Connecting People to Build a Stronger Community
Image courtesy of Gary Pikarsky
The Abiquiu News is brought to you by Carol and Brian Bondy
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September 19, 2025
In GratitudeWe thank Home Construction Doctor LLC and NM Rural Library Initiative for renewing their sponsorships.
The Home Construction Doctor, LLC, owned and operated by Bruno Lindner, a native of Munich Germany, reflects the excellence and training of German Quality Craftsmanship. It is said that one’s home is one’s castle, and we at The Home Construction Doctor, LLC believe that each project, regardless of size or investment, must reflect only the finest quality craftsmanship. Inspiration Excellence and Satisfaction for the customer are our goals in business. We specialize in Remodeling, Renovation and Custom Building. Our portfolio includes projects as small as a guest bath and as large as a whole house remodel. In addition, we can provide you with architects’ services, custom cabinet makers & kitchen and bath designers. We strive to find healthy green solutions to increase the beauty and value of your “castle”! Licensed, bonded and insured. 505-685-0860: office 505-670-4780: Bruno 505-690-1184: Julie homesafe47@gmail.com or bruno1014@windstream.net
The New Mexico Rural Library Initiative thanks Bill Page of La Madera for donating a sponsorship on NMRLI’s behalf to Abiquiu News. The New Mexico Rural Library Initiative (NMRLI) works with and advocates for support of about 60 rural libraries throughout New Mexico, including Abiquiu. In 2019 we helped create a statewide Rural Library Endowment, and through it each eligible library will receive about $23,000 this year.
If fully-funded to $60 million, the endowment would disburse about $45,000 per year to each library in perpetuity. These funds can help hire staff, support library programming, and maintain buildings for many libraries that run on shoestring budgets while providing internet, telephone, and other non-traditional services critical for rural communities. It can also help rural communities that want to create new rural libraries. This fall is an exciting time at NMRLI. We received a grant for our fellow, Aspen Coriz-Romero, to work with us full time for six months. Aspen is visiting the libraries, learning about their needs and services, helping with things like grant writing, surveys, cataloging and even moving boxes of books. Aspen is also writing a bi-weekly newsletter about the library visits, and those who want to follow along to learn more can subscribe here: https://nmrurallibraryinitiative.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bff590af192e0a9ea2e0030e0&id=3aa046cbd7 Please consider contacting state legislators and the governor, and ask them to fully fund the endowment this year with an additional $29.5 million. Their contact information is below. The most important people are the governor, legislators, and the heads of the finance committees: Senator George Muñoz and Representative Nathan Small. Stop by the Abiquiu Library and fill out a library postcard to mail in to them. The state budget is being crafted now, so it is a good time to reach out to them. To learn more about our work or donate, please visit our website at nmrurallibraryinitiative.org WHO TO CONTACT AND SEND POSTCARDS FOR RURAL LIBRARY ADVOCACY Governor Michele Lujan Grisham 490 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 400 Santa Fe, NM 87501 Phone: (505) 476-2200 Toll free: (833) 520-0020https://www.governor.state.nm.us/contact-the-governor/ George Munoz, Chair Senate Finance Box 2679 Gallup, NM 87305 Office 505 722-6570 home 505 722-0191 george.munoz@nmlegis.gov Nathan Small, Chair House Appropriations 1320 Fourth Street Las Cruces, NM 88005 home 575 496-9540 nathan.small@nmlegis.gov Benny Shendo, Vice Chair, Senate Finance Cuba, Cochiti Lake, Jemez Springs, Pueblo de Cochiti, Torreon, Zia Pueblo, Jicarilla, Santo Domingo Pueblo, Chama PO Box 634 Jemez Pueblo NM 87024 (575) 834- 7359 505 986-4264 office benny.shendo@nmlegis.gov If you are interested in becoming a sponsor either at a basic or platinum level get in touch and find out how we can support your business. Email
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News and Features
This November, for the first time, Dar al Islam will be the site of a grief retreat, “Becoming Sanktuaree” co-hosted by unashay and TEN (The Emergence Network.) Unashay offers land and community-based presence, sanctuary, and creative arts for those who are grieving. Abiquiu’s own Aimee Wilson is the founding Executive Director of this organization that helps people take time to court, rather than “fix” what hurts.
ESPANOLA, NM — Moving Arts Española is proud to announce that its documentary, Moving Arts | Setting Hearts Ablaze, has been nominated for a 2025 Rocky Mountain Southwest Emmy Award. This recognition honors the powerful storytelling and impact of Moving Arts’ mission touplift Northern New Mexico youth and families through arts, culture, and community
‘Whenever there’s changes to SNAP, we see food lines grow.’
The line at a local food bank’s weekly distribution in Albuquerque’s International District has increased in the last few years, organizers say, as neighbors in nearby homes join the queue alongside the growing population of unhoused residents
Acequias pushing for county, state disaster declaration
Rainstorms last month in Northern New Mexico damaged several dozen acequias, many of them severely, according to an advocacy group concerned that without state or federal help, farmers who rely on the ancient irrigation canals will lose at least two growing seasons.
Sept. 27 is a fee free day on national forests and grasslands. Santa Fe National Forest is participating in a variety of events in honor of National Public Lands Day – the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands.
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health is launching a region-wide “Are You Prepared?” campaign to encourage individuals and families to take simple steps toward readiness for emergencies.
I’ve worked with a lot of people who relate to their gardens/landscape as a war zone . There are the battles with the weeds, the failing irrigation systems, the bugs, the rabbits, the gophers, the very soil. There are the intolerable leaves that fall so beautifully to the ground.
Who's scruffy looking?
I never planned on sprouting a beard. In fact, for many years there, I went entirely beardless. Then I hit puberty. I continued to go beardless for several presidential administrations thereafter, but not for lack of trying.
Yesterday I briefly attended the well-advertised (thousands of people) Monarch Festival. Held at our local land trust my purpose was to watch a young neighbor participate in the final parade
Found in dry sand and gravel
Seen blooming in September at Abiquiu Lake
I got a call from a friend saying he needed to buy a new computer as his 6 year old computer wouldn’t update to Windows 11. After talking to him a bit we decided to try and update his ‘old’ computer first, despite Microsoft saying it could not be done.
Previous News and Features
Clover Leaf September 2025 NewsletterWe Get Letters
Do you have a story to tell, a history to share?Whether you have been here ten years or your family hundreds of years, you have a story to tell about your connection to Abiquiu. Email us
If you have a story to tell, send it in. If you want, interview your friend, relative, teacher, co-worker. If you think it would be interesting, I bet other people would too. Give it a try and send something in to us. Carol Bondy Scene Around AbiquiúSend us your local images! Send to AbiquiuNewsImages@gmail.com. Please send images under 1mb. My inbox will thank you. ~Carol
Art, Music, Film, and BooksVisit our Arts sponsor page
Coiled Basket Workshop
Friday, October 3, (6:00 – 9:00 PM)
thru Saturday, October 4, (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM) Cost: $225 (Includes materials & lunch) To register, contact Carla Shipman Willis at 719-640-6869 or Email willisck@msn.comwillisck@msn.com Register now … attendance limited! For overnight accommodations contact Abiquiu Inn at 505-685-4378
El Rito Studio Tour Featured ArtistCommunity Artisan Mercado
Saturday and Sunday, September 27 - 28, 10 am to 5 pm Northern New Mexico College, El Pueblito, El Rito Campus featuring work by NNMC HERITAGE ARTS PROGRAM Spanish Colonial Woodworking, Rio Grande Weaving, Traditional Spanish Retablo Painting Free, fun activities for kids and families EL PUEBLITO CERAMICS STUDIO Janeen Singer will share about weekly pottery night and offer a pinch pot group activity for any age/experience level Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm THE GEORGIA O’KEEFFE MUSEUM Art to G.O. Mobile Creative Studio Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and ART PLAY under the portal Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm MUSIC BY RUBEN DOMINGUEZ FOOD BY RIO ARRIBA COUNTY 4-H CLUBS Sponsored by Zenitram Industries in El Rito Los Alamos and White Rock Farmers’ Markets Los Alamos Cooperative Market and White Rock Smith’s Center Market and Cost Plus Food King in Espanola La Montanita Food Coop, Market Street, Sprouts and Trader Joe’s in Santa Fe Sponsored by the El Rito Art Association, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit Partial funding was granted by the County of Rio Arriba Lodgers’ Tax. For more information: elritoartassociation.org STUDIO TOUR MAPS AVAILABLE AT MERCADO 
Visit abiquiustudiotour.org for more information.
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. Local Library NewsEl Pueblo de Abiquiú Library & Cultural Center
El Rito Library
Abiquiú Book Club
The group has compiled the list of books they plan to read for 2025. Check this out and mark your calendar if you wish to join in the discussions.
September - Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey by Kathleen Rooney (4) October - James: by Percival Everett (4) November - All Fours by Miranda July (4) December - Anthropology of Turquoise by Ellen Meloy (4) January '26 - Eventide by Kent Haruf The group meets the last Tuesday of each month at the Abiquiu Library. Books are recommended by the members. All are welcome to join. Please call Analinda 927-6220 if you have questions. Looking for lodging near Abiquiú?
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.
Fall Equinox Dinner + Storytelling Night for Women at Owl Peak Farm
Archaeology Fair 2025 has been scheduled for Saturday, September 27th at the lovely Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.
Join us for Archaeology Fair at Ghost Ranch on Saturday, September 27th, 2025, from 10 am until 3 pm. Last year we partnered with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division and more than a dozen state, federal, and private archaeological organizations to bring Archaeology Day to the public at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology. This year we are teaming up with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division to hold the event at Ghost Ranch, located at 280 Private Drive 1708, Highway US 84, Abiquiu, New Mexico 87510. Join us at this historic and picturesque destination for a day of activities and learning. Ghost Ranch will be free and open to the public from 9 am until 5 pm on Saturday the 27th; day use fees will be waived and both the museums and hiking will be free. Planned activities include: • Atlatl throwing in the clover field • Pinch pots • Sherd drawing/coloring • Flintknapping • Lithic artifacts • Ceramic artifacts • Historic artifacts • Bone tools • Yucca fiber Participants include: • Historic Preservation Division (HPD) staff • Ghost Ranch staff • New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies (OAS) • New Mexico State Parks • United States Army Corps of Engineers • Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) • Department of Cultural Affairs' (DCA) Wonders on Wheels It is highly recommended that all Archaeology Fair participants bring their own water and snacks. 
When: Wednesday September 24, 2025 at 5:00 – 7:30pm
Doors and bar open at 5:00pm Zach Weiss presentation and Q&A at 5:30pm Local Resource Fair and networking at 6:30pm Where: Amigos Locale, 330 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Suite A in Taos, NM All proceeds benefit the non-profit A.I.R.E. Programs (Agriculture Implementation Research & Education): Supporting Local Farms & Ranches, Producing 800 USDA Local & Organic School Meals Daily, Planting School Gardens and Offering Culinary Arts & Farm Internships. WaterStories.com 
Come join us on Saturday, October 4th for our annual FREE Open House! From 10am until 3pm, we will be here at NMWC with Ambassador Animals for you to meet, pumpkins for you to paint, and games and activities for all ages.
This year, we're also offering a special ticketed program during the Open House: an animal tracking workshop with Ann Hunkins, an Internationally Certified Specialist Tracker. Registered attendees will be able to explore the NMWC campus with Ann, discovering all sorts of tracks and signs of wildlife! Tickets for this workshop are $30 per person, and space is limited. Registration for the workshop starts tomorrow, September 18th, so keep an eye on our social media tomorrow morning for the link to register! The Open House will be free to the public from 10am-3pm on October 4th, right here at NMWC: 19 Wheat Street, Española, NM 87532. The ticketed workshop begins at 10:30 at the same location. We hope to see you there, and be ready to register for the workshop tomorrow morning! Community Café
Join us if you have heart, commitment and willingness to support our local community.
Next Meeting Thursday, October 9 DATE: Second Thursday of every month TIME: 6:00 pm LOCATION: Rural Events Center Contact: abiquiucommunitycafe@gmail.com VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to help at the Farmers Market, both early and late shifts. Every Tuesday: Set up and take down 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm and Parking and closing: 5:00 - 6:00 pm Please email Jen Harrington to confirm: JanetMHarrington@gmail.com Announcements and Classes
For beginners from 10am-11am, for Ongoing students from 11am-noon, every Wednesday & Friday at the El Rito campus.
Sept 3 - Oct 10 • A 6 week series ( NEXT UP: Oct 15 - Nov 21 ) $40 • El Rito campus, Alumni Hall Introduction to Tai Chi • 10am-11 am Ongoing Tai Chi Practice • 11 am-12 pm Register at: https://bit.ly/45bLMV5 The Chinese art of Tai Chi is a moving meditation and whole-body exercise for maintaining and building the health of mind and body. This class will introduce the long-form Tai Chi set as taught by Master May Lin-Sin, with a focus on basic principles. Intended for people who are new to Tai Chi; no experience is required. It is also appropriate for those who have completed this course before and wish further practice. Instructor Chris Ng is certified by the non-profit American Tai Chi Academy with more than 30 years of teaching Tai Chi. For more info: (505) 500-9201 • carolina.alegre@nnmc.edu 
Link to register: https://www.chamavalleyarts.org/programs
NEW Classes at Dancing in the Desert
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VenusHer name is Venus, but life has not treated her like a goddess. For years she lived outside, surviving in a colony, weathering hunger, storms, and indifference. She came to us worn and fragile: one eye permanently damaged, most of her teeth had to be removed. And now, her tiny pink tongue peeks out of her mouth as if she’s forever blowing soft raspberries at the world—an accidental, almost childlike gesture that makes her look both silly and unbearably tender.
Venus is shy here in the shelter, watching quietly from the edges. She doesn’t lash out; she simply endures, holding her sorrow close. But we know cats like her. We know that in the quiet of a real home, with patience and kindness, she could unfurl into something breathtaking—gentle, grateful, and steadfast. If you see her for who she is, she might just become the most devoted companion you’ll ever know—the kind of love you earn once in a lifetime. Venus has survived everything life has thrown at her. Now all she wants is someone to see past the scars, past the tongue that won’t stay in, and choose her anyway. 
GrizzlyWith two glacier-blue eyes that could rival an alpine lake, Grizzly is the sweet side of a wild adventure. This one-year-old Border Collie mix may tip the scales at 80 pounds, but behind his size is a heart as soft as fresh snow and a goofy spirit that melts everyone he meets. He’s a quick learner who thrives on encouragement, and he’s already showing signs of being house-trained! Whether it’s mountain hikes, backyard play, or simply leaning in close with those glacier eyes full of trust, Grizzly is ready to turn every day into an adventure story.Come meet Grizzly, and see if your path and his are meant to wind together.
www.espanolahumane.org 
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