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Image Courtesy of Tricia Noll
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November 10, 2023
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Abiquiu News accepts articles, ads, and events that are local to Abiquiu or our surrounding rural communities. Submissions are free. Events will be included 2 – 3 weeks prior to event. We do not accept political ads.
Submitting an ad, event or article to the Abiquiu News, follow these guidelines.
Submitting an ad, event or article to the Abiquiu News, follow these guidelines.
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Weekly WeatherIn GratitudeThank you Contributors and Paid Subscribers:Carol H
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Features
Previous Features
NewsAlamosa Unit 1 Prescribed Fire Update TAOS, N.M., Nov. 8, 2023—Fire crews made significant progress on their first day of ignitions on the Alamosa Unit 1 Prescribed Fire. Approximately 1,600 acres within the 4,500-acre unit were treated.
Crew members used drip torches to put fire on the forest floor around the unit’s northeastern boundary before interior sections were ignited by helicopter. Low to moderate-intensity fire traveled across the ground, successfully consuming surface fuels, such as pine needles, fallen leaves and Gambel’s oak. On-site winds were a brisk 7-11 mph with gusts up to 16 mph. Temperatures were in the low 50s with a low relative humidity or 18-22 percent. Crews will return tomorrow but new ignitions will depend on weather and conditions. They will, nonetheless, patrol and monitor the prescribed fire on the ground and by air. When ignitions do occur, smoke is expected to mainly move to the east and may impact areas as far as the Taos and Moreno valleys. Check the Fire and Smoke Map for local air quality and protective actions. The prescribed fire will help maintain forest health within an area that was first treated with in 2014. Fire-dependent forests in the Southwestern Region must undergo fire disturbance on a regular basis to maintain resiliency. If a future wildfire reaches an area with recent fire history, fire behavior is likely to be modified to a less intense, more manageable surface fire, making it safer for firefighters to engage, as was seen in the nearby Midnight Fire in 2022. As part of the Rio Chama Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project, prescribed fire in this area also contributes to goals of improving and maintaining the health and resiliency of the Rio Chama and Rio Grande watersheds. Public information officers will continue to post updates on InciWeb, New Mexico Fire Information and Carson National Forest social media channels (Facebook, X) as operations continue. By Jake Arnold
Northern New Mexico President Hector Balderas and senior members of his his management team--Chief of Staff Denise Montoya and Chief Financial Officer Theresa Story--were successful in obtaining a $700.000 grant from NM Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for a renovation, weatherization and climate-control project for one of the the principal structures at the NN MC home campus ion El Rito, the "South Dorm" building, which also houses then now-closed college cafeteria and is adjacent/connected to Cutting Hall auditorium building. The other three structures in need of similar improvements and climate-control work in the near future are the Jaramillo Hall classroom building, the Delgado Hall main administration building, and the North Dorm/Alumni Hall building, said Balderas. "This is just the initial step in that overall project for El Rito," Balderas said. The specific equipment/technology for the critical climate-control portion of the South Dorm project will be determined by an outside engineering consultant hired by Balderas to oversee this project, he said. When completed, the South Dorm can once again provide housing for NNMC El Rito students as well as faculty at staff assigned to that campus who are hard-pressed to find suitable housing elsewhere in El Rito. In times past, the cafeteria counted students, faculty and local residents among its patrons and had served as an El Rito community social gathering place. Balderas said he and his team would be seeking additional/similar grant funding from the governor as well as appropriations from the Legislature to complete the ultimate and full resurrection of the campus in El Rito. ""This is just 'Phase One' of our work to have El Rito fully operational," he said. "This is just one part of our ambitious strategy for El Rito." Balderas said the terms of the gubernatorial South Dorm grant require that all work funded by it be completed within one year. Concurrent efforts to obtain such funding for weatherization, repairs and upgrades to NNMC facilities at the Espanola campus are also on his agenda, Balderas said. Results of Local School Board Elections from Tuesday 11/7/23By Jake Arnold
Espanola Valley--School Board District Including Abiquiu & Hernandez Challenger Dale Salazar, owner of LeRoy's Excavating and an ally of Rio Arriba Sheriff Billy Merrifield, handily defeated incumbent Jeremy Maestas, the Rio Arriba County manager. Although this school board contest was technically "unrelated" to county government politics, this election was clearly one battle in the continuing conflict pitting the Merrifield/anti-County Commission Chair Alex Naranjo faction against Naranjo and his chosen county manger (Maestas) over the Juan de Onate statute reinstallation (cancelled) debacle. Salazar defeated Maestas 895 to 696. Salazar, as a write-in candidate, ran against Naranjo for a seat on the county commission in 2022 and received 31% of the vote. Salazar was Merrifield's campaign manager in the race for sheriff that same year. Mesa Vista School Board--Three At-Large Seats In this election voters had the opportunity to vote for one, two or three of the five candidates--incumbent Anthony of El Rito, Daniella Irene Gallegos of El Rito, Edwin Gurule of Tres Piedras, former board member John Garcia of Ojo Caliente, and Juan Manzanares of La Madera. The majority of the Mesa Vista School District includes precincts in Rio Arriba County, but also covers three precincts in Taos County. The winners were Vigil, Gurule and Gallegos, whose vote totals in Rio Arriba were 344, 416, and 356 respectively. In Rio Arriba Manzanares and Garcia were were far behind with 210 and 15 votes respectively. In the three Taos County precincts Manzanares did somewhat better and Vigil had a relatively poor showing. The Taos County vote was 16 for Vigil, 80 for Gurule, 17 for Garcia, 46 for Gallegos and 13 for Manzanares. Butthe grand totals for both counties gave decisive victories to Vigil, Gurule and Gallegos. Rio Arriba Independent Libraries (RAIL) provided the inspiration to create the initiative. RAIL is a coalition of five 501 (c)(3) libraries in Rio Arriba County. Each library was established through grassroots community efforts. RAIL libraries have worked together for about 20 years. None have a dependable source of operating funds. Despite offering invaluable resources, RAIL libraries frequently navigate fiscal crises and lead precarious existences.
An annual income of $45,000 per year would guarantee that libraries will continue offering needed resources to rural communities. They will still need additional community and foundation support, but basic needs would be met. The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) request for Rural Library Endowment will be presented at a finance committee meeting this coming Tuesday. DCA originally asked for full funding but unfortunately the Governor lowered the request to $15 million. It's important before Tuesday to advocate that the Governor honor DCA’s original request for full endowment funding. Her phone # is (505) 476-2200. Email here: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/contact-the-governor/. If you call, after speaking to her secretary you can ask for her chief of staff, Caroline Buerkle, and make the request to her too. Shel Neymark Learn more about the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative www.nmrurallibraryinitiative.org/online Online Christmas Tree Permit Sales BeginsTAOS, N.M., Nov. 7. 2023 — The Carson National Forest began selling Christmas tree permits online at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9. Permits will be sold through Recreation.gov and will cost $5 to $15, depending on the size of tree sought. Trees, except bristlecone pines, up to 20 feet may be cut with a permit.
"As always, we're excited to know that many families and individuals will be taking time to enjoy their national forest and will be choosing the tree that is just right for them,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Jack Lewis. Permit holders are reminded to thoroughly read the instructions on Recreation.gov and on their permit after purchase. Instructions include rules about locations, tree selection and cutting/digging. There are also tips for planning your trip, cutting and what to do once your tree is home. Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass are eligible for a free Christmas tree permit and can apply by entering the pass or voucher number when purchasing a permit (note: a $2.50 reservation fee will be applied). Kids of all ages can download, color and decorate their tree with this Christmas tree ornament coloring page for a fun, handmade addition to their tree. Permits will also be available for in-person purchase at ranger stations and the Supervisor’s Office beginning November 20. Visitors are reminded to check office hours and call ahead for availability before traveling to a location. Neighbors Helping NeighborsAre you aware that there are some in our community who cannot afford to buy a Holiday dinner for their families? The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) puts together boxes of staples for a nice dinner that includes a ham or a turkey.
These boxes make a huge difference and are so gratefully received. A donation of $20 will give a family a fine Holiday dinner, and is so appreciated. You can make your check out to SVdP - Santo Tomas Conference and mail to Emma Crim, PO Box 1009, Abiquiu, NM 87510
From New Mexico Game and Fish
Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow to fair when using jigs. Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 109 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Monday morning was 979 cfs. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair to good when using Rapala lures and spinners. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7 miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of only two trout.
Fall migration has brought a lot of unusual bird patients into our hospital! Just in the past couple of weeks, we have had our first-ever admissions of three different aquatic bird species: Pacific Loon, Cackling Goose, and Northern Shoveler. All three were healthy enough to be released to continue their migration after receiving exams, fluids, and food. Since we don't receive these species very often, we thought this would be a good opportunity to share a few fun facts about each of them!
Pacific Loon 23-857 was initially picked up by our colleagues at Hawks Aloft, Inc., having been found on the ground in Edgewood. Just like our recent Pied-billed Grebe patient, Pacific Loon 23-857 had ended up stranded out of water, unable to take off from land due to a body structure that is specially adapted for an almost exclusively aquatic lifestyle. Pacific Loons spend their breeding season in the Arctic, and during migration they typically travel along the western Pacific coast of North America, occasionally ending up farther inland. In order to choose an appropriate release site for this patient, we needed to find a large body of water. Because of their large size, Pacific Loons need at least 100 feet of open water in front of them to build up enough speed to take flight! At first glance, it's easy to mistake a Cackling Goose for the more familiar Canada Goose. Cackling Geese are a bit smaller and have a noticeably shorter, stubbier bill. Their name comes from the high-pitched cackling sound they make, also different from the lower-pitched calls of the Canada Goose. Cackling Goose 23-860 was found in Lamy, far from any bodies of water and on their own without a flock. We suspect that 23-860 might have just gotten blown off course a bit, so after an exam and an overnight stay in our hospital, the goose was released in a more suitable habitat to continue their migration! Last but not least, Northern Shoveler 23-868 was admitted in early November. Northern Shovelers are ducks that look similar to the more familiar Mallard aside from some plumage differences and a large, distinctive, shovel-like bill. Shovelers are dabbling ducks that feed by straining food items like small crustaceans and other invertebrates from water, and the shape of their beak is specially adapted for that exact task. After a few days in care and a bath to ensure adequate waterproofing, Northern Shoveler 23-868 was also released so he could continue his migratory journey! Wildfire Preparedness is Year-round: Don't Fall BehindWith fall weather in the air, temperatures are getting colder, and nights are getting longer. This also means that trees are shedding their leaves and dropping their needles. As these burnable materials pile up, they become a fuel bed and can become a fire hazard under dry conditions. In the event of a wildfire, leaves and needles are a fuel source for embers and can ignite easily allowing fires to spread to your home.
This month’s Wildfire Preparedness Is Year-Round Message:” Don’t Fall Behind”. Maintain preparedness by clearing leaves and debris around your home. Areas to focus on should be: Rooftops/Gutters Typically, the most vulnerable area of a home is the rooftop. Clean around your rooftop and gutters ensuring they are free of leaves, needles, and vegetation. Deck/Balconies Decks and balconies should be cleaned and free of leaves and pine needles. Landscape/Outlying Structures Rake and clear areas surrounding your home and any outlying structures ensuring they are clean and free of debris and leaf litter. Preparedness year-round helps to keep your home and property safe from wildfire. For additional preparedness tip visit NFPA - Preparing Homes for Wildfires. The Forest Stewards Guild and FACNM are working with the Santa Fe, Cibola and Carson National Forests, New Mexico Forestry Division, New Mexico Coalition of Conservation Districts, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Bureau of Land Management New Mexico to continue our wildfire preparedness calendar in 2023 and share the message across multiple platforms, including social media, webinars and community events. Bookmark the wildfire preparedness webpage to follow the campaign throughout the year. Area FactoidsDid you know that in 1935 the Soil Conservation Service conducted an economic study of 27 Spanish-American villages in Northern New Mexico?
Scene Around TownSend us your local images. Send to AbiquiuNewsImages@gmail.com Please send images under 1mb. My inbox will thank you. ~Carol
Last colors of fall ~ Image by Mario Manzo
Send us your Questions, Comments to info@abiquiunews.com
Art, Music and BooksSaturday, December 9 from 10A -6P
Spaces available! Artists, artisans, arts & crafts, baked goods, etc! Community Partners - if you would like to partner with us and join in on the fun, let us know! Holiday Shopping, Activities, Fun for the whole family, tree lighting, entertainment and more! Lots more details coming soon! This is a free community event! Contact Andie Manzanares at manzfam3@gmail.com or text her at 505-490-0391 The Locals’ Picks Book List
Zach Hively Casa Urraca Press has created a place for locals in our area to recommend books to each other, and a place to find book suggestions with a personal touch.
Have a book to recommend? Send it to Zach at casaurracaltd@gmail.com – title, author, and the reason you suggest it.
The full Locals’ Picks list is available to view here on Bookshop. A purchase from Casa Urraca's link helps support independent bookstores. Abiquiu’s Casa Urraca Press earns a commission from every shopping trip that starts with the above Bookshop link—you can shop the entire Bookshop site in addition to the locals' picks. Plus, a percentage of every book (at least 10%) goes straight to independent bookstores. This is an opportunity to support small businesses with the same convenience as large online retailers. If any of you readers are fans of any one of these three authors, the Abiquiu Library & Cultural Center has boxes of each.
Con Pendleton - MACK BOLAN series The Louis L’Amour series AND, Danielle Steele series. To purchase a book the Library asks for a contribution to the Library. The purchase may be paid for and picked up at the Library during the Library hours The Abiquiu Library & Cultural Center has received a large quantity of Audio Books. Please come in to the Library and take a look!” Abiquiu Book Club
EventsPlease remember, events will go in for a maximum of three Fridays before the event. Send text, word or publisher file and a separate image, please keep images below 1 mb and send to info@abiquiunews.com. Vertical PDFs or JPGs will be edited for space. Send by Wednesday Noon for inclusion in that Friday's News.
Hello Neighbors and Visitors!
I am so happy to report we had a record year and improvements are coming to the café! As we have offered the last two years, we will be making Thanksgiving Dinners to go again. Please see the menu here in the Abiquiu News and I will also post it on Facebook and on our website. The price is up a bit this year due to the addition of the freshly baked sourdough bread and the delicious Maple Pecan Tart. We are changing the date for the start of our Sunday Brunch from November 1st to December 1st, because our Brunch Chef Extraordinaire, Constanze, will be visiting family during the month of November. Brunch will be a little different this year. We will be offering you Huevos Rancheros on the Buffet so that you can help yourself. This will include coffee and tea, house-made red chile and green chile stew, scrambled eggs, corn and flour tortillas, whole beans and cheese. We will have additional items, Bacon, Ham, Waffles with real maple syrup and our delicious cinnamon rolls and coffee cake as well as daily special scrambles and omelets. We are very sorry for this delay, and we look forward to serving you over the winter and spring months Happy Retirement!
Annie Smith Please join us in celebrating Annie’s 20+ years of service and dedication to our communities Thursday, November 30th Coyote Clinic Lunch beginning at 12:00 PM Abiquiu Poets in Poetry at Paragus SeriesTeatro Paraguas has announced a poetry reading with Abiquiu poets Oro Benson and Zach Hively as part of the ongoing Poetry at Paraguas series. The reading takes place on Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at Teatro Paraguas, 3205 Calle Marie in Santa Fe.
Announcements and ClassesUpcoming Colcha Workshops
The Abiquiu Library & Cultural Center is hosting three Colcha Workshops beginning November 5. You can sign up for all three or just one. For more information, go to http://www.abiquiulibrary.com Email palcc2023@gmail.com PLEASE NOTE:An anonymous donor has covered the Fees for this workshop. It is now FREE! |
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Re-Homing CalyRose
Like to go on long hikes? Then CalyRose is your girl! A 2.5 year old Husky mix, she runs like the wind. Playful and energetic, she knows basic commands. She’d be a good ranch dog. Otherwise you’ll need to have a fenced yard since, as one trainer put it: “Huskies will chase anything that moves.” She’s been living with a cat that she treats as a playmate and would do well with another dog to play with. She’s fixed and up to date on vaccinations. Caly is a sweet and devoted companion and protector dog, and though I will miss her terribly, I want to do what’s best for her. For more info and to meet her, email: alohasmarty@gmail.com
We’ve had the unexpected great pleasure of helping raise these dear kittens along with their sweet mother, a stray who chose our garden shed as her birthing place. We are adopting her. Her babes are now 11-12 weeks old and are looking for their next loving, safe and happy homes. Two of the litter are with their new families and we have two females and a male still needing adoption. They are cuddlers and purr machines, enjoying human laps and companionship, as well as playful, feisty and delightfully curious about the world.
They have had their first set of vaccinations at the Espanola Shelter and are scheduled for their second set in a few days. I’m happy to help arrange spay and neutering, also with the Shelter, which can happen soon. Please consider adoption and/or share this message with others who you think might be interested. These little ones are so ready to be with their new families and they bring such joy!! If interested send an email or call/text me - 925-899-6886. Wobbly
Wobbly is a two-month-old kitten with herky-jerky moves that would win an Elaine from Seinfeld dance competition. This magical and mighty little marvel has a condition called cerebellar hypoplasia, a developmental disorder in which the cerebellum of the brain fails to develop properly. The cerebellum is the portion of the brain that controls fine motor skills, balance, and coordination. Kittens with cerebellar hypoplasia are not infectious to other kittens or cats, are not in any pain, and will learn to adapt to their challenges over time, though Wobbly will need to be kept indoors. We are open to walk-in adopters Monday-Saturday 11am-4:30pm! www.espanolahumane.org 505-753-8662 Buck
We can’t get enough of this hambone of a hound!!! Buck is a bucket of laughs with hysterical expressions, his giant floopy-floppy-mcflopface ears flapping comically all over the place, and his game-for-everything attitude. Buck and his two siblings were the absolute stars of our Puppy Yoga class last weekend in Santa Fe, and now they are entertaining guests of Ojo Santa Fe resort at our Puppy Patch. It’s time for them to find their forever homes, though, so they can bring this level of joy to their families. Buck and his bro Boone and his sis Dixie are available for adoption: submit an application on our website and we can schedule an appointment at the resort in Santa Fe! Each pup goes home spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccines & dewormer, microchipped, and with six months of free heartworm prevention! www.espanolahumane.org 505-753-8662 |
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