Take note of local efforts on behalf of those burned out in the Ojo Peak fire. You'll see notices posted around town announcing donation accounts at MyBank for the Torres' and Walters' families. That's not all.
Tonight, 5 pm 'til - a benefit bingo at the Mountainair Elementary School cafeteria. Prizes donated by local merchants. Not sure what group or individuals put this together, but let's thank them for their initiative and communitarian spirit.
Megan Lempke, formerly art guide and inspiration to aspiring young artists with the MES Art in the Schools & ASPIRE after-school program before recent move to Deming, wrote offering pen & ink originals for making cards to be sold at stores around town to benefit Ojo burnt-outs (literal - not in figurative). (btw I wrote Anne Ravenstone requesting that she nominate Megan for a Bravo in art education - this well before distraction of fire evac - but never heard back...tsk...tsk...tsk)
I passed the idea onto new arts council president Ray Terhorst with thought that other local artists might donate works to benefit. Ray reports back that the idea may be morphing into benefit art auction and wine tasting.
More cards and prints to sell visitors and around town are still a good idea. Maybe the new donors will allow prints / cards made from their donated works. Postcards too. Surely you've noticed the shortage of such standard visitor memorabilia about town?
And what else to mention briefly in passing in case (very time consuming) online training certificaton course keeps me from getting back to blogging with usual alacrity?
Today - Chamber general and election meeting, 11:30am, Shaffer conference room. Announced on Chamber page and emailed to members by corresponding seccy. Slate mixes new and returning board/officers, with Dorothy finally getting long awaited break. Rumor hath that she was going to make us all sing in public if we didn't come up with a candidate to replace her as president. We did.
2008 Mountainair Chamber of Commerce slate:
- President, Kevin Turner (Turner Inn, business, current VP)
- VP, Glenn Fulfer (returning VP, Salinas Monument, NPS, organization)
- VP, Scott Remmich (B Street Mkt, business)
- Treasurer, Dennis Fulfer (returning, DKF Diversified, business)
- Recording Seccy, Rhonda Silva (returning, individual)
- Corresponding Seccy, Bert Herrman (returning, Casa Manzano, business)
- At-large board member, Fedelina Romero (Padilla Ranch, business)
You can also show up today, join on the spot and be eligible to vote - even nominate yourself.
Please do take note how much more representative Chamber membership and management is of local business - a long term and ongoing goal of recent chamber admin.
In Review... (mercifully brief)
According to second hand reports, Deer Canyon's Open House this past Friday was not well attended, with not even enough turnout to eat all the tasty sandwiches provided by Coffee Cup Court... I don't know what target audience DC had in mind... local businesses, prospective clientele... I do keep offering to do my bit getting word out. Horses and water come to mind... so does another version ...
Saturday's Christmas Light Parade - pretty much a washout, literally and figuratively, with much needed morning rains putting a damp damper on efforts. One float showed up - presumably sweeping the board in all categories. Too bad organizers did not list an after business hours contact for prospective entries to call and check parade status. Maybe next year.
Sunday's annual Christmas Craft Fair - 34 vendors set up, packing the community center and making a impressive display with a good selection of offerings for sale - gifts, art, functional and folk art, wearables, cosmetics, soap, jewelry, pottery, edibles and more. Commendably supported by local crafters, organizations and artists. Shopper turnout, however, fell short. Probably not all that surprising as word of this fine event and shopping opportunity was not as well publicized as it could / should have been.
Mountainair in the news ... yes, the Ojo Peak fire of course - news we could do without... did you catch The Independent's recent article on Jackass Junction (in the holiday supplement)? That reminds me - seasonal shop local campaign soon underway, so if you are selling holiday gifts / crafts, have a business that will be offering holiday merchandise and special, planning a yard sale or fund raiser targetting seasonal shopper, etc... let me know and I'll blog it. Send pictures too - email as attachments to vcrary@yahoo.com
For fast-acting relief try slowing down (Lily Tomlin)
Blogging from Mountainair NM
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