In a few weeks, the intersection of Coal Avenue and Second Street may look a bit like a bomb went off. The explanation is more mundane, and the end result should be a big downtown improvement.

The big ditch is part of the Coal Avenue Commons project, and will make Coal Avenue between First and Second streets look like it does between Second and Third streets, with ADA-compliant sidewalks, new benches, landscaping and lighting and a new signal at the intersection of Coal Avenue and Second street.

The first phase of the project was finished last July. The new phase will give the area a unified, more inviting look.

“We’re trying to make it like an attraction for downtown that...

Organic produce isn’t just for the rich

A garden is a hub of sights, scents and sounds that all seem to shout “Life!” to any visitor who’ll pay attention. The Community Pantry’s Hope Garden is answering the call with a seed-starting party and open house from 1 to 3 pm March 26.

“This is something we are kicking off this year. We got a big donation of seeds from Home Depot and really wanted to provide a space to use those and also try to connect people with the garden boxes,” Meredith Lorencz, programs coordinator at The Community Pantry said.

Participants will learn the proper way to start plants from seed and care for them. Visiting master gardeners will join...

Each month, Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe recognizes one local teacher within the Gallup area for his or her determination to help students go above and beyond. Prospective teachers are nominated by students who feel they deserve to be recognized.

This month Lucy Montoya, who works at Indian Hills Elementary as a first-grade teacher, is the recipient of February’s “Teacher of the Month” award.

Montoya grew up going to school in Gallup. In an interview with the Sun, she said she spent her summers playing school with her sister, but that wasn’t what led her to teaching.

After high school, she was a preschool assistant at Gallup Catholic School. That decision ultimately led her to...

Turn dream projects into a reality

Digital technology has revolutionized many industries over the last few decades, but it tends to favor those who can afford access to the world’s digital onramps. The price of entry can be steep, especially in places where Internet access can be spotty or even nonexistent.

GallupARTS wants to be an onramp for local artists, with a newly opened Artist Lift Zone, made possible through local grants. The Zone is a space with a computer, lighting, photo and video equipment, and free WIFI to help artists manage their online presence.

“It’s really an open-ended, adaptable space for them to do what they need to do,” Rose Eason, executive director of...