Every year we use the proceeds from our Santa Workshop to help the residents of Care 66.  This year, with a special discount from Fallas, and we were able to purchase 45 winter jackets for the residents at care 66.  Last year we donated blankets and $5 Wal-Mart gift cards. The year before we donated hats and gloves.

This year we wanted to do more so we also had a Christmas party for the residents. We played Pictionary, had carolers sing to them and they helped us make snowflakes for our Santa’s Workshop as decorations.

They came out beautifully. Also, our food court tenant, Pizza 9 gave each of the residents a gift certificate for a free 7-inch pizza and a drink. We had...

New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in November 2016, unchanged from 6.7 percent in October, but up from 6.6 percent last year, according to statistics released this week by the New Mexico Department of Work Force Solutions.

In McKinley County, the unemployment rate for November was 8.6 percent and in neighboring Cibola County the November 2016 unemployment rate was 8.0 percent. McKinley’s unemployment rate in October 2016 was 8.9 percent and the Cibola jobless rate was 8.3 percent in October. Both county percentages represent seasonal drops, officials said.

“Definitely seasonal,” Tracy Shaleen, an economist with Work force, said. “That’s...

Teaching kids their ABCs at Jefferson Elementary School

As Mrs. Lori Trujillo talks about her career as a teacher of nearly 13 years, she helps students fit the missing letters on an alphabet puzzle type exercise, gently asking each kindergarten student where that “P”  “T” or “S” letter belongs.

She offers a warm smile of encouragement and positive reinforcement to her young pupils. Learning the alphabet and some basic writing skills are just a small part of teaching kindergarten, said Trujillo, who was selected as Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe’s November Teacher of the Month.

Trujillo explained that learning how to talk a student through these alphabet lessons creates a...

It was chilly evening, but that didn’t stop Santa Claus and his helpers from making children’s evening a little warmer, and brighter Dec. 10.