Spring renewal

School openings
Despite inclement weather and a year of disruption, schools in San Miguel County are headed towards a successful year’s end, with learning on multiple platforms continuing.  With a rise in vaccination numbers and a drop in reported cases, the state announced on March 8th a move to allow schools to re-open for in-person learning during the final months.  West Las Vegas Schools has returned to in-person learning, though the option for continuing in remote learning mode only for the remainder of the year remains an option for parents and families mode.  Valley Middle and Elementary School is set to resume in-person classes beginning Tuesday April 6th. And while Luna Community College and Highlands University campuses remain closed to students, the College Library at Luna is open for curbside pick-up and Highlands is moving forward with student services and other events via Zoom.
 
Snow and drought
Even as the remains of the most recent spring snowfall transforms to wet ground and muddy puddles, most of New Mexico remains in severe or extreme drought. In response, the City of Las Vegas recently moved to water conservation Stage IV. As noted on the city website, Stage IV restrictions include prohibitions against all outdoor watering, filling or adding water to private swimming pools, and offering water at restaurants unless it has been requested.  Read the Public Service Announcement regarding Drought Contingency and Emergency Response for more details. According to the United States drought monitoring website for the Western region, over 80% of New Mexico is experiencing extreme drought and over 50% is facing exceptional drought conditions. As a recent report on KRQE news makes clear, drought conditions build over time and even a foot of snow may do little to improve those conditions, especially when followed closely by warm and windy days.  Water managers in New Mexico have already warned that farmers, especially those in the southern part of the state, where irrigation depends on the Rio Grande, are especially likely to feel the impact of these shortages as the season develops.
  
New beginnings 
In celebration of the new beginnings that spring promises, the Villanueva Library at the El Valle Community Center is encouraging every one to sign-up for free library digital accounts. A library  account lets you check out books at the library and or online through Overdrive. Overdrive gives you access to thousands of online books, resources, and newspapers to keep you inspired. All you need is valid New Mexico address and an email account.
 
To help inspire you to celebrate and apply, ALL NEW APPLICANTS WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENTERED IN A DRAWING TO WIN A FREE KINDLE E-READER. If you already have a library card, contact the library with your your name and we’ll add you to the drawing.  And parents - don’t forget to sign up younger family members for a library card as well.  The first 30 children signed up will get ALSO get a free children’s book.

You can complete an application online or download an application, complete, sign, and return it via email to [email protected]. We will be announcing the winner of the Kindle e-reader before the last  day of Spring. The winner will be notified via email and will have three days to claim the prize.