Photo courtesy of Janet Blair
At the January 9, 2024 regularly scheduled Village Council meeting, the Village presented Corrales Police Officer Walter Heaton with a recognition award for 37 years of service to the Village. Walter will celebrate his 38thanniversary of employment in May of this year. He represents the department at nearly every Village event, including Trunk or Treat and the Harvest Festival. Officer Heaton is not retiring, so make sure to let him know you appreciate his years of service if you see him around the Village.
Reyna Aragon, see photo below, our Finance Officer, came to us four and a half years ago from the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office where she was District Office Manager and Chief Financial Officer. Other than finance, her background includes being a certified Paralegal, Human Resources, and she also served as Probate Judge in Valencia County for 8 years.
Her greatest accomplishment in life is raising her 2 handsome boys, Darrin, 26, who just left the army after almost 8 years and is employed with New Mexico Tech, and DJ, 17, who is still figuring out what he wants to do with his life. She has one grandchild, Khaleesi, 6, who she spoils as much as possible. Reyna is married to Filemon Gonzalez of Albuquerque and they spend as much time as they can traveling. In her spare time, you will find her reading romance novels or dating her husband. She is responsible for the clean audits the Village continues to get each year which is directly related to our ability to receive legislative grants.
Marian Frear, see photo below, has been the Corrales Library Director since July of 2018. She has a vision for the library to expand into more of a community center where various local groups can interact and collaborate on projects. She is originally from upstate New York, and really likes snow. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, walking her dogs, choral singing, and cooking – occasionally making Ukrainian pysanki. And of course, she enjoys reading!
The Sandoval County Regional Emergency Call Center (SCRECC) is the 911 system that enables all of us to get emergency services. That system depends on correct addresses readily apparent and visible on your property so the 1st responders, either fire, ambulance, or police, can find you in an emergency. Road signage and accurate addresses have been a problem in the Village for some time. To verify your address, ask Planning and Zoning, who then will make sure you have the correct address. With that address, go to Brigitte at the front desk in the administration office to pay for an address sign. She will give you the appropriate order which you will take to the Fire Department, and they will make you a sign. Let’s all be safe.
Siphon Road is now open. Please use caution if visiting the area and follow the signage. Cabezon Road work will take at least another week for completion. Weather and funding permitting, other road and drainage projects will move forward this year.
A fundraiser is being planned by Friends of the Corrales Library (FOCL) to sell used and older donated jewelry. Money raised will be used to fund some of the needs in the library. The sale is scheduled for February 10th, 10 AM to 3 PM in Hendren Hall at the San Ysidro Catholic Church on Corrales Road.
CRIME AND SAFETY UPDATE
- On January 2nd, a resident on Camino Sin Pasada reported that she had found a website promoting the sale of puppies and purchased numerous gift-cards in order to purchase two puppies. After sending the information for the gift cards via text, it was later determined that the website was fake after she discovered that her bank account had been compromised and the gift cards had been wiped clean of value. Don't be a victim to a scam; never send any monetary information via text message to an unknown source.
- During a traffic stop on January 3rd, Officers arrested a female out of Belen who was driving a stolen vehicle out of Albuquerque. The female was transported to Sandoval County Detention Center.
- On January 4th, an e-mail from an anonymous source went out to multiple courthouses in the State (including the Village of Corrales Municipal Courthouse) stating that a bomb had been placed in the courthouse. The court was closed while officers searched the building, finding nothing suspicious in nature. The courthouse was reopened after the building was deemed safe.
With weather reports of snow and ice coming in, please be safe on the roads and remember: IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!
HEALTH AND SAFETY UPDATE
The Corrales Bosque is a fire free area: no smoking of any kind, no matches or lighters, no motorized vehicles, no cooking and no camping. The Bosque is open between 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. November – March and between 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. April to October. Report violations to dispatch at 505-898-7585 for emergencies call 911. More information of the Bosque can be found on the Village website.
COVID hospitalizations and deaths are up nationally. For the week ending December 30, 2023, there were 34,798 people with COVID in hospitals (this is up 20.4% from the week before). 3.6% of all deaths in the US for the week ending December 30, 2023 were due to COVID (this was up 12.5 % from the week before). These levels are the highest since January of 2023. The best way to protect yourself is to stay up to date with your vaccinations. Find a provider at https://vaccine.doh.nm.gov/ . If you feel sick, stay home and mask in crowed areas. Free COVID test kits are still available at Village all in the Foyer, the Corrales Fire department (call 505-898-7501 and we will bring them out to you), and the Corrales Library.
If you need information on isolation for COVID, the CDC has a helpful Isolation and Exposure Calculator https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SATURDAY – Sandoval County Master Gardeners talk aquaponics, 10 AM at Martha Liebert Library, 124 Calle Malinche, Bernalillo.
SUNDAY - Multi-Use Facility Public Forum, 2:30 PM at the Historic Old San Ysidro Church. Come give your feedback on the design for a possible facility that could be built on the old Jones House property.
MONDAY - Village offices, including the library, will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
MONDAY – “Blind Date with a Book” at Corrales Library, runs through February 15th. Pick up a blind date book, read it, and when you bring it back, fill out the “rate your date” card to be entered into a drawing for a gift pack of Corrales merch. Drawing takes place February 16th.
WEDNESDAY – Story Time at Corrales Library – 10 AM
WEDNESDAY - Village in the Village open house, 1 - 4 PM at Corrales Teas & Chocolates. Come learn about this group and the volunteer opportunities available. RSVP are appreciated to corrales.viv [at] gmail.com
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
January 20th – No sew sock snowman craft event for kids, 10 AM at the library
January 21st – Corrales Historical Society Speaker Series: “Lone Piñon, Cultural Complexity and Abundance in New Mexico’s Music.” 2 PM, Historic Old San Ysidro Church, FREE and open to the public.
January 22nd – MRGCD informational meeting for all Sandoval County farmers and irrigators, 9 AM – 12 PM, Martha Liebert Public Library, 124 Calle Malinche, Bernalillo.
It is still cold, dress warmly. Drive carefully and be aware of your surroundings. Obey the speed limits. There is an old adage in Corrales: Drive slow, see our Village; Drive fast, see our judge. Leash your dogs when out walking and don’t forget to scoop the poop. Be kind to your neighbors.
Next year’s irrigating season will not be our normal, but may still allow for production. Mark your calendar and attend the MRGCD meeting January 22nd to find out more and what to expect.
Jim Fahey
Mayor
Finance Director Reyna Aragon
Library Director Marian Frear