ELVA K. OSTERREICH
Las Cruces Bulletin
Dona Ana County is celebrating September across the board with its Monuments to Main Street initiative promoting hikes with the Bereau of Land Management, There is a variety of aerial tours through Southwest Expeditions, offering views from the top of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks monument areas.
In addition to flights, Southwest Expeditions is offering a Billy the Kid tour, Sept. 16, and the Ole West Stagecoach Tour, Sept. 23. Area events such as the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Sept 16; and La Gran Fiesta, Sept. 22, have been folded in to the Monuments to Main Street celebrations.
Carrie Hamblin, Green Chamber president, said the idea for Monuments to Main Street started with a conversion between members of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Coalition (OMDPC) in partnership with BLM.
“We were talking about community and events that can happen on the monument incorporating a number of things happening in the area,” Hamblin said. “This is one of the big events that the Convention and Visitors Center has dedicated to talk about and use ad money for.”
The result of all the collaboration can be found at www.monuments2mainstreet.com. There is enough to keep even the most active community busy almos every day.
The coaltition has tied monuments with communities to promote activity and knowledge in the area. OMDP, pre-historic Trackways and White Sands National Monuments are being featured through Anthony Hatch, Las Cruses, Mesilla and Sunland Park.
Monuments to Main Street concludes with Public Lands Day, Sept. 30, opening national monuments and some state parks to free access all day for visitors.
