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City staffer pulls no punches over tiny special-events area

Despite tape that declares ‘special events,’ the only thing going on is the installation of solar lights for the Animas River Trail.

Along the Animas River Trail by the fish hatchery, there’s a pile of straw topped with an orange safety cone. Four re-bar sections were pounded in the ground, and yellow plastic tape surrounds everything. But it’s weird, as the tape says “City of Durango Special Events.” My question is: What “special event” is taking place in this very small area? – Walkin’ Joaquin

It’s an outdoor boxing ring for leprechauns. That’s the only logical explanation. St. Patrick’s Day is 22 days out, and the leprechauns are getting liquored up and feisty.

To verify, we checked in with our good friend Cathy Metz, director of Durango Parks & Recreation. Is the city hosting trailside Lilliputian fisticuffs?

Cathy KO’d the possibility of petite pugilists.

Instead, the cordoned-off area is where crews poured a concrete footing for solar lights, she explained. It’s a test project for parts of the trail that are dark and don’t have power.

“The straw is keeping the footing insulated while the concrete cures, and I’m sure the ‘Special Events’ safety tape was used because that’s what we had on hand,” she said with a laugh.

“The technology has really improved for outdoor solar lighting,” she added. “It’s become more affordable as well, so now’s a good time to see if these will work. If solar lights perform, we can install more of them,” she said.

So it is a “special event” after all, Cathy surmised. It’s the big debut of solar lighting to make the trail safer at night.

So I go to south City Market at lunch to get the salad bar. But it’s not there. People said they got rid of the salad bar to make room for a Starbucks. Really? What does this say about our nutritional priorities? Sign me, Vin A. Grett

Sure enough, south City Market is turning over a new leaf with the salad bar. Here’s how things got tossed:

Starbucks is being installed where the floral department used to be. The flower department was replanted in the produce department. Meanwhile, more chilled cases were added for a wider variety of organics.

Something had to give. Ironically, where the fresh salad bar used to be is now a table filled with potatoes and other tuberous starches.

Anyway, the Starbucks kiosk will start brewing on March 1. Meanwhile, store personnel point out that while a salad bar was lost, customers gain an even larger organic produce section.

So you have choices. American consumers want choices.

You can get more fresh organic foodstuffs.

Or there’s the 20-ounce White Chocolate Caffè Mocha with whole milk and whipped cream, tipping the scales at 620 calories – or just about one-third of your recommended daily calorie intake and 42 percent of your daily fat.

Doubtless, many people will go for the coffee-like milkshake.

Action Line says grab a box of the baby spring mix lettuce, some tomatoes and other veggies and a bottle of decent dressing.

You’ll have a week’s worth of leafy-green healthful lunches to enjoy while fondly recalling the salad days of City Market’s erstwhile greens-to-go.

Email questions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. You can request anonymity if you think Jell-O salad, macaroni salad and potato salad are most definitely not “salad.”



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