Ear to the ground

“I’m pretty sure everyone in town has seen my boobs.”

-New mom on one of the lesser benefits of breast feeding

In spite of the message Mother Nature is currently sending, opening day is just around the corner at Durango Mountain Resort. As in past years, locals can kick off the season Nov. 23 with $10 lift tickets, and all proceeds benefit a worthy local nonprofit. This year, DMR has selected Trails 2000 as the Benefit Day recipient. “We are excited to be the recipient of Durango Mountain Resort’s 2005 Benefit Day,” said Bill Manning, Executive Director of Trails 2000. “The money raised will help contribute to our goal of keeping area trails in great shape and accessible for everyone.”

Trails 2000 was founded in 1990 and since then has organized thousands of volunteers, working on an average of 27 trails covering 103 miles each year. The funds collected from Benefit Day will be used to help Trails 2000 lease a new trail machine. The small, specialized piece of motorized equipment will be used for key projects to maintain and construct trail-width paths that are user friendly, sustainable and environmentally sensitive. “Durango has long been known for some of the best trail systems in the country, and we’re glad to be able to support an organization that has done so much for this community,” said Hank Thiess, DMR general manager.  

Beginning Nov. 14, $10 Benefit Day lift tickets will be available at the two City Markets, Albertson’s and Nature’s Oasis. DMR and Trails 2000 will also host a special Benefit Day party at Steamworks on Nov. 17 during Pint Night, with tickets on sale. All pre-sale lift tickets also qualify buyers for a raffle worth a 2005/06 winter season pass and a trip to Kirkwood Mountain Resort.

Last year’s event raised more than $23,000 for the Durango Discovery Museum. Since its 1994 inception, Benefit Day has raised more than $190,000 for local nonprofits.

A Main Avenue mainstay and a steady voice for independent, local business received high honors recently.  

Maria’s Bookshop and owner Andrea Avantaggio have been tapped as the Gordon Saull Bookseller of the Year. Avantaggio was awarded at the recent Fall Trade Show of the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Association in Denver.  The MPBA is the trade organization for approximately 300 independent bookstores in an 11-state region and promotes excellence in publishing, distribution, promotion and selling of books. 

As an added bonus of the award, Avantaggio had the opportunity to designate a recipient for a $300 donation from MPBA. The Bright Beginnings program at the Durango Family Center was selected, and the donation will be used to continue their “warm welcome” visits to newborns in La Plata County.