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Events for November 27, 2023 - October 28, 2023

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United Way Day of Caring

Register a Service Project Here! https://forms.gle/Nxzd4b3FDzCdnc8z9 Day of Caring is a powerful way for United Way of Lea County to join forces with companies and individuals to create action across our county. It is a day that underscores how essential volunteers are to making a difference in our community. Our volunteers complete projects that agencies may not have the ability to complete on their own. Day of Caring kicks off Saturday, October 15th at 8am. Deadline to register a service project will be September 15th.   Join us as we ignite the spirit of community collaboration, giving, and civic engagement to improve the lives of those in Lea County. If you are interested in registrering to volunteer or registering a team, please contact Marcus Sparenberg at campaign@uwolc.org or 575-964-3040

Tours Through Time

Celebrate and learn what has built our Lea County Community!

Evening Lecture

David Caffey and Chasing the Santa Fe Ring: Power and Privilege in Territorial New Mexico Join us for an evening of discussion with author David Caffey about the "rings" of men who collaborated to use the powers of wealth and government for their own enrichment in NM in the late 1800s. Chasing the Santa Fe Ring During the Gilded Age, from about 1870 to 1900, great enterprises were built, fortunes were made, and opulent lives were lived. One of the features of the day was the appearance of “rings”�"combinations of men who collaborated to use the powers of wealth and government for their own satisfaction and enrichment. The Tweed Ring in New York was the first to attain fame for its corruption, but the term was soon applied to cliques across the country. In the West, no alliance was more enduring or broad in its ambitions than the Santa Fe Ring in New Mexico. David L. Caffey set out to examine the who, what, why, and how of the Santa Fe Ring, producing a book, Chasing the Santa Fe Ring: Power and Privilege in Territorial New Mexico, which he will discuss through this illustrated lecture. David Caffey David L. Caffey grew up in Abilene, Texas, and became enthralled with New Mexico’s history in twelve summers on staff at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Colfax County. He later lived in New Mexico for thirty-three years, serving as Director of the Harwood Museum in Taos, and later in administration at San Juan College and Clovis Community College. His forthcoming book, When Cimarron Meant Wild: The Maxwell Land Grant Conflict in Colorado and New Mexico, will be published by the University of Oklahoma Press in spring, 2023. He and his wife now live in Lubbock, where they are watching a little girl grow up.

Distinguished Lecture Series – Erin & Ben Napier

The JF Maddox Foundation and University of the Southwest are pleased to welcome Ben Napier and Erin Napier, hosts of “Home Town” on HGTV, as the next speakers in the Jack Maddox Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture is scheduled at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 22 at R.N. Tydings Auditorium on the Hobbs High School campus. After the lecture, Ben and Erin Napier will host a book signing in the lobby of the auditorium. Ticket information for the event can be found by visiting jfmaddox.org or by calling 575-492-2141. Both Ben and Erin Napier share a passion for small-town revitalization. Ben Napier is a woodworker, author, and entrepreneur with a degree in history, founder of Scotsman Co. and co-owner of Laurel Mercantile Co. He is also a past president of Laurel’s Main Street America chapter dedicated to promoting the rebirth of their historic downtown district. Erin Napier is a designer, author, and entrepreneur with a fine arts degree who started her career in corporate graphic design before founding her own international stationery company, Lucky Luxe, and is a founding co-owner of Laurel Mercantile Co. They live in Laurel, Mississippi with their infant daughter, Helen, where they restore homes on HGTV’s Home Town. “Ben and Erin are both dynamic individuals and their focus on community pride, revitalization, and economic development will be valuable for Lea County,” said David Reed, Chief Operating Officer at the JF Maddox Foundation. “We are grateful that they share the Foundation’s vision of using creativity, authenticity, and imagination to make progress for communities and we look forward to having them share their message with our guests.” Since 1989, the JF Maddox Foundation and University of the Southwest have partnered to host the Jack Maddox Distinguished Lecture Series. The series aims to contribute to the quality of life in Lea County, New Mexico, and the surrounding area by providing nationally recognized speakers for intellectual stimulation and entertainment. Past speakers from the lecture series include Former First Lady Laura Bush, Mike Rowe, and General Colin Powell. For additional information on the Jack Maddox Distinguished Lecture Series, please visit jfmaddox.org or call 575-492-2141.

Evening Lecture

Melody Groves and Before Billy the Kid: The Boy Behind the Legendary Outlaw Author Melody Groves joins us for an exciting discussion about Billy the Kid, before he was Billy the Kid. How history would have changed if he'd followed his passion for music... Before Billy the Kid Many stories have been written about the exploits of Billy the Kid, the charismatic outlaw of the Old West. Some have been pure fiction, designed to entertain and excite. Purple prose writers began chronicling the exploits of Billy as early as the late 1870s. Others have been biographical, researched by historians or recorded by those who knew him, including his murderer, Sheriff Pat Garrett. But there was once a different side to the famous gunfighter, a softer more artistic side that seems at odds with Billy’s reputation for shooting, killing, and robbing. Born Henry McCarty, he was also known by the names Henry Antrim, Kid Antrim, and William H. Bonney. He didn’t shoot twenty-one men, as has been claimed. Four is a more likely number, three in self-defense. In Before Billy the Kid, author Melody Groves explores the early life of the infamous outlaw, the teenage boy who loved to sing and dance. The young man who was polite, educated, and popular. A boy who had the bad luck to be orphaned at fifteen and left with no one to guide him through life. How different history might have been if Billy had pursued his love of music instead of a life of crime. Copies of the books will be available to purchase during the event. Melody Groves Melody was born and raised in Las Cruces, southern New Mexico, but spent a few years "growing up" on Guam and in the Philippines. A graduate of New Mexico State University (B.S. Education), she is also a graduate of the University of New Mexico (M.A. Education). Melody taught in Albuquerque until leaving the classroom to become a full-time freelance writer. A deep love of anything cowboy and Old West creates a fertile playground for her imagination. After spending ten years with the New Mexico Gunfighters Association, she learned what it feels like going toe to toe with a revolver-wielding sheriff. Being both "good guy" and "bad guy" gives her a firsthand feel for what her western characters experience. Melody is a contributing editor for Round Up magazine for Western Writers of America. She is also a contributing writer for "American Westward Expansion," a collegiate history encyclopedia. She also writes for Wild West, True West, New Mexico and other magazines. When not writing, she's busy playing rhythm guitar with the Jammy Time Band.

Family Fun Day

We are celebrating the final weekend of Snoopy Soars with NASA and Horse Tales. Join us for a fall festival with face painting, games, activities and so much more. This event is FREE and appropriate for all ages. Attendees are encouraged to wear a family friendly costume if they wish!

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Join us for a viewing of the cult-classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This happens on our back patio (outside, so dress accordingly). You are encouraged to dress up and bring props (not required)! Be advised that this is for adults only and there is NO alcohol permitted. This event is FREE!

3rd Annual Lea County Tricks & Treats

Haunted House. Carnival Games. Costume Contest. Trick or Treat. Food Vendors. Live Music.  4-H Clubs & local non-profit carnival games will cost $.25 to $1.00 per game.

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