Celebrate the 4th of July with a Firecracker of a Sale!

Call 888-812-5830 for a private

tour

and save $2,000

on Ponderosa Views Lot 90!

(more images)

Hello, neighbor!

The only pops and booms you’ll hear from your cabin on this lot are the ones bursting in air during the yearly Fourth of July festivities. Otherwise, you’ll wake up to chirping birds, rustling squirrels and the occasional elk herd munching their way along your back yard.

This 13.2 acre lot has plenty to love:

• Power
• Gorgeous views
• A beautiful meadow
• Rock outcroppings

AND THE ICING ON THE ALREADY SCRUMPTIOUS CAKE:

• A well that’s already drilled and cased, which, as we all know, saves you precious time and even more precious money. This is a package deal, where we’ll take care of financing not just your land, but also the cost of your well!

We also have a great selection of

FORECLOSURE LOTS!


• IS25 – 10.24 acres with views, electric and phone for only $26,995

• MV17 – 12.59 acres cul-de-sac, views and electric for $19,995

•IS81 – 11.47 acres with electric, phone and hilltop views for $24,995

And more…

15 New Mexico Schools to Add Solar PV

New Mexico Gov.  Bill Richardson has announced that $4.5 million in federal stimulus funding is now available to 15 school districts for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems. The projects will create jobs, he said, and allow schools to invest in energy-saving technology.

“These new solar systems will not only create jobs and help these schools reduce their utility bills, but the entire process – from installation to monitoring the energy and cost savings – will serve as an invaluable educational tool for both students and teachers,” Mr. Richardson said in a prepared statement. “We want these projects to inspire students to pursue education and jobs in New Mexico’s emerging green economy.”

The 15 school districts were selected through a competitive application process. The money will be used to buy and install a 50-kilowatt solar PV system at one school in each of the 15 districts. The funding works out to $6 per watt for the solar projects.

If that ends up as the average price for a system, the 25-year cost of the electricity is estimated by Sunpluggers.com to be approximately 18 cents per kilowatt-hour, based on production estimates from calculators maintained by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Production output of solar modules is typically warranted for 25 years, but systems may produce electricity for longer, in which case the cost per kwh would be lower. A price of 18 cents per kwh is competitive with typical utility peak daytime electricity rates.

“Districts can look forward to lower utility bills, and students can expect new hands-on learning opportunities,” Secretary of Education Veronica C. Garcia said.

The Public Education Department will manage the projects and the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department will provide technical assistance.

“We are pleased that the renewable-energy projects at these schools will provide jobs for New Mexicans at a time when they are greatly needed,” said Cabinet Secretary Jon Goldstein of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. “And we are happy to see so many additional projects around the state that help us to further reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources.”

The program will be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment State Energy Program, administered by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. Through Recovery Act funding, the State Energy Program is overseeing 39 other renewable-energy and energy-efficiency projects around the state.

Districts selected for the Solar Schools program are:

Rio Rancho Public Schools
Gallup-McKinley Public Schools
Moriarty-Edgewood Schools
Los Alamos Public Schools
Taos Municipal Schools
Hatch Valley Public Schools
Ruidoso Municipal Schools
Portales Municipal Schools
Corona Public Schools
Dulce Independent Schools
Penasco Independent Schools
Elida Municipal Schools
Carrizozo Municipal Schools
Los Lunas Public Schools
Belen Consolidated Schools

Carrizozo Cowboy Days Ranch Rodeo This Saturday!

The Carrizozo Cowboy Days Ranch Rodeo, starts at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 12, at the Hemphill Arena, 1/4 mile south of Carrizozo on Highway 54. Concessions are by the Najars, and beverages will be served by the junior class of Carrizozo High School.

There will be five teams competing with five cowboys or cowgirls per team. Bleachers are available or bring a chair and sit up next to the fence. Admission is $5 per carload. The announcer will be Scott Shafer and the arena director will be Matt Ferguson. Don’t miss a fun time with some old-fashioned cowboying! Start to practice for next year on your own piece of New Mexico land for sale—just give us a call!

Hot sun and dust are free!

Enchantment Now Comes in Green as New Mexico Tourism Department Launches the First Statewide Ecotourism Initiative in the Country

The New Mexico Department of Tourism has embarked upon a bold and progressive Ecotourism Initiative, one that offers a huge opportunity for New Mexico in the fastest growing segment in worldwide tourism today.

At the heart of this Initiative is a tourism objective that wholly supports the growth and economic vitality of sustainable ecotourism enterprises throughout the State while maintaining the delicate balance between the modern world and traditional cultural values. As a result, they will be increasing tourism, creating local employment, revitalizing rural communities, and ultimately protecting these areas for future generations. It will also build on the equity and add further dimension to their on-going “Land of Enchantment” positioning

With her recent arrival back in the States after a whirlwind tour of the top International Travel Trade Shows it’s official. The New Mexico Tourism Department’s Ecotourism Initiative is rolling! Deputy Secretary Jennifer Hobson was blown away by the receptivity to the program at the shows in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo and Marrakesh. “New Mexico is primed to be a world-class Ecotourism destination. What is essentially New Mexican is perfectly aligned with what travelers from all over the world are looking for: wild and scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage where hands on experiences can be realized. The launch of this program to overseas media only further confirmed the popularity and desire for America’s first statewide Ecotourism initiative.”

Abiquiu Lake

Looking for Something To Do? There’s Plenty Going On In New Mexico This June!

1 Primary Election Day Come out and vote and let your voice be heard!

1-4 AmBank Wild Wild West Pro Rodeo Southwest Horseman’s Rodeo Grounds, Silver City, NM

5 Cowboy Days Gough Park, Silver City 8:00 am A one day event following the Wild Wild West Rodeo. Vendors with a western flair, music and other entertainment. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce. 575-538-3785 Silver City, NM, www.silvercity.org

5 Reserve, NM’s new American Legion Post 82 Meeting 10:00 AM, in Catron County Building Meetings to be held the first Saturday each month

5 Bayou Seco playing at Silver City Farmers Market in the morning, 9:30 – 11:30 and playing at The Buckhorn in Pinos Altos – 7:30-10:30 PM

6 Second Annual Jump Into Summer Family Fun Day 10:00 am, Silver City, Gough Park Sponsored by HMS LaVida and DOH focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for a healthy lifestyle for families and individuals. Games, fun fitness activities, food, dancing, rock wall climbing, obstacle course and more. Pick up your passport at anyone of the many activity booths and participate in at least four activities to get your name entered into a raffle drawing for great prizes provided by local merchants. All ages and abilities are encouraged to participate. Come join us for a free family friendly fitness filled day! *Rock wall requires signed liability release form for participation. 10:00 AM-2:00 PM 575-534-0248

6 Evergreen Garden Club Tour 1:00-4:00 PM. Silver City, New Mexico www.silvercity.org

8 Meeting, Catron County Grassroots Behavioral Health Committee Health council office in Reserve, NM @ 12 noon, first Tuesday each month. 575/533-6940

8 San Francisco Valley 4-H Club Meeting Glenwood, NM

9 Back Country Horsemen Meeting GRMC Conference Room at 7:00 P.M., Silver City Meets second Weds. Each month, Call 575-536-2953 as our meetings can change

10 Meeting, Grant County Rolling Stones Gem and Mineral Society Meets the second Thursday of the month at the Silver City Senior Center, located on Victoria St. Begins with a Potluck Dinner at 6:00 pm. At 6:45 we have our meeting, a rock draw and program. To join our society, contact Elaine Carlson at elaine_sc@comcast.net or 575-538-5630

12 Bucky’s Birthday Bash! Cowboy Dinner and Dance! Come wish Bucky Allred “Many Happy Returns” at the Glenwood Community Park! Music by Bucky, Joe Delk, Dee Ford, Ty Martin, and friends. Cowboy Dinner at 6:00 PM (bring a dessert!) Dance 8:00-12:00 This event is a fundraiser for APWE and Gila Livestock Growers: your contribution will be your admission to the dinner and dance!

12 Finer Limitz Car Show 9:00 am Gough Park, Silver City 575-590-4017

12 Second Annual Auction Fund Raiser for Datil Food Pantry at the parking lots of the Datil School and Presbyterian Church on Hwy 12,south of Hwy 60. TheDatil FoodPantry serves over 100 families every month plus emergency food when needed. With today’s economy, it is essential that we raise money to provide supplemental food for local families. 12 Fort Concho Frontier Day San Angelo, TX At Fort Concho 325-481-2646

12 Discount Rabies Vaccination Clinics Presented by High Desert Humane Society, Silver City Held second Saturday of each month from 9:00am to 12:00

14 Flag Day

21 Frisco CowBelles Meeting, Glenwood, NM

25-27 Reserve School Reunion Students, faculty, employees, and everyone associated with Reserve Schools is invited. Graduation is not a requirement. Registration forms available – 575-533-6599 or 575-533-6552. Total admission to all events is $15/single, $30/couple. After May 1, the price is $20/single, $35/couple. See you there! Reserve, New Mexico

26 2nd Annual Jump Into Summer Family Fun Day Silver City, Gough Park 10am to 2pm. This event focuses on fitness, health and nutrition for a healthy lifestyle for families and individuals. Games, fun fitness activities, food, dancing, *rock wall climbing, obstacle course and more. Pick up your passport at anyone of the many activity booths and participate in at least four activities to get your name entered into a raffle drawing for great prizes provided by local merchants. All agtes and abilities are encouraged to participate. Come join us for a free family friendly fitness filled day! * rock wall requires signed liability release form for participation. Interested in participating with an activity booth? Contact Marilyn or Crystal at phone number listed. (575) 534-0248 x 262

27 Painting a Sun Hat Workshop 11:00 am, Silver City In this 3-hour workshop you will paint a collapsible cotton sun hat in an inspiring garden setting using brush painting, heliographic printing, and salt techniques. Cost: $20 (SWFAC Members)/$25 (Nonmembers) plus $7.50 per hat materials fee. Includes an organic “u-pick” salad lunch. 816 E. Pine Street, Silver City 575-538-5733

Ruidoso Has A New Mid-Town Weather Station!

Now you can check in on your neighbors in Ruidoso and see what the weather’s like before you come visit your fine piece of land (second home? vacation getaway? retirement home?) in Vera Cruz Mountain Ranch!

Located at Sudderth and Eagle Drives, this new, state-of-the-art weather station reports current temperature, the high and low temps for the day, current wind speed and high gust speed, humidity, rain and barometer. The weather station has a live feed on www.RuidosoWebCam.com so anyone, anywhere in the world can see midtown Ruidoso and accurate weather conditions.

In addition, thanks to Frank Potter of Imports, Etc.- this midtown weather information is now being fed to official weather stations for use on TV and radio forecasts.

Come Fly With Us! Fourth Annual Ruidoso Kite Festival April 23 – 25, 2010

Joan Park, Bruce and Beth DeFoor, Dawnn Moore, and  ENMU Ruidoso announce the:
4th ANNUAL RUIDOSO KITE FESTIVAL !!!

Please plan to come and share all your beautiful kites and your STERLING personalities with our little Village.  If you have been here before, you know how much fun it is and if you haven’t we especially want to invite you and make you feel welcome in our beautiful mountain resort.

Festival dates and times-
Friday, April  23       1 pm to 5 pm
Saturday, April 24   9 am to 5 pm  (Dinner together later at a restaurant yet to be named)
Sunday, April 25     12 to 4

We know it will be yet another cool experience.  If you can’t make all the days, just come for what you can.

If you have been here you know what a great flying field we have here.  It is the best I have ever flown at.  It is all green grass…It’s flat…no sagebrush…no cactus…no stickers…no fences…no highways…no highline wires…two good paved parking lots adjoining…

and best of all there is the beautiful snow capped Sierra Blanca Mountain right behind us.  It’s quite a sight to fly kites in front of that kind of a backdrop!  Looks like we will probably have to put up with a soccer practice just like last year, but they shouldn’t last long and the field is big.

Ruidoso is a tourist village and so there will be plenty of out-of-towner’s there.  The newspaper always does a big story and the local morning radio shows also promote the event.  The public schools are supporting it as well so there show be plenty of kids that want to make and fly kites.  We will have a kite making station set up so if that’s your thing, then we want you there to help too.  We have made up to 1,200 kites for kids during one three day festival.

We are trying hard to get free complimentary rooms for you professionals.  We can’t promise free rooms to everyone, but we will try if you let us know.  The first flyers who respond will be almost certain to stay in a free room.

This event promises to be bigger and better than ever.  We are looking forward to seeing you again and to meeting some new kite flying friends for the first time!

If you think you may be able to attend, please contact one of our team as soon as possible. When you contact us, please list your ALL your phone numbers, home address, and email addresses.  (this will help us update our list with current contact info.)

Please also send this to other flying friends you think would be interested.  We can’t promise all the new ones free rooms (since we have no way of knowing how many that might be!) but we will still try hard to see if we can!

TOP TEN REASONS TO ATTEND AND FLY IN RUIDOSO:

1. Ruidoso is a beautiful ski resort village
2. You will feel right at home, only better
3.  Flying in the mountains will increase your height
4.  You will get to see Ollie the Octopus again
5.  Kites prefer pine scented air
6.  Bruce’s kites miss your kites
7.  It won’t be the same without you
8.  Economy schmonomy
9.  If you don’t come, you will not be here!

…and the number one reason to come to the mountains and fly is…

10.  Anyone can fly on a beach!

Pending Home Sales Show Healthy Gain, Hint at Spring Surge

Pending home sales rose in February, potentially signaling a second surge of home sales in response to the home buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in February, rose 8.2 percent to 97.6 from a downwardly revised 90.2 in January, and remains 17.3 percent above February 2009 when it was 83.2. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which usually occur with a lag time of one or two months.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the improvement is another hopeful sign. “The rise in buyer contact activity may signal the early stages of a second surge of home sales this spring. The healthy gain hints home prices are continuing to flatten,” he said. “We need a second surge to meaningfully draw down inventory and definitively stabilize home values.”

The PHSI in the Northeast rose 9.0 percent to 77.7 in February and is 18.9 percent higher than February 2009. In the Midwest the index jumped 21.8 percent to 97.9 and is 18.7 percent above a year ago. Pending home sales in the South increased 9.2 percent to an index of 107.0, and the index is 17.5 percent higher than February 2009. In the West the index fell 4.8 percent to 98.0 but is 14.6 percent above a year ago.

“Anecdotally, we’re hearing about a rise of activity in recent weeks with ongoing reports of multiple offers in more markets, so the March data could demonstrate additional improvement from buyers responding to the tax credit,” Yun said.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.