Cast your ballot —carefully. A lot’s at stake in the 2020 election, and it’s not just a choice between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Despite the current president’s persistently low approval rating nationwide, many Corrales Republicans chagrined by Trump’s antics and attitude will vote for him nonetheless for reasons that include a concern that the nation is moving toward socialism. And some Corrales Democrats will vote for Biden hoping that it is. The latter see an urgent need for universal health care, economic fairness and regulations on activities and industries substantially contributing to climate change and accompanying hardships.

Those are not the only top-tier issues that may be —partially— addressed in results from the 2020 elections, so candidates’ positions on gun control/Second Amendment rights, women's reproductive choices and other hot-button topics will be closely examined.

The League of Women Voters’ election guide is an excellent resource. Nationally, pundits, columnists and news analysts have warned that our very form of government is at stake. columnist Thomas Friedman, for example, advised, “I can’t say this any more clearly: our democracy is in terrible danger —more danger than it has been since 1861, more danger than after Pearl Harbor, more danger than during the Cuban missile crisis or Watergate.”

An estimated $10,740,000 would be needed for municipal projects and upgrades, according to the Village’s recently approved Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan (ICIP). The Village Council adopts such a plan yearly. In theory, no project gets funded through the N.M. Legislature unless it is specified in such a plan. At its September 8 session, the council approved the latest plan which gives priority to the following:

• animal services equipment and facilities - $40,000;
• the Thompson Fence Line trail connection - $75,000;

With the 2020 election in Sandoval County and the nation swirling and twirling towards the vote, political signs have been popping up around the village and environs. For reasons many find tough to comprehend, some people are either defacing or removing signs promoting candidates with whom they are at odds. Adolescent stuff? Frank Wirtz posted on social media late last month a tale that read in part, “There was, in our community, a rather over-zealous neighbor (Neighbor 1) who did not like one of the candidates. This neighbor, devoid of a sense of respect for the opposition and in cowardice fashion, laid siege to the candidate's sign with a knife in order to send a message to the candidate.

You’d think that everyone running for office is a dim-witted scoundrel —or worse. But you’re probably not swayed by all the negative TV commercials because… well, you’ve likely already made up your mind. In the 2016 elections, 65 percent of voters in New Mexico cast their ballots before election day.

This year, even more citizens voting early are expected, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Whether voting by mail or in person, early voting began October 6.

To vote early in Sandoval County, you can do so from now to October 31, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 to 7, at the Sandoval County Administration Building D, 1500 Idalia Road, just west of Highway 528.

You can vote early right here in Corrales from October 17 to October 31, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Corrales Community Center, 4326 Corrales Road, east of the Corrales Road-East La Entrada intersection behind the Senior Center.

Application forms for absentee ballots were mailed to all Corrales residents in early September by the Center for Voter Information, a 501(c)4 non-profit organization which can be reached at http://www.centerforvoterinformation.org. An absentee ballot can be request...

Corrales MainStreet, Inc. recently launched a fundraiser for local businesses it is calling “Starry Daze Business Booster Bingo” program. Starry Night, a gala usually held in late August or early September also to raise money for MainStreet projects, was nixed given obvious pandemically-dictated restrictions. The bingo project which runs until November 31, requires players to pick up a bingo card at any participating local business, and spend at least $25 there, thus earning a checking off of a box on the card. The instructions state: “When you have completed a row (or more if you are an over-achiever!) just turn it in with receipts and it will go into the drawing. Our goal is to bring $15,000 in business to the participating merchants and give away $2,350 in prizes. Have fun.”

To enter, you must go to the Corrales MainStreet office with card and receipts in hand, your name, email and phone filled in as well. Twelve gift cards, ranging from $100 per, to $500, comprise the prizes. MainStreet’s...

Corrales businesses can apply for grants of up to $10,000 in help to recover from losses due to COVID-19. The Village of Corrales was awarded $255,600 to help local businesses with funds from the federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act). Applications will be accepted from September 21 to October 30, or until all funds are disbursed. The application form will be posted at the Village website, under COVID-19 Resources. Non-profit organizations are also eligible. “I am hoping that small businesses in Corrales will take advantage of this grant funding to help keep our business climate vibrant,” said Mayor Jo Anne Roake. Grant funds can only be used by pandemic-impacted businesses for eligible expenses that fall into two categories...

By Meredith Hughes
Two pandemically affected Corrales artists in the painting/drawing division of the online 32nd annual Old Church Art Show, October 1-31, recently have completed works inspired by COVID-19, more or less. Mary Sue Walsh’s piece “View from My Kitchen with August Bouquet” sums it up for many: indoors, yet peeking out at a garden, no guests at the table. Victoria Mauldin’s heron, a peaceful but alert “Bosque Dweller,” hot off the easel, seems to be carrying on carrying on.

Former Corrales Comment summer intern Stella Asmerom was praised by U.S. Senator Tom Udall earlier this month when she completed an internship with his Washington DC office. During her tenure working virtually with Udall’s D.C. office, Asmerom worked closely with the legislative team.

 She is the daughter of Yemane Asmerom and Lisa Gerber of Corrales, and is a graduate of Albuquerque Academy. She is a rising sophomore at Harvard University where she is studying economics with a minor in government. “U.S. Senate interns gain invaluable experience as they learn to navigate our nation’s legislative process,” Senator Udal said. “I applaud all of our interns who, despite having an unconventional, ‘virtual’ internship due to the global pandemic, found many ways to contribute to my office.

A U.S. Senate resolution written by Senator Tom Udall calls for concerted and sustained action to halt destruction of natural ecosystems, establishing a national goal of conserving at least 30 percent of the land and ocean of the United States by the year 2030. Referred to as the “30 by 30 Resolution,” it notes that “conserving and restoring nature is one of the most efficient and cost-effective strategies for fighting climate change.”

The resolution’s preamble asserts that “to confront the deterioration of natural systems and the loss of biodiversity around the world, and to remain below a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase in average global temperature, scientists recommend that roughly one-half of the planet be conserved. “Whereas, as a step toward achieving that goal, some scientists have recommended that all countries commit to conserving and protecting at least 30 percent of the land and 30 percent of the ocean in each country by 2030, with a long-term goal of conserving one-half of the planet.”

The senate resolution was initially co-sponsored by Senators Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, Michael Bennet, Cory Booker,...

Crawfish étouffée, beignets, filet au poivre, food for fans of Louisiana is now being served up at C3’s Bistro, whose owners moved into the spot most recently held by Las Ristras Restaurant at Village Plaza, 4940 Corrales Road. Corrales’ Cajun Creole Bistro had its soft opening recently, and awaits a full service grand opening in 45-60 days once its wine and beer license has been secured. C3’s is already working with Ex Novo Brewery across the road to provide edibles to their customers.

The new restaurant’s owners have years of experience in food service, bought the traditional French restaurant P’tit Louis Bistro on Nob Hill in November, and once C3’s is fully launched, expect to open more than one location for an “all things waffle” venture called AJ’s Waffology.

One of the owners said that “Corrales is known for supporting Corrales business,” so he jumped at the chance to open up at the Village Plaza.

By Meredith Hughes
Should the $4.7 million that turned up unexpectedly in the Village coffers the end of 2019 be spent to finally implement the long-envisioned pathway project along Corrales Road? Former Corrales MainStreet board member and one time active marketer of all things Corrales, Deborah Blank, was on it swiftly. September 4 she wrote the following to Sandy Rasmussen, executive director of MainStreet in Corrales: “I’m delighted to learn of our unexpected windfall of $4.7 million. I foresee quite a long and I hope productive discussion about how to use this magnificent sum. As someone who advocated and lobbied for the pathway, of course I put it at the top of the list of candidates for funding.

“I would like to let you and the board know that many people contributed to a pathway fund two years ago. This effort, which was tied to Starry Night, raised over $20K —a number of individuals (personal friends of mine) gave more than one thousand dollars. Although I’m no longer active on the board, I am frequently asked about the pathway, and in particular, what happened to the donations.

The League of Women Voters of New Mexico launched its statewide voter guide on September 15.  Vote411.org  provides information on national and statewide candidates, much of it in English and Spanish.  This will be in addition to the league’s regular four area printed editions, which will be published later this month. The league successfully launched an earlier version of Vote411.org for the primary election in June.

“This is an ambitious project for us but aligns with our goals of providing excellent, non-partisan voter education and information about the election process,” said state LWV President Hannah Burling.

“Now that many people are voting by mail, we wanted to get pertinent information out to them as early as possible.” “We have reached out to candidates all over the state.  We have sent them ...

A branding “tag line” for a marketing campaign by Corrales MainStreet will continue as a “deliverable” in its contract with the Village in the months ahead if funding is secured. MainStreet’s annual contract with the Village was slated to be taken up at the August 18 council meeting. In an August 11 email to Corrales Comment, Corrales MainStreet’s Sandy Rasmussen offered an update for the controversial branding exercise. “So we have carried the ‘branding’ into our contract for 2020-2021 with the Village (going before Council at the next meeting) because we could not complete it because of funding and this pandemic doesn’t help.

Perhaps it has been changing wind patterns, changing weather or changing industrial chemicals, but breezes over the microchip factories on the escarpment may have caused breathing irritation downwind this summer. During the August 19 virtual meeting of Intel’s Community Environmental Working Group (CEWG), much discussion focused on complaints that Intel’s chemical emissions were suspected as the cause for early morning breathing problems.

Dennis O’Mara, a Corrales resident who consistently attends CEWG meetings and is retired from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said he had awakened several times in August when industrial odors were blown into his bedroom through swamp coolers. He began reporting breathing fumes he associated with Intel more than seven years ago. He lives on Tierra Encantada, far from the neighborhoods nearest the factories that experienced such intense exposures decades ago.

By Scott Manning
According to Catherine “Cat” Keller, the Animal Control office has not received many coyote reports over the summer, indicating that the coyote population remains at stable levels. Animal Control officers consistently record animal complaints from Corrales residents to determine what areas of the village to patrol. Keller explained that this summer they have received an increased number of snake reports, but coyote reports remain low.

Keller suggests that coyote reports should remain low because the Bosque Preserve currently has a relatively small rabbit population. Rabbits serve as a source of food for coyotes, so coyote numbers should reflect the amount of food available in the environment. Keller mentioned that coyotes may begin to repopulate the Salce Basin along Sabebrush Drive now that construction on the flood control project has ended. Animal Control continues to monitor this region of the village.