This has been a good year for legislative grants for the Village. The package of grants includes $1.65 million for fire suppression line construction and $300,000 for Angel Hill fire suppression line and water tank. This money in addition to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund grant of $500,000 will provide us with significant fire protection for the village. A number of relatively smaller grant amounts will provide for needed equipment. We have also received a $242,000+ grant from the Dennis Friends Foundation and along with $25,000 from Sandoval County Commissioner Kathryn Bruch for the new Animal Services Building that will be placed on the administrative complex. The parking lot at the complex will also be refurbished so parking will be more organized and safer for those who visit. Larry Horan, who assisted the village this year with legislative grants, will be in attendance at the next council meeting, April 25th, to make a brief presentation and answer questions from the council.
If you are dropping off glass for recycling over by Public Works south of the post office, watch out for broken glass. When you are dropping off the glass, be careful and don’t break the glass on the road. Someone could get hurt or do some damage to their tires. Village staff do clean it up but they can’t be there to monitor the bin at all times.
April 30th through May 6this the 54th Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week, created in 1969 by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks to recognize the vital and appreciated services performed by Municipal and Deputy Clerks in serving the changing needs of their communities. Typical responsibilities of the clerk’s office include maintaining official council minutes, ordinance books, and all records and documents; indexes all official actions of the council; issues licenses and permits; processes contracts and agreements; administers elections, registrations, and voting; and acts as a key liaison between local government and its citizens. Our clerk, Melanie Romero, and Deputy Clerk, Skye DeVivi, spent most of this past week at the New Mexico Clerks and Finance Officer’s Spring Certification Workshop and Spring Meeting to learn how to better serve our community.
Gather your new or gently used children’s books! This year the Corrales Children’s Book Drive will be held Saturday, April 22, through Sunday, May 7. Drop off your donations in the bright blue collection bins at Village Mercantile, Ex Novo, and at the Corrales Growers’ Market. Books will be placed in homeless shelters, city buses, laundromats, Little Free Libraries, and other places where eager young readers in need of books gather. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Corrales and the Cibola High School Key Club in support of “Read to Me, NM”.
The Corrales Growers’ Market will start the season on 4/30 from 9am – 12pm, so mark your calendars!
The Rides, Strides, and Giddy-Up Corrales Spring Recreation Fair will also be on 4/30 from 10am -1pm at the Recreation Center located at 500 Jones Road. Learn about what the recreation center has to offer, helmet fitting, bike rodeo, FREE helmet giveaways, clean your bike, bird watching, raptor/owl demonstration, fishing in the bosque, meet horses, learn how to approach horses safely, noodle pony rodeo for kids, information on safety and emergency services from the Corrales Fire Department and much more! Come and join the fun, all are welcome to attend this FREE event.
CRIME AND SAFETY UPDATE
Tuesday 4/11 a resident reported discovering a fraudulent unemployment claim had been filed in her name. The citizen does not know how or when her data was compromised. Stay vigilant about safeguarding your personal and financial information and visit this web site for information about Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud: https://www.dws.state.nm.us/IdentityTheft
Sunday 4/16 a resident reported a Drag Harrow was taken from his property.
Sunday 4/16 a grounds keeper for a resident discovered the gate to the residence open, and the lock was cut off. Upon further checking of the residence, it was discovered that a tool shed was missing numerous items, and that the glass to the front door was broken. It appeared that entry to the residence was not gained.
As a reminder, the Corrales Police Department will be partnering with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for the 2023 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 22nd. Citizens are welcome to drop off their unwanted prescription medications for safe disposal at the front entrance of the Corrales Police Department station, located at 4324 Corrales Road between 10:00am - 2:00pm. Please click on this link for more information concerning National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, home disposal methods and to find locations of year-round pharmaceutical disposal locations:
https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/index.html
HEALTH & SAFETY UPDATE:
The second COVID bivalent booster for persons 65 and older and immune compromised persons should be approved by the CDC anytime now. Once approved, The Corrales Fire will have clinics. Information will be posted on Nextdoor band on the Village website under COVID-19 Resources. The full new protocol on covid vaccines will be updated as soon as approved on the website. If you have questions, please call Fire Department Commander Tanya Lattin at 505-702-4182.
As a reminder, FREE Covid home test kits are still available at Village Hall, Corrales Fire Station, and the Corrales Library. As always, remember to wear a mask indoors (especially in crowds), social distance, wash your hands frequently and please stay home if you are feeling sick.
The wildfire season is upon us and the Spring winds this time of year do not help! We have information on ways to protect your home.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE VILLAGE:
Saturday, April 22nd – “ARCA’s Annual Geranium Celebration” at 181 East La Entrada Lane from 9-11am. Please RSVP no later than 4/14 to MCody [at] ARCASpirit.org () if you plan to attend.
Saturday, April 22nd – “John Jogensen Bluegrass Band” at the Old San Ysidro Church at 7:30pm. This concert is SOLD OUT but there may be last-minute tickets available at the door. Please arrive by 6:30pm to be put on the waiting list. We will sell as many tickets as there are seats available.
Saturday April 22nd - Corrales Police Department is partnering with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for the 2023 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Citizens are encouraged to drop off unwanted prescription medications for safe disposal at the Corrales Police Department at 4324 Corrales Road from 10am – 2pm. For more information concerning National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, please visit: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/index.html
Tuesday, April 25th – Regular Village Council Meeting @ 6:30pm.
Thursday, April 27th – Learn about volunteering opportunities and network with others for special events in the Village of Corrales at Perea’s Tijuana Bar & Restaurant from 4pm-6pm, sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Corrales.
Sunday, April 30th – Corrales Growers’ Market from 9am – 12pm.
Sunday, April 30th - Rides, Strides, and Giddy-Up Corrales Spring Recreation Fair at Parks & Rec from 10 am – 1 pm.
Registration for all Summer activities at Parks & Recreation, including swimming lessons will open May 1st @ 8:00am.
The “Corrales Art Studio Tour” will be May 6th and 7th this year and there will be 93 artists that will showcase their artwork throughout the Village. It is a fun weekend activity and the perfect opportunity to connect with Corrales artists. For more information please visit: https://corralessocietyofartists.org/studio-tour/
Please check out our Village of Corrales website to find out more about what is going on in the Village of Corrales. You can also print important forms, view our Village Ordinances, see the calendar of events and much, much more!
If you know someone who would like to receive the weekly mayor’s message electronically, please email the Village Clerk, Melanie Romero at mromero [at] corrales-nm.org () or by phone at: 505-897-0502 ext. 208.
Have a great week and enjoy this beautiful weather,
Jim Fahey
Corrales Mayor