Grow Your Own – Time To Start Digging!
by John Weckerle
Well, it’s past time to start digging, at least for some of us, and digging we have done – largely sponge pits for new and existing trees and shrubs, but we’ve also taken some time to start prepping the beds for this year’s crop. With luck and time, we’ll be adding new beds this year, and maybe even experimenting with some new varieties and soil mixtures.
As we approach the season, we thought we’d share a few resources that might be useful to our readers in getting (and keeping) the ball rolling:
- Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico – Circular 457 by George Dickerson, Extension Horticulture Specialist, NMSU College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. This publication has good information on general New Mexico vegetable gardening topics as well as hints on planting, growing, watering, and harvesting.
- Growing Zones, Recommended Crop Varieties, and Planting and Harvesting Information for Home Vegetable Gardens in New Mexico – Circular 457-B. This has some good, detailed information on varieties and planting times for the three areas recognized by the Cooperative Extension Service. New Mexico Central headquarters, located in the dreaded Area 3, is faced with challenges associated with short growing seasons, and no doubt so are some of our readers. Others may be located in the slightly more forgiving Area 2.
- The Mother Earth News Vegetable Garden Planner – Walking past a magazine rack, we noticed a copy of Mother Earth News with the title “40 Tips To Maximize Garden Harvests” in big letters on the cover, as well as the moniker “Giant Gardening Issue!” Well, there was no way we were just walking past that. There’s some good information in there, including an announcement associated with their online garden planner. It’s free for 30 days, and $25 for a year or $40 for two years after the first 30 days. We haven’t done much with it yet, but it looks as if some of our readers may find it useful; it has tools for layout, plant spacing, and much more.
Happy tilling!
Correction: East Mountain Fire Information meeting
We received word this morning that the original Bernco press release had an incorrect date. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 24 and not Friday, March 25 as previously reported.
Public Service Announcement: Bernalillo County Noise Ordinance Amendments Meeting
WHO: Commissioner Wayne Johnson and the Bernalillo County Environmental Health Office to host a public meeting in district five to discuss the proposed noise ordinance amendments with the community. Commissioner Wiener will be in attendance to introduce the proposed amendments.
WHEN: Monday, March 21st from 6:30p.m. to 9:00p.m.
WHERE: Los Vecinos Community Center
478 ½ Old Highway 66
Tijeras, NM 87059
For more information, contact:
Breanna Anderson
bcanderson@bernco.gov
O. 505.468.7344
C. 505.414.0485
Public Service Announcment: First 2011 Season East Mountain Fire Awareness Meeting
by Larry Gallegos, Public Information Specialist-Bernalillo County Public Information Department
Bernalillo County Commissioner Wayne Johnson is calling on all East Mountain residents to attend the first East Mountain fire awareness meeting of the 2011 fire season.
The meeting will be held on Friday, March 25, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Los Vecinos Community Center, 478 1/2 Old Hwy. 66, in Tijeras.
“I encourage all East Mountain residents to come and see how Bernalillo County and other area agencies are preparing for this fire season and to learn how citizens can prepare themselves in case of a fire,” said Commissioner Johnson.
Representatives from the Bernalillo County Fire Department and Fire Marshal’s Office, the Office of Emergency Management, Animal Care Services, U.S. Forest Service and others will be on hand. Topics will include: preparing for a fire, developing evacuation plans for residents and their animals, weather patterns and fire behavior expected this year. There will be a question and answer period after the presentations from all the panelists.
Coyote Killer Strikes
by John Weckerle
In the March 9 edition of The Independent, local resident Peter Dolny laments the passage of a coyote pack native to the Edgewood, New Mexico area. New Mexico Central is seeking information on this incident, including the identity of the individual allegedly responsible for the extermination, time at (or over) which it occurs, and the means of how it was perpetrated. We ask that our readers send us any information they may have on this issue.
Deceased Bovine Recognition?
by John Weckerle
We received an e-mail today from one of our readers asking what had happened to Edgewood’s Community On The Way (COW) Awards, typically (and, as it turns out, formerly) held in February each year. The COW Awards were jointly sponsored by the Town of Edgewood and the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce. Curious as to what happened to the annual celebration of community involvement, we contacted the Edgewood municipal offices and talked with Town Clerk Estefanie Muller. According to Ms. Muller, the COW and other nonessential functions were not funded by the Town this year due to financial restraints resulting from State budget cuts and reduced tax revenue. Edgewood, one of the few New Mexico municipalities that imposes no property or other taxes directly on its citizens, has seen reduced gross receipts tax revenues in some months and fears that proposed elimination of the “hold harmless” funds (which compensate local governments for the loss of gross receipts revenues tax on food sales) may pass the Legislature this year, further decreasing funds. We took a quick look at the Town budget presented to the Council on February 16, noting that Clean and Beautiful was funded, but most other “discretionary” programs had bitten the dust.
We also peered behind the cobwebs on the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce web site, which seems not to have been updated for some time. The COW awards are no longer listed under the Events, and the only reference to the celebration is an obscure one listing it as an opportunity for serving on a committee/task force. The Chamber, beset in recent times with troubles both financial and “other,” appears to have abandoned the event as well.
With the event’s two sponsors broke, defunct, absent, or whatever may be the case, and with no other organization with the combination of ability and interest necessary to keep the tradition alive, it appears as if the last plaque has been bestowed and the last cow joke told. We will leave it to our readers to decide what this says to them about Edgewood in terms of its government and its community spirit, but we can say this: Edgewood’s not what it used to be, even just a year or two ago – and may never be again.
PSA: Sprouting Class To Be Held In Edgewood
A sprouting class will be held Saturday, March 12 at 10 a.m. at a new business in Edgewood. Pathways to Wellness is located at #06 Shetland Road, Edgewood. The class will cover a wide variety of sprouting as well as how to grow wheatgrass and sunflower greens, natural fermentation for probiotics and much more. Cost is $5.00 and includes detailed handouts and material for a homemade sprouter. Seating is limited, so please RSVP. For more information or to reserve a space, call Lisa Ross at (505) 990-1770 or e-mail path2well@gmail.com.
How Politics Works – In New Mexico
by John Weckerle
We recently read the following articles from Clearly New Mexico:
- Public Records Request Shows Gov’s “Small Business-Friendly Task Force” Met In Secret; Is Packed With Lobbyists for Oil and Gas, Mining and Dairy
- Are You Sitting Down? Here Are The Recommendations From The Gov’s “Small Business-Friendly” Task Force
The articles, which appear very thoroughly researched and provide links to references, discusses the establishment, configuration, and interim recommendations of Governor Susana Martinez’s “Small Business-Friendly Task Force.” We encourage our readers to follow the links and read through the articles.
After being stonewalled by the Governor’s office in response to informal requests, the folks at Clearly New Mexico submitted an Inspection of Public Records request to obtain information on the task force’s makeup and activities. The article makes several points: that the task force was established and has operated outside the view of the public eye; that small business is underrepresented and big business is overrepresented on the task force; that the task force is packed with lobbyists representing major sources of funding for Ms. Martinez’s campaign; and that rather than focusing on problems and potential solutions, the task force is focused primarily on supporting Ms. Martinez’s large business-friendly regulatory agenda. We’ll acknowledge that some of the people on the task force appear to be small business owners, but it does appear that the task force is dominated by large business interests and Martinez Cabinet appointees.
There are a few things we find disturbing about the situation. First, the primary focus does appear to be supporting the Governor’s regulatory agenda. As quoted in the second article, the preamble to the task force’s Interim Report states:
“The task force does not wish to present a laundry list of problems to the Governor but develop solutions (sic). The goal is to provide the Governor and/or agencies cover when repealing or revising a rule or regulation thus avoiding litigation if possible.
The final report to the Governor will include a road map of short and long-term tactics and strategies, including the use of executive orders and legislative strategies. Each troublesome regulation identified will be accompanied by a recommendation on the best way to remove their negative impacts (sic).”
So much for identifying problems and finding solutions. It would appear that the entire purpose is to advance – without any attention to fact or analysis – the interests of big business, most notably (but not exclusively) those of the “conventional” energy and construction/development industries. Among the top industries listed as contributing to the Martinez campaign are Oil & Gas ($1,008,201) and several construction/development industries totaling over $1,000,000, making these two broad sectors responsible for much more than a quarter of the Martinez campaign’s revenues. According to the Interim Report from the committee, the construction subcommittee is looking to repeal , modify, or replace collective bargaining provisions in the 2009 amendments to the Public Works Minimum Wage Act. New Mexico is turning into Wisconsin. Lawyers and lobbyists, very prevalently visible on the committee according to the Clearly New Mexico article, were the sixth highest contributing industry at $242,144. We’ll point out that Koch Industries, which has gotten some media attention of late, provided $10,000 to the Martinez campaign.
The Clearly New Mexico articles do a great job in looking through the committee. We decided to take a closer look at some of the personnel, looking at various web sources, especially Followthemoney.org. Here’s a little of what we found:
How Politics Works
Editor’s note: We’re back after an extended and somewhat unintended hiatus that involved travel, a lot of work, more travel, and much more. Unfortunately, the travel yielded little in the way of interesting photos and stories, and the work has been – well, work. During the hiatus, we began considering – and are continuing to consider – what course New Mexico Central should take in the future. We know there will be some changes in focus, but we’re not sure where it’s going. Articles will likely be spread out just a bit for the near future.
by John Weckerle
Today’s news reading included a link to an interesting article in the Chicago Tribune (and this one at NPR), which reports on a conversation in which a liberal blogger (Buffalo Beast editor Ian Murphy), pretending to be conservative billionaire David Koch, a major Tea Party financial supporter and contributor to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s political campaigns, had a rather frank and interesting conversation with Governor Walker regarding the current ruckus in Wisconsin over union rights. If nothing else, the article highlights what appears to be a very cozy and mutually beneficial relationship between government officials interested in ending union influence and large business interests seeking to do the same. It looks as if it’s big government and big business against working Americans, at least in this particular situation – and it’s perhaps ironic that big business helped the current big government officials gain power by whipping up anti-big government sentiment.
We find it interesting that the unions in question have agreed to concede on all financial issues, but not the elimination of collective bargaining. Republicans, Governor Walker especially, have painted this as a fiscal issue, and have replied to the unions’ offer with a resounding “No.”
Public Service Announcement: Today’s EBWPC Special Meeting Canceled
from the Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee:
Due to weather conditions the EBWPC Special Closed Meeting has been cancelled for Wednesday 2/3/2011 at 9:00 a.m. and has been re-scheduled for Wednesday 2/9/2011 at 10:00 a.m. held at the USDA Service Center conference room located 715 South 5th Street, Estancia, NM 87016.
Sorry for any inconvenience for any of the EBWPC members.
Public Service Announcement: Estancia Basin Resource Association Annual Meeting Tomorrow
The Estancia Basin Resource Association (EBRA) will hold its annual membership meeting Saturday, January 15th, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Moriarty Civic Center. Refreshments will be provided, and door prizes will be available. The schedule includes:
- Chuck DuMars will speak on the subject of Water law concerning junior Water rights, irrigation wells, and domestic wells.
- David Lightfoot will give a presentation on monitoring taking place in the Manzano foothills.
- Find out about the results of the fires and thinning in the watershed.
- Election of new directors.
For more information, contact Art Swenka at 384-0176, Ted Barela at 705-5049, or Jace Alderson at 269-2658.
Authorized Vehicles Only
by John Weckerle
These photos depict what appears to be a growing problem not just in our area, but throughout many parts of the nation. It seems that more and more frequently, parking spaces designated for use by those with handicap permits are occupied by vehicles that lack such authorization. Such was the case at the Edgewood Subway sandwich shop last Tuesday, when two cars not displaying the required permit – and whose drivers certainly seemed able when they exited the restaurant – were parked in the only two parking spaces designated for use by handicapped occupants at the restaurant. The situation seemed especially inappropriate given that there were plenty of spaces along the east side of the building, just a few feet further from the door than the designated spaces.
Let’s remember that those spaces are designated for handicapped use for a reason. Some people need easy access to ramps, some are at risk if they try to navigate parking lots in wheelchairs, and some simply have difficulty walking any substantial distance for any of a variety of reasons. Parking spaces designated for such people should be occupied only by those who have the required permits, and those should be displayed as required by law. Here’s hoping we can all have a little compassion for those who need it, and that we’ll all be willing to take a few extra steps to help them out.
Susana Martinez: First Controversy Resolved
by John Weckerle
Newly sworn-in New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez is widely described as the State’s first female Governor and the nation’s first Hispanic female governor. But is she either?
A review of literature raises a potentially different perspective: the role of New Mexico Governor was held by Soledad Chávez Chacón for two weeks in 1924. Ms. Chávez Chacón, New Mexico’s Secretary of State, served as Governor for two weeks while then-Governor James Hinkle attended the Democratic Convention.
For our party, we’re calling this one for Governor Martinez. While Ms. Chávez Chacón occupied the office of the Governor and technically acted as such in the absence of Mr. Hinkle, she was there in an acting capacity, and the elected Governor returned and resumed his duties. One might as well say that Alexander Haig was President of the United States because he was briefly in that role when an attempt was made on the life of President Ronald Reagan (while Mr. Haig was subjected to a great deal of ridicule at the time, his statements to that effect were more or less correct given that the two people between him and the Presidency had not resigned their positions as required to become Acting President).
That having been said, we congratulate Ms. Martinez on gaining the distinction of being New Mexico’s first female Governor and the first Hispanic female governor in the history of the United States.
Tea Party, Or Not Tea Party: That Is The Question
by John Weckerle
The East Mountain Tea Party has a web site and an anonymous internet spokesperson – a shadowy figure known as “teapartynm.” It holds rallies and meetings, and stages protests. It writes letters to elected officials, and conducts candidate forums. It lobbies. It has ties to a local religious organization that repudiates Islam (see our previous article, East Mountain Tea Party Officials and Islam) and believes that the United States should declare war on Russia and China. But does the East Mountain Tea Party actually exist?
Our research tends to suggest that it does not, at least in any official sense. We took some time to search the State of New Mexico corporations database, the database of nonprofit organizations at Guidestar.org, and the IRS database of tax-exempt organizations for the East Mountain Tea Party – and found no reference to the group. We find this puzzling, as the organization seems to fit nicely into the “527” category and actively solicits donations on its web site. This raises some questions as to whether the receipt of the donations is being accomplished in compliance with State and Federal tax laws. This an issue that has haunted several organizations in our area, including the Edgewood and Moriarty Chambers of Commerce, and those providing donations to the East Mountain Tea Party should consider this along with other factors in making decisions regarding donations.
Press Release: Capulin Snow Play Area New Winter Hours
Editor’s note: We’ve received the following press release from Karen Takai at the USFWS Sandia Ranger District.
SANDIA RANGER DISTRICT
CAPULIN SNOW PLAY AREA NEW WINTER HOURS
Tijeras, NM, January 3, 2011
Starting January 3, 2011
Capulin Snow Play Area will be open for Friday, Saturday and Sundays Only
Hours of operation 9:30am to 3:30pm
Use of the area when closed will result in a fine ( see below)
Inclement weather or lack of snow may result in temporary closure
Please note: Sliding, sledding and tubing are PROHIBITED at Tree Springs, 10K and “Pit” areas
The Capulin Snow Play area is located approximately 8 miles up the Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway (Highway 536). A new Order # prohibits the use of the area when it is closed. Any violation of this prohibition is a punishable as a misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months or both.