A bad deal for the local economy

Dear Readers,

Durango is one of the healthiest towns in America without a doubt. We have endless amounts of outdoor activities to get us out and move our happy little bodies around. Not to mention the fact that there are not one, not two, but now three natural foods stores to choose from, the same amount of big chain grocery stores in town. This brings me to my point today, as the spring buds begin to stretch their legs and jump for joy at the warm, long days they are basking in. The new natural foods store sure is great with interesting new products to choose from and low-priced items, but remember friends, just because it’s a deal doesn’t mean that it’s good for the local economy. Sure they have cheap food but how much of that food is locally grown or created? Sure it’s organic and all natural, but is your dollar going to help our locally owned and operated natural foods stores? Durangoans have a knack for helping each other out, and with the current times, I think that shopping and buying locally produced goods will help our town get through it all just fine and dandy. Just remember when you’re shopping at our longtime local shops that they do go out of the way to stock as much regionally produced goods as they can to support each other. With us continuing to shop there as well, we will be doing the same by helping them out, thus the beautiful cycle continues. Now I’m not one to pass up a good deal when I see one by all means, and will be showing my face in our new natural foods store from time to time, no doubt. Partly due to the bike commute convenience it gives to my part of town, as well as the few items not found in our other two wonderful shops. But keep in mind the local companies that are a part of this town when buying groceries, such as: Bread, Turtle Lake Refuge, Tortillas Mas Finas, La Boca Farms, Ohara’s Jams, San Juan Mustard, Silverton Chocolate, Desert Sun Coffee, Honeyville, Waves of Grain, James Ranch, Adobe Milling and so much more. I’m proud to tell my family and visitors that Durango has as many natural

– Cody Edwards, via e-mail

A tasteless take on Texas

Dear Editors,

Chris’ “Top Shelf” comments about Texans and the State of Texas last week were pretty despicable and tasteless. Who the hell is Chris Aaland anyway and where does he come off dissing an entire state? I think Chris is a punk and a moron. I cannot believe that the Telegraph let this garbage onto the pages of their rag. It’s distasteful and arrogant comments like Chris’ that make Durangoans look like a bunch of snobby assholes. You want other states to think that Durango is comprised of nearly 16,000 assholes? Chris does, and sometimes I think the Telegraph just doesn’t care if they do also. It appears Chris has forgotten that it’s the thousands of good, hard-working Texans whose support of local businesses allow those businesses to place ads in the Telegraph, which helps pay the bills and keep this rag going. I don’t imagine Chris knows diddly about economics though. Enough already with the defamatory remarks about Texans. Where is the love and the tolerance? Here in Durango, we’re mostly from somewhere else but the bottom line is that we’re all Americans and these states are just imaginary lines. There are many cool people who moved here from Texas and made new lives for themselves to live the Durango lifestyle, and who are sick of hearing comments like yours. And to poke fun of someone’s weight? Lame!! Chris, do you live in Durango? Have you never noticed the vast amounts of monster trucks with Colorado plates idling in front of grocery stores? Why not poke fun at your fellow Coloradans? You write off 24 million people because of your narrow mindedness?? Willie Nelson is an icon and one of the greatest Americans to walk our soils; you should read Willie’s book The Tao of Willie, A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart, because right now Willie wouldn’t pass the joint your way.

I guess I should say thanks Chris for not writing your crap for the March 12 Telegraph when the Gourds came to Durango (hey moron do you know the Gourds live in Austin, TX?). It would have broken my heart to have seen the Gourds show up in Durango to play for their awaiting fans, grab a copy of the Telegraph and read your slander in the Top Shelf about their home state and the people who live in it. Your attempt at the end to list good things to come out of Texas doesn’t do justice to smooth over your previous lousy comments.

Do us all a favor Chris, go away.

– Edward Mora, via e-mail

Don’t mess with Texas

Dear Editors,

After discussing your article on p. 19, “Messing with Texas … ” with many, many people, I just have to write. Perhaps it was a case of writer’s block or simply just a lack of literary skill that led Chris Aaland to start an article about the excellent entertainment coming to Durango’s local scene with an absolutely unnecessary and unforgivable rag on Texans. Were the examples and harsh generalizations really appropriate to introduce the music coming to town? I’m sorry if Chris had a bad day at the hands of someone with a Texas plate, but where’s the professionalism?

I’m wondering if Chris took the time to think out the consequences of any Texan, or any tourist for that matter, financially supporting one of the local coffee companies or eateries in town and reading your ill-intended publication at the checkout counter. In these economically challenging times, how could he or the editors be so shortsighted as to spit in the face of the people who are supporting our local economy and merchants? I’m not OK with idling trucks either (great topic for “Thumbin’ it,” by the way), but we all choose to live here because it is an amazing place where others choose to spend their vacation time. With that tourist traffic comes the occasional and unfortunate “differences in lifestyle” or potential for ignorance. With the tens of thousands of Texans that roll through here each year, I’d say they blend in fairly well and most people barely notice them.

I can’t even begin to address how uncool your comment of the “two-axe-handle-wide spouses can waddle … .” Do you really believe, and are you seriously OK with, generalizing 24 million Texans into overweight, bad drivers? How unkind of you to be so shallow and stereotypical. Some of the best athletes I know are Texans. I might add that some of the most environmentally conscious, green living people I know are Texans. You forget how many “Texans” have chosen our lifestyle and now call Durango home, again, supporting our local charities, businesses and overall community.

My profession exposes me to Texans all the time, and I have to say that they are some of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever met. I’m an East Coaster myself, and find their openness refreshing….

Perhaps a more constructive article in your paper to educate our tourists on how we like things done here would prove less rude?

– Judi  Nutter, via e-mail

(Chris Aaland responds: I’m actually an ex-Texan myself, having grown up in San Antonio and Pasadena. I also endured the wrath of angry Coloradans in the 1970s – in Aspen, Glenwood Springs and countless other Colorado towns. This was satire. Satire, by nature, pokes fun at things that are easy targets, yet exposes faults in each and every one of us. If it offended you, you have my sincere apologies. If it caused you to stop and think – even if about idling Hummers in the City Market parking lot – then it served its purpose.)

Crosstown traffic

Dear Editors,

I have to disagree with your reason for the thumbs down in the March 19 issue regarding the accident near the new library. It was not a case of “traffic was once again going over the top.” From all reports the driver of the vehicle was driving below the speed limit and was not at fault. It was the child and his parent who were at fault. No citation was given to the driver. I was taught as soon as I could walk NOT to run into the street.  

– Pete Brower, Breen