Calling all photographers! The Carlsbad Public Library is hosting an amateur photography contest through Jan. 15. The theme for this contest is “The Beauty of Carlsbad” and each participant is asked to submit one original digital photograph. The library plans to include these pictures, which must be taken within the City of Carlsbad, in an online photography gallery.
There will be 3 categories- kindergarten through 5th grade, 6-8th grade, and high school through adult. Photos will be judged on impact, composition and quality of lighting, and there will be first, second and third place prizes awarded.
Please include your name, address, phone number, email, category and location of object or person in your submission. You can submit all entries to cplinfo@cityofcarlsbadnm.com or call 885-6776 if you have any questions.
Carlsbad is a very scenic city, and there are so many wonderful options. Good luck and may the best photographer win!
COVID update, there were 75 positive COVID-19 cases reported for Eddy County on Thursday, which was our highest single day total for several weeks. There were 35 positives reported on Wednesday. According to the Department of Health, 916 people in New Mexico were hospitalized on Thursday for COVID-19, with 159 patients on ventilators.
On Thursday, the Department of Health issued an emergency order prohibiting all hospital acute care facilities in New Mexico from performing nonessential surgeries through Jan. 4. An emergency order related to crisis care standards was also issued. This allows hospitals to begin rationing care based on the severity of a patient’s symptoms. The state did indicate some good signs that the spread of COVID-19 has been reduced, including the reduction from a 24 percent positivity rate to 13 percent. The spread rate, which measures how many people will be infected by each infection, has dropped from 1.3 to 0.77, which is also good news. We are hoping to see numbers continue to go down and appreciate your help with doing so.
Just a reminder for families wanting to take in all of the holiday lights. Local residents have organized a “Christmas Light Tour” by compiling a map of locations around town with special decorations. Please refer to the “Hometown Holidays in Carlsbad, NM” Facebook page for more information. Here’s a link to the map as well: https://www.google.com/maps/@32.4119179,-104.2337972,13z/data=!4m2!11m1!2s-I1vi86PrtlDsEbmA1qWKNu-uqYKtw
As a reminder, please be sure to check out the decorations we have up at the Halagueno Arts Park and at the Pecos River Village Conference Center. Thank you to everyone who found a way to make this Christmas special by putting out extra decorations this year.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway