“What do you mean you’re not going to drink? You’re going on the river.”

– Overheard near the Animas River put-in this week

Icing on the rink

Hockey may be the farthest thing from most Durangoans’ minds right now. But two of Durango’s women’s hockey teams put the icing on their 2008-09 season last weekend.

The Durango Fury and High Country Hellcats both came home victorious from the 8th annual Front Range Face Off, held in Denver on May 9 & 10. The all-women’s tournament drew 22 teams from such far flung exotic locales as the Twin Cities, Los Angeles and Dallas.  

However, the big city skaters proved no match for the Hellcats, who beat the Minnesota Renegades in the Plains Division (B) finals in a score of 4-1. The Fury, competing in the Platte Division (C), came from behind to beat their not-quite-so-exotic intramountain rival, the Crested Butte/Gunnison Bladies, 2-1. The Fury victory came thanks to a third period one-timer from winger Stacy Falk.

The Mother’s Day victory for the Hellcats was made even sweeter by the fact that all of the goals were scored by the mother-daughter duo of Ayla and Tig Moore. Tig, a mere freshman at Durango High School, took home Most Valuable Player honors (as well as Monday morning sleeping-in privileges) in her division, thanks to a championship game hat trick and some solid Canadian lineage.

Russell Engineering weekend warrior Lori Moore took home MVP for The Fury.

In other action, The Fury was also had a strong showing in the after-hours Beer Pong tournament, despite a looming 7 a.m. playoff game. Although the team failed to log any beer pong MVP honors, there was talk of a 2010 rematch for the coveted matching Jose Cuervo serape koozies.

Dandy fest

The much maligned dandelion has its day this week in Durango. The first ever Dandelion Festival, which features live music, eats and dande-libations, is set for 1-10 p.m. on Sat,, May 16, at Rotary Park.

The festival gets under way with informative and entertaining workshops like dandelion wine and seed ball making, Tsalagi moving meditation,n and more. Zia Taqueria, Sunnyside Meats and Turtle Lake Refuge will be on hand, providing food all day. Dandelion wine also will be flowing as well as one-of-a-kind Dandelion Beer, made by the Durango Bootleggers Society. Revelers are encouraged to dress up Beltaine style for a costume contest, while A Dub Rock Band, and D.J. and the Dance Sanctuary will provide entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening.

Funds raised at the festival will help launch “Grassroots,” Turtle Lake Refuge’s new organic lawn care service. Grassroots hopes to offer a viable organic alternative for healthy lawn care. 

For more information, contact Carsten at 426-8902.