Bag ban a no-brainer
To the editor,
While walking downtown I noticed a poster regarding a screening of the movie “Bag It,” which promotes the banning of single-use plastic bags. It will be shown at the Smiley Building on Nov. 17 at 6:30 pm. What a great opportunity for everybody to get more information about the effects of single use plastic bags (grocery bags, etc.) on our environment. When I watched the movie a few months ago, it convinced me even more that banning these bags is a simple but important step toward a wiser use of oil.
 
Actually, I am surprised there is a public debate about this issue, and that people start to worry about dog poop, or how to keep veggies fresh. Don’t worry, without single-use plastic grocery bags, there will still be more than enough other plastic coming into your kitchen, simply because almost everything is wrapped in plastic. Besides, you can buy biodegradable plastic bags for your dog’s doodoo.
 
In Holland, my country of origin, we never get plastic bags at the checkout. You bring your own bags, you grab a cardboard box, or you buy a big sturdy multi-use bag at the checkout. No one ever complains about this or consumes less because of it. Furthermore, I have never heard any comments that personal freedom has been compromised because of a plastic bag!
 
In the United States, the average person uses 500 of these bags per year, only to get the groceries to the car. I am not saying that the Dutch are less wasteful than Americans; I am only suggesting that this ban is something Americans can do. It does not affect your happiness or standard of living in a negative way; your groceries will still make it to fridge. We need to do a lot more than banning single-use plastic bags if we want our children’s children to enjoy the beauty of our planet, but this will make a difference, one step at a time.  This ban seems a “no brainer” to me.
 
– Mip van Suchtelen, Amsterdam/Durango

Group effort helps Wolfwood stay open
Dear Editor,
I am proud to announce that, thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, donors, members of the Durango community, and the Telegraph, Wolfwood Refuge has passed its USDA inspection and is now licensed to continue its outreach and educational programs.
 
In the past years, we have worked with more than 30 different youth organizations, including many school programs here in our area. We would like to especially thank Sens. Udall and Bennet for being aware of and responding to the many letters sent to their offices on WolfWood’s behalf. Wanda Carson, Sen. Udall’s local liaison, was personally on hand for one of our inspections, and available to all the concerned citizens who visited her office.
 
We are fortunate to live in a place where people care and take an interest in safeguarding a unique local resource like WolfWood Refuge. Look for us to resume our programs in the spring, while we continue to save the lives of animals from all over the country. We are truly blessed.
 
– Paula Watson, director, WolfWood Refuge

Leave Wasatch un‘tram’meled
Dear Editor,
I read the piece in “Mountain Exchange” (Telegraph, Nov. 3),”Wasatch Ski Connect Gains Support,” with dismay. The blurb read more like a press release from the developers than an accounting of the facts. The issue of stringing lifts and gondolas willy-nilly over the Wasatch à la Europe is certainly not without controversy, and despite what the ski industry’s lackey says, “99 percent” of the people do not, in fact, support the project.
 
Problems with the proposal include ruining the remote character of the Wasatch Crest Trail/Desolation Trail (one of the premier mountain bike rides in Utah), adding more skiers to the already crowded slopes in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, the potential destruction of some of the best and most accessible hike-served backcountry skiing in the United States, new roads and infrastructure in pristine alpine habitat and increased pressure on powder already hacked up by ill-conceived heli-skiing.
 
Do we really want the overdeveloped European Alps in the Intermountain West? Solitude Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon has a deserved name - but not with a tram carrying 400 people per hour over from Park City.  Having been born at Alta, raised in Park City, worked at Brighton and having loved skiing many places in between, I say keep the three canyons separate and without new lifts/trams/gondolas, and leave the backcounrty to those with the motivation to access it on foot!
 
– Sincerely, Tim D. Peterson

Brit seeks Durango pen pal
To the editor,
A couple of years back, my husband and I greatly enjoyed a visit to Durango. We were based in Denver and travelled on the historic Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
 
Because we enjoyed our trip to Durango so very much, I am now writing to ask if any of the readers of your newspaper would like to correspond with me.
 
My family and I live near the historic Robin Hood town of Nottingham. We are also close to the 12th century Newstead Abbey, the former home of the famous poet Lord Byron, which is popular with American visitors.
 
I used to be a guide at Newstead Abbey and love it very much.
 
I should enjoy hearing more about Durango and its history.
– Yours most sincerely, Mrs. M. Ellis
69, Mansfield Road, Papplewick,
Nottingham, NG 8FJ
Great Britain


Street sleep while city sleeps
To the editor,
Why is it that the street sweeper went by at 2 p.m.? There were all the usual city workers who park up here in the residential area, plus the resident’s cars where they could fit them. The streetsweeper went by twice and all the gutters are still filled with leaves (and candy wrappers!) because he coudn’t get to the gutters for all the cars.
 
I’m going to spend an afternoon cleaning the gutters with a shovel and gloves, but most gutters will stay full. I don’t mind, really, but as I toil, I can’t help thinking that the street sweeper burned gas and city funds to do that very job. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to have the sweeper come by at night before every inch of gutter is taken up by cars? Either that, or just save money and fuel, and keep it parked.
 
– Robin Wallace, Durango

 

In this week's issue...

January 25, 2024
Bagging it

State plastic bag ban is in full effect, but enforcement varies

January 26, 2024
Paper chase

The Sneer is back – and no we’re not talking about Billy Idol’s comeback tour.

January 11, 2024
High and dry

New state climate report projects continued warming, declining streamflows