*According to a very unscientific and impromptu office poll
“Giving locals something to do on Thursdays since 2002”
Trump’s war on LGBTQ rights is meant to make us forget where we’ve been by Doug Gonzalez
Meet the candidates and a little bit on Ballot Measure 2A
Nederland reflects on ‘Frozen Dead Guy Days’ moving to Estes Park by Molly Cruse / Colorado Public Radio
Cold Storage art collective breathes new life into bikes, local art scene by Stephen Sellers On the cover Ski biker Rob Nichols catches some air on Molas Pass last week. Congratulations to Rob for being the first ski biker in Telegraph history to grace the cover./ Photo by Andy High
The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-
Stephen Trimble, Stephen Sellers, Molly Cruse, Lainie Maxson, Jesse Anderson, Rob Brezsny & Clint Reid
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 332 Durango, CO 81302 PHONE: 970-259-0133
telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
AND SUBSCRIPTIONS:
Ear to the ground:
“It was turtleneck arrogance.”
– The worst kind of arrogance there is
Mesa mania
Things are once again beginning to rock and roll again at Durango Mesa Park. The Durango Mesa Park Foundation announced it is beginning construction this week on a new intersection at Highway 3 and Ewing Mesa Road as well as reconstruction of Ewing Mesa Road into the park.
In conjunction with the work, the Horse Gulch Parking Lot will be off limits through at least November, as it is used as a staging area for the construction. Trail users are asked to use the surrounding neighborhood streets for parking, or better yet, ride your bike to the trailhead. Additionally, the Mesa Connector Trail will be closed intermittently throughout the project. The first closure is anticipated from March 24 - April 4.
"We are thrilled to break ground on this essential road construction project, a major step toward realizing the community-led vision for Durango Mesa Park and paving the way for future amenities and public access,” Moira Montrose Compton, executive director of the Durango Mesa Park Foundation, said in a statement. “We appreciate everyone's patience as we work to minimize disruptions and bring this incredible community resource to life."
Other impacts to the area include:
• One-lane closure on E. 3rd Street; one lane will remain open to local traffic, access to the Horse Gulch Medical Center and E. 3rd Street businesses
• Shoulder closures, lane closures and lane shifts on Highway 3 and E. 8th Avenue
• Flaggers at the Sawmill Road and Highway 3 intersection
Work hours will be from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and some weekends.
Durango Mesa Park also plans to continue construction on its bike park and additional trails on the mesa this year as well.
To learn more, the City of Durango and Durango Mesa Park Foundation will be hosting an “Engage Durango” open house Tues., March 25, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center. The evening will feature the latest updates on Durango Mesa Park’s progress and details on summer construction and plans for expanded amenities. Attendees will hear directly from project leaders and have the opportunity to engage with city representatives.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to see how Durango Mesa Park is evolving,” Compton said. “We encourage everyone to join us in shaping the future of this incredible outdoor space.”
For more information, visit: engage.du rangoco.gov/durango-mesa-park.
LaVidaLocal
All roads lead to where?
Symbols are everywhere and have countless purposes. Road and crosswalk signs try to catch your attention so that you may be safely guided toward your destination. You might use the fun and colorful emojis on your phone to communicate various thoughts to friends and family, from the quick to the complicated. But what does it mean when heads of large entities, like governments, use them? And what are the ramifications for what they decide to use?
On March 9, President Trump reshared on Truth Social an opinion piece from The Washington Times, a rightwing news outlet. The piece praised Donald Trump and his newly appointed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for banning trans soldiers and recruits from the military through a recent executive order. This is different from the ban he enacted in his first term, which allowed trans personnel to continue serving if they had come out before his order.
The article also echoed the rhetoric of the current administration: “Diversity is bad – it weakens (enter any process, project, field).” What I want to focus on is the image used for this opinion piece, which also appears in Trump’s post: an inverted pink triangle crossed out by a red “no” sign.
This pink triangle is a symbol that was first used by the Nazi regime to identify gay men within their concentration camps. At the beginning of the Holocaust, the Nazis revised Section 175 of the German Penal Code in 1935 and turned same sex relationships from a minor offense into a felony. Anyone accused or found to be homosexual was moved from jails into the camps. There were additional colored triangles in this badge-coding system used to identify groups that were deemed “harmful” to the Nazi regime, including yellow for Jewish people, black for “asocials,” red for political prisoners and blue for immigrants. Once the camps were liberated at the end of the war, the prisoners who wore pink triangles were not guaranteed freedom. Under the still-intact Nazi-
coded Section 175, many were indicted for homosexuality. If they were convicted, they were placed back into prison. Section 175 would stay in effect until 1969.
This symbol came back into popularity during the AIDS and HIV crisis of the ’80s and ’90s. During this time, organizations like ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) inverted the pink triangle and reclaimed it. What once was used to identify gay and trans “undesirables” was being used to show unity and pride during one of the darkest times in queer history.
Thirty years later, under a Trump presidency, this triangle has been reused with its original intent – as a scarlet letter for trans and queer people, attempting to shame and alienate them from culture at large. There has been resistance to this order, with several enlisted individuals suing the Trump Administration and taking their cases to court. In addition to this ban, federal programs and initiatives that help veterans are being gutted under his leadership with the promise of efficiency. This includes reducing the number of federal jobs available (which are legally required to have a preference toward hiring veterans), shrinking the funding available for veteran research, and reducing veteran access to healthcare and mental health services.
If we were to read the signs of this presidency, much like the ones on a map, where do we think they will lead us? How will we know which way is forward and which way is back? If we were to simply follow them, I believe they would have us take a series of backroads and shortcuts, hoping that we get lost so that we’re unable to connect with others or ourselves. Why would they want this? Because to be queer and to feel love and support, despite the social and religious stigma surrounding it, is a danger to this administration. This freedom to love balks at the fear and hate that they try to instill in us. My hope is that we are able to heed the warning signs along the way.
– Doug Gonzalez
SignoftheDownfall:
Help for local public lands, with Great Outdoors Colorado awarding $299,000 to the San Juan Mountains Association to help with stewardship projects such as protecting high alpine tundra, watershed, and forests impacted by drought, wildfire, pests and mining impacts.
Manna Soup Kitchen and the Street Dog Coalition partnered to provide a pop-up vet clinic and free care to animals of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Hey, it’s the first day of spring. Although it’s sort of been like spring all winter. But at least there are brighter days ahead, as far as daylight goes.
Colorado immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra was detained by ICE in Denver this week. The mother of four and nonprofit founder has lived in the U.S. for nearly 30 years, worked at Target and had no criminal record. Boy, we sure feel a lot safer now.
Apparently, a woman (who, according to Google, has the same name as someone who has lived in Grand Junction and was a former field representative for Lauren Boebert) went into the Durango Rec Center proudly sporting some Trumpwear. Things did not end well. This is why we work out by ourselves in our basement.
Florida Man Games:
2
It was assumed that last year’s Florida Man Games (where the trashiest Americans imaginable competed in dumbass games to dull the pain of going home to a trailer) would bring about the apocalypse. But since it didn’t, the second annual FMG were held March 1, but they had to be moved to the St. Johns Fairgrounds, because attendance doubled. And this year, the “games” were even more apropos: there was a pig butt eating contest, which is exactly what it sounds like, along with weaponized pool noodle jousting, a literal gator toss and human beer pong. But really, the games were pointless, because at this point, literally everyone in the world already knows who the trashiest Floridian is.
Gulp. Baby eagle. Dead. Verklempt.
How the West was lost
Despite anti-fed sentiment, rural areas depend on government presence
by Stephen Trimble
Nearly 80 years ago, Bernard DeVoto, the Utahborn writer and historian, wrote an essay titled “The West Against Itself” for Harper’s Magazine. DeVoto summed up the platform pressed by Western elected officials of his day in a memorable punchline: “Get out – and give us more money.” This “economic fantasy” is still with us, as DeVoto predicted, “yesterday, today and forever.”
The new, fossil fuel-friendly heads of federal land management agencies are serious about the “get out” part of that plea, firing thousands of their employees and closing dozens of offices across the West. Their list targets Fort Collins; Flagstaff; Moab; Salt Lake City; Lander, Wyo.; Boise; and more. Local economies will lose millions they’ve depended on.
But Donald Trump and Elon Musk aren’t doing so well with the “give us more money” part. Voters who elected Trump may not get what they bargained for.
I have a home in southern Utah, in Torrey, gateway to Capitol Reef National Park. My neighbors in Wayne and Garfield counties, who gave well more than 70% of their votes to Trump, often complain about federal overreach. They see conservation of national public lands as “locking up” land.
Yet Westerners love all that financial support coming in from the agencies they profess to hate. They rely on the federal government for so much more than they often acknowledge.
After a charming presentation about cowboy culture at Torrey’s nonprofit Entrada Institute recently, my wife asked a young rancher what his family did for health insurance.
“My wife works for the Forest Service,” he said. Indeed, government employees make up 23% of the workforce in Utah’s Garfield County and 25% in Wayne County. These salaries and the benefits that come with them are crucial to family stability.
A revealing interactive map in Grist magazine shows the reach of investment by the federal government through legislation passed by the Biden administration. I click on the town of Torrey and find tens of millions of federal dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law flowing into the county. Think upgrades of rural airports, solar panels on small businesses, bridge replacements, removal of lead from drinking water – and on and on.
And then on Feb. 14, the Department of the Interior announced the firings of more than 2,300 public servants at the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey. With this “Valentine’s Day Massacre,” southern Utah communities will feel accelerating impacts – loss of income and benefits, more money going to unemployment payments, understaffed parks and monuments, and irate visitors.
My inbox and social media feed are flooded with anecdotes about what these firings mean. One man grew up in a Park Service family and worked as a park ranger himself for years. He transferred to the Forest Service recently, becoming a “probationary” employee only because he was new to his position. He lost his job and his career thanks to the Trump administration.
When rural Westerners say “get out” to the feds, I don’t think this is what they have in mind.
President Trump is also considering once more eviscerating national monument protection for Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears in southern Utah. These monuments have been good for local communities and economies.
A cattle drive in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. Despite misconceptions that monuments “lock up” federal lands, ranchers are allowed to keep their grazing permits in the monument. /
The monuments haven’t locked up the land; ranchers still have their grazing permits. Pre-existing mining and drilling claims remain in force. And the conservation and tourism values of these designated preserves expand every year.
According to a recent Colorado College poll, 84% of Utahns support establishment of new national parks, national monuments, national wildlife refuges and tribal protected areas. Still, Utah’s governor, attorney general and congressional delegation continue to waste millions on fruitless lawsuits attacking those same preserves.
Westerners are evolving; politicians aren’t keeping up. And yet we keep re-electing these same officials. Maybe, just maybe, the Trumpian war on civil servants will force a reckoning. We’ll re-evaluate why we need a robust federal presence in the West.
And our war against ourselves will end.
Stephen Trimble is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He worked for the National Park Service, BLM and Forest Service in his twenties and has been a conservation advocate ever since. ■
Photo by Stephen Trimble
SoapBox D-Tooned/
Time to step up, Hurd
I’m calling on Rep. Hurd to do more to prioritize our health, climate and future. This includes:
• Stopping efforts to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate and clean energy policies that will put us on a path to cut climate pollution 40% by 2030, create 9 million jobs and lower energy prices.
• Blocking the Trump administration and unelected billionaire Elon Musk from cutting vital government programs and staff to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy.
• Resisting attempts to eliminate various environmental protection laws.
As a citizen and outdoor enthusiast, these issues have a huge impact on me.
I urge Rep. Hurd to protect people in our community over corporate polluters. We need you to fight for us.
– Eugenia Miller, Durango
2A great bang for the buck
Close your eyes and imagine a world without (No! He’ll still be alive) the Animas River Trail, Whitewater Park, Oxbow Park and Preserve, Lake Nighthorse, Overend Mountain Park, Twin Buttes and Horse Gulch. These were made possible by the foresight of Durangoites two decades past. I’m talking the ½-cent sales tax voted for in 2005. Crazy old-timers! We voted to tax ourselves? Why yes, we did. Here’s why:
We used to weave and dodge our clunkers down main street and through the boulevards for breakfast at The Diner. Now we take the fabulous Animas River Trail. Once upon a time, we selected from one of three for a mountain bike ride: Animas Mountain (sucked going up, sucked going down); Perin’s Peak; or Raider’s Ridge. Now we have Horse Gulch, Overend Mountain Park, Twin Buttes and tons more from which to choose. Way back when, we donned wool sweaters and long boats to scratch downstream and dip our paddles (and heads) in the turbid Smelter Rapids between the sewage treatment outflow and a hot, radioactive, smelter pile. Now we have Whitewater Park. All courtesy of the ½-cent sales tax (along with Lake Nighthorse, Pickleball, BMX and tons more!)
That funding is set to expire in 2026. We now have the opportunity to be heroes of the future by voting “Yes” on Ballot Measure 2A. “Yes” on 2A allows the incredible and selfless acts of our fore selves to continue in
the healthy lifestyles of our after selves (and kids).
With a “Yes” on 2A, we can support and improve what we have and continue to build on the amazing quality of life in this town we love. A “Yes” on 2A holds development of Durango Mesa into a world-class event and mountain bike facility, the extension of ART to Three Springs, and a new Three Springs Community Park. As an added bonus, we get funding for a new police station to make our stays after a too-much-fun Ranch evening that much more pleasant; and a new, consolidated city hall (to defend all that fun) in the renovated old high school building next to Buckley Park.
We recently learned that voting does indeed matter. Vote for Durango. Vote yes on Ballot Measure 2A.
– Andy Corra, Durango
Gonzales insightful, committed
We are lucky to have Shirley Gonzales stepping up to guide Durango! She brings a deep commitment and broad wealth of experience from eight years serving as city councilor in San Antonio, Texas. There, she effectively dealt with problems including large unhoused populations, rampant crime and domestic abuse, and other sequelae of poverty that gentrifying Durango is starting to experience.
In San Antonio, she helped pass a $150M bond measure for major affordable housing projects, among others. Her approach to housing is pragmatic yet principled – everyone deserves a home. She prefers to use public funding to actually build homes – which helps
families truly escape poverty, when combined with social service support – instead of band-aid fixes like costly shelters.
When I heard how Gonzales doesn’t stop at traditional hurdles to fund a worthy project, even going to Washington, D.C., if needed, I began to understand the kind of committed, innovative public servant that she truly is.
Gonzales originated a novel pilot project for victims of domestic abuse by first consulting with social work experts. After finding the funding, she reached out to San Antonio nonprofits to find a project host that could train and oversee volunteer mentors. The project was so successful – alleviating the suffering that had motivated her commitment and action – that a city university later adopted the project for the long-term. That’s the kind of inventive brilliance that Durango needs as climate and political change further impact our city. Vote for Shirley!
–
Kirby MacLaurin, Durango
Don’t forget Joann’s workers
I’m really enjoying reading the letters from the pearl-clutching progressives in Durango about the cuts in federal jobs by the Trump administration. Here are some facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: the Biden administration increased the federal jobs number by 6% in four years, including 33,000 in December 2024. There are currently more than 3 million federal employees and that does not include 600,000 postal workers or armed service members.
Where are the letters decrying the loss of a 1,000 laid-off baristas at Starbucks? How about 2,500 employees dismissed at Hewlett Packard? And let’s not forget the loss of at least 8,000 jobs with the closing of 800+ Joann stores across the country?
Would those of you out there marching on main street be willing to pay an extra $5 for a camp site in the San Juan National Forest, or will you continue to camp in non-designated sites that are free? I thought so.
– Dennis Pierce, Durango
Gonzales an excellent choice
I am super impressed with the kind of person Shirley Gonzales is. She’s soft-spoken about her accomplishments, so it takes a conversation with her to learn about the amazing level of public service she accomplished as city councilor in San Antonio, Texas. There,
she pushed forward programs to serve the needs of people who were struggling to make life work. She had the vision to create a successful new program mentoring domestic abuse victims and addressed lack of housing by building homes instead of shelters. Common sense and vision.
Gonzalez gives answers at forums thoughtfully and articulately, as an exploration of possibilities. She doesn’t pretend that she has all the answers but instead carefully crafts a series of valid, actionable ideas. She listens carefully to what other candidates and participants say and works to incorporate their ideas. Team player and an MVP type.
I think she would do a great job with our local economy, as a current board member of both Local First and the Economic Development Alliance. She talks about balancing the needs of workers (she knows they’re being squeezed out of this gentrifying city) and small business (she has three decades of small business management experience). That’s a balancing act – we need both to prosper – and her creativity would really help. She also does her research into programs in other cities to find new ideas and into what current academic understandings are. That shows a depth of commitment. Let’s get Gonzalez working for us on the City Council!
– Jennifer Peeso, Durango
Dear President Zelenskyy
On behalf of the rational and caring people of the United States of America, I am writing to apologize for the boorish behavior of American President, Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Never did I think I would feel the need to apologize for an American president, but those of us who suffer the humiliation and indignity of our current government must make amends for the embarrassment of Feb. 28, 2025, at the White House. Their behavior was un-American.
American people are, as a rule, rational, compassionate and freedom-loving people. We are aghast at the deadly war to which the citizens of Ukraine have been subjected, brought about by Vladimir Putin’s invasion. We renounce the current U.S. Administration’s support of this atrocity. But it becomes our burden to atone for the duplicity and blatant indignity of Trump and Vance.
Trump, Vance and their followers do not reflect the hearts and minds of most Americans. For most of us
their dangerous reign of destruction and worldwide chaos cannot end soon enough. In meantime we will continue to offer our earnest and vocal support for your country and its people.
Again, President Zelenskyy, with a heavy heart I humbly apologize for the reprehensible behavior perpetrated by President Trump and Vice President Vance. America will one day return to sanity and civility and will uphold the values of the United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence we have cherished for 250 years, and continue its pursuit of peace, prosperity and safety for all people.
–
John Egan, Durango,
Keeping LPEA on track
The La Plata Electric Association Cooperative started supplying power in 1940, and it served to turn on streetlights, improve agriculture and foster regional commerce. Electricity serves the same purposes today; but how power is generated, delivered and consumed has changed significantly – and rapid change continues.
Fortunately, LPEA is embracing change to assure that our power needs will continue to be provided in an economically efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
For six years, as a member of the LPEA Board of Directors – and with encouragement from members – I’ve worked to keep the co-op’s mission focused on the future. We still have much work to do. And I am announcing my plans to serve another three-year term representing District 3, which encompasses the Durango city limits.
In 2024, the board voted to end the power supply contract with electricity provider Tri-State. The contract – not due to expire until 2050 – allowed little autonomy for local electricity production and tied LPEA to Tri-State’s polluting fossil fuel plants and its $3 billion-plus debt load. Specifically, it worked against our co-op’s best interests.
The current contract expires in April 2026. So starting next spring, instead of paying “rent” to a financially struggling “landlord,” LPEA will use co-op members’ dollars to finance and build our own economically and environmentally sustainable “powerhouse.”
I ask for your vote to keep LPEA focused on the future. (Opinions stated here are strictly my own.)
Ballots will be mailed to LPEA members in late April and are due May 20.
– Joe Lewandowski, Durango
Meet the candidates
Council hopefuls weigh in, and a little bit on Ballot Measure 2A
Yes, it’s true. With ballot fatigue still fresh in voters’ minds, it’s time to head back to the voting booth, or in this case the drop-off box. But fear not – the ballots that arrived in Durango voters’ mailboxes last week are for a relatively mild city election and entail filling in only four ovals.
The April 1 election entails a City Council race, in which five candidates, including two incumbents, are vying for three at-large seats for a four-year term.
There is also a ballot measure, 2A, which asks voters to renew the one-half of 1% sales tax (aka 50 cents on a $100 purchase) that was originally passed in 2005. Fifty percent of the half-cent tax will go toward parks, open space, trails and recreation projects. The other 50% will be used to finance capital improvements associated with renovating the old high school into a new city hall and police department. To finance the project, the City would take out a $61 million bond, which would be repaid at a cost of $123 million.
To read up on the pros and cons, check out the City’s handy “Municipal Election Informational Booklet,” or visit the fact page at: tinyurl.com/3fe3tynz.
There is no official organized opposition to the ballot measure, but to read one view against it, check out last week’s Soap Box section in the Telegraph.
And now, without further ado, meet this year’s City Council candidates. We would like to thank all the candidates for taking time out of their ridiculously busy schedules to tackle our hard-hitting interrogation. Answers appear in the order they were received.
■ Kip Koso
Day job: Recently retired but certainly doing part-time work as the Board Chair for Local First and Board Chair for Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2025.
When not working, you can find me: Hiking Horse Gulch in the wee hours of the morning, volunteering for a variety of local nonprofits, or walking downtown to a variety of favorite restaurants and stores including Steamworks, Esoterra, Guild House Games, Urban Market, Cream Bean and Primi.
Animal you most personify: The Frumious Bandersnatch (just to make
On April 1, Durango voters will be asked to elect three City Council members and whether or not to renew 2005’s half-cent sales tax. The tax will be split between parks, open, space and recreation projects and renovating the old high school building for a new City Hall and police department. / Telegraph file photo
folks look up one of my favorite poems, “Jabberwocky.”)
Current binge watch/stream or read: Just finished the series
“Shogun” (the 2020s version, not the 1980s version, although both are great!)
Favorite pizza topping: Chorizo If elected, what do you see as the most pressing issues facing Durango, and what will you do to address them? I see a host of issues that need addressing but have tried to focus on three that span across the services the city works on:
• Build an updated police department building - Ensuring the safety of our community requires the right infrastructure. The current police building is overcrowded, outdated and lacks essential security features, making it difficult for officers and staff to serve Durango’s growing needs. Ballot Measure 2A is a good way to address this issue, but if 2A does not pass, I will prioritize the establishment of a modern facility that meets our needs to improve emergency response, provide secure spaces for ev-
idence and records, and create a safer environment for residents and staff. The old high school is a meaningful landmark, and 2A is an opportunity to repurpose it in a way that strengthens public safety.
• Improve childcare - The recent La Plata Economic Alliance report is an excellent way to understand the severity of the childcare problem in our community, identify resources needed and outline steps to make progress. Just as in affordable housing, the City can act as a catalyst, bringing together businesses, nonprofits and governmental entities to have conversations and find solutions. A strong childcare system benefits families, businesses and our entire community.
• Take advantage of the once-in-alifetime opportunity presented by Durango Mesa Park - This unique gem will need experience and determination to build the amenities to make it a worldclass venue for biking, hiking, and
(what I want to put a sharp focus on) concerts and performances. An arts and performance venue will generate revenue to help offset some of the buildout costs, which is important for long-term sustainability. The land donation and financial support from the Katz Foundation is incredibly rare for a city like Durango. We need to advance the partnership in the next four years and bring the vision to life. Doing so will create lasting quality of life for generations.
■ Jessica Buell (incumbent)
Day job: I’m a multi-tasking ninja. My official titles include “Mom of Four Boys, “Small Business Overlord” and “Mayor.” Unofficially, I’m a snack dispenser, mediator of epic sibling battles and a professional coffee consumer.
When not working, you can find me: Watching one of my sons in one of their 50 million activities and cheering them on from the sidelines, working out or running the Sky Steps, or meeting up with a friend in between the after-school activity pick-up and dropoff for a quick catch up!
Animal you most personify: A river otter! Why? They’re playful, adaptable and love working as a team. Plus, they know how to navigate a winding river, which is pretty much how I feel about local politics. And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love an otter’s playful spirit? It keeps me sane during those long council meetings.
Current binge watch/stream or read: Right now, I’m trying to absorb the national political climate through a firehose. So, it’s a mix of news articles, policy briefs and whatever my kids are watching on TV. Mostly, I’m reading between the lines and hoping for a plot twist that benefits Durango.
Favorite pizza topping: Pepperoni, a classic.
If (re)elected, what do you see as the most pressing issues facing Durango, and what will you do to address them? Affordable housing. It was why I ran four years ago, and I think I can continue making great strides in this arena. I have voted in favor of every affordable housing initiative that has come before me, including affordable housing in our Strategic Plan.
I also will continue pushing for efforts from the city on creating an informed and engaged community (another effort I spearheaded to get on our Strategic Plan.) During my term, I implemented “Mayor Walk and Rolls” to become more accessible to constituents and pushed for more outreach).
Childcare is another important topic, and the City partnered with the La Plata Economic Development Alliance to get money for our childcare strategic plan and implement steps to tackle the childcare crisis in La Plata County.
■ Chris Elias
Day job: Owner and advisor to commercial cannabis company that my best friend and I created. I have stepped back and am not involved in day-to-day operations.
When not working, you can find me: Up at Purg snowboarding or mtbing Horse Gulch, Test Tracks, Phil’s World and Pass Creek Trail. You can also find me boating the town run or other rivers in the Southwest, as long as friends get permits (fingers crossed).
Animal you most personify: (G)narwhal. It’s a majestic unicorn of the sea. I love the character Fry from “Futurama,” and he befriends a narwhal in the movie “Bender’s Big Score.” Also,
I like packrafting, and when Alpacka Raft came out with their whitewater craft, it was called the “Gnarwhal.” I also have a narwhal onesie that I like to occasionally wear.
Current binge watch/stream or read: I just finished reading Zac Podmore’s “Life After Deadpool” and started Jonathan Thompson’s “River of Lost Souls.” I am always rewatching “Curb your Enthusiasm” but recently am watching “Righteous Gemstones” and “The White Lotus.”
Favorite pizza topping: Pineapple. I only say that to get a rise out of people. Haha.
If elected, what do you see as the most pressing issues facing Durango, and what will you do to address them? Affordable housing – we have a lot of working class people in Durango in the service industry. We need to address their needs for affordable places to live comfortably. As someone who has worked in the service industry the majority of his life, it can be disheartening watching people have second homes here while people are living paycheck to paycheck with roommates.
I also would make sure the city keeps laying infrastructure for more development and work to have productive meetings with the county to make sure they are helping to address problem.
■ Olivier Bosmans (incumbent) Day job: Current City Council member
When not working you can find me: Enjoying time with my family in our beautiful outdoors, skiing when we have snow and cycling during the warmer months. I like gardening and already started my tomatoes in early January.
Animal you most personify: Not sure, I will take a quiz some day and let you know.
Current binge watch/stream or read: “The Little Prince,” Durango High School had a play based on this book that I wanted to see but unfortunately was not able to. Having read this book many years ago, I will read it again given its many interesting aspects.
Favorite pizza topping: Pepperoni.
If (re)elected, what do you see as the most pressing issues facing Durango, and what will you do to address them? Affordability with housing and childcare are the key topics, and the financial performance with the many studies/projects that our community does not seem to want or need, and at a cost that seems hard to explain. But I believe it all starts with honesty, transparency, accountability and actually representing the people and businesses in our community.
■ Shirley Gonzalez
Day job: I own Pedal the Peaks
When not working you can find me: Hanging out with my children at the rec center, in one of our many parks or at the hot springs.
Animal you most personify: Hummingbird, because they inspire joy and connect me to my Mexican heritage.
Current binge watch/stream or read: I enjoy reading fiction and love browsing at Maria’s Bookshop.
Favorite pizza topping: I love vegetarian toppings from Home Slice and Fired Up.
If elected, what do you see as the most pressing issues facing Durango and what will you do to address them? The most pressing issue in Durango is housing affordability. ■
Buell
Elias
Bosmans
Gonzalez
BetweentheBeats
A different pace
Breathing new life into art and bikes at Cold Storage art collective
by Stephen Sellers
In a town with expensive rent and limited venues for artists and musicians to perform, art collectives are sacred spaces in Durango. Cold Storage, tucked behind 11th St. Station, is one of those spaces. Run by local artist and bike mechanic Hunter Bultemeier, alongside partner, Noah Leggett, the underground art and workspace offers refuge for Durango’s alternative creative scene. While its predecessor, Channel 37, built a reputation on metal, raves and wrenches, Cold Storage, at 1129 Narrow Gauge Ave., embraces a “less is more” ethos, focusing on salvaging bikes through its in-house shop, Velomancer, and hosting “Makers Markets” the third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for those on the fringe of Durango’s art and music scene. I recently chatted with Bultemeier, who describes his own visual art as “waster folk art tradition” (you’ll have to ask him) to hear more about raising bikes from the dead and keeping art alive in the underground.
SS: What’s the history of this building?
HB: To my knowledge, this is one of the oldest buildings in Durango – built in 1882. The stone on the front was quarried from Horse Gulch. It’s been many things over the years. There’s people who are, like, “‘Oh, my uncle ran a carpet company out of here.’ Or, ‘Oh, my brother had a construction company.’ Or ‘My grandpa did this out of that building.’”
SS: How did you get involved?
HB: Noah Leggett and Zach Counter started Channel 37, an art collective and welding shop, here before the pandemic. I was friends with them, so I was down here from day one – pulling nails, rebuilding shelves. Eventually, Noah and I reorganized and renamed it Cold Storage.
SS: How do you see this space evolving for art and music?
HB: It has a ton of potential. We’ve got new artists moving in, like Alex Vick, who’s doing screen printing. We’re also talking to friends who do lapidary work. This is a very multi-
Hunter Bultemeier stands in the alleyway where Cold Storage is located on Narrow Gauge Ave., between 11th and 10th streets. The building serves as a bike shop, music venue, art collective, marketplace and
faceted space that can house a lot of creative disciplines.
SS: What’s been the biggest surprise, seeing both Channel 37 and Cold Storage take shape?
HB: It all comes back to bikes for me. The bike shop is my baby. Seeing bikes we’ve built or fixed out in the community is amazing. We also help the houseless community – hooking people up with parts, fixing flats. I’ll see someone riding a bike we worked on and think, “Oh, heck yeah.” Noah’s a bike wizard. I wouldn’t know half the bike mechanic knowledge that I know without Noah.
SS: Tell us about the Maker’s Market.
HB: Back in the day, but at the Balcony, my friend Casey, who now lives in San Francisco, used to help run a little art market. It was every other Saturday night. That was one of the first times where I’d really put my art into the world. And that just has kind of always stuck with me. So, when I became part of this space, I thought, “Man, what a killer spot for a market, rain or shine.” We’re now in our third year.
Some have been amazing, some not, but that’s how it goes. Lately, they’ve been pretty kick-ass, offering alternative art that doesn’t always find a place elsewhere.
SS: And Velomancer?
HB: The name plays on resurrecting bikes from the dead. Durango’s cycling scene is a machine that chews up and spits out a lot of gear. We scavenge and rebuild, believing nothing should go to waste. I’d argue we’re the cheapest bike shop in town. We do tune-ups, repairs, even welding. If it’s steel, I can fix it.
SS: In Durango’s bike caste system, you’re somewhere above untouchables it sounds like. Where can people find your art?
HB: Mostly on Instagram or on the bottom of skateboards – either getting destroyed or hung on someone’s wall. I realized as a kid that art is life. You can live art, and riding a bike is a way to do that. It’s moving on a machine, letting your brain dream at a different pace.
Keep an eye on Cold Storage’s Instagram for upcoming events from one of Durango’s most beloved alternative spaces at @cold_ storage_art_collective. ■
more. / Photo by Jennaye Derge
AroundColorado
‘A gift and a curse’
Founders of Nederland’s ‘Frozen Dead Guy Days’ reflect on festival’s move to Estes Park
by Molly Cruse / Colorado Public Radio
For the last two decades, Frozen Dead Guy Days has been a staple event for the town of Nederland. But three years ago, the festival moved to Estes Park, and Nederland continues to figure out its identity following the departure of its most famous tradition.
The weekend-long festival – which took place March 14-16 complete with a polar plunge, parade of hearses, costume contests, live music and its famous coffin races – helped put tiny Nederland on the map.
“You can be anywhere in the world and some people will know when you say ‘Nederland,’” Stephanie Andelman, a longtime festival worker and enthusiast, said.
While on the surface, the festival is about a 120-yearold frozen dead guy – Bredo Morstøl, colloquially known as “Grandpa Bredo,” who died in 1989 and has since been frozen in a cryogenic storage shed – the festival was actually started as a way to boost tourism. The nowdisbanded Nederland Chamber of Commerce developed the idea in 2002 to bring more revenue into town during the slow winter months.
Initially, the plan worked. According to Andelman, who has been involved with the festival shortly after its founding, in just a few years, the festival began attracting national media attention.
“I don’t want to say it exploded, but it grew from a couple hundred people to a couple thousand,” she said.
Despite the quirky festival bringing media, visitors and some extra revenue into the town, many locals grew less and less fond of the attention. “I spent a lot of time instead of working on the actual festival … fighting with the town, which was really interesting,” Amanda MacDonald, former longtime owner and organizer of the festival, said. MacDonald bought the festival from the Nederland Chamber of Commerce after the chamber dissolved in 2011. Running the festival not only became a huge passion – it took over her life.
“It was extremely stressful, and I literally sold my house to pay off debt,” MacDonald said. “My father said, ‘That f****** festival ruined your life.’ I couldn’t sleep, and I had to lean on people a lot. But that’s what made it kind of special – we just made it up as we went along.”
But between the inebriated visitors showing up by the busloads, local restaurants struggling to keep up with suddenly high demand and mud-splattered coffin race competitors, Nederland decided it had had enough.
“You either attended, worked it or you hid … It’s a gift and a curse in and of itself,” Tim Dillon, a longtime worker at the festival and Nederland local, said.
Between the overall growing discontentment and MacDonald and her festival co-owner running out of money, the festival was sold to Estes Park.
“I call it my ‘bad divorce’ or a little bit of a custody battle,” MacDonald said.
And with it, so went Grandpa Bredo.
For the last three decades, the Norwegian man who
died from a heart condition in 1989 rested in Nederland.
After his passing, his daughter and grandson – both proponents of cryonics, the practice of deep-freezing the deceased in hopes that scientific advances will allow for future resurrection – shipped his body from Norway to a facility in Oakland, Calif. A few years later, Grandpa Bredo’s grandson, Trygve Bauge, moved his grandfather to his backyard in Nederland, where his remains were stored in a cryogenic storage shed.
That’s how Brad Wickham became involved.
Wickham was Grandpa Bredo’s caretaker for the last 11 years and every other week would haul thousands of pounds of ice from Denver to keep Bredo’s remains frozen. It was also his responsibility to move the remains from Nederland to the Stanley Hotel in 2023.
“It was long and tumultuous,” Wickham said of the decade spent caring for the body. “And the day that I didn’t have to do it anymore was the best day of my life.”
Despite being one of the most heavily involved individuals in Frozen Dead Guy Days, Wickham says he “couldn’t wait” for the festival to leave town.
“The festival never embraced me,” Wickham said. “They wanted me to spend my entire day taking dignitaries up to see Grandpa and not even be a part of the festival. After a while, that got contentious.”
Wickham said when he moved to Nederland, he struggled to find work. “The last (Grandpa Bredo) caretaker was fired. And long story short, someone suggested I take it, and at the time, I thought the money sounded good until I realized all that it entailed,” he said. “It was
$150 for each delivery. It took three hours, over 120 miles of driving … I was stuck with it and couldn’t find anybody to take it over. I tried and tried and tried and tried.”
Wickham never directly worked for the festival, but rather Grandpa Bredo’s grandson, Trygve Bauge. After the Stanley Hotel took over the caretaking, for the first time in more than a decade he was able to “live life.” He’s now semi-retired and occasionally works at a gas station.
“When I went back to the shed and saw it empty, I rejoiced,” Wickham said. “The Stanley rescued the festival, and if it weren’t for them, it would be a memory.”
Today, Grandpa Bredo rests in a 12-foot-tall steel tank filled with liquid nitrogen and set to -320 degrees in the Stanley Hotel’s historic ice house, which has since become the “International Cryonics Museum.” Visitors can take a tour for $20.
Despite some Nederland locals saying they’re “relieved” that the festival moved, there are still a few who say they miss it. “We never had any trouble from it or anything,” Mike Parker, a worker at Nature’s Own, a crystal shop, said. “I know something’s missing.”
Longtime festival worker Andelman said she plans to continue to help Estes Park with the festival. “I have experience, and I was like, ‘I am here if you need me, we need to figure out a way to work together,’” Andelman said. “I don’t know if they wanted to accept me, but I’m not just Nederland; I am Frozen Dead Guy Day. It is an event that came from years and years of effort, so let’s figure out how it can continue.”
For more from Colorado Public Radio, go to: www.cpr.org.■
Festival goers compete in a coffin race at Frozen Dead Guy Days. / Courtesy Frozen Dead Guy Days
Thursday20
Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Joel Racheff plays, 5:30-10:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Swing & Brewskies dance lessons, 7-9:30 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Tuesday25
Great Decisions: NATO, presented by the League of Women Voters, 11:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Cowboy Tuesdays, 12-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
“Adults ROCK!” Gathering to discuss local hiking trails, 5-6 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218
“The Shape of What Remains,” by Lisa C. Taylor, book talk and author event, 6 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.
DePaul University Finance Professor Geoffrey Hirt speaks about investing to Rotary Club of Durango, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
Navigating Community Resources Speaker Series: digital safety, 6-7 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa Library, 11274 Highway 140, Hesperus
Jason Thies plays, 6 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs, 6475 CR 203
“America Throws Away its Soft Power,” presented by Herb Bowman, 6:30-8 p.m., FLC Noble Hall, Room 130
Open Mic, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Aria PettyOne Fierce & Fabulous Drag Bingo, 7-9 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Wednesday26
5RTU Women’s Flyfishing Refresher, 5-7 p.m., San Juan Angler, 600 Main Ave., Ste. 20
YPOD Networking Happy Hour, 5-7 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
AskRachel
What the fooch, love triangle and odd cat out
Interesting fact: An average-sized pine tree can turn into about 100 pounds of toilet paper, or 1,500 rolls. No word on how many fooch wipes that same tree can make.
Dear Rachel,
In regards to the thick paper or thin letter from last week, I think the dude probably complained when Sear’s catalogs went from black and white to color fooch wipe in the outhouses. I’m sure he used one in one of the national parks, as he is clueless on the forest. Save a fricking tree dude.
– Smokey Bear
Dear Forest Gump,
You need to know that even I, Rachel, consider some things sacred. My internet search history is one of them. But there are some lines that should not be crossed. Looking up to see if “fooch wipe” is outdated outdoorsman lingo, a typo or (worst of all) something else entirely, is something I don’t want on my conscience or on Google’s radar. But thanks for having my back, I think?
– On a roll, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I’m in a pretty tight-knit extracurricular social circle – let’s pretend it’s martial arts. We’re all friendly, sometimes too friendly, but hey. Speaking of which, one of my martial
Dealing with Bullying & Peer Pressure, skill-building workshop, 5:15-7 p.m., Pine River Library, 395 Bayfield Center Dr., Bayfield
WRC’s Extraordinary Woman Award Dinner, 5:30-7:30 p.m., DoubleTree, 501 Camino Del Rio
Donny Johnson plays, 5:30-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic with Leigh Mikell, 7 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
Backstage Pass Concert Series presents Stephen Espaniola, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall, FLC
Karaoke Roulette, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Ongoing
“Fifteen” Art Exhibit Celebrating 15 years of Studio &, thru March 22, Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Local Extraordinary Women
arts classmates, a woman my age, asked me out, and I said yes. But then she postponed our date because she said she wasn’t feeling well, then this week she avoided sparring with me. I wonder what’s up, unless she talked to the other classmate I dated, but we’re still friends so what else could be the reason? I just want to keep the peace in our little club.
– Social Butterflies
Dear Casanova,
Oh yeah, you done messed up. I don’t know how or when, but this sounds precisely like the behavior of a woman who got some intel, wised up and is backing away. Your best bet is to lie low, never bring it up and probably stop diddling around in your socalled “tight-knit circle.” Circles cease to be circles when they become love triangles, and you’ll be the one angling for an exit if the geometry gets wonky.
– Squarely, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I am the only boy cat in this house. This means I get unfairly demeaned by my sisters. They say I stink even though I don’t think I stink. My heart is bigger than my butt, no matter what they say. Besides, I’m doing my best. How do I stop them from using me as a scratching post and earn some respect around here?
– Scratched & Sniffed
Email Rachel at telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
Dear Litter Boxed,
This may or may not be helpful advice, mainly because I don’t know if these are real things, but might I suggest some fooch wipes? Perhaps scented ones? Don’t go overboard to Axe-body-spray levels or anything. That’s a solution nearly as bad as the problem. But speaking as a sister here, a little bit o’ gentle cleansing will do wonders for your image. Your place on the totem pole might not change, though; brothers belong at the bottom, as purrrr usual.
– Catnipped in the bud, Rachel
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
“Business Brainstorm!” Thurs., March 27, 12 noon-1 p.m., Center for Innovation, 835 Main Ave., Ste. 225, Second Floor of the Main Mall
Durango Green Drinks, Thurs., March 27, 5 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Filmed by Bike film festival presented by Bike Durango, Thurs., March 27, 5:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino del Rio
Human Factors of Avalanches, presented by Friends of San Juans, Thurs., March 27, 6-7 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Spring in the Rockies Arts and Crafts Festival, Sat., March 29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Indivisible Durango General Meeting, Sat., March 29, 3-5 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E 3rd Ave.
Shallow Eddys & Yes, No, Maybe play, Sat., March 29, 8-11 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
Spring in the Rockies Arts and Crafts Festival, Sun., March 30, 10 a.m.3 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Jarabe Mexico “Bordeno-Soul” in concert, Wed., April 2, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC
“Disney Descendants the Musical” presented by BHS Theatre, April 3-4, & 1112, 7 p.m., Bayfield Performing Arts Center, 800 CR 501, Bayfield
Euchre Night, Sat., April 5 and 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
“Passion Meets Precision” concert, Sat., April 5, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall, FLC
Western Wallflowers & Alicia Glass play, Sat. April 5, 8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave.
Dealing with Bullying & Peer Pressure, skill-building workshop, Wed., April 9, 5:15-7 p.m., ELHI Community Center, 115 Ute St., Ignacio
Cirque Mechanics “Pedal Punk,” Wed., April 9, 7:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC
Durango Bluegrass Meltdown 2025, Fri. – Sun., April 11-13, various locations
March 20, 2025 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Cheetahs are the fastest land animals. From standing still, they can be running at 70 miles per hour three seconds later. But they can’t sustain that intensity. After a 20-second burst, they need to relax and recover. This approach serves them well, enabling them to prey on the small creatures. I encourage you to be like a metaphorical cheetah in the coming weeks, Aries. Capitalize on the power of focused, energetic spurts. Aim for bursts of dedicated effort, followed by purposeful rest. You don’t need to pursue a relentless pace to succeed. Recognize when it’s right to push hard and when it’s time to recharge.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Inside a kaleidoscope, the colored shards of glass are in an ever-shifting jumble. But internal mirrors present pleasing symmetrical designs to the person gazing in. I see a similar phenomenon going on in your life. Some deep intelligence within you (your higher self?) is creating intriguing patterns out of an apparent mess of fragments. I foresee this continuing for several weeks. So don’t be quick to jump to conclusions about your complicated life. A hidden order is there, and you can see its beauty if you’re patient and poised.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Spiders spin their webs with meticulous care, crafting structures that are delicate, strong and useful. Their silk is five times more robust than steel of the same diameter. It’s waterproof, can stretch 140% of its length and maintains its sturdiness at temperatures as low as -40 F degrees. With that in mind, Gemini, I bid you to work on fortifying and expanding your own web in the coming weeks, by which I mean your network of connections and support. It’s an excellent time to deepen and refine your relationships with resources and influences that help hold your world together.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Chichén Itzá was a pre-Columbian city from around 6001200 CE. It was built by Mayan people in what’s now Mexico. At the center was a pyramid, The Temple of Kukulcán. During the equinoxes, sunlight fell on its steps in such a way as to suggest a snake descending the stairs. The mathematical, architectural and astronomical knowledge necessary to create this entertaining illusion was phenomenal. In that spirit, I am pleased to tell you that you are now capable of creating potent effects through careful planning. Your strategic thinking will
be enhanced, especially in projects that require longterm vision. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for initiatives that coordinate multiple elements to generate fun and useful outcomes.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Fireflies produce efficient light. Nearly all the energy expended in their internal chemical reactions is turned directly into their intense glow. By contrast, light bulbs are highly inefficient. In accordance with astrological omens, I urge you to be like a firefly in the coming weeks, not a light bulb. You will have dynamic power to convert your inner beauty into outer beauty. Be audacious! Be uninhibited! Shower the world with full doses of your radiant gifts.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Brazil nut trees grow in the Amazon – but only if they are in the vicinity of orchid bees, their sole pollinators. And orchid bees thrive in no other place except where there are lots of blooming orchids. So the Brazil nut tree has very specific requirements for its growth and well-being. You Virgos aren’t quite so picky about the influences that keep you fertile and flourishing, though sometimes I do worry about it. The good news is that in coming months, you will be casting a wider net in quest of inspiration and support. I suspect you will gather most, maybe all, of the inspiration and support you need.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 1858, businessperson James Miller Williams was digging a new water well on his land in Ontario, hoping to compensate for a local drought. He noticed oil was seeping out of the hole he had scooped. Soon, he became the first person in North America to develop a commercial oil well. I suspect that you, too, may soon stumble upon valuable fuels or resources – and they may be different from what you imagined you were looking for. Be alert and open-minded for unexpected discoveries.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I can testify that our eductional system’s textbooks don’t give the French enough credit for helping our nation gain independence from Great Britain. The 18th-century American Revolution would not have succeeded without extensive aid from France. So I am hereby showering France with praise and gratitude. Now I encourage you, too, to compensate for your past lack of full appreciation for people and influences that have been essential to you. It’s a different kind of atonement: not apologizing for sins but offering symbolic and even literal rewards to underestimated helpers and supporters.
Sprpring items arrrriving dailily!
Plus: Winter clearance on sweaters, boots, coats & more
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I am tempted to encourage you to be extra expansive about love. I am curious to see the scintillating intimacy you might cultivate. I invite you to memorize the following words by author Maya Angelou and express them to a person with whom you want to play deeper: “You are my living poem, my symphony of the untold, my golden horizon stretched beyond what the eye can see. You rise in me like courage, fierce and unyielding, yet soft as a lullaby sung to a weary soul. You are my promise kept, my hope reborn, the melody in the heart of silence. I hold you in my joy, where you are home.”
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Four facts about a mountain goat as it navigates along steep and rocky terrain: 1. It’s strong and vigorous; 2. it’s determined and unflappable; 3. it’s precise and disciplined; 4. it calls on enormous stamina and resilience. According to my astrological analysis, you will have maximum access to all these capacities during the coming weeks. You can use them to either ascend to seemingly impossible heights or descend to fantastically interesting depths. Trust in your power to persevere. Love the interesting journey as much as the satisfaction of reaching the goal.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Swiss Army knife is a compact assemblage of tools. This may include a nail file, scissors, magnifying glass, screwdriver, pliers, blade, can opener and tweezers. Is there a better symbol for adaptability and preparedness? I urge you to make it your metaphorical power object during the coming weeks, Aquarius. Explore new frontiers of flexibility, please. Be ready to shift perspective and approach quickly and smoothly. Be as agile and multifaceted as you dare.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Coast redwoods are the tallest trees on the planet. If, Goddess forbid, lumber harvesters cut down one of these beauties, it could to build more than 20 houses. And yet each mature tree begins as a seed the size of a coat button. Its monumental growth is steady and slow, relying on robust roots and a symbiotic relationship with a fungus that enables it to absorb water from fog. I propose we make the redwood your power symbol for now. Inspired by its process, I hope you implement the magic of persistent, incremental growth. Treasure the fact that a fertile possibility has the potential, with patience and nurturing, to ripen into a long-term asset. Trust that small efforts, fueled by collaboration, will lead to gratifying achievements.
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
Announcements
Applications for Advanced Standing MSW Program Students with a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) are eligible for a one-year Masters of Social Work program through the University of Denver. The program starts summer 2025 and classes are taught in Durango. Stipends for child welfare, integrated behavioral health care are available. Native American tuition support to eligible students is also available. For more info contact Janelle.Doughty@du.edu or www.du. edu/socialwork.
Lost/found
My Cat Cid is Missing Long hair, white with black spots, green eyes. Last seen near 18th St. and E. 2nd Ave., by St. Columba. Reward. Call 970-403-6192
Classes/Workshops
West Coast Swing
Ready to dance? Join our 3-week West Coast Swing Basics series for beginners! It’s fun, social, and easy to learn—no partner or experience needed. A new series starts every few weeks, so join us for the next one! We also offer a weekly so-
cial dance – a fun drop-in option or included with your series registration! Sign up at: www.westslopewesties.com
Are You Ready for Guitar Lessons in Durango? I teach all ages and experience levels. Please contact Seth at 602-908-4475
EstateSale
Fri.-Sat. 3/21-22, 11am-5pm 555 Rivergate Ln. Condos. B3-71(parking garage level) text for directions: 480321-9443. Official Chevy short bed cover; wicker patio set; ornate electric fireplace (on rollers); elegant, large glass table w/ 6 white chairs; very nice large beige desk w/portable stand-up desk; small wine cooler; Southwest pottery; Robert Sheids (Sedona) figurines & sculptures; Gary Roller (MMM band) sculptures; many choices of artwork; lots of nice household items.
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.
Chapman Electric Mike 970-403-6670
New construction, remodel, service upgrades, EV chargers, split systems and more. Colorado state licensed electrical contractor.
Multiple patio sets, bistros and patio items. Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.
CommunityService
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.
Community Compassion Outreach
Located at 21738 HWY 160 W is open Tues., Wed. and Fri. 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. Saturdays, CCO Coffee & Conversations takes place 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with homecooked meals. On Thursdays, Harm Reduction from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
