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Faith Hinkley Memorial Park rededication set for Dec. 7

MONTE VISTA – The City of Monte Vista has rescheduled the rededication of the Faith Hinkley Veteran’s Memorial Park to 11 a.m. on Saturday Dec. 7, after it was postponed due weather earlier this month. This photo is of the park during a Veterans Day ceremony in 2021.
MONTE VISTA – The City of Monte Vista has rescheduled the rededication of the Faith Hinkley Veteran’s Memorial Park to 11 a.m. on Saturday Dec. 7, after it was postponed due weather earlier this month. 
Community
Messiah at ASU on Friday
The SLV Symphony under the direction of William Lipke, conductor, will join with the Valley Community Choir, Nancy West, director, for a 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, performance of Handel’s Messiah at Richardson Auditorium on the Adams State University campus.
The San Juan Nordic Club is having a benefit ski and gear swap on Dec. 7 to raise funds to repair and replace its ski trail grooming equipment.  
San Juan Nordic Ski and Gear Swap on Saturday
SAN LUIS VALLEY — The San Juan Nordic Club is holding its annual Ski and Gear Swap on Dec. 7 at the Alamosa Family Recreation Center as a fundraiser to repair and replace its ski trail grooming equipment. 
The Valley Humane League is collecting blankets for dogs. 
Blankets for dogs needed
SAN LUIS VALLEY — The Valley Humane League is collecting blankets for dogs who are left outside in these freezing winter conditions. 
City of Monte Vista Facebook
More Local News
Alamosa Mayor Ty Coleman and City Manager Heather Sanchez join in the holiday fun at Alamosa's Celebration of Lights in 2023.  

Holiday season in the Valley

ALAMOSA — The holiday season always signals an abundance of fun stuff going on, and 2024 in the San Luis Valley is no exception. What follows is a glimpse of some of the happenings coming up this weekend. 

Celebration of Lights and First Fridays 

ALAMOSA – Downtown Alamosa is ready to light up with holiday cheer as the annual First Fridays Shine Bright and Shop Small event kicks off the season in style. The festive evening begins at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. with the magical Celebration of Lights Ceremony, featuring live music by Matt Wellman, sweet treats, and a countdown to the official lighting ceremony. 
Nick Navares was busy cooking, serving, and carving turkeys during the annual Crestone Community Thanksgiving held on Nov. 24. 

Gratitude and community at Thanksgiving celebration

CRESTONE — Over the past two decades, the Crestone/Baca Grande communities have come together for an annual Crestone Community Thanksgiving celebration potluck. This tradition is a testament to shared values of gratitude, community, camaraderie and unity at the event. 

Richmond: Blessed, grateful and amazed

ALAMOSA — Don Richmond is taking the stage at Society Hall Saturday night for a solo performance. In recent years, this has become an unusual thing for Richmond to do, given the number of performances he has booked and his other interests.  

Dangerous avalanche, road conditions predicted Thanksgiving week

COLORADO — Residents of the San Luis Valley who are traveling over the Thanksgiving week for outdoor activities should pay close attention to avalanche and road conditions.  
Sports
Sanford's Trason Gartrell, first team and Offensive Player of the Year.

Gartrell leads Mountain League All-Conference team

ALAMOSA – The Eight-Man Mountain League released its All-League football team earlier this week with 12 players from the San Luis Valley getting honors. Sanford had seven players named …
BOYS BASKETBALL CLASS 4A/3A INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE League Overall Team W-L W-L Bayfield 0-0 1-0 Ignacio 0-0 1-0 Montezuma-Cortez 0-0 1-0 Alamosa 0-0 0-0 Centauri …
ALAMOSA – Tim Yount released his preseason On the Mat high school wrestling rankings on Monday with 29 grapplers from the San Luis Valley being recognized. Class 3A Both of the …
ALAMOSA – The Intermountain League released its All-League football team in mid-November with 10 players from Alamosa High School being recognized. Half of the players are on the first …
Obituaries
Meledy Story
"It's M-E-L-E-D-Y, because my parents just had to be different." Perhaps Jack and Helen knew exactly what they were doing when they named their youngest child, as her sweet southern drawl was musical even when she was angry (which wasn't often). I could give you all the ordinary details of Meledy's life- where she was born, graduated high school, worked, etc. but I am not sure this captures her extraordinary nature. It also feels too final, like there is only a beginning and an end instead of a song that continues to live in everything she loved. Instead, I would like to tell you where I believe you will still find her. 
Martha Jane (Morley) Sales
Martha passed at the River Valley Rehabilitation Care Center in Del Norte, Colo., where she had resided since March 2019. There she developed many close/loving relationships. She was 73 years old when she went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She loved her Jesus! She fought a long, hard battle against diabetes and dementia.  
Doris Almeda Golden
Doris Almeda Golden, 89, passed away peacefully with her loving family at her side in the Rock Creek Rehabilitation Healthcare Center in Monte Vista, Colo. Born Feb. 2, 1935, at home in Milburn, Neb., to Clarence Herman and Lydia Almeda (Petet) Dye. 
Nancy Ruby Warren
Nancy Ruby Warren, 80, died Oct. 22, 2024, peacefully in her sleep at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. Nancy was currently living with her daughter Brenda and son in law Randy in Battlement Mesa. Born Jan. 27, 1944, in Pilar, N.M., she was the daughter of the late Jose and Adonilia Suazo.
Nicholas B. Lenzini 
Nicholas B. Lenzini, a devoted husband, loving father, and successful business owner, passed away peacefully from natural causes on Oct. 26, 2024, at his home in Creede, Colo. Born in Walsenburg, Colo., on Sept. 3, 1949, Nicholas led a fulfilling life with his wife in the home they built in the mountains he loved. 
Opinion
    • Clean plate and tiny cups

      At the time this is printed and circulated, most of you will have already had your turkey bird dinner on Thanksgiving and maybe even had the …

    • Long live the bird

      I recall growing up that all the old people would say that time goes faster the older you get. And while it actually does not speed up, it sure …

    • Falling backward  

      Last weekend we set our clocks back one hour to officially end what is known as Daylight Savings Time (DST.) Which in name alone is the silliest …

    • Class reunion redux 

      I am not sure who sets up the high school class reunions. There is one thing for sure, though, you can never tell what the agenda for the …

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