Good news roundup no. 1

Welcome to the first edition of the good news roundup column. This will be a weekly column highlighting good news that recently took place around New Mexico.

Acts of valorIn honor of their brave actions to save the lives of civilians and one of their fellow solders during the flash flooding that took place during after the Ruidoso wildfires, three New Mexico National Guard soldiers were awarded the Medal of Valor by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham during a pinning ceremony held in Ruidoso in July: Staff Sgt. David Perez, Sgt. Carlos Mendoza and Spc. Roberto Veledias.

“This is what makes the Guard different from other branches of services,” said New Mexico National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar in a press release. “We serve at home, helping our friends and neighbors.”

The great outdoor awards

The Outdoor Recreative Division of New Mexico Economic Development Department on Monday announced the fifth and final round of the fiscal year 2024 Trails+ Grant funding, for 17 recipients around the state, including the city of Bloomfield, village of Corrales and the Pueblo of Picuris.

The grant dollars are for projects like trail systems, disability-accessible outdoor recreation spaces, signage and wildlife viewing areas. Lujan Grisham created the fund in 2019 to help enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities.

“The Trails+ Grant is giving a significant boost to the state’s economy and supporting the growth of local communities,” Mark Roper, acting secretary of the Economic Development Department, said.

For more information on the other grant recipients, visit www.nmoutside.com.

NM Girl Scout gets $5,000 scholarship

Los Alamos High School senior and New Mexico Girl Scout Kara Loy was awarded the Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award Scholarship in July for her project aimed at addressing youth mental health. Loy created a database of mental health recourses for her high school’s website, titled, “It’s OK to Get Help.” The database provides students with access to national, state and local mental health resources.

“I hope that if any student feels depressed, suicidal or not optimal in their wellness, they will go to my web page and determine the best thing to do for their health,” Loy said in a press release.

In recognition for the work, Loy was awarded the Gold Award Scholarship, the highest achievement any Girl Scout can earn in high school, completing a minimum of 80 hours on a project with a sustainable impact on a global issue.

A golden anniversary

The Palo Duro Senior Center is celebrating its 50 anniversary in style by hosting activities all week long.

The festivities kicked off Monday with musical and dance performances and will continue into Tuesday, with a special edition of bingo that runs from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Wednesday, the center will host a golden jubilee dinner and dance that will start at 4:00 p.m. and will run until 7:00 p.m. On Thursday, there will be an open house event at the center from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and on Friday, there will be a special edition of karaoke during lunch, which will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

These events are free with a Department of Senior Affairs membership.

Have some good news of your own?

Please don’t be shy. It’s time to brag about some of the good things in Albuquerque and beyond. You can email your good news ideas to goodnews@abqjournal.com

Gino Gutierrez is the good news reporter at the Albuquerque Journal. If you have an idea for a good news story, you can contact him at goodnews@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3940.