Briefs - The Durango Herald

Matheson awarded Durango Botanic Gardens Docent of the Quarter

Sharon Matheson was awarded the Durango Botanic Gardens Docent of the Quarter Award during the docent social on Sept. 8. She and her husband moved to Durango in 1988. Matheson is a forester...

DATE: Sep 21, 2022 | CATEGORY: Business

Fort Lewis College announces new athletic wellness coach

Regina Curry was recently promoted to athletic wellness coach at Fort Lewis College. Curry is a licensed professional counselor, school counselor, sports psychologist and parenting expert. ...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Business

Comfort Keepers announces new hire

Comfort Keepers In Home Care welcomes Lacey Enderle to its team as its client services manager. Enderle moved to Durango in 2006. She has been an active member of the community by providing ...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Business

Senior Center Calendar: Sept. 19-23

Durango/La Plata Senior Center 2424 Main Ave., 382-6445 Events Monday 10:30 a.m.: Computer Class, Watch Your Step Marvel Methodist Church 11 a.m.: Chair Zumba 12:30 p.m.: Duplica...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Community

Fort Lewis College Calendar: Sept.19-23

Visit www.fortlewis.edu, click the “Quick Links” menu, choose “News & Events,” then click “Events” to view the complete calendar. Monday Pueblo Alliance Weekly Meeting, 2-3 p.m., St...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Community

Museum, train unite for re-creation of campaign stop

Animas Museum and Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad will re-create a campaign stop by Sen. Henry Teller supporting William Jennings Bryan for president in 1896. Hear his fiery orator...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Community

Animas Museum to host Constitution exhibit

The Animas Museum will sponsor an exhibit about the U.S. Constitution by the Sarah Platt Decker Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Every September, the DAR celebrates Cons...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Community

Candidates forum to be held at fairgrounds

The La Plata-Archuleta Cattlemen’s Association is sponsoring a candidates forum at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 in the extension Building at La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. The event will be...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Community

Dan Kamin will host Charlie Chaplin at San Juan College

The San Juan College Cinematheque Series will kick off its new season with Charlie Chaplin expert Dan Kamin presenting Charlie Chaplin’s “Red Letter Days” at 2 p.m. Sept. 24 in the Connie Go...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Community

4 Corners West Coast Swing Weekend makes a comeback with special guests

The West Slope Westies will host the 4 Corners West Coast Swing Weekend, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. This year, the event brings professional, internationally ranked dancers Maxime and Tori Zzaoui f...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Bridge Scores

Durango Bridge Club online and in-person play. All pairs received 50+ percent Sept. 8 – Non-Life Masters First: A. Oschin/S. Smith Second: A. Satloff/J. Satloff Third: C. Br...

DATE: Sep 15, 2022 | CATEGORY: Community

Fort Lewis College Calendar: Sept.10-16

Visit www.fortlewis.edu, click the “Quick Links” menu, choose “News & Events,” then click “Events” to view the complete calendar. Saturday ACT Test, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Noble Hall, re...

DATE: Sep 8, 2022 | CATEGORY: Community

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members wore costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho’s bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the Secret Circus Society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this year’s costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don’ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since its inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns