Columns

Skolnik: Shame On The Legislature

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By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock

As a lifelong Democrat who has worked on health matters for 40 years, I am appalled by the legislature’s failure (again!) to pass well-known, evidence-based measures to reduce alcohol consumption and increase the health workforce.

The Governor says that improving public safety and reducing interpersonal violence are two of her central concerns. The evidence is clear, however, that she won’t achieve this unless excess alcohol consumption is reduced through increased taxes, among other measures, since alcohol is so strongly associated with interpersonal Read More

Denish: Let’s Talk About The Postal Service Again…

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By DIANE DENISH
Corner To Corner

It looks like we need to talk about the Postal Service again. Eighteen months ago I wrote a column about the U. S. Postal Service recounting some of its history and its challenges.

Here is some of what I wrote:

The post office was founded by the Second Continental Congress in 1775, and Benjamin Franklin was the first postmaster general. Seventeen years later, the Post Office Department was created, and local postmasters began to be appointed, creating jobs in communities. Two major changes to the USPO designation have occurred over time. In 1872 it became a cabinet Read More

Home Country: Dogsled

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Home Country
By SLIM RANDLES

Hey, I was there to help, right? Right there in the kitchenette loaned us by the Roosevelt Hotel in Anchorage. My wife in those days, Pam, ran the headquarters for the Iditarod Dogsled Race, and it was the second year of the race, 1974, and there I sat, a genuine Alaskan long-distance dog musher who had participated in the first race the year before.

So when a nicely dressed elderly gentleman with a thick Boston accent stopped by for coffee and questions about the race … hey, I’m there for you.

He said his name was Norman Vaughan and he had some questions, and we talked for more Read More

Holsapple: Comments And Questions On ‘Retail LEDA’ Agenda Item For Tuesday’s County Council Meeting

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By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Los Alamos Local Business Coalition

  1. It is great to see attention given to this longstanding gap in the County economic development program. Thank you for undertaking this. Although the first cut is quite generic and simplistic, it is a welcome starting point for discussion.
  1. The gap analysis appears to be a canned or purchased analysis. What is the source? It is not attributed in the document unless I missed seeing it. Is there the ability for further drill-downs on the available data to supplement understanding?
  1. Were any local business groups consulted or engaged to help
Read More

Fr. Glenn: Making Our Bones

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By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Please … just leave my old bones alone.

I was watching a BBC Timestamp Youtube video the other day in which they were excavating a medieval church in England, uncovering the skeleton of someone who had a chalice buried with him—apparently a priest. Poor guy; he probably thought he’d be undisturbed until the general resurrection that Christians anticipate. Nope.

It’s odd that while people are incensed if it’s requested that the body of a relative be exhumed, yet we dig up long-dead bodies almost without qualm. Certainly we understand the fascination of how people lived in the Read More

All Shall Be Well: Return To Me

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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

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:12-13 (NIV)

This article marks the third Sunday of the Christian season of Lent, Read More

Home Country: Cowboy Music

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Home Country
By SLIM RANDLES

Boy, I sure do love cowboy music. Now I don’t mean stuff like “Grandma Tied My Up With Her Scarf So I Can’t Go To My Sweetie’s House Tonight.” Nope.

Well, to be completely honest, there is a place for that, too. But to achieve the right mood for that kinda music, you must first 1. Prepare your taste buds with a couple of jiggers of Old Overcoat, 2. Write home and lie about how much money you make. And of course 3. Borrow your buddy’s shooting ear muffs and try them out to see that he wasn’t cheated by buying them.

No, I mean cowboy music. Roy Rogers, Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry, Read More

Houck: Retirement Series Part 2

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By DAVID HOUCK
Qualifying Broker
Atomic Realty LLC

Downsizing – Many older Americans are choosing to go to smaller homes and downsize when retiring. Moving is a stressful experience, at any age, and downsizing for retirement carries unique challenges. Downsizing involves letting go of 60 to 80 percent of the belongings that took a lifetime to accumulate.

Downsizing Advantages

Saving money is one of the primary reasons people downsize their home for retirement. Less expensive housing is a reasonable way to increase budgets and retirement savings.

Some possible financial advantages of downsizing Read More

McQuiston: Apps To Help Keep Your Teen Driver Safe

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By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963

Obtaining a driver’s license is a major rite of passage for millions of young people across the country. Getting a license means freedom, self-reliance and the ability to hit the open road. But with that privilege comes risk and increased responsibility. As a parent, it is important to help your teen stay safe on the road – and new technologies can make it easier than ever.

Where to find safe driving apps?

There are many safe driving apps for teens with a variety of features. You can find apps for iPhone in the App Store and for Android Read More

Catch Of The Week: Facebook Rental Scams, Again!

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By BECKY RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos

Spring showers bring…more Facebook rental scams! I have seen so many scam rental listings on Facebook this week it is ridiculous.

 

 

 

Image of Facebook rental listing

What a deal, right? Seems like a total bargain, but wow that is a crazy low price. Too good to be true? Yep.

Aside from the ridiculously low rental price, what other signs are there that this is too good to be true?

Right off the bat, this is a rental listing, and it’s listed in a group completely unrelated to housing-Los Alamos Trails. The pictures in the listing are very generic, and look Read More