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Federal Government

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Quarai Unit

Date: Every Friday through October 30, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Quarai Unit, 122 Manzano Quarai Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers lead a free 45-minute guided hike at the Quarai Unit every Friday morning. No reservation is required. Bring water, a snack, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Gran Quivira Unit

Date: Every Saturday through October 24, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Gran Quivira Unit, 4030 Quivira Flats Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers lead a free 45-minute guided hike at the Gran Quivira Unit every Saturday morning. No reservation is required. Bring water, a snack, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Abó Unit

Date: Every Sunday through October 25, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Abó Unit, 69 Ruins Road, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers lead a free 45-minute guided hike at the Abó Unit every Sunday morning. No reservation is required. Bring water, a snack, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

BARK in the Park

Date: November 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Quarai Unit, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, 122 Manzano Quarai Road, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument and the Friends of the Mountainair Animal Shelter (FOMAS) invite visitors to bring their dogs for a ranger-led trail hike and earn BARK Ranger status. The program encourages participants to follow the B A R K principles: Bag waste, Always leash, Respect wildlife, and Know where to go. FOMAS partners will offer educational presentations on dog adoption. Bring lunch to enjoy at the picnic area during the presentation. For more information, contact the Mountainair Headquarters Visitor Center at (505) 847-2585.

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.

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 its annual 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

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 Health

Flu Vaccine Clinic

Date: November 6, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM MDT or until vaccines run out
Location: Torrance County Public Health Office, 300 8th Street, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Flu shots will be available for those 6 months old and older

Torrance County

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

Local Emergency Planning Committee Meeting

Date: October 27, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: None Provided

Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners

Date: October 28, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Online and Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: None Provided

Regular Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners

Date: November 12, 2026
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: Not provided

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: The Estancia Valley Youth and Family Council brings together the agencies that serve young people and families in Torrance County, including the county's Teen Court, DWI, and juvenile justice programs; juvenile probation; the public defender and district attorney's offices; the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD); local law enforcement; and area schools, including Estancia, Mountainair, Moriarty-Edgewood, and Estancia Valley Classical Academy. Monthly meetings typically include reports from each of these partners, which gives the public a regular look at youth programs, juvenile justice, and school safety across the county. The agenda includes a two-minute public comment period. 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.

Torrance County 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 Thanksgiving on November 25 and 26, 2026. Estancia's public library will be closed 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 2, 2026 and November 16, 2026)
Time: 6:15 PM
Location: Estancia Town Hall, 513 Williams Ave, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: None Provided

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.

Moriarty

Moriarty City Council Regular Meeting

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM MDT
Location: City Council Chambers, Moriarty Civic Center, 202 Broadway Street South, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: The Moriarty City Council will consider several costly water and sewer decisions. Councilors will choose between two quotes from Spear D Construction to replace roughly 750 feet of failing sewer line on Holiday Street: about $202,000 to replace the pipe by pipe bursting, a method that pulls new pipe through the old line with minimal digging, or about $239,000 for a traditional open trench. The council will also consider engineering task orders from Bohannan Huston for a second phase of water valve replacements ($16,173.89) and for a lift station and sewer line on South Broadway, along with a budget increase for the Broadway work that would borrow from the city's general fund cash reserves.

Other items include a first-quarter budget adjustment that covers a $600,000 fire engine, $123,316 in state Department of Transportation airport grant funds, and $80,786.90 in cemetery improvements. The council will also consider consolidating about $203,800 from four water and sewer reserve accounts into a single sewer revenue bond account to meet USDA reserve requirements, hiring a finance officer, reallocating the budget for the city's December 11 and New Year's Eve events, and reviewing the first-quarter financial report. The council will then go into a closed executive session to discuss a personnel matter involving the Public Works Director, including the investigation of a workplace complaint; any final action must be taken in open session. The full agenda is available in the meeting packet.

Mountainair

Town Council Meeting

Date: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month (November 3, 2026 and November 17, 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. 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 (November 9, 2026)
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.

Trunk or Treat at Estancia United Methodist Church

Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM MDT – 7:30 PM MDT
Location: Estancia United Methodist Church, 600 Williams Avenue, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Estancia United Methodist Church is hosting a Halloween Trunk or Treat, giving families a safe, community-centered alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating. Free Frito pie and hot dogs will be served while supplies last. Community members who would like to decorate and host a trunk can call Melanie at (505) 550-1911.

"ABSTRACTION in Shape and Form" Art Exhibit Opening Reception

Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM MST
Location: Manzano Mountain Art Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: The Manzano Mountain Art Council opens its new exhibit, "ABSTRACTION in Shape and Form," featuring non-realistic art in all mediums that explores imagination and magic through shape and form. For more information, contact the art council at MMACevents@gmail.com or (505) 847-5068, or visit manzanomountainartcouncil.org. The art council's Día de los Muertos community celebration follows the opening at 2:00 PM MST.

Día de los Muertos Community Celebration and Mini-Ofrenda Shadow Box Workshop

Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM MST – 5:00 PM MST
Location: Manzano Mountain Art Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Following its exhibit opening, the Manzano Mountain Art Council will host a family-friendly Día de los Muertos celebration where participants can build a shadow box ofrenda honoring a loved one or a lost pet, or highlighting the things that inspire them. The art council will provide all crafting materials and traditional foods to try. Participants are welcome to bring small mementos, photographs, or trinkets to include in their shadow box. The event also covers the history of the holiday, from its pre-Columbian Indigenous roots through Spanish colonization to its modern celebration. In 2008, UNESCO added the observance to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. RSVP online or by leaving a voice or text message at (505) 847-5068. The event is sponsored by the Manzano Mountain Art Council and New Mexico Arts. This event is free and open to all ages; donations are appreciated.

Moriarty Harvest Frontier Gun Show

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026, and Sunday, November 8, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM MST – 5:00 PM MST on Saturday; 10:00 AM MST – 4:00 PM MST on Sunday
Location: Moriarty Civic Center, 202 Broadway Avenue, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: Blue Maverick Guns hosts the Moriarty Harvest Frontier Gun Show over two days at the Moriarty Civic Center. Admission is $10 for adults, and children under 12 get in free. For vendor or event information, contact Blue Maverick Guns at (505) 417-3227, by email at admin@bluemaverickguns.com, or at bluemaverickguns.com.

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.

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.