The long-awaited opening of the Durango Nordic Center on Dec. 21.

Durango’s Todd and Troy Wells scoring the cover of Velonews for their national cyclocross championships
The passage of the Winter Solstice and the steady return of daylight
The Durango City Council airing its dirty laundry in front of the public eye
Efforts to sneak drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge through as a rider on must-pass legislation
The foolish crusade to replace “Happy Holidays” with “Merry Christmas”