Columns

PEEC Amateur Naturalist: Hoodoos for Halloween?

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PEEC Amateur Naturalist

Column by Robert Dryja

How many of us remember when we had to evacuate Los Alamos due to the Cerro Grande forest fire? 

Many drove down the forest road through Rendija Canyon that passes by the Sportsmen’s Club as part of evacuating Los Alamos and remember this part of the evacuation very well.

But how many of us recall the tall, silent hoodoo rock formations that stood beside the road as we drove by? 

About six of these sentinels stand near the road, one of them almost 20 feet tall. Other hoodoo formations in our area occur in lower Pueblo Canyon, the trail to Upper Read More

Money IQ: Transfer of Assets After Death

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Money IQ:
By Dan Monte

Transfer of Assets After Death

Tom and Sarah were both 84 and had been married for 62 years. They had five children, only one of whom lived nearby.

Tom and Sarah owned their home, cars, bank accounts and investment accounts as joint tenants.

All of their retirement assets and life insurance policies named each other as the primary beneficiary.

Several years ago, they hired an attorney who prepared last wills and testament for each of them.

Simply, each will directed the transfer of all assets to the surviving spouse and then to the kids in equal shares.

Sarah died very unexpectedly

Read More

Food on the Hill: Wine Poached Stuffed Pears

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“Food on the Hill” by Sue York
 
 
This week’s recipe:
 
Wine Poached Stuffed Pears
 
Photo by Sue York/ladailypost.com
 
4 pears, all about the same size and stands well. They need to be ripe, but still firm
1 cup white sugar
2 cups sweet red wine
2 oz softened cream cheese
1/4 cup of well chopped walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar
 
Photo by Sue York/ladailypost.com
 
Cut off the cap of each pear. Using a round core cutter and a 1/4 teaspoon measure spoon and a thin sharp knife remove the core of each pear very carefully. Do not cut the pear all the way through
Read More

Column: Following The Hogwarts’ Path On Power – Part III

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Column by Elena Yang

Following the Hogwarts’ Path On Power
Part III
 
Now, about followers.

When leaders are absent, there are those amongst the followers who would and could step in and become leaders. 

When the trio, Harry, Hermonie and Ron, returned to Hogwarts to find the final Horcrux, they found Longbottom and Ginny Weasley had lead the students in various rebellious acts against the Dark Lord’s cadre of teachers and rules. 

When Harry had to pretend to be dead in Hagrid’s arms, it was Longbottom who came charging at Voldemort. Charging at Voldemort!! And it was Longbottom Read More

Author Reflects on Working for Georgia O’Keefe

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Author Margaret Wood. Courtesy photo

By Kirsten Laskey

There are 9-to-5 jobs where the days are spent inside the small confines of a cubicle.

Then there are other occupations that leap beyond those fabricated office walls.

These jobs break all forms of convention but they are unforgettable.

Margaret Wood had one of these boundary-breaking jobs.

In 1977, at the age of 24, she left Lincoln, Nebr. to move to the sparsely populated and very rural Abiquiu to work as a caregiver and companion.

While the town may have been a small speck on a map, Wood’s employer was a woman who was known throughout the world. Read More

Column: Link Between Back Pain and Spinal Posture

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By Jessica Kisiel M.S.

Several painful back conditions – stenosis, disc bulge or herniation, spondylolisthesis and sciatica – are due to improper spinal alignment.

Proper Spinal Alignment

Consisting of 33 bones called vertebrae the spine preforms a delicate balancing act. The top eight vertebrae create the cervical spine, the next 12, the thoracic spine, and the lower 5, the lumbar spine.

At the base of the spine are the sacrum and coccyx, which are segments of fused vertebrae. 

The spine has three main curves. A forward or aching curve in the cervical and lumbar spine and a backward or Read More

Money IQ: How Comfortable is Your Nest Egg?

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Money IQ
By John Brunett and Tony Ornealas

How Comfortable is Your Nest Egg?

Accumulating a nest egg for retirement should be a priority for every working person regardless of age.

Whether you have 10 or 40 years to go before retirement, consistently contributing to a retirement savings plan can be the ticket to financial freedom for individuals entering the “2nd” act of life.

Ask yourself what asset would make the biggest difference in your retirement years.

Some answers may be your home, 401k plans or other savings plans.

These are all good answers, but if you are reading this and not yet retired, Read More

Food on the Hill: Lobster Stuffed Potatoes

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“Food on the Hill” by Sue York

This week’s recipe:

Lobster Stuffed Potatoes

  • 4 large baking potatoes
  • olive oil
  • 1 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 shallot, diced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 pound fresh lobster meat (or imitation)
  • (you can also use turkey, shrimp, crab or chicken)
  • 1/2 cup dry wine
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cup Jarlsberg cheese, grated
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • salt & pepper
Photo by Sue York/ladailypost.com
 
Lightly coat potatoes in olive oil and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour. Cool potatoes until they can be handled. Cut potatoes in half and scoop out
Read More

Letter to the Editor: Proposed Charter Changes Achieve Goal

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By Ralph L. Phelps
Former County Councilor

When I was selected to join the Charter Review Committee, I approached the task very cautiously and conservatively because any changes that might be recommended required a very thorough vetting process to ensure the right decisions were made to our community’s fundamental law.

My fellow committee members were equally dedicated, and we had many open and transparent discussions at public meetings that explored the issues from all aspects, bringing out researched facts and practical examples of what needed to be changed.

In the end, our report to council Read More

Letter to the Editor: The Ballot Questions

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Councilor Mike Wismer
 
By Mike Wismer & David Izraelevitz
Los Alamos County Councilors

As part of the ballot for the November election, Los Alamos voters are being presented with proposed changes to the Initiative, Referendum and Recall provisions of the Charter, and the process for future Charter amendments. 

We fully agree with the notion that changes to the Charter should only be made after thoughtful and deliberate consideration. 

The Charter Review Committee provided that analysis after months of open and respectful dialogue. 

We support the proposed Read More