Taos Alliance for Public Health and Safety
THE 1ST ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST
focus is on the beautiful Río Grande Gorge Bridge area, which would be seriously impacted by a planned 50-foot cell tower. Have seven submission categories, lots of great prizes waiting for lucky winners — all kindly donated by many local businesses. See TaosAlliance.org for details.
Tax prep
FOR THE TAX FILING SEASON,
AARP/Tax Aide volunteers will again be providing tax preparation assistance. To make an appointment, call 575-741-0274 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesdays through April 5 or go to the El Pueblito United Methodist Church parking lot between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesdays through April 5. During the appointment, tax documents will be scanned and the prepared return will be available for pickup the next week.
Infant necessities DON’T SPEND TONS OF MONEY
on expensive baby gear that you won’t need after a few months or a year. Borrow what you need and loan out what you don’t. Emily King has started a free baby gear lending library so parents can save money, energy and the planet by reusing gently-used infant and toddler essentials like strollers, car seats, high chairs, booster seats, cribs, as well as a selection of toys, bags and accessories. Taos parents who want to donate, lend or borrow items may email babygearlibrary@gmail.com, or call 510-703-9777. For more information, visit taosbabygear. wixsite.com/babygear.
Disaster assistance resources
HIGH WINDS have impacted many families, homes and businesses in the Enchanted Circle. If you or someone you know needs a place to stay (think local hotel) or has an unmet need requiring assistance, you may contact the Enchanted Circle Community Organizations Active in Disaster (ECCOAD) by emailing them at info@eccoad.org or calling 505692-3296. Please leave a detailed message if no one answers — the number is not currently staffed 24/7. For more information, visit eccoad.org.
Storm damage repair estimates
HAVE ROOF DAMAGE or need any other type of repair at your home? Call High Mountain Construction at 575-741-6690 for a free estimate and quick service. Members of their team can be on-site the same day. They are also willing to repair any type of damage to your house. For more info, email josephmartinez213@icloud.com.
Health and Wellness
COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE for those suffering from deep stress or addiction is available twice a week (until April 15) at the Taos Public Library. Contact Karen Calderon at 415-609-5859 or email calderonacupuncture.fullslate.com for more information.
Meetings
CERRO DE GUADALUPE ACEQUIA ASSOCIATION
ditch cleaning is April 9, 23 and 30. Please join the limpia and bring shovels, rakes and wear hats and gloves. Meet at the Cerro Community Center on Hwy 378 in Cerro at 8 a.m. The Annual Spring Meeting will be on May 7 at 4 p.m. at the Community Center. Agenda will be posted. Call for more info: Dean 575-5862257, Rachel 575-779-0565 or Mary Jo 575-586-1189.
ACEQUIA DE TIO GERVACIO ditch cleaning is Saturday (April 9) at 8 a.m. Workers are to report at the Clarence Gutierrez property. Masks required. Call 575-7584647 for more information.
SAUCITO DITCH OF LLANO QUEMADO
ditch cleaning is Saturday (April 16) at 8:00 a.m. Workers will meet west of Vicho Garcia’s Property. If you have any questions, call Uvaldo Mondragon at 575-770-5609, Matthew Valerio at 575-779-6609, or Johnny Valerio at 575-224-401.
THE DES MONTES DITCH ASSOCIATION
will hold its annual meeting on Saturday (April 16) at 1 p.m. at the Los Pinos recreation area, located at 351 Hondo-Seco Road to your right as you travel toward Arroyo Hondo. Signs will be posted. Since this is an outdoor event, please come prepared. Face covering and social distancing rules will be encouraged. Agenda includes election of Commissioners and Mayordomo. For more info, call Carlos Miera at 575-7768915.
JVM ACEQUIA ANNUAL MEETING will be held Saturday (April 16) at 10 a.m. at 624 Camino Del Medio, Taos. For more information, email Judy Kanthack, Secretary, JVM Acequia at svheyjude2@ yahoo.com.
ACEQUIA JAROSA ditch cleaning is Saturday (April 23) at 8 a.m. Meet at the headgate on Old Santa Fe Road. For more information, call Sam Martinez Jr, Mayordomo, at 575-770-4503.
ACEQUIA MADRE DEL SUR DE CANON DEL RIO FERNANDO will hold a special meeting on Sunday (April 10) at 1 p.m. at 814 Witt Road (First Brethren Church Academy Building). For more information, call Joe Fernandez at 505-795-1891 or Vincente Fernandez at 575-779-8569.
ACEQUIA MADRE DEL NORTE DEL CANON ditch cleaning is Saturday (April 9) at 8 a.m. Meet at the parking lot next to the Anglada Building, For more information, call Nick Romero at 575-7582982.
ACEQUIA DEL FINADO FRANCISCO MARTINEZ DEL LLANO QUEMADO
ditch cleaning is Saturday (April 9) at 7:30 a.m. First group will start at Nelson Abeyta Jr. property. Second group will start at Timoteo Torres property. For more information, call Larry Mondragon at 575-779-2286 or Michael Torrez at 575-770-3137. ACEQUIA MADRE DEL RIO GRANDE DEL RANCHO will hold its annual meeting Saturday (April 9) at 2 p.m. at the Juan I. Gonzales Agricultural Center, 202 Chamisa Road, Taos. For more information, call Beverly Armijo at 575224-5315 or Michael Valerio at 575-770-5892.
RENEWABLE TAOS meets weekly via zoom to plan and execute projects such as advocating for solar and wind power, improved electric transmission, beneficial electrification of homes and businesses, additional electric car charging stations, and working with schools to introduce climate education in grades K-12. For more info, visit renewabletaos. org, write to info@renewabletaos. org or call 575-770-3267.
LA MERCED DE CRISTÓBAL DE LA SERNA meetings have been postponed due to COVID-19. Questions may be directed to Beverly Armijo at 575-425-1100 or 575224-5315.
TAOS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Ham radio meetings have restarted monthly on second Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. (next meeting is April 13) at the new location: OPD (Old Police Station), 107 Plaza Drive in Taos. Free. Call 575-770-1961. AMERICAN LEGION POST 16 IN TAOS meets the third Saturday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at Kit Carson Electric Boardroom, 118 Cruz Alta Road. For more info, call 575-224-7290.
FREE FAMILY LAW CLINICS — virtual and in-person, first Wednesdays, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Fill out eighth district court. nm courts. gov/wp-content/uploads/ sites /23/2020/12/ Intake-form Family-Law-Clinic 1. pdf, and email to taodgus@nmcourts.gov, or send to: Virtual, 105 Albright St. Suite N, Taos. Free. Call 575751-8634.
LLANO QUEMADO MUTUAL DOMESTIC WATER CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION members can now view the 2021 Consumer Confidence Report. Call Ruby Martinez at 575-770-5392 for a copy, or visit the lobby of the El Valle de Los Ranchos Water & Sanitation District Office located at 8 Miranda Canyon Road in Llano Quemado.
Economic recovery
SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY LOAN FUND offers loans up to $150,000 at 1.625 percent for up to 10 years. No payments due the first year, interest-only due the second and third year, no prepayment penalty. For information, see nmfinance.com/small-businessrecovery-loan-fund-2021.
Education
TAOS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL is having its monthly governing council board meeting Monday (April 11) at 5 p.m., via Zoom. For an agenda, call 575-751-7115. TAOS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, a free, public K-8, Dual Language, IB World School, is now enrolling for the 2022-23 school year.
Lottery Application are online at taosinternational.org and at 118 Este Es Road, Taos. Applications are due no later than Monday (April 4). The lottery will be held Wednesday (April 20). For questions, call 575-751-7115 or email officemanager@taosinternational. org.
TAOS CHARTER SCHOOL, a free, public K-8th grade charter school admits students via a lottery process. Lottery applications for the 2022-23 school year are available online at ta os charter school. org and in our office, 1303 Paseo del Cañon E, Taos, NM 87571. Applications are due no later than Friday (April 8). The lottery will be held Wednesday, April 20 in the TCS cafeteria. For questions, call 575-751-7222 extension 2 or email office@taoscharterschool. org.
ANANSI CHARTER SCHOOL LOTTERY deadline for applications is Friday, April 15. The lottery drawing will be held via Zoom on Friday (April 22) at 10 a.m. Lottery applications are available online at anansicharterschool.org or pick up an application at Anansi Charter School, 57 State Road 230 in Des Montes. Anansi Charter School is a free public school serving grades K-8 in the 2022-23 school year. For details, call 575776-2256.
ROOTS AND WINGS COMMUNITY SCHOOL,
awarded 2020 Elementary Charter School of the Year, is currently accepting students in the K-2 and 6-8 cohorts. Call 575586-2076 or go to rootsandwingscommunityschool.org for more information.
TAOS PUEBLO HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START
is now enrolling for 2021-22. Children enrolled in other Federally Recognized Tribes, and children with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to apply. To schedule availability and intake meeting, call 575-7585819.
TAOS EDUCATION AND CAREER CENTER AT UNM–TAOS offers free online classes for High School Equivalency (HiSet/GED) preparation, support for college, career development and English-language instruction. Also available for basic computer skills, the center offers free online classes for internet and computer basics. Email tecc@unm.edu or call 575737-3730.
UNM–TAOS ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING will be held Wednesday (April 6) from 4-5 p.m. at UNM-Taos-Rio Grande Hall, Room 116, 121 Civic Plaza Drive,Taos, and via Zoom: unm. zoom.us/j/91011171056. For more information, contact Vicki Vigil at vickivigil@unm.edu.
Help wanted
WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED. Writers on the Range seeks writers of color, women and fresh voices; topics on intermountain territory; authentic, unique perspectives on Western public lands, water, natural resources, agriculture or economic institutions; word-count 750. See writersontherange.org, or email betsym@writersontherange.org.
Transportation
DUE TO A STAFFING SHORTAGE, the RTD Blue Bus TSV Green route between the Town of Taos and Taos Ski Valley will not operate this season. NCRTD continues to offer other fare-free transit services between Taos and Santa Fe and throughout Taos County. Info can be found at ridethebluebus.com or call Jim Nagle, public information officer, at 505-629-4707.
General
EASTER EGG HUNT for Enos Garcia Elementary School preschool to first-grade students on Thursday (April 14) from 10 a.m.-noon, hosted by Taos Retirement Village. Sponsors and volunteers are needed. 414 Camino de la Placita, Taos. Call 575-758-8248 for more information.
PHOTO CONTEST Taos Alliance for Public Health & Safety is holding our First Annual Photo Contest with a focus on the beautiful Rio Grande Gorge Bridge area, which would be seriously impacted by a planned 50-foot cell tower. We have seven submission categories and great prizes waiting for the winners, kindly donated by many local businesses. Visit taosalliance.org for details.
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER! Taos Alliance for Public Health & Safety is offering chances to win a half-day rafting trip for two from Los Rios River Runners for this coming summer season. Ticket donations are $5 — you can make multiple entries at Taos Food Co-op (open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday) and at other participating venues. For details see TaosAlliance.org.
TALPA COMMUNITY CENTER & LIBRARY is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Services include use of computers, affordable copies, WIFI, faxing and plenty of reading/educational materials. Call 575-751-014 for more information. Register for a free library card.
TALPA MUTUAL DOMESTIC WATER ASSOCIATION members can now view the annual Consumer Confidence Report. For copies call Raul E. Vigil at 575-751-4373 or see the copies at Talpa Community Center off State Road 518.
TAOS PUBLIC LIBRARY is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call 575-737-2590 or email librarian@ taosgov.com.
TAOS MOUNTAIN SANGHA offers a weekly meditation sit and Dharma talk every Wednesday evening, 6-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Visit taosmountainsangha.org for details and email tmsanga@ gmail.com with questions.
MINDFUL FREE MEDITATION COURSE:
“Exploring Mindful Meditation: Basics.” Online course offered free to the public by Mindful Frontiers, a local meditation community. Register at mindfulfrontiers.thinkific.com.
Food assistance
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE FOOD PANTRY. Food baskets are handed out the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month at 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. 205 Don Fernando Street, Taos. For more information, call 575758-9208.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TAOS.
Bring canned goods or nonperishable gifts Sundays, 10-11 a.m., 215 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, for parking lot drive-thru and drop-off of packaged foods and/ or monetary donations to Shared Table, as well as foods or monetary donations for the Taos Men’s Shelter. Foods must be unopened and within their expiration date. Checks should be made payable to either Shared Table or Taos Coalition to End Homelessness.
NORTH CENTRAL FOOD PANTRY OF QUESTA
food distribution days are second and fourth Fridays from 9 a.m.-noon. For updates, call Questa village office at 575586-0694 or see Facebook. For an emergency food box, call Jeannie Masters at 575-779-9194 or
Nancy Parker at 505-699-7563. To donate, visit ncfpquesta.com or mail checks to North Central Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1076 Questa, New Mexico 87556.
SHARED TABLE distributes food commodities and basic health care items on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. in El Prado at El Pueblito Methodist Church, 1309 Paseo del Pueblo Norte; and from 1:30-3 p.m. at Talpa Community Center, State Road 518, Ranchos de Taos. Call Pastor Cheri Lyon at 505-4406849.
ST. JAMES FOOD PANTRY offers supplemental groceries to all, Thursdays, 12:30-3:45 p.m. drive-thru at St. James Episcopal Church, 208 Camino de Santiago (off Gusdorf Road behind the Quality Inn), Taos.
Pets
PAYS TO HELP STRAYS. Taos Feral Feline Friends, the all-volunteer animal charity, wants to help you adopt a stray cat. Pays To Help Strays is a free adoption service helping stray cats of Taos County and the Enchanted Circle. Qualified applicants receive these veterinary benefits: Spay/neuter surgery; all vet-recommended testing; vaccinations for rabies, and deadly viral diseases FVRCP and FELV. To be eligible, the adopter must contact TFFF within 60 days, or in advance, of the adoption. Cats from shelters, pet stores or breeders are ineligible for this program. Call TFFF at 575-7583519 for more information.
CAT AND DOG SPAY/NEUTER, VACCINE PROGRAM
for the Town of Taos, Taos County and Taos Pueblo pet owners. Lower-income pet owners and all feral/outdoor/ barn cat owners also eligible for free vaccine services, at Española Valley Humane Society, 505-7530228. Dogs and cats must be between 8 weeks and 8 years of age.
CAT SPAYING/NEUTERING. Free pet cat spaying/neutering in Taos available with a Zimmer Feline Foundation voucher. Town of Taos, Taos County and Taos Pueblo cats eligible. Call 505-466-1676.
Free COVID-19 testing FREE DRIVE-THRU ORAL SWAB COVID TESTING.
Wednesdays and Fridays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Taos Youth and Family Center, 407 Paseo del Cañon East. Register at cvtestreg. nmhealth.org; also see curative. com or cur.tv/taos. Painless, self-administered oral swab test. Results delivered electronically within 48 hours of receipt at the lab.
NO-COST AT-HOME COVID TESTING
for all New Mexicans. New Mexico and Vault Medical Services offer at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for any person who believes they need to be tested, with or without symptoms, at no cost. Order a test online at cvvaccine.nmhealth.org.
COVID-19 VACCINE DASHBOARD
Stay up-to-date about the state’s vaccination effort, including the number of vaccines administered: cvvaccine.nmhealth.org/publicdashboard.html.
BEWARE VACCINE SCAMS: MEDICARE COVERS COVID-19 VACCINE
at no cost to seniors. If asked to share your Medicare number or pay for vaccine access, it’s a scam. Don’t share any personal or financial information if someone calls, texts or emails promising vaccine access for a fee.