Welcome to December. Looks like a lot of the same weather-wise for the early part of the month. The lack of any visible snowpack in the higher elevations is causing alarm with Rio Grande Basin watchers, and for good reason. More on the Rio Grande Basin’s latest readings in the upcoming weekend edition of AlamosaCitizen.com.
IN today’s Daily Report you’ll find holiday concert news and a reminder about Wednesday’s public hearing on the city of Alamosa short-term rental proposed ordinance. Read on:
Adams State hosts
holiday music on Thursday
Celebrate the season with an evening of holiday music and fun starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in Richardson Hall Auditorium. Performances will include the ASU Winds & Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Jazz Ensemble, 68 West, and student chamber ensembles. There is no cost to attend the concert. However, cash or non-perishable food donations will be accepted for the Food Bank Network of the San Luis Valley.
The ASMES Music Club will host a bake sale afterwards. For more information call 719-587-7621 Masks are required in all Adams State indoor public spaces and social distancing is recommended.
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
announces Christmas at the Depot
ANTONITO — This holiday season, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TSRR) welcomes an all-new winter event: Christmas at the Depot. This free, holiday-themed gathering is the perfect reason to visit Chama, N.M. or Antonito to create lasting memories with a festive, small town holiday atmosphere.
Christmas at the Depot takes place on Dec. 11 in Chama, N.M., and on Dec. 18 in Antonito. At both locations, guests will have the opportunity to visit and take photos with Santa and enjoy festive treats and holiday lights. There is no cost to attend, but visitors are encouraged to bring an unwrapped new toy which will be collected for local nonprofits. In previous years, C&TSRR offered holiday train rides with Santa. The train is unavailable this winter due to scheduled maintenance, allowing for this festive new event to occur in its place.
Chama Christmas at the Depot: Chama’s Christmas at the Depot will take place from 2 – 5 p.m. and will be followed by new holiday traditions for the entire family to enjoy. At dusk, a colorful lantern launch will illuminate the night sky, while the Chama tree lighting ceremony highlights ornaments hand-made by local school children. Chama will be festively decorated by local businesses to encourage visitors to shop, dine and enjoy a winter getaway to Chama. The Salvation Army will be collecting the toys at the Chama Depot.
Antonito Christmas at the Depot: Antonito’s Christmas at the Depot celebration begins at 5 p.m. and features a Christmas tree lighting, pictures and story time with Santa and refreshments. Participants are encouraged to bring an unwrapped new toy for the Toys for Tots program.
For more information, visit www.cumbrestoltec.com.
Alamosa school board race
recount set for Wednesday
An official recount in the Alamosa school board race between Patrick Colvin and Amy Raya is set for Wednesday, Dec. 1, according to the Alamosa County Clerk Nicole Jaramillo. The rest of November’s elections have been officially certified by the Colorado Secretary of State.
Colvin had an unofficial tally of 1,533 votes and Raya 1,526. The Alamosa District 7 school board seat includes part of Conejos County and that’s where the race was decided. Raya drew 1,518 votes in Alamosa and 8 votes in Conejos County, while Colvin had 1,514 votes in Alamosa and 19 in Conejos. The race drew an automatic recount due to the closeness of the vote.
SLV Transit Plan seeks community input
to inform transit service options
SAN LUIS VALLEY – The Chaffee Shuttle is conducting a transit planning study for the San Luis Valley region. They are requesting participation in this brief survey to tell them which transit features are most important to you. The survey link can also be found on the project webpage at slvtransitplan.com.
The survey will close on Friday, Dec. 24. Your input will inform service options and alternatives and help provide more accessible and reliable transit service in the San Luis Valley.
Alamosa City Council public hearing
on short-term rentals is Wednesday
ALAMOSA – If you have a position on short-term rentals in Alamosa, the type of stay you’d typically find on Airbnb or Vrbo, then you’ll want to attend the Alamosa City Council public hearing on the matter Wednesday evening. The city council is entertaining an ordinance that would regulate short-term rentals in the city of Alamosa. Other communities across the San Luis Valley have already taken action to manage short-term rentals in their communities and counties. Alamosa is the latest to take up the issue. The city council meeting begins at 7 p.m. You can find the meeting agenda here:
The Citizen’s earlier stories on the short-term rental proposal is here.
Today’s photo cover from Conejos
Finally, an explanation of the photograph that accompanied today’s Daily Report. The photograph is of an art installation at the historic Lafayette Head compound in Conejos, where indigenous slaves were once held. The artist, Chip Thomas, installed the art as an extension of his exhibit “Unsilenced: Indigenous Enslavement in Southern Colorado” which is on display at the Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center. You can learn more about Lafayette Head and Thomas’ art exhibit with our earlier story on “Unsilenced: Indigenous Enslavement” found here.
A SMALL FAVOR:
Alamosa Citizen is committed to informing and engaging the people of the San Luis Valley. Unlike many other sites, the Citizen makes its journalism available to everyone to read, regardless of what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believed informed citizens create better communities.
If you like what you’ve seen and heard so far, please become an AlamosaCitizen.com member. We have no out-of-town shareholders or billionaire owners. Your membership makes our reporting possible, and keeps it free for all to access. Your support will make all the difference.
