Ear to the ground

“I guess now I have to say I’m going over to ride Ned.”

– A local woman commenting on the proper protocol over the recent name change from Durango Mountain Park to Overend Mountain Park

Green pizza

Durangoans is getting a grip on its pizza print. HomeSlice Pizza has once again taken the first step into the green oven and is now offering recycled pizza boxes.

Frequent flyers at the College Drive pizza joint can pick up a Hybrid Pizza Box on their next visit. The plastic box is designed for reuse, easy cleaning, compact storage and can be used over and over again. And when you’ve eaten and beaten your hybrid to its “end-of-life” it can be recycled. Depending on the severity of your pepperoni habit, a single reusable pizza box can eliminate more than 125 pounds of one-time use cardboard. HomeSlice is charging $10 for the boxes, but then will knock a buck off the price of every pizza you purchase.

The move is the latest in the series of green moves by owners Corey and Lynn Kitch. The shop is currently powered totally by green energy; everything that comes in or out of the shop is recycled; and HomeSlice broke new ground several years ago by offering electric car delivery in and around town. The reusable box was a logical next step.

“This will cut down on a lot of waste for us as well as everyone else in town,” said Corey Kitch. “Plus we’ll be lightening the load over at the Tech Center, and the guys at the recycling center are sure to be happy about that.”

Stolen Weenies

The Durango sign bandit is once again up to mischief. The crook that helped the likes of P is for Peanut and Bad Boy Bagelry on their way to restaurant heaven has a new target. The sign thief recently hit Screamin Weenies, a relatively new establishment at the corner of College and Main Avenue.

The hot dog vendor had just hit its fourth month of business (a milestone for any Durango mom and pop) when the criminal struck. The green oval sign was lifted in broad daylight during the afternoon of Fri., March 5.

The sign can be returned, no questions asked, to the downtown store. Anyone with information leading to the apprehension of the weenie thief is encouraged to call 259-3005. Good knockwurst karma and a free dog or two await the sausage samaritan.