NACo: Counties Celebrate Key Permitting Inclusion In SPEED Act
NACo News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Association of Counties (NACo) issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776), which advanced out of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Nov. 20.
NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase said:
“Counties are pleased that the SPEED Act would reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by streamlining federal permitting and strengthening county involvement in decision-making. We support commonsense permitting reforms, and Read More
Alpha Zeta Adopt-A-Family Program Seeks Local Sponsors
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Los Alamos
Alpha Zeta, a local Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, is collaborating with local schools to identify families who could use a little extra love over the holiday season. Their Adopt-A-Family program for 2025 has received 54 applications, with 13 families looking for sponsors.
Families who remain include families with grandparents in the home, single parents with multiple children, and single-child families. The biggest family remaining is a family of seven, and the smallest is a family of two.
“About 80 percent of the families in the program live in Los Alamos County; Read More
Legacy Cleanup Documents Added To LANL Reading Room
LANL News:
Per regulatory requirements, this email is to notify you that new documents have been added to the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract Electronic Public Reading Room.
All legacy cleanup documents required to be posted after April 30, 2018, are available on the site linked above.
For legacy cleanup documents that were posted prior to April 30, 2018, please visit the LANL electronic public reading room.
- Review, Periodic Monitoring Report for 2024 Vapor-Sampling and Soil-Vapor Extraction at Material Disposal Area L, Solid Waste Management Unit 54-006, at Technical Area 54
https://ext.em-la.doe.gov/GovFTPFiles/api/GetFiles/GetFile?fileName=EMID-704005_NMED_Review_MDA_L_Vapor_PMR_112525.pdf
Rabbi Jack: Pilgrims And A Jewish Pilgrimage Festival
Rabbi Jack Shlachter in front of a Sukkah (temporary booth). Courtesy/Beverly M. Post
By Rabbi Jack Shlachter
Los Alamos Jewish Center
If you’re like me, you are probably still trying to work off some of the extra calories that you consumed over a Thanksgiving meal. Rather than exercise, however, I thought I’d address a question that came up recently regarding whether or not Thanksgiving is truly a secular holiday. As the sole rabbi in Los Alamos (I jokingly sometimes say that I’m the Chief Rabbi of Los Alamos), I therefore recently reexamined the origins of the holiday of Thanksgiving.
County Council To Meet In Regular Session Tuesday Dec. 2
COUNTY News:Daily Postcard: Snowy Valle Grande Webcam View At Sunset
Daily Postcard: A snowy Valle Grande webcam view at sunset, Nov. 24. Courtesy/VCNP Read More
Local Love: Do You Have Some To Give?
By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Board Member
Places and Spaces Los Alamos
Los Alamos and White Rock are communities defined in large part by their independent spirit and local businesses. If you tuned in to the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition forums earlier this year, you will understand that many of our local businesses continue to struggle with maintaining pre-pandemic cash flow and revenue margins. Challenges like difficulty finding workers, increased labor costs, and high operational costs persist in our uncertain economy. To ensure our small businesses fully recover and achieve sustainable
Toppers Come Back Late To Drop St. Mike’s In Overtime
Javaya Davison goes up for a shot in the first period over defender Ellie Musiolf in the Hilltopper girls basketball season-opening against the St. Michael’s Horsemen Tuesday in Sullivan Gymnasium. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Aaliyah Chavez closely guards Mariella Ruiz under the Horseman’s basket in the second quarter. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By MIKE COTE
Sports Writer
Los Alamos Daily Post
Sparked by a pair of sophomores, the Los Alamos Hilltopper girls basketball team came back from an 8-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter to earn a season-opening Read More
Social Services Office Hours At Mesa Public Library Dec. 3
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Social Services Division is offering convenient evening hours at the Mesa Public Library to better assist people who may not be able to meet during regular business hours.
Community members who need assistance with housing services, utility payments, food instability, or connections to other resources in the County are encouraged to stop by for a one-on-one meeting to learn how Social Services may be able to help.
No appointment is necessary.
The Social Services staff will be available 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, in a study room at the Mesa Public Library. Read More
SFNF Pile Burns: Española, Jemez & Cuba Ranger Districts
SFNF plans prescribed pile burns in the Española, Jemez, and Cuba Ranger Districts, as early as the week of Dec. 1. Courtesy/SFNF
SFNF News:
SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is planning prescribed pile burns in the Española, Jemez, and Cuba Ranger Districts, as early as the week of Dec. 1.
SFNF estimates this work to continue through the winter as weather conditions allow. Pile burning is meant to treat slash, like branches, piled by thinning crews with the aim of reducing flammable fuels.
The decision to proceed with each pile burn will depend on multiple factors, including snowpack, Read More
Celebrate Los Alamos WinterFest Weekend 2025 Dec. 5-7!
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos WinterFest Weekend 2025 celebrates winter in Los Alamos, Dec. 5-7. This year’s theme is “Red, Green, or Christmas”.
Businesses/organizations have scheduled events, including ballets, bazaars, shows, sales:
Friday, Dec. 5
- 1-3 p.m. Community Art Program: Lino Block Printed Tea Towels, Los Alamos Arts Council
- 1-7 p.m. 32nd Annual Creche Show, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- 7-8 p.m. December Night Sky, Los Alamos Nature Center (PEEC) Planetarium
- 7-9 p.m. Sugar Plum on “The Hill” at Duane Smith Auditorium
Saturday, Dec. 6
- 8-11 a.m. Kiwanis
Taos Sunday Sit Down: Be The Most Interesting Person At Your Holiday Gathering
Courtesy/TSOM
Taos School of Music News:
This Thanksgiving, while everyone else is arguing about stuffing versus dressing, you’re casually going to drop: “Did you know there are two skulls in Haydn’s tomb… and also that ‘karaoke’ literally means empty orchestra?”
Boom. Most Interesting Person at the Table unlocked.
Classic FM’s “20 downright bizarre classical music facts” is basically a cheat sheet of outrageous, bite-sized stories you can sprinkle between courses.
Examples:
- The piano sitting in the other room? Its strings are under about 20 tonnes of tension – that’s like parking
Obituary: Joan Louise Farmer Kim June 28, 1937 – Nov. 22, 2025
JOAN LOUISE FARMER KIM June 28, 1937 – Nov. 22, 2025
Joan Louise Farmer Kim, age 88, beloved wife, mother and grandmother of White Rock, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on Nov. 22, 2025, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She was preceded in death by her parents James Roy and Ana Linda Farmer, sister Helen Book, brother James Farmer, Father-in-law Chae Suk Kim, Mother-in-law Yuen Hee Chung, Sisters-in-law Dr. Soon Ock Kim, Soon Ki Kim, Soon Cha Kim, Yoo Syun Kim, and brother-in-law Young Chull Kim.
Joan was born on June 28, 1937, in Rausas, Missouri to James Roy and Ana Linda Farmer. Joan was the eldest of five Read More
Bradbury Science Museum Association To Host ‘Trinity Site: 80 Years Of Data And Factoids’ Dec. 11 At Fuller Lodge
Robb Hermes, left, and Jim Eckles to explore the history and science of the Trinity Site in honor of its 80th anniversary, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday Dec. 11, at Fuller Lodge. Courtesy/BSMA
COMMUNITY News:
The community is invited to join Jim Eckles and Robb Hermes for a fascinating evening exploring the history and science of the Trinity Site in honor of its 80th anniversary, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11, at Fuller Lodge.
This event is hosted by the Bradbury Science Museum Association and is free and open to the public. View more details and register online.
About the speakers:
- Jim Eckles
Tom’s 2025 Thanksgiving Thankful List
By TOM GARRISON
© 2025 Tom Garrison
Each November. I compose a “Thanksgiving Thankful List” for the preceding year. My wife, Deb, and I enjoy our life in red rock southern Utah and have many things for which we are thankful.
I hope sharing them brings a smile and acknowledgement that even the seldom thought of can be a source of thankfulness.
Below is my 2025 list.
- Southwest Utah has grown enormously in the last 15 years. Because of that I’m thankful for street signs. I’m an old guy and getting around is hard enough. Without street signs to guide me, I’d probably end up in the twilight zone.
- I’m thankful
Coyotes Relax Around Manure Bin At North Mesa Stables
A pair of coyotes relaxes Tuesday around a manure bin at the North Mesa Horse Stables. Photo by June Wall Read More
NNSA Schedules Public Meeting To Discuss Data From LANL Flanged Tritium Waste Containers Depressurization Dec. 9
LANL News:
A public meeting to discuss data from the depressurization of four flanged tritium waste containers at Los Alamos National Laboratory is scheduled for Dec. 9, 2025, in Los Alamos.
This in-person meeting will be held, 5:30-7 p.m. at Sala Event Center, 2551 Central Ave.
A virtual Zoom meeting option is available as follows:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86235824828?pwd=zCBisrAgasSL2ZnhuiRlZw67azyXEE.1
Meeting ID: 862 3582 4828
Passcode: 463520
The National Nuclear Security Administration and LANL shipped the fourth and final flanged tritium waste container Read More
LACF: Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service Awarded $29,000 Grant For Grief Group
LAVNS Clinical Manager Susan Edwards, left, receives a $29,000 grant from Brandi Weiss on behalf of the Los Alamos Community Foundation, in partnership with the Anchorum Health Foundation in Santa Fe. The grant presentation took place recently in front of the LAVNS offices at 109 Central Park Square. Courtesy/LACF
LACF News:
The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF), in partnership with the Anchorum Health Foundation in Santa Fe, has awarded Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. (LAVNS) a $29,000 grant to support separate grief group programs, one for adults and one for youth. LAVNS, Read More
Los Alamos County Library Board To Meet Monday Dec. 1
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Library Board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, in Room 110 at the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave.
The meeting is open to the public in person, and a Zoom option is also available at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85215643936.
Find the meeting agenda here.
Note: If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact the County Human Resources Division at 505.662.8040, at least Read More
Daily Postcard: Rare Crane From Eurasia Spotted Nearby
Daily Postcard: This crane, a very rare visitor from Eurasia and known as the Common Crane (‘common’ in Eurasia, anyway), has been spotted over the last few days at the National Wildlife Refuge in Las Vegas, N.M. Photo by Michael Smith
This same crane is shown here in flight at the bottom. Photo by Michael Smith Read More