OCTOBER 8, 2026
FEATURED SPEAKER: Cliff Allred
Leslie Ament of Naturita and Art Goodtimes of Wrights Mesa will be hosting Cliff Allred discussing all things paranormal Thursday, Oct. 8th, at 6 pm MDT at the Naturita Community Library.
“We will be talking about near death experiences, ghosts, unexplained encounters and other mysterious experiences,” said Allred, a Naturita resident and library employee. “Come share your stories with us.”
West End Stories & Poems, happens on the second Thursday of each month, is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the Naturita Community Library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests. The library provides free refreshments.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Melanie Eggers and Bodie Johansson
Leslie Ament of Naturita and Art Goodtimes of Wrights Mesa will be hosting “A Love Affair with Local Food: Can We Recreate a Resilient Food System” featuring Melanie Eggers and Bodie Johansson at the West End Stories & Poems series at the Naturita Community Library on Thursday Sept. 10th at 6 pm MST.
“Melanie and Bodie have been working in local regenerative agriculture for many years now,” explained Goodtimes, director of the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourd Poetry Program. “We are excited to talk with them about how we can bring resilience to our food systems in the West End. Come and join the discussion.”
West End Stories & Poems, happens on the second Thursday of each month, is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the Naturita Community Library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests. The library provides free refreshments.
AUGUST 6, 2026
FEATURED SPEAKER: Mushrooms are the focus this month!
Leslie Ament of Naturita and Art Goodtimes of Wrights Mesa will be hosting a sharing of information about mushrooms at the West End Stories & Poems series at the Naturita Community Library on Aug. 6th at 6 pm.
“We had to move the WESP date up a week,” explained Goodtimes, “because the Telluride Mushroom Festival is happening from Aug. 12th to the 16th this year. I’m excited to talk about the many kinds of mushrooms in our region and answer any questions about fungi from local folks. And I’m hoping locals will bring their own mushroom stories to share after the presentation.”
Goodtimes served as San Miguel County Commissioner (Green Party, 1996-2016), Western Slope Poet Laureate (2011-13), and continues as the Telluride Mushroom Festival’s Creative Director and Poet-in-residence (since 1981). His books include As If the World Really Mattered (La Alameda Press, New Mexico, 2007) and Dancing on Edge: The McRedeye Poems (Lithic Press, Colorado, 2019). He writes an op-ed column for Colorado Times Recorder and directs the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds poetry program.
West End Stories & Poems, usually happening on the second Thursday of each month except for this August, is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests. The library provides free refreshments.
JULY 9, 2026
FEATURED SPEAKERS: UFOs the focus of story sharing
Leslie Ament of Naturita and Art Goodtimes of Wrights Mesa will be hosting a sharing of local stories about UFOs with special guest Jami Allred at the Naturita Community Library on July 9th at 6 pm
“Living on the Slope for the past almost 50 years, I’ve heard some amazing stories about UFOs,” said Goodtimes, “particularly from the Black Mesa area of Dolores County.”
Bring your own story of unusual sightings to share.
West End Stories & Poems, happening on the second Thursday of each month, is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests. The library provides free refreshments.
JUNE 11, 2026
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Buddy Davis
Leslie Ament of Naturita and Art Goodtimes of Wrights Mesa will be hosting Emmett “Buddy” Davis talking about his great-great grandfather, Comanche leader Quanah Parker, at West End Stories & Poems session at the Naturita Community Library June 11 at 6 pm.
Davis will draw from S.C. Gwynne’s Empire of the Summer Moon about Parker — a Pulitzer Prize finalist being made into a movie in the next year or so.
West End Stories & Poems, happening on the second Thursday of each month, is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests. The library provides free refreshments.
MAY 14, 2026
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Art Goodtimes & Leslie Ament
West End Stories & Poems, happening on the second Thursday of each month, is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests. The library provides free refreshments.
APRIL 9, 2026
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Art Goodtimes & Leslie Ament with Jamie Allred
Leslie Ament of Naturita and Art Goodtimes of Wrights Mesa will be hosting Jami Allred in a talk about Lights in the Sky at West End Stories & Poems at the Naturita Community Library on Thursday, April 9th, at 6 pm. The event is free and available to library patrons of all ages.
Jami Allred is an advocate for protecting our dark skies, and she wants to support community members in sharing and connecting over their sightings and experiences.
“If we can be receptive to what is going on outdoors and in our skies,” explains Allred, “the community will become more connected and invested in protecting our unique little piece of nature.”
A local author, Allred also enjoys sharing and discussing topics such as holistic health and metaphysics. You might find her at Wild Gals in Naturita with its many health products.
West End Stories & Poems, happening on the second Thursday of each month, is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests. The library provides free refreshments.
MARCH 12, 2026
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Glade Hadden speaks of the Domínguez-Escalante Trail Tour
Leslie Ament of Naturita and Art Goodtimes of Wrights Mesa will be hosting retired archaeologist and Paradox Valley resident Glade Hadden in a talk about the Domínguez-Escalante Trail Tour of 250 years ago at the Naturita Community Library on Thursday, March 12th at 6 pm MST.
“Glade is a master storyteller and an engaging raconteur with a wealth of historical and archaeological knowledge,” said Talking Gourds director Goodtimes. “We are fortunate to have him come and share his stories. It will be a West End event not to miss.”
The Domínguez–Escalante Expedition was a Spanish journey of exploration conducted in 1776 by two Franciscan priests, Atanasio Domínguez and Silvestre Vélez de Escalante, to find an overland route from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to their Roman Catholic mission in Monterey, on the coast of modern day central California. Domínguez, Vélez de Escalante, and Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco, acting as the expedition’s cartographer, traveled with ten men from Santa Fe through many unexplored portions of the American West, including present-day western Colorado, Utah, and northern Arizona. Along part of the journey, they were aided by three indigenous guides of the Timpanogos tribe (Ute people).
Attendees are encouraged to bring stories or poems of their own, particularly as relating to the Domínguez-Escalante expedition, as we do a passing of the gourd and give everyone a chance to speak after Glade finishes his presentation.
West End Stories & Poems happens on the second Thursday of each month. Our featured guest will give a 30-40 min. presentation, followed by a short question and answer period after the presentation. Then there’s a passing of the gourd, to give community members a chance to speak.
Attendees are encouraged to bring stories or poems as we do a passing of the gourd and give everyone a chance to speak. West End Stories & Poems is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests.
For more information, text 970-729-0220 or email Goodtimes at <art@tellurideinstitute.org>. Or visit our website: www.tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds
DECEMBER 11, 2025
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Tales of the Uranium Industry
West End Stories & Poems happens on the second Thursday of each month. Our featured guest will give a 30-40 min. presentation, followed by a short question and answer period after the presentation. Then there’s a passing of the gourd, to give community members a chance to speak.
Attendees are encouraged to bring stories or poems as we do a passing of the gourd and give everyone a chance to speak. West End Stories & Poems is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests.
For more information, text 970-729-0220 or email Goodtimes at <art@tellurideinstitute.org>. Or visit our website: www.tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds
OCTOBER 9, 2025
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Art Goodtimes & Leslie Ament
West End Stories & Poems happens on the second Thursday of each month. Our featured guest will give a 30-40 min. presentation, followed by a short question and answer period after the presentation. Then there’s a passing of the gourd, to give community members a chance to speak.
Leslie Ament of Naturita and Art Goodtimes of Wrights Mesa will be sharing stories of Bedrock at the West End and inviting locals to bring their stories of that small Paradox Valley community Thursday Oct. 9 th at 6 pm.
“Bedrock has a long history,” noted Goodtimes. “I’ve only been around for 40 or so years, but Leslie grew up here. But more than our stories, we’re hoping locals will come and share their unique memories of Bedrock.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring stories or poems as we do a passing of the gourd and give everyone a chance to speak. West End Stories & Poems is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests.
For more information, text 970-729-0220 or email Goodtimes at <art@tellurideinstitute.org>. Or visit our website: www.tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds
SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Katey Herland & Bessy Walton
Roc Creek along the Dolores River Canyon has a storied history in the West End of Montrose County. It’s been a private residence, a hippie commune and at one time was the home to a mine that produced the first uranium in the region.
Katey Herland and Bessy Waldon grew up there. While Katey lives with her family in Nucla, Bessy continues to make the family’s Roc Creek property her home.
The Naturita Community Library and the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds Poetry Program will host these two sisters to share with us their tales of Roc Creek at West End Stories & Poems Thursday, Sep. 11th at 6 pm.
“Our parents owned the Lone Cone Restaurant in Norwood in the early 90s,” said Herland, “and I’ve always considered this area and these communities part of my roots.” After being away for many years, she moved back to the area with her family three years ago.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to share what we know about the canyon’s history,” said Herland, “and some of our personal experiences growing up in the Roc Creek Canyon.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring stories or poems about Roc Creek when we do the passing of the gourd after the featured presenter.
West End Stories & Poems happens on the second Thursday of each month. Our featured guest will give a 30-40 min. presentation, followed by a short question and answer period after the presentation. Then there’s a passing of the gourd, to give community members a chance to speak.
West End Stories & Poems is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests.
For more information, text 970-729-0220 or email Goodtimes at <art@tellurideinstitute.org>. Or visit our website: www.tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds
AUGUST 14, 2025
FEATURED SPEAKER: Scot Rasor
The Naturita Community Library and the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds Poetry Program are proud to collaborate on an evening of poetry and storytelling with Placerville poet Scot Rasor Aug. 14 th at 6 pm.
“Scot is also a poet who has performed in Telluride and Norwood,” explained Art Goodtimes, Talking Gourds director. “He will be sharing some of his poems at the Thursday night gathering.”
Known as DJ Razor Blaze with a KOTO-FM show on alternating Sundays, Rasor also serves on KOTO’s Citizens Advisory Board. He explains that his poetry expresses “thoughts on introspection, extrospection, and exploring the mysteries of universal consciousness.”
West End Stories & Poems is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests.
Both the Fischer and Cantor contests are currently open for submissions.
For more information, text 970-729-0220 or email Goodtimes at <art@tellurideinstitute.org>. Or visit our website: www.tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds
JULY 10, 2025
FEATURED SPEAKER: Margie Petty
The Naturita Public Library and the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds Poetry Program are proud to collaborate on an evening of storytelling by Margie Petty July 10 th at 6 pm.
“While poetry is a discipline that requires more than just a passing fancy,” explained Art Goodtimes, Talking Gourds director, “all of us tell stories. As Margie Petty demonstrated at our first West End Stories & Poems last month, she is a master storyteller with a long history in the West End.”
The event is free to all and attendees are encouraged to bring stories or poems of their own to share when we do the passing of the gourd after the featured presenter.
West End Stories & Poems happens on the second Thursday of each month. Our featured guest will give a 30-40 min. presentation, followed by a short question and answer period after the presentation. Then there’s a passing of the gourd, where community members in attendance are encouraged to share stories or poems.
For those who like to write to prompts for stories or poems, this month’s prompt is: “Uranium.”
West End Stories & Poems is free and open to all ages, thanks to the generosity of the library, a Town of Telluride CCAASE grant, private donors and Talking Gourds’ Fischer and Cantor poetry contests.
Both the Fischer and Cantor contests are currently open for submissions.
For more information, text 970-729-0220 or email Goodtimes at <art@tellurideinstitute.org>. Or visit our website: www.tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds
JUNE 12, 2025
FEATURED SPEAKER: Amanda Richards
“We’re hoping to draw more folks from Naturita, Nucla and all of the West End by moving from Sunday day to Thursday evening,” said Art Goodtimes, director of the Telluride Institute’s Talking Gourds Poetry Program. “And thanks to our Naturita Public Library partners, we have Branch Manager Amanda Richards as our first storyteller.”
Amanda will tell stories on June 12 th at 6 p.m. at the Naturita Public Library. The event is free to all and attendees are encouraged to bring stories or poems of their own to share when we do the passing of the gourd after the featured presenter.
Richards is a sixth-generation resident of the West End, and her daughters proudly represent the seventh generation to call the region home. If you venture out through Paradox and explore the historic Cashin Copper Mine site, you might spot the name of her great-great-grandfather, Calvin Snyder, carved into the cliff wall—a lasting mark from the late 1800s.
Some of Amanda’s most vivid childhood memories come from time spent on her family’s ranch, instilling in her a deep appreciation for rural life. Not one for big cities, she decided to return to the West End in 2013. She spent seven years teaching at Paradox Valley School before joining
the team at the Naturita Community Library in January 2023.
Amanda now lives in Norwood, Colorado, with her husband, Tryllen Richards, their two youngest children, Olivia and Esmeé, and their two loyal dogs, Suzie Q and Cocoa Pop.
For those who like prompts for stories or poems, this month’s prompt is: “Cashin Mine”
MARCH 16, 2025
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Art Goodtimes & Leslie Ament
While we had to cancel Talking Gourds Stories & Poems sessions in February and April, Leslie Ament and Art Goodtimes will host a discussion – Tales of Old Uravan — during the Naturita Community Library’s Sunday Social at 11 am MDT.
Stories & Poems Naturita cancelled for Feb. 16th
Due to a funeral, Leslie Ament won’t be able to make the Feb. 16th Stories & Poems gathering at the Naturita Public Library at 11 am. So, we are going to skip the Feb. session and gather again on March 16th at 11 am MST to talk about “Tales of Old Nucla.”
JANARY 19, 2025
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Art Goodtimes & Leslie Ament
Tales of Old Naturita
