Opinion

An Open Book: Thanksgiving Day

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By DAVID IZRAELEVITZ
Los Alamos

“The only time we close is for Thanksgiving.”

Many years ago, while traveling through a city I have long forgotten, I stopped for dinner at a Chinese restaurant where I overheard the owner chatting with a departing couple. “You’re not closed for New Year’s?” the man persisted. The owner’s heavy accent seemed to thicken with his emphasis. “We only close for Thanksgiving. It’s the only day.” 

This time of year always brings back memories of that brief exchange. I never found out why Thanksgiving Day was the only special day for this family. Maybe the reason is as ordinary Read More

Robinson: Project 2025 & The New Look Of Disaster Recovery

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

In Roswell’s newly opened FEMA office, people who lost homes and vehicles in October flooding and people who are still trying to get the mold and muck out of their living quarters hope the government will help them get back on their feet.

In Ruidoso FEMA ensnared flood and fire victims with red tape. And Northern New Mexico’s fire and flood victims are still waiting for payments.

The nation’s disaster relief agency has its problems, but if you’ve just lost everything, FEMA is your only hope. Now FEMA and the whole mission of disaster recovery Read More

Saenz: Fiber Optics And Transparency – A Need For Los Alamos (Part 2)

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By ALLAN SAENZ
Owner
SALA Event Center and LANet

In Part 1 of my letter, I addressed the sudden proposal for the County to spend nearly $10 million on properties on Diamond Drive without adequate public input or transparency. Today, in Part 2, I focus on another significant item on the County Council’s agenda: the Community Broadband Project.

Unlike the unexpected property purchase, the Community Broadband Project has been in development for over 20 years, with substantial public support. As someone deeply invested in the future of connectivity in Los Alamos, I have actively supported Read More

Holsapple: Council Agenda Item Regarding Broadband

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By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Los Alamos

I wrote the Council today (Saturday) to express my objection to the recommended approval of the project (Broadband) without adequate public input and engagement.

The proposed project involves undertaking $35 million in public debt and entering into a business arrangement that will affect the daily lives of businesses and households for decades to come. A Friday afternoon partial document dump with a recommendation for a rubber stamp decision four days later may meet “the letter of the law” but is inappropriate if the County seeks to be perceived as transparent Read More

Cinema Cindy Reviews Two Films For Grown Ups

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By CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMB
Los Alamos

“Small Things Like These” brings Cillian Murphy (2023’s Oppenheimer) into deeply emotional territory, his face exposing the internal thoughts of Bill Furlong. Bill is a father of five daughters, all living in 1985’s Wexford County, Ireland. Bill’s wife Eileen (played by Irish film and television actress Eileen Walsh) notices that her man-of-few-words is going through something deeply troubling; thanks to her we learn more about his worries.

Bill runs his own coal and propane delivery service. He has a few guys working for him; occasionally one of them will Read More

Letter To The Editor: Can Something Be Done About Too Many Deer?

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By PAM PRICHARD
Los Alamos

Has anyone noticed that we have too many deer in this town? People enjoy seeing them, but they are destructive to shrubs and flowers, and are a hazard both to drivers and to themselves.

A poor injured doe was recently seen trying to cross a street with two broken front legs. An abundance of fawns this summer means things will be even worse next year.

Can something be done about the overpopulation, for the sake of the deer, our streets and our landscaping? Read More

Robinson: Post Election We Still Have To Live With Each Other

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

Not long ago, I drove to Colorado and Wyoming to visit family members I hadn’t seen in a few years. It was mostly a social visit, although I’ve been working on the family history and genealogy and wanted to gather more information.

I figured politics might come up. We may share genes, but we don’t share political beliefs. Still, I was curious about what they were thinking and why.

My cousins and I are pretty different people. I was the first on both sides to go to college. Some cousins are high school dropouts, and others graduated from high Read More

Review: Los Alamos Little Theatre Gets Fashionable And Fantastic In ‘Love, Loss And What I Wore’

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The cast of LALT’s ‘Love, Loss and What I Wore’, which continues through Nov. 16, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. Photo by Thomas Graves

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Watching Los Alamos Little Theatre’s most recent production felt as intimate and cozy as having a girls’ night out.

In a way, it was a girls’ night out. The entire cast is women, sitting on stools and swapping stories about their families, triumphs, tragedies, relationships and clothes. That is the entire synopsis for “Love, Loss Read More

Op-Ed: Education And Enforcement, Not Bag Ban Will Address Litter Problem

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By Española City Councilor Sam LeDoux
and
Rio Grande Foundation President Paul Gessing

The City of Española, at the behest of Mayor John Ramon Vigil, will soon consider adopting a ban on plastic bags like those used at grocery stores. While proponents of such bans typically support them on environmental grounds (cut down on plastic waste etc.) the Mayor seems to believe that banning plastic grocery bags will have a positive impact on the City’s litter problems.

According to the website Plastics Paradox, “A compilation of all of the statistically-based, scientific studies of litter in the U.S. Read More

Chief Justice Thomson: Make An Informed Decision About Judges On The Ballot

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By DAVID K. THOMSON
Chief Justice
New Mexico Supreme Court

Assessing how state court judges perform on the job is difficult, particularly for New Mexico voters in today’s divisive political environment. But information from the state’s Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC) can assist New Mexicans in deciding whether to vote “yes” or “no” to retain judges and justices on the general election ballot.

JPEC was established to specifically help voters carry out their role in ensuring competent, professional judges in New Mexico. The commission’s evaluations also provide feedback Read More