County Settles Stepan Case
Photo: Diana Stepan
By Carol A. Clark
Los Alamos County has settled the sex discrimination case brought by former Assistant County Administrator Diana Stepan.
The County issued the following statement today regarding the settlement: “Los Alamos County and former employee Diana Stepan reached a settlement agreement on Aug. 1, 2012. The settlement addresses a claim that Stepan had filed last year against the County and former Acting County Administrator Randy Autio after her termination of employment. The County was represented in the settlement by the New Mexico Self-Insurer’s Read More
BREAKING NEWS: Ken Johnson Withdraws from Council Race
Ken Johnson. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By Carol A. Clark
Democratic candidate Ken Johnson officially withdrew his name from the Los Alamos County Council race, filing his paperwork with the Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office late this morning.
Johnson shared with the Los Alamos Daily Post his reasons for leaving the race.
“A confluence of events in recent months has made it highly likely that I will be moving away from Los Alamos in the fairly near future,” Johnson said. “Consequently, if elected to the council, I would be unable to complete my term. As Read More
Los Alamos Democratic Party Opens 2012 Headquarters
The newly leased headquarters of the Los Alamos County Democratic Party in Central Park Square. Courtesy photo
UPDATE: The Democratic Headquarters will open to the public with regular hours begining Saturday, Aug. 25.
The Los Alamos County Democratic Party inked a deal this afternoon to lease a space in Central Park Square for its 2012 campaign headquarters.
“We are very excited to have a central location where we can conduct the party’s business,” Chair Michael Wheeler said.
The 2,700-square-foot space at 140 Central Park Square is comprised of a large open area, 5 individual Read More
Advancing Lives: Our Journey to Excellence
Los Alamos Board of Education President Kevin Honnell welcomes staff back to school Monday. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Los Alamos School Board President Kevin Honnell welcomed the staff back to school Monday morning, Aug. 13. The annual event includes a “Back to School” breakfast for staff and opening remarks from Superintendent Gene Schmidt.
In his remarks, Honnell praised staff for the high quality and important work that they do.
“Los Alamos is a recognized leader in education,” he said.
“What makes a school excellent?” Honnell asked before answering his own question, “iPads, Smartboards, Read More
Steve Wells Details Elements of Business Success
Andy Andrews, left, president of the Los Alamos Entrepreneurs Network, introduces LANB President Steve Wells who gave a presentation to community members and entrepreneurs gathered at The Hive Thursday night. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By Carol A. Clark
Los Alamos National Bank President Steve Wells isn’t an entrepreneur but he knows quite a few. In fact, thousands of people with business ideas have sat across the desk from Wells over the last 35 years.
“I’ve seen some of those ideas turn people into millionaires and I’ve seen people go broke,” Read More
New Mexico Dead Last in Internet Availability
Staff report
In an age where being connected and having access to information is critical to economic success, U.S. Census figures show that New Mexico is dead last when it comes to households having access to the Internet.
The Census Bureau survey shows that only 64.1 percent of New Mexico households had high-speed internet access in 2010.
The average rate nationwide for Internet access is 71 percent.
New Hampshire is number one with a rate of 86.2 percent.
Even Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana have higher access rates than New Mexico.
Following New Hampshire, Read More
Seeing and Observing Part 2: A Tale of Two Mesas
PEEC Amateur NaturalistMany of us have seen the impact of two forest fires on the Jemez Mountains.
The mountains west of Los Alamos form the rim of the Valles Caldera.
These mountains have had two forest fires, the Cerro Grande and Las Conchas, pass through them in the past 12 years.
The general impression given by many news organizations is that total and permanent destruction has occurred.
Indeed, half of the grassland of the Valle Grande was burnt and blackened last year. However, there is little mention that the grasses have grown again in spite of drought Read More
White Rock’s Art Market Seeks Exhibitors
CREATIVE DISTRICT News:
The Los Alamos Creative District on Sunday, Aug 26 will hold its second Art Market.
The location is the outdoor space in front of The Hive, 134 N.M. 4 in White Rock.
The market will run 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is free to the public.
The Los Alamos Creative District is looking for artists/artisans to join in and sell at the market.
Owner and jewelry designer Kathy Kjeresen of Kathy’s Natural Designs participated in the first Artisan’s Market. The event is sponsored by the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce as a way to provide local and regional Read More
ChemCam Laser Sets Sights on First Martian Target
Image of calibration target on the back of the Mars Science Laboratory mission Curiosity rover taken by the rover’s ChemCam instrument. Courtesy NASA/JPL
LANL News:
- Rock zapper ready after beaming back images of calibration targets
Members of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover ChemCam team have received the first photos from the instrument’s remote micro imager. The successful capture of ChemCam’s first 10 photos sets the stage for the first test bursts of the instrument’s rock-zapping laser in the near future.
“The successful delivery of these photos means we can begin Read More
Alan Bishop Selected to Lead LANL Science, Technology & Engineering Directorate
LANL News:
Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Charlie McMillan announced today that after a yearlong, nationwide search, Alan Bishop has been selected to be the Laboratory’s next Principal Associate Director for Science, Technology, and Engineering (PADSTE.)
Bishop has been acting in that role since Aug. 29, 2011.
Over the course of a distinguished 30-year career as a research scientist and leader, Bishop has more than 700 publications in archival journals and has served as a guest scientist, guest scholar and visiting professor.
He has received Distinguished Fellow awards from Read More
LAMS Construction Completed in Time for School
Dave Wharram of Gerald Martin briefs the Board of Education on the status of the Los Alamos Middle School construction project during Tuesday’s meeting. Photo by Kirsten Laskey
By Kirsten Laskey
Despite a two-week delay in the construction project, Los Alamos Middle School was ready to greet students for the 2012-2013 school year Wednesday.
Dave Wharram of Gerald Martin, which serves as the owner representative for the project, reported the good news to Los Alamos School Board members during their regular meeting Tuesday night.
“McCarthy, the contractor in charge of the project, Read More
Don Taylor Helps Animal Adoption Effort
UPDATE – Domino has been adopted!Public Invited to Join PEEC’s Fire Recovery Walk
Flood damage on the trail to Upper Crossing just beyond Ponderosa Campground due to severe burns above. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
For the first program of its Fire Recovery Series, PEEC will offer an exploratory hike from Ponderosa Campground starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25.
The hike will be led by Terry Foxx and Chris Judson, and will be non-strenuous.
It is free and open to the public, with no registration required.
This slow meandering walk will focus on observation and discovery of the complexity of the ecosystems of the Pajarito Plateau, and the change that these ecosystems Read More
Katherine Hemphill Receives Kiwanis Scholarship
Los Alamos High School graduate Katherine Hemphill has received an educational scholarship from the Los Alamos Kiwanis Club for her good works in the community. Hemphill served as a Key Club member and will attend Arizona State University to study Biomedical Engineering. Pictured from left, Kiwanis Club members Morrie Pongratz and Don Casperson, President Kristy Ortega, Hemphill and her father Richard Hemphill. Kiwanis has a focus on youth projects and meets at noon each Tuesday at the Masonic Lodge near 15th Street and Sage. Kiwanis was founded in 1948 and is the oldest service organization Read More
Clark & Kendall’s Weekend Preview: Aug. 16, 2012
The community is invited to attend the Masonic Waffle Breakfast from 7:30-10 a.m. Saturday at the Masonic Lodge at 15th Street and Canyon Road. Courtesy photo
This week’s preview is sponsored by www.fyila.com
FRIDAY
Carolyn Wonderland (Texas Blues Rocker) – Los Alamos Summer Concert Series
7 p.m. @ Rover Park – White Rock
Tri, Tri and Tri Again @ Fuller Lodge Art Center
Give an artist the primary colors or a child three wheels, and whole new worlds are opened to them. See what happens in threes, and what makes the third time the charm!
The community is invited to view the new shows Read More
NRC to Discuss Apparent Violations at Harris Nuclear Plant
NRC News:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has scheduled a regulatory and pre-decisional enforcement conference with officials of Duke Energy to discuss apparent violations of NRC requirements involving the ventilation systems for facilities at the Harris nuclear power plant that would be staffed during emergencies.
The Harris plant, which is operated by Duke Energy, is located near New Hill, N.C., about 20 miles southwest of Raleigh.
NRC and company officials will discuss the safety significance of two inspection findings related to the ventilation systems for Read More
Family YMCA & Fusion Volleyball Offer Skills Development
FAMILY YMCA News:
The Family YMCA and Fusion Volleyball have teamed up to offer a Volleyball skills development program for girls ages 12-15.
Practice starts at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19 and will be twice a week at the Y through October.
Stop by the Y to observe practice and meet the coaches at 1 p.m. this Sunday at no charge.
Program will be $45 for Y members and $60 for program only members.
Diggers Volleyball for ages 8-11 is open for registration at $32 for Y members and $48 for program members.
Practice/Games will be Tuesdays and Thursdays at Pinon Elementary School in White Rock Sept. 4-Oct. 25.
This Read More
NMDOT Installing New Stop Signs in Espanola
NMDOT News :
The New Mexico Department of Transportation will have additional stop signs installed at two “T” intersections on N.M. 369 in the City of Espanola by Aug. 24.
The additional stop signs will help to improve traffic safety at the intersection of Middle San Pedro Road and Upper San Pedro Road, and the intersection of Middle San Pedro Road and Lower San Pedro Road.
Currently, there is only one stop sign at each “T” intersection.
The installation of the new stop signs means that traffic coming from all directions must now stop.
A portable electronic message board will be temporarily Read More
FTC Takes Action on Misleading Sports Equipment
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., joined Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller today to commend the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for taking action against a company for making marketing claims about its product’s ability to reduce the risk of concussions that were not supported by sound scientific evidence.
Cruise the Caldera Aug. 25
VCNP News:
Cruise the Caldera
Explore more than 60 miles of roads on the Valles Caldera National Preserve by Mountain Bike Saturday, Aug. 25.
This event will happen only once this season, and it is open for all ages and abilities.
Participants can ride from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at one of two entrances; Banco Bonito Staging area, mile marker 30 off N.M. 4 or the Valle Grande Staging Area mile marker 39.2 off N.M. 4.
New this year, the Preserve has combined this event with the Twilight Mountain Bike Ride, which starts only at the Valle Grande entrance, to allow cyclists the choice of extending their ride Read More