Happenings in Valencia County

Scholarship fundraiser

The Hispano Chamber of Valencia County is asking for the public’s help in raising funds for its 2021 Matanza Scholarship Drive. People can donate to the fund by either sponsoring a scholarship or buying raffle tickets, which are $15 each.

Sponsorship levels are Premier: $10,000; Platinium: $5,000; Gold: $2,500: Silver: $1,250; and Bronze: $500 for one scholarship. The raffle, which includes prizes of a grill, disco and half a pig, will be held May 1. Tickets can be purchased online at addmi.com/e/hcvc-scholarship-raffle-MPBLT2RZKfzxlO8zq7n. For more information, call 306-9606 or email [email protected].

Rio Communities Optimist sock distribution

The Rio Communities Optimist Club is holding a sock distribution for all Belen elementary school students beginning at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 6, in the parking lot at Rio Communities City Hall, 360 Rio Communities Blvd. The event is a COVID-19 safe, drive-thru event. Everyone must stay in their cars as volunteers, who will be wearing gloves and masks, will deliver the socks to the vehicles.

Vaccines to be available for senior citizens

A COVID-19 vaccine clinic will soon be held in Belen for senior citizens.

• The vaccination clinic is for people ages 75 and older, and those ages 60 and older with underlying conditions only

• Eligible seniors must be registered with the New Mexico Department of Health

• The NMDOH will call and schedule vaccination appointments pending availability for those ages 75 and older first, then 60 and older with underlying conditions

• Seniors cannot show up to the vaccination clinic without an appointment

• In order to request to be part of the clinic, seniors must call 864-2663 to speak with Belen Senior Center staff to determine eligibility

• Do not show up without an appointment made by DOH

Local vaccine registration assistance

The village of Los Lunas is providing assistance for those who may need help navigating the state’s vaccine registration system. Staff will be at Daniel Fernandez Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Jan. 30, to provide assistance. They will provide devices for the public to use to register or you may bring in your own. Call 975-9130 for questions.

How to register for the vaccine

To register to get a COVID-19 vaccine, visit cvvaccine.nmhealth.org or call 1-855-600-3453, press option 0 for vaccine questions, and then option 4 for tech support.

If you already registered and need to update your information, and have received a confirmation code, you will go to the website and select “view my profile” from there you’ll enter that code and your birthday and proceed to fill out the information.

If you already registered and did not receive a confirmation code, you will go to the website and select “view my profile” and select “do not know my confirmation code” and from there you can enter your email or phone number and birth date. You’ll be sent that code to proceed.

Online chamber luncheon

The Greater Belen Chamber of Commerce will hold an online lunch and learn by Zoom at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3 at us02web.zoom.us/j/6090356839. Pavlos Panagopoulos of Cetera Financial will be the presenter. For information, call 463-5558.

DWI patrols

New Mexico State Police will be conducting sobriety checkpoints; saturation patrols; and registration, insurance and driver’s license checks in all New Mexico counties during the month of February.

Free lunches

La Vida Felicidad is offering free lunches to children ages 1-18 years old from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, at its location 530 Sun Ranch Village Road in Los Lunas. Free lunches also include breakfast for the next day. Fresh meals are cooked and prepared and served daily. No proof of residency or income is required.