Each spring, Silver City becomes the center of one of the most demanding cycling races in North America. The Tour of the Gila brings riders from across the United States and from around the world to compete on the roads of Grant County in southwest New Mexico, where mountains, high desert, and winding canyons create a course known for both its beauty and its difficulty.

First held in 1987, the Tour of the Gila has grown into a major stage race on the American cycling calendar. Professional and amateur cyclists arrive prepared to face high elevation, steep climbs, and long distances that test endurance and strategy over the course of five days.

The race begins with the Tyrone Individual Time Trial. In this opening stage riders leave the starting line one at a time and race against the clock across rolling terrain near the village of Tyrone, south of Silver City. The course demands careful pacing and concentration as competitors attempt to set the fastest time.

From there the race moves into the mountains for the Mogollon Road Race, one of the most challenging stages of the week. The road climbs toward the historic mining town of Mogollon, where steep grades and thin mountain air often separate the strongest riders from the rest of the field. Riders pass through rugged country where desert hills give way to pine forests and sweeping views of the Gila region.

The following stage, known as the Inner Loop Road Race, winds through the hills and valleys outside Silver City. Riders face long miles and steady climbing as the accumulated effort of the race begins to take its toll.

On Saturday the atmosphere shifts as the competition moves into downtown Silver City for the criterium. Riders circle a short course through the historic streets while spectators line the sidewalks. The pace is fast and the corners are tight, creating an exciting event for both racers and the crowd.

The race concludes with the stage known as the Gila Monster Road Race. This final challenge includes a demanding climb toward Pinos Altos and often determines the overall winner of the event.

For Silver City and the surrounding communities, the Tour of the Gila is more than a sporting event. Volunteers, local organizations, and residents work together each year to support the race and welcome visitors. Events like this reflect the strong sense of community that defines Silver City and much of southwest New Mexico.

As the next Tour of the Gila approaches, cyclists will once again prepare to face the same roads that have challenged competitors for nearly four decades. The mountains of southwest New Mexico will offer the same test they always have, and for those who take part, the experience remains unforgettable.

For more information about the race, including routes, schedules, and event updates, visit the official Tour of the Gila website.

The post Cyclists Gather in Silver City for the Tour of the Gila appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.

Silver City’s Youth Mural Program had a full and inspiring year, continuing its mission to engage young people in public art while strengthening community connections. From restoring long-standing murals to creating new works across Grant County, youth crews, local artists, and community partners came together to make a lasting impact.

Ongoing restoration took place at Lion’s Park, the Heritage Windows, tilework at Arizona and Broadway, the Silver City Public Pool, the Gila Library, and more. Crews repaired tiles, refreshed faded paint, and restored damaged areas to ensure these murals remain vibrant for years to come. Work also continued on the Main Street Plaza mosaic expansion, where Aldo Leopold Charter School’s YCC Mural Crew and Youth Mural Program crew added new mosaic ground and sky, supported by funding from the Town of Silver City and NM GRO.

The Bear Mountain Bird Sanctuary Project advanced with new mosaic work at the base of the windmill, designed by Aldo’s YCC mural crew and completed using leftover tiles made by San Lorenzo Elementary students. At San Lorenzo Elementary, youth crews also completed a large indoor mosaic honoring the Gila Wilderness, building on earlier tilework for the CP Anderson Vista mural. In Bayard, more than 200 students helped paint a 63-foot mural at Snell Middle School, guided by artist Erika Burleigh and her apprentice Makiah Granadino.

Summer brought renewed energy to the Silva Creek Botanical Gardens mural, where more than 30 participants ages 6 to 20 designed and installed three mosaic panels celebrating native plants, animals, people, and the region’s climate. Youth crews later expanded the piece with large mosaic flowers honoring Gila Native Plant Society founders, volunteers, and donors.

The program also reached beyond Grant County. Several young artists traveled to Santa Fe to participate in a Department of Outdoor Recreation event at the Roundhouse and share the impact of both the Youth Mural Program and the Outdoor Equity grant that helped support their work.

Support from NM GRO and the Town of Silver City made it possible to hire more youth, extend participation, and continue long-term mural projects throughout the region. Looking ahead, plans include an overnight mural camp at City of Rocks for teens in Luna, Hidalgo, and Grant counties, along with new murals in Lordsburg, at the farmers market, and at Kelly Street and the Big Ditch.

Anyone interested in joining, supporting, or learning more about the Youth Mural Program can reach the team at
youthmuralprogram@gmail.com.

The Youth Mural Program continues to show how public art brings people together, strengthens local identity, and creates meaningful opportunities for young artists. One mural at a time, they’re helping shape a more connected and creative Southwest New Mexico.

The post Connecting Youth, Art, and Community Through Public Murals appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.

As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gila Wilderness in 2024, the Gila River Festival will not only celebrate this important milestone in protecting America’s first Wilderness River, but will also look to the Gila’s future. By exploring themes of long-term protection, climate resilience, cultural exchange, and stewardship, we will envision together the Gila River’s next hundred years and beyond. 

This year’s festival kicks off on Thursday September 26 with a keynote presentation by Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr., the San Carlos Apache leader who has worked tirelessly to prevent the desecration of Oak Flat, an Apache sacred site in what is now southeastern Arizona, from a proposed mine operated by international mining giant Rio Tinto.

Friday night join us for Community Voices: Blueprints for the Future of the Gila River in which a diverse panel of leaders, including Guadalupe Cano, Ray Trejo, Michael Darrow, Martha Cooper, Joe Saenz, Corina Castillo, and Luke Koenig, will discuss their perspectives on the future of the Gila River and its watershed.

The L&J Ranch’s Airstream Mobile Lab will be on hand at the Seedboat Center for the Arts throughout the Festival with its Gila River Project that will challenge participants to explore the relationship between place and the life it enables.

We’ve got a full line-up of presentations, film, music, and a special celebration of Apache dance and song.

Authors Phil Connors and Sharman Apt Russell and journalist Mónica Ortiz Uribe will close the festival with an informal conversation, How to Love the River, in which they will share their stories, visions, hopes, fears, and dreams of the wild Gila River in the 100th anniversary year of the wilderness that gives birth to it.

In keeping with tradition, the Festival will host a series of field trips and tours. Alex Mares, of Diné and Mexican heritage, is an ever-popular interpreter of rock art. Luke Koenig, New Mexico Wild’s Gila Grassroots Organizer, will lead a free family-friendly hike to the Gila River. Geologist Dylan Duvergé will take participants to Mogollon Box to discuss weather and climate impacts on the Gila River. As always, the Festival will host birding, wildlife tracking, native plant hikes, horseback riding, restoration and composting tours, and more.

Check out the full schedule at www.gilariverfestival.org and register for your field trip or tour HERE.

Thank you to our sponsors to date who make this year’s festival possible! Major sponsors to date include Center for Biological Diversity, Gila Resources Information Project, New Mexico Wild, Silver City Daily Press, The Nature Conservancy, The Semilla Project, The Wilderness Society, and Upper Gila Watershed Alliance.

See you in September!

The post Registration Now Open for Gila River Festival 2024 appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.

Do you have a knack for crafting suspenseful plots and intriguing mysteries? The Arizona Mystery Writers are calling on storytellers from the Southwest to put their detective hats on and pen down their best mystery, suspense, or thriller story. This contest is a fantastic opportunity for writers of all levels from Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado to showcase their talent and compete for exciting prizes.

A Contest for All Mystery Enthusiasts

No membership is necessary, nor any prior writing experience. If you’re a resident of the specified Southwest states and over the age of 18, you’re invited to participate. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or someone who’s been waiting for the right moment to start writing, this contest is for you.

What’s At Stake?

The contest boasts impressive prizes for the top stories:

First Place: $200
Second Place: $100
Third Place: $75
Your story, which can be up to 2,500 words or about 10 double-spaced pages, could not only win you one of these prizes but also the recognition among your peers and the wider writing community.

How to Participate

The contest opened on March 1st, 2024, and will accept submissions until August 1st, 2024. To ensure fairness and impartiality, the judging will be blind, meaning your name will not be disclosed to the judges. The entry fee is a modest $15, an investment in your writing career and a chance to support the vibrant community of mystery writers.

To enter, please visit www.arizonamysterywriters.com, where you can find the Requirements and Official Entry Form. This website is your gateway to all the information you’ll need to participate in the contest.

Dedication and Disclaimer

This year’s contest is dedicated to Jim Martin, a figure whose contributions have significantly impacted our community. We honor his memory through the spirit of creativity and storytelling that this contest fosters.

Please note, the Southwest Writers Foundation (SWWF) is not responsible for the implementation or outcomes of this contest. All inquiries and submissions should be directed to the Arizona Mystery Writers through the official contest website.

A Final Word

This is more than a contest; it’s an opportunity to join a community of like-minded individuals passionate about mystery writing. It’s a chance to challenge yourself, refine your writing skills, and perhaps even see your work recognized and rewarded. So, if you’re from Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, or Colorado, and over 18, consider this your invitation to dive into the world of mystery writing. Who knows? The next great mystery author could be you.

The post Join the Arizona Mystery Writers Contest appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.

There must be a dozen reasons why people write books. George Orwell wrote an essay in 1946 “Why I Write” and gave us four: [1] sheer egoism, a desire to seem clever and be talked about, [2] aesthetic enthusiasm, an interest in the perception of beauty in the natural world, [3] historic impulse, a desire to see things as they are and store them for posterity, and [4] political purpose, in the broadest sense of wanting to push the world in a certain direction.

       I whole heartedly subscribe to Wes Jackson’s succinct, all-inclusive bottom line: “We live in the most important moment in human history.”¹ I’d like to think I fall into category number four, wanting to do something about the mess we’re in. The Earth’s temperature is higher than any time in human history. We have just endured the hottest decade on record; the Gulf and East Coast of the United States are awash in drastic weather. People are drowning in their basements, burning to death as they flee. The Lahaina fire chased people into the ocean at the speed of one mile a minute, that’s fire racing 60 mph! The death toll is almost a hundred. A “heat dome” cooked British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington, killing 500 people in Canada, at least 95 in Oregon, and possibly more than a billion marine animals globally. California and Australia are ablaze, fires never more extreme or this frequent. California has suffered severe drought, then horrendous flooding, an environmental whipsaw. One-third of Pakistan was under water, affecting 33 million people. Earth’s species are undergoing a rate of extinction from 1,000 to as much as 10,000 times higher than normal. One million species are at risk of extinction. Soil is depleted and washed away with only 60 years of productive agriculture remaining if we continue business as usual. Human population growth, resource extraction, and consumption are headed toward tipping points. Humankind is ensnared in an accumulation of climatological and geological changes that are modifying the basic physical processes of the planet. 

       António Guterres, United Nations secretary general warns that the climate crisis is now “inevitable, unprecedented, and irreversible,” our lack of progress dealing with it is “suicidal,” he calls it “code red for humanity,” as we approach “ecosystem meltdown.” As one writer put it, were in the midst of “a multispecies mass extinction, and the beginning of the end of civilization as we know it. Not one of us is innocent and not one of us is safe.”² Yet, most scientists maintain there is still time, it’s not too late, but we must act now. I wrote this book in an effort to urge people to acknowledge our environmental crisis, accept the fact that we Americans bare a disproportionate share of responsibility for the mess we’re in, encourage people to commit to change their convenient, overly consumptive way of life and to protest for change, take to the streets and become part of the Voice of the Streets. The work we’ve been doing on the Pitchfork Ranch over the past two decades has helped this land, interesting and beautiful its own right, become an ideal setting to make the case that everyone needs to pitch in and how each of us can make a difference, how to save us from ourselves.

       During our work lives, Lucinda and I had participated in a dozen or more two-week Sierra club volunteer trips where we camped out, collected sherds, surveyed archaeology sites, drilled beams, other tasks in Chico Canyon, and restored habitat in half a dozen locations. Stung by the restoration bug, we decided to repair land as a retirement project,  purchased the Pitchfork Ranch south of Silver City, New Mexico in 2003 and, with the help of 18 government grants, installed more than 1,000 grade-control structures and planted or propagated a similar number of trees, raised the 8.3-mile reach of the 48-mile-long Burro Ciénaga watercourse two to five feet, introduced several at-risk species and improved this wilderness-like place for wildlife to breed, birth and raise their young. We never discussed it, but the restoration was our swan-song, a backpacker’s way to leave this place a little better than we found it. The water was given top priority as the ranch’s restorable ciénaga is one of the few remaining in the Southwest, with up to 95% of ciénega habitat having been lost since European arrival.³ The few remaining are but a shadow of their former selves.

       We learned that recent science found up to 37% of excess atmospheric carbon, the main cause of the climate crisis, could be drawn down by 21 natural climate solutions and that the work here was one of them,  one of the more significant ways to return carbon to the soil where it can serve life, rather than death.⁴ Those papers prompted us to investigate soil, photosynthesis, and the exhaustive and remarkable subsurface world and how restoring land was a realistic way⎯something beyond the seven “R’s,”⎯to pursue our personal climate stabilization potential and play a meaningful role in the hoped-for transition from  a world of progress and profit to stability and survival. We recognized the ranch and our work provided us with the opportunity to interest others in restoration. I’d given talks, shared our progress at the Gila Symposium, wrote about ciénagas for Wikipedia and other writings and activities, explaining the importance of ciénagas and the results of the habitat restoration on the ranch.  Spade-work and drafts of a book had been in the works for some time, but when carbon drawdown potential entered our thinking, the throttle hit the floorboard.

       As you can see here, it was clear that restoration worked and the potential for landscape scale repair was viable. Having done some of the work and overseen most it, we could see how individuals of every stripe could get involved, do the work. There are changes we can make to our yards, larger pieces of land and with restoration groups as part of the significant adjustments we’re all going to make if we’re going to see civilization, as we know it, survive.

The challenge is to call attention to the myriad crises overwhelming the planet while people went to go about their lives, complicit, wanting to continue “business as usual.” It’s not easy to make this case without sounding accusatory, blaming, pious, or self-righteous. But the facts are frightening. One of the major contributors to these crises is air travel and the United States population racks-up more miles per year than the next ten countries combined. Nobody wants to quit flying. We took a train to visit our daughter in Seattle, the round-trip cost, per person, was $2,100 and took two days each way, whereas air travel would have cost only $493 roundtrip and 7 hours (three-hour drive time to the airport and check in) each way. With infrequent exception, we’ve stopped flying. When our friends learn we no longer travel by air and ask why, it gets awkward. It’s hard to tell, but their reaction appears to range between thinking our policy is silly and guilt. It’s untenable to encourage our friends to give up flying, but they sense the suggestion, it’s uncomfortable.

       The writing was near completion, when another science paper reported that wetlands, bogs, marshes, and similar “sweet spots” like ciénagas “disproportionately contribute to carbon sequestration globally” capturing five times more carbon than forests and 500 times more carbon than oceans.⁵ With an active, restorable ciénaga⎯the only one in New Mexico being restored on private property⎯the story of the restoration became far more important than our earlier thinking in terms of wildlands and wildlife. 

       Orwell’s notion of pushing the world in a certain direction, urging people to respond to the seriousness of these crises is the task. As complicated and difficult as it is to make the changes necessary to contend with these crises, the way we arrived at the predicament is straight forward. The problem of carbon and warming has been known for almost 200-years, the fossil fuel interests and our government knew about it since the 1950s, the risk was scientifically documented by a variety of scientists independent of one another. The criminals who created these crises and their effort to prevent solutions is now beyond dispute, and continuing. 

        This is the biggest crime in human history. The predictable consequences of spewing carbon, methane and other climate poisons overheating the planet is killing thousands of innocent people, most of whom have contributed few heat causing emissions. I’ve endeavored to explain the conspiracy, our complicity, tell how previously ignored science has had tragic consequences in the Southwest, yet ignoring science this time has us walking over a cliff. There are ways each of us can help solve these crises. We’d best do it now if we care about leaving our grandchildren with hope of survival. The book will be released by the University of Arizona Press in Late February, 2024: Restoring the Pitchfork Ranch, How Healing a Southwest Oasis Holds Promise for Our Endangered Land.

Endnotes:

1. Courtney White, The Age of Consequences: A Chronicle of Concern and Hope (Berkeley: Counterpoint, 2015), 3.
2. Roy Scranton, We’re Doomed, Now What? (New York: Soho Press, 2018), 3.
3. A.T. Cole and Cinda Cole, “An Overview of Aridland Ciénagas, with Proposals for Their Classification, Restoration, and Preservation,” New Mexico Botanist, Special Issue, no. 4 (September 2015): 36.
4. Bronson W. Griscom et al., “Natural Climate Solutions,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114, no. 44 (October 17, 2017): 11645–50, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1710465114. Joseph E. Fargione et al., “Natural Climate Solutions for the United States,” Science Advances 4, no. 11 (November 14, 2018), DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat1869. Justin Adams et al., Consultation: Nature and Net Zero, World Economic Forum, January 2021.
5. Temmink et al., “Recovering Wetland Biogeomorphic Feedbacks to Restore the World’s Biotic Hotspots,” Science, Vol. 376, issue 6593 (May 5, 2022).

The post Why I Wrote a Book appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.

In celebration of the Gila Wilderness 100 anniversary, this call asks photographers to submit images about wilderness (does not have to be images from the Gila). All types of photography are welcome including Black and white, color, alternative processes, 3 dimensional, etc.

 Open to all photographers living in Grant County, New Mexico

 Each Photographer can display up to 2 images  16” x 20” (framed size) or smaller, or 1 larger piece. 

Exhibition Dates: March 1 – April 1
Reception Friday March 1, 5 – 7 pm
Work due to gallery (ready to hang) February 26^th, noon – 3pm
$10 participation fee

Deadline to confirm participation: February 7^{th
Karen is available to view your images in advance to help wiht selection.}

To participate contact Karen  karenhymer@gmail.com , (520) 240-7075

The post Picturing Wilderness appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.

“Aye, como pasan los años.” This was a phrase that my maternal grandmother’s adopted tia, Rosa V.
Castillo, would voice in bittersweet reminiscence as my generation, unbothered and uninterested by the
conversations of our elders, played and grew before their wistful eyes.  
 
Rosa Castillo was born in Silver City, New Mexico, in 1917, just five years after New Mexico was
admitted into the Union as a full-fledged state. She lived in this town, en el barrio de Chihuahua Hill, for
most of her life. As a child, she endured the semi-segregated schools of Silver City, where a community’s
language was suppressed in favor of the socially acceptable English. She helped raise multiple
generations of children, although she had none of her own. She moved away from Chihuahua Hill only
when Alzheimer’s disease rendered her unable, though not unwilling, to care for herself. While living in
a care facility, her memories of family and friends faded, yet her insistence that they continue buying
her Big Red gum remained. She lived a long, undoubtedly difficult yet beautiful life, one that she never
spoke of and that I never thought to ask about. Rosa Castillo died on April 26, 2009. Tenía noventa y
dos años. She was buried in the Catholic Cemetery beside the adopted siblings who took her in on
Chihuahua Hill nearly a century before. Whatever stories Rosa left unsaid, all the things she knew, and
how she felt about them, are gone. En su lugar, solo recuerdos.  
 
I remember Rosa in the background of my own life, always there but rarely a focal point. Looking back, I
am ashamed about how little attention I paid to those conversations in Spanish punctuated by quick
bouts of English that formed an ever-present backdrop to my childhood. Everybody, at some point, pays
the world the disservice of thinking it’ll never change. You take for granted the voices of those around
you, thinking that if they’re here today, they’ll be here tomorrow. Pero no es asi. Elders pass away, and
the places they inhabited give way to new voices. Now that warm atmosphere of Spanglish that
surrounded my youth has slowly been replaced by English and my own bittersweet reminiscence of
what once was. Aye, como pasan los años.  
 
Rosa’s story is representative of the history of Chihuahua Hill, a historically Mexican American
neighborhood on the southern edge of Silver City. Wherever you are in the town, La Capilla, a small
chapel overlooking the neighborhood, makes a visible backdrop. The barrio is a pillar of our history. The
first silver produced in the fledgling mining camp that became Silver City was smelted at the foot of
Chihuahua Hill by Mexicanos in an adobe smelter. Families worked as miners, freighters, servants and
farm hands, people whose labor ensured the continued success of local industries. Generations of gente,
just like Rosa Castillo, lived and died there without ever being asked about their stories. Societies, just
like people, take for granted what is around them. The Silver City Museum faces Chihuahua Hill yet
has seldom featured the community’s history within its walls. The Chihuahua Hill History Project is an
acknowledgement, and a correction, of that disservice.  
 
Started in 2021, the Chihuahua Hill History Project was envisioned by the Silver City Museum to bring
the community, as a whole and as individuals, to the forefront of history. It concerns itself less with
dates and events and more with the context that surrounds them. Experiences, memories and

perspectives. The project demands that history only becomes important when understood through the
lens of human life. With this in mind, the project was built from the ground up around oral
history. Themes, or areas of importance, emerge from the stories told by Chihuahua Hill
residents. Making personal experience the centerpiece of our research provides a new toolkit for
collecting and presenting local history. It reorients our emphasis back to the community we serve,
transforming our institution from a place that tells you what history is into a mirror that reflects the
communal experience. It is history for and by the community.  
 
The history being uncovered is staggering in its scope and relevance to the present day. Chihuahua Hill
residents have recounted stories of the joys of culture, the hardships of poverty, the pain of
discrimination and the reality of change. It has helped uncover the stories of those people who are no
longer with us. Ensuring that people, just like Rosa Castillo, will not be forgotten. Instead, they will be
forever represented, in their own words, in their own voice, for generations to come. A living and ever-
expanding marker of what we thought, and who we were, and why we mattered. 
 
The project will be presented in its first official exhibit, Nuestra Voz: The Chihuahua Hill Story on
September 29. The exhibit will explore the history of the barrio through the words of those who lived it.
It is a multimedia, multi-themed, exhibition with the core idea that the past, just like
today, isn’t composed from one single perspective, but of many. Every perspective is important because
every person is important, not just the rich or the powerful, or those whose lives are written about and
well documented. History is not just about their voice, or your voice, or mine, but all of
ours. Nuestra voz. Our voice, as a collective, is what brings the past to life, and what makes history more
than just words in a book, or on a wall.  
 
The Chihuahua Hill History Project has been the greatest pleasure for the Silver City Museum to embark
on. Nuestra Voz: The Chihuahua Hill Story is just another big step in a continuous project that will
continue to evolve with the neighborhood it represents.

perspectives. The project demands that history only becomes important when understood through the
lens of human life. With this in mind, the project was built from the ground up around oral
history. Themes, or areas of importance, emerge from the stories told by Chihuahua Hill
residents. Making personal experience the centerpiece of our research provides a new toolkit for
collecting and presenting local history. It reorients our emphasis back to the community we serve,
transforming our institution from a place that tells you what history is into a mirror that reflects the
communal experience. It is history for and by the community.  
 
The history being uncovered is staggering in its scope and relevance to the present day. Chihuahua Hill
residents have recounted stories of the joys of culture, the hardships of poverty, the pain of
discrimination and the reality of change. It has helped uncover the stories of those people who are no
longer with us. Ensuring that people, just like Rosa Castillo, will not be forgotten. Instead, they will be
forever represented, in their own words, in their own voice, for generations to come. A living and ever-
expanding marker of what we thought, and who we were, and why we mattered. 
 
The project will be presented in its first official exhibit, Nuestra Voz: The Chihuahua Hill Story on
September 29. The exhibit will explore the history of the barrio through the words of those who lived it.
It is a multimedia, multi-themed, exhibition with the core idea that the past, just like
today, isn’t composed from one single perspective, but of many. Every perspective is important because
every person is important, not just the rich or the powerful, or those whose lives are written about and
well documented. History is not just about their voice, or your voice, or mine, but all of
ours. Nuestra voz. Our voice, as a collective, is what brings the past to life, and what makes history more
than just words in a book, or on a wall.  
 
The Chihuahua Hill History Project has been the greatest pleasure for the Silver City Museum to embark
on. Nuestra Voz: The Chihuahua Hill Story is just another big step in a continuous project that will
continue to evolve with the neighborhood it represents.

The post Nuestra Voz: appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.

Warming weather means one thing for local golfers — tee time! And now that the town of Silver City is once again managing the municipal course known as Scott Park, many of those golfers are singing the praises of town management and the facility’s golf pro, Len Zamora.

“I decided it was time to return to my New Mexico roots, share what I’ve learned and showcase a great golf experience for local residents,” said Zamora, a PGA League national member who relocated to Silver City a year ago with his wife, Sarah, from Cabo San Lucas in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. There, he improved that course’s worldwide ranking from 58th to 36th in the eight years that the couple lived there. He also spent 17 years of his career in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Recent improvements to Scott Park have regulars enjoying the game of golf in Silver City with renewed zeal and appreciation for recent improvements by town staff to the course and its facilities, including a newly paved parking lot, the purchase of 30 new golf carts, a more clearly defi ned front entrance, a new maintenance facility and repairs and upgrades to the irrigation system. “It’s a huge benefit that the city has taken over the management of the course, and you can really see the difference,” said Philip “Felipe” Salazar, who plays the 18-hole course every Tuesday with his friend, Pete Villalobos of Pleasanton. “It’s a much, much better course, and the town continues to make improvements. It’s a hidden gem in Silver City.”

Salazar relocated to Silver City eight years ago from Albuquerque, and Villalobos left San Diego 13 years ago. While enjoying a cold beer and a beautiful view on the outdoor patio of the Tap Room bar/restaurant overlooking the course, with a view of the Kneeling Nun in the distance, both said they wouldn’t have moved to Silver City if there were no golf course.

“I’m so thankful that the town has taken over the management of the course and is putting their best foot forward to create a great facility,” Villalobos said. “Town Manager Alex Brown is working hard to improve the quality of life here, with the new recreation center, investing in this course and recognizing the importance of amenities that help support the local economy. This is a community that is being noticed by retirees, and a good golf course is important to that population.”

Salazar said he recently played a private club in Ruidoso as part of the Zia Seniors League, and called the course conditions at the public Scott Park facility “on par” with Ruidoso.

“This is the best the course has looked, ever,” he said. “It’s perfect for the community — the best in the state, as far as public facilities go.” Under the leadership and guidance of Zamora, a graduate of New Mexico State University’s golf management program, the master plan for Scott Park outlines major future improvements in phases, as finances allow. Phase 1 includes a new practice facility, complete with a driving range, short course and supervised practice area for children, live music and a range of family activities.

Phase 2 calls for a complete overhaul of the ’70sera irrigation system, along with a fully redesigned 18hole course to bring it up to United States Golf Association specifications, with new tee boxes and better greens. Such improvements will make the course more available for tournaments and fundraising events for local organizations, Zamora explained, providing an even better experience for golfers of all ages, all while supporting the goal of developing a PGA junior league and training young golfers for generations to come.

Other plans include instructional programs for men, women and couples “to grow the game of golf,” Zamora added, including “Operation 36,” for new golfers who shoot 36 over nine holes.

Zamora, a U.S. Navy veteran, expects to be a certi-fi ed instructor in the PGA Hope Program for disabled veterans by late summer, so that he can serve those who’ve served the nation’s military by sharing with them the game that has been his life’s passion. He was inspired by older brother Don Zamora, whose love of the game led him to become a golf pro and open Ladera Golf Course in Albuquerque in the 1970s.

“Growing the game” also means a renewed interest and commitment to junior golf. The Drew Hunter Junior Golf Program was named in honor of former assistant golf pro Drew Hunter, who, with muchloved golf pro Ron Doan, diligently fostered junior golf, and inspires children ages 7 to 14 to learn the game and compete in leagues structured much like Little League baseball and youth soccer leagues.

Hunter’s nephew, Mike Rowse, Grant County Golf Association president and a Silver City native, began playing at Scott Park in 1967 at just 5 years old. He was introduced to the game by his grandfather.

“Golf is a great game of life,” said Rowse, who will play an integral part in the revitalization of the junior golf leagues. “It teaches integrity, and how to get along with all kinds of people from all walks of life. Playing golf is equally frustrating for everybody — everyone is equal. It’s a game where players of all abilities can play together.”

For more information about Scott Park, visit scottparkgolflinks.com or call 575-538-5041. The course is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and greens fees are just $45 for a round of golf with cart, with the junior rate at $7. Town employees enjoy a free annual pass. Not a golfer? Visit Scott’s Tap Room for daily happy hour specials from 3 to 7 p.m. — and enjoy one of the best views in town.

The post Scott Park Golf Course appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.

There are few stories more inspiring than that of a young artist who, despite growing up in an area with little exposure to the arts, manages to pursue his passion and become one of the most sought-after illustrators and art directors in the entertainment industry. Such is the story of artist and teacher Jeff Haynie, who, through his lifelong fascination with fantasy art and his unwavering dedication to his craft, has left an indelible mark on the world of illustration and game design.

Growing up in southern Louisiana, Haynie found inspiration in the natural world around him, especially in the shimmering waters of the river where he would often fish. He would spend hours drawing spaceships and fantastical creatures under a tree during recess while his classmates played on the playground. It was the artwork of Frank Frazetta and the release of “Star Wars” that solidified his interest in fantasy art, and he began using an airbrush to create stunning murals and illustrations on everything from t-shirts to tractor trailers.

Haynie’s talent and passion for art led him to attend art school at Louisiana Tech University and later at East Texas State University, where he met his future wife, Sherri, and became a devout Christian. It was during this time that he honed his skills as an illustrator, learning from some of the best artists in the industry, including Bart Forbes, Don Ivan Punchatz, Jack Unruh, and Mike Presley. After college, Haynie founded Green Acres Studio, which produced illustrations for a variety of high-profile clients.

In the late 1990s, Haynie began working in the entertainment industry, first at DreamWorks Interactive, where he created digital artwork for computer games and eventually became an art director. He later worked for Electronic Arts, THQ, and Midway Games, contributing to such iconic game franchises as “Need for Speed”, “Evil Dead”, and “Medal of Honor”. His journey ultimately brought him to Big Fish Games, where he served as the art director for the “Mystery Case Files” series, overseeing everything from concept art to animation and special effects.

Despite his success in the entertainment industry, Haynie remained committed to his personal artwork and to using his talent for a good cause. He and his wife partnered with cat rescues across the United States, donating a portion of their art sales to support animal rescue and adoption efforts. His artwork, which draws inspiration from his beloved cats and from his deep sense of whimsical wonder and childlike innocence, has been featured in numerous galleries and publications, including Disney, Pixar, and Warner Brothers.

Today, Haynie continues to create stunning works of art that capture the imagination and inspire awe in all who behold them. His journey from Louisiana to Hollywood and beyond is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and hard work, and serves as an inspiration to aspiring artists everywhere.

Jeff recently painted a breathtaking mural on the walls of the Casita at Tranquil Buzz in Silver City, NM. The mural reflects the soul of the area and celebrates the deep-rooted spirit, history, and culture of Silver City. It showcases the ancient indigenous people, the awe-inspiring scenery of the Gila National Forest and Gila Wilderness, and the iconic Kneeling Nun landmark. Jeff skillfully captured the unique and vibrant wildlife of Silver City, including the enchanting Gambel’s quail with their swaying plumage. The ruins in the area stand as a testament to the dreams of people who sought riches or to find themselves. Jeff also incorporated a Road Runner and a warm, inviting fire that adds to the mural’s charm. In a touching gesture, Jeff immortalized his rescue cat, Grizzly Bear, who now resides with him. This exquisite masterpiece is a visual ode to the soul-stirring beauty of Silver City and a tribute that will endure through the ages.

Find more about Jeff at:

jeffhaynieart.squarespace.com
www.kittyartist.com
Amazon

The post A Journey Through Fantasy Art: From Louisiana to Hollywood and Beyond appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.

Jacqueline Blurton is a force to be reckoned with in the world of painting. Her art is not merely a hobby but a passion that burns within her with a fierce intensity. Her range is both impressive and varied, ranging from surreal to representational landscapes with a special love for birds, especially owls, being one of her favorite subjects. She wields her mediums of choice, oils, acrylics, graphite, and pen and ink, with skill and precision, creating works that are imbued with life and emotion.

As an active member of the Grant County Art Guild, Jacqueline has made her mark on the local arts community. Her works are showcased at the Guild Gallery, and her dedication to the Guild is inspiring, having served as both secretary and president. Her involvement speaks volumes about her love for the arts and her desire to give back to the community.

Jacqueline’s artistic talents extend beyond painting to include illustration. Her illustrations can
be seen in several publications, including “From Our Place to Yours” a weekly nature column that ran from 1999 to 2006 in the Silver City Daily Press and the “Beginner”s Guide to Planting Native Perennials of the Gila Region” for the Gila Native Plant Society.

Two books of reprinted articles from the popular “From Our Place to Yours” column and the “Beginner’s Guide” are available at the Grant County Art Guild in Silver City.

Her artwork beautifully complements the informative content of these publications,
providing a visually stunning and intellectually stimulating experience for readers.”

Her background in commercial art and graphic design has provided her with a unique perspective that she brings to her paintings and illustrations. Her love for nature has been a driving force in her work, inspiring her to create art that captures the beauty and majesty of the natural world. It’s clear that her passion for art and nature has led her to a fulfilling retirement pursuit, which has brought her and her husband closer to the community and the natural beauty of Silver City and the Gila National Forest.
With her talent and enthusiasm, there is no doubt that Jacqueline Blurton will continue to create beautiful works of art for many years to come. Her dedication to the arts community and her love for nature are a testament to her spirit and her unbridled creativity. It is no wonder that she is an inspiration to artists everywhere, and her works will continue to be admired for generations to come.

The post The Artistic Passion of Jacqueline Blurton appeared first on Southwest Word Fiesta™.