Archive for Moriarty

Public Service Announcement: Regional Small Business Forum

The City of Moriarty, in cooperation with its chamber of commerce and the towns of Edgewood and Estancia, will hold a regional small business forum on Tuesday, January 25 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Moriarty Civic Center.  For more information, see the City of Moriarty announcement.

Public Service Announcement – Free Christmas Eve Dinner In Moriarty

by John Weckerle

The First Baptist Church and El Comedor Restaurant are joining forces to provide a free Christmas Eve dinner at El Comedor restaurant in Moriarty.  Tickets are available by reservation only, and must be picked up at the church office.  Two seatings will be offered at 4:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.  For more information, see the event flier.

Oh, The Weather Outside…

by John Weckerle

Last night brought us some fairly intense weather here at NM-Central headquarters, with times of snow, freezing rain, thunder and lightning, and high winds.  This morning seems dominated by the wind, although weather authorities warn of more potential precipitation before the system has passed.  Local TV stations indicate that the Estancia Valley, including Estancia itself, will likely bear the brunt of the storm in our area.  The northern part of the state has received substantial snowfall.  Here at NM-Central, we’ve received a few inches or so.

NMRoads.com reports that road conditions in the area are (at best) snow-packed and icy.  According to KOB.com, Moriarty-Edgewood schools and Estancia schools are closed, and East Mountain High School and APS schools are on a two-hour delay.  We have not been able to find any information on Mountainair’s schools.   We recommend that our readers stay home if they can, and to those who can’t, please be extra cautious.

Bypassing The Buford

by John Weckerle

Last Friday, our intrepid band of restaurant-testers decided, on a whim, to give the “reinvented” Buford Restaurant a try.  The Buford, located on Highway 41 just north of I-40 in Moriarty, closed for a number of months for remodeling, and opened amidst fanfare regarding a new look and new menu earlier this year.

We were a little concerned when we pulled into the parking lot at lunch time on a Friday and saw only one car parked there.  It was perhaps even more ominous that, when we entered the establishment, there appeared to be nobody eating.  We waited patiently for our server to finish some paperwork at the front desk before taking our drink order, reviewing the menu.  Then we left and drove to the East Mountain Grill in Edgewood. »» Bypassing The Buford

Happy Birthday, New Mexico Central!

by John Weckerle

It hardly seems possible that, just a year ago today, NM-Central.com sprang into being.  A lot has happened over the past year, and we thought it might be entertaining to take a stroll down memory lane, look over our early stories, and see what, if anything, has changed.

Our debut article – Will the Grinches steal Edgewood’s music festival? – discussed the Town of Edgewood’s decision to abruptly cut all its funding for the annual music festival at Wildlife West Nature Park.  The pretext for this decision had to do with the Town’s position that funding the event represented a violation of the State anti-donation clause, an assertion that we disputed then and still dispute today.  Because the funding was terminated after the Park had signed contracts with the performers, the Park had no choice but to produce the event under its own steam.  The community came together and, with donations and other funds raised, the festival almost – but not quite – broke even.  The financial strain from this situation, coupled with the subsequent economic downturn, have put the Park in a state of difficulty, and we again ask that people consider making donations at the Park’s web site.  This year’s music festival, featuring nationally acclaimed folk performer John McCutcheon, promises to be a top-notch event, and tickets can be purchased in advance on the Park web site. »» Happy Birthday, New Mexico Central!

An Idea Whose Time Has Come – Here

by John Weckerle

Back in the 1980s, during a 5-year soujourn in Tampa, Florida, I enjoyed a great way to do dinner and a movie – cinema pubs.  The idea was simple – the cinema pubs showed movies that had just completed their runs in the major theaters but were still showing in the discount theaters and at midnight shows, but they also offered dinner as well as beer and wine.  Patrons sat at tables, and were served throughout the movie by waitstaff who seemed incredibly adept at minimizing their time between the patron and the screen.  Both the movie and the food were reasonably priced, and well-suited to those of us who were students and/or in their first job out of school, and it was a nice experience.  Depending on the film, I sometimes waited for movies to hit the cinema pubs because it was simply a better place to see them.  And now, you can see them that way, too.

Following the recent success of movie showings at Mustang Mudd’s, in the former Le Barn building, entrepreneurs Maria Braendle of Le Barn and Miki Anaya of El Comedor Restaurant have teamed up to bring the experience to Moriarty.  This weekend’s feature, Twilight (your editor, who has read the books and seen the movie, recommends it to fans of the Stephanie Myers series of vampire novels)  will be the opening event (for details, see the flyer).  Next week’s offerings, with shows from Wednesday to Sunday (with weekend matinees!), include Gran Torino, starring Clint Eastwood; Taken, starring Clint Eastwood; Bolt (voice of John Travolta); The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke; and Defiance, starring Daniel Craig (see next week’s flyer for show times and other info). For more information, call LeBarn at 832-9481 or El Comedor at 832-4492.

Public Service Announcement – City of Moriarty Seeking Call Center Applications

The City of Moriarty is seeking applications for positions for a potential employer at the Moriarty call center.  For more information and a copy of the call center application, see the City of Moriarty web page for the recruitment.

Walmart Comes Through For Nature Park, Education, Kids

by John Weckerle

Reminder: Applicants age 14 to 25 who wish to be considered for employment at Wildlife West under the Youth Conservation Corps program this summer must submit a resume and two references to the Park no later than March 15, 2009.

According to a press release received today, Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood has received a $25,000 educational grant from Walmart for youth development.  The funding has made it possible for the Park to hire an educational director for the summer season to help coordinate such programs as the Youth Conservation Corps projects and Wildlife West’s many other educational initiatives.  The New Mexico Wildlife Association, which administers Wildlife West, has selected Bradd Shulke, an East Mountain High School educator with a Master’s degree in ecology.  Mr. Shulke has a broad background in education, and is certified in special education.

Given the fact that Wildlife West Nature Park is likely the only zoo in the world to be built by youth, this development is particularly exciting.  For more information on the summer program and the grant, see the Park web site or contact Wildlife West at (505) 281-7655.

Moriarty, The Final Frontier

by John Weckerle

It’s time to remind our readers that, among all the Estancia Valley and East West Mountain Communities, Moriarty is unique in having its own satellite viewing schedule.  Given that we’ve made the change to Daylight Savings Time, and it might just be a tad darker in the morning, it might be worthwhile for some of the early risers to take a look up and enjoy the sight of the International Space Station as it takes pictures of them gazing skyward.

Movies In Moriarty At Mustang Mudd’s

by John Weckerle

It’s not just that it’s wind season – the winds of change have been blowing, especially in Moriarty.  Le Barn Wild West Chic and the associated members of the women’s cooperative enterprises located there have moved to  1210 Route 66, in the Melody Ranch Plaza two doors west of Hart’s Home Center.  Like the previous location, the new space has a coffee bar, although it is smaller, and will likely  be selling ice cream when the weather gets warmer.  Le Barn has also chosen to de-emphasize furniture and focus more on video sales, home decor, and gifts because, according to owner Maria Braendle, furniture sales have declined sharply during the current economic downturn.

As for the old location, it is for sale, but in the meantime has been recommissioned as a unique movie “theater.”  Mustang Mudd’s, the coffeehouse that occupied part of the former Le Barn  structure, is now showing movies on the weekend on its big screen television, complete with surround sound.  Some are old classics, but some, including tonight’s showing – Taken, starring Liam Neeson – are first run movies still running in theaters nationwide.  Today marks the enterprise’s first Saturday matinee (High School Musical III, starting at noon).  Admission is $2.00 to $5.00, depending on the movie.  Seating is limited to 30 people, providing a unique and relaxed viewing experience.  For more information on this week’s offerings, see the flyer or call Le Barn at 832-9481, and to receive e-mail notification of events and movie titles, send Maria a message at thefurniturebarn@hotmail.com.

Beef Cattle Producers Workshop Coming To Moriarty

by John Weckerle

The New Mexico State University Santa Fe and Torrance County Cooperative Extension Service Offices will hold a beef cattle producers workshop at the Moriarty Civic Center on Tuesday, February 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The workshop is intended for both small and large producers, and specialists and professional staff will be available for one-on-one consultation.  Topics will include loco weed infestation, beef management, health, marketing, and much more.  Lunch will be provided.  Those who wish to attend should contact the Torrance County Cooperative Extension Service at 246-4745 or the Santa Fe County Cooperative Extension Service at 471-4711.  Your editor will not be attending; the flier includes a cartoon with the message “Save A Cow, Eat A Vegetarian” and, where lunch is concerned, I’d rather see one than be one.

Moriarty-Edgewood School District 2 Mill Levy Election To Be Held

by John Weckerle

On February 3, The Moriarty-Edgewood School District (MESD) 2 Mill Levy Election will be held to determine whether the current levy will be extended through  2014.  Funds from the levy would, according to the MESD brochure, be ” used for the maintenance of buildings, acquisition of equipment, and other capital improvement purposes.”  The money cannot be used for operational expenses such as salaries and other personnel costs.  Anticipated funding from the continuation of the levy is anticipated to be approximately $930,000 per year, which would be matched with about $35,000 per year from the state Public School Capital Improvement Fund.

It should be noted that “A vote for the captial improvements tax levy will not result in a tax increase.” This is money that is sorely needed for the upkeep of our school facilities, and we urge local residents to support the mill levy.  For more detailed information and a list of polling places, please see the MESD brochure.

Moriarty Gets Coffeehouse, Bookseller

by John Weckerle

There’s a new coffeehouse in town, going by the name of Mustang Mudd’s. The cafe, with a bar for bellying up and seating for about 25 customers, is located in the rear portion of the building that now houses Le Barn Wild West Chic, Maggie’s Gifts, and the new bookseller.

Photo - Mustang Mudd's Coffeehouse

»» Moriarty Gets Coffeehouse, Bookseller

January At Bethel Community Storehouse

By Bob Steiner

Regular readers of the blog know that we have  previously reported on the great work being done at the Bethel Community Storehouse in Moriarty.  This outstanding donor-based charitable organization has been serving the needs of  less fortunate citizens in the valley for more than twenty two years.  Supported mainly by donations from area churches, civic organizations, and private citizens, the storehouse on a given “average” month last year provided services to more than 750 families (1750 people). This number surged to  1100 families (3000 residents) during the recent Christmas season.  It appears that this increase in clients will continue during the coming months. With limited donations coming in, a great burden has been placed on the storehouse staff to see that the people are being served. »» January At Bethel Community Storehouse

There’s More Than One Kind Of Roundabout

by Chuck Ring (GadAbout-BlogAlot ©2008)

Quote Freely From the Article — Leave The Pseudonym Alone

Roundabout: circuitous , indirect <had to take a roundabout route> The forgoing is from The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.  »» There’s More Than One Kind Of Roundabout