Questa Public Library

9. Billy & John Archuleta

Dan Kuehn — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:56:51 +0000

Recorded at the Questa Public Library on Saturday, April 11, for Voces de Nuestro País, a monthly gathering that celebrates local voices, stories, and culture. This month features a conversation with longtime Taos-area musicians and brothers Billy and John Archuleta of Des Montes. Billy is known for his work in Catholic music ministry and composition, while John is recognized for performing traditional Northern New Mexico Spanish music. Together and individually, they have shared their music widely across the region.

Hosted by MC Michael Rael, these events bring people together through stories of family, history, love, and adventure.

Episodes are also available as a podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
More information at https://questastories.org/

8. Krista Brandenburg and Carol Woerndle

Dan Kuehn — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:10:38 +0000

7. Corinne Montoya and Kate Cisneros

Dan Kuehn — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 21:42:02 +0000

Voces de Nuestro País is featuring childhood memories and family stories from Cerro, NM. Recorded at the Questa Public Library Saturday, March 14, 2026, featuring Kate Cisneros and her niece Corinne Montoya, both originally from Cerro. Their stories will reflect on their shared experience of being raised by a single mother and grandmother in Cerro, and the skills, adventures, and cultural teachings they continue to carry with them. We look forward to gathering with community members in March to hear and share these meaningful stories.

Michael Rael serves as MC and curator for these monthly gatherings and podcast episodes, hosted in collaboration with the Questa Public Library and Voices of the Northern Rio Grande, a program of the local nonprofit Localogy. Audio recordings, videos, and images from Voces de Nuestro País events are also being added to a digital community archive — a local repository and resource established by Voices of the Northern Rio Grande and the Questa Public Library with support from the Manitos Community Memory Project.

To learn more about the community archive and to listen to stories from community members, visit QuestaStories.org and QuestaLibrary.org.

If you have stories you would like to share, please reach out to Michael Rael. You can often find him at Rael’s Market, or you can email him at rael870@gmail.com.

5. Community Open Mic

Dan Kuehn — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:59:07 +0000

This, the fifth episode of Voces de Nuestro País, is our first Community Open Mic Night.

Our speakers tonight were Bob Jaramillo, Mark White, Betsy Pierce and Wyman Edwards, with Michael Rael as host and participant.

6. Vito Trujillo Jr. and Sr.

Dan Kuehn — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:40:59 +0000

Join us at the Questa Public Library on Saturday, February 21, from 2–4 pm for Voces de Nuestro País, a monthly story-sharing gathering celebrating local voices and culture.

This month features a conversation with Taos musicians Vito Trujillo Senior and Vito Trujillo Junior, highlighting a multigenerational Northern New Mexico musical legacy shaped by mentorship, collaboration, and award-winning artistry.

Hosted by MC Michael Rael, these gatherings bring people together through stories of family, history, love, and adventure.

Can’t make it in person? Episodes are also available as a podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

More information at https://questalibrary.org/ and https://questastories.org/

4. Arellano Brothers

Dan Kuehn — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:35:28 +0000

In this episode, we explore songs and reflection from nationally acclaimed and locally beloved musicians, Chris and Rodney Arellano of Costilla. As part of the conversation they play traditional and original songs written by Chris and their late musician father, Jake Arellano. They share stories from their journey as musicians and about the song-writing process, as well as their commitment to sharing their passion for nurturing the next generation of musicians through various teaching experiences and the annual Summer School of Rock camp in Questa and Nuevo Americana Music Festival in Costilla. Thank you Chris and Rodney for sharing your time and musical talent with us!

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on January 10, 2026, at the Questa Public Library, in collaboration with Voices of the Northern Rio Grande community archive. Hosted by MC Michael Rael, these gatherings bring our community together through stories of family, history, love, and adventure.

Event hosting by Questa Public Library; audio recording and event coordination by Claire Coté; videography by Wyman Edwards; editing and upload by Dan Kuehn; opening and closing music by Michael Rael.

Voces de Nuestro País events and podcast are made possible through the generous support of the LOR Foundation, TCF Chevron Grants for Good, and the TCF IMPACT Grant. Thank you to everyone who attends and helps make these gatherings possible.

¡Gracias!

https://questastories.org
https://questalibrary.org/4-arellano-brothers/

#vocesdenuestropais #voicesofourplace #chrisarellano #rodneyarellano #arellanobrothers #nuevoamericana #michaelrael #cerro #questa #history #stories #questalibrary #voicesofthenorthernriogrande #questastories #costillastories #communityarchive

3. Louise Gallegos and David Cisneros

Dan Kuehn — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 20:28:17 +0000

Louise Gallegos

Louise Gallegos shared stories about a broad range of life experiences: as the first female Councilor and twenty years of service on the Questa Village Council; about how her interest in politics started with her father who always took the family along with him to vote; about the restoration of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church; and stories of growing up in Questa with lots of time outside through the seasons including sledding with socks on her hands to keep them warm.

David Cisneros

We also heard stories from David Cisneros, an unsung hero from Cerro who has lived a life of service. David shared stories of his twenty years in the Navy starting at just seventeen years old, including volunteering to serve during Vietnam and six months with the Turkish Navy. He shared stories of life at sea, through battles and some of his posts and experiences during his extensive global travel throughout Europe and Asia as well as Australia and New Zealand. He also shared stories of integrating into civilian life and choosing a career path in refrigeration and appliance repair, which he learned in San Diego, CA and has done for decades in Cerro and Questa and throughout Northern Taos County.

Hosted by MC Michael Rael, these gatherings connect our community through tales of family, history, love, and adventure. Can’t make it in person? Episodes are also available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

2. Dino Archuleta and Fritz Davis

Peggy Trigg — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 13:20:15 +0000

Hear Fritz Davis share his life stories and adventures from the rolling hills of Kansas to the mountains of Red River.

Michael Rael is MC and curator for this monthly gathering hosted by Questa Library in collaboration with Voices of the Northern Rio Grande community archive.

Learn more at QuestaStories.org.

Enjoy this, the second “Voces de Nuestro País” story-sharing event at Questa Library on November 8, 2025, with Dino Archuleta and Fritz Davis.

Listen to Dino Archuleta’s crazy stories of growing up in Questa and Cerro. You will be asking yourself “Did this really happen?!”

1. Mark Sideris and the restoration of St. Anthony’s Church in Questa

Dan Kuehn — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:41:00 +0000

Join Mark Sideris, adobe construction expert and Questa resident in conversation with our host, Michael Rael.

Listen in to stories that are expressions of remembrance, faith, gratitude and humor, as Mark Sideris reflects on how he became the leader in reconstructing St. Anthony’s Church in Questa and his experience with the all-volunteer crew. Mark also shares discoveries about the original construction of the church.

Did you know that the adobe bricks used in the construction of the church in the 1840’s-1850’s were made by families from different areas in the community? These bricks were many different sizes and colors and some were embedded with initials, names and even footprints.

In this episode we hear about chicken bones, miraculous appearances in wooden beam, a community’s incredible dedication and more!

LINKS

Questa Stories

Historic Church Info

Article About Wooden Knot Appearance

QAT 2025 -A Sneak Peek!

Peggy Trigg — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 22:36:34 +0000

For the summer months of July through September, The Questa Public Library will be presenting “A Sneak Peek” of artwork produced by the local artists in the upcoming Questa Art Tour. The library opening will be held July 12th from 2-4pm. The public is invited to attend. Over 50 artists will be in this year’s tour and many will have an example of their work in this exhibit.

The library is located at 6 ½ Municipal Park Road, Questa, NM and is open Mon through Sat 12-5 daily.

The actual Art Tour dates are August 9th-10th, open from 10am-5pm both days. For more information on the tour, please see the Questa Creative Council website at QuestaCreative.org or call 575-586-5658.