Assessor’s Office Takes Tour of Muni Building
Los Alamos County Assessor JoAnn Johnson, second from left, and her staff toured the Municipal Building on Central Avenue Monday. From left, Curtis Valencia, Johnson, Betty Martinez, Joaquin Valdez, Marty Martinez and Lucas Fresquez. Courtesy photo Read More
Letter to the Editor: Proposed Charter Changes Rectify Shortcomings
By Ken Milder
Former County Councilor
When changes to our County Charter are proposed, I usually look at such proposals with a somewhat jaundiced eye.
Our Charter, after all, has served us well, with only minor changes, for nearly 45 years.
This is true for the most part. But, after so many years we start to see what works and what does not.
For many years the initiative, referendum, and recall provisions of the Charter have lacked clarity and, at times, inhibited the community’s effort to proceed with needed improvements.
The proposed changes rectify those shortcomings.
The grouping of the Charter Read More
Sandra Salazar Bids County Farewell Friday
Staff Report
Sandra Salazar joined the Los Alamos Police Department in April 2009 as Chief Wayne Torpy’s assistant. She said that she has “loved” working in the Police Department.
She also worked at the County Administrator’s Office from November 1989 to April 2009 as the Administrative Secretary.
Salazar has been employed with Los Alamos County for 25 and one half years and has the general knowledge of all County departments.
She supported the County Administrator’s Office, County Council, department directors and the public on the day-to-day functions and activities for Read More
Police Officials Brief Council on Department’s Master Career Plan
Acting Deputy Police Chief Randy Foster has filled a vacancy left when Kevin Purtymun retired last month. As part of the department’s restructuring, Foster’s previous position of captain has been eliminated. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By Carol A. Clark
Police Chief Wayne Torpy and Acting Deputy Police Chief Randy Foster briefed County Council this evening regarding a Master Career Plan for the Los Alamos Police Department.
“The Master Career Plan provides a road map for our employees to follow that will allow them to progress through a pay system while increasing Read More
Personnel Board Chair Presents Annual Briefing to Council
Personnel Board Chair Terry Priestly makes the required annual presentation to County Council focused on what his board has been completed, what is currently being worked on and what challenges or opportunities may be coming up in the future. Council leadership has requested that the chair of each Board/Commission make a similar presentation to Council once each year. County Human Resources Manager Denise Cassel listens at right. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Council Recognizes Los Alamos Community Winds for National Accomplishment
Los Alamos County Councilor Vincent Chiravalle, on behalf of the Council, recognizes the Los Alamos Community Winds for their recent second place award in the American Prize Competition, accepted by flutist Carolynn Scherer during this evening’s County Council meeting at Fire Station 3 in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Community Winds flutist Carolynn Scherer and saxophonist Jonah Katz listen as Council recognizes the organization for their recent second place award in the American Prize Competition during this evening’s meeting at Fire Read More
Hailstones Hammer Central Avenue Flower Baskets
Los Alamos County Parks crews began Monday removing the hanging baskets along Central Avenue because the flowers in the baskets were severely damaged in Friday’s hailstorm. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Video: League of Women Voters Oct. 11 Forum: Dist. 43, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals Candidates
League of Women Voters President Barbara Calef , left, looks on as Stephanie Garcia Richard and Jim Hall, candidates for NM House District 43, shake hands after their lively debate. Courtesy pac8.org
Staff Report
The following is a video produced and made available to the Los Alamos Daily Post by Public Access Channel 8 (PAC 8.)
The video is in Windows Media Video format (WMV.) There are converters available for the quicktime player on Apple systems.
This video was recorded at the Fellowship Hall of the White Rock Baptist Church, 80 N.M. 4, at 7 p.m. Oct. 11. It is approximately Read More
Community Invited to ‘Satch Cowan Trail’ Dedication
Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Residents are invited to attend the dedication ceremony for the new “Satch Cowan Trail” at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22 at the trailhead near the existing Quemazon Trail in Western Area.
The new trail — with construction led by the County’s Open Space Specialist Craig Martin, local trails volunteers, and fifth-grade students from Mountain Elementary School — parallels portions of the existing Quemazon trail near the canyon edge.
Prior to improvements, the trail had already been in existence and hiked for years as a “social trail.”
Now, the Satch Cowan Read More
CONE ZONE: Week of Oct. 15
COUNTY News:
Public Works Projects:
For more information about the projects listed below, e-mail lacpw@lacnm.us, call 662-8150, or visit the “Projects” link at www.losalamosnm.us.
Eastern Area 2 Concrete, Paving & Utility Project – Phase 1:
Fifth Street between Myrtle and Canyon remains closed.
Roadway prep work continues on Myrtle between 9th Street and 15th Street. This section of Myrtle is closed to through traffic with flagging operations during the day and two-way traffic at night.
Paving from the middle of the Myrtle Green to 9th Street should occur the week of Oct. 22.
Minor delays Read More
Talk: 21st Century Science Powered by 19th Century Power Plants
SUSTAINABILITY BOARD News:
Tom Ribe will speak at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18 at UNM-LA Building 2, Room 230.
Los Alamos County Environmental Sustainability Board and Los Alamos Sustainable Energy Network are sponsoring the talk and discussion that will overview Los Alamos’s power sources, and urge an update of the electricity supply over the next decade to address climate change.
Los Alamos’ power supply is vulnerable and unreliable and should be produced in Los Alamos, using a combination of energy conservation, green power, and cutting edge nuclear power. Read More
Pet of the Week: Houdini
Houdini. Courtesy photo
FRIENDS OF THE SHELTER News:
Houdini is Pet of the Week. Houdini is not a magician, but an adorable black and white spaniel/BC mix.
He recently got a bath and is ready to show off his black and white coat. He is affectionate and sweet with both dogs and people, and would love to accompany his new person everywhere.
The Los Alamos Animal Shelter, 226 East Road, (505) 662-8179, has a great selection of on-site adoptable pets. Others are currently off-campus in foster homes.
Visitor Guides: Friday afternoons 4-6 p.m., volunteers will be at the shelter to give potential
New Deadline and Expanded Criteria for Creative District Advisory Committee Applicants
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County announced Friday that the deadline to receive letters of interest from applicants interested in being appointed to the new advisory committee being formed to assist the County and Council in the implementation of the Los Alamos Creative District will have until 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 16 (to match the day with date previously announced.)
In addition, the criterion requiring prospective members to “live in either Los Alamos or White Rock” has been expanded to include those who “live or work in Los Alamos County.” Read More
Letter to the Editor: Charter Amendments Clarify and Unify the Process
By Kyle WheelerThe charter amendments on the ballot group the various processes for initiative, referendum, recall, and future charter amendments into more sensible groupings within the charter, so if you want to start a petition to recall an elected official or start some other petition, and these amendments pass, the process for how you do it will be spelled out more clearly within the charter.
The amendments clarify and unify the process. Even Rob Pelak agreed at a recent League of Women Voters Forum that the way the Charter Review Committee grouped the items makes sense.
His objection Read More
Hellacious Hailstorm Hits Los Alamos Pummeling Private Planes
Hail damage to one of many planes tied down at Los Alamos County Airport, which received the worst of a torrential hailstorm that struck Los Alamos about 2:30 p.m. today. Photo by Julie Habiger
Close up view of hail damage to one of many planes at Los Alamos County Airport this afternoon. Photo by Julie Habiger
By Carol A. Clark
Marble sized hail pounded the community today around 2:30 p.m., falling especially hard at Los Alamos County Airport causing damage to a number of private planes.
“I have never seen hail like that in my life and I’m not afraid to say that it was frightening,” Read More
County Hires Junior Attorney and New Planner
County news:
Kathryn Thwaits has been selected to fill the newly created position of Junior Assistant County Attorney in the County Attorney’s Office, 475 20th St, Suite D. Her starting salary is $72,665.
Thwaits worked during the last four years as general counsel for the New Mexico Personnel Office.
Prior to that position, she worked as an attorney for the District Attorney’s Office in Espanola. During that time, she spent a day or two each week working at the courthouse in Los Alamos.
Thwaits lives in Los Alamos and has for several years.
Daniel Osborn of Denver has been hired to Read More
Letter to the Editor: Proposed Charter Amendments Appropriately Packaged
Councilor David IzraelevitzAmong the many important decisions facing us as a community this November, is the issue of several proposed amendments to our County Charter.
Much has been written about the process by which these amendments were composed, aside of whether each is a good idea or not.
In a subsequent column we will discuss the merits of each proposed change, but here, let’s talk about the process itself, and specifically logrolling, because we want to correct some erroneous comments in this area.
Logrolling Read More
Get Ready for the Big Picture: New Patron Internet Computers at Mesa Public Library Coming Soon!
MESA PUBLIC LIBRARY News:Vehicles Again Travel Main Hill Road
Vehicles were allowed to drive on the Main Hill Road this afternoon as all that appears left to be done on the renovation project is to paint the center stripe. Photo by Leland S. Lehman/ladailypost.com Read More
Authors Speak Features ‘O’Keefe Stories’ Oct. 25
Author Margaret Wood. Courtesy Photo
MESA PUBLIC LIBRARY News:
Authors Speak Series presents “A New Mexico Centennial” Event with Margaret Wood – O’Keeffe Stories, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 Mesa Public Library Upstairs Rotunda.
Georgia O’Keeffe is one of the world’s most well-known and beloved artists.
In 1977, Margaret Wood began a five-year stay as companion and caretaker to then 89-year-old Georgia O’Keeffe.
There were no sign posts in the village in those years, and few markers for a young woman managing the complex role as companion to a woman of O’Keeffe’s Read More
