The lasting legacy of the ‘Festival of Trees’

When Geraldine Arviso died in August, she left the Gallup community with memories of the ways she touched others.

As the head of the Gallup chapter of Soroptimists International, she was part of the local effort to help women and girls live their dreams — the mission of the organization, by providing such important bridges to independence as a gas card, when it was needed, and a computer for an area woman working to improve her situation.

When she organized the Festival of Trees fundraiser, her name became connected with what has now become a family tradition.

Maura Schanefelt, her daughter, who is organizing the...

Discussion continues at NMPED and GMCS

Concern about a cover-up as a result of the Gallup McKinley County Schools’ numbers displayed on the New Mexico Environment Department Covid-19 Watchlist for Nov. 17 unleashed a torrent of phone calls from nervous parents, teachers and nurses, resulting in last week’s Gallup Sun story “GMCS superintendent under fire for COVID response.”

Since that story was published, Judy Robinson, the deputy director of communications with New Mexico Public Education Department, said the numbers for Twin Lakes Elementary for that date had been corrected to three cases and the number of rapid responses for Red Rock Elementary had been reported as...

Spike in cases pushes learning online

The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases has led to revised health orders across New Mexico. Stores have either reduced capacity or closed to the general public. Dine-in is no longer an option at restaurants. And schools are starting to feel the impact, too.

The Gallup-McKinley County Schools Board of Education realized this, as they held a special meeting on Nov. 20 in which they motioned to suspend a hybrid of limited in-person learning and online learning, and opt for an all-online learning platform for district elementary schools starting on Nov. 30 until at least Jan. 4.

Dist. 3 Board Member Priscilla Manuelito said the board would be receiving...

Stamp unveiled as part of Forever Stamps series

The U.S. Postal Service has tapped Rico Lanáat’ Worl, a Tlingit/Athabascan artist based in Juneau, Alaska to create a Northwest Coast art stamp for distribution in 2021.

The design of the stamp, titled “Raven Story” by Rico Lanáat’ Worl, was unveiled the week of Nov. 16 by the U. S. Postal Service as part of its Forever Stamps series.

The Postal Service had planned to unveil the stamp with Sealaska Heritage Institute at Celebration 2020, but the event was canceled because of the pandemic. SHI is working with the agency to hold a release ceremony next year.

The Postal Service has featured Northwest Coast art stamps in the...