Archive for October, 2009
Mountainair Ranger District Fall Schedule
by Arlene T. Perea, Mountainair Ranger District
Mountainair, NM – October 28, 2009: Fall is in full swing on the Mountainair Ranger District. With last week’s significant rain and as snow begins to fall on the Manzano Mountains, the district will be implementing some fall and winter changes as well as preparing for some prescribed burning.
The district plans to conduct 2 prescribed burns in the Manzano Mountains. The first is a burn along Forest Road #422 on the south end of the Manzano Mountains. A fuel break was thinned a few years ago with the slash left behind as the fuelwood was removed. The slash is now cured and ready to be burned. The second burn will be in a fuelwood area locally known as the Thunderbird area. This area was thinned within the Thunderbird Ecosystem Management area south of Forest Road #275. There are no set dates for these burns. They will be conducted as weather and fire personnel are conducive to burning. »» Mountainair Ranger District Fall Schedule
Want A Mountainai Farmer’s Market?
From our friends at Mountainair Announcements:
The SEEDS (community garden project) is making plans to start a Farmers Market open to all local gardeners. If you are interested, email Rebeccs Lueras, Rebeccalue@aol.com, or call Joan Page, 505-847-2450.
A World Gone Mad – But In A Good Way
Editor’s note: As of about 8:50 a.m., we have 2 to 4 inches of snow at New Mexico Central headquarters, depending on where we look, and it is still snowing steadily.
by Senior Animal Affairs Correspondent Wilson
Senior Animal Affairs Correspondent Wilson Investigates The Phenomenon
Life here at New Mexico Central headquarters never ceases to amaze me. This morning, the Pack Leader got up extra early, and we went outside for our first run to the spot by the big smelly bush (he calls it rosemary; I think more about what’s hiding behind and under it than what it’s called). I took a nap until breakfast, and then we did the Number Two run (I call it that because it’s the second one). Some stuff was falling on me, and it didn’t feel like rain. I tried to catch some, but was dark and I couldn’t see it. »» A World Gone Mad – But In A Good Way
New Mexico Benefits From Energy Stimulus Funds
by John Weckerle
In a recent article, our friends at Gadabout-Blogalot.com indicated that New Mexico had received no funds from the recent Smart Grid projects approved by the U.S. Department of Energy. We took a look into this, and found that the statement was not entirely correct. According to information obtained from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Recovery and Reinvestment site, which provides information on its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding distribution, projects funded through out-of-state organizations provide benefits to the grid in New Mexico. »» New Mexico Benefits From Energy Stimulus Funds
Edgewood Library “Red Tagged”
by John Weckerle
In a two-part (so far) series titled “Red Tags In The Sunset In Edgewood, New Mexico,” (Part One and Part Two) about a “red tag” posted by NM Construction Industries Division (CID) electrical inspector Jason Davis at the Edgewood Library, Gadabout-Blogalot.com editor Chuck Ring raises issues regarding potential permitting issues at the Edgewood Library. Among the issues raised by Mr. Ring in his first article are that permits may have been required and were not obtained; that unlicensed contractors may have performed the work; that work may not have been performed to standards; and that the library might be open in violation of the red tags. In his second article, Mr. Ring indicates that anonymous individuals allegedly advised the Town that permits were required and poses the question “If the advise (sic) was ignored, one has to wonder why. Did the Town of Edgewood, acting through it staff or elected Mayor decide that permitting the work was not required or did the Town just forget about the permits?” »» Edgewood Library “Red Tagged”
Just Hear Those Sleighbells…
by John Weckerle
This year's first snowfall!
Just a short while ago, Johnny Mathis’s “Sleigh Ride” resounded through New Mexico Central Headquarters as we celebrated our first snowfall of the year. The meteorological event, which lasted about 15 minutes, made it to “full snow” (no rain mixed in) for at least several minutes before gradually switching back to rain.
The rains that moved in yesterday and have continued on and off (on more than off, it seems) have put two inches into one of our rain gauges – suggesting that we may now also be celebrating the beginning of Mud Season. Happy boot scraping!
Edgewood Recycling Sub-Committee
by John Weckerle
It’s short notice, but the e-mail just came in yesterday notifying us of Edgewood’s Parks and Recreation Subcommittee meeting tonight (Tuesday, October 20, at 6:30) at the Edgewood Community Center. The agenda includes “distribution of recyclable materials – still a quandary!” and other associated issues. We’re excited to see Edgewood considering a recycling program, and we wish the Town success in implementing it. For more information, contact the Town at 286-4518.
Job Opening In Mountainair
from Mountainair Announcements:
There is a job opening for an experienced butcher at the Mountainair Meat Processing Plant. Please contact: Renee Julien, julienenterprises@gmail.com, 505 603 0559.
Mountainair Harvest Soup Cook Off
by John Weckerle
We’ve received an e-mail from Edwina (George) Hewitt in Mountainair alerting us to a Harvest Soup Cook Off scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, November 7, 2009 (also posted at Mountainair Announcements). Billed as a “Just Because Event” – no entry fee, no agenda, and no fundraising – the cook-off will include music from Diamondback, an Edgewood country rock band. For more information, including discounts on hotel rooms, see the event flier.
Extreme Makeover Volunteer
by John Weckerle
Cutting Edge Construction project
It’s always nice to see old friends – but it’s really great to see them on YouTube, especially when it’s in context. My old and good friend, Ray DeNuzzo (correct spelling), owner of Cutting Edge Construction (Sutton, WV) was interviewed during his volunteer work at Extreme Makeover – Home Edition. Ray’s company specializes in construction with structural insulated panels (SIPs), which are highly energy-efficient and versatile. They can also be installed very quickly. Anyone interested in having a home or business built or retrofitted with SIPs can contact Cutting Edge at (304) 765-2591.
Ray is one of the most community-minded people I have ever met, and it’s no surprise to see him donating his time and expertise to a worthy cause. I typically see Ray once a year in the summer; it’s nice to see him in the Fall. Hats off!
Strange Days At New Mexico Central
by Senior Animal Affairs Correspondent Wilson
Senior Animal Affairs Correspondent Wilson
The last couple of days have been pretty unusual. Yesterday, I got put in the big white thing with the wheels and chairs (still not allowed on them) and it took us somewhere. I hate that thing, because it makes me sick, especially if we’re in there a long time. Sure enough; they kept me in it too long, and I lost my breakfast. When we got out, we were somewhere I’ve never been before – and there were dogs all over the place! We went into a big building with lots of people and dogs, and the Pack Leader and the Boss Lady took me over near a wall, and there were dogs and their people to our left and right (Grandma sat in a chair near the door). The dog next to me kept yelling at me and saying she wanted to bite me, and I let her know what I thought of her. Some lady came up and put some gross stuff in my mouth, so I shut up. This other lady talked loud the whole time in the middle of the floor, and she kept making other dogs do things. I didn’t get picked! It was fun in its own way, but they better pick up the pace next time. »» Strange Days At New Mexico Central
New Mexico Sparkles – Nationally
by John Weckerle
We have just been informed that New Mexico’s premier sparkling wine (“methode champenoise;” the owners have long taken the correct position that “champagne” is only produced in a specific region in France) has received attention in the November edition of Martha Stewart Living magazine (“A Sparkling Choice: American effervescent wines are festive, nicely priced, and a perfect pick for a great feast” – page 108). The article describes the wine as “outstanding” and having “classically toasty notes and a ripeness that makes it a nice companion to roasted veggies.”
As it turns out, your editor was a participant in the Albuquerque winery’s first tour. We can vouch for the quality of the wine, as we seek it out for those occasions calling for “a bit of the bubbly.” Congratulations, Gruet!
Health Care Proposal – Revisiting Old Propositions
by John Weckerle
In an October 14 article, Gadabout-Blogalot.com relays to us “another health care reform possibility,” encapsulated in six rather brief bullet points “from the states” on how health care should be handled. According to the article, this approach is endorsed by “think tanks” in 33 states. The approach is described as “patient-centered health care reform.” As the author correctly noted, none of these were new proposals, but we had not seen them grouped together in this particular format before. The article did not provide any links to the source of the proposal, but it was easy enough to find.
What we found was interesting, if a bit predictable. It also inspired a few thoughts about “think tanks,” economics, and health care reform. »» Health Care Proposal – Revisiting Old Propositions
Grow Your Own Vs. The Wilsonator
by John Weckerle
Senior Animal Affairs Correspondent Wilson
We recently received the latest in a series of verbal and e-mail requests for updates on our vegetable gardening experiences and the progress of New Mexico Central Senior Animal Affairs Correspondent Wilson. Wilson, who was billed by the adoption agency as a Chihuahua/heeler mix, recently celebrated the passage of his fourth month by tipping the scales at 30 pounds. So much for the Chihuahua half. He is as loving, good-tempered, friendly, and intelligent as we hoped for, and we will all be starting puppy training this coming Saturday at Acoma Training in Albuquerque. He was house trained within about a week and a half. He already knows sit, including moving to the side of the road and sitting when a car comes; is pretty good (but not yet great) at coming when called; is starting to “do his business” on command; and, of course, has learned to understand the word “no.”
As for vegetables: By coincidence, we harevested what may be the last of the kale from the current plants yesterday (time to poke more seeds into the ground), and made a hearty and delicious white bean stew with butternut squash and kale, using a recipe from Farmer John’s Cookbook. We still have broccoli »» Grow Your Own Vs. The Wilsonator
A Game Of Dodgeball, Anyone?
by John Weckerle
Yesterday, we published an article in counterpoint to an October 9 article by Chuck Ring at GadaboutBlogalot.com, which claimed that West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd had obtained a budget earmark for a nonexistent company. We researched the company, contacted them to confirm that they existed, and found that the company had been bought two years earlier, and had begun operating under the parent company’s name this past July – after the earmark request had been submitted. In light of the inaccuracy of the original report by Gadabout-Blogalot.com and the referenced biggovernment.com “Pork Report,” we decided to follow up on the other supposed transgressions in the “Pork Report,” and published our findings.
Apparently, we struck a nerve. An article appeared at Gadabout-Blogalot.com in response this morning. (We will note here that Mr. Ring did not directly reference our article, and referred instead to “another blogger.” This is a breach of etiquette for which we have criticized one of the local newspapers, and we hope that we will not see it again from Gadabout-Blogalot.com.) Inexplicably, Mr. Ring stated that his article had not misrepresented the situation, but by way of providing support to the argument referenced a blog post that demonstrated that his article had done just that. Specifically, the article disclosed that the company did, in fact, exist; that it was named Information Management Corporation at the time the earmark was requested; and that it changed names after Senator Byrd’s request for the earmark. »» A Game Of Dodgeball, Anyone?