Education

A New Nature Center – A Natural Fit for Los Alamos

Column by Michele Altherr

As Los Alamos considers the merits and possibility of building a municipal nature center, it is worth considering the genesis of the idea and the value that it adds to our community.  

Back in 1999 a large group of citizens gathered in Fuller Lodge to express their interest in a Los Alamos Nature Center. When asked for help in turning the idea into reality, a core group of deeply committed people volunteered.  We began to meet in various homes, some of which were lost months later to the Cerro Grande Fire.  

We were geologists, physicists, artists, Read More

Andrew Zhao Named 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholar

LAHS News:

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has announced the selection of Los Alamos High School senior Andrew Zhao as a 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholar.

Zhao is one of 141 outstanding American high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community.

The U. S. Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments in Washington D.C., June 16–19.

“Honoring Presidential Scholars is an important celebration of students showing the dedication, creativity Read More

YMCA Receives Service-Learning Grant

FAMILY YMCA News

  • Delle Foundation underwrites summer program for youth ages 11 to 17

Youth in the Y’s Earth Service Corps program visit the Romero Farm in Española. Courtesy/YMCA

The Family YMCA’s Earth Service Corps YESC program started in 2001 following the Cerro Grande fire with the goal of providing an opportunity for youth to assist in repairing trails.

The Delle Foundation is a Los Alamos-based foundation started by Helen and George Cowan.

Helen Cowan, who passed away in 2011, was an avid hiker and was a devotee of local trails.

Some issues of damage from last year’s Las Conchas Fire Read More

Los Alamos Students Win First at State National History Day Competition

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY News

Ruby Selvage and Kathryn McClenahan accepting a special award from the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum for the best project on agriculture and rural life (with staff from the museum). Photo by Kim Selvage

A pair of Piñon Elementary 6th graders won first place at the statewide National History Day competition on April 27 in Albuquerque.

Kathryn McClenahan and Ruby Selvage will be part of the New Mexico delegation at the national NHD competition in College Park, MD, June 10-14. Their project, a performance entitled “Land Where Our Children Die: The Reactions and Reforms Read More

18 Volunteers Sought for Senior Appreciation Night

By Diana L. Martinez
Senior Program Director
The Family YMCA
 
Volunteers are needed for the community-sponsored graduation celebration event known as Senior Appreciation Night (SAN), including someone to wear a monkey suit.
 
Numerous parents have volunteered, but 18 volunteers are still needed to fill two or three-hour shifts from 6 p.m. until 2:30 a.m., Saturday May 26.
 
A henna tattoo artist also is needed.
 
SAN is an all-night, safe, supervised downtown graduation celebration sponsored by several business and community organization.
 
 
The alcohol
Read More

Barbara Calef Honored by League of Women Voters

A tribute on behalf of all the members of the League of Women Voters was presented to President Barbara Calef, left, for her leadership and inspiration by Becky Shankland, second vice president during the group’s annual meeting April 14. The League is a non-partisan group of men and women who do civic events for the community and research topics on which they want to take a position. Photo by Karyl Ann Armbruster

The speaker for the event was Steve Laurent who gave a “fascinating speech and answered tough questions from the audience.” Photo by Karyl Ann Armbruster

 

  Read More

Learn Local Wildflowers with PEEC

PEEC News:

PEEC’s popular evening wildflower walks with Chick Keller are starting again. The first walk with be 5:30 p.m., Thursday May 10. Participants can meet at PEEC, 3540 Orange St., to carpool to the trailhead. The walks are free and open to the public, with no registration required.

Flax (Linum Puberulum). Photo by Jennifer Macke

PEEC will offer wildflower walks once a month from May to September.  Participants on these easy walks on local trails learn the names of whichever flowers are blooming that month. 

A plant list is always provided, so that participants can remember Read More

An 11-Year-Old Protagonist in a Little Known Chapter in American History

OTOWI STATION BOOKSTORE News

Barbara Wright, author of the critically acclaimed novel for middle readers, Crow, will sign her book Friday, May 4, at 5:30 at Otowi Station Bookstore. She will visit Mountain and Barranca Elementary Schools and Los Alamos Middle School earlier that day.

The thought-provoking novel and its memorable cast present an unflinching and fresh take on race relations, injustice, and a fascinating, little-known chapter in American history, the race riots of 1898 in Wilmington, North Carolina,through the eyes of the 11-year-old narrator, Moses, a likeable, credible Read More

LAYL Students Mentor the Younger Set

Older and younger students share a fun-filled day together through the Los Alamos Youth Leadership program. Photo by Karyl Ann Armbruster

LAYL News:

Los Alamos Youth Leadership (LAYL), a longtime program of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, sponsored an event for elementary age students last Saturday, April 28 at Los Alamos High School.

LAYL members were the “big brother and sisters” to local elementary school students.

The students played tag games, made art projects and seed planters, ate, decorated with sidewalk chalk, interacted with police officers and played with Read More