Local Resident Mourns Death Of Raven Shot With BB Gun
Edgar the raven shortly before succumbing to injuries sustained from gunshot wounds in late October. Courtesy photo
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com
Laura Sandling-Bennett loves birds. Her backyard is set up as a sanctuary and the birds have her number! They flock to her yard in Tsikumu Village on North Mesa. Her proximity to the canyon brings a variety of wildlife to Sandling-Bennet’s yard, but she has a special love for ravens.
“There are six ravens that visit me every day for treats,” she said. “The raven I later named Edgar didn’t show up for a couple of days. Read More
UNM Scientists Find Climate-Driven Tree Mortality And Fuel Aridity Increase Wildfire Fuel Availability
In the Sierra National Forest, an estimated 36 million trees have died from drought and bark beetle mortality over the past five years. This is approximately 25 percent of the trees in the Sierra National Forest. CourtesyUNM
UNM News:
New research conducted by scientists at The University of New Mexico (UNM) suggests climate-driven tree mortality and fuel aridity are increasing fuel availability in forests leading to record-breaking wildfires in size, spread and plume formation.
In North America, wildfire activity has been increasing in large part due to climate change, which is increasing Read More
‘Power Sunrise’ Fills Sky Over White Rock
Daily Postcard: Christmas Lights Dangle From Buck’s Antlers In North Community
Daily Postcard: This town buck is spotted Wednesday in North Community with a partial string of lights adorning its headgear. It will most likely have to put up with the nuisance until its antlers are shed in the spring. Photo by Marc Bailey Read More
Los Alamos County Resiliency, Energy And Sustainability Task Force Invites Community To Climate Change Educational Events
LARES Task Force invites community to a three-part Climate Change series Jan. 6, Jan. 20 and Feb. 3. Courtesy/LARES
COUNTY News:
- A three-part series: Take Action Against Climate Change
The Los Alamos County Resiliency, Energy and Sustainability (LARES) Task Force invites the community to a three-part Climate Change series hosted in collaboration with Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC).
Part One and Two of the series will be hybrid events (in-person at the Los Alamos Nature Center and virtually through Zoom), at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 and Jan. 20.
Part Three is 6 p.m. Feb. 3 and in-person Read More
Freedom Church To Host Christmas Eve Service Dec. 24
Scene of a previous Freedom Church Christmas Eve Service at Ashley Pond. Courtesy/Freedom Church
Scene of a previous Freedom Church Christmas Eve Service at Ashley Pond. Courtesy/Freedom Church
FREEDOM CHURCH News:
After a year off due to the pandemic, Freedom Church will again host an outdoor Christmas Eve Service Friday, Dec. 24 at Ashley Pond and the whole community is invited.
Pre-service games, activities, and hot cocoa will begin at 4:30 p.m. The service will start at 4:45 p.m. and be over by 5:30 p.m.
This will be the third time Freedom Church has held the event starting on Christmas Eve Read More
State Provides Record Utility Bill Assistance To New Mexicans & Reminds Eligible Residents To Apply For Heating Cost Support
From the Office of the Governor:SANTA FE – As temperatures continue to drop around New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Human Services Department reminds homeowners and renters to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps low-income families and individuals pay home heating costs in the winter and necessary cooling costs in the summer.
Under this administration, New Mexico has provided a record amount, $73,927,065 in energy assistance to approximately 200,963 low-income New Mexico households in the last three years.
“LIHEAP is more important
NWS: Northern & Central New Mexico To Experience Third Damaging Wind Event Thursday Night Thru Christmas Eve
Courtesy/NWS
NWS News:
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque reports that northern and central New Mexico will experience its third damaging wind event in two weeks Thursday night through Friday night.
In addition, heavy mountain snow is forecast near the Colorado border.
Overview
A storm system will cross from the west with the potential for damaging winds and heavy mountain snow Friday and Friday night. The strongest winds are forecast for the central mountain chain and adjacent east slopes, where gusts may reach from 60-70 mph for the third time in two weeks producing another Read More
Christmas Spirit On Display At North Mesa Stables
Christmas Spirit on display Thursday at North Mesa Stables. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com
Christmas Spirit on display Thursday at North Mesa Stables. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com
Christmas Spirit on display Thursday at North Mesa Stables. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com Read More
SFNF Announces Seasonal Campground & Road Closures
SFNF News:
SANTA FE — Many developed campgrounds and forest roads susceptible to damage under severe weather conditions on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are closed for the winter season.
Seasonal closures protect public health and safety, infrastructure and natural resources.
Seasonal road and campground closures on the SFNF generally occur between December and May because of winter weather and hazardous road conditions.
The closures prohibit the use of motorized vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles, on restricted roads when gates are closed, locked or posted Read More
USDA New Mexico And Arizona State Directors Celebrate Funding For High-Speed Internet System To Navajo Nation
Courtesy/USDA
USDA News:
ALBUQUERQUE — United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) New Mexico State Director Patricia Dominguez and Arizona State Director Charlene Fernandez jointly celebrated Tuesday the funding of a high-speed internet system to the Navajo Nation.
The celebration is in conjunction with last week’s announcement made by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack that USDA is investing $5.2 billion to build and improve critical infrastructure throughout the country. The investments will help expand access to clean water and reliable electricity in people’s homes and businesses, Read More
Volunteers Wanted For Abiquiu Lake Eagle Count Jan. 8
Alex Patia, with the New Mexico Wildlife Center, gives a short presentation to volunteers Jan. 4, 2020 during the eagle count at Abiquiu Lake. Patia discussed how to identify immature and mature eagles and more. Courtesy/
USACE News:
ABIQUIU — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) staff at Abiquiu Lake will host their annual midwinter eagle survey 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.
The event is free and open to the public.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the Abiquiu Lake Visitor Center for registration beginning at 9 a.m. Hot coffee and snacks will be provided during registration.
Beginning Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Signs HB 2, Allocating $10 Million To Protect New Mexico’s Rivers & Wetlands
NMED News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB 2 Tuesday, allocating $10 million from to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to administer the River Stewardship Program.
These funds enable the department to reduce dangerous pollutants in New Mexico’s life-giving rivers and streams; safeguard water supplies against flooding, drought and climate change by restoring the functionality of wetlands and natural waterways; and protect vital wildlife habitats for endangered species, including the silvery minnow.
“Water is our most precious natural resource and we will Read More
AFRL And Northrop Grumman Demonstrate Solar To Radio Frequency Conversion
Project Managers James Winter (AFRL) and Tara Theret (Northrop Grumman) hold models of the photovoltaic and radio frequency sides of the sandwich tile, while at the Linthicum, Maryland facility, to witness the conversion and beaming experiment. Courtesy/Northrop Grumman
AFRL and Northrop Grumman attendees gather behind an industrial-grade opaque tarp to shield them from the intense light of the solar simulator used in the Solar-to-Radio Frequency demo at Northrop Grumman facilities and view RF output data from the sandwich tile. Courtesy/Northrop Grumman
AFRL News:
KIRTLAND AFB Read More
Daily Postcard: 2021 Winter Solstice At Deer Trap Trailhead
Daily Postcard: The 2021 Winter Solstice viewed Tuesday from Deer Trap Trailhead. Photo by Amanda Macdonald Read More
Los Alamos Curbside Holiday Market Fuller Lodge Thursday
Tsunamis Magnetic Fields Detectable Before Sea Level Change
The aftermath of a 2010 tsunami in Chile, which was analyzed in a new study in JGR Solid Earth. Earlier warnings made possible by the study of tsunami-generated magnetic fields could better prepare coastal areas for impending disasters. Courtesy/International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
AGU News:
WASHINGTON — A new study finds the magnetic field generated by a tsunami can be detected a few minutes earlier than changes in sea level and could improve warnings of these giant waves.
Tsunamis generate magnetic fields as they move conductive seawater through the Earth’s Read More
Scenes From 2021 Winter Solstice Gathering At Bandelier
2021 Winter Solstice spectators take photos as the sun rises early this morning in alignment with the entrance of the Ancestral Pueblo site in the village of Tyuonyi in Frijoles Canyon at Bandelier National Monument. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com
National Park Service Ranger Sally King gathered this morning with spectators and points out where the solstice sunset will highlight as the sun dips below the west canyon rim at Bandelier. At 1:50 p.m. today people can meet at the Bandelier Visitor Center to watch solstice sunset – visit www.nps.gov for details. King has been a parkHappy Winter Solstice Festival & Merry ‘Chinese Christmas’
Kung Fu Panda Holiday. Courtesy/Zhen Huang
By ZHEN HUANG
Los Alamos
In Chinese culture, Winter Solstice (冬至) is one of the most celebrated festivals. For Chinese people, winter solstice also has its philosophical significance related to the balance and harmony of “yin” (阴, for negative energy) and “yang” (阳, for positive energy in the cosmos.
In ancient China, our ancestors considered the winter solstice as the first day of a new year since they observed after this day there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore more and more renewed positive energy.
Interestingly, when Christmas Read More
Climate Group Meets With New Mexico Attorney General’s Office About UNM Foundation Fossil Fuel Investments
UNM LEAF News:
UNM LEAF climate action group at the University of New Mexico (UNM) met with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office Friday Dec.17, two months after it filed a complaint with Attorney General Hector Balderas asserting that the UNM’s fossil fuel investments aren’t just immoral, but illegal.
Members of UNM LEAF (Leaders of Environmental Action and Foresight) say the Dec. 17 meeting went very well.
“Overall, I am pleased that the Attorney General Hector Balderas is taking the divestment complaint against the UNM Foundation seriously. Ultimately, it’s great to see the state show Read More
