ALAMOSA – Scott Honeycutt started at the Alamosa School District in 2003 driving buses. Now he makes sure that every student gets to school safely and on time, and that while they’re at school they are safe there, too. Honeycutt sits so he always faces the door. You could say his job is to expect surprises. 

CENTER – On Monday, Dec. 16, the Center Viking Youth Club held its annual Christmas Dinner, and this year they served delicious pancakes. Santa Claus was at the dinner and handed out gifts to children.  

MONTE VISTA – Valley Veterans Recreation founder and president DJ Salazar was all smiles in the group’s new building at 9 Washington St. Salazar and executive director Craig Rauwolf are excited to be hosting the group’s coffee socials at the building. 

COLORADO — Will this be a white Christmas?  December 2024 has been warmer-than-average conditions across almost the entire state, with very little snowfall. The National Weather Service is forecasting a 40% chance of snow for Alamosa on Christmas Day. This means that there is a moderate likelihood of snowfall in this area on that day.

ALAMOSA — The San Luis Valley Community Band under the direction of Dr. Kerry Hart, gave a stunning Christmas/Holiday concert at Richardson Hall on the campus of Adams State University on Saturday, December 21.

Local music legend Don Richmond led a group of Christmas carolers at Milagros Coffee House in Alamosa on the evening of Dec. 22.

Tears rolled down Lisa Lucero’s eyes when Adams State’s Acacia Nadeau-Lara presented her with the Educator Highlight Award this week in recognition of her work with pre-school children at Moffat Schools. 

ALAMOSA — The SLV Teen Prevention Coalition had a celebration on Friday, honoring Hiliana Baroz, Myissa Duran, Stefany Moreno and Leilany Soto who completed 75 volunteer/community service hours as part of the Prevention Program with the SLV Teen Prevention Coalition.  

CENTER – Recently Martina Thompson’s third grade class had a fun experience making homemade ice cream in class. Thompson said that the kids enjoyed it, and she loved seeing their smiles. The kids said that the ice cream was delicious. Thompson got the recipe for the ice cream from the internet. She thought the ice cream would be a fun and delicious project for her class.

ALAMOSA — Members of Alamosa’s Women’s Citizenship Club were at the historic Spanish Cemetery on Tuesday, placing wreaths on the graves of veterans. The action was part of “Wreaths Across America,” a practice where, across the nation, fresh wreaths adorned with red ribbons are placed on the graves of those who spent part of their lives serving their country.  

ALAMOSA — All are invited to the annual community Christmas Party on Dec. 21 at La Puente.  To celebrate the holiday season, La Puente is hosting a celebration where you can visit with Santa Claus, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, and feast on a lasagna lunch with your neighbors, coworkers, classmates, friends, and family. Every attendee will take home a gift from this community event.  

ALAMOSA – Society Hall is pleased to welcome back northern New Mexico native, Max Gomez on Sunday, Dec. 22. He will be playing with a full band. 

ALAMOSA — The Southern Colorado Science Center (SCSC), in collaboration with the Artisans of Florence, are excited to announce that the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America is in the final stages of approval to establish its first permanent location in Pueblo, Colorado. This groundbreaking museum will showcase interactive exhibits, life-sized machine replicas, and educational programs dedicated to the genius of Leonardo da Vinci.

ALAMOSA – Society Hall is thrilled to welcome back Colorado western singer Jon Chandler, with his trio, for a Christmas and holiday themed show on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. The concert is sponsored by SLV Health and will also benefit the San Luis Valley Cancer Relief Fund. 

ALAMOSA — The San Luis Valley Community Band will perform its annual Christmas/Holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., in Richardson Hall, 208 Edgemont Blvd., on the campus of Adams State University. The concert is free and open to the public. 

ALAMOSA – A long-time benefactor of the San Luis Valley and Adams State University, the Outcalt Foundation has donated $150,000 to support two university programs for 2025 and 2026. 

SAN LUIS VALLEY — On Christmas Day in 1900, ornithologist Frank M Chapman, with the newly formed Audubon Society, proposed an annual holiday tradition of counting birds, and the Christmas Bird Count began. This year, the Christmas Bird Count in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve continues the tradition on Dec. 31. 

SAGUACHE – The Saguache Sagebrush Quilters held its annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Mountain Valley school gymnasium. The gymnasium was decked out with Christmas decorations, a Christmas tree and Santa Claus sat in the middle of it all. 

MONTE VISTA – On Dec. 6-8, the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce held its annual Holiday Bazaar at the Ski-Hi Complex. Hundreds of people came to the bazaar each day that featured more than 100 vendors.

MONTE VISTA – Approximately 100 people were all smiles and waiting in happy anticipation, as Christmas carolers began to sing at Fullenwider Park on Saturday Dec. 7, at the seventh annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Monte Vista.