Volunteer for CASA

If you can spare an average of 13 hours a month, you can change a child's life. More than 200 children from our neighborhoods will be removed from their homes this year because their parents have abused or neglected them. They need someone to make sure they don't get lost in the overburdened child welfare and legal systems; someone to speak up for them, in and out of the courtroom. Court Appointed Special Advocates volunteers serve Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba county children. Volunteer training starts Tuesday in Santa Fe. Application and background checks are required. Call 820-1500 or e-mail info@casafirst.org.

Tell us who made an impact

Each year The New Mexican recognizes 10 people in Northern New Mexico by writing about them in a special section, 10 Who Made a Difference.

Those chosen must be living in Northern New Mexico and involved in one or more volunteer activities that made a difference in their community. To nominate an individual, please write a letter or e-mail describing the person and their accomplishments and tell us how to contact you as well as the nominee.

The letters must received by The New Mexican by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Please send nominations to: 10 Who Made a Difference, The New Mexican City Desk, P.O. 2048, Santa Fe, N.M. 87504 or submit to brucek@sfnewmexican.com.

Profiles on those honored will be published Thanksgiving Day.

Public forum on planning

The Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area and Northern New Mexico College Environmental Science students invite you to a public forum with regional, tribal and local community governments to discuss the role of community planning and participation in the development of the management plan for the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area. Refreshments provided.

The forum will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Northern New Mexico College, Room AD 101-102. For more information, call Jose L. Villa or Glenna Dean at 505-753-0937.