SantaFe.com

If you’re planning to groove to the music of this weekend’s Taos Solar Music Fest, swing on by the event’s popular companion happening, the Taos Solar Village, for a chance to view the latest in solar, wind and green building technology designed to help Mother Earth keep her cool.

The music fest requires tickets, but the Solar Village exhibit is free to the public.

This year’s event, which opens Friday in Kit Carson Park off of Paseo del Pueblo Norte, marks the 10th year for the joint event. The Solar Village is hosted by the Taos chapter of the New Mexico Solar Energy Association.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
by Kathryn Holzka • Journal Santa Fe

TAOS— You might call Melissa Larson the Rag Lady, but that wouldn't do justice to the passion and determination she has shown over the past several years for getting public support for recycling on a much broader scale than is currently practiced in this area.

Larson's interest in all things recyclable began almost 10 years ago after a "holy mackerel moment" when she realized how many still-usable fabrics were being discarded in the Taos landfill.

That moment led directly to "Wholly Rags," a nonprofit company she operates to reclaim textiles and clothing as decorative items or for resale to...

Sunday, April 20, 2008
by Kathryn Holzka • Journal Santa Fe

TAOS— Smith's Food and Drug Center has launched a major overhaul of its grocery and pharmacy facilities at its store here on Paseo del Pueblo Sur and Siler Road, a project that will include the addition of a 10-pump fuel station.

The gas station portion of the revamp, which will be located on the southeast portion of the parking lot across from Scheid Motors, has been a controversial project, drawing many protesters when applicants went before the town's Planning and Zoning Commission for approval in 2006. The fuel station was not approved by the commission, but that action was appealed to...

Thursday, April 3, 2008
by Kathryn Holzka • Journal Santa Fe

TAOS— By unanimous vote, the Taos County Commission on Tuesday removed the "interim" status from Julia Valerio's helmsmanship of county government and appointed her full-time county manager.

She becomes the second woman to assume that post. The first, Agnes Oakeley, resigned last May in a dispute with the commission and was replaced by Valerio as acting manager, who was then appointed as interim manager in October.

No newcomer to the intricacies of local government, Valerio is a 25-year veteran of Taos County government and has served in several different capacities over the years. She had...

Thursday, March 27, 2008
by Kathryn Holzka • Journal Santa Fe

TAOS— Town Manager Tomás Benavidez— who has worked for the town for the past 10 years, as town attorney and, since 2005, as town manager— was not reappointed by the newly constituted town council Thursday despite a recommendation by Mayor Bobby Duran.

In a unanimous vote, the council voted against the mayor's advice and his subsequent proposal allow Benavidez to stay on a week or so to help bring newly appointed assistant manager, Abigail Adame, up to speed on the most pressing projects and issues that need attention.

Adame has been in her assistant manager's job only three weeks and was...

Sunday, March 23, 2008
by Kathryn Holzka • Journal Santa Fe