LARSO Appoints Rachael Montano Interim Executive Director
Rachael Montano
By DONNA HAYNES
LARSO Board President
On behalf of Board of Directors
We have an important update regarding leadership at LARSO. As of Oct. 13, Rachael Montano will step into the role of Interim Executive Director (until a new Executive Director is hired), following the departure of our current Executive Director, who will be taking on a new opportunity with International Folk Art Market (IFAM).
Rachael has been with us since April 2025 as our Membership Coordinator, and she has already made a significant impact. Under her leadership, we’ve seen notable progress, including Read More
Leadership Los Alamos Kicks Off Class Of 2026
The Leadership Los Alamos Class of 2026 (best class ever!) kicked off over the weekend. The cohort began their leadership journey by participating in activities that included connection and trust. They also learned about “servant leadership” and the importance of a leadership legacy. Participants will meet for one full day on each of the next seven months to learn from community leaders and organizations about the many facets of this dynamic community. They will also learn about making a positive impact in Los Alamos County. To learn more about Leadership Los Alamos, visit www.leadershiplosalamos.org Read More
New Mexico State Fair: 2025 High School Culinary Winners
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — High Schools across the State came together at the New Mexico State Fair, with the help of ProStart and the New Mexico Restaurant Association, for a green chile stew throwdown to see who would be crowned the State Fair Champion.
For the second-straight year, Carlsbad High School took home the top prize. Eldorado High School placed 2nd while Taos High School came in 3rd.
Thanks to the generosity of the event’s sponsor, New Mexico Gas Company, Carlsbad High School earned $5,000, Eldorado High School $3,000 and Taos High School $2,000 to help support their culinary programs. Read More
Reminder: Los Alamos Medical Center Hosting Annual Free Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic For Ages 9+ Saturday Sept. 27
LAMC News:
- Hospital is pleased to offer vaccines for ages 9+ this year
Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) is very pleased to announce it will once again host its annual free drive-thru community flu shot clinic from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 27 in the hospital parking lot at 3917 West Road in Los Alamos.
Last year’s clinic vaccinated more than 400 individuals in our community.
For the first time at this event, flu shots will be offered to all individuals 9 years and older. High-dose vaccines will also be available for those 65 and older, as supplies last.
Vaccines will be administered in a drive-thru Read More
Dannemann: Get Ready For Local Elections
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2025 New Mexico News Services
New Mexicans, it’s time to focus attention on your own local community. Statewide local elections are coming in a few weeks: November 4, the first Tuesday in November.
Local elections are usually more important than most of us realize, especially now as conflicting national priorities may show up in local governments. Many local elections get little or no news coverage.
Do you know who’s running for what in your district? Do you know which districts you live in? Districts overlap – city council districts, school districts, Read More
National Federation Of The Blind NM To Host Fundraiser At Bathtub Row Brewing Oct. 11
Duplicate Bridge In Los Alamos: Sept. 10, 2025
BRIDGE News:
Welcome back to Ramdy Baker, who vacationed for a month in Europe. Winners this week were Jerry Morzzinski, Cliff Rudy and Jerry Fleming. Next week’s games will be part of the District 17 Sectional Tournament at Clubs. This competition includes players from Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and West Texas, all playing the same hands in their local clubs.
Today’s hand is quite competitive between the two sides, as each side holds roughly the same strength, and each can make a 3-level part score.
This is board #11. South is the dealer and no one is vulnerable. Read More
Library Of Congress Names Arthur Sze As Nation’s 25th U.S. Poet Laureate
NATIONAL News:
The Library of Congress today announced the appointment of Arthur Sze as the nation’s 25th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2025-2026.
The winner of the Library’s 2024 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, Sze will begin his laureateship with a reading of his work on Thursday, Oct. 9, in the Library’s historic Coolidge Auditorium, and free tickets will be available on loc.gov starting Sept. 18.
During his term as Poet Laureate, Sze, who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, plans to have a special focus on translating poetry originally written in other languages. Read More
New Mexico State Fair Announces 2025 Parade Winners
NMSF News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Tens of thousands of people lined Central Ave. to witness the 2025 New Mexico State Fair Parade, which took place Saturday, Sept. 6, stretching from San Pedro to Girard.
The Parade featured over 110 floats and entries.
State Fair officials released the list of winning entries in the parade which are as follows:
Riding
- Adult Riding Individuals/Groups
- 1st – Valencia County Sheriff’s Posse
- 2nd – Charros del Valle
- 3rd – Darren White for Mayor
- Youth Riding Individuals/Groups
- 1st – Buckle & Belles Drill Dream
- 2nd – First Impression Riding Club
School Bands
- High School
Pets Of The Week: Grizzly And Venus
With two glacier-blue eyes that could rival an alpine lake, Grizzly is the sweet side of a wild adventure. This one-year-old Border Collie mix may tip the scales at 80 pounds, but behind his size is a heart as soft as fresh snow and a goofy spirit that melts everyone he meets. He’s a quick learner who thrives on encouragement, and he’s already showing signs of being house-trained! Whether it’s mountain hikes, backyard play, or simply leaning in close with those glacier eyes full of trust, Grizzly is ready to turn every day into an adventure story. Come meet Grizzly, and see if your path and his are meant Read More
Travis Weaver To Speak At Military Order Of The World Wars Chapter 229 Meeting Sept. 16
MOWW News:
This month’s meeting will be Tuesday Sept. 16. This month’s speaker will be Travis Weaver, J Division Deputy Division Leader.
J-DO, Integrated Weapons Experiments Division
One of LANL’s newest and exciting facilities is DARHT. It is a high-energy 2 axis flash x-ray source used to take multiple 3-dimensional pictures of dynamic experiments. Come and learn about this dynamic facility and its use and the activities of J Division.
This month’s meeting will be Sept. 16. We will meet in the Los Alamos Research Park building room 203A. The meeting will begin with a social period starting Read More
Beautiful Flowers Spotted Blooming At Overlook Park
Beautiful flowers were spotted blooming on Sunday at Overlook Park in White Rock. Photo by Lauren HughesNew Mexico Releases Graduate Profiles Framework To Guide Local Visions For Student Success
NMPED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) announced Friday the release of the New Mexico Graduate Profiles Framework, a statewide tool to guide school districts and charter schools in defining the skills and competencies graduates should demonstrate.
House Bill 171, passed during the 2024 legislative session, requires all school districts and charter schools to develop a graduate profile—a locally defined vision of the cognitive, personal and interpersonal skills students need to thrive after high school. Graduate profiles are intended to reflect the Read More
Kiwanis Hears Presentation On Los Alamos Arts Council
LAAC Executive Director Brandi Engeman. Courtesy/Kiwanis
Kiwanis Club News:
On Sept. 2, Los Alamos Arts Council Executive Director Brandi Engeman gave a presentation to the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos outlining the history, function, and activities of the organization and its contributions to the cultural enrichment of the community.
The Arts Council was founded in 1967, serving Los Alamos County and neighbors by providing community programs and events, art classes for all ages, and managing a gallery for hosting juried exhibits and providing a retail shop for artist consignments.
Engeman Read More
DeVolder: Driver Threats To Pedestrians
By Mark DeVolder
Los Alamos
Re: Driver Threats to Pedestrians
Recently, my wife and I were walking west on the north side of Central in Los Alamos. Traffic in both directions was heavy. I noticed that a compact car was trying to make a left-hand turn near Fuller Lodge. The car had been there for some time, and there were about 5 or 6 cars backed up behind the car.
As I stepped off the sidewalk into the street, the car suddenly came driving directly toward my wife and me. Fortunately, the car stopped in time and we did not get clobbered. The car zoomed off and parked on the west side of Fuller Lodge. Before Read More
Daily Postcard: Low Clouds Near Rio Grande In White Rock
Daily Postcard: Low clouds near the Rio Grande viewed Sunday in White Rock. Photo by Lauren HughesObituary: Margaret ‘Carolyn’ Foy Trela April 7, 1936 – Aug. 7, 2025
MARGARET “CAROLYN” FOY TRELA April 7, 1936 – Aug. 7, 2025
Margaret “Carolyn” Trela (nee Foy) was born April 7, 1936, at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, CA, to Zed Lee Foy and Amabel Neeley Foy. Legend has it that she was born the night before her father’s oral exams at Stanford Graduate School of Education. Carolyn grew up in Boise, Idaho with her parents and older sister, Ginger, and where her father was superintendent of schools. She spent many an adventurous summer with cousins at her mother’s family farm in Columbia, SC.
In 1953, during Carolyn’s junior year at Boise High School, her father accepted Read More
Los Alamos High School Graduate Carson Hick Named To 2025-26 USA Swimming National Team
Carson Hick of White Rock has been named to the USA Swimming National Team. Courtesy photo
SPORTS News:
It was announced Monday, Sept. 8, that Carson Hick of White Rock, 2023 graduate of Los Alamos High School and a junior at the University of Kentucky, has been named to the 2025-26 USA Swimming National Team.
The men’s team includes 67 of the country’s most elite swimmers and 21 represented universities, Hick being among those selected for his national team debut.
The selection process for the National Team is based purely on times. The six athletes with the fastest times at any qualifying competition Read More
McQuiston: Why Investing In Quality Tires Is The Best Safety Decision You’ll Ever Make
By ALLEN McQuiston
The Jemez Agency
https://www.thejemezagency.com/
When people think about car safety, airbags and seat belts usually come to mind first. But the truth is, the only part of your vehicle that actually touches the road is your tires. Every turn, every stop, every rainy night—you’re depending on just a few square inches of rubber to keep you in control.
That’s why choosing quality tires isn’t just about comfort or performance—it’s one of the smartest safety investments you can make.
Your Tires Do More Than You Realize
Good tires aren’t just round pieces of rubber.
They’re engineered Read More
Scenes From Special Retirement Event Honoring Los Alamos Police Cmdr. Preston Ballew At Fuller Lodge
Los Alamos Police Chief Dino Sgambellone, center, Deputy Chief James Rodriguez, center, left, police command staff, officers, and other personnel gathered Thursday at Fuller Lodge to honor Cmdr. Preston Ballew, back row center, as he retires from a 26-year career in law enforcement. Many officials, including County Manager Anne Laurent, along with family members and friends, filled Fuller Lodge to celebrate with Cmdr. Ballew on his final day on the job. Cmdr. Ballew said he has a couple of hunting and fishing trips scheduled, adding that he and his wife Marisha love Los Alamos and intend to Read More
