Noxious and invasive WEED WILDFIRE

NEW MEXICO , and the other four corner states are in a drought cycle, and unless precipitation exceeds expectations, New Mexico’s upcoming wildfire season might be an active one. There is another wildfire that is guaranteed to rage while we get those first warm days of spring, and will continue until the first hard freeze, and beyond. This guaranteed wildfire is the biological wildfire of noxious and invasive weeds.

The best way to manage noxious/ invasive weeds is to prevent them from getting started. Containing and controlling existing noxious weed infestations is the best way to prevent new infestations.

Noxious/invasive weeds can be spread through a variety of outdoor recreational activities. This includes hiking, camping, fishing, hunting and boating.

A Montana State University study showed that a vehicle driven several feet through a Spotted knapweed infestation picked up about 2,000 seeds. Ten percent of the weed seeds remained on the vehicle 10 miles from the infestation.

Cleaning clothing and equipment that has plant seeds attached, avoiding driving through existing noxious/ invasive weed populations, and cleaning mud and other debris from off road vehicles, goes a long way to help prevent the spread of noxious/invasive weeds.

In an effort to coordinate noxious/ invasive weed management efforts at the local level, Taos Soil and Water Conservation District helped establish and fiscally sponsors the Taos County Cooperative Weed Management Area. The TCCWMA is a local volunteer organization that

Fig. 6 works to integrate all of the noxious weed management resources within their boundaries, across jurisdictional lines, in order to identify and control noxious weeds and educate the public about their negative impacts. They frequently offer workshops and field trips designed to help local residents identify, monitor and control noxious/invasive weeds.

In a series of monthly articles to appear here beginning next week, we

Fig. 5. — Fig. 6. —

CHEATGRASS (DOWNY BROME) RUSSIAN KNAPWEED

will help you identify the noxious and invasive weeds that occur in Taos County. They will contain a brief description of the plant, some important biological facts, and pictures to help you identify them.

We call ourselves weed warriors. Please join the following partners in our battle against noxious and invasive weeds in the place we call home: Taos Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA Carson National Forest, USDI

Fig. 5

Bureau of Land Management (Taos Field Office), New Mexico Department of Agriculture, New Mexico State Uni versity Agricultural Extension Office, New Mexico Department of Transportation, New Mexico Division of Forestry, Southern Methodist University (Taos Campus), Taos County, Town of Taos, Amigos Bravos, Taos Land Trust, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, New Mexico Native Plant Society (Taos Chapter), Sunset Park Inc., and Rio Grande Ace Hardware.

ANUNCIOS

Due to covid-19 guidelines, call to verify the anuncio is still happening. AMERICAN LEGION 1st MEETING,

is Saturday (May 22), 1 p.m., National Guard Armory by the golf course; meeting to nominate and elect officers. For information, contact Wayne Rivali at wrivali@yahoo.com or 575613-5654.

CALL FOR ARTIST at Charles Collins Gallery on Taos Plaza. Sell your own art, have your own 8x10-foot wall. To apply, call 575758-2309.

FREE RENTAL & UTILITY ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS

continue two more Tuesdays, May 18 1-4 p.m. and May 25, 9 a.m.noon, at Taos Public Library, 402 Camino de la Placita. Proof of income, utility invoices, IRS 1099G, mortgage/deed/property title and other Dept. of Finance forms may be required. Appointments preferred but not mandatory, call Youth Heartline, 575-999-5748; or the library 575-737-2590.

TAOS DRUG DROP BOX locations for expired or unwanted drugs/ biologicals are:

• Holy Cross Hospital, 1397 Weimer Road;

• Taos Police Dept., 400 Camino de la Placita, Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – closed noon1 p.m.;

• Taos Pueblo Police Dept., 205 Río Lucero Road, Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.;

• Questa Police Dept., 2500 State Road 522, Questa.

LOWER MANUEL ANDRES TRUJILLO ABAJO/JUAN MANUEL LUCERO community ditches’ annual meeting is Saturday (May 22), 10 a.m. at Quail Ridge Inn. Max capacity 20 people allowed in the room and all COVID restrictions will be followed. Contact Renee Valdez, secretary, at reneevaldez5@gmail. com with any questions.

VISTA GRANDE HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNING COUNCIL regular meeting is Monday (May 17), 2021 at 5 p.m., via Zoom platform: zoom. us/j/416203345 or by telephone: +1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID 416203345#.

CASTING FOR RECOVERY ANNUAL RETREAT is Aug. 20-22, 2021, at Philmont Scout Ranch. Free fun and fellowship at the beautiful Philmont Scout Ranch. Open to breast cancer survivors at any age and any stage of recovery, who spend time learning the art of fly fishing and the calm of being outdoors and the strength of a shared journey at no cost to participants.

Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Aug. 6 – two weeks prior to the retreat. Participants enjoy individual rooms. All activities will be conducted outdoors or socially distanced. Masks required when appropriate. All Casting for Recovery staff and Philmont staff will be vaccinated. Applications accepted at castingforrecover. org now through June 11, 2021. Please share this event with your loved ones, friends and colleagues who have been impacted by breast cancer.

FREE ATTORNEY CONSULTATIONS Thursday, May 20, 2021, 9 a.m.-noon, and 1-4 p.m. via telephone or Google Meets for 2021 Telephonic &Virtual Legal Fair, for information about: Personal Injury; landlord/tenant foreclosure; bankruptcy creditor/debtor; wills/probate; powers of attorney; public benefits expungement. You MUST register in advance by May 14, 2021, at cognitoforms. com/EighthJudicialDistrictCourt1/ CivilFamilyLawTeleclinicRegistrationForm8thJudicialDistrict. To be pre-screened, contact Anita Manning, program specialist, by e-mail taodaem@nmcourts.gov; phone 575-779-1243; or visit the Help Desk located in the District Court at 105 Albright St. Suite N, Taos, NM 87571. Bilingual attorneys and staff will be available. If you need a Sign Language Interpreter for this event, please notify us in advance by e- mail audreym@nmlegalaid.org.

Free COVID-19 testing

BEWARE VACCINE INFO SCAMMERS Keep vaccination card safe – don’t share photograph of COVID-19 vaccination card online or on social media. According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, scammers can get date of birth, health care details or other personal information to steal personal identity. No valid organization will ask to buy or sell a vaccination car. Report any such activity to 800-447-8477 online to oig.hhs.gov.

BEWARE VACCINE SCAMS: MEDICARE COVERS COVID-19 VACCINE at no cost to seniors. If asked to share your Medicare number or pay for access to the vaccine, it is a scam. Don’t share any personal or financial information if someone calls, texts or emails promising access to the vaccine for a fee. FREE MASKS AND DISINFECTANT (PPE) distributed by town of Taos for anybody who is in need of PPE, takes place once more this month on Thursday, May 20, 8:30 – 11 a.m. at Coronado Hall, at 120 Civic Plaza Drive. Town staff will set up at the double doors adjacent to the parking lot at the east side entrance to Coronado Hall. Maintain distance and appropriate safety measures for staff and recipients. Email Judy Esquibel with questions, JEsquibel@taosgov.com.

FREE SALIVA COVID19 TESTS, DRIVE-THRU IN TAOS

every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Taos Youth and Family Center, 407 Paseo del Cañon East. Register at curative.com, 575-751-8951.

FREE SALIVA COVID-19 TESTS FOR ALL NEW MEXICANS.

New Mexico and Vault Medical Services teamed up to offer at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for any person who believes they need to be tested, with or without symptoms, at no cost. Order a test online at learn.vaulthealth.com/ nm/ The test kit will arrive at your home via expedited shipping. Log on for a virtual visit with a Vault test supervisor; they will show you how to collect your saliva sample. You must not eat, drink, smoke or chew anything for 30 minutes before your test. Ship your sample to the lab in Oakdale using a prepaid UPS package. Get your result 24 to 48 hours after your sample arrives at the lab. FREE TAOS NASOPHARYNGEAL COVID-19 TESTING at Holy Cross Medical Center Annex Building, 1421 Weimer Road, offers testing for anyone who is:

• NOT experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 and by appointment only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed for lunch noon-1p.m.). To make an appointment, call 575-7518951.

• if SYMPTOMATIC, must go to Holy Cross main Emergency Room. For information, call 575758-8883.

FREE ESPAÑOLA COVID-19 SALIVA TESTING, self-collected saliva swabs at Northern New Mexico College, Española, the Ben Lujan Library campus parking area, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., seven days a week. To test, you must ENTER at the N. RAILROAD AVENUE entrance to the NNMC campus. Stay in car and follow directions from testing personnel to the library testing site. After testing, EXIT via Paseo de Oñate. First cough several times (into your sleeve) and then swab several places inside your mouth. Results are available as quickly as 72 hours from test date. To register for a test date and time, visit curative.com. Click on “Get Tested Now.”

Acequias

NUESTRA SENORA DE DELORES CEMETERY in Cañon annual cleaning is Saturday (May 8), starting at 8 a.m. until noon. All members should attend and bring your own tools.

ACEQUIA DE SAN ANTONIO DE VALDEZ annual meeting is postponed until late summer or fall of 2021, in accordance with state COVID guidelines. Social distancing and mask-wearing required. For more information contact Sylvia Rodríguez at sylrodri@ unm.edu or 505-466-3646. ACEQUIA TIO GERVACIO COMMISSION canceled the annual gathering to clean the ditch. Instead, the commission will hold each land owner with the ditch on their property responsible for the cleaning. Those parciantes not having property along the ditch are to clean as needed or pay the regular fee of $60. Cleaning should be completed by April 16, 2021. For more information call Mario Barela, 575-758-8184.

Education

TAOS PUEBLO HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START is now enrolling for 2021-2022. Children enrolled in other Federally Recognized Tribes, and children with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to apply. To schedule availability and intake meeting call 575-758-5819.

TAOS EDUCATION AND CAREER CENTER AT UNM-TAOS offers free online classes for High School Equivalency (HiSet/GED) preparation, support for college, career development and English-language instruction. Also available for basic computer skills, the center offers free online classes for internet and computer basics. Email tecc@unm.edu or call 575737-3730.

Help wanted

WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED. To submit a piece to Writers on the Range, email betsym@ writersontherange.org. Submissions should be no more than 750 words in length. Looking for diverse writers, writers of color, women and young people. Topics should be fit readers across the intermountain territory of Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. Readers also care about the Great Plains and the eastern parts of California, Oregon and Washington. Want authentic voices, if you work in the West and have a unique perspective on public lands, water, natural resources, agriculture or economic institutions of the West your submission is most welcome. See writersontherange.org.

General

LIBRARY CURBSIDE HOURS. Taos Public Library curbside hours through April-December are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Drop box is open ThursdayS, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If library is on a delay or closed due to weather notice will be posted at taoslibrary.org and Facebook. MINDFUL FREE MEDITATION COURSE: “Exploring Mindful Meditation: Basics” is an online course offered free to the public by Mindful Frontiers, a local meditation community. Registration required, at mindfulfrontiers. thinkific.com/.

FREE FRIDAY MEDITATION CIRCLE, 7-7:20 a.m. A weekly guidedZoom meditation. Instructor is creative director and founder

Anne-Marie Emanuelli. Registration required at app.ubindi.com/ Mindful.Frontiers/.

Food Assistance

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TAOS. Bring canned goods or a nonperishable gift every Sunday from 10-11 a.m., 215 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, for parking lot drive-thru and drop-off of packaged foods and/or monetary donations to Shared Table, as well as foods or monetary donations for the Taos Men’s Shelter. Foods must be unopened and within their expiration date. Checks should be made payable to either Shared Table or Taos Coalition to End Homelessness.

NORTH CENTRAL FOOD PANTRY OF QUESTA food distribution days are the second and fourth Fridays of every month from 9 a.m. to noon. For updates, call Questa village office at 575-586-0694 or see Facebook. For an emergency food box call Jeannie Master, 575-7799194 or Nancy Parker, 505-6997563. To donate, go to ncfpquesta. com or mail to North Central Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1076 Questa NM 87556.

SHARED TABLE distributes food commodities and basic health care items the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, 11 a.m.-noon in El Prado at El Pueblito Methodist Church, 1309 Paseo del Pueblo Norte; and from 2-3 p.m. at Talpa Community Center, State Road 518, Ranchos de Taos. Call Pastor Cheri Lyon at 505-440-6849.

ST. JAMES FOOD PANTRY offers supplemental groceries to all, Thursdays, 12:30-3:45 p.m. drive-thru at St. James Episcopal Church, 208 Camino de Santiago (on Gusdorf Road behind the Quality Inn), Taos.

Pets

PAYS TO HELP STRAYS. Thinking about adopting a stray cat? It’s hard to be homeless, hungry and cold with predators always nearby. Taking in a stray is the ultimate act of kindness and Taos Feral Feline Friends, the allvolunteer animal charity, wants to help. Pays To Help Strays is a free adoption service helping stray cats of Taos County and the Enchanted Circle. If you qualify, you receive the most complete set of veterinary benefits available in NM: spay/neuter surgery; all vetrecommended testing and vaccinations for rabies, and the deadly viral diseases FVRCP and FELV ). To be eligible, the adopter must contact TFFF within 60 days, or in advance, of the adoption. Cats from shelters, pet stores or breeders are ineligible for this program. Call TFFF at 575-758-3519 for more information.

CAT AND DOG SPAY/NEUTER, VACCINE PROGRAM for the town of Taos, Taos County and Taos Pueblo residents’ dogs and cats. Lower-income pet owners and all feral/outdoor/barn cat owners are eligible for free dog and cat spay/neuter and vaccine services at Española Valley Humane Society, 505-753-0228. Dogs and cats must be between 8 weeks and 8 years of age.

CAT SPAYING/NEUTERING. Free pet cat spaying/neutering is available with a voucher in Taos from the Zimmer Feline Foundation. Town of Taos, Taos County and Taos Pueblo cats are eligible. Call 505466-1676.