August 2011 - Southwest Properties, Inc.

‘World’s Largest Navajo Taco’ Featured Performer at Gallup’s ‘Wild West Day/Catch the Kid’ Celebration

You don’t just crank out the World’s Largest Navajo Taco – and we’re talking Guinness Book of World Records large – in the family kitchen during halftime. That’s like expecting Billy the Kid to escape from the Lincoln County Jail in broad daylight. Oops – bad comparison.

Still, making the World’s Largest Navajo Taco is going to take some rehearsal – and that is exactly what the good folks in Gallup did last week in preparation for “Wild West Day” September 10, 2011 – the latest installment in the New Mexico Tourism Department’s “Catch the Kid” summer travel promotion scavenger hunt.

Don’t take our word for it; visit www.youtube.com/nmtode. Seeing is believing.

Building of the BIG Navajo Taco is set for September 10th in Gallup, beginning at 10 am at the downtown Courthouse Square. Following press photos and the international acclaim that is sure to follow, visitors can partake of the short-lived masterpiece free of charge. That’s right, there IS such a thing as a free lunch.

Sponsors of this once-in-a-lifetime event are Virgie’s Restaurant, Jerry’s Café, Coal Street Pub, Don Diego’s Restaurant, Sammy C’s Rocking Sports Pub and Grill, Taco Bell, Badlands Grill, Anthony’s Taste of the Southwest, Bueno Chili, New Mexico Sysco and Coca-Cola.

The World’s Largest Navajo Taco aside, Gallup may not be the “Seven Cities of Gold” that Coronado was hoping to find, but it is the epicenter of Native American history, art, culture and tradition; the Adventure Capital of New Mexico; and a great place to spend a Saturday.

When Route 66 came through town in 1926, numerous motels and service business joined the dozens of Indian Trading Posts that sprouted up displaying Native American arts and crafts to the many travelers along the Mother Road. Many of these vintage trading posts can be seen today, along with galleries, gift shops, old motels, and restaurants along historic Route 66 in Gallup.

In 1937, a Gallup icon was born when the El Rancho Hotel was built by the brother of the movie magnate, D.W. Griffith. The hotel quickly became the temporary home for many Hollywood stars as well as a stopping point for tourists driving on old Route 66. Now it hosts one of the clues you might just need if you hope to “Catch the Kid.”

While the creation and ingestion of the World’s Largest Navajo Taco forms the obvious centerpiece to the community-wide events that make up Gallup’s “Wild West Day” September 10th schedule, it is not the lone attraction.

The day begins with a Family Trail Ride, 7-9 a.m., from the Gamerco Trail Head on the High Desert Trail, sponsored by Adventure Gallup & Beyond; and the Hot Air Balloon Mass Ascension from the Fox Run Golf Course at 7:30 a.m., sponsored by Red Rock Balloon Rally.

Bring your own shotgun and shells and create some noise in the Wild West Trap Shoot at the Gallup Shooting Range, 9-11 a.m., sponsored by the Gallup Shooters Club. The cost is $4 per round for targets or clay birds.

From 9 a.m.-noon, Kokopelli Adventures is sponsoring Rock & Ropes Community Rock Climbing at the Gallup Rock Climbing Area.

The Historic El Morro Theater will feature Billy the Kid movies from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., free of charge, sponsored by the City of Gallup and El Morro Theater.

Following the vanishing of the World’s Largest Navajo Taco from the Courthouse Square, Indian Dancers will entertain 2-3 p.m., sponsored by Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial; and the Gunslinger Blues Guitar Contest, sponsored by De Chaves Music and featuring Levi & The Plateros, begins at 4 p.m.

The Sunset Pyramid Hike is 6:30-8:30 p.m. along Pyramid Trail at Red Rock Park, sponsored by Adventure Gallup & Beyond (bring your own flashlight and water); and the day’s activities conclude downtown with the Wild West Arts Crawl & Shoot Out, 7-9 p.m., featuring a shootout on Coal Street between Second and Third.

This event involves a host of Gallup merchants, including Makeshift Gallery, ART 123, Cheapo Depot, Vintage Books, Gallup Service Mart, Outsider Gallery, Beeman Jewelry & Design, Downtown Coffee Shop, Crashing Thunder Studio, Bill Malone, Maria’s Uniform Station, Gallup Vision Source, Persinger Industries, Jet-Site Optical, Indian Touch of Gallup, Native American Traders, Zuni Traders, Denny Pino’s, Silver Dust Trading, Apache Trading, Silver House Trading Co., Indian Gallery, Trade-N-Post and more.

“Wild West Day” is hosted by the Gallup McKinley County Chamber of Commerce Visit www.thegallupchamber.com

Northwest New Mexico is also home of Sky City on Acoma Pueblo, the oldest continuously inhabited community in the U.S; Chaco Canyon – for 500 years the center of a culture that united a vast area of the Southwest; Bluewater Lake State Park; and Grants, surrounded by the Bandera Ice Caves, El Malpais National Monument, El Morro National Monument and the New Mexico Mining Museum

Salsa Fest Starts New Mexico Centennial Celebrations Off With A Kick

Things will be heating up as the New Mexico Centennial kicks off with SalsaFest at the Las Cruces downtown mall on Aug. 27-28. It all begins on Saturday, Aug. 27, with the SalsaFest! Eve Gala on Main Street with fine local cuisine, drinks, music, dancing under the stars and New Mexico Centennial Balloon glow from 6-9 p.m. The fun continues Sunday, Aug. 28, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at La Placita and Main Street with salsa tasting, music, Zumba & Salsa dancing, food &craft vendors, storytelling and more! Local salsa chefs, both professional and amateur, will vie for top prizes as they create an array of delicious, fresh salsas. As the official statewide kickoff for the 2012 Centennial celebration, SalsaFest! is being promoted around New Mexico and the Southwestern region, so that new markets will become aware of exciting events occurring in Southern New Mexico. This year’s expanded SalsaFest! will stretch along four blocks of Main Street and La Placita, allowing for easy access to salsa tasting booths as well as food and craft vendors. With two music & dance stages, there will be ample room for all enthusiasts to try some Salsa and Zumba dancing. This is the perfect event for fans of great, fresh New Mexican cuisine. Easy access for tour buses is available close to Main Street. For more information, or for salsa chef applications, food vendor information and sponsorship pacakages, contact the Downtown Las Cruces Partnership at 575-525-1955, and via email: downtown@dlcp.org.

Hubbard Museum awarded federal grant

Officials of the Hubbard Museum of the American West announced they are the recipient of a federal grant in the amount of $79,355 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services/Museums of America 2011 grant program.

Funds from the grant are to be used to upgrade all of the technology in the Johnny & Marty Cope Learning Center which opened at the Museum in the Fall of 2009. The newer technology will enhance the Center’s ability to connect to a variety of Smithsonian Institution museums in real-time, as well as other museums around the world who share similar technology.

“We are very pleased and a little surprised to receive the award,” commented Jim Kofakis, director of the Museum, “We received a call from the New Mexico office of United States Sen. Jeff Bingaman giving us a heads up that we would be receiving official notification on July 29th. With all that is going on in Washington, it is truly an honor to receive the grant award.”

The Hubbard Museum was one of three museums in New Mexico to receive funding through the 2011 phase of the Museum’s of American grant block administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Los Alamos Historical Society and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture were also awarded funding. Nationwide, 160 museums received project funding.

The Johnny & Marty Cope Learning Center was officially opened in October of 2009 with the financial assistance of Mr. & Mrs. Cope, the R.D. & Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation

and many donations from museum members and patrons. The center provides multi-faceted functionality including real-time live video connections to most of the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and many other high-tech options. The equipment in the Cope Learning Center is being completely updated to the most current technology available and will additionally allow the Museum to broadcast tours and educational programming to people all over the world.The Hubbard Museum of the American West is located at 26301 Highway 70, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the Museum is $6 for adults, and reduced admission is available for senior citizens, military personnel, and youth. Visit our web page at www.hubbardmuseum.org or call 575.378.4142 for information.

Catron County Updates

PLEASE NOTE: DACAB, the Datil Area Community Advisory Board, is working hard to bring healthcare to northern Catron County. They are currently searching for land on which to build a clinic. DACAB is a 501(c)3 charitable organization registered with the New Mexico Charitable Organization Regristry.

For more information, call Keith Spiller at 575-547-2868, email keith@dacab.org, or see the web site www.dacab.org. Mail can be sent to DACAB, PO Box 221, Datil,
NM 87821

Pie Town Library Hours – The Summer hours at the Pie Town Library 1-3 pm each Thursday at the Pie Town Community Center. (From Ruth Hanrahan)

AUGUST

Saturday,August 27th, 3 p.m. at the Pie Town Community center: The Meeting of the Catron County Historical Society will be held featuring Guest speaker, CCHS Member and Author Dixie Boyle who will talking about her book “ Highway 60 and the Belen Cutoff”. This should be a very interesting talk including the history of Hwy 60 and the towns along that route including some that no longer exist. Ms. Boyle will also share stories from her book about such caricatures as Eleanor Williams, a champion bronc rider and truck driver, who settled near Quemado; Maude Medders who was captured by Poncho Villa and later married and settled near Mountainaire; and Harmon Craig, who is responsible for giving Pie Town it’s name. Please Join us!

SEPTEMBER

Friday September 2nd – please note times for Catron Food Pantries Food Fair and Commodities – Datil, Horse Mountain ,Luna, Pie Town and Quemado. All recipients must sign in during the following times: Every First Friday of the month Datil 9:30 to 11:00,Horse Mt 10:30 to 12:00, Pie town 12:30 to 2:00,Quemado 1:00 to 2:30.
Every Fourth Wednesday at Luna 12:30 to 2:00. All households must be recertified for income/ residence eligibility requirements as of July 1,2011.

Saturda September 3rd 10 am-4:oo pm Fur and Feather Animal Assistance, Inc. OPEN HOUSE Normally it is necessary to have an appointment to come see the facility and/or adopt but on the third we will be open for company. Please come see all the improvements and how happy all the animals are.

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICES –
If you have a local business or service you would like me to list – please send me the details. Keep those accurate events coming my way, I will get them out! (Ann Fillion booklady@gilanet.com).
We now have our own feed store in Datil! DATIL FEED, located next to the post office carries all your animal needs – feed, hay, & Vet supplies for dogs, cats, horses, cattle, chickens, and all other livestock or pets. Lora says that if they don’t have it, they’ll try to get it for you. Hours of operation TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 9am-5pm. 575-772-5177
Debbie Smith, who did the awesome herb and essential oils talks here in Datil, has the following summer special available:
Starlight Essentials is offering a 25% off sale on all of our cosmetic face & body oils. Stay hydrated and moisturized during this dry spell! Each 4oz bottle of oil is now priced at $7.50 and you have a wide selection to choose from. Contact Debbie at 575 -772-5240, or at starlightessentials@gilanet.com

Catron County Job Posting –
I am looking for someone to stay at my Pie Town RV park and to run it for me. I live just 3 miles off hwy 60. I have full hookups, electricity, and septic. Must be the right person. Please email: pietowngirl@gmail.comor call 575-418-7616.

Fur and Feather Animal Assistance, Inc- Permanent Residential Facility for Dogs and Cats Adoptions and Limited Intake for Lost and Abandoned Animals
Laurie Beauchamp, Pie Town, NM, 575-772-2661.

Have you heard of HUNGRY HOUNDS (AND CATS TOO)? A Datil group that can help those in need of assistance with: DOG OR CAT FOOD, Pet Medications, Spay/Neuter costs. Call to apply – Pat 575-772-5106 or Fran 843-509-4219. Email: hungryhounds@aol.com Donations are greatly appreciated.

ROUTE 60 RECYCLING – David Brown is accepting RECYCLING on Saturdays at the Datil Flea Market. He arrives around 9:30am. David’s phone number is 772-5646.

Land buy opportunities in Quemado.

GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ KICKS OFF TAX-FREE WEEKEND

Gross Receipts Tax Exemption Will Make it Easier for Teachers and Families to Purchase School Supplies from August 5-7

SANTA FE – Governor Susana Martinez kicked off New Mexico’s tax-free weekend today with a visit to Target in Santa Fe along with several children who are part of summer programs at the Santa Fe Boys and Girls Club. The tax-free weekend, which will take place from August 5th through 7th, will give teachers and families the ability to purchase back-to-school supplies at a lower cost thanks to a Gross Receipts Tax exemption. Tax-free weekend generally applies to school supplies, clothing and shoes, and computers and computer equipment. Governor Martinez was also joined by Public Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera, Higher Education Secretary Jose Garcia, and Taxation and Revenue Deputy Secretary John Monforte.
“The beginning of the school year can be an expensive time for parents, teachers and students,” said Governor Martinez. “In these challenging economic times, this weekend will provide much-needed relief for New Mexicans as our children return to school. Most importantly, it will give them the opportunity to get the supplies they need for a successful school year at a lower cost than usual.”

Items that qualify for this gross receipts exemption include:

School supplies

Clothing and shoes $100 and under

Computers $1,000 and under; and

Associated computer equipment $500 and under

A full list of exempt products can be found on the Taxation and Revenue Department’s website at http://www.tax.newmexico.gov.