Upcoming Events for December 2, 2024

Todd Brogowski -

Do you want to advertise your Torrance County event in the Mountainair Dispatch? I’d love to publish it. Email todd@mountainairdispatch.com with the details. There is no cost to publish upcoming events.

Federal Government

Department of Veterans Affairs

Advanced Care Planning Workshop

  • First and third Tuesdays of every month, from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
  • Learn how to name a medical power of attorney to act on your behalf, how to communicate your healthcare wishes, and how to complete the VA advanced directive form.
  • Contact Cammie Hanratty, LICSW, 505-265-1711 x7474, to confirm attendance and to ask questions
  • Room 2C-131, Building 41, Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center, 1501 San Pedro Drive Southeast, Albuquerque, NM 87108

Flu and COVID Vaccines

  • Starting October 1, 2024
  • Walk-in shots at New Mexico primary care clinics from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
  • Drive-Through Clinic at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center, 1501 San Pedro Drive Southeast, Albuquerque, NM 87108, from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Pecos National Historical Park

The park grounds and visitor center will be closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.

Ancestral Sites Tour

  • Daily until January 11, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (except for 12/03, 12/09, 01/01, 12/25, 01/05, 01/06, 01/07, 01/08, 01/09, 01/10, 01/11 and 12/14)
  • Meet at the visitor's center, 1 Peach Drive, Pecos, NM 87552

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

The Gran Quivira unit will be closed from December 1, 2024 to December 5, 2024.

Ranger-Led Hike - Abó Unit

  • Every Saturday at 11:00 AM until April 26, 2025
  • Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Abó Unit, 69 Ruins Road, Mountainair, NM 87036

Ranger-Led Hike - Quarai Unit

  • Every Sunday at 11:00 AM until April 27, 2025
  • Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Quarai Unit, 122 Manzano Quarai Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036

USDA

TSP Orientation and Conservation Planning Course

  • December 9, 2024, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM EST/10:30 AM to 1:30 MST
  • Online; register here

Deadline for application to the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program

  • December 13, 2024

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Ranking Date

  • Applications for the Agricultural Land Easement and Wetland Reserve Easement are accepted year-round; the local National Resources Conservation Service office ranks applications on two dates each year.
  • December 20, 2024, is the next ranking date.

Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program

  • The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) assists farmers that incur costs related to food safety programs or related to obtaining/renewing food safety certifications each year.
  • The deadline to apply for FSCSC for 2024 expenses is January 31, 2025.

State Government

National Hispanic Cultural Center

Happy Arte Hour: Featuring Gelli Plate/Monotype With Artist Carol C. Sánchez

  • December 5, 2024, at 6:00 PM
  • Gelli Plate/Monotype is a basic printmaking process in which an image is created by rolling or painting with ink or paints directly onto a plate and printed onto paper. We will be using gelli plates, which have many possibilities and can be used with a variety of media such as ink pads, watercolor and acrylic paints. NHCC invites adults 21+ for artistic fun in a relaxed social setting. This is a great opportunity for friends to hang out, a unique date night option, or a place to come solo and connect with fellow art enthusiasts. Drinks and snacks will be available to purchase. Pre-registration requested. Register Here.
  • Grand Hall, National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Christmas in New Mexico by Baila! Baila!

  • December 7, 2024, at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM, and December 8, 2024, at 2:00 PM
  • The Baila! Baila! annual holiday show is a whirlwind extravaganza, taking audiences on a journey through the sights and sounds of Christmas in New Mexico and Christmases around the World. Music, song, and dance with the traditional Southwestern flair that has been cultivated in our state over the generations, as well as unique segments saluting Christmas traditions from around the world, will delight theatre-goers of all ages. In 2024, Baila! Baila! will be celebrating their 35th year in spectacular fashion. Christmas in New Mexico features a large multigenerational cast including dancers as young as six, as well as Baila! Baila!’s professional company dancers. The performance’s musical guests will be the renowned Mariachi Tenampa with a special appearance by company founder Israela Garcia. Baila! Baila! Dance Academy was founded in 1990 with the mission of educating students in our mission of: “Preserving Our Culture Through The Arts.” $34, $39 & $44 w/ $2 discount for students, seniors and NHCC members. Reserve Tickets Here
  • Grand Hall, National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Arte Para Chiquitos

  • December 10, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM
  • Arte para chiquitos is a free, monthly, 45-minute program for babies and toddlers, ages 0 months to 4 years, and their caregivers that cultivates creativity and self-expression through the exploration of Hispanic/Latine arts and culture. Participants explore the NHCC Museum and Performing Arts Center and engage in art-making, music, movement, dance, drama, and bilingual storytime. NHCC instructors model age-appropriate art techniques that celebrate self-expression, build vocabulary and strengthen both fine motor and gross motor skills in a fun environment. Free Community Event. Please register below or call the NHCC Welcome Center at 505-724-4771 for assistance. Reserve Here
  • National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

(Rescheduled) Printmaking for Seniors! Gelli Plate/Monotype with artist Carol C. Sánchez

  • December 11, 2024, 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
  • Gelli Plate/Monotype is considered the painter’s print. A basic printmaking process in which an image is created by rolling or painting with inks directly onto a plate and printed onto paper. Usually only one impression is pulled. In this workshop, we will explore various ways of applying inks and paints to create unique images. This event is part of the NHCC’s Siempre Creativo program which provides a free multidisciplinary arts program for seniors. Prior registration is requested, and can be done here.
  • Grand Hall, National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

1st Annual Luminito Celebration

  • December 12, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM
  • Whether you call them ‘farolitos’ or ‘luminarias,’ come celebrate New Mexico’s distinctive holiday lights at the Center! On Dec. 12, join us for a holiday celebration illuminated by the world’s tallest ‘Luminito,’ a 20-foot-tall, steel-reinforced structure inspired by New Mexico’s traditional holiday lights. The Luminito will be lit up during the event, spreading holiday cheer throughout the Center. Throughout the evening, the event will be further illuminated with festive lights and images projected onto some of the Center’s iconic buildings, offering a modern twist on traditional holiday lights. These projected lights will remain at the Center during evenings throughout the holiday season. The event will also feature performances by Matachine dancers, holiday refreshments, food trucks, and a flashlight story-walk featuring Rudolfo Anaya’s beloved children’s book, The Farolitos of Christmas: A New Mexico Christmas Story. Free Community Event. As this is an outdoor holiday event, please dress warmly and bring a flashlight to participate in the story-walk. This celebration is part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs’ New Mexico Traditions program. Reserve Here.
  • Plaza Mayor, National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

New Mexico Aging Services, Aging & Disability Resource Center

New Mexico Medicare Assistance

  • Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15, 2024, through December 7, 2024
  • New Mexico Aging Services State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) counselors are available to assist people needing help signing up for Medicare via 1-800-432-2080 or via live chat at this link.

In-Person SHIP Medicare Counseling

  • December 3, 2024, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  • Edgewood Senior Center, 116 Quail St. Edgewood

New Mexico Historic Sites

Winter Letters and Farolito Tours

  • December 7, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
  • The Winter Letters & Farolito Tour is a live interactive event at Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site that connects visitors to the site’s history through landscape and storytelling. The tour will lead visitors along a half mile walk around the site, decorated with more than 1,000 farolitos. Staff will share archival military correspondence and oral histories from the Diné (Navajo) and Ndé (Mescalero Apache) to tell stories about the people who once lived at the site. Tours will consist of one of two options: A one-hour ranger-guided tour from 6 – 7 p.m. or a self-guided audio tour where visitors choose their own time and pace.
  • Along with the tour, visitors can explore the Memorial exhibition, decorate sugar cookies, and enjoy food while it lasts, including pork posolé, biscochitos, sugar cookies, hot chocolate, and coffee, and listen to light bluegrass/folk music performed by local band, The Lunas. There will be a Kids’ Corner table sponsored in partnership with Fort Sumner Public Library featuring Bosque Redondo Memorial coloring books, a take home farolito kit, a sheep craft ornament, kids’ books related to Diné and Ndé, a coyote story reading, and a reading of the Goat in the Rug at a designated time.
  • Tickets are $7 for adults, and free for children 16 and younger and Tribal Members
  • Purchase tickets online at my.nmculture.org/33599/41938.
  • Bosque Redondo at Fort Sumner Historic Site, 3647 Billy the Kid Rd, Fort Sumner, NM 88119

Lights of Gisewa

  • December 13, 2024, and December 14, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
  • Celebrate New Mexico Traditions with us at Jemez Historic Site for the annual holiday event, Lights of Gisewa in Jemez Springs, New Mexico! The event will take place over two nights — December 13-14, 2024. The remains of Gisewa Pueblo and San José de los Jemez Mission will be decorated with hundreds of farolitos. The evening’s program will include traditional Native American music and Pueblo dancers performing between two illuminating bonfires. The Historic Site will also host arts and crafts and have food available for purchase.
  • To maintain the safety and enjoyment of high attendance, New Mexico Historic Sites (NMHS) kindly requests that guests refrain from the use of tripods and flash photography. Additionally, while NMHS generally welcomes well behaved pets on leashes, for the safety of your animals, pets are not allowed at this event. Service animals are always welcome.
  • Tickets are $20/adults, $10/children, and free to Museum of New Mexico Foundation members, Friends of Coronado and Jemez members, Native/Tribal affiliations, disabled veterans, and foster families. Tickets are scheduled in timed entry slots. Purchase tickets for Friday night HERE. Purchase tickets for Saturday night HERE.
  • Jemez Historic Site, 18160 NM-4, Jemez Springs, NM 87025

Christmas Opera in the Chapel

  • December 14, 2024, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
  • Join us in the serene surroundings of the historic stone chapel as we celebrate the magic of the holiday season with an enchanting performance by renowned opera singer Karla Ramos. Her powerful renditions of beloved holiday classics will fill your heart with delight. Immerse yourself in a captivating cultural experience as Karla, hailing from El Paso, Texas, showcases her exceptional vocal talents. Having graced prestigious stages such as the El Paso Opera and Symphony Orchestra, Karla’s mesmerizing coloratura soprano voice has even taken her to international destinations like Seoul, South Korea.
  • Tickets are $10/adults and free to children 16 and younger and includes admission to the rest of the site. Purchase tickets online at my.nmculture.org/33869/41939.
  • Fort Stanton Historic Site, 104 Kit Carson Rd, Fort Stanton, NM 88323

New Mexico History Museum

Carl Magee: The Editor Who Cracked Teapot Dome, Shot a Judge and Invented the Parking Meter

  • December 4, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
  • Jack McElroy, Author, Newspaper Editor, and Journalist (Retired), will present an ONLINE talk as part of the New Mexico History Museum’s Friends of History Lecture Series.
  • Carl Magee arrived in Albuquerque in 1919 and bought The Albuquerque Journal, then launched The Albuquerque Tribune.  The newspaperman was soon at war with New Mexico’s powerful political machine.  Magee later exposed the Teapot Dome bribery scandal that sent New Mexico’s first U.S. senator, Albert Fall, to prison.  Along the way, Magee had run-ins with a local judge and the law. After leaving New Mexico, Carl Magee invented the parking meter and launched the successful Park-O-Meter business.
  • Jack McElroy spent 43 years as a journalist and editor at newspapers in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Tennessee. After studying English and journalism at the University of Arizona, Jack joined The Albuquerque Tribune as a young cub reporter. He then rose through the ranks at The Albuquerque Tribune, eventuallyserving as the managing editor. While in Albuquerque, Jack also earned a master’s degree at the University of New Mexico.  After ten years with the Rocky Mountain News, Jack then served nearly two decades as editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel. Under Jack’s leadership, the newspapers he worked for have won national awards for journalism, public service and advocacy for the First Amendment.
  • Register here for the ONLINE lecture: https://bit.ly/4ek2thN

New Mexico Department of Veterans Services Benefits Outreach Visit

  • Albuquerque: every Monday and Wednesday, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the VA Regional Office, 500 Gold Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (inside the Albuquerque Federal Building and Courthouse)
  • Truth or Consequences: Wednesdays, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the New Mexico State Veteran Home, 992 South Broadway Street, Truth or Consequences, NM 87901

New Mexico State Parks

Manzano Mountains State Park

No events are scheduled at this time.

Rio Grande Nature Center State Park

Guided Bird Walk
  • Every Saturday and Sunday - 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
  • The Park’s Day-Use Fee is $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check). Friends of the RGNC and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed.
  • Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, insect repellent, and sunscreen as needed. Participants will meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot).
  • Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, 2901 Candelaria Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Services

No events are scheduled at this time.

Torrance County

The Torrance County Administrative Offices will be closed on November 28, 2024, for Thanksgiving.

Torrance County Planning and Zoning Board

  • December 4, 2024, at 9:00 AM
  • Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016

Torrance County Fair Board Regular Meeting

  • December 10, 2024, at 6:30 PM
  • Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016

Torrance County Commissioners Regular Meeting

  • December 11, 2024, at 9:00 AM
  • Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016

Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee Meeting

  • December 12, 2024, at 9:00 AM
  • Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016

Mountainair

Mountainair Town Council Meeting

  • December 3, 2024, at 6:00 PM
  • Mountainair Town Council Building, 107 1/2 North Roosevelt Avenue, Mountainair, NM 87036

Mountainair Public Schools Board of Education

  • December 17, 2024, at 6:00 PM
  • Administrative Building North of the FFA Building, 405 W Main Street, Mountainair, NM 87036

Mountainair Public Schools 1:30 PM Dismissal

  • December 19, 2024, and December 20, 2024

Mountainair Public Schools Winter Break

  • December 23, 2024, to January 6, 2025

Other Organizations

Mountainair Rotary Club

  • 12:00 PM every Thursday
  • Claunch-Pinto SWCD Conservation Center, 1206 NM-55, Mountainair, NM 87036
  • Attendees should bring lunch.

Free Sunday Mornings at the Albuquerque Museum

  • Every Sunday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; EXCEPTION: No free admission during Balloon Fiesta.
  • Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM, 505-243-7255
  • Timed ticketing applies. Before your visit, please reserve your tickets to Albuquerque Museum online at HOLD MY TICKET. Free admission applies to general museum admission only. Fees for special exhibits and events still apply.

Mountainair Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair

  • December 7, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
  • Attendees can find unique handcrafted and homemade gifts for friends and family. There will also be a silent auction with prizes donated by vendors. Holy Smoke Barbeque will be serving up hot food. The Rotary Club of Mountainair and Manzano Mountain Art Council are hosting this event. For vendor information, contact Rebecca Lueras at 505-705-5086 or rebeccalue56@gmail.com.
  • Manzano Mountain Art Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036

Introduction to Papier Maché

  • December 8, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
  • Self-taught, unconventional artist Samantha Kaye will teach you papier maché history and techniques while creating chili and star holiday ornaments.
  • Space is limited. Call 312-933-4119 to reserve a spot. A $10 donation is appreciated.
  • Manzano Mountain Art Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036