Edgewood Attorney: Town Can Fund Events, Festivals Without Violating Anti-Donation Clause
by John Weckerle
At the July 2, 2008 Edgewood Town Council Meeting, Town attorney Marcus Rael provided insight into whether the Town can legally contribute to such events as the Wildlife West Music Festival; Run, Rally, and Rock; and other smaller events held throughout the year.
According to Mr. Rael, the Town may fund, or partner with, other entities, nonprofit or otherwise, to produce such events for economic benefit or other purposes. He indicated that a detailed scope of work and accounting of the expenditures of the Town’s contribution are critical to avoiding anti-donation clause violations. Mr. Rael emphasized the importance of documenting the potential benefits (for example, increased gross receipts tax revenues from people purchasing gas, groceries, etc. on the day of the event) of contributing to such events. He also indicated that it would be appropriate for the Town to issue an RFP for managing events. Mr. Rael did not offer any specific recommendations on how to fund the events, which some understood to be the intended purpose of his discussion. »» Edgewood Attorney: Town Can Fund Events, Festivals Without Violating Anti-Donation Clause
Flea Market To Benefit Wildlife West
by John Weckerle
A flea market featuring items donated to support Wildlife West Nature Park and ease the distress created by the Town of Edgewood’s decision to eliminate funding for the annual music festival will be held in the Liberty Development (old Radio Shack building) parking lot on Saturday, July 19, from 7 a.m. to noon. The Park is also holding a raffle of several special items including a “nearly new” (used twice) electric motor and an electric wheelbarrow, both donated by Howard Calkins; a recliner valued at $500 donated by the Furniture Connection; and a calf donated by Rita Loy Simmons. For more information and to purchase raffle tickets, contact the Park at 505-281-7655, toll free at 877-981-9453, or by e-mail at info@wildlifewest.org.
Mountainair Community Garden Project
by John Weckerle
Vanessa from Mountainair Arts has given us a “heads up” on a community garden project that is in the planning stage in Mountainair. The project is an effort of iCreate, Inc., a volunteer organization that relocated from the Rio Grande Valley to Mountainair in early 2008.
Community gardens vary widely in scope and focus. Many are dedicated to producing food, but there are some that are focused on flowers or intended to provide forage for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. According to some articles, community gardens may also promote a greater and more active sense of community. Educational gardens may provide valuable training for children or adults who wish to gain the necessary skills before starting their own home gardens. The concepts of “food security” and maintaining control over quality and health effects can also be addressed, at least in part, by community gardening. More information can be found at:
- Wikipedia
- The American Community Gardening Association
- How to Start A Community Garden on a Vacant Lot
- iVillage Garden Web Forum
- University of California Cooperative Extension – contains a good start-up guide.
More links can be found at Mountainair Arts.
Grow Your Own – The Adventure Continues
by John Weckerle
Our regular garden feature is a bit late this week due to the holiday and the report on the signs at the Edgewood Town Council meeting. Today, we return to the garden and find some exciting new developments – and a couple of challenges.
Plant growth continues apace. In Bed 1, there appear to be at least one yellow squash and one zucchini that are within a day or two of attaining “picking size.” Nestled deep in the miniature jungle, we see a nascent head of broccoli reaching toward the steamer or the wok skyward. However, Bed 1 is presenting us with two challenges. First, it is becoming clear that the Conestoga-type enclosure is not allowing enough room for these plants to spread. Since the bed is not squirrel-proof anyway, we may need to rethink the enclosure. The north side of the bed is bounded by a 5-foot trellis, and it would be a relatively simple task to do the same at the south side and run some rabbit fencing around the other three sides. We also see that some of the squash are exhibiting what looks to be some kind of end-rot. This is not affecting all of them, and it appears that the ones that formed earliest are impacted the most. If anyone has any suggestions, they would be appreciated. Finally, despite some flowering, we have not yet observed any tomatoes. Granted, it’s still a bit early given the planting dates, but we can hardly be blamed for being a little impatient. »» Grow Your Own – The Adventure Continues
Do This, Don’t Do That, Can’t You Read The Signs?
by John Weckerle
Well, possibly not, if you’re trying to read them in Edgewood. In what appeared to be a heavy-handed, divisive, and adversarial display of authority, the Town of Edgewood confiscated a substantial number of signs and chose to display them outside the Community Center as an apparent prelude to the Town staff’s presentation on signs at the July 2, 2008 Town Council meeting.
One resident, who indicated that one of the signs confiscated was a sign posted by his church for vacation Bible study, stated that he approached Town official Karen Mahalick and told her that this action was divisive and unproductive. According to that individual, Ms. Mahalick conceded that “this should have been handled differently” – but we question just how these signs could have come to be displayed thus without the involvement of Ms. Mahalick and Mayor Bob Stearley. According to the same individual, local resident Janelle Turner raised her fist and proclaimed “Ignorance of the law is no excuse!” In this case, however, it turns out that ignorance of the law may be the only option. »» Do This, Don’t Do That, Can’t You Read The Signs?
Public Service Announcement – Mountainair Firecracker Jubilee, July 5
The Mountainair Firecracker Jubilee will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2008. Festivities include a pancake breakfast, horseshoe tourney, children’s games, vendors, live music, a barbecue lunch, fireworks, and a dance. For more information, see the post at the Mountainair Announcements blog or the event web page.
Edgewood Town Attorney To Report On Anti-Donation Issue
by John Weckerle
According to the final agenda for tonight’s Edgewood Town Council meeting, the Town attorney is scheduled to report on ways in which the Town can fund events without violating the anti-donation clause of the New Mexico Constitution. The Town Council meeting begins at 6:30 at the Edgewood Community Center.
Wildlife West Chuckwagon Supper Season Opener An Unprecedented Success
by John Weckerle
Last Saturday marked the first Chuckwagon Supper of the season at Wildlife West Nature Park, and quite and night it was! Saturday’s dinner and entertainment event was attended by a record number of enthusiasts. “Typically, we have 50 or 60 people at the opening night,” said Park founder Roger Alink, “but this year we had 224 reservations.” As far as this writer could tell, a good time was had by all. »» Wildlife West Chuckwagon Supper Season Opener An Unprecedented Success
A Celestial Reminder
by John Weckerle
The International Space Station will be making its way across the early morning sky above the East West Mountains again over the next couple of weeks. If you’re up early, take a look up and see if you can spot it! The current schedule can be found here.
Additional Closures And Restrictions Announced In Sandias and Manzanos
by John Weckerle
Effective Monday, June 30, the closures and restrictions on activities within the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest will be expanded. Hiking and biking are now prohibited except within portions of Forest Trail 365 and associated secondary trails outside the Sandia Mountain Wilderness (foothill trails), and within the boundaries of the Sandia Peak Ski Area. All other trails are closed, including the La Luz trail. For a full listing of closures and restrictions on activities within areas still open to the public, see the full text of the closure announcement.
A Better Deal Elsewhere For Wildlife West?
by John Weckerle
We have posted several articles here about the treatment that Wildlife West Nature Park has been receiving from the Town of Edgewood. Wildlife West, a community asset providing employment opportunities, educational programs, an enhanced zoo, and great entertainment, has faced what appears to be outright hostility from the Town government since the March election. Despite the fact that the Town’s attorney has stated that there may be way to legally fund the annual Town music festival at the Park, Mayor Bob Stearley has remained adamant that any support for the event represents a violation of the anti-donation clause of the State Constitution. Knowing that tax revenues would increase as a result of new gross receipts for the Town, Mr. Stearley has resolutely insisted that the Town is too strapped for cash to make a contribution to the event, a claim we have repeatedly disputed here – and based on this article in the Mountain View Telegraph, it would appear that we were right in disputing it. Thus far, the Edgewood Town Council has gone along with Mr. Stearley’s positions with little resistance. According to the article, Mr. Stearley committed at the July 18 meeting to asking the Town attorney to look into ways to fund the music festival and, in a request dated June 27, Mr. Stearley instructed the Town attorney to report to the Council at its July 2 meeting.
Certainly, this treatment has been difficult for the folks at Wildlife West, and for those who have selflessly donated money, provided food for the animals and materials for improving the Park, and volunteered to make the Park the outstanding community asset it has become. Now, it would appear, that at least one nearby community recognizes the value of the Park, and might just be willing to give it the treatment it deserves. »» A Better Deal Elsewhere For Wildlife West?
“Grow Your Own” Redux
by John Weckerle
It’s Friday, and that means it’s time for another sustainable vegetable garden update. The plants all appear to be doing splendidly. The yellow squash and zucchini are still too small to pick, but with luck we’ll be able to sample them over the coming week. The lettuce in Bed 2 has provided us with the basic ingredient for several excellent salads, and it looks as if we can expect for that to continue at least into the near future. Three of the tomato plants in Bed 1 are flowering, and we’re looking forward to that first tomato – and then all the ones after it. »» “Grow Your Own” Redux
Big Spring Fire Explodes
by John Weckerle
People traveling through the Estancia Valley were met yesterday with the sight of a huge plume of smoke rising from the Manzano Mountains, the result of an expansion of the Big Spring Fire. The fire, according to this Albuquerque Journal article, has grown to 3,000 acres and is being exacerbated not by wind – as with the Trigo fire – but by dense, dry fuel (the effects of tree density are also discussed in this Mountain View Telegraph article). The article states that two public meetings will be held today: one at the Estancia Community Center at 2 p.m., and one at the Torreon Community Center at 6:30 p.m. An evacuation center has been set up at the Estancia Community Center.
Supreme Court Upholds Gun Ownership Rights
by John Weckerle
The Supreme Court today issued its first major ruling to interpret the rights of individuals to own firearms, striking down gun bans in Washington D.C. and, presumably, in other cities where such bans are in effect, such as Chicago. The ruling, which effectively settles the longstanding debate over whether the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution applies to individuals or only those serving in state militias, apparently leaves most other gun control statutes intact. Articles:
Eat Your Veggies Today – You May Not Have Them Tomorrow
by John Weckerle
Yesterday we received a link to this video about research into genetically engineering yeast to produce a form of bio-gasoline – not ethanol, mind you, but actual gasoline – from sugar. The video does not provide much detail other than the fact that the research is ongoing. However, the video started a train of thought that traveled through issues surrounding the pressure on the food supply by corn ethanol production and arrived at the little-publicized crisis that may be striking our food supply in the relatively near future: Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a subject on which an episode of Nature reported recently on PBS. The episode can be viewed here.
CCD is an affliction that is striking honeybee colonies worldwide, causing hives to die out on a greater and greater scale. While no single cause has been identified, research points to a potential combination of a virus that first arose in Israel and a variety of environmental stresses, especially associated with agricultural pesticides. At the current rate of decline, honeybee populations could be completely wiped out worldwide by 2035. »» Eat Your Veggies Today – You May Not Have Them Tomorrow