East Mountain Companion Animal Project has launched a month-long photo contest to raise funds for a community spay and neuter clinic planned for 2026. The “No More Littering” calendar contest, which runs through Sept. 5, invites pet owners to submit photos of their rescue dogs for $25 per entry. The winning images will be featured […]
East Mountains
Posted inEast Mountains
Tijeras, Edgewood receive Route 66 Centennial grants for tourism projects
Two communities will see direct improvements from a new round of state tourism grants, with Tijeras receiving $55,000 for wayfinding enhancements and Edgewood getting $4,000 for centennial celebration activities. The funding comes from the New Mexico Tourism Department’s second round of Route 66 Centennial grants, totaling $1,306,097 statewide to prepare communities for the historic highway’s […]
Posted inEast Mountains
Back-to-school guide 2025: What families need to know
By Connor Currier Families across the East Mountains are preparing for a new school year that brings significant benefits, including universal free meals for all students and expanded educational options across multiple school districts serving the region. From Tijeras and Cedar Crest to Moriarty, Edgewood and the Estancia Valley communities of Estancia, Tajique, Torreon and […]
Posted inEast Mountains
Vista Grande Church to offer free school supplies for East Mountains students
East Mountains families preparing for the upcoming school year can get free basic school supplies for their children at a community giveaway this weekend. Vista Grande Church will distribute backpacks filled with school supplies on Sunday, Aug. 3, at 12:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church Tijeras, located at 11820 NM-337 in Tijeras. The supplies are […]
Posted inEast Mountains
Flooding forces temporary closure of Talking Talons Thrift Shop in Cedar Crest
By Connor Currier Severe flooding in Cedar Crest has forced the temporary closure of a beloved local institution, the Talking Talons Thrift Shop, located on State Highway 14. The flooding caused significant water damage to the interior of the shop, prompting staff to announce a closure of at least two weeks while repairs are underway. […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Veteran receives donated wheelchair after being ‘abandoned’ by VA
A Mountainair native and 13-year Army veteran received a donated wheelchair Saturday that his family desperately needed after encountering delays in the federal veterans’ system, highlighting challenges faced by disabled veterans across the state. James Greene, a Mountainair native who now lives in Rio Rancho with his wife Heather, was one of the first American […]
Posted inEast Mountains
Hope for the new school year
Submitted by Trey Smith, Executive Director of East Mountain As I prepare to send my own son off to his first day of Kindergarten in just a few days, I find myself riding a rollercoaster of emotions, probably not unlike what every parent feels this time of year. I’m feeling a little anxious: Will he […]
Posted inEast Mountains
New welcome sign design unveiled for Sandia Park along Turquoise Trail
Sandia Park will soon have its own welcome signs after a local artist’s design featuring hummingbirds and mountain sunsets won a community contest, addressing residents’ concerns about being mislabeled as part of Edgewood along the popular Turquoise Trail. East Mountains resident Lauren Monet Bruss won the “Project Here’s Your Sign” contest organized by the East […]
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Tijeras company faces fines after shrapnel exposure incident
An engineering and manufacturing company based in Tijeras is facing more than $12,000 in state fines after a workplace safety inspection uncovered multiple safety violations that exposed workers to flying shrapnel and put them in danger of being caught in moving machine parts. According to records from the New Mexico Environment Department’s (NMED) Occupational Health […]
Posted inEast Mountains
An apple a day builds brighter futures: Homeschool ranch blends academics and outdoor learning
This back-to-school season, a ranch-style homeschooling program offers an alternative to traditional education. Apple Academy Homeschool, located in the East Mountains, blends traditional academics with hands-on ranch activities to create a new way of learning. Apple Academy was founded and is led by Allison Apple. “Our small program serves students from advanced Pre-K through 5th […]