Archive for Edgewood
One More Chance…
by John Weckerle
Just one more event remains in Wildlife West Nature Park’s Chuckwagon Supper series for this year. The season finale this Saturday, September 4 will star Holy Water and Whiskey, a regional favorite specializing in “traditional, folk, bluegrass, gospel, western, and some select “whiskey” tunes.” The night’s entertainment includes a free-flight falcon show as well as dinner, and admission to the Park. This is a lot of fun, and a great deal; both shows and the dinner are just $20 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $10 for kids age 5 to 11. Kids under 5 are free! Reservations must be made by 2 p.m. the day of the show. For more information, see Wildlife West’s Chuckwagon Supper page.
Harvest Festival This Weekend At Wildlife West
by John Weckerle
Those looking for a little food and entertainment can find it starting tomorrow at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood. The Park will be holding its annual Harvest Festival celebrating the area’s agricultural heritage. Locally grown products will be available for sample and/or sale, and an opportunity for wine tasting will be provided by Anasazi Fields Winery. Other attractions include blacksmith demonstrations, antique cars and trucks, old iron tractors and machinery, historic ranch equipment, and artists and vendors. Tractor-drawn hayrides around the park will be available. Entertainment will include music by Jimbo, blacksmith demonstrations, and games and stage shows for children. Events include the 5K Pronghorn Run and a 1/4 mile “run” for kids on Sunday morning. The Park will also hold its regular weekly Chuckwagon Dinner, including a free-flight falcon show, on Saturday night.
Edgewood Chamber On The Lam?
by John Weckerle
The local newspapers are abuzz this week with news and commentary on the recent move on the part of the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce to – well, move.
At the heart of the issue are expressions of concern from a number of sources, including NM-Central.com, that the Edgewood Chamber has been perhaps more involved in politics than some might consider appropriate. Much of the current brouhaha seems to revolve around recent concerns associated with a “meet and greet” function for Republican candidates – Jim Smith and Tom Mullins – running for State Representative and Congress, respectively. Some current and past Town officials have expressed reservations regarding these functions, suggesting that the Edgewood Chamber’s actions in this arena, and actually conducting events supporting those candidates in office space provided by the Town, represent a de facto endorsement of the candidates by an organization that is receiving public funding in the form of free office space. One of the candidates counters that the Chamber announced a “meet and greet” event for his opponent. A local Tea Party activist and Chamber booster alleges violations of the Chamber’s First Amendment rights. A person or persons unknown attach a not-too-recently deceased skunk to the Town office with what appears to be 50 tubes of Krazy Glue. Panic ensues.
Only some of this is true (the skunk part and mass hysteria aren’t), but there’s much more to the story(ies)… »» Edgewood Chamber On The Lam?
Music Festival Hits Edgewood
by John Weckerle
For those who may have forgotten, the Wildlife West Music Festival begins tonight with a barn dance and other festivities at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood. Tomorrow’s headliners includes two-time Grammy nominee Claire Lynch, Grammy Winner Pat Donohue, Spring Creek, and Small Potatoes. They will be joined by Hot Club of Santa Fe, Syd Masters and the Swing Riders, Cheap Shots, Atomic Grass, the Martin Family Band, and the Muddy River String Band. This is a wonderful event for the whole family, and tomorrow promises to be a great experience. For more information, see the Wildlife West Music Festivals page.
Public Service Announcement: Father’s Day Car Show
by John Weckerle
Those looking for something to do this weekend might consider the 7th Annual Father’s Day Car Show at Valley View Christian Church just north of NM 344 and Dinkle Road in Edgewood, which will be held from 9 a.m to 3:30 p.m. this Sunday, June 20. For more information, see the Valley View Car Show page or the Gadabout-Blogalot.com announcement.
We’re Back…
by John Weckerle
Our recent hiatus has perhaps been our longest on record. Your editor has been occupied with a maelstrom of activities, most of which has been very positive.
Here’s one thing that might be positive for one of our communities: automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for the Edgewood Police Department, and you can help. Pepsi is having a contest which might bring the life-saving devices to Edgewood. For more information, see the Gadabout-Blogalot.com article. Voting is still open!
Edgewood Considers Budget, But Where’s The Music?
by John Weckerle
Tomorrow night, the Edgewood Town Council will review the proposed budget for FY 2010 to 2011. In some ways, it is hard to understand just exactly what they will be considering. The budget provided on the Town web site is convoluted and relatively uninformative and contains some obvious errors, which leads one to believe that there are probably less obvious errors, as well. The budget, as presented, contains numerous references to budget items that are not defined or explained. Throughout the spreadsheet provided the next fiscal year is identified as “-2012 011.” The document is provided in PDF format only; the original Excel spreadsheet is not provided, which makes it difficult to check the math or troubleshoot the equations used to calculate the figures presented.
We have been hearing word “on the street” of a projected 2% revenue decline. The budget as presented does not support such a decline; according to the “Budgeted Revenues” on the third page, municipal taxes and “general” are each slated to increase 4%, and municipal gas taxes are projected to rise by 2%. Declines in revenue from “SFC Fire Protection” and “Public Safety” are projected at 4% and 8%, respectively. The document incorrectly calculates the drop in “Parks and Recreation” revenues from $42,782 to $13,567 as a 215% decrease; the correct figure is 68%. The pie graph provided above the chart is “Consolidated Revenues” – for which fiscal year, it is anybody’s guess. Expenditure categories do not line up particularly well with revenue categories, making it difficult to reconcile what is going in with what is going out, and the spreadsheet is little help in that regard. »» Edgewood Considers Budget, But Where’s The Music?
If April Showers Bring May Flowers, What Do May Snow Flurries Bring?
by John Weckerle
Snow was heavy today at times, with flakes occasionally nearly an inch across.
Cabin fever.
Well, it’s winter again here at New Mexico Central headquarters – at least for today. It has been a day of on-and-off snow flurries, with the high so far having been about 41 degrees Fahrenheit. There has actually been enough precipitation to create mud, and at the rate things are going, it looks as if even the trees will be getting a drink from this bit of unusual weather. Unfortunately, gardening activities planned for today will be postponed until further notice. »» If April Showers Bring May Flowers, What Do May Snow Flurries Bring?
With Mud Season Just Over, Fire Season Approaches
by John Weckerle
We’ve all seen the stories in the newspapers recently reminding us that fire season is upon us. With high winds and relatively little recent moisture, conditions favorable to wildfire are already upon many of us. We wish to add our voice to the chorus, as it were, and urge all our readers to take adequate precautions, and learn what they can to protect themselves against loss of life and property. Your editor’s firm, WeckTech, provides web services to a number of local/regional organizations that provide information and, in some cases, financial support to efforts such as thinning and defensible space projects that may mean the difference between disaster and avoidance thereof:
- The East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association
- Claunch-Pinto Soil and Water Conservation District
- East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation District
- Edgwood Soil and Water Conservation District
- Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District
We encourage you to contact these organizations and learn about the help and information they can provide.
Public Service Announcment: Wildlife West Invitation to Green Energy Vendors
Editor’s note: The press release below is an invitation to vendors to participate in the annual Wind Festival and Green Energy Fair at Wildlife West Nature Park next month. The invitation would appear to include exhibitors as well as vendors.
Invitation to participate in our free wind festival and green energy fair at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood, NM. Any vendor that has anything to do with green energy or the wind should consider coming to our 9th annual festival on May 1,2 from 10-6 daily. Our e-mail is info@wildlifewest.org if you would like to join us. There is no fee for any vendor qualified by doing any education or having products or services relating to our theme of green energy and or wind gadgets or kites. Please join us for the fun and opportunity to meet and greet our visitors.
Thank you, Roger Alink 263-9453
Public Service Announcement: Edgewood Mobile Pantry and Civitan Clothing Exchange
The Edgewood Mobile Pantry and Civitan Clothing Exchange will be conducting distribution tomorrow, March 25. For more information, see the article at Gadabout-Blogalot.com.
Edgewood And The Chamber Of Not Exactly Secrets
by John Weckerle
We take it as a compliment that our readers are willing to send us information on which to report.
We received a forwarded e-mail today that apparently originated with the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce. The message reads as follows:
There is going to be a workshop titled “Making of America in the History of our Constitution”
The workshop will be on May 1, 2010 from 9:00 Am – 4:30 PM and will be held at Valley View Christian Church in Edgewood, NM
The cost is $15/adults and $12/students – includes workbook, lunch and refreshmentsI have registration forms at the Edgewood Chamber office if you are interested.
We thought it was worth looking into. »» Edgewood And The Chamber Of Not Exactly Secrets
Cap, Trade, and Chambers
by John Weckerle
Last year, as a gesture of friendship and by way of some attempted fence-mending, then-Edgewood Chamber of Commerce president Kelly Krauth put your editor on the Chamber’s e-mail list for announcements and other communications. On February 22, we received an e-mail from Chamber executive Robin Foshee discussing a proposal by New Energy Economy (NEE) to include what appears to amount to a carbon dioxide (CO2) cap-and-trade program in New Mexico’s environmental regulatory structure. The e-mail strongly opposed this move, and listed the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce as being publicly opposed to the regulation. Language in the e-mail seemed fairly clear with respect to an intent to have it forwarded to the greatest extent possible. I responded to the e-mail, asking whether the decision to oppose this proposal was made by the entire membership or just the board of directors, and on what basis the Chamber was opposing the regulatory change.
In response, I got a “corrected” version of the e-mail (this was also sent to me by a concerned Chamber member), which simply changed “Edgewood Chamber of Commerce” to “Edgewood Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.” I sent another e-mail to Ms. Foshee stating the belief that this was essentially a difference that made no difference, given that the Board was invoking the Chamber’s name and using Chamber resources to oppose NEE’s petition. I again posed the question regarding the basis for the Chamber’s opposition. The response was rather unexpected. »» Cap, Trade, and Chambers
Holy Landslide, Batman…2010 Election: Early Edgewood Results
by John Weckerle
We have received some reports on election results for the Town of Edgewood Council elections from former candidate (and, apparently, Councilor-elect) Chuck Ring. According to Mr. Ring, the count stands as follows:
- Chuck Ring – 365 votes
- Rita Loy Simmons – 350 votes
- Glenn Felton – 273 votes
Mr. Ring also reports that votes for the bond issues went as follows:
- Roads: 147 for, and 474 against
- Facilities: 110 for, and 431 against
Issues associated with Wildlife West Nature Park have been part of the debate. We contacted the Park’s founder and current director, Roger Alink, who stated, “We’re delighted. Chuck and Rita have been consistent supporters of the Park in all its endeavors.”
WeckTech Satellite Office Closes
by John Weckerle
After nearly a year and a half, your editor’s company, WeckTech, closed its satellite office on Route 66 in Edgewood yesterday. This had nothing to do with the office, or Edgewood; we simply were not using the space often enough to justify keeping it. Work at other locations was not permitting us to spend much time at the satellite office. It was a very good small office, and well worth the rent.
It’s always tough to close a location like this, even if it makes sense. In a way, we’ll miss having the office even though we were almost never there.