Editor’s note: The Durango Herald has promoted Katie Chicklinski-Cahill to its arts & entertainment editor. She replaces David Holub, who has become the full-time editor of DGO, our free weekly A&E and culture magazine. Chicklinski-Cahill brings several years of journalism experience to her new position and will work toward making our A&E coverage in print and online a robust selection of stories.Amy Maestas, senior editor

Every once in a while, the job as editor for the Arts & Entertainment section opens up and a new person gets to take the helm. In the time I’ve been at the Herald, I’ve seen six people tackle the job.

I’m pretty psyched that now it’s my turn – lucky No. 7.

First, a little biographical stuff. I was born and raised in Connecticut and moved to Durango in 1994. I graduated from Fort Lewis College in 1999 and returned to FLC soon after to work on a journalism/communications degree. During my second go-around, I worked as the editor in chief for The Independent, and subsequently got a job as an editorial assistant for the Herald.

Flash forward about 15 years, a family, a mortgage, student loans from the two collegiate tours of duty, a few promotions, and here we are.

When it comes to everything that makes up the surprising huge world of arts and entertainment in Durango and the surrounding area, it’s amazing to see the cool things people are doing: playing instruments, writing songs, painting, sculpting, memorizing and acting out pages and pages of lines – and then taking the risk to do these things in front of an audience.

These are the things that give me goose bumps, and this is what I can’t wait to cover.

And, as an avid reader, music collector, knitter, tap dance class-taker and enthusiastic (but really, really awful) singer, A&E is what I’m into.

So let’s celebrate the things you guys are doing – I want to know about the concerts, the dances, the art openings. Drop me a line to tell me what you’re up to, and we’ll try to let everybody else in on it.

Feel free to reach me by email at katie@durangoherald.com or by phone at 375-4558.

Oh, and let’s have a little fun while we’re at it.

katie@durangoherald.com