Ear to the ground

“What’s the point of making a movie if everyone ends up dead?”

– School kid offering up his two cents upon departing from the kids program of the Durango Film Fest  

Quiznos hits a detour

The stage may be set for this year’s Quizno’s Pro Challenge, but 2012’s race has hit a speed bump. The weeklong road race, which takes place in August, was planning on holding a stage of next year’s race in the Colorado Monument, outside Grand Junction. However, for the safety of riders and support crews, this would require closing the Monument’s main thoroughfare, Rim Road, for at least six hours.

But David Nimkin, Southwest Region director for the National Parks Conservation Association is not so keen on the idea. “You have a major transportation stem that goes through the park, so that if you close it, you pretty much limit access to the entire park,” he told Colorado News Connection, a statewide news service.

The Monument’s superintendent has rejected Quizno’s request, suggesting instead that the tour hold a “celebratory lap” along Rim Road. Race organizers rejected this suggestion. Now, Sen. Mark Udall and Gov. John Hickenlooper have joined the fray, encouraging a compromise.

“We believe that showcasing this majestic area as part of this world-class cycling event will bring beneficial commerce and attention to this important part of the state,” Udall and Hickenlooper wrote. “In addition, Colorado can significantly add to the stature and profile of the effort to designate the Monument as a National Park, while illustrating that Coloradans can effectively balance the often competing interests of use and protection.”

A request in California in 2009 to shut down the only road through Yosemite was also turned down because of environmental and commercialization concerns. “We need to draw the line at commercializing our national parks and recognize that … they aren’t a particular favorite of any one corporate or commercial interest,” said Nimkin.

Free Durango

Thrifty Durangoans hunting for the ultimate bargain (read: free) no longer need make the 2-hour trek to Telluride. Durango now has an official free box to call its very own, on the first floor of The Commons building, 701 Camino del Rio.

The overriding theme is “bring what you can and take what you need,” although large items, ratty couches or bug-infested mattresses need not apply.

“Most of what is at the free box is clothes (all ages) and small household items. But there are also books, sometimes dry goods, shoes, toys, etc.,” said Grisela Piccaso, of the La Plata Unity Project, which is housed in The Commons building.

She said there was a free box a few years back, which disappeared. However it was brought back due to popular demand. It was brought back, bigger and better, thanks to donations that were used to remodel the space.