This past week (April 14 – 20) was Animal Control Officer’s Appreciation Week. We are very thankful for our two Animal Services Officers, Catherine Keller, who has worked for the Village for over 13 years, and Bryah Lattin-Montano, who has worked for the Village for over 8 years. Cat and Bryah do an amazing job caring for animals who come to the Village lost or abandoned, and they help those animals find good homes. The new animal services kennel passed its final inspection last week, and our ASO’s are busy moving everything into the new building. Once they have settled in, we will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting, likely sometime at the beginning of May. If you see Cat or Bryah out and about in the Village, give them a friendly wave or thank them for the care they give our Village’s animal population.
Today, April 19, is Bicycle Day and the weather should be great for a ride in the Village. Mark your calendar for the Rides, Strides, and Giddy-up fair taking place at the Rec Center on April 28th from 9 AM – 4 PM. Saturday, the 20th, is Volunteer Recognition Day. This is a day for all Corraleños since everybody in the Village volunteers for something at one time or another. The Village has over 100 volunteers that donate their time to our boards and commissions and to working at our library.
There will be a council meeting on Tuesday, April 23rd at 6:30 PM. Go online to the Village web site, check out the agenda, and if anything interests you, attend Tuesday evening in person or by ZOOM. The link can be found by clicking “zoom link for Council meeting” at the bottom of the homepage. In these times when accurate information is important, it is helpful to go to the source to see what is really said and ask the questions that you may have. The council and the administration need input from the community and the community needs accurate information. If you miss the meeting, you can always visit the Village’s YouTube channel to view past meetings: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa_hvekuMBV-PhnUifsr1KA.
April is autism awareness and acceptance month. Autism affects 1 in 36 children and 1 in 45 adults. Boys are nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. It is a spectrum disorder, and symptoms, abilities, and needs can vary from person to person. Autism is not a disease or something that needs curing. It is a neurodevelopmental difference in cognition and behavior. Early intervention and having access to early screening and diagnosis can make a significant difference in their long-term functional skills. For more information or to find resources to help someone you know with autism, visit https://www.autismspeaks.org/.
It looks like we have had our last freeze, but you still need to harden the plants for a few days before you stick them in the ground. Some seeds need a soil temperature of at least 60 plus degrees to germinate. I don’t have a soil thermometer handy, but I don’t think we are there yet.
HEALTH AND SAFETY UPDATE
Do not wait until there is an emergency to prepare. Many things can and should be planned well before there is an Emergency. Planning and preparing ahead of time can help protect your family, animals, and property.
The Set part of Ready Set Go is when there is a fire near your home. You need to stay close to home, monitor weather conditions, media, and messages from local agencies, and be prepared in case an evacuation is ordered. You also do not have to wait for an evacuation to leave. If your feel the fire is close leave. Make sure Family members and neighbors know there is a fire and remind everyone of the Communications Plan and Meeting Areas you decided on in the READY phase. Gather all of your items you have pre-planned and prepared to take during an evacuation, get all animal carriers and trailers ready to load. Hook trailers to the vehicle that will be used to move them. If time allows: Move furniture to the center of room away from doors and windows, take shades and curtains of doors and windows, turn off pilot lights, gas and propane, turn of air-conditioners /swamp coolers, do not leave combustibles like patio furniture and toys near your home, either bring them inside or if you have a pool, put them in the pool. If you have pre-cut plywood to fit your attic or ground vents install them now. You can print and review the Set Checklist here
The next area of your yard to work on is Zone 2 it is 30-100 feet around your home.
- Create vegetation groups, “islands,” to break up continuous fuels around your home.
- Remove ladder fuels to create a separation between low-level vegetation and tree branches to keep fire from climbing trees.
- Remove leaf and needle debris from the yard.
- Keep grass and wildflowers under 8 inches in height.
Next week we will put out information on GO! and Zone 3. You can find all of this and more valuable information and videos at Are YOU Wildfire Ready? (wildlandfirersg.org).
UPCOMING EVENTS
SATURDAY – Mudding and spring cleaning day at the Old San Ysidro Church, 9 AM – 3 PM. Volunteers will be treated to breakfast and lunch prepared by CHS docents. Wear sunscreen and clothes that can get dirty! Don’t forget gloves and a hat. All ages are welcome.
SATURDAY – 8th Annual Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival with an Artisan Market 12 - 5 PM at Ballon Fiesta Park. The festival is family friendly. Buy tickets in advance and save at https://albuquerquefest.eventbrite.com
SUNDAY - CHS Speaker Series presents "Buried Treasures, Famous and Unusual Gravesites in New Mexico’s History,” Old San Ysidro Church 2 PM. Historian and author, Dr. Richard Melzer takes you on a “tour” of gravesites belonging to both famous and infamous characters, including Billy the Kid, Kit Carson, Mabel Dodge Luhan, Geronimo, and more. This event is free and open to the public. Please arrive early as seating capacity is limited, and saving of seats is discouraged.
SUNDAY – Earth Day Festival at Balloon Fiesta Park, 10 AM – 4 PM. More information can be found at: https://earthdayfestivalnm.com/
FRIDAY – Corrales Library Lifelong Learning Program Author Series and book signing event, Julie Emery “African Odyssey” 3 PM at Corrales Library. To register for the event, please email sandra [at] corraleslibrary.org (sandra@corraleslibrary.org).
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
- APRIL 28TH – Health and Wellness fair and Rides, Strides, and Giddy-up fair as part of ¡Viva Corrales! 9 AM – 4 PM at the Rec Center
- MAY 18TH - Village wide clean up day. Dumpsters will be available for yard waste and household trash. More information to come as we get closer to the date.
Enjoy the weather. Ride your bikes and your horses but be safe and observant of your surroundings. Automobile drivers be observant and watch out for your neighbors. Follow the posted speed limits. Leash your dog when out and about and scoop the poop.
Jim Fahey
Corrales Mayor