July Brings Us Back to Our Roots

Photo of a previous Smokey Bear Birthday Parade featuring Matthew Midgett of Followed Dream Ranch proudly bearing the American flag.

The month of July brings us back to our roots and home to celebrations filled with American pride, patriotism, and traditions.

This Fourth of July marches up the best little hometown parade in Capitan, NM featuring cowboys, kids, clowns, and the country-style culture we embrace in Lincoln County. The parade begins at 10:00 AM. Many entries to watch for include Hope Harbor, local marching high-school bands, mascots, and muscle cars.

Continuing the tradition with a twist, two drone shows instead of traditional fireworks will light up the skies this year, creating spectacular visual formations using synchronized LEDs. Both events are free to attend.

Saturday, July 5th

All American Tailgate & Drone Show 

Sunday, July 6th

50th Anniversary of the Inn of the Mountain Gods

Summer may be sizzling, but Smokey’s Community Garden grows with an abundance of knowledge that is shared once a month. Mark your calendar to attend Thursday, July 17 at 5 pm to learn some pro tips for bumping up your crop yields.

If you still are not feeling the festivity-ness, let’s find some way to figure this out. Sometimes when we think we’re all alone drowning in trouble we miss the bigger picture.  But what should we be looking for? Let’s focus on our community and how we can individually make a difference. 

K’hari Garcia with the Lincoln County Community Health Council is reaching out to locals with a 100% Lincoln Survey to assess local initiatives we as a community should do to make improvements right here for you. Those include quality, basic family services: education, health care, childcare, affordable housing, and job assistance. By sharing your thoughts anonymously, you are directly helping shape a better place for everyone in our county. Take the survey here.

Weather always surprises the summer season. We cannot control it, we just have to adjust the thermostat, protect our properties, and be ready to clean up a mess after a storm. And in Lincoln County and neighboring Mescalero, we have been conditioned to do that a lot. We urge you to take precautions for extreme weather conditions. If you are out and about and caught in a downpour, please find the nearest areas where you can be above any runoffs that will continue to wash away the burn-scarred soil. Keep a safety kit on hand filled with snacks and water that will help you and your family if you become stuck away from home waiting for water to recede and roads or bridges to reopen. Also, include extra power charging cables for your phone. While weather can be unpredictable, our reaction to a bad weather emergency can be planned when we stay prepared. More flood safety tips.

Enjoying the outdoors often means having a picnic.

The word "picnic" is believed to come from the French term "pique-nique," which means a meal shared by several people. This activity became popular in Europe and North America as a form of recreation. Maybe it’s time for a picnic again!

• Plan a Picnic: Arrange a picnic with friends, family, or colleagues. Select a location that has ample space and natural scenery, such as a local park, scenic point, or countryside. Include a variety of healthy foods: sandwiches, salads, fruits, and desserts. 

• Be Creative with Food: Use leftover chicken to make wraps filled with salad and dressing. Take fresh-cut veggies instead of chips, and substitute candy with grapes, blueberries, and sliced apples. Hydrate with watermelon water for a natural sweet drink.  Find food combinations you know are easy to snack on without making a mess and take them.

• Play Outdoor Games: Bring some outdoor games for your picnic, such as frisbee, and ball, or have a treasure hunt. These activities can add entertainment and help create memories for all ages.

• Keep it Eco-Friendly: Make your picnic environmentally friendly by using reusable containers, utensils, and napkins. Please make sure to clean up completely after your meal to keep the area clean and beautiful.

• Stay in the Shade: UV exposure intensity comes on strong. Be stronger and wear protective sunscreen, hats, and comfortable clothing that will protect you from the sun.

• Share your Fun: Capture the memories of your picnic and share them on social media. We’d like to see everyone having fun!

Are you interested in helping the Lincoln County Community Health Council by volunteering for an upcoming event?

Please check out our website here.