eating at Arby’s, you don’t need dice to play craps.
Rebates aren’t fair
La Plata Electric Association offers rebates to members who buy electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and electric lawnmowers, snowblowers, bikes and similar expensive equipment. But is this fair for everyone? All LPEA members pay uniform electricity rates, meaning every household contributes equally regardless of income. This means members who cannot afford electric equipment indirectly subsidize wealthier members who benefit directly from the rebates. This creates an unfair economic imbalance.
For example, buying and installing an EV charger can cost more than $1,500. Many families simply cannot afford EVs and toys and don’t want or need that expense. Additionally, offering these rebates can raise LPEA’s overall operational expenses, which increases electricity rates for all members.
LPEA should choose better ways to use member funds. Examples include upgrading older power lines, transformers and infrastructure to reduce outages, or setting aside funds to protect members from sudden electricity rate increases due to fluctuations in energy costs. Open and transparent conver-
sations within our community are needed to ensure decisions about rebates and spending are fair and helpful to every member.
Voice your concerns to LPEA CEO Chris Hanson at a “Coffee with Chris,” email LPEA at memberservices@lpea .coop or call (970) 247-5786. Our electric co-op needs to treat its members fairly while keeping costs down.
– Marybeth Snyder, Pagosa Springs
Musk stealing from us
Elon Musk bought his way into our government by spending $290 million on Trump’s reelection campaign. Musk’s businesses have received $38 billion in government contracts, loans and tax credits. Now, this South African immigrant is working to steal more from ordinary Americans.
Musk plans to defraud our veterans by cutting 80,000 jobs from the V.A. He’s threatening to eliminate Medicaid, withdrawing healthcare from 72 million needy Americans. He’s plotting cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
Before the election, Trump promised to “end inflation on day one.” Instead,
prices have risen. He now says “a recession might be worth it” as he destroys our economy with tariffs. Why does Trump love tariffs? Two reasons: The first is that progressive income tax imposes more taxes on the wealthy. Tariffs are essentially taxes on
Enjoy mountain living at its finest in this beautifully remodeled studio. Offering stunning views, this thoughtfully designed space combines modern amenities with a cozy atmosphere. Enjoy on-site features such as pools, and tennis and pickleball courts. Located just minutes from Purgatory and other outdoor activities. Whether looking for a weekend getaway or a year-round residence, this is the ideal base. MLS#821409
the poor and middle class. Trump wants to extend his tax cuts for the rich by imposing taxes on the rest of us.
Secondly, Trump wants to run our country like a mob boss. If he inflicts pain on businesses, he can accept bribes from those seeking an exemption.
Tamarron Condo - $225K
Trump brought in Musk not to eliminate waste and fraud, but to transfer the nation’s wealth from the poor and middle class to the billionaires.
How can we stop this? Call your senators and representatives every day. Tell your friends how Musk is stealing from them. Pro-democracy demonstrations are springing up around the world. Join a local protest. It’s actually a lot of fun.
– Philip Riffe, Hesperus,
Medicaid cuts hurt all
Most Americans agree that our government could use a careful examination of operations for improving efficiencies and reducing costs, fraud and waste. But there should be careful oversight, with checks and balances, before slashing personnel and funding.
Right now we are in a fight to preserve Medicaid, which provides health insurance for more than 80 million Americans. If Congress imposes huge cuts, they will financially harm nearly every American with private health insurance.
Consider the math. If poor people are denied coverage, they still use health care. They just don’t access it in a preventive or timely way. They don’t access it at a doctor’s office but at the emergency room, where the cost is most expensive.
And when they don’t pay for that care, who does? Everyone with health insurance, whose rates (whether it’s premiums or out-of-pocket costs) must rise to cover the cost of uncompensated care. Gutting Medicaid is essentially a way to shift costs from government to the private sector, a prescription for returning to the pre-Affordable Care Act era of rapidly rising premium costs.
Cutting Medicaid will not just be an issue for the poor. It will affect the middle class and seniors who are dual enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare. Cuts to Medicaid could take coverage away
from up to 20 million people, with devastating impacts on children, low-income workers, the elderly and their families.
Any cuts at the federal level will lead to devastating cuts at the state level. Colorado would be disproportionately harmed. There are 1.1 million Coloradans on Medicaid. Proposed cuts to Medicaid expansion alone would mean Colorado loses $1B a year, and as many as 400,000 Coloradans lose coverage. Hospitals, clinics and providers (especially in rural areas) would be at extreme risk of closing, causing further economic fallout, higher costs and limited access. This is a measure that rips away life-sustaining healthcare and retirement benefits from everyday Americans.
Here are some suggestions for cutting healthcare spending, fraud and waste without causing fear, pain and lack of access:
• Cut prices on drugs now. Originally, pharmacy benefit managers helped cut prices, but recently an FTC study showed that big insurance’s PBMs profit at the expense of patients by inflating drug costs and squeezing pharmacies. Americans should pay no more for medications than citizens of other prosperous countries.
• Eliminate “upcoding” (falsely exaggerating ill health) in Medicare Advantage (M.A.) plans. A recent report by the Congressional Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, an independent advisory agency, found that upcoding generated nearly $124 billion in excess payments annually. Now, there’s some fraud that could be clawed back by the government.
• Decrease the allowable percentage of M.A. insurance revenues that go for “administration” instead of medical care from 15% to 10%. By comparison, traditional Medicare’s administration is an efficient 2-3%. M.A. programs annually cost $83 billion more than traditional Medicare and have more limited networks of providers, more prior authori-
HandsOff: An estimated 1,000 locals gathered through intermittent snow for last Saturday’s “Hands Off” rally and march in Buckley Park. Organized by Indivisible, the rallies drew millions of people in cities across the country to protest Trump and Musk’s handling of ... well, just about everything./
zations delaying care and higher rates of denials.
• Reduce misleading and inaccurate ads during the Medicare and M.A. open enrollment period.
It’s time to call our legislators and let them know how we feel about these pending cuts and privatization/ profitization of healthcare.
– Jan Phillips, Durango
A Spam sandwich
Editor’s note: The April 3 edition of the Telegraph contained a letter by “Margaret E. Cozine Landrum” of Durango. The letter came from New Mode, an online civic en-
gagement platform that sends politically minded communications on behalf of various organizations and individuals. Even though she did not necessarily disagree with the message of the letter, Cozine said she did not endorse it and does not know how New Mode obtained her information. In addition, New Mode used a former married name for Cozine, which she has since dropped. New Mode has not replied to requests asking how it obtained Cozine’s information.
In the meantime, the Telegraph will double down on due diligence for the small but growing number of letters that come from platforms like New Mode. And as always, we urge readers to be careful of who they are sharing their information with.
Our apologies to Cozine.
Photo by Missy Votel
People, get ready
La Plata County hosts Emergency Preparedness Week to get residents wildfire-ready
by Dave Marston
When La Plata County needed a director of emergency management in 2021, it found a winner in Shawna Legarza. An experienced firefighter, her career has spanned battling big fires on the ground to overseeing federal firefighting across several states.
Now, she’s helping Durango and other areas prepare for the inevitable approach of wildfire. During the week of April 20, more than 40 neighborhoods will participate in mock evacuations, responding to an alert as if cataclysmic fire were the real thing. Under Legarza’s leadership, it’s become an annual community event that people look forward to, a time when residents can make sure they’re ready if – and when – the real thing happens.
Many locals can tell you that Legarza knows her stuff. She spent 20 years as a member of the Forest Service’s elite Hotshots firefighting unit, muscling a 45pound pack deep into wilderness, digging fire lines and sleeping in the dirt. Legarza finished her career with the Forest Service overseeing broad swaths of the nation’s firefighting apparatus.
But before Legarza could become a Hotshot, she had to break into a man’s world.
“It was 1990, and I had this scrap of paper with two job openings,” she recalled, “so I called the first Hotshot superintendent who said flat out: ‘We don’t hire women.’”
Legarza, who would go on to start the San Juan Hotshots crew 12 years later, didn’t give up.
“I called the next guy on my list and said, ‘Hey, my name is Shawna Legarza, and I want to be a Hotshot.’” This time she got the job. “I was super fit, and I knew it was my job for life,” she said.
Still athletic at 55, she ran 13 ultra-
La Plata County’s Director of Emergency Management Shawna Legarza at the Burns Cayon Fire in 2002. Legarza, who was a Hotshot for the Forest Service for 20 years, is now helping Durango and other areas to be wildfire ready in the event of a catastrophic fire./ Courtesy photo
marathons last year. Co-worker Emily Spencer, the county’s planning section chief, calls Legarza “tough as nails.”
By 2013, Legarza had moved up fast in the Forest Service and was overseeing all federal firefighting in California, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. “I was yearround firefighting,” she said. What it taught her was that if you’ve planned, and you’re ready to act before a wildfire erupts, you can help save people’s lives and their homes.
The consequences of not being prepared were the most heartbreaking part of firefighting, she said. “Throughout my career, I had to dwell on the bad fires, the ones where people panicked. I’ve watched structures built in the trees become torches. I’ve felt the chaos when there were no appropriate roads to escape on or to bring in help.”
One local wildfire she helped fight was the 2002 Missionary Ridge Fire, which burned 76,000 acres northeast of Durango. Buildings were destroyed and mountain ranges once considered fire breaks turned into wildfire bridges.
Invited to give a talk to the Durango Rotary Club a few years ago, Legarza said the first question from the audience was: “‘You’ve had a million jobs! Are you 90 years old?’”
“I’ve worn a lot of hats,” she admitted. As a rural kid growing up in Nevada, she started out as a ranch hand building fence and collecting manure. A slaughterhouse job earned her $1.50 a day.
Now, as spring begins with a climate growing drier and warmer, it’s no secret that forests are primed for wildfire. To get residents prepared if wildfires ignite
at the edges of Durango, Legarza for the last three years has sponsored a widely popular “evacuation scenario.” There’s even a waiting list to participate.
Legarza said emergency management is about imagining the future. “Ask yourself, are you prepared? Here’s a start: remove fire fuels around your property, check your insurance, pack your go-kits, know how to evacuate.”
Specifically, that means scanning your important documents and storing them in the cloud, or for Luddites, storing them in a bag next to your door. “You could have only five minutes. Learn the safe routes out of your neighborhood and where to go when you are evacuated,” she said. “We’re not going to live forever, and every day becomes more precious than the day before. Let’s all be ready for the worst.”
La Plata County will host its fifth annual Emergency Preparedness Week April 21-25. It kicks off with a live IPAWS/ CodeRED emergency alert test at 9:30 a.m. Mon., April 21, followed by a wildfire preparedness workshop from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tues., April 22 at the La Plat County Fairgrounds. There will be mock fire evacuation drills the rest of the week, including April 23 at Edgemont; April 24 at Rockwood; and April 26 at Chapman Lake (Falls Creek.)
“We’re trying to get as many people as possible registered in the county for CodeRED alerts and to encourage folks to come to our community workshop,” La Plata County Spokesman Ted Holteen said.
To sign up for CodeRED emergency alerts, text “LPCOEM” to 99411. For more on Emergency Preparedness Week, go to: www.ReadyLaPlata.org.
Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He lives in Durango, Colorado. ■
One of Ramble at Mesa Verde’s standard campsites, with quick access to Phil’s World and views of Mesa Verde. All sites come equipped with stoves, propane, shade, smokeless fire pits, tent pads and chairs. Some even include sinks, solar power and cornhole. The campground, located on Montezuma County Road M, had a “soft opening” last year but is opening for the 2025 season May 9. / Courtesy photo
Ramble
by Missy Votel
If, like many locals, you’ve been wondering over the years why the heck no one has opened a campground near the mountain biking mini mecca of Phil’s World, you can stop.
Ramble Campgrounds, the Golden-based company, has officially set down roots in the M.C. Located on CR M, the 25-site campground is located just a short roll from Phil’s Northern Trailhead. Known as Ramble at Mesa Verde for its proximity and views of Mesa Verde National Park (oh yeah, that), the campground is open-
ing for the season May 9, just in time for the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde Race on May 10.
“We’re in a really unique location right next to Phil’s World, so we’re hoping to target a lot of those mountain biking enthusiasts,” Ramble’s Chief of Staff and VP of Operations Emma Sheade said recently from Golden.
Although the campground had a “soft” opening last year, this is the first season it is officially rolling out the dirtbag welcome mat. Er, excuse me, “mountain bike enthusiast” welcome mat.
Ramble was founded by Colorado resident Matt Oesterle, who, upon taking a pandemic family RV roadtrip
from California to Ohio, was nonplussed by the accommodations along the route.
“They camped along the way and realized a lot of these American campsites are almost like these parking lot-style experiences where there’s a ton of campsites piled on top of each other, with no space, no privacy, and you’re right off the highway,” said Sheade.
Oesterle set out to change all that with Ramble. The campgrounds offer spacious sites, where neighbors may be seen but not heard, with views and a sense of privacy. They also come with amenities like grills, camp chairs, outdoor kitchens, shade structures, picnic tables, lights,
smokeless Solo firepits, and yes, some sites even have corn hole and solar-powered outlets to charge your phone (or Garmin or fancy new bluetooth bike shifters.)
In other words, glorified car camping with a lot less schlepping.
Sheade said the philosophy behind Ramble is to find a happy medium between the all-out free-for-all of BLM camping and the oft-reviled modern invention known as glamping. Ramble seeks to offer a more “authentic” experience versus the latter, where your head never touches the dirt (or your puffy crammed under your head on a sleeping pad on a tent floor on the dirt.)
“We don’t define ourselves as a glamping campground, but we’re not bare bones either,” said Sheade. “We still set you up with the right kind of amenities but at the end of the day, you are bringing your tent, you are pitching it and you are sleeping outside under the stars,” she said.
Note: You don’t necessarily have to sleep in a tent. If you prefer al fresco, you can take a Paco Pad dirt nap among the piñon and juniper or crash in one of the comfy Adirondacks, although we don’t recommend this for people with back issues. And if you prefer your truck camper or #vanlife, those are allowed, too.
In addition, campers have access to shared bathrooms with hot showers, run-
ning water and most importantly for the vault-toilet averse, flushing toilets. And yes, there is wi-fi, so you can unplug if you want but still check Strava after a day in the saddle.
Nightly rates vary based on the time of the year and demand, but typically range from $75/night for the most basic “Adventure” site to $500 for the decked-out group site that accommodates you and 19 of your closest friends. Of course, it wouldn’t be camping without dogs, so furry four-leggeds are allowed, too – there is even a dog park on site.
Ramble at Mesa Verde is the second campground for the fairly young company. The first one, near Great Sand Dunes National Park, opened in 2023. About 30 minutes from the park, it features its own 2.5-mile trail and a disc golf course.
Sheade said the goal is to try to open more campgrounds near other national parks and landmarks. Other Colorado locations being considered include Salida/Buena Vista, Pine (east of Bailey) and Montrose.
But the company has plans to uh, ramble beyond rural Colorado, to more urban areas in Texas, such as Dallas, Houston and Austin, as well as Denver.
“The plan is to still have key locations outside national parks, but our focus will be more on ‘weekend adventure’ within
an hour of major metro cities,” said Sheade. “What we found is a lot of people want to go camping, but they don’t really feel like driving five hours to some spot.”
Oesterle’s vision is to standardize Ramble campgrounds and their amenities so travelers know what to expect every time they go, no matter which location they visit. In addition, providing the basics like chairs, cooking equipment and fire pits makes camping accessible and easy for a
wider range of campers, from the newbie camping curious to the lackadaisical veteran (who among us hasn’t forgotten their camp chair, firewood or lighter?)
Because if there’s one thing this world needs right about now, it’s more happy campers, not fewer.
“People love Ramble,” said Sheade, adding that the Sand Dunes site has earned rave reviews. “Our goal is to keep rolling out more across the state and the U.S.”■
Ramble at Mesa Verde also includes an amphitheater that shows movies on Friday nights. / Courtesy photo
Thursday10
Career & Internship Expo, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Student Union Ballroom, Fort Lewis College
Community and Care for Anyone Facing Cancer, 2:30-3:20 p.m., Cancer Support Community Southwest Colorado, 1701 Main Ave., Ste. C
Native American Art & Culture Student Fashion Show, 4:30-7 p.m., Center of Southwest Studies, FLC
Durango High School Gala and Silent
AskRachel Dog as my witness, office odor & bad taste
Interesting fact: La Plata County’s website does not seem to take a stance on dog paw prints as witness signatures, one way or the other.
Dear Rachel,
I was the witness for my friends’ wedding this spring over on the Front Range. And I think I saw the most Colorado thing ever. The county guidelines for marriage licenses there said that paw prints were NO LONGER ALLOWED as witness signatures because the scanners couldn’t handle them. This implies very clearly that paw prints were ONCE ALLOWED but are not anymore, not because of the legalities of dogs witnessing a marriage but because of outdated technology. How can we get back to dogs being legal witnesses?
– Paw Patrol
Dear Witness Protection, If you ask me, “scanners can’t handle paw prints” sounds like a way for some county clerk to pass the buck and shush annoying Coloradans. You just know there’s plenty of fourteener-summiting people who would argue about certified witness-dogs all day long.
– Barking up the wrong tree, Rachel
Auction, 6 p.m., Durango High School Auditorium, 2390 Main Ave.
Dr. Sarah Goodpastor of Mercy hospital presents to the Rotary Club, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
Terry Rickard plays, 6 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs, 6475 CR 203
Wednesday16
Donny Johnson plays, 5:30-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Matt Rupnow plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic with Leigh Mikell, 7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Dear Rachel, I’m not being judgy, but my coworker smells. Real bad. I don’t know if he just needs to bathe differently or if it’s a body chemistry thing. I’m trying to be understanding. But we work in close proximity. It’s just too much for me to handle every day. I can’t focus and I now dread going to work. Is this talk-to-theboss territory? Or quit-my-job territory?
– Bound and Gagged
Dear Clothespin Nose, Oof. My opinion, as someone who writes an advice column without sharing space with another human being? Write up a thorough proposal, complete with slide deck, for why you should be able to work remotely. Or, just ask your if you can work outside until you get fired for being annoying.
– No common scents, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I’m just going to say it: I don’t like my mom’s cooking. I didn’t realize this growing up. But now I’ve been out on my own for a while, and it’s apparent. I go visit her and she insists on loading me up with food when I leave. I
“Men Next Door Uncovered: A Magic Mike Experience,” 8 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
Ongoing
“Given Time: Sensory Aesthetics of Reclamation,” exhibit exploring Indigenous relationships to land, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC. Runs thru April 24.
“Sardines” art exhibit by Kimberly DeVenero, thru April, The Recess Gallery at Studio &, 1027 Main Ave.
“A Legacy of Gifts,” thru Nov. 13, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC Heartwood Cohousing 4th Friday Potluck, 6:30 p.m., 800 Heartwood Lane, Bayfield
Upcoming
Durango Trails Membership Event, Thurs., April 17, 4-8 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com
know I’m not going to eat any of it. It’s not bad, I just don’t enjoy it. How do I get her to stop sending me with snacks without wrecking her feelings?
– Packed Lunch
Dear Picky Eater, There’s truly no such thing as a free lunch. Even if you don’t eat it. You cannot in any way be tactful by turning down home cooking. But you don’t have to let it go to waste. Ask her to package it in disposable containers so you can give it away – to friends, to those in need, to the unemployed dog witnesses outside the courthouse.
– Edibly, Rachel
Spanish Conversation Hour, Thurs., April 17, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
“Birdwatching: A Window Into the World Around You,” Thurs., April 17, 6-7 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Lizard Head Quartet plays live, Thurs., April 17 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs, 6475 CR 203
Mr. B’s Wild West Vaudeville Show, Thurs., April 17, 6:30-9 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Trivia Night, Thurs., April 17, 6:30-9 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio
“A Peaceful Library Takeover” expanding nonprofits’ access to funding and grant advice, Thurs., April 17, 10:30 a.m., Southwest Colorado libraries
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Life is asking you to be a source of generosity and strength for the people and animals in your sphere. I hope you will exude maximum amounts of your natural charisma as you bestow maximum blessings. Soak up the admiration and affection you deserve, too, as you convey admiration and affection to others. Here’s a secret: The more you share your resources, help and intelligence, the more that good stuff will flow back your way.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ceramicist Jun Hamada says that trying to force harmony into her art leads to sterile work. “The most beautiful pieces come from the moments I stop trying to make them beautiful,” she notes. “They emerge from embracing the clay’s natural tendencies, even when they seem to fight against my intentions.” I recommend her approach in coming weeks. Your best results may emerge as you allow supposed flaws and glitches to play a part in the process. Alliances might benefit, even deepen, through honest friction rather than imposed peace. What will happen when you loosen your attachment to enforced harmony and let natural tensions gyrate?
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini-born Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) was a prolific architect who orchestrated many daring designs. Among his most audacious experiments was a project to build a house over a waterfall in Pennsylvania. “It can’t be done!” experts said. But he did it. Before he was ready to accomplish the impossible, though, he had to spend months studying the site’s natural patterns. I bring this to your attention, because I believe you are ready to consider your own equivalent. Prepare well! Do your homework!
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the early phase of his illustrious career, photographer Edward Weston (1886–1958) cultivated a soft-focus, romantic style. But he ultimately converted to stark, uncompromising realism. “The camera,” he said, “should be used for recording life, for rendering the very substance and quintessence of the thing itself.” If there is anything about you that prefers warm, fuzzy illusions over objective, detailed truth, I suggest you switch emphasis for a while. If you like, you can return to the soft-focus approach in June. But for now, a gritty, unsentimental attitude will be essential to your well-being.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Here’s my minimanifesto about change, just in time for a phase when change is most necessary and possible for you. 1. Real change is often a slow and subtle process. There may be rare dramatic shifts, but mostly the process is gradual and incremental. 2. Instead of pushing hard for a short time, you’re more likely to change things by persistently pushing with modest strength for a sustained time. 3. Rather than trying to wrestle with a big problem exactly as it is, it’s often more effective to break the seemingly insurmountable challenge into manageable pieces that can be solved one at a time through simple efforts.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Textile artist Mei Zhang wondered if the synthetic dyes used on her fabrics were limited. Might there be a wider variety of colors she could use? She discovered that her grandmother, using age-old techniques, had produced hues that modern dyes couldn’t replicate. “The most sustainable path forward,” Zhang concluded, “often involves rediscovering what we’ve forgotten rather than inventing something entirely new.” I recommend that counsel to you. The solution to a current challenge might come from looking back instead of pushing forward. Consider old approaches or traditional wisdoms. Weave together fresh applications with timeless principles.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The moon rises about 50 minutes later every day and always at a slightly different place. The amount of light it shows is also in flux. Yet where and how it will appear tomorrow or 10 years from today is completely predictable. Its ever-changing nature follows a pattern. I believe the same is true about our emotions and feelings, which in astrology are ruled by the moon. They are forever shifting, and yet if we survey the big picture, we will see their overall flow has distinct patterns. Now would be a good time for you to get to know your flow better. See if you can detect recurring motifs. Try to develop more objectivity about how your emotions and feelings work. If done correctly, you will deepen and enhance the guiding power of your precious emotions and feelings.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Research reveals that interludes of productive uncertainty may strengthen our brain’s neural pathways – even more so than if we consistently leap to immediate comprehension. The key modifier to this fortifying uncertainty is “productive.” We must be willing to dwell with poise in our puzzlement, even welcome and enjoy the fertile mystery. Neurobiologist Aiden Chen says, “Confusion,
when properly supported, isn’t an obstacle to learning but a catalyst for understanding.” These ideas will be good medicine in the coming weeks, dear Scorpio.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Persian American author Haleh Liza Gafori translates the poetry of 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi. One of their joint books is titled “Gold.” She writes, “Rumi’s gold is not the precious metal but a feeling-state arrived at through the alchemical process of burning through layers of self, greed, pettiness, calculation, doctrine –all of it. The prayer of Sufism is ‘teach me to love more deeply.’ Gold is the deepest love.” That’s the gold I hope you aspire to in the coming weeks. You are in a golden phase when you have more power than usual to create, find and commune with Rumi’s type of gold.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to reframe the meaning of “emptiness” in your life. To launch your quest, I will remind you that quiet interludes and gaps in your schedule can be rejuvenating. Sitting still and doing nothing in particular may be a good way to recharge your spiritual batteries. Relieving yourself of the pressure to be endlessly active could be just what you need to open up space for fresh possibilities.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): There was a time, many years ago, when I consulted an oracle every day. Sometimes it was the Tarot or the I Ching. Astrology was always in the mix, too. Looking back on those days, I am amused at my obsession with the future and uncovering subconscious currents. But employing these aids had a wonderful result: It helped me develop and fine-tune my intuition and psychic powers –which, after all, are the ultimate divination strategy. I bring this to your attention, because I believe you now have an enhanced power to cultivate and strengthen your intuition and psychic powers.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The fovea is the part of the eye that enables sharp vision. Eagles have both a central and peripheral fovea. The latter gives them an amazing visual acuity for things at a distance. This extra asset also attunes them to accurately detect very slow movements. I suspect you will have a metaphorical semblance of the eagle’s perceptual capacity in the coming weeks, Pisces. You will be able to see things you wouldn’t normally see and things that other people can’t see. Take full advantage of this! Find what you didn’t even know you were looking for.
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 durangotelegraph.com n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133
HelpWanted
Join Our Tempeh-Making Crew! (Part-Time) $20-24/hour • 15-20 hours/week. We're Luv Tempeh, a small local business in Durango making handcrafted, soy-free tempeh from organic ingredients. We’re looking for experienced kitchen help. Curious? Questions? Want to apply? https://luvtempeh.com/work-with-us/
La Plata Food Equity Coalition (LPFEC) Hiring Leadership Position. The LPFEC is searching for a 3/4 time Project Weaver to lead our coalition. Their work includes building and maintaining partnerships, managing the coalition’s 3.5 staff, facilitating strategic planning and implementation, and coordinating resources and accountability. The anticipated start date is July 7th, 2025. Learn more and apply here by 4/13: www.good foodcollective.org/available-positions
Estate Sale
Vintage, Unique, Eclectic Estate sale! Apr 12-13, W 17th St, household, furniture, tools, decor, antiques, authentic 70s-90s clothing, skiwear, and more !
Wanted
Wanted: Tennis Ball Machine to buy or rent. 970-560-2767
Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970259-3494.
Books Wanted at White Rabbit
Donate/trade/sell (970) 259-2213
Lost/Found
My Cat Cid is Missing
Long hair, white with black spots, green eyes. Last seen near 18th St. and E. 2nd Ave., by St. Columba. Reward. Call 970-403-6192
Classes/Workshops
Are You Ready for Guitar Lessons in Durango? I teach all ages and experience levels. Please contact Seth at 602-908-4475
Announcements
Get Your Wine On At the Durango Wine Experience! Tickets @ durangowine.com
ForSale
Winnebago Navion 24V
2017 Winnebago Navion 24V Class C RV, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 diesel chassis, 18,500 miles. Excellent condition. 970-946-9941
Reruns Home Furnishings
Spruce up your outdoor space. Patio sets, bistros and patio items. Looking to consign smaller pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Services
Residential Fabrication
Planter boxes, gates and fences and other outdoor property enhancements. North Shore Fab. 970 749 6140. Jon
Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
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.
Chapman Electric Mike 970-403-6670 New construction, remodel, service upgrades, EV chargers, split systems and more. Colorado state licensed electrical contractor.
