Author - The Durango Herald

People deserve to live independently, with integrity

Harry is an 85-year-old senior living alone in his home with neighbors checking in on him now and then. His children and grandchildren live out of state and express concerns about his abilit...

DATE: Jun 1, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Organizations should aspire to use quality listening

There is a line from the comedy movie “Dumb and Dumber” where goofball Harry says, “She gave me a bunch of crap about me not listening to her enough or something. I don’t know. I wasn’t real...

DATE: May 25, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Host homes expand family beyond traditional bounds

“Family” is a far bigger word than it looks on the page. While the standard definition of family may refer to the people we are born with, marry or give birth to, I believe we all know that ...

DATE: May 11, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Are you and your family prepared for an emergency?

Given the busy lives we lead, planning for an emergency may not be at the top of your to do list. However, given one of driest winters on record, fire managers are preparing for an intense f...

DATE: May 4, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Good work, Colorado, but we still have a long way to go

On March 21, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill that represents one more step forward in the efforts to recognize people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as equal and contr...

DATE: Apr 13, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Help stop violence by recognizing contributions of people with disabilities

On March 1, communities across the country held vigils to remember the lives of people with disabilities lost to filicide. In the past five years, more than 550 individuals with ...

DATE: Mar 10, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Public health works to protect your water, air quality

In the Four Corners, we love our world-class mountains, deserts, forests and rivers. Most people worry about water and air quality in this context – are we protecting our rivers from the imp...

DATE: Mar 2, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

It’s almost Valentine’s Day: Let’s talk about intimacy

Love it or loathe it, it’s coming: Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is a whirlwind of romance, fancy dates, chocolates, flowers. Or it’s a sad reminder of the lack of intimacy in our lives. ...

DATE: Feb 9, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Program strives to help La Plata County’s young people

San Juan Basin Public Health continually works to meet the community’s needs and therefore strives to be a flexible, responsive agency. What was once referred to as “Health Polic...

DATE: Feb 2, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

When we learn to stand up, we can make this world better

Martin Luther King once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” To act or speak is to be a subject, while objects are those that are acted upon. ...

DATE: Jan 12, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Coordinators can help navigate health care system

Until you have cared for a sick child, spouse, friend or loved one, you may not truly understand that health care is not “one size fits all.” Although a diagnosis may be the same, never is t...

DATE: Jan 5, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Charitable giving should come from your heart, head

While shopping downtown this holiday season, you may have noticed the “Make It Count” giving campaign organized by our Durango Business Improvement District. This campaign encourages people ...

DATE: Dec 29, 2017 | CATEGORY: Creating Community