A musical ode to the bittersweet glory of autumn by Kirbie Bennett
A writer’s dilemma
Weighing the pros and cons of letting AI gobble up your hard work by John Clayton / Writers on the Range
Trump’s latest assault on blue states’ clean energy projects by Jonathan Thompson / The Land Desk
Tomato swan song
Toasting the end of tomato season with gazpacho’s easier cousin by Ari LeVaux
On the cover A grove of aspen makes for spectacular 365-degree leaf peeping in the La Plata Mountains./ Photo by Missy Votel
Ear to the ground:
“The first time I went to Costco, I left with a foosball table.”
– At least one reason to be grateful there isn’t a Costco within 200 miles
Stick a lime in it
Our friends at Ska are making headlines again. This week, their flagship Mexican Logger was at the top of the Denver Post’s “12 Colorado craft beers to keep stocked in your fridge” (or river cooler.)
“Ska Brewing has been making this Mexican-style lager for more than 20 years,” writes Jonathan Shikes, who has the enviable role of being the Post’s beer reporter. “The reason for its popularity isn’t surprising: It tastes a lot like the No. 1-selling beer in America, Modelo Especial … Knowing it is made by a Durango company makes it taste just a little better. At 5% ABV, you can have a couple while you’re mowing the lawn, grilling out back or settling into the kiddie pool for a siesta.”
Other beers making the cut and Shike’s tasting notes follow:
• Upslope Craft Lager: “If cowboys and cowgirls drank craft beer, this is what they’d order,” writes Shikes. A silver-medal winner at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival, the 4.8% ABV beer is brewed with Saaz hops.
• Crooked Stave NZ Pils: In this case, “NZ” stands for New Zealand, the source for the beer’s Motueka hops, which give it tropical, hoppy flavors and a mellow citrusy bite. Lighter than an IPA, it comes in at 5.4% ABV.
• Westbound & Down Infinity Pils: Part of a new wave of light pilsners using different varieties of hops, this 5.4% GABF gold-medal winner is brewed using Mosaic, Citra and HBC 586 hops giving it tropical notes.
• Wibby Brewing Volksbier Vienna Amber Lager: Rich and malty; comes across almost like an amber or red ale, with rounded sweetness and smooth-drinking feel.
• Odell 90 Shilling Ale: An OG Colorado beer first brewed in 1989, this Scotch ale is one of the Fort Collins brewery’s oldest and most renowned offerings. Coming in at 5.3%, it is amber in color and has a rich aroma.
• Odell Brewing Sippin’ Pretty Fruited Sour: Loaded with flavors of guava, elderberry and acai and aromas of pineapple and mango, this is fruit punch in a can. Slightly tart, slightly sweet and just 4.5% ABV.
• Ratio Beerworks King of Carrot Flowers: Saison brewed with elderflower and carrot juice is a GABF gold medal winner. Smooth and balanced, boasting a touch of vanilla.
telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
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-
tributed in the finest and most discerning locations throughout the greater Durango area.
• Outer Range Brewing In the Steep: Straightforward, aromatic, charismatic and loaded with orange juice-like flavor. Smoothly drinkable – almost pillowy soft –with a sweet undertone and no bitterness.
• Denver Beer Co. Graham Cracker Porter: An ideal campfire beer. Coming in at 5.6%, it tastes like graham cracker crust in a can.
LaVidaLocal opinion
Black jeans in autumn
When the chill of fall sets in and the green turns to orange and red, like any human doomed with a sense of wonder and mortality, I surrender myself to the stunning colors. It twists my head how we have these beautiful moments that don’t last forever, and that’s just another day on Earth. You could turn to me and say, “This is such a beautiful time, but it won’t ever happen this way again,” and I’d believe you, and we’d call that another night on Earth.
On a recent drive back from Boulder, I had the golden colors of October to keep me company. I didn’t plan on my drive to line up with the fall foliage, but I took it as a sign to embrace the views. All the news about our unstable, unwell country will be waiting for me, but I have this moment where my thoughts and the radio can fill the highway and mountains.
“Autumn,” by The Gaslight Anthem, is a bluesy rock song about pausing and reflecting on moments you can never get back and feeling gratitude despite the pain. Whether it’s time with loved ones who have passed away or reflecting on love and its pending heartbreak, the song shares a bouquet of losses gathered from the passage of time. “All my feelings, they kinda seemed so out to get me/ I always felt like it’s a strange thing just being alive,” sings frontman Brian Fallon in the first verse, before moving into the chorus where the notes ring out: “Because I know someday it’s gonna be all over/ No more spring into summertime/ So, can I hold you underneath October?/ Black jeans in autumn, leaves falling down.”
told me he’s not sure of how much time he has left. There’s a question mark to the years ahead. More than before, I’m cherishing the time we spend together. With each visit, he shares more memories about his childhood on the Navajo Nation, including stories about my grandfather, David. My uncle has a deep, bold voice that holds gentleness, so even though I’ve never met my grandfather, every time Uncle Hank offers his own stories and wisdom, I can hear Grandpa David speaking through him. I can’t slow down time to allow my uncle to share all his stories, but I can expand my heart where I will keep these stories alive.
In the second verse of “Autumn,” Fallon sings, “I don’t know what happens to all our favorite, faded memories/ Christmas mornings by the fir tree, and then you’re gone.” That leads into the song’s soulful chorus: “And I know someday, you’re gonna make me lonely/ And maybe someday, I’m gonna make you cry/ Right now, we’re angels in the muddy water.” In each verse, the song holds the loss and regrets of the past and future. By the time the chorus arrives, the narrator acknowledges the inevitability of an ending, but that does not deter them from savoring the holiness and sadness of the present.
I don’t think the song was written for me, but on the drive along Highway 160, it felt like the song was written for me. The bass and drums provide a steady beat, letting the electric guitars glide along, and there’s just enough distortion for the notes to ring out. It sounds like the late-afternoon sun drenching mountains in honey-colored light. And there’s just enough stretch of road to reflect on the last year, all the wrenching days that make me want to disappear versus all the love that keeps me here.
Something I do regularly is visit my Uncle Hank at his home in Farmington. I check on him to see if he needs groceries or any help with household chores. This year, he’s experienced severe heart issues, and during one recent visit, he
Thumbin’It
After abruptly closing a little more than a year ago, Durango’s Planned Parenthood clinic is re-opening for two days a week starting Oct. 20, providing affordable, accessible reproductive health care for area residents.
Hillcrest Golf Course is waving the pink flags in October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to remind women of the importance of annual checks. They’re free and only a few minutes out of your day.
The 2025-26 NHL season officially kicked off for Colorado hockey fans Tuesday night in Los Angeles – and the Avs, in their 4-1 win over the Kings, are looking good.
And by holiness and sadness, I mean the expanse of golden trees along the road, which is bittersweet because I am driving away from people I care for and want to spend more time with up north, but I am driving back to the part of the world that holds more people I love. And yes, there is an ending to things, maybe it’s tomorrow, but that is so far away right now. And Lord, the leaves right now are painted colors that I imagine mortality and eternity entwined would look like.
The song “ends with Fallon repeating the lines, “Black jeans in autumn, sun going down/ Black jeans in autumn, leaves falling down.” But on that very last line, he stops himself from vocalizing the final word, “down.” Instead, the drummer gently hits the cymbals. The echoing sound does enough to evoke the image of leaves hitting the ground. If Fallon sings the last word, that would mean the song is over. By refusing to do so, perhaps it is his attempt to make a moment of beauty infinite. If the song never ends, we can stay here longer, held in the golden light.
– Kirbie Bennett
SignoftheDownfall:
Gun violence reared its ugly head in Durango recently, with two separate shooting incidents within five days, one of which claimed the life of Wanda Murray, 66, who was a victim of domestic violence
As part of its "Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry," the Trump Administration has opened up coal mining leases next to some of Utah’s most famed national parks, including Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef.
Seriously – now MAGA has its red britches in a bunch over Bad Bunny?
Kristi Noem is vowing to have ICE in full force at the Super Bowl, because she’s sure lots of illegal immigrants will be shelling out 10 grand for tickets.
Pickled Ball
If you didn’t know, pickleball is named after the “pickle boat,” which is a term in competitive rowing for the boat containing the substitute oarsmen who aren’t good enough for the main boat. And given that the average American isn’t athletic enough for actual tennis, pickleball’s name, and its popularity in this country, make total sense. But the sport obviously wasn’t American enough, so we went ahead and started selling the “Party Paddle” on Amazon, which is a pickleball paddle flask that holds 20 ounces of booze. True, it’ll make your whiskey taste like plastic on warm days, but if you drink it quickly enough, you’ll forget all about the fact that our entire country is in the pickle boat.
The $340 dilemma
Artificial intelligence wants to inhale my Montana book
by John Clayton
Recently, my publisher told me that a major technology company involved in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) wants to use my book, “Stories from Montana’s Enduring Frontier,” for “AI training purposes.”
I would earn, the representative explained, $340 for “this one-time use.” Is that one-time use like a wet wipe – disposable, expendable, easily sacrificed?
“Stories from Montana’s Enduring Frontier” collected 20 years’ worth of my essays to argue that 20th-century Montanans developed unique views of how nature worked, as captured in the wilderness-adventure and resource-extraction connotations of “the frontier.” The book felt particularly foreign to anything in the world of AI.
All the writers I know feel particularly vulnerable to AI. Most of today’s commercial AI programs are “large language models,” with skills not in logic, reasoning or math but merely in generating text. That directly threatens writers’ jobs.
Worse, replacing a human writer with today’s generative AI is like replacing a wild raspberry with an artificially flavored Crystal Light. The error-filled, uncreative products of AI threaten not only writers but also the joy and usefulness of reading.
While most people fulminate abstractly about AI, this query about buying my book presented a clear choice, sharpened by the specificity of “$340.” If I took the offer, would the knowledge I poured into these essays become available from AI, decimating my book sales? If my royalties thus fell to zero because I had signed a death warrant for a book-that-is-like-a-child-to-me – was the $340 worth it?
Perhaps $340 was better than nothing. Many technology companies train
AI models by stealing from authors.
“Stories from Montana’s Enduring Frontier” was among four of my books pirated for the “LibGen” database, which was used to educate AI programs from Anthropic and Meta. Although Anthropic recently settled a resulting lawsuit, Meta and others may yet escape punishment.
What is the proper value of my book?
Although $340 is not much compensation for all the work I put in, neither is a royalty of $1.19 per book sold. If my main goal was adequate market compensation for my writing, I probably shouldn’t have published a book in the first place. The book is now 12 years old. At current sales rates, it would take a few years to make $340 in royalties.
When I talked with friends about this dilemma, it felt like none of us knew how to think about the situation. Maybe, as with previous technologies, making the book more widely available will stimulate sales – or maybe not.
Maybe AI will thwart young people’s ability to engage in intellectual careers –or maybe its perils are overhyped.
Maybe AI will swallow my entire output without fair compensation. We know that Anthropic and Meta have already tried.
My publisher wouldn’t say which AI company made the offer, how it arrived at that take-it-or-leave-it price, or how it would use my book. Would I feel differently about the deal if AI contributed to the world’s knowledge rather than merely helping students cheat?
As I thought about this, I realized I was reflecting a distinctly human desire, rather than an AI desire. A large language model consumes a book as data. Its model requires ever more data to predict what the next word in a sentence should be.
It’s certainly ego-deflating to think of the product of my research, extensive
reading, interviewing, thinking and finally writing as “data.” I’d prefer it to be “knowledge” or even “wisdom” that the AI wants to suck from me. I’d prefer to think that it needs my well-told stories, my keen insights, my brilliant larger points.
But AI doesn’t think in such big-picture terms. It just predicts a word, and then another word, and then another. I realized that this is also a model for how
nature works. There’s no grand plan. No knowledge. No story with a satisfying ending. There’s just a single cell reproducing. One leaf reaching for sunlight. A predator seeking its next dinner.
John Clayton lives in Montana and is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West, writersontherange.org. Read his newsletter at naturalstories.substack.com. ■
SoapBox
Stand up for schools
On Sat., Oct 18, almost 2,000 No Kings protests will happen nationwide to build momentum for the American promise of democracy. Join the huge crowd in Durango at 2 p.m. at Rotary Park and celebrate our secondary theme “Stand Up for Public Schools.”
We are now witnessing ongoing attacks on our public school system at all levels – efforts to erode and destroy this foundational bedrock of our democracy. So we’re raising our voices to praise the continued excellence of our schools, precious kids, dedicated amazing teachers and our school administration committed to the welfare of every student.
Parents, students and friends across La Plata County are invited to gather in like-age groups at Rotary Park or nearby and join the 2 p.m. main rally with signs, flags, banners, songs and expressions of solidarity. Crowd overflow goes north on Main Avenue to wave signs. Fort Lewis College students are working on puppets; speakers will include School Board Directors running for re-
election. We’re planning informational “Take-Action Tables,” and live music afterward, too.
It’s a good time to affirm Durango’s values! We celebrate the self-determination and success of all races, ethnicities, orientations, abilities and identities, and we support 9-R’s vision of a protected, equitable learning environment where each student can prosper. We’re peaceful people, but we’re done with bullying, and stand up against ideologies that disparage and demean vulnerable groups. We show up to oppose efforts to silence the voices of pride and self-advocacy of traditionally marginalized groups. And we don’t accept “thoughts and prayers” dismissals of violence that puts our kids at risk.
We know that without funding, our schools and kids suffer. We lose teachers, have to cut programs and materials, and cannot offer options that are proven springboards.
We want to protect our kids and continue the solid, safe, nurturing environment we have. Our vote to re-elect our School Board is a vote for proven great advocacy, oversight and planning skills.
by Rob Pudim
Let’s come together to celebrate the beauty of all our kids, hear from our Board Directors and cheer as school groups are recognized. For more infor-
mation, visit www.IndivisibleDurango .org. Bring friends and signs, and we’ll see you Oct. 18.
– Karen Pontius, Durango
Putting profits over patients
In this powerful health justice fight, please support Medicare for All Acts: House Bill 3069 (Jayapal and Dingle), with more than 100 co-sponsors, and Senate Bill 1506 (Sanders) with 15 co-sponsors. Both were introduced in Congress on April 29. Call your representatives and senators to tell them you support these bills.
Our system has not worked well for everyone. It has worked well for the for-profit, private health insurance industry. This industry contributes tremendously to state and federal election campaigns and lobbying tactics.
To learn more, visit: sunlightreportinsurance.com. This report shows some of the tactics used by United Health Group to place profits over patients.
– Susan Hutzler, Mancos
Betrayal of the American people
Trump betrayed us. He promised to end inflation on “Day One.” Instead, prices have gone up on virtually everything since the day he took office. We are only beginning to feel the pain of Trump’s tariffs, which are paid by importers and passed on to us.
American company John Deere expects higher steel tariffs to add $600 million to 2025’s manufacturing costs. Trump’s tariffs on China resulted in retaliatory tariffs on soybeans, already costing U.S. farmers $3.4 billion.
Trump betrayed us. He promised to protect Medicaid. Instead, his “Big Beautiful Bill” stripped healthcare from 11.8 million Americans. Republicans in Congress cynically delayed these cuts until after the
2026 elections, hoping that we’re too stupid to notice.
Trump betrayed us. He pledged to deport dangerous criminals. Instead, armed, masked thugs are grabbing immigrants with no criminal record – and even American citizens – people working, paying taxes and raising families, and sending them to gulags in El Salvador and Sudan with no due process.
Trump betrayed us. He promised to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours.” Instead, Putin has played him for a fool and is expanding the war into Poland.
Trump betrayed us. He promised to release the Epstein files. Instead, once Pam Bondi told him that his name was in them “multiple times,” he decided not to let us see them. Trump is now actively protecting elite pedophiles.
Join the No Kings rally Oct. 18! Tell Trump we will not let him transform our democracy into an autocracy.
– Philip Riffe, Hesperus
Honoring Jane Goodall’s legacy
Jane Goodall died during her constant 300-day travels to raise awareness among young and old about the plight of wildlife and our planet. Most importantly, she taught us that each one of us can do something every day to help, from what we eat and wear to teaching our children to love and protect and our planet.
Experts have stated that we have exceeded our planet’s ability to support us by 80%; the planet is
in extinction crisis. Here in the U.S., bird populations have decreased by one-third. The elephant in the room is the need to human population growth worldwide. In the U.S., our consumption and its impact on the environment is equivalent to that of 100 people in India. Most nations had agreed to limit CO2 to decrease global warming, which is the other major impact. Shame on Trump for telling the UN that climate change is a hoax and shame on him and his minions for gutting renewable energy policies, pushing fossil fuels and working to gut the Endangered Species Act. They have also launched continual attacks on wildlife, forests, oceans, clean air and water, and our health and wellbeing.
Each of us must be like Goodall, raising awareness about the wonders of wildlife and the need for rich, diverse forests and oceans for wildlife and humans. Work to protect wolves. Attend CPW meetings and work to protect wildlife in Colorado and stop trapping bobcats and other furbearers and hunting mountain lions. Try a plant-based diet or eat beef raised locally, only buy sustainable seafood and buy organic food.
Today, spend some time honoring the legacy of Goodall and continue that in your own way.
– Margaret Mayer, Durango
An autumn haiku
Fall morning paddle
Water temp more “oooh” than “aaah”
Still a big relief
– Karen Carver, Durango
TheLandDesk
Governance by spite
Trump fulfills revenge agenda by defunding clean energy
by Jonathan Thompson
Iwas wrong – and woefully so. I want to apologize for that and let you know that I dearly, dearly wish that I had been right. But alas … See, back in November, I wrote about what to expect from the incoming Trump Administration, particularly concerning public lands and the environment. It actually turned out to be fairly accurate on the public lands stuff, but there was one offending paragraph that, I fear, may have lulled some of my readers into complacency when they should have been preparing to resist. Channeling Pollyanna, I wrote that I doubted Trump would end up being an all-out fascist dictator, prosecute his enemies or sic the military on the “enemy within.”
Boy, was I wrong. Trump has been in office for less than nine months, and already he’s checked all of the boxes that naive little me figured (and hoped) he would never dare even attempt. He and Goebbels-clone Stephen Miller and friends are going full-on fascist, trampling on the First Amendment and the U.S. Constitution in general. They are prosecuting political opponents, using the “Department of War” to target the “enemy within,” suing and bullying the media for reporting the truth and making fun of him, and they have engaged in a brutal – and performative – intimidation and terror campaign against immigrants and anyone who “looks” like they might be an immigrant.
Making it even worse, the president of the United States treats it like some sort of joke, acting like a pre-pubescent mid-
dle school bully while posting stupid videos portraying he and Russell Vought (a primary architect of Project 2025, which Trump disavowed during the campaign) as the grim reaper out to destroy America’s democracy (and the economy).
So, yeah, I was way off. Apologies. But I was right about one thing. I predicted Trump would practice governance by spite. He has – and to the extreme. Not only are his words malicious but so are his policies, fueled by a lust for vengeance. His tariffs are aimed at punishing other countries (even though they ultimately only punish American consumers and businesses, including his beloved oil and gas industry).
His quest for “energy dominance” is anything but. Sure, he’s trying to help out his fossil fuel tycoon buddies, but I think he’s even more interested in retri-
in blue states
bution against the “libs” and the environmentalists in an all-out assault on the environment, climate, public lands – and everyone who cherishes or depends on these things. If he wanted to bolster energy, he would have at least stood aside and let the burgeoning solar and wind industry do their thing alongside fossil fuels by taking an “all of the above” approach. Instead, he has done everything possible to stifle these energy sources, simply because they are cleaner than coal and gas. He shut down the “Solar for All” program, denying thousands of low- and middle-income families access to rooftop solar, a smidgeon of their own energy independence and lower utility bills. Where’s the dominance in that?
And now, the Trump Administration has canceled some $8 billion in federal
Carrizo sunrise. / Photo by Jonathan P. Thompson
funding for clean energy, efficiency and grid-reliability projects across the nation, many of them in the West. And while one might think this is just another assault on clean energy (which it is), or a way to pay for tax cuts for billionaires (that, too), it’s primarily motivated by, yet again, revenge: The cuts were limited to states that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Yes, you read that correctly. While funding was zeroed out for blue states, identical projects in neighboring red states were left untouched. He is doing this to punish Democrat-leaning states, but the victims end up being small and large businesses that banked on those funds, the folks who work for those firms, the environment and, ultimately, folks like you and me who will see our utility bills increase (because someone has to pay for those grid upgrades). And guess what? You won’t be saved just because you’re in a red congressional district.
This is not normal, nor is it politics as usual. In fact, the funding that the Trump Administration is taking away from individuals, organizations and businesses was allocated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, both of which Congress passed during the Biden Administration. The vast majority of the funding from those bills went to Republican states and districts that voted for Trump in 2024. Those now de-funded projects created thousands of new jobs and added up to billions in investment in Phoenix, Colorado’s Front Range, Nevada and elsewhere.
I’m not saying all of these projects were wonderful or successful. Some were full on boondoggles, others would inflict more harm than good. But the funding was approved by Congress, and the organizations that received them were banking on them, investing a great deal of their own money into the projects and building up workforces. For the administration to then take back the money, some of which had already been spent, for purely political, vindictive reasons, is wrong and cruel.
And if you think that this is just about a bunch of solar panels, here’s a list of some of the biggest projects that were defunded (which includes some funds
that Trump had previously cancelled).
• $2.2 billion for hydrogen fuel production and distribution hubs in California and the Pacific Northwest.
• $250 million clawed back from the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon to fund transmission and power grid upgrades
• $70 million for Xcel Energy to install 1,000 megawatt-hour iron-air battery energy storage systems in Colorado and Minnesota.
• $50 million for the Tribal Energy Consortium’s Ignacio-based program aimed at reducing methane emissions from tribal owned-and-operated oil and gas wells and facilities on tribal lands.
• $326 million for Colorado State University for a project to develop methods to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas wells.
• $15 million for Kit Carson Electric Coop in northern New Mexico for a grid resilience project.
• $6.6 million for the Navajo Transitional Energy Co. for developing a carbon-capture retrofit project for the Four Corners coal-burning power plant in New Mexico.
Hundreds of millions of dollars more are being clawed back from Portland General Electric, Southern California Edison, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, the Imperial Irrigation District, and the Electric Power Research Institute – and the list goes on. But it never extends to similar projects in red states.
Even as Energy Secretary Chris Wright was announcing the funding cuts, for example, his department went forward with a $2.23 billion loan for Lithium Americas and its contentious Thacker Pass Mine in Nevada (which voted Republican in the last presidential election). In exchange, the administration took a 5% equity stake in both the company and the firm. Never mind that the project is opposed by the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and the Burns Paiute and Summit Lake Paiute tribes, as well as numerous environmental groups, and that the price of lithium is the lowest it’s been since 2021. Go figure.
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 ■
Quick’n’Dirty
Manna hosts storytelling event
Manna will be shining a light on its mission today with a free community event, “Our Streets, Our Stories.” The event takes place from 4:30-7 p.m. at Manna, 1100 Avenida del Sol, and will feature shared meals, guided tours and personal stories from Manna clients.
“‘Our Streets, Our Stories’ invites guests to step into the heart of Manna’s mission. It’s an opportunity to see firsthand how we’re working to build resilience, equity and connection in La Plata County,” Manna Co-Executive Director Marissa Hunt said. “There will also be powerful storytelling from the communities we serve, sharing how low-barrier assistance to strengthen food, housing and employment security in our region is changing lives.”
In addition to the free dinner, tour and talks, attendees can learn about the other various programs Manna offers, including its food market, support services, housing programs, the culinary employment readiness program, garden and more.
The event will also be a fund-raiser, with proceeds from sponsorships and donations going to support Manna’s programs and services.
There will be a free shuttle for participants from the Durango Transit Center to Manna.
“This event is designed to do more than raise funds; it’s built to inspire generosity, build relationships, and highlight the real impact of community-centered support,” Hunt said.
For tickets, go to: donorbox.org/ events/800876/steps/ choose_tickets.
Open Studios Tour returns
Local artists will once again be opening their studios to give residents a glimpse into their creative process with the Durango Open Studios Tour, Oct. 17-19.
Thirty local visual artists will be showcasing their work during the free tour, featuring everything from pottery and painting to jewelry and photography. Participants not only will get to meet and talk with artists, but have a chance to buy their art, right from the source.
“Durango is a place that celebrates and prides itself in creative arts, cultural traditions and practices, historical recognition, and expressive exploration,” tour organizer and co-founder Cindy Atchison said in a press release. “This free, self-guided tour of local artist studios is an opportunity to connect with artists on a different level. Par-
ticipants receive a behind-the-scenes view of the creative process and get to be a part of an artistic journey,”
The tour takes place at studios throughout Durango on Sat., Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 19, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Participants can pick up a map of studios at the Durango Creative District office, 1135 Main Ave., or view it online at: www.durangoopenstudiotour.com/
There will be an opening art exhibit at the Durango Creative District on Fri., Oct. 17, from 5-7 p.m.
More buzz about bears
Durango may be stepping up its approach to keeping bears at bay. At this week’s City Council meeting on Oct. 7, council tasked staff with exploring new bear deterrent options, including the use of electric fences and mats, which currently are not allowed in city limits.
The move was in response to growing concerns from residents about property damage and safety risks posed by bears. Bears have been especially active in town this year, due to a poor crop of their natural food sources. Although total numbers are not available yet for 2025, there were 994 bear reports in La Plata County in 2024 – a 209% increase over the five-year average. Nearly half of those involved a human bear attractant, such as garbage.
Councilors emphasized the need to balance public safety with responsible wildlife management and plan to review recommendations in an upcoming study session. Mayor Gilda Yazzie voted against the resolution.
For more on how to live with bears, go to: www.bearsmartdurango.org.
“I saw it in the Telegraph.”
Read by thousands of discerning eyeballs every week.*
(*Although a few probably just look at the pictures.)
For info. on how to get your business or event seen, email: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com
Durango’s easiest pickup since 2002
Landscape painter Joe Schafer will be among the artists opening their studios Oct. 18-19.
The local’s soup
Toasting the end of tomato season with gazpacho’s easier cousin, salmorejo
by Ari LeVaux
My first cooking job was when I was 16 at a Cambridge cafe called The Blacksmith House. I prepared all the food on the menu of soup, salad and sandwiches. My fellow staff members were a parade of restaurant archetypes. There was Doris, the tough, old Austrian baker who ran the kitchen like a Swiss watch and always made me feel so nervous to steal bites of frosting in the walk-in cooler. There also was Betty, the cashier who wouldn’t call it the “Ari Special” even though she ate my chopped turkey sandwich every day for lunch. And Ele, the hot waitress with whom I didn’t have a chance. And the muscled and managerial Curtis, who was also on the hunt. And the head waiter, Steve, who was on cocaine.
I arrived early to make the soup, following the splattered pages of the “Moosewood Cookbook” in my weekly rotation of vichyssoise, cucumber dill, Hungarian mushroom and the whacky but delicious fruit soup. But the most popular was gazpacho, which was in such demand that I had to make a double batch when I made it, which I dreaded to do because of all the chopping.
Alas, it seems that gazpacho chefs these days want to take the easy way out, as most modern recipes involve the food processor. But I shouldn’t point fingers. It’s been decades since I’ve made a batch, thanks to PTSD and the fact that I found another tomato-based soup from the south of Spain that I prefer: salmorejo, which is little more than tomato, garlic and bread. I first tried it in a small Andalusian cafe, alongside a mix of red wine and Sprite called tinto de verano.
In the same way that locals prefer to drink tinto de verano while the tourists drink their overpriced sangria, salmorejo is more popular with the Andalusians, while gazpacho is more internationally known. Salmorejo is smooth and thick, and usually lavishly garnished with boiled egg, chopped ham, olive oil, scallions and herbs. When I returned home, I made it often, including with heirloom tomatoes, and was convinced I had attained peak Andalusian tomatobased soup.
That is, until a few weeks ago, when a well-intentioned friend who was a lazy chopper made the chunkiest batch of gazpacho ever. Without the tarragon, paprika, cumin or basil, its flavor lacked the complexity of the gazpacho of my youth, but the vegetables nonetheless combined into a wonderful flavor. When I tired of chewing the jawbreaking chunks of cucumber, pepper, onion and celery, I found myself sipping quite pleasantly on the gazpacho’s watery broth. And then I got an idea.
With my friend’s permission, I drained the tomatoey liquid, and fished out the tomato chunks and used them as a base for a hybrid salmorejo, with homegrown garlic and the guts from a locally baked
loaf of white sourdough. It had the smooth, elegant simplicity of a good salmorejo, and a hint of complexity from its Andalusian cousin gazpacho. It was the perfect way to enjoy the tail end of tomato season. What follows is my base salmorejo recipe, which I have added additional, parallel instructions in parentheses for those wishing to make it with a gazpacho twist. Be advised that making the gazpacho-flavored version involves lots of extra chopping and waiting overnight for the flavor to develop, which are probably the main reasons why Andalusians prefer salmorejo. But if you have the time, and a decent knife, you’ll surely appreciate the extra flavors of the gazpacho-ed version.
Salmorejo a la Gazpacho
Serves 4
2 lbs tomatoes
(One large cucumber, chopped)
(One bell pepper, chopped)
(1/2 cup basil, chopped)
(One yellow onion, chopped)
1/2 cup of the inner, spongey part of a loaf of white bread, no crust
1 modest sized clove of garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar (more to taste if your tomatoes are low acid)
½ teaspoon salt + more to taste
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Garnish: hardboiled egg, olive oil, chives and chopped prosciutto, which is the closest thing you can easily find to Spanish ham.
Boil a pot of salted water deep enough to submerge your tomatoes.
While the water heats, cut a cross into the bottom of each tomato to slice the skins. Then pull the guts from a loaf of bread.
Boil the tomatoes in the water for about two minutes, then immediately plunge them into an ice bath until they are completely cool. Remove the tomatoes and pull off the skins.
(If making the gazpacho version, cut the tomatoes into quarters and combine them with the chopped cucumber, bell pepper, basil and onion, along with teaspoon of salt, and let sit overnight in the fridge. The next day, pull the tomatoes from this mixture and drain the juice. You can use the tomatoes in the salmorejo instructions below.)
Liquify the tomatoes (and gazpacho juice, if using) in a blender for about 30 seconds. Add the bread and liquify again. Allow this blend to sit for about five minutes.
Add the garlic, salt, vinegar and oil. If using lowacid heirloom tomatoes, you might need to add extra vinegar. Blend on high for a minute. Check the seasonings, and blend again if you made any adjustments. Chill. A garnish of chopped hardboiled egg, chopped prosciutto, a splash of olive oil, a sprinkle of fresh parsley or any combo of the above will complete the dish.
Serve with a glass of tinto de verano (red wine and Sprite), and toast the end of another great season. ■
Stuff to Do
Thursday09
West Slope Startup Week 2025, 8:30 a.m., Main Mall, 835 Main Ave.
HOPE Network Connection, Community and Care for Anyone Facing Cancer, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Cancer Support Community Southwest Colorado, 1701 Main Ave., Suite C
Craft and Connect, 3-5 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa Library, 11274 HWY 140
Crafternoons: Upcycled Book Pumpkins, 45:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
“Our Streets Our Stories,” Manna fundraiser, 4:30-7 p.m., Manna, 1100 Avenida del Sol
“Igniting Innovation” Colorado’s startup story with AG Phil Weiser, 5 p.m., The Arboretum, 270 CR 303
Fall Family Night Out, 5-7 p.m., Sonflower Christian Preschool, 1775 Florida Rd.
Weekly Dart Tournament, 5:30 p.m., Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
“Finding Common Ground with Our Youth,” nonviolent communication workshop with Rachel Turiel, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 1315 Main Ave., Ste 121
Author Kevin Fedarko, talk and book signing, 6 p.m., FLC Student Union Ballroom
Adam Swanson plays ragtime, 5:30-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic Night, 6 p.m., Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Dr.
Nerds Night Out Trivia, 6-8 p.m., EsoTerra Ciderworks, 558 Main Ave.
Matthew McDaniel plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Andrew Schuhmann plays, 6-9:30 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Comedy Open Mic, 6:30 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave.
Trivia Night on the Plaza, 6:30-8:30 p.m., The Powerhouse, 1333 Camino Del Rio
Fall Community Yard Sale, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Three Springs
Home Buyer Education Class, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Fort Lewis College
Apple Days Festival, Sat., 9 a.m.-12 noon, Buckley Park
Oxbow Plein Air Demo, 9 a.m.-12 noon, Oxbow Preserve
“Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion
Batteries in Your Home,” during Apple Days Festival, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Buckley Park
Fall Fest, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Durango Nursery, 271 Kaycee Lane
Fall Car & Bike Show, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Durango Harley-Davidson, 750 S. Camino del Rio
Family Day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Animas Museum, 3065 W. 2nd Ave.
Fall Book Sale & 12th Anniversary Celebration, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., White Rabbit Books & Curiosities, 128 W. 14th St., Ste C-2
“Rev Up & Pink Out” Breast Cancer Awareness Cookie Sale, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Durango Harley-Davidson, 750 S. Camino del Rio
Yarn Meetup, 1-3 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
“How to Write a Children’s Story” workshop presented by the Durango Library Literary Festival, 2-4 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Merely Players presents “Hamlet,” 2 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr.
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.
Derek Dames Ohl plays, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Merely Players presents “Hamlet,” 7 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr.
Soul Cages Trio with Nu Bass Theory play, 810 p.m., The iNDIGO Room, 1315 Main Ave., Ste. 207
EDM dance night with live DJs, 9 p.m., The Subterrain, 900 Main Ave.
Sunday12
Silent Book Club of Durango, 9-11 a.m., The Reading Room, 145 E. College Dr.
Eli Cartwright plays, 10 a.m.-12 noon, Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Damn the Moon plays, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Durango Coffee Co., 730 Main Ave.
Merely Players presents “Hamlet,” 2-5 p.m., Merely Underground, 789 Tech Center Dr.
Durango School District Board candidate forum presented by the League of Women Voters, 3:30-5:15 p.m., VFW, 1550 Main Ave.
Funk Jam Sessions presented by Jimmy’s Music &
AskRachel Carve wars, ice cream headache and pet peeved
Interesting fact: Studies show that, despite centuries of belief, milk products do not actually increase mucus production. They create the SENSATION of more mucus.
Dear Rachel,
What is the hands-down best way to cut a hole in a pumpkin before carving it? Traditionally it’s a hole in the top with the stem in the middle. Others say to cut a hole in the bottom. One wacko friend insists on cutting a hole in the back. The internet has other various weird ways of doing it. So tell us. What is the definitive Rachel answer?
– Jack O. Lantern
Dear Gourdon Lightface, Why have a separate pumpkin hole at all? I’m in the camp of cutting out a big ol’ mouth as the first step. Then take your hand mixer and stuff it in that pumpkin piehole and let ’er rip. Whisk out all those pumpkin innards
Supply, 5-7 p.m., 11th St. Station, 1101 Main Ave.
Tarot event with author Julie Loar, 6 p.m., Maria’s Bookshop, 960 Main Ave.
Blue Moon Ramblers play, 6-9 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Devin Scott plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Monday13
Courageous Colorado Activation Tour, 2-3:30 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave.
Mahjong Mondays, 5-7:30 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30 p.m., Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.
Adam Swanson plays ragtime, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Tuesday14
October Economic Alliance Meeting, 8-9 a.m., FLC Center for Innovation, 835 Main Ave, Ste 225
and spill them out the gaping maw. Less fuss. Less exposed pumpkin flesh susceptible to shriveling. Less pointless arguing amongst your friends.
– Smashing, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
Why is dairy so bad for a head cold? Ice cream makes everything else feel better. But apparently I’m not supposed to eat it when I have snot in my sinuses. I know I can do whatever I want, but it seems like the creamy stuff clogs up my face even more. It’s not fair, and I’m cranky about it. What light can you shed on this unfortunate truth?
– Milking It
Dear Snot-Nosed, If you’re anything like me, it stems from a childhood where being sick meant no enjoyable things to make you feel better. We don’t stay home from school just to watch TV and bring ourselves some modicum of comfort!
Breast Cancer Networking Group, 4-5 p.m., Cancer Support Community SW Colorado, 1701 Main Ave., Ste C
Barbershop tryouts, every Tues., 6:30 p.m., Christ the King Church, 495 Florida Rd.
Adam Swanson plays ragtime, 5:3010 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
Rotary Club of Durango presents student Elena Lopez on her experiences in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award program, 6-7 p.m., Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Wednesday15
Leadership & Management Training, 3-5 p.m., FLC Center for Innovation, 835 Main Ave., Ste 225
We stay home from school to suffer, because if we’re well enough to watch PBS and eat ice cream, we’re well enough to sit through arithmetic and get creamed in dodgeball.
– We all scream, Rachel
Dear Rachel,
My neighbor has issues with my dogs being dogs. But does he talk to me about it? Oh, no. He waits until I (a man) am out of town and berates my dogsitter (a woman) for my dog peeing on bushes along the sidewalk. I’m pretty nonconfrontational, but I want to be constructive with him and shut him down before he yells at any more of my friends. What do you think is the right way?
– Marking My Territory
Dear Boundary Patrol, If you live in Colorado, you gotta be OK with dogs in public places. Them’s the rules. Your neighbor doesn’t want
“Don’t Make it Weird: Being Who Youth Need Us to Be,” parent and caregiver free workshop, 5:30-7:30 p.m., The Hive, 1175 Camino del Rio
Adam Swanson plays ragtime, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave.
“Together in Light” in honor of pregnancy and infant loss awareness month, 6-8:30 p.m., Buckley Park
Jason Thies plays, 6-9 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave.
Open Mic, 7 p.m., EsoTerra, 558 Main Ave.
Comedy + Karaoke, 7 p.m., Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave.
Ongoing
“Spaces, Locations and Imagined Places” art show, thru Oct. 14, FLC Art Gallery
“Nature’s Tapestry in Plein Air,” juried exhibit thru Oct. 25, 5-7 p.m., Durango Arts Center, 802 E. 2nd Ave.
Matt Clark “From a Different
Email Rachel at telegraph@durango telegraph.com
to hear that, though. I’d have a civil conversation where you let him know you heard about how he spoke with your dogsitter and that he’s welcome to speak to you directly. And if he continues? I can’t recommend other places for your dogs to do their business, but hypothetically, his Halloween pumpkins make great targets.
– Hiking a leg, Rachel
Lens” exhibit, thru October, The Recess Gallery at Studio &, 1027 Main Ave.
“From the Fringes: Dine Textiles that Disrupt” exhibit, thru Nov. 13, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC
60-year celebration “A Legacy of Gifts,” thru Nov. 13, Center of Southwest Studies, FLC
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
Reliance’s HOA Board Member Celebration, Thurs., Oct. 16, 4-6 p.m., Lola’s Place, 725 E. 2nd Ave.
Cult Movie Night featuring “Eraserhead,” Thurs., Oct. 16, 6 p.m., Mancos Opera House, 136 Grand Ave.
Durango Open Studio Tour
Opening Art Exhibition, Fri., Oct. 17, 5-7 p.m., Durango Creative District, 1135 Main Ave.
Oct. 9, 2025 n 13
FreeWillAstrology
by Rob Brezsny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Life is tempting you to tiptoe to the brink of the threshold of the rawest truth, the wildest beauty and the most precious love. Your ancestors are conspiring with your guardian angels to lure you into the secret heart of the inner sanctum of spiritual truth. I am totally sincere and serious. You now have a momentous opportunity – a thrilling opening to commune with subtle powers that could provide you with profound guidance.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the forests of America’s Pacific Northwest, “nurse logs” lie fallen but fertile. These dead trees host seedlings, mosses and new saplings that rise from their decaying trunks. This is a powerful metaphor for you. Something old in you is crumbling, like outdated beliefs, outmoded duties or obsolete loyalties. Part of you may want to either grieve or ignore the shift. I assure you that fresh green vitality is sprouting from that seemingly defunct thing. What new possibility is emerging from what was supposed to end? Resurrection is at hand.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A deeper, wilder, smarter version of love is beckoning you from the horizon. Are you ready to head in its direction? I’m not sure you are. You may semi-consciously believe you already know what love is all about and are therefore closed to learning more. It’s also possible that your past romantic wounds have made you timid about exploring unfamiliar terrain. But, if you hope to get exposed to sweeter, less predictable kinds of intimacy, you will have to drop some (not all) of your protections and defenses. PS: At least one of your fears may be rooted in faulty logic.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Princess Diana transformed the British monarchy because she insisted that royal duty should include genuine emotional connection. She had close contact with youth who had nowhere to live. She walked through minefields as part of her efforts to rid the planet of that scourge. She hugged people with AIDS at a time when many feared such contact. “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward,” she said. Her ability to maintain grace while remaining emotionally authentic reflected a genius for blending strength with sensitivity. Can you guess her astrological sign? Cancerian, of course. Now is a perfect time for you to draw inspiration from her example. Express your wisely nurturing energy!
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Certain lions in Kenya have no manes. Scientists theorize it’s an adaptation to heat or a reflection of extra aggressive hunting strategies. But symbolically, it challenges expectations: Is royalty still royalty without the crown? I suspect you will soon be asked to explore your power without its usual accouterments. Can you properly wield your influence if you don’t unleash your signature roar and dazzle? Will quiet confidence or understated presence be sufficiently magnetic? Might you radiate even more potency by refining your fire? I think so. You can summon strength in subtlety and majesty in minimalism.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): During the next nine months, you will face a poignant and potentially inspiring choice: whether to wrangle with an endless tangle of mundane struggles or expand your vision and devote your energy intensely to serving your interesting, long-term dreams. I hope you choose the latter! For best results, get clear about your personal definition of success, in contrast to the superficial definitions that have been foisted on you by your culture. Can you visualize yourself years from now, looking back on your life’s greatest victories? You’re primed to enter a new phase of that glorious work, rededicating yourself with precise intentions and vigorous vows.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I’m pleased to inform you that the coming weeks will be an excellent time to make a big wish upon a bright star. But I must also tell you how important it is to be clear and exact. Even a slight error in formulating your wish could result in only a partial fulfillment. And aiming your plea at the wrong star could cause a long delay. Sorry I have to be so complicated, dear Libra. The fact is, it’s not always easy to know precisely what you yearn for and to ask the correct source to help you get it. But here’s the good news: You are currently in a phase when you’re far more likely than usual to make all the right moves.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): During World War II, Scorpio actor and inventor Hedy Lamarr developed frequency-hopping technology to prevent enemies from jamming torpedo-guidance systems. Her solution rapidly switched radio frequencies in hard-to-intercept patterns. The technology was so advanced that no one could figure out how to fully adopt it until years later. Engineers eventually realized that Lamarr’s invention was essential for WiFi, GPS and cell phone networks. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, you, too, have the potential to generate ideas that might
not be ready for prime time but could ultimately prove valuable. Trust your instincts about future needs. Your visionary solutions are laying the groundwork for contributions that won’t fully ripen for a while.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I guarantee you won’t experience a meltdown, crack-up or nervous collapse in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. What unfolds may bring a similar intensity, but in the opposite direction: a personal breakthrough, a cavalcade of illumination or a surge of awakening. I urge you to be alert and receptive for relaxing flurries of sweet clarity; or streams of insights that rouse a liberating integration; or a confluence of welcome transformations that lead you to unexpected healing. Can you handle so many blessings? I think you can. But you may have to expand your expectations to welcome them all.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1959, a Swedish engineer named Nils Bohlin designed the three-point seatbelt, revolutionizing car safety. Working for Volvo, he insisted the design must be made freely available to all car manufacturers. Bohlin understood that saving lives was more important than hoarding credit or profit. Your assignment is to give generously without fussing about who gets the applause. A solution or insight of yours could benefit many if you share it without reservation. Your best reward will be observing the beneficial ripple effects, not holding the patent.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your exploratory adventures out on the frontiers have been interesting and mostly successful, Aquarius. Congrats! I love how you have avoided tormenting yourself with self-doubt and roused more boldness than you’ve summoned in a long time. You have managed to ignore useless and superstitious fears even as you have wisely heeded the clues offered by one particular fear that was worth considering. Please continue this good work! You can keep riding this productive groove for a while longer.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In Korean tradition, mudangs are shamans who endure a personal crisis or illness and emerge with supernatural powers. They perform rituals to seek the favor of spirits. They heal the ancestral causes of misfortune and ensure good fortune, prosperity and well-being for the people they serve. Idon’t mean to imply you’re following a similar path, Pisces. But I do think your recent discomforts have been like an apprenticeship that has given you enhanced capacity to help others. How will you wield your power to bless and heal?
Deadline for Telegraph classified ads is Tuesday at noon.
Ads are a bargain at 10 cents a character with a $5 minimum
Even better, ads can now be placed online: durangotelegraph.com
Prepayment is required via cash, credit card or check. (Sorry, no refunds or substitutions.)
Ads can be submitted via: n classifieds@durango telegraph.com n 970-259-0133
Announcements
Roller Skating Club for adults forming. Interested? Come join us at Zia North upstairs 11/4 at 7pm. All are welcome! Questions? Call / text Todd @ 970-799-0139
ForRent
Professional Office Downtown near Main Ave, sunlit patio with Buckley Park views. All utilities included. Lease terms negotiable. 970.247.1233
Lost/Found
Help Cid Come Home
Last seen in Durango, 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.
Classes/Workshops
Yoga Teacher Training & Immersion
Begins October 24. Anu Yoga School · 100–300 hours · YA certified in our 8th year – A path to embodied joy, creatively alive, lineage-rooted anuyogaschool.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
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.
ForSale
Reruns Home Furnishings
Patio sets, bistros and yard art. Also looking to consign smaller furniture pieces. 572 E. 6th Ave. Open Mon.-Sat.
Wanted
Books Wanted at White Rabbit
Donate/Trade/Sell 970 259-2213
BodyWork
Massage by Meg Bush LMT, 30, 60 & 90 min., 970-759-0199.
Services
Boiler Service - Water Heater
Serving Durango over 30 years. Brad, 970-759-2869. Master Plbg Lic #179917
Chapman Electric
Specializing in remodels, repairs, and additions both big and small. Local and reliable. Colorado Licensed Master Electrician. Mike 970-403-6670
CommunityService
The Durango Area Association of Realtors is accepting grant funding requests from local nonprofit organizations. Qualifying organizations must be in La Plata or San Juan County, Colo. Preference will be given to housing and family support organizations. Deadline for submission is Oct. 20. For information, call 970-247-9604.
Free community yoga classes at Smiley Building Room 20A: “Yoga of Recovery” (Tues. 10-11:15): Address addictive habits in a supportive environment. “Pain Care Yoga” (Tues. 4:30-5:45): Pain management and improved movement. innerpeaceyoga therapy.com/locations/durango/
