The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack
Ear to the ground:
“They should call it ‘daylight losing time.’”
– We never really understood it , either
Getting salty
It just might be the best thing since sliced limes. Ska Brewing has announced a new addition to its beloved Mexican Logger lineup: Lime Logger with Salt. This light, 5% ABV “crushable” lager is said to balance zesty lime with a subtle salinity – offering a “crisp, refreshing flavor that evokes a sunny afternoon in a can.” (We have yet to try it, but folks can let their own tastebuds decide March 27 at the annual summer kickoff party at Ska.)
“I always squeeze a lime into my Mexican Logger, and now I can skip the step … getting me two or three seconds closer to my next beer,” Ska President Dave Thibodeau said.
To celebrate this new release, Ska is launching a 12-pack that showcases the full Mexican Logger line: Mexican Logger original; Mexican-Style Cold IPA; and Lime Logger with Salt. Never the ones to stray from getting a little fruity, Ska has also announced another new beer just in time for spring frolicking: Guava Stomper Juicy IPA. According to Ska, the hazy-pink brew releases aromas of tropical fruit and citrus that transport “drinkers to paradise with every sip.”
Yes, please.
The envelope please …
The 20th annual Durango Independent Film Festival called it a wrap last Sunday, but not without naming awards in nine categories. A short list follows:
• Best Narrative Film: “Mistura” - Set in 1960s Peru, the film follows a privileged French-Peruvian woman whose life unravels after her husband's betrayal ostracizes her from elite society, leading her to embrace the communities she was raised to disregard.
• Best Documentary Feature: “Ultimate Citizens” - A film exploring the impact of Ultimate Frisbee beyond the sport itself. Jamshid Khajavi, a fiery 65-year-old Iranian immigrant, uses the “flat ball” as a tool as a coach and counselor for immigrant students.
• Audience Award Best Documentary Feature, “Porcelain War” – This Academy Awardnominated film follows Ukrainian artists who choose to stay behind and fight, navigating their transformation into soldiers while continuing to find beauty amid destruction.
LaVidaLocal
Now hiring: meter readers
Job Description: Meter readers comprise an elite parking ordinance enforcement unit designed to protect the public from the ever-present threat of poorly parked cars and dilly-dalliers. Specially trained at a caliber akin to the Navy SEALs, local meter readers patrol the streets in search of infractions and eliminate targets with timely precision. When required, the execution of these duties will be swift and violent. It is through our issuance of parking citations that we maintain the thin line between civilized order and complete societal collapse. As our motto clearly states, “No Mercy, No Exceptions.”
Responsibilities:
• Patrol an assigned area roughly the size of the average mountain lion’s territory on foot to ensure public compliance with existing parking ordinances
• Collect valuable intel on everyday drivers’ habits through covert reconnaissance missions
• Screen for parking placards and permits using enhanced technology such as night vision goggles or thermal imaging
• Utilize a handheld computer to remorselessly ruin a stranger’s day
• Monitor on-street meters for vehicular offenses, including but not limited to: violating a timed parking limitation; stopping in a restricted area; parking on private property without permission; having another parking ticket on your windshield that was issued by someone else five minutes ago that you haven’t had a chance to pay yet; parking too close to a curb; parking too far from a curb; parallel parking; not parallel parking; parking during a leap year; parking.
• Ability to endure rigorous physiological demands in service of daily quotas
• Inability to resolve customer complaints
Physical Requirements:
• Must be in peak physical condition with prior placement in competitive race walking at either the national or international level
• Ability to cover a distance equivalent to 2.5 ultramarathons per day, no breaks
• Basal body temperature impervious to inclement weather such as rain, sleet and snow
• Visual acuity better than 20/20 to detect parking infractions from a mile away
• Recently passed the Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test in case of disorderly civilians
• Have an internal time clock so precise you might actually be a robot
• No history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12
Benefits:
• Free company-issued tactical shorts (no, we do not issue pants, long-sleeve shirts or jackets, just the shorts, which must be worn in all weather conditions)
• Access to unlimited Vitamin D
• Discounted sunscreen
Preferred Qualifications:
• Childhood history of serving as a hall monitor
• Prior experience in roles at organizations such as the CIA, FBI or IRS (recently laid-off government employees will receive priority consideration)
• Issue citations for offenses to the collective public eye such as truck nutz, car eyelashes or too many rubber duckies on a dashboard (one citation per duck)
General Requirements: Valid driver’s license
Skills:
• Demonstrate a constant sense of urgency
• Not easily persuaded (i.e. under the duress of extreme emotional manipulation or even physical torture such as waterboarding, meter readers stand resolute in their delivery of parking citations, never redacting fines)
• Operate under a strict code of ethics with no room for leniency
Thumbin’It
The Colorado Avalanche’s star center Nathan MacKinnon just scored his 1,000th career point, joining the ranks of former Avs Joe Sakic and Peter Stastny (1,048). And, BTW, he is imported from Canada, so we hope Trump doesn’t try to put tariffs on him, too.
After two seasons of egg-loss heartbreak, Southern California bald eagle pair Jackie and Shadow welcomed three beautiful fluffballs last week. We’re not crying, you’re crying.
Durango teen and Nordic racer Jack Purcell recently competed at the U.S. Cross Country Junior Nationals in Soldier Hollow, Utah. Way to do Durango proud (in a low-snow year, no less!)
• Accreditation as a board-certified professional surveyor with the ability to calculate position points on the Earth’s surface to measure the precise distance between parked cars and stop signs
• 10-second 100-meter sprint time, should a parking meter violator decide to flee on foot
• Illegible handwriting
In summary, meter readers have the kind of mental and physical fortitude that few possess, including unquestionable moral fiber and an unshakeable affinity for rules. If you think you could be one of the uncommon few, inquire at your local Transportation Department today. The weak need not apply.
– Addyson Santese
Hey “pimp cane” Lauren Boebert, your idiocy is astounding. When will you go away and stop bringing shame to the good people of Colorado?
Trump has apparently vowed to buy a Tesla in a show of support for Elon Musk amid plummeting stock prices and widespread public backlash against his company. Uh, does Trump even know how to drive a vehicle, other than a golf cart?
Columbia graduate, pro-Palestinian organizer and legal resident Mahmoud Khalil was taken from his home to a detention center in Louisiana, where he has not been charged with a crime or allowed to speak to his lawyers. Because that’s what you do in a free country. Not.
Florida Whoa, Man!
This February, Nichole Maks, of Florida, caught a 35-year murder sentence, but she almost got away with it by bathing in Mountain Dew. Back in 2023, police responded to a fire and found a 79-year-old man in bed who’d died via stab wounds and blunt force trauma. Later, they found Nichole walking nearby covered in blood and holding both murder weapons (a knife and a hammer). It was a slam-dunk case, but the cops tried getting Nichole’s DNA per policy. So, she asked for a can of soda, and then poured it all over herself to get rid of her DNA; it didn’t work. Instead, she was also charged with “tampering with evidence,” which is an obvious Mountain Don’t.
SoapBox
Former mayors support 2A
The undersigned former mayors of Durango support voting yes on Durango’s April Ballot Issue 2A to reauthorize the 2005 half-cent sales tax. This is not a new tax; it will simply allow the city to continue to collect 50-cents for every $100 spent on taxable goods and services. Notably, visitors contribute more than 25% of those payments.
Half of the 2025 sales tax revenue will provide maintenance and enhancements for Durango’s awardwinning recreational facilities. Identified initiatives include further development of Durango Mesa Park, construction of a new community park in Three Springs, completion of the Animas River Trail to Three Springs, extension of the Animas River Trail itself, and additional river corridor improvements.
Priorities for these and additional projects come from public input into the evolving Parks, Open Space, Trails and Recreation Master Plan. Importantly, the ballot language mandates review by a citizen advisory board (today, the Financial Advisory Board) of all project expenditures for recommendation to the City Council.
The other half of the 2025 sales tax renewal will fund capital improvements, specifically including repayment of a 30-year bond “for the purpose of financing the restoration and equipping of the historic Durango High School building and adjacent facilities for use as a new city hall and new police facility.”
Such capital investments deliver long-term benefits,
but their costs – tens of millions of dollars – require debt financing, usually through municipal bonds. Besides spreading costs over many years, bond financing shares them equitably among beneficiaries over equally long times. The built facilities then continue to serve the community long after the city pays off the bonds.
Successive city councils have known for many years that the Durango Police Department (DPD) has outgrown its current home in a converted car dealership. They also have seen other city staff inefficiently scattered among numerous buildings as the city grew. However, the limited availability of suitable property and its high cost long delayed action on a new DPD headquarters or City Hall.
The Durango Fire Protection District (DFPD) faced a similar challenge, operating for decades out of a “temporary” home in River City Hall. The decision by Durango School District 9-R to sell the former high school on 12th Street finally created an opportunity for both the fire district and the city to meet these critical facility needs. So, DFPD is now expanding its downtown fire station on Camino Del Rio and the city is poised to consolidate its facilities by redeveloping the former 9-R campus into a new home for DPD and a historic, but modernized City Hall.
Importantly, the complex will provide parking for city employees and visitors (including weekend/evening parking for Buckley Park and other downtown events), as well as underground parking for police vehicles. Thus, besides freeing two valuable pieces of
property in the Central Business District for commercial or mixed use, the new civic complex will significantly improve parking downtown.
The 2005 sales tax built a rich legacy. That includes recreational enhancements such as open space acquisitions in Horse Gulch and elsewhere, plus new facilities such as the Smith Sports Complex at Fort Lewis College and Lake Nighthorse.
The 2005 sales tax legacy also includes the new Durango Public Library, which replaced the Carnegie Library on East Second that had served the community for a century; and the reconstructed Florida Road, which permanently improved public safety by incorporating a median and a pedestrian/bicycle trail.
Reauthorizing the 2005 sales tax will build on that legacy by providing amenities and civic improvements that will serve Durango for generations to come.
– Dean Brookie, Amos Cordova, John Gamble, Dale Garland, Lee Goddard, Fred Klatt, Doug Lyon, Sweetie Marbury, Leigh Meigs, Maxine Peterson, Michael Rendon, Christina Rinderle, Jasper Welch, Dick White and Sidny Zink
2A would be a costly mistake
Durango voters face an important decision with Ballot Issue 2A, which asks voters to extend the city’s halfcent sales tax. I believe citizens should vote “no” on 2A, despite strong voices from City Council, city staff, the Durango Herald and Durango Mesa Park, among others.
Ballot Issue 2A merges funding for open space,
Don’t get pinched by the Leprechaun!
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parks and trails with funding for a costly municipal project. Open space and a new city hall/police station are separate issues that should be considered independently. Voters deserve to decide on the merits of funding outdoor projects without being tied to an unrelated, ill-conceived and expensive municipal project.
Why are these vastly different projects on the same ballot issue? Is the city hoping voters will be excited about outdoor funding and ignore the enormous price of a new city hall/police department? Residents are forced into an unfair choice. Voting “no” on 2A gives officials an opportunity to write new ballot measures that can be voted on separately: one for funding trails and open space; another for funding city buildings.
The proposed budget for the new city hall and police station is misleading. Although the city claims that the budget is $60–$80 million, the City’s own architectural consultants put the price tag at over $100 million. The staggering budget is difficult to justify, especially when alternative solutions could be found at a fraction of the cost. Public safety and efficient governance are important, but $100 million? Is this project truly the best use of public funds?
The city should explore a more sensible solution. Taxpayers deserve a transparent breakdown of why such a massive investment is necessary, particularly when the city has never renovated a historic building before and has a troubling history of neglecting other historic buildings, like the Carnegie Building just across the street. Make no mistake – renovating and maintaining the long-term health of a 109-year-old building is no small task. Is that really where we want to direct taxpayer dollars and city employees’ time and
energy? Taxpayers need to know if this is the most cost-effective, intelligent way to move forward before choosing to allocate enormous resources.
Beyond the direct costs of this project, the community faces other costs. If this plan moves forward, an underground parking lot will encroach into Buckley Park, creating a black hole between the central business district and midtown, negatively impacting the vibrancy of the commercial core. Rather than enhancing economic activity, it will create a void where thriving businesses should be, stifle foot traffic, diminish retail activity and reduce the potential of downtown.
Maybe the old high school should be entrusted to another group with experience renovating historic buildings that could creatively transform it into a vibrant addition that produces sales-tax revenue. A mixed-use development could bring new businesses, housing, cultural attractions and economic benefits.
Instead of sacrificing green space, why not invest in expanding Buckley Park and making it bigger and better? A permanent stage and concert venue could transform the park into a cultural hub, bringing economic and social benefits (think Telluride Town Park). We could even spend the money on making downtown and adjacent areas more pedestrian- and bike-friendly. These types of visionary projects would yield far greater long-term benefits than a costly government facility.
Our community is great, but every once in a while, citizens need to remind the city that their idea needs to go back to the drawing board. I wish I had been more vocal when the City decided to rebuild the sewage plant right next to our riverfront park. This area could have become one of the premier whitewater
parks in the state, a town park and music venue, complete with restaurants (think Salida). Instead, we have an awkward mixed-use space – an amazing recreation area that smells like poop.
This is another one of those times when we need to speak up. Rather than approving a tax for an expensive and potentially mismanaged renovation, residents should push for a more cost-conscious, intelligent solution. Furthermore, our system of voting works when ballot measures are simple and clear, not manipulative or misleading. By rejecting this proposal, we send a clear message: fiscal responsibility and public input must guide major spending.
This is not our only chance to direct funding toward trails and open space, but this is our last chance to keep the City from making another costly mistake. Vote “no” on 2A, and encourage city officials to explore clearer, more reasonable alternatives. Durango deserves a better, more thoughtful solution.
– Charles Shaw, Durango (Shaw is owner of the Smiley Building, which is adjacent to the former 9-R building, which would be home to the new City Hall and police station)
Durango’s housing solved
It’s interesting how Durango is having an affordable housing/rental crisis and no one seems to know what the answer to the problem is. Well, it seems pretty obvious to me! Imagine how many rentals would become available for people in our community if Durango banned Airbnbs/VRBOs. It seems like it would really help the supply and demand problem ... Just sayin’. –Andrew High, Durango
At the precipice
Alarming signs of climate change everywhere in New Mexico
by Laura Paskus
Here in New Mexico, our growing season has lengthened since the 1970s, even as stream flows have decreased. Fire season starts earlier, lasts longer and, in some years, ignites the forests into record-breaking blazes, like the gargantuan Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon and Black fires in 2022.
If you look at the last century in New Mexico, stretches of higher temperatures have lengthened; heat waves are hotter; and nights, consistently warmer.
Rising heat and expanding aridity harm ecosystems and wildlife, and hotter days are dangerous for anyone outside, especially people without housing or access to cool spaces. Extreme heat even interacts with certain medications people need for their physical and mental health.
It should be no surprise that we’re facing another cracklydry spring and summer. Fans watching the March 2 Oscars on Albuquerque TV saw flashing red-flag fire warnings. The next day, high winds and dust storms blasted the state; near Deming, a haboob of fast-moving dust shut down highways.
As of early March, 92% of New Mexico was experiencing drought, with almost 30% of the state in severe to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Arizona is in even worse shape: 100% of the state is in drought, with 87% in severe to exceptional drought. And the interior West’s three-month outlook is for warm, dry conditions – especially in
watershed into the Chama and then the Rio Grande. This year, most of that supplemental water won’t be there.
The view upstream on both watersheds is also troubling, especially in Arizona, New Mexico and southern Utah where the snowpack is “below to wellbelow median.” Last month, the Colorado River’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, were 34% full, the lowest they’d been in early February for the last 30 years.
I’m alarmed by many things happening right now, including the disappearance of climate data from federal websites and the gutting of federal workforces and budgets. We need wildland firefighters, scientists and the staffers who kept our parks and public lands functioning.
But as a reporter who has covered climate change and its impacts on my state for more than two decades, I take the long view along with a local view.
Arizona and New Mexico.
Here in New Mexico, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District – which supplies water for farms – is warning that runoff season will be short and river flows, low. The district’s leaders are urging farmers to plan for extended periods between irrigation deliveries and say that without summertime monsoons, they will not meet everyone’s needs this year.
During the 1900s – including during the infamous 1950s drought and earlier in this century – farmers could often still expect full water allocations in a dry year.
Now, when farmers don’t receive water – and the Rio Grande dries for long stretches – it’s not only because
there isn’t enough snow melting off the mountains. It’s also because consistently dry soils suck up any moisture, making both forests and croplands thirstier.
Not only that, but decades of persistent drought and warming temperatures have desiccated reservoirs along the Rio Grande and its tributary, the Chama River.
On the Chama River, Heron Reservoir is 14% full; its neighbors, El Vado and Abiquiu, are at 14% and 51%, respectively. Farther down the watershed, on the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico, Elephant Butte Reservoir is only 13% full, and its neighbor, Caballo, 9% full.
In New Mexico, some water users, including the irrigation district, rely on water piped from the Colorado River
We have known for decades that the planet is steadily warming and that the impacts of climate change would intensify. And we must resist focusing solely on the current chaos of the federal government.
There’s never been a better time to become immersed in local politics or organizing, and to hold state and local leaders accountable for action on climate.
We can collaborate on local solutions and work together to better deal with the crises we face. Really, we have no choice.
Laura Paskus is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about Western issues. She is longtime reporter based in Albuquerque and the author of “At the Precipice: New Mexico’s Changing Climate and Water Bodies.” ■
Free Divorce & Custody Clinic
Doing your own divorce/custody case in Colorado presented by Colorado Legal Services March 24, 5:30-7 p.m., D .m., Durango urango Public Librar ublic y & via Z Zoom oom For more information, go to: durangovap.com/events.
The dried bed of the Rio Puerco near Bernardo, N.M. As of early March, 92% of New Mexico was experiencing drought, with almost 30% of the state in severe to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. / Photo courtesy U.S. Drought Monitor
Paskus
LocalNews
Keeping it weird
Studio & reflects on 15 years of art, progress, ideas … and those parties
by Jennaye Derge
Imet Tim Kapustka in 2010, when I was working at a coffee shop on Main Avenue. Just a few blocks down, Kapustka, along with four other artists, had opened Studio & art studio. Obviously, we eventually crossed paths and became friends.
And while I no longer work at that local coffee shop, Studio & and its lineage of cohorts have steadfastly grown and will be celebrating their 15th anniversary this week. The celebration will be rung in with an “artists invitational,” in which 15 current and former Studio & artists each invited another artist to display a work. The show, succinctly named “Fifteen (15),” which runs March 1422, will kick off at 5 p.m. this Fri., March 14, with what will likely be a quintessential Studio & party.
When Studio & opened its doors 15 years ago, Kapustka was a fledgling professional artist looking for an affordable studio space. The answer was to share the rented space on Main Avenue (where Studio & is still located today) among four other artists. They would all create art together, with the idea that the doors would be open to allow the public to come in and watch the artistic process. A good idea in theory, but they soon found it to be a little uncomfortable to have onlookers.
JusttheFacts
What: "Fifteen (15)" opening reception and Studio & 15year anniversary party
When: Fri., March 14, 5 p.m.
Where: Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
“It’s not always the most fun thing to do – to create art in public. It’s super raw and vulnerable,”
Kapustka said. He and the partner artists called it “the zoo factor.”
As time and that idea moved on, so did the studio, slowly morphing into a bonafide art gallery.
“We didn’t just say ‘now we’re going to be a gallery,’” Kapustka said. “It just evolved.”
According to Kapustka, the zoo factor led the way for this: people would watch the artists and want to buy the
art. As an artist trying to pay rent, how could you say no?
The studio started to display art and host art openings, which quickly became some of Durango’s best parties. And thus, the younger days of Studio & and its most artful shenanigans began, including late nights, live music, costumes, games, tennis and potatoes as prizes. Filled wall-to-wall with people – some dressed in peculiar and opulent outfits, others just off work – the parties were an opportunity to get weird and enjoy art with Studio & and its crew.
“For our fifth-year anniversary, we made this place
into a carnival, and we gave away mashed potatoes and read fortunes. (Former member Shay) Lopez was dressed up in a corset with some weird hot nut game,” Kapustka described it. “It was a sideshow.”
This was just one in a hundred celebrations of friends and art, and another perfect example of what has made Studio & a success: one part art; one part tongue-incheek humor; and two parts avant garde vision. Kapustka credits the studio’s ongoing success to the hundreds of artists who have been exhibited there, but he also credits the community which has continuously
11th Street Job Fair for jobs at 11th Street and all of the food trucks
site: Sun., March 16 12 noon - 2 p.m.
Some of Studio &’s former and current owners, from left: Scott Dye, Minna Jain, Shay Lopez, Elizabeth Kinahan and Tim Kapustka at the "Extinct" Exhibit in 2014./ Photo by Carl Geers
shown up at 5 p.m. on Fridays to join the peculiar revelry that is Studio &.
“This community is so amazing. They kept asking what we would do next, and in short order, that gave us a license to do a lot of stuff,” Kapustka said. “Some of it is edgy and pushy; some of it isn’t. But a lot of it is fun. We just all of a sudden became this vessel for art and ideas and progress.” (Which, of course, is Studio &’s official tagline.)
Durango’s community showed up to Studio & to look at the art but also to join friends. We went to drink wine with Scott Dye or Dan Groth. Or have conversations with Paul Pennington and Maureen May. We’d catch up with Crystal Hartman and Elizabeth Kinahan and go heart-to-heart with Shay Lopez. Kapustka looks back and is grateful for the time spent with anyone willing to share a conversation.
“Anyone who has stayed until midnight. Anyone who has had a conversation with Milt, or went down the rabbit hole with Merv, or talked to Jeff Madeen,” he said. “We’d talk and imbibe, and sometimes we’d end up continuing the party elsewhere.”
Kapustka admits those raucous parties don’t happen anymore, but “they’re in the walls of Studio &.”
Besides the lively parties, there has been a plethora of artists that have adorned the walls of Studio & over the years. “We’ve exhibited hundreds, represented dozens of artists,” Kapustka said.
Over the years, there have been 17 owner artists – not including the three current ones: Kapustka, Shawn Lotze and Lorna Meaden – and the studio has had roughly 135 exhibits including art openings, anniversary parties and the annual holiday Bizarre Bazaar.
Literally, Studio & has “grown up” over the years.
They added the diminutive Recess Gallery; ended the impromptu concert space, the Listening Room; and turned the paint-splashed drafting table, where the “good” beer was hidden, into a spot for wine and catered snacks. Gone is the sheet that served as a makeshift wall – almost as if you were visiting a college dorm – as well as the curbside or thrift store finds.
“T-shirts in old suitcases, cards in an old card holder found in the alley… Everyone brought in their own stuff to hold their art,” Kapustka said.
But, as tastes matured, so did the space. “Suddenly there was an interior design theme of wood and concrete and white,” he said.
The alleyway card holder became a custom wall rack, and the thrifted displays turned into more professional designs (however, there might still be t-shirts in an old suitcase). They even took down the sheet and built a wall.
“That’s the stuff where we were, shockingly, like adults,” Kapustka said.
And while a new era of Studio & is dawning – one that is a little wiser and more seasoned – Kapustka, Meaden and Lotze still have a lot up their sleeves. “The sun is still shining. We’re still in our prime,” Kapustka said, adding that this year is looking to be the best yet. “We are very excited to bring an amazing lineup of artists to the gallery for 2025 and beyond.”
In addition to bringing in more represented artists, including Ron Fundingsland, the studio also plans to showcase a younger wave of artists as well.
Kapustka equates the studio to a ball of tinfoil that keeps growing as it is layered with more artists, openings and, most importantly, community members coming in to share stories and ideas.
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“I can’t help but think about it – the biggest piece of art is Studio &,” Kapustka said.
So maybe we’ve all grown up – I don’t walk to Studio & parties from my coffee shop job anymore – and maybe the parties don’t rage until the wee hours like they once did. But, when it comes to Studio &, it will always be a place for art, ideas, progress … and a little eccentricity.
“We still like to keep it as weird as we can,” Kapustka said. ■
Tim Kapustka, left, and Shay Lopez donning their finest party attire at the five-year anniversary party./ Courtesy photo
Stuff to Do
Thursday13
San Juan Symphony’s Durango Bach Festival, concerts and lunch from Manna, 12 noon, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 910 E. 3rd. Ave.
“Crafternoons” Book Landscapes, 4-5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Bike Durango’s City Council Multimodal Forum, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Zia Cantina, 2977 Main Ave.
Kirk James plays, 6-8 p.m., Mancos Brewing, 484 Hwy 160 E. Frontage Rd.
Tim Sullivan plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Clark Andrew Libbey plays, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs, 6475 CR 203
Nerds Night Out Trivia, 7-9 p.m., EsoTerra, 558 Main Ave.
Drag Trivia Night hosted by Aria PettyOne, 7:309:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Open Mic, 8-11 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
Friday14
San Juan Symphony’s Durango Bach Festival concerts and lunch from Manna, 12 noon, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 910 E. 3rd. Ave.
“Fifteen” Celebrating 15 years of Studio &, opening reception, 5-9 p.m., Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Larry Carver & Friends play, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Sober Dance Party alcohol and weed free, 7 p.m., American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
Dustin Burley plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Saturday15
St. Patrick’s Day Science Fun, 9a.m.-3:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
YPOD Ski Day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Purgatory Resort
Lucky You Vendor & Craft Market, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., The American Legion, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
Cardboard Derby, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Tubing Hill, Purgatory Resort
“Elemental: Reimagining Wildfire,” film screening and Q&A with local wildfire experts, 3 p.m., Pine River Library, Bayfield
“Little Visions, Big Creations” art show & silent auction for the Mancos Creative District & Mancos Early Learning Center, 3-8 p.m., Fenceline Cider, 141 S. Main St., Mancos
Kirk James Band plays, 5-8 p.m., Weminuche Grill, 18044 CR 501, Vallecito
Word Honey Poetry Workshop, 6-7:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Open Mic with Leigh Mikell, 7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
AskRachel Burning question, doctors’ orders and death wish
Interesting fact: Medical appointment times are set to the provider’s schedule, not yours. It’s a lot like how you have to arrive early for your flight, with an equally high chance of contracting something while there.
Dear Rachel,
I realize you may not be in charge of this, but for a while your news(?)paper was using really thick paper. I don’t read it, largely because you are so rude to people, but that thicker paper made much better fire starters. Could you ask them to go back to the thicker paper please?
– Lightweight
Dear Paper Pusher,
Clearly you DO read the paper, since you have formed an opinion of how I treat letter-writers like you. How else would you know? The town is not talking about me in eager tones each week, as if I’m a new episode of “Love is Blind” or “How Autocratic is America Now?” Maybe I should be more rude, seeing as that’s how you get to the tippy top of the pinnacle of the Most Respected Head of State Between (But Not Including) Canada and Mexico. A tip: you could start your fires from the warm embers of our nation’s standing. – Up in smoke, Rachel
Ongoing
“Fifteen” Art Exhibit Celebrating 15 years of Studio &, March 14 - 22, Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Local Extraordinary Women
Portrait Exhibit, thru March 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
“Given Time: Sensory Aesthetics of Reclamation,” exhibit exploring Indigenous relationships to land, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC. Runs thru April 24.
60-year celebration “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, heartwoodcohousing@ gmail.com to reserve a tour
Upcoming
Spanish Conversation Hour, Thurs., March 20, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Trivia Night, Thurs., March 20, 6:30-9 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio
Dear Rachel, Why does every doctor’s office ask you to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment? It t’s like asking someone to arrive at work 10 minutes early but without pay. It should be on the doc’s office to budget time for my paperwork, not on me. It feels Type A to expect anyone else to arrive early. Can you explain? – Punk Shual
Dear Sked Yool, I assume this is wishful thinking. If they tell you to get there early, you might actually get there on time. My real bone to pick is with the offices that send me the check-in paperwork online ahead of time –usually through something called a “portal” – then ask me to fill out the same paperwork – usually on something called a “clipboard” – while I wait to see the doctor, who is usually at least 15 minutes late.
– Contagious, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I was approached by a 65-year-old young lady. She told me it’s OK to not have flu shots or any shots. She said if people die, we all make money from SS and Medicare. What should I have said to her?
– RFK Jr.
Email Rachel at
Dear Money Shot,
For your edification, these things work a lot like the free (but not easy) weekly independent newspaper industry: You don’t get more or better newsprint to burn just because, say, a really great advertiser sticks with us. But if enough advertisers stop chipping in, you get no newspaper at all. The metaphor isn’t perfect, but hey, what do you expect when I might have measles by now?
– Stick it to me, Rachel
Bayfield Farmers Market PreSeason Event, Sat., March 22, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., Moody’s, 15 E. Mill St, Bayfield
Snow Science and Social Snowshoe, Sat. , March 22, 1-3 p.m., Andrews Lake Winter Parking Area
Yarn Meetup, Sat., March 22, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Euchre Night, Sat., March 22, 5:307:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main
Tashi T & Friends play, Sat., March 22, 8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Death Café discussion group, Mon., March 24, 4-5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Great Decisions: NATO, presented by the League of Women Voters, Tues., March 25, 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
“The Shape of What Remains” by Lisa C. Taylor, book talk and author event, Tues., March 25, 6 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.
5RTU Women’s Flyfishing Refresher, Wed., March 26, 5-7 p.m.,
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): What can you do to show how much you care about everyone and everything that deserves your love? Now is a fantastic time to unleash a flood of gratitude and appreciation that takes very practical forms. Don’t just beam warm and fuzzy feelings toward your favorite people and animals. Offer tangible blessings that will actually enhance their lives. Find your own personally meaningful ways to nourish all that nourishes you.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ancient Egyptians loved the color blue. The mineral azurite and the semiprecious stones turquoise and lapis lazuli satisfied their fascination to some degree but were rare and difficult to work with. So, the Egyptians decided to fabricate their own pigment. After extensive experimentation, using copper, silica and lime, they succeeded. The hue they made is known as Egyptian blue. I heartily endorse a comparable process for you in coming weeks. Identify the experience, substance or feeling you want more of and then resolve to get as much of it as you want.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Dandelions germinate quickly and grow fast. Once they establish their presence in a place, they persist. Dandelions are able to grow anywhere their seeds land, even from cracks in concrete. Their efficient dispersal is legendary. They produce large quantities of lightweight seeds that are easily carried by the wind. Bees love dandelions in the spring when there are few other flowers to provide nectar. I propose we make the dandelion your symbol of power in the coming weeks, Gemini. Be like them! (PS: They are also beautiful in an unostentatious way.)
CANCER (June 21-July 22): About 36,000 years ago, humans created remarkable drawings and paintings in the Cave of Altamira, located in Spain. When an early discoverer of the art published his findings in 1880, he was met with derision. Experts accused him of forgery, saying such beautiful and technically proficient works could not have been made by ancient people, who just weren’t that smart. Eventually, the art was proved genuine. I propose we meditate on this as a metaphor for your life. It’s possible that your abilities may be underestimated, even by you. Hidden potentials and unexpressed capacities may be close to ripening, but they will need your full confidence and boldness. Don’t let skepticism hold you back.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager probes to study our solar system’s outer planets. Their original mission was designed to last a few years. But in 2025, they still continue to send back useful information from the great beyond, far past Uranus and Neptune, and into interstellar space. I suspect that now is a good time to seek valuable information from adventures you began years ago. Even if those past experiences have not yielded revelations recently, they may soon do so. Be alert for ways to harvest new riches from old memories.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): About 3,775 years ago, a Babylonian man named Nanni wrote a crabby letter to Ea-nasir, a merchant who had sold him substandard copper ingots. Nanni was also upset that his servant was treated rudely. It is the oldest customer complaint in history. With this as our touchstone, I remind you that maintaining high standards is always crucial for your long-term success. Others may be tempted to cut corners, but your natural integrity is one of your superpowers. Please redouble your commitment to providing highest value, Virgo. And ask for it from others, too.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Blogger Yukiko Kisaki writes about the Japanese concept of ma. She says it’s “the emptiness full of possibilities, like a promise yet to be fulfilled. It’s the purposeful pauses in a speech that make words stand out; the quiet time we all need to make our busy lives meaningful; the silence between the notes that make the music.” You will be wise to make ma a central theme in the coming weeks. I invite you to research the power of pauses. Rather than filling up every gap, allow space for pregnant blankness. Trust that in being open to vacancy, you will make room for unexpected riches.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The literal meaning of the Japanese word yohen is “kiln mutation.” It refers to a type of glaze that undergoes variations in color when baked in a kiln. The finished pottery that emerges displays patterns and hues that are blends of the artist’s intention and accidental effects created by the heat. I would love to see you carry out metaphorical versions of yohen in coming weeks.1. Collaborate to create beauty with energies that aren’t entirely manageable. 2. Undertake projects that require both careful preparation and a willingness to adapt to shifting conditions. 3. Engage with opportunities that will have the best outcomes if you relinquish some control.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A big party is underway in your astrological House of Self-Understanding and Self-Definition. The near future will be a favorable time to discover yourself in greater depth and bring your identity into clearer focus. I see this mostly as a task for you to carry out in conversation with yourself. It’s also fine to solicit the feedback of allies who have insight into your nature, but I urge you to rely on your private investigations. How can you deepen your knowledge of the reasons you are here on Earth? Can you learn more about your dormant potentials? Who are you?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.19): Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila was selected by his country to compete in the 1960 Rome Olympics. But the honor was offered shortly before the games began, and he had to scramble to get there in time. When he arrived for the main event, he couldn’t find any running shoes in local stores that fit comfortably. So he decided to go barefoot for the 26.2-mile race. Success! He won, setting a new world-record. I propose we make him your role model. May he inspire you to respond to an apparent scarcity or deficiency by calling on earthy alternatives. May you adjust to a problem by deepening your reliance on your natural self.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): After being part of two journeys to Antarctica, Aquarian explorer Ernest Shackleton assembled a team to try what no one had ever done: crossing the entire continent on foot with pack dogs and motorized sledges. But the proposed 1,800-mile expedition failed soon after it began. His leadership during the harrowing struggle to survive became legendary. I don’t think you will face anything remotely resembling his challenges. But I suspect your response to trials will define your success. As you encounter obstacles, you will treat them as opportunities to showcase your resourcefulness and adaptability. You will inspire others to summon resiliency, and you will bring out their best as you engage in creative problem-solving. Trials will become triumphs.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I’m not exactly sure where you are going, Pisces, but I’m certain you are headed in the right direction. Your instincts for self-love are at a peak. Your ability to see your best possible future is lucid and strong. Your commitment to gracefully serving all that gracefully serves you is passionate and rigorous. I will congratulate you in advance for locating the exact, robust resources you need, not mediocre resources that are only half-interesting.
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
Classes/Workshops
Are You Ready for Guitar Lessons in Durango? I teach all ages and experience levels. Please contact Seth at 602-908-4475
Learn Nonviolent Communication
Learn to speak your truth, understand others, and resolve conflict. Join Rachel Turiel for a 5 week series Tuesdays 5pm7pm, March 25 - April 22. More info: www.rachelturiel.com
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
ForSale
Vintage Balloon Tire Bicycles from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Prices range from $100-$500 per bike. Call Bicycle Bob in Aztec at 970 769 9955
Reruns Home Furnishings
Lots of new furniture/cool furnishings for home, office or dorm. Nightstands, coffee tables, kitchenwares, rugs and
more. Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.
Wanted
Cash for Vehicles, Copper, Alum
Etc. at RJ Metal Recycle. Also free appliance and other metal drop off. 970259-3494.
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/trade/sell (970) 259-2213
Services
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.
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.
Community Compassion Outreach
Located at 21738 HWY 160 W is open Tues., Wed. and Fri. from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. for case management, client services, light breakfast, snacks, beverages and lunch with peer-based support and services for those with substance-use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues. On Saturdays, the CCO Coffee & Conversations Program, takes place at 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with home-cooked meals by volunteers. On Thursdays, La Plata County Public Health holds Harm Reduction from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
‘Breakup Season’ Is often spring here, but in this cool dramedy it’s at Christmas time
Engaging Volunteer Opportunity
Alternative Horizons needs volunteers to staff our hotline. Training provided. For info., visit alternativehorizons.org
SWCO Men’s Cancer Advocacy group
If interested, contact Phil at hope@ cancersupportswco.org or 970-403-3711.
