ABOVE: After a whole winter of accumulating dirt ands and used to improve driving on city streets, Jerry Pinto of the Gallup Parks Department, uses a leaf blower to clear off the sidewalks Thursday along North Ninth street in Gallup. [Photo by Jeff Jones / Independent]

BELOW: Andrea Begay keeps an eye on drum instructor Randy Markham along with Tamariah Arviso and Irwin King during practice on Wednesday afternoon at Churchrock Academy. The group is holding a fundraiser on Saturday from 12-5pm at Sammy C's in an effort to raise money to make a trip to play at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. in June. [Photo by Brian Leddy / Independent] Related story