LVSG Visits Canyon Street

By Michael Bromka

LVSG in Carlsbad represents local folks with vision impairments and outright blindness. Some have had such challenges since birth. Others have ongoing macular degeneration. At least one is blind due to an industrial injury. They’ve banded together as the Low Vision Support Group.

LVSG meets monthly, either at “home” (Church St. Church of the Nazarene) or “away” on a field trip. Anyone local who deals with limited vision or blindness would benefit from the fellowship. It’s good to get out.

LVSG’s first outing last year was to North Canyon Street, including the Artist Gallery, MainStreet, and that day’s host, the United Way. Then, the manager of MainStreet, Kat Davis, told LVSG about recent events and projects. Flagship among those was renovating the Cavern Theatre. On a subsequent field trip, LVSG toured that venue.

MainStreet sponsors many of the colorful murals downtown. They pushed to reinstall the gazebo on the Eddy County Courthouse lawn. Likewise, at that location, MainStreet holds a weekly Farmers and Makers Market (in 2025, April through October). MainStreet sponsors Cavern Fest with country music, the Fall Festival, and Thanksgiving’s Electric Light Parade.

Next, LVSG heard Rhonda Jones talk about the United Way. Their 211 phone line fields the calls of local residents caught short on a utility bill or burned out of their home.

On the second Friday monthly, the United Way distributes food in Carlsbad and Artesia. Roadrunner Foodbank, based in Albuquerque, sends a semi-trailer loaded with groceries. Food handout in Loving happens on the third Thursday of each month. Epworth Methodist Church’s parking lot on Blodgett Street is the site of Carlsbad’s food distribution.

Saved like dessert for last was LVSG’s stroll through The Artist Gallery at 120 S. Canyon St. Richard Pinching, himself a skillful draftsman, reveled in describing visuals to wife, Deborah, and Ann Halford. With new eyes, Michael Bromka “saw” much by guiding Damacio Fuentes (both with freshly washed hands) to palpate ceramics and geodes.

Debbie and Richard ask everyone to spread the word that there is a monthly group meeting for anyone fretting about dimming eyesight.

Children and teens can face vision challenges with family support. But aging seniors often suffer from vision loss alone. As well, a senior’s circle shrinks as friends move away or die. When they can no longer drive, they can easily become isolated and housebound.

LVSG asks Carlsbad Local readers to speak to isolated sight-impaired folks. If it’ll help your neighbor, please intervene and spread the word: LVSG helps folks who can’t see well.

LVSG will meet on Thursday, March 26. They always meet from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., but field trips tend to run longer.

If you know someone with diminishing eyesight, please pass along this name and number of LVSG’s president, Debbie Pinching, 575 706-8863, Low Vision Support Group. It’s voicemail because she screens out spam. Real folks? She calls back!