Durango and Around
The spotlight is on the Durango Independent Film Festival, Feb. 27 through Mar. 2
The little festival that could… Never doubt what a handful of devoted volunteers can accomplish with hard work, community support and vision. ” DURANGO, Colo. – Fans of cinema delight. The Durango Independent Film Festival returns to the Historic Downtown for a five day-run beginning Feb. 27. More than 100 diverse films – from features to short shorts – will be screened at the Gaslight and Abbey theaters, with additional...
Caring about the community, the Railroad employs earth friendly efforts
“Going Green” is not something most would associate with coal-fired steam engines, but for the owners of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, making a concerted effort to shrink the carbon footprint is the “right thing to do.” DURANGO, Colo. – Al Harper, owner of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG), tends to be on guard when members of the general public call. He’s become accustomed to...
Meet Ron LeBlanc, Durango’s new City Manager
Summary: One month on the job and new Durango City Manager Ron LeBlanc is just beginning to learn the complexities of this unique mountain town. ” DURANGO, Colo. – One month on the job, and new Durango City Manager Ron LeBlanc is just beginning to learn the complexities of this unique mountain town. LeBlanc was hired formally on Oct. 23, 2007, to fill the shoes of Robert Ledger, who retired following nearly 25 years of...
THE STATE OF LA PLATA COUNTY
Image:Summary:The President delivers the State of the Union address and the Governor reports on the State of the State, so it is only appropriate that the residents of La Plata County should receive a State of the County report from the County Commissioners concerning condition of the county. The President delivers the State of the Union address and the Governor reports on the State of the State, so it is only appropriate that the...
Going “green” is a growing concern at Rochester Hotel/Leland House
In the ‘90s, owners of The Leland House and Rochester Hotel were leaders in the Renaissance of E. Second Ave. Today, they are proving that a hotel can also lead the way in community sustainability. ” DURANGO, Colo. – In the ‘90s, owners of The Rochester Hotel and Leland House were leaders in the Renaissance of E. Second Ave. Today, they are proving that a hotel can also lead the way in Durango’s community sustainability....
Leadership La Plata 2.0 explores multi-culturalism
Durango is the most ethnically diverse resort town in Colorado, but do its residents really understand how to build a healthy, multi-cultural community? Leadership La Plata graduates wanted to find out. DURANGO, Colo. – Understanding, appreciating and embracing multi-culturalism. Is it important? For the betterment of the community (albeit the world), the alumni of Leadership La Plata (LLP) believes so. On the heels of the...
Community Concert Hall Director Gary Penington to retire
After nearly 12 years at the helm of Durango’s premier performing arts venue, the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, Managing Director Gary Penington will move on to new professional ventures as of April 2008. DURANGO, Colo. – The end of an era is coming to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. After nearly 12 years at the helm of Durango’s premier performing arts venue – from construction through its 10th...
Animas Museum raises the roof and prepares to construct new “Home for History”
” DURANGO, Colo. – Every town has a heritage, but few embrace it as ardently as Durango and surrounding La Plata County. And keeping the proverbial flames of passion fanned is the Animas Museum, operated by the La Plata County Historical Society. Located in a quiet residential neighborhood at 3065 W. 2nd Ave., the Animas Museum has a nearly 35 year history itself, with a permanent collection of some 35,000 objects ranging from...
Riverfront, mixed-use project in Downtown Durango underway at 1111 Camino
Image: Summary: For decades Durango has turned its back on the Animas River. With the blossoming of developers Dan Baker and Mynders Glover’s 1111 Camino mixed-use project, a new era for the river corridor is dawning. ” DURANGO, Colo. – Though its name is literally translated as “river town,” Durango, Colorado, has, throughout its history, essentially turned its back on that natural asset, the Animas River. The Animas...
Nature’s Oasis breaks ground for new, expanded store
Back in 1993, when Sherri and Jeff Watson bought a little rundown health food store on North Main, few shared the vision. Today, Nature’s Oasis has broken ground on its new nearly 21,000 square foot operation near Bodo Park. ” DURANGO, Colo. – Back in the early ‘90s, when Sherri Watson made the rounds searching for financing for her fledgling natural foods store, the lenders in town treated her like an uninformed little...
Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County – Investing in Tomorrow
Image:Summary:Vaughn Morris, director of the new Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County, is firm when he says, “Why a Boys & Girls Club? I would answer that ‘Why not?’” “DURANGO, Colo. – It’s raucous. It’s deafening. It’s frenetic. It’s kids doing what they do best – being kids. The new Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County is now open for business. “Why a Boys & Girls Club? I would answer that ‘Why not?’” said...
Phoenix Recycling: not only risen from proverbial ashes but flying high
Phoenix Recycling – with curbside, document shredding and construction recycling divisions – is a bit of a homegrown phenomenon – birthed out the passion of its owners Mark Thompson and Alex Arribau… DURANGO, Colo. – It seems that Durango is always a little bit ahead of the curve, blessed with innovative businesses and forward-think individuals with entrepreneurial vision and drive. One such example is Phoenix Recycling. And in this...
Community celebrates the release of Rhythms of Durango, an eclectic mix of the sounds of Downtown
The hills are literally alive with the sound of music: Rhythms of Durango, Volume Two, celebrates local musicians and supports Historic Downtown Durango… DURANGO, Colo. – The Strater Hotel lived up to its reputation as a venue for live local music on Nov. 23, as its Diamond Belle Saloon was literally alive with the sounds of Durango music during the release of Rhythms of Durango. Lacey Black, Daniel Rottenberg, Greg Ryder,...
Rhythms of Durango, Volume Two, to be released Nov. 23
Image:Summary:Durango Business Improvement District produces second CD of local music. – Rhythms of Durango, Volume Two, an eclectic mix of the sounds of downtown featuring 18 local artists who perform in and around the Historic Downtown, will be released Fri., Nov. 23, at a special reception held 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., at the Strater Hotel’s Diamond Belle Saloon. The promotional CD is produced by the Durango Business Improvement District...
Concerned community members find out what’s up Downtown
The proverbial “shoulder” season is in full swing. The leaf-peeping tourists have fled, and the skiers and riders are yet to arrive. A moment of peace in Downtown Durango? Hardly. DURANGO, Colo. – The proverbial “shoulder” season is in full swing. The leaf-peeping tourists have fled, and the skiers and riders are yet to arrive. A moment of peace in Downtown Durango? Hardly. Some construction is underway, with a few sidewalks and roads...
Durango Business Improvement District celebrates 10th Anniversary
It’s been ten years since the Durango City Council authorized a grassroots coalition of concerned business people to hold an election to form a Durango Business Improvement District. DURANGO, Colo. – Though it’s been ten years since a grassroots coalition of concerned business people petitioned the Durango City Council to form a business improvement district, “The BID,” as it’s often referenced today, is still something of a...
Friends of the Durango Public Library launch “101 Campaign”
As the new library goes vertical, a one-time capital campaign designed to meet the community commitment to the much-needed facility is underway. ” DURANGO, Colo. – One-time; one-on-one; 101 years old. These are the multiple meanings carried in the designation of the Friends of the Durango Public Library’s “101 Campaign,” a capital campaign to help bridge the gap between available city funding for construction of the new library...
The Commons: One stop learning where learning never stops
One building providing an umbrella for educational, career, technical, environmental conservation and family support services – who would have thought? DURANGO, Colo. – One evening Paulette Church, director of the Durango Adult Education Center, was heading along West 7th Street toward Camino del Rio, and it hit her. “I thought, ‘We could fit there,’” she said. Sitting directly ahead of her was the behemoth 701 Camino del Rio, more...
Edgemont Highlands emerging as premier example of sustainable development.
Image: Summary: Edgemont Highlands is, at its core,designed with respect for the natural features of the property – beautiful, but a challenge at best, given the rugged, rocky terrain, studded with dense Ponderosa pine and Gambel oak. By Indiana Reed ” DURANGO, Colo. – Growth. For years the residents of La Plata County in general, and Durango in particular, have heard that there’s no stopping it. As long as quality of...
Say “Yes Ma’am” to “Building a Dream” – Campaign for Breast Care Center underway
Image: Summary: “October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but awareness is also being raised throughout the region for construction of a state-of-the-art Breast Care Center at Mercy Regional Medical Center ” ” DURANGO, Colo. – The dragonfly – a clever marketing messenger – is bringing the news. News of breast cancer awareness, and of the $3.4 million capital campaign under way to fund construction of a...
