The photo for this week’s message was taken at Metzger Park, a newly dedicated park on SSCAFCA property that overlooks beautiful Corrales. While it is great to see the green trees along the Rio Grande, underneath all that green is a tinderbox of dead and down trees and other vegetation. Fire Chief Anthony Martinez and his team of firefighters have projects in place to address this issue, and the Village is working on getting funding to complete a fire suppression line that would bring fire hydrants to more areas of the Village. The fire department’s page on the Village website has tips for how to create defensible space on your property to save your home in the event of a fire in the Village.
The population of Corrales is aging. We all know that, but what happens to your property as we age? We probably let things slide a bit. We don’t clean up the yard, the vegetation, or the grass quite like we did when we were younger and more energetic and maybe even cared more. The problem is those responsibilities continue. In this period of drought, with so much dead and down vegetation, it is important to keep places cleared as much as possible. The village government is looking into ways we might facilitate organizations in the village to assist those who need assistance to get it done. The village cannot provide funds, but perhaps put people in contact with one another.
Speaking of the drought and problems with water availability, there was an excellent presentation in the last council meeting 6/8/2022 by the CEO of the MRGCD, Jason Casuga. This is a link to his talk: https://youtu.be/JcGusrsTFj4.
Elena Kayak, who works with the US Forest Service, let us know about a program called “Every Kid Outdoors” that provides free passes to Federal Recreation Sites for the nation’s 4th grade students. Children’s Librarian Brynn Cole at Corrales Public Library has 75 passes available to any student who just completed the 4th grade. The passes are valid for entry fees at sites for the pass holder and up to three people (ages 16 and older). For more information on the program, visit everykidoutdoors.gov.
Surveyors will be on lower Meadowlark, between Loma Larga and Corrales Road, on Monday, June 20th, to stake out property corners. If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Director Michael Chavez at 505-269-1637.
Don’t forget the Village clean up day is tomorrow, June 11th from 8 am to 12 pm. Enter the rec center area at Jones Road and follow the signs to drop off your yard waste and household items. No Hazardous materials (paint, chemicals, construction materials, TV’s, computers and monitors, refrigerators, freezers, tires or commercial waste) will be accepted.
Jim Fahey
Corrales Mayor