Chamber Prepares for Busy Summer Fall

Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village invites you to make new Black Friday traditions this year, with a special one-day-only deal - “If they’re your kin, $5 gets everyone in!” Invite the whole family and explore the exhibits between second and third helpings of leftovers, just $5 for everyone, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 29th. With winter weather moving in, make sure to refamiliarize yourself with the inclement weather policies at local schools. Farmington Municipal School District updated its policy for the 2024-25 school year, approved in March 2024. Under the updated policy, in the event school buildings are closed due to winter weather, classes and all school district-related activities will be canceled. Notification of a delay or closure will go out as early as 5:00 a.m. on the day of on local media stations, on the FMS website, through texts and calls, and via the FMS app. Aztec Municipal School District also updated its snow day policy for the 2024-25 school year. The district will either open schools on a two-hour delay or call a remote learning day depending on road conditions and the weather forecast. Notifications of a delay and whether there will be a shift to remote learning will go out as early as 5:30 a.m. on local media stations and the school district website to give parents and guardians time to make the necessary arrangements to keep their students safe in the winter weather. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewery and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College.

Farmington Public Library is encouraging children to learn about finances and money management at its Smart Money Junior Market on Thursday, November 21st from 4:30 to 6:30 P.M. The Farmington Museum invites you to celebrate Native American Heritage Month on Saturday, November 16th with the grand opening of the Dibé Bíghaa exhibit. The City of Farmington is holding a Cookie Crawl on Saturday, November 30th from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Small Business Saturday. By Rachel Hughes. This story is sponsored by SunRay Park & Casino and Ace Hardware of Farmington.

Writing, for many, is a way to transcribe experiences lived or imagined - and for three San Juan County writers, their writing received recognition in a recent Southwest Writers Contest. Roberta Summers, Kathleen Holmes, and Terry Nichols all received awards for their word in the short story, poetry, and travel categories. Summers will be signing her books at Feat of Clay on Saturday, Nov. 23. More good news for the freight line project - San Juan County and the Navajo Nation received $4 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Rail Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement through the infrastructure law for the planning and development of a freight rail line connecting Farmington and Gallup. The funding will help complete the planning part of the freight rail line project. November is Native American Heritage Month - and Farmington Museum invites you to come celebrate and learn all month long with activities ranging from music to gallery openings to arts and crafts. All activities are free and open to the public. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Boon's Family Thai BBQ and Home2Suites.

The Fall Student Art Exhibit at San Juan College opens Friday, Nov. 1st. The exhibit features art from students and art instructors and will run through December 9th at the Henderson Fine Arts Center Art Gallery. Piedra Vista High School ceramics teacher Travis Jensen is the 2025 President’s Award of Distinction recipient from the New Mexico Art Education Association. The award honors Jensen’s dedication to his students and his contributions to art education. An open call to artists in the Four Corners from the Durango-La Plata County Airport went out last week for three installations in the new baggage claim area. The selection committee will be looking for artwork featuring the Four Corners region's cultural, geographical, and historical diversity. Proposals are due by 3:00 p.m. Dec. 17. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Distill Beer Wine Spirits and Durango Motor Company.

Activities abound about San Juan County for Halloween. From Masquerade Carnivals to a variety of Trunk or Treat options, there’s bound to be something - or many things - for everyone starting the week of Oct 27th. Stay safe and have fun this spooky season. Aztec Municipal Schools will start rolling out a new school safety and pickup platform over the next couple of months. The program will have staggered starts across all three elementary schools, so keep an eye out for communications from your child’s school with instructions on how to sign up for the PikMyKid program. San Juan Regional Medical Center has welcomed a new member to its cleaning team - the Tru-D IQ System will aid SJRMC in its mission to provide high-quality care for patients and visitors. The first of its kind in New Mexico hospitals, Tru-D uses UVC light to break down microbes at a cellular level to provide the highest level of hygiene possible. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Northern Edge Casino and Traegers Bar.

During National Diaper Awareness Week, the SBi Giving Foundation donated 30,000 diapers to families on the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, New Mexico. The event was one of many the organization has hosted since launching in April of 2024. The Smith Bagely company has supported rural communities through its corporate partners for years, but decided to launch the foundation to expand its philanthropic efforts and better support local charities and underserved groups on tribal and rural lands in the Southwest. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Three Rivers Brewery and M&R Plumbing.

San Juan County needs your help! The County is looking for input on outdoor recreation priorities as it begins work on its Outdoor Recreation Master Plan. Although summer information sessions have come to a close, you can still fill out the survey or submit a photo of you doing your favorite outdoor activities. San Juan County’s semi-annual Household Hazardous Waste event is Saturday, Oct. 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the San Juan County Administrative Building in Aztec. Open to all residents of Bloomfield, Kirtland, and unincorporated SJC, the event is a chance to clean out household chemicals, batteries, and more! The County will also host two free dumpster days Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20th for all those fall projects. Come join the fun at the Tibbetts All-Ability Park Foundation's 3rd annual 2K Fun Run, Walk, and Roll event Saturday, Oct. 12! All proceeds will go towards helping the construction of the first accessible park in the Four Corners region with a Halloween flair at the all-day, family-friendly event. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College and Home2Suites.

Professional boxing is making its return to Durango with the Legends on the Animas event on Saturday, Oct. 18. Many of us recognize the mural of heavyweight boxer Jack Dempsey on the side of El Rancho Tavern, where he fought back in 1915. Durango’s wild western history is well-known, but this will be the first professional boxing event since Dempsey’s time. On October 12th at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, professional boxers Hector 'Macho' Camacho Jr. and Andrew 'Hurricane' Hernandez will fight for the Legends Boxing Foundation world championship. The day will be packed with food, fights, and family-friendly entertainment. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts and San Juan Regional Medical Center SJRMC.

Aztec Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them at the Fall Festival and Car Show Oct. 12 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Minium Park. With over 70 vendors showcasing food, drink, art, and more, there’s something for everyone. Don’t forget to pick up your big raffle tickets before the final drawing at the end of the day! Three Rivers Estate is hosting Trunk or Treat again this year on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. If you have a company vehicle and would like to participate in the event, make sure to dress to impress (the vehicle, and you!) for the Best Decorated Vehicle contest. Three Rivers Estate is also looking for candy donations - drop off any time before the event. Sneezes and snuffles here, there, everywhere! Cold and flu season is back - protect yourself, friends, and family with two free drive-through vaccine clinics from San Juan Regional Medical Center. The drive-through clinics are Saturday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Nov. 2nd at the north visitor parking lot, beginning at 9:00 a.m. until all vaccines are gone. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware of Farmington and Boon's Family Thai BBQ.

Celebrate where the Southwest meets the Scottish Highlands at the Aztec Highland Games and Celtic Festival. From Saturday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Sept. 29, pack your kilt and participate in a variety of games, listen to live music, and find your clan tartan at the fair. Join the River Reach Foundation at the Anima River Jam, Saturday, Sept. 28 from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Farmington Museum Terrace and All Veterans Park. Featuring live music and a Free Fishing Derby, there will be something for everyone at the event. Wines of the San Juan invites you to the Great Grape Stomp at its Harvest Festival this weekend, Sept. 28-29. Sign up in teams of two to compete who can stomp the most juice out of 30 lbs of grapes, and enjoy live music, food, and drink from local farms and breweries. San Juan Regional Medical Center has moved its Health Information Management Department (HIM) to a new location at 300 West Arrington Street, Suite 101. The move enables patients to access both billing and their medical records in the same place, facilitating a better patient experience. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Durango Motor Company and SunRay Park and Casino.

Four Hispano communities were uprooted and displaced during the construction of Navajo Dam and almost lost to history. Farmington historian Patricia Bobby Tharp made sure the families were remembered, and you are invited to learn about their history at the Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village Free Smithsonian Day on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the 2:00 p.m. special panel. Build back up that TBR at the Farmington Public Library Foundation book sale Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21 from 9:oo a.m. to 5:00 p.m. With books starting at $1, there’s sure to be a great find (or several!). What better way to enjoy a weekend than with grit in your teeth and a bike below you? Aztec Adventure’s Holy Grit trail ride Saturday, Sept. 21 offers three rides along the Old Spanish Trail, with music, food, and cycling camaraderie to round out the event. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Northern Edge Casino and Traegers Bar.

The 2024 Aztec Indigenous Arts Festival features local Indigenous artists, performers and culture on Saturday, September 14. This version of the festival features the largest variety of entertainment in its history. With headlining acts scheduled throughout the day, the 2024 Aztec Ruins Cultural Indigenous Arts Festival plans to move attendees in all manner of motif. Featured performers include renowned hoop dancer JaiP’o Harvier, musician Levi Platero and Diné storyteller Sunny Dooley, among others. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Distil Beer Wine Spirit and M&R Plumbing.

San Juan County and the Navajo Nation hosted public input meetings to kick off the final months of the Freight Rail Feasibility Study, which will look to extend a spur of the U.S. Freight Rail service to San Juan County. Join Rio Del Sol Kiwanis and the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Juan County for the 8th annual Shoes for Kids Project. And sign-ups are open for the fall Rattlesnake Avoidance clinic, hosted by the Durango Kennel Club. By Hannah Robertson

Fort Lewis College has partnered with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to establish a new nursing training facility on its campus. U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper toured the facility on Aug. 29, highlighting the importance of local educational opportunities in retaining healthcare professionals in rural areas. $1.3 million in federal funding will support the CU Nursing Fort Lewis College Collaborative, which aims to train students in community-based, rural, and Indigenous healthcare perspectives. By keeping nursing education local, the program seeks to address the challenges smaller communities face in recruiting healthcare workers and enhance the quality of care available in southwest Colorado. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Tafoya Barrett & Associates and M&R Plumbing.

The City of Aztec has updated its 2024 Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Master Plan, focusing on improvements to the historic downtown area and seeking feedback from community stakeholders. On September 14th, the Aztec Ruins National Monument will host the 2024 Indigenous Cultural Arts Festival, showcasing artwork from various Southwest nations, along with live performances. And San Juan College will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with "Fiesta at Sunset" on September 13th, featuring traditional dance performances, a car show, and other festivities. By Hannah Roberston. This story is sponsored by Boon's Family Thai BBQ and The Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College.

The second annual Bike Prom celebrates cycling subculture at The Powerhouse on September 14th. The event features a bike-parade, bike games, music and more. Participants are encouraged to find silly, funky costumes harkening back to high school prom. The event is billed as “the low budget prom you always loved and never knew you needed.” By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Tafoya, Barrett & Associates and FLC Center for Innovation.

San Juan County is hosting several events in September, starting with a county-wide competition to combat hunger as part of Hunger Action Month. Local businesses can participate in a food drive organized by ECHO Food Bank to support those facing food insecurity. The community is also invited to celebrate the end of summer with a free concert at the Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village on September 13th. The City of Farmington will observe National Day of Service on September 7th with various volunteer opportunities, including park clean-ups and landscaping projects. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Ace Hardware of Farmington and Durango Motor Company.

The Outdoor Recreation Industry Initiative is launching a hiking series to help beginner and advanced hikers alike enjoy the hikes the Four Corners region has to offer. A new endowment fund with Four Corners Economic Development and San Juan College is offering grant opportunities for local small businesses and entrepreneurs. And the final phase of paving on Road 6580 has begun, so pay attention to road signs and new closures. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by M&R Plumbing and SunRay Park and Casino.

The Northwest New Mexico Arts Council is one of 100 nonprofits nationwide to earn a grant from Lowe’s Hometowns to invest in the community. The money is being used to develop the outdoor space at the newly opened historic Leanor Hotel. The space will be used to teach underserved teens service industry skills. The Leanor Hotel aims to be a safe gathering space for teens across the county. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Home2Suites and Traegers bar.

Tickets are now available for several exciting events in Farmington, including the 2024 Four Corners Professional Women’s Summit, on November 6th-7th. Registration is also open for the Road Apple Rally, America’s longest-running mountain bike race, taking place in October, with new race options and community activities. The beloved "Dining with the Dead" event is returning on September 7th, allowing participants to explore Farmington’s history through cemetery tours. And Chili in October-Fest is seeking vendors and participants for its annual cook-off on October 5th, featuring spaces for both home cooks and restaurants. By Hannah Robertson. This story is sponsored by Distill Beer Wine Spirits and Traegers Bar.