Op-Ed: National Park People … May I Salute You?
By Steve Scarano
Vista, Calif.
Dear National Park People,
May I salute you? I know that this is a particularly challenging season of service for you, and while mine is certainly not the only voice crying in the wilderness to acknowledge that and may even ring a bit hollow in the short view, the option of silence is just not viable to me. So here we are.
I’m a card-carrying property owner and cherish our parks, monuments, historic sites and recreation areas. Thank you for making them available to us. In fact, for decades it has been my practice to express my gratitude when I’ve either coincidentally met Read More
Spring Iris In Bloom On Aster Street In White Rock
A row of lavender iris are blooming on Aster Street in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Amateur Naturalist: Yucca, A different Kind Of Plant
By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos
Certain kinds of plants may dominate an area. Trees and bushes typically have trunks with bark and leaves at the ends of small stems. A leaf spreads out from each stem. A leaf is flat with while out its outer edge may have a complicated design.
These plants are categorized as being deciduous if they shed their leaves in the autumn and grow a new generation in the spring. Pine trees in contrast grow needle-like leaves on branches that extend from the trunk. The needles may live for several years.
However, a completely different kind of plant may be spread out among dominating Read More
Daily Postcard: Hungry Squirrel Squeezes Into Bird Feeder
Daily Postcard: A stout squirrel squeezes itself into a narrow bird feeder to nibble seeds Saturday on the grounds of the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road. Photo by Patricia Rathbone Read More
Daily Postcard: Beautiful Cloud Formations Fill Velarde Sky
Daily Postcard: Beautiful cloud formations fill the sky Friday over Velarde. Photo by Johnnie Martinez Read More
Summer Family Evenings Are Back With PEEC
PEEC News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is excited to announce the return of its highly anticipated Summer Family Evenings at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Throughout June and July, families are invited to join us every Wednesday evening at 6 p.m., for fun, educational, and engaging activities for all ages. Thanks to the Del Norte LOV Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Del Norte Credit Union, for sponsoring
Summer Family Evenings in 2025.
From encounters with local wildlife to hands-on science projects and crafts, each week offers something new and exciting:
- June
Gilman Tunnels Closure Extended Until May 23
Gilman Tunnels on Forest Road 376 in the Jemez Mountains. Courtesy photo
USDA News:
SANTA FE — Access to the Gilman Tunnels via Forest Road 376 will be prohibited for both motorized and non-motorized traffic until May 23, 2025. Jemez District Ranger Jeremy Golston stated, “We recognize the impact this closure has on the public. The Gilman Tunnels is a popular destination on the Santa Fe National Forest, and it is crucial we continue this necessary stabilization work.”
The Gilman Tunnels and Forest Road 376 Slope Stabilization project involves eliminating the immediate rock fall danger as well Read More
Daily Postcard: Young Deer’s Midday Snack
Daily Postcard: Young deer nibbles on Aspen tree branches Thursday on Yucca Street. Photo by John Halladay Read More
Outdoor Watering Schedule Starts Today
COUNTY News:
Community members who water outdoor spaces are reminded that the irrigation schedule under Water Rule W-8 is in effect from May 1-Sept. 30. Falling under the rules and regulations of the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU), W-8 outlines requirements for the conservation of water that is delivered to and used by DPU customers.
Under the water rule, DPU customers should water outdoors no more than three times per week. Anyone with odd address numbers is asked to limit their watering to Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Those with even address numbers are asked to water Read More
Community Cleanup Scheduled For May 3 As Part Of Adopt-A-Road Effort
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos Public Works Department, in coordination with local Adopt-A-Road participants, will host a community cleanup event from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Saturday, May 3. Volunteers will be working across various areas in the townsite to remove litter and debris, helping keep our community safe, clean, and beautiful.
As part of the event, Sancre Productions will be on site capturing drone footage for a safety video to be produced with grant funding from New Mexico Clean and Beautiful. The video will highlight best practices and promote future participation in the Adopt-A-Road Read More
An Open Book: Cerro Grande Fire And Today
By DAVID IZRAELEVITZ
Los Alamos
How is one to honor an event that marked one generation amid another event that will be equally sealed in the memory of the next generation? Maybe, it is to remember that while time does not heal all wounds, it is also true that painful memories gain, in time, the blessing of distance and perspective. As the Cerro Grande Fire was a defining moment in my life in Los Alamos, now, twenty-five years later, we look back and remember and learn, so let us hope that the same will be for our children who see, in these times, their own defining crisis.
Unlike many friends, our loss in Read More
LANL, County, SFNF Invite Community To Learn About Local Trails And How To Maintain Them May 7 At Fuller Lodge
LANL News:
Want to learn more about local trails and how to help care for them? The National Nuclear Security Administration, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos County and the U.S. Forest Service will hold a public information meeting on the area’s trails 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 at Fuller Lodge, 2132 Central Ave.
The meeting will provide the latest information about the trails and feature discussions on trail management and safe trail use. Trail updates will be provided by LANL, the U.S. Forest Service and Los Alamos County and will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Read More
Red River Earns 2024 Tree City USA Recognition From Arbor Day Foundation
RED RIVER News:
The Arbor Day Foundation named Red River a 2024 Tree City USA in honor of its commitment to plant, grow, and maintain trees to benefit its community.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. Its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries since 1972. The Tree City USA program has recognized cities and towns that leverage urban forestry to enhance the livability and sustainability Read More
Daily Postcard: American Robin
Daily Postcard: Perched at the top of a home on Richard Court in White Rock, this American robin was keeping a close watch on the darkening sky. Photo by Richard Skolnik Read More
New Mexico EDD Certifies Aerospace Incubator
NewSpace Nexus community workspace. Courtesy/NewSpace Nexus
EDD News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) has certified business incubator NewSpace Nexus, whose companies have generated more than $50 million in economic impact through customer contracts and venture capital investment.
This certification strengthens New Mexico’s position as a key hub for the aerospace industry, one of the state’s target sectors for economic development. The incubator offers shared workspace, including spaces for testing and demo purposes, and shared capital equipment Read More
Preventing Bird-Window Collisions: In-Person & Live-Streamed Talk At Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium
Blue Bird. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) invites the community to a free educational talk on preventing bird-window collisions, hosted both in-person and live-streamed 6-7 p.m. Thursday, May 1 from the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium at 2600 Canyon Road.
Annual bird mortality resulting from window collisions in the U.S. is estimated to range from 365 million to as high as 988 million birds (Loss et al. 2014), with some estimates at 500 million birds annually (Klem et al. 2009, Klem et al. 2024).
Birds are often deceived by reflected images Read More
Mesilla Plaza Walking Tours In May
NMHS News:
Join Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site Ranger Sage or Ranger Daniel in the Reynolds Store Visitor Center (2350 Calle Principal) for Mesilla Plaza Walking Tours in May! Each tour is an hour long 10–11 a.m., Saturday, May 10 and Thursday, May 22 and covers the fascinating history of Mesilla.
The history of Mesilla is vital to understanding the history of New Mexico. Learn about Billy Kid’s time in town, a rich priest with very particular demands, a unique name for the postal line, a deadly riot, and more.
Tours are free, but space is limited. Tickets must be reserved ahead of time. Call 575.202.1638 Read More
Scenes From 2025 Easter Egg Hunt At Overlook Park
The 2025 Easter Egg Hunt was held at Overlook Park in White Rock Sunday after the weather caused the delay. The Elks Lodge sponsored the annual event and put out 1600 eggs for the event which the large crowd of Easter egg hunters took less than 2 minutes to gather up. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Scenes from the Easter Egg hunt. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Scenes from the Easter Egg hunt. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Scenes from the Easter Egg hunt. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com Read More
Daily Postcard: Tiny Pika Looks On At Valles Caldera
Daily Postcard: A tiny pika stands on a flat rock in Valles Caldera National Preserve. Courtesy/NPS Read More
