nathan Thompson, Stephen Sellers, Jesse Anderson, Lainie Maxson, Rob Brezsny & Clint Reid
On the cover A great horned owl takes a snooze in a local tree while awaiting the hunting hours./ Photo by Andy High
Ear to the ground:
“I haven’t had the karaoke out since the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ concussion incident.”
– Sure, an at-home karaoke system may sound like a good idea …
Cutting it close
Lack of snow isn’t the only thing that could put a wrench in opening day plans at Telluride. The nearby ski area could also open sans its professional patrollers.
According to The Telluride Times, the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol Association and Telski are deadlocked over wage negotiations. The Ski Patrol, which unionized in 2015, has been working with an expired contract since Aug. 31. If a deal is not reached by opening day, Dec. 6, patrollers say they could walk.
“We just feel like we’re getting pushed into an untenable position here,” Hoffman told The Times. “We’ve recently held a strike authorization vote, and that vote was 100%.”
Hoffman told The Times that most patrollers are paid in the $21-$25/hour range, with a few making up to $30/hour. Meanwhile, the living wage in San Miguel County is $26.07/hour for a single adult and $49.92 for an adult with one child.
“This is a broken wage structure,” Hoffman told The Times. “We have fallen behind and out of touch with our contemporaries and other mountains. We’ve seen those wages continue to rise around us, while ours have remained in this lower tier.”
As a result, many patrollers work second jobs to make ends meet, and Hoffman worries the need to work multiple jobs could impact performance on the mountain.
“We’re just trying to get closer to a living wage,” Hoffman said. “This is an incredibly dangerous mountain, and it’s incredibly complicated to get injured guests off.”
The union has asked for a 30% wage increase. According to The Times, Telski’s most recent offer, made in September, was approximately 2.5%. (For the record, daily Telluride lift tickets for the 2025-26 season run between $198-$323.)
Telski may train other resort employees to serve as patrollers in the event of a strike.
Telski owner Chuck Horning told The Times that negotiations have been long and tough, and he is hoping to strike a balance between fair compensation and the resort’s long-term viability.
The Durango Telegraph publishes every Thursday, come hell, high water, tacky singletrack or mon-
ster powder days. We are wholly independently owned and operated by the Durango Telegraph LLC and dis-
“We respect and appreciate the men and women of our ski patrol,” Horning said. “They serve on the front lines of mountain safety ... on some of the most complex and steep terrain in North America. We are committed to a fair and realistic agreement.”
The next meeting between patrollers and Telski takes place Nov. 25, with a final one slated for opening day, Dec. 6.
WritersontheRange
Advice from a part-time pro
by Kira Cordova
Iwas a student at Western Colorado University in Gunnison when my professor told our class he had a message for anyone wanting to work as a seasonal in the outdoor industry after graduating. His message was simple: “Get out of my classroom.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want us working as outdoor guides, trail crew leaders or ski bums. He wanted us to work as a seasonal, then come back to college when we were ready to value the economic stability of a degree.
“You don’t need a degree to be a guide,” he said. “A degree is so you can move into management after you burn out.” Most outdoor guides he knew burned out after five to seven years in the field, he said.
I took his advice and dropped out. It took me only three years to burn out.
It started when I took a sabbatical between my junior and senior years. I found work for a season on a schooner, then at an organic farm, and finally with AmeriCorps in Denver. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, more seasonal jobs followed: a stint at a museum, a tall ship on the Hudson River, working as an outdoor educator. For four years, I moved every two to eight months.
I was lucky. I was still on my parents’ health insurance. My car never broke down. I had no student loans, so I could build up a financial cushion.
Seasonal work provided travel, flexibility, constant learning and sometimes fun. But if you asked me now if I’d recommend it, I’d have to say “no” – unless you plan ahead. I learned that the hard way.
After one seasonal job fell through, I found myself over a thousand miles from home and a month away from being homeless. Luckily, I found work as a library assistant and temporarily moved in with my family back in Colorado. I qualified for the library position only because of my bachelor’s degree in Spanish, which I had finally finished thanks to my outdoor education professor.
Here are some of the hard questions I had to answer while working as a seasonal: Where would I live between contracts, and what was the distance between jobs? Where would I store all my stuff? When I worked on the East Coast, I was a four-day drive from my family in Denver, which made moving and swapping out gear extra difficult, especially in winter weather.
As a seasonal, you also have to keep start and end dates of seasonal jobs in mind, as not all run on the same schedule. If you live in employee housing, you risk becoming homeless between contracts. Always ask about relocation and travel stipends to fund the in-between.
If you enjoy a job and feel like you could learn more, try to return for multiple seasons. You’re more likely to be offered a permanent or management position, and it shows consistency to future employers. You’re also likely to make more money if you ask for a raise every season.
Seasonal work lets you try on professions until you find a good fit, or not. But regardless of how cool a job sounds, or how qualified you are to do it, you always need a backup plan.
Apply for multiple positions and be open to learning new skills on the job. If you have the chance to cross-train or pivot to doing something new at the same workplace, do it. And if you get a job with the
U.S. Forest Service or any other federal land management agency, know that these days you could be fired without notice.
My professor was right. My degree saved me when seasonal work became too stressful to keep pursuing. But working seasonally in the “real world” and out of a classroom was invaluable. I had to be resilient and adept at picking up technical skills while connecting with people I would never have met while attending classes. I became someone who was always ready to learn new things.
When I finish my master’s degree, I want to teach, holding onto summers for outdoor jobs. This time, I’ll be doing it right.
Kira Cordova is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She is currently working a seasonal job for Outward Bound while also completing a master’s degree in nature writing online. ■
Although seasonal work, such as guiding or working on a trail crew, can have its advantages, there are drawbacks, including somewhere to land between gigs and hauling and storing your gear from one job to the next./ iStock photo by Georgijevic
national monument designation usually does not provide the same protection that a national park enjoys, it does generally protect special ecosystems from mining, logging, new grazing or other development.
When Pearce was a member of Congress from New Mexico, he co-authored a letter to President Trump that called for abolishing or drastically reducing such national monuments as Grand Canyon-Parashant, Vermilion Cliffs, Sonoran Desert and Ironwood Forest in Arizona; Gold Butte and Basin and Range in Nevada; Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon; Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah; Organ Mountains and Rio Grande del Norte in New Mexico; Upper Missouri River Breaks in Montana; and Giant Sequoia, Berryessa Snow Mountain, Mojave Trails, San Gabriel Mountains and Carrizo Plain in California.
Places like these have been designated national monuments by 17 presidents, both Republicans and Democrats, but Pearce would now be in charge of administering the same public lands he doesn’t think should be protected.
It’s no wonder the Pearce nomination was immediately endorsed by large corporations in the oil and gas, cattle and mining industries.
Before becoming a member of Congress with the financial backing of the oil and gas industry, Pearce owned a company that provided services to corporations in the oil business.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration proposed a 75% reduction in the BLM’s conservation lands system. The White House also has issued a series of executive orders directing all federal agencies to prioritize the profits of logging, mining, and oil and gas
over conservation of public lands.
In February, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who will be Pearce’s boss, announced a review of all national monuments. Colorado has nine, including: Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction; Brown’s Canyon in Salida; Camp Hale in Leadville; Canyon of the Ancients in Pleasant View; Yucca House and Hovenweep in Cortez; Florissant Fossil Beds, Dinosaur in Moffat County; and Chimney Rock in Archuleta County. These were designated by presidents ranging from Richard Nixon and Warren G. Harding to Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
If Pearce and his corporate allies tear up our public lands, these special places and the creatures that live in them may never recover, especially in this era of intensifying climate change. That’s what happens if, as the saying goes, a fox is called upon to guard the chicken coop.
– Matt Witt, writer and photographer, Talent, Ore.
Veteran’s dental day a success
On behalf of everyone at Dr. Blake Brown Dentistry, I want to sincerely thank the Telegraph for featuring our ad about the free dental services we provided to veterans on Veteran’s Day. We truly appreciate your help in spreading the word to the community. The event was a great success, and we were able to fill all of our appointments.
Thanks to your publication, several veterans reached out and were able to receive care – and they expressed deep gratitude for the services provided.
Most have not been able to afford dental care and do not have access here in Durango, so it was a muchneeded service. It was incredibly meaningful to give back to those who have served, and your platform helped make that possible.
We hope to grow this event even more next year and would love to get additional local dental offices involved to expand the care we can offer. This was our first year running an event like this and our staff/ Dr. Brown are excited to do more donation-based days in the future.
Thank you again for your support and for helping connect us with those in need.
– Allison Brown, Dr. Blake Brown Dentistry, Durango
Beauty through the windows
Mountains, the breeze, Flying flag of honor Blue, blue skies of Colorado And stories in the clouds
Dementia has no hold Safety, living support Dear family and loyal friends
I breathe with gratitude Yahweh’s love forever
– Veryl Rosenbaum, Cortez
Pushing capacity?
At least one Grand County commissioner would like to see more crowds in Moab
by Jonathan P. Thompson
If you’ve been to Moab anytime in the last decade, but especially in the last five years, you might assume – as I have – that local officials would be striving to dial back the number of visitors rather than increase it. And yet, one Grand County commissioner is looking to make Moab even more crowded by urging Arches National Park to do away with its timed-entry system.
During the high season, which has become just about every season these days, it can take what seems like eons to drive from the south side of Moab (which has sprawled well into the Spanish Valley) to the north side (which reaches to the Colorado River and even beyond), thanks to an uninterrupted stream of traffic. When the cars back up at the Arches National Park entrance, spilling onto Highway 191, it can bring throughtown traffic to a virtual halt. And when all those cars get into the park, they jam up parking lots, and the people in them crowd the trails and viewpoints.
In 2022, the park implemented a timed-entry system in an effort to mitigate the crowds. It appears to have worked: After peaking at 1.8 million visitors in 2021, the number of folks entering the park dropped back to a more manageable 1.5 million for the next three years. It’s worth noting that this is still almost twice as many annual visitors as there were in 2005, and nearly 100,000 more than visited Arches in 2015.
It’s apparently not enough for Grand County Commissioner Brian Martinez, however, who submitted a draft “Access and Capacity Enhancement Alternative” for his colleagues’ consideration. If approved, it would be sent to the National Park Service for inclusion in its Arches plan. (Thank you to Allyson Mathis for alerting us to this!) Right off the bat, the draft takes aim at the timed-entry system, stating:
“The timed-entry reservation alternative has been piloted at Arches since 2022. Grand County considers its impact on visitation, the local economy and the community to be unacceptable.”
From reading that, one would think that Moab’s tourism industry collapsed after 2022. It did not. The place continues to be crowded as all get out, even this year, when international tourism dropped off somewhat. In fact, Arches’ visitor numbers remained strong this summer even as other Utah parks saw a visitation decline. Meanwhile, the city’s sales and use taxes and transient room taxes have mostly held steady since 2022. While Arches NP is one of Moab’s main draws, it
is not its only one by any means.
The growth machine, however, can’t keep churning on steadiness alone. It always needs more. As more people crowded into Moab’s streets and onto the surrounding public lands, more developers built more hotels, glamping resorts and other lodging establishments. In order to fill all those rooms, they now need to draw more and more visitors – including during the once relatively quiet shoulder seasons – regardless of the crowds’ impacts on the land and community.
So the county’s draft plan goes against any attempt to ease the crowds through what it calls “demand restrictions.” Instead, the draft recommends expanding the park’s capacity, not by enlarging its boundaries, but by increasing the number of parking spots, building new trails and widening existing ones, and implementing a shuttle system. The hope is that cramming the park with more and more vis-
itors will draw more folks to Moab, who will then spend money at restaurants, gas stations and lodging establishments, thus bolstering tax revenues – a portion of which goes to marketing the region and trying to increase tourism.
Little consideration is given to how expanding access into currently more remote areas and increasing the number of people in the park at any one time will affect the park and its wonders. Nor does this account for how these impacts on the park may affect visitors’ experience and therefore numbers in the long term. But then, long-term thinking has never been a trait of Western boom towns, which is often one of the reasons they ultimately go bust.
The Land Desk is a newsletter from Jonathan P. Thompson, author of “River of Lost Souls,” “Behind the Slickrock Curtain” and “Sagebrush Empire.” To subscribe, go to: www.landdesk.org ■
Moab as seen from the entrance road to Arches National Park. In 2022, the park instituted a timed-entry system to help mitigate crowds. However, a Grand County commissioner is proposing to do away with that system, saying its impact on the local economy is “unacceptable.” / Photo by Jonathan P. Thompson
The playmaker
Music’s Jesse Ogle on new gigs, bigger ponds … and squids
by Stephen Sellers
No one has shaped the Durango music scene over the last two decades quite like Jesse Ogle. Bassist, bandleader, nonprofit founder, scene-builder and recently – somehow – Netflix reality show contestant, Ogle has become an anchor figure in the region’s creative ecosystem. He’s led or played in more than 20 Durango bands, including J-Calvin, Nu Bass Theory, Hello Dollface and Mojo Birds. As co-founder of the iAM Music Institute, he has helped engineer its self-named festival and mentored thousands of rising musicians who now define the sound of Durango. I recently sat down with Jesse to talk about his new split life between Durango and Boulder, what it takes to survive as a professional musician in 2025, and his surreal stint on Netflix’s “Squid Game: The Challenge.”
SS: You’re a man of many titles. Can you give us a few of those titles?
JO: Let’s see … I think the title I resonate with the most is professional musician. But secondary to that, I’m the cofounder of iAM Music, which is a nonprofit that’s been in Durango for 13 years. And I’m also the community director of development for an organization in Boulder called Roots Music Project.
SS: What does it take to make it as a professional musician in 2025? The landscape feels more complex than ever.
JO: You need to be diverse. You can’t rely on just one thing anymore. So, yeah, you have to have a skillset in music that goes beyond just playing – teaching, running sound, arranging, recording, whatever it is. Having a diverse set of skills that complements your musicianship is essential. That’s the only way to build something sustainable.
SS: You recently made the jump from living fulltime in Durango to splitting time between Durango and Boulder. What stands out to you about the differences and similarities in the respective music communities?
JO: Well, Boulder just has more venues – bigger venues, iconic venues and a lot more volume. But because Durango is so geographically small and everything is essentially centered downtown, music here happens in one concentrated hub. That actually creates a tighter-knit scene. In Boulder, so many musicians are also based in Denver, and the community spreads out. Durango feels more unified.
SS: What does a normal day look like for you at the Roots Music Project?
JO: A lot of meetings. It’s grant writing, funding procurement, planning, connecting with partners. And then, usually, about one or two hours of the day I get to interact musically. We have a youth program that I’ll play bass for, and I host our monthly jazz sessions. That keeps me grounded in the actual music part of the job.
SS: Tell us about the flagship event you put on up there.
JO: The festival is called the Boulder Roots Music Festival. It’s 180 bands, 750 artists, 18 stages, over three days. And the focus is on independent Colorado musicians. We do bring in national
acts, but the festival exists primarily to highlight the state’s independent music ecosystem. It’s massive – and growing. SS: OK, we have to talk about Squid Game. What is “Squid Game: The Challenge,” and what exactly did you do?
JO: Oh man … it’s the craziest thing ever. It’s the No. 1 trending reality show on Netflix in the world. And it’s based on the most popular show they’ve ever had. So I’m on “Squid Game: The Challenge,” Season Two. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, it’s a game show where 456 contestants compete for $4.56 million. They had 160,000 applicants, and I was one of the lucky ones who got picked.
SS: So, what happened?
JO: From the very beginning, I was in a challenge that would eliminate half the team. We had to count to 456 seconds, and the closest team won. I’m like, “Hey, I’m a musician – I do 60 beats per minute all the time.” So I helped my team clap perfectly at 60 BPM for basically seven minutes, which is insane. Inside the dorms, I felt like a hero. But I got eliminated in a challenge that had nothing to do with skill or strategy. It was literally a game of catch. The ball got thrown short, I couldn’t catch it, and boom – done. You start thinking, “What if I win this thing? And then it’s immediately over.” They actually have a therapy team you can call 24/7 for a year, because the psychological impact is so intense.
SS: Can’t wait to see it! Before we wrap up, what’s on your horizon? Anything you want to share with readers?
JO: I’m playing bass with Blessing Chamanga, an international star from Zimbabwe. We’re doing a New Year’s Eve show at the Durango Arts Center. Also really excited about all the iNDIGO Room shows. We’re working hard to make it the venue to receive music in Durango. And then iAM Music Fest is coming up on its 11th year. We’ve expanded it to seven stages over four days. It’s going to be big. ■
Jesse Ogle
Thursday20
Stand Up for People Impacted by Cancer: Advocacy Letter Writing, 12 noon-5 p.m., Cancer Support Community SW Colorado, 1701 Main Ave., Ste. C
Craft and Connect, 3-5 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa Library, 11274 HWY 140
Navajo Highways Screening & Conversation with Pete Sands, 5-8 p.m., FLC Student Union, Vallecito Room
Spanish Conversation Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Vision 2076, 5:30-7:30 p.m., LPEA, 45 Stewart St.
Poet Event & Book Signing: Amber McCrary, “Corn Tongue,” 6 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.
Cult Movie Night featuring “The Lost Boys,” 6 p.m., Mancos Opera House, 136 Grand Ave., Mancos
Friends of the San Juan Snow Series, 6-8 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Emergency Warming Center Orientation, 6-8 p.m., Sacred Heart Church Parish Hall, 254 E. 5th Ave.
Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Gary Watkins plays, 5:30-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic Night, 6 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Pine Valley Heritage Arena Public Meeting, 6-7:30 p.m., Pine Valley Church, 1328 CR 501, Bayfield
Bluegrass Jam, 6-9 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Compassion Guided Meditation, 6:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 419 San Juan Dr.
Powerhouse Trivia Night, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
Trivia Night hosted by Aria PettyOne, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Irish Music with Tom Ward’s Downfall, 6-8 p.m., Durango Winery, 900 Main Ave.
Black Velvet plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Dustin Burley plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Play It Forward by the Southwest Civic Winds, 7-8:30 p.m., Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College
West Coast Swing Dance Party, 7-10 p.m., Lower Left Studio, 835 Main Ave., Ste. 209
“Yay for Life” World Aids Day free comedy fundraiser, 7-10 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Jazz Church open jam, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Alex Graf Duo featuring Eli Emmitt performs, 8-10 p.m., The iNDIGO Room at iAM Music, 1315 Main Ave.
Crafty Folk Craft Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., La Plata County Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
Opening Day with live music Eli Emmitt & Friends, 9 a.m.4 p.m., Purgatory Resort
Artisan’s Holiday Gift Show & Sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Strater Hotel’s Oak Room, 699 Main Ave.
Food drive benefiting Pine River Shares and Good Sam Pantry, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Albertsons and S. City Market
Project Merry Christmas Donation Drive, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., La Plata Family Center Coalition, 495 Florida Rd.
Puppy Party Adoption Event, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Pet Haus Groom Room, 1430 Main Ave.
Stretching with Cats, 2-3 p.m., Cat Care Durango, 72 Suttle Street, Unit J
“Tabula Rasa” artist talk featuring Dan Groth, Jared Reed and Noah Stotz, 5-9 p.m., Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Adam Swanson plays ragtime, 5:30 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Matt Rupnow plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
San Juan Circus “Not That Innocent,” 6:30 & 8:30 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F
Sunday23
Food drive benefiting Pine River Shares and Good Sam Pantry, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Albertsons and S. City Market
Irish Jam, 12 noon-3 p.m., Durango Beer and Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Weekly Peace Vigil & Rally for Gaza & Palestine, every Sunday, 4 p.m., Buckley Park
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Ben Gibson plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Monday24
Sign Waving peaceful gathering, 4 p.m., corners of Camino del Rio and College Ave.
Death Café, 4-5:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Chuck Hank plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Joel Racheff plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Tuesday25
Daniel Money: A Celebration of Life, 5-8 p.m., Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Friday21
Food drive benefiting Pine River Shares and Good Sam Pantry, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Albertsons and S. City Market
Sand Mandala Dissolution Ceremony, 3 p.m., Dreams of Tibet and Animas River, 988 Main Ave.
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
D & D Club, 12 noon-3 p.m., Sunnyside Library, 75 CR 218
Yarn Meetup, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Nathan Schmidt plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Randy Crumbaugh plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Barbershop tryouts, every Tues., 6:30 p.m., Christ the King Church, 495 Florida Rd.
Open Mic, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
AskRachel Missing in purrpetuity, getting even, and my pits don’t smell
Interesting fact: There are no interesting facts about re-wearing clothes after a workout. Only disgusting, horrifying, I-will-lead-a-reformed-life facts. Do your laundry.
Dear Rachel,
I am writing to you about Cid, the black & white kitty whose owner first reported him missing in your Lost & Found column back in July 2024. Every week since then, there’s that picture of Cid, still missing. Sad to say, I have not found Cid. And after nearly a year and half, I’m not sure anyone will. Can you offer some compassionate advice to Cid’s owner to get him/her to move on, and perhaps get a new kitty? Or must your loyal readers continue to suffer collective angst as the weeks roll by, knowing Cid’s probable, albeit undetermined fate?
- Nine Lifer
Dear Person with a Heart, Hope springs eternal, as they say. Or, in this case, purrrpetually. We all hope and grieve in our own ways. Whatever
Wednesday26
Young Professionals of Durango Happy Hour, 5-7 p.m., TBD downtown Durango
Donny Johnson plays, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Terry Rickard plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic, 7 p.m., EsoTerra, 558 Main Ave.
Ongoing
Gift Gallery, thru Dec. 28, 12 noon-6 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Public viewing of Sand Mandala, thru Nov. 21, Dreams of Tibet, 988 Main Ave.
“Southwest Remix” Invitational Exhibition, thru Nov.26, Blue Rain Gallery, 934 Main Ave., Unit B
Cid’s people are experiencing, it’s greater than the cumulative sum of all the discomfort of all the readers who see the ad each week. You can let them have this thread of possibility. And, hey: keep an eye open, because you never know.
– Paws crossed, Rachel
Dear Rachel, I was really isolated in a bad narcissistic relationship for a few years. Got out a few years ago, but still felt like I couldn’t say much, because she seems so adored in the community. Well, someone else she burned got to talking with me, and we realize now there must be many of us, and we are not alone. Do we give into the urge to burn things down around her? (Metaphorically, of course.) Or do we take the high road and ignore her?
– Burning Bright
Dear Raging Fire, Oh, the call of vengeance is sweet. This person robbed you of so much. But what would you gain, really, from setting fire to whatever you can torch
Indigenous Ink: Empowering Stories in Comic Books, thru November, Maria’s Reading Room, 145 E. College, Ste. 10W
“Fragments” by Andrea Martens, thru November, The Recess Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Dementia/Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group, 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday of each month, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon, La Plata Senior Center, 2424 Main Ave.
Upcoming
Manna’s Thanksgiving Community Meal, Thurs., Nov. 27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Manna, 1100 Avenida Del Sol
from her life? Intense satisfaction? Karmic justice? Finally, a sense of control and community as you shun these treacherous behaviors to the wilds, excommunicating her once and for all to live out her days as alone as you felt? Only you can decide if those rewards are worth the effort.
– Sparky, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
Now that I am postmenopausal, I don’t seem to need under arm deodorant. I am very physically active, and still my Tshirts often don’t smell after wearing them for pickleball, yoga or a bike ride. I’m sure it’s not my sense of smell, since I can smell other odors. My question is, how do I know when I need to wash my shirts? They often don’t seem dirty, even after wearing them during physical activity.
– Coming Up Roses
Dear Waft of Flowers, I think it’s time we educate you about the existence of microorganisms. They are these tiny creatures, invisible
Singing with Santa, Fri., Nov. 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Buckley Park
“Journey Down the Gila” film screening, Thurs., Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Skyhawk Improv presented by Lickety-Split, Thurs., Dec. 4, 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m., FLC Black Box Theatre
Festival of Trees & Wreaths, Dec. 57, 12 noon-5 p.m., Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, 479 Main Ave.
Holiday Arts and Crafts Festival, Fri., Dec. 5, 1-5 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Kathryn Stedham’s “The Expansive West” artist reception and painting demonstration, Fri., Dec. 5, 5-8 p.m., Blue Rain Gallery, 934 Main Ave., Unit B
Art Opening with live music from Animas Jazz, Fri., Dec. 5, 6-8 p.m.,
Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com
to the naked eye, that do not always emit toxic-smelling fumes. Kind of like little narcissists that live in your clothes. They’ll make you sick if you don’t wash them out. So please, even if you don’t (or more likely, can’t) smell yourself, do your freaking laundry. – Out, damned spot, Rachel
Stillwater Music, 316 Main Ave., Ste. C
Holiday Arts and Crafts Festival, Sat., Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
Nuages Du Desert plays dance jazz, Sat., Dec. 6, 7-10 p.m., American Legion Hall, 878 E. 2nd Ave.
Holiday Arts and Crafts Festival, Sun. Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds
The Maker’s Lab Holiday Open House, Sun., Dec. 7, 12-4 p.m., 434 Turner Dr., Ste. 6
The Bizarre Bazaar, Sun., Dec. 12, 59 p.m., Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
The Bizarre Bazaar, Sat., Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Studio & Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Odds-N-Ends Christmas Bazaar, Sat., Dec. 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave., Ste. F Nov. 20, 2025 n 13
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Ads can be submitted by emailing: classifieds@ durangotelegraph.com
Announcements
FCSM Application for 0% Loans for local organic farmers and food entrepreneurs that utilize their goods will be available online Dec. 1 @ www.fourcornersslowmoney.org. Deadline for applications is Jan. 3, 2026
Come! Sat., 11/22, 9-4 Strater Hotel
HelpWanted
FT Financial/Operations
Coordinator wanted. Wildfire Adapted Partnership (nonprofit) seeks full-time position: Financial and Operations Coordinator to assist the Executive Director in financial and grant management and day-to-day org operations. Visit www. wildfireadapted.org to view full job announcement.
Classes/Workshops
Intro to AcroYoga 11/22 from 3-5p Smiley Rm 20a $20. Come fly with us!
A Martial Art for Kind Humans
Slow learner? Two left feet? Kindhearted? Aikido may be your jam. Weekly Crash Course and Starter Series available now (adults 18+). Details and registration at durangoaikido.com.
All Levels Yoga
Thursdays 10am, Smiley Room 32. Props provided. Accessible class for continuing beginners who want to focus on functional movement and fundamental actions within standing, seated, twisting, forward and backward bending postures. www.k-lea.com (303) 819-9076
Men's Yoga
Every Tuesday, 7:30-8:30 AM at Yogadurango. All levels welcome.
Wanted
Books Wanted at White Rabbit Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213
Lost/Found
Help Cid Come Home
Last seen July 21, 2024, by St. Columba Church. He is chipped, missing left canine tooth, white, big black spots, green eyes. Reward $2000. 970-403-6192.
ForSale
2011 Toyota Avalon
144k miles, interior and exterior in excellent shape, well maintained. $11,000 OBO. 520-227-0732
Beechwood Desk
21”x 68”x 29.5”H, best offer, must haul away, Hillcrest, 760-415-7108.
Peak by Bode Miller SC 98 Skis
168cm length, 98mm underfoot. Atomic Strive 14GC bindings. Exc. condition and ready to rip! $399 OBO. Text: 970-749-2595
Screen Printing Business for Sale
Over 100 screens, multiple presses, flash dryer, screen maker, squeegees. Call Greg at 970-247-3457 to see equipment.
2001 Subaru Outback H6 VDC wagon. Solid, well maintained. 180k mi. $2500. Steve 970-769-1653
Reruns Home Furnishings
Time to refresh your indoor space. Rolling wooden bar, nightstands, mirrors, lamps, cool artwork and lots more! Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat.
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Services
Boiler Service - Water Heater Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
HaikuMovieReview
‘Wildflower’ An extremely sweet, exceptionally funny and charming movie – Lainie Maxson
Chapman Electric Colorado licensed and insured electrician. Mike 970-403-6670
Dog Fosters Needed Parker’s Animal Rescue needs foster families to provide temporary homes for rescued dogs. We supply crates, food, leashes, toys and support and vet visits. Apply at: parkersanimalresuce.com.
Yoga of Recovery: Free classes Tuesdays 10-11:15 a.m., Smiley Bldg, #20A. Gentle movement, breathwork and meditation. Find support for addictive tendencies, sober curiosity or your recovery journey. Registration req’d at innerpeace yogatherapy.com/locations/durango/
Engaging Volunteer Opportunity
Alternative Horizons needs volunteers to staff our hotline. Training provided. For info., visit alternativehorizons.org
The Maker Lab in Bodo Park Tools, learning and equipment featuring metal and woodworking, laser cutting, 3D printing, electronics and sewing. www.themakerlab.org
