Community Invited to UNM-LA / Los Alamos Daily Post College Board Forum 7 p.m. Wednesday
Staff Report
UNM-Los Alamos and the Los Alamos Daily Post will co-host a “UNM-LA Advisory Board Candidates Forum” from 7-8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan 30 in Building 2, Room 230 on the college campus.
The public is invited to attend the forum, which will feature Position 1 incumbent Ron Dolin and challenger Michelle Hall in the only contested position among the three seats coming up in this year’s race.
Below, the candidates share brief details of why they decided to either seek reelection or run for the first time to serve on the UNM-LA Advisory Board for the next four years:
Incumbent Read More
Deadline: 7 p.m. Today to Turn in Ballot for School Bond
LAPS News:
Registered voters have until 7 p.m. today, Jan. 29 to turn in their ballots to the Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office, 2451 Central Ave., Suite D, in order for the vote to be counted on the Los Alamos Public Schools special bond election. Read More
Letter to the Editor: Setting the Record Straight on the School Bond – Rationale for an All-Mail Ballot
Setting the Record Straight on the School Bond: Rationale for an All-Mail Ballot
By Gene Schmidt
Over the last two weeks, I have been following an interesting conversation in the Los Alamos Daily Post about the timing of the school bond election.
At least one writer wondered aloud why the bond election was not tied to the general election last November.
Another wondered why the district chose to run an all-mail ballot that costs taxpayers up to $30,000 – money that might have been saved had the School Board chosen to run it as part of the general election last November.
In order to set the record Read More
School Bus Service Alert! No Bus Service into Quemazon Today!
LAPS News!
Bus Service Alert! There will be no bus service into Quemazon today, Jan. 29.
Chamisa Update – Today, Tuesday Jan. 29, classes are again cancelled for Kindergarten through Third Grade at Chamisa Elementary School in White Rock.
“As you may know, we have had to cancel grades K-3 at Chamisa because of water damage to rooms following the recent wet weather. Because safety of students and staff is important, we felt it best to cancel these grades while we thoroughly investigated the water damage to the classrooms. It is important to know that we are actively working with the Read More
Pinon School ‘Tagged’ by Vandals
LAPS News:
On Saturday evening, Jan. 25, Pinon Elementary School was “tagged” by vandals. The graffiti consisted of a number of vulgar and inappropriate words and phrases.
As a community, we should not put up with this senseless disregard and marring of our public property. As such, I asked Kevin Honnell, Los Alamos School Board President, to convene a special Board meeting at Pinon Elementary at 5 p.m., Jan. 30 to discuss the district’s response to vandalism.
During the meeting, it is my intent to request the School Board post a $1,000 reward Read More
Los Alamos Wins Big at New Mexico FLL State Championship
Two Los Alamos teams won State Championship Awards at the third annual New Mexico FIRST LEGO League Championship held Jan. 26 at Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque. Front Row from left, “Banoona Skunk Band” members Emily Holmes, Risa Bridge, Maddie Ovaska, Brooke Weatherbie, Jessica Erkkila, Eleanor Henderson, Ellie Rightley, Elia Vasquez and Coach Karen Doebling. Back row from left, Coach Vicki Erkkila, “Atomic Flying Pickles” members Coach Susannah Rousculp, Evelyn Doebling, Lauren Stubben, Haylee Richardson, Summer Bronson and Catherine Rousculp. Read More
Column: Pikas – Icons of the High Country
PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Pikas – Icons of the High CountryWinter has come to the ski slopes above Los Alamos. A walk through the area shows all of the slopes now covered by snow – the silence is profound except when the ski lifts are running.
As people ride the lifts to the top of the mountain, they pass over a mass of broken rock without realizing that small creatures, icons of the high country, are just a few feet below them.
Pikas are the icons who rest quietly in their rocky dens, waiting for spring. A talus slope of snow-covered broken rock forms a roof above them Read More
UNM-LA Offers New Class in Entrepreneurship
Nicholas Seet will teach Introduction to Entrepreneurship during the spring semester at UNM-LA. Photo by Mandy Marksteiner
By Mandy Marksteiner
Have you ever wanted to start your own business? Got a great idea but need a little help getting started? Looking for all the hidden pitfalls and business secrets?
UNM-LA is offering a class where students can learn the process of starting a successful company from someone who has both academic training in entrepreneurship and the experience of turning his garage-invented technology into a successful business.
“Everybody has an idea,” said Read More
BREAKING NEWS: Areas of Chamisa School Flooded by Rain – K Thru 3rd Grade Classes Canceled Today!
LAPS News:
Rain water has flooded areas of Chamisa Elementary School in White Rock causing kindergarten, first, second and third grade classes to be canceled for today.
Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 should report for class today as usual.
Check back to ladailypost.com later today to learn whether the K-3 classrooms will be ready for students tomorrow. Read More
Letter to the Editor: We Have a Wonderful Opportunity at this Cross Road for UNM-LA … I Would Like to be a Part of the Solution
By Michelle HallOur college, UNM-LA as we most often refer to it, has met or exceeded each of 10 metrics set by the state for two-year colleges for many years running.
It ranks first in the state in four of the 10 metrics (New Mexico Association of Community Colleges Annual Report, 2012.)
For example, of the two-year colleges in the state, UNM-LA had the highest percentage of students (92.7 percent) who obtained employment or continued their education at a four-year school upon completion of their studies at UNM-LA.
It is a gem in the rough that Read More
Seeking Applicants for VFW ‘Scout of the Year Scholarship’
VFW News:
Your local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8874 is seeking a Scout to compete for this year’s “VFW Scout of the Year Scholarship.”
This is a program that provides a $5,000 scholarship award, and which several of the local Scouts would be very competitive.
Rotary Club Student of the Month is Caitlin Haynes
ROTARY News:
Caitlin (“Katie”) Haynes, a senior at Los Alamos High School (LAHS), was recently honored as Rotary Student of the Month for January.
Haynes is the daughter of Karen and Don Haynes and older sister of Trip Haynes. Haynes is an active member of the LAHS Hilltalker Speech and Debate Team, an award-winning club, and has served as a team captain for three years.
Active on the national debate circuit, she has won awards at some of the most competitive tournaments in the country. She has also received the National Forensic League’s highest honor – the title of Academic All-American, an award Read More
Atomic City Children’s Theater Brings Home Gold!
Atomic City Children’s Theater (ACCT) students, staff and parents from Los Alamos traveled to Atlanta, Ga., last weekend and brought home the “Excellence in Ensemble Work” award. Courtesy/ACCT
ACCT News:
Seventeen Atomic City Children’s Theater (ACCT) students and nine staff and parents from Los Alamos traveled to Atlanta, Ga., over the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend to attend the 2013 Junior Theater Festival (JTF) and brought home the gold.
The young actors received the “Excellence in Ensemble Work” award.
In addition to winning this award, Read More
State Statute Dictates School Bond Elections
Staff report
Article 18 of the New Mexico State Statute regarding General Obligation Bonds of School Districts states, “mail ballot elections shall be used exclusively for voting in those elections specified in Section 1-23-3 NMSA 1978 and shall not be used in connection
Letter to the Editor: School Bond – No Conspiracy … Just Good Business Sense
By Mike LippiattWhile I am elated that Peter Heimdahl voted for the school bond, I am in total disagreement with his conspiracy theory about its timing.
One of the main reasons the bond is now coming up is because the old bond is being paid off and a new bond is needed … and although we will not see lower taxes … we also will not see our taxes increase.
Why? … because the old bond retires and the new bond kicks in. So, taxes won’t go down if approved but they won’t go up either. Does that make sense?
We retire one debt, and in a timely manner, start a new debt – Read More
What’s That Bird?
A Cooper’s Hawk in flight. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
What is that bird? Need help figuring out what you’re seeing in the backyard, on the trail, or soaring overhead?
The community is invited to attend a presentation on birds from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, 3540 Orange St.
Bird expert Dave Yeamans will discuss backyard winter birds seen flying around the Los Alamos area during the one hour program with time available afterward for sharing problematic bird IDs, bird feeding discussions and ideas and general birding information.
Yeamans’ Read More
Accelerate Program Helps Students Transition to Career
Accelerate Program News:
ESPANOLA – On Feb. 8, students earning 2-year business and technical degrees in six northern New Mexico colleges will have an opportunity to practice using skills vital to finding a job, contributing to an organization, and establishing a career.
The Accelerate program is partnering with local and regional human resource directors and hiring managers to host a one day workshop for graduating students entitled “From Classroom to Career – A Dress Rehearsal.”
Accelerate, a program of the Regional Development Corporation in conjunction with six northern Read More
Letter to the Editor: School Bond Timing Questioned
Peter HeimdahlThis letter is not intended as a pro or con for the School Bond Vote, but a disclosure of information that the pro bond contingent has neglected to make public.
According to the County Clerk’s Office, the cost of this special election to taxpayers is approximately $30,000.
The Los Alamos Public Schools administration could have saved taxpayers a large sum of money by holding this election on the same date as the general November 2012 election, but opted not to.
Why? It is a common strategy throughout the U.S. for special interests to hold elections (mostly to raise taxes)
Intellus Training Begins Jan. 28 at UNM-LA
Letter to the Editor: Approving School Bond is Good Investment for Future
By Pete SheeheyI ask the citizens of Los Alamos to join me in voting “yes” in the 2013 Los Alamos Public Schools bond election.
These are challenging times for our local and national economy, but we can still afford to pay for the most important things for our community, such as good schools.
Passing the 2013 bond will not increase property tax rates; it will maintain them at the level set in 2009. The school board and administration have done a good job of planning and prioritizing how this money will be spent; see details at laschools.net/2013BondElection