ABQ RIDE Connect

Albuquerque's newest on-demand, microtransit service!

ABQ RIDE Connect is designed to complement existing fixed route service by connecting riders to key transfer route locations including transit centers and bus stops within two pre-determined zones in Albuquerque. ABQ RIDE Connect can also be used for transportation to other locations within the zones like grocery stores and local businesses.

www.cabq.gov/transit/services/abq-ride-connect 

Welcome to the latest #TransformationThursday report, your opportunity to learn about all the exciting projects happening on and around YOUR Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. 

To begin with, we want to remind you that the #TransformationThursday posts are now a monthly outreach, and no longer sent weekly.

First off, we have some unfortunate news to report: With the high winds we experienced during the beginning of March, our custom front Visitor Center doors were damaged, and we are waiting for parts and repairs to be made. We are still open however and our regular business hours of 9am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday continue, although entry and exit is occurring through our south gallery/exhibit hall doors which are close to our education wetland and classroom area, instead, in the interim. We expect the custom front doors will be getting fixed soon. 

Next week, we will be hosting another Sunset Mural Loop Walk on Thursday, March 14 from 6pm to 7:30pm MDT.  In other news, please ensure to mail in by midnight or drop off by 4pm MDT on March 15th your NM Junior Duck Stamp Contest entries at the refuge (7851 2nd St SW, Bldg. A, Albuquerque, NM 87105)! For more information about the contest, please email Ranger Brittany at brittany chavarria@fws.gov. 

March 16th will be a busy day for us with our BARK Ranger program happening from 10am to 12pm MDT, and our Friends are hosting a book reading/bird walk from 2pm to 4pm MDT.

Then on March 23, join us for our ABQ Backyard Refuge Program: Build Your Backyard Refuge Day to learn from our amazing partners about growing a backyard refuge for wildlife with talks, walks, booths, and plant giveaways from 9:30am to 12:30pm MDT here at the refuge.  

In addition, the Friends of Valle de Oro Refuge Development Committee met recently for their monthly meeting on February 27th and reviewed the rankings of the Committees' preferences for projects as well as community input from the Community Update/Open House (that was held on January 27th). The priority projects included: the Perimeter Trail, Demonstration Garden, Nature Play Area, Habitat Restoration, Bus Extension, and the Outdoor Classroom. There was also discussion about initiating work on 3 specific upcoming grant opportunities and initiating information gathering for those grants. The committee will meet again via Zoom on March 26th and welcome all who are interested in attending. Come share your voice and skills to support these projects, the refuge, and our community. If interested in learning more or joining, please contact the Committee Chair, Jaren Peplinski, at jaren@ciudadswcd.org.

The refuge is excited to announce that we have a new Maintenance Team Lead. His name is Sean Vargas, and he starts next week (3/11/2024). We hope to share more about Sean Vargas in the next #TransformationThursday post as well as share more about our newest Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) Biological Science Technician Intern, Michael Fragua who was formerly on an ALCC crew member. We also hope to have filled the ALCC Visitor Services Intern position and other vacant position here at the refuge as well by the release of the next #TransformationThursday post in April and share more news about our Spring calendar, our Environmental Justice Community Days events, and more!

We are on the look out to have some more wonderful conservation groups join us - whether they have jobs open now or not - for our Middle Rio Grande Conservation Career Fair here at the Visitor Center on Saturday, March 30th from 1pm to 3pm MDT. If your group is interested in attending and having a booth/table, then please email our Park Ranger, Volunteer and Youth Employment Coordinator, Dakota Dominguez at dakota_dominguez@fws.gov.

We have lots of incredible events all month long, check them out and come join us!!! 

Exciting things are happening at Valle de Oro and thanks to many of you for being a part of our transformation!  Don’t forget you can sign up for these updates via email by dropping us a line at VdOlistens@fws.gov or just check in with us on Facebook or Nextdoor every first Thursday of the month. We hope to see you on the refuge soon and in our Visitor Center (Open Tues-Sat 9am-4pm).

Freeze Your Property Values, Save on Taxes

Seniors and Disabled May Qualify

Bernalillo County – As the weather cools down this is the time to “freeze” your property values so you can pay less in property taxes.

If you are aged 65 or older, or have a disability, and earned less than $41,900 in 2023, you can apply for the Value Freeze Program.  This is a way to literally “freeze” your home’s property value in place.

“This is a great opportunity for all county residents who quality, to get a break on their property taxes,” says Bernalillo County Assessor Damian Lara.  “As the years go on, the Value Freeze Program can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in savings.”

Qualifying residents must complete an application for “Value Freeze” and meet the qualifications, annually.

The deadline for applying for the Value Freeze Program is approaching and all applications must be submitted no later than 30 days after the Notice of Value (NOV) statements have been mailed.  The NOV mailing is scheduled for April 1.

A video explaining the Value Freeze Program featuring Assessor Lara can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tt8eK9E_iI.

Assessor’s Staff are standing by to help! Call the Assessor’s Office at 505-222-3700 or visit www.bernco.gov/assessor and find forms in both English and Spanish.  Drop by at 415 Silver Ave. SW, where there is free parking (SW corner of 5th & Silver) or email assessor@bernco.gov.

Neighborhood Walks Program

The Neighborhood Walks Program is an initiative led by the Office of Neighborhood Coordination (ONC) aimed at increasing walkability in neighborhoods citywide.

Individuals, neighborhood associations, and other community groups have the ability to request a certain type of Neighborhood Walk, such as a neighborhood safety walk, an environmental assessment walk, a neighborhood association recruitment walk, or a neighborhood cleanup walk. These Neighborhood Walks are modeled on Jane’s Walk©, a nationwide initiative designed to actively encourage walkability in neighborhoods and provide an opportunity for participants to share neighborhood stories, discover unseen aspects of neighborhoods and use walking as a way to connect with neighbors.

The ONC partners with the Planning Department, other City Departments, and Jane’s Walk © to help coordinate these Neighborhood Walks.