Archive for Announcements
Something Musical This Way Comes
by John Weckerle
As August approaches, so does this year’s music festival at Wildlife West Nature Park. Featuring such acts as John McCutcheon, the Badly Bent, Dave Firestine and Round the House, and Syd Masters & The Swing Riders among many others, the festival will provide plenty of opportunities for listening and other fun – and, of course, access to the zoo. The festival is being held at the same time as the Town of Edgewood’s Run, Rally and Rock celebration, a cooperative effort between the Town and the Chamber of Commerce, and shuttles will reportedly make it easy to get to and from both events. For more information on the music festival, see the Wildlife West Nature Park site.
While we’re on the subject, we’d like to remind our readers that the Park is still in need of donations to help support its continued operation. Wildlife West provides outstanding educational opportunities for people of all ages, and employment for many of our local young people during the summer. Donations can be made by credit card on the Park’s web site, and of course they can accept checks through the mail and cash in person. If you can afford it, we ask that you consider donating what you can – donations of any size will help.
A Truly Celestial Celebration This Saturday
by John Weckerle
The Albuquerque Astronomical Society will hold the first of this summer’s three big East West Mountain events – combining a Star Party and Astrophotography Boot Camp – at Oak Flat this Saturday, May 30 (subsequent events are June 27 and July 25). Astrophotographer Becky Ramotowski (some of Ms. Ramotowski’s outstanding photos can be seen here), whose photos were reportedly featured in the BBC series, The Sky At Night, will provide instruction on taking great celestial images to novices and advanced shooters alike, with any type of camera: digital SLR, point-and-shoot, and even film cameras. As Ms. Ramotowski notes in the May 2009 edition of the Sidereal Times, “The ultimate goal is to get attendees whipped into shape so they will have an extraordinary photo to enter in the TAAS Astrophoto Show in November.” That’s a great opportunity for photographers of any stripe. »» A Truly Celestial Celebration This Saturday
Public Service Announcement: Wildlife Safe Passage Meeting Tomorrow
by John Weckerle
We have received word from Linda Hill that the New Mexico Department of Transportation will be holding a meeting on Wildlife Safe Passage from Tijeras to Edgewood tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. at Wildlife West Nature Park’s Bean Barn. Wildlife Safe Passage uses a combination of tactics – fencing, underpasses, etc. to help prevent wildlife from crossing highways such as Interstate 40 and being struck by vehicles. Wildlife Passage also helps reduce the impacts of highways on animal migration, reproduction, foraging, access to water, and other ecologically essential activities. A similar effort was undertaken in Tijeras Canyon, where the DOT worked with the City of Albuquerque and local groups such as the Tijeras Canyon Safe Passage Coalition and others.
For a map and directions to Wildlife West, see the Park’s map & directions page.
Memorial Weekend Fire Safety Reminder
by Arlene Perea, Mountainair District Ranger Station
Mountainair, NM, May 19, 2009 – Cibola National Forest officials remind everyone of the importance of responsible recreating in anticipation of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. The Mountainair Ranger District as well as the Kiowa & Rita Blanca Grasslands are the only districts currently under stage 1 fire restrictions. Although Black Kettle, Mount Taylor, Magdalena and Sandia are not under any fire restrictions, we would like to remind all forest visitors to use extreme caution to prevent any wildfires within the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands. In anticipation of the upcoming holiday, district fire and recreation personnel will continue to patrol the roads, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and other recreational facilities during the holiday weekend.
The following Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Ranger Districts remain affected by high fire danger:
MOUNTAINAIR RANGER DISTRICT, KIOWA & RITA BLANCA GRASSLANDS:
STAGE 1:
Open Campfire Restrictions:
- Campfires, charcoal grills and stove fires are prohibited on national forest lands, except in Forest Service developed camp and picnic grounds where grills are provided.
- Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed.
Smoking Restrictions:
- Smoking is allowed within an enclosed vehicle or building; a developed recreation site; or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter and free of all flammable material.
Fireworks:
- As always, fireworks are prohibited on all national forest lands.
Forest Officials would also like to remind the public to please “Be Bear Aware”. Some areas of the forest have been experiencing a high occurrence of black bear sightings. Although beautiful to look at, black bears are wild creatures that can be very dangerous if provoked. Camp and picnic grounds are heavily used over the holiday. Please remember to keep your Forests free of litter.
For further information, please contact the Cibola National Forest at 505-346-3900 or visit us on the web at www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola. You may also call the districts at:
Sandia – 505-281-3304
Mountainair – 505-847-2990
Magdalena – 575-854-2381
Mount Taylor – 505-287-8833
Kiowa & Rita Blanca – 575-374-9652
Black Kettle – 580-497-2143
Summertime Approaches, And There’s Plenty To Do
by John Weckerle
Checking in on our friends at Mountainair Arts, we see that there are a number of events. These include work on the Mountainair community mosaic tomorrow, starting at 9 a.m.; a meeting of the Mountainair Gun Club on Thursday; Voices In The Wind at Gran Quivira on Saturday and Sunday; and the Tijeras Open-Air Arts Market this weekend. For more information, see the Mountainair Announcements article.
Public Service Announcement – Summer Programs For Kids In Mountainair
Checking in on our friends at Mountainair Announcements, we find that summer school and the ASPIRE summer program will begin June 1. Registration has begun. For more information, see the full announcement at Mountainair Announcements.
Public Service Announcement: Torrance County All Hazards Committee Meeting
From Arlene Perea at the Mountainair Ranger District:
Just wanted to drop everyone a short line informing you of two meetings, tonight and tomorrow night (Editor’s note: That would be Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13). They will be the same meeting so there is no need to attend both unless you think of different questions which you would like addressed. Tonight’s meeting in Tajique at the Tajique Community Center at 6pm. Tomorrow’s meeting is also at 6pm at the Torreon Community Center.
An example of some of the topics to be discussed include:
General Fire Season Outlook
Fire and Flood Preparedness – Lessons Learned
Well Head Protection
Flood Potential
This is not a Forest Service Meeting, but a meeting sponsored by the Torrance County All Hazards Committee. Just helping get the word out.
Edgewood Kite Festival and Green Energy Fair
by John Weckerle
The Town of Edgewood will hold its annual Green Energy and Kite Festival at Wildlife West Nature Park this Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event includes kite flying contests; stunt kite demonstrations; and remote control gliders. Green energy and sustainable living demonstrations will be given including solar electricity; renewable energy; water harvesting (tours of Wildlife West’s water harvesting features); wind energy; biodiesel, hybrid; electric, and fuel cell vehicles; a solar oven; and solar-powered car kits. Workshops will be conducted on the T. Boone Pickens plan for restructuring the nation’s energy system, permaculture, and more. The Albuquerque Astronomical Society will be providing stunning views of the Moon and Sun, and there will be music from Trombone Troubadours and the Messangers Choir. The event also marks the debut of Wildlife West’s new Disc Golf Course. All the aforementioned events are free to the public and vendors.
In addition, inside the Park’s enhanced zoo (see the Park web site for admissions information), Artists for Wildlife West will hold their Pre-Mother’s Day Artistfaire. For more information, see the event flyer and the Wildlife West site, or contact Roger Holden, Edgewood Parks and Recreation Director, at (505) 286-4518 (e-mail: parksrec@edgewood-nm.gov).
Public Service Announcement – Future Land Use Alternatives Evaluation Available for Comment
From the Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee:
The Evaluation of Future Land Use Alternatives for the Estancia Basin Water Planning Region, prepared in support of the Regional Water Plan Update, is now available for review and comment. Comments and suggestions on the report are now being accepted until May 20, 2009. Comments can be sent to Dan McGregor at dmcgregor@bernco.gov or mailed to Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee c/o Dan McGregor / County of Bernalillo 2400 Broadway, SW Bldg. N,, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
Copies of the report can be requested from Cheri Lujan at 505-384-2272 ext 103 / 715 South 5th Street, PO Box 58, Estancia NM 87016 or can be downloaded from the Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee web site at www.EBWPC.org
So, You Want To Be In Pictures?
by John Weckerle
A background casting call for “Did You Hear About The Morgans?” starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Sam Elliot will be held in Santa Fe this Sunday at The Lodge at Santa Fe from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shooting will be from May 5 to June 5, in Santa Fe, Galisteo, Los Alamos, and Roy, NM. Pay is $9.50, with overtime after 8 hours. The producers are looking for Western/cowboy/cowgirl/rural/rodeo types, and I imagine that a good bunch of our local folks fall into at least one of those categories. They’re also looking for pictures of pickup trucks and horse trailers for potential participation in the film. For more information, see the announcement.
Meetings, meetings everywhere…
by John Weckerle
In June 2008, the Office of the State Engineer (OSE), Interstate Stream Commission (ISC) published its first review and recommended update of the New Mexico State Water Plan. Published in December 2003, the Water Plan established priorities, developed strategies, and identified issues and solutions associated with water planning and policy throughout the State. Our region – Region #13, Estancia Basin – was the first of the State’s 16 water planning regions to complete its regional water plan, which was prepared and has since been updated by the Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee.
The ISC is currently working to update the Water Plan, and is holding a series of public meetings (schedule) to gather input on such issues as population growth/water demand,conservation, climate variability, and water projects needed in each of the regions. The meeting for the Estancia Basin will be held at the Moriarty Civic Center, 202 Broadway, on Thursday, April 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. We encourage those interested in water resources and associated State policies to attend the meeting and let their voices be heard. For more information, contact the ISS at (505) 764-3864.
Spring Must Be Here…
by John Weckerle
The weather is warming up, and so are the musicians! For three consecutive Fridays starting April 17, the Mountainair 2009 Spring Concert Series will be presenting concerts at the Brazil Auditorium on Limit Street and Highway 60. The April 17 will feature Holy Water & Whiskey, with traditional, folk, bluegrass, gospel, Western, and other tunes. The New Mexico Marimba Band will present pop, jazz, and authentic Mexican marimba music on April 24. The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band will serve up a heaping helping of ragtime, country, bluegrass, some rock and roll, and a Spanish ranchera added for spice on May 1. All concerts start at 7 p.m. and involve one of our favorite four-letter words – free. For more information, see the Manzano Mountain Arts Council web site.
Also, don’t forget the Kite Fair and Green Energy Festival at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood. There will be kites, kites, more kites, and vendors/demonstrators representing a wide variety of green energy and sustainable technologies and services – and much more. It’s a great outing and an opportunity to learn a thing or two! For more information, see the Wildlife West Kite Fair and Green Energy Festival page.
An Idea Whose Time Has Come – Here
by John Weckerle
Back in the 1980s, during a 5-year soujourn in Tampa, Florida, I enjoyed a great way to do dinner and a movie – cinema pubs. The idea was simple – the cinema pubs showed movies that had just completed their runs in the major theaters but were still showing in the discount theaters and at midnight shows, but they also offered dinner as well as beer and wine. Patrons sat at tables, and were served throughout the movie by waitstaff who seemed incredibly adept at minimizing their time between the patron and the screen. Both the movie and the food were reasonably priced, and well-suited to those of us who were students and/or in their first job out of school, and it was a nice experience. Depending on the film, I sometimes waited for movies to hit the cinema pubs because it was simply a better place to see them. And now, you can see them that way, too.
Following the recent success of movie showings at Mustang Mudd’s, in the former Le Barn building, entrepreneurs Maria Braendle of Le Barn and Miki Anaya of El Comedor Restaurant have teamed up to bring the experience to Moriarty. This weekend’s feature, Twilight (your editor, who has read the books and seen the movie, recommends it to fans of the Stephanie Myers series of vampire novels) will be the opening event (for details, see the flyer). Next week’s offerings, with shows from Wednesday to Sunday (with weekend matinees!), include Gran Torino, starring Clint Eastwood; Taken, starring Clint Eastwood; Bolt (voice of John Travolta); The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke; and Defiance, starring Daniel Craig (see next week’s flyer for show times and other info). For more information, call LeBarn at 832-9481 or El Comedor at 832-4492.
A Bunch Of Clowns
by John Weckerle
Well, maybe we’re assuming something, but it seems like smoke and fire – where there’s a circus, there are usually clowns. The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus will be at the corner of Route 66 and NM 344 in Edgewood on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. The show is sponsored by the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce, and proceeds will be split between the Chamber and several area schools. Two show times are scheduled at 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Chamber at 286-2577 or the Circus at 1-866-BIG TOP 6.
Wildlife West Summer Job Application Date Changes
by John Weckerle
The deadline for applications for Wildlife West Nature Park’s Youth Conservation Corps positions has been extended to May 1, 2009. Young people ages 14 to 25 may apply. For more information on a great summer job opportunity, see the Park web site or contact Wildlife West at 281-7655.