IN BRIEF.

Byline: THE NEW MEXICAN 

In brief

Controlled burns planned for Watershed

Controlled burns are scheduled to continue this week in the Santa Fe Watershed, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The burns may start Tuesday depending on weather conditions and available resources. Approximately 1,500 acres will be treated this fall using aerial and hand ignition and the burn should last about four days.

Smoke from the burn will be very visible from the city of Santa Fe, east of Santa Fe, Tesuque, from I-25 and to the west from Glorieta to the Pecos Canyon area. Smoke may settle into lower elevations and in drainage areas during the evenings, but should lift by midmorning.

For updates regarding prescribed burns in the Santa Fe National Forest, call 1-877-971-FIRE (3473).

City to upgrade waterlines

A major water line improvement project is scheduled to begin this month in Santa Fe and run through May.

The city Water Division, in coordination with TLC Plumbing and Utility, plan to replace undersized water mains, which the city says will increase fire protection. Workers also will replace galvanized iron pipe in portions of the distribution system and 10 large meter vaults.

Water mains will be replaced on part or all of Camino Cabestro, Camino Lazo, Oak Avenue, Spruce Street, Caminito Alegre, Solano Drive, Placita Loma, N. Plata Circle, Faithway Street, Copita Lane, Read Street, Vigil Lane, North Spur, Pi[+ or -]on Street, Isleta Avenue, Paulin Street, Errett Street, Monta[+ or -]o Street, Barela Lane, La Junta, Practillano Drive and Placita Chueco.

Many repairs will require a water shut-off lasting 4 to 6 hours. A city announcement said area residents will be given notice several days prior to any shut-off.

Questions about this project can be directed to the Sangre de Cristo Water Division Engineering Section at 955-4278.

Horse Park hosts Pumpkin Festival

The Santa Fe Horse Park will host its annual Pumpkin Festival the next two weekends with a live concert on Saturday and many free events throughout both weekends, organizers said.

The festival is selling advance tickets for the Michael Franti and Spearhead show on Saturday, but many of the kids' activities such as the popular pumpkin patch, bounce houses, a hay maze, climbing wall and carnival games will be available throughout both weekends -- with free admission and individual tickets for each attraction, said Marla Kokesh.

Tickets for the festival and concert on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Children 12 and under are free. Call 988-1234 or buy tickets online at www.ticketssantafe.com.

Those wanting to come to the

traditional Pumpkin Festival activities are welcome from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 and both days the following weekend, Oct. 10 and 11, Kokesh said.

Motorists feeling less pain at the pump

Motorists are feeling relief at the pump as gasoline prices continue their steady downward movement, according to the AAA New Mexico Weekend Gas Watch. With the peak summer driving season over, the market now enters what has traditionally been a period of weak demand for gasoline.

In New Mexico, drivers are paying an average of $2.54 a gallon, down 1 cent from last week. Nationally, prices fell 2 cents, from $2.55 a gallon to $2.53. The least expensive gas in New Mexico is in Las Cruces, where it costs $2.44. Santa Fe has the most expensive gasoline at $2.55.

The New Mexican