Los Alamos School Board Members Study 2015 Legislative Agenda With Rep. Garcia Richard
From left, Los Alamos School Board member Nan Holmes, Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard School Board President Judy Bjarke-McKenzie and newly elected member Jenny McCumber discussed legislative agenda Friday at the Roundhouse. Courtesy photo
LAPS News:
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard met Friday with Los Alamos School Board members Nan Holmes, Judy Bjarke-McKenzie and newly elected member Jenny McCumber to review the legislative agenda.
The Los Alamos women conversed on a number of legislative bills including HB 41 (better known as 3rd Grade Promotion), SB 91 (Teacher Licensure) and HB 144 Read More
OBITUARY: Alphonse Popolato Aug. 18, 1920 – Jan. 28, 2015
ALPHONSE POPOLATO Aug. 18, 1920 – Jan. 28, 2015
Alphonse Popolato, 94, of Rio Rancho, NM entered his eternal home in Heaven on Wednesday, January 28, 2015.
Al (Pop) was born in Flushing, Queens, NY on August 18, 1920. He earned his Bachelor of Science degrees from St. Francis College ‘42 (Chemistry) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute ’44 (Chemical Engineering). He served in the US Army and was a true American hero who played an integral part in the Manhattan Project, which contributed to the successful conclusion of WWII. He enjoyed a distinguished career working in as a Chemical Engineer Read More
Enjoy An Evening In Paris Tuesday
Learn Artistic Skills At Canvas Painting Party
Artists work on their canvases at a previous canvas painting party. Courtesy photo The First Baptist Church of Los Alamos is hosting a Canvas Painting Party.
The event is at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 in the gymnasium at 2200 Diamond Dr. in Los Alamos.
Several subjects are available to paint at this year’s Canvas Painting Party such as these tulips. Courtesy photo
“This is a unique experience, because someone who doesn’t know how to paint can attend and learn how to paint a beautiful picture in a couple of hours with step by step instructions,” Read More
Boehm: Smith’s Marketplace Is Thriving
Smith’s Marketplace Community Specialist Kathryn Fulton and General Manager Erik Boehm speak at Tuesday’s Kiwanis Club. Boehm said he wants to fill the old Smith’s Store by spring. Photo by Don CaspersonErik Boehm, the general manager of the new Smith’s Marketplace in Los Alamos, told Kiwanis Feb. 10 that the large new store is doing well. It is close to its goals, he said, and it has the second highest volume of sales in a Smith’s district that stretches from Wyoming to Mexico.
Smith’s Marketplace General Manager Erik Boehm. Photo Read More
Luján Introduces RECA Legislation To Expand Compensation For Those Exposed To Radiation
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District introduced legislation in the House of Representatives today that expands compensation for those exposed to radiation while working in uranium mines or living downwind from atomic weapons tests.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by a bipartisan coalition of Senators, including New Mexico Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich.
Among the provisions in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2015 are much needed changes Read More
Letter to the Editor: Local Realtors® Are Not Withholding Information; They Are Following State Law
By CINDY HOLLABAUGH, President
Los Alamos Association of REALTORS®
In response to “Won’t Be Held Hostage” – Los Alamos County is not the only non-disclosure county in the United States.
The state of New Mexico and 13 other states are non-disclosure states for real estate. Our local Realtors® are not withholding information from the public; they are following the laws of our state.
All of our local Realtors® are the best source of information for property in Los Alamos County. Read More
House Passes Bill With Bi-Partisan Vote To Repeal Law Allowing Illegal Immigrants To Obtain Driver’s Licenses
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The House voted to repeal a law Thursday that allows illegal immigrants to receive a New Mexico driver’s license. The vote was a bi-partisan 39-29.
The bill, sponsored by Reps. Paul Pacheco and Andy Nunez, has support from every member of the House Republican caucus, and previously received bipartisan support in the House.
“A vast majority of New Mexicans want this dangerous law off the books,” Pacheco said. “I am glad that we were able to pass this legislation and hope that the Senate will vote on this issue soon.”
Since the policy was put into place, illegal immigrants Read More
Deer Trap Canyon Pile Burn Saturday-Monday
Santa Fe National Forest prescribed burn. Courtesy/USDA
SFNF News:
Los Alamos Fire Department and the Santa Fe National Forest plan to conduct a prescribed Saturday through Monday in Deer Trap Canyon.
The burn will occur if conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality and weather forecasts, are favorable.
The Deer Trap Canyon prescribed pile burn will be conducted east of Los Alamos. Small blocks may be treated each day to decrease the daily smoke volume.
Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-dependent ecosystems. Read More
Letter to the Editor: High Praise For Mountain Elementary Principal Jennifer Guy, Teachers And Staff
By KAYLINDA CRAWFORD Los Alamos Students Create ‘Valentines For Veterans’
The Aspen Elementary School K-Kids and the Los Alamos Middle School Builders Club—both youth affiliates of Los Alamos Kiwanis—worked hard this year on ‘Valentines for Veterans.’ Don Casperson, Kiwanis liaison to the clubs, said he delivered 75 cards to be given to patients at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albuquerque. The Aspen K-Kids made 40 of them, and Builders Club made 35. Meanwhile, the Barranca Mesa Elementary School K-Kids have been working on appreciation cards for staff members at their school. Photo by Don Casperson
Los Alamos Middle School Builders ClubACI, Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard Introduce Legislation For New Mexico Business
Dr. Beverlee McClure
STATE News:
The New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry (ACI) partnered with Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-43, to introduce HB 130, a bill to strengthen the procurement process in New Mexico and modernize the state’s definition of small business.
ACI President and CEO Dr. Beverlee McClure praised Garcia Richard for working closely with ACI and ACI member businesses to develop this legislation.
“Rep. Garcia Richard’s bill takes much-needed steps to strengthen our state’s procurement process,” McClure said. “A better, more accountable procurement
ACI, Sen. Rue And Rep. Garcia Richard Introduce Transparency Bill
Sen. Sander Rue
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry (ACI), New Mexico’s statewide chamber of commerce and pro-business advocacy group, applauded New Mexico Sen. Sander Rue, R-23, and Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-43, for introducing a bipartisan proposal to enhance the state Sunshine Portal by requiring that additional information on state contracts be available publicly through the portal.
“Countless New Mexico businesses have approached ACI about strengthening the process by which the state handles procurement and contracts,” ACI President/CEO Read More
Governor Declares YMCA Day In New Mexico
Espanola Y Teen Center representative Christian Cordova meets Lt. Gov. John Sanchez Thursday at the State Capitol. Courtesy/YMCA
YMCA representatives gather Thursday at the State Capitol to celebrate Y Day in New Mexico. Front row from left, YMCA of the USA Resource Director of Public Policy Judy Barrett Miller; YMCA of Central NM Board Chair Rob Maruca; YMCA Board Member David Foster; CEO Linda Daly of The Family YMCA. Back row, YMCA Board Member Dr. Warren Wilhelm; Los Alamos Board Chair Christine Sierk; YMCA CEO Zizi Fritz and Y-USA Government Relations and Policy Director Neil Denton.Library Hosts Read-Ins For Black History Month
Library employee Steph Salazar reads the book ‘I Got Rhythm’ by Connie Schofield-Morrison. Courtesy/MPLMPL News:
February is Black History month and the Los Alamos County Libraries are joining in the celebration by hosting three African-American Read-Ins, during the week of Feb. 16-20.
Readers of all ages are welcome to attend. The Read-Ins will be held downstairs in the Youth Services Rotunda of Mesa Public Library.
American writing has been made much richer with the addition of African-American authors. African-Americans are poet laureates, Pulitzer and Nobel Prize Read More
Last Chance To Etch Name At Nature Center
An example of engraved pavers for the new Nature Center that are raising funds for the exhibits. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
The new Nature Center building is done, and now the exhibits are being installed and the landscaping finalized. As work is wrapping up in anticipation of an April 22 grand opening, this is the last chance to order a brick or paver engraved with your name or message for the pathways outside the new center. The final deadline for ordering bricks and pavers is Wednesday, Feb.18.
A donation of $500 will allow for a 4” x 8” brick, which can be engraved with 1-3 lines of text with 18-20 characters
Mary Chapin Carpenter Performs April 1
Mary Chapin Carpenter
EVHS News:
Five-time Grammy award winner Mary Chapin Carpenter will headline a special concert benefitting the Espanola Valley Humane Society .
The concert, with special guest Aoife O’Donovan, is 7 p.m., April 1 at the Lensic in Santa Fe.
Proceeds will go to the EVHS, whose aggressive spay and neuter and community outreach programs are slowly decreasing the number of unwanted animals brought to the shelter from 4,480 in 2005 to 3,215 last year. Seventy-four percent of those were placed in loving homes, thanks to record-breaking efforts at shelter adoption events. Read More
Griggs: Dateline Monterrico, Feb. 13, 2015
Nighttime photo captures the eruption of Fuego Volcano last week overlooking Guatemala’s former capital, Antigua. Photo by David GriggsDateline: Monterrico, Feb. 13, 2015
The above dramatic nighttime photo captures the eruption of Fuego Volcano at the end of last week. About 30 miles from where I have been spending the winter on Lake Atitlán, Fuego is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala’s former capital, Antigua.
I rode past Fuego Volcano last Wednesday, on Read More
Letter to the Editor: Legislature Should Focus On Doing Good For New Mexico Working Families
By RYAN ROSS, TeacherAs a teacher, New Mexico families trust me with our state’s most precious resource: their children. Out-of-state corporate billionaires don’t see them as our nation’s future, they tend to see them as profit machines.
Right-to-work laws now being considered by New Mexico legislators are destructive, unnecessary, and a distraction. They threaten to take away my voice. I didn’t enter the teaching profession to work at a for-profit corporate education machine, I signed up to work for New Mexico’s kids.
Today, I have a voice allowing Read More
Mandatory Flunking Bill Clears House Floor
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
SANTA FE – House Bill 41, the controversial mandatory flunking bill passed the House Floor by a vote of 38-30.
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos: “This particular piece of legislation is problematic for many reasons. Mandatory flunking is a sweeping measure that does not account for the individual circumstances of each student when they are faced with retention. As an educator, I prefer to work with parents and students individually when faced with this decision, and as a parent I believe it is a decision that is best made between parents and teachers Read More