Letter From Mountainair
(Editor’s note: We received this a while ago and, while we’re not clear on what’s going on in Mountainair, there are some interesting points contained in the letter. We present it here unabridged as food for thought on several obvious topics.)
by Dan Embree
Fellow Citizens of Mountainair
I’m one of the local trouble-makers – one of the many citizens who over the last couple of years have been attempting to induce the town council and the mayor to comply with New Mexico law in conducting their meetings, and I’m the guy who was famous for 15 minutes last summer for being dragged out of a council meeting by Chief Robert Chung on the orders of Mayor Chester Riley for objecting, in a parliamentary way – it’s recorded – to the council going into executive session without saying, as the law requires, what they were going to talk about.
Because I’ve discovered that my name (and that incident) is being used to frighten people into voting for incumbents Barbara Chung and George Immerwahr, as supposedly stalwart defenders of public order against outsiders and provocateurs, I would like to briefly tell a story that may illuminate my character and that of my accusers.
While I was passively refusing to leave the council meeting that night (but offering to leave quietly if handcuffed and arrested), George Immerwahr shouted “Filthy, disgusting haters!” at me and my wife, Joan (the least hateful person you will ever meet) and a half dozen others who supported us; and Barbara Chung shouted at me, “We know your history! You were one of those protesters who spit on returning Viet Nam veterans!”
“Well, actually,” I replied from the floor, where I was by that time, “I was one of those returning Viet Nam veterans.” (For the record, no one spit on me.) I had served for a year as an infantry officer in Quang Tri Province, in the rice paddies and villages along the DMZ and on a hilltop on the Laotian border. It was all field duty – no staff job, no general’s aide, no rear echelon – and to be fair, no heroism, no medals for valor.
So it stung a bit and it still stings to be called a spitter on veterans. Years later, after the Kent State shootings, I did become a protester. With two of my West Point classmates and a graduate of the Air Force Academy, I helped found Concerned Academy Graduates (surely the straightest, stodgiest, even stuffiest anti-war group of that era), and we grew to a modest 1000 members across the country, appearing on radio and TV and writing editorials and making speeches against the war.
But we never spit on anyone. Nor did any of the protesters that we marched with, as far as I know. We did march: in the spring of 1971 we marched in San Francisco with another 400,000 protesters, many of them veterans, all of them Americans. I pulled my two-year-old son in a red wagon; my wife, Joan (one of George’s “haters”) marched with our daughter in utero. That was one of the best days in one of most meaningful periods of our lives, and it remains beyond the reach of petty politicians to recast into some shameful narrative that suits their own purposes.
The veterans of that war have different stories and different versions of what that war meant. And we tell one another those stories when we meet briefly – on the street or in Gustin’s or at the Alpine or at Mike’s gas station or anywhere. And we often disagree. But we respect one another and we call one another “Brother” and we don’t make up nonsense to blacken each other’s reputations.
So, just as I can laugh off the spectacle of public officials making up nonsense about their achievements in an election flyer, I can see this attack on my reputation and my wife’s character for what it is: the desperate product of over-heated imaginations.
This campaign isn’t supposed to be about me, and I am sorry to have been dragged into it in this silly way. There are several good and reasonable candidates, firmly rooted in reality, who are looking to serve the community without glorifying themselves. I hope you will vote for them.
Dan Embree
[Please forward this email to everyone you know. Please print it out and hand it to your neighbors.]
Grow Your Own – One Season Ends And Another Begins
by John Weckerle
A couple of weeks ago, we visited the garden to begin removing last season’s dead plants in preparation for the arrival of large quantities of fully composted horse manure donated by our good friends and neighbors, Thom and Brenda. We were delighted that, during this effort, we harvested several shallots and about three pounds of leeks – just enough for a batch of delightful potato-leek soup. With the former producers now evicted, the business of soil amendment has begun. We will begin starting our first few seeds this week, and will be ordering more as well.
We’ve placed a two-probe recording thermometer in the greenhouse, and were surprised that the temperature has exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit multiple times over the last six days. Unfortunately, it has also dipped below freezing, although not on the same days. Adjusting to the wild swings in temperature may present a challenge, and we may find ourselves waiting at least until the freezing temperatures abate. One way or another, we’re hoping for an early planting and plenty of produce throughout an extended season.
Grow Your Own: The Demise of the Great Pumpkin
by John Weckerle
We begin today by wishing our readers, albeit belatedly, a happy Thanksgiving holiday and hoping that it was enjoyable and safe. Our own certainly was, and it involved one of the year’s latest-harvested garden treats (not last-harvested; there are still shallots, leeks, and cabbage out there!), the previously mentioned Great Pumpkin. For those who missed our prior article, this was the only pumpkin we got this year – and given that this was the second year with a single orange ball of squash, we will likely forego future efforts in the Jack-O-Lantern arena.
For half the gargantuan gourd, we used the AllRecipes.com Cream of Pumpkin Soup recipe, which we found very tasty, choosing to omit the croutons simply because there was too much baking going on and, as we are in the middle of a remodel, there were no counters or sinks upon which to work. The other half awaits disposition – perhaps as a pumpkin pie or a nice, spicy pumpkin sauce for an autumn vegetable pot pie or something similar.
With the last of this year’s growing season coming up fast – those leeks, shallots, and cabbages will have to come in soon – we’re looking forward to revitalizing the beds with composted manure in preparation for the late Winter/early Spring planting. We’re also hoping to bring the relocated Beds 1 and 2 back into service – and we find ourselves dozing off with visions of asparagus dancing in our heads.
We are, admittedly, a little unusual that way…
Major Traffic Alert – I-40 Westbound
A major accident with at least one fatality has blocked I-40 westbound in the Carnuel Facility. Views of NM-Roads.com show traffic backed up far east of Sedillo Hill Road. We advise westbound travelers to exit no later than Edgewood until the situation is resolved.
Just A Few Days Left For Scholarship Opportunities
by John Weckerle
As reported by the Mountainview Telegraph, the deadline is fast approaching to apply for scholarships awarded by Purina Mills and the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association’s (NMCGA) Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Committee (YCLC). As the Telegraph reports, The Purina Mills scholarship will go to “a New Mexico student who is a member of the NMCGA, the New Mexico Junior Cattle Growers Association, or the child of an NMCGA member.” Additional scholarships are available to a successful high school senior and a continuing college student, with no reported membership requirements. For more information, visit the Telegraph’s article.
EMIFPA Fire Info – November 5, 2015: American Red Cross
by John Helmich
EM Residents,
The American Red Cross, one of the critical agencies who will be responding in case of a wildfire, wanted us to inform everyone that they are also available if your family suffers loss in a structure fire, not just wildfire scenarios.
EMIFPA recommends that you also contact them for purposes of preparedness. This way you will know in advance what is available to you should you need temporary assistance, especially housing. Their national contact number is 800-733-2767. If you are working on preparedness planning, please make sure you let them know this.
John Helmich
EMIFPA Community Education Outreach Coordinator
Twitter: @EMIFPA_NM
Grow Your Own: It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
by John Weckerle
The Great Pumpkin.
With Halloween just a day away, the denizens of New Mexico Central headquarters are watching with bated breath as the great pumpkin (this year’s only pumpkin, and likely our last given the yields) slowly ripens in the greenhouse. It is a race against time; colder temperatures appear to have taken their toll on the cucumbers, tomatoes, and zucchini, and the pumpkin plant itself is looking a bit compromised. We brought in some of the latter two today, but it seems likely that this will be our last. We harvested eggplants and peppers as well, and those plants are doing well still – with luck, sunny days and warmer temperatures may give us a little more time with them. Green beans are anybody’s guess, at this point, and we can take the leeks and shallots at any time.
Today’s harvest – tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, bell peppers, green chiles, and cabbage.
Last Sunday’s harvest.
Until the last couple of days, temperatures in the greenhouse had been reaching into the mid- to upper-80s, and dropping to the high 30s to mid-40s at night. They barely crept above 50 degrees today, however, and this may be a critical point for the warm-weather loving plants. Cabbage is doing well and doesn’t mind a little cool weather, and we’ll see what happens with the broccoli, which we never pulled up. All things considered, we consider ourselves fortunate to be harvesting summer veggies this close to November. As we remove the summer plants from the beds, we’ll be amending soil and getting things ready for Spring – or perhaps some Winter growing!
Edgewood Chamber Director Resigns
by John Weckerle
Word has reached New Mexico Central that the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director, Brenda Murray, has resigned to accept a sales and marketing position, leaving the Chamber’s Board of Directors with the unenviable task of replacing a person who will likely be a tough act to follow. Ms. Murray’s efforts were noteworthy enough for us to allow a glimmer of cautious optimism with respect to the Chamber, and it remains to be seen whether the Chamber’s Board will be successful in hiring a similarly capable and dedicated executive director.
Small Chamber of Commerce executive director positions can be hard to fill, or at least to fill well. A good part of the reason for this is financial as budgets tend to be very limited. Looking at the Chamber’s web site, we see about 110 members. Assuming that they all pay $95 (unlikely, as a number of members listed are individuals and nonprofits, who pay less), this amounts to $10,450 in membership fees, which doesn’t go far in acquiring a capable and dedicated executive director – at least not for long. The Town of Edgewood’s Economic Development page indicates that the Town contracts with the Chamber for economic development services; however, the most recent budget posted (which, like much of the information on the site, is out of date) appears to contain no funding for economic development and both the Chamber’s and the Town’s economic development pages appear not to have been updated for a long time. While we are sure the Town is spending some money on economic development, the information on the two entities websites suggests that this is not a major source of revenue for the Chamber.
Your editor has been a member of three local/regional nonprofit organizations: The Edgewood Chamber of Commerce, the Estancia Basin Resource Association (EBRA), and the Estancia Valley Economic Development Association (EVEDA). Of these, EBRA stood out in terms of meeting its goals and fundraising and your editor remains a supporter, having resigned from the Board only for reasons associated with earning a living. At one point, your editor received training on the responsibilities of a nonprofit Board of Directors member, which have evolved over time, and we think it timely to discuss at least some of those roles and responsibilities in the hope that the information may help the Chamber and other organizations increase their probability of success.
During one of your editor’s Board adventures, the opportunity arose to take a class on Board roles and responsibilities provided by Jean Block, Inc. The class was quite revealing, and we recommend it to Board members of nonprofits of all kinds. Of chief interest to the current situation is the role of Board members in fundraising: in short, that is one of the chief responsibilities of Board members. As articulated on the Bridgespan Group’s (and numerous others’) web site, “One of the board’s foremost responsibilities is to secure adequate resources for the organization to fulfill its mission.” That means fundraising. However, many nonprofits, Chambers included and perhaps especially, tend to delegate this function to the executive director and/or staff, who then are forced to essentially find the money to pay themselves – leaving less time for work associated with the Chamber’s actual mission.
Of course, there is often confusion on what that mission is. Both the Edgewood and East Mountain chambers’ web sites have what amounts to mission statements, although these tend to be a bit short on language associated with implementation. What we’ve observed at times is that chambers appear to view themselves more as community organizations than business organizations, and efforts seem to focus disproportionately on community events, placing fundraising, business advocacy, economic development, and member recruitment/retention in subordinate positions. Many events do little to bring in revenue for the Chamber and perhaps benefit only a few businesses that may see some increased traffic as a result. Events are good for the community, and it is appropriate for the business community to “give back” to the community at large, but when resources are scarce it makes little sense to focus strongly on community events at the expense of building/maintaining a strong Chamber.
We wish the Edgewood Chamber Board good luck in securing a new executive director – and in focusing on the fundraising activities so greatly needed to acquire and retain a competent and capable individual for the position.
Prescribed Fire Explained
Submitted by John Helmich, East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association
EM Residents,
The following is a letter written to you from Matt Rau, FMO, Sandia Ranger District. This is an explanation of the prescribed fire process. Since we will possibly be seeing prescribed fire in our area this fall, we hope this explains the process that takes place in ‘putting fire on the ground’.
Prescribed Fire
At a recent event we held about prescribed fire, a surprising comment was made: “I did not realize how complex the process is to bring prescribed fire into our forest”. We will very soon be conducting prescribed fire operations in the EM, and so we feel it is the perfect time to talk about the process.
? The process of getting to the point of actually putting fire on the ground is lengthy and has many checks and balances.
? This process starts with deciding what physical, geographical area(s) are of critical importance
? The prescribed fire plan must be current.
? Compliance requirements must be met: smoke/cultural/endangered species impacts, NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) requirements.
? Risk management and residual risk in place, acceptable (work sheet completed)
? Will elements of the plan be met? (Preparation work, weather, contingency resources, etc)
? Media and residents notified?
? Critical personnel properly briefed?
? Any circumstances that would stop the plan being put in place?
? What about contingency actions notification?
Once these pieces have been asked and answered, there is yet another check list the ‘Burn Boss’ (lead agency person responsible for conducting the prescribed burn) must conduct the day of the planned burn. If these items are not met, no burn will take place:
? Are ALL fire prescription elements met
? Are ALL smoke management specifications met
? Has ALL current and projected weather predictions been obtained
? Are ALL weather elements favorable
? Are ALL personnel and equipment on hand, operational
? Are ALL contingency resources on hand and checked
? Have ALL personnel been briefed properly
? Have all pre-burn concerns been addressed and completed
? Have media and residents been notified
? Are ALL permits and clearances in hand and current
? Can the burn be carried out per the Prescribed Fire Plan
? Will the prescribed fire meet the plan’s objectives
Unfortunately, this is a lengthy list. But this demonstrates that we do NOT just decide to go out one day and burn some forest land. This process takes many months and years to develop and implement. We hope that this information will reassure you that we take extensive precautions when we conduct prescribed fires on the Sandia District.
Sincerely, Matt Rau, FMO, Burn Boss, Sandia Ranger District
Twitter: @EMIFPA_NM
Buffett, Margaritas Hold Storm At Bay
by John Weckerle
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band in Paradise – Albuquerque, October 20, 2015.
This week, two thirds of the denizens of New Mexico Central Headquarters embarked on a local adventure centered around Tuesday’s first-time-ever Albuquerque performance by Jimmy Buffett and the seemingly immortal Coral Reefer Band (Senior Parrot Correspondent Wilson conceded that he could not produce ID proving that he was of age, despite having reached the age of 42 in Correspondent Years in June, and it would be less fun without access to the entire experience). Given the opportunity, the remaining 67 percent decided to turn the experience into a mini “staycation” and, aligning with a few similarly minded people, decided to make a night of it, and then some.
The day started out with – well, work. Your editor and Senior Music Correspondent Lucy took the latter half of the day off, and met with part of the crew for lunch at BJ’s (Winrock, behind the Macaroni Grill) for lunch and a beginning to the festivities. We were not unpleasantly surprised to find that wine was 50% off and that draft beer was $3.50. We’re not in the habit of seeking out lunchtime happy hours, and we don’t know whether this is a daily event, but those planning a pre-pre-concert interlude might want to check in ahead of time and see if this is a worthwhile stop on the tour. Unlike a number of nearby chain restaurants, BJ’s has not fallen victim to “menu simplification disorder” (another article forthcoming) and has a diverse menu with tasty options available for devout carnivores and non-meat-eaters alike.
Following lunch, we checked in to the Sheraton Uptown – pricey, but we got a bit of a deal, we think – enjoyed another beverage or two, and headed off to the Parrotheads of New Mexico party at the Casino at the Downs, located at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds (by way of the hotel shuttle, which was part of the all no-driving strategy for the evening). Overall, this was a good event, although we will note that the Downs needs to do a better job in ensuring that their events are adequately staffed; the bar was understaffed and wait times for drinks and even light snacks such as French fries were far longer than they should have been. With respect to entertainment, the venue faces serious challenges regarding acoustics, which would require some sound engineering attention, and as a result the performers perhaps did not fare as well as they might have otherwise (would really like to have had the steel drum audible) – although, in the end, everyone seemed to have a great time and that is what it was all about. Still, a little bit of in-house sound engineering help for performers might help the venue in situations where the entire audience isn’t actually focused on going somewhere else. And to be clear: thank you, Parrotheads of New Mexico, for setting this up; it was a blast, and helped enhance the mood.
We then got on the bus to the show – thanks again, to our in-state Parrotheads for setting this up – got out of the bus, and noted that it was still raining when we arrived at the Isleta Amphitheater (formerly the Journal Pavilion), and that the rain was falling just a bit harder. We got into the venue after a rather weird, and probably unconstitutional, separation into lines by gender and a rather detailed pat-down for the men by patters-down who seemed perhaps a bit more nervous than one might expect. With the rain getting just a bit heavier, we visited the concession stand just inside the gate, ordered margaritas – it was, after all, a Jimmy Buffet concert and his first headlining in New Mexico – and paid for them…
And the rain pretty much stopped right about then, and didn’t return at any time during the show.
Fall Burning on the Mountainair Ranger District
by Arlene Perea
Mountainair, NM – October 14, 2015: Fire officials on the Mountainair Ranger District are planning to begin fall burning. The first project planned is the approximately 460 acre Thunderbird Prescribed Burn which was started in June but not completed due to weather conditions and personnel. Managers have been closely monitoring fuel moistures and have decided that conditions are again conducive to implement a very successful burn. The planned burn area is located within the Thunderbird Ecosystem Management Project area, east of FR#422, south of FR#253 and north of FR#275. This area has been previously thinned so fire personnel will now be entering the area to burn excess material left behind after the thinning operation.
The burn date is tentatively planned to begin the week of October 19 but may be conducted at any point within the next month. Fire managers on the district will be organizing resource and will be closely watching weather patterns and fuel moistures to determine the best time to implement a successful burn. If ignited, fire management crews will monitor the burn for as long as necessary.
As with most of the burns in the Manzano Mountains, the goal of this project is to improve watershed and wildlife biodiversity, and to help protect private property in the event of a wildfire by reducing fuel loading (amount of fuel available to burn). Our ecosystem depends on fire to promote new vegetation, enhance habitat and reduce the threat of large fire. It also improves public and firefighter safety by reducing the accumulated fuels that could otherwise contribute to more intense fire behavior under hotter and drier conditions.
During the prescribed burn, NFS roads directly affected by the burn may be closed to the public. Signs will be posted in any areas with temporary road closures. In addition, temporary road signs warning about smoke and activity on the roads will be posted on State Highways 131 and 55 along with Forest Roads #422, #253 and #275. Smoke may be noticeable throughout any of the local mountain communities and will include the Estancia Valley and the west side of the Manzano Mountains. Smoke could travel as far north as State Highways 217 and 337 in the Tijeras area depending on conditions. Fire fighters will make every attempt to burn during times of the day when ventilation is optimal. Additional fire vehicles will be in the area patrolling and monitoring the roads. Please drive carefully when on affected roads, as visibility might be lowered due to smoke.
Prescribed Fire General Information – EMIFPA
by John Helmich
EM Residents,
Fall is frequently when prescribed fires are planned and executed in the NFs of NM. We have received updates from several areas that are planning prescribed fires. The Carson NF, Santa Fe NF and the Cibola NF are all planning prescribed burns in their districts. Since these districts are close to our area (and in our area), we will try to keep you updated about these efforts. But if you have not heard from us about what is going on, and see smoke, here are some telephone numbers for you to use seeking information – Carson National Forest: (575) 758-6200; Santa Fe National Forest: (505) 438-5300; and Cibola National Forest: (505) 346-2650.
Talking about prescribed fire, the NM Prescribed Fire Council will be hosting an all day workshop in Capitan, NM on October 29th. You can get more information about this workshop by calling Doug Boykin at 575-405-2387 or Don Kearny at 575-835-9359. You can also go to their information page about this by using this link: http://nmrxfire.nmsu.edu/.
John Helmich
EMIFPA Community Education Outreach Coordinator
Twitter: @EMIFPA_NM
Press Release: Sandia Ranger District Planning Prescribed Burn
Editor’s note: This was forwarded Friday by John Helmich of the East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association
Tijeras, NM – October 15, 2015: Cibola National Forest fire managers on the Sandia Ranger District are planning to conduct broadcast burning starting on Wednesday, October 21st, weather conditions permitting.
The planned prescribed burn is in David Canyon, which is situated east of Kirtland Air Force Base and west of Raven Court Rd in Tijeras, NM. The crews will burn the understory of approximately 170 acres of Ponderosa pine. Smoke could affect the Raven Court area, State Highway337, and Forest Road 530. There will be a closure to area system trails and Forest Roads during burn operations. The public will be notified when conditions are safe to enter the area.
Broadcast burns involve applying fire across the forest floor. Flames make their way along the surface, consuming accumulated needles, leaves, branches, and logs while recycling nutrients back into the soil. Broadcast burns typically produce the most noticeable smoke. The purpose of this burn is to reduce hazardous fuels and to maintain wildlife habitat.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, weather – including winds and ventilation, and approval from the NMDEQ (http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/).
Periodic prescribed burns will occur in this area through December as conditions permit.
For more information about the prescribed burn, please contact the Sandia Ranger District at 505-288-2112. Smoke sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at https://nmtracking.org/en/environ_exposure/fire-and-smoke/#xEPHT__fivemile__1329.
For more information, you can visit our website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola or call the Sandia Ranger Station in Tijeras, NM at 505-281-3304.
Follow the conversation at www.facebook.com/cibolanf.
EMIFPA contact information:
John Helmich
EMIFPA Community Education Outreach Coordinator
Twitter: @EMIFPA_NM
Grow Your Own – Ups and Downs
by John Weckerle
Having spend the weekend tearing out 850 square feet of tile and hauling home new flooring, we return to efforts in the food development corner.
We buttoned up the greenhouse about a week and a half or two weeks ago, when the weather was gloomy and cool. Of course, temperatures have returned to above normal again, and will be there again for a few days, although that may prove to be a short-lived phenomenon. With an eye toward learning more about our greenhouse, we installed a recording thermometer with two probes – one at head height and one near the ground. This has proven to be a real education. In the last couple of days, the temperature has fluctuated substantially, from mid-forties the first night to over 105 degrees at head height today (ground level temperatures topped out at 95 degrees). Temperatures remained in the sixties last night. Also, given the humidity in the greenhouse, we’ve cut down on the watering frequency.
Some of the plants have responded well. A couple of the tomato plants have begun putting out new growth (we’re still getting a couple of tomatoes a day), and the peppers and eggplants are flowering again. The string beans – at least the ones that survived the caterpillars and grasshoppers, are looking good and have begun to put out flowers as well. The cucumbers are essentially finished, but cabbage looks fairly happy, as do the leeks and shallots. The cauliflower, sadly, has not amounted to much, nor has the broccoli, and those plants may be surrendering their space in the very near future.
Soon we’ll be switching to the winter crops; probably some chard, lettuce, broccoli, and others. We’ll have to reestablish the starting setup, lights and all, and order some seeds. We’ll also be performing some soil testing as we clear the beds for winter crops. We know it’s time to add some organic material, and have a source of composted manure waiting in the wings. Viva vegetables!
Tractor Supply Company Reaches Settlement In Emissions Case
by John Weckerle
On September 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice issued a press release announcing a settlement with Tractor Supply Company Inc. and Tractor Supply Company of Texas L.P. (“Tractor Supply Company”) regarding the import and sale of more than 28,000 all terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, and engines that “did not comply with federal Clean Air Act certification and emission labeling requirements.” These requirements specify that all vehicles and engines sold in the United States must be covered by a valid certificate of conformity issued by EPA. The vehicles and engines, sold by Tractor Supply Company between 2006 and 2009, were imported from China (suggesting that they were not manufactured by Volkswagen) and allegedly “varied from the certificates of conformity that had been submitted to EPA.” EPA estimated that the noncompliance resulted in excess emissions of up to 23.5 tons of excess hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions and 12.2 tons of excess carbon monoxide emissions.
Tractor Supply Company will pay $775,000 in civil penalties and be required to “implement a rigorous compliance plan that requires regular vehicle and engine inspections, emissions and catalyst testing, staff training and reporting for five years. Tractor Supply Company will also mitigate potential adverse environmental effects of equipment already sold to consumers.”