ANNOUNCEMENTS
Special events
THE NEW MEXICO FOREST INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION is sponsoring two Safety Certification Training courses in Taos County in February. These are very important for individuals who aim to work on forest thinning crews and/or improve their chainsaw skills. The 2.5-day training is mostly in-classroom, with one demonstration day in the field. Attendees who complete the class will be safer in the woods and will qualify for lower Workman’s Compensation Insurance rates if they work for a local forest thinning crew. Classes will be held Feb. 9-11 and Feb. 20-22. The cost of $180, and in some cases, hiring contractors may cover the costs. For further information or to register, contact Mark Schuetz at 575-751-4314 or email nmwatershed@gmail.com. THE TAOS COUNTY SENIOR OLYMPICS PRE-VALENTINE’S DANCE will be held Feb. 10 from 7-11 p.m at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1016 Dia Lane, Taos. The dance will feature music by the Julian Lucero Band and frito pies for $5. Tickets are $10 at the door. For more information, contact Randy Pacheco, 575-779-5991.
THE TOWN OF TAOS will hold a public meeting for the Ranchitos Road Project Thursday, Feb. 15 from 6-8 p.m. in the El Taoseño Room in Coronado Halla at 120 Civic Plaza Drive, Taos. The meeting will collect additional public input on the the Town of Taos’ proposal to work with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to improve Ranchitos Road from Carbajal Road to Salazar Road by reconstructing the two-lane roadway with curb and gutter and adding a sidewalk along one side of roadway. For copies of available documents, more information or special assistance for individuals with disabilities, contact fespinoza@taosnm.gov or dmiller@ taosnm.gov. Comments can be sent to Lorenzo.salgado@NV5.com.
DIVORCE PACKET WORKSHOPS will be held by the 8th Judicial District Court Thursday, Feb. 15 from 12-1 p.m. at the Taos County Courthouse, 105 Albright St, Taos, in the Jury Assembly Room. This program is designed to answer basic questions about divorce proceedings and give step-by-step help to complete necessary forms. For more information, call 575-758-3173 ext. 634 or 575-758-3173 ext. 604. STEMARTS YOUTH BOOTCAMP starts Saturday, Feb. 17 with a free workshop from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at UNM-Taos HIVE, 1146 Gusdorf Road, Taos. Ages 14-25 are encouraged to join to learn from scientists and create with artists. Register at stemarts.com. For more information, contact stemartslab@gmail. com or call 575-779-5858. FREE HOME BUYERS CLASSES, hosted by the Taos County Association of Realtors, will be held Thursday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 24 at 8:30 a.m. at the Hillcrest Banking Center, 1356 Paseo del Pueblo Sur Taos. You’ll learn about the different steps in the homebuying process. Local professionals will be on-site to answer your questions. Contact Andi to reserve your seat at 970-708-2505 or aalexander@cobnks.com.
THE TAOS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC
PARTY 2024 Ward and County PrePrimary Convention will be called to order at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Taos Community Auditorium, 145 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m. The purpose is to conduct ward meetings and pass-through certifications for Taos County delegates to the 2024 Democratic Party of New Mexico state pre-primary convention to be held virtually March 9. Delegates will be selected by ward as follows: Ward 1, four delegates; Ward 2, four delegates; Ward 3, four delegates; Ward 4, five delegates; Ward 5, 4 delegates. All county residents who are registered Democrats in Taos County as of Jan. 25, 2024 are eligible to vote in their ward elections. Late arrivals will not be registered and will not be able to vote in the ward elections. Please contact TCDP Chair Darien Fernandez at 575-7791478 or darien.fernandez1@gmail. com for more information.
AARP TAX-AIDE volunteers will be providing free in-person tax preparation assistance Tuesdays Jan. 30 through April 9 at the Talpa Community Center, 4 Archuleta Road, Ranchos de Taos.. Appointments can be made online at the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator (search “tax-aide locator”) and in person Tuesdays at the Talpa Community Center. There is also considerable need for volunteers to work at the site. If you are interested, please call 575-613-8412 and leave a message. Meetings
THE JAROSO DITCH ASSOCIATION will meet Thursday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. at My Tia’s Cafe, 107 NM 378, Cerro, 87519. LA MERCED DE CRISTOBAL DE LA SERNA will hold their regular monthly meeting Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Talpa Community Center, 3 Archuleta Road, Ranchos de Taos. For more information, contact landgrant@ cristobaldelaserna.org.
ACEQUIA DE ABAJO DE LA LOMA will hold their annual meeting Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. at Llano Quemado Community Center, 6 Mirada Canyon Road, Ranchos de Taos.For more information, call Toby Romero after 2 p.m. at 575-770-1365.
AMERICAN LEGION POST 16 IN TAOS meets the third Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. at 1351C Paseo del Pueblo Sur. For more info, call 575-758-2735.
LIONS CLUB OF TAOS meets for a nohost dinner on the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Hotel Don Fernando and third Thursday of every month for a no-host lunch at Martyrs Steakhouse at 146 Paseo del Pueblo Norte from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. We welcome you to join and become involved in any of our community programs: Kidsight, Adult Vision, Community Charities, Tio Vivo Carousel, Flags on the Plaza and Taos Elder Benevolent Services. For more information, contact Pat Martinez Rutherford, 575-644-8099 or email taoslions@ gmail.com. More information at lionscluboftaos.org.
CONCERNED TAOS COUNTY RESIDENTS who want to make a difference in how our community can benefit us all meet Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m. at Casa Benavides. To learn more, find Taos Roundtable Group on Facebook.
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, email info@renewabletaos. org or call 575-770-3267. TAOS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Ham radio meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month, 5:30 p.m. at the new location: OPD (Old Police Station), 107 Civic Plaza Drive in Taos. Call 575-770-1961.
FREE FAMILY LAW CLINICS The 8th Judicial District Court holds a free Family Law Clinic the first Wednesday of each month, via Google Meet or by telephone, from 9 a.m. to noon, and resuming at 1-4 p.m. To sign up, complete a Family Law Teleclinic application found at eighthdistrictcourt.nmcourts.gov or at the help desk at 105 Albright Street, Suite N, Taos. Email applications to 8thhelpdesk@nmcourts. gov or drop them off at the help desk. For more information call 575-751-8634. Taos Public Library
TAOS PUBLIC LIBRARY is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The library lobby is open Mondays from 2-6 p.m. For more information, call 575-7372590 or email librarian@taosgov. com.
YOGA IN THE STACKS Free level 1 yoga classes for adults 18 and older every Thursday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Please bring your own mats. Blocks and straps will be provided.
CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH Free conversational Spanish meetups, held every Wednesday from 5-6 p.m.
STORYTIME Songs, dancing, crafts, stories and more. Join us every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. for free and fun storytime for the whole family.
BILINGUAL STORYTIME Storytime, songs, and crafts in English and Spanish every Monday at 2 p.m. Talpa Community Center & Library
TALPA COMMUNITY CENTER &
LIBRARY is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Services include use of computers, affordable copies, Wi-Fi, faxing and reading/ educational materials. Register for a free library card. Call 575-751-014 for more information. UNM–Taos
TAOS EDUCATION AND CAREER CENTER at UNM-Taos offers free High School Equivalency (HiSET/GED) preparation, English Language classes, small-group literacy instruction, and helps in discovering a new, in-demand career along the way. Visit the center on the Klauer Campus (1157 CR 110, Ranchos de Taos) or call 575-737-3730.
HIVE HUB study, tech support and tutoring for all ages is open Thursdays 3:30-7 p.m. at UNM-Taos HIVE, 1146 Gusdorf Road, Taos. For more information, call 575-779-5858. Education
ANANSI CHARTER SCHOOL’s lottery will open Wednesday, Feb. 14. Applications are available online at anansicharterschool.org or at the school office at 57 NM 230, El Prado. The deadline for lottery applications is Wednesday, April 24 and the lottery drawing will be held on Thursday, April 25. For more information, contact 575-776-2256.
TAOS CHARTER SCHOOL’s lottery application for the 2024-25 school year is open through Tuesday, April 9. Applications are available online at taoscharterschool.org and in-office at 1303 Paseo del Cañon E, Taos. The lottery will be held Tuesday, April 16 in the TCS cafeteria. TCS is a free, public K-8 charter school. For more information, contact 575-751-7222 ext. 2 or office@taoscharterschool.org.
TAOS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL will operate the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 23-24, 24-25, 25-26, and 26-27 school years. Schools qualifying to operate CEP serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price and paid student meals. For more information, call 575-751-7115.
VISTA GRANDE CHARTER HIGH
SCHOOL will operate the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 23-24, 24-25, 25-26 and 26-27 school years. Schools qualifying to operate CEP serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals. For more information, call 575-758-5100. VISTA GRANDE CHARTER SCHOOL is now enrolling students for grades 7-12. Come see the difference a small school can make. Apply today! For more information call 575758-5100 or visit vistagrande.org.
TAOS CHARTER SCHOOL is accepting National School Lunch Program applications for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Please stop by the school for an application.
TAOS CHARTER SCHOOL free meal programs are in place. Students enrolled in this school may participate in the breakfast/lunch programs at no charge according to the school’s program guidelines. TAOS PUEBLO HEAD START AND
EARLY HEAD START is now enrolling for 2023-24. Children enrolled in other Federally Recognized Tribes, and children with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to apply. To schedule availability and an intake meeting, call 575-758-5819. General
TAOS P.E.O. GROUP warmly welcomes new members of P.E.O. Please call 575-776-5739 or 575779-3370. TALPA MUTUAL DOMESTIC WATER
ASSOCIATION annual Consumer Confidence Report is available to view. For a copy of the report, call Raul Vigil at 575-751-4373, or copies will be available at the community center in Talpa off NM 518.
DREAMTREE is leading a local collaborative AmeriCorps program called the Enchanted Circle Corps (ECC), with a focus on performing outreach within the community to spread the word about local available services and resources and to connect community members to those resources. DreamTree is looking to recruit members to the program. For more information, visit dreamtreeproject.org/ecc. 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.