NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Check out community events happening March 19 – March 25 around New Mexico.

Albuquerque

Events

March 12-26 – UNM Dance Premiere – MFA thesis film: HAUNTED – The University of New Mexico MFA candidate Amy Schofield has created a dance film that seeks to empower the flamenco bailaora and reaffirm her physical body as site of meaning-making and knowledge creation. CONTENT WARNING: This film contains scenes of brief female nudity.

March 19 – Big Kid Clay Night – Join Tommie as she walks you through making your own Garden Totem, pinch pot monster, pinch pot or whatever you feel like making. All clay, glazing, totem stand, and firings are included. All tools, 2 lbs. of clay and glaze will be provided. You are welcome to stay and help your child or you can register to make your own creations. The cost per registrant is $35.

March 12 – NMPhil Now! / Shimmering Song – Acclaimed violinist Yoonshin Song brings talent and technique together for an emotional evening of masterworks. Savor Debussy’s transcendent Violin Sonata, his last completed work. Falla’s Suite Populaire Espagnole pays homage to the rhythm and style of original Spanish melodies.

March 20 – Albuquerque God’s Talent – Free Talent Search for Middle through High School Christian artists on March 19 at Hoffmantown Church. The free event open to the public starts at 7 p.m. All CDC Covid safe guidelines will be followed.

March 21 – Seasons of Growth: Pueblo Women in Traditional Agriculture – This month’s Seasons of Growth webinar takes place on Sunday, March 21, and recognizes Pueblo women in traditional agriculture. As they celebrate Women’s History Month, they acknowledge the contributions and storied history of Pueblo matriarchs in carrying out critical and life-sustaining agricultural labors on behalf of their families and communities. Viewers will also learn about seed sharing including a live demonstration educating participants with regard to determining the viability of seeds. Guest Panelists: Reyna Banteah & Marian Naranjo.

March 18-22 – Root & Bloom – Originally slated as an in-person professional development conference, Root & Bloom has been reconceived as a virtual (re)generative retreat made by and for New Mexico’s Creatives, to serve and support individuals in the bewildering here and now, as well as in visioning and actualizing a just, abundant shared future.

March 22 – Artastic Spring Break Camp – A full week of camp activities for children 7-14. Join Creativity Warehouse as they host their first Spring Break Camp. Children will get experience with clay, wood art, watercolor, acrylic art and more.

March 25 – Vitalant Blood Drive – Fairfield Inn and Sweets North is hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 877-258-4825 to sign up.

March 28 – Seed Share – Need Seeds – Do you have extra seed or need some? Join the City of Albuquerque for their annual seed share event.

April 7 – Harwood Art School: Watercolor Basics with Abigail Butler – Get a good understanding of the tools, materials and applications of watercolor. Learn how to apply paint to achieve the visuals that you are looking for and get instruction on how to best start your journey to utilizing watercolors to the fullest extent.

Notices

🔶 Get Wild With the ABQ BioPark This Spring Break – Registration for spring break camps, which take place March 22-26, is now live. This year, the ABQ BioPark is offering both in-person and virtual classes on Zoom. 

🔶 Family and Community Services Launches Webinar Series to Highlight Providers That Support People Experiencing Homelessness – The City of Albuquerque’s Department of Family and Community Services (FCS) is launching a webinar series that will feature interviews with partners and providers that work alongside the City to help support the unhoused community in Albuquerque. In the first webinar, Quinn Donnay, FCS Gateway Centers Coordinator, interviews Diana Lopez from Youth Development Inc., Steve Johnson from New Day Youth and Family Services and Brooke Tafoya from New Day Youth and Family Services. These partners offer a focus on family support, which is a critical piece of the homelessness support network. 

🔶 Ditch the Ditches Program Launches 2021 Coloring Contest – The Ditch and Water Safety Taskforce launches its first Ditch the Ditches coloring contest. The coloring contest is intended to promote safe playing opportunities for children and begins March 8 and runs through June 30. The contest runs from the beginning of spring to mid-summer. During this time, the weather warms and children are playing outside more frequently. Flash flooding can happen quickly this time of year and can cause injury or even death to those caught in an arroyo. In addition, ditches pose dangers of their own. The coloring pages for the contest promote different ways for children to safely play and encourage them to stay out of ditches and arroyos. 

🔶 City Bringing Back Some Senior Activities Starting in March – The Keller administration and Department of Senior Affairs began offering gym access at Palo Duro and Los Volcanes 50+ Fitness Centers as well as limited, low-contact activities at Senior Centers as of March 1. All activities will be offered on a reservation-only basis in order to ensure social distancing and compliance with the public health order. In addition to gym access, Senior Affairs will be opening computer labs at North Valley and Highland Senior Centers and pool rooms at Los Volcanes, North Valley and Palo Duro Senior Centers. Through a partnership with AARP, Senior Affairs will be able to expand tax services at four Centers. To register for tax services, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxhelp. To register for all other activities, call the facility hosting the program.

🔶 Bernalillo County offers COVID-19 relief program – Bernalillo County is offering a new COVID relief program that will give approved participants monetary assistance. Commissioners identified $1.4 million from the county’s general fund for emergency relief to qualifying residents within Bernalillo County, including those within the city limits of Albuquerque. The measure, sponsored by Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada, will offer one-time payments of $500 to qualifying households that did not receive federal stimulus relief payments and do not qualify for unemployment benefits. Applications will be taken online through the Family Independence Initiative’s application portal at https://www.bernco.gov/economic-development/covid-relief-.aspx.  Applications will be available in both English and Spanish. The program will remain open until the funds are exhausted.

🔶 City Helping Seniors Register for COVID-19 Vaccine – The City of Albuquerque Department of Senior Affairs, in partnership with the State of New Mexico and 311, is helping register Albuquerque metro area seniors 60 and up in the New Mexico Department of Health’s (NMDOH) vaccination database. All New Mexicans can also still register via vaccinenm.org. Seniors who live in the Albuquerque metro area and would like to register over the phone can call 311.

🔶 ECHO, Inc. supplies qualifying seniors with free supplemental food boxes – ECHO, Inc. is looking out for seniors 60 and older in the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho area by supplying free food. The food boxes are issued once a month and provides about a week’s worth of food. Items included in the food boxes include products like juice, cheese, milk, cereal, and protein. To qualify for the food box, seniors are asked to provide an ID, address, and proof of income. This can come in the form of your Social Security Awards letter or from your employment. Due to the pandemic, ECHO is not dealing with paperwork. Seniors who go to receive the food boxes will be asked to read off their information in order to register for the food boxes.

🔶 Senior Dance Classes – Bernalillo County and Keshet Dance have teamed up to offer online group dance classes for Bernalillo County seniors. Classes are one hour in length and held via Zoom. Interested persons can view the class schedule and register.

🔶 Gale OneFile Culinary Arts Offers A Wide Variety of International Recipes and Cooking Lessons With Your Library Card – The necessity of staying home, and the desire to cook something for those we love, what better time to pull out a giant virtual cookbook? The ABC Library’s Gale OneFile Culinary Arts database offers numerous cooking classes, methods, recipes from around the world, and much more. Visit: www.abqlibrary.org 

🔶 Keep Burque Clean – You can schedule a free community clean-up two times per calendar year. Simply organize people in your community to participate and our department will provide gloves and trash bags for your clean-up as well as collect the waste at your designated collection point. Call 505-761-8100 or 311 to schedule your community clean-up.

🔶 Free Firewood for Seniors – The City of Albuquerque has announced that free firewood will be available to seniors in need to keep their homes warm this winter. The Department of Senior Affairs and Parks and Recreation has partnered to offer firewood to seniors 60 and older in Bernalillo County. The firewood will be delivered by a team from the Department of Senior Affairs to the homes of eligible seniors while supplies last. To sign up for the firewood while supplies last, call 505-764-6400.

🔶 Blue Star Mothers looking for donations – The Albuquerque chapter of Blue Star Mothers is once again looking for donations to include in care packages sent to troops. The organization is still holding donation drives and is asking for single-size servings of food and drink mixes such as Vienna Sausage-pop top cans, jerky, protein bars/granola bars, coffee, and hot chocolate. For non-food items, they’re asking for things like hand sanitizer, hand and foot warmers, and dental floss. For more information on how to donate, visit Rio Grande Valley Blue Star Mothers website.

🔶 The Rio Grande Food Project is conducting two outdoor drive-thru food distributions per week. RGFP Executive Director Ari Herring discusses these distributions and how you can receive assistance or help out. RGFP will be conducting two outdoor drive-thru food distributions per week on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or until food runs out. Families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet are encouraged to visit the drive-thru at 600 Coors Blvd. NW which is on Coors just south of the freeway and behind the Rio Grande Presbyterian Church.

🔶 Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico – Special distribution in Bernalillo County starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday mornings at UNM South Parking Lot. Register in advance.

🔶 Bingo with Brenda – Bernalillo County’s Office of Senior and Social Services launched Bingo with Brenda, a virtual activity that takes place every week. Brenda Cisneros-Fernandez is the Public Health Specialist with the department and will be the one facilitating virtual Bingo every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. To register for Bingo with Brenda, visit their website at bernco.gov.

Around New Mexico

Events

March 6, 13, 20, 27 – Mini Seed Libraries – 11 Mini Seed Library Locations & Free Film The Seed Library is responding to pandemic-related library closures by again locating “Mini Seed Libraries” at eleven locations throughout the county starting in March and continuing through May (or as long as seed supplies last). To kick off the 2021 growing season, the Master Gardener Seed Stewards and Santa Fe Public Library will host a free, on-line screening of the award-winning film, “Seed: The Untold Story” from anywhere, anytime.

March 18-21 – Dance at the Harwood – Academy of Performing Art’s creation of Dance at the Harwood is a mixed repertoire production. The performance combines classical ballet solos, rhythmic pieces, and an original work created by Amber Vasquez-Thomas for The Harwood Museum of Art.

March 19 – Slow Food Santa Fe Food System Series: Healthy Soil and Farming – Join Slow Food Santa Fe for a new webinar series “Getting to know our food system: from grower to eater and everything in between”.

March 19 – Taos Shortz Film Festival Kickoff – This year’s virtual festival will feature films selected for 2021 as well as their 2020 selections. This will be a 22-day festival. Tickets will be available soon. You can choose to view either just one or both year’s selections of films.

March 19 – Slow Food Santa Fe Food System Series: Healthy Soil and Farming – Join Slow Food Santa Fe for a new webinar series “Getting to know our food system: from grower to eater and everything in between”.

March 19, 26 – Essentials of Great Product Photography – This class meets online Fridays March 19 and 26th, from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. The cost is $19.00.Great product photography is essential for any artist or craftsman who needs to showcase their work through photos. Learning to take great photos helps build trust in your products by giving consumers a true representation of your work. Whether it’s to build your artist portfolio or sell your work online, you’ll benefit from expert product photography tips taught by Native photographer, Roxanne Best.

March 20 – Naw-Rúz Celebration – You’re invited to an online celebration of the Baha’i New Year: Naw-Rúz! All are welcome. Bring your party hats. Via Facebook or santafe.lsa@gmail.com. Naw-Rúz is an ancient Persian festival celebrating the “new day” and for Baha’is it marks the end of the annual 19-Day Fast and is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended and children are exempted from attending school.

March 20 – ENMU Radio Opera: Beauty and the Beast – The Eastern New Mexico University Department of Music invites you to join their student performers virtually for the premiere of Vittorio Giannini’s radio opera “Beauty and the Beast.” The ENMU Opera Theatre’s spring 2021 radio production featuring performances from seven students debuts on March 20 at 11 a.m. MDT on KENW-FM and will be available on the KENW website.

March 28 – NMPAS Annual New Mexico Bach Society Concert – NMPAS presents the Annual New Mexico Bach Society Concert on Sunday at 5:30 pm. The performance will be live-streamed via the NMPAS YouTube channel. Ticket Holders will receive a link to the live stream from NMPAS by email 48 hours before the performance date, which is Friday, March 26, 2021 at EOB. Tickets are $25 per household, plus applicable ticketing fees.

April 3, 7, 10 – Rio Rancho Tree Steward Training – The city of Rio Rancho’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department and its Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful Division are seeking volunteers interested in serving as a Tree Steward in the community. Volunteer Tree Stewards individually or as a team receive tools, training, and ongoing support to help the city care for trees in local parks. Tree stewards visit their chosen park and report tree and park concerns; assist with planting and pruning of young, newly established trees; maintain site conditions; report vandalism; report water system problems.

Notices

🔶 Free Drinking Water Well Testing Available to Roosevelt County Residents – The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is studying potential PFAS contamination in Curry and Roosevelt Counties. This study is a critical leap forward for state and local officials and the public to
learn about the presence and prevalence of these chemicals within eastern New Mexico’s groundwater supplies. To sign up, Please email NMENV-DWB-PFAS@state.nm.us or call 505-660-3391.

🔶 State announces priorities within the “chronic conditions” subphase of COVID-19 vaccine distribution – The New Mexico Department of Health on Thursday announced that going forward, New Mexicans 60 years and older with a chronic condition that places them at severe risk of COVID-related health complications will be prioritized for vaccination appointments within the larger pool of New Mexicans with a chronic health condition. The new prioritization affects New Mexicans in the last of these groups – New Mexicans with a chronic health condition. The full list of qualifying chronic health conditions is available at vaccineNM.org (users can click on “I want to create a new profile” to see the list).

🔶 Solid waste grant funding now available for scrap tire, illegal dumpsite abatement, recycling projects – The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2022 Recycling and Illegal Dumping (RAID) Fund grants for scrap tire management, illegal dumpsite abatement and recycling and composting projects. Municipalities, counties, solid waste authorities, cooperative associations (as defined in the RAID Act), land grant communities, pueblos, nations and tribes and are eligible for funds totaling $800,000. These grants are administered by NMED.

🔶 City of Alamogordo City Hall Reopening to the Public – As per the Governor’s current public health order, citizens and staff will be required to wear a mask when in the building and social distancing is difficult. To help with the flow of traffic please enter the building through the East entrance along Washington Ave

🔶 Business Start-up Grants for Science and Technology – Economic Development Business Start-Up Grants can be used by potentially high-growth, for-profit companies in New Mexico, with fewer than 50 employees, in the science and technology fields. Grant amounts are $10,000- $25,000 each. Awarded companies must agree to seek out additional funding and provide 6-month and 12-month status reports. The submission deadline is March 29, 2021 by 5 pm. For more information email Myrriah Tomar, Ph.D., Director, Office of Science and Technology or call 505-827-0222.

🔶 Emergency Financial Assistance Available for Natives living in SF County – To qualify for Emergency Financial Assistance, you must be Native and live in Santa Fe County, submit a copy of a photo I.D., fill out an application and submit required documentation, the application name must match the name on the invoice or bill, the Emergency Financial Assistance application is available online or you can call us to pick up an application by appointment at 505-660-4210.

🔶 Due to an increase in recent sightings of coyotes by hikers along the bosque in the Albuquerque metro area, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish reminds everyone to be mindful and prepared for potential encounters with wild animals.

If you enjoy recreating along the Bosque, remember:

  • Never approach a wild animal. If you see wildlife, snap a picture while keeping a safe distance.
  • Avoid outdoor activities such as running or hiking at, or around, dawn and dusk, when predators are most active.
  • Supervise children when they are outdoors and keep them close when hiking.
  • A leash will help protect your pet and usually is required by law.

🔶 State Parks to reopen for all visitors – Day-use will reopen for all visitors immediately. Camping will reopen to all visitors by reservation only beginning February 27th. Several state parks are currently managing for seasonal closures and it is important for visitors to continue to check for details on specific park hours of operation and additional information before visiting. Check the State Parks website and know before you go.

🔶 New Fuelwood Area Open Between Ruidoso Downs and Glencoe –  A new fuelwood area is now open on the Lincoln National Forest, Smokey Bear Ranger District in Allison Canyon. The fuelwood area is located on the north side of Highway 70 between Ruidoso Downs and Glencoe off Forest Service Road 120B. This is a dead-and-down fuelwood area, meaning you can collect dead logs and branches. Do not cut green-standing trees. A fuelwood permit is required to collect fuelwood on the forest.

🔶 East Mountain Broadband FAQ and Email Service – Bernalillo County staff prepared the East Mountain Broadband FAQ to inform constituents of the various challenges and opportunities for improved service. Contemporaneous with the launch of the FAQ, Commissioner Pyskoty has facilitated an email service for East Mountain residents interested in the expansion of broadband services and other local issues. It’s part of Bernalillo County’s subscription-based information system called govDelivery. Residents who sign-up for the District 5 list will receive occasional updates on the East Mountain broadband project and other local issues by email.

🔶Gila National Forest Issues Closure Order for Forest Road 4031C – The Gila National Forest, Reserve Ranger District has issued a closure order for Forest Road 4031C, also known as McCarty Flat Road, west of the San Francisco River from the intersection of Higgins Flat Road. Forest Order 03-06-06-21-006, which is in effect from January 13, 2021, through December 31, 2022, or until rescinded, whichever comes first. The purpose of this order is to prevent further resource damage due to user-created roads being established from illegal woodcutting within the San Francisco Roadless area. This will give the forest the opportunity to assess and repair the damages.

🔶 Farmer’s Market at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing – The annual market now runs Saturdays year-round at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing, This “producers only” market features quality farmers, backyard gardeners, and artisans. Well-behaved pets on leash welcome.

🔶 One Team Scavenger Hunt Santa Fe – Puzzling Adventure is a cross between a scavenger hunt, an adventure race, and an informative self-guided tour. Each adventure consists of a series of locations that you are guided to where you are required to answer questions or solve puzzles to receive your next instruction. All you need is your own mobile device and an Internet connection. Register now at puzzlingadventures.com.

🔶 DiverseIT offers free digital literacy classes – The program helps people with disabilities, people of color, and women to start careers in IT with hands-on training. DiverseIT also provides computers to people with disabilities and local nonprofits. DiverseIT’s new Digital Literacy: The computer classes can help to get you comfortable with your computer and allow you to use it with confidence. The classes also help you avoid scams, search the internet safely, and keep learning online. DiverseIT offers sessions in English and Spanish which are available remotely. To sign up, call 505-881-TECH. For more information on DiverseIT computer services and training, visit goadelante.org/diversit/.

🔶 New Mexico State Parks will remain closed to out of state visitors through January – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s (EMNRD) State Parks Division announced Thursday that New Mexico State Parks will remain closed to out-of-state visitors through January. 32 State Parks will remain open for day-use only to New Mexico residents only. All camping reservations will be refunded through Jan. 29.

🔶 The Santa Fe City and County are Seeking Public Input to Inform Long-Range Water Resources Plans – City of Santa Fe Water (City) and Santa Fe County Utilities (County) are initiating a collaborative, science-based, 5-year planning cycle to develop long-range water resource management plans and are seeking public input to inform this important process. Residents of the City or County are invited to fill out an online survey to help the City and County better understand the public’s perspectives, values, and priorities with respect to water. 

🔶 CONNECT Fund launches to Help City Residents Impacted by COVID-19 – In response to economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Santa Fe—with local partners Somos un Pueblo Unido, Chainbreaker Collective, and national non-profit Family Independence Initiative (FII)—has launched emergency disaster relief funds open to eligible City of Santa Fe residents. These relief funds will afford one-time cash assistance to help supplement lost wages and prevent eviction. Referrals will be made via CONNECT to fund partners Somos un Pueblo Unido and Chainbreaker Collective, who will take the lead on providing community-wide education regarding the programs and assisting eligible individuals. Apply online at https://www.santafenm.gov/connect or call Somos un Pueblo Unido at 844-365-6635 or Chainbreaker at 505-577-5481. 

🔶 Santa Fe is seeking residents to sit on the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments Planning Commission. The City is seeking letters of interest from City residents with professional experience in law, real estate, construction, or design. If you are interested in sitting on the Planning Commission or the Board of Adjustments please send a resume and letter of interest to City Clerk Yolanda Vigil at yyvigil@santafenm.gov.

🔶 Ignited Minds is now offering free online tutoring for any student in need of extra help. Tutors teach students time and organization management skills, tips, and tricks and also provide regular tutoring appointments that allow students to build a trusted working relationship with their tutor. Currently, Ignited Minds is also in need of more quality tutors. For more information on services, volunteering, board development, and more, visit ignitedmindsnonprofit.org.

🔶 Fuelwood Permits are available for purchase at most ranger districts. Permit sales vary by location. For additional information in regard to the 2020-2021 season, collection dates, and application process, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/coronado/passes-permits/forestproducts.

🔶 The New Mexico Human Services Department announced that New Mexico households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will once again receive the maximum amount for their household size for the month of January. Individuals seeking to apply for SNAP benefits may apply online through yes.state.nm.us or by phone at 1-800-283-4465. Newly approved SNAP recipients will be eligible for the supplemental benefit.

🔶 MVD now offers online license renewal for drivers 79 and older – For the first time, drivers 79 years of age and older have the option of renewing their driver’s licenses online. Drivers 79 and older previously had to renew their licenses in person every year. Anyone in that category now will be able to renew online 60 days or less before their current license expires. Going forward, drivers 79 and older who need an eye exam or medical report to renew their licenses will be able to conduct their annual renewal online in a two-step process. First, the driver will submit their eye exam or medical report online at mvdonline.com. Once the report has been accepted by MVD staff, the driver will go to mvdonline.com to renew their license.

🔶 Dept. of Public Safety needs transportation inspectors – The Department of Public Safety has immediate openings for transportation inspectors in San Jon as well as in other locations throughout New Mexico. While mechanical knowledge is helpful, it is not required and on-the-job training will be provided. Candidates must have a high school diploma and one year of general work experience.

🔶 Hotline Announced for Pandemic EBT Recipients – The New Mexico Human Services Department announced a new Pandemic-EBT hotline for parents who have questions regarding eligibility or want more information on the benefits. The hotline will be manned from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you need assistance in activating or replacing an EBT card, you can contact the card vendor, FIS Global at 1-800-843-8303.

🔶 Carlsbad Caverns National Park– E-bikes are allowed on park roads and parking areas that are currently open to motor vehicles and traditional bicycles. E-bikes and other vehicles are not permitted on park trails or in any wilderness areas. 

🔶 Canyon Bakehouse bread recall – lowers Foods Inc. is voluntarily recalling select gluten-free Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White Bread and Canyon Bakehouse Everything Bagels for the “potential presence of gluten.” The Georgia-based company said in the recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration website that the recalled products were distributed in 14 states including New Mexico.