Thompson Ridge Fire: Today Marks Entire Week With No Perimeter Growth
Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera Trust
Thompson Ridge Fire
Acres: 23,903; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed power line; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 90 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 3 crews, 6 engines, 4 water tenders, 2 dozers; Total personnel: 174 and Available air support: 3 helicopters.
Summary: Today marks an entire week with no new perimeter growth in the fire. Most of the activity continues to be within the interior of the fire where unburned fuels continue to smolder and burn. Today crews Read More
Letter to the Editor: Thank You from United Way
Kristy Ortega Thank you to the 33 agencies who submitted proposals for funding this year. We had $1.2 million requested in this funding process.
Our Community Action Fund had about $600,000 available to fill these requests.
Needless to say, the grant committee had some very difficult decisions to make. Thanks again to the 33 agencies who requested funding.
Special thanks to the volunteer grant committee. Kelly Duran, Debbie Gill, John Hofmann, Carolyn Mangeng, Taylor Martinez, Valerie Martinez, Cathe McClard, A.J.
Four New Brokers Join Zia Realty Group
By MANDY MARKSTEINER
Four new brokers have joined Zia Realty Group, which has become the fastest growing real estate company in Los Alamos.
Carrie Montoya-Pegg
Carrie Montoya-Pegg started working at Zia Realty one month ago, after completing her real estate certification at Kaplan University in Albuquerque. For Pegg, the process of becoming a broker began last February. She took three classes for two months and passed a state and national test.
“I know David Horpedahl from Los Alamos Properties, and had been planning to work for them before they merged with Zia Realty Group, so I decided to Read More
Los Alamos Students Travel Through Alps
Twenty-four graduating seniors from Los Alamos are touring Europe on an educational trip of a lifetime. Here they are cooling off at the fountain in Innsbruck, Austria. Photo by Lynn Ovaska
Students pose outside the Swarovski Crystal World. Photo by Lynn OvaskaLuján Stands Against Funding Cuts to Nutrition Programs
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
CONGRESSIONAL News:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District released the following statement today after voting against final passage of the Farm Bill today, which included $20 billion in cuts to nutrition programs:
“I am deeply disappointed that at a difficult economic time when families are struggling to put food on the table, farmers and ranchers are struggling with drought conditions, and New Mexico’s dairies are in need of important tools for success, House Republicans brought a Farm Bill up for a vote Read More
Free Child Safety Seat Clinic Saturday
Staff Report:
The New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Traffic Safety Division, Safer New Mexico Now and Kohl’s will hold a child safety seat clinic 11a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at Kohl’s (4401 Cerrillos Road) in Santa Fe.
The clinic provides parents and caregivers the opportunity to receive hands-on instruction from certified technicians on the correct use of child safety seats. Technicians educate parents on choosing and installing the appropriate child safety seat for their child and vehicle. They can also determine if a seat is recalled, expired, or otherwise unsafe. Read More
Immunization Registry Law Goes into Effect July 1
STATE News:
Santa Fe – Gov. Susana Martinez says new immunization requirements can help keep New Mexicans healthier – especially small children and seniors who are particularly prone to infectious diseases.
Senate Bill 58, which takes effect July 1, makes it mandatory for all health care providers to report all immunizations to the New Mexico Statewide Immunization Information System (NMSIIS.)
“This change will allow the Department of Health to better track and evaluate vaccination coverage and monitor disease outbreaks and disease coverage levels at a local level,” Read More
Prescription for Better Health: Have More Sex!
Now that I have your attention, let me tell you just how having more sex will increase you level of health and fitness and lead to a longer, happier life.
When you have sex, certain beneficial chemicals are released in the bodies of both men and women. DHEA is an anti-depressant that also helps repair muscle tissue, improves cognitive function, and enhances skin health. Oxytocin is an effective pain reliever in the body. Endorphins also help relieve pain caused by things like arthritis and promote better sleep.
Other Read More
Udall Pushes for Immigration Reform
Senator Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a speech on the Senate floor Thursday, U.S. Sen. Tom highlighted the Senate’s imperative to pass a long term, comprehensive solution to fix our nation’s immigration system and improve New Mexico’s border security.
“Immigration reform has to be comprehensive, that is the reality of any long-term solution,” Udall said. “It is also a reality that such reform will not be perfect, will not satisfy everyone in every case. That’s what compromise means, that’s what bipartisan effort requires. But Read More
Talk on Fisheries and Global Warming at SFI Monday
Daniel Pauly
SFI News:
Fisheries and Global Warming are the subjects of a seminar by Daniel Pauly of the University of British Columbia at the Santa Fe Institute.
The seminar will take place at 12:15 p.m. Monday, June 24 at SFI, 1399 Hyde Park in Santa Fe.
The multiple factors contributing to the crisis which besets global marine fisheries since the mid-1990s will be presented, along with key trends illustrating manifestations of that crisis.
Fisheries scientists, economists and serious policy-makers collectively know what is required to turn these trends around and to rebuild fish stocks Read More
Parks Division Manager Dick McIntyre Set To Retire
Los Alamos County Parks Division Manager Dick McIntyre looks over photos marking his long career. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com
Dick McIntyre let it be known last year that the Ashley Pond Improvements Project would be his final project with the County and he would make certain it got underway before he retired.
A man true to his words, McIntyre has filed his County retirement papers effective July 12. His retirement comes after a long, drawn-out planning process for the Ashley Pond Improvements project. Now that the ducks have been rounded Read More
Regional Coalition Heading to Nation’s Capital to Push for Additional LANL Cleanup Funding
RCLC News:
SANTA FE – The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities is leading a 13-member delegation to Washington, D.C. to push for more cleanup funding for Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The group will meet with members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation, as well as top officials at the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration to press for the Coalition’s top priority — increased federal funding to continue environmental remediation across northern New Mexico.
“This type of work is incredibly important for the Regional Read More
Santa Fe National Forest and Valles Caldera National Preserve Closed
Courtesy/SFNF
STATE News:
The entire Santa Fe National Forest will be closed to public entry effective at 8 a.m. Monday, June 24, 2013
The only exception to the closure is the Rio Chama Scenic River corridor which will remain open to the public, with Stage II fire restrictions. The accessible area along the Rio Chama includes 100-feet from both sides of the river starting at the north end of the river at the Coyote and Cuba Ranger District Boundary downstream to the southeastern boundary near Forest Service Road 151.
“The weather forecast is calling for dry, hot and windy conditions in the coming Read More
LANL: Less is More – Novel Cellulose Structure Requires Fewer Enzymes to Process Biomass to Fuel
An enzyme (shown in blue) pulls out individual cellulose chains (pink) from the pretreated nanofiber surface (green) and then breaks them apart into simple sugars. Photo by Shishir Chundawat/GLBRC Local Fireworks Restrictions To Be Extended 30 Days
Courtesy photo
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Fire Marshal has recommended that the fireworks restrictions continue in Los Alamos County for another 30 days, due to continued extremely dry conditions throughout the County.
The extension of the proclamation that would extend from June 24 through July 25, 2013 will go to County Council at its meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 25 in the new Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave.
NOTE: Nothing in this Proclamation shall prohibit a County-approved display of fireworks (such as the annual Kiwanis extravaganza at Overlook Read More
Today’s Weather May Create Smoke Plumes From Thompson Ridge Fire
Smoke plume from the Thompson Ridge Fire June 8 looking west from Los Alamos toward the Jemez. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com
Thompson Ridge Fire
Acres: 23,903; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed power line; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 90 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 4 crews, 11 engines, 4 water tenders, 2 dozers; Total personnel: 235 and Available air support: 3 helicopters.
Summary: There has been no new perimeter growth in several days. Yesterday helicopter water drops were used throughout Read More
Luján Amendment to Farm Bill to Support Acequias in New Mexico Passes House
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District spoke on the House floor today on an amendment he offered to support Acequia and Community Ditch Associations in New Mexico.
“This amendment does not open up the program to large irrigation districts or government entities, but simply affords local Hispanic farmers in rural New Mexico equal eligibility to compete for funding,” Luján said. “Acequia and Community Ditch Associations, which are comprised solely of private land owners, do not have the Read More
Van Damages Overhang Above LANL’s Community Programs Office
A LANS, LLC van scraped the overhang above the entrance to Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Community Programs Office at 15th Street and Central Avenue this morning. Police were called to the scene to sort out the situation. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com
Two areas on the overhang above the entrance to LANL’s Community Programs Office were damaged this morning at 15th Street and Central Avenue. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com Read More
Help With The Hard Stuff: ‘Smith’s, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods’
HELP WITH THE HARD STUFF:
This column ends the 10-part Help with the Hard Stuff series on things to consider about yourself and about lawyers in finding a lawyer to help you.
Last week’s column emphasized that all forms of legal services, conventional or innovative, are very human, to me meaning that the practical, on-the-ground reality can be very different from the idealized or theoretical model. That’s okay, as long as we know that and don’t believe and trust that the on-the-ground reality matches exactly (or even Read More
