Opinion

Letter To The Editor: An Inquiry Into The Future Of The Office Of Sheriff

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By PATRICK BRENNER
Los Alamos

 

Now that the ugly smear campaign against the Office of Sheriff and our fantastic Sheriff Marco Lucero is over, will the Los Alamos County Council restore the duties to the Office that we elected Sheriff Lucero to perform?

 

A number of duties were assigned to the Office at the time of Sheriff Lucero’s election. The majority of these duties have since been transferred to the Police Department for reasons that the Council hasn’t made clear. Now that we again have an answer to whether Los Alamos wants a Sheriff (and the people responded “yes, Read More

Letter To The Editor: Response To ‘Petition And Rhetoric Misses Mark’

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By TOM FAIRBANKS and ELIZABETH WEST
Los Alamos

Re: Petition And Rhetoric Misses Mark (link)

We take issue with Mr. William’s letter and in particular his statement that the Mesa Meadow Community possessed a “complete lack of understanding” regarding what was being proposed.

Several years ago the exact same project was proposed in Mesa Meadow. The county dismissed the project when we pointed out that the project, as proposed, would be built not on county land but on land owned by Mesa Meadow Pool. During that meeting numerous Western Area residents voiced their opposition to the Read More

Wismer: The Mil Levy IS Important For UNM-LA And For Los Alamos County

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By LISA J. WISMER
Director, Business Operations
UNM-Los Alamos

Many individuals considering the upcoming special school election are asking UNM-LA what happened after the failed mil election in 2013. What financial impacts did the campus sustain and how did it respond? Providing that information may help frame the challenge UNM-LA is facing moving forward as it continues to serve the Los Alamos community.

After the 2013 election, UNM-LA was faced with difficult decisions to determine which programs and services were essential to UNM-LA and which ones could continue to be supported by the Read More

Letter To The Editor: Petition And Rhetoric Misses Mark

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By JOEL M. WILLIAMS
Los Alamos

It absolutely amazes me about what can be presented at a County Council meeting to defeat something. A case in point: the petition and rhetoric of a group at the Dec.  20, 2016, County Council meeting who spoke about the location of additional tennis courts in the area next to the current Los Alamos High School tennis courts (i.e., ‘Mesa Meadow’).

The action by this group of people demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the status of the tennis issue and the location of the new courts that the consultants were presenting to council to be included in the Read More

Letter To The Editor: Supporting Our Schools Is The Right Thing To Do

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By ELLEN BEN-NAIM
Los Alamos

Early next month, you will receive a mail-in ballot for the school bond election. I urge you to join me in supporting our community’s most important asset – our children – by voting YES.

This is one envelope that won’t get buried in the mail pile. We will mail our ballots back on the same day they arrive for several reasons.

First, supporting our students is the right thing to do. My three children have thrived in the Los Alamos Public Schools, and have benefited from the new Los Alamos Middle School and Los Alamos High School wing. I want the same opportunities for future Read More

Letter To The Editor: Please Help Keep UNM-LA’s ‘Engine’ Running … Vote For Mil Levy

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By Dr. LESLIE DENDY
Los Alamos

Los Alamos residents will soon be voting on a 1 mil levy request for UNM-Los Alamos. I’ve been teaching at UNM-LA since 1980 (and before that at its precursor, UNM-Northern Branch College) and I know we need it!

As a parent whose kids went all the way through Los Alamos public schools, I know L.A. voters consider education vital, but there are some things you may not know about UNM-LA in particular. UNM-Albuquerque does NOT support us financially – it’s not even legally possible. We get most of our money from the state, which has been cutting back rather Read More

A Meditation For Women Too Busy For Christmas

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By JODY BENSON
Los Alamos

I’m sick of Christmas,” my friend said. “Every year it’s the same thing. Shopping baking, writing cards, addressing envelopes, more shopping, decorating, entertaining, cooking the Christmas dinner…. The kids and grandkids always come to mom’s or grandma’s house for their Christmases. I have to do everything. It’s not like I’m the only one there—after all, I’m married. But does HE ever help? No. All he does is come home and enjoy the place. He thinks he’s done enough if he has to pull out his credit card.”

“It’s been the same since Christmas began,” I agreed theologically. Read More

Letter To The Editor: Los Alamos Police And Fire Chaplain Gives Thanks

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By An Appreciative Los Alamos Police and Fire Chaplain

Notification went out through fliers and emails, as it has for the past 10 years, that the Annual Police and Firefighter Appreciation Dinner was to take place Dec. 17 at the First United Methodist Church. The menu would include prime rib and/or smoked salmon. The announcement also stated “bring your families and allow us the privilege and blessing of serving you. Retirees are also invited to attend.”

For the past 10 years Susan Nava and her husband Dennis Trumblee and an unbelievable number of volunteers of all ages have organized this incredible Read More

Letter To The Editor: New Idea For Old Smith’s

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By CHET MANLEY
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Letter To The Editor: Let’s Keep Momentum Going … Vote For LAPS Bond And UNM-LA Mill Levy

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By STEVEN GIRRENS
Los Alamos

I was so proud of our community when the 2009 LAPS bond passed. I was equally proud of our community in 2013 when the bond was passed again. Since then, the Middle School renovation projects were finished in October 2013 and Aspen Elementary reconstruction was completed in October 2014. In addition, several safety improvements were made at every school along with significant protective maintenance upgrades.

Forty-year-old Barranca Elementary is next on the list for major renovation. Plans are to replace 60 percent of all classrooms, remove all portable buildings
Read More