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Federal Government

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Native American Heritage Month Celebration

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument is celebrating Native American Heritage Month with two days of events featuring indigenous artists, writers, and storytellers.

Presentation by Andi Murphy of the Toasted Sister Podcast
Date: November 14, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Manzano Mountain Art Council, 101 Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Andi Murphy, host of the Toasted Sister Podcast and senior producer of Native America Calling, will share an exploration of Indigenous foodways.

Oak Canyon Dancers (Pueblo of Jemez) Cultural Dance Program
Date: November 14, 2026
Time: 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Quarai Unit, 122 Manzano Quarai Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: - The Oak Canyon Dancers share traditional Pueblo dances, songs, and cultural cycles, featuring live singing and drumming. They perform frequently across the Southwest and region, including at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, Mesa Verde National Park, Chimney Rock National Monument, and the NM Expo Indian Village. Their family-oriented performances feature multiple traditional styles, including eagle, shield, buffalo, butterfly, and plains traditional dances.

Storytelling with Anthony Ryan Edaakie
Date: November 14, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: Manzano Mountain Art Council, 101 Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Anthony Ryan Edaakie, former Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps intern at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, and author of The Land of Everlasting Winter, will share readings from his book, suitable for children and adults, and discuss his interpretations of the work and insights into its creation.

Glassmaking Demonstration with Justin Youvella
Date: November 15, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Location: Abó Unit, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, 69 Abó Ruins Road, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Justin Youvella, a multidisciplinary artist from Tesuque Pueblo and the Hopi Tribe, works in metal sculpture, murals, painting, and glassblowing, drawing on Indigenous American Southwest colors, patterns, and cultural traditions. He will share a rare opportunity to witness glass art in action and to learn directly from an artist whose work bridges tradition and innovation.

Ethnobotany Nature Walk at Quarai

Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM MST – 12:00 PM MST
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Quarai Unit, 122 Manzano Quarai Road, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument invites visitors on a free, hour-long guided walk exploring the native plants of the Quarai landscape and their role in the lives of the people who have lived in the Salinas region for centuries. Led by the monument's Tribal Communities Engagement intern, the program will teach participants to identify nine plants and learn their traditional medicinal and practical uses, along with the cultural knowledge that has been passed down through generations and is still practiced today. The walk also includes an overview of the Three Sisters, the traditional Indigenous method of planting corn, beans, and squash together so that each crop supports the others: the corn provides a stalk for the beans to climb, the beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, and the squash shades the ground to hold in moisture and keep weeds down. Participants are welcome to share their own knowledge of plant uses along the way.
This family-friendly program is free and open to all ages. Pets are welcome, and the paved trail is wheelchair accessible.

Luminaria de Abó

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM MST – 8:00 PM MST
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Abó Unit, 69 Ruins Road, Mountainair, NM 87036 (shuttle from the Mountainair Headquarters Visitor Center, 105 South Ripley Avenue, Mountainair, NM 87036)
Details: The Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument hosts the Luminaria de Abó, when more than 1,000 luminarias light the Ancestral Pueblo site and the walls of the 17th-century Spanish Franciscan mission church and convento at Abó. The Friends of Salinas Pueblo Missions will serve free hot chocolate and biscochitos. Before heading out, visitors can stop by the headquarters visitor center, which opens at 4:00 PM MST and features museum exhibits, a theater, and park souvenirs.
There is no public parking at the Abó Unit, and visitors should not park along roadways or shoulders near the site. Event parking is available in Mountainair along the U.S. Highway 60 business corridor, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 60 and NM Highway 55, and along West Main Street; follow event signage to the designated areas. Handicapped parking is available in the main lot at the headquarters visitor center with a valid placard or permit.
Free shuttle buses depart from the front of the headquarters visitor center starting at 4:30 PM MST and run every 15 to 30 minutes. The ride takes about 20 minutes each way, and the last shuttle leaves the Abó Unit at 8:00 PM MST. No tickets or reservations are needed. Eating and smoking are not allowed on the buses; only capped bottles of water are permitted, and pets are not allowed on the shuttles. For more information, visit the Luminaria de Abó event page or call (505) 847-2585.
Ripley Avenue between West Main Street and U.S. Highway 60 will be closed to all vehicle traffic during the event for shuttle use.

State Government

New Mexico True (AKA New Mexico Department of Tourism) events are listed with their co-sponsors. In the event that the agency hosts a local event without a co-sponsor, it will be listed in this section.

Economic Development New Mexico

Nothing scheduled in our area at this time.

New Mexico Aging Services

"The Hidden Link: How Life Factors Shape Brain Health" Webinar

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM MST – 12:10 PM MST
Location: Online via Zoom (register here)
Details: The Alzheimer's Foundation of America hosts this free, interactive webinar as part of its monthly education series. The session explores how everyday life factors can affect brain health. Two continuing education credits are available for professionals who complete a pre-test and post-test. The event is listed by the New Mexico Office of Alzheimer's and Dementia Care, which offers additional resources for families and caregivers.
This webinar is free, but registration is required.

Medicare Open Enrollment Counseling at the Moriarty Senior Center

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM MST – 2:00 PM MST
Location: Moriarty Senior Center, 120 Roosevelt Avenue, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: The Torrance County Senior Program is hosting free, one-on-one Medicare counseling with a local coordinator from SHIP, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Counselors can help Medicare beneficiaries compare their options and make sure they are getting the coverage they need at the lowest cost. SHIP does not sell or endorse any insurance plan, so its advice is unbiased. Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 each year, so this event falls in the final weeks of the window to change Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans for 2027. Attendees should consider bringing their Medicare card, a list of current medications, and information about their current plan. New Mexico's SHIP program runs through the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1-800-432-2080.
Counseling is free.

New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

No events in our area at this time. 

New Mexico Department of Health

No events in our area at this time. 

Torrance County

Torrance County's offices will be closed for Veterans Day, November 11, 2026, and Thanksgiving, November 26, 2026.

Torrance County Fair Board Regular Meeting

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM MST
Location: Torrance County Fairgrounds, 701 10th St, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: The Torrance County Fair Board will consider three decisions that shape the 2027 Torrance County Fair: whether to add prospect classes, how the fair entry process will work, and the dates for next year's fair. 

Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners

Date: November 12, 2026 (adjusted from Wednesday, November 11, 2026, due to the Veterans Day holiday)
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Online and Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: None Provided

Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee Meeting

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Time: 9:30 AM MST
Location: Not provided
Details: No agenda posted at this time. 

Estancia Valley Youth and Family Council Meeting

Date: Monday, November 23, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM MST – 5:00 PM MST
Location: Online via Zoom (link not yet posted)
Details: Agendas and Zoom links are posted on the Torrance County website before each meeting. The November agenda is not posted yet. The council uses a new Zoom link each month.
This meeting is open to the public.

Local Emergency Planning Committee Meeting

Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM MST
Location: Online via Zoom (Meeting ID: 827 0183 2333; Passcode: 334791). To join by phone, call (719) 359-4580 or (253) 205-0468 and enter the meeting ID and passcode when prompted.
Details: The Torrance County Local Emergency Planning Committee meets monthly to coordinate the county's preparations for emergencies, including hazardous chemical spills, wildfires, severe weather, and other disasters. Local emergency planning committees were created under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. § 11001 et seq., which requires communities to plan for chemical emergencies and gives residents the right to know what hazardous materials are stored and transported in their area. Learn more about the role of these committees from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The committee meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 9:00 AM.
Torrance County residents are also encouraged to sign up for TextMyGov emergency alerts to receive real-time notifications tailored to their needs:

• Text TORRANCE COUNTY to 80946 for general notifications and emergency alerts.
• Text TORRANCE FIRE ALERTS to 80946 for information on prescribed burns or active fires in the area.
• Text TORRANCE NWS to 80946 to receive weather-related alerts.

Estancia

Estancia's administrative offices will be closed for Veterans Day on November 11, 2026, and Thanksgiving on November 25 and 26, 2026. Estancia's public library will be closed for Veterans Day on November 11, 2026, and for Thanksgiving on November 26 and 27, 2026.

Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees

Date: Every First and Third Monday of the Month (November 16, 2026)
Time: 6:15 PM
Location: Estancia Town Hall, 513 Williams Ave, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: None Provided

UNM Continuing Education Advisor Visit

Date: November 20, 2026
Time: TBD
Location: Estancia Public Library, 601 10th St, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: The UNM Continuing Education Advisor will be on hand to provide one-on-one guidance on the university’s GED/HEP program.

Veterans Meet-up

Date: Every first Friday of the month (December 4, 2026)
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Estancia Public Library, 601 10th St, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Veterans of all branches of service, their caretakers, friends, and family are welcome. Coffee and snacks will be served, and information will be available regarding services available to veterans and their families. 

32nd Annual Torrance County Craft Fair and Lights Parade

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM MST – 5:00 PM MST (craft fair); 6:00 PM MST (lights parade)
Location: Estancia High School Gym, 709 Hopewell Street, Estancia, NM 87016 (craft fair); Main Street, Estancia (parade)
Details: The 32nd annual Torrance County Craft Fair fills the Estancia High School gym with local vendors, food, music, and holiday gifts. Bingo begins at 11:00 AM MST and continues until the prizes run out, and children can visit Santa from 1:00 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST. The day wraps up with the Lights Parade down Main Street at 6:00 PM MST; parade entries line up at the high school at 5:00 PM MST. Vendors and food booths can set up starting at 8:00 AM MST. For booth information, call Barbara at (505) 300-9625. The event is sponsored by the TNT Drug Free Program and Estancia Municipal Schools. Admission is free.

Gift Baskets for Senior Citizens

Date: Now through December 18, 2026
Location: Estancia Public Library, 601 10th St, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Help Estancia Public Library create gift baskets for local senior citizens. Suggested donations include: blankets, scarves, gloves, socks, hats, puzzle books, snacks, and Christmas cards.

Moriarty

Moriarty Lodgers Tax Advisory Board Regular Meeting

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM MST
Location: Moriarty Civic Center, 202 Broadway Street South, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: The City of Moriarty Lodgers Tax Advisory Board will consider four funding requests totaling $22,000 for advertising, publicizing, and promoting tourism-related attractions.
Requests on the agenda include:

• MHS Athletics, presented by Joe Anaya: $6,000 
• New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, presented by Abby O'Connor: $5,000
• City of Moriarty Valentine's Day celebration, presented by Roddy Gallegos: $5,000
• City of Moriarty Easter celebration, presented by Roddy Gallegos: $6,000
  The board will also discuss Lamar billboards. A public comment period is scheduled, limited to two minutes per person. A copy of the agenda is available at Moriarty City Hall, 201 Broadway Street South, or by emailing jhendricks@moriartynm.gov.

Moriarty City Council Special Meeting

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM MST
Location: Moriarty Civic Center, City Council Chambers, 202 Broadway Street South, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: The Moriarty City Council will hold a special meeting in place of its regular Wednesday, November 11, meeting, which the council canceled because of the Veterans Day holiday. The agenda is a full one and touches on wastewater funding, city purchasing rules, staffing, and neighborhood traffic.
Items on the agenda include:

• A resolution committing $1,000,000 in local matching funds for New Mexico Water Trust Board wastewater project WPF-6898
• A resolution tied to New Mexico Environment Department loan RIP 00096 for wastewater, listed on the agenda as $97,431.90 in emergency funding for Holiday Street
• A discussion of a new city purchasing and procurement policy, which would require council approval for any purchase over $5,000
• Approval to pay a $6,456.82 B&R Construction invoice for roof leak repairs at the Sceye building at the Moriarty Municipal Airpor
• After-the-fact approval of a $160.83 lift rental used to replace lights at the library
• Promotion of three Moriarty Fire Department personnel to lieutenant
• A contract with Southwestern HR Consulting for on-call human resources services
• A resident request for speed bumps on Santa Fe Avenue
• A request from the nonprofit Rise, Shine, Love to rent the civic center at a reduced rate to serve free monthly meals
• Grissom Park rules and hours
• Moving former financial consultant Karen Alarid to an on-call contract
• An introduction of Ridgeline Industries, for which the city would act as fiscal agent for state Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) funds
• Lodgers tax funding recommendations for Moriarty High School Athletics, the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, and city Valentine's Day and Easter events
• A closed executive session on the Moriarty industrial park and the city's finance officer position

Mountainair

Town Council Meeting

Date: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month (November 17, 2026 and December 2, 2026)
Time: 6:00 PM MDT
Location: Mountainair Town Council Building, 107 1/2 North Roosevelt Avenue, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Regular meeting of the Mountainair Town Council, addressing a potential contract with BHI for services related to the town’s wastewater treatment plant; release of Jeanie Archuleta from probationary status; termination of the town’s EMS Chief; repairs to improve water flow and reduce standing water in town alleys; closure of of Ripley Street to accommodate the Luminaria de Abó event on December 5, 2026; approval of a resolution regarding the town’s artificial intelligence governance and acceptable use policy; purchase of an “Instagrid Go” portable battery power supply for the Mountainair Fire Department; and, expenditure of capital outlay funds for the municipal rodeo grounds. To join by phone, call 346-248-7799, enter access code 856-052-5813, and enter passcode 888-888.

Willard

Willard Village Council Monthly Meeting

Date: Second Monday of the month
Time: 5:30 PM MDT
Location: Willard Village Hall, 720 Dunlavy Ave, Willard, NM 87063
Details: The council meets on the 2nd Monday of each month. For more information on Willard events, contact the Village Hall at (505) 384-2874.

Other Organizations

Roadrunner Food Bank Distribution

Date: Distribution is scheduled for every Tuesday, but verification is recommended.
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Dr. Saul Community Center, 109 N Roosevelt Ave, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Roadrunner Food Bank

Bethel Storehouse Food Pantry/Clothing Bank

Date: Tuesday through Friday
Time: From 12:00 PM to 3:45 PM
Location: 1719 4th St, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: To see if you qualify for available services, please click here.

Mountainair Men's Support Group

Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 6:00 PM MDT
Location: Mountainair Multi-Purpose Building, 107 1/2 N Roosevelt Ave, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Recurring weekly Christian men's support group meeting. For more information, please contact Richard Torres, Jr. (AKA Wizard) at (505) 357-9749.

Mountainair Rotary Club Weekly Lunch Meeting

Date: Every Thursday
Time: 12:00 PM MDT
Location: Claunch-Pinto SWCD Conservation Center, 1206 NM-55, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Weekly meeting for community service planning and networking. Visitors are welcome and should bring their own lunch.

Community Worship Night

Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: FBC Mountainair, 108 West Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Residents of Mountainair and the surrounding communities are welcome.

You Are the Artist: Holiday Tin Punching Workshop

Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Location: Manzano Mountain Art Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Learn the basics of decorative tin punching with Anne Ravenstone, a tin artist with 30 years of experience. Participants will make several holiday ornaments to give as gifts or keep for themselves. The cost is $20, which includes all materials. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, scan the QR code on the event flyer, email mmacevents@gmail.com, or call or text (505) 847-5068. More information is available from the Manzano Mountain Art Council and on the council's Facebook page, @ManzanoMountainArtCouncil. The workshop is funded in part by the Manzano Mountain Art Council, New Mexico Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and US Bank.

The Mountainair Dispatch covers public affairs, community life, and local news across Torrance County, New Mexico. To submit an event for a future post, email todd@mountainairdispatch.com. Listing events is free.