LADP Home - Los Alamos Daily Post

PEEC Offers Bosque del Apache Birding This Weekend

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016 - 3:17 pm

Birders at Bosque del Apache. Photo by Mouser Williams

PEEC News:

Learn more about wildlife this weekend birding at the Bosque del Apache with two expert birders and excellent teachers, David Yeamans and Mouser Williams. The Pajarito Environmental Education Center is sponsoring the program.

Yeamans has watched birds most of his life starting in Los Alamos many years ago, and in the last five years, he has been a birder of the type he calls “semi-pro.”

Yeamans is active in Audubon bird counts, bird banding, field trips, and local birding activities.

Letter To The Editor: Music Teachers Give Thanks

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016 - 3:12 pm

By LAPS MUSIC TEAM

Los Alamos

Have you ever enjoyed listening to the marching band at a parade and watching the drumline cadence by?

Maybe you’ve been to a football game and seen the marching band sousaphones or the xylophones entertaining the crowd? Or perhaps you’ve been to an elementary music performance and seen your child or grandchild singing from the risers? Possibly your child is a cellist and is able to use a cello at school – eliminating the need to haul one from home.

All of these musical supplies – drums, sousaphones, xylophones, cellos,

Senate Boss Sanchez: ‘NM Has Toughest DWI Laws In The Country’ … Say what?!

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016 - 3:08 pm

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Sen. Michael Sanchez had a lot to get off his chest during Wednesday’s rambling tirade at a press conference.

He ranted against the media and complained about seating in the House Gallery. But what’s the most stunning statement he uttered? That New Mexico has the toughest DWI laws in the country. Say what?!

“We do have some of the toughest laws in the country,” Sanchez said.

Actually, the facts show that Sanchez is wrong. According to Wallet Hub (link), New Mexico ranks 33rd in the nation for overall strictness

Heinrich Applauds Cosmic Campgrounds International Dark Sky Sanctuary Designation

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016 - 3:05 pm

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., applauded western New Mexico’s Cosmic Campground on being designated International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

The Cosmic Campground is the first International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) location on U.S Forest Service land and the first dark sky sanctuary designated in the United States.

“The Cosmic Campground in Catron County brings visitors from around the United States and the world to enjoy New Mexico’s unmatched wild places,” Heinrich said. “Outdoor

Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority Approves Planned Irradiation Project At Halden Research Reactor

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 22, 2016 - 3:04 pm

LTBR News:

Reston, VA ― Lightbridge Corporation, a U.S. nuclear energy company, announced Thursday that the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), which operates the Halden Research Reactor in Norway, had received formal regulatory approval from the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) for all planned irradiation of Lightbridge metallic fuel at the Halden Research Reactor in Norway, which is expected to begin in 2017.

This regulatory approval follows a safety report previously submitted by IFE to the NRPA relating to irradiation testing of Lightbridge-designed

Rosemary Coyne Tapped To Lead Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 11:42 pm

LAVNS President Rick Reiss, new Executive Director Rosemary Coyne, center, and Vice President Joyce Davidson stopped by the Los Alamos Daily Post Saturday to discuss Coyne’s recent hiring. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Rosemary Coyne, RN, MSN, of Gallup has been hired to fill the role of executive director of Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. The position has been vacant since the departure of Georgina Mesibov several months ago.

“I am very excited to take on this new adventure,” Coyne said during an interview Saturday at Read More

Author William deBuys At Library Jan. 28

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 11:41 pm

Author, conservationist, and environmental activist William deBuys. Courtesy photo

LIBRARY News:

Author, conservationist, and environmental activist William deBuys is the featured author in Mesa Public Library’s ongoing Authors Speak series for January. He will talk at 7 p.m., Jan. 28 in the Upstairs Rotunda at Mesa Public Library, 2400 Central Ave., in Los Alamos.

In recent months, deBuys has had two books published: The Last Unicorn, about his journey to find one of the earth’s rarest creatures, the saola; and the 30^th anniversary edition of Enchantment and Exploitation: The Life and Read More

Explore Mars In The Nature Center Planetarium Friday

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 21, 2016 - 11:16 pm

Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Learn more about Mars at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at the Los Alamos Nature Center as Rick Wallace leads a planetarium show and discussion of Mars, the challenges, opportunities, and realities of this red planet.

This special planetarium show is $6 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets are available by calling or stopping by the nature center. Seating is limited.

Planetarium shows are suitable for ages four and up. For more information about this and other PEEC programs, visit here, email programs@peecnature.org

Boutique Air: ‘Such A Sweet Deal!’ February Promotion Offers Travelers A Chance To Win Free Flight!

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 21, 2016 - 11:14 pm

LAC News:

Los Alamos County and Boutique Air are offering travelers the chance to win a free round trip flight between Los Alamos Airport and Albuquerque’s Sunport if they enter their name in an online only drawing between Jan. 22 and Feb. 4.

It’s all part of the “Such a Sweet Deal” promotion intended to encourage travelers to avoid the hassles of driving and parking at Sunport when they can travel in style in Boutique’s modern Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. With amenities designed to make the flying experience as comfortable as it gets, the PC-12 features reclining leather

Renewing Our Existing Neighborhoods; Supporting Public Employees

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 11:13 pm

By Susan O’Leary, Vice Chair
Los Alamos County Council

In the coming weeks, the Los Alamos County Council will be considering both Capital Improvement spending and Economic Development spending.

There’s typically some interplay between these two programs. In the past, the County has devoted considerable resources to developing new housing subdivisions as a way to improve our housing stock and attract more residents. While those efforts have been and can continue to be beneficial, the focus on new neighborhoods hasn’t done much to promote the renewal of our existing neighborhoods; many Read More

Rep. Garcia Richard Aims To Tackle REAL ID & Economic Development

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 11:00 pm

House Minority Floor Leader Brian Egolf and Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard at Tuesday’s opening of the 2016 30-day session. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, has announced five important pieces of legislation she pre-filed for the 2016 legislative session.

Garcia Richard bills include:

Expanding access to economic development projects;
Fixing New Mexico’s REAL ID problem;
Refining county employee salary structure;
Increasing educational opportunities for veterans

LA County Wins Audit Accountability Award … Again

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 10:57 pm

Los Alamos County has received the State of NM FY 2014 Audit Accountability Award for a Mid-Size County for the second year in a row. The prestigious award was presented today by State Auditor Tim Keller to County Finance staff Joe D’Anna and Helen Perraglio, center with award, at the New Mexico Association of Counties conference in Santa Fe. Also attending today’s award ceremony from the County, from left to center, to congratulate the Finance Division on this accomplishment are County Manager Harry Burgess, Council Chair Rick Reiss, County Clerk Sharon Stover and Councilor Read More

Caltech Researchers Find Evidence Of A Real Ninth Planet

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 7:57 pm

This artistic rendering shows the distant view from Planet Nine back towards the sun. The planet is thought to be gaseous, similar to Uranus and Neptune. Hypothetical lightning lights up the night side. Courtesy/Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)

CALTECH News:

Credit: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)

– See more at: https:////www.caltech.edu/news/caltech-researchers-find-evidence-real-ninth-planet-49523#sthash.LN79Qeyo.dpuf

Problems With Quarterly Pick Up Delay In Pajarito Acres

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 7:30 pm

Quarterly pick-up in Pajarito Acres has not been picked up for so long someone has started spraying graffiti on it … it’s becoming more of a nuisance to citizens than help. Photo on Monte Rey South by Ellen Walton Read More

Dr. Siegfried S. Hecker: ‘Doomed To Cooperate’ Jan. 23

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 21, 2016 - 7:18 pm

Dr. Siegfried S. Hecker, Stanford University

COMMUNITY News:

Dr. Siegfried S. Hecker will present a Los Alamos public lecture about how American and Russian Nuclear scientists joined forces to mitigate some of the greatest post-Cold War Dangers.

The free lecture is 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1967 18th St.

Dr. Siegfried S. Hecker will discuss how nuclear risks changed dramatically when the Soviet Union collapsed at the end of 1991. Suddenly the world was threatened more by Russia’s weakness

Daily Postcard: Sunrise Over Sangre De Cristo Mountains

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 6:55 pm

Daily Postcard: Wednesday sunrise over the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. Photo by Donna Reil

Los Alamos Creative District’s Fourth Fridays Returns To Downtown Jan. 22

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 5:43 pm

LACD News:

Los Alamos Creative District’s (LACD) Fourth Fridays returns to downtown Los Alamos this Friday, Jan. 22.

Fourth Fridays is a monthly event that offers special programming or extended hours at downtown attractions. Fourth Fridays happens on the fourth Friday of each month and also promotes special offerings from participating local businesses. This month Fourth Friday offers:

The Bradbury Science Museum will have extended hours and will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1350 Central Ave.

PEEC at The Los Alamos Nature Center will feature Astronomy Show: Mars, which Read More

Rotary Raffle Enhances Community Service Projects

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 5:39 pm

During a meeting Jan. 5 at the golf course, Rotary President-Elect Rob Metcalf discusses a special raffle underway to raise funds for community service projects. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY

Los Alamos Daily Post

The Rotary Club of Los Alamos has enjoyed a stream of success. Club membership is up, local contributions include everything from picnic tables at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center to an audio loop installed at Duane Smith Auditorium to help individuals who are hard of hearing. Internationally, the club has contributed to a clean water Read More

LACS And LASO Present Brahms Concert Jan. 23

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on January 21, 2016 - 5:15 pm

By CHARMIAN SCHALLER

Los Alamos

When the Los Alamos Choral Society and the Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra present Johannes Brahms’ Requiem on Saturday, their performance will be the culmination of hundreds of hours of practice.

Approximately 45 singers and 43 orchestra members will be part of the performance. Those singing have been learningthe 95-page work since early September, practicing together for two hours every Tuesday night. In the two weeks before the concert, they participated in several two-hour rehearsals with the orchestra, which had been practicing the complex music since Read More

IRS Launches Free File Program

Submitted by Chris Clark on January 21, 2016 - 4:51 pm

IRS News:

PHOENIX ― The Internal Revenue Service and Free File Alliance last weel announced the launch of Free File with many changes and updates for 2016, including more free state tax return options and easier Form W-2 imports.

For 2016, there are 13 brand-name tax software providers making their federal tax return products available for free. Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income was $62,000 or less during 2015 are eligible for at least one, if not more, of the 13 tax software products. The income limitation is $2,000 higher than last year. People can use Free File