Town of Taos News

Posted by Jim Kimmons, Broker/Owner • November 30, 2009 • Printer-friendly

For all Taos area constituents who recently supported the Taos area’s designation as a State of New Mexico Arts & Cultural District, the Town of Taos has been informed that the State’s initial funding appropriation of $35,000 may go away (or be indefinitely delayed) given the current State budget crisis and cutbacks. If you wish to communicate the critical nature of maintaining this funding for Taos’ economic health, please do so directly with our elected officials – the sooner the better – the Legislative Finance Committee meets THIS WEEK. Send copies of your communications to Richard Williams, State Coordinator, New Mexico Arts and Cultural Districts, rich.bluewilliams@gmail.com --

-- Gov. Bill Richardson, 505-476-2200; Office of the Governor, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Rm., 400, Santa Fe, NM, 87501

-- Sen. Carlos R. Cisneros carlos.cisneros@nmlegis.gov, 505-986-4362 or cell phone 505-670-5610

-- Rep. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, roberto.gonzales@nmlegis.gov, capitol phone 505-986-4425, office phone 575-758-2674

The Taos Express: This Town of Taos sponsored $10 round trip weekend nonstop bus service between Santa Fe and Taos will not run on Christmas Day, Fri., Dec. 25, or New Years Day, Fri. Jan. 1. On all other surrounding weekend dates over the holidays it will follow its regular schedule of Thursday through Sunday. See the complete schedule and details at www.TaosExpress.com. The Taos Express will connect with Taos Ski Valley $1 shuttle service that begins December 19. Reservations for the Taos Express are now required (winter closures in the canyon being a concern) and can now be made at www.TaosExpress.com or by calling 575-751-4459.

12/1 Town of Taos Mayor/Council workshop meeting at 1:30 p.m. regarding Taos as a recreation/high altitude training destination and the Salazar multi-purpose fields. See attached agenda. Meeting at Council Chambers, 120 Civic Plaza Dr.

12/1 The Big Read continues -- "Do you ever wonder how writers come up with ideas? Or what it takes to bring a story along the path from initial inkling to finishes, published product? Come ask this panel of Taos authors how they got started, and what keeps them going. "Ask an Author" will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Embudo Valley Library. Visit www.taosbigread.org. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. It is sponsored here in Taos by SOMOS in collaboration with the Town of Taos Public Library. For those folks who signed up for a copy of "Bless Me, Ultima" - the books have arrived! Please stop by the Taos Public Library to pick one up. There will be a list at the circulation desk with your name on it. The library is open M-F 10-5, and on Saturday 10-6. It is closed on Sunday.

12/1 Taos’ literary society, SOMOS, hosts a book discussion 6:30 – 8 p.m. on Willa Cather’s epic classic, “Death Comes for the Archbishop” at the Somos office, 229 Paseo del Pueblo Sur.

12/02 Town of Taos monthly Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, 5:30 -10:30 p.m., Council Chambers, 120 Civic Plaza Dr. For more info. call Allen Vigil 737-2646.

12/4 Kick off the holiday season with the 23rd Annual Yuletide Caroling and Tree Lighting, 4 - 6 p.m., Historic Taos Plaza, hosted by the Town of Taos and its Youth & Family Center. Join us for some great free entertainment, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, The Grinch, hot chocolate and cookies --and of course the lighting of the giant live Christmas Tree! Taos Plaza will be open to foot traffic so that you can shop for your holiday gifts. Need more info, call Judy at 758-4160.

Taos County Chamber of Commerce events calendar can be seen by clicking the following link, The events calendar through December 6, 2009 is available to View/Print here. Also from the Chamber and the Town of Taos as a Fair Trade in Taos supporters – “As a collaborative effort between the Fair Trade Committee, the Chamber of Commerce and The Taos Project, we will be serving Free Fair Trade cocoa & coffee from the plaza kiosk on Friday & Saturday evenings from 5 - 7p.m. all December. Many thanks to Taos Roasters and Cid’s Food Market for donating the coffee and cocoa, to Steve Gloss for helping coordinate the donations and to the Town of Taos for allowing the use of the kiosk. What we need now is to promote it…so please help spread the word! Also, we’re looking for volunteers to help staff it so If you or someone you know is willing to help out, please let me know.” Anita Bringas, Taos County Chamber, 575-751-8800 Ext 2, member@taoschamber.com.

12/05 Big Read Wrap-Up Celebration, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Town of Taos Public Library Community Rm. Join us to celebrate the end of this fantastic reading program. We'll pass out prizes for the best book-jacket-design and the best essay, and share stories of our favorite Big Read occurrences. For more info. Call the Library at 758-3063.

12/5 There will be an open casting call at 1 - 5 p.m. for extras for the movie "Let Me In," at the Town of Taos Youth and Family Center, 407 Paseo del Canon. The film is looking for ice skaters (adults and teens), police officers, and paramedics to appear in non-speaking roles for filming mid-January in Red River (skating outdoors on a lake). "Let Me In", starring Kodi Smit-McPhee from "The Road" and Chole Moritz from "The Eye", will be directed by Matt Reeves who directed "Cloverfield." "Let Me In" is a story about a bullied young boy who befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian. Casting director Elizabeth Gabel is known for her work on "No Country For Old Men" and "Terminator Salvation" among others.

12/08 - Regular Town of Taos Council meeting, 1:30 - 5 p.m., Council Chambers, 120 Civic Plaza Dr. For more info call Town Clerk Renee Lucero 751-2005. Also, reminder that you can ‘listen on line’ via your sound enabled computer and internet connection. Just go to www.taosgov.com and look at info/link on lower right of home page.

12/09 - Monthly Boys & Girls Club Meeting 12:15 - 2:15 pm Los Angelitos, 120 Civic Plaza Dr. For more info. call Susan Crowley 758-8785.

12/12 - Become a part of the 2010 Census. This is a paid volunteer assignment. U.S. Census Bureau Testing,

1- 4 p.m., Los Angelitos, 120 Civic Plaza Dr. For more info call Juliet Garcia 587-3653.

12/15 - Tony Hillerman”s Landscape: on the Road with Chee and Leaphorn, $25 book signing fundraiser graciously offered by Anne Hillerman and Don Strel to benefit the expansion of the Town of Taos Public Library, 7 - 9 p.m., Bataan Hall, 121 Civic Plaza Dr. The author and photographer will give a talk and slide presentation on the book. A book signing and reception will follow the presentation with a limited number of books available for purchase at the event. “Taos Love Songs” music CDs will also be on sale that night to benefit the Library – only $5 (great holiday gifts/stocking stuffers). For more info. call Library Dir. George Jaramillo 737-2587.

12/18 – Town of Taos Mid-Year Organizational Meeting, 4 p.m., Council Chambers, 120 Civic Plaza Dr.

12/18 - Make it a special Christmas for your little one. Angel Tree’s Visit By Santa, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., El Alcalde Room, 120 Civic Plaza Dr. For more info. call Shirley Lujan, 758-2216.

12/19 – Town of Taos Youth & Family Center’s 10^th Anniversary – and the 8th Annual Christmas Carnival, 1-4 p.m., Town of Taos Youth & Family Center. Admission is free, but some offerings will require purchase with proceeds benefiting youth and community groups through out Taos. Offerings include arcade games, pool, skating, and a visit with Santa Claus (photo with Santa is $3). Christmas gift bags are free to the first 600 children. For more info. call Judy at 758-4160.

12/22 - Special Town of Taos Council meeting, 1 p.m.- 5 p.m., Council Chambers, 120 Civic Plaza Dr. For more info call Town Clerk Renee Lucero 751-2005.

12/29 - Quarterly Public Forum with the Mayor and Town Council. 5:30 - 9:00 p.m., Council Chambers, 120 Civic Plaza Dr. All members of the public are encouraged to attend. This is an opportunity for the public, Mayor and Council to communicate with each other without the restrictions of a set agenda.

1/7 of 2010 - Eco Tourism Seminar, State of New Mexico Tourism Dept., 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a 90 minute lunch break, El Taoseno Rm., Coronado Hall, 120 Civic Plaza Dr. Limited to 80 participants, this how-to seminar is aimed at all key operators, conservation organizations, outfitters, guides ranch and lodge owners and Native American communities whose tourism and culturally related businesses are focused in and around Taos, Questa and Red River. Take advantage of this newest trend in tourism. Please contact Sandy Cunningham at 505-795-7711 or sandy@eco-newmexico.com. Space is still available; first come basis.