Splash a Teacher and Shade Chamisa’s Playground
Physics Lesson: Former 6th grade teacher, now Chamisa Elementary School Principal Debbie Smith demonstrates the laws of physics in 2012 and history will repeat itself 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday as Chamisa raises money with a carnival. Students can have four hours of fun for just $7 and parents can, too, for just $3. The funds being raised will purchase shade structures for the playground at Chamisa. Photo by Chad Lauritzen
Mrs. Jiron awaits the inevitable. Photo by Chad Lauritzen
Volunteers Plant 2,100 Seedlings Near Pajarito Mountain
Members of the Kelly family of Los Alamos get ready to plant a Douglas fir seedling. Photo by Craig MartinCOMMUNITY News:
More than 75 volunteers from Los Alamos and throughout northern New Mexico planted about 2,100 Douglas fir seedlings in the Las Conchas fire burned area on the Santa Fe National Forest April 12-13.
The 9-inch tall trees were planted along the trail to Cañada Bonita near the Nordic Ski Tracks.
Karen Wray Fine Art Gallery Now Represents Artist Becky Steritz
“Rebirth” by Becky Steritz. Courtesy photoBy MANDY MARKSTEINER
Karen Wray Fine Art Gallery is welcoming a new artist, Becky Steritz.
Meet Steritz and see her work at the “Living Things” exhibit opening reception 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 19.
When Steritz was getting her Master’s Degree in Ceramics in the 80s, one of her professors asked her whether her artwork was “personal.”
At the time she was learning a lot of useful techniques, and working with wonderful materials, but she knew that her work wasn’t personal.
Over the years her work has evolved to be deeply personal, she said.
“My Read More
Pegasus Staff Holds Swap Meet at LAHS
LAHS News:
Pegasus, Los Alamos High School’s art and literary magazine will host its third annual swap meet beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 20 in the high school parking lot.
Spaces are still available for a donation of $20, which may be paid at the LAHS bookkeeping office or on the morning of the event.
Vendors must supply their own table and/or shade if needed.
Donations of items the students can sell may be dropped off at the LAHS main office or at 7:45 a.m. Saturday at the event.
In the event of rain or snow, the sale will be rescheduled for April 27. Read More
Novels Being Accepted For Tony Hillerman Prize
Staff Report
Debut mystery novels set in the southwest are now being accepted for consideration for the Tony Hillerman Prize.
Sponsored by St. Martin’s Press and WORDHARVEST, the prize includes a $10,000 advance and publication by St. Martin’s Press for the best mystery set in the southwest submitted by an author who has not been published in the mystery genre before.
Deadline for submissions is June 1. For complete guidelines visit https:////www.wordharvest.com/contest.php
Council Adopts $186,307,202 Budget For FY2014
Los Alamos County Council voted 7-0 to approve the FY2014 budget of $186,307,202 – an increase of $378,565 over the proposed budget. The Council also unanimously approved delaying a proposed property tax increase in 2015 one year to 2016. Councilor Fran Berting attended tonight’s Council meeting by telephone. Council Chair Geoff Rodgers commended County Administrator Harry Burgess and his staff for their outstanding work in preparing and presenting the FY2014 budget under a difficult economic environment. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Council Wraps Up ‘Parking Lot’ Items
Public Works Director Philo Shelton discusses the transit service costs for running service to the ski hill and on weekends. Council tentatively approved 7-0 to keep the budget intact for Atomic City Transit, regarding bus service to the Ski Hill and weekend service. Council voted 7-0 to tentatively approve the Lodgers Tax Fund, specifically with respect to the Los Alamos and White Rock Visitor Centers and promotional Services and Council voted 7-0 to tentatively approve the Progress Through Partnering program. The Progress Through Partnering is an effort in which the County reached out Read More
Council Tentatively Approves $300,000 Transfer From General Fund for Indigent Healthcare in FY2014
Los Alamos County Council Chair Geoff Rodgers leads Council and staff through discussion on the Indigent Healthcare Fund. Council unanimously voted to tentatively approve the transfer of $300,000 from the general fund into the Indigent Healthcare Fund, with the understanding that dental, vision and nursing are removed from the plan. This issue will be revisited at the April 30 Council meeting with the intent to adopt a new policy. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Council Hears Indigent Healthcare Program Funding Issues
Deputy County Administrator/Chief Financial Officer Steven Lynne explains to Council that the County began the year with a reserve fund of $732,000 but increased need in the community is depleting the fund. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Staff report
Deputy County Administrator/Chief Financial Officer Steven Lynne is briefing County Council on the financial issues facing the local Health Care Assistance Program.
The Health Care Assistance Program is a County program that is funded by the gross receipts tax and administered by the Los Alamos County Council.
The Health Care Assistance Read More
Council Tentatively Approves $87,265 Increase in Social Services Budget for FY2014
New Social Services Manager Kim Gabaldon introduces herself to Council during the budget hearing on the Social Services Division of the Community Services Department. Council tentatively voted to approve an $87,265 increase to the proposed Social Services budget for FY2014. That figure included restoring $3,000 to the Summer Concert Series, which will pay for the two concerts that would have been cut. Council also increased the Senior Services budget from $299,000 to $328,000 and the Youth Activity Centers budget from $150,000 to $165,000, restored the Historical Museum operation budget Read More
Council Hears Proposed Budget For Social Services
County Councilor Pete Sheehey is the Council liaison to the Community Health Council and made it clear that he wants to be sure there are enough funds to serve the vital needs in the community. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
County Councilor Steve Girrens said he does not think $150,000 for Social Services is enough and suggested that it should be more like $250,000 to meet the needs of this community. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Council Casts Tentative Votes on Five ‘Parking Lot’ Items
Community Services Director Charlie Kalogeros-Chattan presents details of the Social Services actual expenditures to Council. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Staff report:
County Council tentatively voted 7-0 to reduce public defender contractual services funds in the Council’s budget by $15,000 from $25,000 to $10,000.
The reason for the reduction is that the expenditure of these funds has not exceeded $10,000 in any of the last five years.
There are four other “parking lot” items carried over from Tuesday night’s budget hearing. Council will hear Read More
Council’s Final FY2014 Budget Hearings Tonight
Officials gather in Council Chambers and check last minute details just prior to tonight’s final budget hearing for FY2014. From left, Los Alamos Deputy County Administrator/Chief Financial Officer Steven Lynne, Council Vice Chair David Izraelevitz, Los Alamos Deputy County Administrator Brian Bosshardt and Councilor Steve Girrens. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Late Season Freeze and Snow Through Thursday
Letter to the Editor: Please Lower Your United States Flags
By Lisa LindbergLast night as I drove through town on the way to take my dogs for a walk at sunset, I was astonished to see that there were United States Flags not being flown at half staff to honoring the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.
On April 16, 2013, President Obama ordered that the United States Flag be flown and half staff immediately until sunset on April 20, 3013.
I find it sad that organizations including banks and schools were not following the Presidential order. But even more alarming was seeing that several fire stations did not have their flags at half staff.
As first Read More
LAHS Head Swim Coach Resigns
LAHS News:
The Los Alamos High School Athletic Department announced today that it has accepted the resignation of Coach Rusty Bernstein as Head Boys and Girls Swim Coach.
The Athletic Department appreciates all that Coach Bernstein did as the head coach during his time with Los Alamos High School and wishes him well with his future endeavors. Read More
Money IQ: Charitable Giving Opportunities
Money IQCharitable Giving Opportunities
When choosing the most advantageous charitable giving strategy, individuals must evaluate a number of factors, such as their need for current income, their desire to control and preserve assets during life and after death, their specific charitable intent, as well as important tax management issues.
Charitable estate planning techniques can help achieve many of these objectives. Donor-advised funds, family foundations, and charitable remainder trusts (CRT), charitable lead trusts (CLT) are available to individuals and their Read More
Mesa Smart Meter Study Reaches 500+ Participants
Utilities Manager John Arrowsmith addresses community members at a recent public meeting. Courtesy/DPU
DPU News:
- Study Still Open to New Participants … Up to 1,000
Participation in the Mesa Smart Meter Study continues to grow this week as the final April 28 deadline nears, reported officials at the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU.)
Project collaborators are recruiting the final residents of North and Barranca Mesa to join this important local demand response study which will have global implications.
The DPU, Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Read More
US, China Hold Joint Meeting to Discuss Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology
Beijing, China. Courtesy photo
NNSA News:
- Eighth U.S.-China PUNT Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting Held in Beijing
NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Anne Harrington
BEIJING – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the China National Energy Administration (NEA) this week held the 8th Joint Coordinating Committee meeting of the 1998 U.S.-China Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology (PUNT) Agreement.
NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Anne Harrington and Director General of the NEA Nuclear Power Department Read More
Luján, Lujan Grisham Write to President Obama with Concerns over Proposed Cuts to Social Security Benefits
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan GrishamWASHINGTON, D.C. – New Mexico Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote to President Obama recently to express their concerns with provisions in the President’s budget that would impact Social Security and reduce benefits for New Mexico seniors.
April 16, 2013
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20502
Dear Mr. President:
It was with great interest