Columns

County Parks & Recreation Board November 2024 Update

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By JAMES WERNICKE
Parks and Recreation Board

At the November Parks and Recreation Board meeting, Chamisa Elementary Art Teacher Andrea Lynch presented skateboard decks painted by students as appreciation for the new White Rock skatepark which completed construction in September, highlighting a successful collaboration between County staff, contractors, and the public.

The board discussed plans for the 2025 work plan, updates and corrections to the Community Services Division website recommended by the Equine & Livestock Working Group, updates on the Open Space Management Plan Read More

Denish: Presidential Pardons Through History Have Been Messy

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By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2024 New Mexico News Services

Note to mainstream media, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and sanctimonious opinion writers, TV pundits and elected officials: SPARE ME THE OUTRAGE ABOUT THE HUNTER BIDEN PARDON. Think about how you would protect your child from continued threatened prosecution or, put another way, how would you give your child a second chance for taking accountability and reversing course in a life that had unraveled?

It’s fair to be disappointed that President Biden changed his mind and decided to do something he said he wouldn’t do. Read More

Weekly Fishing Report: Dec. 9, 2024 

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By GEORGE MORSE 
Sports and Outdoors 
Los Alamos Daily Post 

It appears that the weather has, as expected, entered into a La Niña  pattern. Storms coming in from the Pacific Ocean tend to stay to the North of New Mexico. We miss out on much of the moisture. We end up getting wind and cold air. 

The Fishing Report will be shorter from now until springtime because many of the streams and lakes are now inaccessible due to winter weather conditions. 

Anglers who would still like to fish open water for trout and other species should consider a trip to Southern New Mexico 

Most of the small lakes and reservoirs Read More

Dannemann: We May Improve Access To Health Care, Or Not

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By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2024 New Mexico News Services

To review the obvious: Most of us could not afford the financial cost of serious illness or injury.

We never know who’s going to be the unlucky one to become ill or injured. Health insurance was developed to share the risk. When private health insurance was not enough, government joined in with Medicare and Medicaid. One principle underlying these policies is that when more of us have access to healthcare, we are all better off.

I find that principle persuasive. When more people have healthcare, fewer people spread infectious Read More

Fr. Glenn: … A Time To Weep, And A Time To Laugh …

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By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Several years ago saw the tragic spectacle of one of the iconic cathedrals in the world and symbol of medieval France—the magnificent Notre Dame in Paris—wholly aflame … its soaring spire engulfed and toppling into the inferno as if the Satan himself had opened his contemptible maw to consume this gem of beauty … this jewel of Christianity. Truly a time to weep.

But this weekend saw world leaders in collective thanksgiving as they attended the re-opening ceremonies after years of intensive renovation … on the eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Read More

All Shall Be Well: Prepare The Way Of The Lord

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Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry and Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div.
ELCA

On the second Sunday of Advent our churches read in the Gospel of Luke (ch. 3) about the one sent to announce the coming of the Lord. In this passage, John the Baptist enters the scene, clothed in camel skins, a man living rough who knows something we do not: the Lord is coming, and we need to get ready.

What does it mean for 21st century people of faith to “get ready for Read More

Denish: Post-Election Rumination Finds Silver Linings

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By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2024 New Mexico News Services

Now that the election is over I see some silver linings, and have some observations a bit outside of the daily drumming of announcements and alarm bells. I recognize readers may disagree or have a different point of view.

Silver lining: From the moment he is sworn in Trump is a lame duck. The term “lame duck” means not being able to keep up with the rest of the flock and becoming subject to predators. The term “lame duck” in politics means someone who is an outgoing officeholder. That is Trump. He has four years to do good for the country or damage Read More

Catch Of The Week: Facebook Sales Group Scams

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By REBECCA RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos
For the Los Alamos Daily Post

You can get some great bargains on Facebook Groups, Los Alamos and Santa Fe have some great online “yard sale” groups.

But you have to be careful or you could get scammed! If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

 

 

I was checking out a Santa Fe yard sale group when I saw this post:

Image of scam post in Santa Fe yard sale group. Courtesy image

All that stuff for free?? And a link to a group where you can get updates?? SIGN ME UP!!! Kidding … yeah no thanks. Nobody in their right mind would give away that stuff for free. Also Read More

Robinson: Higher Ed And ‘Playtime For Adults’

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By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services 

I’m going to tell you a story about entitlement, misuse of public money, poor judgment, and fuzzy ethics. The only reason we know about it is because one journalist, doing his job, brought it to the public eye. Other media outlets followed suit and the State Auditor investigated. It’s now before the state Ethics Commission.

A year ago Joshua Bowling at the online Searchlight New Mexico broke this story: Since 2018, Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard had spent nearly $100,000 on travel to Zambia, Spain and Greece Read More

Liddie’s Traditional New Mexico Dishes: Prune Pastelitos

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Prune pastelito. Photo by Liddie Martinez

By LIDDIE MARTINEZ
Española Valley

Grandma always made prune pastelitos when she was expecting company. These flaky, prune pie squares paired perfectly with a steaming hot cup of coffee and the casual conversation she had with cousins, neighbors, or her sister, my Tia Fela, every time she came to visit. How I loved for my Tia Fela to visit! She lived in El Rito so, when she came over, it was for a week at a time, and it took about that length of time for the two sisters to catch up on all the gossip happening in both communities. My sister and I would quietly creep Read More