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.
Bernalillo County Hosts Free Spay/Neuter Clinic and Low Cost Walk-in Shot Clinic
by Larry Gallegos, Bernalillo County Public Information Department
Bernalillo County – Bernalillo County Animal Care Services, New Mexico Dogs Deserve Better, and the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society are joining together to provide free spay/neuter services to residents of unincorporated Bernalillo County.
“This clinic is a very important step to help in reducing the populations in our community animal shelters,” says Bernalillo County Animal Care Services Director Matt Pepper. “It also provides a service to some in our community that want to do what’s best for their pets but lack the financial means to do so.”
The event will be held on Friday, Nov. 9, Saturday, Nov. 10, and Sunday, Nov, 11, with a free walk-in shot clinic from noon to 3 p.m. each day, at the Bernalillo County Animal Care Offices located at 1126 Gatewood SW. Pet owners must be residents of unincorporated Bernalillo County.
The Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society mobile spay/neuter van will be at the Animal Care Services offices and a total of 40 animals (dogs and cats) will be spayed or neutered each day. Pet owners have already pre-registered for spay/neuter services.
Price list for additional services available during the shot clinic:
Standard deworming $5
Deworming (tapeworms) Cats $10/Dogs up to 25 lbs $10/Dogs 26 to 60 lbs $20/Dogs over 60 lbs $25
Microchipping $6 Nail Trims $5 E-collar $5
Flea/tick prevention $15 per dose (each dose protects your pet for one month)
Heartworm prevention (6 months)
Dogs up to 25 lbs $27/Dogs 26 to 50 lbs $32/Dogs 51 to 100 lbs $37
Vaccinations: Rabies (one year or three year) $10 Parvo/distemper $10
Feline distemper $10 Bortella $10 Feline Leukemia $15
Tests: Feline leukemia virus/feline immuno virus test $25 Heartworm test $15 Parvo test $25
Bernalillo County Animal Care Services Director Matt Pepper and representatives from New Mexico Dogs Deserve Better and the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society will be available for interviews on Friday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Barbarism In New Mexico
by John Weckerle
We received an e-mail this morning regarding a coyote slaughtering contest sponsored by Gunhawk Firearms of Los Lunas, New Mexico. While we support New Mexicans’ right to hunt – this does, after all, put food on a lot of folks’ tables – and we understand that sometimes it can be very difficult to live with wildlife. However, this is not hunting, or even “animal damage control;” it is slaughter for fun and profit. We denounce this repulsive and barbaric event and have written to Governor Susana Martinez asking that she do the same. We are also suggesting that gun owners in New Mexico find somewhere else to purchase their equipment and supplies. For more information, see the Animal Protection of New Mexico article and the KOAT-TV article. If you’d like to let the gun shop owners know how you feel about this personally, their number is listed as 505-865-3500 and their address is listed as 1400 Main St., Los Lunas, NM 87031-4812 in case local residents would like to stop in and speak to them directly.
Fire Agencies Warn New Mexicans About Fall Fire Danger
by Arlene Perea, Mountainair Ranger District
As the fall and winter holidays approach and more New Mexicans plan vacations or hunting trips close to home, Federal and State Fire Agencies are urging caution about fire danger across many parts of the state.
Lack of moisture and warm mild conditions this fall have caused fine, grassy fuels and brush to dry, making them susceptible to wildfire.
Here are some suggestions to help prevent wildfires:
For Campers, Hunters and Drivers:
- If you do not need a fire do not build one.
- Use established camp fire rings when available.
- Make sure campfires are away from overhanging branches, steep slopes and leaves.
- Keep water and a shovel near the campfire.
- Douse campfire with water and stir one hour before leaving.
- Make sure the fire is cool to the touch before leaving the area-even if you are leaving for a short hike.
- Children should always be supervised by adults whenever there is a campfire.
- Only smoke in approved areas and dispose of smoking materials properly.
- While driving, avoid pulling over into areas with tall grass. Hot catalytic converters or exhaust particles can ignite grasses along the roadway.
- If pulling a trailer, make sure chains are not dragging along the pavement as the sparks can fly and start a fire.
For Landowners:
- Thin trees and brush near structures.
- Remove weeds and mow dry grasses.
- Clear twig and leaf litter from roofs and gutters.
- Stack firewood well away from structures.
- Surround structures with drought and fire-resistant or irrigated landscape.
- Have a plan for evacuation
On behalf of your fire response agencies please be fire safe.
Reduce fire risk on your landscape and remember campfires dead out!
Ordinanciationism
by John Weckerle
In the November 1, 2012 edition of the Mountainview Telegraph, Edgewood resident and Tea Party organizer Bob Steiner provides a letter to the editor titled “Property Rights and Edgewood.” In the letter, Mr. Steiner opens with a lament with respect to the multiplicity of jurisdictions to be encountered near the borders of a small town located near the borders of three counties. These focus on the multiple jurisdictions as they apply to emergency services and animal control, and the duplication of services. About halfway through the letter, Mr. Steiner gets to the main point: that Santa Fe County has proposed a Sustainable Land Development Code (SLDC) and “that may really hurt some county residents.” Mr. Steiner, after stating vaguely that the ordinance “will force land owners to strictly adhere to severe new restrictions that limit where they could erect housing and industrial buildings,” declares that “It also dictates that some multi-family housing (apartments) must be built.”
A sentence or two further on, after suggesting that the County has assembled a sort of ideological goon squad to market the ordinance, Mr. Steiner states: “According to another local press source, this “simple” ordinance has some 350 pages and has still to be vetted by legal authority.” This would, on the face of it, seem to suggest that Mr. Steiner had not actually seen the ordinance, and we figured that we should take a look. Employing more of the advanced research techniques that are available to us and not the Tea Party – the County web site, Adobe Reader, and the CTRL and F keys – we were able to isolate all uses of “multi” in the document (there are 75), and determine that there is absolutely nowhere in the document where the use of “multi” involves a requirement to build anything. Neither do references to “apartments” (7 instances).
There is, however, a requirement that a certain percentage of housing be affordable, which might be part of the confusion, as such requirements tend to cause some heartburn in certain circles – especially circles that have gone on record with the opinion that sustainability is some sort of international socialist conspiracy. This section of the ordinance – Chapter 13 – also causes some indigestion here, although for different reasons. Chapter 13 contains references to terms not defined or used in any other place in the ordinance (for example, Major Project and Minor Project). The ordinance requires the Affordable Housing Administrator to “recommend and present to the Board proposed Affordable Housing Regulations” and appropriate amendments. The affordable housing requirements in the ordinance rely on income ranges “specified in the affordable housing regulations,” which of course would appear not to have been passed, at least based on the wording of the ordinance. Proper definitions and regulatory references are vital to any ordinance and, based on this and a quick perusal of other parts of the ordinance, we find it difficult to argue against Mr. Steiner’s suggestion that it has not benefited from a thorough legal review – which we think should happen before, and not after, release to the public.
While we agree that the County should proceed slowly, it is not because of unspecified, probably fictitious, egregious requirements but because the ordinance as currently worded simply does not appear to pass muster as a well-organized and enforceable document. Because we are staunch supporters of sustainability (which probably brands us as socialist conspirators from Planet Ten), we’d like to suggest that the County engage their attorneys and other specialists in developing sustainable development codes, rework the document to a greater degree of completion, and reissue it for public review.
In case Edgewood residents are concerned about where they fall in all this: we feel it important to point out that this ordinance specifically applies, as pointed out in Section 1.8, to the unincorporated portion of the County, which does not include Edgewood.
Christmas Fair In Mountainair
by John Weckerle
Checking in on our friends at Mountainair Announcements, we find that there will be a Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair in Mountainair on Saturday, November 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, see the Mountainair Announcements article.
Assaulting Battery Grants
by John Weckerle
We turn our baleful eye once again on the writings of the writings of the Sandia Tea Party. In an article titled “Stimulus Funds: Failing & Falling Into The Tank,” Edgewood Town Councilor and Sandia Tea Party internet spokesman Chuck Ring provides us a link to a Washington Times article that is apparently to be considered evidence that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has been a failure (this despite steady, albeit slow, improvements in key economic indicators): a bankruptcy filing by battery maker A123 Systems, which had “received a nearly quarter-billion-dollar stimulus grant in late 2009, but federal job-tracking figures show only a few hundred positions were created before the company joined a growing list of federally backed energy businesses that ended in bankruptcy.” The Sandia Tea Party article laments: Many a dollar has been wasted and deposited in Obama’s vast wastage pit.
Alarmed, we employed some of the advanced research that is available to New Mexico Central but apparently not to the Sandia Tea Party – Google – and found an article in the Washington Post that provides what may perhaps be a more detailed and less politically focused account of A123’s bankruptcy. In short, the stimulus-funded facilities were acquired by Johnson Controls, Inc., and are still operating, and no jobs have been lost. The company had only drawn on $129 million of the grant when it filed for bankruptcy – specifically, Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows the company to continue operations while reorganizing. The ultimate goal of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is not to go out of business, but to emerge from bankruptcy and continue to operate thereafter. We’ll also note that the stimulus grant has resulted in 400 jobs so far. We recommend that readers of the Washington Times article also read the Washington Post article before deciding whether reports that the A123 story represents a “failure” are perhaps a trifle overblown.
Monkeys On Trial In The Estancia Valley?
by John Weckerle
We found ourselves not-too-terribly surprised to read recent articles (“Charter School Warned,” “PED warns charter school against religious teachings“) regarding accusations by the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) that the Estancia Valley Classical Academy (ECVA) may have strayed over the line between religious and secular education. Our lack of surprise – and, to some extent, our amusement – stems from the fact that both articles mention an individual who was featured in the context of his views on “science” (including an apparent bent toward creationism or, at least, anti-evolutionism) in one of our previous articles (See our August 11, 2011 article, An Article About Articles). That individual, Roger Lenard, is variously described as “one of the school’s founders” and the president of the school’s governing council.
Given the subject of these stories and the concerns reportedly expressed by parents regarding what their children are being taught about science, we find ourselves perplexed that Mr. Lenard’s fame in the creationist universe has thus far been ignored by the journalistic community. In addition to our article and the New Mexicans for Science and Reason (NMSR) article cited therein, we find references to Mr. Lenard as a “creation scientist” (here), and a “celebrated creationist,” (here). He is prominently figured in the NMSR article Creationism In New Mexico, and quoted here as saying “Creation scientists hold revealed Truth as supreme, other forms are subordinate.”
Given the many references to Mr. Lenard’s reported creationist beliefs and purported attempts to insert them into academic curricula, we certainly understand why parents would be concerned about what may be taught in science classes at a school over whose curriculum Mr. Lenard likely wields substantial influence. We urge parents to get involved and continue to engage the PED on this issue and get to the bottom of the matter.
Stopping To Look At The Scenery
by John Weckerle
Last Tuesday found us taking some friends visiting town for a day on a tram ride and a short guided tour of Sandia Peak. Along the way, we managed to take a few High Dynamic Range (HDR) photos. Enjoy!
Rio Grande Valley and Sandia Mountains from Sandia Peak, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Kiwanis Cabin, Sandia Peak, New Mexico
Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Granite outcrop, Sandia Peak, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Clouds over the Rio Grande Valley from Sandia Peak, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Here, And Gone, And Here, And Gone Again, And Here Again, And…
by John Weckerle
Those of our readers who are still tuned in most likely noticed that there was a nearly two-month hiatus in our coverage of – well, everything. This is probably the longest break in our commentary since we started up, and we’re still not sure just how often we’ll be posting, although we’re pretty sure it will be more often than once every couple of months.
There are two major reasons for our absence. First, your editor has experienced a reconfiguration of professional activities, and this change, while a very good one, has included both a great deal of being very busy and an unavailability of access to the blog. Second, quite simply, we got tired of being angry.
Let’s face it; when you’re spending a substantial amount of time investigating corruption and debunking politically motivated falsehoods, bigotry, and other nastiness, you run the risk of having it get to you. It can be very labor-intensive, especially for those of us who actually try to research and fact-check the things we produce, and the risk of doing so is that it typically involves immersing oneself in a rather unpleasant stew of unsavory material. Indignation, anger, and similar emotions can be a drain on one’s energies.
During a trip to Washington, D.C. last week, I had a discussion touching on this with a colleague. We both probably fall within the “more or less centrist” realm, although we are likely on different sides of the theoretical political mean. One of the many things we agreed upon was that the fringe groups are co-opting the political discourse, and in a destructive manner. The problem is that a lot of the rest of us appear to be either falling for it or bowing out, and the result has been a prolonged economic downturn, the appearance of a negative national attitude, and a dubious future. We’re stuck with a legislature that cannot seem to make progress on what should be sensible national priorities because it is mired in ideological conflict, and hardly a half-year goes by without Congress flirting with national financial disaster over some dearly held, all-or-nothing political position that is probably not held as an absolute necessity by most of us.
It is time for line-in-the-sand politics to come to an end. The nation faces serious problems that need attention and action, and opportunities that should be seized. If we turn our attention to what works rather than what we believe (as opposed to what we can demonstrate), we can make headway and not only bring our economy back from the brink, but set it on a course to reach new heights that include opportunities for all – and we can do it without destroying the environment or leaving people behind. To accomplish this, however, we’re going to have to take the spotlight off the fringes, get it on center stage, and let the bitter, anti-government extremists wail alone in the darkness.
At this point, we’ve pointed out enough dishonesty and prejudice on the part of the fringes to make it clear that these are the hallmarks of their efforts. At this point, anybody who’s still taking them seriously is probably going to continue to do so, regardless of what we demonstrate concerning their credibility, and we’re tired of sounding like a broken record. We’ll probably take aim once in a while, but likely with far less frequency. Instead, we may wish to bring out information that will shine a light under the rocks, so to speak, and counter the disinformation being circulated by special interests masquerading as grass-roots movements with actual information that has at least some support from the world of facts and real analysis.
In short – it’s time for us to move on – and by “us,” we don’t just mean those of us at New Mexico Central headquarters, but all of us who can. Let those of us who can come together do so, and let the others remain apart if they must.
Commissioner Johnson Urges Bear Smarts
Editor’s note: This is good information, and we hope people will heed it. Bear in mind also: similar precautions are warranted with ALL wildlife. For the most part, fear of humans is one of an animal’s best friends, helping them avoid the kind of problems that can arise when interactions become too close.
by Catherine Lopez, Bernalillo County Public Information Department
Safer Community for Residents and Bears
Bernalillo County – Commissioner Wayne A. Johnson encourages county residents, especially those in the East Mountains, to take precautions with bears.
Residents are encouraged to make their homes and yards bear proof to increase safety for both bears and people.
“A bear’s eating behavior can alter after just one meal. Once the bear identifies a resident’s home as a source of food, it will continue to go back,” says Commissioner Wayne A. Johnson. “Eliminating their access to our trash is the number one thing people can do to prevent a problem.”
One of the biggest attractions for bears is unsecured garbage, and bears will often visit a same spot again and again. Other big lures for bears are bird feeders, pet food and barbeque grills.
A little prevention can go a long way. Residents should place bird feeders out of reach, and bring them in at night. Also, barbecue grills should be cleaned and stored; trash should be secured in a garage or shed; and garbage should be placed outside only the same day of pickup. Each of these steps can deter bears significantly.
The danger in attracting bears is that the animals can become comfortable with humans, which can lead to problems for people and these animals.
As bears get used to feeding off trash, they tend to become more bold and aggressive. Looking for more, they could start breaking into homes and cars and become less fearful of people.
Right now, bears are consuming anywhere from 1,500 to 4,000 calories a day. In a few weeks, they will begin to prepare for hibernation and will need to eat as many as 15,000 to 23,000 calories a day.
For more tips on bear proofing your home and yard, please visit www.bernco.gov.
Grow Your Own: It’s A Jungle Out There, Kiddies…
by John Weckerle
We interrupt this hiatus to bring our readers an update on our horticultural efforts, which this year have focused primarily on Bed 5, dedicated to vegetables, and Bed 6, the herb garden. (Bed 1 has been moved to the vicinity of Bed 5, as Beds 2 and 3 will be; Bed 4 is mainly floral this year, although we got some great snow peas out of it at the beginning of the season) Bed 6 is doing just fine and we look forward to some basil pesto here before too long.
Bed 5
As the photo of Bed 5 shows, most of our veggies this year are coming along nicely. We still have not seen any tomatoes, although given the emergence of flowers we expect to see them before long. The eggplants have started setting fruit, and we’ll keep a close watch in anticipation of eggplant parmigiana, eggplant lasagna, and a host of other nifty dishes beginning sometime in the next couple of weeks or so. The cauliflower looks extremely healthy. Unfortunately, the broccoli took a beating from some sort of tiny beetle, although several have survived and seem to be doing well. Something is eating the fruits of the green bell peppers, and we fear that we may have to set a mouse trap; however, we have heard rumors of a beetle that usually feeds on alfalfa that has gotten food-eclectic this year, so we’ll try picking up some diatomaceous earth to see if that helps.
Today’s Loot!
Our current big producers are the green beans (several bush varieties). As the photo shows, we’re pulling in some fairly good quantities and are enjoying them greatly. They go great with the dill growing next to the tomatoes, and we have a number of recipes lined up given the amount we have to eat. If all else fails, we can blanch and freeze them.
Have a very fruitful day!
PSA: Help Prevent Wildfires on the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands
Albuquerque, NM. May 23, 2012. Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer recreation season. Each year, thousands of people enjoy activities such as hiking, camping, picnicking, OHV driving, when they visit the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands. “We want everyone who comes to the Cibola to enjoy themselves, but we have extremely dry conditions and we need their help to prevent wildfires,” said Susan Millsap, Acting Forest Supervisor.
Currently, none of the Cibola’s six districts have fire restrictions, but hot, windy weather and dry storms are predicted over the next week, which will increase the risk for significant fire activity. “If these conditions persist, then some of our districts may go into fire restrictions in the near future,” said Millsap.
The Southwestern Region is currently at Preparedness Level 3, which means that there are large fires in the region and fire behavior is escalating and of concern to multiple agencies and fire managers.
Most wildfires are human-caused and are started from untended campfires, smoldering cigarettes and sparks from engines. To help prevent wildfires, please:
- Check Fire Restrictions. Before you go, call the Ranger District or the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands Supervisor’s Office to find out if there are any restrictions in place. Current fire restrictions can be found on the Cibola’s website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola/
- Never use Fireworks. All fireworks, including sparklers, are not allowed on National Forests. A small spark at the wrong time could cause a devastating wildfire.
- Make sure campfires are dead out. Extinguish your fire or barbecue one hour before you leave the area. Use lots of water and douse it until you see water floating on the wood/coals and the fire ash is cold to touch. Partially extinguished fires can be fanned by evening winds and re-kindle fires that may take off the next day. Be careful!
Web sites and phone numbers:
- Southwest Coordination Center: http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/
- National Interagency Fire Center: www.nifc.gov
- National Incident Information Center: www.fs.fed.us/news/fire
- FireWise: www.firewise.org
- Regional Fire Restrictions Hotline: 1.877.864.6985
Ruth Sutton, Public Affairs Officer
Cibola National Forest & Grasslands
2113 Osuna NE; Albuquerque, NM 87113
Phone: 505.346.3894
Cell: 505.331.3075
PSA: Junior Zookeepers Day Camp Schedule
Received from Karen Mahalick, Edgewood Town Administrator
THE TOWN OF EDGEWOOD
and
WILDLIFE WEST NATURE PARK
are
SPONSORING A JUNIOR ZOOKEEPERS DAY CAMP
WHEN: Session – June 4th through 8lh
Session – June 25th through 29th WFIERE: Wildlife West Nature Park
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Ages 7 through 15 at $25.00 per student, only 30 students per session. Sign up now as the sessions are filling up fast. Snacks and water provided. On the last day, enjoy a family barbecue, receive a certificate.
Learn details of basic animal care, gain knowledge about New Mexico’s wildlife and natural resources. Watch a live raptor presentation. Participate in various activities, projects, and environmental games.
For more information, please contact Roger Alink, Founder at 281-7655
Edgewood Considers Relinquishing Section 32 Open Space Back To State Land Office
(Editor’s note: We recommend that the Town Council hold on to this property for at least another year, and make a good faith effort to resolve the access issue.)
From Roger Holden:
Note item 10. E. on the Town of Edgewood meeting agenda for May 2nd at 6:30 at the Community Center.
10. MATTERS FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR/PLANNER.
A. Right of Way for Paving Projects.
B. Wastewater Report.
C. Selection Committee for RFP Evaluations.
D. Public Hearing – Adoption of Emergency Ordinance Declaring Hazardous Fire Conditions and Fire Hazards.
E. Relinquishing Section 32 back to State Land Office.
see attached map for location
Voice your concern by emailing your councilors and/or attending and signing up to speak at the meeting tomorrow night.
Sherry Abraham
John Abrams
Chuck Ring
Rita-Loy Simmons
Remember, this is 695 acres of land with trails. Granted, access has always been a concern however, this acreage along with the adjacent 80 acres of BLM land and 165 acres of City of Albuquerque Open Space makes a total of 940 acres of Open Space for hiking, biking and horseback riding which is adjacent and accessable from the SASS (Single Action Shooters Society) Founders Ranch.
This is a resourse that once relinquished, may not be available again. The lease is $1,500 per year.
Please voice your concern.
Thank you,
Roger Holden