Ragtime music — a blend of European styles and African American rhythms considered the forerunner of jazz — has found an unlikely home in Durango, Colo. For nearly 70 years, the Diamond Bell Saloon at the historic Strater Hotel has featured live ragtime piano, making it one of the only venues in the country where audiences can hear the music performed regularly. A pianist who holds a master's degree in historical musicology from the Peabody Conservatory plays up to six nights a week on an 1902 upright grand piano, calling the experience "time travel" for audiences.

Now, that same musician has launched the Durango Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival, now in its second year as a nonprofit. The festival brings approximately seven of the country's top ragtime and early jazz musicians to Durango each year, with the goal of preserving the music and introducing it to new audiences. Organizers say Durango's size, rich ragtime history and the Strater Hotel — built during the ragtime era — make it an ideal home for the festival. For more information, visit durangoragtime.com.

By Paige Sparks

This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett & Associates and Keesee Motor Company

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Colorado's new Wildfire Resiliency Building Code requires fire-resistant materials and vegetation management for new construction and major home renovations in wildfire-prone areas. The town of Pagosa Springs plans to adopt the code April 1, with full implementation by July 1. Organizations like Wildfire Adapted Partnership offer free property assessments to help homeowners reduce their risk, even if the code does not apply to them yet.

By Christi Bode

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This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS Durango and Blondies Trophy Room.

Arenacross racing returns to the Four Corners region for the fourth consecutive year as Finish Line Promotions brings the Parnall Law Xtreme Arenacross back with Aztec Motocross, drawing amateur and professional riders from across the Southwest while offering roughly 40 classes for all skill levels, from toddlers on balance bikes to seasoned pros. Organizer Andrew Gallegos says the event's economic reach extends well beyond the track, with competitors and their families filling local restaurants, hotels and gas stations throughout the weekend, and sponsors like Dekon Environmental say the gathering gives Four Corners youth a positive recreational outlet while fostering a brand of community camaraderie rarely found in other sports.

By Tanner Waite

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This story is sponsored by Boon's Family Thai BBQ and Fitness World.

On Wednesday, the Cortez Public Library celebrates Women's History Month with a free author talk from local author Margaret Kirk, presenting her book "They Persisted" — a historical nonfiction collection about empowering women from the past. Then on Thursday, the Sunflower Theatre hosts its Spoken Word Open Mic at 7 p.m. — bring original poetry or writing and share it with a welcoming audience for a suggested donation of five dollars. And on Saturday, the Sunflower Theatre closes out the week with MoCo Improv Comedy Night — unscripted, fast-paced comedy starting at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30.

By Sadie Smith

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This story is sponsored by Keesee Motor Company and Big O Tires

Every February, volunteers walk the banks of the Animas River counting American dippers — small, bold birds that dive headfirst into rushing rapids and spend their entire lives along river corridors. Because dippers feed on the aquatic insects that can only survive in clean water, they serve as a living indicator of river health. The American Dipper Project launched in 2016 following the Gold King Mine spill, and citizen scientists have been tracking nesting behavior and success rates ever since, entering all data into Cornell Lab of Ornithology's NestWatch database. When nesting success declined after the 416 Fire in 2018 and subsequent flooding, the dippers reflected that environmental stress.

By Paige Sparks

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This story is sponsored by Durango Gelato, Coffee & Tea and The LOR Foundation

Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet made a stop in Durango this week to discuss his campaign for governor, touching on some of the most pressing issues facing the state. Bennet, who has represented Colorado in the U.S. Senate since 2009, shared his vision for Colorado's future and what he says sets him apart as a candidate. Watch the full interview to hear where he stands.

By Paige Sparks.

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This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino and Hospice of Montezuma.

For over two decades, the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies has been monitoring Colorado's snowpack from weather stations on Red Mountain Pass. Their team digs snow pits every few weeks documenting dust layers, measuring snow crystals, and tracking how the snowpack reflects sunlight. This year they're recording unusually low snow conditions across the state while studying how dust particles reduce snow's reflectivity and speed up melt timing. Since snowpack provides 70 percent of Colorado's water supply, understanding these patterns helps water managers plan for the seasons ahead.

By Sadie Smith.

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This story is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts and Keesee Motor Company.

KDUR, Fort Lewis College's radio station now in its 52nd year, hosts an annual cover night that has become a cornerstone event for Durango's music community. The tradition began when musicians from different genres came together to celebrate local talent by covering Neil Diamond songs, adopting the motto "local musicians unite." The event has grown so popular that tickets sell out within minutes. The fundraising event known as “Cover Night” brings together community members who play music for the love of it, not for profit.

KDUR operates as both a college and community radio station, funded through student fees, fundraising and formerly the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. With CPB funding recently cut by the current administration, local donations and community support through events like cover night have become more critical than ever to the station's survival.

Local musicians say KDUR serves a critical role in promoting area concerts and providing airplay for local recordings, making it essential to keeping Durango's music scene active.

By Paige Sparks.

This story is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts and Tafoya Barrett and Associates PC

Watch this story at montezumalocal.news