the durango
A brief history of Trump’s accomplishments as a paragon of peace by Addyson Santese
places you’ll go E-bikes are now everywhere but should they be? by Marjorie “Slim” Woodruff / Writers on the Range
Land transaction adds 30-acre inholding to Weminuche Wilderness by Missy Votel
Sizzling sounds
Summer heats up with Los Lobos, July 4 and The Hive’s new Swarm by Stephen Sellers
JENNAYE DERGE jennaye@durangotelegraph.com
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The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-
CAST: Addyson Santese, Stephen Sellers, Jeffrey Mannix,
the cover Fresh off a stint at Telluride Bluegrass, Santa Cruz, Calif.-based singer songwriter Jackson Emmer stopped off in Durango last week to play a decidedly more low-key backyard house concert./ Photo by Alex Krebs
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Ear to the ground:
“Good thing my hackey sack is in the dry bag.”
– There’s nothing worse than a soggy sack on a river trip
Busting out all over
And speaking of, uh, sacks, don’t look now, but the Speedo is back. For men. We told you not to look.
According to an article by Max Berlinger in the New York Times, skimpy swimsuits for men – which they refer to as “briefs” rather than the brand name Speedo or the more crude “banana hammock” or “mankini” – are making a splash this summer. Brands from Zara to Gucci are getting in on the action, with prices ranging from $30 for a basic men’s Speedo to $950 for a red little number by Miu Miu (which, by our calculations, comes out to about $25 per square inch of fabric.)
The trend has also caught the attention of upscale publications, with Cultured magazine featuring actor Walton Goggins (of “Django” and most recently, “White Lotus” fame) on its spring cover in a fluorescent yellow Speedo. The photo prompted GQ to predict briefs will have a “breakout summer” – hopefully not in a literal way. The Guardian and CNN have also reported on the resurgence. Douglas Conklyn, senior vice president of global design at Speedo, said the attention being paid lately to swim briefs has reached levels seen only during the Olympics.
“This Walton Goggins moment has certainly gotten Speedo back in the conversation,” Conklyn told the Times. “It’s putting it in a context with beautiful fashion photography, on beautiful people.”
Long the domain of Europeans, gay men and, of course, athletes, the latest resurgence is notable in that it seems to be crossing over to straight men as well.
Swedish brand CDLP, owned by Christian Larson and Andreas Palm, told the Times their swim brief is as popular as their trunks, accounting for 25-30% of men’s swimwear sales.
Larson said there has “absolutely been a culture shift” around swim briefs. Palm added, “I have friends that I went to business school with who are working in private equity, and they were all in our swim briefs,” he said. “I don’t think they would’ve gone for that 10 years ago.”
This season, after years of fielding requests, men’s wear designer Todd Snyder also began offering a swim brief. Snyder’s Mykonos brief ($98) is sold in three colors and has an inside pocket for small items like keys. He said he was surprised by its success. “It’s been doing killer,” he said, competing “neck and neck” with the trunks he sells.
ster powder days. We are wholly
Granted, the look is not for everybody, he concedes. “I think I’m past that,” the 57year-old Snyder told the Times. “Those days are gone.”
LaVidaLocal opinion
“Now is the time for peace!”
Recently, Donald Trump was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The prize, established in 1901, is awarded to people who have “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” The Peace Prize has been awarded to figures like Malala Yousafzai, Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama, as well as organizations like Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International.
In light of this recent and well-deserved nomination, let’s take a look at some of Trump’s accomplishments that have solidified him as a paragon of peace in our deeply troubled world:
• Since the 1970s, Donald Trump has been accused of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment by at least 25 women.
• He methodically eroded the American public’s trust in fair journalism and mail-in voting by trafficking conspiracy theories, which significantly contributed to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, wherein right-wing extremists tried to stage a coup.
(not including the projected expense of multiple lawsuits challenging DOGE).
• One of his first executive orders in his second term was a blatant attempt to challenge the 14th Amendment, which ensures birthright citizenship.
• Trump relentlessly attacked the LGBTQ+ community during both terms, most recently weakening legal protections for transgender, nonbinary and intersex people by redefining sex and gender, banning transgender people from serving in the military, restricting access to gender-affirming care, and removing resources on LGBTQ+ rights, health and history from all federal websites and programs.
• Trump has routinely profited off his presidency by accepting bribes, such as a $400m Boeing 747-8 luxury jetliner from the Qatari government and forcibly hosting government events at his own hotels and resorts.
• On many occasions, Trump has openly mocked disabled people and people of color and disparaged falled U.S. soldiers, referring to them as “suckers” and “losers.” (Of note, Trump dodged the military draft five times.)
• On 9/11, just hours after the fall of the World Trade Center, Trump called a local TV station to brag that he now owned the tallest building in Manhattan.
• He is the only U.S. president and only federal official to be impeached twice during a single term in office.
• Trump is notorious for demanding personal fealty from federal employees over upholding the law or the Constitution. The punishment for dissension is usually immediate termination and replacement with a loyalist.
• In the first three months of his second term, Trump supported DOGE illegally laying off more than 121,000 federal workers across 30 agencies for a reported savings of $160 billion, which is estimated to cost taxpayers $135 billion
Thumbin’It
30 acres of formerly private land in the Weminuche will forever be spared from development or access issues thanks to The Wilderness Land Trust, which bought the parcel and recently transferred ownership to the U.S. Forest Service.
Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect for much of La Plata County and lower elevation BLM and USFS lands in SWCO. This means no butts in the bushes, rogue fireworks or Burning Man re-enactments. Be smart – don’t burn the town down.
As of press time, we have no idea what’s going to happen to Trump’s Big Dumb Bill, but at least Utah Sen. Mike Lee’s harebrained scheme to sell off public lands was removed. So we got that going for us.
• Trump has faced a total of 91 criminal charges – including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy against the rights of citizens and falsifying business records – 34 of which he was found guilty.
• Trump has filed for bankruptcy six times, and his businesses have been involved in more than 4,000 lawsuits.
• Trump repeatedly implemented (and rescinded) trade tariffs, ultimately causing inflation and global economic instability.
• To reach his goal of deporting 1 million immigrants a year, Trump revoked the legal status of millions of documented immigrants and sicced ICE on U.S. citizens, leading to the arrest and deportation of thousands without due process.
• He withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement and has used his position of power to deny the existence of global warming, ultimately crippling research and policy aimed at slowing down global climate change.
• He threatened to use military force to annex Greenland.
• As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, Trump intends to kick millions of the poorest Americans off Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
• He ended the war in Ukraine on day one of his presidency. Oh, wait…no, he didn’t. Well, at least he brokered that ceasefire deal between Iran and Israel!
As with all great world leaders, Donald Trump’s peacekeeping accomplishments are too numerous to list! We certainly can’t fit all of them into one 800word article! There’s no one more deserving than – wait, what? Oh, OK, I’m just now getting word that Trump’s nomination has been withdrawn. I wonder if it had anything to do with bombing Iran? Ah, whatever, the Nobel Peace Prize is a sham anyway, and the voting process is totally rigged! Trump 2028!
– Addyson Santese
If the Big Dumb Bill is approved by the spineless House Republicans, it will kick millions of the poorest Americans off Medicaid and basically decimate the Affordable Care Act – but not until after the midterms, of course.
Speedos are making a comeback. Thumbs up or thumbs down? You decide.
Big Bear Valley, Calif., is going ahead with its fireworks display despite objections from wildlife advocates who say it could scare off and imperil the newly fledged bald eagles Sunny and Gizmo, as well as other wild animals in the area. We know blowing sh*t up is seen as a sign of patriotism, but last we checked, bald eagles were, too.
SignoftheDownfall:
Drinking Lame
The “Bierstick Beer Bong Syringe” sells for $24.99 online, but they’re only $17 each if you buy four at a time, which is an obvious ploy by the terrorists who created this thing to destroy civilization as quickly as possible. The Bierstick holds two beers, and once it’s full, the idea is that you put the nozzle in your mouth, place the plunger against a stationary object (the website suggests using a girl’s butt), open your throat, and lean in—doing so allows you to “drink 24oz in two seconds,” according to the description. Their online disclaimer states that Bierstick is not responsible for any “injury, illness, or death” associated with use, but at least they’ve finally come up with a way to avoid tasting Coors Light.
A slippery slope
As e-bikes overtake analog bikes, where is the stopping point?
by Marjorie “Slim’ Woodruff
When I visited Bryce Canyon National Park recently, the shared paths were crowded with electric motorcycles. They say they are e-bikes: If they can rip uphill at 20 miles per hour without pedaling, I think of them as motorcycles.
E-bikes can be class 1, 2 or 3. Class 1 provides assistance when the pedals are turned. Class 2 has a throttle that can propel the bike without pedaling. Both have a top speed of 20 mph. Class 3 bikes, also pedal-assisted, have a maximum speed of 28 mph. Only class 1 and 3 – those that are pedal-assisted – are allowed in national parks.
Friends with e-bikes tell me they like them, because the pedal assistance means they can ride farther with less effort. The bikes keep them active. I ride my bike for exercise. If I ride 12 miles on what I consider a real bike instead of 20 miles on an e-bike, we probably get the same workout.
At the Grand Canyon, by the end of the day, the rim road is littered with abandoned rental e-bikes that ran out of juice. Rather than pedal a heavy bike, riders simply leave them on the side of the road for the rental company to retrieve.
On a recent catered mountain bike ride, one of the participants rented an ebike, so she could keep up with her husband. But the guides had to spend many hours recharging the bike before they could leave. I wonder just how practical it would have been on a multi-day trip.
I recently read a plaintive screed from a mountain biker with a moral dilemma. He has a coterie of buddies who ride. When one of them had knee surgery, that person bought an e-bike, so he would not hold everyone up. The group kept riding on trails where e-bikes are banned, figuring that with 10 real riders, one e-bike was OK.
However, Mr. E-bike started leaving the others behind, so they felt obligated to buy their own e-bikes. Was it immoral, he wondered, because they were all riding illegally? He was advised to let his conscience be his guide.
Horses erode trails worse than bikes do, and bikes wear a trail down more
than hikers. If the rationale for riding an e-bike is that it allows one to go farther, that is more trail to be worn down.
E-bikes pollute less than gasoline motorcycles. However, a human-powered bike doesn’t pollute at all – unless one counts heavy breathing.
Outdoor enthusiasts are already vying for increased access to wild lands. ATV and 4X4 owners in Utah are incensed that the BLM plans to close certain roads to them and allow (gasp) mountain bikers to have sway.
On the other hand, mountain bikers are pressuring land managers for access to heretofore closed wilderness trails. Ebikers are upset that many trails are still open only to analog bikes.
It’s a slippery slope. When a local area was declared a wilderness, many complained they could no longer visit: “I have bad knees: I need my ATV.” But if I cannot afford an ATV, then I need a more developed road to visit in my 4wheel drive. If I cannot afford a 4X4,
pave the road so I can drive it in my car. In China, there is now a plan to build an escalator to the top of a mountain so “everyone can enjoy the view.” Where is it written that everyone must be able to go everywhere by any means necessary?
A recent article in an outdoor magazine predicts that e-MTBs are the wave of the future, and bicycle vendors expect ebikes to soon outsell analog bikes. If I stick with my must-pedal bike, I will be considered a Luddite.
I do not want e-bike riders to bow to me as they go by because I am doing all the pedaling myself. I would, however, appreciate it if they would not smirk as they pass. On the other hand, I guess I could refrain from yelling: “At least pretend to pedal!”
Marjorie “Slim” Woodruff is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersonthe range.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She is an educator at Grand Canyon and doesn’t mind picking fights. ■
E-bike usage is on the rise, but questions remain for why we use them, and where we use them. And as we adapt more and more to e-bikes on trails, some worry rules will bend a little too much to accomodate their presence./Photo courtesy National Park Service
Win for the Weminuche
by Missy Votel
The crown jewel of the San Juan Mountains just got a little bigger.
This week, The Wilderness Land Trust announced it bought two private inholdings of just more than 30 acres in the Weminuche Wilderness and transferred ownership to the U.S. Forest Service.
The parcels are in the southwest part of the wilderness, adjacent to and overlapping a portion of the popular Needle Creek Trail, which hikers use to access Chicago Basin from the Durango and Silverton Railroad. Due to convenient access from the train to the basin’s iconic 14,000-foot peaks, the trail sees heavy use through the summer.
“Most of those visitors who come to Chicago Basin for the scenic beauty and quiet solitude of the wilderness are unaware that the trail they’re traversing crosses several privately owned inholding properties where that experience is not guaranteed,” Margosia Jadkowski, of the Helena, Mont.-based Wilderness Land Trust, wrote in a press release this week. “Without the protections of the surrounding wilderness, these properties could be developed with cabins, resorts or mining and timber operations. Suddenly, the wilderness experience could be dominated by the buzz of chainsaws, the thwomp of landing helicopters, or even the trail blocked and closed to the public.”
formerly private 30-acre Needles Trail inholding was purchased by The Wilderness Land Trust late last year and recently transferred to the Forest Service, ensuring the land will never be developed and remain open to the public./ Photo courtesy The Wilderness Land Trust
important conservation values that will be protected as wilderness,” Jadkowski said in the release.
At just shy of half a million acres, the Weminuche Wilderness is the largest in Colorado, spanning the Continental Divide with an average elevation above 10,000 feet. The Needle Creek property is the 15th property protected by the Trust in the Weminuche. It builds off the success of the nearby 7-acre Emerald Lake property, which the Trust acquired in 2018 and transferred to the Forest Service in 2023.
While the Needle Creek property is now protected as wilderness, the Land Trust said it will continue working with the Forest Service this summer to remove remnants of a hunting camp left by a previous owner.
The Wilderness Land Trust has protected 196 properties totaling over 7,300 acres in wilderness and proposed wilderness areas in Colorado. In the organization’s 33-year history, it has worked to acquire 610 private inholdings totaling more than 58,600 acres from willing landowners across the country and transfer them to federal ownership. It has completed 18 wilderness areas by removing remaining private inholdings.
According to La Plata County Assessor records, The Wilderness Land Trust bought the parcels late last year from Interface Collaborative Group LLC, a general contractor based out of Fort Myers, Fla. The properties were then officially transferred to the Forest Service on June 5.
“With each transfer, we come one step closer to completing the vision of the Wilderness Act,” Jadkowski stated. “Each project we work on carries the story of a place that has inspired countless people and communities, a family that has chosen to give up what is theirs to protect its future, and a vibrant, and often breathtaking, landscape supporting rich biodiversity.” ■ The
With flat, buildable, stream-side sites, the property was at risk of development, according to the Land Trust. Not only did the purchase help protect the land and
public access to Chicago Basin, but it also helped protect an important water source and wildlife habitat.
“The Needle Creek property scores high for climate change resilience, biodiversity and landscape connectivity, all
LocalNews
Dems name new commissioner
Elizabeth Philbrick sworn in to replace outgoing Clyde Church
by Telegraph Staff
Local business owner Elizabeth Philbrick was sworn in Wed., July 2, as the newest member of La Plata County’s Board of Commissioners. Philbrick will complete the term of Clyde Church, a Democrat, who announced his resignation June 23. His last day was July 1.
Philbrick represents District 1, which includes western, southern and northern portions of La Plata County including Redmesa, Kline, Marvel, Hesperus, Bondad, Hermosa and Purgatory.
A native of Seattle, Philbrick earned a political science degree from the University of Washington and spent 10 years as a policy analyst in Washington, D.C. She later earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Colorado State University.
She and her husband, Jared Scott, moved to La Plata County in 2017 and live in Hesperus. They own EsoTerra Cider-
works, a cidery with tasting rooms in Dolores and downtown Durango. They also recently opened The Arboretum, a 70-acre orchard and estate winery on the Florida
Mesa, southeast of Durango.
“I’m extraordinarily honored to be able to step into Clyde Church’s shoes,” Philbrick said in a news release Wednes-
day. “I hope to represent our county, both the agriculture and business interests, in the city and outside of the city, and I’m always here to learn more about what I should know.”
Church was elected as commissioner for District 1 in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He cited family reasons for his departure. “I have enjoyed serving the wonderful people of La Plata County,” he said “I’m pleased with the progress we have made during my terms, including the implementation of fire mitigation projects, several major road projects completed in partnership with CDOT, the Tribe and City of Durango with millions in grant funding brought into the community, approval of a new land use code and standing up a public health department.”
Because Church is a Democrat, state statute dictates the appointee be a Democrat. Philbrick will serve the remainder of Church’s term, which runs through December 2026. ■
From left: La Plata County commissioners Matt Salka, Elizabeth Philbrick and Marsha Porter-Norton./ Photo courtesy La Plata County
by Stephen Sellers
GA blazing lineup
Junkies, Los Lobos and introducing The Swarm
reetings, dear readers! Hope your grass is staying green in this heat, and that you’re saying all the right prayers/chants for a healthy monsoon season. While we won’t have fireworks in town this year to simulate warfare and scare all of our dogs, we do have a blazing lineup of music this month. Be sure to keep track of your local watering holes like 11th St. Station, The Tangled Horn, Union Social House and Lola’s for lots of free events. As always, see you on the dance floor!
• Will Overman, Buckley Park, Thurs., July 3, 5:30 p.m. - Singersongwriter Will Overman brings his heartfelt Americana to the open lawn at our beloved Buckley Park. With roots in both indie-folk and classic country, Overman’s lyrics dig deep and soar high. Thanks to the Community Concert Hall at FLC and KDUR for this free show!
• Street Dance featuring High Country Hustle and The Afrobeatniks, July 4, 5-9:30 p.m., Transit Center, 250 W. 8th St.Durango’s annual downtown Fourth of July bash is back with beer, dancing and two awesome local bands. High Country Hustle opens the festivities at 5:30 p.m. followed by local groove-masters The Afrobeatniks. Food and drink will be available from such fine local purveyors as Ska Brewing, Yia Yia’s Concessions, Tacos Carranzo, The Ice Cream Lady and more. There will also be an activities area with corn hole, face painting, henna tattoos and Ruby Balloon.
• Bluegrass SuperPAC, Union Social House, Fri., July 4, 6 p.m. - If you’re more fiddle than fireworks, duck into Union Social House for a dose of down-home shredding with our local lord god king of bluegrass flatpicking, Alex Graff, and his merry band of bluegrass allstars. Bluegrass SuperPAC features a mostly rotating crew of local pickers and pros whose virtuosity will put a sonic boot in your ass courtesy of the U-S-A.
• Stillhouse Junkies Album Release Party, Mancos Brewing, Sun., July 6, 5:30 p.m. - Durango’s pride and joy, The Stillhouse Junkies, return from their sprawling continental tour to Mancos with a new album in tow. The Junkies have been pounding the pave-
ment, getting their lineup dialed in for much of 2025. After so much time away from Durango, I like to imagine guitarist Fred Kosak looks a little like Tom Hanks in Castaway. “Wilson!” Come welcome the hardest-working band in Durango back to the region and help celebrate their latest release with cold beer, Montezuma County vibes and the latest evolution of the Junkies sound.
• Acid Wrench, Rugburn & Chroma Lips, Cold Storage Art Collective, Wed., July 9, 7 p.m. - Midweek noise fix? Cold Storage delivers with a triple bill of grit. Acid Wrench (Durango’s industrial punks), Rugburn (noise-pop meets caffeine crash) and Chroma Lips (melodic chaos) promise a night for the sonically adventurous. Earplugs optional but always advised.
• Ryan Cassata, Clementine & Ragged Oak, The Swarm, Fri., July 11, 7 p.m. - THE HIVE IS BACK with its all new bigger and better venue, which they’re calling The Swarm. You can’t keep a good thing down, and The Hive is one of the greatest youth initiatives Durango has seen. Thanks to Jimmy’s Music, The Swarm is about to take off as Durango’s de facto punk and rock venue. This particular lineup leans introspective and inspiring. Ryan Cassata, a nationally known trans artist and activist, brings poignant acoustic punk and fearless storytelling. Clementine’s dreamy indie-pop pairs well with Ragged Oak’s ambient fringe rock. Come for the music, stay for the community.
• Ray Wylie Hubbard w/ Colman Jennings, Animas City Theatre, Sat.,
July 12, 8 p.m. - A Texas songwriting icon rolls into ACT for a rare night of swampy wisdom and outlaw charm. If you know “Snake Farm,” you know. If you don’t, this is your moment. Colman Jennings opens with soulful grit.
• Los Lobos, Buckley Park, Fri., July 18, 5 p.m. - Grammy winners and Chicano rock pioneers Los Lobos headline a KSUT blowout at Buckley Park. Are you freaking kidding me?! Chris Aaland, God bless you and your team. From “La Bamba” to boundary-pushing electric jams, their live shows are a masterclass in musical fusion. Expect a packed park, dancing feet and a family friendly, sundrenched crowd.
• Forest Thump, Arsonnick & Disco Dolly, Animas City Theatre, Sat., July 19, 7 p.m. - The Book of Kells is renowned for its impossibly intricate knotwork, spirals and sacred geometry. A single page can hold thousands of interlaced lines, inviting the viewer into a meditative state through sheer visual overwhelm. Forest Thump’s music functions similarly: polyrhythmic layers, looping synths and ripping traditional Celtic fiddle playing. Come celebrate the dance duo’s first headlining night at the ACT with the best of the best for direct support: Disco Dolly and Arsonnick.
• Pink Fuzz, Acid Wrench & Alicia Glass, Cold Storage Art Collective, Sat., July 26, 8 p.m. - Denver’s Pink Fuzz headlines a night of gritty altrock at Cold Storage. Fuzz-heavy, riffdriven and emotionally raw, they’re backed by locals Acid Wrench and local all-around badass Alicia Glass. ■
Los Lobos
Brilliant intrigue
by Jeffrey Mannix
July is one of those insouciant months in the New York publishing business. It’s appeared as long as I can remember that everyone in the publishing industry, from agents to publishers, spend most weekdays in July and August in the tony beachfront villages of Southampton.
The result of the summer exodus is a skimpy offering of compelling books and a dribble of midlist chum for catching somebody at an airport with a three-hour wait.
“The Good Liar,” by the always-inscrutable Denise Mina, is up this month, but again, and with all of her books I’ve done my best to read, I’ve lost the thread more than a few times. And the wonderful Jurica Pavičić of Croatia, with a June release of “Red Water,” was too dense for a summer read, and I abandoned what I’m sure is a notable novel on page seventy-one. Then Sergio Olguín, of Buenos Aires, with his stunning “The Fragility of Bodies” and “The Foreign Girls,” both reviewed here, became confusing with his March 2025 release of “The Best Enemy.” I put this one
down with frustration and a pledge to go back to it.
So in my despair, I went back to reread the stunning crime fiction that began my investigation of the genre. You probably haven’t heard of Chelsea Cain who wrote “Heartsick,” her 2007 debut novel. It is the first in a quintet of books that must be read sequentially, about Portland, Ore., senior detective Archie Sheridan and his nemesis Gretchen Lowell, without doubt the savviest and most evil and seductive villainess in crime fiction history. You will have long forgotten the luminous Lizabeth Salandar in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy before you forget a scintilla of Gretchen Lowell.
Cain’s last book in the Gretchen Lowell series is “Kill You Twice,” released in August 2012. If you read “Heartsick,” you will read all of Cain’s Gretchen Lowell thrillers – you’ll steal them if you have to – but you must read “Heartsick” first.
It’s macabre. It’s mesmerizing. It’s brilliant. Nobody can do heinous and make you like it as Cain does, and I don’t like abhorrent. Her five books
have sold an excess of 1 million in the United States alone, and every Cain mystery of those first five has made the New York Times best-seller list.
Gretchen Lowell is a figurine beauty: blond, chiseled, slinky – a femme fatale. She insinuates herself into Portland’s serious crimes unit headed by veteran detective Archie Sheridan. He has been impotently investigating a deviant serial killer with a team of detectives for the past 10 years.
Gretchen is clueful in ad dition to being seductive. Her bright green eyes, her poise and stunning beauty, and that sensual touch of naiveté force a captivation seldom experienced among the hardbitten, al ways doubtful detective. Gretchen falsifies per fectly and unquestioned: an academic psycholo gist having just finished a book, thought she might help profile the psychopath … just wants to help … has followed the case with keen interest and wants to lend a new perspective.
Archie has been haunted by his team’s failure to find what will soon come to be known as the Beauty Killer. He’s desperate for a clue. A fetching psychologist in between books and professorships, why not? Archie is soon working closely with Gretchen – closer than a mouse in the claws of a playful feline.
In “Heartsick,” Cain personifies fiction’s most perfectly villainous murderer. Women don’t usually play this role, but Gretchen is like no woman you’ve ever met in dreams or fiction. She’s beautiful, lovable and bewitching, and she enslaves Archie.
Flash ahead to Archie’s return to work after two years of convalescing, still shaken and damaged from his 10-day ordeal with Gretchen, popping pain pills and amphetamines and leading his team of detectives in yet another serial killer investigation with eerie similarities.
Now Archie visits Gretchen every Sunday in the state prison, compelled, in theory, because at every visit she gives up the location of another of her victims. But we know Archie is obsessed with his torturer, dreams about her, desires her, is willing to again be her captive.
“Heartsick” is peopled with carefully drawn and charismatic supporting characters who keep in motion components of a brilliantly fashioned intrigue. All of Cain’s first five books are not for dozy readers. You will have to order first “Heartsick” then the other Cain books from Maria’s Bookshop. You might try Durango Public Library first; Cain’s books most probably are out of print, but with the Gretchen Lowell character, the digging is worth the trouble. ■
Stuff to Do
Thursday03
4th of July Celebration Scavenger Hunt, 10 a.m., various locations, downtown Durango
Walk & Wonder, a walkers’ meetup, Thursdays, 11 a.m.-12 noon thru Aug. 31, White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St., Ste C-2
Ska-B-Q with music by High Altitude Blues, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Will Overman plays at Concert Hall at The Park, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Buckley Park
Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Weekly Dart Tournament, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
The Badly Bent plays, 5:30-8:30 p.m., James Ranch Grill, 33846 HWY 550
Jeff Solon Jazz, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Name That Tune Trivia Bingo, 6-8 p.m., Barons Creek Vineyards, 901 Main Ave.
Paradise Pizza Trivia Night, 6-8 p.m., Paradise Pizza at Purgatory Resort
Vanbuskirks play, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
3 Way Street plays, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs, 6475 CR 203
Gary Watkins plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Trivia Night Outside on the Plaza, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
Trivia Night hosted by Aria PettyOne, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Open Mic, 8-11 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
Friday04
All American Gourmet Breakfast, presented by Rotary Durango, 7:30-10:30 a.m., Rotary Park
Freedom 5K Run, Stroll & Walk, 9-11 a.m., Rotary Park
Southwest Civic Winds Patriotic Concert, 911 a.m., Rotary Park
Downtown Durango 4th of July Scavenger Hunt, 10 a.m., downtown Durango
San Juan Nature Walks, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Andrews Lake Upper Parking Area
DEVO: BBQ, Bands, Beer and Bikes, 12 noon-4 p.m., Buckley Park
4th of July Children’s Parade, 3 p.m., Buckley Park
Main Avenue Mile, 4 p.m., Buckley Park
Durango First Friday Art Walk, 4 p.m., various locations, downtown Durango
Wet & Wild! 4th of July Parade, 4 p.m., Main Ave., downtown Durango
3 Man Cult plays, 5-8 p.m., Serious Texas BBQ South, 650 S. Camino del Rio
Some Guy Named Robb plays, 5 p.m., The Nugget, 48721 HWY 550
Street Dance featuring High Country Hustle and The Afrobeatniks, 5-9:30 p.m., Transit Center, 250 W. 8th St.
True Western Pro Bull Riding, 5:30 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Ben Gibson Band plays, 6-9 p.m., Gazpacho Restaurant, 431 E. 2nd Ave.
Friday Nights at Fox Fire Farms, 6-9 p.m., Fox Fire Farms Winery, 5513 CR 321, Ignacio
Bluegrass Superpac plays, 6-9 p.m., The Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Dustin Burley plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
100 Year Flood plays, 6-10 p.m., Balcony Bar and Grill, 600 Main Ave.
Saturday05
Durango Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, Saturdays thru Oct., TBK Bank, Parking Lot, 259 W. 9th
Bayfield Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-12 noon, Saturdays thru Oct., 1328 CR 501, Bayfield
Cool Science Day, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
Open Mic poetry, 12 noon-2 p.m., White Rabbit Garden, 128 W. 14th St.
2nd annual Animus on the Animas Boxing Classic, 12 noon-6 p.m., 10th St. and Main Ave.
Oscar’s Café Pie Eating Contest, 1:30 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
“San Juan Sessions,” live music, 3 p.m., Purgatory Resort
Watermelon Eating Contest, 4-6 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Hal & Melanie McLean play, 5-8 p.m., Serious Texas BBQ South, 650 S. Camino del Rio
Terry Hartzel plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Matt Rupnow plays, 5:30-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson Band plays, 6 p.m., Balcony Bar and Grill, 600 Main Ave.
Pete Giuliani Trio plays, 6-9 p.m., Weminuche Woodfire Grill, 18044 CR 501, Vallecito
AskRachel Dog days, which ’wich is which and blown out
Interesting fact: Hamburgers, despite the name, are a distinctly American myth. Much like democracy itself. (Happy Fourth, and don’t die out there!)
Dear Rachel, They’re everywhere: in strollers and Baby Bjorns, on and off leash; on Main, in the park, on the River Trail. Just the other day, I saw three of them walking the produce section of South City Market. And it’s not just tourists bringing their dogs everywhere – it’s locals, too. And these weren’t service animals in the grocery store. One of them was a Rottweiler! Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs. Really. But I can’t help but think that there are some places they just don’t belong. Am I alone?
– Let’s Don’t Go to The Dogs Tonight
Dear Dog Tired,
Of course there are some places a dog shouldn’t go. Like the operating room.
Gailen Clark Duo plays, 6-9 p.m., The Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Civic Winds Jazz Orchestra and VFW Ice Cream Social, 6:30-8 p.m., Rotary Park
True Western Pro Bull Fighting, 7 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
DJ Mech Dance Party, 10 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Sunday06
Lost Goat Market Days, 10 a.m., Lost Goat Tavern, 39848 HWY 160, Bayfield
Eli Cartwright plays, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
DJ Mech plays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Walk & Wonder, a walkers’ meetup, Sundays, 11 a.m.-12 noon thru Aug. 31, White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St., Ste C-2
Irish Jam Session, 12:30-3 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Even if they behave, do I really want some shedded hair getting in there? Or, on hot asphalt when it’s too hot to touch. Ditto hot cars. My crazy uncle used to get on half-hour rants about dogs in Home Depot. You’d get along. But me? I’d rather there be dogs everywhere than people. We’re the worst. – Ruff life, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I had a BBQ on my deck. I had a ham sandwich, and my friend had a hamburger. Well, I had ham and he had a beef burger called a hamburger. Why the HELLO do they call it a hamburger when it’s made with beef? Is this going to the Supreme Court? Help me out on this.
– Dill Pickle
Dear Beefcake,
In the food court of law, we deem it reasonably accessible to figure out that hamburgers take their name from the city of Hamburg the same way frank-
Open Folk Jam, 2:30-5 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
Weekly Peace Vigil & Rally for Gaza & Palestine, every Sunday, 4 p.m., Buckley Park
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Monday07
Meditation and Reflections, 5:30 p.m., in person at The Durango Dharma Center, 1800 E. 3rd Ave., Ste. 109, or online at www.durangodharmacenter.org
Birds, Pollinators and Biodiversity and who to help them thrive, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Tuesday08
Cowboy Tuesdays, 12-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
furters take their name from the city of Frankfurt. The real twist here is that “burger” means “citizen.” I think we should backtrack and start calling all food-burgers by this definition. “Give me a citizen, medium rare, with extra cheese!” Might strike a little close to the heart this Independence Day, though. – Seared just right, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I don’t get fireworks. I see why people came out in droves for them back when that was truly high entertainment. But I was just down in N.M. for a week, and it was like a battlefield. These things scare dogs and re-traumatize veterans. You can’t tell me that in the age of smartphones that blowing things up is still so appealing. What’s the deal? – Boom or Bust
Dear Fire Cracked, I stand with you on fireworks being awful for everyone. Except they are
Locals at Leplatt’s Pond, music, food trucks, fishing and family fun, 5-9 p.m. every Tuesday through July, LePlatt’s Pond, 311A CR 501, Bayfield
Twin Buttes Tuesday MTB Ride, 5:30-8 p.m., Twin Buttes Trailhead
Smelter Mountain Boys play, 5:30-8 p.m., James Ranch Grill, 33846 HWY 550
Black Velvet plays, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Randy Crumbaugh plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Durango Farmers Market in the Plaza, 5-8 p.m., Three Springs Plaza, 175 Mercado St.
Concerts in the Plaza featuring Dave Mensch, 6-8 p.m., Three Springs Plaza, 175 Mercado St.
Wednesday09
Great Garden Series “Dumb (or Smart) as a Box of Rocks,” 4:30-6 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com
pretty … or can be. And really, there’s something to be said for people still engaging with the tactile world instead of their phones, even if they end up losing a finger or three. Maybe we all need something mildly dangerous but still communal to bring us joy. Something to give us empathy. Something we can take with us everywhere. Maybe we all just need a dog.
Summer Ska Party with The Prizefighters, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
The Western Wallflowers play Community Concert Series supporting Cafe au Play, 5:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
Writers & Scribblers Writing Group, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Public Discussion with Colorado Healthcare Coalition, 6-8 p.m., Mancos Public Library, 211 W. First St., Mancos
Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Live Jazz, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 636 Main Ave.
True West Rodeo, 6:30 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
San Juan Basin Archaeological Society meeting and presentation, 7-8:30 p.m., Fort Lewis College Lyceum
Open Mic, 7 p.m., EsoTerra, 558 Main Ave.
Comedy + Karaoke, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
July 3, 2025 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Greek philosopher Socrates declared, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” That extreme statement is a foundational idea of Western philosophy. It’s hard to do! To be ceaselessly devoted to questioning yourself is a demanding assignment. But here’s the good news: I think you will find it extra liberating in the coming weeks. Blessings and luck will flow your way as you challenge your dogmas and expand your worldview. Your humble curiosity will attract just the influences you need.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Recently, I brought an amazing Taurus to your attention: German polymath Athanasius Kircher, who lived from 1601-80. Once again, I will draw on his life to provide guidance for you. Though he’s relatively unknown today, he was the Leonardo da Vinci of his age – a person with a vast range of interests. His many admirers called him “Master of a Hundred Arts.” He traveled extensively and wrote 40 books that covered a wide array of subjects. For years, he curated a “cabinet of curiosities” or “wonder-room” filled with interesting and mysterious objects. In the coming weeks, I invite you to be inspired by him. Be richly miscellaneous and wildly versatile.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): What must they do to become the best? In his book “Outliers,” Malcolm Gladwell said that one way is to devote 10,000 hours to practicing and mastering your skill set. There’s some value in that, though the full truth is more nuanced. Determined, focused effort that’s guided by mentors and bolstered by good feedback is more crucial than simply logging hours. Having access to essential resources is another necessity. I bring this to your attention, because I believe the coming months will be a favorable time to summon a high level of disciplined devotion as you expedite your journey toward mastery.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): There’s a story from West Africa in which a potter listens to the material she has gathered from the earth. She waits for it to tell her what it wants to become. In this view, the potter is not a dictator but a midwife. This is an excellent metaphor for you. Let’s imagine you are both the potter and the clay. A new form is ready to emerge, but it won’t respond to force. You must attune to what wants to be born through you. Are you trying to shape your destiny too insistently, when it’s already confiding in you about its shape? Surrender to the conversation.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Here’s my odd but ultimately rewarding invitation: Tune in to the nagging aches and itches that chafe at the bottom of your heart and back of your mind. For now, don’t try to scratch them or rub them. Simply observe and feel them, with curiosity and reverence. Allow them to air their grievances and tell you their truths. Immerse yourself in the feelings they arouse. It may take 10 minutes, or it might take longer, but if you maintain this vigil, your aches and itches will ultimately provide you with smart guidance. They will teach you what questions you need to ask and how to go in quest for healing answers.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Wise gardeners may plan their planting by the moon’s phases. Through study of the natural world, they understand that seeds sown at the ripe moment will flourish, while those planted at random may be less hardy. In this spirit, I offer you the following counsel for the coming weeks: Attention to timing will be a great asset. Before tinkering with projects or making commitments, assess the cycles at play: the level of your life energy, the moods of others and the tenor of the wider world. By aligning your moves with subtle rhythms, you will optimize your ability to get exactly what you want.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In parts of Italy, grapevines were once trained not on wires or trellises but on living trees, usually maples or poplars. The vines spiraled upward, drawing strength and structure from their tall allies. The practice kept grapes off the ground, improved air circulation, and allowed for mixed land use, such as growing cereals between the rows of trees and vines. In the coming weeks, I advise you to be inspired by this. Who or what is your living trellis? Rather than pushing forward on your own, align with influences that offer height, grounding and steady companionship. When you spiral upward together, your fruits will be sweeter and more robust.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Migratory monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles, guided by instincts and cues invisible to humans. They trust they will find what they need along the way. Like them, you may soon feel called to venture beyond your comfort zone – intellectually, socially or geographically. I advise you to rely on your curiosity and adaptability. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the journey will lead you to resources and help you hadn’t anticipated. The path may be crooked. The detours could be enigmatic. But if you are committed to
enjoying the expansive exploration, you’ll get what you didn’t even know you needed.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your assignment is to uncover hidden treasures. Use the metaphorical version of your peripheral vision to become aware of valuable stuff you are missing and resources you are neglecting. Here’s another way to imagine your task: There may be situations, relationships or opportunities that have not yet revealed their full power and glory. Now is a perfect moment to discern their pregnant potential. So dig deeper – through reflection, research or conversation. Trust that your open-hearted, openminded probing will guide you to unexpected gems.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong said, “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” What did he mean? That we shouldn’t try to use words to describe and understand this complex music? Countless jazz critics, scholars and musicians might disagree with that statement. They have written millions of words analyzing the nature of jazz. In that spirit, I urge you to devote extra energy in the coming weeks to articulating clear ideas about your best mysteries. Relish defining what is hard to define. You can still enjoy the raw experience even as you try to get closer to explaining it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the Andes, there’s a concept called ayni, a venerated principle of reciprocity. “Today for you, tomorrow for me,” it says. This isn’t a transactional deal. It’s a relational expansiveness. People help and support others, not because they expect an immediate return. Rather, they trust that life will ultimately find ways to repay them. I suggest you explore this approach in coming weeks. Experiment with giving freely, without expectation. Conversely, have faith that you will receive what you need. Now is prime time to enhance and fine-tune your web of mutual nourishment.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): How often do I, your calm, sensible counselor, provide you with a carte blanche to indulge in exuberant gratification, a free pass for exciting adventures, luxurious abundance and lavish pleasure? Not often. So I advise you not to spend another minute wondering what to do next. As soon as possible, start claiming full possession of your extra blessings from the gods of joy, celebration and revelry. Here’s your meditation question: What are the best ways to express your lust for life?
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon
Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum.
Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)
Ads can be submitted via: n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133
Lost/Found
Cid Come Home
Last seen in Durango on July 21, 2024, by St. Columba Church. He is chipped, missing left canine tooth, white, big black spots, green eyes. Reward. 970-403-6192.
Wanted
Books Wanted at White Rabbit
Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213
ForSale
Vintage 1977 Airstream Land Yacht
$19.5k 970-759-0551
’96 Mazda P/U
Extended cab, 4.9 liter V-6 4x4 auto 200k miles. Good engine, bad trans. $750. 970-259-9709 (no texts)
Reruns Home Furnishings
Spruce up your outdoor space. Patio sets, bistros and yard art. Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush
LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Services
Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
Chapman Electric
Colorado licensed and insured. Residential and commercial. New, remodel and repair. Mike 970-403-6670
Electric Repair
Roof, gutter cleaning, fence, floors, walls, flood damage, mold, heating service.
CommunityService
Four Corners Gem and Mineral Show needs volunteers. The show is happening this July 11-13 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Volunteer receive free access to the show! Visit durangorocks.org.
Dog Fosters Needed
Parker’s Animas Rescue urgently needs foster families to provide temporary homes for rescued dogs. We supply all necessary items and cover vet visits. Join our mission: parkersanimalrescue.com.
Engaging Volunteer Opportunity
Alternative Horizons needs volunteers to staff our hotline. Training provided. For info., visit alternativehorizons.org
Community Compassion Outreach at 21738 HWY 160 W is open Tues.,
Wed. and Fri. 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. for case management, client services, snacks, drinks and meals with support and services for those with substance-use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues. Saturdays Coffee & Conversations, 11 a.m.1:30 p.m. Thursdays Harm Reduction, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Maker Lab in Bodo Park Collaborative workspace, tools, learning and equipment featuring metal and woodworking, laser cutting, 3D printing, electronics and sewing. Classes for all levels. www.themakerlab.org
HaikuMovieReview
‘The Accountant 2’ Ben treats the spectrum with care, and the speed dating scene is sidesplitting! – Lainie
Grief Counseling
The Grief Center of SW Colorado is offering free grief counseling services for children, teens and young adults. Please contact us below if interested. griefcenter swco@gmail.com or 970-764-7142
Maxson
