Esther García, the Passing of a Legend by CARRIE LEVEN Which Has Supplied Questa’S Northern Acequías Since the 1800S

Volume III, Issue 2 *********ECRWSSEDDM**** PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE FEBRUARY 2020 - TRIBUTE TO ESTHER GARCIA PAID PERMIT NO.3 Questa Del Rio News ECRWSS ENCHANTED EATS FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL REDISCOVER IS BACK WITH EMBROIDERY MONTH! YOUR CLOSET BRETT’S BISTRO! COLCHA EMBROIDERY Page 5 Page 14 Page 10

QUESTA • RED RIVER • CERRO • COSTILLA • AMALIA • LAMA • SAN CRISTOBAL Esther García, The Passing of a Legend By CARRIE LEVEN which has supplied Questa’s northern acequías since the 1800s. Esther advocat- “There is something different to see ed for the restoration of San Antonio Del every day. My grandfather used to say, Rio Colorado Land Grant so that heirs ‘There is something bewitching in the can freely practice cultural traditions like mountains that won’t let you go.’ The woodcutting, fishing, herb and pinon peacefulness and beauty draw people in, gathering, hunting, and horseback riding and they stay because the people here are on common lands. friendly and generous.” Esther’s life and work were shaped Esther García loved by the landscape around Questa, New Mexico, and her grandfather J. P. Rael’s to sit and gaze at the words of wisdom about the land and the mountains outside her water that flows through. “Without land, Village of Questa home, you have nothing, without water there is no life.” captivated by their “When I grew up there was no run- tranquil beauty. ning water, so we pulled water from the acequia,” Esther said. “We walked to the Esther consulted with agency officials store, grew our own food, and put up hay and attended nearly every public meet- for our cattle. We survived because of the ing held by the Forest Service. She had land and water, and we need to pass on a seat at the table and always provided that connection to each generation.” helpful comments on proposals that Putting her beliefs into action, Esther might impact the surrounding lands and spent years serving with the acequía asso- waters. In her ardent support for wilder- ciations. She never gave up and her voice ness designations to preserve the land made a difference on the state and nation- and water for future generations, she was al levels. Her efforts were instrumental in Photo by Carrie Leven instrumental in getting the designation getting $5.5 million awarded for rebuild- Esther Garcia spearheaded a fundraiser for the St. Anthony’s Church restoration, raffled a quilt made by the ing Cabresto Dam at the mountain lake ladies of the Quilt Guild. The beautiful quilt depicts each of the twelve historic churches. ESTHER GARCÍA continued page 28

month of historical television features, and Ongoing education and illumination libraries highlight black authors, philoso- of American history can undo ongoing Positive Thoughts phers, and artists. Schools in less segre- suppression that, to this day, is the plight Happy by Donna Mitchell-Moniak gated parts of the US will focus on the of African-Americans, Latinos, and native Civil Rights movement or on black leaders peoples of this country, as well as wom- February is Black History Month. If such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood en and children. We can champion our year Black History Month was celebrated more, Marshall, or President Barack Obama. children and the schools that serve them, how might it benefit other American There is so much more to the history of encourage reading, and tell the stories of populations who have been segregated, black people in America, just as there are our families and cultural history. Birthday marginalized, or dismissed over centuries untold volumes of history of the Hispanic and still are, even today? PBS offers a and indigenous roots of this nation. POSITIVE THOUGHTS continued page 28 to Us! Cover Story...... Page 1 Sustainable Living...... Page 13 Travel Section...... Page 25 Letters...... Pages 2-3 Enchanted Eats...... Page 14 Michael’s Movie Moments...... Pages 26-27 Community News...... Page 4 Volunteer of the Month...... Page 15 Jump Page...... Page 28 Business Profile...... Page 5 Tribute to Esther Garcia...... Pages 16-17 Astrology/Dates to Remember...... Page 29 Fishing, Recreation & Wildlife...... Pages 6-7 Education...... Page 18-19 Classified...... Page 30 Health & Wellness...... Pages 8-9 Local History...... Page 20 Bulletin Board...... Page 31 Arts & Culture...... Pages 10-11 Photo of the Month...... Page 22 Business Directory...... Back Page Library...... Page 12 Community News...... Pages 23-24 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Questa Del Rio News APPY FEBRUARY! This newspaper marks the Questa Del Rio NOTICIAS QUESTA DEL RIO News’ second anniversary, yay! In a time when small-town, rural,

Published Monthly by the independent news sources are few and failing, it sounded a little QUESTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND crazy two years ago that we were going to start our own little Publicación mensual por EL FONDO PARA EL DESARROLLO ECONOMICO DE QUESTA H local news source—and on paper. And, now that we have been LOU McCALL Editor publishing for two years, it actually seems crazier than ever! LYNN SKALL Director/ Business Manager It has been a fun, if not wild, ride. The funnest thing has been working with SARA MARTINEZ Assistant Editor/Editor asistente the communities we serve. When Lindsay Mapes and I first started talking about EMILY WILDE Graphic Design & Layout/Diseño gráfico y delineación doing a community newspaper in the fall of 2017, it just seemed right; the right ROBYN BLACK Food Editor/Editor de comida time and the right place. We didn’t know what direction it would go, or what form it MARTHA SHEPP Copy Editor/Editor de copia would eventually take. Where we are now is largely due to the support, cooperation, NICHOLAS NAGAWIECKI Americorp VISTA Volunteer and appreciation from you, our local readers. TERESA DOVALPAGE Translator One of the things we love most is working with all the good people that come ROBYN BLACK forward to contribute to making this paper a community project. Your contri- DINA COLEMAN CATHY GALLEGOS butions have come in so many surprising ways. First of all, we have great writers, MARIA GONZALEZ CHARLENE R. JOHNSON even though we don’t yet have the resources to pay them. We have wonderful, loyal TONER MITCHELL advertisers and local businesses and organizations that we work with as media part- DONNA MITCHELL-MONIAK SHARON NICHOLSON ners. And in the last few months, we have asked our readers to contribute financially BARBARA TRACY ELLEN WOOD to keep us going. Thank you, everyone! MICHAEL YOUNG Columnist/Columnistas So, this month marks a turning point for our paper. We bid a fond farewell to Monthly Features/Presentaciones Mensuales our founder, Lindsay Mapes, who is stepping down and will no longer be on staff SARA MARTINEZ, Amalia/Costilla with the paper. We have to remind ourselves not to cry; Lindsay will still be here, SHELBY WERLEY, Red River Correspondents/Correspondientes doing what she does best—making Questa a better place. She will be devoting her THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CONTRIBUTORS! SEE PAGE 3 efforts to the Questa Lodging Project, under the auspices of the non-profit San -An

CHUCK KROON Distribution Manager/Gerente de distribución tonio del Rio Colorado Historic Preservation group. They will be changing the face [email protected] • 575.586.2360 of housing and lodging in our village with her help. Lindsay will still write articles JESSICA ARBOUR Subscription Manager/Gerente de subcripciones for the Questa Lodging Project and she will remain a vital member of the commu- FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS VIA EMAIL SUBCRIPCIONES POR CORREO ELECTRONICO nity. It has been fun working with you, Lindsay – thank you for your role in creating Contact us to subscribe/Pónganse en contacto para subscribir [email protected] this paper and keeping it going for two years; not an easy job!

TO VIEW PAST ISSUES OF THIS PUBLICATION On February 1, Lynn Skall steps in to become the new director of the Questa PARA REVISAR PUBLICACIONES ANTERIORES Economic Development Fund. She has a background and experience in journalism https://www.facebook.com/QuestaNews/ https://www.facebook.com/VisitQuesta and we expect that our level of excellence will continue to grow with her support www.questanews.com and involvement. Please join me in welcoming Lynn, and please read more about QUESTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS her on page 4. CONSEJO DE ADMINISTRACION DEL FONDO PARA EL DESARROLLO DE QUESTA Lots of changes always, that is the way of life… It would be hard for our readers Malaquias Rael Chairman/Presidente, to have missed the news from early January about the passing of Esther Garcia. She Mark Gallegos Secretary/Treasurer/Secretario y Tesorero Louis Herrera was quite a lady. So much so, that we have dedicated this entire issue to her life and Christian Isely Brent Jaramillo works. It started with her obituary and photos, then came letters from our Senators, Marcus Rael, Jr. and that cascaded into a full-blown tribute to Esther Garcia and a life well-lived. QUESTA DEL RIO NEWS NOTICIAS QUESTA DEL RIO There is a lot to say about what Esther did with her time here on earth. May she be QUESTA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND a model and inspiration to us all. We have done what we could to give the entire DE LA COMUNIDAD DE QUESTA FONDO PARA EL DESARROLLO DE QUESTA picture of Esther’s life in these pages. Please let us know if we missed anything! PO Box 1072 • 1 Highway 38 • Questa, NM 87556 • (575) 586-2149 Questa lost another great champion last September, with the passing of Senator OUR MISSION To Inform, Inspire, Connect and Unite the Communities of Northern Taos County. Carlos Cisneros. News of his sudden death reached us literally at the last minute, NUESTRO OBJETIVO Es informar, inspirar, contactar, y unir a toda la comunidad del norte del condado de Taos. so, unfortunately, we couldn’t fully honor him in these pages before going to press. Sometime soon we plan to honor Questa’s dear friend, Senator Cisneros with a Advertising/Anuncios [email protected] (575) 586-2258 similar tribute, in honor of a special day or event dedicated to him. Stay tuned. This is a time in the Questa area when we cannot lean on our time-honored heroes; they www.questanews.com are no longer with us, and it is time for the next wave of movers and shakers to Like us on FaceBook/Questa Del Rio News step up and do their part. Good luck, keep up the good work, and let us know how PLEASE SEND ALL COMMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE 15TH OF THE MONTH we can help! NOS PUEDEN CONTACTAR PARA INFORMACIÓN ENVÍE ANTES DEL DÍA 15 DEL MES [email protected] Lou McCall And all the folks at the Questa Del Rio News

2 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR Mr. Winchester to break into subcom- online, and distributed those petitions Grisham, and the Advocacy & Inter- CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR mittees and work on his issues with the (or wrote letters) - especially Jeannie vention Dept. of New Mexico. We are FEBRUARY EDITION! Kit Carson staff and bring recommenda- Masters, Jonathan & Daniel Hutchison, awaiting their replies. tions. We at Kit Carson Electric Co-op Cathy Hope, Diane de Fremery, Betty Our hope is that Mayor Gallegos and LORI ARCHULETA, DEBORAH take our members’ concerns seriously Richter, our local businesses, and many the Questa Village Council will serious- CHAVEZ, DINA COLEMAN, and are working to move ahead toward others. This has been a true com- ly consider establishing regulations for JIM COX, PETER CRIDER, JUDY 100% solar for everyone’s benefit. munity effort! future proposed business developments, CUDDIHY, CHASE DISNEY, ERIN These petitions and the Questa del to have some legal leverage when con- FRYER, LOUISE GALLEGOS, MEGAN Luis A. Reyes Jr. Rio News articles have been sent to the sidering new developments. We appre- JENKINS, DENISE WINSLOW- Chief Executive Officer Chairman and CEO of the Dollar Gen- ciate our Village leaders for listening to LAWRENCE, CARRIE LEVEN, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, Inc. eral, the12 Oaks Development Corpo- our concerns. BRETT LEWIS, RENEE MARTINEZ, ration (in Tennessee), the New Mexico —Citizens Concerned for DR. BENJAMIN E. MAYS, BOBBY The Questa Del Rio News proves you Dept. of Transportation, Senator “Bob- Questa’s Future ORTEGA, MARCELLA PACHECO, don’t need a huge population center to be by” Gonzales, Governor Michelle Lujan MALAQUIAS RAEL, MARIAH a strong newspaper. The reporting and RAMIREZ, GEORGE SHANNON, production are top-notch. LYNN SKALL, PEGGY TRIGG, MARK WHITE, Steve Fuhlendorf 2020 Annual Meeting Taos Public Relations and Marketing Saturday - February 29th - 2:00pm at the Questa VFW

DOLLAR GENERAL FREE GIFT FOR EVERY MEMBER IN ATTENDANCE • CASH PRIZES • DOOR PRIZES • ANNUALELECTIONS OF REPORTS OFFICERS • REFRESHMENTS Last month we published a letter to the We wish to thank the Questa del Rio News for publishing the informative editor from Kurt Winchester regarding Not a member yet? articles and letters regarding plans of Kit Carson Electric Co-op’s net meter- Joining is easy. ing policy, here is KCEC’s response: Dollar General to build a store in the center of our town. These pieces were Call today 586-0423 questacreditunion.org We saw the letter and have put informative, thought-provoking, and together a member committee and had Serving Questa since 1959. gave our residents the opportunity to (575) 586-0423 • 2433 Hwy 522 Questa, NM 87556 our first meeting to discuss the issues express their concerns to the leaders and challenges that the cooperative and in our government, regarding possible its members need to address relative to impacts on the well-being of our citizens net metering installations. We reached in the Questa community. We appreciate out to Kurt Winchester, the author of everyone who took the time to read and the letter, and encouraged him as well sign the petitions displayed by our local OPEN as other members of the committee to merchants or online. give us recommendations of how we can We are especially grateful to the TWO FRIDAYs Every Month create a win-win solution when it comes energetic volunteers, who wrote, placed to solar delivery into our grid. We asked from 11:00am- 2:00pm Located on upper Embargo across from ADVERTISE IN YOUR COMMUNITY! the Senior Center and Head Start CALL OR E-MAIL US FOR RATES! 575-586-2258 or [email protected] CAV Thrift Store MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU SHOP

Something for Everyone! For more information contact Jeannie Masters 586-0486 • PO Box 1076,

1103 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos Questa, NM 87556 10am - 6pm Monday-Friday •11am-5pm on Sundays

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 3 COMMUNITY NEWS Welcome Lynn Skall, Our New QEDF Director

By LINDSAY MAPES business called Ink Well. Lynn has said Christian Isely, the Economic two grown sons and enjoys writing, Development Advisor for Chevron and The Questa Economic Development hiking, and spending time with her ex-officio board member of the QEDF. Fund is excited to announce its new husband, Burt. "This tells us that Questa is an attractive Economic Development Director, Lynn Having the luxury of an applicant community to work in and the QEDF Skall of El Prado. "We are very pleased that is familiar with the area means Lynn has developed a good track record as an that such a qualified candidate was in will be able to hit the ground running. employer," he added. our back yard," said Malaquias Rael, Jr., In addition to her network of contacts The previous Economic Develop- QEDF Chairman of the Board. through her position at El Monte Sa- ment Director, Lindsay Mapes, was "I am honored and excited to be grado, she is a very active and engaged under contract with the QEDF since selected for this position! I look forward board member of the Taos County March of 2017. After developing the to meeting everyone in the community, Chamber of Commerce. Questa Lodging Project under the San building on the many accomplishments The hiring process included 11 Antonio del Rio Colorado Historic Pres- already realized by the QEDF, and Photo by Phoenix Photography of Taos applicants, primarily from Taos County. ervation group, she has transitioned to making contributions to the Village of Welcome, Lynn Skall of El Prado, our new A panel of two board members and the launch that initiative. "Because Lindsay Questa that will be a part of the commu- QEDF Director! former Economic Development Direc- will still be working in Questa, there nity's new legacy," said Lynn. tor interviewed six applicants. From will be continuity of QEDF projects," Lynn has lived in El Prado since she launched and oversaw two visitor there, the panel narrowed it down to the said Malaquias. 2016 when she moved to the area from centers. Upon moving to Taos County, top candidate, who accepted the posi- Please stop by the QEDF building Breckenridge, Colorado. There, she she worked as the director of sales at tion. "We were lucky and surprised at the in downtown Questa or email Lynn@ was executive director of the Summit El Monte Sagrado in Taos. She recently high quality of applicants that applied QuestaEDF.com to welcome Lynn Skall County Chamber for six years where started a small writing and marketing and that most of them live here already," to our community!

ESTHER GARCIA preservation of traditional land and water uses on public lands as well as the OBITUARY conservation and protection of clean water, healthy watersheds and healthy wildlife populations. Esther was incredibly wise, funny, deeply spiritual, kind, diplomatic, brave, passionate, fierce and just a lovely human being all around. She was truly a peacemaker and a bridge builder. She loved all her family dearly and will be missed by all who knew her. Esther is survived by her husband of 55 years, Eugene Garcia; children, Myra Garcia, Christine Rodriguez (Ricardo), Lori Archuleta (Juan), grandchildren, Caitlin Esther Garcia, age 74, a resident Garcia, Megan Archuleta, Kelsey Ro- driguez, Nicholas Rodriguez, Marissa STITCHING RITES; research and extensive interviews of Questa passed away peacefully Archuleta and great-granddaughter Al- COLCHA EMBROIDERY ALONG with artists, the book examines surrounded by her loving family on Jan- uary 5, 2020. She is preceded in death anna Favre-Bulle; siblings, Max Ortega THE NORTHERN RIO GRANDE embroiderers and their relationships with their work, each other, and with by her parents, Max and Tessie Ortega Jr. (Monica), Robert Ortega Sr, and Julie By DR. SUZANNE MACAULAY their community. Through stitchers and sister Betty Ortega. Esther was a Lucero (Mark) along with sister-in-law like Josephine Lobato and the San strong-minded and outspoken woman Andrieta Ortega, plus many loving In the San Luis Valley of southern Luis Ladies Sewing Circle, MacAulay who cared dearly for the people and the nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Colorado, there thrives a folk tradi- shows how colcha creation is bound community of Questa and Northern Rosary was recited on Thursday January tion with links to both the past and up in a perpetual round of cultural New Mexico. She served for numerous 9, 2020 at 6:30pm at St. Anthony’s Cath- years as the first female Mayor of Ques- future. In the first book on this craft, commentary and self-reflection. olic Church in Questa. Mass of Chris- ta. She also played an important role Dr. Suzanne MacAulay provides a Through this picture of a com- tian Burial was held on Friday January in the restoration of the St. Anthony’s detailed account of this folk-art tra- munity of embroiderers, MacAulay 10, 2020 at 10:00 am at St. Anthony’s helps us to understand their stitch- Catholic Church in Questa. Esther was dition that is both old and constantly Catholic Church in Questa with burial renewing itself. ing rites and sheds new light on the one of the primary traditional voices to follow at the El Pueblito Cemetery. Stitching Rites reveals how art, relationship between Hispanic and driving the designation of both the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument The family of Esther Garcia entrusted history, and memory interweave in a Anglo cultures. and the Columbine Hondo Wilderness. the care of their loved one to DeVargas rich creative web. Based on archival (See related story, page 10) Esther was a tireless advocate for the Funeral Home of Taos.

4 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund BUSINESS PROFILE

BEFORE

REDISCOVER YOUR CLOSET WITH ELISABETH WHITE BY LOU MCCALL

Do you feel like your closets and drawers are crammed full of clothes and yet you don’t have anything to wear? Many of us could use help getting our clothes sorted out. Elisabeth White, whose business is called Rediscover Your Closet, can help shift your perspective to find an entire new wardrobe, right there at your home! There is a lot of media attention now about decluttering and simplifying our lives; reducing, reusing, recycling, tiny AFTER houses, energy conservation. Our culture is starting to understand that more and more stuff does not bring more and more happiness. In fact, have you ever cleaned out your closet and taken big black bags full of stuff to charity? It is a good feeling. Elisabeth can help you create that feeling by taking a good look at what you have and what you want to create in your life. An essential element is being honest with yourself and looking at what doesn’t work for you. What are you hanging on to and why? And what is holding you back, not just in Courtesy Photos your closet, but also in your life patterns Elisabeth White shows a closet that has recently been “rediscovered!” Organizing your drawers, before and after. and relationships? This process can be simply about looking at your lifestyle – what you wear I love to share information about reusing, repurposing, reinventing, and conscious and don’t wear – and cleaning out your consumerism – sharing my passion for making positive decisions about what to buy closet. But it can also become a process and looking for solutions to the negative impact consumerism is having on our world. of personal transformation if you take it to heart. Elisabeth, the “Closet Thera- pist,” can shift your lifestyle paradigm fore. Contrary to what some lifestyle ex- et, I will work with your style and your capacities. Elisabeth has also explored considerably in an hour-and-a-half to perts say, Elisabeth says there are no real energy, leaving you feeling empowered personal transformation modalities that two hours, and get you started on a jour- rules, but she does have simple tricks and confident,” she says. Elisabeth can affect how we live and present ourselves. ney to a new you. It is a fun process, like and formulas for organizing. Once you also help with planning and packing a Elisabeth’s family first started visiting sharing clothes in junior high, playing clean out your drawers and closets full of travel wardrobe. Red River to ski when she was a young dress-up again, or going shopping and clothes, you can start to declutter other From a holistic perspective, it is ener- girl, and she has always felt at home finding exactly what you need. areas of your life, one space at a time. gy work, and it begins with the physical. here. She started skiing at age six in New When your closets and drawers are Do you feel you need to buy new It is a creative process of reinventing Mexico and Colorado and her heart has overstuffed, finding something to wear can be frustrating and waste a lot of clothes and can’t afford to or don’t know yourself by what you wear. Clearing your belonged to the mountains ever since, time. Taking everything out, seeing what where to start? Buying new clothes space also creates a lighter you, which so here she is. Elisabeth is excited to call you have already and organizing them, is not necessarily going to solve your affects how you carry yourself and how northern Taos County home. In addition makes your clothes accessible. This problem. In fact, spending money on you look in your clothes. Maybe you to Rediscover Your Closet consultations, process can bring stress reduction and new clothes can add more clutter in have a bombshell dress in your closet she offers private ski instruction. If you can offer a time-saver element to stream- your already jumbled life. Do you think that you are finally ready for! are interested in rediscovering your clos- line your daily life. Do you have piles of you can’t afford to pay a professional to Elisabeth recently moved her busi- et with Elisabeth, find out more at http:// beautiful clothes that look great on you help you create a new wardrobe? The ness, Rediscover Your Closet, to the www.rediscoveryourcloset.co/, check that you never wear? It may be time money you save from not buying one Enchanted Circle from Dallas, Texas, out the Facebook page Rediscover Your for you to create a new look or up your new outfit could pay Elisabeth to help where she offered lifestyle consultations Closet by Elisabeth White, or contact game. It could be time to maximize what you create many new looks out of what and classes. She has a degree in fashion her directly at (214) 908-0868 or redis- you already have and put things together you already own and actually save you merchandising and has worked in the [email protected]. This could in ways that you hadn’t thought of be- money. “While rediscovering your clos- fashion and clothing world in different be the beginning of something big!

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 5 FISHING, RECREATION & WILDLIFE Agriculture and Natural Resources Trust Fund

By TONER MITCHELL If you are interested in advancing the People in Questa understand deeply Agriculture and Natural Resources Trust Fund the value of healthy land and watersheds Act, contact your state representative or to agriculture, hunting, fishing, and senator to express your support for restoring to the overall quality of life in a rural village. The fact that the village has health to our water and land. For the Questa taken such a committed interest in the area and House District 42 contact Rep. Daniel proposed Questa to Red River Trail, the R. Barrone at (575) 758-1506 or daniel. Rio Grande cutthroat trout, and to the [email protected] . For Senate District 6, continued restoration of the Red River contact Bobby J. Gonzales at (575) 758-2674 reinforces this fact. or [email protected] . If you live Unfortunately, funds to invest in outside these legislative districts and would the enhancement of regional natural like to contact your legislators, find them resources is in short supply. In the at https://www.nmlegis.gov/members/ meantime, erosion gullies become more find_my_legislator . incised, forests grow thicker and more Photo by Toner Mitchell fire-prone, and upland grazing pastures River restoration is just one of the many types of regenerative projects that would be funded by the suffer from lack of important infra- Agriculture and Natural Resources Trust Fund Act. threaten our agricultural way of life and structure. Healthy precipitation trends fund where only the accrued interest will from Russian Olive removal, erosion the habitat so critical to the wildlife that have been a boon to the north, perhaps be used to conserve and enhance land, mitigation, to stream work. On the other provide food and economic opportunity. masking some land health issues. Else- water, and habitat across New Mexico. hand, the reintroduction of endangered Simply preserving land is not enough where in New Mexico, however, there Ideally, the fund will grow to $400 mil- species would not be funded, nor the to prepare us for a future of higher are wounds on the land that require lion through a combination of surplus acquisition of land or water rights, temperatures and unpredictable precip- immediate attention. oil and gas revenues and other sources although conservation easements would itation. We need to enhance currently To be considered in the upcoming of public and private funding. A board be eligible for funding. functioning ecosystems and restore legislative session, the Agriculture and representing different regions and areas Consider that New Mexico loses an ecosystems whose function is impaired. Natural Resources Trust Fund Act of expertise would be created to evalu- average of 50,000 acres of undeveloped We need to leverage federal dollars proposes to address landscape scale ate, rank, and select projects. This board land per year to various forms of degra- (Farm Bill, Pittman Robertson, Ding- problems by creating a funding mecha- will submit periodic progress reports to dation, wind and water erosion, the ex- ell Johnson), just like we did when the nism for the enhancement of open lands the Governor and legislature. pansion of noxious weeds and invasive recent Red River restoration project was either directly, or by leveraging other Endowment funding would be avail- species, climate change impacts such completed. And we need to create a res- (mainly federal) funding sources. able for projects on public, private, and as early runoff, drought, and increas- toration economy, adding to the growing The Act would create an endowment tribal lands, and might cover anything ingly violent storm events. These forces portfolio of rural economic possibilities.

Carson National Forest Seeks Public Input By ERIN FRYER ences and serve our public better, we visitors and communities deserve better," ation Enhancement Act, 95% of the need public input and ideas on other said Forest Supervisor James Duran. revenue from recreation fees and passes It has become increasingly expen- methods that may help cut costs and The National Forest Service manages remains with the forests. This funding is sive to maintain and improve recreation leverage resources for managing devel- forests and grasslands and operates and used to operate, maintain, and improve sites due to aging facilities, increases in oped recreation facilities,” said Jeremy maintains a variety of campgrounds and facilities. However, the resources needed visitation, and limited resources. The Golston, Recreation Fee Program day-use areas. Some of these recreation to address the maintenance backlog and Carson National Forest is looking for Manager for the USDA Forest Service sites offer limited amenities and visitors improve recreation sites still exceed rev- public input on proposed changes to the Southwestern Region. “Public participa- services but are free of charge. Other enue generated from recreation fees and management of its developed recreation tion will give us the opportunity to hear sites charge recreation fees. In exchange, congressionally appropriated dollars. program. These changes will impact from all forest users; visitors, partners, these recreation areas offer visitor The public is invited to comment on campgrounds and day-use sites on the tribes, elected officials, and commu- services and amenities such as restroom the proposed changes until December Carson, Gila, Lincoln, and Santa Fe nity members. facilities, trash collection, visitor security, 31, 2020. Public meetings on this will National Forests, as well as the Cibola "The Carson National Forest offers and interpretive services. Developed rec- be scheduled. For meeting dates and lo- National Forest and National Grasslands. diverse recreational opportunities to reation sites offer visitors convenience, Several different management options over 700,000 visitors annually. They get are often gateways to recreation oppor- cations, or to submit a comment online are being considered, including adding an opportunity to experience the waters tunities and can play an important role visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/SusRec. new recreation fees, increasing current of the Rio Grande and the snowcapped in economic growth tourism for local Comments may also be submitted recreation fees, eliminating or repur- peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. communities. through comment cards at local USDA posing some developed recreation sites, During this public input opportunity, we The recreation fees charged at Forest Forest Service offices, and by mail to the and collaborating on the management of want to hear some valuable input. Our Service-managed sites contribute to the Southwestern Regional Office, Atten- some sites with volunteers, partners, or facilities will continue to decline without stewardship and improvement of these tion: Recreation Fees, 333 Broadway SE, concessionaires. financially viable options and sustainable special places. Since 2004, under the Albuquerque, NM 87102, or by email “To offer quality recreation experi- solutions to maintain them, and our authority of the Federal Lands Recre- to [email protected].

6 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund FISHING, RECREATION & WILDLIFE What Esther Garcia Meant for Northern New Mexico Fishing

By TONER MITCHELL importantly, local citizens from Taos houses, fields, children and their history County towns. We each brought our along with the fish. It all had to be taken Growing up in New Mexico, I took most profound perspective on why this together, which, when you think about for granted that there were fishing spots landscape deserved such strong protec- it, is what ecology is. Ecology is about where no one would want to go. Steep tion, and we took pride in our mission. communities. It is how monuments get hikes, brush and snags everywhere, plac- It was Esther Garcia who boiled the designated and churches get rebuilt. It is es that required too much work to get campaign down to its simplest terms. how fishing gets better instead of worse. to. “Joke’s on them,” was my attitude; if While listing the traditional uses of the Esther was also a lesson in the value only people knew that it wasn’t so much Rio Grande del Norte landscape – the of our rural communities to the proper work as fun. The people who knew this hunting, fishing, grazing, and farming, functioning of New Mexican society. It’s too, well, they understood the true value the collecting of herbs and pinon or just one thing to sit at home and advocate for of a special place. They would do the the value of walking out there with the the protection of one’s favorite northern necessary work of taking care of it. wind and coyotes – the unique sound of recreation site, quite another to be the Of course, I was to learn later that her voice seemed all that was necessary person who minds the store, who keeps there were other types of people willing to make her words legitimate. You felt the shelves stocked and shoos away the to go to extreme lengths to enjoy the her words more than you heard them, shoplifters until the city dwellers deign places I held dear, except “enjoying” which I’m sure is why we considered her to visit. Along with her compadres in for them meant drilling or digging for to be our leader. the Questa community, Esther was things, cutting them down, and turning Whether talking about her acequia, that shopkeeper. them into money somewhere else. I’d Photo by C. Jim Cox Artworks Studio the Columbine Hondo, or the Red River Like many whom she influenced, I lived in several other states, had seen restoration that began under her watch Esther Garcia was a key player working for the will always wish I got to know Esther forests mowed like lawns, and lakes that designation of the Rio Grande Del Norte National around 2012, Esther had the same im- better, but I am grateful for her lessons smelled like gasoline. Monument. Here she is shown speaking at the pact. You knew exactly where she stood, and for the community that blessed us Naively perhaps, I thought New dedication ceremony at Taos Mesa Brewing Com- and where she stood was with her company along with many other key dignitaries. with her life and her work. Mexico was different. The Rio Grande munity. She spoke from a watershed’s Toner Mitchell is the New Mexico Water and gorge is one of my top five favorite point of view, which, as a fisherman, I Habitat Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. fishing places in the whole world, mainly recognized immediately. He has worked with Questa for several years because of its physical beauty. No one mess it up, an effort to designate the Rio What was different, however, is on fisheries and natural resource issues as a would ever want to mess it up. Right? Grande del Norte as a national monu- that when Esther talked about a water- member of the Village Economic Development Around 2011, I joined a group that ment. It was a big group, representing shed, there were people in it. She said Leadership Team. He is a regular contributor would make sure that no one would ever conservation groups, recreationists and, the word “Cabresto,” and you saw the to Questa del Rio News.

Valle Vidal: This Pristine Natural Environment is Waiting for You!

By NICK NAGAWIECKI Hunters will go after elk, black bears, wild turkeys, and deer. Antelope are also Nestled in the middle of the Sangre in the Valle but they are not for hunting. de Cristo Mountain range, just east of Fishing is not permitted anywhere in the Costilla and Amalia, lies the Valle Vidal. Valle between December 31 and July 1. This valley is the definition of “hidden Any fishing must be catch-and-release. gem.” It is divided between east and The exception is in the Shuree Ponds, west, its dividing line marking the end where fishers can keep any fish under of the Rio Grande Basin to the west and fifteen inches. Only artificial fly lures the Canadian Basin to the east. That line are allowed. is distinctively marked by lower Costilla Peak, which is a long snaky mountain Access the Valle from Questa by that defines the valley, and whose ten- heading north on Highway 522 until you reach Costilla. Then take a right on State drils reach all the way up to La Veta in Photo by Nick Nagawiecki Colorado. This interesting geographical Road 196 through Amalia. Continue The Valle Vidal makes for a surreal landscape of sweeping vistas and a lush natural environment. People along 196 after the paved road becomes phenomenon makes for a surreal land- visit the Valle for the solitude, remoteness, and uniqueness of the resources hidden within. scape of sweeping vistas and lush natural dirt along the Rio Costilla and enjoy environment. People visit the Valle for the gorgeous drive through the craggy the solitude, remoteness, and uniqueness dangerous. The east and west side have (snowshoe) and ski in the Valle. Hunting river valley. Once you reach Comanche of the resources hidden within. different closures so that the forest ser- in the Valle is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Point, a distinctive landmark, you can The east/west divider is not only vice can assess the environmental condi- Applicants for hunting must enter a either keep heading forward for a short geographical but also affects the ways tions of the Valle. Between January 1 and lottery to gain access to the Valle. Once while or take a right on Forest Road in which visitors can access the Valle. March 1, the east side is closed to visitors they are accepted, it only costs $90, but 1950 to take you to the heart of the Forest Road 1950 is always open for other than driving by. Between May 1 they are only allowed to do the hunt Valle. Continuing on Forest Road 1950 drivers throughout the year and is closed and June 30, the west side is closed. once in their lifetime. The forest service will take you all the way to Cimarron if only if the snow on the road makes it too During the winter, visitors can hike keeps tabs on who hunts in the Valle. you so choose.

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 7 HEALTH & WELLNESS What if this was my last week on Earth? Later I think, “Heck, I could die Notice a thought that produces a neg- to be doing right now. If the answer is tomorrow. What am I doing to myself?” ative feeling. To remind myself, I’ll put yes, then yay! I’ll keep going as I am. By then it’s too late. My vibration has a sticky note on my kitchen counter If no, ask what I need to change, take plummeted (I can feel it in my belly) and that says: WAITRN? That stands for steps to make those changes and say: that feeling gets stuck there. What Am I Thinking Right Now? thank you, thank you, thank you. So now I’m thinking about what I Just in case my brain stops seeing the • Assess this method at the end can do to help this situation in this new sticky note (which happens after a of 2020. year, this new decade. I believe one part week or so), I’m setting an alarm on Did it work? Am I happy? Am I trust- As I write this, it’s the fifth day of a has to do with faith – trusting in the my iPhone for the first of every month ing in God? Is my life as wonderful as new decade and I’m wondering what I Divine – remembering that I’ll always to ponder whether my life is as won- it could be? Is there anything I need to can do in 2020 that will make my life the be taken care of. That’s why I’m putting derful as I’d like it to be. change? If not, keep going into 2021. best it can be. my holy picture of St. Joseph in a more • Don’t resist. Blessed as I am, and even though I prominent place on my desk. He’s my Just be. Allow a worrisome feeling to May your life be as wonderful as have mindfulness practices, occasionally “go-to guy” for anything I need, and I pass through my body by not resist- possible this year – and always. I still find myself worrying about what can feel his presence as I write. ing it or judging it. I’ll just watch it Ellen Wood of Questa is the award-winning might happen in my future – financially, Here’s what I’m putting in place for go by and say: Something good will author of the series of books, “The Secret politically, physically – and once in a 2020 so I can live fully at my highest come of this. Method for Growing Younger.” Her website is while I ruminate over little things that level: • Pretend this is my last week on earth. www.howtogrowyounger.com Contact Ellen have happened to upset me. • Catch myself. Ask myself if this is what I really want at [email protected] ¿Y si esta fuera mi última semana en la Tierra? Por ELLEN WOOD sea lo mejor posible. futuro, financiera, política y físicamente, configurado una alarma en mi iPhone Bendecida como soy, y aunque man- y en ocasiones me pongo a pensar en las el día primero de cada mes para que Mientras escribo esto, es el quinto día tengo prácticas para enfocar la atención, pequeñas cosas que me han mortificado. me pregunte si mi vida es tan maravil- de una nueva década y me pregunto qué de vez en cuando todavía me preocupo Más tarde pienso: “Diablos, podría losa como me gustaría que fuera. puedo hacer en 2020 para que mi vida por lo que me podría suceder en el morir mañana. ¿Qué me estoy haciendo 2. No resistir. a mí misma?” Para entonces, es demasi- Nomás ser. Dejar que las preocupa- ado tarde. Mi vibración ha descendido ciones pasen por mi cuerpo sin re- (lo puedo sentir en el vientre) y esa sistirlas o juzgarlas. Solo las veré pasar sensación se me atora allí. y diré: Algo bueno saldrá de esto. Así que ahora estoy pensando en lo que puedo hacer para ayudar con 3. Fingir que esta es mi última semana esa situación en este nuevo año y esta en la tierra. nueva década. Creo que una parte tiene Voy a preguntarme a menudo si esto que ver con la fe, con la confianza en lo es lo que realmente quiero hacer en Divino, con recordar que siempre estaré este momento. Si la respuesta es sí, protegida. Es por eso que pongo una entonces ¡órale! Sigo con lo que estoy imagen sagrada de San José en el lugar haciendo. Si no, me preguntaré qué más prominente en mi escritorio. Él es necesito cambiar, tomaré medidas “el amigo al que acudo” para todo lo que para hacer esos cambios y diré: gra- necesito, y puedo sentir su presencia cias, gracias, gracias. mientras escribo. 4. Evaluar este método a fines de 2020. Esto es lo que estoy implementando ¿Funcionó? ¿Estoy feliz? ¿Estoy para 2020 a fin de vivir plenamente en confiando en Dios? ¿Es mi vida tan mi nivel más alto: maravillosa como podría ser? ¿Hay 1. Fijarme en lo que pienso. algo que deba cambiar? Si no, seguir Observar los pensamientos que pro- ducen sentimientos negativos. Para con el método en 2021. recordarlo, pondré una nota adhesiva en el mostrador de mi cocina que Que tu vida sea lo más maravillosa dice: WAITRN? (iniciales en inglés de posible este año y siempre. ¿Qué estoy pensando ahora mismo? Ellen Wood de Questa es la galardonada Es español diríamos QEPAM) En caso autora de la serie de libros, “El método secreto de que mi cerebro deje de ver la nota para crecer más joven”. Su sitio web es (cosa que podría suceder después de www.howtogrowyounger.com. Comuníquese una semana aproximadamente), he con Ellen en [email protected] KEEP YOUR BUSINESS HEALTHY CALL OR E-MAIL US FOR RATES! 575-586-2258 or [email protected]

8 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund HEALTH & WELLNESS

one or that one, but neutral – just for This is a time of strife and conflict in issues, even children. If we can step BODY | MIND | SPIRIT a while. I find that when I stand in the many areas of the world and of course back from the fray, we can actually help middle between the noises of the left in our personal lives as well. We must calm the seas of anger and frustration, By BARBARA TRACY and right, the good and the bad, and be knowledgeable of both sides and do as well as fear. This is not an easy thing allow a place of neutrality– which is a our best to understand where the truth to do, but by letting go of our position EYE OF THE STORM place of peace in the midst of chaos – I lies. Perhaps we can do the most good and taking time to be in a quiet place of There is a story about our animal am offered the chance to contribute that in any situation if we step back from the observation we can give respite to the nature represented by two wolves that peace to the rest of the world. There is scene and find that place of neutrality body and mind. Then we can go about plenty of energy going toward opposing within that allows us to observe without represent a polarity – one negative making choices with less anger, less fear, sides, and very little toward the middle, attachment so that we can be of greater and one positive – that both live inside and greater peace of mind. of simply observing. service to the situation at hand. Have we us. Whichever one we feed with our We have enough conflict in this ever seen true peace come from a war of thoughts and emotions grows larger and world, all a battle of the dualistic world mind or body? The remnants of war are stronger. There is a natural tendency to that keeps us riled up one against the sad indeed. These wars could be avoided want to feed the wolf that is gentle, kind, other. There is the possibility of serving with the understanding that there is a When he is emptied and compassionate as opposed to the peace by standing in the middle where place between opposing sides that is like he will be filled with other wolf full of violence, hatred, and we are much more useful to the world, the eye of the storm. Within each of us is anger. The one we pay the most attention which in turn allows us to find more a place of peace and calm and a greater light, but when he is to will eventually consume us. peaceful solutions to keep our heads perspective of the situation, much need- divided, he will be What would happen if we stopped while others are losing theirs. ed for making choices. feeding the duality (both wolves) and Of course, we have to make choices, People are becoming physically ill filled with darkness. instead stood in the middle? Not this and that requires us to dwell in duality. from anxiety and worry regarding world — Gospel of Thomas Verse 61

A SMALL GREEN ISLAND By Rumi

There is a small green island The cow starts eating and by dark To grow back. Why should I be afraid Where one white cow lives alone The meadow is clipped short. Every night that it won’t? In a meadow of an island. She’s full of strength and energy, but she panics The cow is the bodily soul. The cow grazes till nightfall, full and fat In the dark as before, and grows This island field is this world where But during the night she panics Abnormally thin overnight. That grows lean with fear and fat with blessing. And grows thin as a single hair. “What shall I eat The cow does this over and over, Lean and fat. White cow, Tomorrow? There’s nothing left! And this is all she does. Don’t make yourself miserable By dawn, the grass has grown up again, waist high, She never thinks, “The meadow has never failed With what’s to come, or not to come.

David Sinclair’s Anti-Aging Research

By MARK WHITE Since the M in the OSKM method is to create the different kinds of cells it replace old cells, restoring the body’s known to cause cancer, Sinclair’s post- needs to replace. These inaccuracies in pristine operations. OSK rejuvenates. Folks around the world and through- doc next tried OSK without the M. Lo creating every kind of cell in our bodies Right-to-Try laws (the US state laws out human history want to know how and behold, the mice treated with this is what makes us old, as Sinclair’s prior and a federal law created with the intent to be younger, or at least feel and look gene therapy not only tested younger work has shown. of allowing terminally ill patients access younger. Now that geneticists at Harvard for various markers of aging, they were Sinclair compares the new OSK to experimental therapies not approved have found a gene therapy that actually visibly younger. Grey hair, wrinkles, treatment to polishing the scratches by the Food and Drug Administration) restores youth in mice, effective human treatments may not be long in coming. and fatigue were replaced by brown off a compact disc. Scratches make the might then quickly offer human treat- David Sinclair’s decades-long search has hair, smooth skin, and endurance. No underlying digital code partially un- ments to cure the heretofore universally begun bearing fruit. cancers emerged. readable by the CD player even though fatal disease of aging. Post-doctoral researchers in Sin- With this discovery, Sinclair’s lab can that digital code is still intact. Sound Readers seeking more information clair’s aging lab were inspired by a now control aging in mice. Previously, and images skip. Epigenome wear and and perspective on effective rejuvenation Nobel-winning method that turns adult the researchers there could take young tear make the underlying DNA partially can find it with David Sinclair. OSK’s cells back into the pluripotent stem cells mice and age them prematurely. Turning unreadable by the dividing cell, even discovery recently prompted him to that embryos form into complete adult old mice young again not only points though that DNA is still accurate. Cells publish his popular book Lifespan (yes, bodies as they mature. Although when toward the fulfillment of a dream as old make mistakes. New gene therapies like Questa Public Library has put in a re- researchers tried it, the so-called OSKM as mankind, but also advances an infor- OSK and others that may be in the off- quest for it) and he has given many talks combination just turned adult mice into mation theory of aging: the aging body ing restore the epigenome to its pristine and interviews that readers can find on masses of cancer. loses its accuracy in reading the genome condition and make new cells accurately YouTube and other internet sources.

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 9 ART & CULTURE Colcha Embroidery, Alive and Well in San Luis By LOU MCCALL and LINDSAY MAPES

February is National Embroidery Month and the members of the Colcha Embroidery Group in San Luis, Colora- do celebrate embroidery every month! The group has been meeting since 2017 and are passionate about reviving this traditional art form. People everywhere are learning about traditional colcha embroidery in the Rio Grande Valley and families are picking up the craft that their ancestors found so dear. Colcha embroi- Photos by Lou McCall dery is going through a revival period and Don Carlos Hotel, R& R Super Market and Hardware Store, San Luis, by Elsie Gallegos the ladies in San Luis are doing their part in bringing new life to the old artform. Photos by Lou McCall The group acknowledges Connie Fer- La Iglesia – Most Precious Blood Church in San nandez of Taos for getting them started. Luis, by Daisy Ortega, framed colcha 22” x 29” Connie held a series of colcha workshops at the Martinez Hacienda in Taos and group would like to acknowledge Dar- some of the women from San Luis attend- lene Jacquez, who passed away and left ed. Marcella “Marcy” Pacheco facilitates unfinished embroideries that the group is the San Luis group and is an artist in finishing in her memory. her own right. Switching her artform The San Luis group hosts an annual from painting to colcha embroidery was Colcha Bazaar on the first Friday of De- a smooth transition. She started doing cember, so the public can see the fruits of colcha about ten years ago and picked it Photos by Lindsay Mapes their labors, learn more about the history up again after attending Connie Fernan- Members of the San Luis Colcha Embroidery Group, from left to right, Marcella Pacheco, Maria Barela, of colcha, and enjoy the holiday spirit. dez’s workshops. Since then, Marcella Aurora Martinez, Irene Medina, and Julia Mondragon. Mark your calendars now for Decem- and the group have attended workshops ber 4, 2020! in Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Questa, Lobato. Ms. Lobato, of Chama, Colora- San Francisco, where Maria Barela is The Colcha Embroidery Group meets and Peñasco. do, received a National Heritage Fellow from. Aurora Martinez drives all the way on the third Wednesday of every month The group first met in what was once Award for her work with native textiles. to San Luis from Monte Vista, a total from 10 am to noon, at the Costilla the San Luis Museum, now called the (The book is available on Amazon.) round trip of two-and-a-half hours every County Economic Development Con- Cultural Center. They now meet in the The San Luis Colcha Group has about month! Julia Mondragon was inspired ference Room, 401 South Church Place, conference room of the Costilla County 12 participants, mostly from San Luis by her grandmother’s colcha embroidery San Luis, CO. For more information call Economic Development building, and and surrounding communities, such as and got started through family ties. The Marcella Pacheco at (719) 672-4237. the staff there were very helpful in getting them started, along with Connie Fer- nandez, who was instrumental in getting support from gifted colcha embroiderers What is colcha embroidery? from around New Mexico. Their meet- The tradition of Spanish embroidery goes back many centuries and in the New World, colcha embroidery become ing room walls are covered with framed an original artform of the Rio Grande Valley, from Southern Colorado to as far south as Las Cruces and Silver City. The colcha embroideries, several of which are word colcha is a Spanish word that means bedspread or sometimes quilt, and is still in common usage. In New Mexico, depictions of some of San Luis’ historic the bedspreads were fabricated in wool, and often got moth holes. As the colchas wore out, either from wear or from buildings. Since colcha embroidery was moths, the ladies would embroider a flower or animal to cover the imperfection. In time, sometimes with generations of considered a dying art, the town of San such care, the colcha would become a thing of beauty. Some embroiderers would plan a design ahead of time to embroi- Luis received a historic preservation grant der on the colcha. in 1988 to depict some of their prominent Starting in the 17th century, bordados, embroidered cloth, were used in churches as altar cloths, altar carpet, and old buildings while reviving the tradi- wall hangings. They could be bordados de algodon (cotton), bordados de lana (wool), or others. Sometime in the mid tional artform. -9th century, historians found mention of sabinilla, the base wool cloth used for blankets and mattress covers. It came The San Luis group worked with from the churro sheep that has been part of New Mexico culture since the Spanish arrived. art historian and folklorist, Suzanne P. With the influx of Anglo traders in the last half of the 19th century, the embroidered blankets became a popular MacAulay, who published a book, Stitch- trade item. In the 1930s two Mormon traders, the Graves brothers, married the Hispanic Varos sisters and started a ing Rites: Colcha Embroidery along the business in Carson, a small town near Taos. The sisters and their husbands hired several women to embroider for them Northern Rio Grande. It critiques the and for a few years produced many embroidered blankets to sell. Some are now in museums and are known as the role of cultural politics in arts and crafts Carson Colchas. revitalization projects in the southwestern The New Mexico colcha stitch is found worldwide and is known by many names. It is compared to the bokhara United States. Dr. MacAulay is consulting stitch found in embroidery books. Today the term “colcha embroidery” refers to an embroidered textile made in the Rio producer of a film based on Stitching Grande Valley where the colcha stitch is predominantly used. Rites and San Luis Valley artist Josephine

10 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund ART & CULTURE Opportunities for Local Artists at Questa Youth Center

Photo By Peggy Trigg Clay construc- tions made at Locals enjoying the Clay Studio the clay makers at the Youth space at the Center for the Carlos Cisneros Questa Library’s Youth and Fun Friday Family Center in program. Questa

By PEGGY TRIGG Following an autumn and winter season room to spread out and mat your own endar. The art room at the Youth Center of the “clay making for all ages” class, this artwork. The cost to participants would is equipped with minimal art production The Questa Creative Council is non-profit is now inviting artists to create be up to the hosting artist; promoting supplies and materials. offering opportunities for local artists to additional uses for this space from March your activity would be shared. If you’re interested in scheduling a develop, promote, and share their work through June. The QCC would post workshop Tuesday afternoon at the Youth Center, or in the community. The QCC has reserved What could this be? Any QCC information on their Facebook page as would like more info, and uses a dedicated time at the Carlos member artist can arrange to teach a well as on their website and it will be please contact Peggy Trigg Cisneros Youth and Family Center on workshop, give a demonstration, organize featured in the Arts and Culture Section at (505) 974-5314 or Tuesday afternoons from 3:30-5:30 pm. figure drawing sessions, or just use the of the Questa Del Rio News and their cal- email [email protected].

Since 2013, TU has supported the Village of Questa’s expansion of its fishing-based economy through restoring the Red River, developing a restoration work force, and improving the village’s capacity to lodge and serve visitors. Trout Unlimited’s Upper Rio Grande Community Initiative seeks to strengthen New Mexico’s rural economies by enhancing and protecting the watersheds that have sustained traditional communities for centuries.

TU has joined a diverse coalition of local stakeholders opposing a proposed copper, gold, and zinc mine in the Pecos River watershed. The mine would destroy the economy of the Village of Pecos, which depends heavily on revenue generated by the river

For over a decade, TU has engaged in restoring the Comanche Creek watershed, supporting reliable irrigation flows and imperiled Rio Grande cutthroat trout, a species of significant cultural value.

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 11 LIBRARY Esther Garcia’s Dream of a Public Library By JUDITH CUDDIHY tion, Molycorp, and many local dona- developing library status to full library and her vital connections in Santa Fe tions. We desperately needed substantial status – eligible for state funding. were instrumental in the library receiv- The path toward a public library in funds to renovate the donated building. With this continuing growth, we ing a capital outlay of $580,000 from the Questa began initially in 2001 with a Esther’s crucial efforts with the state soon realized that we would have to state legislature in the spring of 2019. book about Questa. Esther Garcia dis- legislature, particularly with Senator expand the library’s physical plant. The We began meetings this past summer covered that I was a professional editor Carlos Cisneros, secured two capital Questa Public Library serves a very rural with architect Doug Patterson of Living and writer and persuaded me to work outlays for renovating the building. To area and had become an indispensable Designs Group in Taos to plan the new with her mom, Tessie Rael y Ortega on raise funds for furnishing our library, focal point for the community, providing addition. Throughout the course of sev- a book about Questa’s history— Another Esther got us placed on the agenda for a a place to read, meet, and use com- eral of these meetings, Esther had input Time in This Place. After the book with Taos County Commissioners meeting. puters for research, education, and job into the design elements for the addition Tessie was completed, we continued the We made a presentation to the County searches. It soon became apparent that to the library and was able to see the book theme by talking about the need Commissioners and asked for $30,000; additional space was needed for library final architectural plans for it. for a public library in Questa. I had lived fortunately, they immediately voted to programs and activities. Beginning in With the groundbreaking for the new in communities with public libraries and grant these funds. 2013, we formed the Questa Public addition planned for this coming spring, had benefited greatly from them, and Once the physical plant was complet- Library Expansion Committee under our Questa Public Library Expansion Esther told me that one of her dreams ed, an enthusiastic group of generous the auspices of the Friends of the Questa Committee has been working on raising for Questa was to have a public library. volunteers collected and prepared the Public Library that consisted of Esther, money for the furnishings and then rais- We quickly organized a core group that books, DVDs, videotapes, and other Margaret Lejuste, and myself to explore ing an endowment to ensure the future included Gail Buchanan and Kimber resources for circulation and worked pathways for the almost $600,000 need- of the library. Establishing and growing MacDonald. Esther arranged for our to set up the library in preparation for ed for building an addition. A generous Questa’s library was very important to group to meet with the then Village of opening. After five years of work, our grant from the Questa Economic Devel- Esther. Her support for the Questa Pub- Questa administrator, Brent Jaramillo, library opened at 1 pm on January 19, opment Fund enabled us to commission lic Library throughout its development, on November 24, 2003, to explore the 2008. The library soon became a lively a preliminary architectural plan and cost her engagement of the community with possibility of establishing a public library village destination under the auspices estimate from EDGE Architects in Taos, this project, and most importantly her in Questa. The Village agreed that this of library director Carolyn Anderson, New Mexico. fundraising efforts, have been critical resource needed to be developed, and followed by our current library director, We then produced the needed docu- to the growth of our library. We will established the Questa Public Library by Sharon Nicholson. The library provided mentation and worked with the village, continue working to ensure the library’s village ordinance on April 13, 2004. internet access to the community, as well the late Senator Carlos Cisneros, the success in Esther’s honor to make sure Key to making the library a reality as a good selection of books, DVDs, and state legislature, and Governor Michelle her dream of the Questa Public Li- was the donation soon thereafter of a most importantly, programs for the chil- Lujan Grisham to obtain the funds need- brary lives on. portable building by Pojoaque Pueblo dren of our village. As a member of the ed for constructing through the auspices of Charlie Gon- QPL Advisory Board, Esther provided the addition. Esther’s zales, as well as grants from the Los significant guidance throughout these persistence and pas- Alamos National Laboratory Founda- early days, as the library moved from sion for this project

Photo by Peggy Trigg Nick Nagawiecki, architecture graduate and Americorp VISTA Volunteer, will be leading the Questa Library Fun Friday event on February 28th, building things.

FEBRUARY EVENTS AT QUESTA LIBRARY

FEBRUARY 14 1:00-3:00 PM FEBRUARY 24 3:30-5:00 PM Library Fun Friday Book Club at Rael’s Market Questa Youth Center Check at the library for this month’s selection, read up, and February is Sculpture Month! The Questa Youth Center Art come enjoy the fun and lively conversation. Room will be open for Library Fun Friday on February 14th FEBRUARY 28 1:00-3:00 PM from 1-3 pm. Our focus this month will be to continue Fun Friday with Nick working with clay by finishing up glazing our simple Questa Youth Center sculptures and another clay work completed. Other non- Have you met Nick Nagawiecki? Nick is our Vista Volunteer clay activities will also be offered. Valentine craft supplies helping out in Questa for a time. He studied architecture are available. All youth are welcome to attend. Come and and design and will be helping us design simple shapes explore clay…or make something Valentine-ish! and building them. What will you build? Houses? What FEBRUARY 20 10:30 AM – NOON materials will you use? Pipecleaners? Newspaper? Or Photo by Sharon Nicholson Kitty Club at the Library maybe not build a house at all! Questa Library Book Club members help Linn Bayne celebrate her 90th birthday on January 12 at the home of Krissie Join the Questa Wildcat Kitties for play, music, activities, Breidenbach. Pictured seated, left to right: Linda Betz and birthday snacks and a good time. Ages 0-3 welcome to attend. Bring www.questalibrary.org honoree Linn Bayne. Standing, left to right: Nancy Parker, Alita Randolph, Krissie Breidenbach, Lynn Galusky, and Judy Rutledge. a parent or caregiver! “Keep on keeping on, Linn. You are an amazing woman!”

12 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund SUSTAINABLE LIVING Kit Carson Electric Co-op Moves Toward 100% Solar Power By LOU MCCALL Tri-State capped the amount of renewable power at just 5%, an unac- Has anyone noticed that the El Rito ceptable figure to our more forward North solar array is up and running thinking co-op. KCEC paid millions to north of Questa? The 1.5 megawatt (mW) project came online on January get out of their contract with Tri-State 2. Many local residents were up in arms and has been operating independently before construction began, expressing since 2017. According to the KCEC surprise or anger that it was being built website, “With the buy-out from Tri- without Kit Carson Electric Co-op State, the financial benefits to KCEC (KCEC) members’ prior knowledge were immediate. Guzman Energy and or input. Recent initiatives to increase KCEC agreed to a 10-year fixed contract tourism for economic development on energy prices with no cap on renew- were of primary concern. After public ables. This is significantly different from outcry, primarily regarding the location Photo By E. Wilde a multi-decade contract where prices that blocked a pristine viewscape, KCEC El Rito North Solar Array entrance 01/26/20 . increase regularly.” KCEC reports the agreed to move it further back from following results: the highway, a much-appreciated step. their electricity from renewable sources. do-based company consisting of 36 rural Energy prices are stable and fixed. Moving it back made a big difference. KCEC has been strategically moving in electric co-ops in Colorado, New Mex- KCEC projects that when the Tri-State Some residents say it is less conspicuous that direction, steadily making progress ico, Wyoming, and Nebraska. Tri-State than they thought it would be. For the over the past decade in responding to purchased our electricity from natural buy-out is complete, energy costs would most part, local electric customers are members’ requests for renewable energy gas, coal, wind, and some hydroelectric, be approximately 4.5¢ per kW hour. happy to be getting solar power and are options. They are on track to meet the which came mostly from the Four Cor- Over the 10-year fixed contract term glad that our local power company is goal of 100% daytime solar by 2022, ners area. KCEC receives power through through 2026, KCEC will have saved its going green. members a projected $50 - 70M. With the completion of the array “KCEC has been working towards providing resilient, renewable energy for all our members KCEC has an impressive renewable in the El Rito/Latir area, on a sunny equally since 2002,” said Luis A. Reyes, CEO, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, Inc. “The impor- energy portfolio, which includes the day the facility generates 1.5 mW of tance of this work is to demonstrate that renewable energy can be technically integrated into a first 100% solar powered community electricity. Combined with the Questa/ rural grid in a way that allows all members access to renewable energy, rather than only a few college in the country – the UNM-Taos Chevron and the Amalia arrays, there members. This project will provide a pathway for other rural cooperatives, municipalities, and Klauer Campus. Additionally, Northern is now enough daytime solar electricity communities to enter into the deployment of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), given the fast New Mexico Community College in in Northern Taos County to power 700 pace of the changing market and member desires.” El Rito near Ojo Caliente came on- households, including all residents of line with 1.5mW of power at the end Questa, Sunshine Valley, Cerro, El Rito/ of 2019. Throughout 2020 there will Latir, Costilla, and Amalia. On some which amounts to about 35% of total transmission lines owned and main- days there is even enough to send some usage. KCEC is developing up to 35 mW tained by PNM and Tri-State. Paying for be other solar arrays completed with excess power to Red River. of solar arrays and will be implement- transmission of power is very expensive more battery storage implemented. In Over the last few years KCEC has ing a total of 15 mW of battery storage, and now KCEC is generating more of mid-February the large Taos Array will taken bold steps in their commitment 12mW in Taos and 3mW in Angel Fire. its electricity locally through small solar be coming online with 3mW of power, to move away from fossil fuels. In 2010 Previously, KCEC was a member arrays like the Questa/Latir installation, and a spring ribbon-cutting is in the Co-op members voted to obtain 100% of of Tri-State Electric Co-op, a Colora- which cuts down on transmission costs. works. Stay tuned!

Caps for Cancer Drive Continues By DEBORAH CHAVEZ the Questa Center Supermarket for their sponsor the program and the Questa Nonviolence Works Questa Youth support, offering their business as the Center Supermarket will continue being Mentorship Program would like to primary drop-off/collection location. the main collection point. If there are thank all who contributed to the Caps Nonviolence Works Questa Youth agencies, businesses, youth groups or for Cancer collection drive. Together Mentorship Program will wrap up their individuals who would like to continue we have collected almost 100 lbs (and involvement with the Caps for Cancer to collect plastic caps or donate money counting) of plastic caps! They have been campaign on March 30, 2020. It has been for postage, please contact the program shipped to Texas and are in the process a huge success and the community has director, Deborah Chavez (dchavezn- of being delivered to Coahuila, Mexico, done an amazing job of pulling togeth- [email protected]) until March 30, 2020, where they are donated to a hospital as a er to make a positive impact, helping or this newspaper, starting in April, at fundraiser for cancer treatments. individuals suffering from cancer. It is [email protected]. We would like to give a special thank hard for us at the Nonviolence Works Thanks again to all who have you to Kit Carson Electric Coopera- Youth Mentorship Program to say good- contributed, tive for their donation, which helped bye to the Caps for Cancer campaign Deborah Chavez, cover the shipping cost of our very large but we are looking forward to seeing it Director Nonviolence Works collection. We would also like to thank continue. The Questa Del Rio News will Questa Youth Mentorship Program

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 13 ENCHANTED EATS

some chocolate-dipped strawberries with a surprise infusion. Reservations are not necessary, but for this big evening, it is recommended. If New Year’s Day was any indication of how busy ENCHANTED Brett’s can be, 360 lucky people dined EATSwith Chef Brett and his crew. I am sure that the gracious waitress, Tonya took RED RIVER DELIGHT good care of each and every one of those BRETT’S BISTRO diners, as she did when we were there. Brett’s Bistro is located at 201 Main By ROBYN BLACK Street (in Lifts West building) Red River, New Mexico 87558. Call them at (575) Brett Lewis’s roots run deep and 754-9959. Their hours are 11 am- 9 pm. strong in Red River. His family came You can find Brett’s Bistro on Facebook. to this mountain town in 1932 when This spring Brett is thinking about his father was just three years old. His closing for April for a little fun remodel well-known grandfather, Lefty Lewis, so that they have some great outdoor built the Lewis Ranch, a sawmill, and dining options. the Black Mountain Playhouse (the first casino). You could say Brett Lewis is a Red River culinary institution in himself; and he has had a hand in many Red River eateries. Brett’s restaurant ventures include opening The Homestead Steakhouse (now the site of Capo’s) and Salmon Eggs and Trout Kitchen (now the site of Shotgun Willie’s). Brett’s Steakhouse on the outskirts of town was his father’s old house that he turned into a restaurant, with seating for 177 (sadly, the building no longer exists). All of his ventures have been delicious successes. Brett has been in the restaurant business now for 37 years; nine years at his current location, Brett’s Bistro in the Lifts West building on Main Street. Brett and his wife Ruth are the heart and soul of the business. Brett is chef extraordi- naire and Ruth does the bookkeeping and makes the delicious decadent desserts for the restaurant. Brett says, with love and gratitude for her skills, “The best thing I ever did was to teach my wife to bake!” We are also grateful for Bottom line here: if you want that, Chef Brett! delicious food that is not If you are a beef connoisseur, be assured you will get the best. Brett is your ordinary fare, a local active with the Angus Certified Beef extraordinary chef and a Program, where he buys futures to make sure the Bistro gets the best beef avail- dedicated team, Brett’s able year-round. The Bistro also offers Bistro should be on your list beer and a wonderful wine selection. A lunch menu, dinner menu, and kids of places to get a great meal! menu give everyone the opportunity to choose exactly what will make them a Bretts Bistro offers a lunch menu, dinner menu satisfied diner. and kids menu, along with a wonderful selection Brett’s Bistro would be a wonderful, of beer and wine—and amazing desserts! intimate, romantic place to take your special someone for Valentine’s Day. Brett’s Bistro is located in the Lifts West Building Along with the usual fare, they will offer at 201 West Main Street in Red River. a delicious seafood platter for two, with elk and also scallops cooked to perfec- Photos by Robyn Black tion and of course, wonderful desserts. Rumor has it that there may even be

14 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Louise is Vice-President of Taos now and in the past. Now, the project is Feeds Taos, a group that started feeding sponsored by the Village of Questa. Each hungry families in Taos County 34 years year, the location is cleaned and pre- ago. In 2010 Louise became a board pared, flags are replaced and repaired, member and has volunteered with the and then installed in the field. A ceremo- organization for 20 years, coordinat- ny is held and in due time the flags must ing distribution in the Questa, Cerro, be removed. The Healing Field honors LOUISE GALLEGOS Costilla, and Amalia area. Every family all veterans, though it was begun in Utah receives $120 worth of food including By DONNA in honor of the tragedy of September 11. 5lb-bags of potatoes and apples. Hams MITCHELL-MONIAK This event is always in need of volunteer are given out for the holidays. Over 1200 help. You can also purchase a flag in the There's a restlessness to human be- families in Taos County receive these name of someone who has served. For ings. It begins as soon as we're born. As boxes of nutrition. Taos Feeds Taos can information, call the Village of Questa at we grow, it becomes obvious that human use more help. They are always looking (575) 586-0694. Monetary donations are fidgetyness comes from one of two for volunteers to deliver food or pre- welcome and appreciated. Here is a link primary inner drives: either one's self or pare the boxes for home delivery. Go to to the Healing Field of 2014 to give you others. In young children it is displayed https://taosfeedstaos.org for information more information. https://www.healing- through wanting something in order to on how you can donate time, energy, field.org/questa14/ immediately share it with others, or to or money to support this program and Remember how this article opened keep it for oneself. I imagine that Louise those in need. with a thought about restlessness? Gallegos demonstrated sharing from a Louise is also Treasurer of the Questa Some people just have to get involved very young age. Citizens' Ditch Association, which over- in solutions rather than talk about Photo by Lou McCall sees part of the acequia system of the Louise is a woman of the Enchanted problems. Some people feel incom- Louise Gallegos, February 2020 Volunteer of the area’s water rights and water distribu- Circle. Born and raised in Questa, she is plete unless they are bringing benefit to Month, nominated by Mark Sideris. tion. Distribution includes maintenance the fourth of nine children, with four sis- others in some way. All the Volunteers of the mother ditches and the laterals. Is ters (Rosie, Donna, Sherry, Connie) and of the Month have shared how joyous it something like an Amish barn-raising, four brothers (Donald, Ronnie, Johnny, volunteering is, how they are personally the way the acequias are maintained Joey). Joey passed away while serving in Louise as our Volunteer of the Month) fulfilled by fulfilling a need somewhere with everyone bringing food during the Iraq. Her parents were the late Adonario Louise said, "It was the most magical in some way. The year is new; how about spring ditch clean-out? Everyone work- and Petronila Gallegos. Community time of my life." She said "little miracles" you? There are many ways to help in ing together changes how we look at one involvement was all around her grow- would happen. Louise said, "We just our community. another. Shoulder to shoulder the work knew that we had to do it and that God "Volunteering is very rewarding," ing up. Her dad was always involved in gets done for everyone's betterment. The would provide. Sometimes everyone's politics and was a WWII Marine who genius of those who devised the acequia Louise said. "Get involved." She said that faith would be shaken." For instance, fought in the battle of Iwo Jima. Louise’s systems hundreds of years ago and the running for office is also an important money, equipment, or materials would childhood set the stage for a life of active dedication of those who have main- type of service. It's true. A democracy be needed but the restoration group did and varied community service. A theme tained them is something to marvel at. only works if the demographics of a arises in talking to Louise: the ideal of not know how they could be acquired. Water was always shared equally, among community, or state, or nation are fully service to one's community for every- "Let go and let God," Louise said, "Then small family farmers or ranchers. The and actively represented. Helping one one’s benefit, now and in the future. God comes in the form of the right per- Ditch Association has its work cut out another, making sure that current needs In 2000, Louise ran for a seat on son or equipment." for them, protecting our precious water are taken care of, and ensuring a vibrant the Questa Village Council and won. "Commitment is hard," she added. in these interesting times. future for the whole of the community She was the first woman elected to that Yes, it is, which is why those who volun- Of all of Louise’s causes and volun- – now that's rewarding! body. Imagine the commitment and teer or are involved in their community teer work, she is probably best known in One volunteer activity that doesn't daring required to present oneself to the are active in multiple ways. Louise was the community for her involvement with get much credit, is being a parent, one community to run for office and then recognized as an Unsung Hero by the The Veterans Healing Field of Honor of the best forms of service imaginable! to work with an established all-male Taos News for all her volunteer work. (some people call it The Healing Field) Louise would like to acknowledge her political body. After twelve years serving When asked if she helps out with since its beginning. Here's one more children, Dean Max (Maque) and Kari- with the Questa Village Council, she other facets of St. Anthony's, she laughs opportunity for community members Lynn Martinez who have supported her stepped down "to re-group myself." Then and said yes. The San Antonio Del to volunteer: every year on Memori- in all her volunteer activities. in 2018, she ran again and was re-elected Rio Colorado Historical Preservation al Day weekend, a big field along the For our Volunteer of the Month for to her current. (SARCHP) is a non-profit organization highway in Questa is transformed by March, Louise has nominated a very During the time away from Village that was formed to help with the Church over 1000 American flags. It honors all special, hard-working and dedicated Council, Louise rolled up her sleeves restoration and this group is still very veterans from our area who have served individual who works tirelessly for the with St. Anthony's church restoration. active, assisting with the Questa Lodg- in the different arms of the military good of our community. Stay tuned for Like Mark Sideris (who nominated ing Project. and through different conflicts, both our March issue! WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO DESERVES RECOGNITION? TELL US ABOUT THEM. [email protected]

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 15 TRIBUTE TO ESTHER GARCIA MARIA ESTHER PEARLA CANDELARIA ORTEGA-GARCIA

Esther Garcia was born in Taos, New by Nighthawk Press. Before then I had Mexico on September 9, 1945 and lived known Esther only as the mayor. We be- in Questa most of her life. She married came friends during that interview and her love, Eugene Garcia on September bonded over our love of local history 26, 1964, and was married for over 55 and culture. We created a slideshow on years. Her marriage to Eugene gave her the history and restoration of San An- the opportunity to raise three daughters tonio Church that we presented to the Myra, Christine and Lori. Taos Historical Society. I’ll miss her kind They made their home in Questa, heart and formidable presence in the where she served as a beloved wife, community and hold dear the memories mother, grandmother and great-grand- of our friendship and collaborations. mother. Esther and her family were Rest in Peace with the Angels, Esther fortunate to travel to places such as García. You will not be forgotten, my Spain, United Kingdom, Japan, Germa- friend, you will always be in our hearts. ny, Switzerland and Canada. She enjoyed —By Carrie Leven traveling and seeing the world. Esther was educated in the Questa Schools and took classes at the Universi- Jill and I are deeply saddened by the ty of New Mexico. passing of our friend, former Village She was involved in many commu- of Questa Mayor Esther Garcia. Esther nity activities throughout the years, was a tireless champion for the people including her daughters’ education and Courtesy Photo of northern New Mexico and played a sports programs. She was an artist and On March 25, 2013, President Barack Obama signed into law the designation of the Rio Grande Del Norte key role in protecting the Rio Grande del painted with oils when she had time. National Monument. Questa Mayor Esther Garcia worked tirelessly to create the National Monument and Norte National Monument, Columbine was among the dignitaries who went to the White House to celebrate. She also quilted and belonged to a quilt- Hondo Wilderness, land grants, ace- ing group here in Questa. Esther loved quias, and other treasures in our state. her quilting and painting. Her greatest We join her family, friends, and com- love was conservation of the land and munity in mourning her passing and water throughout New Mexico and espe- honoring her legacy. cially here in Questa. —U.S. Senator Tom Udall In 1986, Esther become politically active and ran for the Questa School Board and served for six years. During her time I’m deeply saddened by the pass- as a board member they implemented ing of Esther Garcia. She spoke from advanced classes, built a new school and the heart about what conservation of a gymnasium s modeled after UNM’s our public lands meant to her and her gym known as “The Pit.” Teachers’ community. As mayor of Questa, Esther salaries were also increased. She partici- was instrumental in the establishment pated in the Questa Elementary Reading of the Río Grande del Norte National Program and at some point spent 2 Monument. Future generations who visit days a week helping children with their the monument’s spectacular landscapes, reading skills. from the tops of Cerro de la Olla and Esther worked closely with the fol- Ute Mountain to the depths of the Rio lowing organizations: Rivers and Birds, Grande Gorge, will be forever grateful NM Wilderness Alliance, NM Acequias for all she did to protect northern New Association, Amigos Bravos, Land Grant Photo by Carrie Leven Mexico’s unique natural heritage. Council, Questa School Board member, Esther was a champion of acequias and land and water. Reprinted from Remarkable Women of Taos by Questa Library Grant, Questa Achiev- Nighthawk Press. —US Senator ers 4-H Leader, Questa Quilt Guild, Martin Heinrich and received the NM Mother of the in New Mexico. Because of Esther’s TRIBUTES TO ESTHER GARCIA Year 2015, NM Woman of Excellence service to the 4-H organization, she On January 5, 2020, Questa and Esther was a friend, mentor and a Award, and Taos County Unsung Hero was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame northern New Mexico lost a true legend Award. Questa Fire Department Ladies fierce conservation advocate. Her legacy through New Mexico State University. with the passing of former Mayor Esther Auxiliary and the Taos County Planning will live on forever in all the public lands She and her family hosted three different Commission.She was honored to have García. I interviewed Esther when she she worked so hard to protect. Japanese students through the LABO been nominated by the Governors of was selected as one of the “Remarkable —Michael Casaus, New Mexico Commission on the Status 4-H Foreign Exchange Program. Women of Taos” in the 2012 volume and Matt Keller & of Women as one of the top 20 women —reprinted with permission from Eulogy, website by the same name, published The Wilderness Society

16 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund TRIBUTE TO ESTHER GARCIA

4-H Club back in the 1950s, and then Esther served as the 4-H leader for 23 We are so sorry for your loss. Esther years. When Esther decided to pass the was a wonderful, strong woman who post on to me, I protested when she worked tirelessly for her community, asked me to take over. She inspired me including the arts. We will miss her. to be and to do so much more than what —The Questa I thought I was capable of. Creative Council Esther truly lived the 4-H Pledge: “I pledge my Head to clearer thinking My Heart to greater loyalty, New Mexico mourns the passing of My Hands to larger service, Esther Garcia. A lifelong, multi-genera- My Health to better living, tional resident of Questa, Esther built a For my club, my community, remarkable civil service and conserva- and my world.” tion legacy. The former Mayor of Ques- ta, spokesperson for the San Antonio del Esther had a strong head and a big Rio Colorado Land Grant, and long- heart. She is pictured here with the quilt time commissioner on the Cabresto she spearheaded the ladies to make and Lake Community Ditch, Esther was one raffle for the St. Anthony’s Church resto- of the primary traditional voices driving ration project. What a woman! I’ll miss Photo by Carrie Leven the designation of both the Rio Grande you, Esther. Esther loved to spend time in the mountains hiking and was a great advocate for preserving the land and del Norte National Monument and the water for future generations. Columbine Hondo Wilderness. Esther —Denise was a tireless advocate for the preserva- Winslow-Lawrence tion of traditional land and water uses and a bridge builder, who helped bring nity celebration honoring outstanding on public lands as well as the conser- together acequia parciantes, land grant historic and contemporary women of vation and protection of clean water, Esther was a huge help when we were heirs, Native Pueblos, local govern- Taos. The 167 women portrayed here healthy watersheds, and healthy wildlife launching the Questa Lodging Project. ments, businesses, hunters and anglers, share their passions, accomplishments, populations. Esther was incredibly wise, It started with doing an inventory of communities of faith and conservation and advice – as well as their stories of funny, deeply spiritual, kind, diplomatic, all the vacant homes in Questa – 99 groups around shared values on the challenges overcome. Taken together, soulful, brave, passionate, fierce, and just of them. I couldn’t tell if a house was “Love of the Land and Water.” When these narratives provide a sampling of a lovely human being all around. Esther vacant or not, and I didn’t know if the Esther was in the room there was just an the breadth and depth of the remarkable was a remarkable woman and mentored family had previously rented or was implied expectation that everyone would women who call Taos home. so many of us over the years. She em- planning on renting, etc. So, who better listen to one another and treat everyone From Mabel Dodge Luhan and Ag- bodied so much of the cultural richness to drive around every street in Questa with dignity and respect. When Esther nes Martin to today’s Sherrie McGraw, and beauty of Northern New Mexico. (literally, every street) than Esther? For spoke, people listened! She held strong Corina Santistevan, Sharon Dry Flower So sad to lose her… We will miss you two straight days, she told me about the opinions but one of the many things I Reyna, and Esther Garcia, Remarkable dearly, Esther! May you rest in peace. status of just about every house in town. respected about her was her willingness Women of Taos reveals the centu- It would have taken me months to gath- ries-long role women have played in —Garrett Vene Klasen, to have an open mind and even change er that information. It was a wonderful shaping this one-of-a-kind community. New Mexico Wilderness Alliance it on occasion when she was persuad- opportunity to spend time with her. ed by the merits. Today, this is a rare Esther was a tough cookie some- and almost un-heard of quality. I think times, but she sure knew her stuff and Our beloved Esther Garcia, long-time that is one of the reasons why people she had such a deep love for her com- trusted her and why everyone saw her commissioner on the Cabresto Lake munity. A famous quote from John F. as a leader. Irrigation Community Ditch and former Kennedy reminds me of her; “Ask not Mayor of Questa… She put her heart what your country can do for you but —John Olivas and soul into her work of protecting ace- ask what you can do for your country.” quias and the waters that flow through She was the living example of what you them. She fought tirelessly to rebuild can do for your community. A real trea- REMARKABLE WOMEN OF TAOS Cabresto Dam and protect the water sure of a woman. I hope I’m like Esther A YEAR-LONG COMMUNITY-WIDE rights for agriculture in her community. when I grow up. She was a mentor to several of us at the CELEBRATION HONORING —Lindsay Mapes, New Mexico Acequia Association where OUTSTANDING TAOSEÑAS, 2012 Questa Lodging Project she shared her faith and love of commu- Edited by Liz Cunningham nity. We will miss her wit, political savvy, How is it that one small mountain laughter, and her tireless advocacy. Que Esther was a truly remarkable person town in northern New Mexico has suc- Dios la tenga en su Santa Gloria. and I was extremely fortunate to get to ceeded in attracting and sustaining so —New Mexico know her. I don’t think it is an overstate- many remarkable women over the years? Acequia Association ment to say that it would be difficult This central question is at the heart of to imagine the designation of the Rio this exciting new celebratory book, The Grande del Norte National Monument Remarkable Women of Taos. Esther was a special woman and I’m and Columbine Hondo Wilderness This book published by Nighthawk sure I don’t know the half of it. Lucy without her involvement, support and Press in Taos is the natural outgrowth Gonzalez started the Questa Achievers leadership. I saw Esther as a peace maker of an unprecedented year-long commu-

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 17 EDUCATION Questa High Department of Education Family Welcomes Chase Disney Advisory Council By MEGAN JENKINS move around the room to join different discussions. Each group is asked Every spring, I receive an email questions and our opinions are written about the Family Advisory Council down on large posters. Then they doc- announcing that they are looking for ument our work to bring back to the parents to work with the Department of Public Education Department. Education. Every year I had dismissed We have discussed topics that it with the excuse that I do not have any include equity in Special Education more time for anything else. This year and an updated framework to make was different. With all the turmoil in Special Education and General Educa- our school district, I felt like I needed tion inclusive to ALL students. We have to do something. After doing some Photo by Lou McCall discussed community schools, teacher research on what the Family Adviso- Costilla’s Megan Jenkins, member of New Mexico licensure and recruitment, graduation Courtesy Photo ry Council was, I quickly applied: I Department of Education’s Family Advisory requirements, principal evaluations, Let’s welcome Chase Disney, new history teacher submitted an application and a short Council, still smiling even in a snowstorm! and why it is important to take part in for Questa Junior and Senior Highs School! video about myself and why I wanted the census and the legislative sessions. to join. I also took part in an interview. all over the state. All three councils This has been an amazing opportu- Hello! I'm Chase Disney. I’m very ex- The Family Advisory Council along meet in Albuquerque four times during nity for me and I encourage our local cited about teaching 7th through 12th- with the Civic Advisory Council and a school year and attend a monthly community members to apply for the grade history here in the Questa School the Teacher Advisory Council, discuss webinar. We also have two regional next group if given the opportunity. District. I'm originally from Stillwater, predetermined topics directly with Dr. meetings. Prior to the quarterly meet- The Public Education Department is Oklahoma where I graduated from Ryan Stewart, Secretary Designate of ings, we receive reading materials for listening and is encouraging us to speak high school in 2003. After graduation, I Education. These are issues in need of research and information to make sure up. There will be a forum held within enlisted in the United States Army. After revamping to be in compliance with we all share the same understanding. At the next few months with members serving I went to Southeastern Oklaho- new laws and the New Mexico Admin- the meetings, we form triads; we divide from the PED. We need to be present ma State, majoring in recreation. This istrative Code. I was notified in Sep- into groups with one representative and show them the awesome support is my fifth teaching year and I've taught tember that I was granted this amazing from each council to discuss the topics we are known for. Please feel free to in Oklahoma, Texas, and last year I was opportunity and privilege to serve the given. This allows opinions from each email me at [email protected] the high school history teacher and head students of New Mexico. sector to be heard and how they will if you would like more information football coach in Logan, NM. I have The Family Advisory Council con- affect stakeholders in the state. Dr. Ryan on the topics we have discussed or coached football, basketball, baseball, sists of approximately 20 parents from Stewart and his team take notes as they how to apply. softball, powerlifting, track/field, and golf. In my free time, I like to play golf, enjoy outdoor activities, and listen to live music. I look forward to being the Our school board has been hard though. Please help keep our children head football coach next fall. at work and recently restructured the and students safe. board offices. Mr. Jose Lovato is our I would like to take this opportunity President, Mrs. Tammy Jaramillo has to let our readers know that this will be taken the Vice President position, and my last WILDCATS CORNER column STAY new board member Becky Griego is as the interim superintendent. I will now our Secretary. Mathew Ortega is a now be continuing in my role as princi- returning member, and Juan Cisneros pal of the high school full-time. At the By CATHY GALLEGOS is our new member. January 21 executive session, the school TUNED QUESTA HIGH SCHOOL We’d like to take a moment to ask board voted to choose Carla Archule- PRINCIPAL AND QISD INTERIM all our parents and relatives of our ta, principal of Alta Vista Elementary SUPERINTENDENT students to have an important discus- FOR and Intermediate School to be the new sion with their teenagers about the HAPPY FEBRUARY! interim superintendent. danger of vaping. The use of vapes The new board is in search of a The Questa Independent School is truly alarming. The news is full of SCHOOL superintendent for the coming school District is moving right along. We stories about the dangers of vaping. hope everyone has been enjoying our QISD is hoping to bring presentations year and the search is open until basketball season. We truly appreciate about this problem to our students to February 28. We are all hopeful that ANNOUNCEMENTS our student-athletes; they do their best help them become informed about the QISD will get a new leader that will Make sure to tell us to represent their school district. We choices they are making. And we ask take us to the next level. Thank you, would like to congratulate our cheer- our young people to have this conver- everyone, for your support during the about an upcoming educational event: leaders, who took third place at NMSU sation with their friends and fellow last few months and let’s continue to Spirit Championships in January. They students. If you vape, please stop and keep our young people front and center [email protected] truly are a hard-working and tal- if you don’t vape, please don’t start. for everything we do here at Questa ented group. This conversation really starts at home, Independent Schools.

18 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund EDUCATION

second book was recommended by internships and hands-on training for Robinson and Aronic, and is called The those jobs. We would have graduates Teenage Liberation Handbook: How who make more informed choices about to Quit School and Get a Real Life and their career options. By SARA MARTINEZ Education by Grace Llewellyn. Llewel- Interestingly enough, Grace Llewel- lyn’s book is a great way for students and lyn wrote her book when she was living STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS parents to understand the changes that in Taos. It was at the beginning of her ARE READY FOR A REVOLUTION are needed in their own education and teaching career, and she was really upset opportunities for transforming their about how students were expected to January 7 marks the beginning of relationship to learning. learn. Even in schools that were the my fifth year of teaching. Some ma- My explorations began with Ted most free from the paralyzing grip of jor shifts in my own thinking and the Talks by Sir Ken Robinson; one of them standards, such as charter schools, the major changes in leadership at the New was entitled “Do Schools Kill Creativi- system was essentially the same. The Mexico Public Education Department ty?” which made a lot of sense to me. He pathway Llewellyn offers for students on (NMPED) have encouraged me to describes some of the things I noticed the homeschooling route has applica- change the way I am approaching this about students in my classrooms. They tions that can liberate our own class- semester with my students. One of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisholm’s are bored and they don’t “get” why they rooms in public schools, if we have the first acts as governor in 2019 was to end have to learn certain things. For a few courage to follow her suggestions. Partnership for Assessment of Readiness decades now schools have done a great Neither book is new: they may for College and Careers (PARCC) testing job of getting students to college. Espe- not even have been New York Times and scrapping many other components cially in Questa, we often have a higher bestsellers, but they sparked something of the teacher evaluation system. For graduation rate than the state average. in me that had been slowly dying. Now, the first time in my teaching career, I But then what? Many earn degrees for when I think of my dreams for students feel more energized to create classrooms things they are not passionate about, or and what our classrooms could look like that students want to be in, and thanks they stop going to college because they in Questa, I feel hope. Both Creative to these policy changes, teachers can be aren’t sure what field to go into. If they Schools and The Teenage Liberation more creative with what their class- do leave, they can feel like they failed Handbook offer revolutionary ways rooms look like. in some way. workers in all sectors of our workforce. to engage students in their learning I came across two very different Much of what Robinson and Aronica That can’t happen if students are not and education while offering ways to books written about revolutionizing propose is creating environments for given the chance to explore their own inspire parents, teachers, and our local education. Sir Ken Robinson and Lou learning that engage students’ curiosi- talents and interests when they are educational leaders to push for more Aronica’s book, Creative Schools, is a ty and creativity, which will then have young. Imagine schools that create far-reaching changes. Our students book that gives teachers, superinten- real-world applications. Not everyone the best environments for students to deserve a revolution, and the world dents, and policymakers a realistic way will go to school for a Ph.D., but we do discover what problems they want to they are entering needs their passion to revolutionize public schools. The need highly skilled and highly motivated solve in the world but also offer some and talents.

Sara Martinez, Welcome Back to QJSHS!

Culinary Arts teacher Sara Martinez and her students kick off cooking at QJSHS with the making of flour tortillas. The Culinary Arts elective was eliminated in the 2018-19 school year. Mrs. Martinez says the students were excited to get the elective class back.

Photo by Mariah Ramirez

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 19 LOCAL HISTORY

of the tribe attacked Lucien Maxwell’s looking for revenge against the US for party while they were crossing Manco the recent capture and death of Chief Burro Pass. Ironically, Manco Burro Pass Lobo Blanco’s daughter. She had been was chosen in the hopes of avoiding the taken in Las Vegas, NM in an incident TERROR ON THE Jicarilla at Raton Pass. Maxwell survived shortly before the massacre, and the SANTA FE TRAIL: KIT CARSON with a bullet wound to his neck, and Wagon Mound victims paid for revenge AND THE JICARILLA APACHES the other survivors managed to make with their lives. BY DOUG HOCKING their way to Taos. The attack closed the In 1851, the Chacon Treaty was an Santa Fe Trail. attempt to bring peace with the Jicar- By PRISCILLA One month later, Major William W. illa. However, the terms were absurd: SHANNON GUTIÉRREZ Reynolds left Taos with 150 soldiers, in- unconditional submission; trade regu- tending to engage the Jicarilla, who were lations that effectively killed the tribes’ On November 20, I had the oppor- blocking Raton Pass, and other passes ceramics business; the building of forts tunity to attend a Santa Fe Trail Asso- north into the San Luis Valley, bringing throughout Jicarilla homelands; and ciation presentation by accomplished trade and travel north virtually to a prohibition of nearing or approaching author Doug Hocking, who gave a fasci- halt. Accompanying Reynolds was Old any settlements. Even so, the negligent quent campaigns against the Jicarilla en- nating look at the history of the Jicarilla Bill Williams and James Kirker. Reyn- U.S. Senate refused to ratify the terms sued through Sangre de Cristo, Poncha, Apache. His new book looks at the olds would soon prove instrumental in for a long three years. Not surprising, and Saguache Passes, but the tribe could multiple roles that Kit Carson had with saving Kit Carson from sure death the conflict with the Jicarilla continued for not be subdued. the tribe and how they played out over following year. the next two years. Kit remained an Indian agent with the years, as well as how conflict with In the spring of 1849, Kit Carson and The William Carson Lane Treaty of the Jicarilla until 1861, when he re- them impacted travel on the Santa Fe Lt. George Brewerton set out from Cali- 1853 required the Jicarilla to settle and signed to become colonel with the First Trail. Doug was born in New York state, fornia on the Old Spanish Trail, carrying farm near the Abiquiu area, while re- Volunteers of New Mexico in the Civil and grew up on the Jicarilla Apache Res- dispatches for Washington, DC. The ceiving rations, tools, and training from War Battle of Valverde. Interestingly, the ervation in northern New Mexico, near group did not fare well after losing rifles, the US Government. As was so often South had tried to convince the Jicarilla the Colorado border. His considerable ammunition, and food when one of the case, the government did not live up to fight on their side, but they were not amount of personal experience and first- their rafts capsized in Colorado. When to these terms. In September, Governor successful. Eventually the Jicarilla would hand information from tribal members the emaciated men neared the San Luis David Merriweather stopped provid- accompany Kit on campaigns to fight the has translated into a fascinating, in- Valley, Kit noticed the tracks of a large ing food altogether to the tribe, even Comanches, who were causing problems depth look at the Jicarilla Apaches. party on horseback. The lack of any signs though the Rio Puerco had dried up and along the trails, as well as with the tribe. The Jicarilla are a Plains tribe who of travois confirmed it was a war party. farming was not sustainable. Even so, In 1874 and 1880, Presidential lived in teepees, and roamed in quite a The group tried unsuccessfully to slip the Jicarilla kept the peace. But it could Executive Orders established tribal large area, from the San Juan Mountains past the Jicarilla encampment. They only not last. When Kit Carson became the reservations for the Jicarilla. Howev- east all the way to the Llano Estacado. managed to escape a sure death when a Jicarilla agent in 1854 and attempted er, the reservation abutted the Tierra Pretty much all of Rio Arriba County brave brought word that Major Reyn- to secure a fairer approach to handling Amarilla Grant, which made settlers lay in their territory. Often they camped olds and his Missouri Volunteers were tribal matters, it quickly became obvious nervous. Their complaints led to the near Picuris to collect mica for their approaching. Later, Reynolds would that the government was determined tribe’s relocation south to the Mescalero ceramicware, which they were known engage the Jicarilla in Cumbres Pass. The to incite war with the tribe. It got what Reservation near Cloudcroft. The move for and which provided trade income battle resulted in the deaths of almost 40 it asked for. for the tribe. Their closest allies were warriors – a huge blow to the tribe. The March 30th Battle of Ciene- did not work out well for the Jicarilla, the Utes, with whom they often inter- In October of 1849, the trail was guilla, near present-day Picuris, was and finally in 1887, they were allowed to married. Chief Ouray’s mother was a closed once again when the Jicarilla and much more of a disaster for Lt. John return to the original reservation near member of the Jicarilla Apaches. Utes attacked the White Wagon Train in Davidson and his troops than it was the Colorado border. They were one of the most tenacious Palo Blanco Canyon near Point of Rocks, for the Jicarilla. They counted 22 dead However, the high altitude prevented of the Natives – the Jicarilla were the last east of Springer. The attack resulted after among them, with another 34 soldiers any sort of large-scale farming or crops of the tribes to be relocated to a reserva- the leaders repeatedly refused to pay wounded. The following month, war on to sustain the tribe. In 1907, President tion. The tribe’s fierceness in battle was a fee to the tribe to pass through their the Jicarilla was declared. The Battle of Roosevelt doubled the size of the reser- well known. Conflicts with the US Gov- lands. All of the men were killed, and the Ojo Caliente in April included both the vation, including acreage south of Cha- ernment led to the closure of the Santa women taken captive. Famed trader and Jicarilla and Utes. Kit Carson accompa- ma at a much lower elevation that was Fe Trail three times during 1848-51. horseman Francis X. Aubrey put up the nied the troops. arable. In the 1920s, they began grazing In spite of treaty violations, the Jicar- money to track down the taken women. The violence and conflict escalated sheep on the expanded reservation and illa continued to comply with the 1846 Kit Carson led the recovery party, and that October when, according to the soon saw a profit. The postwar years Kearney Peace Treaty until things boiled was able to find the trail, which they fol- author, the Utes were given small- saw a huge increase in tribal income over two years later, when James Kirker lowed for 200 miles. Sadly, the women pox-infected blankets by Governor from oil and gas development. Current- was ordered by the government to begin were killed just before the Jicarilla broke Merriweather, and they declared war on ly, there are approximately 3,000 tribal collecting Apache scalps. Kirker was camp and escaped. the US, joining their Jicarilla allies. Two members, most of whom live either in or known amongst tribal members for his The famous Wagon Mound Mas- months later, the Christmas Day attack near Dulce, NM. The area’s rich mineral role in the deaths of 40 Jicarilla warriors sacre on May 19, 1850 that resulted in on Pueblo decimated the settlers living sources provide the tribe with a solid in an 1840 battle at Rancho de Taos. the deaths of 10 men, once again closed there and caused the virtual abandon- source of income from oil and gas wells In June of 1848, about 150 members the trail. At the time, the Jicarilla were ment of the trading post. Many subse- that are owned by the Jicarilla. COMMUNIITY NEWS FOR THIS COMMUNITY. CALL OR E-MAIL US FOR ADVERTISING RATES! 575-586-2258 • [email protected]

20 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund COMMUNITY NEWS

with the east coast and the midwest time zones so those who wanted to make it home early could still celebrate and bring in the New Year. Overall it was a successful event and we hope to continue with collaborative efforts to show our community a healthier way of living. The Vida Coalition gathered two VIDA DEL NORTE COALITION weeks later for our annual retreat at My MOVES FORWARD IN 2020 Tias Café in Cerro, where we brain- Vida Del Norte Coalition is a group stormed and planned strategically how of dedicated individuals working to we will continue to grow as a coalition prevent drug and alcohol misuse among and community in 2020. Many great the youth in our community. By break- ideas and actions were put into place at ing the generational cycles of addiction the retreat, motivating and exciting all and though teaching and educating our the participants. The Coalition mem- community on healthier ways of living bers had the opportunity to talk and ask and interacting, the Coalition is making our young Active 8 questions about the a big difference. Vida Del Norte uses an issues they are seeing and how adults Photo by Rachel Kuc environmental prevention approach as can help. It was another successful re- opposed to the traditional individual Vida Del Norte Coalition offered its first New Year’s Eve Celebration, alcohol-free for all ages. From left, Cynthia Rael-Vigil and Maria and Jason Gonzalez bring in the new year. 2020 will be a good one! treat for our Coalition! Stay tuned as we model. Vida Del Norte has begun the continue to implement our third year of implementation of policies and en- present. Thinking how we can change dancing. Several masks were made by prevention in Questa and surrounding forcement to ensure that this model is this norm, we decided to begin a new adults and children alike that were worn communities. Vida Del Norte continues developed correctly. tradition and host a New Year’s Eve throughout the night. The first bottle of to seek active individuals who are will- Vida has collaborated with other event where the entire community could sparkling cider was opened around 8:30 ing and ready to help our community local entities to host events that promote come and bring in the New Year in a fun pm as some of the kids enjoyed their decrease substance misuse. To find out healthy and fun ways of living in our drug- and alcohol-free way. games of Monopoly and Uno, toasting more about ways you can be involved community. Vida’s first annual New A 1920s-themed party where dinner to one another. There were intense Year’s Eve Masquerade event was one of please contact me! was served to kick off the event enticed games of chess with an adult and some them. Growing up in the Questa Com- people to interact and engage with kids. “That boy whipped my butt in one munity, I can always recall being at New Maria Gonzalez, Program Coordinator one another. Adults, youth, and fami- move!” William Borges said, speaking Year’s Eve parties with my parents, with Vida Del Norte Coalition lies joined in the fun of playing board about a young man who had a good [email protected] the adults drinking while us kids played games, engaging in conversation, and strategy. We celebrated the New Year (575) 779-2260 and had fun. The risks were great... it was winter, adults were impaired and most times they drove home with us Remember, if you want to make progress on the path and ascend to the places you have longed for, after a night of drinking. Through the years not much has changed, just new the important thing is not to think much but to love much, and so to do whatever awakens you to love. parents and kids, but the cycle is still — St. Teresa of Avila Happenings at Harvest Questa

Kid’s Night Out Dream Team Party FREE Men’s Breakfast Friday Feb. 14th 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Friday, Jan. 31st 6:00 PM. Saturday Feb. 8th 7:00 AM Kid’s Night Out is happening again. It's If you're a volunteer at Harvest, then you are Attention all Men. Mark your calendar and a FREE night of food and games for our part of our Dream Team and we invite you to be sure to join Pastor Johnny for a free Men’s community kids in grades Kinder- 6th. We our Dream Team Party happening on Friday, breakfast on Feb. 8th Saturday 7 AM @ have the fun at Harvest Questa where there Jan. 31st 6:00 PM. If you haven't volunteered Harvest Questa. I heard a rumor that there's is plenty of adult supervision. Parents, this is yet, but you're wanting to volunteer, please gonna be delicious pancakes. Also, Men! your chance for 3 whole hours to yourself- join us for our party to find out about all the There's an authentic warrior men's conference take advantage of this free childcare! The kids fun volunteer opportunities we offer. Please happening in ABQ on Feb. 28th-29th. The will be thanking you for bringing them. If email me back at kgonzales@harvestabq. registration cost is $50. Transportation you're child is attending, would you reply to org and let me know if you could attend, I provided by church van. Get with Pastor this email with their name so we can make want to make sure we have plenty of food Johnny about the details of lodging and enough preparations? (By the way, you're for everyone! meals. It's gonna be fun! You can email Pastor welcome to tell your friends with children Johnny at [email protected] or give about this event.) him a call or text at 575-770-5843.

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 21 PHOTO OF THE MONTH

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

UTE MOUNTAIN Photo by C.Jim Cox Artworks Studio • jimcoxartworks.net I HAVE ONLY JUST A MINUTE I have only just a minute, Only sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, can’t refuse it. Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it. But it’s up to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it. Give account if I abuse it. Think you can take Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it. a good photo? Prove it. — Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

Send us your photos of “on the scene” newsworthy events OR just a pretty shot for our “Photo of the Month”. e-mail [email protected] (don’t forget to include a caption and your name)

22 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund COMMUNITY NEWS George Shannon Goes to the Consumer Electronic Show By LOU MCCALL roof or on your doorstep, you get in, close the door, and away you go. Kenny Anyone who has a television or was captivated by a new virtual reality access to the internet has probably game, played with 3-D glasses that are heard about the Consumer Electronic big in the corporate world. It is being Show (CES), held every January. It is the used for team building; a group is tasked biggest annual trade show in the world with working together to come up with and showcases the latest and greatest of solutions, usually with the pressure of every imaginable gadget, big and small. beating the clock, such as defusing a It’s now in its 53rd year and held in Las bomb or saving a life. Vegas, Nevada. There were a lot of smart home George Shannon of K&G Services, features, such as a refrigerator that tells located in the El Rito neighborhood, you when you need milk or a porch started attending the expo in the early camera where you can talk to the person 1980s and has been going for over thirty who rings your bell from the other side years now. George began his career in of the world. computers way ahead of the curve and This year technology for pets was ev- now his son, Kenny, who graduates erywhere, like a treadmill for overweight from college in December of 2020, is cats that also monitors the cat’s heart looking toward a career in technology rate. And then there were impressive ar- as well. To attend the CES one must be rays of robotics, such as a pet robot cat; Photo by George Shannon over 18 years of age, so when he was old or if you prefer having a real cat, wild At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada: this is a prototype for an 8-person drone, to be enough, Kenny started attending the used as a taxi in Hong Kong and operated remotely. It lands on your roof or at your doorstep, you get in, new innovations in cat litterboxes that show with his dad. Now they go togeth- close the door, and tell it where you want to go. empty themselves. er every year. Innovations in medical technology, The expo goes from Monday through hardware, software, appliances, periph- Friday for five full days and is a won- giants such as Steve Jobs of Apple and time at a cost of over $15k each, at least erals, artificial technology – it’s all there. derland for geeks who want to know the Bill Gates of Microsoft were speakers 15 years before becoming commercial- And in 2020, it must seem like science latest innovations in technology. Booths on the program. Nowadays, anyone and ly available. fiction becoming science non-fiction! are set up at the expo hawking every anything that becomes big in technolo- What captured George and Kenny’s George, probably like most of those who single player in the hardware and soft- gy is probably first noticed at the CES. attention this year? It was the single-per- go to the CES, comes back home every ware world, but it also features presen- George remembers when he saw his first son drone (pictured). This device is year with sensory overload and enough tations from the greatest luminaries of flat-screen TV, the biggest sensation at operated remotely and used as a rooftop to think about and inspire him for our times. In the old days, famous tech the show–they were handmade at that taxi in Hong Kong. It lands on your another year.

QUESTA VILLAGE NEWS and are unopposed: their seat. There are other municipal elections – Last day for early voting / 10 am – 6 pm Brent P. Jaramillo – Council (Incumbent) going on at the Town of Taos and Taos Ski Valley. March 3 Village Elections - March 3 Important dates: – Election Day / Polls open from 7 am – 7 pm By Renee Martinez, Village Clerk John Anthony Ortega – Council (Incumbent) February 4 – Early voting begins at the Village of April 1 Michael G. Rael – Municipal Judge (Incumbent) Questa Admin Office / 8 am – 5 pm – Term of office begins The 2020 Village of Questa Municipal Officer We are still required to hold a full election even if February 4 Election is Tuesday, March 3, at the Village of candidates are unopposed. We want to encourage – First day absentee ballots For more information call Village Clerk Renee Questa Administrative Offices. people to come out and vote since it is their right. can be issued/mailed to voter Martinez at (575) 586-0694 The following candidates are running for office The candidate will need at least one vote to win February 29 or [email protected]

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Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 23 COMMUNITY NEWS Developing Your Interview Skills By NIKI NICHOLS and explore any discrepancies on your story. For example, this type of response tions. Your answer is “Yes.” This is your application. These are not a challenge to would serve to answer either the direct opportunity to interview them. You may Congratulations! You submitted a job your honesty; they are just for clarifi- or the hypothetical difficult custom- want to know who your boss will be, application and you get a phone call ask- cation. The next series of questions will er question: “Fortunately, I haven’t what a busy day looks like, or how large ing if you are still interested in the posi- be about your knowledge, skills, and had too many angry customers, but I the team is. Again, let me stress, come tion. Unless you have already accepted abilities (KSAs). A good interviewer remember one time when (now fill in prepared — have a list of questions to another job, the answer is “Yes.” Check wants examples of what you have done, with your own experience and how you ask. Even if you don’t ask those, you may your calendar and accept an interview what you have accomplished, and how handled it). think of others, and you will be ready time based on commute time and other you have handled various situations. The reason you want to write out and sound professional. unchangeable obligations. Get the name The questions may be situational, your stories is to get the details clear in Sending a thank-you note after the and phone number of a contact person behavioral, or hypothetical. Always your memory. It isn’t necessary to take interview is an important part of the and the approximate length of the inter- answer with examples from your actual this paperwork to the interview, but a process. It will help you stand out. Ask view. Also, ask about the format of the experience. short list with a key word or two to jog for the interviewer’s business card or use interview, so you know what to expect. your memory is certainly okay. You the company’s general mailing address. Sometimes the hiring manager Typical questions: want the examples to be spontaneous To wrap up, here are the most im- will conduct the interview; at others, Tell me about a project you had to and natural, not memorized. A specific portant points. there may be someone from Human complete that had a tight deadline and example of what you did provides the First and foremost, you can do this Resources, or a panel interview. For how you handled it. manager with evidence of how you and do it successfully. seasonal employment, some retailers use Give me an example of how you have conduct yourself. Next, always be prepared, punctual, a small-panel interview with up to ten dealt with a difficult customer. (Or, -hy Sometimes interviewers will ask professional, and gracious. applicants in a group. The interviewers pothetically) How would you deal with a And then, send thank-you notes to ask everyone the same questions and difficult customer? questions that do not seem directly relat- each interviewer. rotate the order of who answers first so ed to the position. Answer these with Describe a time when you used Lastly, be patient. It often takes that no one has an advantage. your experience, too. your initiative and tell us the results of several weeks to process the results of Always dress professionally for an For example: that effort. the interviews, determine who would interview — be neat, clean, and well Question: What is your greatest be the best fit for the organization, and groomed. Be sure to have the informa- Some questions may seem strange strength/weakness? Answer (Strength): I for them to do the appropriate back- tion for the contact person with you. If and unrelated to the job, but the inter- am very focused. When I have a project ground checks. you have a flat tire or other problem, let viewer is looking for a specific skill — that has a tight time limit, I like to begin That’s it. That’s all you need to do to them know immediately that you will for example, how you analyze a problem right away and work until it is done. For survive the interview and make the best be late and you are not a no-show — be or how you react in a stressful situation. example, (tell your experience.) Answer impression. It will not guarantee you the prepared to reschedule, if necessary. Answer that type of question with an (Weakness): I was so focused on an job, but it will get you in the running. Once there, apologize for your tardiness. example of how you have applied a important project in my last job (or at If you are the chosen one, go celebrate! Ideally, you should arrive ten minutes problem-solving model or have handled school), that once I got started, I forgot If for some reason you are not selected, early, ready to go. Know the name of the a particularly stressful situation. This is lunch and almost missed a 1:30 meet- send out three more applications and person who will conduct the interview information you want the interviewer to ing/class — but the tasks were finished hope for better luck next time. and which job you are interviewing have. If the manager does not ask, you before I went home that day. for. Carry a presentable notepad with should find a way to insert examples of Question: If you put money in a G.A. “Niki” Nichols is a Questa resident and any information you want to mention your work into the conversation. vending machine and got no drink, what retired Human Resources professional, facili- during the interview. Before you even get a call for would you do? Answer: I’m not sure tator, and instructor. She has written journal articles on a variety of subjects, including When you enter the room, give a the interview, you can prepare. Depend- how this relates to the job, but the last facilitation, change management, and assess- nice handshake and introduce yourself ing on the type of jobs you have had and time this happened to me, I reported now want, do the following: ing training needs. Niki published an in-depth using the name you prefer to use. For it to the office. Once when there was tutorial, An Easy Guide to Job Applications example, you may prefer “Mike” to “Mi- Make a list of your skills. no one around, I put up an “Out of That Get Interviews: A Step-by-Step Process guel” or “Kit” instead of “Christine.” Use Review your application and resume Order” sign. to Prosperity. It is available online at https:// the name of each person there. This is for relevant accomplishments. Employing examples from your smile.amazon.com/Guide-Applications-Inter- not just courtesy, but an integral part of Make notes about what a busy day experience is the key to good answers. views-Step-Step-ebook/dp/B00HJBT1OY/ref= succeeding in the actual interview. looked like at your last worksite and how Many answers can be prepared ahead sr_1_1?keywords=niki+nichols&qid=157660 The interview will start with an you handled a troublesome co-worker, of time and adjusted to fit the question. 2029&s=digital-text&sr=1-1 overview of the organization and the angry customer, or unpleasant situation. If you get nervous in interview situa- job in question. The opening questions Write a short example that demon- tions (and most of us do), have a friend will seek to clarify your experience strates each of your skills or typical act as the interviewer and practice situations you have encountered at work before you go. or school. Be honest, clear, and concise. At the end of the interview, the Remember, though, that you are telling a manager will ask if you have any ques-

24 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund TRAVEL SECTION

COSTA RICA By VICKI DUNCAN and BOBBY FOWLER

“Pura Vida! Pure Life!” Costa Ricans (Ticos) use this to say hello, to say goodbye and say that everything is good, cool, and all is well. It is said several times a day, as in: How was your trip to the beach? Pura Vida. How was your dentist appointment? Pura Vida. How 1 was work today? Pura Vida. It pretty much sums up the attitude of Ticos who don’t stress about things as much as the rest of the world. Perhaps that is why this Central American country has been 2 named one of the happiest countries in the world. Although their lives are not always the easiest, they stay with an upbeat attitude and great faith. “Si Dios quiere” (if God wishes) is another much- used phrase and being buen educado (well-mannered) is an important per- sonality trait. All of this is part of why I have made around 25 trips to Costa Rica in the last 27 years. It is like going back to see family. Bobby and I visited this lovely country again from mid-October through mid-November and we took a lot of photos. Most of the time we stayed near Lago Arenal with a few forays to the beaches that were two to three hours away. May your life be full of Pura Vida!

1. Photo by Beachside Waiter Vicki Duncan and Bobby Fowler, enjoying a day at Playa Islita 2. Photo by Vicki Duncan Arenal Volcano, inactive since 2010 3 4 3. Photo by Bobby Fowler Don Alfredo builds his own marimbas

4. Photo By Vicki Duncan Bobby Fowler horsing around Lago Arenal in Costa Rica

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 25 MICHAEL’S MOVIE MOMENTS Michael’s Movie Moments: 2019 Oscar Movies in Review By MICHAEL YOUNG *Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Coen Brothers didn’t like Green Book or Bohemian an interesting story. Critics disagreed film — laughter and violence) Rhapsody nearly as much as the rest of with me on both of them. I liked the Now that we have finished watching us did and I don’t understand why. I’m strangeness of Border, but it isn’t for and reviewing the 37 movies nominated *BlackkKlansman (based on a true story willing to admit that maybe I got Shop- everyone. And, although the movie for major-category Oscars in 2019, we in Colorado Springs) lifters, Spider-man, and Cold War wrong isn’t great, Glenn Close’s performance only have a few days to get ready for Black Panther (my favorite “comic book” — everybody liked the first two better in The Wife is nearly perfect. First Re- the 2020 season, since the nominees movie of the year) than I did, while critics really loved Cold formed has enough twists in it to keep were announced on January 13. To help *Bohemian Rhapsody (Freddie Mercury War where I found it kind of “cold” and your interest. fill in your movie rental or streaming biopic with great music) difficult to follow. 5. If you really are a movie fanatic, then queues, here is my summary of the 4. If you want to dive a bit deeper for best and worst of these movies. Being Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Melissa Mc- there are some interesting parts to Carthy as an unethical writer) some not great, but definitely interest- the data freak that I am, I engaged in a ing films, then you might want to look these six generally not terrific films: quantification exercise to rank each of Capernaum (Lebanese film where a at these ten movies: At Eternity’s Gate (Dafoe’s role as Vin- the movies on three different scales: my child sues his parents) Avengers: Infinity Wars (over-the-top cent Van Gogh — good for him) ratings, the Critic MetaScore, and the Cold War (Polish romance set in post- comic book action) First Man (Armstrong’s stroll on the audience rating from IMDb (Internet war Eastern Europe) Movie Database). It’s fun to see where *Border (Swedish film that really turns moon — nothing new here) Free Solo (riveting documentary about the ratings align and where they differ. the tables—it is weird) Mirai (disappointing Japanese animation Hannock’s climb of El Capitan) The Favourite (melodramat- that can’t find an audience.) Here are some of my conclusions: *Green Book (trip through the South ic sex-comedy) RBG (overly flattering documentary 1. All three scales rate the same movie at by two very different men. Won about Ruth Bader Ginsburg) the top—Roma. And, of course, this is Best Picture) *First Reformed (thriller involving a small town reverend) the movie that won the Oscar for Best Isle of Dogs (intriguing animated flick *Solo: A Star Wars Story (fun, if you’re Foreign Language Film. So, if there is with science fiction elements) Hale County (documentary about a into Star Wars) some reason you haven’t seen this one small town in Mississippi) *Vice (entertaining if you don’t like yet, then stop everything and watch Ralph Breaks the Internet (Animated Incredibles 2 (animated sequel that is Dick Cheney) it. This truly represents much of the flick with terrific portrayal of the really dated, unless you’re a kid) best that the motion picture industry internet and a wonderful scene with I enjoyed the Star Wars story, but can deliver in both story and tech- some Disney princesses) *Never Look Away (engaging German then I’m sort of a sucker for the series nical skill. Shoplifters (Japanese film about a des- biography about surviving WWII) and have been since the ’70s. Christian Bale did a wonderful job portraying a 2. Next on the list should be two very perate family) A Quiet Place (sci-fi thriller where difficult character, but this movie is not different movies. Although audiences Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (ani- sound is the key) for conservatives. didn’t like If Beale Street Could Talk mated superhero action) *Ready Player One (best special effects 6. Finally, in my opinion, you have to as much as the critics and I did, it A Star is Born (yes, another remake, but movie with a good story line) still rated well across the board and be a glutton for punishment to watch Lady Gaga is terrific) *The Wife (Glenn Close in one of her is a beautiful romance with terrific any of these four films...maybe good best performances, in a so-so film) music. I didn’t like Minding the Gap as The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a Coen for families with small children, but much as the audience and critics did, Brothers movie, so you’re either going to I thought Never Look Away, though long, otherwise, you’ve been warned: love it or hate it. BlacKkKlansman tells but it is an intriguing documentary was engaging and dramatic and Ready Christopher Robin (live-action Winnie- an interesting story about race in Amer- about young people in a blue-collar Player One had the best usage of the-Pooh with creepy animals) industrial town. ica and Adam Driver is terrific. Critics special effects of any movie in telling Fathers and Sons (documentary about 3. After these three must-sees, there are That’s it for the 2019 movies. It was a great year— how terrorism is passed on) 14 movies that you really should see, mostly good films with terrific storylines and artistic Mary Poppins Returns (who if you watch more than one movie per month. They are in alphabetical delivery. Next year’s list is already out and we can asked her to?) order with my favorites marked with expect another year of good movie watching! Mary Queen of Scots (poorly executed an asterisk *: battle between two female cousins)

Our Local Movie Critic Launches New Website! Visit Michael Young’s functional and beautiful • Search all 37 of 2019’s movie reviews If you’re into movies, Michaels new website for: by Oscar category, year, or movie genre to Movie Moments will help you decide Current reviews of 2020 Oscar-nominated find good movies to rent or stream. what to watch! movies as they become available • Sign up for MMM newsletter to • All 37 of 2019’s receive timely notifications for new reviews Oscar-nominated movies. and posts. • Blog posts that compare and • And more! MichaelsMovieMoments.com rank the various movies. Website designed and built locally by Dan Kuehn, Dan Frank Digital Design.

26 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund MICHAEL’S MOVIE MOMENTS

MICHAEL’S MOVIE MOMENTS Reviews of the Year’s Michael’s Movie Moments: Oscar-Nominated Movies Available for Rent or Streaming 2020 Oscar Movie Predictions By MICHAEL YOUNG By MICHAEL YOUNG COSTUMES: LITTLE WOMEN Usually goes to a period drama and this one February’s Movie Review: Making Oscar predictions, especial- is the most historical.The movie is liked better Ralph Breaks the Internet ly when you haven’t seen a single one of the movies, is nothing if not a haz- than the others. ardous guess. But there is always some PRODUCTION DESIGN: 1917 fun in trying to figure out what the $100 mil budget and an Oscar-saturated team. voters of the Oscar Academy are think- Irishman had a bigger budget, but they had to Going into Ralph Breaks the Internet, ing. Note that since I haven’t seen any pay expensive actors, and the design team is I was expecting it to be as disappointing of these films, my guess is not based on less experienced. as the Incredibles 2 movie. And the first how much I like any of the contend- 20 minutes or so confirmed my expec- ers. Rather, this is my consideration ORIGINAL SONG: “I CAN’T LET YOU THROW tations. Unlike the Incredibles movies, delightful, and I found it mesmerizing of the politics involved and definitely, YOURSELF AWAY” (TOY STORY 4) I hadn’t seen the original Ralph movie to absorb. the Oscars are as much about politics It’s a toss-up between Randy Newman (Toy (Wreck-it Ralph), so I didn’t even know Another key element is the cultural as about quality. I encourage other Story 4), Elton John (Rocketman), and Diane that the main characters (Ralph and referencing, which play out in humor- movie buffs to make their own predic- Warren (Breakthrough) – all three have won Vanellope) are actually characters in ous and sometimes more serious ways tions. But if you get stuck, maybe my Oscars before. But I think Newman might ride older style video games. Nor did I know throughout the story. We see multiple thoughts might help you go one way the Toy Story coattails. what happened to them in the first film. references to Star Wars characters and or the other. Remember: If you guess ORIGINAL SCORE: ALEXANDER DESPLAT As this sequel opens, they are living several cameos from action heroes from greater than five correctly, you beat the (LITTLE WOMEN) a rather humdrum existence in their the Marvel Comic Universe (MCU). odds of picking randomly. Whatever video arcade game, and spend their The best references, though, come the outcome, it’s all about having a Williams already won for a Star Wars forty off-duty times drinking root beer at the straight from earlier Disney animated good time... years ago so he doesn’t need another Oscar for tavern with their friends. “princess” features - ALL of the old another Star Wars movie. Gudnadottir (Joker) is Then, as in real life, their world is Disney princesses are resurrected in this SHORTS: an Oscar newbie and not well known yet. War thrown upside-down by the introduc- movie, and not just with small cameos. (ALMOST ALWAYS A CRAPSHOOT) movies tend to win in the sound categories, but tion of the Internet, and this is where There is an extended sequence in the ANIMATED: KITBULL not music. So, it’s a toss-up between Desplat the movie takes off. They live in an middle of the movie where Vanellope and Randy Newman (Marriage Story), both of arcade and seriously need to find a Pixar almost always wins becomes involved with them as she is whom have won twice before. I think Desplat is steering wheel to fix an arcade game. To trying to learn her place and they - the DOCUMENTARY: LEARNING TO do so, they must enter this strange new on more of a roll at the moment. princesses - are trying to determine if SKATEBOARD IN A WARZONE Internet world which is so much bigger she is now one of them. The self-dep- About girls learning to read, write, and more SOUND EDITING: 1917 and challenging than their small and recation and inner-directed humor are in Afghanistan. Topic is significant, but a safe War movies usually win here, but car racing primitive video arcade. (They find the both touching and hilarious as every- choice. could provide some competition. The other item on eBay, of course). body is changed by their interaction. In three movies are not obvious sound showcases. It is the portrayal of “The Internet” LIVE ACTION: SARIA the end, it is determined that Vanellope that scores this movie at least one extra Sobering message, but this is a wild guess. A SOUND MIXING: 1917 MUST be one of them because she star. I have never seen a more effective For reasons I don’t understand, sound mixing doesn’t have a mother and she is always Sister is also a good bet. way to portray the technical complexi- and sound editing are almost always given to being saved by a big, strong man (i.e. SPECIALIZED ties of the web in such a visual manner. the same movie (unless there is a music film in Ralph). And, of course, the princesses In this film, the internet is a huge city, ANIMATED FEATURE: TOY STORY 4 the running.) sing and even Vanellope gets a song! much like New York. Websites are Pixar film. Liked by critics and audiences much In the end, there is a moral to the VISUAL EFFECTS: AVENGERS: ENDGAME buildings and they each display proud better than the other films. signs like Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, story. And it has to do with the notion The Avengers probably has the most expensive Twitter, and of course, one of the tallest that a truly good friend never con- DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: THE CAVE visual effects effort, and I expect they are fan- of them all, Google. As a user, you travel strains you and indeed actually helps An anti-war statement. For Sama is a close tastic. And it has made the most money (nearly through the air as an avatar, packaged you achieve what you need to do to second. $3 billion) of any movie (ever - depending how “realize” yourself, even if it means that in small pods or bubbles (data packets, INTERNATIONAL FEATURE: PARASITE you measure it). Last year, the Avengers movie you won’t be together as much. In our in technical-speak). As you navigate Loved by audiences and critics alike. Best was overlooked in favor of First Man, a rather ever-shifting world, that is an important around different streets and buildings, Picture is never granted to a foreign film, so it boring movie by comparison. I’m thinking that you are perpetually pestered by people lesson to learn and it probably becomes this year they’re going to award the money- the teaching point for adults with their will be recognized here (like Roma last year). demanding that you click on their sign maker. (The Irishman is my second choice.) (i.e. pop-ups). That is, of course, if a par- young children in this movie. Honeyland a close second. ticular kind of cop is not around (a pop- If you grew up with Disney prin- BELOW-THE-LINE CINEMATOGRAPHY: 1917 up blocker). This is just a small sample cesses and/or the internet– and that The Lighthouse reportedly has some interest- MAKE-UP & HAIRSTYLING: BOMBSHELL of the characterizations the movie uses doesn’t exclude very many people – you ing camera work, but there isn’t enough buzz to make the internet a real, visual place will enjoy this movie. Again, I disagree More as a consolation prize for not winning about this movie. Besides, Blaschke (The with texture and context that is difficult with the critics, but this time, I like this any major awards. Besides, the way they made Lighthouse) and Sher (Joker) are newbies and to imagine in the real cyber-world. The movie better than they did. I give it 4 Theron look like Kelly was amazing. Joker is a imagination in this portrayal is simply stars just for the fun of it. good second. OSCAR PREDICTIONS continued page 28

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 27 JUMP PAGE

ESTHER GARCÍA continued from page 1 of Questa was just one role in decades of Guadalupaña prayer group that meets While she contributed a lot over a service and leadership. Her commitment each evening to recite the Rosary. She lifetime, so have many others. Esther of the Rio Grande Del Norte National to service and accomplishments made and the ladies took their turn volun- said she was grateful to all those who Monument. Esther worked with groups her a role model, mentor, and inspira- teering to make and serve lunch for the have volunteered and served over the like New Mexico Wilderness Alliance tion to many who knew her and worked Saturday volunteers during the church years. She was especially proud of their and legislators, including her friend, the beside her. restoration. successful endeavor to open and grow late Senator Carlos Cisneros, who passed Esther and Lucille Mascarenas Esther was devoted to her beloved away unexpectedly in September. She founded the Questa Quilt Guild that family. She and her husband, Eu- the Questa Library. regularly called governors and congress- meets at the Carlos Cisneros Youth and gene García, had three daughters, five “Looking back, I would like to have men to voice her opinion. They always Family Center. Esther spearheaded a grandchildren, and one great-grand- gone to college, but there was no money took her calls and they listened. fundraiser for the St. Anthony’s church child. Her mother, Tessie Rael y Ortega, or scholarships at the time. My grandfa- Esther grew up watching her par- restoration that raffled a quilt made co-authored with Judith Cuddihy the ther went to law school at nights, and I ents serve the Questa community. Her by the ladies of the Quilt Guild. The wonderful book on Questa history titled, would have liked being a lawyer.” I asked father, Max Ortega, served as mayor and beautiful quilt depicts each of the twelve Another Time in This Place: Historia, Esther if she could offer any advice and council member, and her mother, Tessie, historic churches. Cultura y Vida en Questa, New Mexico. she said, “Life is a learning experience, was a schoolteacher and foster grand- Esther always remained optimistic Esther herself was a treasure of local his- so explore, read, and learn, because they mother. Her parents raised her and her that St. Anthony’s Church would be tory and knowledge. Before she passed, siblings to value service, and the Ortega restored as an important part of Questa’s she was busy co-writing with Judith can’t take knowledge away from you.” family continues a legacy of serving in history and cultural heritage. A staunch a historical account to include water Reprinted with permission from the elected office and volunteer positions. Catholic, her daily ritual revolved rights, land grant issues, and the fight to Remarkable Women of Taos, 2012 For Esther, being the first woman mayor around the church. She was part of the restore historic St. Anthony’s Church. book by Nighthawk Press.

weapons of all sorts are used frivolously, Month. Yes, let’s be the heart of goodness saved from sugar” and put the money POSITIVE THOUGHTS from page 1 without concern for their long-term to one another -- no cholesterol med- saved from not buying soda or candy. It ramifications. icine can top that! This month is Chil- will add up quickly! Lasting social change occurs when My positive thoughts lie with all of us. dren’s Dental Health Month, too. Start Lastly, February is National Birdfeed- society is seen for what it is in its current You, your ethic of respect, your insis- with decreasing sugar from all its sources ing Month. Remember to feed the birds! state–broken. Maybe your mind and tence on equanimity, your hard work and -- it is poison to the body and brings They have likely foraged the area fully heart are with mine right now, worn care, are what keep me smiling and doing only problems and negatively affects and Nature’s food sources have run out. out. I am personally worn out by the what I can in this little corner of the children’s (and adult) behaviors. Let’s level of negativity we see around us. I world to make the world a better place. help our children and ourselves, not only Help them through these last months of was raised with honesty, trust in one Positive Thoughts are the activism that is with dental health but with our overall cold with a generous handout, please. another, respect, and courtesy to ev- available to us each day, through positive well-being by reducing sugar in all its And remember not to give them junk eryone. I was taught to value a person’s words and actions. Thank you for your forms this month. Then, next month it food! Birdseed is available right here word and I raised my children the same positivity. won’t taste so good, and our bodies won’t in Questa’s stores. The birds will sing way. Nowadays, words are weapons and February is also American Heart crave it so much. Mark a jar with “money their gratitude!

OSCAR PREDICTIONS from page 27 SUPPORTING ACTOR: AL PACINO Driver, and Phoenix. By sheer number of nomina- could go to the Koreans, but I think the Academy (THE IRISHMAN) tions, Joker could drive Phoenix into an Oscar, but is of the mind to support a good solid, American, haven’t earned rights yet. Although close among Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) I’m thinking that the academy is going to reward emotional drama. the remaining three, I think Deakins (1917) will and Hopkins (The Two Popes) are unlikely Adam Driver. He’s had two back-to-back nomina- BEST DIRECTOR: MARTIN SCORSESE get it again, for the scope of this war movie, and because their movies aren’t as well liked. That tions and might clinch it this time. DiCaprio is a (THE IRISHMAN) the “single-take” effect. leaves an interesting battle between Pacino (The close second. The old white men are going to reward one of Irishman), Pesci (The Irishman), and Pitt (Once ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: GRETA GERWIG their own. Scorsese has been nominated nine FILM EDITING: THE IRISHMAN Upon a Time...), all three of whom have one act- (LITTLE WOMEN) times for directing and has only won once This is the most difficult of any category to guess ing Oscar each. I’m guessing that the old white Waititi (Parasite) doesn’t have enough American (for The Departed). The academy is playing it in advance of actually seeing the work. I think men will go for the oldest, whitest guy, and that experience. The remaining four all have some conservative this year and Scorsese is probably it will end up being between the two seasoned would be Pacino. Oscar history and have written some terrific towards the end of his career, so this is a fitting editors, of The Irishman and Ford v. Ferrari, and LEADING ACTRESS: SAOIRSE RONAN screenplays. I think after stiffing Gerwig for a reward. If there is a surprise, it will probably come the academy is going to go with Scorsese’s Irish- (LITTLE WOMEN) nomination for Director, the voters are going to from Tarantino (Once Upon a Time...). man since this is probably his last major film. Harriet, Bombshell, and Judy are not critically award her the Oscar here. Sort of a guilt thing. BEST PICTURE: THE IRISHMAN successful, so the battle is between Johansson ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: NOAH BAUMBACH Sometimes the movie with the most wins in ABOVE-THE-LINE and Ronan, neither of whom have won an Oscar. (MARRIAGE STORY) other categories ends up winning, but that’s not SUPPORTING ACTRESS: LAURA DERN After three recent nominations, I think Ronan will Without any nominated actors to voice the always the case. Not in recent history has a movie (MARRIAGE STORY) finally win. (But Theron [Bombshell] could be an script, neither Knives Out nor 1917 have a good won Best Picture that hasn’t won at least one Another tough category. In the end, it will come interesting surprise.) chance in this category. Tarantino has won two other above-the-line Oscar. So, I think this race down to Dern or Pugh (Little Women) because LEAD ACTOR: ADAM DRIVER screenplay Oscars, for Pulp Fiction and Django will be between Marriage Story, Little Women, their movies are better liked. But Pugh hasn’t paid (MARRIAGE STORY) Unchained. Baumbach was nominated once and The Irishman. Of those, I think the biggest her dues yet and Dern has been nominated three Neither Two Popes nor Pain and Glory are nomi- before and has not won. And the South Korean picture, in terms of budget and talent, is probably times without a win. So... nated for Best Picture, so that leaves DiCaprio, writers of Parasite are both new to this game. It The Irishman.

28 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund CALENDAR

ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY DATES TO REMEMBER SKYDANCE ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY by Charlene R. Johnson FEBRUARY 2020 FEBRUARY 2020

GRAND EARTH TRINE FEBRUARY 1 Red River Chamber Board Meeting, RR Conference World Read Aloud Day Center “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” Henry David Thoreau FEBRUARY 1 7:00 AM FEBRUARY 25 3:30-5:30 PM As though the Universe knew February would be a good month, it made it one day longer this year. Starting on the Men’s Breakfast, free at Harvest Questa Questa Youth Center Art Room: Clay Studio 15th, we experience a Grand Trine. We’ve discussed Grand Trines before as the greatest blessing we can see in a chart. FEBRUARY 1 FEBRUARY 25 6:00 PM A trine (triangle) is a 120-degree relationship between two planets; a Grand Trine is this same relationship operating between three planets all trining each other and resulting in a powerful blessing circulating the entire chart. World Wetlands Day Questa Village Council Meeting, Village Hall Generally, a Grand Trine is made up of one element, but in this case, we start with two planets in Earth FEBRUARY 2 FEBRUARY 25 6:00 PM and one in Fire. While this may weaken the dominant element it also adds movement and change. Consider the Groundhog Day, Candlemas Questa School Board Meeting benefits of prescribed burns, helping the Earth to grow even better. However, that only lasts a couple of days and FEBRUARY 4 3:30-5:30 PM FEBRUARY 25 10:00 AM then that wayward planet also slips into an Earth sign, giving us a solid Earth Grand Trine for the rest of the month. Questa Youth Center Art Room: Clay Studio Red River Chamber Board Meeting, Spiritually oriented people are sometimes regarded as impractical dreamers with a shortage of the Earth element. The RR Conference Center Piscean Age didn’t help with its active encouragement to disassociate from the tangible world in the effort to reach FEBRUARY 6 10:30-11:30 AM “heaven” above. The virtuous pursuit of “higher things” devalued the here and now of earthly existence. But the shift Bookmobile in Lama at Roots & Wings Community FEBRUARY 25 5:00 PM into a more Aquarian way of thinking echoes Madame Helena Blavatsky’s mantra: “It is not that we should live in School Red River Town Council, RR Conference Center this world less, but in both worlds more.” As you enjoy our lovely Earth blessing, you might consider whether we are FEBRUARY 6 1:00-1:45 PM FEBRUARY 26 blessing the Earth in return. Bookmobile at Questa Post Office Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent Everyone: The first of three “Supermoons” on February 9th makes Moon-viewing easy and worthwhile. FEBRUARY 7 1:00-3:00 PM FEBRUARY 28 1:00-3:00 PM Questa Library Fun Friday Kid’s Program Questa Library Fun Friday with Nick, Kid’s Program FEBRUARY 8 FEBRUARY 28 11:00AM-2:00PM ARIES a Planet: Mercury C MARCH 20 – APRIL 19 LIBRA g Planet: Uranus H SEPT 22 – OCT 22 National Boy Scouts Day Free Food at North Central NM Food Pantry! Dynamic: You experience a shift from absolute understanding to Dynamic: By the end of the month your sense of what you value an emotional sense of disillusion. may be tested. FEBRUARY 9 5:30 PM Direction: Ponder upon whether it is a lack of understanding or Direction: Now would be a good time to get clear on your values. Community Yoga, Free at La Sala For a complete list of February events in Red River, only a shift of perspective. Soul Thought: If money is prana what is valuable? FEBRUARY 11 go to https://redriver.org/events/calendar/2020/02 Soul Thought: Who is the Wizard of Oz? SCORPIO h Planet: Mars E OCT 22 – NOV 21 International Day of Women and Girls in Science TAURUS b Planet: Vulcan APRIL 19 – MAY 20 Dynamic: A big swing in external dynamics might have you FEBRUARY 11 3:30-5:30 PM spinning. FEBRUARY IS: Dynamic: A big shift could be monetary; a freeing process is Questa Youth Center Art Room: Clay Studio involved. Direction: Before it happens get clear on where you are going. The 2nd Anniversary of the Questa del Rio News! Direction: Which will you allow to be freed? The money or the Soul Thought: The tip in the fire which becomes hardened and FEBRUARY 13 2:00-4:00 PM Black History Month attachment? strong. Questa to Red River Trail Planning Meeting, Questa American Heart Month Youth Center Soul Thought: From riches to rags? SAGITTARIUS i Planet: Earth O NOV 21 – DEC 20 Bird Feeding Month FEBRUARY 14 Library Lovers' Month GEMINI c Planet: Venus D MAY 20 – July 20 Dynamic: Burning questions resolve into concrete plans for the Valentine's Day Children's Dental Health Month Dynamic: You’ve never looked and felt so good – well, except for future. this time last year! Direction: Ask away. FEBRUARY 14 1:00-3:00 PM Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Direction: Use that bonhomie to face the challenges with your Soul Thought: “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any Questa Library Fun Friday, Questa Youth Center how.” Friedrich Nietzsche co-workers. FEBRUARY 14 11:00AM-2:00PM Soul Thought: Self and Other are not separable. CAPRICORN j Planet: Saturn G DEC 20 – JAN 19 Free Food at North Central NM Food Pantry! Dynamic: It’s been a long highway to travel, but you’re getting CANCER d Planet: Neptune I July 20 – JULY 22 FEBRUARY 17 there. Dynamic: Since it’s a month of no external challenges, safely diving Random Acts of Kindness Day deep inside could show you a few things. Direction: Don’t give up now. Direction: Of course, it helps if you want to know those things. Soul Thought: Just one step ahead of the other. FEBRUARY 17 Presidents' Day Soul Thought: From outer worlds to inner worlds. AQUARIUS k Planet: Jupiter F JAN 19 – FEB 18 FEBRUARY 18 3:30-5:30 PM LEO e Planet: Sun A JULY 22 – AUG 22 Dynamic: A business partner could become a friend. Dynamic: Opportunities for both sacrifice and salvation present Direction: There may be some business items to sort out first. Questa Youth Center Art Room: Clay Studio. themselves. Soul Thought: When business and friendship mix. FEBRUARY 20 10:30 AM – NOON Direction: It’s a time for brooding and pondering. PISCES l Planet: Pluto J FEB 18 – MAR 20 Wildcat Kitty Club Questa Public Library Soul Thought: What do sacrifice and salvation have in common? Dynamic: You may be asked to sacrifice something for the FEBRUARY 20 VIRGO f Planet: Moon B AUG 22 – SEPT 22 business. World Day of Social Justice Dynamic: It might seem a little darker during this time. Direction: Ponder upon whether it is an appropriate request. Soul Thought: Consider dogs. FEBRUARY 21 Direction: Reflect the light into the darkness. International Mother Language Day Soul Thought: When the Divine Mother and the Christ Consciousness come together. FEBRUARY 21 Caregivers Day To discover your Rising Sign, or for more information, contact Charlene R. Johnson, FEBRUARY 24 3:30-5:00 PM www.SkyDanceAstrology.com, or email: [email protected] Questa Library Book Club at Rael’s Market Esoteric Astrology is focused on the rising sign more than the sun sign (we suggest you read both) and provides FEBRUARY 25 clarity, direction and answers for those seeking a higher level of life. Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday: the day before Lent begins FEBRUARY 25 10:00 AM

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 29 CLASSIFIEDS

HELP WANTED WANTED and extra hot for $7 a pound. Please spread the word! Ask any Mariachi Wild and Scenic Rivers Visitor Our wonderful old wood stove Questa member or call 779-5601. Center is seeking seasonal is on her last legs. I’m seeking her Maps & More volunteers to help operate the Center. replacement: a slightly used wood Freshly harvested Tipi (teepee) Starting October 1st, 6 hours per day stove for our large house, efficient and poles for sale. Poles are pre-order and Available from Carson from 1 to 5 day per week, days per week affordable. Please contact gabrielle. harvested for you. Denubbed, peeled, depending upon your availability. Please [email protected] and dried. Delivery and set up available contact the Wild Rivers Visitor Center for an extra charge. Multiple lengths National Forest for more information at 586-1150. LAND FOR SALE. available. Contact Wendy for price: [email protected] or 541-497- By Denise Ottaviano For a listing of our forest maps, visit our Do You Have a Home Rehab 35 gorgeous (not all flat) off-the- 0287. webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/car- Business? grid acres in Sunshine Valley. Reduced Fuelwood permits, maps, Interagency Passes, and other products will once again be available son/maps-pubs The Questa Lodging Project is compiling to $25,000. Call 575-770-3064. NOTICES for purchase at the Carson National Forest (CNF) America the Beautiful Interagency An- a list of Questa-area GB-98 contractors, Colcha Embroidery Group meets on Supervisor’s Office in Taos. These products are also nual Passes are $80. For more information roofers, landscapers, electricians, the 3rd Wednesday of every month from FOR SALE available at all ranger district offices. about these passes visit the following webpage: plumbers, and handymen and women Nice Used Restaurant Equipment, 10AM to noon at the Costilla County https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/carson/passes- to rehabilitate homes in Questa. If you 8ft custom steel prep table 30”wide, Questa Ranger Ranger District office is open Economic Development Conference permits/?cid=fseprd553944 own a business in the Questa area, steel tables and rolling rack, Berkel 14 Room, 401 South Church Place, San 9AM-12:30PM, 1:30-4PM, 575.586.0520. have a Questa business license, and fall qt.mixer, Market Forge steam sleeve and Luis, CO. For more information call Supervisor’s Office in Taos is open from 8AM to Rock permits must be obtained at the Ranger into one of these categories, please call boiler 40 gallon, FAEMA due espresso Marcella Pacheco at 719-672-4237. noon and 12:30-4:30PM, 575.758.6200 District office where the rock will be collected. to get in our directory so we can send machine and grinder, Kenmore fairly Red River Ski Area is open and the Dead and down fuelwood permits are cur- Customers may purchase all products by check, home rehab customers to you! 575- new freezer 61” L x 27-1/2” W x 34”H,1- Torchlight Parade and Fireworks will be rently not available. Permits are not sold from credit/debit card or cash. 586-2149 (more details on page 4) 3ftx30” steel prep table, 3- 4ft.x30” steel every Saturday during ski season! January through April.These permits are generally For more information prep tables, Kenmore Elite freezer. Call Housesitters: The Questa Lodging available starting May 1, through December 31, about the Carson NF visit ourwebpage 586-0064 or or [email protected]. The Questa Visitor Center is now Project is compiling a list of housesitters. forest wide. We will provide updates in the spring https://www.fs.usda.gov/carson. closed for the winter, see you in the If you would like to be in the directory, Full-size Frigidaire refrigerator/ when the permits become available. spring! please call so we can tell people about freezer and gas stove and oven. Used Forest maps are $14. Maps for the CNF and all you! 575-586-2149. but very clean. Too large for my cabin! Music lessons - piano, guitar, ukulele, other national forests in the country can also be accordion, base, saxophone and Housecleaners: The Questa Lodging $400 OBO. Tel (561)290-9173 or purchased online at http://www.nationalforest- recorder, contact Nat Wilson, 575-779- Project is compiling a list of people who email [email protected] mapstore.com/. 2725, lessons at La Sala in Questa, 2331 clean houses, especially for short-term Solid oak regulation pool table, and vacation rentals. If you would like to cue sticks, balls, lights. Great condition. Hwy 522. “USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.” be in the directory, please call so we can Previous owner: Ray Vinella. $1500, call Bluegrass Music Jam The Juice tell people about you! 575-586-2149. Lynn or Krissie at 586-0515. Caboose in Red River, every Thursday See Questa Independent School’s Mariachi Questa just got a new night at 6:30 pm Job Vacancies on this page shipment of chile! This year’s crop for Weekly Music Jam Rael’s Coffee sale. Green chile powder for $9 a pound House in Questa, Every Thursday at and red chile powder in medium, hot 6:00 pm.

Need Something? Have Something?

LIST IT QUESTA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT JOB VACANCIES IN THE CLASSIFIEDS! Superintendent Application Packet Available at http://qisd-nm.schoolloop.com Application packet should include: Complete QISD Certified Application, Letter of Interest, Current Resume, (3) Starting at flat rate $10 for 25 words or less Three Employment or Education References (Include Current Names, Titles, Addresses and Phone Numbers) (25 word min. 50 word max) Satisfactory Background Investigation. All applications will be screened. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. Submit Applications to: 575-586-2258 Kathy Gonzales, Human Resources Specialist Questa Independent School District [email protected] P.O. BOX 440 Questa, NM 87556

30 February 2020 • Questa Economic Development Fund BULLETIN BOARD

CHURCH QUESTA LODGING PROJECT CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTORY Call 586-2258 or e-mail [email protected] LAMA LOFT EMBARGO TRAILER Unique lofted 1 bedroom 1 bath home in Available Now. $600 plus utilities, $150 QUESTA KAGYU MILA GURU SANGHA Lama, house sits on 3 acres and is only 5 years deposit. NO pets allowed, no smoking. 1 Tibetan Buddhism old. Perfect for a 1 person or a couple. There bedroom, 1 bath. Long term preferred. ST. ANTHONY DE PADUA CHURCH IN QUESTA Thursday at 4:00PM Chenrezig are many special features to this home. Rent Father Andrew Ifele 586-0470 Friday 8:00AM-Green Tara is $1250. per month, plus utilities. ABRA APARTMENT Saturday 6:00PM, [email protected] Available March 1st. 2 bedroom, 1 bath Sunday 7:00AM in Spanish -11:00AM in English www.earthjourney.org CERRO CASITA apartment, $600 per month plus utilities. Plus MISSION CHURCHES: 586-1454 or 586-1038 Available Now. 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath Cozy adobe $600 deposit. No pets, No smokers . Sagrado Corazon in Costillo - Sunday 9:00AM house located in a quaint area in Cerro. Bath- room recently remodeled to accommodate ROOM FOR RENT Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Cerro- ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Shared spaces $350 per month plus utilities 2nd & 4th Saturdays 4:00PM Sunday Service 10:30AM wheel chair accessibility. New tile in kitchen along with new door framing. Propane heat. Looking for an individual between 20-40 Santo Niño in Amalia- 1st & 3rd Saturdays 4:00AM Potluck & Fellowship 3rd Sunday of the Month years old, males welcome, female preferred Highway 196, Amalia Comes with 3 wood stoves that tenants can HARVEST QUESTA use. Outdoor pets allowed with a $100 pet No Smokers, drug users or partiers. No pets Pastors Kristi & Johnny Gonzales Pastors: Lorenzo & Arleen Lucero allowed. 575-770-5716 deposit (only small dogs, or only 1 cat) Prefer 2558 Hwy 522 outdoor smokers only, no smoking inside HOUSING NEEDED Sunday 11:00AM- 12:30PM house. Unfurnished. Other improvements - Single professional with dogs Very clean, Phone 575-770-5906 RED RIVER include new carpet bedroom and wood floor Visit us online: HarvestQuesta.org great references Looking for 1 or 2 bedroom CROSS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP in living room. House is located on 1 acre, LIVING WORD MINISTRIES (Standing in the Gap) fenced in with a small porch in front. Perfect - Professional individual looking to relocate to Pastors Peter and Gayle Martinez The Way Coffee House, 201 W. Main Street for star gazing at night. Parking is uncovered. Questa area, Seeking a small rental apartment 12 Llano Road Sunday 10:00AM, Wednesday 6:30PM Washer and dryer available. $650.00 per between $700.- 800. Utilities included, Service: Sunday 10:30AM Children’s Church at Both Times month with first and last month deposit. We internet a must Nursery and Kids’ Church at 10:30AM Pastor Chris Torres (505) 600-5859 are looking for at least a year lease, willing to -School teacher looking for a small 1 Wednesday Bible Study 7:00PM negotiate. Will consider traveling profession- FAITH MOUNTAIN FELLOWSHIP bedroom in Questa area. Need a month to www.lwmsite.org als. Utilities are renter responsibility, average Corner of River Street and Copper King Trail month lease. 586-1587 around $60 a month, more in the winter due Sunday 10:30AM PATH OF LOVE to propan . Wireless internet included for a FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF RED RIVER Teachings of Herman Rednick year, renter provides modem 103 High Cost Trail Sunday 7:30AM class and meditation Sundays 8:15 AM and 10:30AM ROMERO’S RENTALS 586-1454, Hilece Pastor Joe Phillips 754-2882 Available Now. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath apartment Sunday 10:00AM Alice Bailey Theosophy Study Group located just off of Highway 522 in Questa. 586-4641, Francis www.earthjourney.org ST. EDWIN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH North End of Silver Bell Trail $550 per month utilities included, $250 QUESTA CHURCH OF CHRIST Saturday 6:00PM deposit required No pets allowed. 2 miles north of Questa on State Road 522 (Confession prior to Mass or by appt.) We are excited to offer Bible Class at Father Andrew Ifele 586-0470 9:30AM on Sundays Followed by worship at 10:15AM We pray you will join us!

AA LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! MEETINGS AA WORDS OF Questa Del Rio News Sundays 10-11:00 am Open Meeting INSPIRATION Questa Youth Center Selfishness—self-centeredness! Mondays 7:00 pm Happy Harvest Questa That, we think, is the root of our 2558 Highway 522 troubles. Birthday Tuesdays 7:00 pm Erik's Workshop ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 62 to Us! 417 E. High St., Red River years old!

Questa Economic Development Fund • February 2020 31 BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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b e a p a r t Q U E S T A o f t h e Kiowa c r e a t i v e CREATIVE Thrift Store a c t i o n ! CO U N CI L Winter clothes and practical [email protected] items for your needs! FB: Questa Creative Council PO Box 1025 • Questa, NM 87556 2422 Highway 522 in downtown Questa • 575-224-5551 (575) 586-5636 QUESTACREATIVE.ORG

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Located in Questa! MONTHLY ADVERTISING DEADLINE IS THE 15TH OF EACH MONTH. For Limited Space Available. ONLY $25