Upcoming Events for February 26, 2024

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.

Federal Government

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Ranger Choice Program

• every Friday at 11:00 AM, no registration required
• Abó, Quarai, and Gran Quivira unit visitors centers.

Pueblo and Mission Program

• Every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM
• Abó, Quarai, and Gran Quivira unit visitors centers.

State Government

Manzano Mountains State Park

Nothing is scheduled at this time.

Rio Grande Nature Center State Park

Guided Bird Walk

• Every Saturday and Sunday - 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
• Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, 2901 Candelaria Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107. 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. Meet at the Candelaria Viewing Area (Northeast side of the parking lot).

Hiking, Exploring, Wandering in NM Presentation by David Ryan, author

• Saturday, March 02, 2024, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
• Listen to delightful tales of the fascinating places that make New Mexico so special. David Ryan will speak about the amazing places to discover right in our backyard. He has just finished a new book called Wandering in the Clear Light of New Mexico, an extension of the 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Albuquerque book. His talk will combine material from both books.
• Fees: Regular Entrance Fee; Cost: $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check); Friends of the RGNC permit holders and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with a valid permit displayed.
• Contact: RGNC Front Desk 505-344-7240
• Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, 2901 Candelaria Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

Albuquerque Astronomical Society Star Party

• Saturday, March 02, 2024, from 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
• Star Party! Join Albuquerque Astronomical Society members for stargazing at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. The evening begins in the Education Building with a talk about what can be seen in the winter evening sky. The program continues outdoors with a green laser tour of the sky and views of Jupiter, Uranus, Orion, rising Leo and Ursa Major, and more through telescopes. The indoor portion of the program is rain or shine. Outdoor telescope viewing is weather-dependent. The scopes will be set up near the Candelaria Wetlands Viewing Area at the East end of the parking lot.
• Cost: Regular Entrance Fee; $3.00 per vehicle (exact cash or check); Friends of the RGNC permit holders and NM State Parks annual permit holders enter free with valid permit displayed.
• Contact: RGNC Front Desk 505-344-7240
• Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, 2901 Candelaria Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

Stories Under the Cottonwood Tree

• The Garden is alive and ready for ECO tales about plants and creatures who live in our Bosque. Bees begin foraging for pollen as soon as flowers bloom. That makes them opportunistic gatherers. Storyteller and Master Naturalist Dianne Rossbach shares Bosque Nature Tales. These sessions are filled with fun, natural history facts, songs, folklore, and stories! Especially for those aged 5 to 10 years old. Children should always bring their own adult so they can enjoy the fun, too! Aside from the Park Day-Use Fee, this program has no additional charge.
• Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 10:30 AM. Meet in the Native Plant Garden, Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, 2901 Candelaria Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107

Torrance County

Local Emergency Planning Committee Meeting

• February 27, 2024, at 9:00 AM
• Torrance County Government Offices, 205 S 9th Ave, Estancia, NM 87016 and via Zoom

Torrance County Commissioners Regular Meeting

• February 28, 2024, at 09:00 AM
• Torrance County Government Offices, 205 S 9th Ave, Estancia, NM 87016, and via Zoom
• Meeting ID: 893 6461 2191
• Passcode: 993558

Fire Season Preparedness Meeting

• March 12, 2024, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
• Torrance County Administrative Building, 205 S 9th St Estancia, NM 87016 and via Zoom
• Meeting ID: 889 5651 1858
• Passcode: 994443

Torrance County Commission Meeting

• Mar 13, 2024, at 9:00 AM
• Torrance County Administrative Building, 205 S 9th St Estancia, NM 87016 and via Zoom
• Meeting ID: 811 3303 2635
• Passcode: 653866
• One tap mobile: +12532158782,,81133032635#,,,,*653866# US (Tacoma)
• +13462487799,,81133032635#,,,,*653866# US (Houston)

Mountainair

Mountainair Municipal Court

• Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM, with arraignments from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM and trials from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Mountainair Board of Education Regular Meeting

• February 27, 2024, at 6:00 PM
• Mountainair Public Schools Administrative Building, 512 N Ross Ave St, Mountainair, NM 87036

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 (October 7–15, 2023).
• 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.

Tour Casa San Ysidro

• February 27-29, 2024, from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
• Ysidro: The Gutiérrez / Minge House, Albuquerque Museum's historic house and property in Corrales, will schedule your group for a guided tour by reservation only. Times vary; see description for scheduling reservations.
• Casa San Ysidro, The Gutiérrez / Minge House, 973 Old Church Road, Corrales, NM 87048

Old Town Walking Tours, Albuquerque Museum

• March 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 10th, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Included with museum admission

Family Art Workshops

• March 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30th, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
• Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104

Rescheduled: Diversity in the Heart of New Mexico

• Come see Park Guide Alex Arnold speak to the diversity of peoples that settled in and around the Salinas Pueblos.
• March 02, 2024, at 02:00 PM
• Manzano Mountain Art Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036

Indigenous Education Curriculum Fair

• Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• The Institute for American Indian Education, NACA Inspired School Network and Indigenous Wisdom Curriculum is hosting a curriculum fair. The Curriculum Fair will present a variety of sessions featuring presentations on current curriculum projects and resources. K-12 educators, administrators, and community are invited to attend this FREE event.
• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Chaco Rooms 1-3
• 2401 12th Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Torrance County Business Networking Meeting

• March 7, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
• Via Google Meet or +1-402-821-1191,543908572#

Oppenheimer: The Movie and the Man

• March 8, 2024, at 6:00 PM
• Virtual; tickets can be purchased here

Two Traditions: The Pueblo and Spanish Gardens and Landscapes of the Early 17th Century

• March 9, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
• The farming methods that the Spanish introduced after 1540 and the traditions of landscape design and gardening, dating back to the Chaco people can be observed in the landscapes of modern New Mexico. At 1:00 p.m. professor and author, Baker Morrow, will compare and contrast these two distinct approaches to outdoor design.
• Casa San Ysidro, 973 Old Church Road, Corrales, NM 87048

Blacksmithing Basics with David Sabo

• March 16, 2024, 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
• Casa San Ysidro, 973 Old Church Road, Corrales, NM 87048
• Tickets and registration required through UNM Continuing Education, 505-898-3915

Native Roots (Native American and Reggae Music)

• March 21, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Free admission

Nuclear Communities in the Southwest

• March 23, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
• A discussion exploring the long-term impact of the 1945 Trinity Test on New Mexico communities with members of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium and Searchlight New Mexico
• Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104

Heritage Spinning and Weaving: Fiber Prep and Spinning with Myra Chang Thompson and Carla Wackenheim

• March 30, 2024, 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
• Price included with admission to Casa San Ysidro
• Casa San Ysidro, 973 Old Church Road, Corrales, NM 87048

DaVinci Machines: The Exhibition

• Now through May 16, 2024
• The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, 601 Eubank Street SE, Albuquerque, NM, 505-245-2137
• Exhibit Information

Black History Month Special Exhibit

• Now through Thursday, February 29, 2024
• The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, 601 Eubank Street SE, Albuquerque, NM, 505-245-2137
• Exhibit Information

Mountainair Easterfest

• March 30, 2024
• Details to be provided

Kitchen Creations: Free Diabetes Cooking Classes

• April 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Torrance County CES Offices, 205 9th Street, Estancia, NM
• To register call 505-544-4334, email maberryd@nmsu.edu or sign up at kitchencreations.nmsu.edu

Free Community Dinner

• Donald and Jaqueline Zahnke are hosting a free community spaghetti dinner on April 11, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM; to-go boxes will be available
• Moriarty Civic Center, 202 Broadway St, Moriarty, NM 87035
• For questions, please contact 216-466-3928