The annual Christmas parade, “A New Mexico Christmas” will help kick-off the holiday season in downtown Farmington. Mark your calendars for the 21st annual Festival of Trees with activities for the whole family. It’s time to nominate an individual or business for the Farmington Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Citizen of the Year, and if you’re looking for an excellent volunteer opportunity, become a CASA Volunteer with Childhaven, Inc.. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Traegers Bar and Ace Hardware in Farmington
Looking for a place to share a Thanksgiving meal this Thursday? The Salvation Army invites you to come join them for its annual Thanksgiving luncheon. SunRay Park and Casino and Northern Edge Casino are both offering Thanksgiving meals as well. Support your favorite local businesses for Small Business Saturday in both Farmington and Aztec this Saturday. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and Home2Suites
Come check out the 1st exhibition of Art in the Heart, featuring sculptures from local artists scattered around downtown. Riverside Nature Center is looking for volunteers to assist with its xeriscape garden clean-up, and stay safe this holiday cooking and baking season with tips from San Juan County Fire and Rescue. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Boon’s Family Thai BBQ and Northern Edge Casino
San Juan County is conducting a feasibility study for a Crisis Triage Center, and is inviting the public to a presentation on Monday, November 13th. After a challenging year, Farmington Electric Utility System announced a return to traditionally low rates beginning in January 2024. Time to practice your best turkey impression, the Turkey Trot 5K and Gobble Wobble 2-mile return to Orchard Plaza, this year supporting the Tibbits All Ability Park Foundation. The world premiere of a musical adaptation of Charles’s Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, in collaboration with the Four Corners Musical Theatre Company opens November 17th at the Farmington Civic Center. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College and Distill Beer Wine Spirits
The local P.E.O. Chapter BA held its first “Tablescape” fundraiser in Farmington. P.E.O. stands for Philanthropic Education Organization. It’s a U.S.-based international women’s association of about 230,000 members from across the country and 6,000 local chapters. Their singular mission is to promote higher education for women through grants, loans, and scholarships. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware in Farmington and CMIT Solutions
Aztec Adventures invites everyone for the Holy Grit gravel bike ride this weekend. Explore your money story with WESST Farmington Women’s Business Center, and give back this holiday season with the Aztec Public Library. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Home2Suites and Pop’s Truck & RV Center
Fox Fire Farms Winery has been producing wine commercially since 2010. Every year since then, it has relied on the efforts of volunteer grape harvesters. The group comes from around the region to make sure Fox Fire gets the most out of its fruits. The group comes from around the region to help the winery end its season. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett & Associates and Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings
Cyclist Sepp Kuss played an integral role in Jumbo Visma’s historic dominance of the sport’s three grand tours. He topped it off by winning the Tour of Spain. Durango honored its native son with a party, including live music, a downtown bike parade, and a live Q&A session. American cycling fans flocked to Durango for the event. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hardware and Sky Ute Casino
Celebrate Halloween safely with family-friendly events in Aztec and Farmington, including Trunk or Treat at the First Baptist Church Aztec and Aztec Safe Treats, as well as a pumpkin carving contest and Boo-Palooza in Farmington. The Farmington Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Business to Business Expo on November 9th to learn about local businesses and their offerings. The Rio Del Sol Kiwanis Club's annual Clothes for Kids event is looking for sponsors to raise $10,000 for this year’s event. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by CMIT Solutions and Traegers Bar
The Theatre Department at Farmington High School, players of the Spotlight Theatre, have produced its biggest production ever: the murder mystery Clue. Based on the cult classic film and the popular game board, 70 or so students participated. The impressive stage set cost a whopping $7,000 dollars, all paid for through ticket sales, and included two stories, two side stages, stained glass and trap doors. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Boon’s Family Thai BBQ and Home2Suites
San Juan College and San Juan Regional Medical Center celebrate their nursing program partnership with the Commitment to Community award from the New Mexico Hospital Association. Phases One and Two of the Boundless Adventures All-Abilities Park were presented at a September city council meeting, and the Enterprise Center at San Juan College has received a $50,000 grant for new technology and training. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by SunRay Park and Casino and Pop’s Truck & RV Center
The balloons floated quickly up and across Farmington Lake in a last-ditch effort to fly a mass ascension on the first brisk morning of the Four Corners Balloon Rally. The second annual event attracted 26 balloonists from the four-state region, with dozens of local volunteers and sight-seers soaking in the thrilling vistas. There are still plenty of opportunities to catch balloons rising in the fall sky - the Animas Valley Balloon Rally will take place in Durango from October 20th through the 22nd. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Traegers Bar and Distill Beer Wine and Spirits
Dancing with the Durango Stars is an annual fundraiser for the Durango Derailers’ Patient Assistance Fund. This couple’s dance competition is choreographed by Leslie Carlson and is one of Durango Derailers biggest fundraising events and a whole lot of fun! In the fund's 17-year history, they have fund-raised over $1 MILLION in aggregate support. This fund is available to children and families living in SW Colorado to help with travel expenses when they need to go to a pediatric hospital or pediatric specialist for a higher level of pediatric specialty care (outpatient or inpatient). The fund provides gas cards and hotel assistance. By Kristi Dean and Andy Wingerd. This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware
This past September, Pueblo Community College Southwest moved back into the Commons Building in Durango from its Durango High School location. The move will provide more opportunities for community involvement between the school and Durango, as well as provide opportunities to expand existing programs and add new programs. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the move, PCC staff and administrators expressed excitement about the move and the opportunities now available to the school and its students. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Happy Pappy’s Pizza & Wings and Tafoya Barrett & Associates
San Juan County has announced the return of Dumpster Days with a grant extended the day to two days this year to help more folks clean out in preparation for the winter. This Fire Prevention Month, the county is urging folks to “Cook with Caution” to better prevent cooking-related fires, and help your city earn the Mr. Potato Head Trophy with the ECHO Food Drive this month and next. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewery and Northern Edge Casino
Merely Players brings Shakespeare to life for modern audiences and contributes to a thriving local theatre scene in Durango. Talented actors, artists, and technicians in the local community come together to create collective art that celebrates imagination, innovation, and creativity. Merely Players has a diverse and interesting season ahead in 2023-24, kicking off with a Shakespearean classic, the Bard’s final play, The Tempest, showing from October 6th - October 15th at the Merely Underground in the Durango Tech Center. By Jessica McCallum. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett & Associates and Kroegers Ace Hardware
On the first day of autumn, local families had the chance to fall into history at the Farmington Museum’s annul “Real Night at the Museum” spectacular, where old-time Bluegrass music played while biscuits baked beneath live coals, and local apples were pressed by children for a taste of juice at its best. Kids also had a blast building a log cabin and washing clothes on an old-fashioned washboard. Farmington became very populated in the 1860’s and 1870’s. It’s a quaint time period of the town before all the oil booms. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Home2Suites and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College
The Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village invites you to join them for the museum fall market, across the street from the Aztec Chamber of Commerce and the annual fall festival. Help save a life and donate blood with the San Juan Regional Medical Center and Farmington Rotary Club’s blood donation drive this month, and San Juan County received a grant for the creation of a long-term outdoor recreation plan. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Home2Suites and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College
Not everyone can visit the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum up close and personal, so one was flown into Four Corners Regional Airport for static tours and rides. The Flying Legends Victory Tour began in June and ends this October. Three of the seven flying veterans from the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum travel to 50 cities each year. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Pop’s Truck & RV Center and Sunray Park & Casino
This year’s full-scale drill, a joint operation with San Juan County will be at San Juan College October 7th - while the campus will remain open there will be parts that are closed or restricted access during the drill. Enjoy the fruits of fall with the Southwest Apple and Chili Fest, and Aztec Municipal Schools celebrates Lydia Rippey Elementary School’s recognition as a National Blue Ribbon school. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Boon’s Family Thai BBQ and Northern Edge Casino
On a sunny fall Saturday, 140 dogs and their owners took part in a rattlesnake avoidance training course, hosted by Durango Kennel Club. Professional Trainer Terry Chandler (Rugerheim Kennels) has over 35 years of experience training field dogs, and he brings that expertise from Las Cruces, New Mexico to help keep dogs and their owners safe while hiking in the southwest. The aim of the training is to replace curiosity with founded fear, and keep dogs from getting bit by rattlesnakes. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett & Associates and Serious Texas BBQ
“Stained Glass Expressions” is an impressive exhibition of glass artwork by San Juan Encore students at the Henderson Fine Art Gallery on campus in Farmington. It showcases the myriad skills one can learn from taking glass art classes at San Juan College, and displays the versatility of glass as an artistic medium, exemplified by the various types of objects on display through September. By Donna K. Hewett. This story is sponsored by Distil Beer Wine and Spirits and CMIT Solutions
The third supermoon of 2023 will grace the night sky September 29th. It’s not the only astronomical event happening this fall - an annular solar eclipse will take place October 14th, it’s path taking it over Farmington according to NOAA San Juan County and the Navajo Nation have announced a new county commission district map to better address representation in the Navajo Nation, and the Four Corners Balloon Rally for another long weekend of community and family-friendly fun. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware in Farmington and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College
Did you know you can report illegal dumping in San Juan County? It’s as easy as downloading the app, snapping a picture, and submitting it! Traffic has switched once again on the US Highway 550 project as construction to connect the highway with the existing US Highway 160 interchange, and Durango Kennel Club invites you to sign up for its Rattlesnake Avoidance training this Saturday to keep your furry furiends safe. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewery and Home2Suites
