A View from the Stacks: Your Librarian – the Original Natural Language Search Engine
Column by VERONICA ENICINASLong, long ago, before the World Wide Web had matured and long before the miraculous search algorithm of Google was invented, finding the answer to your questions often involved consulting an encyclopedia – as well as a call or visit to your local library.
On one of those long ago days, a reference librarian was asked, “What are those little stringy things on the inside of banana peels called? You know, the ones that sometimes cling onto the banana after you’ve peeled it?” Well out came the botanical reference books and a search Read More
Learn about Worms at PEEC
PEEC News:
They squirm, they slime, and they’re numbering in the hundreds at PEEC.
Learn all about the composting worms, feel them wiggle in your hand, and collect data on worm behavior 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 3 at PEEC.
Did you know that just one acre of land can contain as many as one million earthworms? The actions of these worms affect almost every aspect of the outdoor world, including decomposition, soil nutrients, plant growth, the food chain, and more.
Think about it: every bit of earth we tread has passed through the intestines of worms.
It’s no surprise that the popularity of vermiculture Read More
Students Host Renaissance Spaghetti Dinner
LAHS News:
Los Alamos High School National Art Honor Society (NAHS) is hosting a Renaissance Spaghetti Dinner 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 26 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on North Road.
Funds raised will support the NAHS scholarship. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 13 and younger and may be purchased at the door or from NAHS members.
For more information, email Mickey at mickey1@unm.edu. Read More
OBITUARY: Horris M. Crane Sept. 1937 – March 20, 2013
HORRIS M. CRANE Sept. 1937 – March 20, 2013Hike Burnt Mesa Pueblo with Dorothy Hoard
Hikers explore Burnt Mesa. Courtesy/PEECPEEC News:
Join PEEC on a historical hike of Burnt Mesa Pueblo led by Los Alamos Living Treasure, author and local historian Dorothy Hoard.
Hoard will lead this popular hike to spectacular viewpoints starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6.
In the 1290s, the ancestral Pueblo people built several villages across the Pajarito Plateau of a special design that archaeologists came to call “plaza sites.”
Room blocks were built in a tight square around a plaza with only one narrow entrance. The room blocks were multi-storied, Read More
School Board Schedules Three Meetings
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board has scheduled an Executive Session at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 28 at Mountain Elementary School.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss personally identifiable information about an individual student per Section 10-15-1-H(4) of the Open Meetings Act and collective bargaining negotiations per per Section 10-15-1-H(5) of the Open Meetings Act.
The Board also has scheduled a work session at Mountain Elementary School at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28.
The agenda items include a discussion of Board meeting schedules and protocol and a presentation Read More
Much Anticipated Mud Kitchen Coming to PEEC!
Young engineers construct a fort at the PEEC Nature Play area. Courtesy/PEECPEEC News:
The weather is warming up and that means it’s time to build more forts at PEEC where fort-building area now includes a mud pie kitchen, complete with mud muffin tins, shovels and spatulas.
Whether you are an architect or mud chef, plan to be at PEEC from 3:30-5 p.m. Friday, April 5 for First Friday Forts.
PEEC’s Nature Play area is fun for kids of all ages. Preschoolers come during field trips to explore and find insects while older kids watch their little seedlings turn into vegetable-producing plants.
Spring Read More
Los Alamos Sci-Fi Authors Enjoy Literary Success
Staff Report
T. Jackson King’s new combat sci-fi novel, Stellar Assassin, hit No. 14 in Amazon’s Top 100 Hot New Releases in the Space Opera Science Fiction category.
The number rankings are adjusted hourly, so the book may go up or down depending on Kindle e-book downloads of the title. The book was only released March 9, so it has climbed to this rank very quickly.
Here’s a plot synopsis of Stellar Assassin Al Lancaster is a shipwrecked tech scavenger who wakes up from Suspense on the auction block of Hercules Station in the alien-run Markan star system, light years distant from Earth.
The Read More
How The Hen House Turns: How The Hen House Came To Be … And Other Things, Like Goats
How The Hen House TurnsHow The Hen House Came To Be … And Other Things, Like Goats
It must have been the summer of 1973 when Don built the Hen House. Our youngest daughter was about to have her sixth birthday.
She wanted a pet of her own, because, the year before, someone’s white rabbit had wandered into the yard. As a result, Santa Claus brought middle daughter item number one on her Christmas wishlist–two white rabbits, Sniffy and Pinkears.
Youngest daughter (YD) lucked out that next summer. The timing was right. Don had raised chickens as a boy
Boy Scout Historical Society to Meet
BSA News:
The Los Alamos Boy Scout Museum Society Inc. will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26 at the LDS Church on 18th Street.
The agenda will be to try to find Eagle Scout candidates to work with on early projects, which include: design and operate a website, plan and work with Bob Thomsen to produce a virtual museum, and work with the a high school communications class to write and produce an amateur movie on “Troop 22, The Only Boy Scout Mounted Troop Ever.”
Bob Thomsen is the chair of the Planning Committee. Committee members are needed for the Finance and Membership Committees.
For more information, Read More
Caver Presents Lechuguilla Cave Exploration History
Caver John Lyles at Northern Lights. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
Come to PEEC at 6:30 p.m. April 5, to learn about the history of exploration in Lechuguilla Cave.
Local caver John Lyles will present highlights of his 20 years of involvement in the project to map Lechuguilla.
Volunteers dug open Lechuguilla Cave, the “Jewel of the Underground” at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in 1986.
The cave quickly earned world-class status among caves, passing 50 miles of discovered length in four years, and 100 miles within the first decade of exploration.
John Lyles’ personal involvement Read More
Portrait Unveiling Set for Manhattan Project Leader
LANL News:
- Family of Gen. Leslie Groves to donate official portrait to Los Alamos Historical Society
The family of the U.S. Army general who oversaw the building of Los Alamos National Laboratory will donate his official military portrait to the Los Alamos Historical Society Friday, April 5.
Gen. Leslie Groves was commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Manhattan Engineer District.
WHO: Los Alamos Historical Society, the family of Gen. Leslie Groves, Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Charlie McMillan, Lt. Col. Antoinette Gant, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Albuquerque Read More
Hypno Talk: What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypno TalkWhat is Hypnotherapy?
Let me introduce to you the most powerful self-help system known to man – Hypnotherapy!
What exactly is hypnotherapy and how can it help me, you may be wondering? Hypnotherapy uses the ancient art of hypnosis to put a client into a deep state of relaxation.
Once the client is relaxed completely the therapist accesses the most powerful part of the mind, the subconscious mind. This is where we hold all of our beliefs and memories.
Before we get too far down the rabbit hole let me explain a little about the mind, starting with the conscious mind. Our Read More
Pet of the Week: Cessna the German Shepherd/Lab Mix
Cessna
SHELTER News:
Cessna is a German Shepherd/Lab mix found wandering near the Los Alamos County Airport last summer.
He has spent the past few months as a mostly-outdoor dog and would love to find a new family to take him out for long walks so he can regain the svelte figure he once had.
Cessna is a really nice dog who will give his owner lots of licks and tail wags in return.
Cessna and other adoptable pets are available at the Los Alamos County Animal Shelter, 226 East Road, (505) 662-8179.
Visit the Friends of the Shelter website at www.lafos.org for information about volunteering, adopting Read More
BBBS of NNM Holds Alumni Event April 4 – Launching Nationwide Search and Reunite Campaign
BBBS News:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern New Mexico is holding a local alumni event in Santa Fe 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at Junction Restaurant, 530 S. Guadalupe St.
This event is for former Bigs, Littles, donors and staff and family members of ANY Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, not just in New Mexico.
To RSVP or for more information, call 505-983-8360 or email monica.martinez@bbbs-nnm.org.
The event is being held as part of a nationwide campaign to locate and reunite with former Bigs, Littles, donors and staff, board and family members.
Smithsonian Magazine Ranks Los Alamos #8 of 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013
Bandelier. Photo by Scott S. Warren/SM
Los Alamos comes in number 8 of the 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013, according to Smithsonian magazine.
In its April 2013 edition, the magazine states:
“What makes a small town big on culture? For the second year running, we sought a statistical answer to this question by asking the geographic information company Esri to search its databases for small towns and cities—this time, with populations of less than 15,000—that have exceptional concentrations of museums, art galleries, orchestras, theaters, historic Read More
New Mexico Home Sales Continue Upward Trend
RANM News:
Home sales and median prices reported to the REALTORS Association of New Mexico (RANM) for February 2013 continue the upward trend begun in January.
In February, 1,026 sales were reported. This is an increase of more than 21 percent sales than reported during February 2011 (845) and 5 percent more than the February 2012 number of 977.
February’s median price of $165,000 is up 3.4 percent from February 2012 and equal to the median reported in February 2011. Median price indicates half the properties sold for more and half for less.
“Home prices are rising, the number of homes for sale is
FREE Diabetes Education at the Y!
YMCA News:
The Family YMCA is taking registration for its FREE Diabetes Education and Prevention program.
Topics to be covered are: what Type 2 diabetes is; what having pre-diabetes means; the signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes; how to reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes; and how to make the necessary lifestyle changes to lower your risk.
The class is taught by Sara Pocernik. Sara is a Registered Dietitian with experience in many areas of nutrition.
She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics and Nutrition Science at Michigan State University, and Read More
Stephanie Chavez Joins Styles N’ Smiles Salon
By BONNIE J. GORDONCosmetologist Stephanie Chavez welcomes her clients to her new location at Styles N’ Smiles Salon.
Formerly with Hair Experts, Chavez recently joined the staff of Styles N’ Smiles, located next door to the Department of Motor Vehicles at 991 Central Ave. The salon has been open at this location for a year.
A Los Alamos native, Chavez has been a licensed cosmetologist for 26 years. She is a full-service cosmetologist and does facials and all kinds of hair services, but her true love is doing nails.
She likes to work with clients on an on-going basis, Read More