Temperatures in the 50’s with just a spot of rain make for good Thanksgiving weather. It’s the day after the holiday, so I suspect you are either shopping, relaxing, or attempting to work off yesterday’s meal!
As you know, Corrales incorporated 50 years ago. So, why did we do that? One story, attributed to the late (and great) Jim Findley, courtesy of Phil Gasteyer, is that while visiting relatives in Brooklyn or the Bronx, a Corraleño went to a house party where an Amrep salesman was pitching purchasing land in Rio Rancho. He showed a slide depicting a proposed 4-lane divided highway and bridge from the escarpment to I-25 across the Corrales Valley along the Meadowlark corridor, which he said would create speedy access to sunny Rio Rancho Estates. Corrales residents, then under Sandoval County leadership, feared that the Sandoval County Commission would approve the highway and bridge and bisect the community. So, as a protective measure, they incorporated. Does this square with your memory? The Village would love to hear from you if you have additional or different memories of what triggered our birth as a separate government. Whatever the cause, thanks are owed because Corrales is still here and thriving 50 years later. And we don’t have a 4-lane highway or bridge cutting through town, either!
Speaking of our history, last Friday we unearthed the time capsule that was buried in 1997 as part of the Corrales Año de Plato 25th Anniversary celebration. It was quite the show. Among the crowd were former Corrales elected officials Mayor Phil Gasteyer, former State Representative and State Senator Pauline Eisenstadt, former Councilors Cliff Pedroncelli, Fred Hashimoto and Dee Turner, and current Councilors Zac Burkett, Kevin Lucero and Bill Woldman. First, Public Works employees removed the concrete and wooden top from a cinder block container and lifted out a very heavy safe, wrapped in protective covering. Despite efforts from both citizens and employees, the safe would not open. The Fire Department finally “cracked” the safe with an axe and the Jaws of Life. Out dropped 2 very waterlogged albums, a rusted beverage can and a VHS tape. It did not look good. However, thanks to preservation efforts of Corrales residents Ann Van Camp (an archivist) and Kitty Tynan (librarian and member of CHS Archives Committee), some print items will be readable. This preservation project is ongoing and will be documented and made part of a Corrales Historical Society file memorializing the great effort put into assembling the time capsule 25 years ago.
If you are thinking of running for elected municipal office in March of 2022, here’s a link to information for candidates from the Secretary of State’s office: https://www.sos.state.nm.us/candidate-and-campaigns/how-to-become-a-candidate/2022-municipal-officer-election/. If you have questions about obtaining a candidate packet, please call Village Clerk Melanie Romero at 505-897-0502, or email her at mromero [at] corrales-nm.org.
One proud Village tradition is our Holiday Food and Present Drive. With your help, we made Thanksgiving a brighter holiday for 20+ families and we want to assist many more in December. How can you help? You can make a monetary donation by writing a check to Kiwanis Club of Corrales (write “Fire holiday drive" in check memo line) or drop off non-perishable foods at the Fire Station, 4920 Corrales Road between now and December 18th. Please double check food expiration dates to make boxing and sorting easier. If you would like to purchase a gift for a child or volunteer to wrap presents (CFD will supply the item to be wrapped as well as the wrapping paper), you can do so by sending an email with subject line “Holiday Food and Present Drive” to Commander Lattin at tlattin [at] corrales-nm.org. If you want to donate perishable food items, call her at 505-702-4182. Last year with everyone's help, we ordered all the food from a local food distributor and had it delivered on family pickup/and delivery day. This year we will be getting all presents and food out to families December 20th and 21st. Thank you for helping make the holidays happy!!
Great news from the Corrales Community Library. Their upgraded wi-fi has been installed and will now provide much faster wi-fi service inside the library that can also be accessed from the tables in La Entrada Park. Hooray!
Saturday’s Community Clean-Up Day was a success. We would like to give a shout out to Corrales residents who found a creative way to bring in items, even in small convertibles.
Mark your calendars! Corrales Historical Society’s Annual Meeting starts at 1pm followed by a presentation honoring Ward Alan Minge at 2 pm, this Sunday, November 28. Holly Daze online auction begins November 28 through December 12, sponsored by Corrales MainStreet and Corrales Arts Center. Starlight Parade and St. Nicholas Celebration (yes!) will be happening December 4 from 5:30 to 7. Winter Craft Show is at the Old Church from December 3,4 and 5th, 10 am -5 pm.) For details go to: https://corralessocietyofartists.org/ and click on Calendar. The MainStreet site is looking beautiful.
This weekend, keep enjoying your Thanksgiving holiday. It’s a great time to get out and support Small Business Saturday. Shop local! Whether you choose to shop, go to the Historical Society’s presentation, or just relax, please stay safe and have some fun, Corrales-style.
Jo Anne Roake
Mayor of Corrales
