Around the Area

By Mountain Mail staff

• Aerts Wins FFA Proficiency Award

FFA members received proficiency and state star awards during the 81st Annual New Mexico FFA State Convention in June in Las Cruces at New Mexico State University.
Each of the students received awards for taking part in a supervised agricultural experience, or SAE. SAEs are designed to help prepare students for a career in agriculture in a specific field of interest.
Brian Aerts of the Socorro FFA chapter received the proficiency award for agricultural sales placement. Aerts works at his family’s feed store. He is interested in business management and plans to attend NMSU to major in agricultural business. Aerts also received the 2009 state star in agricultural placement.

• Heritage Center To Host ‘Feather Dance’

There will be a special performance of La Danza de la Pluma, The Feather Dance, by Grupo de Promesa from Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 26, at the El Camino Real International Heritage Center south of Socorro.
The event will include a screening of Metamorfosis Documentation Project’s documentary film, “La Danza de la Pluma. Faith, Sacrifice and Tradition,” and a multi-media presentation featuring the cultural history of La Danza de la Pluma and its relation to the Matachin dances of New Mexico and northern Mexico.
The event is free for all New Mexico residents with an ID. Shuttle service will be available from Socorro, courtesy of the city of Socorro. For more information, call 575-854-3600 or log on to www.elcaminoreal.org.

• DAV Sells ‘Best Of The Best’ Enchiladas

The Socorro chapter of Disabled American Veterans, 200 North Fifth St., will host a red-chile enchilada dinner fundraiser Friday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. DAV Commander Peter Romero said besides “the best of the best” enchiladas, the $6 plate includes beans and rice.
All proceeds support the veterans of the DAV, he said. For more information, call 835-0843.

• Catron Democrats Plan Organizational Meeting

The Democratic Party of Catron County will have a planning and organizational meeting at 4 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Catron County Courthouse in Reserve.

• Tech To Host Blood Drive Next Friday

There will be a blood drive from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 17, at New Mexico Tech’s Student Activities Center. Sign up for an appointment at www.bloodhero.com.
The goal is to collect 70 pints of blood during this summer drive.

• Children’s Musician To Perform Tuesday

Andy Mason, guitar-playing singer of children’s songs, will be at the Socorro Public Library at 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 14.
Mason had to cancel his original date to appear because of a family emergency and has rescheduled.
He interacts with children of all ages with finger plays, educational songs in both English and Spanish and engages the children with foot-stomping fun.
The program is part of the Summer Reading Program at the library and is free to all.

• Library To Host Pottery Workshop

Barbara Szabo, local artist and potter, will present a pottery workshop for elementary-age children at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16. She will teach children how to make a simple clay pot and more. The program is free.

Around the Area