Archive for Uncategorized
Updates on the NM-Central Family
By John Weckerle
On October 4, senior correspondent Lucy passed away after a long illness. She had COVID in June of 2022, and was diagnosed three months later with pulmonary fibrosis, which has a known link to COVID in some cases. After being hospitalized 8 times in 3 months, she improved and lived courageously until August of 2023. She was immune-compromised due to medication, and contracted a severe infection. She improved again, but was struck by another infection, which took her life. Your editor will never be the same.
Senior Pretty-Much-Everything Correspondent Wilson remains on the job at nearly fifteen years old. He goes hiking regularly and runs flat-out a quarter mile or so several times a week. Other than a complete loss of hearing, he seems to be doing well.
With a little time on his hands and a whole lot of silliness in the world, your editor may be jumping in to try and shed a little light on this and that. Let’s see how it goes…
Alas, BJ’s – I Knew You, But I Don’t (and Won’t) Any More
by John Weckerle
The denizens of New Mexico Central have had some trying times of late, with one of our denizens experiencing some very serious medical issues. This has resulted to many hospital stays for one of us. During much of this, the others had a few “go-tos” in terms of dinner on the way home from the hospital, and one of them was the BJ’s restaurant at Winrock Center.
We had the very good fortune of no hospital stays for several months, but then one was necessary. We returned to BJ’s with some visiting relatives, as it turns out for the last time.
BJ’s has always had a multi-page, diverse menu with some great choices. Their vegetarian soups, appetizers, bowls, and especially the avocado egg roll alongside their meat and seafood options provided a variety that ensured everyone at the table would have a choice that would suit them. Unfortunately, those days are gone.
When we arrived, we were presented with the dreaded 11 x 17, laminated and folded-in-half menu that has become all too familiar. Gone are the vegetarian soups except for broccoli and cheese. Gone is the only non-meat flatbread, the Margarita Flatbread. Only one bowl remains. The avocado egg rolls are listed, but they were out of them. When I commented to the server that it was rather early to be out of them, he told me something interesting: as he related it, BJ’s only makes the egg rolls every two hours – and if they run out, they wait until the two hours are over and anyone who wants them before then is out of luck (great way to run a kitchen…). The server, who was not thrilled that a couple of his favorite items had been axed, ventured a guess that they had focused on the items that provided the greatest financial return. In all, the menu has been reduced to essentially pub grub.
We were tired and hungry, so we ordered. Two of us ordered the shrimp scampi at $22.45 – decent and plentiful, but the same item at Mario’s Pizzaria and Ristorante is a better value at $19.45, which includes soup or a salad (those are extra at BJ’s). I ordered a California Club Flatbread without bacon for the table, missing the fact that it has chicken on it. It’s listed as such on the menu, and the server assumed I was just avoiding bacon and not meat altogether – a little odd given our conversation about the missing vegetarian options, but in the end I take the blame. BJ’s let me have the blame, and I spent nearly $15 on an appetizer I couldn’t eat. I will say that the flatbread was not nearly as generously topped as that shown on the menu. A good portion of it went uneaten, even with four meat-eaters at the table. The Big Twist Pretzel was essentially flavorless, and most of it ended up in the trash.
Now, there will be those who will defend BJ’s and other restaurants on the grounds of supply chain issues, profitability, the purpose of simplifying the menu to make it easier to produce food, etc. To those people, and the restaurants themselves, I say this: I don’t care. Not one bit. I do not go out to a restaurant for the owners’ benefit. I go out to a restaurant to have an enjoyable experience. These vastly trimmed-down menus that have become all the rage do not, in general provide that experience, and I have voted with my feet many times in the past. When the now-defunct Standard Diner did so, removing several favorites, the denizens of New Mexico Central stopped eating there. When The Range and the Greenside Cafe in Cedar Crest followed this path, our visits went from weekly or biweekly to a very few times a year. When St. Clair Bistro (now D.H. Lescombes) removed key items from the menu, we removed it from our list of regularly visited restaurants. All the restaurants that were housed at the former location of Pete’s on Route 14 North (except for Pete’s itself) lost our business for the same or similar reasons (we haven’t tried Lantern Ridge yet). We’ve picked other, mostly locally owned substitutes (O’Neill’s, Flying Star, and Mario’s among others) who provide the food and service we value – and if they stop doing so, we’ll go searching for replacements again, regardless of how much we like the owners and the people who work there.
Loyalty is a two way street – when restaurant owners put their interests above those of their patrons, their patrons will respond in kind. We regret the loss of a favorite eatery, even as it continues to operate, but when we’re spending money for a dining experience, it needs to be money well spent, and the BJ’s experience no longer meets that criterion.
When We Take One, Maybe We Should Give One
By John Weckerle
There are things in life that are inevitable, or perhaps inexhorable. Time will pass. All things must pass. And some things, if we are fortunate enough to be healthy, must pass more or less on a daily basis. From time to time, each of us must adjourn to what is, for most of us, one of the smallest rooms in the home, assume a posture similar to that seen in Auguste Rodin’s most well-recognized sculptures and, er… “think.”
Now, we may engage in a variety of mental activities in this pose. Daydreaming is likely a favorite for many. Reading comes to mind, though in the modern age we may turn to devices that also allow us to play games, send text messages, or even talk on the phone. But when the deed is done, so to speak, is the time for thinking over? We here at New Mexico Central say not, because there is one last action to be taken before returning to full verticality – and thence the world at large. This last act involves a critical material, and as it turns out this material may well affect the world more than any idea we likely had while in the pose…
We are talking, of course, about toilet paper.
Each year (the most recent publication is from September 2022), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) issues a report on the sustainability of certain paper products based on their benefits or detriments to the environment. This includes their Issue with Tissue Scorecard, which evaluates a variety of factors (where the material is sourced, whether it uses a bleaching process, etc.). We were extraordinarily disappointed to find that one of our longstanding “weapons of choice,” the Kirkland brand sold by Costco (and some of their other listed household tissue/paper towel products), received a grade of F. Costco often crows about its offering of sustainable products, so it was a bit of a shocker to find that some of their own in-house, home-use paper products may be, at least in the NRDC’s view, one of the worst investments one can make in the health of the planet.
We decided to do a little research to look for alternatives. We’ve begun with the product euphemistically referred to as “bath tissue” (right – try involving that with anything to do with a bath and see where it gets you). Given that cost is a tissue issue for most people, we chose to test the fully recycled 365 by Whole Foods Market brand, which was more or less comparably priced to the Kirkland brand on Amazon. Our initial findings are that the product is comfortable, is not prone to shredding, separates consistently at the perforations, and overall performs very well in its intended function. So, at the end of the – well, you know – we find that there is at least one viable alternative to F-rated products in the toilet paper genre. If our readers find others, we encourage them to comment here and let us all know.
Finding comparably priced facial tissue is a bit more of a challenge, and we’re working on that. Because the denizens of New Mexico Central headquarters don’t use paper towels to the same extent of the other products, we’ll be researching those last. While still fully functional, Senior Environmental Correspondent Wilson doesn’t use any of them and has not thus far contributed to the assessment, but we’ll relay his opinion if he expresses one. We’ll report back as we learn more!
Happy Easter to (Most of) You!
Editor’s note: A very small percentage of the population will likely find this post offensive.
by John Weckerle
Tomorrow, the denizens of New Mexico Central will be celebrating Easter in the same way we (and most of the nation) do pretty much everything these days – just us, at home. Normally we’d be visiting friends for dinner, or something along that line. We’ll be giving that up, as we have many other things, along with the good people of this nation who care enough about their fellow humans to stay away from them until this pandemic crisis can be managed. To all of you who are doing this: you have our thanks and our wishes for health, happiness, and a whole lot of satisfaction with the hobbies you’re either discovering or rediscovering.
There’s an old saying, however: there’s one in every crowd – and when you apply that to 300-plus million people, that can add up to quite a few. Tomorrow, tens of thousands – if not hundreds of thousand or millions – of covidiots (we thought we had coined this term, but apparently that is not the case) will defy science and the advice of essentially every credible medical professional on the planet and attend mass gatherings – despite the fact that it’s already been shown that such gatherings have resulted in illness and death (here, here, here, and here, for a very few among many examples).
In nearly every interview we’ve read, those engaging in this practice have said more or less the same things, referring to “my religious practice,” “my religious freedom,” “my beliefs,“ “my rights,” and similar sentiments. To quote the Beatles: I, Me, Mine. We find it unfortunate that some people who profess to love their neighbor are willing to endanger their neighbors’ health and lives because they are so selfish and self-centered that they are unwilling to miss one – that’s right, ONE – Easter Sunday service to protect their fellow citizens. And the gigantic irony in all this is that the people who struggle to save these attendees’ lives when they get sick, some of whom will die as a result, will be people who had the sense to stay at home as much as possible and do what they could to serve the community and protect it from harm.
For the most part, however, religious people of all faiths have been responsible and responsive to this crisis, and we are giving a hearty “shout out” to those many, many people who have been innovative, understanding, and willing to make sacrifices in a very important part of their lives to protect all of us. Thank you very much for being the kind, intelligent, and compassionate people you are. We salute you, and wish you the best and, as always, a wonderful holiday. Stay well, stay safe, stay home as much as you can, and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible when we can.
Editor’s other note: New Mexico Central acknowledges that regardless of the current situation, even those behaving responsibly may have to drive tonight or early tomorrow morning. To those who must do so: please keep a watchful eye for rabbits. One of them may be a bit distracted and not watching the traffic.
Grow Your Own: Time to Get (Seeds) Started!
by John Weckerle
As we all hunker down and practice a little social distancing, most people are probably looking for things to occupy the time we used to occupy with things like dining out, going to school, driving to work (at least those of us who are able to telework), and gathering with friends. Here at New Mexico Central headquarters, we are finding the time for things like home improvement/maintenance, art projects, cooking, and – of course – gardening.
That’s right, gardening – because even if the weather isn’t quite right yet for tilling the soil, there are things that must be done early anyway, and that includes getting seeds started for eventual planting in beds and containers.
Our seed starting setup involves a wire rack and lights. These are LED shop lights purchased at Costco. The lights on the lower rack are standard fluorescent lights. Both seem to work very well for starting seeds.
This year we are focusing heavily on heirloom varieties. We’ll begin with the tomatoes:
- Brandywine (red/yellow blend) – These tend to be large, up to 2 pounds. In prior years, we’ve had them reach 1 1/2 pounds. They are an extremely tasty tomato good for a lot of uses.
- Moneymaker – Medium-sized, sweet, meaty fruits.
- Ace 55 – A bush type, 1950s heirloom and our only determinate variety this year. (“Determinate” means that the plant produces all its fruit in a short period, rather than throughout the season). Typically coming in at 6 to 8 ounces, they are a favorite for canning.
- Gardener’s Delight – A sweet, 1950s German heirloom cherry tomato.
- Principe Borghese – A small, plum tomato, popular in Italy, often used for drying or roasting or in sauces.
Of course, we’re not just doing tomatoes! We’re also starting poblano chiles; California Wonder bell peppers; Early Prolific Straightneck summer squash; and Cocozelle (aka Cocozella di Napoli), a zucchini-like, striped, 1800s Italian heirloom. In-ground, outdoor started crops will include All American parsnip; Sugar Magnolia snap peas (purple); and Carnival Blend carrots (orange, red, purple, white, and yellow). We also have orders in for other goodies:
- Delicata squash (Delicata is a winter squash that has a thin skin that can remain on the fruit when cooked and eaten).
- Redbor Kale (a personal favorite)
- Nero Toscana kale – a “dinosaur” type kale, often used for
- Millenium asparagus – cold-hardy and high-yield, this tolerates soils many asparagus varieties can’t. This is our first experiment with asparagus!
We’ve had so much success growing kale and chard in containers year-round indoors that we may elect to continue that practice to make room for all the other vegetables.
With schools closed, kids at home, and a lot of “together time” available, vegetable gardening is something that provides an opportunity to have fun, see something other than the inside of the house, learn some science (soil chemistry, biology, etc.), and enjoy the benefit of fresh produce. Happy growing, everyone!
On Electricity and Communications
By John Weckerle
We join you after a bit of a hiatus (nearly four months) from New Mexico Central Headquarters, which has now been without electricity for something on the order of 29 hours, give or take a few. This has been one of the longest outages in recent memory – we recall one some years ago that made it to about 30 hours – and it is beginning to take its toll on some of the frozen food, at least; there’s only so much ice can do.
We write, though, not so much to lament the loss of foodstuffs as to express deep concern as to how the communications have been handled by our friends at the New Mexico Central Electric Cooperative (NMCEC). We’re seeing a pattern here with respect to getting information out during outages, and we respectfully suggest that there is room for improvement.
Consider this: Several hours after the outage began on Friday, a call to CNMEC led to a recording that 13 transmission-line poles had been blown down by a weather event, and that restoration of power was anticipated sometime Saturday. Another call on Saturday morning brought us to a message that the damage had now reached 18 poles, and that no estimate for restoration was available. And shortly after that, any meaningful channel for obtaining information on the situation simply went dark. We attempted all options on the CNMEC phone system. All went unanswered – even the dispatch line that includes reporting emergencies. That’s right – CNMEC had essentially shut itself off from the world, and had another part of the grid experienced a problem (perhaps in Torrance County, which was essentially unaffected by the situation according to the cooperative’s website), there was no way CNMEC could have received the report.
It was not until 6:40 p.m. Saturday that the following message appeared on the CNMEC site:
We had reports of a Funnel Cloud that hit in the area and with it a roof of a building and it tore down 16 transmission poles. These are 80 feet tall transmission poles with distribution line built under.
Along with the mud and all the debris, it can cause a small army to descend down on the scene to clean up and then put back up the power line.
We apologize for the extended time with out power but our men and women are working tirelessly and some with out time off to get the lights back on.
Estimated time of power to come back in is the evening.
We suggest that this is rather too little information, too late, and as we are now well past “the evening” for most purposes we are beginning to wonder just which evening to which the cooperative was referring. We digress, however, because the main issue here is that CNMEC is missing – and has been missing for some time – the boat in terms of communicating with its members during extended outages.
First, regardless of call-in volume, there should always be some way to report additional outages and emergency conditions. The idea that there is simply nobody picking up the phone – we let it ring several times for five to ten minutes – is entirely unacceptable. There are any number of emergencies that can arise from electrical power or the lack thereof, and the fact that the cooperative was unreachable during this outage is of serious concern.
Second, members should always be able to get reasonably up-to-date information on extended outages so that they may prepare to deal with them. We understand that, while websites based on older technologies may be difficult to update “on the fly,” there are options that allow this – for example, WordPress-based sites (essentially free) or establishing a Facebook page (absolutely free) linked from the CNMEC website that would allow more-or-less real-time updates on outages that members could easily access from cell phones, tablets, etc. even while without power.
We strongly recommend that CNMEC develop a strategy for bringing its communications with its members during outages into the twenty-first century, and do it quickly. It seems absurd that an organization that seeks to sell Internet services to its members would delay in doing otherwise.
Treating Deck Rails
by John Weckerle
As the days grow shorter and things cool off – it’s time to start thinking about winterizing. After all, there are only fifteen Fridays left before Christmas (and we’re sure we made your day by pointing that out). After a couple of hours of vigorous weed-whacking (more on that in a later article) yesterday, we elected to treat the deck rails in preparation for the cold weather. Having done so, we thought we would share the recipe for the stain/sealer we used, given to us by Patrick Neis of Ironwood Construction. It’s easy to make: simply mix 1 quart of mineral spirits, 1 quart of boiled linseed oil (Patrick notes that it’s important that it’s boiled linseed oil, otherwise the preparation will not dry and will remain tacky), and 1/4 cup of transmission fluid (which Patrick says deters boring insects in addition to adding a little color). We used this in Spring this year, and it held out very well over the summer. On fine-sanded redwood, it brought out the red tints in the wood very nicely without the red being overpowering and without over-darkening the wood. On some unsanded, rougher posts, we’ve found that it did darken and redden the wood more noticeably, although the effect is quite pleasant. On very thirsty, grayed-out wood, the reddening is not particularly noticeable.
We’re Back…
by John Weckerle
…Literally and figuratively.
Beginning in late July, but concentrated in the last week or so of August, the New Mexico Central site was subjected to a denial-of-service attack which ended up taking the site down for a few days. As we dealt with the incident, which affected several other web sites hosted by our sponsor, we received another ugly little surprise that will go without detailed mention but, when combined with the attack, has given us reason to think that we have perhaps been focused away from local and regional events for longer than we ever intended – and longer perhaps than is best.
Our readers – and we do have data that suggests there are still some – will note that there’s been a format change. There will be more of them; we’re experimenting with various new looks for the site. As time goes on, we’d like to hear from you on what seems to work best – or worse, as the case may be.
We’ve made some adjustments to our categories, blog links, and web links as well:
- Sadly, the blog link for Mountainair Arts has been removed. Vanessa has relocated and is no longer maintaining the blog. We wish her the best in her new location in Yuma, Colorado.
- We’ve updated the title of Katie Guttierrez’s “Rocking Rabat” blog – she returned from Morocco but has continued her adventures since.
- Along with the 2010 and 2012 Elections categories, which were just too dated to survive, we have elected to suspend, at least for now, the “Chambergate” category (the articles are still there, but the categories are not). Local Chambers, at least the ones that still exist, have managed to avoid major public controversy for a few years now, and the current Edgewood Chamber executive director is known to us to be both trustworthy and very competent. We hear little of the East Mountain Chamber, and as nearly as we can tell (and find on the Internet) the Moriarty Chamber remains a memory. We’ll be watching, though…
- Similarly, we have removed the link to the Estancia Valley Economic Development Association (EVEDA), reflecting your editor’s decision to sever ties with EVEDA and terminate his company’s membership in the organization. We remain interested in economic issues within the region and look forward to bringing economic information and analysis forward.
- We’ve added links to the sites of several natural resources-oriented organizations with whom we’ve had the privilege to work over the years and continue to support today through other venues. These include the Estancia Basin Resource Association, the Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee, the Claunch-Pinto Soil and Water Conservation District, and the East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation District. Collectively, the people running these organizations, including Board members, volunteers, and staff, are the principal – and tireless – defenders of central New Mexico’s water resources. We encourage EVERYBODY, regardless of location, to contact their local District offices and learn about the programs – tree thinning, land management, rain harvesting, and more – that are available. Many districts offer cost-share programs that can help keep your ecosystem healthy, protected against wildfire, and productive.
- Our support for Wildlife West Nature Park remains undimmed, and we’ve added a suggestion to the Park’s link; supporters can have a percentage of their Amazon.com purchase prices donated to the New Mexico Wildlife Association, the nonprofit entity that manages the Park.
Annual Permaculture & Rainwater Harvesting Gathering – Saturday, October 4, 2014
Editor’s note: As Autumn approaches and we delight in an unusual bounty of rainfall, let us not forget that it is unusual, and there are strategies that can bring us great benefit during normal times. This is an excellent event and we encourage everyone to attend, learn, socialize, and enjoy one of the tastiest and most interesting potlucks of the year!
by Christian Meuli
Saturday, October 4, 2014
12:00 PM Site Tour Visiting culverts, raintanks, and woodchip berms this year
2:00 PM Potluck Great food every year!
3:00 PM Climate Scenarios Dr. Dave DuBois, New Mexico State Climatologist
4:00 PM One Minute Announcements
4:05 PM The Peregrine Falcon Tom Smiley
Dr. Dave DuBois is the New Mexico State Climatologist. His interests include applying tree ring dating to large climate cycles. Rather than “forecasting” what the climate will do in our future, he is trying to anticipate various climate scenarios and how they might play out in real time.
Tom Smylie shares with us for the third time his lifelong learning of raptors. He is the retired Assistant Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He played an integral role in the peregrine falcon’s recovery from near extinction in North America and continues to be actively involved with the Peregrine Fund.
This free gathering will include a site tour and discussion of culverts, raintanks, and woodchip berms. Please bring friends and children, your favorite dish to share and your finest sunhat. Please car pool and leave pets at home.
Take I-40 to exit #187 (25 miles east of Albuquerque and 8 miles west of Moriarty). At the end of the off-ramp, go south two blocks to the stoplight at the intersection with H #333 (Smith’s Grocery will be on your left). Go straight up the hill on Edgewood Road #7 and turn right in ½ mile onto Moriarty Road (now paved). Go ¼ mile to #24 and turn right into my driveway or go straight ahead down the hill and park on your left.
I look forward to seeing everyone and meeting new friends! If you need a map or a timely update, please e-mail me or call me at (505) 331-0245.
Christian Meuli
Grow Your Own: Rise, Fall, and Impending Rebirth of the Cover; Bat Guano Experiments, and More
by John Weckerle
Our sinister plot (lame pun intended) to lengthen the growing season ran into a bit of a snag on its first round. Not a snag in the sense that the wind, which began rising during the effort, did something horrible to the plastic, but a snag of the basic light-transmission variety. Our original plan was to test the waters by using standard, home improvement store grade plastic, with which we had had some success overwintering kale on a small scale. However, about halfway into the effort, Senior Common Sense Editor Lucy noted that the plastic was casting about as much shadow as she was. After a brief discussion, Senior Materials Science Correspondent Wilson advised that a higher-transmission plastic, perhaps something in the 92% range with infrared retention properties, a 4-year ultraviolet warranty, and anti-condensate features would be more effective. The wind voiced its agreement, and we removed the offending product and stowed it for more productive uses (small scale overwintering, wrapping beetle-infested tree trunks, and so on). From there, we proceeded indoors to order the new plastic from Farmtek – a deluxe, 28 x 40 piece of greenhouse sheeting that should provide us with full cover for Bed 5 and some extra material for smaller covers. We also ordered some snap clamps from Amazon, and we regret to inform that we apparently got the last ones eligible for Prime shipping. Amazon still has them and Farmtek also carries similar products. We got a feel for these during the prior experiment; they’re easier to put on than to take off, but seem as if they’ll do the trick just fine. Let’s hope for less-than-hurricane strength surface winds Saturday or Sunday.
As our readers well know, we start getting antsy after the first of the year, and we do still have the indoor seed starting setup. We’ve put this to good use in testing seed to see if it is still viable, and so far everything but the chives has come up (although the kale’s not doing well). The gold star goes to the lone string bean (Blue Lake, a bush variety), which has yielded its first nibble to the testing authorities and been found far from wanting. Hats off to the old Martian Giant tomato seeds; we had little hope that these would come up, but having put four seeds into the pot, we ended up murdering three plants so that the fourth would survive. Similar results were seen with the two Mortgage Lifter pots, and here is where the aerobatic mammal droppings come into play.
The two Mortgage Lifter pots were planted one week apart, with the later planting supplemented by Happy Frog bat quano fertilizer, a purported source of phosphorus. We have long suspected that our small (but tasty and plentiful) tomatoes have been, in part, an issue of less-than-optimal phosphorus availability. At this time, the two plants are of equal height, with the earlier-planted one having open flowers and the latter-planted one having plenty of flower buds. These will be grown in pots; one will continue to have phosphorus added at subsequent repottings and the other will not. Other than the week’s difference in planting date, we’ll treat them the same, and see if there is a difference in fruit size down the line.
For the garden, we’ll be working some phosphorus into the soil for the tomatoes, and probably the other nightshades (peppers, eggplants, etc.). Also, the composter continues to house a substantial community of earthworms, and some of those will eventually find their way into the garden as well. We’re also considering a shading strategy for the hotter parts of the summer, as this may also have contributed to last year’s fruiting sizes; we got some wonderfully large Pink Brandywines before the heat waves last year, and some wonderfully tasty but much smaller ones afterward, notwithstanding adjustments to the watering schedule to accommodate the higher temperatures.
Bed 4 has been decommissioned, with the intent of providing hummingbird, bee, and butterfly forage as well as forage for the “beneficial predator” insects we’d like to see around the grounds in general. Our attempts to breed a ladybug big enough to carry marauding deer and squirrels safely outside the fenced area have thus far been unproductive. Having now realized that tarragon is more aggressive than we might have liked, we expect that Bed 6 will likely undergo a facelift and re-planning this Spring. As for Beds 1-3, if time permits we’ll get them back into the mix this year. We’re thinking of asparagus for one of them, and the prospect of oddly colored potatoes continues to intrigue us.
2013 EXTREME Fire Danger Note to Public 6.6.2013
by Arlene Perea and Karen Takai, Fire Information Officers, Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts
Attention Fire Information List,
As most of you know by now, the Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts are going into closures this Monday, June 10, 2013. As we ratchet up safety issues please be extra cautious with prevention around your home. Have a plan and be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
This is a different climate we are in now. We know the Sandia area has never seen catastrophic fires in the last 100 years but the landscape has changed and we need to change with it. The Manzano and Gallinas Mountains have seen their fair share of catastrophic fire in the last 10 years. Even our firefighters over the last 10 years have had to adjust how they fight fire. It’s a different world. Be Ready and Have a plan!
FYI – The Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts currently have additional resources being staged on the districts to assist with prevention and fire suppression. Current resources based upon Wednesdays schedule includes 9 engines, 1 hotshot crew, 3 lookouts in the lookout towers, 2 Fire Information Officers and 1 Prevention Officer. We are staffed early and late hours, 7 days a week until we are out of the extreme fire danger. Our interagency partners City of Albuquerque, NM State, Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Valencia and Torrance County Fire could also assist and support our fire season as we do for them.
The system in place is quite interesting as to how we staff fire season across the nation. We are able to order extra supporting resources during our high/extreme fire season. The crews come from all over the nation dependent on their fire danger at the time. We in turn will go to their states during their fire season and support. The process allows us to have needed crews in the states most of the time. The issue that comes into play is when everyone is under the same high to extreme fire danger. There have been times when there is a competition for air tankers and then decisions get prioritized at a regional or national level as to who will get the resource first. Normally the situation is handled fairly and efficiently. If our national resources start to get depleted, we have the option to call on Canada and Australia for additional resources and there have been times when our fire personnel have traveled to these countries as well.
The availability of resources is constantly subject to change as fire situations throughout the region and nation change. All resources are national resources so they could be relocated at any time.
We have put this short note together with the hope that it has lessened some of the stress knowing that we are here and ready. Please help our fighters. Have a Plan and be ready at all times. Call us with any questions. Be Fire Safe!
Public Service Announcement: Sandia and Mountainair Ranger Districts – Stage II Fire Restrictions In Effect
Editor’s note: This is late in coming but worth the time travel. We urge our readers to be safe and take these restrictions very, very seriously.
Albuquerque, NM. May 13, 2013. The Cibola National Forest and Grasslands’ Sandia and Mountainair Ranger Districts will begin Stage II fire restrictions effective 8:00 a.m. on Monday, May 13, 2013. “Due to ongoing drought conditions and increasing fire danger, these restrictions are necessary to decrease the likelihood of human-caused wildfires and to protect public health and safety,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Joe Norrell. “In addition, the National Weather Service’s outlook has predicted that drought conditions in the region will persist through July,” he added.
Although the districts will be in fire restrictions, there are many activities that can still be enjoyed on the forest, such as picnicking, hiking and camping. All the campgrounds, picnic areas and trails are expected to be open by May 15. However, please use extreme caution when you’re on the forest, as conditions are very dry and wildfires can start from smoldering cigarettes or sparks from engines.
The Cibola works closely with the cities, counties, state, tribal and federal organizations that border the districts to coordinate fire restrictions. “This collaboration helps ensure the public receives consistent information about fire restrictions in their areas,” said Fire Management Officer Bea Day.
Stage II fire restrictions include:
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove anywhere on the Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts.
Exceptions: The use of petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, propane grills, or heating devices is allowed, provided such devices meet the fire underwriter’s specification for safety and has a turn-off valve. - Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
- Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device.
- Discharging a firearm, air rifle or gas gun.
- Operating a chainsaw, or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device that is properly installed, maintained and in effective working order. They must meet either USDA Forest Service or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice
- Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
- Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway or overnight parking in Forest Service-developed campgrounds and trailheads.
The following are exempt from Stage II fire orders on public lands managed by the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands:
- Persons with a Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission.
- Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- Residents, owners and lessees of land, and holders of Forest Service recreation special use authorizations within the restricted area, are exempt from Restriction No. 1 above ONLY, provided such fires are within a permanent structure.
Current fire restrictions for the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands are:
- Mountainair Ranger District: Will begin Stage II Fire Restrictions on May 13, 2013.
- Sandia Ranger District: Will begin Stage II Fire Restrictions on May 13, 2013.
- Mt. Taylor Ranger District: Will begin Stage I Fire Restrictions on May 10, 2013. The district’s personal woodcutting permit season is delayed.
- Magdalena Ranger District: No restrictions.
- Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands: No restrictions.
- Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands: No restrictions.
The Cibola’s fire restrictions can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/cibola/alerts-notices
For more information, contact:
Sandia Ranger District: 505.281.3304
Karen Takai; e-mail: ktakai@fs.fed.us
Mountainair Ranger District: 505.847.2990
Arlene Perea; e-mail: atperea@fs.fed.us
Adrian Padilla; e-mail: adrianpadilla@fs.fed.us
Ruth Sutton, Public Affairs Officer
Phone: 505.346.3900; e-mail: rsutton@fs.fed.us
Useful fire websites:
- Cibola National Forest & Grasslands: http://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola
- Fire Restrictions: http://firerestrictions.us/
- FireWise: www.firewise.org
- Southwest Coordination Center: http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/
- National Interagency Fire Center: www.nifc.gov
Grow Your Own – Son Of The Return Of Bed 5
by John Weckerle
Return of the Son of Bed 5.
Growing season is upon us once again! Those who have been following New Mexico Central’s experimental gardening exploits have watched as we moved from four foot-square raised beds to the 12 x 24 foot extravaganza that is Bed 5, including its rise, fall, rise, and so on. Initially intended to provide a good rooting depth (24 to 30 inches through most of it) and protection from the elements and the herbivores (except, of course, us), the bed has served us well but needed improvement. Recent developments include replacement of the rabbit fencing and bird netting with poultry fencing, which is more durable than the bird netting. The latter simply did not stand up well to our local wind. The “hill and trough” configuration watered with soaker hose has been replaced with raised beds watered by drip irrigation, which should greatly reduce the water needed to produce the produce, as it were. We appear to have substantially more growing area, as well. Currently in the ground are tomatoes (Roma, Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, Black Krim, and Black Cherry), Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, chard, bell peppers (green, gold, and orange), chiles (Chimayo and New Mexico 6), zucchini, and yellow squash. Still to be planted are cauliflower, eggplant, tomatillos, dill, and basil.
A word about drip irrigation and the installation thereof. At some point in the distant past, your editor became somehow convinced that this was a very difficult and complicated thing. It is not; installing drip irrigation is about as uncomplicated as it gets. Bed 5 was the first foray into this arena, and we have since installed a total of 500 feet of supply line and a multitude of emitters. This ends the tedious hand-watering of trees and shrubs that were looking much worse for the wear, but are now looking much better. Of course, the wildlife have noticed this, and some of our trees and shrubs are now looking a little chewed up by deer that have jumped the fence.
Monkeys On Trial In The Estancia Valley?
by John Weckerle
We found ourselves not-too-terribly surprised to read recent articles (“Charter School Warned,” “PED warns charter school against religious teachings“) regarding accusations by the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) that the Estancia Valley Classical Academy (ECVA) may have strayed over the line between religious and secular education. Our lack of surprise – and, to some extent, our amusement – stems from the fact that both articles mention an individual who was featured in the context of his views on “science” (including an apparent bent toward creationism or, at least, anti-evolutionism) in one of our previous articles (See our August 11, 2011 article, An Article About Articles). That individual, Roger Lenard, is variously described as “one of the school’s founders” and the president of the school’s governing council.
Given the subject of these stories and the concerns reportedly expressed by parents regarding what their children are being taught about science, we find ourselves perplexed that Mr. Lenard’s fame in the creationist universe has thus far been ignored by the journalistic community. In addition to our article and the New Mexicans for Science and Reason (NMSR) article cited therein, we find references to Mr. Lenard as a “creation scientist” (here), and a “celebrated creationist,” (here). He is prominently figured in the NMSR article Creationism In New Mexico, and quoted here as saying “Creation scientists hold revealed Truth as supreme, other forms are subordinate.”
Given the many references to Mr. Lenard’s reported creationist beliefs and purported attempts to insert them into academic curricula, we certainly understand why parents would be concerned about what may be taught in science classes at a school over whose curriculum Mr. Lenard likely wields substantial influence. We urge parents to get involved and continue to engage the PED on this issue and get to the bottom of the matter.
Edgewood Gets New Mayor, Councilor; Little Change Elsewhere (As Far As We Know)
by John Weckerle
We have obtained yesterday’s election results for the Town of Edgewood. Former Town Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Brad Hill claimed victory in the race for Mayor, with a vote count exceeding the combined count for his two rivals, Susan Simons and currrent Mayor Bob Stearley. Town Councilor John Abrams has been re-elected, and Sherry Abraham joins the Council as a new member. Judge William “Bill” White has been reelected as Municipal Judge. Detailed results obtained from Town Administrator Karen Mahalick are as follows:
Mayoral Race
- Susan Simons – 54
- Bob Stearley – 172
- Brad Hill – 333
Town Council (2 seats in contest)
- Johnny Walker – 131
- John Abrams – 356
- Phil Anaya – 104
- Sherry Abraham – 346
- William White – 456
In Moriarty, all the incumbents will be returning to their seats, and according to the Torrance County Clerk’s office, the races in Estancia were uncontested. Everybody who ran in Mountainair won. Unfortunately, nobody was in the Village office in Tijeras when we called. Congratulations to the elected officials, new and returning.