NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Check out community events around New Mexico from November 22-28. Albuquerque November 22 All About Birds with the Bird Alliance of Central New Mexico – This event at the Downtown Public Library begins at 4:00 p.m. November 22-23 The Show – Albuquerque's longest-running comedy show happens every Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $12. November 23 Red Carpet, Red Kettle – Kick off the Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign at the Albuquerque Little Theatre from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. November 23 CD/Record/Book Fair – The Outpost Performance Space's Semi-Annual fair begins at 9:00 a.m. November 23 ABQ Food Park Weekend Vendor Market – Be able to shop local and support small businesses beginning at 11:00 a.m. November 23 Hot Bev ABQ grand opening – Hot Bev ABQ is hosting its grand opening on November 23, from 1 - 5 p.m. at its new location, 110 Quincy St. NE. The grand opening will also be a fundraiser for a number of good causes. November 23-24 Biscochito Making Workshop – This event at Big Jim Farms runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days. November 23-24 Rails Along the Rio Grande Train Show – Vendors from seven different states will be at the show at the Sid Cutter Pilot's Pavilion at Balloon Fiesta Park. Vendors will have supplies for model train enthusiasts, models and supplies of all kinds including cars and more, diorama modelers, architectural modelers, all things modeling, and more. November 23-25 Roadrunner Food Bank hosting holiday food drives – The Roadrunner Food Bank is hosting three drive-through food distributions for the community who need access to groceries before the upcoming holiday. November 28 Ancora and Albuquerque's Songwriter's Cooperative Open Mic – Every Thursday night at Ancora Cafe and Bakery, try your hand at performing some of your own music. Begins at 5:00 p.m. New Mexico November 22 Community & Crafts with ArtWalk Santa Fe – This monthly creative gathering will be at Meow Wolf Santa Fe beginning at 5:30 p.m. November 22-December 13 Holiday Pet Food Drive – The City of Rio Rancho Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department is hosting this drive at the Cabezon Park and Community Center. November 23 Breakfast with Santa – Help Santa kick off the Holiday Season by joining him for breakfast at the Cabezon Park and Community Center beginning at 10:00 a.m. November 23 Cocoa and Crafts – This all-ages event at the Alamogordo Public Library begins at 12:00 p.m. November 23 10th Annual Holiday Craft Fair – Get a jump on holiday shopping at the Rio West Mall in Gallup beginning at 11:00 a.m. November 23 World of Christmas – From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Mosaic Music & Arts Cafe in Santa Fe will host this multicultural Christmas market. November 23 Alamogordo Farmer's Market – This year-round farmer's market goes from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at 2900 N. White Sands Blvd. November 23 Rio Rancho Police Department food drive – Those who wish to donate are asked to bring non-perishable food items to various locations across Rio Rancho beginning at 9:00 a.m. November 24 The Rifters at DALEEE KTAOS – Enjoy at dance lesson at 4:30 p.m. and music at 6:00 p.m. at DALEEE in Taos. November 24 Sunday Chess Club – Meet at Popolo's Games in Taos beginning at 1:00 p.m. This free event is all ages. Albuquerque Notices 🔶 Registration underway for Toys for Tots – The charity, spearheaded by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides holiday presents for local kids in need. This year, families with children 14 years old or younger can sign up. Registration will be open through December 8 and can be done online. 🔶 City of Albuquerque opening second center for bicycle safety education program – A brand-new location will offer more bike riders help to maintain their bicycles. The city-owned Esperanza Bicycle Safety Education Center, which is located on West Central, is expanding. A second location is opening this week in northeast Albuquerque located off San Mateo Blvd. and Comanche Rd. 🔶 Upcoming winter break camps at the Nuclear Science Museum – Registration is open to students K – 6. Camps are divided into single-day camps, each featuring a different topic. Each camp follows a STEAM topic and is full of activities to engage and educate students. 🔶 Landmark Musicals presents: "The King and I" – 'The King and I' is a musical theater classic and this version will have music played by a live orchestra. The production features good visuals and funny and moving dialogue. Shows will be November 22 - 24 and November 29 - December 1. 🔶 Groundbreaking held for new early learning center in Old Town – City and education leaders came out to celebrate at the future home of the Brillante Early Learning Center near Old Town. The center is partnered with Explora and will allow the museum to expand its child-care capabilities. 🔶 UNM receives millions in funding from GO Bond for renovations and a new building – New Mexico voters approved hundreds of millions of dollars for higher education earlier this month and the University of New Mexico is getting a big piece of the pie. UNM is receiving nearly $95 million out of the $230 million voters approved. 🔶 City of Albuquerque using thousands of taxpayer dollars to trap, kill pigeons – It came to light at Monday night's city council meeting when a councilor grilled the city about why there were traps on city buildings. KRQE News 13 spoke with the councilor about the practice it seems not even council knew about. 🔶 City of Albuquerque cuts ribbon for new behavioral health center – The new Hopeworks facility called the William Miller Behavioral Health Center, is located on 4th Street next to Hope Village. They expect to provide care for at least 240 clients a year. It'll be staffed with nurse practitioners, nurses, case managers, and licensed therapists. 🔶 Operation Silent Night collects donations for Albuquerque shelter animals – The animal welfare department says the donation wish list includes small toys, treats, beds, brushes, wand toys, scratchers, sweaters, jackets, blankets, towels, collars, harnesses, pill pockets, and other similar items. Donations are being accepted through December 31, 2024. 🔶 Albuquerque Public Schools to host high school gaming tournaments at annual Esports Expo – The annual event will be held at the Berna Facio Professional Development Center on Louisiana Boulevard on Saturday, November 23, and Sunday, November 24. As part of the expo, high school students will compete in three tournaments: Rocket League, Overwatch, and Super Smash Bros. The tournaments will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, with finals taking place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. New Mexico Notices 🔶 More New Mexico teachers getting help with student loans thanks to state's repayment program – This year, the New Mexico Higher Education Department increased the number of teachers receiving loan forgiveness, awarding funding to 537 new applicants and renewing funding for 357 applicants. Since 2020, the program has helped 2,533 New Mexico teachers pay down their debt. 🔶 New Mexico companies receive training funds from EDD – According to an EDD press release, the money will go towards hiring and training up to 94 employees and four interns. Each month, the JTIP Board reviews and authorizes training reimbursement dollars to qualified businesses. A total of $1.6 million was approved with average wages ranging from $20 to $91 per hour. 🔶 New Mexico providing emergency SNAP support to people impacted by flooding – This assistance includes replacing lost food benefits, reissuing EBT cards, and temporarily allowing hot food purchases. SNAP customers in Chaves County who experienced food loss due to the storm and flooding have until Monday, Nov. 25 to report their loss and request replacement benefits. 🔶 Santa Fe unveils artwork designs for new medians – The City Different now hopes to make a new statement with public art aimed at welcoming visitors rolling into town. It's a push to embrace the artistic and cultural nature of Santa Fe by transforming underwhelming medians at the city's entryways into vibrant beacons full of creativity. 🔶 New Mexico filmmakers highlight the struggles of Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire victims – A local film team is working to showcase their struggles. More than two years after the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire ripped through northern New Mexico, a local film crew is working to showcase the struggles of those in San Miguel County. 🔶 Owner of Sawmill Market plans to bring food hall to Santa Fe – Apodaca said the Santa Fe space, just a block north of the plaza, will be different than the renovated Albuquerque Sawmill lumberyard they launched in 2020. Renderings for the more than 18,000 square foot Santa Fe Market show the vision for the vault and outdoor space. 🔶 Santa Fe Plaza lighting ceremony set for November 29 – Festivities begin at 4:15 p.m. and Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive via vintage fire truck at 5:45 p.m. 🔶 New Mexico Department of Health secretary stepping down – Patrick Allen served as secretary since 2023 and ran the state's public health system, including programs and 52 local public health offices. 🔶 Valencia County begins construction of new hospital in Los Lunas – The county's been sitting on roughly $28 million in operational funds for this hospital for the last decade. Now, they're finally taking a huge step forward in using it. Local and state leaders broke ground on the new facility on Wednesday right off the main I-25 Los Lunas exit. 🔶 Residents sue City of Sunland Park, Doña Ana County, and water authority over drinking water – According to the lawsuit, for years the arsenic levels were above the EPA legally allowed limit. Increased exposure to the chemical can lead to a number of health issues including cancer.The suit also says the EPA notified the utility of arsenic violations every quarter for over ten years with no corrections made.