The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Bishop Field Office will temporarily close approximately 2,500 acres of public lands near the Crowley Lake North Shore/North Landing for the entire day of July 4 and a portion of July 5.

“This closure is a preventative measure to minimize the risk of fire, enhance public safety and protect sensitive habitat on July 4 and 5 when many people go to Crowley for the fireworks display,” said Bishop BLM Acting Field Manager Kirk Halford.  “For firefighter and public safety, visitors will be concentrated in an area that can be patrolled and evacuated in the event of a wildland fire. It has been a fairly wet spring. However, the potential is for high fire danger by the July 4 weekend with a more normal warm and dry pattern descending on the region.”
[Read more ...]

MOUNTAINAIR, N.M. — Ready to get away to 17th-century New Mexico? Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument offers the adventure and romance of the old Southwest.

The national park’s rich history and location, a scenic, peaceful drive from Albuquerque and Santa Fe make it a great choice for a getaway. Explore the ruins of 350-year-old colonial churches and take in the breathtaking landscapes that wrap history and nature up in one excellent package.
[Read more ...]

While many budget-conscious Americans have scaled back their vacation plans this year, savvy travelers are taking full advantage of the major discounts offered by travel companies and trying out new destinations, activities, and adventures for their 2009 summer vacation.

America’s top houseboating destination, Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, is offering travelers NEW tips on booking the ultimate houseboat adventure without breaking the bank this year.

[Read more ...]

AURORA, Colo.  -  Cherry Creek State Park is offering a Junior Ranger Program for youngsters, ages 8 – 11, who want to discover Cherry Creek through the eyes of a park ranger. The program, held on four consecutive Fridays starting July 17, teaches boys and girls about park ranger responsibilities and the natural wonders found at Cherry Creek State Park.

[Read more ...]

Going Bats
Jul 25, 2009     – Jul 25, 2009
They use night as their cover and are shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding. But we’ll throw some light on one of the most intriguing desert animals – bats! Learn how they make our desert more beautiful and more livable. Join us as we separate fact from fiction on the 28 different bat species in Southern Arizona, then take a trip out onto the ASDM grounds to study the animals in action!

Prickly Pear Harvest
Aug 23, 2009     – Aug 23, 2009

August is the season that the beautiful red fruit of the prickly pear cactus ripen. Join us in harvesting this fruit, in making jelly, syrup and frozen sorbet, and finding out about how this food is important to many desert animals and peoples. We will learn about the cochineal insect, which bestowed the deep red color unto the Spanish kings’ robes as well as that of the British Red Coats coats. We will also harvest and prepare nopalitos, tender prickly pear pads, a Mexican staple for over a millennia. Other desert foods such as agave, cholla buds, and mesquite will be part of the menu. This is an occasion to not only don your apron, but also prepare yourself for a grand desert foods feast at the end of the class. Price includes lunch.

[Read more ...]

July 4, 2009 — Caddo Lake SP&WMA — 75th Anniversary — Originally celebrated on July 4, 1934, the park was the first authorized Civilian Conservation Corps project for a Texas state park. The day s events will include the unearthing of a time capsule buried at the 60th Anniversary, plus we will be gathering items to place in a new time capsule. This new capsule will be opened at the 100th Anniversary Celebration. Also, there will be traveling exhibits depicting historical information about both the Caddo Indians and the CCC. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (903) 679-3351.

[Read more ...]

July 3 – 6 – Kartchner Caverns State Park
Antique Tractors & Engines on Display at Kartchner Caverns State Park
Power from the Past Association will display antique tractors and engines at Kartchner Caverns State Park on July 3-6, 2009. There will be running engines powering machinery, a static display of tractors, and ice cream made with an old engine and a five-gallon tub. The ice cream will be available to the public for a donation to benefit Power from the Past.

Power from the Past, an antique engine and tractor association, exists to preserve and maintain early examples of machinery, their related components and tools which were designed as labor-saving devices for agricultural, commercial, and domestic service. It serves as a source of information for the benefit of the members and the general public. Power from the Past collects, restores, exhibits, and conducts research on early day engines, tractors, and equipment. Learn more at their website, Arizona’s Power From the Past Association

[Read more ...]

Saturday, July 4
3:00pm

Spring Mountain Ranch-Summer Cool Off
When: Sat, July 4, 3pm – 5pm
Where: Picnic Area (map)

Enjoy free ice cream, ice cold lemonade (first come, first serve) and a talk about the Ranch’s history.

[Read more ...]

September 21 & 22:  Autumn Equinox Programs are presented at Casa Rinconada; a Chacoan great kiva religious structure at sunrise. Join park staff to observe the sunrise and the alignment of the building with the equinox sunrise.

[Read more ...]

Michael Jackson, brilliant, tortured, embroiled in scandal and monetary problems at the end of his life – who can ignore this man’s passing? It seems he may never have had a chance to develop any ordinary sense of self, as he became a star at such a young age. His natural affinity for the stage disguised deeper issues, it seems. Fans, as they will, created in him an image that satisfied their own needs for adoration.

In 2007, there was even a plan to build a 50 foot Michael Jackson replica that would roam Las Vegas, with beams shooting from his eyes, a kind of Michael Jackson transformer – a giant toy Michael. We all want to believe in Neverland but childhood is a place that we must outgrow – sadly some of us never do.

We wish to express our condolences to Michael Jackson’s family and all his fans.