Archive for May, 2012
PSA: Help Prevent Wildfires on the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands
Albuquerque, NM. May 23, 2012. Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer recreation season. Each year, thousands of people enjoy activities such as hiking, camping, picnicking, OHV driving, when they visit the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands. “We want everyone who comes to the Cibola to enjoy themselves, but we have extremely dry conditions and we need their help to prevent wildfires,” said Susan Millsap, Acting Forest Supervisor.
Currently, none of the Cibola’s six districts have fire restrictions, but hot, windy weather and dry storms are predicted over the next week, which will increase the risk for significant fire activity. “If these conditions persist, then some of our districts may go into fire restrictions in the near future,” said Millsap.
The Southwestern Region is currently at Preparedness Level 3, which means that there are large fires in the region and fire behavior is escalating and of concern to multiple agencies and fire managers.
Most wildfires are human-caused and are started from untended campfires, smoldering cigarettes and sparks from engines. To help prevent wildfires, please:
- Check Fire Restrictions. Before you go, call the Ranger District or the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands Supervisor’s Office to find out if there are any restrictions in place. Current fire restrictions can be found on the Cibola’s website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola/
- Never use Fireworks. All fireworks, including sparklers, are not allowed on National Forests. A small spark at the wrong time could cause a devastating wildfire.
- Make sure campfires are dead out. Extinguish your fire or barbecue one hour before you leave the area. Use lots of water and douse it until you see water floating on the wood/coals and the fire ash is cold to touch. Partially extinguished fires can be fanned by evening winds and re-kindle fires that may take off the next day. Be careful!
Web sites and phone numbers:
- Southwest Coordination Center: http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/
- National Interagency Fire Center: www.nifc.gov
- National Incident Information Center: www.fs.fed.us/news/fire
- FireWise: www.firewise.org
- Regional Fire Restrictions Hotline: 1.877.864.6985
Ruth Sutton, Public Affairs Officer
Cibola National Forest & Grasslands
2113 Osuna NE; Albuquerque, NM 87113
Phone: 505.346.3894
Cell: 505.331.3075
PSA: Junior Zookeepers Day Camp Schedule
Received from Karen Mahalick, Edgewood Town Administrator
THE TOWN OF EDGEWOOD
and
WILDLIFE WEST NATURE PARK
are
SPONSORING A JUNIOR ZOOKEEPERS DAY CAMP
WHEN: Session – June 4th through 8lh
Session – June 25th through 29th WFIERE: Wildlife West Nature Park
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Ages 7 through 15 at $25.00 per student, only 30 students per session. Sign up now as the sessions are filling up fast. Snacks and water provided. On the last day, enjoy a family barbecue, receive a certificate.
Learn details of basic animal care, gain knowledge about New Mexico’s wildlife and natural resources. Watch a live raptor presentation. Participate in various activities, projects, and environmental games.
For more information, please contact Roger Alink, Founder at 281-7655
Edgewood Considers Relinquishing Section 32 Open Space Back To State Land Office
(Editor’s note: We recommend that the Town Council hold on to this property for at least another year, and make a good faith effort to resolve the access issue.)
From Roger Holden:
Note item 10. E. on the Town of Edgewood meeting agenda for May 2nd at 6:30 at the Community Center.
10. MATTERS FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR/PLANNER.
A. Right of Way for Paving Projects.
B. Wastewater Report.
C. Selection Committee for RFP Evaluations.
D. Public Hearing – Adoption of Emergency Ordinance Declaring Hazardous Fire Conditions and Fire Hazards.
E. Relinquishing Section 32 back to State Land Office.
see attached map for location
Voice your concern by emailing your councilors and/or attending and signing up to speak at the meeting tomorrow night.
Sherry Abraham
John Abrams
Chuck Ring
Rita-Loy Simmons
Remember, this is 695 acres of land with trails. Granted, access has always been a concern however, this acreage along with the adjacent 80 acres of BLM land and 165 acres of City of Albuquerque Open Space makes a total of 940 acres of Open Space for hiking, biking and horseback riding which is adjacent and accessable from the SASS (Single Action Shooters Society) Founders Ranch.
This is a resourse that once relinquished, may not be available again. The lease is $1,500 per year.
Please voice your concern.
Thank you,
Roger Holden
East Mountain Representative Smith Reveals Sordid ALEC Past
by John Weckerle
Our readers know that, given our relative disinclination toward hyperbole, the word “sordid” is not one we make a habit of using. In fact, until now, we have never used it – and as of now, we can say we have used it only twice, both in the same article, but never seriously.
In response to our first ALEC and Us article on New Mexico legislators involved with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and a follow-up inquiry, State Representative Jim Smith provided a prompt (last Monday) response disclosing his sinister past with ALEC – or, more accurately, the lack thereof. Mr. Smith indicated that his involvement with the organization was limited attendance at an ALEC-sponsored dinner in Santa Fe, at which many lawmakers from both sides of the aisle were present. The dinner was interrupted by the Occupy movement, and Mr. Smith recalled that “a couple of members spoke briefly about being pro-business” but no legislative agenda was discussed.
Mr. Smith indicated: “Although I do attend a lot of meetings sponsored by various groups, I don’t actually join many, if any, of them.” This sounds like good policy for a legislator, and we’re glad to see it operative in this situation.
State Senator Sue Wilson-Beffort, to whom we sent essentially the same e-mail message as Mr. Smith, has not yet replied. If a response is not forthcoming soon, then perhaps research will substitute. We’ll keep our readers posted.