THE first Monday of October overfloweth with news and information. Let’s get to it as daytime highs start to dip into the 60s and layering season is upon us.
1. Warmest September ever
It’s not your imagination, Alamosa and the San Luis Valley are experiencing changes to the local climate. Alamosa experienced the warmest September on record with an average monthly temperature of 59.9 degrees, according to the National Weather Service Pueblo station. The high temp of the month was 89 degrees on Sept. 5, breaking previous daytime highs set in 2020 and again in 2021. The next 3-month forecast looks below normal on the precipitation indicators and above normal temps. These forecasts matter particularly for the future of the Upper Rio Grande Basin, irrigated agriculture in the San Luis Valley, and the Valley’s environmental wetlands and natural habitats.
2. La Puente, Atencio’s Market, and next steps
Now that Alamosa County Commissioners have approved the application for Community Development Block Grant funding to assist La Puente with the purchase of Atencio’s Market, La Puente will next need to work through the city of Alamosa to bring the former grocery store building into city code compliance for its food bank operation.
That step is still a bit down the road since La Puente also first needs to complete the purchase of Atencio’s, which it plans to do by April 2023 under the terms of the purchase contract. One change that Rachel Baird, the city of Alamosa Development Services Director foresees is changing “the entrance of the building from facing State (Avenue) to facing Eighth (Street).”
Meantime the market will be closed – as intended all along by its owner Junior Atencio who’s moved on – which means the southside community of Alamosa will need to keep an eye on the property as it sits vacant for a while and its future still a bit uncertain.
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3. The $99* Denver Air Connection Air Fare sale
Watch for promotions coming out this week on an air fare sale by Denver Air Connection and its flights originating out of the Alamosa. Here’s the promotional copy you’ll see: “The leaves are falling and so are air fares! Fly Denver Air Connection from Alamosa to Denver and take advantage of fares starting from $99 one way*. But you better hurry – fare sale ends October 11th. Seats limited and terms apply.” Denver Air Connection also touts its partnership with American and United to connect beyond Denver to over 600 cities.
4. Cattails Golf Course needs a restaurateur
Kathy Woods, the very capable economic development director for the city of Alamosa, is on the hunt for a restaurateur to provide food and beverage services at the Cattails Golf Course Restaurant. The lease to run the restaurant will be available beginning around Dec. 1, according to the city. Interested? Call Kathy Woods at 719-587-2546.
5. Upcoming midterm election podcasts
We’re back in our podcast studio on the southside of Alamosa on Monday for our second roundtable discussion with Carol Riggenbach and Matthew Martinez, the candidates in the Colorado House District 62 race. The seat is currently held by Donald Valdez, and either Martinez or Riggenbach will replace him as the San Luis Valley’s state representative. You can hear the first podcast discussion with the two candidates here. We will post our second podcast episode with the two candidates Monday afternoon.
After the Colorado House District 62 recording, we will turn our attention to the candidates for district attorney, Anne Kelly and Robert Willett, and then the two candidates competing for a seat on the Saguache Board of County Commissioners, Liza Marron and Jeff Phillips. Here are our profiles of the two DA candidates. The podcast election episodes are intended to help voters hear from the candidates at a time that is convenient for the voter. Our podcasts are always HERE. Find our ongoing election coverage HERE.
6. Shape Your Future Day at AHS
Alamosa High School has its inaugural Shape Your Future Day at the Colorado National Guard Armory on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Every high school senior is expected to participate as part of their normal school day and will be handed a packet tailored to their career interests post high school. If a student hasn’t decided on a path post high school – and most of them likely haven’t – Alamosa High’s Shape Your Future Day is intended to engage seniors with options, whether it’s the workforce, career tech education, the traditional college route, or possibly the military. “We want to flood them with resources” is the goal of the school’s organizing committee. Here’s more on the effort and why the month of October is a key time for graduating seniors.
7. On the city of Alamosa agenda
The Alamosa City Council is in session Wednesday evening and has presentations on Alamosa’s proposed four-day school week on its agenda as well as an update on the La Puente food bank relocation and Atencio’s Market. Here’s thefull agenda for Wednesday, Oct. 5.
8. A week of Adams State Homecoming activities
Homecoming planners at Adams State were not too pleased by Saturday night’s outcome to the Adams State vs. New Mexico Highlands football game. The Homecoming Committee was looking forward to a win against New Mexico Highlands, which then would give momentum to Homecoming Week and all of those festivities ahead of Saturday’s game vs. CSU-Pueblo.
Alas, the Grizz lost to New Mexico Highlands, 23-21. Still, Homecoming Week marches on. The Adams State Homecoming celebrations begin Wednesday, Oct. 5, and continue through the alumni breakfast on Sunday morning, Oct. 9. The traditional Saturday parade is slated for 10 a.m. down Main Street. Here’s a feature on Angelica Valdez, who will be recognized during Homecoming as Adams State’s Outstanding Alumna along with other honored alumni, and a list of all the Homecoming events this week at Adams State.
9. Finally, a note from the weekend
The Maestas Case dedication that occurred Saturday afternoon at the Alamosa County Judicial Center was filled with poignant speeches from community members like Chief District Court Judge Michael Gonzales and Conejos County Court Judge Jason Kelly, and great stories told by artist Reynaldo “Sonny” Rivera, who also thanked Leroy and Rosalie Martinez for their generous support of his work that commemorates the Alamosa desegregation case.
There was even a corrido written to honor the Maestas Case that was written and performed by Antonio Esquibel and accompanied by performers from Mariachis San Luis. We’ll have more on the event ourselves after we do more reflection on the powerful words spoken and tributes given to what is considered the “first case in the nation that provided desegregation of what had previously been a Hispanic segregation issue” in Alamosa as retired Judge Martín Gonzales said during the ceremony.
