Photo credit Leland Hermit
IN the Monday Briefing: Gigi Dennis wraps up her work at Alamosa County; City of Alamosa sets date to introduce short-term rental ordinance; Veterans Day week activities; and next up in the Adams100 Speaker Series. But first. . .
Alamosa steps into spotlight with national Culture of Health Prize
Big week for Alamosa as it steps into the national spotlight with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize. SLV GO and the Rio Grande Farm Park are being recognized for their efforts to make the San Luis Valley a healthier and more active place, but really the award is a tribute to many organizations and individuals who have committed themselves to advancing health, opportunity, and equity in the San Luis Valley. An earlier story by The Alamosa Citizen on the significance of the award is here.
On Tuesday a crowd will gather to watch the award presentations via virtually feed. Alamosa County will join nine other communities being recognized. Each prize-winning community will receive $25,000 from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to carry on the work. Alamosa County now joins Lake County as the second Colorado community to win the distinguished prize. To watch the ceremony on Tuesday, follow this link: https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/features/culture-of-health-prize.html
Veterans Day events
It’s Veterans Day week, with activities planned at Adams State University starting Monday, and the annual Alamosa Veteran’s Day Parade down Main Street on Thursday, Nov. 11, beginning at 10:45 a.m.
The San Luis Valley has an estimated 4,800 veterans, according to Vietnam veteran Frank Muniz, who is part of a committee working to create the Alamosa Veterans Memorial Park.
The committee also includes James Owens with the Adams State University Office of Veterans Affairs, which has a week-long schedule of events:
- Monday, 8 a.m. – Bake sale at McDaniel Hall.
- Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. – Movie: Zero Dark Thirty at Carson Auditorium. Free admission to Adams State students and all veterans; $3 for community members.
- Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. – three veterans will discuss their perspectives on the global war on terror at Carson Auditorium
- Thursday, Noon – Veterans Day Luncheon at Student Union Building Banquet Room. Free for veterans and dependents.
- Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Capstone: military firearms and the evolution of the U.S. military small arms at Carson Auditorium.
Adams State requires masks be worn in all public indoor settings.
Alamosa Veterans Day Trash Schedule
The city of Alamosa has released its Veterans Day Trash Schedule:
- Green Waste Route – Will remain the same.
- Commercial Route – Thursday, Nov. 11, route will be collected Wednesday, Nov. 10.
- Residential Route – Thursday, Nov. 11, route will be collected Friday, Nov. 12.
- Recycling Center will be closed Thursday Nov. 11.
If you have any questions please contact the Public Works Department at 719-589-6631
Alamosa sets public hearing date
for short-term rental ordinance
The city of Alamosa will introduce an ordinance to regulate short-term rentals at the City Council meeting on Nov. 17 and hold a public hearing on the ordinance on Dec. 1.
ICYMI, here’s The Citizen’s look at the issue, Alamosa addresses Airbnb market. Alamosa becomes the latest San Luis Valley community to find itself adding rules for short-term rentals. For questions or more information you can contact the Alamosa Planning and Development Department at 719-589-6631.
Reyes Garcia and Tania Garcia
continue Adams100 Speaker Series
The Adams100 Speaker Series continues with Reyes Garcia and his daughter, Tania Garcia, presenting “Generations of Querencia: The Garcia Family’s Conejos County Story,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Richardson Hall Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
A retired professor of philosophy, Reyes Garcia, Ph.D., has published writings about the heritage of the area and is an engaging storyteller. Tania García, a Ph.D. candidate in American Studies at the University of New Mexico, is writing a Southwest studies-oriented dissertation exploring hauntings in the borderlands of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Her project invokes family history relating to the García ranch in the San Luis Valley while discovering how her ancestors’ lives were haunted by traumas of the past such as slave-holding family members. Join the Garcias when they tell their story at Adams State.
Gigi Dennis steps away from Alamosa,
moves on to Monte Vista
Last week for Gigi Dennis as Alamosa County Administrator, as she steps away to become Monte Vista City Manager. She got a lot done in her six years with Alamosa County – new Alamosa County Justice Center, upgrades to the Alamosa County Detention Center, improvements to the Alamosa Regional Airport, including a new Doppler radar in partnership with the Rio Grande Water Conservation District.
Photo credit Leland Hermit
