Columns

Denish: Pennies From Heaven

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By DIANE DENISH
Corner To Corner
diane@dianedenish.com

I still pick up a penny when I see it on the ground, the sidewalk, the pavement or even on the stairs in a building. Seems like they catch my eye…and bring a smile to my face. Some people, including yours truly, think of it as a sign. Maybe that someone is thinking of you. Or maybe that it’s your lucky day. Maybe it’s a hello from heaven.

So, I’m a little nostalgic about the demise of the penny. Reports are we are going to cease production of them after the last ones are produced in 2026. I get it. They are expensive to produce. One penny cost 3.6 cents to Read More

Houck: Should I Rent Out My Home or Sell It?

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By DAVID HOUCK
Qualifying Broker
Atomic Realty

Before deciding whether to rent or sell your home, carefully weigh the financial, legal, and personal implications. Consider the following:

Property Management: DIY or Hire?

  1. Self-Management: Managing the property yourself saves on costs but requires time, energy, and reliable local contacts—especially in emergencies (e.g., a furnace breaking while you’re on vacation).
  2. Hiring a Property Manager: Professional management typically costs 10–20% of your gross rent. While this reduces your stress, especially if you live out of the
Read More

Robinson: Who’s Going To Milk Your Cows?

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

When the Dairy Producers of New Mexico meet in Ruidoso this week, the most important topic won’t be on the agenda. The conversations in the hallway and on the golf course will be about labor in a time of ICE raids. After federal agents crippled a Lea County dairy, an industry newsletter warned, “Your operation is next.”

Dairy is one of New Mexico’s success stories. Our 182 dairy farms are nearly all family owned. They have made us 9th in the nation for milk production and 4th for cheese production, according to NMSU. The industry’s direct Read More

Catch Of The Week: Spammy Facebook Pages

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By REBECCA RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos

Facebook can be awful, and one of the more annoying things about it lately is the proliferation of spammy/scammy state-themed groups.

See example image below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Example NM Themed Group

Courtesy image

The below post was in one of these groups last week, and it was just reposting old content from the big snowstorm we had in May. These groups’ admins just grab content from other pages and users and post it in their group. 

Example Post

Courtesy image

What’s the point of these groups? Pretty simple – to make money. Read More

Fr. Glenn: Happy Fathers’ Day

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By Fr. Glenn Jones:

A very happy and joy-filled and blessed Fathers’ Day to all you dads out there! You have that honor and privilege to have sired and, with their mothers, to be entrusted with care and teaching of God’s precious little ones—your children … those little images of God that we all are, but the little ones with the innocence that we adults have often lost but are called by Christ to emulate: “Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…” (Matthew 18:4-5) We are all called to emulate that innocence, Read More

Posts From The Road: Paso Robles – Heart Of Wine Country

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Vineyards: Paso Robles, Calif., is the heart of Paso Robles Wine Country, with more than 250 wineries in the area. Vineyards cover the hillsides, creating a beautiful landscape. Most of the wineries have tasting rooms for visitors to enjoy while at the winery. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Countryside: In addition to the many wineries and vineyards in and around Paso Robles, there are miles of beautiful countryside as well. Shown is an area just west of town showing the rolling hills that dominate the landscape around Paso Robles. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

By GARY WARREN Read More

McQuiston: Buying A Car From A Private Seller? What To Know Before You Drive Off

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By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963

“Because once you take the keys… it’s yours — for better or worse.”

Buying a car from a private seller can be a great way to save money. You might find a deal that’s way better than what the dealerships are offering.

But here’s the thing most people don’t realize:

Once that title is signed and you drive away, whatever happens is on you. And no finance manager is double-checking the paperwork or reminding you about insurance — so you’ve got to be a little more careful.

If you’re buying a car from someone on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace,

Read More

All Shall Be Well: Proclaiming Radical Welcome

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

By Deacon Amy Schmuck
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Los Alamos Ministerial Alliance is an interfaith group of clergy and community leaders with an interest in the health and well-being of our community. We meet once a month to hold discussions or learning opportunities on a variety of topics and make plans for how to respond to the needs of our community members.

During our May gathering, Rabbi Jack Shlachter, who serves Read More

Hampton: The Role Of The County Health Council In Our Community

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By LISA HAMPTON
Chair
Los Alamos County Health Council

As Chair of the Los Alamos County Health Council, I wanted to provide an update about the role of the Health Council and our current activities and objectives moving forward.

The Los Alamos County Health Council is a state-mandated entity, and because of that has specific deliverables that must be met each year. In 2019, the State of New Mexico established 33 health councils and 10 tribal councils (through the passing of HB 137), which have legislative funding appropriated to them each year for carrying out a set of deliverables that includes Read More