2013 EXTREME Fire Danger Note to Public 6.6.2013
by Arlene Perea and Karen Takai, Fire Information Officers, Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts
Attention Fire Information List,
As most of you know by now, the Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts are going into closures this Monday, June 10, 2013. As we ratchet up safety issues please be extra cautious with prevention around your home. Have a plan and be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
This is a different climate we are in now. We know the Sandia area has never seen catastrophic fires in the last 100 years but the landscape has changed and we need to change with it. The Manzano and Gallinas Mountains have seen their fair share of catastrophic fire in the last 10 years. Even our firefighters over the last 10 years have had to adjust how they fight fire. It’s a different world. Be Ready and Have a plan!
FYI – The Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts currently have additional resources being staged on the districts to assist with prevention and fire suppression. Current resources based upon Wednesdays schedule includes 9 engines, 1 hotshot crew, 3 lookouts in the lookout towers, 2 Fire Information Officers and 1 Prevention Officer. We are staffed early and late hours, 7 days a week until we are out of the extreme fire danger. Our interagency partners City of Albuquerque, NM State, Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Valencia and Torrance County Fire could also assist and support our fire season as we do for them.
The system in place is quite interesting as to how we staff fire season across the nation. We are able to order extra supporting resources during our high/extreme fire season. The crews come from all over the nation dependent on their fire danger at the time. We in turn will go to their states during their fire season and support. The process allows us to have needed crews in the states most of the time. The issue that comes into play is when everyone is under the same high to extreme fire danger. There have been times when there is a competition for air tankers and then decisions get prioritized at a regional or national level as to who will get the resource first. Normally the situation is handled fairly and efficiently. If our national resources start to get depleted, we have the option to call on Canada and Australia for additional resources and there have been times when our fire personnel have traveled to these countries as well.
The availability of resources is constantly subject to change as fire situations throughout the region and nation change. All resources are national resources so they could be relocated at any time.
We have put this short note together with the hope that it has lessened some of the stress knowing that we are here and ready. Please help our fighters. Have a Plan and be ready at all times. Call us with any questions. Be Fire Safe!
But On Us, It Looks Good – Good And Boring
by John Weckerle
In a June 3 article titled “Stranger Than Fiction: Which It Appears To Be,” Sandia Tea Party official internet spokesman Chuck Ring denounces the Evangelical Immigration Table – a coalition of evangelical organizations seeking immigration reform – and its logistics partner, the National Immigration Forum, on the basis of a Breitbart.com (once the web site of the late serial liar Andrew Breitbart) article. Mr. Ring and the Breitbart writer, Mike Flynn, take issue with the fact that the coalition had announced a $250,000 ad buy as part of its efforts to support the immigration reform bill currently slogging its way around (note that we did not say “through”) Congress. The criticism is based on two premises: that the coalition “doesn’t legally exist as an incorporated entity or nonprofit organization,” and that the organization is not transparent with respect to its funding and activities to the point that Mr. Ring, speaking for the Sandia Tea Party, accuses the organization of “hiding its true agenda.”
Let’s deal with the legality of the group’s existence first. There is no legal requirement that coalitions or other groups of people exercising their First Amendment right to free speech (and, as legal precedent based on the First Amendment dictates, free association) be registered or recognized by government in any way, and there is no prohibition against such groups purchasing advertising. The Breitbart article states: “There are strict limitations on what (c)3’s (sic) and (c)4’s (sic) can undertake” (somewhat true, but these limits apply primarily to interference with elections and lobbying and can be fairly murky; see the IRS web site on exemption requirements for charitable organizations for more information) “and clear prohibitions on them coordinating on an issue campaign” (an absolute falsehood in the grand tradition of the site’s founder).
As far as transparency is concerned, those who have already clicked through to the two organizations in question will have seen what we did: both organizations list their leadership and/or key members, something that the Sandia Tea Party has neglected to do on their web site. Neither does the Sandia Tea Party publish the names of their contributors and the amounts of their donations. We challenge them to do both. On our own, we can’t gather much information about the latter, but a little research has provided us with some information regarding the Sandia Tea Party, its officers, and its (at least as far as we can find out) “nonexistent” status as a Federally recognized tax-exempt organization.
Crime Alert
by John Weckerle
Yesterday afternoon, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a concerned citizen reporting that the alarm at a neighbor’s home on Mountain Valley Road had gone off. According to the Department, the attempt to gain entry was aborted when the alarm went off. The suspects are described as “three juveniles, Hispanic.” The Department indicated that “It was unknown if the driver of the get away car was an adult or not.” The the neighbor described the vehicle as “a mid-90s Ford Explorer with faded green paint.” Citizens who have information regarding this incident should contact the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department. The release we received was signed by Lieutenant Broderick Sharp, Watch III North/East Commander, phone 468-7441.
Sandia Ranger District Closure To Start June 10, 2013
by Karen Takai, Sandia Ranger District
The Sandia Ranger District will close the forest on June 10, 2013 due to very high fire danger. The only open areas will be portions of Forest Trail 365 including secondary trails associated with Forest Trail 365, outside of the Sandia Mountain Wilderness and South of the Tram. In addition, the Tram, High Finance Restaurant /Deck, the Sandia Ranger District Administrative site and the Tijeras Pueblo Interpretive Trail will remain open.
“Our weather is still trending to be dry and our fuel moistures are at very low levels. With these moistures so low the threat of a large fire is quite high. We need to make sure human starts do not happen and that means keeping people out of the forest until fire risk has lessened. We also need to make sure there are no visitors in the back country area if something did start. We would not be able to rescue you. So, please stay out! ” Matt Rau, Fire Management Officer, Sandia RD.
Fines are being strictly enforced. A single person entering closed areas or using open fire in any manner will be cited up to $5,000 and up to 6 months in jail and for a group fines up to $10,000 and or up to 6 months in jail.
Stage III Fire Closure Restrictions include: Entering Closure Areas by vehicle, hiking, running, horseback riding, motorcycles, roller blades, or flying in.
__________________________________________________________
In the Foot hill trail system (which will still be open) as defined in the first paragraph the following restrictions stand.
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, wood or stove fire
- Using an explosive
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building
- Possession, discharging or using any type of firework or pyrotechnic device
- Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine is prohibited.
- Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame
The current Fire Restriction orders can be found on the Cibola’s web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola in the “Alerts and Notices” section.
Final Update on Lightning Starts in the Manzano Mountains
by Arlene T. Perea, Mountainair Ranger District
Mountainair, NM – June 4, 2013, 12:00pm: Three (3) of the four fires that were found in the Manzano Mountains after Sundays Lightning Storm have now been extinguished. Eight (8) Smokejumpers remain and are mopping up hotspots on the Pack Trail Fire in the Manzano Wilderness, but expect to have it contained and controlled this evening or tomorrow morning.
No additional fires have been detected at this time but fire personnel are fully aware of the possibility of “sleepers” that may lay low for several days before becoming visible as humidity and moisture levels continue to drop.
Extra severity crews and Engines remain on the Mountainair Ranger District and will continue patrolling both the Manzano and Gallinas Mountains in the next few days. There will be a total of 6 engines today and 5 engines tomorrow on the district. In addition to the extra engines, the 20 person Ruby Mountain Hot Shot Crew is on the district for additional hand crew support.
“We are so appreciative of all the support that the fire fighters (ours and visitors) and the Ranger District are receiving throughout the community” said Karen Lessard, Mountainair District Ranger.
This will be the final update on the lightning fires sparked up after Sunday’s storm unless other fires are detected in the next few days. Thanks for your patience during a very tense couple of days.
All public is asked to use extreme caution when visiting the National Forest. Please be aware, the Mountainair Ranger District will be going into Stage 3, Partial Forest Closure on Monday, June 10. For more information call Arlene Perea or the Mountainair Ranger District at 505-847-2990.
Public Service Announcement: Wildlife Festival at WLW in Edgewood, June 15
Join the celebration of New Mexico’s native wildlife and plants at Wildlife West Nature Park’s Wildlife Festival in Edgewood on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Wildlife West’s zoo is one of the few places where people can be close to and observe Mexican Wolves in their natural habitat, get a behind the scenes tour of Koshari, a 500 pound black bear, and learn about 24 other species of wildlife that are native to New Mexico. Tours start each hour during the day.
Representatives from wildlife and environmental organizations will present, including Elke Duerr, Albuquerque filmmaker and conservationist, on Mexican wolves in the wild; Dr. Scott Altenbech on bats; Doug Scott, author of “Waterfalls in New Mexico”, on amazing waterfalls in our arid state; and Dr. Christian Meuli, permaculturalist, on water harvesting. Visitors will also learn about the life cycle of monarch butterflies presented by Tatia Veltkamp from Wings of Enchantment, and the wonderful world of native bees and other pollinators by Laurie Lange from the Pollinator Nation and Bee Collaborative. Laurie will also bring orchard mason bee houses, seeds for pollinator gardens and seed plan kits. Plus, join an herb-walk through Wildlife West lead by Mary Jo Hoven.
Participants are invited to stay for the Cowboy Chuckwagon and Western Swing Dinner Show beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a free-flight Peregrine Falcon show, then the barbeque dinner, followed by a live western-swing music performance by Holy Water & Whiskey. Show ends at 9 p.m. The dinner and show are in a covered all-weather amphitheater and includes a free hayride. Reservations for the dinner show are required by 2 p.m. on the day of the show. Chuckwagon tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, $12 for children 5-11, and kids under 5 are free.
All activities throughout the day, except for the Chuckwagon Dinner Show, are included with regular admission to Wildlife West: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 students and children under 5 are free, plus free parking.
Wildlife West is located just 25 minutes east of Albuquerque, off Interstate-40 and legendary Route 66 in Edgewood. For more information at visit www.wildlifewest.org or call 505-281-7655 or toll-free 1-877-981-WILD (9453).
Schedule of Events:
10am – Gates Open to Wildlife Zoo
11am – Black Bear tours start/repeats hourly plus Butterfly presentation by Tatia Veltkamp/Wings of Enchantment
Noon – Herb-walk by Mary Jo Hoven
1pm – Waterfalls by Doug Scott
2pm – Mexican Wolves by Elke Duerr
3pm – Water Harvesting by Dr. Christian Meuli
4pm – Bats by Dr. Altenbech
Fire Information Meeting, Tuesday May 28, 2013, 6:30 PM Sandia Ranger District
by Karen Takai, Sandia Ranger District – Monday, May 27
Good Morning, We have been actively patrolling our district for the last few weeks with our Sandia RD fire crews and have extra patrol units from Montana. We also have extra employees out and around enforcing our restrictions. When you see them out there please welcome them. They are working long days to keep us safe.
Our fire weather for the next few days will be challenging and we are asking for extra diligence from our community and visitors during this time.
- We are in Stage II fire restrictions which means only stoves with shut off valves are allowed. NO FIRES OR Charcoal BBQ!
- You will be cited for an open fire and if it escapes you will be handed a bill.
- If you can- Cold picnic….the forest is still beautiful and fun without stoves .
- If you see any open fire on the Sandia District please report it immediately to 911 and district 281-3304
- If you are hiking and biking in back country areas be very aware of your locations at all times. Know your fastest escape routes just incase you smell fire or see smoke. Get out of the area!
- Our forest has thousands of dead standing trees due to bug kill over the last 5 years. Be cautious when in your hiking and picnicking make sure there are no dead trees around you especially when winds are blowing. Make sure you are not resting under a dead tree.
- Continuing lowering your risk around your home. Remove woodpiles, rake and remove dead and down vegetation from around your nome, make sure your hoses are connected, fill a few extra containers with water,check your go bag and go over your plan with the family
- Remember fireworks are never allowed
- Be the eyes for our area ahd help be the solution
For many of you thank you so much for your constant support and help during our more challenging times.
For the students that have taken our classes follow your plan. Please help your neighbors who did not take the class and help lessen stress during this fire season.
Do you have a plan? It is time! No procrastinating…….
Fire Information Meeting Tuesday May 28, 2013 6:30pm Sandia Ranger District Station. The meeting is for new resident and a refresher for all. See you there. KT
Karen Takai
Fire Information & Public Affairs
Sandia Ranger District
11776 Hwy 337
Tijeras NM 87059
Ktakai@fs.fed.us
505-281-3304 ex 120
Public Service Announcement: Sandia and Mountainair Ranger Districts – Stage II Fire Restrictions In Effect
Editor’s note: This is late in coming but worth the time travel. We urge our readers to be safe and take these restrictions very, very seriously.
Albuquerque, NM. May 13, 2013. The Cibola National Forest and Grasslands’ Sandia and Mountainair Ranger Districts will begin Stage II fire restrictions effective 8:00 a.m. on Monday, May 13, 2013. “Due to ongoing drought conditions and increasing fire danger, these restrictions are necessary to decrease the likelihood of human-caused wildfires and to protect public health and safety,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Joe Norrell. “In addition, the National Weather Service’s outlook has predicted that drought conditions in the region will persist through July,” he added.
Although the districts will be in fire restrictions, there are many activities that can still be enjoyed on the forest, such as picnicking, hiking and camping. All the campgrounds, picnic areas and trails are expected to be open by May 15. However, please use extreme caution when you’re on the forest, as conditions are very dry and wildfires can start from smoldering cigarettes or sparks from engines.
The Cibola works closely with the cities, counties, state, tribal and federal organizations that border the districts to coordinate fire restrictions. “This collaboration helps ensure the public receives consistent information about fire restrictions in their areas,” said Fire Management Officer Bea Day.
Stage II fire restrictions include:
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove anywhere on the Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts.
Exceptions: The use of petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, propane grills, or heating devices is allowed, provided such devices meet the fire underwriter’s specification for safety and has a turn-off valve. - Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
- Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device.
- Discharging a firearm, air rifle or gas gun.
- Operating a chainsaw, or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device that is properly installed, maintained and in effective working order. They must meet either USDA Forest Service or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice
- Welding or operating acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
- Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway or overnight parking in Forest Service-developed campgrounds and trailheads.
The following are exempt from Stage II fire orders on public lands managed by the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands:
- Persons with a Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission.
- Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
- Residents, owners and lessees of land, and holders of Forest Service recreation special use authorizations within the restricted area, are exempt from Restriction No. 1 above ONLY, provided such fires are within a permanent structure.
Current fire restrictions for the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands are:
- Mountainair Ranger District: Will begin Stage II Fire Restrictions on May 13, 2013.
- Sandia Ranger District: Will begin Stage II Fire Restrictions on May 13, 2013.
- Mt. Taylor Ranger District: Will begin Stage I Fire Restrictions on May 10, 2013. The district’s personal woodcutting permit season is delayed.
- Magdalena Ranger District: No restrictions.
- Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands: No restrictions.
- Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands: No restrictions.
The Cibola’s fire restrictions can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/cibola/alerts-notices
For more information, contact:
Sandia Ranger District: 505.281.3304
Karen Takai; e-mail: ktakai@fs.fed.us
Mountainair Ranger District: 505.847.2990
Arlene Perea; e-mail: atperea@fs.fed.us
Adrian Padilla; e-mail: adrianpadilla@fs.fed.us
Ruth Sutton, Public Affairs Officer
Phone: 505.346.3900; e-mail: rsutton@fs.fed.us
Useful fire websites:
- Cibola National Forest & Grasslands: http://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola
- Fire Restrictions: http://firerestrictions.us/
- FireWise: www.firewise.org
- Southwest Coordination Center: http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/
- National Interagency Fire Center: www.nifc.gov
Public Service Announcement: Public Presentation with Brad Lancaster: Rainwater Harvesting
Provided by Christian Meuli
Event: Turning Water Scarcity Into Water Abundance
Date: Friday, June 7
Time: 6 – 8 pm
Place: George Pearl Hall, UNM School of Architecture and Planning, Central Ave. NE and UNM Cornell Mall, Albuquerque
Sponsors:ErdaGardens and LearningCenter, Kalyx Studio, Querencia Green, and UNM Sustainability Studies Program
Brad Lancaster will present his work on Rainwater Harvesting on Friday, June 7, in George Pearl Hall on the UNM campus at 6 pm, at no cost to the public. The presentation, Turning Water Scarcity Into Water Abundance, will be followed by a book-signing party for Lancaster’s “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond.” Event sponsors include ErdaGardens and LearningCenter, Kalyx Studio, Querencia Green, and UNM Sustainability Studies Program. Refreshments will be provided by La Montanita Coop during the book-signing session.
Brad Lancaster is a permaculture teacher, designer, consultant, the author of the award-winning books “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond,” Volumes 1 and 2, and co-founder of Desert Harvesters. Brad harvests an average of 100,000 gallons of rainwater a year from his property near downtown Tucson, Arizona, where rainfall is twelve inches on average annually. Brad and his brother Rodd have created an oasis in the desert by incorporating rainwater into living air conditioners of food-bearing shade trees, abundant gardens, and a thriving landscape that includes habitat for wildlife.
Brad has inspired thousands of citizens and numerous businesses in Tucson and across the nation to harvest water and sustainably grow local resources. Joanne McEntire of Querencia Green, a community organization, observes that “Rainwater harvesting from rooftops is encouraged in Tucson, along with stormwater capture from paved areas. In Albuquerque our annual average precipitation is less than ten inches. As we acknowledge long-term drought and fluctuating rainstorm patterns, we’ve begun to practice water harvesting. As more neighbors capture rainwater to support gardens, trees and wildlife, more benefits would result.”
On Sunday, June 9, Brad Lancaster will lead a hands-on workshop at KalyxStudioLearningCenter in BernalilloCounty’s SouthValley. Participants will learn and practice earthwork techniques used in water harvesting systems. The workshop will focus specifically on earthworks that can be implemented to improve the efficiency of acequia irrigation for the home garden. Workshop organizer Leslie Buerk comments: “Although we will be constructing a system that combines traditional desert gardening practices with water harvesting techniques as applied to acequia irrigation, all of the techniques relate directly to working with rainwater and greywater systems.” Additional information is available by e-mail directed to info@kalyxstudio.com.
Grow Your Own – Son Of The Return Of Bed 5
by John Weckerle
Return of the Son of Bed 5.
Growing season is upon us once again! Those who have been following New Mexico Central’s experimental gardening exploits have watched as we moved from four foot-square raised beds to the 12 x 24 foot extravaganza that is Bed 5, including its rise, fall, rise, and so on. Initially intended to provide a good rooting depth (24 to 30 inches through most of it) and protection from the elements and the herbivores (except, of course, us), the bed has served us well but needed improvement. Recent developments include replacement of the rabbit fencing and bird netting with poultry fencing, which is more durable than the bird netting. The latter simply did not stand up well to our local wind. The “hill and trough” configuration watered with soaker hose has been replaced with raised beds watered by drip irrigation, which should greatly reduce the water needed to produce the produce, as it were. We appear to have substantially more growing area, as well. Currently in the ground are tomatoes (Roma, Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, Black Krim, and Black Cherry), Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, chard, bell peppers (green, gold, and orange), chiles (Chimayo and New Mexico 6), zucchini, and yellow squash. Still to be planted are cauliflower, eggplant, tomatillos, dill, and basil.
A word about drip irrigation and the installation thereof. At some point in the distant past, your editor became somehow convinced that this was a very difficult and complicated thing. It is not; installing drip irrigation is about as uncomplicated as it gets. Bed 5 was the first foray into this arena, and we have since installed a total of 500 feet of supply line and a multitude of emitters. This ends the tedious hand-watering of trees and shrubs that were looking much worse for the wear, but are now looking much better. Of course, the wildlife have noticed this, and some of our trees and shrubs are now looking a little chewed up by deer that have jumped the fence.
Agenda 21 Is Coming To Kill Your Local Tea Party
by John Weckerle
Okay, maybe not. However, having seen just about enough of the associated silliness and paranoia on the Sandia Tea Party web site, and having had just about enough of special interests and political ideologues misrepresenting sustainability for their own ends, we decided to do a little looking around and gather some information that perhaps represents something just a little closer to reality than what has been presented there and in other far-right venues. We found a few FAQ sites and others associated with organizations officially associated with Agenda 21. Predictably, what we found was substantially different from the interpretations provided by the Sandia Tea Party, and we’ll get to that presently.
We also decided to see what the other local Tea Party chapter, the East Mountain Tea Party, had to say about the issue, and were surprised to find evidence that the organization may be defunct. The domain now resolves to the Albuquerque Tea Party site, and there have been no posts to the EMTP’s Facebook page since October. With no other explanation, we must assume that the proponents of Agenda 21 are responsible for the demise. Less clear is the reason that the Chavez County Tea Party Patriots web site, as linked from the Albuquerque Tea Party site, is now presented in either Chinese or Japanese (we’re not sure which); perhaps they’ve outsourced themselves to Asia.
Now, on to Agenda 21. We will not provide an exhaustive description here but will highlight a few points and provide links for the perusal of our readers, who we believe to be just a little more fact-conscious than some. We’ll begin by providing a link to the text of Agenda 21, provided by the Institute for Global Communications (alternatively, you can download it in PDF format from the UN website). It’s a big document – 351 pages – but what we’ve read of it does not seem to support an impression of a socialist/environmental extremist conspiracy. A bit of “myth debunking” can be found in the article “Agenda 21: Just the Facts” presented by the Better World Campaign. Of critical importance: Agenda 21 is not a treaty, is not binding in any way, and does not afford the United Nations any particular authority for implementation. The article “What Is Agenda 21?” by the UN Dispatch explores the “controversies” surrounding the initiative, including the conspiracy theories being presented by various special interest and political groups opposed to what they describe as “sustainability” – which is, of course, not sustainability at all. The Wikipedia article on Agenda 21 similarly points out the initiatives voluntary and non-binding status.
A non-UN organization composed of local governments – ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability (formerly the International Council for Local Initiatives) describes itself here, stating in part: ” ICLEI is a powerful movement of 12 mega-cities, 100 super-cities and urban regions, 450 large cities as well as 450 small and medium-sized cities and towns in 84 countries. ICLEI promotes local action for global sustainability and supports cities to become sustainable, resilient, resource-efficient, biodiverse, low-carbon; to build a smart infrastructure; and to develop an inclusive, green urban economy. The ultimate aim is to achieve healthy and happy communities. We have developed stable, long-term programs to support local-level sustainability and continue to develop innovative new programs to respond to issues of international concern.” In its article “FAQ: ICLEI, the United Nations, and Agenda 21: Setting the Record Straight About ICLEI,” ICLEI-Local Governments USA states (among other things): “ICLEI is a champion of local governments. Working with elected officials, ICLEI’s World Secretariat helps voice local government needs and priorities during international negotiations and agreements that will effect local governments, such as the U.N. climate negotiations and the upcoming Rio+20 summit.”
Sustainability is not an international socialist-environmental extremist conspiracy. It is not out to take anyone’s land away, prevent anyone from having children, or force anyone into indentured service as the only means to get drinking water. We encourage our readers to follow the links provided in this article and learn more about Agenda 21 and sustainability initiatives in general.
Dates, Headliner Set For Wildlife Music Festival
by John Weckerle
The 11th Annual Wildlife Music Festival, scheduled for July 20 and 21, 2013, will feature the internationally known Lisa Haley and the Zydekats, an Americana/Cajun/Zydeco band featuring original tunes, Louisana Bayou, French Celtic, R&B, and Jazz music. According to the band’s bio:
Since beginning in 1995, Lisa Haley & the Zydekats are today the world’s most joyful Americana/Cajun/Zydeco band.
She is charted on Billboard and nominated for the GRAMMY®
Lisa’s newest album, “Joy Ride” is submitted for GRAMMY® 2013.
Her original tunes and Louisiana Bayou, French Celtic, R&B and Jazz rhythms represent Zydeco for Hollywood Bowl Summersounds, Sir George Martin’s film “Rhythm of Life,” GRAMMY® Museum, and festivals in over 20 countries.
With two women in her four-piece band, this fourth-generation fiddler, dancer and vocalist is an adventure sure to make us laugh, cry…
and above all, DANCE!
Among her fans are Keb’Mo’ and Little Richard.
The festival, an Albuquerque area tradition was initially a collaboration between Wildlife West Nature Park and the Town of Edgewood focusing on bluegrass, but the Town abruptly pulled its funding in 2008. Thanks to the efforts of the Park’s founder (Roger Alink), its corps of dedicated volunteers, local and national supporters, and event producer Richard Eager of Eager Image, the event rebounded quickly to become one of the major music festivals in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas. In recent years, the festival has expanded to include a broader variety of musical traditions. Past events have included nationally known acts including the Claire Lynch Band, John McCutcheon, the Byorn Berline Band, Pat Donohue, the Bill Hearne Trio, Alan Munde and Gazette, Sweet Sunny South, April Verch, the Trillium Marimba Ensemble, and the Boulder Acoustic Society – all joined by some of the best New Mexico and regional acts to be found. The introduction of a band that includes Zydeco – a typically fast-tempo American roots musical genre – in its repertoire is sure to delight fans of nearly all genres, as Zydeco has incorporated many of them throughout the years. Of course, attendees can expect plenty of the event’s traditional genres, including bluegrass, as well.
The Park and Mr. Eager are working to finalize the lineup for the festival, which will be posted on the Park web site and reported here. For more information on the festival, check out the Wildlife Music Festival page. For more information on Zydeco, check out the Wikipedia article on Zydeco. Samples of the band’s music can be accessed through their web site, and examples of Zydeco music can be found by searching for “Zydeco” on YouTube.
Grow Your Own – Baby, It’s Cold Outside…
by John Weckerle
…But not so cold that we’re not thinking about growing vegetables and the subsequent feasting.
January’s far too early to plant outdoors and a little early for starting most seeds, but it’s certainly not too early to start conceptualizing with respect to the coming season. After reviewing the lessons learned from Bed 5 over the last couple of years (particularly those associated with muddy shoes, holes in soaker hose and fighting through a jungle to get to the produce), we’ve decided that it would be more effective to construct individual raised beds within the structure to use water more efficiently and make maintenance and harvesting easier. We are also still deciding whether to do a little reinforcing on the existing hoop structure or go to a wider diameter PVC – something we can do either in the Spring or the Fall, depending on what time permits, and when.
In the spirit of planning, we decided to check out the fully functional, 30-day free trial of the Mother Earth News Vegetable Garden Planner ($25 annual subscription, but no credit card required for the trial) as a way to work out the revamped arrangement of Bed 6. This is a slick tool capable of some fairly complicated layouts, and it includes features including a plant database that automatically calculates spacing for the veggies. Subscribers can receive e-mail reminders regarding when to plant various veggies, which can be a big help with succession planting. We came up with this preliminary layout which also includes the repurposed Beds 1 and 2:
Preliminary Garden Layout – Beds 1, 2, and 5.
We knocked this out in a short time this morning, so those who don’t wish to subscribe to the planner can at least get a layout together easily during the 30-day trial. Some the labels – bok choy, lettuce, and others – are a little difficult to see in this figure, but overall this worked out very well, and with very little effort. Some things may change, but this gave us the opportunity to quickly design a vegetable patch that will a) produce food, and b) be a much more pleasant place in which to work. This was actually quite a bit of fun, and we recommend that those of our readers who are planning on gardening this year sign up for the free trial and take it for a spin.
Sandia Ranger District Implementing Prescribed Burns
by Karen Takai, Sandia Ranger District
TIJERAS, NM, November 16, 2012– Sandia Ranger District will tentatively be implementing two prescribed burns, weather permitting, after December 1st 2012, the Casa Loma and Talking Talons Burns. These burns are a continuation of a fuels reduction program on the Sandia Ranger District. The Casa Loma burn is approximately 14 acres and the Talking Talons burn is approximately 80 acres.
Frequent low intensity fires are natural and necessary components of a healthy forest. This ecosystem depends on fire to promote new vegetation, enhance habitat and reduce the threat of large fire. It improves public and firefighter safety by reducing the accumulated fuels that could otherwise contribute to more intense fire behavior under hotter/drier conditions. The broadcast prescribed burning process applies low intensity fire across the forest floor to consume small debris and ground litter.
All prescribed fire activity is dependent on personnel availability, weather (including winds, ventilation) and approval from the New Mexico Smoke Management. They are based upon specific assessments, agency guidelines and safety protocols. During this burn, managers will continuously monitor weather conditions, including wind, temperature, and relative humidity. Fuel conditions including fuel moisture and the quantity of fuels are also measured. Smoke will be visible and expected to have variable affects to neighboring communities.
Fire managers make every effort to minimize smoke impacts to the communities while continuing to address the critical need to reduce the risk of severe wildfires around those communities. Tactics to keep smoke impacts as minimal as possible include canceling approved burns when conditions aren’t favorable, finding alternative uses for the debris in slash piles, timing daytime ignitions to allow the majority of smoke time to disperse prior to settling overnight, and burning larger sections at a time when conditions are favorable to reduce the overall number of days smoke is in the area.
In addition, the Sandia Ranger District coordinates prescribed fire plans with our partners in the county, city and state, as well as neighboring districts, to reduce the impact of smoke on the communities.
The public can obtain additional prescribed fire information via the following:
- Cibola National Forest: www.fs.usda.gov/cibola
- Smoke Management go to http://nmfireinfo.com/smoke-management/ or
- http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/aqb/SMP/smp_index.html
- Sign-up for regular email notifications and updates of planned burns and wildfires: ktakai@fs.fed.us
- Sandia Ranger District 505-281-3304
Tavern Taxi Program Revved Up For The Holidays
Editor’s note: Be smart and be safe, folks; there are more holidays coming and we want all our readers to be around and healthy to enjoy them!
by Nataura C. Powdrell, Bernalillo County Public Information Department
Bernalillo County – The Tavern Taxi program is once again offering free rides to residents to and from their favorite restaurant or bar during this holiday season.
Bernalillo County Department of Substance Abuse and the New Mexico Hospitality Retailers Association are collaborating again on Thanksgiving Eve to support the Taxi Tavern program.
On Thanksgiving Eve, residents can take advantage of the free rides by calling 505-999-1400 for pick-up. Reservations are encouraged. The server or bartender calls for the taxi when the patron is ready to go home.
“This project has been a great success because it offers a viable alternative to drinking and driving,” says Katrina Hotrum, Department of Substance Abuse Program Director. “It is making a difference in how people plan their evening out and how they get home safely without endangering lives.”
Since joining with the Tavern Taxi program last Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve’s, St. Patrick’s Day, and every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening, Bernalillo County has safely transported 2,843 passengers to and from their destinations.