Town of Taos News

Taos Buildings

Wednesday, 12/2 from 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. at the Enos Garcia Elementary School Auditorium, 305 Don Fernando Rd. When you arrive at the main office, please sign in and get a guest badge. What is Safe Routes to School? The program is a federally-funded program established in 2005 by a federal transportation bill. It is being administered through the NM Department of Transportation and through our local agent, Matt Foster, Long Range Planner for the Town of Taos. Matt applied for the grant and was awarded Phase I funding to hire a Coordinator. Rose Bauhs is the SRTS Coordinator for Enos Garcia Elementary School, Taos Middle School and Taos Charter School. What are the purposes of SRTS? To enable and encourage children of all abilities in K-8th grades to walk and bike to school. To make bicycling and walking to school safe and appealing, encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age. To assist communities and schools with projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools. Find out more at the presentation, or email Matt Foster, mfoster@taosgov.com.

Multipurpose Sports Fields on Salazar: As previously reported, the Town of Taos has entered into a lease agreement with the Taos Municipal School District to build much needed multipurpose artificial turf sports fields on the District’s acreage on Salazar. The Town received initial planning/design funds from the State of New Mexico, and has arranged to borrow $2.1 million from the State, to make these fields happen sooner rather than later. Doug Patterson’s Taos-based architecture firm, LDG, has taken the initial conceptual design and hammered out preliminary details – with input from many in the community, including the Taos Sports Alliance. At a lengthy workshop meeting yesterday, the plans were presented and discussed with the Town of Taos Mayor, Council and Senior Management, and interested members of the public including the Taos Sports Alliance. Currently, with the funds in hand, the plan is to build one multipurpose, high-quality (regulation soccer size) field, and full amenities sized for the complete build out of the site. This is in lieu of two lower quality fields built immediately with smaller and/or by-passed amenities. The interim designs (for complete build out) discussed yesterday are attached. Questions should be directed to Community & Economic Development Director Matthew Spriggs, mspriggs@taosgov.com.

12/4 This Friday – Town of Taos Tree Lighting followed by Festival of Wreaths & Trees: A special note to those requiring ADA access to this special event on Taos Plaza this Friday, Dec. 4 from 4-6 p.m. – the Town of Taos Police Department and the Town of Taos Youth & Family Center will make sure you have easy auto access onto the immediately adjacent Plaza parking areas so the distance to the lighting itself is minimized. Although the Plaza will be closed to through auto traffic, just let officers stationed at access points know of your ADA needs and they will let you into the area to park. A reminder for all – shops will be open, so plan on holiday shopping too! Santa, The Grinch and free holiday treats are also part of this annual, festive event. And after the Town event, make sure you attend the Festival of Wreaths & Trees – described below in a great news release distributed by the State of New Mexico Tourism Department –

Taos Annual Festival of Trees and Wreaths

Helps Those Who Help Others

The annual Festival of Trees and Wreaths is all about community giving — a silent auction that benefits those most in need — wrapped up in holiday cheer. For the annual event, area businesses decorate wreaths and trees in honor of a favorite area nonprofit. The event takes place at the El Monte Sagrado Resort and Spa. December 3, 2009, 6-9 p.m.

“Over the years, the Festival of Trees and Wreaths has become one of the largest family-oriented holiday traditions in Taos County,” said Chris Baker, publisher of The Taos News, sponsor of the event. “The event — now in its ninth year — has raised more than $200,000. This year’s goal is $25,000.”

Sponsors also include El Monte Sagrado Resort, which has taken a leading role; the Town of Taos; Taos County Chamber of Commerce; Museum Association of Taos; Taos Community Foundation; Twirl Toy Store and Activity Center; and Walmart.

“Taos is a town dedicated to bettering the lives of those who call it home,” said Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department. “Community leaders who seek creative ways to keep Taos a vital community with events, such as the Festival of Trees and Wreaths, are to be commended.”

“I wanted to find a holiday event that would let local businesses get involved with nonprofits and help educate the community on what these wonderful organizations do for Taos and Northern New Mexico,” Baker added.

The holiday creations remain in place through the week so bidders can view them at their leisure. Bidding closes 8 p.m. on the night of the festival, when the celebration kicks into high gear with hors d’oeuvres and wines amid music by Jimmy Stadler. Door prizes are given away every 20 minutes. Winning bidders may keep the tree or wreath, give it away or donate it to Community Against Violence, which will see that it goes to a needy family in the Taos area.

Admission is $20 per adult; children are free. All admission proceeds go to the Museum Association of Taos to support its educational programs.

Ancianos Senior Center is hosting a Breakfast Benefit this Saturday, 12/5 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the Center on Allbright, owned by the Town of Taos and operated by Ancianos. Tickets are $5. Menu includes: pancakes, eggs, hash browns, sausage, juice and coffee. For info and tickets contact Tamara Romero, tromero2@taosgov.com.

Advertising and Editorial Opportunity – Sent as a courtesy for Veteran’s View: “Connecting Veteran Organizations in Print and Online”. “Dear Taos: The market we reach is mostly 100% Veterans which we feel is the most stable area of the economy currently. Our website was recently rated in the top 10% of all websites and it receives over 19,000 hits a month. The veterans’ View is distributed nationally to VA hospitals, American Legion Halls and VFW Halls. Our media kit is at the top right hand corner of our homepage at www.veteransview.com under the word “advertise”. We would like to feature the Taos, New Mexico in our upcoming Spring Travel Guide. I know we’ll do a great job of generating interest and getting your name out in front of 100s of key Veteran groups in the area. If you have color artwork available, we will be able to highlight Taos so it stands out on our website. Below summarizes our special travel guide rates:
-          1/8 page ad,
-          March, April & May print editions
-          5 x 4 ad size
-          Complimentary ad design (with your logo and a photo or image)
-          6 months on www.veteransview.com + 6 months bonus (1 year)
-          Specially reduced rate of $795 (one time cost)
-          also, 3 months of January, February and March 1/2 page ad (10x 7 3/4 ) with 12 months online only $1,295 one time cost.”

If any Taos entities have interest in advertising with Veteran’s View, please contact Patrick Jennings director (contact info below) and he will assemble a Taos co-op ad, potentially reducing the per-entity cost.
Patrick Jennings, Travel Editor veteransview@gmail.com Tel: (815) 725-1180

Cathy Connelly, Public Relations Director

Town of Taos

400 Camino de la Placita

Taos, NM 87571

http://www.taosgov.com

cconnelly@taosgov.com

575-751-2001 office

Fax 575-751-2026

575-779-1013 cell

Quad Erat Demonstratum