Movies, TV series to film in state

Gov. Bill Richardson says two major motion picture projects and the third season of a television series will be made in New Mexico in the coming months.

Richardson says Due Date starring Robert Downey Jr. as a father-to-be will be shot in the state this fall. Downey's character is trying to make it home before his wife, played by Michelle Monaghan, gives birth to their first child.

The governor says the movie will be made at Albuquerque Studios and in the Las Cruces area, Santa Fe and Las Vegas.

Richardson says Passion Play, a drama starring Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox, also will be filmed in the state. The two movies will employ nearly 500 crew members. And the television series In Plain Sight will film 16 episodes around Albuquerque starting in January.

Health program for Hispanics opening

A program to provide New Mexico Hispanics with culturally relevant health information and referrals to low-cost providers will be opening in Santa Fe.

The Ventanilla de Salud is sponsored by the Consulate of Mexico, the UNM Cancer Center and Concilio CDS Inc. It will provide bilingual, bicultural and highly trained health educators, according to a news release.

A number of dignitaries will speak at the inauguration of the program at 4:45 p.m. Monday at the El Paisano Inc. supermarket, 5948 Airport Road.

Among the speakers are José Angel Cordova Villalobos, the secretary of health for Mexico, Varlos Garcia de Alba, executive director of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, Gustavo de Unánue from the Mexican consulate and the first lady of Mexico, Margarita Zavala, as well as program representatives, the mayor and the governor of New Mexico. Plans include a future location in Española.

Architect chosen for veterans museum

The Department of Cultural Affairs announced recently that an architect has been chosen for the New Mexico Veterans Museum in Las Cruces.

The Albuquerque firm of Rhode May Keller McNamara has been contracted to design the new state-run facility. The firm has designed the Albuquerque Museum expansion, a judicial center in Colfax County and other education, municipal, recreation and health care buildings.

The Legislature approved the development of a state veterans museum during the 2009 session. A 66-acre site northeast of Las Cruces is being considered. The land, located on N.M. 70, is owned by the Bureau of Land Management. A task force appointed by the governor decided to build the museum in Las Cruces from among six interested communities.

Rally protests school cuts

School advocates are planning a rally Friday to protest further budget cuts in spending for education.

The event begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe train depot. Participants will march to the state Capitol building.

AFT New Mexico notes that lawmakers cut education funding 8 percent in 2009 and enacted a 1.5 percent pay cut for employees. "While economic times are uncertain, what is certain is that cuts are leading us on a road to nowhere. Education programs are being cut, our workforces are being downsized, classes are overcrowded, schools are short on instructional materials — and more," according to a flyer for the rally.

For more information, go to www.nm.aft.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. Oct. 14.

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.