Life is Good in Silver City 2016-2017 by Cary Johnson Howard

Life is

Good inandSilver City Grant County 2016 - 2017

COMMUNITY GUIDE

Life is coollife An old basketball coach I once knew used — over-used — in his speech this little nugget: “Nothing succeeds like success.” I didn’t fully understand that until about 20 years later. In the case of Silver City, New Mexico, though, you could coin a semi-paraphrase of Coach Venable’s maxim. How about “Nothing’s as cool as being cool.” Silver City’s constantly popping up on various lists of best small towns in America, most beautiful small towns in America, best art communities, etc., etc. In that sense, nothing DOES succeed like success. Appearances on those lists will multiply as folks read one list and say, “Hey, let’s check that out!” Invariably, a visit to Silver City does not disappoint, and the reputation grows. But “cool” is the word I always think of when I think of Silver City. Silver is cool in almost every sense of the word. I didn’t even know there was such a list as the “Coolest Towns in America,” but some investigation revealed there are several. Budget Travel has one and, naturally, Silver

is good

City is on it. If you’re looking for genuine, authentic, good people, you’ll find them here in Silver City. That’s Cool. If you’re looking for the Real West, which is cool, you’ll find it here in Silver City. If you’re looking for a cool spiritual experience, you’ll find it here in Silver City. If you’re looking for cool music, you’ll find it here in Silver City. If you’re looking for a deliciously unique meal, that’s cool too. And you can always find one here in Silver City. Cool art? Silver City. Cool architecture? Silver City. Cool terrain? Silver City. Cool weather? Silver City. Life is cool in Silver City. Life is good in Silver City.

Richard Coltharp Publisher

Staff List PUBLISHER Richard Coltharp EDITOR Elva K. Österreich CONTENT DIRECTOR Tracy Roy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cassie McClure Teri Matelson Susie Ouderkirk Lucy Whitmarsh Todd Dickson Tracy Roy Richard Coltharp

Christophe Chino Bonnie Schranz Joni Kay Rose Steve Chiang Jackye Meinecke Elva K. Österreich Brook Stockberger DESIGN Cary Howard Ryan Galloway ADVERTISING Melissa Atencio Claire Frohs Pam Rossi Elaine Sasnow

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Jamie Pfannenstiel CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Elva K. Österreich Richard Coltharp Santy Feutz Tom Vaughan Peter Bill Brook Stockberger Lucy Whitmarsh Diana Ingalls Leyba Mitchell Clinton Photography DISTRIBUTION Teresa Tolonen

Life is Good in Silver City Community Guide 2016-2017 is a copyrighted special edition of Las Cruces Bulletin/Desert Exposure, designed and published by OPC News, LLC, 1740-A Calle de Mercado, Las Cruces, NM 88005. Inquiries regarding editorial or advertising content may call 575-524-8061. Copyright 2016 OPC News, LLC

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

Contents INTRO

Life is cool; life is good....................................................3

LIFE IS GOOD

Ready for Silver City Life.................................................6 Silver City recognized......................................................7 The Silco Theatre blossoms again..................................8 Community statistics........................................................9 WNMU making tracks into the future............................ 10 M Landmarks................................................... 11 The Business of Business Lights, camera, action on Bullard Street in Silver City............................................ 12 Movies made in Silver City............................................ 12 New Mexico film incentives........................................... 13 Mining Grant County.......................................................14 Hotels and Motels Bear Mountain Lodge...............................15 Accomodations in the area........................................... 16 A dream comes back to life...........................................17 Worship in Silver City.................................................18-19

L IFE IS GOOD IN S ILV ER C IT Y 2016- 2017 C OMMU NIT Y GU IDE

MOVING IN

Silver City: A magnet for diversity................................ 20 Getting connected......................................................... 21 Getting around Silver City............................................. 21 How to talk New Mexican............................................ 22 Living in the Desert: A dry heat is still dangerous..........................................23 Codes and Ordinances..................................................24 Financial Institutions..................................................... 25 Community Resources.................................................. 25 Kids and Family Another planet right in your backyard......................... 26 Kids and Family..............................................................27 Penny Park: A labor of love of many hands................. 28

A R T S A N D E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Silver City: Arts Town.................................................... 30 Silver City arts associations........................................... 31 Silver City Galleries.................................... 32 Grant County Galleries.............................. 33 Celebrating the Southwest Festivals highlights the bounty of Silver City................34

Silver City festivals................................................... 36-37 Downtown San Vicente Creek Trail.................................................38 Restaurants....................................................................39 Sports Boston Hill hiking opportunities....................................40 World-renown tour generates $500,000 for Grant County...........................................42 Lake Roberts.............................................. 43

E D U C AT I O N

A High School for real life..............................................44 Education in Grant County.............................................45 Government Prospectors lobby group works for Silver City.............46 Critters Area agencies take pets in hand..................................47 Silver City animal ordinances........................................48 Horse Talk Horsinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; around in Silver City..........................................49 Back Country Horsemen.............................................. 50 Horse rescue provides safe haven............................... 51

Getting Out Living on the edge........................................................ 52 Landmarks................................................... 53

H E A LT H

Medical services abound..............................................54 Body Mind and Spirit soothing balm from the desert sun.............................. 55 Homeless services and domestic violence services in Silver City..................... 56 Veterans Services Grant County veterans remember the forgotten......... 58 Veterans services......................................................... 59 Fort Bayard celebrates 150 years in 2016................... 60 Senior Living Fort Bayard Medical Center provides three-way services........................................ 62 Senior services..............................................................63 Nursing homes and assisted living...............................64

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LIFE IS GOOD

Ready for Silver City life BY ELVA K. ÖSTE RRE IC H

Breathe deep of the mountain air, close your eyes and listen. You might hear the gurgling of a river sweeping through mountain and town. You might hear the rumbling of massive machinery, dump trucks as big as mansions, moving through the open pit copper mines. Maybe you will hear the merrymaking of a blues or a bluegrass festival. There may be a whir of a potter’s wheel, or a lone busker sending echoes down a colorful street. Deep in the state of New Mexico, in the southwest part, a colored jewel of a town is nestled. And spreading out from Silver City, a town of 10,000, surrounding communities provide niches for quiet, lovely adventures and cozy living spaces. Settled firmly in foothills, abutting the Gila Wilderness, Silver City is a haven for those who would enjoy the fullness of the creative arts. Yet Silver is also a gateway for those who love the outdoors and adventure of a different kind, hosting a world famous bicycle race and the Continental Divide Trail. Historically, Silver City is a mining town. Springing up in the midst of mountains as high as 7,000 feet. Its state-sponsored MainStreet program complements the Downtown Historic District, bringing an old movie theater, the Silco, back to life and ensuring the events happen that

L IFE IS GOOD IN S ILV ER C IT Y 2016- 2017 C OMMU NIT Y GU IDE

make the town tick. Every month unique festivals can be found, coming together to celebrate the creative force of mankind. From Chocolate Fantasia in February to Day of the Dead celebrations in October, Silver City offers events for every art form. There is Pickamania, the Chicano Music Fest and Blues & Bikes Festival for music lovers. Then there are also festivals celebrating the written word, clay, gems and minerals and even hummingbirds. Even when there is no festival, Silver City is a fun destination with its colorful buildings, excellent museum exhibits, many galleries and restaurants for every taste. At the top of College Avenue sits Western New Mexico University with its blend of old (established in 1893) and new bringing an element and energy of youth to the community. Around Silver, communities hold on to their own identities while offering their own special venues and histories. Closest and largest are Bayard (population 2,328), Hurley (population of 1,200) and Santa Clara (population 1,679). A little farther are Piños Altos, Cliff, Mimbres, Faywood, Hanover and San Lorenzo. Both desert and mountain towns are encompassed here. Aside from mining, the biggest employer in the area is the health services business. With three primary medical

LIFE IS GOOD

Silver City Recognized Silver City has made national and state lists for special recognitions. Here are a few.

Recent recognitions Select City, Find Your Spot Reports Rough it Easy in the Gila Wilderness, Sunset Magazine’s How to live in the West section One of the 50 Best Small Town Main Streets in America, topvaluereviews.net One of the 10 Most Beautiful Towns in New Mexico, culturetrip.com One of the Top 10 Western Towns, True West One of the 20 Coolest Towns in the United States, matadornetwork.com

2015 care groups hosting a multitude of services from mental, to physical and dental, Grant County residents are well

One of the 17 Coolest Towns in America, aroundme.com

taken care of. But those who would choose alternative

One of the 100 Best Small Towns, Livability.com

options are also well served. There are herbalists, natural medicine practitioners, spas and yoga studios across the county and many in the middle of Silver itself. Sixteen public schools serve 4,418 students in the county. The largest of the districts is Silver Consolidated Schools which operates three high schools, one middle school and five elementary schools all serving more than 3,100 students. The district also employs approximately 259 teachers. And for natural wonders, the Gila National Forest presents virtually endless opportunities. The Catwalk National Recreation Trail creeps along the side of the Whitewater Canyon cliffs; Lake Roberts is a peaceful

2014 One of the Best Small Towns in the Southwest, New Mexico Magazine which labeled Silver City as “Foodie Heaven” Designated as the First Continental Divide Gateway Community in New Mexico

2011 Great American Main Street Award One of the Cleanest Cities in the U.S., Time Magazine Best Road Food, New Mexico Magazine

mountain waterway, hosting water fowl, canoeing and several campground around its shores; and, while the cliff dwellings aren’t natural, they are ancient and the riparian trail leading to them is an education in itself. Desert playgrounds are also abundant in Grant County, the biking/climbing/walking at City of Rocks is a blast for children and adults alike. Even the little rest area on U.S. Highway 180 in between Deming and Silver City holds whimsical discoveries. “Our quality of life has always been our greatest value,” Grant County Planning Director Anthony Gutierrez said.

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LIFE IS GOOD

The Silco Theatre blossoms once again BY S USIE OUDERK IRK

On Feb. 25, 2016, the renovated Silco Theater opened its doors for a whole new generation of movie goers. The 160-seat movie theater is now enjoying the shimmer of its historically-sanctioned facelift, which began January 2014. “This project is a way to increase the vitality of downtown,” said Lucy Whitmarsh, renovation project manager. “And it’s not just for people to go to the movies. It’s a way to get people into the restaurants, galleries and businesses of downtown Silver City.” The Silco Theater was built in 1923 in conjunction with a Masonic Lodge. Its purpose was to be an income stream for the Masons who leased it to a film company. In the early 1920s, all films were silent, and the Silco has the honor of being the first theater in southwest New Mexico to have sound installed, which happened in 1929. In the 1950s, local businessman and Mayor Eddie Ward purchased

L IFE IS GOOD IN S ILV ER C IT Y 2016- 2017 C OMMU NIT Y GU IDE

four area theaters and became an engaged and important supporter of Silver City economic development through his Gibraltar Productions. Ward sold the Silco in the 1960s and it was converted into a furniture store. The town of Silver City purchased the site in 2013 and construction began in January 2014, which just happened to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the city’s inclusion in the innovative MainStreet project, which falls under the umbrella of New Mexico MainStreet. This unique project is, according to its website, “a grassroots economic development program that assists communities in revitalizing their traditional commercial districts… while preserving cultural and historic resources.” The renovation was a group effort on the part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Theatre Initiative in New Mexico and the Silver

Statistics

SILVER CITY PEOPLE Population: 10,331 (2014) Households: 4,146 (2009-2013) Civilian veterans: 733 (2014 estimate) Median household income: $38,258 (2009-2013) Median home value: $131,900 (2014 estimate) Median age: 42.1 (2014) WEATHER Average high temp: 50.8° F in the coldest month (January) to 87.5° F in the warmest month (July) Average low temp: 23.9° F in the coldest month (January) to 59.5° F in the warmest month (July) Average precipitation: 16.02 inches Average snowfall: 14.5 inches

City MainStreet project. Additionally, private funding has come from PNM (Power New Mexico), Freeport-McMoRan mining and many individual donations. Whitmarsh said the theater will show, “a variety of films, and we plan to have 26 movie showings per week.” But what about live theater, or the possibility of a film festival in Silver City? “Well,” Whitmarsh said, “the Silco only has one screen, so we can only show one movie at a time. But, we actually have two other theaters in town.” Currently undergoing its own restoration is the El Sol Theater at 406 N. Bullard St. which will focus on live theater, and waiting for a new owner is the Gila Theater at 415 N. Bullard St. The goal is to have all three theaters going at once, each with its own specialty. Then Silver City could throw its hat in the ring for an ambitious project like a film festival. In keeping with its modern new incarnation, the Silco can be found on Facebook (www.facebook.com/silcotheatre). It’s not unusual for an old theater to have a ghost or two, and Whitmarsh explained that the Silco isn’t really haunted, but longtime owner and local hero Eddie Ward certainly makes his presence known there. “We have his spirit with us,” she said. The Theater’s website, www.thesilco.com, provides the details of movie titles, show schedules, times and fees.

LIFE IS GOOD

Community

GRANT COUNTY PEOPLE Population: 29,096 (2014 estimate) Households: 12,216 (2009-2013) Median household income: $37,899 (2009-2013) Persons below poverty level: 20.4 percent (20092013) BUSINESS Private nonfarm establishments: 619 (2013) Private nonfarm employment: 6,921 (2013) Nonemployer establishments: 1,495 (2013) Employer establishments: 619 (2013) GEOGRAPHY Land area (square miles): 3,962 Persons per square mile: 7.4 (2010) Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and Weather Underground

Eagle Mail Services A MAIL & PARCEL CENTER

UPS • FedEx • US Mail Private Mailboxes • Re-Mailing Fax • Copy • Notary Denise Dewald, Owner 2311 Ranch Club Road Silver City, NM 88061-7807 Open 9–5 Mon–Fri Ph (575) 388-1967 Fax (575) 388-1623

eaglemail@apachego.com

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

LIFE IS GOOD

WNMU making tracks into the future BY CASSIE MCC LU RE

While Western New Mexico University (WNMU) has a long history in Silver City, it’s now working through a shift in identity. This new direction will let generations of new students now become engaged in their careers and communities by not only being strong in their academic background, but also by what is taught by the beauty of the New Mexican landscape. WNMU Director of Communications Abe Villarreal said the college is at a crossroads. “We can’t be all things to all people,” he said. Villarreal explained WNMU’s focus now is to strengthen what it does well and offer those strengths to students throughout the state, especially those who are currently in community colleges and are considering shifting to a fouryear degree at a different school. “We are looking to create a name for ourselves as an applied liberal arts school,” Villarreal said. He said every year the school reevaluates its programs and enhances them. At the beginning of this year, its board of regents implemented a new vision for the future. The plan will embrace the university’s emphasis on rural education and rural health care, but will look to its location with an interest in creating itself as a place for international relations. Historically, WNMU’s roots has been teaching teachers. “WNMU graduates a lot of teachers; teacher’s education is how we started as a college,” Villarreal said. Established in 1893, WNMU has had several identities already as Normal School, New Mexico State Teacher’s College, New Mexico Western College, finally becoming WNMU in 1963. Other strong academic areas for WNMU are criminal

L IFE IS GOOD IN S ILV ER C IT Y 2016- 2017 C OMMU NIT Y GU IDE

justice, nursing, social work and the sciences. The sciences, Villarreal said, are a perfect fit with the school’s location. Having WNMU students focus on the nature in their backyard allows them to get one the best teachers yet: the great outdoors. “Our outdoor laboratory is perfect for those wanting to become zoologists, microbiologists, and botanists,” said Villarreal. “It’s an actual class five miles into the Gila National Forest.” The Gila – spanning more than three million acres ¬– is vast enough for students to spread out and take practical lessons. Villarreal said social life is something WNMU also takes seriously and its outdoor program has grown in leaps and bounds with daytrips into the wildness and even trips to Mexico for scuba diving. WNMU has an outdoor shop where students can rent whatever might be needed for a trip. The interdisciplinary studies graduate program has become immensely popular. “We have people create their own degree,” Villarreal said. He spoke about a student who decided to focus on political science and criminal justice to enhance his abilities in the career plan he had already mapped out. WNMU is positioning itself in a field of local college contenders, but has unique assets to draw in students not only from New Mexico, but from around the world. Using its historic strengths and the beauty of the Silver City region, WNMU looks to become New Mexico’s first applied liberal arts school and a premier location for a great education at an even better value.

LIFE IS GOOD

LANDMARKS SILVER CITY

▲

WESTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY

W. 11th St.

N. Main St.

W. 11th St.

N. Pope St.

N. Grant St.

N. Pope St.

E. College Ave

N. Bullard St. N

N. Texas St.

N. Arizona St.

s Rd. N. Piños Alto

N. Bayard St.

N. Cooper St.

N. Black St.

N. Lyon St.

N. A St.

N. B St.

N. C St.

N. D St.

W. 7th St.

W. 8th St.

E. 8th St.

W. 7th St. W. 6th St.

E. 7th St.

N. Swan St.

N. Corbin St.

W. College Ave

W. 8th St.

N. Bennett St.

N. Grant St.

St. W. 9th St.

Silva Creek

incente Trail

N. Santa Rita

W. College Ave

N. West St.

W. 10th St.

W. 6th St. W. Kelly St.

E. 6th St.

W. Kelly St.

W. Market St.

6 E. Kelly St.

s Rd..

E. Market St.

E. Yankie St.

9 N. Texas St.

W. Spring St.

7 St.

N. Piños Alto

W. Broadway

N. Arizona St.

N. Bayard St.

N. Black St.

N. Cooper St.

W. Yankie St.

Lyo

N. Hudson St.

W. Market St.

10 E. Broadway St.

12 BOSTON HILL OPEN SPACE

1. Penny Park 1305 N Grant St. 2. Gogh Park 1201 N. Pope St. 3. Silver City Public Library 515 W. College Ave. 4. Art Market and Farmer's Market 700 N. Bullard St.

5. Big Ditch Park 6. Post Office 500 N. Hudson St. 7. Silver City Museum 312 W. Broadway St. 8. Murray Hotel 200 W. Broad way St.

9. Palace Hotel 106 E. Broadway St. 10. Visitor Center / Billy the Kid Cabin 201 N. Hudson St. 11. Silco Theater 311 N. Bullard St. 12. Boston Open Hill Space

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THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS

Lights, camera, action on Bullard Street in Silver City BY LUCY WHITMARSH

Downtown Silver City was transformed into a movie set during much of February 2016. The outdoor filming did not require any extra lights because the days were full of sunshine. Bullard Street provided a charming backdrop that represents rural, small town America. The movie, “Sailboat,” completely filmed on location in Silver City and Grant County is slated for release in late 2017. Filming was completed during the second week of March. Though the movie is not about Silver City, the city and the local area plays a huge role in setting the stage for life in a small, rural community. The plot involves a man with a sordid past who moves to a small town, hoping for a fresh start. It is a young boy, named Sailboat, with a special gift who is the character with the pivotal role in the production.

Producer Andrew Curry said it is not just the charming location but the friendly people who live in the area that made making the movie a wonderful experience. Curry discovered one of the actors for the movie while walking down Bullard Street. An actor who was scheduled to play a soccer coach in the movie had dropped out and Curry needed an immediate replacement. Curry noticed local resident Steve Townley and asked him if he had any acting experience. The answer was “no“ but Townley did agree to do a screen test which Curry shared with the production staff. Townley was immediately signed to play the role. Townley joined the Screen Actors Guild, reported to costume and acted in the movie during two days of filming. The people involved in making the film have formed a special bond that will last a lifetime.

Movies Made inSilver 2016

2005

“Sailboat”

“North Country”

2015

1995

“The X Species”

“Land of Enchantment”

2014

1982

“Truth”

“A Crime to Fit the Punishment”

2013 “The Odd Way Home”

2008

1954 “Salt of the Earth”

“Long Gun of New Mexico"

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1913

City

“The Fatal Scar,” “A Dash For Liberty,” “Temporal Death,” “Gentleman From New Mexico,” “The Evil Eye,” “Riot at Smelter,” “The Clod,” “The Man From the West,” “When Tony Pawned Louisa,” “The Reformed Outlaw,” were all made by Lubin Films studio by Romaine Fielding.

THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS

New Mexico film incentives New Mexico is certainly one of the up-and-coming states when places to film are discussed. Articles from California to New York and online stories from a variety of sources document the aggressive incentives the state provides and the rapid increase in New Mexico film projects. The excitement of having movie production take place in a particular locale has reached the capitals of virtually all states. The top five film incentive packages, those from Louisiana, Connecticut, New York, Michigan and New Mexico, offer production and tax credits, labor training subsidies and production loans. New Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incentive package provides production rebates, film crew training assistance and production loans. Details of each of the incentives and the procedures to qualify are provided by the New Mexico Film Office on its website www.nmfilm.com.

Film production tax rebate, 25 percent: New Mexico offers a 25 percent tax rebate on all qualified directproduction expenditures in the state. Film Crew Advancement Program: This on-the-job training program offers a 50 percent reimbursement of wages paid to New Mexican crew members in below-theline job positions to provide them with work experience to assist them in obtaining continual work in the industry. Pre-employment Training Program: This program provides reimbursement funds to contractors who provide short courses, workshops and lectures to belowthe-line personnel. Other Types of Expenditures: Three other forms of assistance are provided by the state to the development of the industry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; production loans, direct-capital expenditures and support of academic programs.

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L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

LIFE IS GOOD

Mining Grant County BY TOD D DICKSO N

The Chino copper mine, also known as the Santa Rita mine, is an open-pit copper mine located in the former town of Santa Rita, 15 miles east of Silver City. The mine was started as the Chino Copper Company in 1909 by mining engineer John Sully and Spencer Penrose, and is currently owned and operated by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold subsidiaries. Located at an average elevation of 5,699 feet, the huge open-pit mine was once the largest in the world. The present-day open-pit mining operation began in 1910. It is the third oldest open pit copper mine in the world. A mill to process the low-grade copper ore was established in 1911 in nearby Hurley but was replaced by a new Ivanhoe concentrator facility in 1982. In 2005, the smelter was permanently closed. Milling operations started up again at the Chino Concentrator in 2004 after a three-year hiatus caused by low copper prices. Santa Rita was once located where the large copper mine pit is now. It is where Harrison Schmitt, geologist and Apollo 17 astronaut, was born. Because the town is now a large hole in the ground, Schmitt made the joke that he was “born in space.” That spawned the Society for People Born in Space, which holds annual reunions for people born in the town that no longer exists.

L IFE IS GOOD IN S ILV ER C IT Y 2016- 2017 C OMMU NIT Y GU IDE

Overlooking the mining pit is The Kneeling Nun, a rock formation overlooking the large open mine pit and daily mining operations. Mining activity has threatened the existence of the Kneeling Nun, which has long been revered by local residents and seen by some as the protector of mine laborers. Some mine workers would only work within sight of the Kneeling Nun. The main legend behind the rock formation’s name focuses on a nun who cared for a wounded Spanish soldier, and tells a story of the couple’s forbidden love. The nun was forced to leave her mission and legend has it that she was turned to stone while she kneeled and prayed atop the mountain for forgiveness, creating the rock formation in the shape of a kneeling nun. The constant blasting in the open mining pit has led to the use of steel cables to hold up the Kneeling Nun. Protests, parades and bumper stickers were part of a campaign in 1997 to “Save our Kneeling Nun” from destruction by the mining industry. In response, Chino Mines used motion sensors to check how the Kneeling Nun was being affected by mining and agreed to maintain a 400-acre buffer area around the Kneeling Nun. The company announced it was going to protect the Kneeling Nun by minimizing seismic activity from blasting underneath and securing it. In 1998 a California congressman unsuccessfully tried to establish the Kneeling Nun as a national monument.

HOTELS AND MOTELS

Sojourn

Bear Mountain Lodge BY TRACY ROY

There aren’t exactly an abundance of places one can completely get away from it all, without going far. But that’s exactly what Bear Mountain Lodge, half a mile outside town limits and four miles from Downtown Silver City, offers to residents and visitors. The tranquil lodge offers breathtaking views from 12 rooms outfitted with original artwork and locally sourced furniture, situated on 178 acres adjacent to Gila National Forest. “We’re too big to be an Airbnb, but too small to be a hotel,” said Linda Brewer, co-owner of Bear Mountain Lodge. “It’s really a lovely place. I think it is magical.” Brewer said the acreage has three hiking trails full of wildlife and a pond. The lodge facilities are home to black Cochin chickens, Dexter cattle and Polish Arabian horses. During migratory season, an influx of birds makes an appearance at the lodge. “(The animals) are big attractions,” she said. The lodge has its own restaurant, Café Oso Azul, which prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner from scratch. “(The meals) aren’t totally fancy, but they’re well-made,” Brewer said. Breakfast is complementary, according to the Lodge website, and consists of house-made granola, fruit and yogurt, followed by a hot entree such as strata, frittata, French toast, or waffles with bacon or sausage. Art plays a key role at Bear Mountain Lodge; it’s everywhere. The Blue Dome Gallery, with a location downtown and in the lodge, exhibits local artists. The rooms are outfitted with pieces from Blue Dome artists. The lodge offers two labyrinths. One is made of wood and is situated to point at Bear Mountain, and gets more enchanting as it deteriorates. The other is made of locally sourced stone. There are many more art installations on the property — including “art surprises” on the hiking trails and hidden gems that you may have to seek out to find. Brewer said the lodge erects a new art installation each year.

The lodge also acts as a venue for weddings and other events. According to its website, Bear Mountain Lodge was founded in 1910 as the homestead of Lillie and Samps Dye. In 1918, it became a cattle ranch. In 1928, the building that now houses the lodge was built and it became a school for “mentally peculiar” children – Rocky Mountain Ranch School. The school did not survive the Great Depression, however, but reopened in 1932 as a country club and hotel. In 1936, it was sold and became a dude ranch. “From 1936 to 1959 Bear Mountain Lodge changed hands several times, almost always serving as guest lodging,” its website states. “Weddings, receptions, banquets, and memorable visits from awe-struck tourists have been regular events at the Lodge throughout the years. Beginning in 1959, and continuing for 41 years, the Lodge was owned and operated by Myra McCormick and her husband Fred as the Bear Mountain Guest Ranch. "Fred died in 1978, and Myra, an avid birder, eventually donated the property to the Nature Conservancy in 1999 with the stipulation that they continue to operate it for a minimum of 10 years. The Nature Conservancy thoroughly remodeled the historic structure and operated it as requested before shuttering it late in 2009. "As soon as the Nature Conservancy closed the Lodge, the present owners, drawn by its striking beauty and spectacular surroundings, began hatching plans to purchase and reopen this exquisite jewel on the edge of the Gila Wilderness. And it’s safe to assume that its guests indeed consider themselves lucky. “I don’t know how many people come for two days then say ‘man, we should have stayed longer,” Brewer said.

Contact • Website: www.bearmountainlodge.com • Phone: 575-538-2538.

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

HOTELS AND MOTELS

Accomodations Silver City

Adobe Agave 309 N. E. St. 575-388-2917 Bear Mountain Lodge 60 Bear Mountain Road 575-538-2538 Carriage House Cottage 603 Black St. 575-388-9680 Comfort Inn 1060 Highway 180 E. 575-534-1883

Pinos Altos Cabins 4687 Highway 15 575-534-0406 Roadway Inn 3420 Highway 180 E. 575-538-3711 West Street Inn 1303 N. West St. 575-534-2302

Piños Altos

Copper Manor Motel 710 Silver Heights Blvd. 575-538-5392

Bear Creek Motel & Cabins 88 Main St. 575-388-4501

Drifter Motel 711 Silver Heights Blvd. 575-538-2916

Gila

Econo Lodge 1120 Highway 180 E. 575-534-1111 Georgetown Cabins 104 Georgetown Road 575-534-4529 Holiday Inn Express 1103 E. Superior St. 575-538-2525 Hotel Provincial 3445 Highway 180 E. 504-581-4995 Inn on Broadway 411 W. Broadway St. 575-388-5485 Motel 6 1040 Highway 180 E. 575-388-1983 Murray Hotel 200 West Broadway St. 575-956-9400

in the area

Palace Hotel 106 W. Broadway St. 575-388-1811

Casitas De Gila 50 Casita Flats Road 575-535-4455 Wilderness Lodge 151 W. Fork Road 575-536-9749 Wildwood Retreat & Hot springs 111 W. Fork Road 575-536-3600

Lake Roberts/Mimbres

Glenwood

Double T Homestead 93 New Mexico 174 575-539-2812 Whitewater Motel & Restaurant Glenwood, N.M. 575-539-2581

Area RV Parks

Buckhorn RV Park 7656 Hwy 180 W. 575-535-2995 Burro Mountain Homestead RV Park 665 Tyrone Road 575-538-2149 Continental Divide RV 4774 Highway 15 575-388-3005 Manzano’s RV Park 103 Flury Lane 575-538-0918 Mountain Spirits RV Park 2743 Hwy 35 N. 575-536-9999 Park Ridge RV 2789 Highway 90 S. 575-388-1126

Lake Roberts Cabins 869 Highway 35 N. 575-536-9929

Rose Valley RV Ranch 2040 Memory Lane 575-534-4277

Lake Roberts Motel 863 Highway 35 N. 575-536-9393

Silver City KOA 11824 Highway 180 E. 575-388-3351

Spirit Canyon Lodge & Cafe 684 Highway 35 575-536-9459

Silver City RV Park 1304 N. Bennett St. 575-538-2239

Hillsboro

Southwestern Camper Ranches 665 Tyrone Road 575-538-2149

Black Range Lodge 119 Kingston Main St. 575-895-5652 Enchanted Villa B & B 10682 Highway 152 575-895-5686

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HOTELS AND MOTELS

A dream comes back to life BY RICHARD COLT H A RP

I first encountered the Murray Hotel in 1998. At that time the building was 60 years old and had been long abandoned, a breeding ground for opportunistic pigeons and God knows what else. Even in that state of disrepair, the five-story edifice commanded majesty. The Art Deco architecture summoned another era while evoking timelessness, bringing an unexpected element to downtown Silver City. Walking down the alley next to the building, I swear I could hear “Moonlight Serenade” faintly echoing inside. Certainly others had the same impression, and many must have imagined the building at 200 W. Broadway St. coming back to life, wondering “What if?” Two of those wondering most concretely were Kurt and Julianna Albershardt, who acquired the building in 2005. They began doing the arduous work of cleaning and restoring, boosted in 2010-11 by the support of two other

operating members, Gordon West and Lynda AimanSmith. The efforts are unimaginable to those of us who get hamstrung by simple home do-it-yourself projects. Those efforts and the entrepreneurial spirit behind them should be lauded. “What if ” became “Here it is” in 2012, when the Murray Hotel reopened. Stepping into the lobby today gives you a sense of that long-ago elegance, with the modernity of today. The guest rooms and suites have been lovingly restored to better than original. (Clearly the 1938 rooms did not have Wi-Fi or fingertip-controlled climate.) The ballroom is now back in condition to host a big band, perhaps belting out “Moonlight Serenade” to a romantic, dancing audience. Take your own exploration of the Murray Hotel. For more information, call 575-956-9400 or visit www. murray-hotel.com.

Campgrounds Big Horn Campgrounds US 180 W Glenwood, N.M. 575-539-2481

Glenwood 18 Ranger Station Dr. Glenwood, N.M. 88039 505-539-2481

City of Rocks State Park NM 61 (4 miles NE of US 180) Faywood, N.M. 575-536-2800

Silver City 3005 E. Camino Del Bosque Silver City, N.M. 88061 505-538-2771

Gila Lower Box Canyon Bureau of Land Management 1800 Marquess St. Las Cruces, N.M. 88005-3370 575-525-4300

Gila Wilderness HC68, Box 50 Mimbres, N.M. 88049 575-536-2250

For Gila National Forest camping information: SUPERVISOR ADDRESS 3005 Camino del Bosque Silver City, New Mexico 88061 575-388-8201 RANGER DISTRICT ADDRESSES Black Range 1804 N. Date St. T or C, N.M. 87901 505-894-6677

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SILVER CITY Baptist Student Center College 909 90 9 W. W. C ollege ol g Ave. 575-538-0012 575 538 0012 Bible Baptist Church 1735 E. 32nd St. 575-538-5368 Calvary Baptist Church 186 Bypass Road 575-388-4708 Calvary Chapel 3001 Highway 90 S. 575-388-1031 Church Of Christ 1920 Little Walnut Road 575-538-9533 Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 3755 N. Swan St. 575-538-9485 Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 811 N. D St 575-388-5279 Church of the Good Shepherd 615 N. Texas St. 575-538-2015 First Baptist Church of Silver City 2300 N. Swan St. 575- 519-4754

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 300 W. College Ave. office@FUMCSC.org Silver City, NM 88061 Pastor Michael Brunk 575-538-2371 CallINfor service L IFE IS GOOD S ILVSunday ER C IT Y 20162017 Ctime. OMMU NIT Y GU IDE ALSO HOME OF LITTLE LAMBS DAY CARE

First Presbyterian Pres esby byterian Church h 1915 N. Swan Swa St. 575-538-3513 5755 538--35 3513 First United Methodist Metho thodi dist st Church Chu hurc rch 300 W. College Ave. 575-538-2371 Harvest Fellowship Assembly of God 1500 N. Hudson St. 575-538-3619 Indian Hills Baptist Church 2 Arroyo Seco Road 575-538-3558 Messiah Lutheran Church 2501 N. Swan St. 575-538-9446 Mountain View Church - Nazarene 210 Mountain View Road 575-388-5257 New Church of the Southwest Desert 1300 N. Bennett St. 575-519-2579 New Hope Fellowship 22 Kirkland Road 575-534-9509 New Life Fellowship 11 Arroyo Secco 575-388-1122 Saint Vincent De Paul Hall 207 W. Market St. 575-538-5000

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Chu Church urch 420 4 42 0 W. Market St. 575-538-9373 57 75 538 9373 Center St Francis Newman n Ce Cent nter er 914 W 13th St. 575-538-3662 Silver City Seventh Day Church 12 Peterson Drive 575-538-3882 Silver City Zen Center 506 W. 13th St. 575-388-8874 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 3845 N. Swan St. 575-538-0101 SANTA CLARA Santa Clara Parish 207 S. Bayard St. 575-537-3713

BAYARD First Ba Baptist apt ptis st Church 312 2N N. Ra Railroad ailr illroad lroad St St. 57557 5-53 5 7-56 5651 575-537-5651 Lighthouse Baptist Church 610 Dayhill St. 575-537-0707 Our Lady of Fatima Catholic 340 E. Mayo 575-537-5727 Arenas Valley First United Methodist Church 575-538-4322 Valley Community Church 19 Racetrack Road 575-538-9311 GILA Gila Valley Baptist Church 402 State Highway 211, 575-535-2977

Victory Assembly of God 604 N. Bayard St. 575-537-9085 HANOVER Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 575-536-3304 CLIFF Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 575-535-2586

HURLEY Infant Jesus Catholic Church 204 Cortez Ave. 575-537-3691 TYRONE Tyrone Community Church 50 Malachite Ave. 575-538-8216

Trinity Church 575-535-2818 MIMBRES Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 575-536-3306 Mimbres United Methodist Church 2622 Hwy 35 Rio Mimbres Baptist Church 29 Cactus Drive 575-536-9453

A wide variety of inspirational

Art and gifts from around the world.

505 N. Bullard • Thurs. – Sat., 10 - 4

575-535-2624

LAS CRUC ES BULL E TIN | L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

MOVING IN

Silver City A magnet for diversity BY CHRISTOPHE C H IN O

No matter where you travel in New Mexico, you’re going to run into a much different culture from town to town, and many will argue that is one of the best things about the state. Silver City is no exception. With a population nearing 11,000, Silver City has a small town feel, something that residents want to keep, but at the same time, the town has a schedule of events and tourist destinations that would rival any of the state’s larger cities. Lucy Whitmarsh, a longtime Silver City resident, has no trouble staying busy. Whitmarsh is the executive director of Silver City MainStreet, the fire chief for the Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire Rescue and is on the board of directors for Silver City Arts and Culture District. Whitmarsh has only praise for the Silver City community. “There is a sense of independence, and though we are a diverse population, there is acceptance of differing opinions,” she said. “The people are friendly and it is easy to get involved with community activities. The weather is

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wonderful, there is little traffic and you rarely have to stand in line for anything. People help each other out.” There’s always something going on in Silver City, Whitmarsh added, be it a music concert at one of the city’s various venues, or a show at either the Silco Theater or Light Hall on Western New Mexico University’s campus. WNMU also adds to Silver City’s diverse demographics by attracting students from both in- and out-of-state. The university offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs, and draws in an average of 3,000 students per year. When discussing the diversity that Silver City offers, the Little Toad Creek Brewery and Distillery cannot be forgotten. The brewery offers a range of events from live music to a trivia night. Along with the brews, it also has a full dinner and lunch menus. As owner Teresa Dahl-Bredine described, the brewery can also take many different shapes from a concert venue and family restaurant to a weekend destination for WNMU

to come in and enjoy a cup of coffee as do many other shop owners in Silver City. Cook also hosts various events at her business including poetry slams and local musical performances. “It’s more like your living room than a coffee shop,” Cook said. “You can come in, put your feet up on the furniture, lean back in your chair and just relax.” Much like Cook’s coffee shop and Dahl-Bredine’s brewery, Silver City is riddled with diversity and a sense of community. There is a communal appreciation for hard work and dedication that is met with an understanding that everyone needs to get a chance to lean back and relax.

MOVING IN

students. “People often comment on the diversity of our clientele,” she said. “We seem to maintain a family environment during dining hours but at the same time we’ve got a local pub feel all times of day and a nightclub feel on a Friday or Saturday night.” Dahl-Bredine and her husband, David Crosley, have owned the brewery together since 2013. There is a variety of coffee houses that residents frequent, each offering a diverse atmosphere and clientele as well. Polly Cook, the owner of the Javalina Coffee House, prides her shop on being non-discriminatory of who wants

Getting Silver City

Connected

WATER/SEWER/ RECYCLING Town of Silver City Silver City, NM 88062 575-534-6365 ELECTRIC/NATURAL GAS SERVICE PNM Customer Service 888-DIAL-PNM (1-888-342-5766) SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT 1400 Hwy 180 Silver City, NM 88061 575-574-0024

Grant County

ELECTRIC/NATURAL GAS SERVICE PNM Customer Service 888-DIAL-PNM (1-888-342-5766)

WATER DEPARTMENTS Bayard, 575-537-3327 Hurley, 575-537-2287 Santa Clara, 575-537-2443 Virden, 575-538-1000 Hanover, 575-537-6193 TELEPHONE/ INTERNET SERVICES AT&T, 800-288-2747 CenturyLink, 800-244-1111 Cyber Mesa Telecom, 575-313-8000 La Tierra Communications, 575-239-1234 Valley Telephone Co-Op Inc., 800-421-5711 Vonage, 877-209-7042 WNM Communications, 855-597-9662

Getting Around

Silver City

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (BUS/SHUTTLE) Corre Caminos 524 Silver Heights Blvd, Silver City 866-934-3866, 575-388-3180 BICYCLE RENTAL Gila Hike & Bike 103 E College Ave, Silver City 575-388-3222 CAR RENTAL Enterprise Rent-A-Car 1455 Hwy 180 East, Silver City 575-534-0000 DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICES Bayard, 575-537-5313 Silver City, 575-538-3281

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

MOVING IN

How to talk New Mexican BY ELVA K. ÖSTE RRE IC H

When someone becomes part of New Mexico culture and life, they will start hearing shouted greetings, frustrated exclamations and other spurts of language that may be mistaken for Spanish. The truth is, New Mexico has its own unique interpretations of some phrases, many of which won’t be heard anywhere else in the world. Since 1598, the Hispanic presence in New Mexico has been constant and the language has certainly taken on a life of its own. Southern New Mexico also differs from the northern portions; many variations divide the state’s colloquial face. For example in the northern part of the state “pea,” “marble,” and “stamp,” are “alverjon,” “bolita” and “estampa” while in southern New Mexico they are “chicharo,” “canica” and “estampilla.” English and Spanish are hopelessly mixed as they take on one another’s forms. Some English examples that have taken on a twist include “carrucha,” from the English word for “car,” meaning lowrider; “wachando,” which comes from “to watch;” “brecas,” derived from the brakes of an automobile; and “mechas” are used to light a cigarette, meaning matches. Other commonly heard phrases include, “A la maquina” or “a la,” usually used as a startled expression; “Coke” means any carbonated soft drink; “O sí” is used as an ironic reaction or to question a statement; and “ombers” means

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shame on you, as if someone has done something a bit wrong, often heard in playgrounds when someone breaks the rules. You will hear “or what” tagged on to the end of sentences to request a confirmation of a statement as in “Are we late, or what?” You will hear people promise “I’ll do it right now,” but don’t be surprised when it really means, “I’ll do it in a while when I get around to it.” New Mexico “chile” has had a large impact on New Mexico’s cultural heritage, so large in fact, that it was entered into the congressional record as being spelled “chile,” and not chili. The official state question is, of course, “red or green?” and refers to what kind of chile one wants on their meal. Then you can answer “Christmas,” which means both. “Corazon,” which means “heart,” is often heard in songs and on dates when someone is proclaiming their never ending love. “La plebe,” “el vato loco,” “cholo” and “chavalo” can all mean “young kid.” “Chiquitas” are young girls and “cuerotas” are attractive, sexy women. With enough hanging around southern New Mexico, you might be surprised how often you’ll hear these phrases, and maybe even start using them in everyday conversation. And you’re guaranteed to never spell chile “chili” again.

MOVING IN

Living in the desert: A dry heat is still dangerous For new Silver City residents, living in the desert foothills is an adjustment. Even lifelong residents must remember the desert climate requires some precautions – most importantly, protecting your skin, staying hydrated and keeping cool. Sunscreen should be worn and reapplied multiple times throughout the day while outdoors. Wide-brimmed hats will protect eyes and skin from too much sun. Light, loose-fitting clothing will provide a measure of protection and comfort. Drink water throughout the day in order to stay hydrated. Limit caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, because, while these may quench your thirst, they can dehydrate you.

Too much exposure to heat and sun can lead to heatrelated illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat cramps are usually the result of hard physical exertion in a hot environment and manifests as painful muscle spasms. Heat exhaustion is a combination of dehydration and prolonged exposure to excessive heat. Heat stroke is the most severe of the heat-related illnesses; it occurs when the body’s internal temperature regulation system fails and body heat climbs to dangerous levels. It is a medical emergency that can lead to death. Symptoms to watch out for include fatigue, weakness, clammy skin, nausea, dizziness, extreme headache, rapid pulse, vomiting, confusion and seizures.

A new home? We just found ours! SILVER CITY PROPERTIES JOINS THE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS® REAL ESTATE FAMILY Two leading names in real estate have come together to create exceptional real estate experiences for buyers and sellers. Known for being a forward-thinking, high-tech real estate agency with agents embodying the qualities of integrity, honesty, extra effort abd knowledge, Silver City now has the marketing power of a brand that has been part of the American home for over 90 years. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Silver City is changing the business of real estate. If you’re looking to buy a home, sell your property, or even if you are an agent looking to join us, we invite you to drop by our office, visit us online at bettersilvercity.com or call us at 575-538-0404. Better Homes and Gardens® is a registered trademarkof Meredith corporation, licensed to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, LLC. Equal Opportunity Employer oyer ..... Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Better Homes and Gardens Franchise is Independently Owned and Operated.

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

MOVING IN

Codes and ordinances Nuisance

Littering

It shall be unlawful for any person who shall own or occupy any lot in the town to permit or allow holes or places on said lots where water may accumulate and become stagnant, or to permit or allow the accumulation of stagnant water thereon, or permit the same to remain thereon. Also it is unlawful to permit to grow or accumulate on such premises or on any town easement or right-of-way abutting the premises including sidewalks thereon, any weed, or any rubbish, brush, trash or any other matter liable to produce disease, or otherwise endanger the public health, safety or welfare.

Except for pedestrian use of town-supplied receptacles located in public places, it is unlawful for any person to throw, drop, cast, strew or deposit, or allowed to be cast, strewn or deposited upon any street, alley, sidewalk, or any yard or premises, public or private, within the town limits, any filth, refuse, garbage of any kind, or cans, paper, trash, paper containers, rubbish, bottles, or any other form of litter or waste matter. A commercial establishment shall take reasonable precautions to ensure that flyers, plastic bags, or other products furnished by that commercial establishment do not cause littering upon public or private property. It is unlawful for any person to drive upon any street, roadway, alley or right-of-way located within the town limits with an uncovered and unsecured load of solid waste, refuse or garbage.

Inoperable/abandoned vehicles No person shall leave any partially dismantled, nonoperating, wrecked or junked vehicle on any street, highway, town-owned easement or right-of-way within the town. No person shall abandon any vehicle within the town and no person shall leave any vehicle at any place within the town for such time and under such circumstances as to cause such vehicle reasonably to appear to have been abandoned.

Graffiti It shall be unlawful for the owner of any house, structure, building, establishment, lot or yard within the town, the agent of such owner or anyone who occupies such premises to permit graffiti to remain on the premises.

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Playing ball in the streets No person shall be allowed or permitted to play ball or any kind of game whatever, or to throw snowballs, stones, rocks or any kind of missile whatever, in or upon any public street in the town.

Right of Entry In the enforcement of the provisions of the town code, any town officer may enter upon any premises within the town for the purpose of inspection thereof and to issue orders, notices or other process to the owner or occupant of such premises to comply with the provisions of the code.

No person shall number or obstruct any street or alley within the town with any article or thing whatever without permission first had and obtained in writing from the mayor or town council, or unless authorized by ordinance.

Watering No person government facility or operation shall waste, cause or permit to be wasted any water from the town water system. The term “water waste” means the nonbeneficial use of water. The term “nonbeneficial use” includes, but is not restricted to, the excessive application of water such that it overflows the landscaped area being watered or other area of water use and runs onto adjacent property or public right-of-way. Street Addresses Every house, townhouse, building, mobile home, manufactured house, group of buildings, apartment complex, or mobile home park in the town shall be numbered in conformity with the provisions of this article. Every owner, occupant or agent of any building in the town is required to see the building is numbered a conspicuous place next to the street on which it fronts.

Community Public Safety

Resources

Emergency - 911

Silver City Police Department Chief of Police: Ed Reynolds 1011 N. Hudson St. 575-956-1275 ereynolds@silversitymail. com Silver City Fire Department Fire Chief: Tim Heidrich 1011 N. Hudson St. 575-956-1275 Firechief37@ silversitymail.com Grant County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff: Raul D. Villanueva 201 N. Cooper St. 575-574-0100 New Mexico State Police District 12 2584 Silver St. Building B 575-388-3977 U.S. Customs and Border Patrol 310 Airport Road, Deming 575-546-3082 www.cbp.gov

Financial Institutions Silver City

First American Bank 1609 N Swan St 575-534-0550 First Financial Credit Union 2290 Superior St. 575-388-2511 First New Mexico Bank 1928 US-180 575-388-3121 First Savings Bank 1221 N Hudson St 575-388-1531

Western Bank 330 US-180 575-388-3521

Grant County Crime Stoppers 575-538-5254

Around Town Information

Washington Federal 1203 N Hudson St 575-388-1903

Town Hall/City Clerk 101 W. Broadway St. 575-538-3731 575-534-6346

Washington Federal 119 W 11th St 575-388-1903

Code Enforcement 101 W. Broadway St 575-534-6367

Wells Fargo Bank 1201 N Pope St 575-956-1500

Community Development 1203 N. Hudson St. 575-534-6379

Bayard

First American Bank 1401 Tom Foy Blvd 575-537-2481

MOVING IN

Obstruction

Public Library 515 W. College Ave. 575-538-3672 Public Works 610 E. Eight St. 575-388-4640

Silver City Museum 312 W. Broadway St. 575-538-5921

Post Offices Bayard 810 Central Ave. 575-537-5168 Buckhorn 7658 U.S. Highway 180 W. 575-535-4171 Cliff 8427 Frontage Road 575-535-2951 Faywood 1123 N.M. Highway 61 575-536-2880 Gila 407 N.M. Highway 211 575-535-2363 Hachita 26 B St. 575-436-2220 Hanover 70 Fierro Road 575-537-5696 Hurley 16 Cortez Ave. 575-537-2146 Mimbres 3084 Highway 35 575-536-9810 Mule Creek 5 Brushy Mountain Road 575-535-4266 Santa Clara 106 N. Bayard St. 575-537-3888 Silver City 500 N. Hudson St. 575 538-2831 Tyrone 210 Turquoise St. 575-538-2523

Municipal Court 215 N. Bullard St. 575-388-4504

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

KIDS AND FAMILY

Another planet right in your backyard BY RICHARD C O LT H A RP

Do you remember the old 1960s TV show “Star Trek?” Maybe you’re too young to have seen it in its original run, but you’ve surely seen the reruns. Anyway, here’s a typical scene: Spock, McCoy and some crew guy you never saw before wearing a red shirt, beam down to a planet. Some weird creature or indescribable force attacks the trio. With phasers blasting, the antagonist is vanquished, leaving Spock and McCoy a little tattered, and the other guy deader than his shirt is red. One of those planets is right here in Grant County. It’s called City of Rocks State Park. If you’ve ever been there — whether you’ve been once or a hundred times — you’re probably thinking right now, “We should go back to City of Rocks soon. Let’s plan a trip!”

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If you’ve never been there, you need to go soon. Plan a trip. It’s so close to Silver City, it barely qualifies as a road trip. From Silver, you travel south on U.S. Highway 180 for about 29 miles, then turn east on N.M. Highway 61 for four miles. Once there, you’ll immediately see how it can be

City of Rocks State Park NM Hwy 61 (4 miles northeast of US Hwy 180) Faywood, N.M. 575-536-2800 www.emnrd.state.nm.us

Community

Kids and Family

Youth Organizations

Preschools/ Daycare

Girl Scouts Little House 302 W. 11th St. 575-538-2481

Baby Boot Camp Child Care Center 2609 Camino del Bosque 575-388-2620

Big Brothers Big Sisters 109 W. Broadway St. 575-538-5786 Mimbres Region Arts Council Youth Mural Camp 575-538-2505 Silver City Soccer Club Gregory Koury, MD 575-313-4211 Grant County Youth Soccer League 575-313-0120

El Grito Head Start 303 S. Cooper St. 575-538-5459 Guadalupe Montessori School 1731 N. Alabama St. 575-388-3343 Little Lambs Day Care 300 W. College Ave. (575) 538-3228 Lil Ones 370 Rosedale Rd. 575-388-5178 Silver High School Day Care 600 E. 32nd St. 575-388-1289

& Guitar

KIDS AND FAMILY

described as another planet. Indeed, these kind of rock formations can only be found in six other spots on the globe. Eerie, Stonehenge-like spires rise from the desert, mystically drawing you toward them. Whether you’re 8, and want to crawl all over the rocks, or 80 and want to hike pleasantly in and around them, you’ll love it. The rocks are a great place to camp or have a picnic, and to watch wildlife of all kinds. Don’t forget your mountain bike. And the vistas? If you make your way to the top of one of the rocks, you’ll see some of the greatest landscapes, skyscapes and sunsets in New Mexico. After sunset, things can get even better, especially if you’re an amateur astronomer or just a fun-seeking stargazer. So next time you’re driving between Silver City and Deming, and you see the sign to City of Rocks, don’t just think, “I should go there.” Instead, turn on your blinker and make the turn. Whether you stay five minutes or five days, you’ll love your time at the City of Rocks.

Beds, Bedroom Furniture, Mattresses, including Innerspring Memory Foam, Comfortaire, Futon, Linens, Pillows, Recliners, Barstools

Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Amps, Ukeleles, Violins, Strings and Accessories.

575-388-5555 ShopTheBedroomShoppe.com 910 N. Hudson • Silver City

• FREE DELIVERY OPEN SETUP/REMOVAL UP TO Monday-Saturday 25 MILES ROUNDTRIP 9:30-5:30 • ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

KIDS AND FAMILY

Penny Park is a labor of love of many hands BY BONNIE SCHRA N Z

Described as a real treasure in Silver City and named for the pennies donated by local children, Penny Park, located at 1305 N. Grant St., promises a great time for children of all ages and the grown-ups who share the fun. A day at the park offers children opportunities to climb a giant dragon, swing, and glide down slides both large and small. Visitors also find a bouldering wall, balance beams, a volleyball court and the community skate park is located on adjacent property. A wooden mini-village, with replicas of real-life necessities including a bank, library, livery and a little train, provides a setting for make-believe adventures in Penny Park. A special spring event for children is an Easter egg hunt sponsored by the local Kiwanis club. Families can picnic in the park at shaded tables, and a

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covered pavilion is available to rent. The park has a sitting area where caregivers can watch children play in enclosed spaces, and restrooms are on site. This 15,000-square-foot tree-filled family park is colorful, safe and well-maintained, perfect for action or relaxation. Look for a parking lot entrance on Santa Rita Street. The idea of a community-built park was first launched in 1999. When a fire destroyed much of the park in 2011, residents rallied to create a new Penny Park â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one that would be built by the community. Plans for the park that rose from the ashes included input from the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children and the use of local talents and materials whenever possible. It continues to be a work in progress. Highlighting Penny Park today is a lively atmosphere created with numerous murals installed by community

KIDS AND FAMILY

residents and the Mimbres Regional Arts Council (MRAC) through the years. The now-famous Many Hands Mural Project began after Silver City’s Town Manager Alex Brow approached Faye McCalmont, then MRAC’s executive director. He requested a concept for a mural project for the post-fire 2012 park renovation, “something that would engage and give ownership of Penny Park back to the community,” according to Silver City artist, gallery owner and MRAC’s Youth Mural Program Coordinator Diana Ingalls Leyba. She and McCalmont came up with the idea of “Many Hands.” Since then, thousands of Grant County’s children and adult volunteers have contributed to the project scheduled for completion in 2016, sponsored by local government, organizations, businesses and individual residents. Like the city itself, the Many Hands Mural is a group endeavor. Some portions of the murals were summer camp projects, each done by 25-30 kids. The large 40-foot wall of diamond mosaics is the labor of love of all of those who designed and built it, as evidenced by the thousands of Grant County children’s “hand” prints set in clay – no two alike. By the completion of the final phase of the project, every school and youth group will be represented by mosaics. “It is a true coming together of community,” Leyba said. “There is nothing else quite like it.”

Expose your business to NEW CUSTOMERS

FFor or m more than an 2 20 0 years, Desert Exposure has blanketed Silver City and and tthe he region, with readership by thousands of your City customers and potential customers. Reach them each month through marketing in Desert Exposure. For details, call advertising coordinator Pam Rossi at 575-524-8061. L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Silver City Arts Town BY BONNIE SCHRA N Z

“Silver City is an arts town,” said Mimbres Region Arts Council (MRAC) Executive Director Kevin Lenkner. A relative newcomer to the community, he notes that when a city with a population of only 10,000 has 20 art galleries for residents and tourists to enjoy, that’s sufficient evidence culture is a high priority. MRAC has a more than 20-year history of providing visual and performing arts programs, signature events and community outreach. Lenkner credits the strong leadership of Faye McCalmont, who preceded him as executive director, with putting in place and developing MRAC, the recipient of the 2013 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. One of the most-recognized and long-running of cultural events is the Silver City Blues and Bike Festival, held annually in Gough Park on Memorial Day weekend since 1995. Other popular events include the performances of the Indie/Folk Series held at the Opera House, located

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next to the rustic Buckhorn Saloon in Pinos Altos, only 15 minutes from Silver City. Additionally, MRAC offers a series of exciting and varied programs with entertainers from across the region and beyond who perform on-stage at the Western New Mexico University Fine Arts Center Theater. In any given season, there’s sure to be something to satisfy every taste – from song and dance ensembles to the symphony and a steamfunk rock-n-roll circus. MRAC also offers Fine Arts Fridays, bringing visual and performing arts programs to local schools. Art is everywhere in Silver City, where in addition to all of the individual and institutional gallery spaces, one can find at least 50 murals, created in numerous sites by local artists of all ages. One ongoing project is the Many Hands Mural Project in Penny Park: its final phase expected to be completed this year through the efforts of adult volunteers and local school children. Furthermore, the community is also home to the Silver City Art Association, which provides free small group studio and gallery tours.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Linkner said MRAC’s mission is to sustain the artistic community that already exists, while continuing to grow and diversify to make an even greater impact on the region it serves. “My passion is education and New Mexico is the perfect place to fulfil that passion,” Lenkner said. “We want to talk about the arts as a life skill for the 21st century. We want to nurture the movement that sees that when people experience creativity in the arts, it becomes an end result that can extend to other fields of endeavor – like science or engineering. “We’re looking for new ways MRAC can intertwine education with the things we already do well, for example, Blues Fest. It’s not a desire to make the event bigger, but to make it deeper. Start a blues society, let blues music activities extend beyond the festival weekend by offering concerts throughout the year. Let proceeds be used to ‘give back’ to the community through programs we can bring to the schools, as well as support for school arts programs already in place. In this way, we can affect the whole arts eco-system.”

Grant County

Arts Associations

Grant County Art Guild 575-574-2831 www.GCAG.org Mimbres Region Arts Council 575-538-2505 Mimbresarts.org San Vincente Artists of Silver City www.silvercityartists.org

Silver City Arts and Cultural District 575-538-5555 Silvercitytrourism.org/ acd/ Western New Mexico University Expressive Arts 575-538-6614

Silver City Art Association 575-313-9631 www.silvercityart.com

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

W. 11th St.

N. Main St.

N. Pope St.

N. Grant St.

N SILVER CITY

W. 9th St.

N. Pope St.

N. Grant St.

N. Santa Rita

W. College Ave

St.

N. West St.

W. 10th St.

W. College Ave

3 N. Texas St.

N. Bullard St.

Rd.

N. Arizona St.

N. Bayard St.

N. Piños Altos

W. 8th St.

N. Cooper St.

W. 7th St.

N. Black St.

N. Lyon St.

N. A St.

N. C St.

N. B St.

W. 8th St.

N. D St.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

▲ GALLERIES

W. 7th St.

W. 6th St.

90 W. 6th St.

W. Market St.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Guadalupe’s 505 N. Bullard St. Hutchings Fine Art 406 B N. Bullard St. Zoe’s Gallery 305 N. Cooper St. Leyba & Ingalls Arts 315 N. Bullard St. The Cliffs Studio & Gallery 205 N. Lyon St. Seedboat Gallery 214 W. Yankie St. Four Directions Weaving 106 W. Yankie St.

Vibrations Gallery 106 W. Yankie St. 15. Creations & Adornments 108 N. Bullard St.

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19 20 22 23 2 21 4 25 24 N. Texas St.

St.

Rd.

W. Yankie St.

N. Piños Altos

W. Broadway

W. Spring St.

Mimbres Region Arts Council Gallery Wells Fargo Bank Bldg., 1201 N. Pope St. Francis McCray Gallery 1000 College Ave., WNMU The Glasserie Studio and Store 106 E. College Ave. [a]SP.”A”©E 110 W. 7th St. Dragonfly Studio 508 W 6th St. Wynnegate Gallery & Studio 1105 W. Market St. Common Ground 102 W. Kelly Ave.

N. Bayard St.

N. Black St.

▲

111 14 15 16 17

N. Cooper St.

Lyo

10 12

W. Kelly St.

W. Market St.

N. Main St.

W. Kelly St.

N. Arizona St.

16. Ann Simonsen StudioGallery 104 W. Yankie St. 17. The Place @ 108 108 W. Yankie St. 18. Copper Quail Gallery 211-A Texas St. Lois Duffy Art Studio 211-C N. Texas Wild West Weaving 211-D N. Texas 19. Yankie St. Artist Studios 103 W. Yankie St. 20. Tree Spirit Gallery 206 N. Bullard St. 21. Molly Ramolla Gallery & Framing 203 N. Bullard St.

27 28

22. Blue Dome Gallery 307 N. Texas St. 23. Azurite Gallery 110 W. Broadway Ave. 24. Lumiere Editions 108 W. Broadway Ave. 25. Ol’ West Gallery & Mercantile 104 W. Broadway Ave. 26. The StudioSpace 109 N. Bullard St. Studio Upstairs 109 N. Bullard St. 27. Syzygy Tile Gallery 106 N. Bullard St. 28. Creations & Adornments 108 N. Bullard St.

N GRANT COUNTY

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

▲ GALLERIES

1 152

Upper Mimbres River

MIMBRES

152

180 152

7 8

ARENAS VALLEY

SILVER CITY

BAYARD

180

▲

N 1.

Chamomile Connection 3918 Highway 35N Mimbres, N.M.

2. Gila River Artisans Gallery 8409 Highway 180 3.

Studio Behind the Mountain 23 Wagon Wheel Ln. Cliff, N.M.

4. Pinos Altos Art Gallery Hearst Church Gallery 14 Golden Ave. Piños Altos

Victoria Chick Cow Trail Studio 119 Cow Trail Silver City

Wind Canyon Studio 11 Quail Run Silver City

Barbara Nance Gallery & Stonewalker Studio 105 Country Rd. Silver City

Kathryn Allen Clay Studio 601 Erie St. Bayard, N.M.

Works by Barbara Harrison and Others 21 Latigo Trail Silver City

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrating the Southwest

Festivals highlight the bounty of Silver City BY TRACY ROY

For a town with a total population of little more than 10,000 residents, Silver City sure knows how to throw a party. A large array of festivals dot the calendar each year, drawing thousands of visitors from all over New Mexico and surrounding states. One of the biggest, the Silver City Blues & Bike Festival, drew about 12,000 people last year alone, according to Melody Collins, marketing and development coordinator with the Mimbres Region Arts Council. “It actually started as a barbecue in the park and it’s grown every year since,” Collins said of the festival, which is in its 21st year. “This is the second year we’ve included the bike component. We have a lot of people come in from Tucson, Phoenix, El Paso, Las Cruces and Albuquerque.” The blues festival showcases “local and rising stars” with a series of free performances and a full day of motorcyclerelated activities over Memorial Day Weekend. The 2016 event will be held May 27-29, 2016, mostly at Gough Park in Downtown Silver City. This year’s festivities include a kick-off dance, a bike run, a late-night jam session and performances from the likes of CW Ayon, Harlis

L IFE IS GOOD IN S ILV ER C IT Y 2016- 2017 C OMMU NIT Y GU IDE

Sweetwater Band, Zac Harmon, Taj Mahal Trio and more. Vendors will be set up at Gough Park offering handmade fiber art pieces, pottery, jewelry and a variety of unique food vendors. A second music festival hosted by the arts council is Pickamania!, held the second weekend of September in Gough Park, which highlights bluegrass, Americana, folk and acoustic music acts. A raffle and beer garden return year after year, along with a variety of vendors. The Mimbres Region Arts Council also celebrates local food with two festivals each year. Chocolate Fantasia in February offer samplings of sweet treats by the area’s finest confectioners. Tamal Fiesta y Mas is all about tamales and other holiday favorites. Each offers activities and entertainment for the whole family. To learn more about these festivals, visit mimbresarts. org. Music and food are not the only thing Silver City celebrates. There’s the Silver City Clay Festival, the Gila River Festival, a Hummingbird Festival and Southwest Festival of the Written Word, to name just a few more. The signature event of the Silver City Arts and Cultural

VICTORIA CHICK

what it says: celebrates fiction and nonfiction writers, poets, bloggers, journalists, lyricists, editors, dramatists and publishers from throughout the Southwest. It is held during the first weekend of October, but the event differs on odd- and even-numbered years. On even-numbered years, the event is dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Prologue Weekendâ&#x20AC;? and offers writing workshops, author readings, book-art exhibitions and literary meet and greets. On odd-numbered years, more than 50 writers, agents and publishers gather for a weekend of literary events. Venues throughout Downtown Silver City host events, lectures, galas, workshops and exhibitions. Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities and performances also make up a portion of a full slate of activities. For information, visit www.swwordfiesta.org. The annual Gila River Festival, in its 12th year in 2016, celebrates the bounty of the Gila River and highlights its threats and challenges. Put on by the Gila Conservation Coalition, the festival explores the relationship between man, technology, nature and that relationshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impact on the Gila River watershed. The event typically offers expertguided field trips, a Gila River kayak trip, a Gila River bus tour and a puppet parade. For information, visit www. gilaconservation.org.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

District, the Silver City Clay Festival, takes place in late July into early August. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a weeklong event that celebrates clay in all its forms at a variety of venues. In the past, activities have included a poker tournament fundraiser, ceramic workshops, galas, exhibits, lectures, panel discussions, activities for children and a mud pie contest. For information, visit www.clayfestival.com. It started in 2012 with an attendance of about a 1,000 people, according to founder and director Lee Gruber of Syzygy Tile, and last year, attendance reached about 4,000. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has paved the way for collaboration in our community,â&#x20AC;? Gruber said of the festival, and how it connects us in a variety of ways. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the best things about clay to me is its connectivity. We look for many ways to work different groups and artists. It helps us connect to artists in other communities. This year weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking at land use and natural-building processes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; just every way I could think of clay as connective to something else. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just pottery. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my favorite thing about it. We build in adobe. We deal with mud every day of our lives.â&#x20AC;? The Hummingbird Festival, held each July, celebrates these small, fierce birds in a variety of ways, from literature, art, guest speakers and live entertainment. The Southwest Festival of the Written Word does just

Silver City

Blues & Bikes Fest SouthWest Print Fiesta! Performance Series Indie/Folk Series Fine Arts Fridays

COW TRAIL ART STUDIO * Paintings and monoprints by Victoria Chick * Changing exhibits of signed, original prints by 19th and early 20th Century American Artists * Open Mondays noon to 3 or by appointment.

victoriachick.com vcartcat@hotmail.com

for Schools

Youth Mural Program Arte Para Todos

Youth Outreach

Â Â?Â? Â Â? Â?

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Silver City

SPRING Chocolate Fantasia

Every year close to Valentine’s day, about a dozen locations in historic Downtown Silver City offer samplings of sweet treats during Chocolate Fantasia, highlighting Grant County’s confectioners with recipes to make your mouth water. Visitors can stroll the streets, shop, listen to live music and taste a variety of gourmet chocolate creations. “Chocolate Stop” maps and empty Valentine boxes are provided, and a sampling ticket lets you try 20 pieces of chocolate. For information, visit mimbresarts.org/chocolate-fantasia.

Silver City Blues & Bikes Festival

Hosted by Mimbres Region Arts Council, the festival showcases “local and rising stars” with a series of free performances and a full day of motorcyclerelated activities over Memorial Day Weekend. The 2016 festival will be held May 27-29, 2016, mostly at Gough Park, off Pope Street in Silver City. Info: http:// mimbresarts.org/blues-festival-homepage.

Chicano Music Fest

Held over Labor Day weekend, the Silver Chicano Music Festival Car and Bike Show, hosted by the SW Chicano Music Association, celebrates Chicano culture with musical performances, a kick-off dance and a car and bike show.

Gem & Mineral Show

Labor Day weekend brings each year the Grant County Rolling Stones annual Gem and Mineral Show, in which vendors display high-quality gems, minerals and jewelry. The free show got its start in 1983 and now features more than 40 vendors, a silent auction, “Wheel of Fortune” for kids and exhibits Saturday through Monday. For information, visit www. Rollingstonesgms.blogspot.com.

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SUMMER Hummingbird Festival

The Hummingbird Festival celebrates the small yet fierce birds in a variety of ways. Literature, art, guest speakers and live entertainment highlight the festival, held in July.

Silver City Clay Festival

The signature event of the Silver City Arts and Cultural District, the Silver City Clay Festival takes place in late July into early August. It’s a weeklong event that celebrates clay in all its forms at a variety of venues. For information, visit www.clayfestival.com.

Run to Copper Country Car Show

The Run to Copper Country Car Show, sponsored by Grant County’s Copper Country Cruizers, is held mid-August at Gough Park in Downtown Silver City. It includes a hot dog burn, music, prizes and raffles, and a car show. Proceeds benefit local charities and support a scholarship fund. For information, call 575524-2186 or email coppercountrycruizers@gmail.com.

FALL Pickamania

A three-day, free event held by the Mimbres Arts Council, Pickamania offers a weekend of free musical performances in Gough Park in Downtown Silver, highlighting bluegrass and finger-picking artists from the Southwest.

Red Hot Children’s Fiesta

Hosted by the Grant County Community Health Council and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, the Red Hot Children’s Fiesta a child development and resource fair held at Penny Park, 1305 N. Grant St. It offers activities and giveaways for the whole family.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

y Festivals Fort Bayard Days

Typically held in September, Fort Bayard Days exhibits more than 20 living history stations that bring to life the fort’s historic significance. The fort played an integral role in protecting settlers and miners in the 1800s and housed Buffalo soldiers during the Civil War, who fought against Apache warriors. During Fort Bayard Days, volunteers dress in period costume and show attendees what life was like during its heyday. It usually includes a flag ceremony, games for kids, tours, lunch, lectures, dinner and a military ball. For information, visit fortbayard.org.

Gila River Festival

The annual Gila River Festival, in its 12th year in 2016, celebrates the bounty of the Gila River and highlights its threats and challenges. Put on by the Gila Conservation Coalition, the festival explores the relationship between man, technology, nature and that relationship’s impact on the Gila River watershed. The event typically offers expert-guided field trips, a Gila River kayak trip, a Gila River bus tour and a puppet parade. For information, visit www. gilaconservation.org.

Red Dot Art Weekends

The first two weekends in October, Silver City comes alive with art during Red Dot Art Weekends. The event gives visitors an opportunity to mingle with artists, tour area galleries and art studios, attend opening receptions for exhibits and enjoy live music, food specials and entertainment. The annual event is hosted by the Silver City Art Association. For information, visit www.silvercitygalleries.com.

Southwest Festival of the Written Word

The Southwest Festival of the Written Word does just what it says: celebrates writers of all types. It is held during the first weekend of October, but the event differs on odd- and even-numbered years. On even-numbered years, the event is dubbed “Prologue Weekend” and offers writing workshops, author readings, book-art exhibitions and literary meet and greets. On odd-numbered years, more than 50 writers, agents and publishers gather for a weekend of literary events. Between events, SWFWW offers workshops and other events. For information, visit www.swwordfiesta.org.

WINTER Day of the Dead

Spread out over several days, from Oct. 30 through Nov. 4, Downtown Silver City observes Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with a parade, music, family crafts, traditional art and food, in addition to paying homage to those who have passed away.

Tamal Fiesta y Más

Held each year on the first Saturday in December, this fiesta celebrates traditional Christmastime treats such as tamales, bizcochos, Mexican hot chocolate and red-chile kettle corn. Held Downtown, food and craft vendors greet visitors, shops are open and tamales may be ordered by the dozen. There’s a tamal contest, live musical performances, dancing and other fun activities. For information, visit www. tamalfiestaymas.org.

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

DOWNTOWN

San Vicente Creek Trail provides quiet in the midst of bustle BYJONI KAY ROS E

As I write this in mid-March of 2016, the State of New Mexico is applying the finishing touches on the Highway 90 Bridge over San Vicente Creek. During the coming months, the San Vicente Creek trailhead will eventually be restored, reopening one of the most delightful urban trails in Silver City. While the trailhead is below the bridge, to get there safely you’ll need to take Bullard Street south from downtown and then make a left onto Mill Street, followed by a rightward jog and then another left as you approach the bridge from below and then pass under it. The trail follows along the south side of the creek, beneath a variety of shady riparian trees, along with the hulks of old cars that have been there for decades. Back into the woods, the trail meanders down to the creek and crosses it on stepping stones. Unless there have been recent heavy rains, it’s easy to ford the creek without getting your feet wet. The trail follows the creek to the right, or south, continuing southward along the east bank of the creek. After a while the trail switchbacks above the creek so you’re out in the sun again. On a hot summer day you may want to turn back here. If the trailhead on Mill Street is still not restored, you can also access the trail from the south end of Corbin Street, south of Broadway. In this case you need to ford the creek right away to reach the trail. Please respect private property here and everywhere along the trail. There are also several places to access the trail from Mountain View Drive. About half a mile south of the intersection with Tenth Street, watch for Agave Drive to

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your right, and then take a second right onto Sotol Street and follow it until it essentially becomes a jeep trail which wanders down to the creek. A more popular trailhead is along Mountain View Drive, another quarter mile south, where there is a large sign announcing the trailhead. From here a side trail switchbacks down the hill until it intersects the main trail along the east side of the creek below. This is a wonderful trailhead in cooler weather. Since there is no shade on the descent, and you’ll have a steep uphill climb on the way back, it’s best avoided in summer. There are also several access points along Ridge Road leading down to the creek from the west. The first one involves making a left turn onto Mobile Drive and following it down the hill until it the pavement ends. Itbecomes progressively rougher as you descend. Mobile Drive makes a sharp left turn and appears to dead-end at someone’s driveway, but just before the “Private Property” sign a jeep road goes right and down to the creek where you can intersect the creek trail at the bottom. The southernmost trailhead is by the stadium on the north side of Fairway Drive, across from the golf course. The canyon is much wider this far south, and there is a whole network of parallel roads and trails on both sides of the creek. There’s no significant shade. But with patience you can make your way north along the creek to where the trails narrow down to a single track beneath the shady trees of the riparian corridor. And all this nearly within sight and earshot of the bustling life of Silver City.

■ SILVER CITY

1ZERO6, 106 N. Texas St., 575-313-4418. Adobe Springs Café, 1617 Silver Heights Blvd., 538-3665. Café Oso Azul at Bear Mountain Lodge, 60 Bear Mountain Ranch Road, 538-2538. Chinese Palace, 1010 Highway 180 E, 538-9300. Courtyard Café, Gila Regional Medical Center, 538-4094. Curious Kumquat, 111 E. College Ave., 534-0337.

Javalina Coffee House, 117 Market St.

Vicki's Eatery, 315 N. Texas, 388-5430.

Jumping Cactus, 503 N. Bullard St.

Wrangler's Bar & Grill, 2005 Hwy. 180E, 538-4387.

Kountry Kitchen, 1700 Mountain View Road, 388-4512.

Yankie Creek Coffee House, 112 W. Yankie St. Coffee shop.

La Cocina Restaurant, 201 W. College Ave., 388-8687.

■ BAYARD

La Familia, 503 N. Hudson St., 388-4600 La Mexicana, Hwy. 180E and Memory Lane, 534-0142. Lion's Den, 208 W. Yankie, 6540353

DOWNTOWN

Restaurants

Fidencio's Taco Shop, 1108 Tom Foy Blvd. Little Nisha's, 1101 Tom Foy Blvd., 537-3526. Los Compas, 1203 Tom Foy Blvd, 654-4109. M&A Bayard Café, 1101 N. Central Ave., 537-2251.

Diane's Restaurant, 510 N. Bullard St., 538-8722.

Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery, 200 N. Bullard St., 956-6144.

Diane's Bakery & Deli, The Hub, Suite A, Bullard St., 534-9229.

Market Café, 614 Bullard St., 956-6487.

Don Juan's Burritos, 418 Silver Heights Blvd., 538-5440.

Mexico Viejo, Hwy. 90 and Broadway.

Drifter Pancake House, 711 Silver Heights Blvd., 538-2916.

Mi Casita, 2340 Bosworth Dr., 538-5533.

El Gallo Pinto, 901 N. Hudson St., 597-4559.

Millie's Bake House, 602 N. Bullard St., 597-2253.

Forrest's Pizza, 601 N. Bullard St. Unit J. 388-1225.

Nancy's Silver Café, 514 N. Bullard St., 388-3480.

Little Toad Creek Inn & Tavern, 1122 Hwy. 35, 536-9649.

Fry House, 601 N. Bullard St. Suite C. 388-1964.

The Parlor at Diane's, 510 N. Bullard St., 538-8722.

Spirit Canyon Lodge & Café, 684 Hwy. 35, 536-9459.

Gil-A Beans, 1304 N. Bennett St.

Pretty Sweet Emporium, 312 N. Bullard St., 388-8600.

■ MIMBRES

Golden Star, 1602 Silver Heights Blvd., 388-2323.

Q's Southern Bistro & Brewery, 101 E. College Ave., 534-4401.

Grandma's Café, 900 Silver Heights Blvd., 388-2627.

Silver Bowling Center Café, 2020 Memory Lane, 538-3612.

Topas Tree, 601 N. Bullard St. in The Hub

Sunrise Espresso, 1530 N. Hudson, 388-2027.

Grinder Mill, 403 W. College Ave., 538-3366.

Sunrise Espresso, 1212 E. 32nd St., 534-9565.

Healthy Eats, 303 E. 13th St., 534-9404.

Terry's Original Barbecue, Hwy. 180 and Ranch Club Road.

Jalisco Café, 100 S. Bullard St., 388-2060.

Tre Rosat Café, 304 N. Bullard St., 654-4919.

Spanish Café, 106 Central Ave., 537-2640. Sugar Shack, 1102 Tom Foy Blvd., 537-0500.

■ CLIFF D’S Café, 8409 Hwy 180. Parkey's, 8414 Hwy. 180W, 5354000.

■ LAKE ROBERTS

Elk X-ing Café, 352-212-0448. Mimbres Valley Café, 2964 Hwy. 35, 536-2857. Restaurant Del Sol, 2676 Hwy. 35, San Lorenzo. 3 Questions Coffee House, Hwy. 35, 536-3267.

■ PINOS ALTOS Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House , Main Street, 538-9911.

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

SPORTS

Boston Hill hiking opportunities in town BY BROOK STOCKBERGER

Ben Trujillo has been in the Boston Hill Open Space Trail System area many times, yet he still finds the hiking trails there intriguing. “There was mining around here,” the Silver City resident said. “Obviously.” A variety of trails branch out in different directions and Trujillo was the only hiker I saw on a Friday afternoon at this Silver City recreation area. Well, except for my 6-year-old son, Grant. With a slight breeze at our backs, then fronts, then backs again, we explored the area as the signs of the former coal mining operation made what is actually a moderately rugged, unusual, yet beautiful landscape southwest of Silver City. The trailhead area offers a sweeping view of the town. Now, in full disclosure, I’m not in what you’d call “hiking shape.” I knew I’d have to take my time as well as rein in Grant from time to time as he wandered – often at full speed – off on various trail ways. He took a tumble or two because this is not exactly smooth walking. He did not mind

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a skinned knee or reddened elbow as much as I did. Grant and I did not go very far down any particular trail, but got an idea of the recreation offered. “You certainly have to watch your footing around here,” Trujillo told us. The trails edge upward, although you eventually descend some. A few went southward and one meandered a way to the east. Grant was intrigued by a fork in one that offered two possibilities. “Which one should we take,” he asked, hands on his hips as he caught his breath. “You go left and I’ll go right,” I said. I knew he would not like the idea. “Nah,” he said. “I think we should stick together.” Wise words. I was just happy to have found the trails themselves. After overshooting the area a couple of times – “I betcha that was Boston Hill,” my wife, Terri, helpfully pointed out as we drove past a high point – we found the trailhead. In fact, trailheads are available on Cooper Street, Cheyenne Street, Spring Street and Market Street.

trailhead after a winding course of about two miles.

SPORTS

I learned, with the help of maps and www.townofsilvercity. org, the Boston Hill area includes the La Capilla Heritage Park and more than half a dozen former mining sites. Boston Hill itself rises up to an elevation of nearly 6,400 feet great views. Not too far from its summit, though, “plunging ravines and winding trails give the Boston Hill area a worlds-away feel,” the webpage accurately states. A friendly lady at the town’s visitor center pointed in the direct of the Boston Hill Open Space Trail System with her left hand while she thrust a pamphlet at me with her right. I was informed it was one of the most popular hiking areas. The area used to be alive with hard-rock mining for copper, silver and other precious metals. So you can literally see the history spread out around you. While Terri and my 13-year-old daughter, Jessie, decided to relax near the car, Grant and I wound our way up a short hill to where the trails took off in different directions. We did not cross paths with any wildlife, save for some sort of small lizard. I learned that mule deer, rabbits and javelina are common to the area. Once in a while you could cross paths with coatimundi – I had to Google that one. They are ringtailed mammals of the raccoon family – or even fox. A historic railroad bed even crosses the trail area along much of its southern third, entering the trails area near the Market Street trailhead and exiting it near the Cooper Street

More opportunities With names like San Vincente Creek and San Vincente Arroyo, Brewer Hill and Old Waterworks, there are a variety of open space areas in Silver City that offer that chance to stretch your legs. Some have trailheads and some have proposed trailheads. We checked out Big Ditch Park right near the town’s visitor center, located at 201 N. Hudson St. The park can also be accessed from Bullard Street and the main entrance is actually located on Market Street. You can stroll along the beside the ditch – which is, in fact, very big and full of trees and rocks and is pretty – and read information plaques about how flooding created this gouge in the earth where Silver City’s Main Street once resided. Plus you can hike a portion of the Continental Divide Trial near Silver City. The trail runs 3,100 miles through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. In the Gila National Forest, the Burro Peak Trailhead is about 21 miles from Silver City on NM 90. Follow 90 to the intersection with FR 828, turn right and it is a short distance to the trailhead. The length of this portion is eight miles.

Silver City’s Outdoor Adventure Center Bike Rentals Maps Parts

Camping Equipment Apparel Shoes

GILA HIKE & BIKE CORNER OF COLLEGE & BULLARD WWW.GILAHIKEANDBIKE.COM

575-388-3222

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

SPORTS

World-renown tour generates $500,000 for Grant County BY BROOK STOC K B E RG E R

The exciting news? About 600 cyclists descend on the Silver City area each year in early May to compete in the Tour of the Gila. Even more exciting news? The event generates about half a million dollars for the Grant County economy. Abby Toadlena with Diane’s Restaurant and Bakery at 510 N. Bullard St., experienced the tour for the first time with the restaurant in 2015. “It was pretty busy,” she said. “It usually picks up a lot during the Tour.” In 2016 – the 30th edition of the race – the first stage of the five-stage competition started Wednesday, May 4 and the final stage was Sunday, May 5. The race has categories for men and women. Tour Co-Director Michelle Geels said the race spreads tentacles throughout the seasons. “The effect on Silver City is seen throughout the year as cycling tourist numbers grow – partially due to the awareness that the Tour of the Gila has generated worldwide,” she said. Cyclists come to Silver City for the race and fall in love with the area and want to come back. Plus word of mouth spreads in the cycling community. She said an economic impact study completed in 2012 showed that $3.44 is generated from every local dollar spent. Geels also said the lure of the Tour goes beyond the state and region. “Competitors come from all over the U.S. and over 13

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different foreign countries,” she said. In addition to U.S. competitors, since the first competition in 1987, cyclists from Canada, Australia, Israel, Spain, Ireland and Columbia have all crossed the finish line first. In 2015, Mara Abbott from Boulder, Colorado, won the women’s race for the third-straight year. Rob Britton, from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, won the men’s race. The first stage is the Mogollon Road Race and starts in Silver City and ends near the ghost town of Mogollon. Stage 2, The Inner Loop Road Race, begins at Pinos Altos about seven miles north of Silver City and ends at Fort Bayard. Stage 3 is the Dan Potts Memorial Time Trial and begins and ends at Tyrone, 4.5 miles south of Silver City. The fourth stage, is the Downtown Silver City Criterium. Laster all day, last the entire day and is a race on a circuit road course and goes from 12 laps (12.9 miles) to 40 laps (43.2 miles) depending on the category. The fifth and final stage is the Gila Monster Road Race, which can vary from 68.9 miles up to 103.2 miles depending on the category. It begins at Gough Park in Silver City and eventually ends at Pinos Altos. “For the sport of stage racing, the Tour of the Gila is one of the most challenging stage races in North America for amateur and professional cyclists,” Geels said. “Many cycling stars of the sport are discovered on the Tour of the Gila courses.” More information about the Tour of the Gila can be found online at www.tourofthegila.com.

SPORTS

Sojourn

Lake Roberts

BY BROOK STOC K B E RG E R

Located 30 or so miles northwest of Silver City, nearly 70 surface acres of lake offer recreation to those who wish to take the hour-long excursion. Open since 1963, the manmade Lake Roberts – which lies within the boundaries of the Gila National Forest – provides fishing, boating, camping, picnicking opportunities and beautiful land for hiking. “I don’t get here often enough,” said Felix Garcia of Albuquerque as he looked out over the lake during a recent trip. “I love it here. I have family in Silver City and when I visit, we like to come up here from time to time.” His favorite activities? “Fishing, although I’m not very good at it,” he said with a laugh. “It’s mostly just to enjoy the outdoors.” One visitor recently took time out of her staycation in Silver City to meander her way up to the lake with her husband, who was off fishing as she relaxed at a campsite. “I’m relaxed, this is so peaceful,” she said from her lawn chair, with a partially read paperback resting open on her lap. “We decided not to take a trip for vacation, just hang around the house and complete some projects, work in the yard, like that. But we knew we also wanted to spend some time up here.” Like Garcia, the visitor also said she’d like to visit Lake Roberts with more frequency. “It’s not that far, but life gets in the way,” she said. The lake is named for Department of Game and Fish pilot Austin A. Roberts, who was killed in an airplane crash in 1960 while dropping bales of hay to an antelope herd

stranded in deep snow. Sapillo Creek, fed by cold-water springs, flows into the lake from the east and was dammed to create the lake, which drains a watershed of about 87 square miles of mostly steep, mountainous country. Wildlife come to the lake for water. Visitors can sometimes see large numbers of migratory waterfowl drawn to the lake and its surrounding wetlands. For those who wish to drown a worm or cast out a lure and a bobber, the lake teems with trout – which are stocked from time to time – as well as bass and catfish. Campers will find three campgrounds located at or near the lake. The Upper End Campground on the southeast side of the lake has 11 campsites. The Mesa Campground, which also borders the lake, has 24 sites. Both charge overnight user fees of $7. Sapillo Group, a campground with fire pits, tables and pit toilets – but no water – offers 10 undeveloped sites. The campground is about two miles southeast of the lake on New Mexico 35. No fees are charged. Gilawilderness.com contributed to this story

Lake Roberts • Location: About an hour northwest of Silver City taking Route 15 north and then 35 east. Within the boundaries of Gila National Forest. • Size: 69 surface acres • Recreation: Fishing, boating, camping, hiking and picnicking • Info: www.gilawilderness.com

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EDUCATION

A high school for real life BY ELVA K. ÖSTE RRE IC H

When the high school students at Silver City’s Aldo Leopold Charter School start, they know they will have to work – in real jobs out in the community. Students in grades 10-12 at Aldo Leopold get out of the school building and work hands-on with local businesses, nonprofits and government agencies. The students have choices, said Debra Preusch, the school’s internship coordinator. “If they want to be a doctor, we’ll try to get them into a doctor’s office,” she said. “We have students doing auto mechanics, information technology, public relations, early childhood education and graphic arts.” Mondays to Thursdays the students attend regular core classes at the school as well as electives, Preusch said. The electives change almost every semester and are taught by community members who share skills with students. As the students get closer to graduating, they gain the opportunity to take classes at Western New Mexico University and earn college credits alongside high school graduation credits for their work. Preusch said her favorite thing is watching the students grow and change. “You can just see every year how much they open up

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and get their voice heard,” she said. “When they leave, they are leaders and mature. It’s a thrill to see that process.” In the 2015-2016 school year 40 students worked on one of six Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crews: Archaeology site stewardship, eco monitoring, murals with MRAC’s Youth Mural Program, water harvesting, ALCS garden and trails at Dragonfly. The remaining students worked with mentors. Aldo Leopold Charter School’s mission is to provide an engaging and challenging educational program emphasizing direct experience, inquiry learning, stimulation of the creative process, and stewardship of our community and natural environment. It is a small, tuition-free public school, located at 1422 Highway 180 E., next to the Grant County Administration Building. The high school started with a lot of dissatisfied parents who began meeting, Preusch said. The process took about three years. With no building at that time to start with, classes began at Western New Mexico University. Finally they got a building – the old Labor Department building – and things took off. In 2013, Aldo Leopold added middle school to its charter. Preusch, although not one of the core group, was part

said. “There’s a lot of bonding that’s happening. You are just always making friends with people you never would and everyone learns to accept each other.” The juniors go to San Diego every year to explore oceanography careers and camp at SEACAMP, a marine science camp on Fiesta Island. The Aldo Leopold school charter allows for a total of 120 high school students and 90 middle school students, but the building actually has room for only 50 in the middle school section. Students are admitted by a lottery system. If a student has a sibling in the school, they are accepted at the top of the list. For information, call the school at 575538-2547.

EDUCATION

of the school from the beginning. Her two daughters attended the school and graduated from it. “It’s small, everybody gets to know each other,” she said. “Classes are between 15 and 20 students. I know that we have a good reputation.” The staff is dedicated, Preusch said. “Nobody is just here for a job,” she said In addition to internships and a regular class schedule, the school also takes the students on a lot of trips, she said. They go backpacking in nearby areas and surrounding states. At the beginning of the year the group goes on four-day back packing trips in the Gila wilderness. “They are not just learning about the environment,” she

Education

in Grant County

There are 16 public schools in Grant County serving 4,418 students. The largest of the districts is Silver Consolidated Schools which operates three high schools, one middle school and five elementary schools all serving more than 3,100 students. The district also employs approximately 259 teachers. Western New Mexico University is situated at the heart of Silver City and central to Grant County: with a range of associates, bachelor’s and graduate degree programs and non-degree study options, WNMU anchors the community’s commitment to lifelong education.

Public Schools:

Silver Consolidated Schools 2810 N. Swan St., Silver City N.M. 88061 575-956-2000 www.silverschools.org Cobre Consolidated School District PO Box 1000, Bayard, N.M. 88023 575-537-4000 www.cobre.k12.nm.us

Charter Schools:

Aldo Leopold Charter School 1422 U.S. Highway 180 E., Silver City N.M. 88061 575-538-2547

Private Schools:

Guadalupe Montessori School 1731 N. Alabama St., Silver City, N.M. 88061 575-388-3343 www.guadalupemontessori.org

College:

Western New Mexico University 1000 W. College Ave., Silver City, N.M. 88062 http://wnmu.edu

L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

GOVERNMENT

Prospectors lobby group works for Silver City BY STEVE CHIAN G

“Grant County receives $1.226 million in capital outlay” – Grant County Beat headline. Whenever one sees a headline like the above in Grant County, whether it’s funding the Cancer Center of the Gila Regional Medical Center or upgrading fire-fighting vehicles for a Grant County town, chances are, the Grant County Prospectors have contributed greatly to the effort. Founded in 1978, the Grant County Prospectors could well be the first regional advocacy group in New Mexico. “We wanted to get Silver City recognized in the state of New Mexico, that we were part of the state,” said one of the original and recently retired Prospectors, Mike Trujillo. Today the Prospectors’ expanded mission is “to educate policy makers and community members about the economic, community development and legislative needs in Grant County.” Its efforts are a year-round commitment that involves planning, hosting interim legislative committees and partnering to promote capital improvement plan training workshops. “Prospectors has become a model organization and other State Legislators want to create this kind of support in their districts,” said Prospectors President Bruce Ashburn. Ashburn said the group is a nonpartisan and nonpolitical entity. It advocates for the local community by educating and creating awareness among legislators and the general public of issues facing the community and the importance of aligning public policy to address the need. Every December, Prospectors members hold a legislative communications forum. The Forum was

created at the request of local legislators to provide opportunity for county citizens to have an open dialogue with them about community needs and projects. The forum results in summary notebooks for each of the area legislators and sets the agenda for “Grant County Day at the Roundhouse” event held during the legislative session in Santa Fe. At this annual event, Prospectors, county and municipal leaders, and civic group representatives meet in person with our cabinet secretaries, House and Senate Leadership, and the governor to discuss Grant County topics. Some of the top issues raised in 2016 are: 1. Address delayed governmental agency processing and funding 2. Fund capital outlay needs and regional fresh water storage 3. Support infrastructure, programs and safety for education 4. Community health 5. Economic development 6. Rural services The recent “Grant County Day at the Roundhouse” was very well attended with more than 80 Grant County leaders in attendance. Members of the Prospectors are all volunteers and the group is funded by membership dues and donations. Officers of the group serve one-year terms. Membership reflects the diversity of the local community. The Prospectors has a limit of 50 members and currently has 38. The organization values diversity and welcomes potential members that are passionate about the community. For information, visit grantcountyprospectors.org.

Elected Officials GRANT COUNTY COMMISSION

Address: P.O. Box 898, Silver City, N.M. 88062 Gabriel Ramos District 1 575-574-0021 gramos@grantcountynm. com Brett Kasten District 2 575-574-0022 bakasten@grantcountynm. com

Ron Hall District 3 575-574-0023 575-574-2711 (cell) rhall@grantcountynm.com

SILVER CITY CITY COUNCIL Mayor Ken Ladner 575-534-6346 mayor@silvercitynm.gov

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Cynthia Ann Bettison District 1 575-597-7031 councilordistrict1@silvercitynm.gov Lynda D. Aiman-Smith District 2 575-597-7032 575-519-1680 (cell) councilordistrict2@silvercitynm.gov Jose A. Ray, Jr. District 3 575-313-4944 councilordistrict3@silvercitynm.gov Guadalupe “Lupe” Cano 575-597-7034 District 4 councilordistrict4@silvercitynm.gov

CRITTERS

Area agencies take pets in hand BY JACKYE MEIN E C K E

Many visitors and residents of Silver City consider the community to be dog friendly. Heidi Ogas, president of the board of High Desert Humane Society (HDHS), agrees with their assessment. She points out the many wilderness hiking trails and the Conali Field Dog Park located on the Western New Mexico University campus. Ogas said Grant County and Silver City don’t have their own individual animal control facilities. She explained how HDHS fulfills multiple, sometimes conflicting, roles. It contracts with the city and Grant County to house impounded animals, while still working to fulfill the role of the Humane Society. She said Silver City has two spay and neuter programs: HALT and SNAP. HALT is associated with HDHS, while SNAP (Spay Neuter Action Program) is part of a national program. Through these programs, the animal intake numbers have been reduced by 40 percent, Ogas said. Currently, HDHS is implementing a microchip program to improve the number of animals returned to owners. It also offers low-cost rabies vaccination clinics, education programs and aid with pet training. One longterm goal of HDHS is to raise funds to create an adoption center. “We are the no-kill and no-cage sanctuary,” Laurie

West said about her operation, Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue and Sanctuary, located on several acres outside of Silver City in Arenas Valley. West focuses her efforts on rescuing abused and abandoned dogs. Her Sanctuary serves a 100-mile radius and is open for adoptions by appointment. However, like most rescues, she usually has more need than space. “We train emotional support dogs for senior citizens,” she said. She then takes these specially trained dogs to visit the local hospital. She encourages potential adopters to invite the dog home for a “sleepover” for several days to get to know their companion before they adopt. West takes extra care to get a good match between owner and dog. “Laurie West’s heart is in the right place,” said Dr. Beth Vesco-Mock, director of the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley (ASCMV). “She works really hard and runs a respectable rescue.” Over the years, West rescued more than 30 dogs from the ASCMV. “It is our fault and our responsibility,” Ogas said of the plight of animals in Grant County. The combined effort of community leadership, businesses and volunteers has paid off as Silver City has earned the label of animal friendly.

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CRITTERS

Taking care of the dogs SILVER CITY ANIMAL ORDINANCES

• Silver City residents are permitted two dogs or two cats or one of each to each dwelling unit. Dogs and cats must be licensed annually. A residential kennel license is allowed. • It is unlawful for any person to permit dogs or cats to run at large in or on any street, sidewalk or other public property, or upon private property without the permission of the owner. • Dogs must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet or contained within a fenced area with adequate exercise space. There are restrictions on tethering or chaining dogs. • No person shall allow an animal to defecate upon public property or upon any private property other than the property of the owner of the animal without immediately and thoroughly disposing of the feces in a sanitary fashion. • Keeping livestock and game birds is restricted.

SHELTERS & RESCUES Grant County Animal Shelter 3050 Cougar Way, Silver City, NM 88061 575-538-9261 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:30p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday. Email: hdhs@gilanet.com Website: www.highdeserthumane.org The High Desert Humane Society operates the shelter which serves as an impoundment organization for Silver City and the unincorporated areas of Grant County, housing animals taken into custody by city and county animal control officers. It offers a spay and neuter program called HALT that is not based on income, reduced rates

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on animal vaccinations, education programs, pet training services and pet cremations services. It is a 501(c)(3).

uppy Dog Ranch No-Kill Rescue and P Sanctuary 27 Twin Sister Creek Rd., Arenas Valley, N.M. 88022 575-313-7232 Hours: Open by appointment only, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Puppy Dog Ranch is a no kill and no cage facility in the Arenas Valley that serves communities within a 100-mile radius. Puppy Dog Ranch rescues abused, abandoned, neglected and injured dogs living in kill shelters and deemed unadoptable because they are considered to have special needs with medical or emotional challenges and expenses. It rehabilitates and adopts these animals when possible or allows them to live out their lives at the ranch. This 501(c)(3) also is a United Way Charity.

Conali Field Dog Park Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset. On the campus of Western New Mexico University at the corner of N. Virginia and W. 13th streets.

SNAP P.O. Box 1958, Silver City, N.M. 88062 575-388-5194; 575-297-9734; 575-519-2762 Email: cbreenlee@yahoo.com SNAP provides dog and cat spay/neuter assistance available to low-income persons in Grant, Catron and Hidalgo counties. Surgeries are performed at four partnering veterinary clinics in Silver City. Clients must call to make arrangements and a co-pay is required.

HORSE TALK

Horsin’in around Silver City BY SUSIE OUDERK IRK

Built into Silver City’s inherent wildness is a natural connection to the horse, one of America’s iconic symbols of freedom. A visit to Silver City begs for some kind of contact with horses, and there are a number of ways to do this. Trail riding is often the first thing on the list for adventure seekers, and WolfHorse Outfitters fills the bill. In business for 19 years, WolfHorse offers rides expertly designed to concentrate on the surrounding environment, plant and animal identification methods as well as seasonal foraging techniques. Accommodating all levels of experience from beginners to advanced riders who just want to “cover some ground” — from the occasional to the seasonal hiker — a customized adventure promises to enhance any vacation. Owner Joe Saenz has 40 years of experience guiding trail rides and teaching riding lessons in bareback and western. Saenz is of Warm Springs Apache ancestry with extensive experience in horseback and backpacking expeditions throughout the American Rocky Mountains including Canada, Mexico´s Sierra Madre and Alaskan Brooks Range. WolfHorse horses are mostly Indian Quarter Horses, bred on the reservation for generations to be sure-footed and trustworthy.

A basic ride is $40 per hour for the first two hours of home base camp rides, and the price drops after two hours. A three-hour ride costs $90, and a full-day ride with lunch is $105. Saenz also can accommodate wilderness pack trips that take several days. Visit the website at wolfhorseoutfitters.com or call 575-534-1379. For those wanting riding instruction, Jeanette Hamilton at Bar J Boarding and Training teaches riders the nuts and bolts of riding for beginner through advanced equestrians. Bar J can be reached at 575-388-1038. Writer and horseman Scott Thomson and his wife, Alana Heckert, specialize in natural horsemanship in a one-on-one environment for riders with their own horses, and he’s always willing to travel to other facilities and private barns to teach lessons. Although they don’t board horses at their facility, the couple occasionally hold a small clinic or demonstration,

Where to ride Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch 1 Wall Lake Road Winston, N.M. 87943-9000 575-772-5157

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HORSE TALK Thomsen said, because many horsemen around Silver City want to audit and watch. He works with riders in every discipline and has been a practitioner of natural horsemanship for more than 20 years, the last 10 in Silver City. The couple can be reached at 575-388-1830. For something a little more specific, Bob and Flo Hall’s Foothills Arabians is a Silver City institution specializing in the breeding, raising and training of Arabian horses. Foothills also is popular with area trail riders for boarding. The Halls have operated Foothills Arabians since 1983 on 90 acres off Cottage San Road one mile north of Highway 180 west.

“We have several large pastures and an assortment of large pens with shelters which allow us to keep horses so that they all have running room,” Bob Hall said. “We have been breeding quality purebred Arabians of Polish and Varian bloodlines since the beginning and we have also always welcomed horses of all breeds as boarders.” The pens and loafing areas are cleaned daily, weather permitting, and the horses are fed the best quality feed money can buy twice a day, Hall said. Many of Foothills’ customers want to ride the great New Mexico outdoors and “we still have several ways of riding directly to the Gila National Forest boundary from our place,” he said. Foothills Arabians may be reached at 575-654-6431.

For the horse-minded Back Country Horseman If you’re lucky enough to own a horse, Silver City offers an active trail-riding family in the Gila Chapter of Back Country Horsemen, a group whose mission is to assure continued reasonable use of pack and saddle stock on public lands. The group volunteers to maintain trails in the Gila National Forest, working with the local National Forest Service office, and averages 100 miles of clearing and maintaining trails that need attention. The Gila Chapter works to make trails safe again for all trail users including hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, hunters and firefighters. New members are always welcome. The monthly meetings are generally on the second Wednesday of every month starting at 6 p.m. in the conference room at Gila Regional Medical Center. For information, visit www. natrc.org.

Services for horses One very important detail that affects horses and

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their owners is the availability of good veterinarians and farriers. Because every horse owner has their own opinion, a short list follows, with the caveat that many other competent professionals also live and work in the Silver City area.

Farriers • Vince Vesely, 575-388-0302 • Tammie Baker at The Shoe Fits Farrier Service-on Facebook • Kris Goris (specializes in barefoot hoof care), 575-590-1444.

Veterinarians • Dr. Clay Alred, Arenas Valley Animal Clinic, 575-388-1893 • Dr. Britton Bradberry, Advanced Vet Care, 575-388-1503 • Dr. Kevin Brown, Town and Country Vet Clinic, 575-538-3700.

HORSE TALK

Horse rescue provides safe haven

Horse rescue is a vital part of Silver City’s eclectic persona, and End of the Road Ranch, which has been in existence since 2005 as a private rescue, does its part. The mission of the End of the Road Ranch is to rescue abused, neglected or endangered equines and provide them with the proper care and good quality of life until a loving home can be found for them. “Our goal is to ensure that these animals be homed in a forever home,” said owner Carol Johnson. “Equines, as well

as other animals, are not disposable and we are dedicated to ensuring that these animals are matched with a home that will meet their needs as well as their adopters.” The rescue facility is located on 15 acres just out of the Silver City limits, where the horses have plenty of room to be horses. They live in herds that are determined by temperament, physical condition and sex, Johnson said. For information, visit www.endoftheroadranchnm.com or www.facebook.com/eotrr.

ood in Sil ver Ci G s i Life i t will still be good in 20 t y And

18!

Reserve your spot in next year’s Life is Good in Silver City magazine! Contact advertising coordinator Pam Rossi at 575-524-8061. L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

GETTING OUT

Living on the edge BY ELVA K. ÖSTE RRE IC H

“The Gila River, which runs 640 miles from east to west, was the jumping-off point for all the prehistoric people of the Southwest,” amateur archaeologist Regina Mueller told Desert Exposure in 2005. The cliff-dwelling Mogollon people came to Cliff Dweller Canyon, 44 miles north of Silver City, about 1280 AD. As little as 20 years later, after creating what is today one of southern New Mexico’s most popular tourist attractions, they vanished. The trail from the mouth of the rugged but beautiful canyon up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings follows a stream, up the steep, rocky slope along the cliff side and into three of the six caves which once were home to the Tularosa Mogollon community. The one-mile trail lets visitors experience the natural environment that sustained the people, discover the caves carved over time by nature and takes explorers through original rooms with some timber lintels and support beams still intact. Rock art and other personal details can still be found.

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The walk from the area at the base of Cliff Dweller Canyon, to the top of the trail where tours of the cliff dwellings begin, takes 20 minutes to half an hour, depending on fitness and stamina. Visitors can tour the cliff dwellings or join one of the full guided interpretive

More Information Directions: Take State Highway 15 north from Silver City. Although the distance from Silver City is only 44 miles, the travel time is approximately two hours due to twisting and winding mountain terrain. An alternative route from Silver City is along State Highway 35 and goes through the Mimbres Valley. Even though it is 25 miles longer than Highway 15, it is less winding, wider, more level, and easier to travel; therefore it takes about the same amount of time to drive. NOTE: If your vehicle, travel trailer, or RV is over 20 feet in length, you should take N.M. Highway 35. Contact: Visitor Center: 575-536-9461

of the national monument. “It’s a challenge. For some people it’s a spiritual challenge. It sets the tone for the cliff dwellings themselves.” And why did the Mogollon leave their carefully constructed cliff dwellings after such a brief time? Again, no one knows for certain, but it’s likely they exhausted the limited resources of the canyon area and had no choice but to move to greener pastures. “They showed us how they could use this area,” Mueller said, “and then they showed us what happens when you overuse it.”

GETTING OUT

tours. Tours are seasonal and start at the visitor center. The monument is open 365 days a year. On the busiest holidays and weekends, sometimes it’s too crowded for the official tours so, instead, park service staff position themselves in the cliff dwellings to answer questions and make sure people stay hydrated. For some visitors, the rugged uphill walk to the cliff dwellings — a total climb of 180 feet — is as important an experience as seeing the ancient dwellings high up in the canyon. “If we had a button that said ‘I Survived the Gila Cliff Dwellings,’ people would buy it,” said a former employee

LANDMARKS ALMA

Cooney Tomb and Mineral

Gila High Country

Bursum Rd.

Snow Lake

MOGOLLON Willow Creek

159

Middle Fork Gila River West Fork Gila River

The Catwalk of Whitewater

Gila Cliff Dwellings Visitor Center

Gila Cliff Dwellings

GLENWOOD

West Fork Gila River

The Mongollon Mountains, Gila National Forest & Gila Wilderness

Sacaton Road

Nature Conservancy

Arizona

Gila River

IN NT

k LLake Roberts

153

152

VIDE

The Black Range & Aldo Leopold Wilderness

293

BUCKHORN

AL DI ENT

CLIFF

Mimbres Valley

GILA Signal Peak

211

PIÑOS ALTOS Lake

Fort Bayard Wildlife Refuge

180

Ft. Bayard

SILVER CITY Gila River Bird Habitat

TYRONE

ARENAS VALLEY

Hanover

152

356

I-10 Lordsburg and Tucson

Emory Pass

San Lorenzo

Chino Mine

BAYARD Kneeling Nun

Lower Mimbres River

HURLEY Grant County Airport

Fayewood

180

▲

I-25 Truth or Consequences

152

SANTA CLARA

Tyrone Mine

Upper Mimbres River

Bear B Canyon Lake

City of Rocks

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HEALTH

Medical services abound BY STEVE CHIAN G

Anchored by the historic Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC), along with Silver Health Care, Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) and the Southwest Bone and Joint Institute, Silver City has long been considered a premiere medical service center in Southern New Mexico. GRMC was first established in 1883 as Ladies Hospital in Silver City. In 1983, a new 68-bed hospital was completed at the current site and the hospital was officially named the Gila Regional Medical Center. The center now features 24/7 ambulance and emergency services, state-ofthe-art operating rooms that provide surgical services to southwestern New Mexico, as well as magnetic imaging equipment. A recently opened cancer center hosts an advanced radiation treatment system, The Varian Trilogy Linear Accelerator. Originally founded by Dr. John O. Dell and Dr. Samuel D. Dye in 1975, Silver Health Care has grown into a multispecialty group offering a broad range of quality medical services, with 12 physicians (including internists, pediatricians and family practitioners), a podiatrist, four

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nurse practitioners and five physician assistants. Silver Health Care also operates an urgent care walk-in clinic. HMS has been a rural community health service provider for many years. In addition to comprehensive health care for the whole family, HMS is currently the only health service provider that offers dental services. It is also the only provider that offers a 24/7 mental health crisis hotline and psychiatric services to both adults and children. In 2015, a non-clinical division of HMS, Center

More Information • Gila Regional Medical Center – www.grmc.org • Silver Health Care – www.silverhealthcare.org • Hidalgo Medical Services – www.hms-nm.org • SW Center for Health Innovation – www.swchi.org • Southwest Bone and Joint Institute – www.southwestboneandjoint.com • Dr. Gregory Koury DPC – www.Ziafamilyhealthcare.com

Long time Silver City physician and Gila Regional Medical chief of staff Dr. Gregory Koury offers a medical service that has become almost extinct in the country; DPC or Direct Physician Care. Koury’s DPC practice, Zia Health Care, does not accept insurance of any kind and you will not need insurance to obtain medical care. If you have a letter proving you are under direct physician care, you will legally not be required to have health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

HEALTH

for Health Innovations (CHI), spun off to become an independent nonprofit organization. Through advocacy, education, policy and programs, CHI is now at the forefront of improving community health for all people, especially those who are underserved. Founded by board-certified orthopedic surgeon Brian Robinson in 1999, the Southwest Bone and Joint Institute provides a full range of orthopedic services including orthopedic surgery at the Gila Regional Medical surgical center, imaging, rehab and sports medicine.

Body, Mind and Spirit

Soothing balm from the desert sun BY DONNA CLAYTO N L AW D E R

Integrative medicine, incorporating ancient healing traditions, such as herbalism, into modern Western medical practice, is a growing industry. Silver City residents and healers are diving right in in a variety of ways. Master herbalist Monica Rude has been practicing for 27 years in the Gila. Rude compares the many aspects of herbalism to the petals of the daisy-like yerba mansa flower. An exclusively southwestern herb, the plant was used by Native Americans as an all-heal, a remedy for many ailments; modern local herbalists prize for its anti-viral, -bacterial and -fungal qualities, among other things. A modern herbalist needs to keep many things in mind these days, Rude says, not just the remedies – like the many petals of the yerba mansa. “There are the legislative issues, what the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is up to,” Rude said. “An herbalist today needs to keep abreast of what’s going on legislatively, to protect his or her practice.” Another “petal” is that of ethical wildcrafting, the responsible harvesting of wild plants for use in herbal concoctions including tinctures to be taken internally; ointments, salves and creams to be applied to the skin; dried herbs to be steeped as teas, or pulverized and placed in capsules for consumption. Teaching is another petal on Rude’s theoretical flower. Far from the “take two and call me in the morning” approach of yesteryear’s family doctor, treatment with herbs is more effective, Rude said, “when the client is aware of the relationship between health and diet and lifestyle choices, the expected results of the herbal medicines in the body, and participates in treatment in an educated and

thoughtful manner.” Rude was a nurse on the east coast for more than 20 years, working in New York and at Massachusetts General Hospital. “I was very focused,” she said. “I knew I wanted to be a nurse since I was in the 5th grade. I never went through that crisis about ‘direction’ that many young people face. I always knew.” If it seems a leap from the allopathic world of hardcore nursing to harvesting plants for natural teas and soothing balms, Rude connects the dots. “I quit nursing and got into organic gardening in a big way,” she said. In addition to the bulk herbs she sells to Bear Creek Herbs in Silver City, Rude sells products through her website (www.desertwoman.net), as well as through the Silver City Food Coop, and the weekly Farmers Market in Silver City. Blending organic plants into healing products, incorporating her modern nurses mind into an ancient tradition of healing, have brought Rude a satisfying new direction for her life’s work and groundedness. “The garden is my force, my inspiration,” she said, of not only what she does, but how she lives these days. “It’s not just where I get my herbs, but my centering.”

Monica Rude Desert Woman Botanicals PO Box 263, Gila, N.M. 88038 575-535-2860 info@desertwoman.net

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HEALTH

Homeless services,

domestic violence victim services in Silver City BY CHRISTOPHE C H IN O

There are several resources depending on each individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s situation, gender and age available to those in Silver City.

Silver City Gospel Mission

The Gospel Mission, 111 S. Texas St., composed of a thrift store, soup kitchen and food pantry does all they can to help those in need.

The thrift store, through a clothing bank, offers $15 a month to singles and families in need in order to buy clothing and other supplies that the thrift store offers. The clothing bank is open from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The soup kitchen tries to feed as many hungry mouths as possible, depending on the amount of food available which directly correlates with the number of donations

SupportServices Your Total Health. Our Total Commitment. Call today - (888) 271-3596 www.hmsnm.org

Aging & Long-Term Services Resource Center Toll Free: 1-800-432-2080 American Red Cross 575-526-2631 Community Action Agency 575-523-1639 Toll Free: 1-800-657-8967 Energy Sense Program, Grant County Joint Office of Sustainability 3031 Hwy 180 E Silver City, N.M. 575-654-5117 HMS Family Support Services 110 W. 11th St. Silver City, 575-534-0248

Income Support Division State of New Mexico Human Services Department 3088 32nd St. Bypass Suite A Silver City, NM 88061 575-538-2948 Toll free: 1-800-331-7311 Social Security Administration 575-523-0771, Toll free: 1-800-772-1213

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Sierra House

The Sierra House is a two-bedroom home located next door to the Silver City Gospel Mission, and is under the same management as the mission. Housing is offered by application and only to women and children. The house can hold up to eight people, and is open yearround. The amount of time that a person can stay at the home is determined on a case-by-case basis. There is additional shelter offered to males who qualify, and that is available from November through March. Randy Salars, the executive director of the Silver City Gospel Mission, has made it clear that funding has kept the mission from offering as much as they would like to. “These are really the only resources that Silver City has for the homeless,” Salars said. “A lot more men than women are homeless, but we don’t have the room to shelter them all.”

Both the mission and housing are reliant on donations and fundraising, and the management is actively seeking state funding to expand their services.

HEALTH

and funds raised during that particular time period. The soup kitchen offers breakfast from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, and lunch daily from noon to 1p.m. The food pantry is open 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. The pantry offers “Food Pantry Boxes” and also distributes government commodities. The Silver City Gospel Mission may be reached at 575388-5071.

El Refugio

El Refugio shelter is available for women and their children who are domestic violence victims. The shelter offers rooms for eight to nine families, with one family per room. A family can stay at the shelter up to 30 days. If more time is needed, an extension can be reviewed on a case-bycase basis. El Refugio may be reached at 575-538-2125.

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VETERANS SERVICES

Grant County veterans remember the forgotten BY ELVA K. ÖSTE RRE IC H

When Armando Amador deployed to Vietnam and had been there for 26 days, he was on his way to a fire base and spotted a guy who looked familiar marching with a platoon going in another direction. He called out a name, “Angel,” but the guy didn’t respond. Then Amador called his friend’s nickname, “Anke!” and the man looked up. The old friends, both having gone to Cobre High School, greeted one another and spoke briefly. The friend had been there only two days. Amador wanted to sit down and talk for a while. “I needed to talk to somebody,” he said. The friend said he had to go, the platoon was marching out, but he would be back in two days. He asked Amador to provide the beer and they would sit and have a long talk. Amador had the beer waiting. But when Angel Quevedo

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came back, he was dead. “I got to put him in a body bag,” Amador said. Amador lost another school buddy, David Borunda, a little later, at home in Grant County, to a car accident possibly related to post traumatic stress disorder before PTSD was a name for something. The loss of his friends led Amador on a long journey of leadership. He and others started the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter No. 358 in Silver City in 1991 where he has served as president all but two years since. Amador’s dream was to honor those lost, including his old schoolmates, with a place to remember them and the concept of the Forgotten Veterans Memorial Park. Land acquiring efforts began in 1992, and, after a big community push the first wall went up in 1999. Since then things just came together, one step at a time, with the threads being tied up as everyone worked to keep

peaceful park path. People often tell Amador the park is a spiritual, peaceful place. For the Vietnam veterans who built it and maintain it, the park is also something else. “It’s part of the healing process for us,” Amador said. For information, or for a tour of the park, contact Amador at 575-649-5064 or park caretaker David Pratesi at 575-537-3194. Directions: Turn north on Fort Bayard Road off of U.S. Highway 180 and the park will be on the left where the Huey helicopter can be seen above the trees, the drive is just a little beyond the park before the Fort Bayard Medical Center. Fort Bayard Road is about nine miles East of Silver City.

VETERANS SERVICES

building. A sculpture, three airy green metal leafy stems, sits with three flagpoles behind it near the original wall. A huge lava rock sits next to the sculpture and pole holding a torch stands near and is lit for special occasions. “The three stems represent life,” Amador said. “The large rock stands for the heat of combat. The flame stands for everlasting life.” Two evergreens also stand in the area, they stand for Quevado and Borunda in Amador’s mind. Since that first wall went up in 1999, other silent memorials have been added. There is a 9/11 memorial flagpole, a sculpted POW/MIA empty chair and table with a rose and other items, a life-sized statue of Jesus embracing a soldier and a real Huey helicopter – donated by Holloman Air Force Base – installed on a pole above the

Veterans Services Rural Veterans Coordination Program The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) created the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot (RVCP) grant program to support Veterans and their families who reside in rural and/or underserved areas of the country. The program is to aid veterans with the transition to civilian life in one or more of the following areas: Increasing coordination of health care and benefits for veterans; increasing availability of high quality medical and mental health services; providing assistance to families of transitioning veterans; women veterans’ issues and concerns; and transportation.

call the clinic at 575-538-2921. No emergency care is available at this facility. For after-hours assistance, call 1-866-862-7863, or for emergency care, call 911. For information about enrollment in the Silver City CBOC, call the Eligibility and Enrollment Office for the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System at 505-265-1711, Ext. 2741.

New Mexico Department of Veterans Services Veterans Service Officer Bradley Brock 1211 N Hudson St Silver City, NM 88061 575-538-2377

Angelina Trujillo Veterans Outreach Coordinator New Mexico Department of Veteran Services 11990 US HWY 180 PO Box 394 Santa Clara, NM 88026 Cell: 505-469-3330

New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Services The Silver City Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) is designed to deliver primary care services to eligible military veterans. Services include blood draws (by appointment only), EKGs (electrocardiograms), evaluations by doctors, routine lab tests, social work, and mental health services. The clinic is located at 2950 Leslie Road in Silver City. The Silver City CBOC is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and closed Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays. For appointments,

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VETERANS SERVICES

Fort Bayard

celebrates 150 years in 2016 BY ELVA K. ÖSTE RRE IC H

The amazing history of Fort Bayard, eight miles East of Silver City in Santa Clara, includes tuberculosis treatment, Buffalo Soldiers, new rifle testing, battling the cold and the heat, kindnesses and abuse. Established in 1866 to protect settlers from the Apache, in 1886, following the capture of Geronimo, the fort became home to an Army tuberculosis hospital and research center. In 1900, the fort was transferred to the Surgeon General’s Department and in 1922 a new hospital was built and the fort became part of the Veterans Bureau. The War

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Department closed the Fort Bayard sanatorium in 1920 as part of a consolidation program, and the Public Health Service briefly took over the facility. In 1922, the Veterans Bureau moved into the fort, designated Veterans Hospital Number 55. The Veterans Bureau became part of the newly created Veterans Administration, or “VA,” in 1930, when the government also established what is now Fort Bayard National Cemetery. In World War II, Fort Bayard had another job and became a place to hold 100 German prisoners of war. Today, the rebuilt hospital at the site has been torn down,

VETERANS SERVICES but a new Fort Bayard Medical Center stands nearby still taking care of people. Fort Bayard today is home to some 88 stately and empty buildings, the parade grounds with a buffalo soldier statue monument and perhaps a ghost or two. Walking through the streets of the fort is like stepping into another time.

A 150th birthday celebration is planned for August 2016. The Fort Bayard Museum, located on the west side of the Parade Ground, is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Monday April to September. For more information call 575956-3295 or 575-388-9123.

HONORING OUR HERITAGE

The Natural & Cultural History of the Gila FEATURED SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Audrey Peterman Author of

Legacy on the Land

Phil Connors Author of

Fire Season

Hakim Bellamy

Inaugural Albuquerque Poet Laureate

Guided hikes, kayaking, birding, workshops & more!

SEPTEMBER 22 - 25, 2016 gilaconservation.org

EVERY Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday at 10 am Thursday evenings at 8 pm Podcasts available at: h�p://gmcr.org/category/earth-ma�ers

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SENIOR LIVING

Fort Medical Center Bayard provides three-way services BY CHRISTOPH E C H IN O

Fort Bayard Medical Center has three distinct branches of services. The facility provides services to those who no longer can care for themselves and those who need rehabilitative services for drug addictions and other mental health issues. The Fort Bayard State Veterans Home is also located on site. FBMC, located at 41 Fort Bayard Road, in Santa Clara, offers care for those who can no longer provide their own care without assistance. Patients at FBMC can be suffering from behavioral problems, personality disorders diabetes, heart problems, atherosclerotic cardio-vascular disease, organic brain problems and cerebral vascular disease. The center is equipped with 200 beds, with varied levels of admission requirements and fees depending on individual cases. “We gear a lot of our care not only to long-term patients, but also to people who need skilled care,” FBMC’s admissions director Shannon Contreras said. “Not only do we serve those who need long term help, but also those who we can get back to their homes at some point. I think that’s something that really sets as apart from other longterm facilities.” Yucca Lodge (labyrinth pictured above), located on FBMC’s campus, centers on assisting those with chemical addiction, and can house up to 18 residents. The clinic offers various services to residents including group

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therapy, individual counseling, relapse prevention and clinical assessment and therapy. In order to be admitted to the facility a patient must want to enter voluntarily with no pending legal obligations; applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The veterans home sector of FBMC assists veterans and their families. The home can house up to 40 residents. The services provided and types of needs the residents have are similar to those at FBMC but reserved only for honorably discharged veterans, veteran spouses, or parents of children who were killed while serving in the armed forces. All of the facilities on FBMC’s campus are also monitored by the state government, something Contreras attributes to the amount of applicants all of the facilities receive. “We are always fairly busy,” she said. “Since we are monitored so closely by the state, people want their loved ones to come here since they understand this is where they will receive the best treatment.” Each of these facilities offer their services not only to those in the region, but extend their reach to anyone in the United States who feels that one of the facilities will best fit their needs or the needs of someone close to them. The main number to reach any of the facilities on campus is 575-537-8600.

For county residents 60 years of age and older, the Grant County Senior Services Department offers a range of programs and services allowing senior citizens to meet, interact, dine together, get in-home meals and receive transportation services, all at no cost. Whether you need transportation to an upcoming medical appointment, an in-home meal or just an excuse to get out of the house for a meal with friendly neighbors. Lunch is served at any of our centers Monday - Friday at 11:30 a.m. Different events 2610 N. Silver St. Silver City, N.M. 575-388-2523 Senior Services Director Terry Trujillo In-Home Administrator Charlene Fletcher

or programs occur at different days and times so please contact the center nearest you for further information. Services currently offered include transportation, meals at the senior centers, home-delivered meals and senior employment. No financial qualification is required for these programs, but registration is required for and of the services. You can call any of the centers or the department office for further information:

Silver City Senior Center 205 W. Victoria St. Silver City, N.M. 575-388-2545

Mimbres Senior Center 2620 N.M. Highway 35 Mimbres, N.M. 575-536.9990 Gila Senior Center 403 Hwy 211 Gila, N.M. 575-535-2888

Santa Clara Senior Center 107 N. East St. Santa Clara, N.M. 575-537-5254

Hurley Community Center 299 Carasco St. Hurley, N.M. 575.527.5756

Senior Centers Grant County has five senior centers:

SENIOR SERVICES

Senior Services

Turning 65 or older? Have questions about Medicare? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t call 1-800-I-DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T-GIVE-A-HOOT for answers.

CALL YOUR LOCAL AGENT NOW!!!

(575) 956-6394 or 1-888-565-9556 Tom Blanchard & Jessica Hotchkiss Downtown 301N. Bullard St., Silver City, NM Let a local agent help you get Medicare Ready! L I FE I S GOOD I N SI LV E R C I TY 2016- 2017 C OM M U NI TY GU I DE

SENIOR LIVING

Nursing Homes And Assisted Living To report abuse/neglect/exploitation in nursing homes: Department of Health Incident Reporting Hotline Toll Free: 1-800-752-8649 Ombudsman Services Phone 575-647-2023 Toll Free: 1-800-762-8690 www.nmaging.state. nm.us Provides assistance with concerns or complaints about the care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Santa Clara Assisted Living

SUBSIDIZED HOUSING

300 D Ave. Santa Clara 575-537-3077

Fort Bayard Medical Center/State Veterans Nursing Home Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation Center Phone: 575-537-3302 Toll Free: 1-800-541-6966

Millieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Assisted Living 600 N. Hudson Silver City 575-534-9172 www.milliescenter.com

Silver City Care Center Skilled Nursing Facility

3514 N. Fowler Ave. Silver City, 575-388-3127

Sunset Vista - Assisted Living 3650 N. Fowler Ave. Silver City 575-538-9095

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Cantada Creek 2850 Pinos Altos Rd. Silver City 575-388-3004 Pinon Park Rowland Development Company P.O. Box 2966 Silver City, NM 88062 575-313-1700 Bayard Housing Authority P.O. Box 768 Bayard 575-537-2296 Casa Linda Apartments 100 E. 17th St. Silver City 575-388-3755 Housing Authority - Region V 2545 N. Silver St. Silver City 575-388-1974 Housing And Urban Development (Hud) Santa Clara Housing Authority 214 N. Mineral Santa Clara 575-537-3041

PATIENTS

highest quality care for our patients. It is what makes all of us at Silver Health CARE a team entirely committed to you.

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Advertiser Index The Bedroom & Guitar Shoppe...................27

Hotchkiss Insurance.........................................63

Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate.......23

KURU 98.1 FM Earth Matters...........................61

Datura Therapeutic Day Spa.........................57

Memorial Medical Center.............................. 68

Eagle Mail Services............................................. 9

Mimbres Region Arts Council........................35

First United Methosit Church..........................18

New Church of the Southwest Desert........18

Gila Regional Medical Center......................... 2

Silver City Food Co-op....................................57

Gila Hike & Bike.................................................. 41

Silver Health Care............................................. 65

Gila River Festival................................................61

Victoria Chick/Cow Trail Art Studio.............35

Guadalupe’s..........................................................19

Zia Access Healthcare.....................................67

Hidalgo Medical Services.............................. 56

Your Guide to Government

CATRON

DOÑA ANA

SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO

2016

GRANT

Legislative GUIDE HIDALGO

LINCOLN

LUNA

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SOCORRO

JA N UA RY 2 0 1 6 | L AS C R U C E S B U L L E T I N

S O U T H W E S T N E W M E X I C O L E G I S L AT I V E G U I D E

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ZIA Family Healthcare is now ZIA ACCESS HEALTHCARE, a Direct Primary Care. We are the last solo, privately owned Family Practice office in the area. We strive to provide quality healthcare to our patients. We are proud to continue our commitment by making the fundamental change to a Direct Primary Care. These changes take the for-profit insurance companies and the government OUT of the office exam room. We are reviving the patient/physician relationship that is vital to quality patient care. By becoming a MEMBER of ZIA Access Healthcare you have the benefits of: Easy ACCESS to scheduling an appointment with Dr. Koury. LITTLE TO NO wait time in the office for your appointment. LONGER appointment times to address ALL your concerns. 24/7 ACCESS to Dr. Koury by phone and text. AVOIDING urgent care and ER evaluations. We accomplish all this with a very affordable $39 per member per month and a booking fee of $20 for an appointment. We do not participate with any insurance companies, Medicaid carriers or Medicare. We do not file any claims. Non-members are also WELCOME for urgent care, other services and treatments for a very reasonable cost. Our ‘A la Carte’ menu is on the website and posted at the office. Just remember non-members do not have all the benefits listed above and cost for some services are more than what a member will pay. MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS BENEFITS ZIA Access Healthcare will continue to provide newborn, pediatric, adult, women’s care and pregnancy care. A full spectrum Family Practice, ‘womb to tomb’, as we say. Please go to our website…www.ziaccesshc.com for more information and money saving options with membership. Please call the office with questions at 534-4299.

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