The financial and environmental boondoggle of corn ethanol by Ted Williams / Writers on the
9 In the groove
A brief trip down the portapotty graffiti rabbit hole by Addyson Santese 8 Cutting back With summer on the horizon, City asks residents to scale back water use by Missy Votel On the cover
Catching up with one of Durango’s OG DJs, Spark Madden by Stephen Sellers
An old cruiser bike is relegated to funky yard art in downtown Durango./ Photo by Missy Votel
Ear to the ground:
“She was really hot. Like, so hot she was ugly.”
– MAGA bro logic at its finest
Keep on rockin’
If you come upon a painted rock on your travels around Durango next week, don’t be so quick to dismiss it. It could be part of the City of Durango’s 3rd annual Scavenger Hunt. The hunt, which places five brightly painted rocks in various locations around the city, takes place Mon., May 26 - Fri., May 30.
The city will post clues to the rocks’ whereabouts each day at 8 a.m. on its Facebook, Instagram and Nextdoor pages. Rocks will be hidden only on public property, so please do not go traipsing through your neighbor’s yard like it’s some kind of Forest Fenn treasure hunt. In addition, all rocks will be placed outside and in locations that are easy to access, so no need to, say, shimmy through the sewer grate or scale the tallest tree in Buckley Park. In addition to the five rocks, clues for a sixth special rock will be sent out on Wednesday for National Scavenger Hunt Day. If you happen to find a rock, take a picture and share the photo on social media with the tag @CityofDurango and #CODhunt. Then, take the rock to City Hall, 949 E. 2nd Ave., to claim your prize. Prizes will be randomly selected and include: threemonth Recreation Center membership; season pass to Lake Nighthorse; Durango Library swag; transit pass; and more.
G.D.I.
Know a small local business or individual that deserves accolades? Local First will once again be holding its “Indie Awards,” meant to shine a spotlight on Local First members going above and beyond.
Awards will be given in four categories: Local Legend; Rising Star; Community Collaborator; and Localist of the Year.
The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-
ster powder days. We are wholly in-
Voting is open to Local First members only, and an email with the link went out this week, so check your in box. Winners will be announced at Local First’s Member Celebration on Wed., June 18, 5:30 p.m. at the new EsoTerra Arboretum, 270 CR 303.
opinion
LaVidaLocal
Feeling philoso-fecal
Recently, my husband and I drove from Colorado to Texas. Somewhere in New Mexico, we stopped for gas, and I went into the portapotty where I encountered something concerning drawn on the wall: a tiny swastika. Now, I know what you’re going to say – art is a subjective experience, and criticism only exists to serve the audience, not the artist, blah blah blah! – but I have some notes.
First off, portapotty doodler, be honest. Was this your first swastika? Because it kind of seemed like you weren’t really committed. Like you were trying Nazism on for size, taking it out for a spin. I mean, just look at your lines. They’re all insecure, soft and squishy, which I can only imagine is a reflection of the artist’s own physical form.
I get it, right angles are hard. It’s like one line plus another line, but then you gotta know which way the lines are going, because one way means hate crime and the other way means peace or something, and you definitely don’t want people to confuse your weak graffiti with an accidental display of tolerance. And the miniaturization of your artwork (trust me, I’m using that term incredibly loosely) is causing me to hear your intended “Heil!” in a cute pipsqueak voice inside my head, like if Alvin and the Chipmunks were shockingly radicalized. Seriously, art is all about confidence, and that shy little swastika of yours was nervously occupying maybe less than one square inch of space.
I’ll concede there was some tough competition in that plastic bathroom. The “Texas Water” scribbled above the urinal? Hilarious. The giant, gushing weiner with balls of a medically concerning size scrawled across half the entire door? Unmissable. How are you supposed to compete with something so in-your-face? It’s the definition of unapologetically taking up space! And yeah, the proportions and line-work of a bathroom stall penis don’t matter as much as they do with a swastika, but come on. If you’re gonna go big with the fascism, go big!
while your pants were down? In a breast pocket? Clenched between your teeth? Regardless, Bics are to bathroom doodlers what Play-dough would be to Michelangelo: the tools of an unserious artist.
You know what would have been a better choice? A Sharpie! Now there’s a writing utensil for people who actually mean it! The boldness! The permanence! Guess who uses Sharpies for everything? Trump. I get a feeling he might be a bit of a hero of yours, portapotty swastika doodler, but maybe you want to take a page from his book the next time you’re pooping and feeling simultaneously inclined to express yourself.
Part of me has to wonder if you really meant it because you didn’t even dig the pen into the plastic. It seemed as if someone could erase your feeble attempt to chafe against society with one good thumb rub. Not my thumb, of course! Unlike you, I don’t have a habit of going around touching portapotty walls, you sick animal.
You know what’s another way you and I are different, portapotty swastika doodler? I’ve never defaced a public bathroom before. Not even when I was in middle school. I dunno why. Maybe it’s because I thought my ideas were worthy of being published in a more intellectual forum. Maybe it’s because my mom loved me and a toilet stall wasn’t the only place where I felt like I had a captive audience.
Portapotty swastika doodler, did you, perhaps, arrive at this gas station in a Cybertruck? I only ask because I recently read an article where they surveyed Cybertruck owners about why they bought such an embarrassing-looking excuse for a vehicle, and the majority of respondents said they got the car because they believed it would be a conversation starter. People would finally have a reason to talk to them. Is that you, portapotty swastika doodler? Do you wish someone would talk to you? Is your hate-doodle just a cry for attention? A tiny scream into the portable toilet void?
On top of the size of your piece, I also have some qualms with the medium. You chose to do this doodle with a ballpoint pen, which, pause for a second –who brings a pen with them into a portapotty? And where were you keeping it
Thumbin’It
Irwin the kangaroo was on the lam again Monday morning in downtown Durango. Fortunately, officers corralled him before anything bad could happen. We would be lying if we said we weren’t a little sad that we didn’t get to see him.
After some touch-and-go weather this month, the forecast is looking clear, sunny and warm for this weekend’s 54th annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Ride like the wind!
So, in a complete reversal on evil carbs, researchers now say that rice, pasta and potatoes are actually good for you, given you refrigerate them for several hours before eating. Just wondering – does the same apply to beer?
Gosh, portapotty swastika doodler, now I’m contemplating the immensity of your loneliness. The vast chasm that obviously exists between you and the rest of humanity. My thighs are burning as I hover over the toilet seat, imaging how small and sad your life must be, even smaller and sadder than your itty bitty baby swastika, which, as we established was poorly drawn, but
Ah, crap! This portapotty’s out of toilet paper.
Experts say Medicaid cuts proposed in Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” would have devastating effects on the mental health system in La Plata County, where the suicide rate is 30% higher than the Colorado average, which is 36% higher than the national average. Sounds like a big, dumb bill.
Seems Durango is not immune to the ugly deportation saga playing out across the country, with ICE officials making a surprise raid at a local business last week and detaining five workers
It’s barely Memorial Day, and officials are already sounding the alarm about conserving water this summer. So maybe skip watering the lawn a few days and partner up for a shower.
SignoftheDownfall:
– Addyson Santese
Scrap Time
According to their “about us” page, the company Toddler Tough is a “brand that won’t bend to wokeness” because they “value hard work over participation trophies.” And really, that’s exactly the type of alpha-baby rhetoric you’d expect from a company selling the “MMA Arena Playpen,” a child enclosure modeled after the UFC’s octagon that comes complete with a miniature punching bag and tiny boxing gloves. It’s on sale for $176, which is perfect for budget-minded parents who want to get a head start on bullying, and unlike Toddler Tough’s basketball- or soccer-themed playpens, the MMA version doesn’t come in pink for obvious reasons.
WritersontheRange Gasoholics
For waste and inefficiency, you can’t beat corn ethanol
by Ted Williams
Corn ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, has been burned in gasoline engines and human stomachs since before Henry Ford was born. It’s hard on both, so until 35 years ago, it never caught on, at least not for engines.
But in 1990, Congress amended the Clean Air Act, requiring gasoline to be spiked with an oxygen-containing compound to reduce carbon monoxide. With the help of corn-belt farmers and public officials, the oxygenate of choice became corn-based ethanol. Now, most gasoline sold in the United States contains at least 10% ethanol, also called “gasohol.”
Fifty ethanol plants produced 900 million gallons of ethanol in 1990. In 2024, 191 ethanol plants produced a record 16.22 billion gallons. From the corn belt, ethanol production has spread West. Today, ethanol is produced in Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Arizona and California.
Though it is hyped as an elixir for what ails the earth, ethanol has long been a disaster that we can’t seem to remedy. Calling it wasteful and inefficient doesn’t begin to list its drawbacks: It costs more to produce than gasoline; reduces mileage; corrodes gas tanks and car engines; pollutes air and water; and, by requiring more energy to produce than it yields, increases America’s dependence on foreign oil.
While gasohol releases less carbon monoxide than gasoline, it emits more smog-producing volatile organic com-
pounds. And ethanol plants produce more pollutants than oil refineries, including high levels of carcinogens, thereby routinely violating already relaxed pollution permits. In 2007, under industry pressure, ethanol plants were exempted from the EPA’s most stringent pollution regulations.
Of all crops grown in the United States, corn demands the most massive fixes of herbicides, insecticides and chemical fertilizers, while creating the most soil erosion. Producing each gallon of ethanol also results in 12 gallons of sewage-like effluent, part of the toxic, oxygen-swilling stew of nitrates, chemical poisons and dirt that gets excreted from corn monocultures.
From Kentucky to Wyoming, this runoff pollutes the Mississippi River system, harming aquatic animals all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, where it expands a bacteria-infested, algae-clogged, anaerobic “Dead Zone.” In 2024, this Dead Zone was about the size of New Jersey.
Thanks to billions of dollars in tax credits, rebates, grants and other subsidies pumped into corn ethanol production, farmers are motivated to convert marginal ag land to corn plantations. Some farmers even drain wetlands, the most productive of all wildlife habitats.
Cornell University professor David Pimentel, who died in 2019, was the first agricultural scientist to expose ethanol production as a boondoggle. While his data are old, they provide a snapshot of our current situation and a valuable model for groups like the Environmen-
tal Integrity Project, a nonprofit “holding polluters and government agencies accountable under the law,” as it digs out the real costs of gasohol.
Without even factoring in the fuel required to ship ethanol to blending sites, Pimentel found that it takes about 70% more energy to produce ethanol than we get from it. Then, figuring in state and federal subsidies, he found that ethanol costs $2.24 a gallon to produce, compared with 63 cents for gasoline.
Pimentel determined that allocating corn to ethanol production also raises ethical questions: “Abusing our precious croplands to grow corn for an energy-inefficient process that yields low-grade automobile fuel amounts to unsustainable, subsidized food burning.”
And Pimentel chided the U.S. Department of Agriculture for taking planting and yield data only from states with the best soils and productivity. The Department also didn’t fully take into account fossil-fuel expenditure for operation and
repair of farm machinery or for production of fertilizers made from natural gas. What stymies reform? Agricultural communities have built valuable support from the bottom up — from local agricultural communities and regional politicians to U.S. presidents such as Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The beneficiaries of America’s ethanol addiction have become behemoths that get bigger and hungrier with each feeding.
If President Trump really wants to cut wasteful and inefficient spending, decrease our dependence on foreign oil and prove that he wants America to have “among the very cleanest air and cleanest water on the planet,” he needs to end what now amounts to government-forced gasohol use.
Ted Williams is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He is a longtime environmental writer. ■
An ethanol plant in South Dakota. Ethanol can be found in most gasoline sold in the United States today. Although it releases less carbon monoxide than gas, it costs more to produce and still pollutes air and water./ Photo by jim_Istock
Medicaid is a lifeline
My name is Cathy Sykes, and I’m a proud member of the disability community in Southwest Colorado. I live, work and volunteer independently with the support I receive through Medicaid. I’m deeply concerned about what could happen if that support is taken away. Thanks to Medicaid, I stay healthy with supplies for my CPAP machine and access to doctors and physical therapy. I also get help managing anxiety and PTSD and keeping my home clean, so I can live on my own instead of relying on my mom. On hard days, these services give me the strength to get out of bed. Without them, I would not only lose support but also hope.
I’m not just someone who uses services. I’m an advocate, a worker and a leader. I’m the activity director at Our Own Lives and serve on the Client Leadership Council. I’ve spoken at City Council meetings, helped create a Snowdown parade float and attended the Alliance Colorado conference to advocate for people with disabilities. I also worked as a lifeguard at the Durango Rec Center, where I helped older adults feel safe.
Our Own Lives and Community Connections support people with disabilities in Southwest Colorado. We’ve worked hard to build a community where everyone is included and respected, but we can’t do it alone. We are human. We matter. Medicaid is not just a program. It’s a lifeline.
– Cathy Sykes, Durango (Submitted on behalf of Sykes by Theresa Blake Graven, Treehouse Communications)
Rally to stop Medicaid cuts
As many of us know, healthcare is being defunded to further enrich the suffering billionaire class – the point of all cuts to federal spending. The current reconciliation bill in the U.S. House would cut $715 billion mostly from Medicaid, immediately leaving 8.6 million Americans uninsured and jeopardizing coverage for tens of millions more. I strongly suspect this is not what my conservative friends voted for, because most of us know and care about someone on Medicaid. This is a bait-and-switch by those in power.
We whose healthcare coverage continues unchanged may think we got lucky, but our turn will come, sadly. There’s a famous quote describing German citizens’ failure to respond effectively to the Nazi takeover nine decades ago. You may recognize it, paraphrased: “First they came for those on Medicaid … but I did not speak out because I wasn’t on Medicaid.”
Let’s be smarter during this openly Nazi-adoring regime. Let’s stand together shoulder to shoulder – as workers have for centuries – to defend our rights, in this case to comprehensive care for all our family members, co-workers and neighbors. The real divide isn’t left-right, it’s top-bottom. We who work are all on the bottom, and we’re realizing that we’re being played against each other. United, we are unbeatable.
You are cordially invited to join us at noon, Sat., May 31, at Buckley Park for “Single Payer Day of Action #HandsOffMedicaid” (also on Facebook). We’ll
talk about healthcare funding cuts, who they impact and what we can do. We’ll also celebrate SB25-045, recently signed into law that is the first step to a universal healthcare system covering all Coloradans. Hope we see you there!
– Kirby MacLaurin, Durango
Quick’n’Dirty
‘Produce Bonus’ comes to Farmers Market
It just got easier for low-income residents to afford healthy local food. Beginning May 24, the Durango Farmers Market will be the newest participant in Colorado’s SNAP Produce Bonus program. The program allows people who receive SNAP benefits and have a Colorado EBT card to receive up to $60 a month in dollar-for-dollar reimbursements for fresh fruit and veggies bought at the market. The funds will be directly added back onto EBT cards, and no sign up is necessary. Eligible items include: fresh produce; frozen fruits and vegetables without added salt, sugar or fat; dried fruits and vegetables without added salt, sugar or fat; and dried beans.
Colorado was one of three states chosen by the USDA to pilot this type of program. It launched in August 2024 and is being implemented by the Colorado Department of Human Services and Nourish Colorado, a nonprofit that works to build resilient local food systems and increase food access.
“These programs strengthen Colorado’s local food system, putting more dollars directly into the hands of our farmers,” Daysi Sweaney, Director of Nutrition Incentives at Nourish Colorado, said. “When we make it easier to access nutritious food, we nourish families, uplift farmers and build a healthier, more equitable Colorado.”
In addition to this, the Durango Farmers Market will continue to offer the “Double Up Food Bucks” program this season as well. Through the Double Up program, participants can receive up to $20 in SNAP vouchers for every dollar spent on fresh fruits and vegetables at the market. This is in addition to the $60 Produce Bonus.
“This program has been a game changer for our community,” Anna Knowles, Executive Director of the Durango Farmers Market, said in a news release. “It removes barriers and makes it easier than ever for families to bring home fresh, healthy food they may have otherwise skipped.”
Last year, the Farmers Market saw more than $20,000 in SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks redeemed. “We’re hopeful that the addition of SNAP Produce Bonus will help us increase that total even more in 2025,” Knowles said.
The Durango Farmers Market takes place Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., through Oct. 25 in the TBK Bank parking lot, 259 W. 9th St.
‘10-Minute Play Fest’ returns to DAC May 30
Got a short attention span or like a wide variety when you go to the theatre? You’re in luck. Durango’s 15th annual “10 Minute Play Festival” takes place May 30 – June 1 at the Durango Arts Center featuring seven 10-minute plays starring 17 local actors.
The plays were hand-picked by the Durango Arts Repertory Theatre, which is also putting on the production. The plays and a short synopsis of each follows:
• “Life & Death & Crap” - Two butterflies discuss the meaning of life and death and crap, pretty much in that order. Directed by Vanessa Frank, written by Pam Dickler
• “The Shot Heard ‘Round” - Chaos ensues when an actress in a really bad play decides to stop the action and ask the audience what needs to be done to resolve the real drama being played out on stage, and thus spare both the cast and the attendees from any further suffering. What could go wrong? Directed by Wendy Ludgewait, written by Konrad Rogowski.
• “A Book by Any Other Cover” - Two lonely and unattached work colleagues are perfect for one another. .. if only they can change one thing about themselves. Directed by Wendy Ludgewait, written by David MacGregor.
• “Interplanetary Paul’s Divorce Spectacular” - Paul is having trouble processing his divorce on his own, so he gets a little help from his favorite sci-fi movie. Directed by Ashton Root, written by Marshall Logan Gibbs.
• “Cataclysm” - A young couple’s relationship comes to an abrupt end at the alleged request of their housecat. Directed by John Whitt, written by James Kelsey Nelson.
• “Not For Long” - A cup of coffee and a killer ending. Directed by Monica DiBiasio, written by M.J. Putnik.
• “The Worst Play Ever!” - During a staged reading about two Western cliches, two actors try valiantly to execute increasingly insane stage directions being read by the playwright. Directed by Monica DiBiasio, written by Brian Petti.
Shows takes place at 7:30 p.m. Fri.Sat., May 30-31, and at 2 p.m., Sun., June 1 at the Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave. Tickets are $20/adults, $15/students and available at: durango arts.org
– Missy Votel
High and dry
As drought continues, City asks residents to voluntarily conserve water
by Missy Votel
With the unofficial start of summer this weekend, Durango residents are being asked to help conserve water with the hottest, driest months of the year ahead.
This winter’s below-average snowpack combined with rapid melting have local leaders concerned about regional water availability. As a result, the City of Durango sent out a notice this week asking residents to be “mindful” of water use this summer.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor on May 15, most of La Plata County was experiencing severe drought, with the rest in moderate drought.
“The City of Durango is actively managing our water distribution system to ensure the most effective use of resources,” City Water Plant Manager Jason Fast said. “The success of navigating these dry conditions relies heavily on community-wide conservation efforts. By working together and being mindful of our water usage, we can help protect our water supply.”
One of the biggest drains on the local water supply in the summer, obviously, is irrigation of lawns and yards. The City reminds residents that sprinkler systems are prohibited from operating between 9 a.m.-7 p.m. to minimize evaporation. In addition, folks are asked to limit watering their lawns to twice a week and reduce the time each zone is watered. Water can also be conserved by not watering when it’s windy or raining and not letting water pool in gutters, streets or alleys. Finally, residents are encouraged to forego any new landscaping until the city is not in drought conditions.
Residents are also asked to embrace water efficiency in their daily routines, from fixing leaky faucets to limiting showers and washing only full loads of laundry.
The City of Durango receives the majority of its water from the Florida River, which spills into Lemon Reservoir. Eventually, the water is released downstream and ends up in the small city-owned Terminal Reservoir. Located northeast of town near Sky Ridge, the reservoir holds about a 10-day supply of water.
When demand exceeds supply in the Florida River, the City pumps water out of the Animas River. Historically, these two water sources have served Durango well, but increasingly that is being upended by climate change and long-term drought, also known as “aridification.” Though Southwest Colorado still sees up and down years with precipitation, the long-term trend is less available water year over year.
A telling stat: Prior to 2010, the Animas flowed under 100 cfs just two times (in the 1910s), based on 100 years of records. In the past eight years, however, the Animas has experienced more than 30 days with flows below 100 cfs.
And despite some welcome precipitation in May, things do not bode well heading into summer. The San Juan snowpack was sitting at 25% of median on Tuesday, and weather experts are forecasting a hot and dry summer in Southwest Colorado.
According to Open Snow Meteorologist Alan Smith, Colorado and much of the Mountain West is in a “ENSO Neutral phase,” which means neither El Niño nor La Niña conditions are present. These conditions, which were in effect during the 2024-25 winter, are expected to prevail throughout the summer and possibly into next winter.
Smith explained that ENSO Neutral summers tend to
favor high-pressure ridging and above-average temperatures over the Western U.S. and especially the Northwest and Northern Rockies. “In other words, summers tend to be long and hot,” Smith wrote on Open Snow.
One bright spot, however, is that ENSO Neutral summers also correlate to an active monsoon season, especially in the Southwest.
“An earlier snowmelt allows the soils to dry out more quickly with solar radiation heating up the land earlier in the season,” Smith wrote. “This tends to result in an early northward migration in the subtropical high-pressure ridge, which can lead to very hot temperatures in June, followed by an early and active monsoon season as moisture builds northward.”
So, fingers crossed for a strong monsoon. And till then, do you part to make sure there’s enough water for everyone. For some easy tips on conserving water, check out: wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve-water. ■
Lemon Reservoir in June 2024. The City of Durango receives the majority of its water supply from the Florida River, which spills into Lemon Reservoir and eventually is released downstream to the small, cityowned Terminal Reservoir. / Photo courtesy Bureau of Reclamation
Turntable master
Behind the scenes with one of Durango’s OG DJS, Spark Madden
by Stephen Sellers
For this week’s Between the Beats, I sat down with arguably the hardest working DJ in town – and my dear friend – Shawn Matney, aka.DJ Spark Madden. I’m not exactly sure where we met, but dozens of shows and a decade later, Shawn has become my closest DJ friend in town.
Together, we’ve weathered the epic highs of peak Taste of Durango, all-night Channel 37 parties, all-day Silverton Whiteouts, and the icy lows of COVID-era, socially distanced gigs –not to mention encouraging each other when it’s an empty floor on a Saturday night.
What sets Shawn apart besides his knowledge and decades-long dedication is his humility, generosity and enthusiasm for all things dance music and the people on both sides of the DJ booth.
You want to throw a party? Contact this guy. He’ll do everything he can to help you – and you just might learn a thing or two about MasterClass-level mixing and track selection. Not one to be boxed in by labels, you’re likely to find Shawn playing house, mid-tempo, techno, breaks and retro. It gives me great pleasure to honor Shawn as we lurch closer to his birthday at the end of May, when he’ll be throwing a banger of a party at none other than the Black Heron Lounge. Happy Birthday, Shawn. Love you, buddy.
And now, a snippet of my conversation with local legend DJ Spark Madden. As always, see you on the dance floor!
SS: What first drew you to DJing?
SM: One of my friends in college went home after the summer and came back with turntables, and it just kind of started from there.
We all kind of started the dance music scene here together with Pat Fee, Brian Ess and Jeremy Swain. Essentially, a bunch of Chicago kids moved out here to go to school, and they kind of already knew each other a little bit. They all loved house music, and it kind of went from there. We used to play Steamworks every single weekend.
SS: What was your first gig?
SM: My middle school dance with my brothers. We used two tape decks to play a song and then we’d play another tape deck, and we’d just go back and forth and back and forth. That was probably about 1992.
SS: How would you describe the Durango music scene when you started out compared to now?
SM: Back then it was … basically Top 40 music for College Night at Solid Muldoon’s. There were punk and metal bands around Durango back then, but not as much as there is now.
SS: You also DJ in Denver and other cities quite a bit. What makes DJing in Durango different from bigger city scenes?
SM: These days it’s just the love and the young talent that’s coming up behind us now. It seems like people in Durango are really digging the electronic scene. It’s really taken root. We’ve had to build it over the last 30 years, but it’s finally kind of come to a head now.
SS: What’s a track you’ve played a hundred times and still love?
Green Velvet’s “La La Land.”
SS: Is there a quintessential Durango DJ moment in your career?
SM: I think there’s been quite a few. Working with Eugene (Salaz) a lot. Getting to open for big acts like Mark Farina and The Crystal Method. Fort Knox Five 5 is a big one, too. Everybody else has been opening for them, and finally this year, I got to do it.
SS: What’s one piece of gear that you can’t live without?
SM: My Pioneer A9 mixer … getting back to playing vinyl again has been really big for me, too.
SS: What’s the weirdest request for a song you’ve ever gotten?
SM: I’ve had so many! You know, where people walk up and ask for country music or a hip-hop song in the middle of a completely sold-out house or techno night? People are really getting down and having the best time of their life. One drunk guy is going to come up to tell you, “Oh no bro, you should play Jay-Z!!”
SS: What advice do you have for new DJs trying to get started?
SM: Just work at it. It’s easy to get started, but it’s hard to really get it down. Just practice every day. Even if you only have a few minutes, make sure you beatmatch a couple of songs.
SS: Who would you want to play your dream back-to-back set with? Alive or dead. Anybody, anywhere, anytime.
SM: Tiga. He’s probably by far my most favorite producer.
SS: Is there anything coming up that you’re excited about in terms of shows or parties?
SM: Yeah, this party for my birthday should be fun. Local heavy hitters BabyDel and Red are going to join me for what should be a really good night at the Black Heron. ■
SM:
Shawn Matney, aka DJ Spark Madden
Ditch democracy
A deep dive into Northern New Mexico’s acequia culture
by Ilana Newman / The Daily Yonder
One of the first things you notice when you enter Taos County, N.M., is the water. Driving in from the south, you follow the Rio Grande through its canyon, as it heads toward Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The land is crisscrossed by ditches, called acequias, that turn the high desert an improbable green. Acequias have been a cornerstone of agriculture and community in the Southwest since the arrival of Spanish settlers in the 17th century. These settlers drew inspiration from the irrigation systems of the Indigenous Pueblo communities already living in the Southwest, as well as from their own Spanish and Moorish roots. Still in use today, there are around 700 of these hand-built, communityled irrigation ditches in the New Mexico high country.
While acequia systems are concentrated heavily in Northern New Mexico, they exist on every river system in the state and extend north to Colorado, especially in the San Luis Valley, an area more culturally similar to Northern New Mexico than most of the rest of Colorado.
Two Perspectives on Acequias
On a spring day in 1972, someone knocked on Hank Saxe’s door. Saxe was new to Taos County. He had just moved to the unincorporated town of Arroyo Seco, where he was taking care of an abandoned house that might otherwise have fallen into disrepair. Saxe’s surprise visitor turned out to be a neighbor with an invitation. “We’re cleaning the ditch in a few days, you’ve got to come,” he said. That first annual spring cleaning was Saxe’s introduction to acequias. Today, Saxe and his wife, Cynthia Patterson, sit on the board for their acequia –Acequia Madre del Rio Chiquito – one of two acequias on the Rio Chiquito, a creek that comes out of Carson National Forest.
In contrast to Saxe, acequias are a way of life built into Carlos Arguello’s lineage. There’s an acequia named after his great-great-grandfather in the Valdez Valley, north of Taos, where Arguello grew up. His mother was a commissioner on an acequia in Valdez. “It is part of the culture of growing up, and not only was I born into it and raised in it, I’ve been living it, and it just becomes ingrained,” said Arguello, who is now a commissioner on the Acequia del Monte del Río Chiquito, the other acequia that comes off the Rio Chiquito.
The governance of each acequia includes a mayordomo, or a ditch boss, who physically controls the water during the season. The mayordomo has relationships with every member, or parciante, of the acequia and manages any issues that arise while water is flowing. The other two elected commissioners are a treasurer and a secretary. Each is elected by the parciantes.
“The governance of the acequias is the longest historical practice of democracy in the U.S.,” Arguello said.
In the West, Water is Political Democratic principles are especially crucial for dry Western states where water is inherently political. Without water, there is no life. Many western cities, like Phoe-
nix and Las Vegas, would not exist without water diversion technology. In rural communities, water diversion is vital for agriculture and economic growth, as well as simply for drinking.
In the West, there’s a water law principle known colloquially as “use it or lose it.” It’s part of the doctrine of prior appropriation, which forms the backbone of water law in the region. Within the doctrine, water rights are first come first serve – whoever claims the water first, gets it first.
Prior appropriation creates a pecking order, too. The most senior water right holders get water first, based on their date of priority – the date the water was put into “beneficial use.” More junior water right holders sometimes get less water than promised in drought years – of which there are many in the Southwest
The “lose it” part comes if someone isn’t making “beneficial use” of the water. In New Mexico, if water isn’t used for four consecutive years, water rights can be forfeited. These complexities are the subject of many lawsuits that can drag on for decades. The Abeyta Settlement, a case that determined water rights for the Taos Valley, lasted more than 30 years.
Acequias and their governance were community-led long before modern Western water law was created. The acequia board and its members determined where water needed to go based on what each piece of land needed
and how much water there was at any given time. In 1907 things changed with the enactment of New Mexico’s water code. The 1907 Acequia Act brought acequias under New Mexico territorial law (New Mexico didn’t become a state until 1912), which followed the doctrine of prior appropriations and set up each water right to be held by an individual, instead of the acequia. This directly contradicted the historical, community-led approach. Because of “use it or lose it,” individuals are less likely to think about the system as a whole when they are worried about their own personal ability to use water. It’s one of the biggest issues with Western water law generally. Even during a drought, farmers will use every drop of water they are legally entitled to, even if they don’t need it. The fear is that if they don’t, it will be taken away.
Since the original water code was instituted, legislative efforts have worked to take back community control over each acequia. Acequias are again able to own their own water rights and manage the transfer of water between parciantes.
Because of both the doctrine of prior appropriation, which incentivizes the consistent use of water, and the deep cultural connection to water and land, Northern New Mexicans are incredibly protective of their water rights. “We don’t want to lose any water. We don’t want water going down the Red River and down south. We
are barely getting enough, but we get the water that we get. So we want to keep it in community as much as we can,” landowner Maria Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez, who is the LOR Foundation program officer for Questa, N.M., owns land in Taos County that she and her husband irrigate. She has been learning “the art of irrigation” over the past few years, although her family also irrigated a bit when she was growing up. It’s an intensive process that involves flood-irrigating fields via ditches that branch off of the main acequia. Every few hours, someone has to open and close gates to move the flowing water and then move the tarps to catch the runoff. One day, Gonzalez’ husband asked her to move the water in the middle of her work day, so she went out in the field in office attire and irrigation boots. There she sat, in the middle of the field on a camp chair, taking Zoom meetings while she irrigated.
“We are trying to teach the younger generation that when we irrigate, that goes back into our water reservoir and it keeps water, drinking water for us. So we need to have those irrigations,” she said.
A Trip to the Source
On a spring day, not unlike the day a neighbor first knocked on Saxe’s door in 1972, Arguello took us out to visit the Rio Chiquito where it splits into its two acequias. We drove down dirt roads until they ended in a driveway. Arguello called the homeowner to let her know we’d be walking across her property. Acequias all have an easement on private property, which allows anyone working on an acequia, including commissioners, to legally access it at any time. However, the commissioners still spend a lot of time getting to know landowners and building relationships in order to maintain cordiality.
At the mouth of the acequia, water streams out into two chutes. The slightly larger one, on the left, is the Acequia Madre del Rio Chiquito. On the right, the water flows into the Acequia del Monte del Río Chiquito. Arguello spotted a branch caught in the junction between the two waterways, and he pried open a hatch on the grate covering the splitting creek. He lowered his body into the streaming water, fishing the branch out, standing ankle deep in the water.
The community acequia cleaning day happened only weeks before, but keeping the ditch clear of debris is a never-ending task. Arguello said issues can arise when newcomers move onto a property that has an acequia on it. Not everyone is as open to understanding this community-driven water system. Historically speaking, Arguello feels he’s not that much different. His father’s family arrived in Santa Fe in 1695. “I’m a newcomer too. I mean, I’ve just been here longer, but I’m still a newcomer. I’m not Indigenous, although I’ve got Indigenous blood in me,” said Arguello.
He sees how his ancestors’ influence changed the community over generations, as well as how newcomers today might not understand the area’s unique history and culture. “Land softly,” Arguello recommends to newcomers. “Then look around you. ‘What kind of a neighborhood am I in? What’s this about? What’s this water thing?’ Get to know your neighbors, get to understand them. They’re different from you. They’re different from where you came. That’s part of the reason you came here.”
Whether their existence is a surprise or deeply ingrained, acequias are a way of life for most people in Taos County. “It’s part of what we call around here
Carlos Arguello cleans a branch out of the Acequia del Monte del Río Chiquito. Keeping the ditch clear is a never-ending task./ Photo by Ilana Newman
“querencia – the love of land, the love of heritage, the love of place,” Arguello said.
Ilana Newman writes for the Daily Yonder and lives in Mancos. This story was produced with support from the LOR (“Livability, Opportunity and Responsibility”) Foundation. LOR works with people in rural places to improve quality of life. ■
Thursday22
Geology Hike: Ancient Rocks of the Vallecito Valley, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Vallecito Campground Trailhead, Bayfield
Durango High Noon Rotary, 12 noon-1 p.m., Elks Lodge, 901 E. 2nd Ave.
Ska-B-Q Live Music by Shane Finn, 5 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Songwriter’s Showcase, 5-7 p.m., Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main Ave.
Durango Fiesta Days Carnival, 5-9 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
“Honorable but Broken: EMS in Crisis” film screening, 5-8:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at FLC
Weekly Dart Tournament, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Jeff Solon Jazz, 6-8 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Hampton Sides “The Wide Wide Sea” author event, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Name That Tune Trivia Bingo, 6-8 p.m., Barons Creek Vineyards, 901 Main Ave.
Tim Sullivan plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station
Magic the Gathering: Commander Night, 6-9 p.m., Guild House Games, 835 Main Ave., Suite 203204
Cheese Wizards play, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs, 6475 CR 203
Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
“Ladies’ Night” all-female standup comedy showcase, 7-9 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd 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.
Friday23
Downtown Clean Day, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Keller Williams Realty, 700 Main Ave.
IHBC Faceplant Ale Kick Off Parade (costumes encouraged), 4:20 p.m. gather at Ska Brewing for a beer, parade leaves at 5 p.m., stops at Steamworks then finishes at Buckley Park
Durango Fiesta Days Carnival, 5-10 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Ben Gibson Band plays, 5 p.m., Balcony Bar and Grill, 600 Main Ave., Suite 210
Maybe Tomorrow plays, 5-8 p.m., Gazpacho, 431 E. 2nd Ave.
Black Velvet plays, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Kirk James Band plays, 5:30 p.m., Mancos Brewing, 484 Hwy 160 E Frontage Rd, Mancos
The Badly Bent play, 6-9:30 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
Dustin Burley plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic Comedy, 7-9 p.m., EsoTerra, 558 Main
Saturday24
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, race wave start, 7 a.m.; citizen’s tour, 8 a.m., 33rd St. and E. 2nd Ave.
SJMA’s Nature Center Birding Walk with Mike Foster, 8-10 a.m., SJMA’s Durango Nature Center, 63 County Road 310
Yarn Meetup, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E 3rd Ave.
Durango Fiesta Days Carnival, 2-11 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Tactical Gaming, 4-8 p.m., Guild House Games, 835 Main Ave., Suite 203-204
Kirk James plays, 5 p.m., Cliffside Bar and Grille, 314 Tamarron Dr.
Ladies Only Night clothing exchange, 5-8 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
Devin Scott plays, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Magic The Gathering: Commander Night, 6-9 p.m., Guild House Games, 835 Main Ave., Ste. 203-204
Ragged Oak Duo plays, 6-9:30 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
The Columbine Trio plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station
Matt Rupnow plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
TJ the DJ plays, 10 p.m.-12 a.m., 11th Street Station
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic bike festival, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Buckley Park.
DJ Swerv (Voski Little) plays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 11th Street Station
Board Game Sundays, 12-3 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Irish Jam Session, 12:30-3 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Pokemon Pick Up Games, 1-5 p.m., Guild House Games, 835 Main Ave., Suite 203-204
Durango Fiesta Days Carnival, 2-10 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Open Folk Jam on the patio, 2:30-5:30 p.m., The Tangled Horn, 275 E. 8th Ave.
Weekly Peace Vigil & Rally for Gaza & Palestine, every Sunday, 4 p.m., Buckley Park
Bush League play, 5-8 p.m., 11th Street Station
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Monday26
Memorial Day
Fort Vine plays, 12 noon-3 p.m., 11th Street Station
Durango Fiesta Days Carnival, 2-9 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Ben Gibson plays, 5 p.m., at Balcony Bar and Grill, 600 Main Ave Suite 210
Darryl Kuntz plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Comedy Open Mic, 8 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Tuesday27
Cowboy Tuesdays, 12-3 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
AskRachel Surfing chompers, being Ernie and squARTer’s rights
Interesting fact: Generally speaking, you may have no legal obligation to return an ex’s stuff to them. No legal word on whether my opinion is legally sound.
Dear Rachel,
I will be graduating from dental school. I want to go to Florida because I love to surf. My dad said go to Utah because they outlawed fluoride, and cavities are going to go up and there will be a lot of money to be had. He said old people in Florida have false teeth so no need for filings. I said Florida also outlawed fluoride. So what state do I choose?
– Tooth Brush
Dear Chomper Doctor, I grew up with a dentist who loved the ocean. I mean LOVED it. The office was wallpapered in nautical motifs. The shelves had ships’ wheels and miniature lighthouses on them. He had boats (no thanks to me—I flossed!) and loved deep sea fishing. One problem: we were landlocked. Which is to say, in my mind, a dentist can afford to go surfing
whenever he wants, no matter where he is. Go where your heart tells you, unless your dad is paying off your student debt.
– Rinse and swish, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
I have this work acquaintance who is a good fella but dumber than a spill of wood chips. He likes complimenting our customers and vendors with things that are … not compliments. For example: he told one customer recently he “liked her fangs” because she had very pointy canines and, well, he really did like them. We need to rein him in but not quelch his spirit. How?
– The Importance of Being Un-Earnest
Dear Regulator, So if he is too earnest, you want him to be more Bert? Those two are polar opposites for a reason: one will never become the other, and they’re in for a lifetime (or a puppet-time) of mayhem. I don’t think you can break your good fella’s habit without breaking him, too.
Death Café, 4-5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Adults Rock! discussion about local hiking trails, 5-6 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218
Engage Durango Forum: Speed Management Plan, 5-6:30 p.m., Durango Rec Center, 2700 N. Main Ave.
Kelsie Borland of The Hive Durango, presented by Rotary Club of Durango, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
Bingo Night, 6-8 p.m., Four Leaves Winery, 528 Main
Poetry Open Mic Night, 6-8 p.m., The Reading Room, 145 E. College Dr., Ste. 10W
Darryl Kuntz plays, 5;30-8:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Dylan Roe plays, 6-9 p.m., Durango Hot Springs, 6475 CR 203
Wednesday28
Silent Book Club, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Deconstructing Soil Structure, 4:30-6 p.m.,
Maybe he needs to introduce himself as “Hi, I’m Ernie, and I’m unfiltered.” Or else he needs to start working the stock room.
– Frankly, Rachel
Dear Rachel, What’s the statute of limitations on giving back an ex’s artwork? We’ve been split for three years (but in the same social circles still). I have a few pieces that are his work, they were gifts, so I feel right doing with them what I want. I have a couple others that he handed me for my walls when I moved into a new place, and it wasn’t clear if they were loaners or gifts or what. He hasn’t said peep about them in three years, and it’s time for me to move them along. Do I owe him any chance at reclaiming them? Or, nah?
– Art Heist
Dear Robber Garfunkel, Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH. But that stuff is yours now. I don’t know how relation-
Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Darryl Kuntz plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic with Leigh Mikell, 7 p.m., EsoTerra, 558 Main Ave.
ship belongings compare to abandoned tenant property, but that artist is no longer paying rent to your heart. Three years, you say? Sell, baby, sell. Or paint over it with little garden gnomes or something. Whatever the eff you want. It’s not likely that his art could pay your way through dental school or anything.
– Creative license, Rachel
5-8 p.m., 2nd Deli & Spirits
Craig Childs “The Wild Dark” author event, Thurs., May 29, 6-8 p.m., FLC Student Union Ballroom
Trivia Night, Thurs., May 29, 6:30-9 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio
Animas River Days Kids Clinic, Fri., May 30, 2-3:15 p.m., 4 Corners Riversports
Animas River Days Freestyle Clinic, Fri., May 30, 5-6:30 p.m., Santa Rita Park
Jason Thies and Jeff Haspel play, Fri., May 30, 5 p.m., Serious Texas BBQ South, 650 S. Camino Del Rio.
Animas River Days, slalom, downriver, raft, boatercross and surf comps, Sat., May 31, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Santa Rita Park
Single-Payer Day of Action: #HandsOff Medicaid Rally and March, Sat., May 31, 12 noon-2 p.m., Buckley Park
Animas River Days, parade viewing party, Sat., May 31, 4:30 p.m., Santa Rita Park
Animas River Days Late Night Party with nOOnz and Posh Josh, Sat., May 31, 9 p.m., El Rancho May 22, 2025 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): What may appear to be slow or static is actually moving. The developing changes are imperceptible from day to day but incrementally substantial. So please maintain your faith in the diligent, determined approach. Give yourself pep talks that renew your deeply felt motivation. Ignore the judgments and criticism of people who have no inkling of how hard you have been working. In the long run, you will prove that gradual progress can be the most enduring.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The most successful people aren’t those who merely follow their passion, but those who follow their curiosity. Honoring the guidance of our passions motivates us, but it can also narrow our focus. Heeding the call of our curiosity emboldens our adaptability, exploration, and maximum openness to new possibilities. In that spirit, Taurus, I invite you to celebrate your yearning to know and discover. Instead of aching for total clarity about your life’s mission, investigate the subtle threads of what piques your curiosity. Experiment with being an intrigued adventurer.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author Huston Smith was a religious scholar who wrote 13 books. But he was dedicated to experiencing religions from the inside rather than simply studying them academically. Smith danced practiced Zen meditation with a master and ingested peyote with Native Americans, embodying his view that real understanding requires participation, not just observation. In the spirit of this, I invite you to seek opportunities to learn through experience as much as theory. Leave your safety zone to engage with unfamiliar experiences that expand your soul. Be inspired by wisdom that couldn’t come from books alone.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): More than 2,000 years ago, people living in the Peruvian desert began etching huge designs of animals and plants in the earth. Here’s the mystery: Some of the gigantic images of birds, spiders and other creatures are still visible today but can only be deciphered from high above. And there were, of course, no airplanes in ancient times to aid in depicting the figures. Let’s use this as a metaphor for one of your upcoming tasks. I invite you to initiate or intensify work on a labor of love that will motivate you to survey your life from the vantage point of a bird or plane or mountaintop.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You now have extra power to detect previously veiled patterns and hidden agendas. That’s why I urge you to be alert for zesty revelations that may seem to arrive out of nowhere. They could even arise from situations you have assumed were thoroughly explored and understood. These are blessings. You should expect and welcome the full emergence of truths that have been ripening below the surface. Even if they are initially surprising or daunting, you will ultimately be glad they have finally appeared.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Renowned Virgo author Nassim Nicholas Taleb has called for the discontinuation of the Nobel Prize in Economics. He says it rewards economists who express bad ideas that cause great damage. He also delivers ringing critiques of other economists widely regarded as top luminaries. Taleb has a lot of credibility. His book “The Black Swan” was named one of the most influential books since World War II. I propose we make him your inspirational role model for now. May he incite you to question authority. May he rouse you to bypass socalled experts and supposed wizards. Be your own masterful authority.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your mental agility will be even more robust than usual in the coming weeks. I suspect your extra cognitive flexibility will be highly practical and useful. It will enable you to approach problems from multiple angles — and come up with ingenious hybrid solutions. A possibility that initially seems improbable may become feasible when you reconfigure its elements. PS: Your natural curiosity will serve you best when directed toward connections between seemingly unrelated people and fields.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’re ready to go to the next stage of a close alliance. Although you may not feel entirely prepared, you will be guided by your deeper wisdom to do what’s necessary. I offer you a passage from poet William Blake. Say them to your special friend if that feels right, or find other words appropriate to your style: “You are the fierce angel that carves my soul into brightness, the eternal fire that burns away my dross. You are the golden thread spun by the hand of heaven, weaving me into the fabric of infinite delight. Your love is a furnace of stars, a vision that consumes my mortal sight, leaving me radiant and undone. In your embrace, I find the gates of paradise thrown wide.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In ancient Egypt, mirrors were composed of polished copper. To remain properly reflective, they required continual maintenance. Let’s take that as a metaphor for one of your key tasks in the coming weeks. It’s high time to do creative upkeep on your relationships with influences that provide you with feedback. Are your intended effects pretty close to your actual effects? Does your self-image match the way you are perceived by others? Are you getting the right kind of input to help you stay on course?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Chances to initiate creative transformations will come from unexpected sources in the coming days. I guarantee it. But will you be receptive to take advantage? The purpose of this horoscope is to nudge you to shed your expectations so you will be open to surprising help and inspiration. What sweet interruptions and graceful detours will flow your way if you are willing to depart from your usual script? I predict that your leadership qualities will generate the greatest good for all concerned if you are willing to relinquish full control and be flexibly eager to entertain intuitive breakthroughs.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): For many Indigenous people of California, acorns were part of every meal. Nuts from oak trees were used to create bread, soups, dumplings, pancakes, gravy and porridge. But making them edible required strenuous work. In their natural state, they taste bitter and require multiple soakings to leach out the astringent ingredient. Is there a metaphorical equivalent for you? An element that can be important but needs a lot of work, refinement and preparation? If so, now is a good time to develop new approaches to making it fully available.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When Pisces-born Jane Hirshfield was a young poet, she mostly stopped writing poetry for eight years. During that time, she was a full-time student of Zen Buddhism and lived for three years at a monastery. When she resumed her craft, it was infused with what she had learned. Her meditative practice had honed her observational skills, her appreciation of the rich details of daily life, and her understanding that silence could be a form of communication. In the spirit of the wealth she gathered from stillness, calm and discipline, I invite you to enjoy your own spiritual sabbatical. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to relax into the most intriguing mysteries.
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
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
Found: Prescription Sunglasses On road near Kennebec Café on Sat., May 17. Email to claim: hallks1963@ gmail.com.
Wanted
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213
ForSale
2001 Jeep Sahara
206k miles, 2 tops, rack, new tires, new clutch. $8000 OBO. 970-799-3488.
Concept 2 Rowing Machine $450 970-799-3488.
Reruns Home Furnishings
Time to spruce up your outdoor space. Multiple patio sets, bistros, vintage patio sets and yard art. Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat. 385-7336.
SIC Paddleboard
12'6'' x 27” 25 lbs like new, $900 swilderowen@gmail.com
River Days Ready!
16’ self-bailing 2013 Aire Tributary. Solid shape with some cosmetic blems but no patches and good river juju. Brand new floor. 4-bay aluminum NRS frame w/seat and custom deckboards. 3 Sawyer oars, 3 thwarts plus slightly rickety bimini. We’ll even throw in a free tall table and maybe a few random straps! $2500 OBO. Call/text: 970-749-8271
ForRent
Private Office Space
for rent in environmental consulting firm’s office $400 per month (142 sq. ft.) 835 E. 2nd Ave. 3-month lease includes all utilities, Wi-Fi, shared kitchen, restrooms & conference room. Please contact jhesford@eroresources.com for more information.
For Lease: Two Professional Offices in Downtown Durango. Prime location in the 500 block of downtown Durango. Bright, private offices in a quiet, professional setting. Ideal for therapists, consultants or small businesses. Walkable, central and full of charm. Call/text (970) 844-4184 or email Dave@AspenGroveLaw.com for details or a tour.
Professional Office Downtown near Main Ave, sunlit patio with Buckley Park views. All utilities included. Lease terms negotiable. 970.247.1233
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199
Services
HaikuMovieReview
‘Havoc’ Once in a lifetime a film comes to change the world this is not that film
Rent-to-Own: No Credit Check!
Affordable sheds with flexible payment options. Start your journey at RockyMountainSheds.com!
Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
The Durango Bird Club needs volunteers for the Spring Bird Count on Sat., May 24. More info at durangobirdclub.wixsite.com/mysite
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.
Read by thousands of discerning eyeballs every week. (*And a few that just look at the pictures.)
event
Residential Fabrication Planter boxes, gates and fences and other outdoor property enhancements. North Shore Fab. 970 749 6140. Jon
