Culture (general) - The Durango Herald

Documentary explores how CDOT and tribes partnered to preserve Indigenous culture and history

A centuries-old Puebloan village was discovered during the realignment of U.S. Highway 550

DATE: Jan 12, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe dedicates new charter school

Kwiyagat Community Academy blends Ute culture and language with academics

DATE: Nov 18, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Fort Lewis College removes panels depicting ‘incomplete’ history of Native American boarding school

During ceremony, school president described FLC’s past as part of a ‘cultural genocide’

DATE: Sep 13, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Gov. Polis notes funding concerns with bill banning American Indian mascots

Deadline to stop using derogatory, offensive representations is June 1

DATE: Jul 1, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango adds vetting process to avoid offensive names

New policy guides submissions, review for naming city assets

DATE: Jun 18, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Rep. Lauren Boebert calls on critical race theory to be banned in schools

Lawmaker says the teaching is divisive and ‘advances hate’

DATE: Jun 11, 2021 | CATEGORY: Local News

Ute tribes reimagine Bear Dances

As coronavirus locks down reservations, Ute tribes use social media, videos of past dances

DATE: Jun 5, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

Mentor to students of color steps down from El Centro

Shirena Trujillo Long leaves legacy of love and passion

DATE: Jan 6, 2020 | CATEGORY: Local News

FLC student learns about her culture to teach others

Sophomore brings experience from Potawatomi leadership program back to campus

DATE: Sep 9, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

A family menu built on appreciation, not appropriation

Context is key when it comes to culturally sensitive meals

DATE: Jan 22, 2019 | CATEGORY: Food

Comics fan uses superheroes to fight indigenous stereotypes

Lee Francis taps power of popular culture

DATE: Nov 26, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

Big Picture High students celebrate Dia de los Muertos

Class creates remembrance altar for Durango Arts Center display

DATE: Nov 1, 2018 | CATEGORY: Local News

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Haunted house northeast of Durango gets bigger every yearCody Petersen’s Halloween hobby is his escape from the daily grind

Durango resident Cody Petersen said when he moved into his home at 15 Edgemont Way several years ago, his house on the corner looked lonely and spooky.Today, it’s a madhouse. Halloween decorations are splayed practically on every inch of his lawn, in the trees and up and down his home.

A group of school-aged kids stop in front of his house every day to pose with a little gothic doll in the lawn, he said. It’s the favorite attraction amongst hundreds of decorations Petersen bought locally and online as early as July in preparation for Oct. 31, Halloween.He said he doesn’t want to think about how much money he’s spent on fog machines, animatronics and Christmas lights, but the bill easily totals several thousands of dollars.

For trick-or-treaters on Halloween, whom he encourages to visit, jumpscares abound at Petersen’s home, featuring animatronic spiders, growling wolves and other monsters, he said.He’s working on his own animatronic coffin, which shakes and rattles, and a pulley system that will push and pull a ghost up and down the yard, but neither will be ready for this year’s Halloween.He said he has fond memories of his parents decorating for the holidays during his upbringing and he’s a huge horror genre fan. So he enjoys going all out on decorations for the spooky season. He justifies his hobby with the logic his kids will only be in high school a few more years, and it isn’t as cool to decorate the lawn for Halloween when one doesn’t have children living at home.But the neighbors enjoy his haunts as much as the rest of the community. He said his Halloween scene has gradually grown larger every year; at least 50 trick-or-treaters turned up at his home last year.“I'm a home inspector, so I do have a lot of tools and no fear of trying things out,” he said.

He said typical Halloween animatronics cost $400 a piece, but they only last one year or so without breaking. That’s frustrating, he said, and he believes he can do better by building his own.He said this year’s display and experience is more organic than past years thanks to his handiwork. Among his myriad decorations, trick-or-treaters can spot easter eggs referencing “Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Pet Sematary.”Among the horror props are real animal bones Petersen said he’s found on hikes across the countryside.“I've got ghosts and spiders and witches and that kind of thing,” he said. “Here in Edgemont, we have giant spiders for real. ... We get these huge wolf spiders that are bigger than my hand. I mean, huge, bigger than tarantulas.”

Petersen said he was motivated to make his first decorations within the first month he and his wife moved into the home on the corner at 15 Edgemont Way.A lone pine tree, a typical Christmas tree that would be strung up with lights and ornaments in December, stood out to Petersen in the yard, he said. He just felt compelled to decorate it and light it up.He said he thoroughly decorated the tree and left it lit year-round. Within a month of moving into the house, his neighbor died. The man was old and suffering from Alzheimer's.

Months later, the man’s wife approached Petersen and told him she and her husband’s last salient moments together were spent looking out at Petersen’s lighted Christmas tree, pretending it was Christmas. In the following hours, the man succumbed to delirium. He died several days later.“I don't know why I had that tree, why I lit it, but that's why that tree, even when Halloween is over, all year round, that Christmas tree always stays lit now,” he said.Petersen is a horror movie fan, and in particular he’s always enjoyed the sinister character Michael Myers of the “Halloween” franchise.

He said every year, after thrilling trick-or-treaters at his home, he takes to downtown and East Third Avenue in his Michael Myers costume, bearing a giant bowl of candy, to continue the fun.The highlight of his yard, the creepy doll neighborhood kids like to pose and take pictures with, is Petersen’s “elf on the shelf,” he said. He likes to move the doll around the house, sometimes propping her up to hold animal bones.“I have a real busy and pretty stressful job,” he said. “I just love the fall so much. And to come home, it's just a good way to wind down and, you know, de-stress, just go out and work in the yard.”cburney@durangoherald.com

Cody Petersen’s Halloween hobby is his escape from the daily grind

Reader-submitted photos of Halloween decorationsLast week, we asked readers to submit photos of their Halloween decorations or a neighbor’s decorations. We received dozens of photo submissions. We have selected some of the most spooky, elaborate and fun photos to share in this gallery. Enjoy!

Photos: FLC volleyball returns homeFort Lewis College volleyball took on Adams State University on Tuesday

Fort Lewis College volleyball took on Adams State University on Tuesday

Photos: Expert leathercrafter and collector estate sale near IgnacioItems belonging to the late Alex Pappas were auctioned for sale on Saturday

Items belonging to the late Alex Pappas were auctioned for sale on Saturday

Photos: Pro boxing in DurangoLegends on the Animas boxing showdown took place on Saturday

Legends on the Animas boxing showdown took place on Saturday

Fort Lewis College women’s soccer loses to Colorado School of Mines 5-1

Photos: Durango Cowboy Gathering draws crowd with Horseback Social and paradeThe cowboys, cowgirls and their horses took center stage Saturday in downtown Durango

The cowboys, cowgirls and their horses took center stage Saturday in downtown Durango

Durango Cowboy Gathering hosts its first ever mechanical bull roping competition

About 1,000 sheep move along down Buck Highway during the annual event on Saturday

Documentary explores how CDOT and tribes partnered to preserve Indigenous culture and history

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe dedicates new charter school

Fort Lewis College removes panels depicting ‘incomplete’ history of Native American boarding school

Gov. Polis notes funding concerns with bill banning American Indian mascots

Durango adds vetting process to avoid offensive names

Rep. Lauren Boebert calls on critical race theory to be banned in schools

Ute tribes reimagine Bear Dances

Mentor to students of color steps down from El Centro

FLC student learns about her culture to teach others

A family menu built on appreciation, not appropriation

Comics fan uses superheroes to fight indigenous stereotypes

Big Picture High students celebrate Dia de los Muertos

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