SANDOVAL PLACITAS PRSRT-STD U.S. Postage Paid BERNALILLO Placitas, NM Permit #3 CORRALES SANDOVAL Postal Customer or Current Resident COUNTY ECRWSS NEW MEXICO SignA N INDEPENDENT PLOCAL NEWSPAPER St S INCE 1988 • VOL. 32 / NO 9 • SEPTEMBER 2021 • FREE IVEN By the numbers: D ILL New Mexico and —B the 2020 Census ~SIGNPOST STAFF While Sandoval County remains among the fastest growing counties in the state, New Mexico’s overall growth rate lags well behind its neighbors, according to data from the 2020 Census released last month. Over the last ten years, Sandoval County grew by 17,273 residents for a total population of 148,834, a 13.1 percent increase. Faster growth was noted only in Eddy County, 15.8 percent, and Lea County, 15 percent, both in the southeast Oil Patch. Sandoval remains the fourth-largest county by pop- ulation behind Bernalillo, Doña Ana, and Santa Fe counties. The state’s population reached 2.1 million with 58,343 more residents, up 2.8 percent since the 2010 Census. The nation as a whole grew by 7.4 percent, the lowest rate since the 1930s, and compares to rates U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury visits with John Stebbins of Placitas after her listening session of ten percent or more in states surrounding New at the Placitas Community Library. Stansbury, elected in June to fill out Rep. Deb Haaland’s term, Mexico except Oklahoma. was touring the district with her staff during the August congressional recess. Data also show New Mexico to be among the most racially and ethnically diverse state. As one of six majority-minority states, New Mexico is now 49 per- Stansbury brings listening tour to Placitas cent Hispanic, 37 percent Anglo, ten percent Native American, and two percent African American. ~BILL DIVEN Much of the detailed state data released on August When Congress fled the heat and humidity of a letter that (Sen.) Martin Heinrich is sending 12 was in highly technical formats for redistricting, the capital for its traditional August recess, this week on the Buffalo Tract bill, and I plan the process of realigning 435 U.S. House seats and Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury soon found to join as a cosponsor to that bill,” she said. state-level voting districts every ten years to balance herself in Placitas. Heinrich’s bill, introduced in the Senate in population shifts. More data in user-friendly formats As the state’s newest congressperson toured February, marks the third attempt to block are expected soon. her First Congressional District, Placitas was expansion of existing gravel mining along Inter- On the national level, Census data released in April one of dozens of stops where she held open state 25 onto the BLM lands. Previous versions showed seven states losing a House seat, five gaining office hours and a meeting with constituents, died when the two-year congressional sessions a seat and Texas adding two. and community, business, educational, govern- ended. For New Mexico that means our three congressional ment and tribal leaders and groups. The visit to The bill is named for the largest of the BLM districts will see some changes so that each will rep- Placitas on August 11, and to Bernalillo the parcels, 3,139-acres in northwest that on a map resents as close as possible to one-third of the state evening before, were among the 11 public gath- resembles a side view of a buffalo facing west. population. For example, southeast Sandoval County erings billed as “listening sessions.” Stansbury moved from the New Mexico in the Albuquerque-centric First Congressional Dis- “It’s important as I step into this role that House, where she was beginning her second trict prior to the 1990 Census was in the northern your voice is heard,” Stansbury told about fifty two-year term, to the U.S. House in June by Third District. people assembled and wearing masks in the winning a special election to complete Rep. New this time around is state legislators in the last new wing of the Placitas Community Library. Deb Haaland’s term. This after President Biden session creating a nonpartisan Citizen Redistricting “I’ve brought my entire staff so they could hear appointed Haaland Secretary of the Interior. Committee (NMRedistricting.org) whose duty is to all of you.” Haaland’s new realm includes the BLM, and propose maps for the congressional districts, seventy The first topic—what are the most important there is a move in progress requesting she state House seats, 32 state Senate seats, and the ten- issues facing Placitas?—brought a quick administratively ban mineral development member Public Education Commission. The commit- response from Sandy Johnson: passage of the while the Buffalo Tract bill is pending. tee has been holding meetings around the state with Buffalo Tract Protection Act. That bill, if signed Stansbury already was familiar with Placitas, one scheduled for September 28, at 3:00 p.m., in the into law, would prohibit gravel quarries and noting that while she was born in Farmington, Sandoval County Commission chambers in southwest other mineral development on nearly 4,300 her mother lived here in the late 1960s and Bernalillo. acres of public land administered by the Bureau early ‘70s. While in the Legislature, she repre- While the goal of the committee is to reduce the of Land Management at four locations in Plac- sented a district in northeast Albuquerque. political maneuvering that traditionally influences the itas. Her turf now includes Bernalillo and Torrance process, the Legislature during a special session later Johnson’s comment and Stansbury’s response counties, a sliver of far southwest Santa Fe this year still will have the final say. Final, that is, both drew applause. County, and far southeast Sandoval County, unless the courts get involved, as happened ten years “I want to let you all know that I signed onto ago. —continued on page 4 That’s when Republican Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed the new legislative maps approved by the Democrat-controlled Legislature, and a District Court judge approved new versions. Find the Signpost online at www.sandovalsignpost.com Back issues • Services • Community Links PAGE 2 • SEPTEMBER 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 TABLE OF CONTENTS BUY ONE FRAME AND LENS, Up Front 1 Gauntlet 22 Animal News 27 GET NEXT PAIR Around Town 5 Youth 22 Lalo’s Pics 28 40% OFF. Expires 10/15/21 Public Safety 10 Time Off 23 Classifieds 29 Real People 16 Calendar 24 Stereogram 31 Health 17 Community 25 Arts 18 Night Sky 26 Don’t Let Red, Itchy Eyes Spoil Your Spring. Seeing all the beauty of the season can be tough when you’re looking at the world through irritated eyes. We can offer real relief for ocular allergies with: • Prescription medications • Daily wear contact lenses that reduce allergen buildup MAIL: Signpost, P. O. Box 889, Placitas, NM 87043 • Prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses when you need to take a break PHONE: (505) 867-3810 from your contact lenses It all starts with a comprehensive eye health examination that incudes a WEBSITE: www.sandovalsignpost.com history of your allergy symptoms. When you make your appointment, please let us know if you suffer from seasonal allergies. EMAIL: [email protected] Dr. Deidra Casaus, Board Certified Optometric Physician CALENDAR: [email protected] 160 Camino Del Pueblo, BERNALILLO ADVERTISING: [email protected] Call for an appointment today! 505-771-3937 DEADLINE: 20th of each month www.thevisionstorenewmexico.com DROP BOX: Inside The Merc, at Homestead Village, 221 Hwy. 165, Placitas, two miles east off I-25 Exit 242. SIGNPOST STAFF: NIGHT SKY FEATURE: PUBLISHER: Belknap Publishing Inc. Charlie Christmann EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR: MASTHEAD & DESIGN SUPPORT: Barb Belknap Gary Priester EDITOR/BUSINESS MANAGER: WEBMASTER: Bunny Bowen Ty Belknap CARTOONIST: Rudi Klimpert NEWS EDITOR: Bill Diven (in memorium) COPY EDITOR/PROOFREADER: AD SALES & DISTRIBUTION: Evan Belknap Signpost office staff Sandoval Signpost is published monthly by Belknap Publishing, Inc, P. O. Box 889, Placitas, NM 87043. Bulk postage is paid at Placitas, NM. As a local newspaper of general interest to residents of Placitas, Bernalillo, Corrales, Rio Rancho, and other areas of southeastern Sandoval County, we invite readers to submit stories, letters, poetry, and photographs of artwork for publishing consideration. We welcome advertising of interest to our readership area. Ad and submission deadline is the twentieth (20th) of the month prior to the publication month. This issue of the Sandoval Signpost has been mailed to every home in Placitas—2,700 direct-mail—plus approximately 1,800 direct-mail to Bernalillo. An additional 1,000 are delivered for free pickup at over thirty locations in the Placitas- Bernalillo-Corrales-and southeastern Sandoval County area, totalling 6,000 copies distribution. Copyright © 2021, by Belknap Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed in articles appearing in the Sandoval Signpost are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers. The Sandoval Signpost is printed with soy ink on recycled newsprint. SUBSCRIPTIONS To receive a mailed copy of the Signpost to your home each month, mail your address and check for $35/year to: SIGNPOST P. O. Box 889 Placitas, NM 87043 or call the office at 505-867-3810 to pay by phone or for further information. Voluntary subscriptions from Placitas residents are appreciated. Thank you. Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • SEPTEMBER 2021 • Page 3 ©JATW2021 Camino Real Antiques & Collectibles JEWELERS & OH, WHAT FUN WE’VE HAD! GEMOLOGISTS Our 25TH ANNIVERSARY SALE 892-3841 was a HUGE SUCCESS 909 36th Pl. SE Rio Rancho There are still some great deals to be had (Across from Kitchen items, tools & toys are 25% OFF Turtle Mountain Pub) New items arrive daily! OPEN: Monday–Friday 10am-5:30pm Saturday 10am-4pm • harrisjewelersnm.com HOURS: Daily 10am to 5pm • 867-7448 1101 Camino del Pueblo / P.