Photo by Mario Manzo
Connecting People to Build a Stronger Community
The Abiquiu News is brought to you by Carol and Brian Bondy
Image Courtesy of Mario Manzo
See Mario's work here.
Image Courtesy of Mario Manzo
See Mario's work here.
Subscribe
Subscribe to this free weekly newsletter and stay on top of area news and alerts.
Like us on Facebook
Having trouble subscribing? Email us
Email us with your news
Criteria for submissions.
Subscribe to this free weekly newsletter and stay on top of area news and alerts.
Like us on Facebook
Having trouble subscribing? Email us
Email us with your news
Criteria for submissions.
May 23, 2025
In GratitudeIf 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
Thank you contributors and Paid SubscribersAnne K
Larry P Kaaren O Submitting to the Abiquiu News. Submit to our primary email info@abiquiunews.com or abiquiunewsimages@gmail.com (
DEADLINE WEDNESDAY NOON Please follow the criteria.
News and Features
A Premier Art Experience in Northern New Mexico
Opening Reception: Sunday, June 1, 2025 • 3–5 PM Abiquiu Inn proudly announces the opening of the 2025 Abiquiu Inn Sculpture Walk & Garden, an expansive and immersive outdoor exhibition featuring over 120 Sculptures by 46 acclaimed artists from across the country. The public is invited to attend the Opening Champagne Reception on Sunday, June 1, 2025, from 3 to 5 PM, where many of the artists will be in attendance.
Bobcat kitten 25-146 is beginning to open her eyes! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported her care with donations to NMWC in the past week. Her story has helped us raise almost $3000 already!
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has proposed a Clean Transportation Fuel Program to the state's Environmental Improvement Board (EIB). If approved, New Mexico would become the fourth state in the nation with a clean transportation fuel standard, following Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signing of House Bill 41 in March 2024.
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) honored Ralph E. “Butch” Clark, III, for his generous support of Northern’s Technical Trades programs. Despite being a resident of Gunnison, Colo., Clark has taken a keen interest in Northern’s trades programs.
What amazes me, 25 years after the Cerro Grande Fire, is that so many living in Los Alamos today—the young and newcomers—have no recollection of the days of endlessly howling winds, an enormous cloud of smoke obscuring the entire western horizon, both Los Alamos and White Rock evacuated and wildfire burning so violently that it sounded like giant helicopters overhead.
Santa Fe, NM — Following the House of Representatives’ passage of the budget reconciliation “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” The Food Depot strongly opposes any provisions that reduce funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid.
Former Health Secretary, geriatrician David Scrase discusses New Mexico’s aging population. David Scrase has worked as a geriatrician in New Mexico for nearly 30 years, and previously served as the state’s Human Services secretary, as well as the acting health secretary, during much of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is on the frontlines when it comes to treating older residents and their caregivers.
Why be good when you can be loud? You all, I’ve just had an epiphany on my Epiphone. I shouldn’t be surprised. My old man had an Epiphone guitar when I was growing up. That guitar taught me a lot about reading. For instance, I couldn’t figure out for years and years how to pronounce what looked to me, as much as anything, like a backwards number three.
Found in dry, sandy areas
Seen blooming in May by CR 142, Abiquiu
If you've been using the Internet for a while you've probably used several of Google's many services. In fact, my guess is you use several of them on a regular basis.
Previous News and Features
Rio Arriba County 4-H youth are looking to raise $6,000 more for their national convention trip to Washington coming up in June 2025. The teens have already raised $19,000, but need to reach their $25,000 goal. The sponsorship will provide hands-on opportunity to learn and practice skills that promote "Better citizens today. Better leaders tomorrow."
Donations may be payable to Rio Arriba County 4-H and dropped off at the Rio Arriba County Extension Office on State Road 554 in Abiquiu. Council contact is Lucinda Montano. Thank you! Community Cafe MeetingsCommunity Cafe Meetings will always be on the second Thursday of the month, 4PM at the Rural Event Center. Next meeting: June 12th.
We 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
Abiquiu News needs you. If you are interested in providing local news for the Abiquiu News on a regular basis, drop us a line. Let's talk! 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 Abiquiú
Beyond the White Place. Courtesy of Ted Harsha.
View of Cerro Pedernal. Courtesy of Becca Fisher.
Image Courtesy of Emery Maez
Art, Music, Film, and Books
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 NewsPueblo de Abiquiú Library & Cultural Center
Abiquiu 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.
June - The Women, by Kristen Hannah (5) July - Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (5) August - The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin (5) 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 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.
Every Sunday morning this spring into summer, join us at The Last Resort in Abiquiú for an intimate, curiosity-driven Goat Walk. Open for seven participants, one herd, and countless insights. We’ll walk side by side with our goats into the Cottonwood Bosque, sunflower seeds in hand, practicing “Being” with every step.
Of four seasonal curations, Season One invites you to slow down, listen deeply to the herd and the earth, and engage in playful observational exercises that reveal the subtleties of animal behavior, land rhythms, and your own inner landscape, deepening our connection to place, to each other, and to the simple power of presence. For just $40 per person, you’ll not only support local animal stewardship and garden regeneration, but you’ll also gain a living template for carrying the art of attentive presence out into your daily life. Spaces are limited to seven walkers; come discover how the goats can teach us patience, partnership, and protection, one gentle step at a time. LINK FOR TICKETS (begins May 25th, then weekly, Sunday’s at 11am): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-goat-walk-tickets-1366079894739?aff=oddtdtcreator 
Announcements and Classes
Rio Arriba County Groundwater Study
We are happy to announce that the first report for the Rio Arriba County Groundwater Study “Evaluation of Groundwater Resources for Communities in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico” is now available online at (NMBGMROpen-file Report 630). The primary goal of this study is to characterize the local and regional aquifers that supply groundwater for domestic and municipal wells. The first phase of the study included the communities of Chama, Dixon, Abiquiu, Medanales, and El Rito. Please stay tuned for an in-depth article about the Abiquiu, Mendanales and El Rito results next week! New study areas for 2025 will include the Upper Rio Chama communities of Brazos, Ensenada, Los Ojos and Rutheron, and the Rio Ojo Caliente Valley including the communities of Chili and Ojo Caliente. If you have a well in one of these areas and would like to take part in the study, please contact Jessica Johnston at 575-770-8585 or aguasnortenas@gmail.com 
Northern New Mexico College El Rito Campus
Continuing Education Opportunities 
$FREE Entry-Level Driver Training, CDL Permit Prep
June 2- 13, 2025 • Monday - Friday • 5:30-8:30 pm NNMC El Rito Campus • Limited to 10 students • See details below!
For more info: Virginia Cata • (505) 747.5477 • virginia_c@nnmc.edu 
Basic Residential Wiring, Hands-On Course
June 9 - 10, 2025 • 9:00 am-3:00 pm Fee: $189 •NNMC El Rito Campus • See details below!
For more info: Virginia Cata • (505) 747.5477 • virginia_c@nnmc.edu 
2 Tai Chi classes to choose from at Northern's El Rito campus!
Introduction to Tai Chi June 11- July 18, 2025 • Wednesday & Friday • 10-11 am El Rito Campus, Alumni Hall • 6-week class, $40 • See details below!
June 11- July 18, 2025 • Wednesday & Friday • 11 am-12 pm El Rito Campus, Alumni Hall • 6-week class, $40 • See details below!
For more info: Virginia Cata • (505) 747.5477 • virginia_c@nnmc.edu 
Take your pick: Instant Piano or Instant Guitar! Both for hopelessly busy people
In just a few hours, you can learn enough secrets of the trade to give you years of musical enjoyment! Classes are online over Zoom and are partly hands-on instruction and partly lecture/demonstration. For ages 13+. Fees include the online book, online recorded follow-up lessons, a recording of the class, and an optional live periodic Q&A session. Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People Monday, July 14, 2025 6:30pm- 9:30pm | Fee: $69 | Online Class Learn to play piano the way professionals do- using chords. The chord method is LOTS of fun and dramatically easier to learn than reading notes. Instant Guitar for Hopelessly Busy People Tuesday, July 15, 2025 6:30pm- 9:00pm | Fee: $69 | Online Class You won't have to take private lessons! This crash course will teach you some basic chords and get you playing along with your favourite songs right away. To register: https://nnmc.edu/community/continuing-education.html Click the "REGISTER" red box. For more info: Virginia Cata • (505) 747.5477 • virginia_c@nnmc.edu 
Join us in immersive workshops
June 16-19 Community Camp 1 June 22-27 Church Youth Week with Loye Troxler and Connie B. Burkhart June 22-28 Painting the Ghost Ranch Desert at Casa del Sol with Michelle Chrisman June 23-28 Be Still, My Soul: Sabbath Rest and Wonder with Larry Goleman and Carol Bechtel June 27-29 Mindful Birding with Holly Thomas Contemplative Astronomy with Wayne Hicks “Look Closer” Watercolor Cloudscapes and Botanical with Jean Cate June 29-July 4 Family Week |
Become a Sponsor
or email us for more information on advertising in the Abiquiu News or click on Pay Now Click on any of our sponsors below for more information.
Supporter
Missing Dog - Miles
Please help us get the story out there to help bring Miles home. Miles was last seen in rural Abiquiú, New Mexico — but could now be anywhere in NM or southern Colorado.
Miles isn’t just any dog — he’s a rescued survivor. This 4-year-old beagle was saved through the Beagle Freedom Project, an organization known for liberating animals from laboratory testing. After surviving a traumatic start to life, Miles finally found love, safety, and a home. But now he’s missing — and his family is desperate to find him. He vanished in the rugged, expansive terrain of Abiquiú, NM, and may have traveled a great distance or been picked up by someone unaware of his story. His family fears he may be lost, scared, or in need of care. Miles is:
We urgently ask media outlets, community networks, newspapers, and community networks to help amplify his story. With your reach, Miles could be found. A hiker, a truck driver, a small-town vet—anyone might be the key to bringing him home. Monetary compensation is being offered for information leading to his safe return. Contact Immediately With Any Information: Jessica Ourisman 📧 jgourisman@gmail.com 📞 510-381-9302 Miles survived the unimaginable once. With your help, he can come home again. Please share his story — every moment matters. 
KennyKenny is a whisper wrapped in whiskers — a tender-hearted tabby with a teardrop of white on his nose and fur soft as a sigh. At just 2 years old, he’s still tiptoeing toward trust, shy as a shadow but full of quiet hope. He won’t rush to greet you, but with time, patience, and a gentle heart, he will become your calm companion. If you can be the safe harbor he’s been dreaming of, come in to meet this sweet secret in stripes. We are open to walk-in adopters Monday-Saturday 11am-4:30pm with hours extended til 6pm on Fridays!
espanolahumane.org 505-753-8662 
Benny & WendyWe know what you’re thinking: “There’s no way these two are siblings.” But believe it or not… Benny and Wendy are actual littermates. Yes. Really. Benny showed up looking like a sleek, silver runway model (Weimaraner vibes for days), while Wendy clearly leaned into the “floofy shepherd cuteness cloud with legs” aesthetic. Come meet the most mismatched matching set of bizarre genetics you’ll ever fall in love with. They’re available to adopt separately at our Ojo Santa Fe Puppy Patch; submit an application on our website to schedule an appointment at the resort in Santa Fe. 505-753-8662 espanolahumane.org
For the Birds
Spotted by Terry Price
In the generally arid West, riparian (or streamside) woodlands hold a lot of the songbirds, including Bullock's Orioles. Look for them in cottonwood trees where they forage in the outer branches or build their intricately woven, hanging nests. Orioles are vocal birds; listen for their sweetly whistled notes interspersed with harsh chattering, sung by both males and females. Sometimes they give just the chattering notes as they take flight, and this can help you locate them, too.
In addition to insects, they eat fruit and nectar—a trait some bird watchers capitalize on by offering nectar, jelly, and orange halves in summer backyards. 
Puppy in search of a young family to play with and be a part of! Australian Cattle Dog, male, 11 weeks old, blue merle coloring. Call or Text
505-901-6208 
|
