Local News Releases

Construction on new parking lot to begin Monday, September 16

SILVER CITY, NM, Sept. 12, 2024 – The Gila National Forest, Silver City Ranger District is enlarging the parking area at Dragonfly Trailhead beginning Monday, September 16. The improvements will increase parking capacity at this popular trail destination.

"We're excited about this project, which will not only help meet parking demand at one of our most popular trailheads but will also better support use for events proposed by the public," said Silver City District Ranger Elizabeth Toney. "Over the next couple of weeks, visitors might prefer to use a different access point for the Fort Bayard area trails, due to the presence of heavy equipment at Dragonfly Trailhead during construction."

SILVER CITY, NM – Sept. 11, 2024 – On July 3, 2024, Gila National Forest released its final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision for the Gila National Forest revised land management plan, as well as the Southwestern Regional Forester's Species of Conservation Concern list for the Gila National Forest.
A 60-day objection period remains open. It officially began with the publication of the legal notice in the Silver City Daily Press. Parties may have standing to file an objection if they previously submitted substantive comments during opportunities to provide comment.

President's Chamber Music Series
Kevin Dvorak and Satako Goellner, cello and piano
Tuesday October 8
Light Hall Theatre
7pm
$20
Kevin Dvorak - Kevin was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He began playing the cello at age 11 and won numerous youth competitions, performing as soloist with the Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston symphonies. This led to a scholarship at Baylor University, where he continued his studies under renowned cello teacher, Lev Aronson, and prepared for orchestra auditions around the country.
In 1978, Kevin won a position with the Houston Symphony cello section. He toured with the orchestra, performing in some of the world's most famous halls in London, Berlin, Vienna, Tokyo, Singapore, Moscow, and New York's Carnegie Hall. He worked under the batons of Leonard Bernstein, Michael Tilson-Thomas and Christoph Eschenbach.
Satoko Goellner -- Satoko was born and raised in Sendai, Japan. She started piano lessons at age of 4 and completed all levels of the Suzuki Method. She performed at piano recitals in Japan for years. She studied pharmacy, became a pharmacist, and worked at local hospitals in Japan. After she moved to the United States she began playing the piano again. She currently works at a local hospital.

The Bayard Public Library is thrilled to announce its grand re-opening on Monday, September 16, 2024, following a transition period. The library will re-open at 9:30 AM and will feature light refreshments.

Joining us will be the Southwest New Mexico Community Forestry Network from 1- 5 pm. Find out more about their tree stewardship project, fill out a survey about your tree planting and tree care priorities in Bayard, and get a free desert willow or velvet ash seedling! The Southwest New Mexico Community Forestry Network provides community forestry planning and stewardship for a shady future in Bayard, Hurley, Santa Clara, Silver City, Deming and Lordsburg.

April Crosby will speak on the Gila Valley Library Story and Rotary's Helpful Role on Tuesday September 17th at 12 Noon in the Sunset Room on the WNMU Campus.

April retired to life as a snowbird between Gila and Alaska in 1997 with Rotarian husband, Merritt Helfferich, who frequented the Silver City Club until he passed away in 2019.

Exhibit Reception: Thursday, September 12, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
On Display: September 12 – October 31, 2024

SILVER CITY, NM – The Murray Ryan Visitor Center is hosting a new exhibit, "The Art of Johnny Sosaya," in their Art Alcove, September 12 through October 31, 2024. The exhibit reception will take place on Thursday, September 12, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center, 201 North Hudson Street in Silver City. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public.

Johnny Sosaya, a resident of Bayard, passed away on May 6, 2024. He was a surveyor by profession, but he was also a musician, an artist, and a writer. Sosaya left behind a substantial collection of work he created. This work is currently being held by his friend, Dan Arsola. Sosaya's work speaks of the earth, light and shadow, seasons, and mystical messages found within those elements.

The Visitor Center is honored to share Sosaya's art with the community, as it has been mostly kept out of the public eye until now. "It's an incredible honor to be presenting the art of Johnny Sosaya to Silver City and Grant County," states Kelly Johnson, manager of the Murray Ryan Visitor Center. "His work is unique and spiritual and connects us to concepts that are of another time, another realm, and – for some of us – another culture. It is my hope that, as a result of this exhibit, a permanent location becomes available for the art of Johnny Sosaya, as well as for other contemporary indigenous artists."

The exhibit will be on display September 12 – October 31, during the Murray Ryan Visitor Center regular business hours, Mondays through Saturdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sundays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Western New Mexico University College of Education will hold a conference on Play Based Learning in Early Childhood Learning with Kristen R. B. Peterson.

Kristen R. B. Peterson is the retired founder of Butterfly Hill Nature Preschool. In her quest to create a place full of play, learning, nature and emotions, Kristen discovered that play based learning is a must for all early childhood environments, and she is an advocate for play in early childhood.

Mending Our Ways -

The Southwest Women's Fiber Arts Collective (SWFAC) in collaboration with the Future Forge Makerspace, is starting an outreach program to help community members have clothes mended and learn how to mend clothes. This free program will be held at the Future Forge located at 307 East College Ave on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 10 am to 12 noon.

The program was inspired by a group in Scotland called Street Stitchers who help mend clothes in response to the amount of clothing thrown away because people don't know how to mend their clothes. On the 28th, community members can bring one item that needs a simple repair like replacing a button or a tear in a shirt or pants.