Anonymous group protests Fiesta

An anonymous group of local residents, calling themselves Santa Feans for Truth and Reconciliation, is asking Roman Catholic officials, Mayor David Coss and Gov. Bill Richardson to reconsider their support for Santa Fe Fiesta.

"Santa Fe may well be the only city in the U.S. that allows one culture to openly and arrogantly celebrate its military conquest and subjugation of another culture whose descendants still make up a significant part of the local population," says a news release the group e-mailed to local media Thursday.

The release calls upon church officials to stop the "barbaric display" of La Conquistadora — the Marian statue associated with the annual celebration of the Spanish reconquest of New Mexico after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. "The Catholic Church does not parade a version of the Virgin Mary with whips and shackles through the streets of Mobile, Alabama to celebrate the history of slavery," it says.

The release says the Fiesta, beginning next week, creates "such a climate of fear and retribution that we are counseled not to reveal our names." A spokesman for the group said its seven members, including one Native American, fear they or their children would be harassed if their names were made public.

Bibb seeks divorce after wife's sex plea

James "Jim" Bibb, the 2006 Republican nominee for New Mexico attorney general, has petitioned to divorce his wife, Kristina Bibb, less than a month after she pleaded no contest to a charge of contributing the delinquency of a minor for having sex with a student at a Christian school where she worked.

Kristina Bibb, 37, daughter of former Democratic Gov. Toney Anaya (1983-86), on Aug. 11 was sentenced to five years unsupervised probation and ordered to avoid contact with the now-18-year-old male and to follow her therapist's recommendations. If she complies, according to the plea agreement, the case will be dropped.

The story came to light in January when police confirmed they were investigating the case at the Christian Life Academy. The school, run by the Christian Life Fellowship, where Kristina Bibb worked as a financial secretary, closed at the end of the spring semester.

Jim Bibb, who gave a new address in Washington, D.C., is seeking legal and primary physical custody of the couple's four children, ages 10 through 17, with "well-defined periods of responsibility with Kristina Bibb," according to the petition for dissolution of marriage filed in state District Court this week by lawyer Amanda Pagan of Albuquerque.

Galisteo Springs to benefit from grant

A $350,000 state grant will help cover a conservation easement at Galisteo Springs in Santa Fe County, a partnership project between the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and Santa Fe Conservation Trust.

It is one of 16 watershed restoration and land conservation projects that will split nearly $5 million in grants administered by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

"These projects help us continue our legacy of conservation and provide outstanding opportunities to protect forests and watersheds, working farms and ranches, as well as habitat restoration and management to conserve our lands, waters, and wildlife," said Gov. Bill Richardson, announcing the grants on Thursday.

Two review panels comprising agency staff and private stakeholders reviewed applications and chose the projects out of 31 eligible applications.

Other conservation easement grants will go to H Bar V Ranch in Catron County; Garcia Farmland in Sandoval County; Vallecitos High Country Ranch in Rio Arriba County; River Ranch on the Mimbres in Grant County; Martinez Farmland in Taos County; and Shortes XX Ranch in Catron County.

Sam's Club donation honors slain teen

Sam's Club will present a $1,000 check to YouthWorks todayin memory of former employee Chris Aguayo, an 18-year-old who was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Santa Fe Place mall in July.

Aguayo was an employee at the Santa Fe Sam's Club, 4201 West Rodeo Road.

A news release about the donation indicated "Chris had been a beloved participant of YouthWorks for over three years as both a student and a member of the YouthWorks City of Santa Fe Restoration Crew."

YouthWorks is a organization that takes at-risk youths and offers education, life skills and leadership development programs in an effort to steer them clear of criminal and gang activity, according to its website, www.santafeyouthworks.org.

Lecture covers Fiesta history, changes

Fiesta is upon us, which means a large puppet will be burned, people will get rowdy over at Magers Field at Fort Marcy Ballpark, and the Santa Fe Fiesta Council will re-create the famous ride of Paul Revere — er, uh, that is, Don Diego de Vargas.

If you want to get the facts straight, take in Andrew Leo Lovato's lecture "The Santa Fe Fiesta: Reflecting the Changing Face of Santa Fe Culture." It takes place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, in the auditorium of the New Mexico History Museum, 113 Lincoln Ave.

The lecture, which costs $5 (members of the Palace Guard and Fiesta Council get in free), covers the way in which this celebration has changed over the past three centuries or so.

The annual fiesta, which commemorates the 1692 reconquest of Santa Fe by Spanish conquistadors, officially begins on Thursday, Sept. 9 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 12 at various sites around town. Call 476-5200 for information.

The New Mexican