Disabled Veterans Eligible for New, Discounted Hunting and Fishing License

SANTA FE — Starting July 1, service-connected disabled veterans who are New Mexico residents will be eligible to buy an annual combination fishing and small-game hunting license for $10. The license normally costs $33.

The special license was approved by the 2009 New Mexico Legislature and signed by Gov. Bill Richardson. It is available to any New Mexico resident service-connected disabled veteran who presents a “Veteran Administration awards letter,” at a Department of Game and Fish office in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Raton, Las Cruces or Roswell. The letter, available from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, states that a veteran has been granted a disability and that the disability was service-connected.

“This is a way for the state of New Mexico to show its appreciation for the sacrifice our service-connected disabled veterans have made for their service to our country,” said New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services Cabinet Secretary John M. Garcia. The NMDVS has 17 offices statewide to assist veterans with filing for their service-connected disability claims.

The special license does not replace the free general hunting and fishing license currently available to resident veterans who are 100 percent disabled.

The $10 fishing and small-game license will be available July 1 and will allow the licensee to fish for all game fish and hunt for squirrel and game birds, other than wild turkey, during the open season for each species. The license will be available only at Department offices this year, but may be available by regular mail in the future.

For more information about the special disabled veterans licenses or other New Mexico hunting and fishing licenses, please call (505) 476-8000 or visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Two residents of Ponderosa Views
Two residents of Ponderosa Views

Spaceport America Breaks Ground in New Mexico

UPHAM, NM – With New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Spaceport America officials and supporters of commercial space development in attendance, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport broke ground today in southern New Mexico. Today’s event delivered on the promise of an exciting new age for space exploration and development, as well as a bright future for the people of New Mexico and their children.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson remarked on the importance of the groundbreaking for the spaceport. “After all of the hard work to get this project off the ground, it is gratifying to see Spaceport America finally become a reality,” New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said. “New Mexicans have stepped up to the plate by making this investment. This groundbreaking ceremony is an important step toward our goal of being at the forefront of a vibrant new, commercial space industry.”

Executive Director Steve Landeene of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) commented, “The groundbreaking for Spaceport America is the beginning of a historic new chapter in New Mexico’s long legacy of space and cutting-edge technology. From the pioneering rocketry work of Robert J. Goddard in New Mexico in 1930, the beginnings of America’s space program in the 1940’s and 50’s to the ongoing NASA programs at White Sands Missile Range and now to Spaceport America, the Gateway to the Future.”

Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn was excited to be at the groundbreaking for Spaceport America. “The groundbreaking is an enormous milestone for Virgin Galactic which is investing over $300 million in developing a new space launch system which will operate at Spaceport America after it opens. Today’s event clearly signals the birth of a new commercial age in space and is a proud moment for the vision and foresight of both the people and government of the state of New Mexico.”

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group launched Virgin Galactic in 2004 with the objective of developing commercial space vehicles that would transform the safety, cost and environmental impact associated with manned space travel. As the spaceport’s anchor tenant, Virgin Galactic has been actively developing the technology to make low cost commercial space access a reality in conjunction with Burt Rutan and Northrop Grumman’s Scaled Composites, the company developing WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo for commercial spaceflight.

Today’s groundbreaking initiates construction on a cutting-edge, 110,000-plus square footfacility using cost-effective, energy-efficient green building practices. In accordance with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s executive order 2006-001 for state buildings, Spaceport America’s terminal hangar facility will be built to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system. Extensive use of sustainable and clean energy technology throughout the design will ensure that the spaceport will set the standard for environmentally sound design for similar structures in the future. From earth-tubes that will pre-condition the air to reduce HVAC costs by 50-70% to solar thermal panels on the roof for hot water to the embedded in-floor loop system, Spaceport America is both unique and iconic in terms of visual and environmental design.

The design for Spaceport America’s terminal hangar facility was created by a team of American and British architects that were selected after competing in an international design competition. URS Corporation, one of the world’s largest design and engineering firms, teamed with lead designer Foster + Partners of the United Kingdom to submit the winning design. Foster + Partners has extensive experience designing airport buildings and other highprofile projects worldwide.

Spaceport America holds great promise for the people of New Mexico and their children. After voters in Sierra County and Doña Ana County approved an increase in local gross receipts taxes to fund the project, Governor Bill Richardson and the New Mexico State Legislature provided funding to develop and build Spaceport America. The economic impact includes growing the primary and secondary job markets to support the new commercial space industry. Perhaps most importantly, Spaceport America allows the creation of high tech jobs and education programs for the students of New Mexico and the world.

Quemado Summer Events

Spring Canyon Ranch near Quemado, New Mexico
Spring Canyon Ranch near Quemado, New Mexico

Head up to Quemado for some cool summer fun—if you’re not already staying at your own place at Spring Canyon Ranch, now is the time to buy! For more information, call 888-812-5830.

  • Friday, July 3rd – America’s Family Yard Sale and Market from 8a to 6p. Located at the big empty lot next to the Baptist Church on Church Street in Quemado. Call 773-4133 to reserve your space. No charge for the space and deadline is two days prior.
  • Saturday, July 4th -  Parade and BBQ.  Fireworks in the evening when the sun goes down.
  • July 11 – Kids Rodeo 10 am til???
    Admission is $3.00 a carload
    Location is 1 mile North of the J & Y in Quemado.
    Call 505-382-1363 to participate
  • September 19, 20 – Rodeo
  • 3rd week in September – Team Roping

“A Century of Masters” opens in the Museum of New Mexico in Santa Fe

A Century of Masters opens July 19, 2009 and is scheduled to close May 1, 2010; and celebrates the Museum of New Mexico’s 100th anniversary. The event is being held at the The Museum of International Folk Art located just off of the Old Santa Fe Trail at 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM

Santa Fe, NM June, 2009 — Each year, the National Endowment for the Arts honors folk artists, storytellers, performers, and musicians throughout the United States for their contributions to traditional art forms. The National Heritage Fellows demonstrate artistic excellence and a commitment to their art forms through their processes, techniques, and transmission of the knowledge to others that strengthens and enriches their communities.

Museum of New Mexico Heritage Fellows
Museum of New Mexico Heritage Fellows

New Mexico residents are well-represented in this distinguished group of talented artists, especially given the size of the state’s population. The Museum of International Folk Art holds examples of the works of all the Fellows from New Mexico in its collections, from weavings, colcha embroidery and silversmithing, to pottery, tinwork, straw appliqué, hide painting, retablos, and woodcarving.

“The quality and range of artworks created by New Mexico’s National Heritage Fellows is impressive. The exhibit will stand as testimony to the dedication and skill of these talented artists;” said Dr. Joyce Ice, Director of the Museum of International Folk Art.

A Century of Masters opens July 19, 2009 and is scheduled to close May 1, 2010; and celebrates the Museum of New Mexico’s 100th anniversary

The National Heritage Fellowship Artists from New Mexico are:

  • George López (artist, woodcarver, deceased) 1982
  • Margaret Tafoya (Santa Clara potter, deceased) 1984
  • Cleofes Vigil (storyteller, singer, deceased) 1984
  • Helen Cordero (Cochiti potter, deceased) 1986
  • Emilio & Senaida Romero (artists, tinwork and colcha embroidery, deceased) 1987
  • Frances Varos Graves (colcha embroiderer, deceased) 1994
  • Ramón José López(artist, santero and silversmith) 1997
  • Roberto & Lorenzo Martinez (musicians) 2003
  • Charles M. Carrillo (artist, santero) 2006
  • Esther Martinez (San Juan storyteller, deceased) 2006
  • Eliseo & Paula Rodriguez (artists, straw appliqué) 2004
  • Irvin Trujillo (Rio Grande weaver) 2007

For more detailed information on the artists you may click on the Fellows name above or visit the Museum’s web site at Museum of International Folkart.

The Museum of International Folk Art houses the world’s largest collection of international folk art, with ongoing exhibitions Multiple Visions: A Common Bond in the Girard Wing. A Century of Masters opens the newly renovated Hispanic Heritage Wing. Changing and traveling exhibitions are offered in the Bartlett Wing and exhibitions highlighting textiles are featured the Neutrogena Wing. Lloyd’s Treasure Chest offers visitors interactive displays about collections and how museums care for collections.

The Museum of International Folk Art is a Division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

Information for the Public Location: The Museum of International Folk Art is located on Museum Hillâ„¢, Camino Lejo off Old Santa Fe Trail.

Contact: 505-476-1200 or International Folkart

Days/Times: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day the Museum is also open on Monday at the same time.

Admission: School groups free. Children 16 and under free. New Mexico residents with ID free on Sundays. New Mexico resident Senior Citizens (age 60+) with ID free Wednesdays. Museum Foundation members free. NM Veterans with 50% or greater disability free. Students with ID $1 discount. Single visit to one museum: $8.00 for non-state residents; $6.00 for New Mexico residents. Four-day pass to five museums including state-run museums in Santa Fe plus The Museum of Spanish Colonial Art $18.00. One-day pass for two museums (Museum of International Folk Art and Museum of Indian Arts and Culture OR The New Mexico Museum of Art and Palace of the Governors) $12.00. Group rate for ten or more people: single visit $6.00, four day pass $16.00.