REVISED: Mimbres Harvest Festival 2012

The Mimbres Harvest Festival, an annual happening in the Mimbres Valley to celebrate the harvest season, was held on Saturday. In addition to the vendors and their booths, where visitors could purchase produce, wine, lavender items, and bread; enroll children in Imagination Library; purchase jewelry and clothing; as well as listen to music and readings, the annual pie contest took place, with winners in the apple pie, fruit pie and pecan pie categories. As submitted by Jacqueline Smee, pie contest chairwoman, first place for the best FRUIT pie was won by Pauline Dempster; first place for the best APPLE pie by Kathleen Clinton; first place for the best HARVEST pie by Maedell Watkins; and first place for the JUNIOR JUDGES' CHOICE by Evon Bleak.

The Grant County Community Health Council also hosted a health fair, where people could get blood pressure readings; have their skin checked by dermatologist Dr. Gilbert Arizaga; get eye screenings hosted by the New Mexico Lions Foundation; watch Dr. James Skee of Silver Health Care dissect a pig's heart, which is similar in size, structure and function to a human heart; fill out a Community Assessment survey to help the health council determine the needs of the community; and get a great deal of information to help residents make healthy choices and get help for medical conditions. To complete an assessment survey before it is taken down mid-October, visit www.gcchc.org and click on the survey button. "We need your input," Tiffany Knauf, health council coordinator said.

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy