by Birdie Jaworski

Karyl Lyne conducts the 1st Presbyterian Bell Ringers.

A row of Las Vegans stand at the front of the First United Presbyterian altar prior to Sunday service, smarty dressed in white dress shirts and black cotton gloves. They wait, each holding the handle of a gilded bell. Conductor Karyl Lyne raises her arms, pointing at one ringer, then another, …

by Birdie Jaworski
Two pitbulls prance across a sloped yard, running to greet their human companion. Ishmael, a sleek cream-colored dog with patches the color of dried roses, noses Maureen O’Brien in the leg as she attaches a six-foot painting to a cyclone fence with clothespins. Violet sits, her brindled chest expanding, contracting, as the New Mexico sun bakes her fur.
“The …

by Birdie Jaworski
As the school year snakes toward summer, school workers across the county hold their breath in anticipation, wait for the last bell to chime, the last report card to compose, the last classroom to clean. The end of May means graduation preparation, means prom music and decorations to choose, means exhibit and event designed to showcase each student’s …

by Birdie Jaworski
A walk through any of San Miguel County’s nature trails yields a bonanza of botanical delight. Careful searchers can find a plethora of aromatic, medicinal, and edible plants in any afternoon hike in our surrounding areas. Thick-leaved sage announces its drought-tolerant presence with a savory aroma, and is one of the most loved local herbs. Northern New Mexico …

by Birdie Jaworski
The dip between the cut monolith of Hermit’s Peak drips with moisture this time of year, the ground swollen with melted snow, mist clinging to each budding leaf each time clouds gather around the hermit’s cave. The mountain feels alive. Pine trees burst skyward with new growth. Tiny yellow and purple flowers dot sunny secret corners protected from …

by Birdie Jaworski

Martin Jencka (left) and Lucas Cudia get their faces painted at Synergy Fest.

A blast of high-energy live music signaled the start of the annual Synergy Fest, a celebration of renewable energy, sustainable culture, music, and learning held at Melody Park this past weekend. Organizers began the arduous task of festival set-up Friday morning by installing hundreds of feet …